Chargers fire coach Brandon Staley, general manager Tom Telesco in midst of disappointing season
The Los Angeles Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on Friday morning after one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Chargers made the playoffs last season but are one of this year’s biggest disappointments at 5-9, with losses in five of their last six...
Raiders set franchise scoring record in rout of hapless Chargers
LAS VEGAS — Four days after losing 3-0, the Las Vegas Raiders scored 42 points by halftime, didn’t let the Los Angeles Chargers cross midfield until the third quarter and rolled to a record-setting 63-21 victory on Thursday night. The Raiders set a franchise scoring record, topping the team’s 59-14...
Ravens, Jaguars square off in matchup of AFC division leaders
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t fared very well against the NFL’s elite defenses this season. They’re 0-3 against Cleveland (ranked first), San Francisco (seventh) and Kansas City (sixth), and they’ve failed to top 300 yards against any of them. It’s a hurdle the Jaguars (8-5) need to overcome...
Myles Garrett, Browns continue playoff chase with home game against Bears
CLEVELAND — Two years ago, Justin Fields made his NFL start on the road. It was far more miserable than memorable. Blame Myles Garrett. Chicago’s quarterback remembers nearly everything about his first game with the Bears in 2021 — the excitement, playing again in Ohio, the bruises. “And then of...
Bengals will try to stay in playoff picture vs. Vikings in matchup of 7-6 teams
CINCINNATI — The winner of Saturday’s game between the Vikings and Bengals will stay in the crowded playoff picture — at least for now. The loser could be in trouble. The matchup of the 7-6 teams — both relying on backup quarterbacks to get them to the playoffs — is...
QB Joe Flacco signs 1-year, $4.05M deal with Browns
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco is officially signed and sealed with Cleveland. He has already delivered. Flacco got a one-year, $4.05 million contract — loaded with incentives — on Thursday from the Browns, who brought in the veteran quarterback last month while in emergency mode after losing starter Deshaun Watson...
Dak Prescott, Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack among 8 finalists for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
NEW YORK — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Los Angeles Chargers three-time All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack and Las Vegas Raiders two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby are among the eight finalists for the ninth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for...
Key defensive players Grant Delpit, Ogbo Okoronkwo out for Browns
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland’s top-ranked defense took two big hits Wednesday. The Browns lost safety Grant Delpit, who had groin surgery and went on injured reserve, for the rest of the regular season and coach Kevin Stefanski said end Ogbo Okoronkwo has a pectoral injury that will likely sideline him...
Patriots’ Bill Belichick deflects questions about coaching future
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to discuss his future Wednesday amid a report that owner Robert Kraft had already decided to fire the six-time Super Bowl champion after the season. Asked repeatedly whether he would be back, or wanted to be back, or whether he’d...
NFL approves regular-season game for Brazil in 2024 in further international expansion
IRVING, Texas — The NFL is adding Brazil as its first regular-season destination in South America next year. An increase in the number of international games by 2025 means other new cities are on the way. The league said Wednesday at the owners meetings in the Dallas area the 2024...
Al Michaels won’t call an NFL playoff game for NBC this season
Al Michaels won’t be calling an NFL playoff game for NBC for the first time since the network returned to televising the league in 2006. NBC confirmed to The Associated Press that Michaels won’t be working the playoffs. It was first reported by the New York Post. The 79-year-old Michaels...
Browns lose another offensive tackle as Jedrick Wills Jr. has season-ending knee surgery
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns lost their second starting offensive tackle in two days as Jedrick Wills Jr. underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday. Wills had been on injured reserve since Nov. 7, and the Browns (8-5) had hoped the left tackle would be able to return at some point this...
Chargers QB Justin Herbert will miss rest of season after undergoing surgery on broken finger
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Justin Herbert will undergo surgery Tuesday on his broken index finger on his right hand and will miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ remaining four games this season. Herbert visited two hand specialists Monday after he suffered the injury during the second quarter of Los Angeles’ 24-7...
MNF: Tommy DeVito leads clutch drive as Giants top Packers; Titans shock the Dolphins
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tommy DeVito threw a 32-yard pass to Wan’Dale Robinson to set up Randy Bullock’s 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the New York Giants beat Green Bay 24-22 on Monday night to hand the Packers their first December loss since Matt LaFleur took over as...
Colts still in playoff contention after blowout loss that ended 4-game streak, revealed their flawsVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts skirted around the edge during their four-game winning streak. On Sunday, they danced right off of it. Cincinnati exploited Indy’s aggressive pass rush with three long screen passes, the Colts’ ground game struggled again and even the special teams unit that played so well a...
Bengals hope to stay in playoff race behind backup QB Jake BrowningVideo
CINCINNATI — With a 34-14 thumping of the Colts on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals climbed above the .500 mark for the first time in a month. That didn’t seem likely after Bengals franchise quarterback Joe Burrow was lost to a wrist injury and backup Jake Browning was pushed into service....
A dramatic finish finally went Baltimore’s way, and Lamar Jackson made some big contributionsVideo
BALTIMORE — Before Tylan Wallace’s dramatic punt return in overtime, Lamar Jackson led Baltimore on a drive that easily could have won the game in regulation. That might have been an even better sign for the Ravens. “I think Lamar played one of the best quarterback games yesterday that you...
Flacco makes himself at home in Cleveland. Browns going with QB as their starter for playoff driveVideo
CLEVELAND — For months, Joe Flacco waited patiently for a phone call, wondering if his NFL career was over after 15 seasons. Nobody wanted him. Nobody needed him. But as he stood in the middle of Cleveland’s locker room celebration Sunday, surrounded by new teammates, some to whom he’s barely...
Chiefs’ Andy Reid still incensed that flag was thrown with no warning for costly offside penaltyVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs coach Andy Reid was still baffled Monday by an offside penalty called on his offense that wiped out a go-ahead, 49-yard touchdown pass against the Buffalo Bills, taking the officiating crew from Sunday’s game to task for throwing a flag rather than issuing a customary...
Dak Prescott, Brandon Aubrey help Cowboys pull even with Eagles in NFC East with 33-13 victory
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy was nervous for an NFC East showdown with Philadelphia after the Dallas coach missed two days during the week after an emergency appendectomy. Not to worry, thanks to his quarterback, kicker and opportunistic defense. Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Brandon Aubrey made four field...
Chiefs enraged at 49-yard go-ahead TD called back by penalty in loss
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs thought they had beaten the Buffalo Bills with one of the most unexpected and audacious of plays. Then the roar inside Arrowhead Stadium was silenced, soon to be replaced by a cascade of boos. The Bills had just taken the lead on...
Chargers QB Justin Herbert breaks right index finger in loss
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fractured the index finger on his right hand in the second quarter of a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Coach Brandon Staley said the team will do more tests before determining how long Herbert will be out. It...
Browns’ Myles Garrett calls officiating ‘a travesty’ over lack of holding and other callsVideo
CLEVELAND — Browns defensive end Myles Garrett called a penalty on the officiating crew Sunday, saying its performance was “a travesty” in Cleveland’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. “It was honestly awful,” the two-time All-Pro said. “And the fact that they’re letting them get away with hands to the...
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson taken to hospital with chest injury after big hit
LAS VEGAS — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was taken to a hospital after being hit in the chest during a 3-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but he returned to Allegiant Stadium and then flew home with the team. “Feel pretty encouraged about the early...
NFL Week 14: Derek Carr overcomes recent injuries and rough start, leads Saints past Panthers
NEW ORLEANS — Derek Carr returned from a recent concussion and upper body injuries to throw touchdown passes to Chris Olave and Jimmy Graham, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the hapless Carolina Panthers 28-6 on Sunday. Alvin Kamara ran 9 yards for a touchdown as New Orleans (6-7) snapped...
