Sometimes the chaos of the NFL hands you exactly what you need when you’re busy doing absolutely nothing.

The San Francisco 49ers spent last week on their couches, resting and watching RedZone, only to see the football gods — and the Philadelphia Eagles — part the Red Sea for them.

The Eagles lost. The path to the NFC’s No. 1 seed, ...Read more

MIAMI — Mike Tomlin has not only been a pillar of granite for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise for 19 seasons, but he has also been a painful reminder of one of the Miami Dolphins’ biggest missteps that took place nearly two decades ago.

I’m referring to a mind-set this franchise’s decision makers had back in 2007, right after Nick ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers as a collective have come out in defense of Mike Tomlin after they beat the Ravens on Sunday. And many among his legion of national media shills have come to his defense, as well.

Aaron Rodgers said he hopes the win over the Ravens will get everyone criticizing Tomlin to “shut the hell up,” and Ryan Clark went ...Read more

SEATTLE — They say that comparison is the thief of joy, but sometimes it can be the source of it.

Nobody here is arguing that the Seahawks will ever see a three-year draft stretch like the one that spawned the Legion of Boom era, but these past few springs might not rank too far behind.

There was a little lull regarding what this team ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have not given a clear answer as to cornerback Kyler Gordon’s status moving forward after he injured his groin in pregame warmups Sunday in Green Bay, Wis.

Asked Wednesday if Gordon will return this season, coach Ben Johnson said, “to be determined.”

“I haven’t heard (a status) over the last couple of ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Troy Aikman said he’s “done with NIL” after writing a check to a UCLA football player who never thanked him and went on to leave for another school after one season.

There was a reason for that lack of gratitude, according to one person familiar with the Bruins’ football name, image and likeness operations from that time...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Philip Rivers has never been quick on his feet, but he can make quick decisions. That's what made him such an outstanding NFL quarterback, and it's part of the reason he's a Hall of Fame semifinalist.

So it's not surprising that, even at 44 and a grandfather, he didn't linger long when the Indianapolis Colts called to take his ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The NFL is advocating a more performance-driven model for its game officials, one linking bonuses and postseason assignments to regular-season grades as opposed to seniority.

The plan was outlined in a memo distributed to the league's 32 teams Wednesday and obtained by the Los Angeles Times. It comes with the NFL's collective ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The NFL is the ultimate wait-until-next-year sports league. The Atlanta Falcons have been waiting for eight years.

Make it nine years with no playoffs in 2026 for the Falcons. I don’t see how they’ll be much better next year.

The quarterback will be unproven next season, as he was this year, except Michael Penix Jr....Read more

NEW YORK — Surely the Giants can’t be serious.

Or maybe they are serious. And don’t call them Shirley.

Airplane seating apparently was the final straw that led to the firing of assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox during the team’s bye week.

“You’d have to ask him,” head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday of Cox.

The Giants’...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 15 THURSDAY PICK

FALCONS (4-9) at BUCCANEERS (7-6)

Line: TB by 4 1/2.

Cote’s pick: TB, 24-21.

TV: 8:15 p.m., Prime Video.

Among this year’s many NFL mysteries: Who is Tampa Bay? Is it the Buccaneers who were sailing at 5-1 and 6-2 ... or the team that has withered since? With that reverse gear caused by Baker ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time all season, the Bucs’ top four receivers could be in the lineup Thursday night against the Falcons.

Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were activated from injured reserve Wednesday after a solid week of practice, giving a boost to Tampa Bay’s struggling offense.

Both were listed as questionable on Wednesday’...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — This is bigger than stopping the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

It’s more important than stopping Kirk Cousins or Bijan Robinson or Drake London.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, the real question is this:

Are they capable of stopping their own demise?

We are at the point of the season where Tampa Bay’s defense ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It may not appear as such after the Pittsburgh Steelers allowed the Baltimore Ravens to rush for over 200 yards for the third consecutive meeting.

Or when, beginning with the 10-play drive that produced a field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, the Ravens outgained the Steelers, 209 yards to eight, the rest of the way.

...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders dealt Broncos bettors one of the worst beats imaginable Sunday when Daniel Carlson kicked a 46-yard field goal with no time remaining to cover the spread as 8-point underdogs in a 24-17 loss at Allegiant Stadium.

Barstool Sports founder and high-stakes sports bettor Dave Portnoy was outraged by the ending, in which a ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the schedule was released, the Week 14 game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers figured to be a battle for the NFC South title.

The Bucs (7-6) have held up their end of the bargain, but the Falcons (4-9) have slipped toward the bottom of the division. The two teams will meet at 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday...Read more

Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free-agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you ...Read more

MIAMI — The wife of Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill will sit down with the NFL for an interview amid the league’s investigation into domestic violence during their marriage, which have included accusations that he tried to punch her stomach while she was pregnant, according to a court document filed Monday.

Keeta Vaccaro, 29, — Hill’s ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — There are few adjectives that Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh will spare in talking about Justin Herbert, especially in the aftermath of a week in which the quarterback treated hand surgery as a minor inconvenience.

“He’s a superhero,” Harbaugh said Monday night after Herbert guided his team to a 22-19 ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — So we know what kind of team the Eagles are now. It took 13 games, and to watch most of them was to experience the same amount of pleasure as when you slam your fingers in a door. But they have revealed themselves, and there’s no use disputing the diagnosis.

The Eagles are an excellent defensive team, and that is all, ...Read more