TAMPA, Fla. — The questions no longer matter. The answers are starting to sound the same.

One week, the key word is execution.

Another week, it’s adversity.

On Sunday, the theme was finishing.

And the common thread is despair.

“We have no more margin for error,” head coach Todd Bowles said solemnly.

Yes, the Buccaneers lost again ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — There are more than a few areas where Mike McCarthy’s influence can be noticed in the Steelers’ 4-2 start. His coaching in Sunday’s overtime win against the Buccaneers, however, did not contain many.

After pushing most of the right buttons over the past few weeks, McCarthy made a handful of questionable decisions, and the...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Other than the missing 23 carats of diamonds, the replica Super Bowl LVI rings fans received on Sunday at SoFi Stadium looked like the real thing.

That’s more than the Rams can claim.

The team that opened the season as the overwhelming favorite to win Super Bowl LXI continued to look like a cheap imitation.

They did not ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bruised, battered and beaten, the Chargers limped into their bye week with a sixth straight defeat, starting a season that held so much promise in the heady days of July and August but now, in mid-October, seems like a lost cause.

Their 22-6 loss Sunday to the Chiefs was another exercise in futility.

The opening minutes ...Read more

ATLANTA — Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson pulled his defensive starters early in the fourth quarter Sunday and then watched the Atlanta Falcons score 16 straight points to pull within one score.

The Falcons got the ball back with 3 minutes, 34 seconds on the clock, at which point Johnson needed a big play from his defense.

He got one in the ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Steelers overcame a 16-3 second-half deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-19, in overtime Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Aaron Rodgers completed seven of eight passes and threw a 6-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Germie Bernard on the first possession of overtime to put the Steelers in front. They ended the game...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — This wasn’t Rocky Balboa triumphantly running up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. This was more like a team cautiously walking up the steps and keeping its head on the swivel the whole way.

Nevertheless, the Carolina Panthers were able to escape Philadelphia Sunday afternoon with a 25-14 win.

The Panthers D mostly ...Read more

CLEVELAND — It happened again.

For the second time this season, the Ravens couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead, this time against the Browns.

Leading 10-3, running back Derrick Henry fumbled, and Cleveland methodically marched 35 yards in seven plays, with Audric Estime scoring on a 2-yard run to tie the game. Two possessions later, with ...Read more

NEW YORK — John Harbaugh benched Cam Skattebo for fumbling. Then the Giants gave the ball away four times anyway in a 34-27 loss to the Saints on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

But they might have found something with J.J. McCarthy. The young quarterback nearly led a miracle comeback in an electric fourth quarter that fell just short.

McCarthy ...Read more

DENVER — Bo Nix has become No Nix.

He is not Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. That would represent progress.

He is Dr. Heckle and Mr. “Pull the covers over your head and” Hide.

The way Nix is playing has gone from unrecognizable to nonfunctional. He has posted three of his five lowest career passing yardage marks this season. The Broncos ran 29...Read more

SEATTLE — After throwing two more interceptions in the Seattle Seahawks’ second straight loss, Sam Darnold was asked Thursday to identify the biggest difference between this season and last. Understandably, the 29-year-old quarterback side-stepped the question, offering only that “I’m not going to compare last year and this year. It’s ...Read more

DENVER — Forgive Jonathon Cooper, if you like. Just don’t forget. The way that you wonder if the Broncos, from owners Carrie Walton Penner and husband Greg to Sean Payton, might be about to forget.

“Strangulation with hypoxia and traumatic brain injury.”

“Patient experienced physical injury.”

“Substantial risk of death … a ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears had hoped all week that Caleb Williams would be available to play Sunday, and that’s going to happen.

The quarterback will return to start against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after missing three games with a right hamstring injury.

Coach Ben Johnson was upbeat about the possibility Williams ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are placing Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of a superficial blood clot in his calf, the team announced on Saturday afternoon.

Hurts, the 28-year-old quarterback, must miss at least the next four games, sidelining him until Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at a minimum. However, the Eagles have not set ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Though not part of an NFL punter’s official job description, Ethan Evans was on the phone seeking information again this week.

Evans called players who were holders for new Los Angeles Rams kicker Blake Grupe in New Orleans and Indianapolis.

“I was like, ‘Hey, what do I need to know about him?’” Evans said. “‘Is ...Read more

DENVER — All he does is make playoff quarterbacks pay. So why won’t the Broncos pay Ja’Quan McMillian?

“He’s checking everything, getting us in the right calls. A lot of stuff in our defense, we wouldn’t be able to do it without J-Mac,” Broncos cornerback Riley Moss told me after another woolly night at Empower Field led to a 17-...Read more