Watson prepares for head-to-head, โVerzuzโ-style Pro Bowl tournament. Hereโs how to tune in
HOUSTON โ Several big-name NFL players are preparing for a revamped Pro Bowl beginning this Sunday. Texans Quarterback Deshaun Watson is among the superstars participating and he shared a preview video on his Twitter account. The NFL โVerzuzโ battles will take place this week until Jan. 29 and will be livestreamed on all NFL social media platforms at 6 p.m. central. Fans can interact with the Pro Bowl stars during the 60-minute broadcast. You can watch the Pro Bowl on NFL Network, EAโs Twitch channel and all NFL social media channels starting at 4 p.m. Central.
NFC East stages late-season turnaround
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)The NFC East is no longer the laughingstock division in the NFL. In all, NFC East teams have an 8-5 record the past four weeks when playing games outside the division, the most wins of any division in that span. For the season, NFC East teams are 10-23-1 (.309 winning percentage) when playing teams outside the division, the worst in the NFL this season. The NFC East is actually outperforming its mark from last season when its teams went 12-28 outside the division. With two wins in the final six-non division games this season, the NFC East can top that mark.
End of the line: Coach Quinn, GM Dimitroff fired by Falcons
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn stands with Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. Quinn was hired by the Falcons in 2015 after a highly successful run as Seattleโs defensive coordinator, highlighted by two straight trips to the Super Bowl. After going 8-8 his first season, Quinn guided the Falcons to one of the greatest years in team history. The Falcons made the playoffs again the following year, losing to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia, but never seemed to fully shake their Super Bowl debacle. Dimitroff kept his job when Smith was fired at the end of the 2014 season after two straight losing campaigns.
The Latest: Patriots' Newton 2nd on career QB rushing list
The Patriotsโ single-season record for consecutive games with two or more rushing touchdowns is three by Horace Ivory (1978) and Curtis Martin (1995). 2 overall pick Chase Young, raised their fists on the sideline while standing for the national anthem in Cleveland. There were various other forms of expression as the national anthem played at NFL stadiums. The Buffalo Bills stayed in the locker room for the national anthem. Six Chicago Bears kneeled on the sideline during the national anthem before their game in Atlanta.
Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams helps players through podcast
After shutting down receivers during his Hall of Fame career, Williams is helping open doors for fellow NFL alums. Williams, the former Cardinals, and Rams defensive back hosts the NFL Legends podcast, a platform for former players to share their stories, encourage each other and learn about programs available to them. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)After shutting down receivers during his Hall of Fame career, Aeneas Williams is helping open doors for NFL players. Williams, the former Cardinals and Rams defensive back, hosts the NFL Legends podcast, a platform for former players to share their stories, encourage each other and learn about programs and benefits available to them. โBut more importantly, I believe itโs a great outlet for guys that are not Hall of Fame guys to have that opportunity to talk to Aeneas.
Column: Another grim chapter for Atlanta's sports history
Dallas Cowboys cornerback C.J. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)ATLANTA โ As the ball spun slowly along the turf at Jerryโs World, the black-clad players backing away like it was a live grenade, Atlantaโs grim sports history flooded the consciousness. There was never any doubt a Dallas player would fall on the onside kick before the Falcons did. There was never any doubt the game-winning kick would almost perfectly split the uprights, handing a team from Atlanta an almost unfathomable defeat. The Falcons led 20-0 in the first quarter after Dallas fumbled the ball away three times.
Newton feeling thankful, not pressure taking over as Pats QB
โ There are a lot of things Cam Newton is feeling as he prepares to take the field Sunday to succeed Tom Brady as the Patriotsโ starting quarterback. โPressure is when youโre looking at your children and youโre saying youโre 31 and you donโt know. โSo for me, Iโm elated, Iโm excited, Iโm all that and a bag of chips because I knew that if God didnโt show favor over me, man, who knows where Iโd be right now,โ he said. It was just four years ago that Jacoby Brissett became the first Black quarterback to start for New England in 2016. A lot of eyes will be on him, including from his new teammates who will also be reveling in seeing Newton take the field.