Tennessee Titans fire coach Mike Vrabel after back-to-back losing seasons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have fired coach Mike Vrabel after six seasons with the franchise having won only six of the past 24 games, including blowing a third straight AFC South title in the 2022 season finale. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement that...
Analysis: Victory formation was never meant for the kind of trickery the Saints used against Falcons
Victory formation hits different now — just like the Atlanta Falcons defenders undoubtedly will next time they face the New Orleans Saints. That’s the fallout of backup quarterback Jameis Winston going rogue during mop-up duty and leading New Orleans to a rub-it-in touchdown Sunday against an unsuspecting opponent that was...
Jaguars fire defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, 7 assistants
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and seven of his assistants ended up taking the fall for the biggest late-season collapse in Jacksonville Jaguars history. Coach Doug Pederson fired Caldwell and the others Monday, a day after a 28-20 loss at Tennessee that knocked the Jaguars out of the...
Analysis: Browns’ improbable season continues in Houston with AFC wild-card round matchup
CLEVELAND — This season jammed with unexpected twists, hard turns, highs, lows and Joe Flacco’s improbable arrival is circling back down a familiar path for the Cleveland Browns. For the second time in three weeks, Cleveland is headed to Houston. With so much more at stake. The Browns (11-6) will...
Analysis: After nearly making playoffs, Bengals face decisions on many free agents
CINCINNATI — After Joe Burrow was lost for the season with a wrist injury in November, coach Zac Taylor insisted the Bengals had been built to win even without their franchise quarterback. Well, yes and no. Backup Jake Browning exceeded expectations by winning three of his first four starts, helping...
Analysis: Bills show ability to overcome flaws; playoff meeting vs. Steelers next
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Let’s dispense with predictions, because enough people — Buffalo Bills fans included — already have been proven wrong by a team that has defied the odds and the eye test by earning a playoff berth, never mind the AFC’s No. 2 seed. All it takes for...
NFL Playoff Guide: How to watch the games, bracket format and betting favorites
Six teams — the Steelers, Browns, Lions, Packers, Texans and Rams — are in the playoffs after missing out last season. At least four teams who failed to qualify one season have reached the playoffs the next every year since 1990. Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys are riding high after...
Panthers fire GM Scott Fitterer after finishing with NFL-worst 2-15 record
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers now need a head coach and a general manager. The Panthers announced Monday they have fired GM Scott Fitterer one day after the team finished with an NFL-worst 2-15 record. “As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made...
Bill Belichick under contract, would take lesser role in personnel matters as Kraft meeting looms
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bill Belichick is open to letting someone else handle personnel duties if he remains with the New England Patriots. The Patriots coach also confirmed Monday during his season-ending news conference that he remains under contract, though he didn’t specify the length of its current terms. New England’s...
Commanders fire coach Ron Rivera as new ownership begins making changes
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders fired coach Ron Rivera on Monday, the first move of many expected by new owners as they put their stamp on the NFL franchise they bought last year. The decision came a day after the Commanders’ season-ending 38-10 home loss to division-rival Dallas. “As...
Analysis: Bills, Cowboys were the NFL’s biggest winners in Week 18, securing the No. 2 seeds
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here. Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys made sure they’ll start the playoffs at home, where they’re undefeated. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are going home with a division title...
Falcons fire coach Arthur Smith hours after completing 3rd straight 7-10 season
ATLANTA — Arthur Smith, who inherited a rebuilding project in his first NFL head coaching job and failed to lift Atlanta from its playoff drought, was fired late Sunday night, hours after completing his third straight losing season with the Falcons. Smith, the 41-year-old son of FedEx founder Fred Smith,...
Josh Allen rallies Bills for win over Dolphins; Buffalo secures No. 2 seed in AFC
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Josh Allen threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Dawson Knox midway through the fourth quarter, and the Buffalo Bills won their fourth straight AFC East title, rallying past the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday night. Allen made things difficult for the Bills with three turnovers in...
NFL Week 18: Trevor Lawrence stopped short of goal line as Jags eliminated from playoff race in loss to TitansVideo
NASHVILLE — Trevor Lawrence had every chance to play the Jacksonville Jaguars into the playoffs for a second straight year as the AFC South champs. He wound up stopped short of the goal line with 7:13 left, and he also turned the ball over on downs with 1:47 left as...
With Browns resting starters for the playoffs, motivated Bengals win 31-14 to finish above .500
CINCINNATI — With a mostly meaningless loss to the Bengals in the books, the Browns could turn their attention to preparing for their first playoff game in three years. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski rested most of his starters Sunday in a 31-14 loss to Cincinnati. The Browns will play at...
Texans wrap up playoff spot with victory over Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud made all the right calls in the biggest game of his NFL career to help the Houston Texans secure a playoff spot. Stroud threw for 264 yards and two scores, Devin Singletary scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard TD run with 6 minutes,...
Texans’ C.J. Stroud overcame tough childhood, now hopes to inspire others
HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud’s rookie campaign has been so remarkable that he’s turned around the Houston Texans and restored hope among fans in a city that had all but given up on this franchise after three dreadful and often embarrassing seasons. The polished quarterback and first-year coach DeMeco Ryans have...
Ravens officially add RB Dalvin Cook, signing him to practice squad
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad Friday. The team also announced it was putting cornerback Daryl Worley on injured reserve and signing linebacker Jeremiah Moon to the active roster. The Ravens elevated defensive back Andrew Adams and tight end Ben...
Browns’ David Njoku rises from problem child to consummate pro
BEREA, Ohio — David Njoku once demanded to be traded by the Cleveland Browns. Actually, he did it two or three times — in the same season. Looking back, the complex tight end, who was just 20 when he entered the NFL, is almost amused he wanted out of Cleveland....
Baker Mayfield, with sore ribs, plans to start Buccaneers’ must-win finale against Panthers
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield’s sore ribs won’t stop the Tampa Bay quarterback from trying to help the Buccaneers clinch a division title and playoff berth in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Carolina. Mayfield, injured when he took a late hit in the closing minutes of last week’s 23-13 home loss...
Long after Super Bowl clash, Harbaugh brothers soaring again
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Eleven years after turning the Super Bowl into one of football’s most memorable family reunions, John and Jim Harbaugh are again at the forefront of the sport. This time, the two coaches are chasing different prizes — and won’t be in each other’s way. John Harbaugh’s...
Dalvin Cook is joining the NFL-best Ravens after being waived by the JetsVideo
Dalvin Cook is joining the Baltimore Ravens for a playoff run after being waived by the New York Jets. The move, confirmed by Cook’s agents with LAA Sports & Entertainment to the Associated Press on Thursday, came after Cook cleared waivers and became a free agent. NFL Network first reported...
4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook signs with Ravens for playoffs
BALTIMORE — Free agent running back Dalvin Cook is signing with the Ravens for the playoffs, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. Cook, 28, parted ways with the Jets on Tuesday after less than a year in New York. Baltimore was one of at least two teams...
Fire at home of Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill started by child playing with cigarette lighter
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday. “It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press....
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell declares for NFL draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell is heading into the NFL draft. Braswell joined fellow linebacker Dallas Turner and offensive tackle JC Latham in announcing plans to leave the Crimson Tide for the NFL. He announced his decision in a post Thursday on Instagram. “Throughout my tenure at UA,...
