football Archives

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in 40-22 rout

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio’s defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley. With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet.… Continue Reading

Bryce Young accounts for 5 TDs as Panthers beat Falcons 44-38 in OT. Atlanta misses playoffs again

ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Young passed for three touchdowns, ran for two scores and led a 70-yard drive capped by Miles Sanders’ 1-yard TD run on the opening possession of overtime to give the Carolina Panthers a 44-38 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons’ playoff hopes had already ended minutes earlier when Tampa Bay rallied past New Orleans. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons — both to Drake London, who had 10 catches for a career-best 187 yards. The Falcons finished 8-9 while the Panthers went 5-12. Both teams missed the playoffs for a seventh straight season.… Continue Reading

RFK Stadium site provision included in federal spending bill, a win for the Commanders and NFL

The Washington Commanders are another step closer to the possibility of returning to the franchise’s old home in the nation’s capital. A provision to transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia is included in Congress’ short-term spending bill, which is expected to pass. It’s a significant victory for the organization and the NFL after controlling owner Josh Harris and Commissioner Roger Goodell lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill on the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. The Commanders are considering places in the district, Maryland and Virginia to build a new stadium.… Continue Reading

Belichick’s bid to reshape football at UNC another sign of rising pro influence on college level

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick marks another sign of the growing influence of the NFL on college football. The challenges of managing the transfer portal and looming revenue sharing for athletes has led teams to take on more NFL-like structures to their programs. Belichick is set to structure North Carolina’s program like an NFL front office. That includes hiring former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. At Florida, coach Billy Napier is interviewing general managers while saying the program is going to “a business model” to deal with a “major math puzzle.”… Continue Reading

Belichick says he’s had ‘good conversations’ with UNC chancellor amid Tar Heels’ coaching search

Former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick says he had “a couple of good conversations” with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts amid his discussions about the Tar Heels’ head-coaching job. Belichick appeared on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. He said he had spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a “longer look” at the college level. He said he had learned a lot and had “a couple of good conversations” with Roberts. UNC fired the program’s all-time winningest coach in Mack Brown last month.… Continue Reading

Barkley’s brilliance helps Eagles beat Panthers 22-16 but pass game has Philly frustrated

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards to break the Eagles season record, Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Philadelphia won its ninth straight game, 22-16 over the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles maintained their position as the No. 2 team in the NFC behind Detroit after a mostly lethargic effort against the Panthers. Barkley added another milestone in his MVP push when he used a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter to surpass LeSean McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 yards, set in 2013. Barkley now has 1,623 yards with four games left. Hurts’ passing numbers were a pedestrian 14 of 21 for 108 yards.… Continue Reading

No. 18 Clemson beats No. 8 SMU 34-31 on last-second field goal for ACC title, berth in the CFP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cade Klubnik threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns, Nolan Hauser kicked 56-yard field goal as time expired and the No. 18 Clemson beat No. 8 SMU 34-31 on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff and position itself for a first-round bye. Bryant Wesco had eight catches for 143 yards and two first-quarter touchdowns for the Tigers, who needed a win to get into the expanded 12-team playoffs. Jake Briningstool added two short TD receptions as Clemson improved to 9-1 in ACC championship games under coach Dabo Swinney. Kevin Jennings was 32 of 51 for 310 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score for SMU.… Continue Reading

Panthers 2nd-year QB Bryce Young suffers another loss, but continues to show late-game production

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young is beginning to show signs that he can perform in the clutch. Now the Carolina Panthers just have to figure out how to win close games. Young capped a 60-yard touchdown drive Sunday with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen to briefly give the Panthers a 23-20 lead with 30 seconds left against Tampa Bay. And Young was in the process of engineering a potential winning score in overtime when Chuba Hubbard fumbled at the Bucs 29. The Panthers lost 26-23. But it was the second time in two weeks Young showed a knack for making big plays late in the game.… Continue Reading

McLaughlin’s field goal in OT helps Bucs beat Panthers 26-23, move into 1st-place tie in NFC South

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase McLaughlin kicked a 30-yard field goal in overtime, Baker Mayfield overcame an ankle injury to lead four scoring drives in the fourth quarter and the extra period, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers 26-23. Tampa Bay moved into a tie for first place in the NFC South with Atlanta. Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown for the Bucs. Mayfield finished 21 of 33 for 235 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and Mike Evans had 118 yards receiving. Bryce Young was 26 of 46 passing for 298 yards for the Panthers, who secured their seventh straight losing season.… Continue Reading

Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs win at the buzzer again, topping Panthers 30-27 on Shrader’s field goal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. The Chiefs bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. Noah Brown caught two TD passes and DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.… Continue Reading