They were there. That’s the thing. Were they there in abundance? Maybe not. But this was the postseason. And the throws it takes to win playoffs games were there to be made.

There was Quez Watkins with a step on man coverage, about to clear the top of the defense with nobody between him in the end zone. There was Jalen Hurts, looking some ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — As he said himself, the writing was on the wall for Ben Roethlisberger entering this season. There was a will-he-or-won’t-he-return story line that loomed over the early portion of the offseason, and with this being the last year on his contract, the exit plan was clear.

But when did the 39-year-old first start down the path of...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ben Roethlisberger did a terrific job Sunday night. Unfortunately for him and the Pittsburgh Steelers, his best work came after the 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs ended his career and the team’s season.

“God has blessed me with an ability to throw a football and blessed me to be able to play in the greatest city ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers traded a combined seven punts in the first quarter of a game that started as a defensive struggle at Arrowhead Stadium.

And it took a second-quarter defensive touchdown by the Steelers to awaken the sleepwalking Chiefs.

After Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt opened the scoring ...Read more

The Niners are advancing in the playoffs.

But not without some trademark stress and puzzling play down the stretch.

The Niners beat the Cowboys 23-17 in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, and will play the Packers next weekend in the divisional round.

It was San Francisco’s first road playoff win since January 2014.

Here were the studs and duds of ...Read more

NFC’s top team Green Bay Packers will host sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field

After holding on to get a road playoff win over a longtime rival in the Cowboys, the 49ers will … head back on the road to face a longtime rival in the Packers.

And while the Dallas-San Francisco rivalry started back in the 1970s, the 49ers rivalry...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Like the team he just beat, the old guy was also one step ahead of the crowd on Sunday.

While players from the Bucs and Eagles were still glad-handing each other at midfield, while fans were still dancing and cheering in the aisles after a rare playoff game at Raymond James Stadium, Bruce Arians made a hustler’s getaway.

With...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Eagles had just forced Tom Brady and the Buccaneers into their third straight three-and-out series as Jalen Reagor settled under a punt early in the third quarter. They trailed, 17-0, but they had more than enough time to mount a comeback as the ball descended from the sky.

The wind at kickoff was officially out of the west ...Read more

The 49ers advanced with a 23-17, wild-card win over the Cowboys to next face the No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Advancing with a playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys never gets old nor boring for the 49ers.

Sunday’s 23-17, wild-card victory came with a hold-your-breath, heart-stopping fourth quarter.

Next up is a trip to ...Read more

As kickoff neared before Super Bowl 50, Von Miller quietly prepared while a boisterous teammate stalked the Denver Broncos locker room.

"Who ready?" cornerback Aqib Talib repeatedly asked. "Who scared?"

Talib went from locker to locker. He stared into the eyes of every player, posing his questions like a mantra as the Broncos readied to play ...Read more

SEATTLE — The headline on a story Sunday morning on NFL.com — the league’s sanctioned website — was catchy.

“Seahawks QB Russell Wilson wants to explore options this offseason,” was the headline emblazoned across the top of a story written by one of the network’s main information reporters, Ian Rapoport.

And as expected, the ...Read more

Jerome Boger and the rest of the officials that worked Saturday night’s Bengals-Raiders game are probably out for the rest of the playoffs, according to an ESPN report Sunday morning.

It’s little consolation to Raiders fans after Saturday night’s debacle. And although leaking to Adam Schefter that Boger’s crew is out for the rest of the...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — The milestones keep looming larger. And grayer.

When the Bucs beat the Eagles 31-15 on Sunday, Tom Brady became the oldest starting quarterback to win a playoff game. He broke the record he set last season. And in 2020.

In fact, there have been only 12 playoff games won by a starting quarterback past the age of 40, and ...Read more

Shaquil Barrett’s interception, which leads to a touchdown, is one of three turnovers forced Sunday.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Shaquil Barrett (knee) was among the many players missing from the Bucs’ starting lineup for the final two games of the regular season.

Well, Shaq is back and so is the Bucs defense.

The Pro Bowl linebacker made a ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Eagles were without top edge rusher Josh Sweat on Sunday as they faced the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC wild-card round.

Sweat was ruled out after he underwent an emergency procedure earlier in the week to address a life-threatening situation, the team announced in a statement.

“On Tuesday...Read more

LOS ANGELES — There are three things in life in this country you can always depend on: death, taxes and sports journalists admonishing the NFL for its lack of Black head coaches.

With the Houston Texans firing David Culley after just one season, the league is now down to a single Black head coach, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Tomlin. And ...Read more

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Saturday night’s AFC wild-card game at Highmark Stadium was never in doubt.

As soon as the Buffalo Bills touched the ball following the opening kickoff, you knew it. The Patriots never stood a chance. For the Pats’ defense, it was a nightmare in Orchard Park, and very similar to the group’s effort, or lack thereof, ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Imagine the regular season as a journey. A vacation, if you will.

You start off with all kinds of hopes and plans. The caravan is gassed up and the schedule stretches out ahead like an invitation to better days.

And then your tight end breaks down.

And a receiver goes missing.

Before you know it, there are leaks in the ...Read more