The San Francisco 49ers walked off the field Sunday with a 24-14 victory over Denver and a 4-0 record.

But behind that perfect start lurks a brutal, recurring, nearly tragic nightmare: The 49ers thought they solved their Seattle problem in the offseason. Now they’re beginning Week 5 staring directly into the exact same tactical ditch.

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HOUSTON — He put on his boots, and smiled so wide it could sprain his face to talk to two reporters, because Von Miller is just so happy to be here in this moment.

This is what it looks like to appreciate what you have before it’s gone.

“We came to H-Town and did what we needed to do,” the Cowboys linebacker said after Dallas rallied ...Read more

SEATTLE — “The Seahawks should have paid Kenneth Walker III.”

Given everything, that’s an easy take to make.

Given Walker’s sizzling start in Kansas City — where the 25-year-old leads the NFL in rushing yards (537), rushing yards per game (134.3) and yards per carry (6.2) for the 4-0 Chiefs. Given the chest injury and fumbled first...Read more

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after former Chicago Bears linebacker Otis Wilson got into an altercation with security at Soldier Field following Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, according to authorities and media reports.

In a statement to the Chicago Tribune, Monterrey Security — which provides security at all stadium ...Read more

One of my favorite fantasy football rules is also one of the easiest to violate: Draft for value and figure out the lineup later.

That philosophy is how I ended up with Brock Bowers and Dalton Kincaid on one roster this season, then Trey McBride and George Kittle on another.

I didn’t enter either draft intending to collect tight ends like ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The greatest and most important Eagles player of the last 30 years left clues like breadcrumbs along the path of his career — clues about the weight he bore in his heart and mind, clues about the emotional and physical pain he overcame just to play professional football, clues that in time became confessions. Here was one:

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PHILADELPHIA — Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ two-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl right tackle, announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons on Tuesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old Johnson took to social media to thank the city of Philadelphia, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles organization and his teammates. He noted that right now...Read more

The NFL Referees Association says the suspensions handed out by the league to two game officials this week went too far and that it will attempt to get them reduced.

On Monday, the NFL issued a two-game suspension for line judge Jeff Seeman and a one-game suspension for referee Adrian Hill for separate instances of "unprofessional conduct ...Read more

SEATTLE — The Seahawks are not expected to sign veteran running back Joe Mixon after he underwent a physical Monday, The Seattle Times has confirmed.

ESPN originally reported Tuesday that the team would not sign Mixon.

The Seahawks brought Mixon, a two-time Pro Bowl running back in a career dating to 2017, in for a workout on Monday and had ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Denver Broncos are good. But not good enough.

Dre Greenlaw reminded them of this sobering fact Sunday. On his first tackle and with last words. He celebrated by pointing at Sean Payton, and providing his unsolicited opinion to the coach after the San Francisco 49ers’ 24-14 victory at Levi’s Stadium.

“I love ...Read more

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — That, in case you forgot after that sunny Super Bowl run and dreary start to this season, is what Mike Vrabel-led teams do.

They punch up.

They connect on the jaws of giants, uppercutting again and again until the best teams and players in football topple over like they did Sunday. Josh Allen threw an interception on his...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Lip readers on social media had a field day with some of the animated and expletive-filled outbursts by Pittsburgh Steelers players in Cleveland this past Thursday night.

But they didn’t need to read lips when quarterback Aaron Rodgers screamed at coach Mike McCarthy to get the plays in quicker. His profanity was picked up by ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Every great team needs a thing.

It needs a thing it can do better than anything else.

What is that thing for the Eagles?

Where should they turn when nothing is working? When the injuries accumulate? When the score tightens? When the offense as a whole looks lost?

There are lots of things that might explain the Eagles’ 24-...Read more

SEATTLE — Veteran running back Joe Mixon is expected to sign to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad assuming he passes a physical, a source confirmed, adding depth to a position that is dealing with some injury concerns.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald confirmed during his Monday afternoon news conference that the team had Mixon in for a ...Read more

CHICAGO — Tyson Bagent will start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, coach Ben Johnson announced Monday during his weekly radio spot on WMVP-AM 1000.

In an interview with Bears play-by-play voice Jeff Joniak, Johnson said Bagent would be “the guy” Sunday at Lambeau Field. Last week Johnson didn�...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Freakish start, familiar finish.

The first NFL game to open with back-to-back interceptions ended Sunday with another loss by the Los Angeles Chargers, who are 0-4 and still searching for answers.

The 30-23 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks didn't feel as close as the final score suggests, as quarterback Justin Herbert took a ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II is believed to have avoided a serious injury after missing the second half of the Broncos’ game on Sunday, multiple sources told The Denver Post.

The three-time All-Pro defensive back suffered a non-contact injury at the end of the first half in the Broncos’ loss to the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson remains day-to-day after injuring his left ankle in Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans, coach Jesse Minter said Monday afternoon in Owings Mills, Md.

Jackson underwent an MRI on Monday, though Minter did not provide specifics on the results.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player ...Read more

Tyreek Hill once was a superstar receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl and making six Pro Bowls during his six seasons with the team.

While that was several years ago at this point, it appears that Hill and the Chiefs have mutual interest in a possible reunion.

The Chiefs have a void at wide receiver. Fifth-year player ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The emotions of Kansas City Chiefs fans changed in a split second Sunday.

When Patrick Mahomes completed a 55-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 30-27 win over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, there was joy.

But Thornton didn’t get up. And then he pointed at his foot.

“...Read more