Chiefs safety Tyvon Branch's nose for the ball paid off again, when he picked up a Ravens fumble and returned it 73 yards for his second touchdown of the season.
David Steele
Is Donald Trump really someone Tom Brady wants to support? No one knows for sure, because he's not even showing the courage to stand behind that.
Doug Baldwin has thrived on feeling underappreciated, but with so many key Seahawks players injured, his time to shine has arrived.
How many times can you shrug off losing a major player? With Thomas Rawls' broken ankle, the Seahawks are about to find out.
The Seahawks' 35-6 blowout of the Ravens was tempered by the early injury to Thomas Rawls, who the defending NFC champs can't afford to lose down the stretch. And they did.
Wilson also threw for five touchdowns against the Steelers two weeks ago. Doug Baldwin had three of the scores against the Ravens.
Obsess over LeSean McCoy and Chip Kelly if you like. The Bills' smartest move was Rex Ryan signing Tyrod Taylor, and Sunday's game against the Eagles will prove it.
The more we eat up LeSean McCoy and Herm Edwards, the longer Chip Kelly's crisis with DeMarco Murray gets overlooked. He's smarter than we thought.
Mercury Morris is beating his chest about the '72 Dolphins again. Good. That team gets shafted by history way too often, considering the magnitude of their achievement.
DeSean Jackson gave the Cowboys a chance in Washington, then he returned the favor for his own team. His blunders with a punt in the final minutes outweighed his touchdown, though, and he took the heat for it.
It took until the first week of December, but the Cowboys finally overcame the loss of Tony Romo by outlasting Washington. Jerry Jones wondered why it took so long but praised his team's toughness, and finally can see it paying off.
It was the worst game imaginable, so it makes perfect sense that the worst team in the NFC East all season won it. The Cowboys are in the running with four weeks to go.
Anything positive offensively was hard to come by Monday night in Washington, but the Cowboys' Jason Witten reached a milestone with his 1,000th career catch. He and Tony Gonzalez are the only tight ends to reach that mark.
The doctor at the center of "Concussion" writes that children should not be allowed to play football. The future of the sport, and the NFL, is at risk from this idea even more than from the movie.
The dynasty has to end sometime, and that time is coming for the Patriots, who are running out of players healthy enough to hold off their AFC rivals and make one last Super Bowl run.
The Seahawks have won three in a row, their offense has been unstoppable ... and in their first full game without Jimmy Graham, they didn't miss him at all. They need a do-over on the trade that brought Graham to Seattle.
Packers-Lions was going to have a riveting finish with major playoff implications no matter who won. But the officials made themselves the story again, playing a needless role in Green Bay's miraculous win.
Comparisons between the Eagles under Andy Reid and Chip Kelly often ended with: Reid's Chiefs are losing, too. Not any more, they're not.
As Bo Jackson celebrates another birthday, he deserves more than just universal love for his two-sport brilliance. He deserves to be in a Hall of Fame for it, any Hall of Fame.
ESPN's Sunday NFL pre-game show isn't being dragged down by Stephen A. Smith. It's the same show it's always been. It's not about the show for his critics, it's about him.
What Cam Newton is accomplishing these days should never be undermined by some loudmouth fan who wants to pick a fight. Next time, Cam, don't let them sucker you in like that.
The Cowboys' challenge to the undefeated Panthers on Thanksgiving got off on the wrong foot: Tony Romo threw an interception that was returned for a score before the game was a minute old.
Thanksgiving is much more festive in Detroit with the Lions on a two-game winning streak. Give them credit for sparing Jim Caldwell when everyone else was getting fired.
The sudden end to Colin Kaepernick's season, and possibly his 49ers career, is more proof that the team brass doesn't do break-ups well. As bad as he's regressed, Kaepernick deserves better.
Can't one week go by without a horrible officiating decision affecting a game? December is looming, playoff spots are in the balance and the refs are still blowing calls like they did Monday night.
Say farewell to the 8-0 Bengals that captured the NFL's imagination. The team that couldn't keep its composure in the playoffs is back, and it lost to the Cardinals Sunday night.
Since Brock Osweiler didn't blow it against the Bears in his first start, he earned the right to keep starting at quarterback, even when Peyton Manning is healthy again.
As bothersome as it is for Greg Hardy to still be drawing an NFL paycheck, continuing to blame the players' union for getting his suspension cut gives a free pass to the real people responsible.
Yet another serious injury to a key Ravens player: Leading rusher Justin Forsett broke his right arm in the first quarter Sunday against the Rams in Baltimore.
A three-judge federal judge panel hears the latest appeal by former players in the class-action concussion settlement. It's dragged on too long, and the NFL clearly hasn't done all it can do.
The clock is now seriously ticking on Aldon Smith's career. When he returns from his one-year suspension, he'll be approaching old age in football years, and his prime will be disappearing.
The last time Maryland and Georgetown played a regular-season game, Bill Clinton was president. Tuesday's renewal of the series, won by the No. 3 Terps, exceeded the hype.
A half-century before the Missouri players' boycott threat forced change on campus, black AFL players in 1965 proved that sports can send a message, even though they weren't trying to.
Mike Mularkey citing a 'code of ethics' and Andy Dalton worrying about 'the kids' reflects badly on them and the NFL, not on Cam Newton and J.J. Watt.
Rex Ryan showed up with his Bills and reminded everybody why his way worked for the Jets. Meanwhile, the narrative of his old team playing smarter under its new coach took a hit.
Rams coaches Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams have to live with the consequences that come with building a history of overseeing reckless play.
It's time for the Cowboys and their fans to stop believing Tony Romo will ride in on a white horse to save them. Six straight losses without him puts the team in a hole he can't dig them out of.
The Broncos are off to their best start since John Elway took over and Peyton Manning arrived. But being undefeated in November isn't the goal. Anything less than a Super Bowl is a failure.
Tony Romo deserves more credit than he usually gets, but after seeing how terrible the Cowboys' quarterbacks have played while he's injured, he'll never be unappreciated again.
Steve Smith, who had risen to 10th on the all-time receiving yardage list earlier in the game, suffered what is likely a career-ending Achilles injury.
The NFL is burying its players and emptying their pockets with rules controlling everything they wear, even on their own skin. Never mind respecting them: Does the league even like them?
As long as Carson Palmer is upright, the Cardinals will ride high in the NFC. They couldn't make that happen last year. He has been as good as ever this year, including Monday vs. the Ravens.
The Cowboys should have known that adding Greg Hardy would have consequences sooner or later. Whatever headaches they're experiencing now, they can blame no one but themselves.
Kirk Cousins wasn't the worst thing about Washington when they fell behind 24-0 to the Bucs, but he was the best they had when he led them to a last- minute win.
The 49ers' home-field flop against the Seahawks might have been rock-bottom for the franchise. Owner Jed York apologized for a similar loss last year, but now he owes the fans more than that.
Jerry Jones running his mouth is always entertaining, until it interferes with Jason Garrett's job.
The Colts were the smart ones in how they groomed Andrew Luck, compared to Washington and Robert Griffin III. Now that the Colts suddenly look unstable, it's not so simple or obvious anymore.
The Packers protected their house against the Chargers, but just barely. The Panthers' win in Seattle was more impressive. Calling the Packers the class of the NFC isn't as obvious as it once was.
The Chargers' Philip Rivers joined the NFL's 500-yard passing club with 503 against the Packers, but he was stopped three yards short of the winning touchdown.
Now that they're 6-0, it's time to stop defining the Bengals by their postseason failures.
Maybe Bashaud Breeland has had better halves in the NFL than he did against the Jets Sunday, but not many. The Washington cornerback took the ball away three times and hustled to save a touchdown.
The Saints team that handed the Falcons their first loss looked good enough to close the gap on them, make a playoff run and give Drew Brees and Sean Payton an encore.
Left tackle Nate Solder is one of the Patriots' irreplaceable players. Without him, the dream of a perfect season is over, and they've now fallen closer to the pack in the AFC race.
Every game Josh McCown plays like Sunday's win in Baltimore, even if it's not for a franchise record, means the Browns don't have to rush Johnny Manziel in before he's ready.
The difference between fantasy and gambling is clear, the NFL keeps saying. But the daily-fantasy scandal is giving sports-betting supporters ammunition to challenge Roger Goodell again.
How can officials ever screw up the end of a game worse than they did with the Fail Mary? The crew at the Lions-Seahawks game pulled it off, and unfairly changed the fates of both teams.
Eagles fans always took the Andy Reid era for granted. Now, Chip Kelly's falling on his face without Reid's players, and Reid deserves an apology for the disrespect.
No foolish picks, no embarrassing beating, and no demand for Robert Griffin III. Washington's Kirk Cousins was masterful when it counted, on a 90-yard game-winning touchdown drive against the Eagles.
Sam Bradford couldn't move the Eagles in the first half in Washington, but did a 180-degree turn to bring them back from a 13-0 halftime hole. It didn't hold up, though, as Washington won, 23-20.
Steve Smith is doing unprecedented things in his final NFL season. But his Ravens are winless, and he's forced to carry an offense that's not designed for him to do that.
Predicted by some to go to the Super Bowl, the Ravens have earned their 0-3 start, even with the close losses. So many things need improvement, even beating the Steelers Thursday won't do the job.
The Bengals always swear by Andy Dalton even when he flops in the playoffs. But his dazzling fourth quarter against the Ravens Sunday is a good omen for him and the team come January.
The new interpretation of what is and isn't a catch doesn't seem any clearer than the old interpretation. Just ask the Bengals, who aren't sure why Tyler Eifert's touchdown against the Ravens didn't count.
The Bengals and A.J. Green destroyed the Ravens in Baltimore, and may have destroyed the home team's playoff hopes, by shutting down their fourth-quarter comeback.
The Ravens finally got to Andy Dalton, and the results were disastrous for the Bengals: an Elvis Dumervil strip-sack and a C.J. Mosley touchdown return to give the Ravens the lead.
The Bengals could have led by more than two touchdowns over the Ravens in Baltimore at halftime, but a touchdown pass to Tyler Eifert was overturned on replay.
It's hard to pay three superstars, but as Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are learning, it's even harder to play without them. Not re-signing DeMarco Murray is coming back to haunt them.
Aaron Rodgers, the reigning MVP, proved what 'valuable' really means. He shrugged off losing Eddie Lacy and others, and turned the tables on the Seahawks by erasing a second-half deficit.
It was a mistake to hand Johnny Manziel a start last year, while he was still acting like Johnny Football. Now that he's grown up and won a game, the Browns should reward him by making him the starter.
The Broncos are destined to win by giving the aging Peyton Manning every bit of help they can. But who expected the Chiefs' coach to be Manning's lucky charm Thursday night?
It took real courage for five Rams to protest police brutality last year. When the time came for Richard Sherman to send the same message Wednesday, he flinched.
Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray and Co. were supposed to be a better version of the offense that rocked the NFL for two years. It didn't happen right away against the Falcons.
The window for the AFC favorites to challenge the Patriots got smaller with the woes suffered by the Colts, Broncos, Ravens and Steelers in Week 1. The Bills' chance comes on Sunday.
The Texans' defense was supposed to be loaded with the addition of Vince Wilfork and the return of Jadeveon Clowney. But they were invisible against the Chiefs, and J.J. Watt can't cover for them all.
Much of the public instantly assumed the worst after the headset fiasco Thursday night, and that's a bad omen for the NFL. Ask baseball and the NBA how much it hurts when fans stop trusting them.
The Patriots' 28-21 win over the Steelers can be chalked up to Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski covering up for a handful of flaws. Here are 10 takeaways from the season opener.
Darrell Green understands why Jay Gruden picked Kirk Cousins over Robert Griffin III as Washington's starter, but the franchise icon believes RGIII's career is far from over.
Roger Goodell, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick are exposed as frauds in an explosive ESPN report — so much so that the three should be fired if the allegations are true.
Roger Goodell's future as NFL commissioner was mere speculation as their case against Tom Brady unraveled. But Falcons owner Arthur Blank's remarks put his job performance in the spotlight.
There weren't many ways the NFL could lose in court in an arbitration case, said ex-baseball commissioner Fay Vincent. But they found some anyway, and that will cost them on appeal.
The Browns have cut the last player they got in the 2011 draft-day trade with the Falcons, but the repercussions from that and later drafts still reach far and wide.
Don't swallow any story about a sports drink helping Russell Wilson recover from a possible concussion, say two brain injury specialists. In fact, believing it is dangerous.
The RGIII-Jay Gruden relationship isn't a lost cause, say several NFL observers, but the signs of it improving are bleak.
If the Raiders and Chargers have to leave their longtime division to share a stadium, then moving isn't worth it, say those who lived through a rivalry that dates to the AFL.
The NFL's "arrogance" and need to exert its power will nix any Deflategate settlement, says former NFLPA regional director David Meggyesy. Don't expect Tom Brady to back down, either.
How can Robert Griffin III, with all that's riding on him this season, be allowed to take the punishment he took against the Lions? Ask his coaches and front office, who now have a concussed franchise QB.
Some 49ers players might have to watch their backs, because Jarryd Hayne, the viral Australian rugby sensation, is gaining on them and their roster spots.
Now that the Browns' running backs have shown what they can (and can't) do, can you blame the coach and front office for pondering taking a chance on Ray Rice?
Ex-Saint Junior Galette feels vindicated by the domestic violence suit against him being dropped, and he's thrilled that he has been embraced by his new team in Washington.
First, it was Jim Harbaugh. Now, it's Aldon Smith. In between, the 49ers saw their exit door get too much of a workout for one offseason. Here are 10 of their toughest losses.
The Legion of Boom will be a few decibels quieter as long as Kam Chancellor keeps holding out for a new deal. Staying in touch with his teammates helps, but the Seahawks miss him badly.
Seattle's receivers never think they get enough love, but this year's group might well get its due, even with Percy Harvin having departed with hurt feelings.
NFL rosters are too hard to make and jobs too hard to keep for anyone to believe he's entitled to play. Ray Rice understands that, but not everybody does.
Ken Stabler's opponents knew his greatness best, as former Colts lineman Joe Ehrmann showed in his recollection of the "Ghost to the Post" in their double-overtime game against the Raiders.
What quarterback has been on the scene of more unforgettable happenings in NFL history than Ken Stabler? Not many, if any. That alone makes him Hall of Fame-worthy.
Paul Warfield, who won an NFL title with the Browns, believes in the franchise's future, but not in their new uniforms. Just as with the Yankees pinstripes, he said, some looks "should never change."
Other players besides DeSean Jackson have seen their reputations damaged on their way out of town. Teams may or may not be behind it, but here's a suggestion: follow the money.
Neither Raiders owner Mark Davis nor the owners of baseball's A's are budging on their claim to one site for the stadiums they want. The impasse might drive the Raiders back to L.A.
While the legalization of same-sex marriage left ex-NFL player and author David Kopay "floating in the clouds," his memories of the years he spent hiding who he was remained fresh and painful.
The Navy and the Patriots are working out a plan that would let Joe Cardona, only the fourth long snapper ever drafted, to play and serve as a rookie.
Have the Jets made a fatal mistake already? Could be. Newcomer Buster Skrine praised the star-studded defense, but invoked the epic flop that was the Eagles' 'Dream Team.'
A new video shows how a dedicated Cheesehead met Clay Matthews, got a trip to the Super Bowl, and celebrated a Father's Day he won't forget.
The Ravens will pile up hotel rewards points with two long stays out west this season. Joe Flacco is fine with it, but figures his wife and their three babies might not be as content.
Johnny Manziel sounded humbled in his first meeting with reporters at the Browns minicamp. He said he no longer wants to be a "distraction," and will start by dropping the "money" hand sign.
Who's the go-to name for the most hideous broken legs ever suffered? It's still Joe Theismann, as Foo Fighters guitarist Dave Grohl demonstrated in a note to his fans.
Mike Pettine is demanding that Johnny Manziel, a few months removed from rehab, be hard-working and accountable on and off the field, including at this week's minicamp.
A handful of teams, led by the Cowboys, were mentioned as possible destinations for Adrian Peterson if he and the Vikings split. Now, more than ever, it looks like they'll have to live without him.
Wes Welker says he'll play "until the wheels fall off,'' but teams don't seem eager to give him that chance. The ex-Patriot and Bronco leads the list of big-name veterans who are still unsigned.
Taylor is the early leader for the quarterback job, and EJ Manuel is trailing.
Even if you don't care for longer extra-point kicks, who doesn't like more chances for somebody, anybody, to go the length of the field for a score? Making missed conversions a live ball is a genius move.
Justin Smith's retirement became official Monday, as the 49ers lose another piece from a defense that anchored a Super Bowl team just three years ago.
The Bountygate and Adrian Peterson cases wound up in court, so it's not premature to rule out lawsuits for Tom Brady, Robert Kraft and the Patriots.
Aaron Hernandez eluded charges for allegedly shooting a friend in Florida, until this week. Police have tied that shooting to the double-murder for which he's awaiting trial.
Don't be surprised if Tom Brady's appeal focuses as much on the Wells Report as on Ted Wells himself, with questions about potential bias getting raised again.
The Bills and Dolphins have upgraded, and the Jets are starting over. But they all have enough flaws to keep them at arm's lengths from the Patriots in the AFC East, even without Tom Brady.
Ex-NBA star Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues looks at the Baltimore unrest and says the living conditions are too much like they were when he grew up there, and that cannot continue.
The Patriots went with an oddity in two categories in the fifth round: Joe Cardona, who plays a position hardly ever filled in the draft, from Navy, which rarely sends players to the NFL.
Baylor's Bryce Petty went later in the draft than most expected, but where he landed, with the Jets, makes for a potential circus as Geno Smith fights for his job.
The most-talented, yet most-troubled, wideout in the draft, Dorial Green-Beckham slid into the second round to the Titans, who will have Marcus Mariota to throw to him.
The Orioles manager didn't shy away from a question about the help Baltimore needs in the wake of the unrest, even though he admitted he'd never faced what many residents have.
The Orioles' game at Camden Yards sounded and felt like no other game in major league history, and the reasons were not lost on the players.
On the most unusual day for fans in baseball history, some of the Orioles faithful found a way to support their team. Otherwise, Camden Yards was a quiet oasis in volatile Baltimore.
Adam Jones and Buck Showalter had a game to play, in front of an empty Camden Yards, but their minds were on the serious troubles Baltimore is facing after this week's riots.
The draft is approaching and the best free agents are long gone. A few recognizable names are still out there, though, like Wes Welker, Michael Vick and Dwight Freeney.
Why is Bill Belichick smiling? The coach of the Super Bowl champion team is on Easy Street in 2015.
Tim Tebow may have been out of the NFL last season, but a case can still be made that he was better with a microphone in his hand than these five who actually played meaningful games.
The NFL didn't turn Aaron Hernandez into a convicted murderer, but they're now handcuffed to him and his crimes because they missed or ignored all the signs.
Sarah Thomas, who will break the NFL's officiating gender barrier this season, plans to try to blend in and be judged on her performance.
The prosecution has rested in the Aaron Hernandez trial, and the defense is likely to call just one witness. That makes sense based on the case already built for them.
The pickings are starting to get slim on the NFL free agent market. The names left are familiar but come with the usual caveat: buyer beware.
The NFL's new medical-spotter policy will always be tied to the hit on the Pats receiver in Super Bowl XLIX. Two ex-players, one an NFL exec and the other an advocate for brain health, know too well how overdue the rule is.
The 72-hour sellout rule for NFL TV blackouts came about because Robin Ficker went to the Supreme Court over a 1972 playoff game. Ficker sees the one-year blackout moratorium as a win for the people.
After keeping together an organization that survived and thrived throughout a dizzying wave of injuries, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim received the Sporting News award in front of the peers who voted him in.
All but one NFL team backed away from Greg Hardy in the wake of his domestic violence issues. Only the Buccaneers admitted why.
All of Tim Tebow's personal quarterback coaches have had one thing in common.
The Cowboys were presumed to be the favorite to get the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, but now he may be running out of options.
Yale's Charles Cook and Newberry's Sharon Irwin are two of the overlooked longshots showcasing themselves at this year's NFL regional combines.
Chip Kelly gets the benefit of the doubt for his tearing-down and rebuilding of the Eagles. Results had better be close behind.
Aaron Hernandez allegedly shot a former friend in the face back in 2013, yet has never been charged with it, and a lawsuit over it drags on.
Only six players were given franchise or transition tags last offseason, and three later signed extensions. One who didn't, Greg Hardy, is instead seeing his Panthers career come to an ugly end.
The Colts could still steer clear of embarrassment when it splits with Trent Richardson, but reports about why he missed a playoff game made their move to unload his salary more complicated.
Is the 40-yard dash overrated? Not exactly, say NFL talent evaluators. But the hype is again exceeding its true place in the scouting process.
Dr. Elizabeth Nabel's selection as the NFL's chief medical advisor has raised questions about why the league didn't pick a concussion specialist, and whether it's walking into another conflict-of-interest controversy.
Imagine the Showtime Lakers with Magic, Kareem and Jamaal Wilkes, coached not by Paul Westhead ... but by Jerry Tarkanian. It almost happened, says a best-seller from last year about the Lakers' glory days.
The Seahawks were on the other side of a big collapse two weeks ago. This time, they were the goats, coming undone long before the fateful play call.
Supporters of a name change for Washington's NFL team are turning up the heat in Arizona, site of the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks-Patriots clash in Super Bowl XLIX will go down to the wire. The difference: Russell Wilson.
San Diego is universally beloved as a city that's perfect to host a Super Bowl, but it hasn't even bid on one since 2003. That could soon change.
The Hall of Fame quarterback didn't notice much difference when he tested footballs with varied inflation levels. He said he wants to believe the Patriots' coach and quarterback, but wonders who was responsible if they weren't.
Joe Theismann, Washington's Super Bowl-winning quarterback from the '80s, decided that throwing was believing, and he believes deflated balls make no difference.
The Cardinals' Bruce Arians might not be Sporting News' Coach of the Year without a defensive coordinator as resourceful and creative as Todd Bowles.
The Seahawks safety decided a long time ago that he wanted to be like the late Sean Taylor, who broke the mold at the position.
The Patriots and Broncos reloaded last offseason in a free-agent battle for AFC supremacy. The crown was awarded prematurely to the Broncos, who went bust in playoffs.
The 49ers' new head coach is young, just 46, but he has paid his dues in the NFL and in the sport, including a successful stint in Europe. Now he has to follow in the footsteps of Jim Harbaugh.
Everything that Jerry Jones has done as GM to re-make the mediocre Cowboys could be unraveled if he doesn't re-sign his head coach, top assistants and stars Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray.
Recent crimes by NFL players will be problematic.
The Mueller report clears the NFL on the Ray Rice video it may or may not have seen. But knowing about the initial impartiality questions and limited powers, should anyone trust it?
Instead of changing the Rooney Rule after the minority hiring shutout prior to the 2013 season, the NFL gave it support by putting together an advisory committee to recommend a diverse pool.
Adrian Peterson's suit against the NFL is moving through the federal court system and will be heard by Judge David Doty on Feb. 6.
If Andrew Luck hadn't performed magic on a game-breaking touchdown pass in the second half, the Colts and Bengals might still be playing their AFC wild-card game.
Flacco's Ravens go into Heinz Field and transform for the playoffs.
Charley Trippi follows the team, roots for it, and hopes to see it play in the Super Bowl at home.
You don't need a bye to clear a path to the Super Bowl. Half of the last 12 champs came out of wild-card weekend. They did it with quarterback excellence, defense, toughness ... and a lot of luck.
The Cowboys' chances for a deep playoff run took a hit when Ndamukong Suh's suspension was overturned. But Tony Romo and Co. are still up to the challenge.
What is the most attractive of the open positions? The 49ers look pretty good, although Jed York and Trent Baalke had better hope that the ugliness of Jim Harbaugh's departure doesn't taint their search.
The 49ers wasted no time in officially parting ways with Jim Harbaugh Sunday night, after four seasons that included a Super Bowl and three NFC championship game trips.
A five-game losing streak and star players acting immature equals a sloppy finish to the Browns' season. Owner Jimmy Haslam says he won't tear things up and start all over again. But should anyone believe him?
With a broken left hand wrapped and shielded, DeMarco Murray took the ball 22 times, endured the soreness, and helped the Cowboys trash the Colts. Now, does he rest with playoffs ahead?
The Cowboys' DeMarco Murray played with a shield on his left hand and started against the Colts. He scored a second-quarter touchdown to push the Cowboys to a 28-0 lead.
