Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson confirmed Tuesday that Carson Wentz will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward, according to 94WIP's Eliot Shorr-Parks, putting to rest any potential quarterback controversy for 2019.General manager Howie Roseman added that the Eagles have "confidence in his ability to be (the team's) quarterback and to be hopefully a 19-game starter," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.As for Nick Foles, Roseman acknowledged it may be difficult to retain him with his $20-million mutual option looming but said Philadelphia "would love" to bring back the reigning Super Bowl MVP as a backup, according to NBC's John Clark."It's always gotta be what's best for our football team and the Philadelphia Eagles, so we have to make decisions based on that," he said. "But there's also the respect factor for guys that have done a lot for us and have been part of (the team's success). We try to factor that in as well, but the bottom line is we gotta do what's best for our football team ..."Foles took over for Wentz for a second consecutive campaign after the former first-round pick suffered a season-ending back injury. The seven-year veteran led the Eagles from a 6-7 record to the NFC's divisional round.Wentz's back injury doesn't require surgery, and he's expected to make a full recovery in time for next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After another slate filled with sacks, stops and stuffs, let's review the standout performers from the trenches in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.Defensive Lineman of the Week: LB Dee Ford, ChiefsJustin Houston had more sacks (two), but Dee Ford was the Kansas City Chiefs' best line-of-scrimmage defender in their 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Ford finished with two quarterback hits, one sack, a forced fumble, and four tackles, including one for a loss.Ford's best weapon off the edge is his speed rush, as he's one of the best in the NFL at transitioning from the vertical-burst phase to the flattening phase, which allowed him to accumulate a career-high 13 sacks in the regular season. Along with blazing speed, he typically relies on flexibility and well-timed hands - the same ingredients that led to his sack against the Colts.On this play, Ford begins in a two-point stance with an outside shade over Colts right tackle Braden Smith. Once the ball is snapped, Ford pushes vertical for three steps, beating Smith to the edge and stressing the blocker's pass set in the process.Your browser does not support the video tag. NFLCheck out Smith’s third step below - he's perpendicular to the line of scrimmage while trying to stay in front of Ford:

Since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015, the Denver Broncos have gone 20-28, parted ways with two coaches, and have failed to find the proper successor to Peyton Manning at quarterback.The Broncos signed journeyman pivot Case Keenum to a two-year, $36-million contract last offseason, but after an uninspiring 6-10 campaign, vice president of football operations John Elway admitted Keenum likely won't have an extended stay as the starter."Obviously, we've got to - Case is probably a short-term fix - find the long-term guy for us," Elway told NBC Sports' Peter King."When we do find that guy, we've got to have the continuity on the offensive side to where we can train him and develop him and get him there. This is our fourth offense in probably three or four years. Quarterbacks need to be developed. You don't find one ready-made. We got to have a solid system in place for when we do go after whatever guy it may be, a young guy or a trade or whatnot."The Broncos own the 10th overall pick in April's draft, which should put them in position to select a top-rated quarterback, but may not be high enough to take the first passer off the board.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Riding on the strong play of multiple young stars, the Dallas Cowboys turned a 10-6 season into an NFC East title and an appearance in the divisional round.Now that their playoff run is over, the subject has changed to those players' future paydays. Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott have emerged as offensive leaders and are still playing on their rookie contracts. This offseason is the first time the team can extend them, and the same goes for 26-year-old Pro Bowl defenders Demarcus Lawrence and Byron Jones.Speaking on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he'd like to retain each of his stars but acknowledged it could be challenging."... Do we want Zeke in the foreseeable future on the Dallas Cowboys? The answer is yes. That'd be madness to think any differently," Jones said. "You ask a question about Dak and the answer is yes, I want him in the short term and the long term. ... Do you want Lawrence for the foreseeable future? Byron Jones? A lot of these guys, yes."Now, getting there? Hell, I want a bigger boat," Jones added.Jones reportedly recently purchased a $250-million, 357-foot superyacht.Prescott just completed the third year of a four-year contract that pays him $2.7 million. Elliott is entering the fourth year of a $24-million deal, Jones earned $8 million on a four-year pact and will play 2019 on a $6-million option, and Lawrence played 2018 on a $17-million franchise tag.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maroon 5 has given "SpongeBob SquarePants" fans a reason to be excited ahead of the Super Bowl LIII halftime show.The band included a quick shot of SpongeBob in a video confirming the performance. The cartoon character makes an appearance around the 32-second mark.

Kansas City Chiefs guard Jeff Allen was en route to Saturday's AFC divisional-round matchup against the Indianapolis Colts when his car got stuck in the snow.Fortunately, a good samaritan named Dave Cochran stopped to help."(I) just pulled over," Cochran, who lives in his truck with his girlfriend and their dog, told Steven Dial of KSHB-TV. "I went to help him, then he told me he was a Chiefs player. I didn't know he was a Chiefs player. I looked at him as a normal person and hoped he would do the same for me like I did for him."

The Chicago Bears didn't rule out the possibility of signing former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, but head coach Matt Nagy insisted Monday that his phone call with Hunt a week ago wasn't related to a move to the Windy City."I talked to Kareem, completely wanting to know how he's doing," Nagy said, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. "We had a good conversation. Here's a kid that I spent a year coaching on offense. It's a tough situation. I wanted to see ... making sure that he's OK but understanding, too, the situation that happened is unfortunate for everybody. He knows that."Nagy served as the offensive coordinator in Kansas City during the running back's rookie season in 2017."The only thing I cared about when I talked to him was literally his personal life, how he's doing," the Bears bench boss continued. "It was a good conversation. He sounded good. But that's it. The other stuff, that's not where it's at. There's more to it than the football, so we talked strictly on that."The Chiefs released Hunt on Dec. 1 after a video surfaced of him assaulting a woman in a Cleveland hotel. He is currently listed on the Commissioner Exempt List and is unable to sign with a team until he is reinstated."We're not even there yet," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said. "I mean, I know what he is as a player obviously from watching. Matt knows more about him as a person. We're not even close to that point."The NFL's investigation of Hunt includes the Cleveland incident as well as two other reported incidents involving the 23-year-old, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano."I was raised ... to give guys second chances, not third chances," Nagy said.Hunt had 824 rushing yards and 378 receiving yards with 14 total touchdowns in the 2018 season before he was cut by the Chiefs."As far as the person, with me and coaching him and all that stuff, there were no issues at all," Nagy said. "He was a really, really good kid. He came to work every day. He wasn't late to meetings, any of that. So it was obviously a surprise. It's an unfortunate situation for everybody. We all understand it. It's a learning lesson for everybody."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the conference championships approach, we've already had six of the eight vacant head coaching jobs filled around the NFL, while the Dolphins and Bengals are reportedly waiting on assistants who are still in the playoffs.For anyone who hasn't followed all the news on theScore app, here's who ended up where:

The Green Bay Packers are hiring former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett for their offensive coordinator position, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Hackett served as the Jaguars' offensive coordinator from 2016-2018 before being fired this past November. He also served as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2013-14.The 39-year-old has also held various positions at Stanford and Syracuse as a quarterbacks and quality control coach.Green Bay appointed Matt LaFleur as its new head coach on Jan. 8 and he's quickly assembling his new staff as the 2018 season approaches its conclusion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two-sport collegiate star Kyler Murray announced Monday that he's declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.Murray, an outfielder in baseball, was selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics in last June's MLB draft. He signed a contract with Oakland that allowed him to play one final season of college football at Oklahoma before switching to baseball full time.However, after winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback while leading Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff, Murray informed the A's that he'll enter April's NFL draft and intends to play football, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Murray's currently projected to be anywhere between a first- and third-round pick in a shallow class for draft-eligible quarterbacks.The A's reportedly made a last-ditch effort to convince Murray to choose baseball by offering up more guaranteed money. Team representatives reportedly met with Murray on Sunday.As part of his contract with the Athletics, Murray received a $4.66-million signing bonus.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We may get the second coming of the Ice Bowl this weekend, 51 years after the original took place.The National Weather Service projects an arctic blast will hit Kansas City during Sunday's AFC Championship Game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, according to The Associated Press. The temperature is expected to be between 10 degrees Fahrenheit and below zero at kickoff.The 1967 NFL Championship Game, the original Ice Bowl, pitted the Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was played at 13 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.Sunday's contest could be the coldest in NFL history, and a Super Bowl berth is on the line.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets held an introductory press conference for head coach Adam Gase on Monday and the new hire made an immediate impact on those in attendance and watching from afar.Gase appeared distracted at times as he leaned back in his chair and glanced around the room when he wasn't speaking.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy made some pointed remarks about kicker Cody Parkey during a press conference on Monday.The Philadelphia Eagles eliminated the Bears from the playoffs in the wild-card round when Parkey's game-winning field-goal attempt was tipped and hit off the upright and crossbar.Parkey talked about the play during an appearance on "The Today Show" on Friday morning, drawing the ire of Nagy:

Carson Wentz shared his frustration about his season-ending back injury on Monday following the Philadelphia Eagles' divisional-round loss to the New Orleans Saints.Wentz said the full extent of the injury wasn't discovered until after a Week 14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and it was too risky for him to return to the lineup, according to NBC Sports' Reuben Frank.Though doctors told him the injury won't return "once we get it under wraps," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the young signal-caller admitted it was difficult to not be a part of the team's playoff run."Super frustrating," Wentz said, according to Frank. "To be on the sideline for the playoffs two years in a row is tough.""I still have zero games of postseason football under my belt," he added, according to 94WIP's Eliot Shorr-Parks.The 2018 season marked the second straight campaign that ended with Wentz out of the lineup. He tore his ACL in December 2017 and missed the Eagles' Super Bowl run. The former No. 2 overall pick's injury history has led pundits to question his durability."I look forward to putting (the injury-prone label) to rest over the next couple of years," he said, according to Garofalo.Backup quarterback Nick Foles thrived in Wentz's absence, capturing Super Bowl LII MVP and leading the Eagles to the playoffs in 2018. Foles has a mutual option in his contract due this offseason, however, leaving his future in Philadelphia up in the air."I love Nick and whatever happens was meant to happen and I think we're all going to have success," he said, according to Frank. "The team is going to what's best for the team."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard doesn't intend to trade backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett after Andrew Luck's 2018 season concluded Saturday with a divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs."I won't do it," Ballard said Monday, according to Zak Keefer of the Indy Star.Ballard met with Brissett on Sunday and told him the same thing, Keefer adds."It would take somebody doing something that would blow me away, and it has to be the right thing for the kid, too," Ballard added, according to George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin.The 25-year-old remains under contract for the 2019 season at a cap hit of roughly $900,000.Brissett was acquired from the New England Patriots in September 2017 in exchange for wide receiver and former first-rounder Phillip Dorsett as an insurance policy for Luck's injured shoulder.He replaced named starter Scott Tolzien in Week 1 and held onto the position for the remainder of the year, leading the Colts to a 4-11 record with Luck on the shelf. Brissett completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions and added 260 rushing yards for four scores. He was sacked a league-high 52 times.Luck, 29, returned to form this season. He completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Brissett appeared in just four games and attempted four passes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown's interest in the San Francisco 49ers is more than just a social media dalliance, according to Niners legend Jerry Rice."He wants to come here really bad," Rice said of the disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver to 95.7 The Game's Karl Buschecke on Monday."Antonio and I, we have always kept in communication. ... He's talking about running the hill with me - doing all that and just working out and just picking my brain. I don't know if it's going to happen because it's going to be up to (49ers coach) Kyle Shanahan and also (general manager) John Lynch, but I'm all for it if they want him to come on board."Brown has been flirting with the Niners since the team's Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle reached out to him on Twitter at the height of the Steelers controversy.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster says he doesn't want to lose running mate Antonio Brown this offseason."No, I don’t want AB traded," Smith-Schuster replied to a fan question in a video on his YouTube channel. "He makes me better. He makes the team better. He's awesome. He's a great dude."Brown's been the subject of controversy since reportedly skipping practices ahead of the team's must-win season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals - in which he didn't play - following a dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger."For myself, I learn a lot from him - just playing with him," Smith-Schuster added of Brown. "If I want to increase my game to be the best, I gotta compete against him. So, I do not want him traded."Steelers president Art Rooney II said last week the team won't release Brown, but that "all other options are on the table."The 22-year-old Smith-Schuster caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards - both team highs - and seven touchdowns in 2018, just his second NFL season. The No. 62 pick of the 2017 draft was also voted the team's MVP for 2018, which reportedly angered Brown, a four-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.Smith-Schuster was then named to the upcoming Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Brown.Brown is due to have a cap hit of more than $22 million in 2019. Releasing or trading him would cost the team over $21 million in dead cap space, although the figure would drop to $7 million with a post-June 1 designation. The receiver will turn 31 ahead of next season and is coming off a 2018 campaign in which he led the league with 15 receiving touchdowns in 15 games.- With h/t to TribLive.comCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Freddie Kitchens comes with more than a fantastic name, as he pumped out great quotes during the press conference to introduce him as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Monday.Here are the best quotes from his first day on the job:

Though there were large margins of victory in a couple of the divisional-round games, teams still executed plenty of great plays this weekend. Here's a look at some of the best.Passing Design of the WeekThe New Orleans Saints were down by two touchdowns early and rallied to secure a spot in the NFC Championship Game with a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Drew Brees wasn't perfect, throwing one interception, but when the Saints needed him most, the veteran seemed to be at his best, both in the second half and on a number of fourth-down opportunities.One of those fourth downs came midway through the second quarter, with the Saints trailing by 14 and facing a fourth-and-goal inside the 5-yard line. Sean Payton elected to go for it, and he put Brees under center with three receivers to the left. Michael Thomas, the Saints' No. 1 wide receiver, aligned outside. The Saints brought Thomas in motion toward the formation, and showed a potential goal-line shield screen:NFL/FOXMany NFL teams are using this design on the goal line and/or in short yardage situations. But Thomas was a decoy. The Saints ran more of a Flat-7 concept to the left, with Thomas cutting back toward the flat while Keith Kirkwood releases to the corner:NFL/FOXAdding to the deception was Brees' pump fake after the snap. The design fooled the Eagles' defenders, who kept their eyes in the backfield for a moment, expecting the screen. That enabled Kirkwood to get separation on the quick corner route, and Brees hit him for six:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/FOXThough the Saints needed a number of additional plays to complete the comeback, this early TD provided a big boost.Rushing Design of the WeekIf you didn't know the result of the game and someone told you that either the Dallas Cowboys or the Los Angeles Rams racked up more than 270 yards rushing on 48 carries Saturday night, you probably would have assumed Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys had pulled off an upset out West.And, as we now know, you would have been mistaken.C.J. Anderson and Todd Gurley each broke the century mark in the Rams' 30-22 victory; Anderson tallied 123 yards on 23 carries with a pair of touchdowns, and Gurley added 115 yards on 16 carries and a score.Los Angeles used a variety of rushing designs to attack Dallas' front. One aspect of their ground game was the usage of the jet sweep as well as end-around designs with the wide receivers. Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds, and Brandin Cooks each had a carry, and while they gained just 23 yards combined, they made a bigger impact on the game at large. These designs kept the Cowboys' edge defenders honest, which had a trickle-down effect for the Rams' offense.Here is one example. Late in the second quarter, the Rams face a first-and-10 on the Dallas 35-yard line. They line up with Jared Goff under center and with Gurley as the single back in the backfield:NFL/FOXThe Rams run a split-zone rushing play, with the blockers flowing to the right while tight end Tyler Higbee executes a slice block to the backside. In addition, Reynolds will fake an end around:NFL/FOXGurley gets the carry and has a huge hole thanks to the pair of blocks from left tackle Andrew Whitworth, first at the point of attack and then later on safety Jeff Heath. The potential end around to Reynolds also helps freeze defensive end Randy Gregory, making the hole even bigger:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/FOXGurley explodes through the massive crease and is off to the races, extending the Rams' lead. The replay angle provides a perfect view of the space Gurley had and shows how the end around froze Gregory:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/FOXBefore the game, we wondered if Sean McVay was going to incorporate end arounds and jet sweeps to keep the Cowboys' defense honest. By doing so, he created a chance for the Rams' ground game to thrive.Pressure Design of the WeekThe host Kansas City Chiefs got out to an early lead against Indianapolis and looked as if they might run the Colts right out of town. A big special-teams play and an opportunistic defense helped Indianapolis keep things close for a while, but the Chiefs' much-maligned defense was ultimately too much to handle.Kansas City's defensive unit did not allow a touchdown until late in the Chiefs' 31-13 victory on Saturday, frustrating Colts quarterback Andrew Luck all afternoon. The defense racked up three sacks, hit Luck six times, and had 11 pass breakups, three from defensive tackle Chris Jones.But the Chiefs' defense might have made its biggest play in the third quarter. After Darius Leonard forced a fumble, gifting the Colts the football in the Kansas City red zone, the Indianapolis offense had a chance to cut the Chiefs' lead to just 10 with over a quarter remaining. Instead, Kansas City got to Luck two plays later.Here, the Colts face a second-and-10 at the Chiefs' 20-yard line and align with Luck alone in the backfield. The Chiefs show pressure, walking a linebacker down over the center. They do bring five, with linebacker Anthony Hitchens looping around to the left side of the offense:NFL/NBCThis creates a one-on-one situation for Dee Ford against rookie right tackle Braden Smith. In a battle of former Auburn Tigers, the defender wins, beating Smith with a combination of power and speed to the outside before getting to Luck to strip the football:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/NBCThe Chiefs pounce on the loose ball, ending the scoring threat.With their defense turning in an impressive performance and their offense continuing to shine behind Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are in fine form as they prepare to host the AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.Coverage Design of the WeekTo hear Bill Belichick tell it, pass rush and coverage are two sides of the same coin. A defense can be effective with one or the other, but to be at its best, both elements need to work in concert.That concept was on full display Sunday in Foxboro.The Patriots' pass rush was relentless, pressuring Philip Rivers early and often. The Chargers quarterback was sacked twice, hit eight times, hurried more than 20, and seemed forced to attempt throws from his back foot all afternoon. Everything came together perfectly on the only interception of the game.With the contest not really in doubt in the fourth quarter, the Chargers face a third-and-10 in their own territory. The Patriots show pressure again, putting five defenders down on the line of scrimmage. But they drop into a Cover 2 Man scheme and loop linebacker Dont'a Hightower around from one A-gap to the opposite side:NFL/CBSWhile the four-man pressure scheme doesn't get home, it moves Rivers in the pocket. He attempts this pass under pressure and can't fully step into it. As was the case with many of his attempts Sunday, it was underthrown, allowing Stephon Gilmore, who's in perfect position, a chance at the interception:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/CBSThe Patriots' defense probably made Belichick happy with this execution, but the unit will need to duplicate the performance next week in order to succeed against Mahomes.Offensive Game Plan of the WeekThe writing was on the wall: The Chargers were going to come into New England and end the dynasty. Vegas made the Patriots the smallest favorites of divisional-round weekend, and the overwhelming public money was still on the Chargers, perhaps with good reason. They had a better record this season than the Patriots, only lost one road game (to the neighboring Rams), and their pass rush was built to attack a quarterback like Brady.But then the game kicked off. Josh McDaniels put together a perfect offensive game plan to counter the Chargers' pass rush and heavy defensive-back packages. The Patriots ran right at the Chargers, using players like fullback James Develin and tight ends Dwayne Allen and Rob Gronkowski to pave the way for Sony Michel and James White. They involved the running back in the passing game, with White seeing a game-high 17 targets. When they threw downfield, they often did so out of play-action and called designs to attack the Chargers' zone coverage schemes. It was nearly flawless.Defensive Game Plan of the WeekAll season, the Chiefs' defense was the team's Achilles' heel, leaving many wondering if Kansas City's struggles on that side of the football would prevent it from advancing deep into the playoffs.Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton silenced some of his critics with a virtuoso performance Saturday. The Chiefs quickly forced a number of three-and-outs, giving the home team a chance to build an early lead. The defensive front got pressure on Luck throughout the contest and the secondary mixed up its coverages, contributing to a very high 11 passes defended.Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite his promotion from interim offensive coordinator to head coach, Freddie Kitchens will remain the offensive play-caller for the Cleveland Browns, he revealed at his introductory press conference Monday.The Browns hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken to fill the same position. Though Monken co-authored the No. 1 passing offense and No. 3 overall offense in the league this season, Kitchens will remain the chief decision-maker on that side of the ball.Kitchens took over the controls in Week 9 upon the firing of head coach Hue Jackson, and the Browns' offense took off from there.

The Philadelphia Eagles' chances of retaining their Super Bowl title slipped through their fingers - literally - in Sunday's divisional-round loss to the New Orleans Saints.With the Eagles down six points just before the two-minute warning, Nick Foles fired a pass to Alshon Jeffery - only to see it go straight through the receiver's hands and into the waiting arms of Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore for a game-sealing interception.

LSU linebacker Devin White announced Monday that he'll forgo his senior campaign and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots opened as three-point underdogs for their AFC Championship matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, but the players are embracing it.An underdog for the first time in 68 games - or 1,218 days - quarterback Tom Brady brushed the news off, claiming "everybody thinks we suck and can't win any games" in a postgame interview, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.Brady's teammates followed suit and vowed the Chiefs being favored would only make the Patriots hungrier."Tom (Brady) said it, so I can comment on it. Yeah, everybody does think we suck," wide receiver Phillip Dorsett said. "Everybody thinks we don't have enough. But the only thing that matters is what we think in this room and we believe. When you have a whole group of guys that believes, it can be a special thing. So we have to keep playing, keep going hard.""We see it," veteran safety Devin McCourty added. "We see our quarterback's too old, we're not good enough on defense, the skill players aren't good, but it doesn't affect how we prepare."New England defeated Kansas City 43-40 in Week 6 at home and is using its play on the field as its only barometer for success."We know we have a lot of doubters, a lot of people saying this and that, counting us out and things like that," defensive end Trey Flowers said. "It's football. If it was going by what people said, there would be no reason to play the game. We let the pads talk. We let the scoreboard talk. That's our motto."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Nick Foles' time in Philadelphia is over, it's been a hell of a run.Foles led the Eagles on a second consecutive playoff march this season, but there won't be another Super Bowl triumph after the magic ended with a loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday."I can't say enough good things about Nick. To do the things he's done the last two years, like I said, I can't thank him enough," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said on Sportsradio 94WIP on Monday morning."He's a pro's pro. He's a great human being. He'll always be remembered in Philadelphia for bringing a Super Bowl."Despite Foles' 4-1 record in the playoffs over the past two years, the Eagles remain committed to Carson Wentz as their franchise quarterback.There's a mutual option in Foles' contract that would pay him $20 million for 2019 if he stays with the Eagles. The team must first decide - within one week of February's Super Bowl - whether or not to exercise the option. If the option is exercised, Foles would have five days to either accept the contract or pay back $2 million of his own money in order to hit free agency.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marcus Peters and Amari Cooper fought many battles while they both resided in the AFC West, and the pair restarted their rivalry in Saturday's divisional-round matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys.The cornerback and receiver clashed in the end zone during the contest and then needed to be separated after coming to blows following the Rams' 30-22 win.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) When the New Orleans Saints finally found their rhythm, they marched one step closer to the Super Bowl.Using a dominant ball-control offense and a few gambles that paid off, the Saints got two touchdown passes from Drew Brees and two interceptions from Marcus Lattimore in a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.Brees took the Saints on scoring drives of 92, 79 and 67 yards after falling behind 14-0. Lattimore clinched it when Nick Foles' pass from the Saints 27 deflected off usually sure-handed receiver Alshon Jeffery with about two minutes remaining. A couple dozen Saints players surged off the sideline toward the end zone in celebration, while Jeffery fell face-first to the turf in agony.New Orleans (14-3) will host the NFC title game next week against the Rams (13-4). Los Angeles, which fell 45-35 at the Superdome in November, will try again next week, with the winner going to the Super Bowl. The Saints' win finished off a sweep of the divisional round by teams coming off byes.Wil Lutz added two field goals for the Saints, who last got this far in 2009, when they won the Super Bowl.Philadelphia (10-8) will not repeat as NFL champion; no team has done so since the 2004 Patriots.This was really two games in one. Philly scored on its first two drives as the Saints could do virtually nothing right. After that, it was all New Orleans, but the resilient Eagles kept it close enough that when Lutz missed a 52-yard field goal with 2:58 remaining, they were only one-score behind.Foles, the hero of last year's Super Bowl run, got them in position for yet another late winning score - just like last week at Chicago and last February against New England for the championship.Then, Jeffery couldn't handle a second-down pass, and it was over.Brees had 2-yard touchdown passes to rookie Keith Kirkwood and All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas, who had 12 receptions for 171 yards.UGLY STARTMaybe the Saints were rusty after their wild-card bye, but they got two first downs, including one by penalty, gained 17 yards, and Brees threw an interception and had a fumble that was recovered by teammate Ryan Ramczyk in the opening period. Meanwhile, Philly gained 153 yards and scored two TDs, and Foles went 8 of 9 for 113.But Foles was intercepted by Lattimore early in the second quarter, and the Saints finally got going.INJURIESIn a span of three plays, two starters were hurt and needed to be carted off.First, Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins went down midway in the first quarter, unable to put any weight on his left foot. Two plays later, Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks hurt his right leg and departed.Philly also lost DB Rasul Douglas in the second quarter to an ankle injury, but he was back in the second half. DLs Fletcher Cox, an All-Pro, and Michael Bennett also were sidelined at times before returning. In the fourth quarter, left tackle Jason Peters left.UP NEXTThe Saints host the Rams in the early game next Sunday, with the winner going to the Super Bowl.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Athletics could rework Kyler Murray's contract to keep him in baseball. The A's are considering offering the Heisman Trophy winner more guaranteed money to honor his baseball deal and not declare for the NFL draft, league sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.Oakland would have to add Murray to the 40-man roster to make such changes. An MLB rule prevents draftees from signing major-league deals but Murray already signed his minor-league contract in June. The Athletics would thus be permitted to alter Murray's deal - provided there was no agreement to do so before his first contract, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with Todd Monken to become their new offensive coordinator, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Monken spent the last three seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, helping to create one of the league's top offensive units in 2018.Despite the Bucs switching between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston throughout the season, Monken's offense averaged the third-most yards in the league and was 12th in points per game.Monken's love of the deep ball - only the Kansas City Chiefs had more 20-yard-plus pass plays than the Buccaneers - should mesh well with the aggressive styles of head coach Freddie Kitchens and quarterback Baker Mayfield.Kitchens has already hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks as the team's defensive coordinator, giving Cleveland an experienced coordinator duo to help the team's first-year coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were four.The next two NFL games will determine the participants for Super Bowl LIII. Here are the matchups and times for the AFC and NFC championship games after the No. 1 and No. 2 seed in each conference advanced from the divisional round.MatchupDateTimeNetworkNFC - Rams at SaintsSunday Jan. 203:05 p.m. ETFOXAFC - Patriots at ChiefsSunday Jan. 206:40 p.m. ETCBSThe NFC will open the festivities with the second-seeded Los Angeles Rams looking to exact revenge on the top-ranked New Orleans Saints, who ended the former's perfect regular season in Week 9.In that game, the Saints handed the Rams their first loss with a 45-35 victory at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New Orleans will have home-field advantage in the rematch as well.The top two seeds in the AFC will also meet again in a rematch of their competitive Week 6 encounter.In that contest, the Patriots (No. 2) handed the Chiefs (No. 1) their first loss of the year with a thrilling 43-40 win that required a last-second field goal to seal it. Both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes threw for more than 300 yards in the shootout at Foxborough.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL officially announced that Maroon 5 will be the headlining act for the Super Bowl LIII halftime show, and will be joined by hip-hop artists Travis Scott and Big Boi.

Tom Brady is no stranger to playing in the AFC Championship Game, but the New England Patriots quarterback will be in unfamiliar territory against the Kansas City Chiefs this time around.New England opened as a three-point underdog for the upcoming matchup in Kansas City, ending Brady's 67-game streak (including the playoffs) of being favored to win as the starting quarterback, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.Brady and the Patriots were listed as a two-point underdog against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the 2015 season (a game they won 40-32). The future Hall of Famer's streak lasted 1,218 days.New England wasn't favored in Week 1 of the 2016 season, but Brady was suspended for the first four games of that campaign.The matchup against the Chiefs will be the Patriots' eighth straight trip to the AFC title game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers' season ended with a divisional-round loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday and questions immediately turned to tight end Antonio Gates' future.Following the 41-28 loss, the 16-year veteran said he'd be open to a return, both to football and to the Chargers."You really don't want to end it in this fashion ... When you think about what we built here, do we have an opportunity? I really believe that in my heart. Of course, I would love to come back and play," Gates said postgame, according to the Orange County Register's Gilbert Manzano.The career Charger signed a one-year contract just days before the 2018 season opener. He was brought in after tight end Hunter Henry tore his ACL during organized team activities.Gates had one of his least productive seasons in 2018, recording 28 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. But he caught nine passes for 76 yards in the playoffs, adding a touchdown grab in what could have been his final game with the Chargers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has been diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon after being carted off during Sunday's divisional-round matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Rankins appeared unable to put any weight on his left leg while exiting.

Things went downhill almost immediately for the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday's divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots.The Pats scored touchdowns on their first three drives, putting the game out of reach well before halftime.The following is a photo essay of L.A.'s 41-28 blowout loss, as told by the many faces of Philip Rivers.

Julian Edelman now trails only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most career receptions in NFL playoff history.The New England Patriots wide receiver passed Reggie Wayne on the all-time list in the second quarter versus the Los Angeles Chargers with his fifth reception of Sunday's AFC divisional-round matchup.

Alabama safety Deionte Thompson announced on Sunday he'll forgo his senior campaign and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.The Orange, Texas native is a potential first-round pick.

AFC Divisional Round

Sunday's slate features the Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints. Instead of looking at the standard spread or total, here are our five best individual player and team prop bets for Sunday.Chargers QB Philip Rivers Over 34.5 passing attempts (-125)The Chargers used a balanced approach en route to their No. 6 scoring offense during the regular season, ranking 10th in passing yards per game and 15th in rushing. We think Rivers will need to throw the ball to beat the Patriots, as Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is dealing with a sore knee following a first-quarter injury in last weekend's win. Past Rivers-Tom Brady duels haven't been your typical barn burners, but the L.A. quarterback could end up chucking in this one.Patriots RB James White Over 44.5 receiving yards (-120)It's difficult to find a good matchup for the Patriots' offense against a Chargers unit that ranks No. 1 in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) against tight ends, No. 3 in short completion DVOA, and leads the NFL in yards per game against teams' No. 1 receivers. If there's an edge, it's in the backfield, where White should be in for a big afternoon. He paced the team with 87 receptions and gets a defense that surrendered an average of 59.3 receiving yards to opposing running backs this season.Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery Over 65.5 receiving yards (-120)The Eagles aren't expected to stay within a touchdown of the Saints, but the matchup(s) suggest quarterback Nick Foles could work his magic for at least one more week. Foles, who was brilliant in orchestrating a comeback win over the Chicago Bears last weekend, now faces a defense that is allowing plenty of yards to wide receivers this season. We like Jeffery in this one, as he is averaging 95.7 yards over his previous four games.Saints team total Over 30.5 (-120)The Saints' offense hit a rough patch toward the end of the season, scoring 28 points or fewer in four of the final five games after starting the year with 30 or more in nine of the first 11. But some home cooking in the playoffs is just what the team needed, as this is when it's the most lethal. In five postseason home games in the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era, New Orleans is averaging more than 35 points per contest. It doesn't figure to come as easy as the 48 points the Saints scored against the Eagles during the regular season, but 30.5 is still a number which is very much in range.Saints-Eagles Over 559.5 combined passing yards (-125)Brees has thrown for more than 325 yards in five of seven home starts this season and Foles will likely have to play from behind. Give us the combined over on passing yards between the two teams.(All bets were taken from Bet365. Always shop around for the best numbers available.)Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from 'Rounders' and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The deadline for Kyler Murray to declare for the NFL draft is fast approaching, and the Oakland Athletics are reportedly attempting to convince their first-round pick to choose baseball, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.Executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane is leading the contingent of A's front office executives trying to persuade Murray not to declare for the NFL draft ahead of the Monday, Jan. 14 deadline.According to a report earlier this week, the Athletics expect Murray to enter the NFL draft, which is set to take place April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn.After being taken ninth overall by the Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft, Murray signed a $4.66-million bonus on the condition that the outfield prospect could finish his junior year at Oklahoma. The 21-year-old went on to win the Heisman Trophy.Under MLB's previous collective bargaining agreement, which expired following the 2016 season, the A's would've been able to jointly void Murray's contract and work out a larger deal to dissuade their top selection from leaving. The Chicago Cubs had previously done this with both Jeff Samardzija and Matt Szczur, Baseball America's JJ Cooper recently explained. Both Samardzija and Szczur were wide receivers for their respective colleges. However, under the new CBA, MLB teams are no longer permitted to circumvent bonus rules.As a fifth-round pick, Samardzija signed a five-year deal worth up to $16.5 million, far exceeding the typical guaranteed salary for any draft selection. Luke Hochevar, who went first overall that year, earned a $3.5-million signing bonus. A typical fifth-round selection that year was due to receive a signing bonus of less than $200,000.Murray's agent, Scott Boras, has continually asserted that his client will attend spring training with the Athletics, which opens in mid-February. The NFL combine, which will be held from Feb. 26 to Mar. 4 in Indianapolis, will conflict with MLB spring training.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are preparing for a rebuild and want to land one of the top quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon's Justin Herbert are expected to headline next year's quarterback crop, and one of them could become the long-term replacement for Ryan Tannehill. The pool of pivot prospects for 2019, led by Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, is widely considered weak.The Dolphins have made the playoffs just twice since 2002, and their last postseason win came in 2000.Miami is expected to hire New England Patriots defensive assistant Brian Flores as its new head coach and focus on player development.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is officially active for Sunday's divisional-round game against the New England Patriots, the team announced.He hasn't played yet this season after suffering a torn ACL in OTAs. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Monday.Running back Melvin Gordon is also active after suffering a minor knee injury of his own in last weekend's win over the Baltimore Ravens.Henry, 24, caught 45 of 62 targets for 579 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore campaign in 2017. The second-round pick of the 2016 draft caught eight touchdowns as a rookie.He'll represent a significant upgrade over the Chargers' tight end combination of Antonio Gates and Virgil Green, who combined for just 47 catches, 543 yards, and three touchdowns in the regular season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are waiting for the New England Patriots' 2018 season to end before finalizing the hiring of Brian Flores as their next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The team is reportedly confident the Patriots' linebackers coach will accept the job after identifying him as the top choice to replace Adam Gase. The Dolphins are allowed to negotiate with Flores' agent, but they need to wait for the Patriots' postseason to end before he can officially agree to terms."Assuming nothing crazy happens, they will get him," said a source close to the situation, per Schefter.Flores, 37, first joined the Patriots as a scouting assistant in 2004. He worked under several different titles before moving into his current role in 2016. He took on defensive play-calling duties this season after Matt Patricia left to become head coach of the Detroit Lions.The Patriots are hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in the divisional round on Sunday afternoon.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams are building language into the contracts of their recently hired head coaches that suggests a work stoppage could be coming in 2021, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The installed clauses stipulate how much salary the respective coaches would lose if the 2021 season is disrupted. The amount of forfeited money would be based on the percentage of the season that is lost due to a stoppage.The NFL experienced a work stoppage 2011 that lasted through much of the summer, but NFL owners and players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement before the start of the regular season. The current CBA will expire after the 2020 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald hasn't yet decided if he'll return for a 16th season in the NFL, he told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Arizona Cardinals legend is coming off a 2018 campaign in which he caught 69 passes for 734 yards and six touchdowns over a full 16 games, with his team going just 3-13 and ending up with the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.It was Fitzgerald's fourth consecutive 16-game season, but it was his lowest catch total since 2014 - he led the league with 107 receptions in 2015 - and the lowest yardage total of his career. His six scores matched his output from each of the previous two seasons.Newly-hired head coach Kliff Kingsbury believes there's plenty that the former Walter Payton Man of the Year can bring to the rebuilding team, but he'll leave the decision for the front office."I'll leave it to these guys who write the checks," Kingsbury said. "Like I said, what a great role model, what a great leader to have on your team, and I would be honored and love to work with him. He's a guy that I've admired from afar for a long time, and I think we all hope that he'll be back."The 11-time Pro Bowler played the 2018 season under a cap hit of $16.85 million but is set to become a free agent at the end of the league year in March.Fitzgerald said last offseason that if he's not playing in Arizona, he won't be playing anywhere. The now 35-year-old was drafted third overall by the Cardinals in the 2004 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to strongly consider retirement once the New England Patriots' season ends, sources close to the four-time All-Pro told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Gronkowski said in late December that he hasn't "been thinking about (retirement) at all," but Rapoport's sources believe he could end his career and potentially pursue options as a wrestler or actor.The 2018 season was one of the worst statistical campaigns of Gronk's career. He caught 47 passes for 682 yards and only three touchdowns over 13 games. The five-time Pro Bowler has recorded 521 receptions, 7,861 yards, and 80 scores during his career over 115 regular-season games.The 29-year-old toyed with retirement last offseason amid reports of the Patriots discussing a trade with several teams, including the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers.Gronkowski and the Patriots then agreed on a restructured deal for 2018 that added $4.3 million in incentives to his contract before the start of the season.He'll carry a cap hit of nearly $11.9 million for 2019 if he returns. Trading him would cost the Patriots $2 million in dead cap space.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams hit the Dallas Cowboys with an unexpected one-two punch on Saturday.The Rams unleashed the ground duo of Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson to great success in the divisional-round game. Both backs topped 100 yards rushing and each had at least one score in the 30-22 victory, which sends L.A. to the NFC Championship Game.

Steve Sarkisian has turned down the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator job and will instead return to coach at Alabama, sources told Dianna Russini of ESPN.Sarkisian is expected to become the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator after a two-year stint leading the Atlanta Falcons' offense.The 44-year-old guided Alabama's offensive unit in the 2017 national championship after Lane Kiffin left for Florida Atlantic. Sarkisian will replace former co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who left for Michigan.Meanwhile, the Cardinals will be forced to look elsewhere for someone to guide their offense under first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Saturday marking their first home playoff win in 25 years, the Kansas City Chiefs are in a position to do something they never have before: win the Lamar Hunt Trophy.The trophy is named after the late owner of the Chiefs and is awarded annually to the winner of the AFC. Kansas City can bring it home with a win in next Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

There was a big turnout for Goose Island's 43-yard field goal challenge on Saturday, but no one walked away with the prize.The Chicago brewery issued the challenge Monday in response to criticism directed toward Bears kicker Cody Parkey after he missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in his team's wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. They initially offered free beer for a year to any fans who could make the kick, but changed it to an all-expense paid trip to an NFL game due to Illinois liquor laws.Anyone who made the 43-yard field goal and an additional 65-yard field goal also would've won an all-expense paid trip to the Super Bowl.

Snowfall is building at Arrowhead Stadium prior to the Kansas City Chiefs' divisional-round matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.Kansas City was hit with between 4 and 7.5 inches of snow Saturday morning, according to the Kansas City Star, and an additional 2-4 inches is expected later in the day, per KMBC News.Here are the scenes leading up to the game: