Sports
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Ray Fittipaldo: Are the Steelers behind the NFL curve on 4th-down analytics?
PITTSBURGH — Early in the second quarter of the AFC wild-card game in Baltimore, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had a decision to make. Facing fourth-and-inches from his own 29-yard line with his team trailing 7-0, Tomlin sent out punter Corliss Waitman rather than keep his offense on the field.
The Ravens scored on the ensuing drive for a 14-0 ...Read more
Mac Engel: Cowboys interviewing Brian Schottenheimer another example of nepotism amok in NFL
FORT WORTH, Texas — The NFL may be about macho masculinity and confrontation, but it’s also loaded with men whose careers are owed to fathers who all too often mitigate their guilt over never being home by giving their sons a leg up in a competitive job field.
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly considering another daddy’s coach to be their...Read more
Matt Calkins: Seahawks GM John Schneider faces most crucial offseason
SEATTLE — When Pete Carroll was let go last January, the Seahawks became a team shrouded in mystery.
How would this organization fare without the coach who'd led them to two Super Bowl appearances and five division titles? Who would replace him and how would he round out the staff?
Were other key personnel changes coming? Was a new ...Read more
Sam McDowell: Should Kareem Hunt be the Chiefs' playoff starter? Here's why it's not that simple.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The contact initially arrived about half a yard behind the line of scrimmage on a must-have-it play, and make no mistake, Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt instigated it.
He didn’t have much of a choice — on fourth-and-1, his running lane disappeared before his quarterback even gave him the football.
That’s the ...Read more
John Romano: Will Liam Coen bet on himself and stay or gamble on Jacksonville?
TAMPA, Fla. — It’s pretty obvious why the Jaguars are sniffing around Liam Coen.
He’s young, he’s personable and he just engineered one of the more impressive offensive turnarounds the NFL has seen in recent years. For a team such as Jacksonville with a young quarterback and a lot of empty seats in the bleachers, Coen can fill out an ...Read more
Sources: Patriots expecting to hire Josh McDaniels as new offensive coordinator
BOSTON — The Patriots are expecting to hire Josh McDaniels as their new offensive coordinator, sources confirmed to the Boston Herald.
McDaniels should return for his third stint as offensive coordinator, having served in that role from 2006-08 and then 2012-21. He has been out of football since being fired as the Raiders’ head coach midway...Read more
Vikings, head coach Kevin O'Connell agree to multiyear contract extension
MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings completed one major item on their offseason to-do list Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a multiyear extension with coach Kevin O’Connell.
The team announced the deal eight days after the end of the Vikings’ season, locking up the 39-year-old coach whose contract was set to expire after the 2025 season. Owner Mark ...Read more
Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen to join shortlist of quarterbacks to meet four times in playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Is Chiefs vs. Bills the best rivalry in the NFL these days?
One could make that argument, because the AFC championship game marks the fourth time in five seasons that the Chiefs and Bills will meet in the postseason.
That’s historic in one sense. The Associated Press’ Josh Dubow noted that Patrick Mahomes and Josh ...Read more
If Chiefs beat the Bills in AFC championship game, a bettor will win $1 million
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Someone is betting big on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Really big.
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas said a bettor has placed a $1.3 million wager on the Chiefs beating the Buffalo Bills in Sunday’s AFC championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The potential payout on the bet: $1 million, according to Caesars ...Read more
Patrick Mahomes dismisses talk of Chiefs getting help from refs but regrets flop attempt
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the hot topics on social media and the sports talk shows Tuesday was the continued chatter about the Chiefs getting special treatment from game officials.
Two roughing calls against the Houston Texans for hits on quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Saturday’s AFC divisional game infuriated fans, although the NFL said ...Read more
As Eagles prepare for Jalen Hurts to play in NFC title game, how mobile would the QB be vs. Commanders?
PHILADELPHIA — All eyes are on Jalen Hurts’ health going into the week of preparation ahead of the NFC championship game against the Washington Commanders, especially Kellen Moore’s.
The Eagles offensive coordinator is putting together the game plan with the same “formula” he would use with any player recovering from an injury, he ...Read more
It's official: Bears announce the hiring of Ben Johnson as their new head coach
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have made it official, announcing Ben Johnson as their head coach Tuesday and scheduling an introductory news conference for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halas Hall.
The team issued its formal news release a day after news broke that the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator had agreed to join the Bears and was finalizing a ...Read more
Gerry Dulac: Steelers might not have to run far to find next year's QB
PITTSBURGH — After watching the divisional round playoff games over the weekend, and knowing what is expected to be available in free agency, the Steelers might have already decided who will be their quarterback in 2025.
Mike Tomlin, who has been enamored with mobile quarterbacks and the problems they present for opposing defenses, was likely...Read more
Omar Kelly: The praise, the problem, and possibilities with Dolphins receivers
MIAMI — A position-by-position series breaking down each of the Miami Dolphins’ units, assessing where the team stands heading into the 2025 offseason, and examining what could possibly be done through free agency and the NFL draft.
Receiver
— The Praise: The Miami Dolphins have one of the NFL’s most expensive duos in Tyreek Hill and ...Read more
David Murphy: Two reasons the Eagles are a win away from the Super Bowl: otherworldly talent, and Nick Sirianni's guiding hand
PHILADELPHIA — For a moment, it sounded as if Nick Sirianni was talking out of both sides of his mouth. Not that you could blame him. Barely an hour had passed since the 43-year-old head coach had clinched his second NFC championship berth in three seasons and, well, there was a lot to process.
The Eagles’ 28-22 win over the Los Angeles ...Read more
Eagles-Rams takeaways: The Birds are Super Bowl favorites going into championship Sunday. Should they be?
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles punched their ticket to the NFC championship game for a second time in three seasons, holding off a late charge from the Los Angeles Rams for a 28-22 victory in the snow.
A third and final meeting with the Washington Commanders with a Super Bowl berth on the line looms this weekend, but there’s plenty to unpack ...Read more
Bob Wojnowski: Dan Campbell's Lions beaten, but far from broken
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The devastation lingers. But now, the defiance grows.
The Detroit Lions are gone from the playoffs sooner than expected, sooner than their fans dreamed (or nightmared). If you’re still numb, you’re not alone.
Dan Campbell is over being numb, and almost over the anger, and fully ready for the rebound. Sometimes, when a...Read more
Cooper Kupp not sure if he'll be back with Rams: 'I don't have any clarity'
LOS ANGELES — Cooper Kupp established himself as an important part of the Rams' offense from the day general manager Les Snead selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft.
But the receiver who won NFL offensive player of the year and Super Bowl most valuable player awards began the offseason on Monday with his future with the Rams ...Read more
Dan Wiederer: Let your imagination run wild, Chicago. Prospective new Bears coach Ben Johnson has big ideas.
CHICAGO — Just spitballing here, but perhaps there’s a joint therapy session opportunity suddenly sitting right here on the table. For Chicago Bears fans. And for their prospective new head coach Ben Johnson. Find the largest theater available — IMAX maybe? — cue up some Detroit Lions game film and roll through every one of the 72 ...Read more
Ravens head home, trying to make sense of another disappointing ending
BALTIMORE — The Ravens have gotten too good at this routine, looking shell-shocked as they clean out their lockers less than 24 hours after their own errors doomed them to final defeat.
With majestic quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the most efficient offense in team history, they were good enough to win the Super Bowl this year. But they’...Read more
Popular Stories
- Sources: Patriots expecting to hire Josh McDaniels as new offensive coordinator
- Sam McDowell: Should Kareem Hunt be the Chiefs' playoff starter? Here's why it's not that simple.
- If Chiefs beat the Bills in AFC championship game, a bettor will win $1 million
- As Eagles prepare for Jalen Hurts to play in NFC title game, how mobile would the QB be vs. Commanders?
- Patrick Mahomes dismisses talk of Chiefs getting help from refs but regrets flop attempt