The Cleveland Browns plan to hire Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Stefanski was rumored to be a finalist after his successful tenure in Minnesota, and he'll now fill the league's final head coaching vacancy.The 37-year-old coordinated the NFL's eighth-ranked scoring offense in 2019, though his unit finished a more modest 16th in yardage. He became the Vikings' full-time play-caller this year after serving as the interim offensive coordinator late in the 2018 campaign.Stefanski was reportedly the top choice of Browns executive Paul DePodesta a year ago before the franchise promoted Freddie Kitchens, who was recently fired after one season as head coach.Current offensive coordinator Todd Monken isn't expected to stay on Stefanski's staff, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. He's being considered for several college play-calling positions.Cleveland was linked to a number of candidates while looking for a coach to lead the club to its first playoff appearance since 2002. The Browns were also reportedly considering New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, among others.Now that a new head coach is in tow, owner Jimmy Haslam will turn his attention to the general manager role. Cleveland could target Vikings assistant GM George Paton, according to Rapoport. Eagles executive Andrew Berry has already been interviewed.The Browns parted ways with former general manager John Dorsey on Dec. 31 after a disappointing 6-10 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drug possession charges against New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung have conditionally been dismissed, Belknap County Attorney Andrew Livernois released in a statement Monday.Chung's legal agreement includes good behaviour for a period of two years, periodic drug tests, and 40 hours of community service.The 32-year-old was indicted on a cocaine possession charge on Aug. 8 for an incident that occurred on June 25 in Meredith, New Hampshire. He wasn't arrested at the time.The defensive back pleaded not guilty on Aug. 26.Chung can still be disciplined by the NFL. The league reportedly wasn't expected to punish the player until his legal situation was resolved.The three-time Super Bowl champion amassed 51 combined tackles and three passes defended over 13 games in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.In Week 7 of the regular season, the 2-4 Tennessee Titans replaced quarterback Marcus Mariota with backup and veteran, Ryan Tannehill. As the four-team field gets set for the conference championship round this weekend, the Titans are now just two wins away from being one of the most improbable stories in NFL history.With the Titans slated to play the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Green Bay Packers, here's how the Super Bowl odds stack up.Team OddsChiefs5-449ers3-2Packers7-1Titans8-1Titans' odds historyNobody gave Tennessee much of a shot before the season. The Titans were as high as 80-1 to win the Super Bowl over the summer. With mainstays in the AFC such as Kansas City and New England, high-ceiling teams in Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Houston, and public attention all over Cleveland, Tennessee was an afterthought. Even when the Titans clinched a playoff spot in the final week of the season, they were given the worst odds on the board at 50-1. Following a win over the Patriots in Foxborough in the wild-card round and another impressive victory over No. 1 seed Baltimore away from home, the Titans are now right in the thick of things.Tannehill, who was traded from Miami before subsequently signing a one-year deal, put up MVP-type numbers during the regular season once he replaced Mariota. He hasn't exploded on the stat sheet so far in the playoffs - he's posted a modest 160 passing yards over two games - but has gotten back-to-back brilliant performances from running back Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, the defense has surrendered just 25 points.49ers, Chiefs favored to move onBoth the Titans and Packers are behind the eight ball heading into the weekend. The two clubs are currently 7.5-point underdogs before the market comes in and shapes the numbers. Green Bay and San Francisco met during the regular season, with the Niners' defense holding quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Co. to just 198 total yards in a 29-point drubbing. Tennessee got the better of KC in its Week 10 matchup, winning 35-32.Prior to the playoffs, the Chiefs and 49ers had odds of 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. If all goes right this weekend, those two will meet at Hard Rock Stadium for the Super Bowl.But given how the postseason's played out so far, nothing's a surefire lock.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKoIodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization that strives to promote equal opportunity in the NFL, has spoken out against the lack of diversity in the latest hiring cycle.Ron Rivera, a Latino, was the only person of color that filled any of the head coaching vacancies after the latest round of firings."We were painfully reminded through this past hiring cycle that attaining diverse leadership in the NFL can only happen through the willful actions of the team owners and decision makers," read the statement obtained by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.Some have said that the lack of diversity in NFL front offices has led to a dearth of diverse hires with respect to head coaching and offensive coordinator positions."The abysmal record of hiring people of color in high ranking levels of NFL management is a reminder of the dark periods of civil rights history. In 100 years of professional football, the NFL has moved from Fritz Pollard as its first African-American head coach in 1921 to four head coaches of color in 2020. The league has only one African-American general manager. There are no African-American club presidents," read the statement.The alliance pointed to a report from the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport which found that racial hiring in the NFL is the lowest its been in 15 years. The Fritz Pollard Alliance is calling on the league to develop action plans in order to improve diversity in all areas of management."We believe that commissioner Roger Goodell wants to be on the side of progress. We recognize there are NFL teams that embrace diversity of leadership as good for the game."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans operated without a general manager during the 2019 season and head coach Bill O'Brien doesn't see that changing anytime soon."The way I see it right now, it stays the way it is," O'Brien said in his end-of-season press conference Monday, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop.The Texans fired former general manager Brian Gaine in June and struck out in their attempt to lure personnel man Nick Caserio from the New England Patriots this offseason. Houston proceeded with Jack Easterby, Matt Bazirgan, James Liipfert, and Chris Olsen sharing GM duties, with O'Brien getting the final say.The Texans were still one of the more active teams in the league, in terms of making transactions, over the course of the year. Their deals included trading pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks for linebackers Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin. They also acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Kenny Stills from the Miami Dolphins for a package that included their 2020 and 2021 first-round draft picks.Tunsil, Stills, and Mingo were key contributors toward Houston's early 24-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional-round game on Sunday, though the Texans went on to lose 51-31.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageAntonio Brown broadcasted on Instagram a confrontation with Hollywood, Florida police on Monday.It appears authorities were called to the house for a dispute between Brown and Chelsie Kyriss, the mother of his three children.The free-agent wideout repeatedly told police he evicted Kyriss from the home and that she was allowed on the property only to take their children to school, but that she wasn't allowed to use his Bentley.Brown then argued with the officers for Kyriss to return the key to the car, hurling expletives at all parties involved during the incident.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney said his upcoming free-agency decision will come down to which team he believes can compete for a championship."I just want to win," Clowney said after the Seahawks' 28-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round on Sunday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. "I'm trying to get to the Super Bowl by any means. That's what I'm looking for. Who's going to get me there? I ain't looking to get on no sorry team for no money. That ain't going to fly."I ain't gonna put my body through all of that just to lose no 16 games, go home with my check. I'd hate that, so that ain't what I'm doing. So if I can't win no Super Bowl, I ain't going to no team that can't win."Clowney played under a one-year, $15-million deal this season after being traded from the Houston Texans in August. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 18.The 26-year-old, who missed three games in 2019 due to a core-muscle injury, recorded three sacks, five forced turnovers, and two touchdowns in the regular season. Seattle then knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles on Wild Card Weekend before falling to the Packers.Clowney, a former first overall pick, added that he'll likely have surgery this offseason to repair the core-muscle issue. He opted against undergoing surgery during the season, as it would have sidelined him for several weeks."(Seahawks teammates) tell me every week: 'Thank you for not quitting on us and not giving up,'" Clowney said. "I said, 'Y'all ain't never got to worry about that with me.' If I can go, I'm going to go. That's what it is. If I was able to go the rest of the season, fight for them, I was going to fight for them."It's unclear if the Seahawks will look to re-sign Clowney. The team is projected to have more than $63 million in 2020 cap space, per Over The Cap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have mutually parted ways with offensive coordinator John DeFilippo after just one season, the team announced on Monday.The Jaguars ranked 20th in the league in total offense and 26th in points scored in 2019, averaging 18.8 points per game. The season prior, Jacksonville ranked 31st in points (15.3 per game) and 27th in total offense.DeFilippo's had three separate stints as an offensive coordinator and each term lasted just one season.A quarterbacks coach from 2007 to 2014 with time split between the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, and San Jose State, DeFilippo was hired as the Cleveland Browns' OC in 2015. He was let go after a 3-13 season and joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a quarterbacks coach from 2016 to 2017.He left the Eagles after their Super Bowl triumph to become the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator in 2018. He was fired after Minnesota's 6-6-1 start.The 2019 Jaguars went 6-10 and finished last in the AFC South.Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin was fired before the end of the season while head coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell were retained.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has some advice for the fan who left Sunday's game early in the hopes of propelling a comeback.Charles Penn, who goes by the name Big Buck Chuck on Twitter, posted a video showing him leaving Arrowhead Stadium late in the first quarter with the Chiefs trailing the Houston Texans in their AFC divisional-round game.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien explained the thinking behind the team's unsuccessful fake punt during its divisional-round loss Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs.The Texans, up 24-7, faced a 4th-and-4 from their own 31-yard line when they ran a direct snap to safety Justin Reid, who was tackled two yards short of a first down. The Chiefs got the ball and scored a touchdown 23 seconds later."We felt like we had a look and it just didn't work," O'Brien said postgame.Kansas City rolled to a 51-31 victory.While the decision has been widely criticized, O'Brien said he believed the Texans couldn't afford to repeatedly punt against the high-scoring Chiefs."I definitely thought that we were going to have to score more than 24," he said. "I think that, obviously, they're a very explosive team and it just didn't work out."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were four.After a wild divisional round, the conference title games for the NFL's 100th season have been set. A trip to Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2 in Miami is on the line.AFC Championship GameMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkTitans at ChiefsJan. 193:05 p.m.CBSThe AFC representative will be decided first, with the sixth-seeded Tennessee Titans headed to Arrowhead in search of a third straight upset win. Mike Vrabel's team stunned the NFL world by beating the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Do they have another miracle in them?Patrick Mahomes and Co. engineered a miracle of their own during a 51-31 win over the Houston Texans after falling behind 24-0 early in the second quarter. The Chiefs exploded for 28 unanswered points before the half to take a lead they never relinquished. The reigning MVP reminded everyone of his incredible talent, becoming just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards and at least five touchdowns in a playoff game.The Titans got the best of the Chiefs in their Week 6 matchup, winning 35-32. Kansas City will host the AFC title game for the second straight season, while the Titans haven't reached this stage of the postseason since 2002.NFC Championship GameMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkPackers at 49ersJan. 196:40 p.m.FOXThe NFC will be won by either the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers or the No. 2 seed Green Bay Packers.San Francisco made easy work of the Minnesota Vikings during the first game of the divisional round, with the 49ers' defense smothering Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook to book a place in the NFC title game.The Packers, meanwhile, took down the Seahawks to stop a potential rubber match between the two NFC West teams. It wasn't quite as easy for Green Bay, which needed to withstand a late comeback by Russell Wilson to win 28-23 and return to the NFC championship for the first time since 2016.Green Bay and San Francisco faced off in Santa Clara in Week 12, with the latter taking a dominant 37-8 win.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks' hopes of going to the NFC championship against rival San Francisco 49ers for the third time was extinguished by a controversial third-down conversion by Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham.Graham was ruled to have picked up the first down and the play was upheld on review. But some angles seemed to indicate the pass-catcher was down short of the sticks, which would've forced Green Bay to punt with two minutes to go.Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was among those who thought his team should've gotten a chance to win the game down 28-23."My guys just were telling me it was short, you know?" Carroll said, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "It looked short and had they called him short, then it would've been short. It's the same thing last week: you call 'em a score, you let 'em score. They wouldn't overturn that one - I'm going back to the Niners game, I guess. That's how it goes."

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the weekend's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Titans' historic hot streak portends expensive offseasonWin or lose in the AFC title game, the Titans will enter the offseason with very big and likely very expensive holes to fill on their roster.Playing on expiring contracts, Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry have emerged as sudden superstars and almost certainly boosted their respective asking prices to league-high levels. Whether the Titans can afford to keep both - or perhaps the question is whether they can afford not to - will shape the future of football in Nashville.After toiling away in Miami for seven years, Tannehill's age-31 breakout season is one of the great outliers in NFL history. After taking over for Marcus Mariota in Week 7, Tannehill completed 70.3% of his passes with a league-best passer rating of 117.5, leading the Titans on a 7-3 run and into the playoffs. Now, he's directed two of the most shocking playoff upsets in memory.It's difficult to quantify a hot streak, but a few key numbers reveal that Tannehill has run hotter than almost any quarterback in NFL history:

The Minnesota Vikings aren't expected to retain defensive coordinator George Edwards for next season, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Edwards has served as head coach Mike Zimmer's top defensive lieutenant since 2014. The 52-year-old has also worked for the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and Dallas Cowboys over his career.The decision not to retain Edwards means Minnesota will forge ahead with new coordinators on offense and defense in 2020. Offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski will reportedly become the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns.The Vikings owned the league's 14th-ranked defense in 2019. Their season ended in the NFC divisional round with a 27-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans blew a 24-point lead in Saturday's divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and much of the blame was laid at the feet of head coach Bill O'Brien.Though some outside the organization seemingly don't believe O'Brien is the man to deliver Houston a Super Bowl title, Watson remains firmly in his head coach's corner."No doubt. I mean, you might have doubt, but there's no doubt," said Watson. "I love that man, I'm going to play hard for that man."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the AFC championship game.How they returned to the brink of their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years was unlike anything anybody could have imagined.After digging a 24-0 hole against Houston early in the second quarter Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the high-flying Chiefs embarked on the biggest comeback in franchise history. Their young superstar proceeded to throw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, Travis Kelce and Damien Williams reached the end zone three times apiece, and Kansas City reeled off 41 consecutive points in a 51-31 victory over the Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.The Chiefs (13-4), who lost to the Patriots in overtime in last year's conference title game, will play Tennessee next Sunday for a spot in Miami. The Titans stunned Lamar Jackson and the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night.Kelce finished with 10 catches for 134 yards, Williams ran for two scores while catching a TD pass, helping the Chiefs win their seventh consecutive game and reach back-to-back AFC title games for the first time.Watson, meanwhile, threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another, but not even his heroics could bail out the Texans (11-7) after they were outscored 28-0 in the second quarter. They continued to allow Kansas City to pull away during a dismal third, their epic collapse leaving the reborn Houston franchise 0-4 in the divisional round.The Chiefs certainly gave them the perfect opportunity to finally break that streak in the first quarter.On defense, Kansas City blew overage on Kenny Stills on the opening possession, allowing him to walk into the end zone from 54 yards. On offense, they wasted timeouts, dropped a series of easy passes and managed just 46 yards. And on special teams, the Chiefs had a punt blocked for a score and fumbled a return that set up another touchdown.Indeed, the Texans were humming right along after finishing on a 22-3 run to beat Buffalo last week, while the mountain of miscues made by the Chiefs made them only the fourth home playoff team to trail 21-0 after the first quarter.Then it was the Texans' turn to struggle.They had stretched the lead to 24-0 before the Chiefs, whose largest deficit overcome had been 21 points, put together a comeback for the ages. Mahomes hit Williams with a quick touchdown toss to begin it, then Houston curiously faked a punt at its own 31-yard line and was stuffed, giving the Chiefs a short field and another easy touchdown.On the ensuing kickoff, Texans return man DeAndre Carter had the ball pop loose and into the arms of Darwin Thompson, whose return set up a second Mahomes-to-Kelce touchdown in a matter of seconds. And a third came after the Chiefs forced a punt - a successful one, for a change - and they drove 90 yards to take a stunning 28-24 halftime lead.The comeback became a clobbering by the time the third quarter ended.The Chiefs' breezed downfield to start the second half, and Williams finished the drive with his first TD run. Their overhauled defense under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sacked Watson on fourth down to get the ball right back, and Mahomes and Co. required just six more plays to position Williams for another TD run and a 41-24 lead.It was the most unanswered points in a playoff game since the Jets had 41 against the Colts in the 2002 wild-card round.Even when the Texans finally cracked the scoreboard, when Watson scrambled to his left and dived over the pylon, the Chiefs rendered the touchdown moot. In four plays they went 72 yards to set up the fifth TD pass by Mahomes, the strike to little-used tight end Blake Bell giving coach Andy Reid's team a postseason-record seven straight TD drives.It also gave a festive crowd that turned out early in freezing weather and a slight drizzle a chance to celebrate early.INJURIESHouston played without S Jahleel Addae (hamstring) and TE Jordan Akins (hamstring). They also lost RT Chris Clark to a knee injury early in the game, and backup Roderick Johnson struggled against the Chiefs pass rush the rest of the game.Kansas City sat defensive tackle Chris Jones, who strained his calf muscle late in the week and couldn't make it through pregame warm-ups. WR Tyreek Hill left briefly after a hard hit but eventually returned to the game.UP NEXTThe Texans will spend the offseason wondering how they let a 24-0 lead slip away, and the Chiefs will begin preparing for the Titans in the AFC title game. Kansas City lost lost 35-32 at Tennessee in Week 10, when Derrick Henry ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns against them. It was the most recent time the Chiefs lost a game.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have moved quickly to replace fired offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.Former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is expected to take the role in Denver, though the deal is still to be completed, sources told Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Denver announced Sunday that Scangarello would be fired after just one season.The Broncos struggled on offense for much of 2019 before a late switch to rookie quarterback Drew Lock. The AFC West team won four of its last five games with Lock under center and averaged 21.4 points per contest.Shurmur, meanwhile, was fired by the Giants after two seasons in charge. The 54-year-old has vast experience as an offensive coordinator, previously holding the position with the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and then-St. Louis Rams.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Graham will vacate the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins to take the same job with the New York Giants, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.The Dolphins are expected to fill the opening by promoting cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer, sources told Pelissero.Graham served one season on Brian Flores' staff in Miami, overseeing a unit that improved throughout the campaign despite a lack of top-end talent. The Dolphins ranked 27th in points allowed per game, giving up 27.1.Boyer was a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots from 2006-18 before accompanying Flores to the Dolphins last year.The Giants are working to fill out rookie head coach Joe Judge's staff.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos fired offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello after one season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.Scangarello joined Vic Fangio's staff in the Mile High City after a two-year run as quarterbacks coach under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers.The Broncos struggled offensively for much of the campaign but found a groove late after inserting rookie quarterback Drew Lock into the lineup. They finished the regular season ranked 28th in yards and points per game.Denver is coming off a 7-9 campaign and owns the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is active for the team's divisional-round matchup against the Houston Texans.Meanwhile, defensive tackle Chris Jones is listed as inactive with an injured calf. Jones tested his calf during pre-game warmups, but Kansas City couldn't give him the green light to play, NFL Network's James Palmer reports.Kelce was limited in practice this week while battling a knee injury, but he's healthy enough to help the Chiefs as they attempt to earn a spot in the AFC Championship Game.The five-time Pro bowler led all tight ends in catches (97) and receiving yards (1,229) during the regular season.Andrew Wylie, who started 11 games at left guard in 2019, is also listed as inactive.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was arrested Saturday for foul play, TMZ reports.The 33-year-old allegedly jumped on the hood of a Mercedes in Beverly Hills, causing damage to the vehicle. Police were in the area while responding to a robbery.Edelman was arrested, cited for misdemeanor vandalism and released, according to TMZ.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Patrick Mahomes is set to cash in this offseason.The Kansas City Chiefs hope to complete a "mammoth" contract extension with Mahomes this offseason that would make him the league's highest-paid player, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.However, a new deal for the 2018 MVP isn't imminent, as an agreement is likely to come after the new collective bargaining agreement is finalized, Rapoport adds.Reports of a record-breaking contract extension for Mahomes first surfaced last offseason as the Chiefs likely wanted to wrap up a deal before the star quarterback could further increase his value.The 24-year-old is currently set to earn $2.7 million guaranteed in 2020 on the second-last year of his rookie deal, assuming Kansas City would activate his fifth-year option.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey didn't mince words following a stunning 28-12 playoff defeat to the Tennessee Titans."This team’s identity right now is to get to the playoffs and choke," Humphrey said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "It is what it is. That’s just the hard truth."The third-year player expressed his disappointment when asked how the Ravens, who earned the AFC's top seed after finishing the regular season 14-2, should be remembered."As losers, I guess," Humphrey said. "We kind of just lost. So, that’s how I would remember it."Baltimore has now gone one-and-done while hosting a playoff game for the second consecutive year.The Ravens' total of 12 points was a season-low, and the team's offense was unable to convert any of its four fourth-down attempts against Tennessee."There was definitely a point in the game where I was like, 'What's going on?'" Humphrey added, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun.MVP favorite Lamar Jackson completed 31 of 59 passes for 365 yards and one touchdown, against two interceptions. He also rushed for 143 yards and fumbled once.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BALTIMORE (AP) The Tennessee Titans fear no one. Not even the NFL's best team.Why should they with Derrick Henry running - and even throwing - the ball, and a big-play defense making clutch stops and turnovers?One week after dominating defending Super Bowl champion New England, Henry gained 195 yards rushing and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass in a 28-12 victory over the Ravens. Baltimore (14-3) had won its last 12 games, with quarterback Lamar Jackson setting records and looking unstoppable.On Saturday night, it was Henry who was unstoppable.Plus, Tennessee's defense had two interceptions of Jackson, who also lost a fumble, and the Titans (11-7) twice stopped Baltimore on fourth-and-1.Henry's jump-pass to Corey Davis displayed yet another of his skills. He has completed three throws in four attempts in his career.But it's the way he plows over and through opponents that makes Henry - and the Titans - dangerous. Next week, they will go after their second Super Bowl trip and first since the 2000 season, either at Kansas City or Houston. The last sixth seed to get to the big game was Green Bay in the 2010 season; the Packers won it all.Tennessee scored all of its points off takeaways or fourth-down stops.Ryan Tannehill's throws to Jonnu Smith and Kalif Raymond, who missed the last two games in concussion protocol, gave Tennessee a 14-point edge.Tennessee's first score came after tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens' top receiver this season, mistimed his leap and had Jackson's pass deflect into the air. Safety Kevin Byard was there to pick it off.Byard scooted 31 yards down the left side, and with a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Jackson added, the Titans were at the Baltimore 35. The hushed crowd then saw five straight Titans runs to the 4 before Earl Thomas came free untouched for an 8-yard sack.Tennessee simply shrugged and Smith made a juggling catch in the left corner of the end zone. Replay determined he landed barely in bounds for a 7-0 lead.A fourth-down stop with less than a yard to go - the first time in nine tries all season the Ravens failed on fourth-and-1 - set up Tennessee's next touchdown. Tannehill made it 14-0 with his gorgeous long pass that floated over Raymond's shoulder into his arms behind All-Pro defensive back Marcus Peters. The folks in the stands dressed in purple, who hadn't seen their team in such a deep hole since the end of September, had gone silent.They did wake up for Baltimore's 12-play second-quarter drive that included a 30-yard completion to rookie Marquise Brown on third down. But the drive netted only Justin Tucker's 49-yard field goal.Brown again was instrumental on a late 91-yard drive to Tucker's 22-yarder as he made a spectacular one-handed grab of a 38-yard pass, also on third down. Getting within one score in a half they were generally outplayed gave the Ravens little boost, though.Henry's 66-yard romp on third-and-1 led to his passing TD on a direct snap in the third quarter, followed one play later by Jurrell Casey forcing Jackson's fumble, recovered by rookie Jeffery Simmons. Tannehill's 1-yard run made it 28-6.MORE HENRYHenry's TD pass was the first by a running back in the playoffs since 1987, when Allen Rice of Minnesota managed it.Henry is the first player with two games of 175 rushing yards or more in the same postseason. He has set the postseason single-game rushing record for the Titans in consecutive weeks.He also has the most yards rushing through his first four postseason games, coming in with 366 and now is at 561, beating Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and Arian Foster, who were tied with 515 through their first four.LAMAR'S LAMENTJackson's superb season ended with a major thud. He finished with gaudy numbers - 31 of 59 for 365 yards, 20 carries for 143 yards - and a 15-yard TD pass to Hayden Hurst. But the Ravens flopped ignominiously.Jackson was better than in his previous playoff game, a wild-card loss to the Chargers last year. At halftime in that one, Jackson was 2 of 8 for 17 yards and an interception for a 0.0 quarterback rating. He came on in helping Baltimore make that one close in the second half.UP NEXTTitans: On to either Kansas City or division rival Houston in the AFC title game.Ravens: Their superb season and 3 1/2 months of winning are over and they head into the offseason way early than expected.----More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former wide receiver Mike Wallace praised Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill on Twitter and took an apparent shot at the Miami Dolphins organization.

Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram is active for his team’s divisional-round matchup against the Tennessee Titans.Ingram was limited in his first practice this week on Thursday and the Ravens listed him as questionable prior to the game due to a calf injury.The 30-year-old suffered the injury in Week 16 and missed Baltimore's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Ingram amassed 1,265 scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns in 15 games in 2019, and he was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career.Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who was listed as questionable, is also active against Tennessee.Baltimore, which had a bye in the first week of the postseason after finishing with the AFC's best record, is seeking its first playoff victory since 2014.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings wideouts get locked up by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.Thomas and the Saints were eliminated by the Vikings last weekend, allowing him to devote his attention to the divisional playoff matchup in which Stefon Diggs was held to two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, and Adam Thielen was kept to five catches for 50 yards.

LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady has agreed to a three-year contract extension, sources told Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.The deal would reportedly protect the Tigers from losing Brady to other college assistant jobs. The 30-year-old is highly regarded after helping mastermind quarterback Joe Burrow's historic season.But the extension gives Brady flexibility to leave LSU for a college head coaching position or a job in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers are reportedly eyeing him for their offensive coordinator position.Brady's previous salary of $410,000 is expected to be doubled in his new deal.The former New Orleans Saints assistant joined LSU during the offseason to implement the spread offense, which has been an instant success.LSU is set to play in the national championship game against Clemson after leading the nation in points per game and yards per game this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns submitted a request to interview Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds for their vacant GM job, reports NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.They have also asked permission to speak with Philadelphia Eagles vice president of football operations Andrew Berry for the opening, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Cleveland, currently the only franchise with a head coaching vacancy, would pair Dodds with head coaching candidate and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, whom Dodds worked with as members of the Seattle Seahawks, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Indianapolis promoted Dodds to his current role directly under Colts general manager Chris Ballard in 2018. He previously spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks as a senior personnel executive.The Browns parted ways with former GM John Dorsey on Dec. 31 after a disappointing 6-10 campaign. Dorsey spent two full seasons in the role, with the club going 13-18-1 over that span.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings will have their entire receiving corps available for Saturday's divisional-round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.Wideouts Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are active for the game despite facing setbacks during the week.Thielen needed stitches for a cut sustained at Wednesday's practice when a teammate's cleat broke through his shoe and sock and cut through layers of his skin. He underwent the pregame warmup and was given the OK to play.Diggs will feature despite missing two days of practice with an illness earlier in the week.Laquon Treadwell is also active after he was a healthy scratch for last week's wild-card game against the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's one more season left on Dalvin Cook's rookie contract, and this offseason the Minnesota Vikings will work on securing him long term.The Vikings and Cook's agent plan to meet in the offseason to discuss an extension, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.While an agreement isn't guaranteed this year, Minnesota would eventually prefer to work out a long-term pact with the 2019 Pro Bowler.Cook is making just over $1 million this season, and he'll earn $1.33 million in 2020.The 24-year-old shattered previous career highs in 2019 with 1,135 rushing yards, 519 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns across 14 contests. He rushed for 94 yards and a pair of scores in last week's wild-card win over the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As Matt Rhule continues to fill out his coaching staff with the Carolina Panthers, one coach from the college ranks is being rumored as a potential fit.Rhule is considering LSU passing game coordinator and receivers coach Joe Brady for Carolina's offensive coordinator position, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Brady is one of the most sought-after coaches in college football after playing a major role during Joe Burrow's development into a Heisman-winning quarterback.LSU led the nation in points per game and yards per contest this season, and the school will face off with Clemson in Monday's national championship game.The Tigers reportedly worked out an extension with Brady, but it hasn't been signed yet because the 30-year-old may want to return to the NFL, Rapoport adds. He was an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints from 2017 to 2018, and Brady has been linked to a role on Don Martindale's staff if the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator receives a head coaching job this year.However, during Saturday's national championship media day, Brady denied being interested in an NFL move."I haven't been contacted by anybody," he said, according to Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel. "It's something that I haven't even thought of."The Panthers hired Rhule on Tuesday, and they're expected to make Phil Snow their defensive coordinator after he held the same position at Baylor.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Every week during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers release their best bets. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.Odds are courtesy of theScore Bet.Thomas Casale ($1,508)Season record: 14-8-2, +508Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-10)Pick: Texans +10 ($75)I anticipate that the Chiefs and Ravens will duke it out next week for a trip to the Super Bowl, but 10 points seem like too many here, especially considering Houston already won in Kansas City this season. The Chiefs' biggest weakness is a rush defense that allowed 4.9 yards per attempt this year. The Texans exploited that soft run D in Week 6 by gaining 192 yards on the ground in a 31-24 road upset.Both teams are different now, but the big point spread is an overreaction to recent results. The Chiefs' defense may be improved, but it also faced some punchless offenses over the last month of the regular season. The Texans are a step up in class, and considering the road team has won three of the last four outright in this series, I'll grab them to stay within 10 points on Sunday.Alex Kolodziej ($928)Season record: 13-11, -$72Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-10)Pick: Chiefs team total over 28.5 ($50)The Chiefs weren't stymied by the Texans' defense in the earlier meeting this season. Despite losing at home and scoring just seven points in the second half, Kansas City averaged 6.6 yards per play. The problem was that KC's offense only possessed the ball for roughly one-third of the game, as Houston successfully played keep-away.Now that the Chiefs finally have a defense, I don't think you'll see the Texans control the clock as effectively. And with extra time for head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes to prepare for a Houston defense I'm still quite low on, Kansas City should be able to name the score at Arrowhead.Alex Moretto ($925)Season record: 18-19-1, -$75Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (-7)Pick: 49ers -7 ($100)I've been a lot higher on the Vikings this season than most, and I still think they feature one of the most underrated rosters in the NFL. That being said, this is a brutal matchup for them. The Vikings are not built to face a team like the 49ers, who play great defense and excel at getting after the quarterback. San Francisco's D will also get a massive boost with Kwon Alexander, Dee Ford, and Jaquiski Tartt all set to return from injury. That trio last took the field together on Oct. 31 when the 49ers were 8-0 and owned the league’s most dominant defense.Meanwhile, San Francisco boasts the league's second-best rushing attack and should be able to gash a Vikings defense that padded its stats against weaker opponents this season but allowed a troubling 5.8 yards per rush against playoff teams. Look for Minnesota to get into an early hole, forcing the offense to abandon the run, which will allow Nick Bosa and Co. to tee off on Kirk Cousins. At that point, it could get ugly.C Jackson Cowart ($776)Season record: 17-18-3, -$224Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (-7)Picks: Vikings +7 ($75), Vikings +260 ($25)Last week, I wasn't convinced there was much of a talent or coaching gap between the Vikings and Saints. I feel the same this week with the Vikings set to face the 49ers, whose run-predicated offense could be in for some tough sledding against Minnesota's strong rush defense. San Francisco has struggled in this spot, going just 5-14-1 ATS as a home favorite over its last 20 games. Give me a touchdown all day long with a small shot on the moneyline.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams have reportedly found their new offensive and defensive coordinators for 2020.The Rams are finalizing a deal to bring former Washington Redskins OC Kevin O'Connell to their sidelines in the same role, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. L.A. is also hiring Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley as their new DC, a source told Schefter.Over the last two seasons, Rams head coach Sean McVay also served as the team's offensive coordinator.O'Connell was the Redskins' quarterback's coach for two seasons (2017-18) and the club's offensive coordinator for a year (2019). He wasn't retained by Washington amid its coaching changes.The Rams' defensive coordinator job was vacant after the franchise decided not to renew Wade Phillips' contract, ending his three-season tenure in L.A.Staley was the Chicago Bears' outside linebackers coach for two seasons (2017-18) before he was hired by the Broncos in the same role in 2019.The 9-7 Rams missed the playoffs for the first time under McVay's tenure last campaign. Los Angeles allowed 22.8 points and 339.6 yards per game in 2019, which ranked 17th and 13th in the NFL, respectively.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL won't fine Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney for his hit that sent Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz to the locker room during Sunday's wild-card matchup, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.Clowney wasn't penalized by the officials during the game.The play happened late in the first quarter on a scramble where Wentz took a hit to the back of the head while going down.

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to ink quarterback Dak Prescott to a long-term contract after coming close in 2019."We've got to land the plane and get his deal done. That's on Jerry and myself," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. "He's our future."Both parties were close to an agreement last year, but the signal-caller opted to shut down negotiations with the season underway."We got real, real, real close there to start the season and just didn't get it finished up," Jones said. "He's so laser-focused on wanting to win football games and compete that he really didn't want the distraction once we didn't get it done in that first week of going back and forth with the contract."Jones thinks Prescott deserves a long-term extension - and he has the green light from Dallas' new head coach Mike McCarthy."I think he stepped up and improved in all ways last year," Jones said. "We went over this in depth with coach McCarthy and he thinks (Dak) is a top-end, top-caliber quarterback. We can do everything we want and more with Dak."Prescott posted career highs in yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30) last season. The 26-year-old played the last year of his rookie contract in 2019 and can become a free agent once the 2020 season officially begins on March 18.McCarthy praised Prescott during his introductory press conference and discussed how important he will be to their offense."Our offensive system will be built around making the quarterback successful," he said Wednesday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz deserves to be praised for removing himself from Sunday's playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks because of a brain injury. It was an extraordinary act of self-preservation in a sport that frequently discourages self-preservation.Granted, Wentz is not some back-of-the-roster grunt who was risking his job by tapping out of a postseason game. But he is a prominent starting quarterback who's been wracked with injuries throughout his four-year career and had to watch one of his backups win a damn Super Bowl. This makes his decision that much more courageous, and that much more powerful as an example for other players. The long-term risks of repetitive head trauma are simply too great to ignore.But what might have happened had Wentz tried to tough it out, to play through the pain, as the culture of football typically encourages players in such circumstances to do? There's no way to know, of course, because the timeliness and severity of concussion symptoms varies greatly. The NFL has a concussion protocol that's designed in part to protect players from themselves. And even though the league has a history of blaming the protocol's limitations - and the players themselves - for any failures to enforce those procedures, this appears to be a case in which Wentz sought to protect his brain because it's possible no one else was going to do it.The shot to the back of the head Wentz took from Jadeveon Clowney was brutal. But we know that with the benefit of hindsight. In real time, it was virtually impossible to know Wentz had been hit in the head at all, either via the initial impact from Clowney or after his head slammed into the ground. The live-action play went off without a hitch, and the game moved on.The NBC broadcast only showed Wentz struggling to get to his feet for an instant before he began to walk away. His back was turned, so there were no shots of his face or of his eyes, and the broadcast cut away before anyone had an opportunity to know whether he'd suffered any type of injury.Wentz stayed in the game for the remainder of the Eagles' possession - another five snaps. He even took an additional hit from Ziggy Ansah that knocked him to the ground, though there was no direct blow to the head. The broadcast showed him wincing slightly as he left the field while the Eagles prepared to punt, but it was impossible to determine whether this was frustration or a response to pain or head fogginess.To those watching on television, nothing appeared to be amiss for several minutes. A total of 14 plays and a pair of commercial breaks went by after the Clowney hit until viewers suddenly learned that Wentz was walking to the locker room. That was also when play-by-play voice Al Michaels said that Wentz had just been evaluated in the medical tent.Those in the stadium, including reporters tweeting about it as it happened, could see that Wentz had been in the tent for a few minutes before being escorted to the locker room. After another play went by, sideline reporter Michele Tafoya let viewers know Wentz had been examined in the tent for a concussion. As she spoke, a slow-motion clip of Clowney's hit on Wentz was finally shown.In a statement provided to theScore, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said "appropriate protocols were followed," before adding:

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL playoffs are upon us, which means increased attention from bettors on a handful of games. Where is the sharp money going? Which lines are moving the most? We're tracking the action on the biggest postseason contests.We talked to Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader Jay Rood to see how sharps and public bettors are playing the divisional round.All lines courtesy of theScore Bet.Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers (-7, 44.5)A week after shocking the Saints as big road underdogs, the Vikings are again catching a touchdown on the road against the top-seeded 49ers. Bettors are mostly split this week, with 60% of the money and tickets coming in on Minnesota but not enough to move the line off a key number."I think that's probably fairly locked in at this point," Rood said of the point spread. "I don't see any deviation from the 7 across the board anywhere."The game is also getting close to even play on parlays and the moneyline, where the Vikings are a tasty +250 shot to replicate their wild-card magic. The win over the Saints was coach Mike Zimmer's first outright victory as a 7-point 'dog or higher in eight tries.The bigger decision in Saturday's matinee is the total, which opened at 45.5 but has dipped to 44.5 thanks to lopsided play on the under. The public is buying both defenses, even with San Francisco's 8-2 over run to end the regular season.Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5, 47)The Ravens have been one of the most-bet teams in the NFL amid their 9-1 run against the spread, though the Titans' 8-4 ATS record with Ryan Tannehill has coincided with plenty of public interest, too.Big bettors took the road 'dog early, betting the opening line of +10 down to +9.5. Since then, it's been all Baltimore, with nearly five times as much money on the Ravens at -9.5 with an even ticket count on both sides."I would imagine we're gonna creep back to 10 on this game," Rood said.Bettors are also riding the under here, pushing it down from 48 to 47. Some of that could be the anticipation of a storm hitting the area, which could depress the scoring between two offensive-minded squads. Given the run focus of both teams, it could also play into their favor."Ravens have played in some pretty crappy weather games this year, and the Tennessee Titans' offense is kind of built for crappy weather," Rood said. "So we'll see."Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5, 51)Sunday's opener has seen the biggest adjustment of any divisional game, with the Chiefs immediately moving from -8 to -9.5 and staying there through Friday afternoon.A few big bets early pushed the line and helped Kansas City garner a 3-1 money advantage overall, including a 2-1 edge at the current price. The Chiefs are 7-1 ATS in Patrick Mahomes' starts since losing to the Texans in Week 6."The public is clearly on Kansas City again," Rood said.Public bettors are also jumping on the over, which has pushed the total from 49 to 51. The stream of over money has mostly settled down at 51, though the questionable status of Will Fuller could mean some late total play to either side depending on if he suits up. The Texans are averaging 5.3 more points this year when he sees at least five snaps.Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers (-4, 46.5)The only divisional round game shorter than a touchdown is in Green Bay, where 60% of the straight-bet money is on the visiting Seahawks at +4. The line hasn't moved, though the vig has tightened for the Packers at times to offset some heavy underdog moneyline play."I think this game's gonna really be bet like a championship game," Rood said. "Seattle on the moneyline and Green Bay with the points."While the early money is on the Seahawks, Rood expects that to change as kickoff nears. Ticket count is nearly even in straight bets despite the slight money edge to Seattle, and parlay bettors are buying up the Pack at a 3-1 clip on money and bet slips.Some over money has trickled in, too, pushing the total from 46 to 46.5. The ticket count is still 3-1 to the under, so the total likely won't be as big of a decision as the spread for books."We're gonna need this game to fall in the middle for us," Rood said. "We're gonna need Green Bay to win by 1-3 points for an ideal scenario from our perspective."C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander was activated from injured reserve and is set to play against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced Friday.Alexander was placed on IR after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 9. He recorded 34 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception in eight games this season.The 25-year-old signed a four-year, $54-million contract in March. The LSU product was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2015 NFL Draft and made the Pro Bowl once (2017) as a member of the NFC South club.San Francisco - coming off its best regular season since 2011 - allowed 19.4 points and 281.8 yards per game this season, which ranked eighth and second in the NFL, respectively.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is questionable to play in Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Houston Texans due to a knee injury.The 2019 Pro Bowler was listed as limited all week.Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is also questionable due to a calf injury. He was limited during Thursday's practice and didn't participate in Friday's session.The Chiefs had a bye through the first round of the playoffs. Neither Kelce or Jones was listed on the injury report for the team's regular-season finale in Week 17.Kansas City is already without corner Morris Claiborne for Sunday's matchup. He's been ruled out with a shoulder injury and a non-injury-related issue.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carson Wentz's concussion may have cost the Philadelphia Eagles their wild-card matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, but the NFL's chief medical officer applauded the quarterback's courage after he reported the injury.Following a hit to the head from Jadeveon Clowney, Wentz stayed in for a few more plays before disclosing his symptoms to the team. He was taken to the locker room and failed the concussion protocol."I think what Carson Wentz did is heroic and should be highlighted as an example of how an unbelievably skilled and competitive athlete understands the seriousness of concussion injury and is willing to honestly report it and receive the care that he needs independent of his desire and drive to continue to participate in the game," Dr. Allen Sills told The Associated Press' Rob Maaddi. "Having a concussion and playing through it is not about toughness. That's demonstrating a lack of understanding of the severity of the injury. So I applaud Carson Wentz for understanding how serious this injury is and for getting appropriate care that he needs."Sills added, "I just applaud him for setting the example that we want all players to follow. The Eagles' medical staff acted immediately and appropriately as soon as they were aware of the diagnosis. They didn't treat this player any differently than they would have a backup or if this was a preseason game. Our concussion protocol and our care is the same in every single game, no matter who the player is or what the situation or what the implications are."Independent spotters and the neurotrauma consultants monitoring the game didn't initially see Wentz exhibit concussion symptoms, but Sills denied concerns over the league's detection process."I would vigorously disagree (that the concussion identification process is broken)," he said. "Video identification of (symptoms) is one part of a concussion identification. You're not going to see things like amnesia or confusion on video, and that's why all the other elements of detection are really important."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a ligament in his left thumb, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.The second-year passer isn't expected to miss any action this offseason, however.Darnold suffered the initial injury on Oct. 27 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and wore a brace under his glove for the remainder of the season, according to Costello.In 2019, the pivot played in 13 games - missing three weeks with mononucleosis - and finished with 3,024 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans speedster Will Fuller will be a game-time decision for Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Bill O'Brien said Friday, though he remained optimistic about the receiver's availability."I think Will is trending - same as I said at the beginning of the week. I think it's really going to be a game-time decision," O'Brien said. "I think it's kind of like a daily process with him to see where he's at. He passes test after test and he communicates with us on how he's feeling."I think so far, so good, but I think it's going to be a game-time decision."Fuller missed the Texans' dramatic wild-card victory over the Buffalo Bills due to a groin injury. He initially suffered the ailment in Week 16 and hasn't seen the field since.He plays a vital role as the second option in Houston's receiving game opposite DeAndre Hopkins and the deep threat for quarterback Deshaun Watson. With Fuller sidelined, Kenny Stills was the Texans' second-leading receiver against the Bills with four catches for 46 yards.Fuller's four-year career has been hampered by soft-tissue injuries. He's yet to play a full 16-game season, missing five contests in 2019.The 25-year-old recorded 49 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns hope to hire their new head coach by Friday night or Saturday, sources told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.Josh McDaniels of the New England Patriots, Kevin Stefanski of the Minnesota Vikings, and Brian Daboll of the Buffalo Bills are the leading candidates for the role, Volin reports.Cleveland already interviewed the latter two, while the team is meeting with McDaniels on Friday.The Browns vetted a number of coaches after firing Freddie Kitchens, including Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.McDaniels has been connected with Cleveland since Kitchens' departure, as reports surfaced that he's eager to work with quarterback Baker Mayfield.The Barberton, Ohio, native also reportedly prefers to work with his own general manager and wouldn't have considered the job if John Dorsey was still with the Browns.Stefanski and Daboll both led successful offenses in 2019 and helped their respective squads earn postseason berths.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL divisional round is the final four-game slate of the NFL season, featuring a pair of matchups Saturday and another two Sunday. Instead of digging into the games from a spread or totals perspective, let's dive into the best individual player prop bets for the weekend.Lamar Jackson longest completion over 36.5 yardsI'd sell the Titans' defense in every which way possible this weekend. This is a perfect sell-high spot after Tennessee looked great in back-to-back weeks, though that was against a Houston offense led by backup quarterback A.J. McCarron and a Patriots unit that's allergic to downfield shots. Jackson and the Ravens' offense make their living running the ball - Baltimore owns the No. 1 rush offense DVOA in the league - but they're quietly pacing the league in passing, too. The ability to run the ball successfully should set Jackson up for a big day through the air - at least, enough for him to take some shots against a secondary that's 21st in the NFL in pass defense DVOA and 17th in explosive pass rate allowed.Deshaun Watson under 253.5 passing yardsI've endorsed taking the over on a quarterback's passing yards or completions if they're expected to trail and play in a negative game script. Watson certainly fits the bill - the Texans are 10-point underdogs and should have to throw to keep pace - but the handicap in this one is unique. In the regular-season meeting between Houston and Kansas City, the Texans were able to play keep-away, allowing the Chiefs' offense to have the ball for roughly one-third of the game. I could see Houston trying the same approach Sunday, which would take the ball out of Watson's hands to some extent. And if the Texans are unsuccessful in that approach and do decide to chuck, I don't love the matchup in the passing game. Kansas City's secondary had a meteoric rise up the ranks as the season progressed, finishing No. 8 in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. I'd fade Watson on the road in this spot.Aaron Jones over 92.5 rushing and receiving yards From a fantasy perspective, nobody in the playoffs allows more points to opposing running backs than the Seahawks. Counting last week's game against the Eagles, Seattle's allowed an average of 167 yards on the ground over the last three, setting Jones up for a potentially huge game. But instead of taking his rushing prop, I'd recommend parlaying it with his receiving yards, considering the Seahawks have allowed at least three receptions to opposing running backs in each of the last 10 games.Russell Wilson over 251.5 passing yardsWilson was brilliant through the air last week, racking up 325 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Eagles. A backfield rotation of Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch doesn't exactly give the Seahawks a ton of flexibility to run the ball. I think we'll see another monster game from Wilson against an undersized Packers secondary that's No. 24 in explosive pass rate allowed.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKoIodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to add Phil Snow to their coaching staff, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Snow served as Baylor's defensive coordinator for the last three seasons and could continue in the same role in Carolina, added Rapoport.The 64-year-old Snow has worked with new Panthers head coach Matt Rhule for the last seven campaigns. They worked together for four years at Temple (2013-16) and three years at Baylor (2017-19).Rhule, who was named Big 12 Coach of the Year last season, has yet to officially name his coordinators and assistants in Carolina. The 44-year-old reportedly signed a seven-year deal worth up to $70 million with the Panthers.Carolina finished last year with the second-worst mark in the NFL in points allowed per contest (29.4).Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants introduced Joe Judge on Thursday, and the new head coach was quick to stress a hard-nosed brand of football for his squad."There's a question out there a lot of people are asking: Who am I?" Judge said, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "What I'm about is an old-school, physical mentality. We're going to put a product on the field that the people of this area can be proud of. We'll punch you in the nose for 60 minutes.""I want this team to reflect this area," he added. "Blue-collar, hard work. It's in your face. We're not going to back down from anybody."New York finalized a deal to hire the former New England Patriots special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Tuesday in what was deemed a surprising move to many. Judge isn't hearing the outside noise."It doesn't matter how you got there, how high-profile you might be," he said. "It's what you do every day. You're in a position: Earn it.""You can't get by with new gimmicks or new schemes and think you re-invented the wheel," he continued. The same things win football games that have always won football games: fundamentals."Judge had been an assistant on Bill Belichick's staff in New England since 2012, helping with personnel decisions as well.The 38-year-old declined to comment on quarterback Daniel Jones, whom the Giants selected in the first round last year, claiming he didn't want to give "expert analysis" on any player until he's able to study more film.Judge will attempt to turn around a franchise that's earned just one playoff appearance since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2011 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram is listed as questionable for the divisional round with a calf injury but is expected to play versus the Tennessee Titans, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ingram missed Week 17 after suffering the injury in the previous game. He was initially expected to be ready for the playoff affair but reportedly felt tightness in his calf while running last week.The 30-year-old was one of two Ravens listed as questionable for Saturday's game, joining tight end Mark Andrews, who is battling an ankle ailment. Andrews is also expected to play in Baltimore's playoff opener, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Ingram rushed for 1,018 yards - his third season with at least 1,000 rushing yards - and 10 touchdowns in his first campaign with the Ravens. He was named a Pro Bowler for the third time in his career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles fired offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach Carson Walch on Thursday.The dismissals come one day after Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told reporters that the pair did an outstanding job and would return next season, according to James Palmer of NFL Network."I apologize for any confusion that I created during yesterday's press conference. ... It was my intent not to comment on any of my staff during the ongoing evaluations because I wanted to be able to go through the process and communicate any decision directly with the individuals," Pederson said in a statement Thursday. "I did a poor job of explaining that the first time I was asked. I will continue to evaluate everything and consider all possibilities to improve our football team."Groh's tenure in Philadelphia lasted three seasons. Originally hired in 2017 as the team's receivers coach, he was promoted to offensive coordinator a year later after Frank Reich left to join the Indianapolis Colts.Walch was hired as receivers coach in 2019 and lasted one year.Though the unit was decimated by injuries for much of the campaign, the Eagles ranked 14th in total offense and 12th in points per game this past season.Two potential options to replace Groh are coaching veteran Jim Caldwell and former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, a source told ESPN's Tim McManus.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings officially listed receiver Adam Thielen as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round game against the San Francisco after he needed stitches for a bad cut on his ankle suffered during Wednesday's practice.Fellow Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs was taken off the injury report Thursday after missing the last two practice sessions with an illness.The initial prognosis is that Thielen should be able to play against the 49ers, but Minnesota is still gathering information and will proceed with caution, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero."You know how it is. I got a little tangled up in practice," Thielen said Thursday on "Good Morning Football," according to NFL Network's Will Selva. "It's the playoffs. I'm going to do whatever it takes to be out there with my teammates and help this team win."Thielen missed six games and parts of others during the regular season while battling hamstring issues. In 10 starts, he caught 30 passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.