BALTIMORE — After the Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh told his players that the biggest improvement during the season comes between Weeks 1 and 2.

It’s part of the Harbaugh philosophy, probably handed down from Jack, a former college coach himself, to his sons, Jim and John.

It’s true, which ...Read more

DENVER — Bo Nix searches for the beauty behind the madness of his rookie debut.

The Broncos starting quarterback doesn’t dwell on the two interceptions or throwing for only 138 yards on 42 attempts in the loss to Seattle in Week 1. Nix takes pride in the good moments — even if those were few — with the hope of a better outcome on Sunday...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — DK Metcalf's matchup Sunday with Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain garnered all kinds of online discussion.

There was plenty of analysis of who got the better of the matchup between Metcalf and Surtain, who signed a record-breaking four-year, $96 million deal earlier in the week and guarded Metcalf on 24-of-25 routes Sunday.

...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins have heard it all.

Josh Allen is 11-2 against the you. The Buffalo Bills have beat you 13 of the last 15 games. You haven’t won the AFC East since 2008.

The narrative is pretty clear: the Bills own the Dolphins. Miami, however, can change that come 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday.

“That’s going to be what’s written ...Read more

J.K. Dobbins would never say his triumphant return to the field one year after suffering a torn Achilles was satisfying. The Chargers running back wouldn’t even say that rushing for 135 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 was emotional.

He has bigger plans.

“I knew that’s how hard I worked,” ...Read more

I don’t know that possibilities such as these bring Seattle Seahawks fans delight anymore. The catharsis may be complete when it comes to the man who once wore the crown of Seattle’s most popular athlete.

Personally, a Russell Wilson comeback track seemed fascinating — a storied franchise featuring a stalwart quarterback whose legacy has...Read more

CHICAGO — If the Chicago Bears can reach the kind of success they are aiming for this season, they will be able to look back on a 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans and chalk it up to a number of factors, most prominently an improved roster.

The defense had 10 hits on quarterback Will Levis, the second-most by the Bears since Week 15 of ...Read more

DENVER — The Broncos are preparing as if they will not be facing their old starting quarterback Sunday.

Russell Wilson (calf) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday for Pittsburgh, but head coach Mike Tomlin on Monday indicated the Steelers were proceeding as if Justin Fields would get his second start of the young season with Wilson...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It's only one game, but the rash of injuries suffered by Rams players in their season-opening loss at Detroit harks back to 2022, when the defending Super Bowl-champion Rams were ravaged by injuries that contributed to the worst Super Bowl hangover in NFL history.

On Wednesday, the Rams placed receiver Puka Nacua (knee sprain) ...Read more

ATLANTA — It was a bad first game, which can happen. But what if it was more than that? What if Kirk Cousins wasn’t just rusty? What if he’s really and truly not ready? What then?

Confession: This correspondent isn’t a fan of conspiracy theories. Sometimes a cigar, as the doctor from Vienna suggested, is just a cigar. Sometimes — ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Giants didn’t just fail to score a touchdown in Week 1. They had no offensive identity in their first game pivoting off a Saquon Barkley-centric attack.

What does Brian Daboll, the head coach and play caller, want their identity to be this season?

“Scoring points,” Daboll said Wednesday.

Funny, but Daboll can’t start...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus called Rome Odunze “day to day” as the rookie wide receiver recovers from a sprained MCL in his left knee.

Odunze, the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, stretched with the Bears before practice Wednesday but was not set to participate in individual or team drills after he injured his knee late ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Less than a week ago, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey stood before reporters and with clipped answers said he expected to play against the New York Jets.

McCaffrey met the media again Wednesday and said the same thing about Sunday’s road game in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.

“My mentality is that I’...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — This is the third time in eight months I’m writing a column about Tyreek Hill’s life off the field.

Why is that?

I haven’t written a single column about any other Miami Dolphins player’s headline-making off-field behavior.

But here I am writing about Tyreek once again.

Someone — coach Mike McDaniel, general ...Read more

NEW YORK — In 2014, as the leader of the Packers, Aaron Rodgers famously told Green Bay fans to “relax” after the team got off to a 1-2 start.

Following a disappointing 32-19 drubbing by the 49ers on Monday Night Football to begin the season, the four-time NFL MVP echoed a similar message to Jets fans.

“I always think we have to stay ...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

MIAMI — One of the more well-known Biblical verses hits a bull’s-eye on my sentiments regarding the recent saga the Miami Dolphins are involved in.

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone,” — John 8:7.

Nobody is arguing that Tyreek Hill wasn’t a victim on Sunday’s exchange with police, hours before ...Read more

MIAMI — Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill on Wednesday expressed regret for not immediately following police orders after a traffic stop on Sunday but also called for the dismissal of the police officer who pulled him from his vehicle and handcuffed him after he refused to pull his car window down completely.

At a Wednesday news conference at ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former President Donald Trump continues to associate himself with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany as he seeks to win November’s election.

Patrick, however, said Wednesday he was not going to publicly align himself with either presidential candidate.

During a Wednesday morning interview on Fox ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 2 THURSDAY PICK

BILLS (1-0) at DOLPHINS (1-0)

Line: MIA by 2 1/2.

Cote’s pick: MIA, 27-23.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

The Dolphins are an exceptionally tight-knit team that was given a reason to draw even closer with Sunday’s unnecessary and violently ugly detainment of star Tyreek Hill over a traffic ...Read more