NFL

AP Sports WriterRams defense is NFL's best, but offense required in playoffsBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Rams' defense is undeniably the best in the NFL. Rookie coordinator Brandon Staley's group allowed the fewest points, total yards, yards passing, touchdown passes and first downs in the...

AP Sports WriterBills riding momentum in preparing to face Colts in playoffsBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Simply making the playoffs no longer cuts it in Buffalo.Having gone one-and-done in their two most recent playoff appearances since snapping a 17-year postseason drought in 2017, these Bills have loftier...

AP Pro Football WriterEagles face difficult decision regarding Carson WentzBy ROB MAADDIPHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia Eagles enter the offseason facing a major question they didn't expect to have to answer this quickly.What will the team do with Carson Wentz?Three years after Wentz finished third in NFL MVP voting...

AP Sports WriterBrowns lose DE Vernon for playoffs with torn Achilles tendonBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Olivier Vernon stepped up when the Browns needed him. They'll have to do the same.Cleveland will make its first playoff appearance since 2002 without Vernon after the defensive end ruptured an Achilles tendon...

AP Pro Football WriterVikings enter offseason with deteriorated defense to repairBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Vikings missed the playoffs by one game in a season with two losses by one point and two other one-score defeats.This finish, though, was hardly a close call.The prevailing feeling from the...

AP Sports WriterFalcons accelerate coach search, interview Chiefs' BieniemyBy CHARLES ODUMATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Falcons accelerated their search for a new coach on the first day of their offseason by interviewing Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday that 49ers defensive coordinator Robert...

AP Sports WriterReich believes Colts have winning combination for playoffsBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) From the start of training camp, Frank Reich kept insisting the Indianapolis Colts were a legitimate playoff team - and a real Super Bowl contender.He didn't waver when the running game got bogged down early...

AP Sports WriterLions entering their biggest rebuild since drafting StaffordBy LARRY LAGEDETROIT (AP) The previous time the Detroit Lions went into an offseason with a rebuilding project this large, they were coming off a winless season and drafted quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick...

AP Sports WriterBears not sweating how they reached postseasonBy ANDREW SELIGMANThe Chicago Bears aren't worrying about how they made the playoffs. They're in and that's what matters most to them.''It's not perfect,'' coach Matt Nagy said.It's far from that.The Bears closed the regular season with a 35-16 loss to...

The Latest:By The Associated PressThe Latest on Week 17 in the NFL (all times EST):---5:45 p.m.The Seattle Seahawks have a 6-3 halftime lead over the San Francisco 49ers after Jason Myers connected on field goals from 36 and 30 yards.The Seahawks are in the running for the No. 1...

AP Pro Football WriterWelcome to the postseason, Cleveland. Cleveland? YepBy BARRY WILNERWelcome to the postseason, Cleveland. Cleveland? YepWelcome to the postseason, ClevelandAP Photo transref:OHTD131, transref:OHTD132, transref:NJSW129Eds: UPDATES: Will be updated. With AP Photos.By BARRY WILNER=AP Pro Football Writer=Welcome to the postseason, Cleveland.Cleveland?The Browns ended their string of non-playoff seasons...

The Latest: Ravens, Browns clinch berths, Titans in tooBy The Associated PressThe Latest on Week 17 in the NFL (all times EST):---4:20 p.m.The Baltimore Ravens are in the playoffs again, and the Cleveland Browns ended lengthy drought between berths by earning their first postseason trip since 2002.The Ravens earned...