There are two immutable truths that govern the NFL playoffs — unwritten rules that cut through the noise of EPA models and talking-head bluster.

Truth No. 1: In January, more games are lost than won.

Truth No. 2: When the margins are tight, trust the sideline with the better head coach and the quarterback.

Often, these truths independently ...Read more

MIAMI — If you routinely find yourself in toxic relationships that lead to heartache and drama at some point we must consider that we might be part of the problem, if not THE PROBLEM.

The most refreshing thing I have learned in the past three months is that the Miami Dolphins organization realizes it has issues — culture problems — that ...Read more

DENVER — Diss is getting ridiculous.

“Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are going to the Super Bowl,” ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark declared on “First Take” on Monday. “Josh Allen showed us once again (against Jacksonville) that he’s Superman.

“Superman is a metahuman. There are no more metahumans in the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — When 11-year-old Sam Salvo woke up on Christmas morning, he was surprised with tickets to the Philadelphia Eagles’ wild-card game. When he woke up on Monday morning, after the Eagles’ loss, he was all over the internet, thanks to his viral postgame rant.

“[When I got the tickets], I didn’t know who they were playing, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have a head coach opening for the first time in 19 years. So, who’s out there?

When the Steelers replaced Bill Cowher in 2007 with Mike Tomlin, they selected a candidate with no ties to Pittsburgh, college playing experience as a wide receiver and one season as an NFL defensive coordinator under his belt at age 34....Read more

LOS ANGELES — Two days after their playoff fiasco at New England, the Chargers achieved something they were unable to do on the field.

They created separation.

That came in the form of firings, with the team parting ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin.

The move came in the wake of yet another one-...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin’s time with the Steelers was one of the more complicated coaching stories that I can remember, and now it is over after Tomlin stepped down as the coach of the Steelers on Tuesday in the wake of the team’s season-ending loss to the Texans.

Tomlin was one of the more steady and consistent coaches in NFL history. We...Read more

BALTIMORE — Mike Tomlin is out in Pittsburgh.

The longtime Steelers coach is leaving the organization after 19 seasons, it was announced Tuesday. The news broke during the Ravens’ end-of-season news conference focused on their firing of longtime coach John Harbaugh, and The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston shared the AFC North development ...Read more

NEW YORK — Mike Tomlin informed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday that he is stepping down as the franchise’s head coach after 19 years in the Steel City.

Now the question is whether Tomlin, 53, prefers to take a TV job or keep coaching in the NFL.

Tomlin is believed to have a Fox contract waiting for him to sign if he chooses to take a ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Atlanta Falcons‘ announcement of their first phone call with John Harbaugh prompted the Giants to shout their interest from the rooftops:

They are all in on the former Baltimore Ravens head coach.

Chris Mara — whose current title in the Giants organization is “senior player personnel executive, board director” — told...Read more

When Joe Alt’s season ended, I wrote off the Chargers in this space, saying they couldn’t reach the Super Bowl. The left tackle’s broken ankle was one monstrous injury too many, the other being right tackle Rayshawn Slater’s season-ending injury in training camp.

A bad offensive line is too much to overcome. It will poison the ...Read more

CHICAGO — Ben Johnson’s “F−−− the Packers” postgame declaration after the Chicago Bears’ wild-card win over Green Bay was fiercely debated on the Monday morning hot take circuit.

Was Johnson a meatball head coach lacking in sportsmanship, or just an honest guy expressing his opinion about a rival he doesn’t like?

The answer, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is stepping down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach after 19 seasons at the helm.

Tomlin informed the team of his decision Tuesday afternoon at a team meeting following Monday night's home playoff loss to the Houston Texans.

"After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles fell from eighth in total offense in 2024 to 24th in 2025. Their historic running game from 2024 fell off despite returning 10 of 11 starters. And in the end, it’s first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo who will face the consequences.

The Eagles announced Patullo had been removed as offensive coordinator ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison was arrested early Monday in Tampa, Fla., and charged with first-degree misdemeanor trespassing.

According to Hillsborough County arrest records, Addison was detained by Seminole Indian Police at 3:46 a.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. He was charged with trespassing in an ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Be it Tom Brady or John Spytek — whichever dials the most important numbers for the Las Vegas Raiders nowadays — one should put a call into Curt Cignetti.

You know, just to check in.

You know, just to take the temperature of the room.

The Las Vegas Raiders need a coach, and Cignetti has proved to be, well, a terrific one. ...Read more

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks' 60-minute stifling of San Francisco two Saturdays ago would suggest this next game is a wrap. An Achilles tear from Niners tight end George Kittle could lull Seattle fans straight into NFC Championship Game talk.

The minus-7.5 point spread you see in the sportsbooks isn't insignificant. Seattle's dominance and ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — “Keep your eyes on Stan Kroenke,” the colorful Cowboys owner said in his familiar Arkansas twang, easing back in his desk chair.

The exchange comes to mind as the Rams celebrate their 10th anniversary Monday of their return to Los Angeles, their audacious relocation closing the book on the weirdest chapter in this city’s ...Read more

CHICAGO — The signs have been there since Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson’s introductory news conference nearly a year ago, when he fired the verbal shot heard ‘round the NFL.

“I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” the former Detroit Lions assistant coach said, referring to the Green Bay Packers coach.

Every new Bears...Read more