American Football News

 Kyler Murray said he was “disappointed” in the Cardinals' inability to even make it “competitive” against the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. Kyler Murray had a chance to lead his team to a playoff win and make a significant leap forward in his standing among NFL quarterbacks Monday night. That's exactly what he did. Murray went 9 of 11 for 228 yards and ran for an additional 92 yards and two touchdowns as the 1-seed Oklahoma Sooners upset the 4-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide 45-37 in the Orange Bowl. The Cardinals entered the postseason on a tear, racking up nine wins in their final 10 games of the season. But sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen struggled to find answers all game, resulting in their early exit. The former UCLA standout showed tremendous improvements this season and is only going to get better moving forward. The Cardinals have been eliminated from the postseason, but they can take solace in knowing they have a bright future ahead of them. It's disappointing that w

 The Bengals awarded the game ball to the city of Cincinnati tonight. The Cincinnati Bengals, owners of the NFL's longest active postseason-victory drought entering Super Wild Card Weekend, are finally on the right side of history. Zac Taylor prepared his players for a successful game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but he unexpectedly had something else to celebrate after the close of play. In a locker room still celebrating the milestone win, head coach Zac Taylor dedicated a game ball to franchise owner Mike Brown and wife Nancy before sharing a special message with a city that's supported them through many tumultuous seasons. The Browns won the AFC Central Division after defeating Miami 21-18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Bengals present their first round playoff game ball to the city of Cincinnati to share in the excitement of playoff football. This limited edition, Tiffany-designed crystal and sterling silver football is the ultimate fan keepsa

 Veteran catcher Joe Judge said he is truly enjoying a dream season with the Giants, and not just because of the team's success. The New York Giants fired Joe Judge following what owner John Mara called the lowest moment in his lifelong association with the club.  In a stunning move Tuesday, the New York Giants fired head coach Joe Judge after a three-game losing streak, bitterly disappointing fans and continuing the team's long-running drama. I want to personally thank both the team and the entire organization for giving me my first opportunity as a head coach in the National Football League," Judge said in the statement. "Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation that I have for everyone involved with our football program, starting with the Wilpons and John Mara and Steve Tisch, Jerry Reese and the whole Giants staff, as well as our players and coaches. Judge, who was the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl XLVI Giants, was elevated to interim head co

 The Houston Texans have fired head coach David Culley one season after he directed the league's worst defense. The Houston Texans have fired head coach David Culley, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero report. Culley was hired last year when the team parted ways with Bill O'Brien. Culley finished the season on a 10-game losing streak, compiling a 4-12 record.  When Culley came to Houston in 2021, he took command of a team in disarray. The Texan’s previous season had ended with an abysmal 4-12 record and the  After a disappointing 9-7 finish in 2018, the Texans decided to part ways with coach Bill O'Brien, who is now the head coach of the Raiders. Texans general manager Nick Caserio will now look for his second coach in as many seasons and the franchise's third head coach over the last three years. This emphasizes the details of Caserio′s statement, specifically mentioning David Culley and Tim Kelly by name. This is something you would see

 Projecting the NFL playoffs for 2021? We have you covered with our division-by-division look at who would have advanced to Super Bowl LVI and who would have won the Lombardi Trophy.  The aim is to create the quintessential personal statistical analyst for each NFL team, using play-by-play data from a given regular season. My goal is to be your analytics department. Each week this season, I want to work for you in analyzing which numbers flag in my models as the most impactful ... or the most misunderstood.  Each season, I will preview the upcoming week of action through the lens of analytics. You'll get my analysis of which numbers jump off the page as important for your team or for its opponent. I will also provide you with context for these numbers and put them into actionable perspective as part of a framework that accounts for defense, coaching, skill and game situation. If a number really stands out to you, this might be a good time to swing a deal, pull your starting quarter

 The NFL has named Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill its Players of the Week for Week 10. The NFL released its Player of the Weeks for Week 18 on Wednesday, and both Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill were honored. Congratulations to The Prescott Group on their selection as the National Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Week and to Mr. Tannehill on his selection as the American Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Week. The Cowboys' 2004 first-round draft pick from Mississippi State posted a perfect quarterback rating of 151.8, throwing five touchdown passes without an interception. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 295 yards with no interceptions.  Tannehill threw four touchdowns with no interceptions on Sunday in a close 28-25 victory to seal the AFC's number one seed in the playoffs. He completed 23 of 32 passes, racking up 287 yards and a 138.9 QB rating as

 The Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers clinched AFC wild-card playoff berths Sunday. The Vegas Raiders have celebrated a late-season renaissance, as they're heading back to the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Despite recent tragedies, they've emerged with an electrifying brand of football, one that will likely be built upon in the future. The Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, 35-32, in overtime to earn their first playoff berth since 2016. Oakland entered the Week 17 matchup without much hope of making the postseason after being eliminated from playoff contention last week. After a huge day by Antonio Brown, the Steelers earned themselves a wild-card berth. The Oakland Raiders finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and will host a wild card game in the playoffs. They will play the number four seed from the AFC, Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers', seeded seventh, will face off against the number two Kansas City Chiefs, also in the play

 Lions and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn are parting ways after one season together. Anthony Lynn is out in Detroit after just one season with the club. The Lions and the offensive coordinator are expected to part ways following Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources. HOTSPOT is a former NFL running back of eight seasons and assistant coach of 17 campaigns. He spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers as head coach, leading them to a 33-31 record and one postseason appearance, before being replaced after the Bolts closed out their 2020 campaign at just 5-11.  Lynn will coach the running backs and serve as the team's assistant head coach. The Colts are coming off a 38-8 season with the league's No. 1 ranked rushing attack and 10-6 record. Lynn brings six years of coaching experience in the NFL, including five seasons as an assistant Coach with three NFL teams: Oakland Raiders (2006-07), Washington Redsk

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, NT Vita Vea, has signed a four-year extension worth over $73 million, keeping him a Buc through the 2023 season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive tackle Vita Vea have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension, the team announced Saturday. The deal is worth over $73 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The 6-foot-4, 336 pound Vea is a force for Tampa Bay's interior defensive line and his strong playing style has helped him become a front-runner for the team's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Vea builds off his productive 2017 rookie season in which he registered one sack, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and 40 tackles to go along with his 2018 accolades. A former fifth-round draft pick out of Washington State in 2018, Vea claims to have grown up a fan of the Buccaneers and was elated to be drafted by Tampa Bay. Coming out of the University of Washington, Vea was a 290-pound sp

DENVER -- Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he isn't worried about the future. Despite the loss to the Chiefs, Denver's defensive-minded head coach Vic Fangio will keep his job, sources said. Fangio spent five years with the team, but a disappointing season and some rumblings regarding friction between him and the front office contributed to the factors that ultimately will lead to his dismissal. Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has a contract with the team through next season. How much longer he coaches in Denver is unclear, with Del Rio telling reporters Saturday night that he didn't know what was ahead for him and that he had spoken with first-year general manager John Elway about the situation. Fangio and his new assistant, Jeff Legwold, were spotted going over some play calls on a walkthrough. Fangio had a smile on his face and discussed the defense during the 30-minute window when the media was allowed to watch. Wrapping up a season filled with exciting h

 Even Ravens greats such as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed admit it: they never wanted to play the Steelers. The future of the NFL quarterback position debuted 18 years ago on this ground, in a rivalry forged by two of football's greatest ever. On Sunday, Roethlisberger will play his final game at M&T Bank Stadium as the long-time rival Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens – now home to his successor, Lamar Jackson.  The Steelers have had their share of extra-large, athletically imposing signal callers. From Terry Bradshaw to Joe Montana to Troy Aikman to Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh has attracted title contenders with its dramatic flair, flamboyant plays and larger-than-life legends. Roethlisberger fits handily within that lineage, which makes this weekend’s clash between the Ravens and Steelers so tantalizing. Roethlisberger’s career could end in a flash -- an all-too-familiar scenario when facing Baltimore’s defense, which he has torched over the years while standing firmly within the sha

 Steelers fans are relishing, reveling and celebrating Ben Roethlisberger as he enters his final weeks in an iconic black and gold jersey  With the steelers playing at home and a cold winter's day beckoning, six-year-old Ryan Smith donned his Ben Roethlisberger jersey and assumed his usual post in the family tailgate area outside Heinz Field. The countdown begins. Three years ago Ben Roethlisberger was the man at Findlay (Ohio) High School, torching opponents for seven touchdowns in a single game. Today he’s the hope of a city, maybe even a national hero—provided he can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to the championship game. A story about a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers' fan and the four Roethlisberger jerseys that tell the tale. In 2004, when the franchise’s former nemesis Blake Bortles Jersey was drafted by my favorite NFL team, I jumped at the chance to support him. Or so I thought. The inaugural jersey wasn’t really something I wanted—it was more of a “this guy is new and diff

 Philadelphia Eagles playoff picture: Breaking down the seeding scenarios in 2022 NFL bracket Philadelphia has rounded back into playoff form, making the playoffs in three of the past five seasons. The Eagles were 9-7 in a close race with Washington, Tampa Bay and Carolina for the final spot in the NFC. It is the fourth time Philadelphia has made the playoffs under coach Nick Sirianni, with this being his first season as head coach. With the No. 6-seeded Cowboys coming to town and last week's games eliminating the rest of the NFC East from postseason contention, national media already has its eyes on Saturday night's must-see cable matchup between Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott and league leader in ground yards per carry rookie sensation Corey Clement. The Eagles can clinch a berth, but they'd be wise to play it safe and rest their best players for bigger things next week.

 T.J. Watt can't escape it - especially since his dad was such a good NFL player on defense for years. A year ago, T.J. Watt seemed poised to win the same award his older brother, J.J., has won three times. This year, he's in a close race with Aaron Donald for Defensive Player of the Year honors and will almost certainly be named First-Team All-Pro. Watt leads all 3-4 outside linebackers in sacks (19), quarterback hits (37) and hurries (33), while adding two interceptions and a touchdown to boot. The Houston Texans' J.J. Watt is this close to a Most Valuable Player season with his sack total at 21.5 heading into the Week 11 game against the Indianapolis Colts on "Monday Night Football." The 2014 Defensive Player of the Year is just .5 sacks behind 1999 candidate Michael Strahan's pace of 22.5 sacks with six games remaining in the regular season. J.J. Watt will officially accomplish something big or tie a big record — maybe even bigger than that — when the Texa

  Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater says he is planning to continue playing. Teddy Bridgewater has two concussions in the past five weeks. He knows better than anyone how difficult it can be to bounce-back from that injury. But after two years of sitting on the sidelines, Bridgewater is ready to take his comeback on the road. Bridgewater's comments are interesting because we're used to seeing depictions of the NFL as a gladiator sport; as a battle fought by musicians and gladiators, where every player is slowly being shredded by the violence of the game. It's rare to hear a player speak about this game with such honesty, and that may be because it's not what's expected from players. However, Bridgewater seems genuine and it puts into context just how difficult this game is, even at the level he plays at. Bridgewater hasn't been effective since the first month of the season, when he experienced a pair of concussions. He was sacked 24 times in four game

 Antonio Brown sees the writing on the wall and wants to leave the NFL. Antonio Brown, a talented but controversial wide receiver, sent shockwaves through the NFL this week after he was released by the Oakland Raiders. Brown has been an elite receiver in the NFL for over ten years now and has won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In recent months however he has proven to be more trouble than he is worth for the Steelers and many thought it was only a matter of time before he was released. Despite having made his fair share of mistakes in 2018, Brown is still one of the top receivers in the NFL and may yet prove to be a valuable addition to another team during the coming weeks. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Antonio Brown had been released from the team after he left their game against the New York Jets; his departure came during a 23-3 loss in which Brown had just one catch for 19 yards. After receiving a punt towards the end of the first half, Brown signaled to

 New York Jets coach Adam Gase didn't hesitate to accept blame for a fourth-down decision that cost the team a win.  It all started when Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez hit receiver Santonio Holmes for a 40-yard touchdown with 9 minutes 53 seconds remaining to give New York a 24-17 lead over the Buccaneers. But instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer called for a running play that left more than four minutes on the clock. When Schottenheimer called timeout after Holmes scored, he tried to explain his actions. The Jets' fourth-quarter decision to not have quarterback Sam Darnold run the play on fourth-and-2 against the Patriots came from a directive by offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur that Darnold should throw the ball instead of run on the play. But LaFleur "looked around and saw four guys in formation," he said in a news conference Monday, referring to safety Duron Harmon, center David Andrews and both tackles. "

  Saturday's Week 18 NFL doubleheader features a key matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to end the regular season on a high note when they visit their AFC West-rival Denver Broncos in Week 17 at 2:25 p.m. On paper, it appears as if the Chiefs have an opportunity to pick up another win and clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs. But how badly do they want it?  The Chiefs’ eight consecutive wins were snapped by the Bengals on Saturday, while the Broncos were blown out 49-20 by the Tennessee Titans. Kansas City has already wrapped up its first division title since 2010, but its pursuit of an undefeated season could potentially be alive and well if it can take care of business over its next two games. Meanwhile, Denver has largely been irrelevant this season but can make a statement by denying K.C. coaching legend Andy Reid his first career 16-game winning streak at Arrowhead Stadium and head coach Vic Fangio won’t likely be re

Recently, the Rams' Eric WeddleI told ESPN's Josina Anderson that the team has been looking forward to this matchup for a while.  The Rams are looking to finish off their successful turnaround with a playoff berth, but will have to get it done in San Francisco. The Rams haven't beaten the 49ers since 2019, but they don't have "mind control" over them, cornerback Jalen Ramsey said Wednesday. The 49ers have owned the Rams since Jeff Fisher took over as coach in 2012. They've destroyed them both on the scoreboard and on the field of play, controlling games by a large margin despite some outlier games the Rams have played well in. In those years, San Francisco has averaged a scoring differential of +8.8 points per game, while owning an average time of possession advantage of 11 minutes per game. They've also won four straight meetings against L.A., scoring over 30 points each of the last two meetings. The Rams' recent dominance over their divisional ri

  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released wide receiver Antonio Brown following a sideline incident during the team's 31-23 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. Wide receiver Antonio Brown, who was signed by the Buccaneers to a three-year contract on March 8, has spent only one season with the team and is already out of a job. The Buccaneers released Brown on Thursday, a day after he posted a lengthy statement on social media regarding the events that transpired last Sunday when Tampa Bay played the New York Jets. The Super Bowl champions opened the 2013 season with a win, despite being without Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and running back Doug Martin. Gerald McCoy played at an All-Pro level in their place, recording three sacks and causing constant pressure on Matt Ryan, who was 22-of-35 for a season-low 201 yards. Superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown has been cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team said on Friday, two days after he left a game with an injury and then tweeted a

   Pittsburgh Steelers place WR Diontae Johnson, C Kendrick Green on COVID-19 list ahead of finale vs. Ravens Pittsburgh's cornerback duo of Ryan Lewis and Bernard Blake have come on strong in recent weeks, playing at the levels of their more experienced teammates. Unfortunately, history shows us that the absence of players from those units might be very costly in a game that could decide one team's season and playoff seeding. Adds up to another must-win game for Pittsburgh, but don't be surprised if this time, the home team gets it done. The No.14 wide receiver in the most recent edition of Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players and the 2014 team Offensive MVP to a star-studded side that includes seven combined All-Pros, a touchdown-scoring running back in Le’Veon Bell, an elite quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger and a heralded offensive line and defense: Out of seemingly nowhere, Johnson has burst onto the scene as the quarterback of Pittsburgh’s offense. But it wasn’t always

  Your source for NFL injury news for all 32 teams and the latest league news from Thursday, Jan 6. Tyron Smith is a mentor to the other offensive linemen. The veteran left tackle is one of the best in the league at his position, having made five straight Pro Bowls since 2011. The 28-year-old was named to the Pro Football Writers Association's All-NFL Team in 2016. The Dallas Cowboys have the top-ranked offense in the NFL and much of that is due to their line. Tackle Tyron Smith and guard Ronald Leary have both been named to the Pro Bowl and Zack Martin has played at a high level from the start. All three were first-round picks by Dallas and they are getting better each week. These three players might be dominant when it comes to football but they aren't very good at another game called "Thingamajig".  The Dallas Cowboys have announced they plan to play their starting lineup Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Eagles in the finale of the regular season. The Cowbo

 Brandon Staley says Chargers won't play for tie in unlikely playoff scenario vs. Raiders You will want to be in front of the TV Sunday night December 29th, 2007 when the improbable happens and both AFC West teams finish the season 8-8 and in a ONE GAME PLAYOFF! What better way to celebrate this by wearing your new Neck Tie or Cufflinks made from actual AFC Divisional Playoff Tickets!! This is a unique gift and only offered here at www.ticketstiek.com. It includes your choice of tickets from either the San Diego Chargers or the Oakland Raiders actual Divisional Playoff Ticket. The tickets will be mounted on genuine wood ties, including a leather strap and are ready to wear as part of your holiday apparel. They make for a great gift for the sports fan in your family. Prime Minister Gerry McDermid had a brutal first day back from vacation last week, when his special guests at the Lodge escaped. The PM, up early for a morning run and in for an early breakfast, will be looking to get t

 Drew Lock is focusing on the game, not his future with the Broncos. For a veteran making his third consecutive start at quarterback, Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock has no expectations for himself in Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Lock has struggled in his two starts, averaging a respectable but unspectacular 6.4 yards per attempt. And for all of the criticism that some of his decisions on Sunday drew—namely, throwing a fade to a double-covered Tyrell Williams down 20-0 late—those came against an all-pro interior that only allowed 115 rushing yards in total, 49 yards from scrimmage from Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman combined and still recorded three sacks. Lock played well enough to win, and if the Broncos exploit their advantages agains. Broncos rookie QB Drew Lock drew favorable comparisons to fellow former Missouri standout and current Chiefs starter Patrick Mahomes. But the 2019 second-round pick was the clear third rival to Chad Kelly for the No. 2 r

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says the grass is greener where you water it. It's something that I've really thought about a lot the last couple of years, but the Packers have been so good to me and my family in my 11 years here. We're not only talking about winning championships, but relationships that are built on trust, loyalty and having some fun along the way. I think about working with [new head coach] Matt LaFleur, what type of relationship we build, what our rapport is like as we get started this week, his philosophy and his faith in me. And then also the people within the organization — sitting down with [general manager] Brian Gutekunst and [owner] Mark Murphy and just seeing where they are at with their vision for where they want to get this team. When he fires the football, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes money for his team and more often than not he wins. The partnership has been successful and the Packers are one of just five franchises

When he is done, and likely after all of the painful, personal moments of reflection, Mike Zimmer will open his notes for the year.  Zimmer joined Vikings play-by-play man Paul Allen for an interview before the Nov. 18 game against the Green Bay Packers, and this is some of what he had to say about his task at hand. A billion people would love to be Mike Zimmer. The Vikings coach has the type of job that envies the weak. Every day he wakes up, he's the coach of a team that goes into hostile stadiums, anesthetizes opponents with offense and turns every clock in America 30 minutes late. Players seek him out as much as he seeks them, drawn by his quirky aura and wanting to bask in it. After two up-and-down seasons as Minnesota's head coach, Mike Zimmer said he can walk away from the Vikings feeling proud regardless of how the rest of this campaign plays out. The 65-year-old Zimmer will own a 71-56-1 career record when his club closes out the 2016 season on the road against divisio

 Tua Tagovailoa doesn't seem worried about trade rumors surrounding him. With the Miami Dolphins missing the postseason for the fifth consecutive season and third under Brian Flores, the questions regarding the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will begin to swirl again in South Beach. Tagovailoa and the Dolphins were the subject of speculation all season leading up to the trade deadline, with Miami considering a trade involving Deshaun Watson just like they considered acquiring Watson before their Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens. There's a reason Tua Tagovailoa decided to return to Alabama for his sophomore season.Think of it this way: The Crimson Tide had 118 plays of 20 or more yards last year, more than half of which should have resulted in points. They finished fifth nationally in Offensive S&P (efficiency) and first in offensive success rate (efficiency). The offense was great -- except when it needed to be great. The Miami Dolphins' first playoff appe