Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for the NFL conference championships.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 4-0 (1.000) record. He has a 179-103 (.635) record over the regular season and playoffs.

Using point spreads with the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers will hire Mike McCarthy to be their new head coach, the team announced Saturday.

McCarthy, 62, will be the Steelers' fourth head coach since 1969. He succeeds Mike Tomlin, who stepped down earlier this month after 19 seasons with the team.

Team president Art Rooney II led the search for a new head coach ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike McCarthy is a really good football coach, and we have established that already.

He is also a Pittsburgh guy, grew up in Greenfield and went to Bishop Boyle, coached at Pitt. We have all heard and read the story over and over, so I don’t need to continue down that path.

I like McCarthy’s resume, which includes a Super ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Denver Broncos fans sweating that their starting quarterback for the AFC title game is technically their QB2 need to remember that at one time Jarrett Stidham was the highest-rated passer of his high school class — ahead of Kyler Murray, Sam Darnold, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.

As much as Stidham’s start for Denver ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Most of the focus at Steelers headquarters at the moment is on finding the franchise's next head coach. Maybe all of it.

But once that's settled and a staff is assembled, there will be a shift to roster building. And, as we all know, every roster starts with the QB at the top.

If the answer is Aaron Rodgers, it's blowing in the ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The breaking point of the Chiefs’ season came a week before they were eliminated from playoff contention, and a week before quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a knee injury that will now occupy his offseason.

A frayed year broke for good on a Sunday night inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, on the most aggressive ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — Cooper Kupp is one of only three receivers to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in the last three decades, doing so in 2021 when he was with the Los Angeles Rams.

Since then, he’s been a teammate of two others who could be the next to do it — Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams and Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — Asked to pick his favorite pass of the season on Friday, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye could only think of the throws he wished he could take back.

It wasn’t the only time Maye was hard on himself Friday, and it’s far from the first time the young Patriots QB has shown humility this season.

He did it again on Friday ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Kobie Turner makes his living as a pass rusher and run defender for the Rams, not a defensive back.

But the last time the Rams played the Seattle Seahawks, the third-year defensive lineman snatched a Sam Darnold pass near the goal line for his first career interception.

"It was like time almost stopped," Turner recalled ...Read more

DENVER — J.K. Dobbins’ comeback attempt came up short of being back for the AFC championship game.

The Broncos running back, on injured reserve since November with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot, was ruled out Friday.

He had been a limited participant in practice all week but did not do enough to get cleared to play against New England...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — Most of the time, Sam Darnold’s Seahawks teammates appreciate his even-keeled nature.

His ability to not get too high or too low has served him well at several key points this season, such as when he rebounded from throwing two interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams in December to lead the Seahawks back from a 16-point ...Read more

DENVER — Jarrett Stidham cannot win the AFC championship game. But Stiddy can.

Stiddy is the guy who throws no-look passes in practice and talks smack to the starting defense. He is the good vibes guy, who provides the soundtrack in the locker room and golf course with Mr. Turtle, his white boom box.

He is humble, hardworking and lives life ...Read more

NEW YORK — Another stunning NFL return could be in store for Philip Rivers.

This time as a head coach.

Rivers was set to interview Friday for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching job, according to reports.

The former quarterback, 44, has been the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Ala., since 2021, but he’s never ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the distressing first few seconds after Patrick Mahomes went down late in the Chiefs’ Dec. 14 loss to the Chargers, he writhed on the field clutching his left knee with both hands.

It looked devastating and grim right away, especially when it comes to a resilient, rugged man who somehow keeps shrugging off seemingly ...Read more

The college football season is over. Now it’s time for the NFL draft.

Here are The Baltimore Sun’s early projections for the first round, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh:

— 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This pairing feels destined given Mendoza’s success and the Raiders’ need for a franchise quarterback. ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — “Come do it, Beast Mode.”

That was Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams on Wednesday after I proposed an idea to him. The subject was whether he gets pumped when certain players raise the 12 Flag just before kickoff at Lumen Field. Like his teammates who were asked the same question, Williams acknowledged that it ...Read more

CHICAGO — The setting at the end of a Chicago Bears season, when Halas Hall’s top decision makers field questions, generally has spawned even more questions — and punchlines — than it has provided clarity.

So Wednesday morning’s session with coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles was a refreshing contrast. Coming off an 11-6...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — They presented themselves as a partnership, side by side, the new Miami Dolphins general manager and new coach, showing from their first words what’s different and at work this time. Even team owner Steve Ross, who hadn’t spoken directly to fans since firing Brian Flores in 2022, was ushered off the stage after saying...Read more

LAS VEGAS — It’s the same NFL narrative as ones written about Norv Turner and Wade Phillips and Romeo Crennel and others.

Much better coordinators than head coaches.

Josh McDaniels is again proving the point. Like, in a major way.

The former Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders coach again is one win away from the sport’s pinnacle as ...Read more