I’m gonna take a wild guess and say I didn’t see the Steelers’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens like a lot of other people did.

I didn’t see it as some kind of unforgivable disaster. It wasn’t. The Steelers still control their divisional fate, and the playoffs are what really matter, anyway.

I was actually encouraged in some ways. ...Read more

SEATTLE — Two answers, both sincere, but just one got it right.

The first came from Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf when speaking about the hometown support.

“I looked around and there were a lot of Green Bay fans. They did a great job traveling, but just wishing us 12s didn’t sell as many tickets as they did to make sure we kept the home-...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Much of the focus of Travis Kelce’s foundation is helping kids in Kansas City.

The Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation has long supported Operation Breakthrough in particular. That non-profit’s goal is “to provide a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and to empower their families through ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What with managing a high-ankle sprain through a short week and all, Patrick Mahomes anticipated adapting to the reality of that on Saturday when the Chiefs played host to the Houston Texans.

Among other concessions, the Chiefs quarterback said, “my plan was to not run.”

Turned out that was more a guideline than a rule...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey didn’t view the Pittsburgh Steelers as a hump Baltimore needed to get over, even though the AFC North rivals had won eight of nine matchups going into Saturday’s crucial divisional showdown at M&T Bank Stadium.

Finally, the Ravens did it anyway. And it was Humphrey who delivered the knockout ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One more for No. 1.

The Chiefs beat the Texans, 27-19, in a rare Saturday afternoon appearance, and they now need just one win in their last two games to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

It wasn’t the ugly game some had anticipated — myself included — and Patrick Mahomes seemed unbothered by an ankle injury that ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are just one small step away from the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-week bye in the playoffs.

They took that significant step Saturday thanks to a rejuvenated offense — and quarterback Patrick Mahomes gutting through a mild high-ankle sprain in a 27-19 home victory over the Houston Texans on ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have pledged to cast a wide net in their head coach search, and it stands to reason the franchise’s most attractive asset, quarterback Caleb Williams, could lead them to an offensive mind.

A prospect with a defensive background likely would have to blow the Bears away with a detailed plan centered around Williams...Read more

NEW YORK — It’s difficult to be confident in Joe Schoen’s ability to pick the correct quarterback for the Giants in April when he and Brian Daboll now have made three different evaluation mistakes at the sport’s most important position.

Especially when the most recent blunder was a completely unforced error.

When Schoen and Daboll shut...Read more

DENVER — A fourth man has been arrested in connection with an October shooting that injured former Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds, according to the Denver Police Department.

Daniel Olivarez, 30, is charged with six counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault, two counts of attempted assault and two counts of illegal use of a ...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — After recently receiving some good news, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is much more optimistic about potentially getting running back David Montgomery back at some point this season.

Montgomery suffered an MCL injury against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday and the original thought shared by Campbell on Monday was that ...Read more

NEW YORK — Garrett Wilson called the 2023 season “the worst year” of his life.

Although he has not commented on how he would sum up the current season, Wilson has obviously been disappointed with the Jets’ performance this year.

Gang Green sits at 4-10 and has already been eliminated from playoff contention with three games remaining. ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Chargers and kicker Cameron Dicker made NFL history against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, earning three points at the end of the first half with the successful execution of a rare fair-catch free-kick field goal.

So what's a fair-catch kick? It's Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh's favorite rule in football.

The NFL rule ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Diontae Johnson’s Ravens career was as brief as it was ignominious.

Baltimore announced Friday that it has waived the irascible veteran wide receiver. The move came four days after what the organization called a mutual agreement that he would be away from the team for this week and on the eve of the Ravens’ huge AFC North ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch talked about his decision to banish De’Vondre Campbell from the sideline after the veteran linebacker said he didn’t want to play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Campbell was suspended for the final three games of the season. Players and coach Kyle Shanahan ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Wide receiver Anthony Miller will make his Ravens debut and play his first game in three years Saturday in what will also be Baltimore’s biggest game of the season.

Miller, 30, is expected to be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster on the eve of Saturday’s showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Aidan O’Connell will likely be back under center as the Raiders’ starting quarterback when the team hosts the Jaguars on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

Coach Antonio Pierce said Friday morning O’Connell had a few good days of practice and would be on track to return as long as things went well later in the day. O’Connell ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — How was Justin Herbert able to make the cross-body throw on the run that resulted in Derius Davis' go-ahead touchdown?

How was Joshua Palmer able to get his right hand on a deflected pass, turn around and corral the tipped ball along the back edge of the end zone for a crucial two-point conversion?

How were the Chargers able to...Read more

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