BALTIMORE — Ar’Darius Washington remembers well the first time someone said he was too small.

A rival Pee Wee league coach boasted to Washington’s stepfather that there was no way his boys would lose to such a runt in the championship game.

“Yeah, we’re gonna see,” the Ravens safety remembers thinking. He scored three touchdowns to...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams edge rusher Jared Verse is enjoying an outstanding rookie season.

The 19th player selected in the NFL draft has been an integral part of a defense that helped the Rams rebound from a 1-4 start to clinch the NFC West title and a playoff spot heading into Sunday's finale against the Seattle Seahawks.

Verse, who has 4 1/2 ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Derwin James Jr. and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater were selected to the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Thursday.

Mack earned his ninth career Pro Bowl selection with six sacks, 15 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss and nine pass breakups. The 11-year veteran is the only player ...Read more

CHICAGO — Jaylon Johnson wasn’t so certain Wednesday whether a second trip to the Pro Bowl would be in the cards for him this season.

“I’m always hopeful,” the Chicago Bears cornerback said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t work out.”

That’s just the way it often goes during a last-place season with so many more ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Many Vikings players are having career years, and many will be going to the Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 2 in Orlando, Fla.

Unless they are preparing for the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, receiver Justin Jefferson, outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr....Read more

For the first time since he became an NFL starter, Patrick Mahomes is not a Pro Bowler.

The superstar quarterback, whose Kansas City Chiefs are an NFL-best 15-1, was among the most notable omissions when the selections for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games came out Thursday.

Instead, the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen was voted to be the AFC’s starting ...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 14-2 (.875); season 177-79 (.691). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-7 (.536); season 135-119-2 (.532). Times Pacific.

...Read more

No Thursday prime-time. No Monday night. All division games — with three division titles yet to be won. And 18 teams will play their final game of the season and await their draft order as we close the regular schedule and set the 14-team playoff field. Twelve playoff teams have been decided and five are alive for the final two spots. Exciting...Read more

BALTIMORE — Nine Ravens have been selected to this year’s Pro Bowl, more than any team in the NFL.

Quarterback and two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry were chosen for a fourth and fifth time, respectively, while second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers was selected for the first time. He ...Read more

One was clutch. The other was acrobatic.

Both of Derius Davis’ touchdown catches have been electrifying.

The second-year receiver has sparked the Chargers’ offense at just the right time with the first two touchdown catches of his career. Davis has 60 of his season-total 107 yards receiving in the last two weeks, using just four receptions...Read more

You want to talk name, image and likeness?

There's nothing more representative of college football than the Rose Bowl game.

In a shape-shifting sport, one persistently rounding into a junior version of the NFL, the tradition of the Rose Bowl is a sacred point of stability. For decades it was a destination as opposed to a whistle stop on the ...Read more

Saquon Barkley’s pursuit of the NFL single-season rushing record will end 100 yards short.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni revealed Wednesday the running back will be among the starters rested for the team’s regular-season finale against the New York Giants this Sunday. As a result, Barkley will finish the season with 2,005 rushing yards, ...Read more

The Jets will play their final game of the season against the Dolphins this weekend.

However, this week, the focus has been on Aaron Rodgers and his possible future with the Jets or with another organization in 2025.

During his availability on Wednesday, Rodgers sounded like he knows his days with the Jets are likely numbered.

“Just a lot ...Read more

Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Carson Wentz wore a ball cap during practice stretches Wednesday, located in his customary position next to starter Patrick Mahomes.

This week will be different, however, in nearly every other aspect. That’s because Wentz will start in Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos. Chiefs coach Andy ...Read more

Saquon Barkley’s pursuit of the NFL single-season rushing record will come up just short.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni revealed Wednesday the running back will be among the starters rested for the team’s regular-season finale against the New York Giants this Sunday. As a result, Barkley will finish the season with 2,005 rushing yards, exactly...Read more

The Lakers have placed a wager as massive as LeBron James’ shoulders, and they have placed that wager on a former undrafted guard.

In the absence of a blockbuster trade for a third superstar who could play alongside James and Anthony Davis, they have placed their team in the hands of Austin Reaves.

Dealing D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — In a situation such as this, I am journalistically obliged to preach calm.

Yes, the Bucs are in first place. Yes, they are huge favorites in the regular-season finale against New Orleans. Yes, they are on the verge of a franchise-record fifth consecutive postseason appearance.

But in the any-given-Sunday environment of the NFL,...Read more

LOS ANGELES — This NFL season is not lacking drama, but it's running a little short on intrigue.

Sometimes, three-quarters of the 32 teams still have at least a flicker of hope heading into the final weekend of the season. This year, 15 teams already have been mathematically eliminated.

Still, there's drama to be had, and the league has ...Read more

CHICAGO — As a dense fog encircled Soldier Field on Thursday, three words flashed above the disjointed stadium's entrance, via dual video boards:

GROWTH REQUIRES CHANGE

That message was equal parts ironic and appropriate.

Ironic because Soldier Field, which has housed the Chicago Bears since 1971, owns a comically complicated relationship ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Days after Dana Stubblefield’s 2020 rape conviction was reversed by an appellate court because of “racially discriminatory language” by the prosecution during the trial, an attorney for the former San Francisco 49ers star said he expects Stubblefield to be released from custody within days.

Attorney Allen Sawyer told The ...Read more