NFL

CLINCHED: Denver - AFC West; Indianapolis - AFC South; New England - AFC EastClinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:- Win and Denver lossClinches first-round bye with:- Win, OR- Tie and Indianapolis loss or tie, OR- Loss and Cincinnati loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie and Baltimore...

AP Sports WriterCollinsworth calling Browns, harkens back to early yearsBy JOE REEDYCris Collinsworth will get to experience a rarity this week. He gets to call a Browns game when NBC's ''Sunday Night Football'' travels to Cleveland for the first time since 2008.When he was starting out as an analyst,...

AP Sports WriterLuck felt sore, tired but pain-free after throwing at campBy MICHAEL MAROTWESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) Andrew Luck feels as sore and tired as he expected four days into training camp.He's also pain free - just as the Indianapolis Colts had hoped.Luck passed his first major tests by...

AP Pro Football WriterRookie Trysten Hill building on 1st impression with CowboysBy SCHUYLER DIXONFRISCO, Texas (AP) Trysten Hill spent part of his 21st birthday talking football with Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, about a month before the Cowboys made the former Central Florida defender their first pick of...

AP Sports WriterEagles, Steelers are top 2 in the latest AP Pro32 pollBy SIMMI BUTTARNEW YORK (AP) The Keystone State's NFL teams have been tough to beat.The Philadelphia Eagles (7-1) have won six games in a row and have the league's best record.After a slow start, the Pittsburgh...

Vikings, Cowboys on the cusp of NFC playoff berthsBy The Associated PressThe six NFC playoff teams might be set with a week to spare.Minnesota will clinch from the couch if the Los Angeles Rams lose at San Francisco on Saturday night.If the defending NFC champion Rams win, the Vikings...

Lions sign Scarbrough to active roster, release PerkinsDETROIT (AP) The Detroit Lions have signed running back Bo Scarbrough to the active roster from the practice squad and released running back Paul Perkins.The team also announced Saturday that it has signed punter Matt Wile to the practice squad.Scarbrough joined...

AP Sports WriterBuffalo Bills agree to hire Sean McDermott as coachBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement on Wednesday to hire Sean McDermott to be their next head coach.The deal was reached shortly after the Bills interviewed McDermott for a second time in...

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree was so locked in to his assignment, that he had no clue the Minnesota Vikings started Case Keenum for injured quarterback Sam Bradford until the second series of Pittsburgh's 26-9 victory on Sunday, when Dupree found himself chasing the sub. ''Then I got...

The Latest: Patriots, Cowboys clinch division titles.By The Associated PressThe Latest on NFL's Week 16 (All times Eastern).4:05 p.m.The New England Patriots have clinched their 10th consecutive AFC East crown and the Dallas Cowboys have wrapped up the NFC East title.The Patriots beat Buffalo 24-12 and have now won...

AP Pro Football WriterDarnold has 'good shot' at returning as Jets QB next weekBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Sam Darnold might be back leading the New York Jets' huddle as soon as next week.The quarterback will be sidelined for the second straight game with a shoulder injury,...

Cardinals sign TE Cantrell, release CB SheltonTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals have signed tight end Dylan Cantrell to a one-year deal.The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Cantrell is switching positions to tight end after being selected as a receiver by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round of the...