NFL

AP Sports WriterAfter big jump, Bears look to KO defending champion EaglesBy ANDREW SELIGMANLAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Not long after he was hired, Matt Nagy watched the Super Bowl with his wife at a bar near the Chicago Bears' practice facility. His good friend Doug Pederson was coaching...

Jon Dorenbos shares in Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl magicPHILADELPHIA (AP) Former Philadelphia Eagles player and ''America's Got Talent'' finalist Jon Dorenbos is sharing in the Super Bowl magic despite not playing with the team last season.The Eagles posted a video Thursday on Twitter of Dorenbos receiving a Super...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Sunday's 34-minute blackout won't impact the city of New Orleans' chances of hosting another Super Bowl. "I fully expect that we will be back here for Super Bowls," he said Monday morning. "And I hope we will be back. We want to be back." The outage...

AP Sports WriterWatt returns after injury to lead Texans defenseBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) J.J. Watt is healthy and ready to lead what should be another strong Houston Texans defense.The superstar defensive end is set to return after missing all but three games last season because of two back...

Prosecutors: Ex-NFL player is the victim of $4.5M fraudINDIANAPOLIS (AP) A money manager stole more than $4.5 million over nearly a decade from an unnamed former NFL player who played several years for the Indianapolis Colts, federal prosecutors said Friday.Kenneth Ray Cleveland, 63, of Agoura Hills, California, was...

AP Sports WriterNFL teams adjusting from 80,000 die-hards to 80 decibelsBy MARK LONGJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The jokes write themselves: The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play home games in front of a significantly reduced number of fans this season.''How's that different than any other year?''Don't laugh. The Jaguars...

AP Pro Football WriterGaroppolo faces toughest test yet in Jaguars' defenseBy JOSH DUBOWSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Jimmy Garoppolo has started his tenure with San Francisco better than any quarterback has done with a new team.The player who brought hope to the 49ers after three-plus years of struggles in...

AP Sports WriterChargers QB Rivers will enter free agency after 16 seasonsBy JOE REEDYCOSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) Philip Rivers' 16-year career with the Chargers has come to an end.The franchise announced Monday that Rivers will enter free agency and not return for the upcoming season. General manager Tom...

AP Sports WriterPatriots blitz Jets, gain more confidence with Browns nextBy KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) The New England Patriots have thrived this season thanks to a defense that's limited opponents' abilities to get in the end zone and an offense that's found ways to adjust to injuries.You can add...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins know what it takes to get the job done down the stretch. They did it last year and have to do it again. The Redskins (6-5-1) captured the NFC East title in 2015 by winning their last four games. After losing two in...

AP Sports WriterBills wary of Lions QB Stafford despite drop in productionBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Bills safety Micah Hyde can't forget the one and only time he picked off Detroit's Matthew Stafford.It happened in the final minutes of Hyde's final regular-season game with the Packers, when...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Darnold attributes his improvement to watching McCownBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Sam Darnold despised the thought of not playing. He was frustrated his injured right foot wouldn't let him.So, for three games, the New York Jets rookie quarterback tried to be productive during...