NFL Teams

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The chairman of the Chicago Bears insists he still has faith in coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, even after the team's worst season in several decades. Chairman George McCaskey said Wednesday he is ''pleased'' with the job Pace has done the past two...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Aaron Rodgers backed up his confidence-boosting ''run-the-table'' statement with a remarkable six-game run of quarterback play that helped get the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. In the locker room, or on sideline conversations in practice, Rodgers' attitude didn't change. He remained steady, and believed in...

RENTON, Wash. (AP) The Seattle Seahawks appear to be adding kick returner Devin Hester to their roster for the postseason. Fox Sports reported Tuesday night that Hester was signing with Seattle for the playoffs. Hester posted a photo of his locker inside the Seahawks locker room to Instagram on Tuesday...

RENTON, Wash. (AP) At this point, enough time has passed and enough turnover has taken place that most of the players Cliff Avril knew in Detroit have moved on. That part of Avril's career seems a lifetime ago. Back when he was on the other end of the spectrum from...

NEW YORK (AP) Brandon Marshall thought the New York Jets' dismal season really stunk. The wide receiver had one of his least productive years as the team struggled to a 5-11 record while dealing with injuries, in-fighting and ugly losses. ''The best way I can describe it is, having a diaper...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Denver GM John Elway has been granted permission to interview three assistants currently in the playoffs for his vacant head coaching position, according to a person with knowledge of the Broncos' plans. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team isn't revealing its interview schedule,...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A man and a woman who hung from the rafters during a Vikings game and unfurled a banner in protest of the Dakota Access oil pipeline entered U.S. Bank Stadium with tickets, and stadium officials said Tuesday that protesters hid their climbing equipment under winter clothing. Three people...

Steelers-Ravens, Broncos-Chiefs and Vikings-Packers. Big rivalry games with plenty on the line. Happy Holidays. There's been plenty of complaining about the NFL schedule this season. Not for Week 16, when those three gems and a few other strong matchups with postseason implications provide some extra gleam to this time of year. Pittsburgh...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons knew coming into the season that the road to the NFC South championship would go through Carolina. Now, that's literally the case. The Falcons (9-5) can capture the division their first division title since 2012 on Saturday with a win over the...

The biggest challenge at the New Jersey Meadowlands last weekend probably didn't belong to the Giants and Jets.Instead, it was the folks charged with getting MetLife Stadium ready for a Saturday night Dolphins-Jets game and an early afternoon Lions-Giants contest the next day who had to step up the...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Lane Johnson immediately showed why he's so valuable to the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson cleared the way for Ryan Mathews to run 17 yards on Philadelphia's first play from scrimmage and then opened a big hole on Darren Sproles' 25-yard touchdown run by knocking Landon Collins out of the...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston figures the Buccaneers give themselves their best chance at a playoff berth by acting as if the postseason starts early - as in, Saturday in New Orleans. ''Yeah, it starts now,'' Winston said this week. ''It's a game that we've got to...