MINNEAPOLIS — Snoop Dogg threw a lavish Christmas party during halftime at the Vikings game — and he was determined to invite everybody.

The iconic rapper must have known he couldn’t match the star power on display during last year’s Emmy-nominated spectacle from Houston with Beyoncé as the headliner. It would also be impossible to ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly two years to the day after the Detroit Lions snapped a 30-year drought for the division title with a win at Minnesota on Christmas Eve, Detroit's 2025 playoff hopes were officially laid to rest at U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas.

The Lions, who had eight giveaways all season entering Thursday, turned it over six times. ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Until Max Brosmer hit Justin Jefferson for 10 yards on his final completion of Christmas Day, the Vikings had negative net passing yards in their home game with the Lions.

But their defense turned in such a masterpiece, they were able to subsist with almost no production from their offense.

The Vikings forced six turnovers in a...Read more

DENVER — Looking for good health in their holiday stocking, these Broncos have instead received a resounding heap of coal.

On Thursday, the organization placed starting center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve, a major blow to the offensive front as Denver marches into the playoffs. Wattenberg has started all 15 games for the Broncos as the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Omar Khan took over as general manager of the Steelers in the summer of 2023, he had a grand vision for how he wanted to build the roster back into a playoff contender. He wanted to build through the trenches and has followed through on his goal by drafting offensive and defensive linemen in the top rounds of the draft in ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On an early February morning in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people flocked to downtown Kansas City, single-digit wind chills be damned, to converge on a celebration they’d been waiting a lifetime to enjoy.

They arrived from all walks of life, those young and those old, those rich and those poor, those Black and those ...Read more

BALTIMORE — When Alohi Gilman learned that he was being traded to the Ravens in early October, his phone buzzed with a message that made him pause amid the expected chaos from an in-season, cross-country move from Los Angeles to Baltimore.

Jim Harbaugh, a coach who trusted him and pushed the Chargers toward a tougher identity over the past ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — T.J. Watt returned to practice for the Steelers on Christmas Eve, two weeks from the day he sustained a collapsed lung while receiving treatment at the team facility.

Watt was listed as a limited participant Wednesday, and he was with the other outside linebackers and defensive linemen for their individual position drills at the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago Bears game was a breaking point for Jalen Carter.

His shoulders had bothered him since training camp, and on the day the Eagles’ defense was gashed for 281 rushing yards in a Black Friday blackout, Carter’s deficiencies showed on the film, he said. The Eagles even took him off the field on early downs.

There’...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford was voted to the Pro Bowl this season, but the Rams veteran quarterback stopped concerning himself about the recognition more than a decade ago.

In 2011, the then third-year pro passed for more than 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions.

Stafford thought he had a chance to make the NFC roster, but...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker said he has been fined $5,000 apiece for two roughing-the-passer penalties he was issued during Saturday’s 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers.

“I did get a fine, but we’ll see what they say on the appeal,” Booker told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday.

He said he believes ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s not worth fretting over the possible loss of 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh during the next NFL head coaching cycle.

Saleh certainly isn’t. He has been through the process twice: once when he got the Jets job, and last offseason when he spoke with Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Dallas. With the 49ers at ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Powerball jackpot heading into Wednesday night’s drawing is $1.7 billion. To me, that’s “go” time. One of my favorite things to do in the Miami Dolphins locker room when a lottery jackpot is around the $1 billion mark is casually ask well-paid NFL players if they’re planning to buy tickets, whether they’d ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 17 of the NFL season.

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

Last week, Farmer posted a 9-7 (.563) record. Through the first 16 weeks of the season, he is 154-86 (.642).

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

After a great week, a bit of a downturn last week. We’ll begrudgingly take 10-6 straight-up (if we must), but net-losing three more games vs. the betting line won’t cut it. Some good news: Nailed our Upset of the Week with Chargers winning in Dallas (”Aawwk!”), had another outright upset with Seahawks beating Rams, and also had Patriots ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several veteran Chiefs players will not finish the season, the club announced Wednesday.

Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson and wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton have been placed on injured reserve.

All had missed practice this week with injuries, and now they’ll be out for Thursday’s home game ...Read more

BALTIMORE — With the Ravens’ season on the thinnest of ice, the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson for Saturday night’s crucial game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field remains uncertain.

Jackson missed practice for a second straight day Wednesday. The only player not in attendance, he has been dealing with a back injury that ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s career has hit a crossroads in Baltimore.

The team has been in negotiations with Jackson, 28, about an extension to the five-year agreement worth $260 million he signed in April 2023, but there have been no specific updates, even though those discussions are ongoing.

I wouldn’t offer him another ...Read more