CHICAGO — The Arlington Heights Village Board on Monday night signed off on an agreement that establishes what the Chicago Bears would pay in property taxes, a significant step that clears the way for a potential new stadium in the northwest suburb, even though team officials say they remain focused on seeking a new arena in Chicago.

The ...Read more

DENVER — Pat Swilling knows what’s coming next. He knows Sean Payton has found the Frank James to his Jesse, the Bonnie to his Clyde. He knows that when he sees Bo Nix, he sees a young man who’ll tear the heart from your chest while wishing you a Merry Christmas.

He knows the AFC is in trouble.

“Let me tell you something: You’re ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — When Saquon Barkley signed a three-year deal to join the Eagles in the offseason, LeSean McCoy had a hunch that the 27-year-old running back would hurdle his franchise single-season rushing record this very year.

Turns out, he could backward-hurdle it, too.

Just 13 games into the season, Barkley eclipsed the Eagles record of 1...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy is charged with distributing the ball to the San Francisco 49ers’ still-plentiful array of offensive weapons. On Tuesday, he threw disgruntled wide receiver Deebo Samuel his full support.

“I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could,” Purdy said. “I want to have him break all the records as ...Read more

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has become the latest star athlete to have his home broken into during a game.

The burglary happened Monday night at Burrow’s residence in Anderson Township, Ohio, while the quarterback was in Texas facing off against the Dallas Cowboys for “Monday Night Football.”

According to the Hamilton ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford made NFL history several times this season, moving into the top 10 in career yards passing, completions and touchdowns.

On Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams' quarterback won't be chasing a record but he could achieve a personal milestone of sorts.

Stafford has not had a pass intercepted ...Read more

Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — For a change, maybe the Steelers know how the Cleveland Browns must feel.

One day after handing the Browns their 21st consecutive regular-season defeat in Pittsburgh, the Steelers get ready to embark on the most difficult three-game test of the season that begins in Philadelphia — a city where they haven't won since before ...Read more

GLENDALE, Ariz. — As the hometown fans cleared out of State Farm Stadium, the visiting team had cleared a path toward the playoffs.

The phrase "C" Red was painted on the northeast wall, but it was chants of "Sea-hawks" that reverberated throughout the building.

In its most critical game of the season thus far, the Seahawks showed that not ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Less than 24 hours after the Eagles won their ninth consecutive game, the tone and topics of Nick Sirianni's day-after press conference were that of a team that, despite being 11-2, did not look the part of a serious Super Bowl contender during its 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

What's up with the ...Read more

ATLANTA — Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Kirk Cousins is still the starting quarterback. I don’t believe Morris should bench Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix. Cousins has been bad for a month, but Penix is too green. Add this circumstance to the list of reasons why it was a bad idea for the Falcons to draft Penix No. 8 ...Read more

Was the San Francisco 49ers’ win on Sunday a one-off or a trend that can carry the 49ers for the remainder of the season?

It’s a fair question after the 49ers — a team that had lost three straight games, with the last two coming on a 73-20 margin — put together arguably the best half in franchise history against the Bears on Sunday, out...Read more

SEATTLE — The pause might have said more than Mike Macdonald did.

After polishing a fourth consecutive win in a streak-filled season, the 37-year-old coach was asked how the Seahawks benefited from a revived running game.

"I thought, one, we had a great plan. Hats off to the offensive line. I thought they blocked their tails off," Macdonald ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The message came from all four corners of the Steelers' locker room at Acrisure Stadium early Sunday evening, Pittsburgh's players sharing a consistent thought as it pertained to their 27-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

This was not a get-back week, they insisted.

It was more of a get-right type of effort.

By whatever ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — An MRI on Monday morning revealed quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his knee Sunday in the Raiders’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

That means, depending on how O’Connell’s knee responds this week, there’s a chance he can play in his team’s ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ habit of bringing back former players continued on Monday with the signing of cornerback Steven Nelson to the practice squad.

Nelson was a third-round draft choice of the Chiefs in 2015 and spent four years in Kansas City. He then played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one with the ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The worst is true for Jonathon Brooks and the Carolina Panthers.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday that Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee, ending the rookie running back’s season and confirming the devastating suspicions of all who saw him fall to the ground without getting hit in the first half...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs lived their same charmed life Sunday night — while somehow finding a new ridiculous way to win one in the end.

This time, kicker Matthew Wright clinched the game with a 31-yard field goal that was anything but easy. Tailing left, the kick with no time left clanged off the left upright, but still ...Read more

MIAMI — Let’s flashback to the year 2010.

Toy Store 3 was the most popular movie in America, people were still using Blackberry phones and the New York Jets actually had a winning football team.

Those were good times for Jets fans, unlike the last 14 years.

The Jets (3-10) were a longshot to make the playoffs before Sunday’s game ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — So maybe this Rams team is better than average.

Perhaps coach Sean McVay finally has them on track to win the NFC West.

And, dare we posit it: A deep playoff run?

It’s all out there for the Rams, who went from marginal-all-season to mostly magnificent for a day with a 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in front ...Read more