CHICAGO — Certainly Ryan Poles knows the cameras are everywhere, his every move being watched. Analyzed. Interpreted. Debated.

Before Monday’s road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Poles was doing his usual pregame speed-walk around the perimeter of the field when he crossed paths with Justin Fields, who was on his way to the locker ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — After Sunday’s shutout loss to the Chargers, the Patriots became the first NFL team in 85 years to lose three straight games while allowing 10 or fewer points in each outing.

The Pats have reached historic levels of offensive futility, despite a recent change at quarterback. Backup Bailey Zappe went 13-of-25 for 141 yards ...Read more

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Kansas City Chiefs have left themselves little for error if they hope to land the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

For now, at least, KC is the conference’s No. 4 seed following Sunday night’s 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Miami (9-3), Baltimore (9-3) and Jacksonville (8-3) aren’t far ahead, but they�...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The opportunity was right there for the Rams.

Riding a modest two-game winning streak, a team written off by many before the season began, had played its way into playoff contention.

And with the injury-riddled Cleveland Browns visiting SoFi Stadium on Sunday — ancient quarterback Joe Flacco was signed off the street and ...Read more

The 49ers deployed their offensive weaponry in a big way Sunday in a no-doubt 42-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, punking the defending NFC champions in their own yard.

Yet none in the cavalcade of stars — Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk — shone as brightly as Deebo Samuel.

The same Samuel who unabashedly...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs had just lost the lead to the Carolina Panthers, the worst team in the NFL, and the season was about to disappear with it.

Then receiver Mike Evans put on a cape, and Superman flew into the end zone.

After catching a pass on a post route from Baker Mayfield, Evans turned it into a 75-yard touchdown reception, going ...Read more

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — First he was booming. Then he was beaming.

That was the glorious Sunday of Chargers punter JK Scott.

Eight punts — one with surgical precision — and zero return yards by the New England Patriots.

“That was fun,” said the 6-foot-5 Scott, standing in the middle of a raucous locker room with an irrepressible smile....Read more

Initial thoughts from Broncos’ 22-17 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 13 on Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium:

Have fans, will travel: It should be no surprise that the very first shot of Sunday’s game featured a whole lot of orange. Even after years of ineptitude, a bungled ownership succession plan and mountains of disappointment, Broncos...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — With the offense chugging along, the Falcons’ defense came up with some key stops to help defeat the Jets 13-8 on Sunday on a rain-soaked field at MetLife Stadium.

The defense came up with a late fumble and turnover over on downs to preserve the one-score lead in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons improved to 6-6, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers were blown out by a 2-10 rebuilding team with a rookie head coach, lost three starters to injury — including their No. 1 quarterback — and fell another half-game behind the resting Ravens for the AFC North lead while the Colts and Texans won to gain ground in the playoff hunt.

But on the bright side, the entire ...Read more

LANDOVER, Md. — The Dolphins were well aware of how the final month of last year’s regular season played out. A string of five straight losses turned an 8-3 start into a nerve-wracking finish, needing a win — and help — in the regular-season finale just to sneak into the playoffs.

Days before Miami embarked on this year’s December ...Read more

NEW ORLEANS — The Detroit Lions forced two takeaways, didn't turn the ball over once and jumped out to a three-score lead before some fans even reached their seats. Still, it was barely enough. The New Orleans Saints pieced together a furious comeback effort in the second half before falling just short Sunday at the Superdome, 33-28.

The ...Read more

BALTIMORE — The Ravens locker room has housed its share of big personalities over the years — Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs, to name a few. This year isn’t much different when looking down the roster and to all corners of the expansive and mostly rectangular space inside the team’s sprawling practice facility in Owings Mills.

...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In one respect, C.J. Stroud cares very deeply. Witness his success as a record-breaking rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans.

In another respect, Stroud cares not at all.

"Some people develop it at a young age, where you're not concerned with other people's opinions," said Jordan Palmer, widely regarded as a top ...Read more

Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I'm here weekly to assist.

On DraftKings, it's important to remember you're playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player surpasses 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.

Here is my optimal lineup for Sunday's $2.75 million ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The most intriguing short-term question confronting the 2023 Chiefs is whether their postseason path will once more roll exclusively through GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The more intriguing long-term question is whether future seasons will roll through Arrowhead Stadium at all.

The common thread between the two? It’s...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The analytics I have seen give the Steelers anywhere between a 72 and 76% chance to make the playoffs. I have never understood those numbers as they just seem like guessing, but hey, the people who put together advanced numbers are much smarter than me.

That being said, here is my number breakdown based on my vast knowledge of ...Read more

NEW YORK — On Thursday, Aaron Rodgers and the beat writers who cover the Jets met for an off-camera interview inside the team’s Florham Park training facility.

Before the 24-minute conversation, Rodgers commented on my “Masters of the Universe” T-shirt and the superstar quarterback expressed his love for both that ’80s classic cartoon...Read more

The NFL’s most famous play might also be its most straightforward.

And on Sunday, when the 49ers play the Eagles, it’s must-see TV.

You can call the play the Tush Push, the Brotherly Shove, or, simply, the Eagles’ quarterback sneak.

But no matter the moniker, Philadelphia has run it so often and so effectively that there have been calls...Read more

DENVER — While Sean Payton got big money from the crazy-rich Waltons to coach the Broncos, DeMeco Ryans won the coaching sweepstakes by landing the better job in Houston.

Although the Broncos and Texans bring identical 6-5 records to a game Sunday with huge playoff implications for this season, which of these teams is closer to winning the ...Read more