EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Football fans across the country watching the Patriots in a national primetime spot Thursday night shut off their TVs – probably early – wondering how in the world this team actually had a winning record at one point this season.

The Patriots looked like the team many predicted before the 2024 season to finish with...Read more

Justin Jefferson declared himself good to go on Sunday against a 2-0 Texans team that’s probably going to shadow him with an old college teammate from LSU’s 2019 national championship team.

Saying he has no doubts he’ll play, Jefferson added that his injured quad “feels great. Every day, it feels a lot better. … Just staying in the ...Read more

Bryce Young stood in front of a large photo of Panthers legend Greg Olsen in the Carolina locker room Thursday and took accountability for his shortcomings during his still very young NFL career.

Young, who was benched on Monday in favor of veteran QB Andy Dalton, went 2-16 in his first 18 NFL starts. His career completion percentage is 59.3%,...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward were surprise no-shows at Thursday’s practice, sidelined by leg injuries that suddenly put their availability in question for the 49ers’ game Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams.

Another not-so-subtle name joined the 49ers’ ever-growing injury list: defensive end ...Read more

"Here’s a look back at Week 2’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:"

WEEK 2 RECAP

— Bills 31, Dolphins 10: Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion late in the third quarter and was quickly ruled out. The Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on injured reserve this week with no set timetable for his return. Skylar Thompson is...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 8-8 (.500); season 19-13 (.594). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 7-8-1 (.467); season 18-13-1 (.581). Times Pacific.

...Read more

A spate of not reasonably foreseeable upsets made it a bloodbath of a Week 2, and it tangled me in a rare losing week outright at 7-9. The much better news? I navigated for a solid 9-7 against the spread, where the $$$ is counted. I nailed my Upset of the Week with Packers beating Colts, and bull’s-eyed five (!) big dogs-with-points in covers ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two weeks into the season, former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is among the early NFL storylines. Just not for the reasons he might have hoped.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Tennessee Titans’ second-year quarterback on the highlight reel. More like the lowlight reel. The Titans are off to an 0-2 start thanks in part to plays...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kareem Hunt is moving from unemployment to an NFL spotlight, and the irony in the stark, abrupt contrast is that the team supplying that contrast sent him in the inverse direction six years ago.

Well, irony is one word for it. There are others.

Discomfort.

Confusion.

Hunt is back with the Chiefs on what will initially be...Read more

LAS VEGAS — After a record number of contestants were eliminated from a popular Circa football contest, the company is apparently feeling sorry for the losers and offering an “empathy package.”

The $1,000-per-entry Circa Survivor contest started with 14,266 entries. After two weeks of games, there are only 3,877 players left.

With just ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — Seahawks center Connor Williams spent the last two seasons playing the same position in Miami, snapping the ball to Tua Tagovailoa.

So Thursday, when Williams saw Tagovailoa take a hard hit against Buffalo and leave the game with a concussion — the third for the Dolphins quarterback since 2022 — it hit him as deeply as ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It is not a season-ending injury, and it will not require surgery or any other procedure.

That is the upside for the Rams and injured receiver Cooper Kupp based on coach Sean McVay's comments Wednesday.

On a day the Rams placed safety John Johnson III and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson on the team's seemingly never-ending list...Read more

NEW YORK — The beard is gone. The confidence is not.

A clean-shaven Daniel Jones said Wednesday that “everyone realizes our record” but “no one is discouraged” on the New York Giants (0-2) entering Sunday’s must-win in Cleveland against the Browns (1-1).

“We’re a good football team,” Jones said at his locker. “We have a ...Read more

BOSTON — Before Mac Jones broke last year, do you remember how he looked?

Jones successfully withstood waves of pressure in the New England Patriots’ season opener.

He navigated a sea of hurries and hits in Week 2.

In Week 3, he stood and faced the Jets, who took turns batting him around like a piñata.

Then, he fell apart, and the ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears were back on the practice fields Wednesday afternoon for the first time since their prime-time loss to the Houston Texans in Week 2. The Bears will play their third consecutive game against an AFC South opponent Sunday when they travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts.

With a feisty defense setting the tone and a ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Monday, Miles Sanders picked up the phone and called Bryce Young — his quarterback, yes, but also his “dawg” who he wanted to check on.

Sanders had something specific he wanted to say.

“I was in the same position last year,” Sanders said. “So if anybody knows what he’s going through, it’s me.”

...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was not seen on the field Wednesday during the practice media viewing period after suffering an ankle injury during Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers.

Herbert will be listed on the injury report after he "got rolled up on" during the victory. He was able to finish the game as he ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — If Sunday’s win at Detroit is any sign, Baker Mayfield has made a pretty nice career of leading his teams to triumph by sheer force of will.

The Space Coast Junior/Senior High Vipers can attest firsthand to that force — and its philanthropic nature.

Count them as the latest team to be elevated by Mayfield’s heart. The ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 3 THURSDAY PICK

PATRIOTS (1-1) at JETS (1-1)

Line: NYJ by 6.

Cote’s pick: NYJ, 20-16.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

Owing mostly to the bygone Brady/Belichick era, the Patriots had beaten the Jets 15 times in a row (!) before NYJ finally stopped that skid to end the 2023 regular season. Now it’s time for ...Read more

CHICAGO — A coalition of public groups joined forces Wednesday to oppose a new Chicago Bears stadium on the lakefront, saying the billions of dollars at stake would be better used for affordable housing, health care and improved neighborhood parks.

Friends of the Parks, which opposes private development of the lakefront, led the effort to ...Read more