NFL

AP Pro Football WriterJimmy Garoppolo ready for 1st playoff start for 49ersBy JOSH DUBOWSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Jimmy Garoppolo's postseason experience consists of a couple of garbage-time handoffs for New England during the 2014 AFC championship game that is remembered far more for the controversy surrounding deflated footballs.Garoppolo...

AP Pro Football WriterTitans on playoff run with top duo in final year of dealsBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ??? Ryan Tannehill has gone from a quarterback traded away in March to the NFL's top-rated passer fresh off a victory in his playoff debut for Tennessee. Derrick Henry...

AP Sports WriterBaylor's Matt Rhule agrees to become Panthers next coachBy STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) David Tepper is entrusting Baylor’s Matt Rhule to lead the Carolina Panthers out of what he views as a cycle of “long term mediocrity.”The Panthers owner hired the 44-year-old Rhule on Tuesday to...

AP Sports WriterBaylor's Matt Rhule agrees to become Panthers next coachBy STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) David Tepper is entrusting Baylor’s Matt Rhule to lead the Carolina Panthers out of what he views as a cycle of “long term mediocrity.”The Panthers announced Tuesday that the 44-year-old Rhule has agreed...

AP Pro Football WriterThielen better: Vikings' offense has made major progressBy DAVE CAMPBELLEAGAN, Minn. (AP) Adam Thielen learned in college the psychological art of pivoting from a bad play, courtesy of a toy toilet the Minnesota State team kept on the sideline during games to flush away negative...

Lions assistants Fraley, Yates to coach offensive lineALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Lions on Tuesday promoted assistant coaches Hank Fraley and Billy Yates to lead their offensive line.Fraley had been Detroit's assistant offensive line coach the previous two seasons. Yates was on Matt Patricia's coaching staff the...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Giants nearing deal with Pats' Judge to be coachBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants and New England Patriots assistant Joe Judge are working on a deal for him to become the team's head coach, a surprising move for the four-time...

AP Sports WriterBills have work to do in offseason after playoff collapseBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The lingering disappointment following an AFC wild-card playoff collapse at Houston won't deter Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott from having confidence in his team's young foundation.That doesn't mean the Bills don't...

AP Pro Football WriterCarson Wentz led injury-depleted Eagles until he couldn'tBy ROB MAADDIPHILADELPHIA (AP) Carson Wentz helped the Philadelphia Eagles overcome one injury after another until he ended up on the sideline.A season that began with Super Bowl expectations ended early because most of the players who gave...

AP Sports WriterChiefs prepped for Texans in pseudo-rematch of Week 6By DAVE SKRETTAKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs will welcome the Texans to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for the divisional round of the playoffs, a rematch in name only of their Week 6 nail-biter won by...

AP Sports WriterGiants interview Judge, Rhule on deck, McCarthy to DallasBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants have interviewed New England Patriots assistant coach Joe Judge for their vacant head coaching job.The 38-year-old Judge has been a part of five championship teams, winning three Super...

AP Sports WriterGiants interview Judge, Rhule on deck, McCarthy to DalllasBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants have interviewed New England Patriots assistant coach Joe Judge for their vacant head coaching job.The 38-year-old Judge has been a part of five championship teams, winning three Super...