Defending Super Bowl champion Rams open season as underdogs
Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams will raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night before kicking off the NFL season at home where they became the second straight team to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy in their own stadium.
Mahomes leads Chiefs to 42-21 wild-card romp over Steelers
Patrick Mahomes threw for 404 yards and five touchdowns, Travis Kelce caught a TD pass and threw another one, and the Chiefs sent Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into his expected retirement with a 42-21 win in the wild-card round of the playoffs Sunday night.
Chiefs take playoff experience into Sunday night vs Steelers
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, Tyreek Hill was a wide-eyed rookie wide receiver, Chris Jones was learning the ropes at defensive tackle and Travis Kelce was just becoming one of the NFL's best tight ends.
Mixon runs for career-high 165 yards, Bengals crush Steelers
Joe Mixon rushed for a career-high 165 yards and two touchdowns, Joe Burrow scrambled ran for a score and passed for another one and the Cincinnati Bengals crushed the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-10, sweeping the season series for the first time since 2009.
Steelers, Roethlisberger agree to new deal for 2021 season
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, in this Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, file photo. Ben Roethlisberger is returning for an 18th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is taking a pay cut to do it. The team and the two-time Super Bowl winner announced on Thursday, March 4, 2021, they have agreed on a new contract that assures the 39-year-old will be back in 2021. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen, File)PITTSBURGH โ Ben Roethlisberger is returning for an 18th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is taking a pay cut to do it. NFL Network, citing anonymous sources, said Roethlisberger's new deal will essentially pay him $14 million this season and adds four voidable years to spread out the dead money.
Steelers planning on Roethlisberger's return in 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, late Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Don Wright)PITTSBURGH โ The Pittsburgh Steelers plan on having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back for an 18th season. Team president Art Rooney II released a statement Wednesday saying he and Roethlisberger have met to figure out a way to ease the financial pressure caused by Roethlisberger's contract. The Steelers are facing a serious cap crunch and have already started to overhaul the coaching staff and the roster. AdStill, Rooney expressed optimism the door for the Steelers to remain competitive during Roethlisberger's long tenure remains open.
The Latest: Big West hoops tournaments banning spectators
(AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Big West Conference will hold its menโs and womenโs basketball tournaments without spectators, including family and guests of the teams. The Big Westโs board of directors decided to start the season without fans in attendance. AdPelicans officials say they are hoping to allow as many as 4,000 fans per game later this season. The Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers have been permitted to have a limited number of fans at games during the pandemic. AdThe governor said about 1,700 to 1,800 fans should be allowed to attend Devils games under the new rules.
Twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey retire from NFL
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, right, and his brother, Los Angeles Chargers center Mike Pouncey pose after playing against each other in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)PITTSBURGH โ Mike and Maurkice Pouncey came into the world together. โTo my big brother Mike Pouncey thank you for always pushing me to be the best,โ Maurkice Pouncey posted on Instagram. AdPlaying with a mix of athleticism and ferocity, Maurkice Pouncey developed a reputation as one of the league's most potent blockers. Mike Pouncey was limited to five games in 2019 and didn't play at all in 2020 after undergoing hip surgery in September.
Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)TAMPA, Fla. โ Seconds after linebacker Devin White intercepted a pass in the end zone, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians started doling out hugs. Arians unplugged his headset, slipped on a Super Bowl championship hat and braced for the traditional Gatorade shower. Together, Arians and the 43-year-old Brady helped Tampa Bay win its first championship in 18 years and cemented their spot in the franchise history books. He took a year off and worked in television before returning to the NFL with Tampa Bay โ joining a young team he saw as full of potential. His biggest coup was landing Brady, who engineered yet another masterpiece and won his seventh Super Bowl after six titles with the Patriots.
Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. โ Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wonโt be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, heโs shown in his first season with the Bucs that heโs still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff success
Brady is shooting for his seventh ring when he leads the Buccaneers (14-5) against the reigning champion Chiefs (16-2) in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. Brady's postseason record includes a 33-11 mark, 14 conference championship appearances and 10 trips to the Super Bowl. If the Bucs dethrone the champs, Mahomes would become the sixth quarterback Brady has beaten multiple times in the playoffs. Although heโs not showing his age, 43, Brady will be the oldest to play in a Super Bowl, displacing Colts kicker Matt Stover, who was 42 in Super Bowl 44. Unlike Warner, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself and talk about anything but the Super Bowl title in front of him.
Mahomes the rare quarterback with no weakness
In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) speaks during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. In his short time as a starting quarterback, Mahomes has put together perhaps the best three-year stretch of play the game has ever seen. That would make the 25-year-old Mahomes the youngest quarterback ever with two Super Bowl wins, reaching the mark a year before Brady and Ben Roethlisberger both did. Tampa Bay cut its blitz by more than half in the first meeting when Mahomes gashed the Bucs for 462 yards and three TDs. Mahomes also thrives on corner and go routes as his strong arm helps him make some of the more difficult throws.
Colts QB Rivers, 39, retires from NFL after 17 seasons
โEvery year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,โ Rivers said in a statement posted on the teamโs website. โIt is St. Sebastianโs Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, Iโm announcing my retirement from the National Football League. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.โRivers was one of a kind. In the 2006 season opener, Rivers made his starting debut โ and then the next 251 in a row including the playoffs. โMy son never did throw a big ball like I did at that age and he throws it the exact same way,โ Rivers said.
Top cornerbacks standing out on NFL's Super Bowl hopefuls
Nearly every team still vying for the Super Bowl has an elite cornerback often capable of shutting down an opponent's top receiver all by himself. The NFC playoff bracket has three of the conference's four Pro Bowl cornerbacks: Green Bay's Jaire Alexander, Los Angeles' Jalen Ramsey and New Orleans' Marshon Lattimore. Staley's scheme has employed Ramsey in multiple roles throughout the season, and his job often changes from play to play. Oddly enough, the remaining playoff team perceived to have the least dominant cornerbacks is defending champion Kansas City, the favorite to make it back to the Super Bowl. โSome of the best cornerbacks happen to play on the best teams, thatโs all I can say,โ Bills safety Micah Hyde said.
The Latest: ACC postpones women's top-five matchup
Also, Thursday nightโs Southeastern Conference womenโs basketball game featuring No. 12 Kentucky at Auburn has been postponed because of positive tests, contact tracing and quarantining within the Tigersโ program. ___Georgetown has canceled its menโs basketball game against DePaul on Wednesday night, citing a COVID-19-related issue with the program. Also, offensive line coach Bill Callahan returned to the team after being one of four assistants sidelined by the virus. He missed last weekโs game as well with coronavirus, along with Ward, Johnson, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and four assistant coaches.
Same old Browns? Hardly. Cleveland drills Steelers 48-37
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates as he walks off the field following a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. The Cleveland Browns overcame all of it. The Browns dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in the wild-card round Sunday night, picking up the franchiseโs first postseason victory in more than a quarter-century and earning a trip to Kansas City next Sunday to face the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The kick bounced into the end zone for a touchback and Mayfield calmly took Cleveland 80 yards in six plays. So much for the Browns being the Browns, a winking assessment Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster made about Cleveland in the middle of the week.
Brady and Bucs, plus Bills and Rams win NFL wild-card games
The first tripleheader of NFL wild-card games saw Tom Brady extend his postseason record for victories to 31 with a 31-23 win for Tampa Bay at Washington on Saturday. After a quarter-century, the Bills got one of those triumphs that Brady collects โ and they even figured out how to stop a Hail Mary. The previous playoff win was over Miami on Dec. 30, 1995. And it came in the Billsโ first home playoff game in 24 years, with a limited number of fans in attendance (6,700) for the first time this season. The Ravens averaged an NFL-best 191.9 yards rushing per game and their 3,071 yards rushing were third highest in NFL history.
Big weekend for longtime safety Will Allen's former teams
Led by Tom Brady, the Buccaneers (11-5) are in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 when Allen played safety for them. On Monday night, Ohio State (7-0) faces Alabama (12-0) for the national championship. And then itโs the best team that doesnโt make mistakes.โAs for the Steelers, Allen views Ben Roethlisberger as a difference-maker. โ(They have to) not be nervous, not be scared,โ Allen said of Ohio State. They havenโt thrown to the tight end in three or four years at Ohio State.
Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC
While the Chiefs get another weekโs rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.
The Latest: Another postponement for No. 25 FSU men's hoops
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Positive COVID-19 tests have knocked Stefanski out of Cleveland's wild-card game at Pittsburgh on Sunday night the Browns' first playoff appearance since the 2002 season. 25 Florida Stateโs visit to Pittsburgh scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to following COVID-19 testing issues within the Seminoles program. The Creighton women have paused team activities and postponed three games because of a recent positive COVID-19 test result. ___The Tulsa-Central Florida menโs basketball game scheduled for Saturday at Tulsa has been postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests and subsequent contact tracing among UCF athletes.
Tom Brady excited, ready to lead Buccaneers into playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football practice Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. โ New team, same ole Tom Brady. Brady led New England to the Super Bowl nine times in 20 seasons, appearing in 41 playoff games and winning 30 โ both records. โWhen he first signed I said, โOK, weโll be a 40 (touchdown) and 10 (interception) team,โโ Arians said. โItโs a never-ending thing with him, the perfectionist, to get everything right in practice,โ Arians added.
Browns end long playoff drought, survive late Steelers rally
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates after the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. The Browns, winless just three seasons ago and so bad for so long, are in the playoffs. The Browns and their passionate fan base endured 197 losses, 14 double-digit-loss seasons and seven coaches since the last playoff appearance. For the moment he got to Cleveland in 2018, Landry's goal was to get the Browns back to the postseason. Steelers: Will be back at full strength for their first playoff appearance since the 2017 season.
The Latest: Steelers place Haden, Ebron, Marsh on COVID list
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Shell had a close contact with someone who tested positive but that Shell had tested negative. Carroll said on Friday the team was still trying to determine if Shell would need to go on the COVID list. ___A second Cleveland Browns coach has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team's big game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wide receivers coach Chad OโShea previously tested positive and will be replaced by team chief of staff Callie Brownson. Goodson and Malcolm Smith, safety Andrew Sendejo and tight end Harrison Bryant will miss the Steelers game after testing positive.
Browns lose CB Ward for Steelers game after positive test
If they win, the Browns (10-5) will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and end the NFL's longest current playoff drought. But the Browns will now be missing their best defensive back and at least two other defensive starters. While Ward is lost for at least this week, the Browns did get back star Jarvis Landry and three other receivers who missed last week's game. Not only will he miss the Steelers game, but he could also be out of Cleveland's first-round playoff matchup โ assuming the Browns get there. The Browns were getting ready to leave for the New York area on Saturday when Goodson's test came back positive.
The Latest: 2 Temple basketball games postponed due to virus
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___A positive COVID-19 test and ensuing contact tracing at Temple have postponed the Owlsโ next two basketball games. The reserve/COVID list was created for a player has tested positive test or has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person. The move came after the team stopped all in-person work at its practice facility and reported a positive COVID-19 test. ___Middle Tennessee has postponed a pair of basketball games at Florida Atlantic because of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the Blue Raidersโ program. ___The Atlanta Falcons have stopped all in-person work at their practice facility after a positive COVID-19 test.
Browns add 2 more players to crowded COVID-19 reserve list
The Cleveland Browns added starting safety Andrew Sendejo and rookie tight end Harrison Bryant to their lengthy COVID-19 list, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)CLEVELAND โ With their biggest game in years just days away, the Cleveland Browns added two more players to their lengthy COVID-19 list. Starting safety Andrew Sendejo and rookie tight end Harrison Bryant were placed on the list Tuesday, giving Cleveland eight players on the list. It's not yet known if Sendejo or Bryant tested positive for the virus or if they had close contact with an infected person. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has been vigilant about keeping his players safe and following NFL and team guidelines.
Chiefs lead AP Pro32 poll; Packers up to No. 2, Bills No. 3
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay (50) reacts next to Atlanta Falcons' Luke Stocker (88) after Falcons place kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 39-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)NEW YORK โ Despite winning 10 in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs have been just barely getting by in recent games. And the Chiefs' lead has also narrowed a bit atop the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Chiefs received 10 of 12 first-place votes for 381 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL. โBut winning in Kansas City, with or without a full house, is going to be difficult.โThe Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills flipped spots again after routs in prime time.
Steelers to sit Roethlisberger for finale against Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)PITTSBURGH โ The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to let Ben Roethlisberger rest up for the playoffs. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger will not play when the AFC North champion Steelers (12-3) visit rival Cleveland (10-5) in the regular-season finale on Sunday. The Browns drilled the Steelers 21-7 on Nov. 14, 2019, a game in which Rudolph threw four interceptions. Garrett's first game against the Steelers this season was uneventful, a 38-7 Pittsburgh win on Oct. 18 in which Rudolph actually came on in mop-up duty of Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter.
Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) makes a catch past Indianapolis Colts cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. And even as the Steelers spent the first half against Indianapolis seemingly in a full-out sprint to get to the offseason as quickly as possible. It revived Pittsburgh's floundering season and delivered the Steelers the AFC North title. The defense kept Philip Rivers, rookie running back Jonathan Taylor and Indianapolis out of the end zone in the second half. โWhen we had everything to play for, we just didnโt have all the answers in the second half of a game we had to have.
Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win. After winning their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history, the Steelers were upset at home two weeks ago against Washington. The last team to start 11-0 and then lose three straight was the 1969 Rams in a 14-game season. The losing skid carried over to the playoffs with a 23-20 loss to Minnesota, a fate the Steelers would obviously like to avoid. Jackson leads the way with 828 yards rushing and seven TDs with Murray having 741 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Bengals ride big first half to shocking win over Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals' Carl Lawson (58) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)CINCINNATI โ Giovani Bernard scored two first-half touchdowns after turnovers and the Cincinnati Bengals held on to stun the badly slumping Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 on Monday night. The Bengals led 17-0 at halftime and survived a rally by the Steelers, who lost their third straight after 11 consecutive wins to start the season. The Bengals held Roethlisberger to 19 passing yards in the first half. Bernard had 25 carries for 83 yards as the Bengals stuck to a ground-heavy approach with Finley under center.
Chiefs lead AP Pro32 poll; Packers at No. 2, Bills at No. 3
The Chiefs took a 30-10 lead against Miami and held on for a 33-27 victory. The Chiefs clinched their fifth straight AFC West title with the victory and are the unanimous No. โIs there anybody in the NFC that can beat them?โAnd the surging Buffalo Bills also moved up two places to No. The Packers, who have clinched the NFC North, will host the Carolina Panthers and the Bills will head to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Saints will try to avoid a two-game skid as they host the Chiefs on Sunday.
Bills improve to 10-3 with 26-15 win over sloppy Steelers
(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes )ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. โ Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and safety Taron Johnson returned an interception 51 yards for a score in the Buffalo Bills' 26-15 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. You come to play with a little extra fire.โSmith-Schuster and the Steelers weren't asked about what happened following the game. The Steelers also finished with 47 yards rushing despite the return of James Conner, who missed the past two games on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The game was decided midway through the fourth quarter after Buffaloโs Tyler Bass hit a 23-yard field goal to put the Bills up 26-15. Roethlisberger finished 21 of 37 for 187 yards with touchdown passes to Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster and two interceptions.
Chiefs regain top spot in AP Pro32 poll; Steelers at No. 3
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) stands on the sideline during the final minute of the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)NEW YORK โ Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are No. After holding off the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs moved up a spot and regained the top place in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Pittsburgh Steelers slipped from the top spot to No. The Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts, tied for the top spot in the AFC South, round out the top 10.
Surprise! Washington ends Pittsburgh's perfect season 23-17
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington (13) celebrates with JuJu Smith-Schuster after scoring on a 50-yard pass play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)PITTSBURGH โ The Pittsburgh Steelers spent three months shaking off whatever 2020 threw at them. pointing out time and again the only thing perfect about them was their record. Washington won the Super Bowl that season. The Bills beat the Steelers โ minus Roethlisberger โ 17-10 at Heinz Field last December to lock up a playoff berth.
Unbeaten Steelers focusing on Washington, not perfection
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) tries to fend off Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tramon Williams after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Pittsburgh. So forgive the Pittsburgh Steelers if they're not exactly caught up in the hype โ or maybe lack of hype โ surrounding their perfect start. Yes, the Steelers are unbeaten. โEvery week is a test,โ Rivera said. โIt really is about feel and opportunity as far as those things are concerned," Rivera said.
Steelers, Chiefs, Saints closing in on playoff spots
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) waves as he leaves the field after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 19-14. (AP Photo/Don Wright)The unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on clinching their respective divisions going into Week 13. The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or losses by the Raiders, Dolphins or Colts on Sunday. Or earn a playoff spot with a win.
Steelers overcome rust, short-handed Ravens to move to 11-0
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell (24) runs away from Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker L.J. So while the Steelers stayed perfect with a disjointed 19-14 win over the undermanned Ravens in the first NFL game on a Wednesday in eight years, their play was anything but. โTo be bluntly honest, Iโm really disappointed in our performance tonight,โ he said after Pittsburgh improved to 11-0. But the Steelers were able to drain the clock behind a third-down grab by James Washington, eliminating the Ravens from repeating as AFC North champions. โThe way the game went, obviously we wanted to win,โ Griffin said.