KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nearly eight years ago, the Chiefs welcomed a playoff crowd to Arrowhead Stadium on a Saturday in early January. Back then, the place had a little different feel for those games.

The noise and energy were just as ever-present. But the nerves — the feeling of bracing for the worst — had grown as steady as the rationale ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) has been ruled out for the Eagles’ rematch against the New York Giants on Sunday, according to the team’s final injury report released Friday afternoon.

Brandon Graham (not injury related), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (pectoral/injured reserve), center Cam Jurgens (knee), cornerback Adoree’...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fully practiced for the first time this week Friday in Owings Mills. Whether he’ll start Sunday against the Chicago Bears, however, remains up in the air.

“We’ll see where we’re at going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson (hamstring), who was listed as questionable on the final...Read more

NEW YORK — The NFL is fining the Giants, Brian Daboll and Cam Skattebo a combined $315,000 for violating the league’s concussion protocol during the team’s Week 6 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL and NFL players’ association announced jointly that they are assessing a $200,000 fine to the Giants, a $100,000 fine to Daboll and a...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Two of the NFL's flagship franchises take the field Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. Fittingly, both lead their divisions.

The Green Bay Packers have won more championships (13) and games (814) than any team in NFL history. The Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins (six) and conference titles (11) and own the fourth-...Read more

SEATTLE — Typically, the high road offers a more peaceful journey.

It doesn't drag your emotions into the mud. It doesn't flood your mind with thoughts of comebacks or one-ups.

But sometimes — even if it defies your nature — sometimes, you gotta fight back.

For three years former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson stayed quiet while ex...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you see a Dolphins player drive up to Hard Rock Stadium in the cab of a yellow 18-wheeler, rest assured it’s fifth-year defensive tackle Benito Jones.

The 27-year-old Jones is a wide load at 6-foot-1 and a run-stuffing 335 pounds. But more importantly, you should know that Jones owns a trucking and logging company ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In four days, the Chargers defense went from rattled to relentless.

The Minnesota Vikings were the victims, unable to move the ball Thursday night against a unit that looked shaky and unsure of itself in a humbling loss to Indianapolis the prior Sunday.

That, along with the consistently excellent play of quarterback ...Read more

MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa has had a rough couple of weeks.

He created a media firestorm after calling out his teammates’ lateness to player-led meetings. He has thrown six interceptions in two games. And, most recently, he got benched during the Miami Dolphins’ 31-6 lopsided loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Despite the criticism that ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Despite a bone bruise in his left knee, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. plans to start against the Dolphins at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Obviously, at the end of the game, you saw I did get up a little bit slow, but I’ve been feeling good,” Penix said. “Just continuing to get better each and ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants coach Brian Daboll, who is under investigation for violating the NFL’s concussion protocol on the sideline of the Giants’ Week 6 win over the Eagles, was asked Thursday if center John Michael Schmitz is going to a neurologist Friday to get cleared.

“You have to ask the doctors about the concussion protocol,” Daboll ...Read more

Eureka! Do people still shout that word as an exclamation of triumph? Well, I’m bringin’ it back, Jack, after our best all-round week in what’s been a challenging season for picks thus far. I’ll take twin double digits every time, and so 11-4 straight-up is good and 10-5 vs. the betting line is better. Our bounty included Indy’s ...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 7’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 7 RECAP

Bengals 33, Steelers 31: Joe Flacco finished as Week 7’s QB6 with 342 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Pittsburgh. The veteran gunslinger is a solid streaming option the next two games against the Jets and Bears, who are allowing the ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 8 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 10-5 (.667) record. Through the first seven weeks of the season, he is 71-37 (.657).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more

MIAMI — We are not officially past the point of no return, but we’re speed walking toward it.

The Miami Dolphins are a poorly built football team that is injury depleted, error-prone, lacking leadership, and most importantly, toughness.

These problems, which many of us suspected were issues coming into this season, can’t be argued based ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Here's a new topic: Do the Steelers need a No. 2 receiver?

Actually, it is a new topic, at least in this sense: The Steelers defense cannot be trusted, thus making it imperative they double down on offense.

I'm still in shock Mike Tomlin saw fit Tuesday to point out that his defense made a "necessary stop" late in the Bengals ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The words Patrick Mahomes shouted at the line of scrimmage aren’t suitable for publication here. You know that.

He used the F-bomb twice in the span of three words, butchering both the language and our ability to print it. But here’s the gist of the message: Trying to draw the opponent offsides never works.

The faux ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Somewhere through their dueling analysis and misguided words is the hope Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa keep their relationship intact. It won’t be easy while walking the plank the rest of this season.

But their bond has been one of the few good aspects of the past few, disappointing ...Read more

ATLANTA — Former Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, who was released Tuesday, signed with the New York Giants practice squad Wednesday, according to a league source familiar with the transaction.

McCloud played with the Buffalo Bills when current Giants coach Brian Daboll was the offensive coordinator. Also, Chad Hall was with the Bills ...Read more

NEW YORK — The concern over Tom Brady’s roles as the lead analyst on Fox’s NFL coverage and a Raiders minority owner seems to have dissipated.

At least to those who matter most — NFL owners. It was a non-topic at their fall meetings this week.

“You guys have written about that already,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said.

When asked ...Read more