NFL

PITTSBURGH (AP) Offensive lineman nirvana arrived for the Pittsburgh Steelers late in the first quarter on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Ten snaps. All handoffs from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to Le'Veon Bell. Each one of them chewing up clock, yardage and whatever mettle Miami's defensive front seven might have brought north...

Before this weekend, just five NFL playoff games since 1966 have featured a team favored by at least 15 points. Just one of those underdogs won the game (Google ''Joe Namath'' if you need more information on that). Oddsmakers don't think Brock Osweiler should guarantee the 16-point underdog Houston Texans...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Being a member of the New England Patriots during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era has generally meant a guaranteed place in the playoffs. Still, for 20 players on the Patriots' active roster Saturday will mark the first taste of the postseason of their NFL careers. That group includes...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Matt Ryan's poise under pressure has produced 25 fourth-quarter comebacks, a ''Matty Ice'' nickname and his first All-Pro selection. The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback also is a leading MVP candidate . The glaring void on Ryan's resume is his 1-4 postseason record. At 31, Ryan may not have...

FRISCO, Texas (AP) Sean Lee's first All-Pro season will end with the first trip to the playoffs for the oft-injured Dallas linebacker. If that sounds like a breakout year, Cowboys tight end Jason Witten would argue otherwise. ''To me, it's not like, oh, we're seeing a different player than we've seen...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) For all the postseason appearances that the Green Bay Packers have made in coach Mike McCarthy's tenure, this year's run to the playoffs might be the most unique yet. The Packers were considered a likely Super Bowl contender in the preseason. They look like a Super...

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Laughter broke out in one corner of the Miami Dolphins' locker room Monday, briefly lifting the gloom as players packed their belongings and headed into the offseason. The cause for mirth: the Alabama-Clemson national championship game and trash-talking between Dolphins teammates from the two schools. Anything to change...

MIAMI (AP) The NFL has begun a review of the concussion protocol conducted on Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore when he left his team's playoff game at Pittsburgh after being shaken up. Moore was hit in the chin as he threw a pass, and the play drew a roughing-the-passer penalty...

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) The Washington Redskins have interviewed Mike Pettine for their defensive coordinator opening. The team announced Monday on Twitter that the interview had taken place. Joe Barry was fired as defensive coordinator last week, along with some of his assistants. The Redskins went 8-7-1 and missed the playoffs, a...

A person familiar with the search says the Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Doug Marrone as head coach and brought back Tom Coughlin in an executive role. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the hiring. ESPN first reported Marrone had been chosen to replace...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese has told star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. that he needs to look at some of his antics on and off the field and be more responsible. Beckham has been under the microscope for the past week after taking a...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Receiver Jordy Nelson will sit out Green Bay Packers practice at midweek to focus on rehab for his rib injury. But coach Mike McCarthy says Nelson could play in the Packers' divisional-round playoff game this weekend in Dallas if he can practice Saturday. Nelson left in the...