NFL News

Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP They playoffs arrive with a super wildcard weekend packed with intrigue. The field is wider than ever after a rollercoaster regular season, any contender from the hobbled giants, plucky upstarts and surprise packages can make a case for a deep playoff run, all will believe they can live for another week until the league’s true heavyweights, San …

14. Pittsburgh Steelers Point Differential: 21stPoints Per Game: 28thOffensive EPA: 23rd Defensive EPA: 7thDropback EPA: 8thRun Game EPA: 11th This year’s only playoff team with a negative point differential, the Steelers are built on defense despite their recent increased offensive success under No. 3 QB Mason Rudolph. So you could say it’s not great news that DROY-contender and NFL sack …

Robert Kraft said Bill Belichick earned it. Until he didn’t. Therein lies the elastic and inevitable quandary of NFL owners who allow their head coaches to consolidate power and organizational autocracy on a level rarely seen in professional sports. It’s the kind of blood oath contract that maximizes potential but inevitably burns out. An accord that delivers victories, captures championships, …

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins take the field on Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, it will be impossible not to feel the stakes and the weight of what they must accomplish. This is, for all intents and purposes, a blueprint game that will shape what the future holds for this franchise. The …

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta said that he ran some routes and did some other individual work on Thursday, but nothing he did was enough to earn him official listing as a practice participant. The Lions listed LaPorta as out of practice for the second day in a row. LaPorta injured his knee in last Sunday’s win over the Vikings …

Jan 11, 2024, 11:17 PM ET PITTSBURGH — Elias Pettersson scored on a breakaway in overtime, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Thursday night. Pettersson took a lead pass from Filip Hronek and beat Tristan Jarry for his 22nd goal of the season and second of the game. Pettersson is the third player in NHL history …

Why Bosa believes 49ers QB Purdy is ‘mature beyond his years’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Despite being just 24 years old, 49ers star quarterback Brock Purdy handles criticism with a level of maturity that isn’t too common in today’s NFL. Even while being an MVP candidate, the second-year signal-caller takes ownership of his mistakes, never deflecting blame …

49ers WR Aiyuk drops perfect reaction to Pro Bowl snub originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Amid a terrific 2023-2024 NFL season, 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiuk fell short of earning his first NFL Pro Bowl Games nod, only selected as an alternate. While Aiyuk is rightfully disappointed, the 25-year-old finds solace in knowing he’ll likely have a shot …

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield picked up an ankle injury after going into Week 18 with aching ribs and the combination was enough to keep the Bucs from pushing things in practice on Thursday. Mayfield was listed as a non-participant on the team’s first practice report ahead of Monday night’s game against the Eagles. Mayfield also missed the first Bucs practice …

Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore dislocated his shoulder in Sunday’s win over the Commanders. He missed Wednesday’s on-field work but returned to limited participation in Thursday’s practice. Gilmore expects to play but may have to wear a harness. The rest of the Cowboys’ practice report remained the same. Starting left guard Tyler Smith missed the Week 18 game with a foot …

Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt won’t play Sunday, and the team will miss him. But the NFL’s sack leader was the only player out of practice Thursday. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward was limited but not for injury. He was listed with a second consecutive partial rest day. Running back Najee Harris (knee) returned to a full practice after sitting out …

Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald aims to cross up the Lions’ defense. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald will not chase or hit Jared Goff until Sunday night, when the Rams play the Detroit Lions in an NFC wild-card game at Ford Field. But Donald, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, already sent …

Bears to interview Shane Waldron, Klint Kubiak for offensive coordinator position: reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago The Bears are interviewing two known candidates for the offensive coordinator position: Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak, according to separate reports. The #Bears requested an interview with #Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron …

Here’s a stat to jolt you before the start of these NFL playoffs — at least one wild-card team has won in the opening round of the NFL playoffs in each of the last six postseasons. In two of the three years since the league expanded to seven playoff teams, a wild-card team has gone all the way to its …

The Patriots have a coaching vacancy, for the first time in 24 years. And, on paper, there should not be a search. Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Patriots “established a firm, contractual succession plan in a prior contract.” The NFL has confirmed that this continues to be a legitimate tactic to eliminate the need for a search that …