CHICAGO — When Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles put together his plan in the spring to surround No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams with the proper support, this couldn’t be what Poles had in mind.

Nine games into Williams’ rookie season, his development — and the Bears offense — had taken such a concerning step back that coach ...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 8-6 (.571); season 98-54 (.645). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 6-8 (.429); season 82-69-1 (.543). Off: Cardinals, ...Read more

“Estoy más caliente que un huevo en una plancha de desayuno.” (“I’m hotter than an egg on a breakfast griddle.”) Our heater continued last week with 11-3 overall hoisting us over .650 for the year, and 9-5 against the spread, opening up some breathing room on the right side of .500. We nailed our Upset of the Week with Steelers’ win...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Storylines abound in advance of another episode of the NFL's longest running hit series — Steelers-Ravens.

You have first place in the AFC North on the line, for starters, plus a couple of coaches who have been working their trade for a combined 35 years in the same cities. Steelers-Ravens is the NFL's best rivalry of the 21st ...Read more

MIAMI — Chris Grier was on the verge of getting the last laugh about the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line.

The Dolphins’ general manager was almost able to gloat about how well the offensive line he assembled — and vehemently defended to the point of mocking the media about its concern regarding the unit — had been performing in the ...Read more

DENVER — The frost burned off. The nerves calmed. The picture crystallized.

When Bo Nix hit Courtland Sutton on third-and-6 with 1:53 remaining against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos’ annual, endless, eternal pursuit of a quarterback ended.

It is officially the Bo Show now.

The Broncos lost to Kansas City in the most excruciating way...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — The defining image of the 49ers’ 36-24 win over the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Oct. 10 may be a 76-yard run by 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks had cut the lead to 29-24 and still had three time outs left — and a chance to get the ball back and win the game �...Read more

CHICAGO — A week after backing Shane Waldron as his offensive coordinator, Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus pushed him out the door in a measure to save his own job, save the season and — most significantly to the franchise — prevent things from going terribly awry with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Thomas Brown was promoted into ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t too concerned with scouting Diontae Johnson, but this could be the week he breaks out in Baltimore.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the newly acquired wide receiver’s workload will “ramp up” as he gets acclimated to one of the league’s top offenses after spending ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Are the Chargers as good as their 6-3 record suggests?

Are the Rams better than the team that muddled through an ugly Monday night loss to Miami?

We're around the midway point of the NFL season, and both Los Angeles teams are still defining themselves. They are neither really good nor really bad, but the big test comes over the...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Players switching sides in rivalries isn’t a new phenomenon. Babe Ruth famously went from the Red Sox to the Yankees more than 100 years ago. The advent of free agency has made it more prevalent in modern-day sports, but it can still be strange watching familiar faces cross enemy lines.

In the NFL, Charles Haley and Deion ...Read more

NEW YORK — In light of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the NFL sent a memo to teams reiterating its policy on not allowing personal messages, including political statements, to be displayed during game days, according to a memo reviewed by Bloomberg.

The requirement is part of a league rule that also bans references to non-...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — I don't know if I can speak for every member of the media on this one, but I think I can speak for most: We like Mike Macdonald. That doesn't mean we won't criticize him, or ask questions he doesn't like, but his professionalism and even-keeled demeanor have endured despite this recent free fall.

See, that was one of the ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As a rookie cornerback, Deommodore Lenoir cost the 49ers their last practice of rookie camp because he inadvertently posted video of himself on social media jamming a receiver too aggressively during a non-contact practice.

A fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Lenoir saw the clip actually made SportsCenter and was ...Read more

NEW YORK — The 2024 season hasn’t gone how Aaron Rodgers or the Jets would have liked it.

With seven games remaining, the Jets are 3-7 and have lost six of their last seven games.

Despite that, Rodgers says he hasn’t changed his mind about playing in 2025.

“Yes, I think so,” Rodgers said on Wednesday.

Rodgers, 40, has one year left...Read more

CHICAGO — On a busy day at Halas Hall, the Chicago Bears preceded their Wednesday afternoon practice with coach Matt Eberflus and quarterback Caleb Williams addressing Tuesday’s firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and Waldron’s successor, Thomas Brown, sharing his vision for how he can hopefully provide a spark to a group that ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy required a second procedure to his right knee this week to address swelling that occurred during his physical rehab, coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday.

O’Connell said it’s not a setback for McCarthy, the 10th overall pick who suffered a season-ending torn meniscus during his first ...Read more

NEW YORK — This isn’t how the Jets’ season was supposed to go.

They weren’t supposed to be 3-7, clinging to worsening playoff odds in Aaron Rodgers’ return from an Achilles tear.

They weren’t supposed to be a bottom-third offense, averaging only 298.5 yards and 17.7 points per game with weapons such as Breece Hall and Garrett ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 11 THURSDAY PICK

COMMANDERS (7-3) at EAGLES (7-2)

Line: PHI by 3 1/2.

Cote’s pick: PHI, 27-23.

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

Picturing a morose Jerry Jones hammering Johnnie Walker Blue while watching two other, better NFC East teams on a showcase stage before America — with the winning team able to think ...Read more