MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Is Tyreek Hill the perfect troll, or is Tyreek Hill simply tone deaf to Dolphins fans?

I think it’s both, but unfortunately more of the latter.

That bothers me a little.

What matters more is that it greatly bothers and agitates a large contingent of Dolphins fans.

Hill, the Dolphins’ dynamic wide receiver, is the ...Read more

NEW YORK — Just when you thought the Jets couldn’t get any more dysfunctional, they continue to prove otherwise.

That never became more evident than after a damning report of Woody Johnson’s ownership of the franchise was published by The Athletic and laid bare the issues within 1 Jets Drive in Florham Park, N.J.

The report included ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Sean Payton never felt settled during the Broncos’ recent bye week.

He said he never fully does. A few days with the prospect of more work ahead isn’t long enough to truly decompress. And the task is even tougher when you’re trying to end an eight-year playoff drought.

As the Broncos returned to action ahead of a game ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Jim Harbaugh called. The Chargers responded.

Needing to bounce back quickly from a blowout loss last Sunday to not only save their playoff seedings but also reinforce Harbaugh’s first-year turnaround of the much-maligned franchise, the Chargers delivered a thrilling second-half comeback against the Denver Broncos, winning 34-...Read more

NEW YORK — The Giants gave Mike Kafka a promotion to assistant head coach last season to spray some cologne on their coaching staff’s stink coming off last season.

But now, with Brian Daboll on the verge of an obvious firing, they’re leaving Kafka marginalized on the fringe of the NFL’s worst offense as the Giants (2-12) veer towards a ...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — They hear you. They feel your pain, as you feel their pain. They don’t totally understand the sudden reversal, but they get it.

A week ago, the Lions were 12-1 and Super Bowl favorites, with a clear path to the division title and the No. 1 seed. Today, based on the outside discourse — locally and nationally — they’...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 15’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 15 RECAP

Rams 12, 49ers 6: Cooper Kupp had no receptions for only the third time in his career in an ugly, rain-soaked game.

Chiefs 21, Browns 7: Nick Chubb broke his foot in the third quarter of Cleveland’s loss. Jerome Ford finished with 104 total ...Read more

Cleveland Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy is amused by a story circulating Thursday that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson didn’t want his team to trade for the star because his player rating in the “Madden NFL” video game series was too low.

But does the fifth-year player actually believe the anecdote that was related as part of a lengthy ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — New Falcons starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was out doing some shopping Tuesday night when he received the life-changing phone call.

He was at a popular big-box store with the cheap hot dogs and massive TV sets.

“I got a hot dog,” Penix said Wednesday. “But I wasn’t hungry no more.”

His days of holding...Read more

Happy holidays, y’all! Our sizzlin’ hot run straight-up continued last week with a big 14-2 record, but the betting line again proved tougher at an even 8-8 against the spread. We nailed our Upset of the Week with Cowboys winning at Carolina, scored a second outright upset bull’s-eye on Buccaneers beating Chargers, and also had a ‘dog-...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 13-3 (.813); season 154-70 (.688). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-7 (.563); season 120-102-2 (.541).

BRONCOS (9-5) AT...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All signs point to Patrick Mahomes taking the field Saturday as the Chiefs starting quarterback.

On Thursday, Andy Reid all but named Mahomes the starter for the home game against the Houston Texans.

“He worked out this week — full — and will most likely end up playing,” Reid said.

Mahomes suffered a mild high ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — A week of injury watch wound down Thursday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side, and the Steelers didn't exactly get everything on their Christmas list.

But right at the top is T.J. Watt, and the star outside linebacker, who leads the team with 11 1/2 sacks, finished practice feeling confident in his chances to play ...Read more

I hear the conversations:

Fire Kyle.

Trade or low-ball Brock.

It’s all ridiculous.

But conversations like that are also why the NFL is the premier entertainment product in America and soon, if the league gets its way, the world.

Nothing is permanent in the NFL. This time last year, the 49ers were the toast of the NFL with an 11-3 record ...Read more

The NFL media commentariat lost an emerging star, age 72, last week when Bill Belichick became head coach of the University of North Carolina, ending his brief gig as an analyst with several outlets.

Belichick, his tongue loosened by media paychecks, excelled at explaining the “why” behind plays, NFL trends and this season’s ebb and flow....Read more

DENVER — Don’t take the wag out of the puppy’s tail.

Nobody wants Sean Payton to become too conservative with Bo Nix. He needs enough leash to make plays.

However, there remains a middle ground where the coach trusts Nix, while the quarterback regains his rhythm. By any measure, Nix has exceeded expectations this season with 20 passing ...Read more

NEW YORK — When the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers was exasperated, as detailed in his docuseries “Enigma,” which premiered Tuesday on Netflix.

“I looked down at my phone and my agent just texted me, ‘Quarterback.’ And I was like, ‘No f–king way,'” Rodgers said. �...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For the first 15 weeks of the season, the Falcons’ first-string defensive backs went against quarterback Michael Penix Jr. every day in practice.

As the backup quarterback, Penix ran the scout team (second-team offense) against the first-team defense. He job was to run the opponent’s offense.

That will change this ...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions are not yet ready to say David Montgomery's season is over.

Despite head coach Dan Campbell previously labeling Montgomery's knee issue (an MCL injury) one that would "require surgery that'll put him out through the rest of the year," the Lions did not place him on injured reserve Tuesday along with ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The NFL's best rivalries since 2000 are either dead or dormant.

Tom Brady-Peyton Manning — otherwise known as Patriots-Colts — was great theater but has long since faded.

Seahawks-49ers was a throwback throw-down for a few years there. Just vicious stuff. Two coaches you'd like to punch in Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll. Two ...Read more