The Arizona Cardinals seem to be working quickly to fill out the rest of their coaching staff following Monday's hiring of Steve Wilks as head coach.The team held an interview on Tuesday with former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.While Bevell "ponders his options," per Schefter, the Cardinals are also planning a meeting with former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.Former Carolina Panthers linebackers coach Al Holcomb is expected to join Wilks' staff as defensive coordinator.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL rejected an ad from the American Veterans organization (AMVETS) for the official Super Bowl LII program that encouraged fans to stand for the national anthem.The ad would've taken up a full page with only the words "Please Stand" printed on it."The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams, and the Super Bowl," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Erik Brady of USA TODAY Sports of the decision not to use the ad. "It's never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement. The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on-field moments that will be televised as part of the game."Early-season headlines were dominated by NFL players protesting social injustices by kneeling for the national anthem, though such demonstrations largely dissipated as the campaign progressed.In a statement on its website, AMVETS said the NHL and NBA accepted the ad in question and will put it in the official programs for their respective All-Star Games. The organization called the NFL's decision an act of "corporate censorship," adding that it's "reprehensible and totally beyond the pale" to deny it the right to free speech.In response, McCarthy said the NFL was willing to run a revised ad that showed support for the military and its veterans, but he was met with resistance."We looked to work with the organization and asked it to consider other options such as 'Please Honor our Veterans,'" he said. "They chose not to and we asked it to consider using 'Please Stand for Our Veterans.' Production was delayed as we awaited an answer. As the program was going to production, the organization asked about including a hashtag and was informed that approval would not be provided in time and was asked to approve the ad without the hashtag. The organization did not respond and the program ultimately went into production to meet deadlines."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not even head coach Mike Zimmer appears to know how the Minnesota Vikings will resolve their sticky quarterback situation."Have I thought about it? Yes. But quite honestly, up until 3 a.m. the other night when the (NFC title) game got over, my whole focus was on the now and not so much the future," he told reporters Tuesday.Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford are all currently set to become free agents in March.Bradford entered the season as the starter, but suffered a knee injury in Week 1 that paved the way for Keenum to take over. Bridgewater is a former first-round draft pick, but has thrown just two passes over the last two years while working his way back from a devastating knee injury."We'll go through that process and go from there and see how that goes," added Zimmer. "We are just going to work through it."Zimmer was equally mum when asked about all the pivots individually.The Vikings' season ended Sunday when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles one round before Super Bowl LII - which Minneapolis will host.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady has been open about wife Gisele Bundchen's wish for him to retire, but according to former kicker Jay Feely, she also tried to enlist his help in convincing the New England Patriots quarterback to hang up his spikes.In his latest feature on the New England Patriots, Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop shared an interesting detail about a trip Feely took with Bundchen and Brady after Super Bowl LI:

The Indianapolis Colts are going to have to wait at least two weeks to make it official, but it appears increasingly likely Josh McDaniels will be manning the sidelines of Lucas Oil Stadium for eight regular-season games next year.McDaniels has been one the hottest head coaching candidates in the league for some time. And while many cite his stint with the Denver Broncos as a cause for concern, it instead can be seen as a learning experience and a reason why he's poised for a successful experience this time around.In his first season with the Broncos in 2009, McDaniels and Co. won their opening six games before dropping eight of the final 10. The Broncos started 2-2 the following season but lost seven of the next eight and McDaniels was let go after a Week 13 loss in which Denver only mustered six points at home.It was widely believed that McDaniels, who was just 33 years old when hired by the Broncos, was overconfident and underprepared for the job. His additional time working under Bill Belichick since that failure should aid him in this second transition from coordinator to head coach.Before and after his time in Denver, McDaniels has worked closely with Belichick and Tom Brady, and the Patriots offense has consistently been among the best in the league with these three men together. The knock on McDaniels is that he's in a system built for his success and that even an average coach would excel in his position.That's likely true, to some extent, but McDaniels’ play-calling skills and ability to adjust during a game are anything but average.However, the departure from New England will also mean leaving behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. And that's why, just as McDaniels is the Colts' leading candidate, they too should be atop his list of potential landing spots.McDaniels may be losing Brady, but he will (hopefully) be replacing him with Andrew Luck, who not only possesses incredible physical gifts but has also been considered a highly intelligent player since his time at Stanford. There is perhaps no one more qualified to help groom that ability than the person who has worked with one of the game's smartest quarterbacks for almost 15 years.But, first and foremost, McDaniels will need to help Luck stay healthy. No one has taken the beating Luck has since his arrival in the NFL in 2012. Some of that is due to poor offensive line play, but as Brady has shown over the years, taking hits and sacks can be as much on the quarterback as it is on his blocking.The key is adjusting to pressure prior to the snap and not completely relying on Luck's ability to scramble and make plays.McDaniels would be foolish to totally suffocate Luck's post-snap creativity, as he is one of the best at the position at making something out of nothing. The goal will be to find some balance in the two styles of play.The Colts will likely incorporate more up-tempo and quick-hitting passing. Luck will be asked to read the defense before the snap, make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, and get the ball out of his hands quickly, often from the shotgun and without huddling.That doesn’t mean Indianapolis will not throw deep or challenge defenses downfield. In fact, we saw the Patriots do that more than ever this year after adding Brandin Cooks, who has some similarities to T.Y. Hilton. McDaniels is an excellent tactician and should be an upgrade as a game manager - especially in situational football - over what the Colts have had of late.As it stands today, only the Browns and 49ers have more salary cap space than Indianapolis. After a year in which they were competitive in a lot of games but couldn’t produce more than four wins, the Colts earned the third overall pick in the draft. Indianapolis needs an awful lot on both sides of the ball, but they have the resources to attack those needs and become a vastly improved football team in 2018.You never know, the pair of McDaniels and Luck could peak together just in time to take over the mantle as the AFC’s powerhouse from the coach's old squad.Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL. (Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After being passed over for his team's head coach position, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher is reportedly exploring other options.Related: Cardinals hire Steve Wilks as head coach on 4-year dealBettcher scheduled meetings Tuesday with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants for their respective defensive coordinator openings, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.New Arizona head coach Steve Wilks is expected to bring on Carolina Panthers linebackers coach Al Holcomb as his defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Bettcher served as the Cardinals' coordinator since the 2015 season, previously holding the role of outside linebackers coach from 2013-14. He held the same position with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.It was reported Monday that Dick LeBeau wouldn't return as the Titans' DC under new head coach Mike Vrabel.Former Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio was reportedly viewed as the top candidate for the Giants position.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

I hate to use the term "overrated" to describe the Minnesota Vikings this season, as the NFL doesn't rank teams like they do in college. But this team wasn't nearly as good as experts thought - and that includes me.Though the Vikings were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, it's easy to see why I and many other analysts bought into their fool's gold.Minnesota won 13 regular season games and a playoff game and had the NFL's best overall defense, and they did it with their backup quarterback and without their most explosive offensive player in Dalvin Cook.Mike Zimmer, his coaching staff, and his players squeezed out every ounce of marrow. But the fact is, this team had a lot of weaknesses, and they were exposed by the Eagles.First, while the Vikings dominated the NFC North, this division may have been the weakest in the NFL. Packers quarterback and perennial superstar Aaron Rodgers was sidelined most of the season. The Bears were starting over with a very young team, including a rookie starting quarterback who had only one year of college experience. And the Lions, who were the closest threat to the Vikings, fired their coach at the end of the season.Usually, the ol' Black and Blue Division is one of the most competitive. This wasn't one of those seasons.Secondly, though the Vikings' offensive line was possibly the league's most improved unit, it was vulnerable when playing from behind. Because the Vikings were in the lead, or in a close game, during nearly every contest, this line and quarterback Case Keenum weren't tested for extended periods of time in obvious passing situations.The Vikings were ahead by at least 16 points during 10 different games. They were very good at playing with the lead. On Sunday, once they were behind and couldn't simply run their basic offense, their weaknesses in pass protection were exposed.Third, the defense was also exposed when they were behind. The Vikings don't have a complicated defense with a wide variety of blitzes and coverages. They line up in a four-man front and generally play two or three coverages in the backend. Against a veteran quarterback with a group of talented weapons, they can be vulnerable.Both the Saints and Eagles knew that throwing at Xavier Rhodes on a regular basis was a bad idea, so they attacked the weaker areas of their man to man coverage schemes. Also, Minnesota's pass rush disappeared against Philadelphia and New Orleans. To play in Mike Zimmer's man-to-man scheme, a ferocious pass rush is a necessity. Again, playing with the lead makes this easier.Getting pressure on the quarterback on first and second down is something that needs to be addressed moving forward for Minnesota from a scheme and personnel standpoint.Lastly, while Keenum proved this year he's an NFL starter, he also proved he's far from being in the group of top-end starters who can carry their team on their shoulders when it needs them most.Playing with a two-touchdown lead versus a two-TD deficit will create two vastly different mindsets. Very few quarterbacks, possibly as few as 10 in the NFL, can bring their team back from a significant deficit against another quality football team. Keenum is a game manager who can occasionally become a playmaker, but he's far from the level of quarterback who can consistently carry the full weight of his offense and lead his team to victory.Rodgers, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, and Philip Rivers are the type of QBs that make you feel like their team always has a chance to win, no matter the score. Keenum isn't. I'm not saying he'll never be that guy, but he hasn't yet shown it.Part of this is because the Vikings were so good this year in the first three quarters that he wasn't thrust into that position very often. I assume the Vikings will want to see if Keenum can bring his game to the next level before giving him huge guaranteed money. Sunday night's game wasn't an encouraging endorsement.The Vikings are a solid football team, but they have some obvious holes to fill if they want to play in the NFC Championship Game again next year.__________The Eagles have the best roster in the NFL, and Nick Foles is playing like the 2013 version of himself - the one that threw for 27 touchdowns against two interceptions. But Philadelphia will be the underdog in the Super Bowl, and may never get the respect it deserves unless it beats the Patriots.The Eagles' defensive front has quietly been one of the best in the league all year. It leads the NFL in stopping the run and is extremely disruptive against the pass.The Vikings' passing attack had its worst game of the season because it was regularly in third-and-long situations and couldn't block the Eagles' front when Keenum dropped back to pass. Those New York Giants teams that won their two most recent Super Bowls had a very similar recipe. The Eagles have guys like Chris Long who would be NFL starters on a lot of teams but are coming off the bench and creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks.Offensively, the Eagles opened up their playbook against the Vikings and Foles embraced the added responsibility. He was nearly perfect on third downs - the most important down for a quarterback - as the Eagles converted on 10-of-14 opportunities.Also, though a lot of teams are using RPOs (Run, Pass, Options) in their offenses, the Eagles are executing them better than any other. This helps out their running game, and is forcing defenses to hesitate as they chase the ball.This didn't happen overnight. It helps that Foles has years of experience running these types of plays, having been the quarterback for Chip Kelly during his first stint in Philadelphia.Part of a head coach's job is to find what his players do well and capitalize on it. Doug Pederson and Frank Reich aren't getting nearly enough credit for understanding what Foles does well and customizing the offense for their new quarterback. As a former backup quarterback, this is something I noticed during my career.My coaches who were also former NFL backup QBs, such as Gary Kubiak and Jason Garrett, quickly understood my strengths and weaknesses, then called my plays accordingly. Backup quarterbacks have more limitations, and sometimes it takes one to notice them.Lastly, the Eagles have done an incredible job of adding offensive weapons, and use a variety of personnel groups to take advantage of these matchups.They have three starting receivers with different skill sets. They're fast, long, slippery, and run disciplined routes. They play three different tight ends, and I have yet to find a safety or linebacker that can cover Zach Ertz. They use three running backs in a variety of ways. Pederson seems to have plays designed for each offensive skill position player every game.That creates matchup nightmares for opposing coaches, and if the Vikings couldn't slow down the Eagles' offense, I'm not sure how Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick will game plan for them.The Eagles are good enough to beat the Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Their defense is like those that gave Brady trouble in his past Super Bowl losses and their front four will disrupt both the run and pass game, while the offense has too many weapons for Belichick and Patricia to shut down.New England will be favored to win this matchup, and rightfully so. Betting against Brady and Belichick is rarely a good idea. But Foles and his offense are much more dynamic than Jacksonville's, and if they play like they did against the Vikings, they'll bring the City of Brotherly Love its first Lombardi Trophy.Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are no doubt hoping for the same result as last year in their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, and they're sticking with the same look.Despite being the designated home team in Super Bowl LII in Minnesota, the Patriots announced they'll be wearing their white road jerseys.The Patriots are 3-1 when wearing white in Super Bowls, while the team wearing white has won 12 of the past 13 championships.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is well aware of new head coach Jon Gruden's intensity, and he's ready to embrace it."I want him to be tough on me," Carr said, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. "For anyone who thinks I want him to be a different way has no clue about me or how I play football or how I prepare to play this game. I don't need to tell stories about how I prepare or manage myself."Carr was recently selected for this third straight Pro Bowl as a replacement for Super Bowl-bound Tom Brady. The honor comes on the heels of one of his worst statistical seasons, as he completed just 62.7 percent of his pass attempts for 3,496 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions - all regressions from 2016.Heading into his fifth season, he expects Gruden to bring out his best."He's going to demand of me. He's going to push me," he said. "He's going to make me be the best version of myself."Related: Gruden to call offensive plays for RaidersGruden spoke highly of Carr at his introductory press conference on Jan. 9, saying, according to 95.7 The Game: "He has a great arm talent, he's athletic, he's got natural leadership skills ... he's got a huge upside ... very, very excited to have him as our quarterback."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Ryan Day is happy in the college ranks for the time being, as the Ohio State assistant will remain with the Buckeyes instead of taking the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator job.Day, who received a promotion to offensive coordinator with Ohio State on Tuesday, recently emerged as the front-runner for the offensive coordinator position, likely due to his extensive work under Chip Kelly.He played for Kelly in the collegiate ranks at New Hampshire and coached under him with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. His familiarity with Kelly's system would have been a huge bonus for Marcus Mariota, as the Titans quarterback starred for Kelly at Oregon.Mariota's passer rating dipped from 95.6 in 2016 to just 79.3 this season and newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel stressed during his introductory press conference this week that developing the talented passer is a top priority. It just won't be Day who is tasked with that job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced in December it was committing $90 million over seven years toward social justice causes, and according to Peter King of the MMQB, a committee of five players and five owners will be announced on Tuesday to lead the charge.The five players on the committee will be New York Jets offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum and quarterback Josh McCown, Washington cornerback Josh Norman, and retired stars Anquan Boldin and Aeneas Williams. The five owners will be the Michael Bidwell of the Arizona Cardinals, Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons, Shad Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Stephen Ross of the Miami Dolphins, and Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns.The players were appointed by a social justice group called the Players Coalition, which is led by Boldin and Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, while the owners were appointed by the league. The committee's job will be to advance efforts in assisting players in making improvements in education, relations with police, and the criminal justice system.The campaign will be called "Let's Listen Together" and will run on the NFL's TV and digital platforms. The players and owners will relay why they are interested in social justice in each spot.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has concluded its investigation into an exchange between Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, and Incognito is not expected to be punished, according to Vic Carucci of Buffalo News, citing a league source.However, a league spokesperson told reporters that the investigation remains under review.Ngakoue accused Incognito of uttering racial slurs during their wild-card matchup in the first round of the playoffs.

Bettors, call your bookies.The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook released prop bets for Super Bowl LII on Monday.Among the props are some staples such as Super Bowl MVP, player to score first, and result of the coin toss.Meanwhile, the Patriots are currently 5.5-point favorites to win their second consecutive championship.TeamsSideTotalMoney LineEagles+180Patriots-5.547.5-220Super Bowl MVPTom Brady4-5Nick Foles3-1Rob Gronkowski12-1Brandin Cooks18-1Dion Lewis20-1Danny Amendola25-1Jay Ajayi25-1Zach Ertz25-1Field25-1Fletcher Cox30-1Alshon Jeffery30-1Nelson Agholor30-1Player to score firstRob Gronkowski7-1Jay Ajayi8-1Alshon Jeffery8-1Brandin Cooks8-1Zach Ertz8-1LeGarrette Blount10-1James White12-1Danny Amendola12-1Field12-1Coin tossHeads-102Tails-102Team to score firstEagles+115Patriots-135Will there be a safety?Yes+600No-900Will there be overtime?Yes+600No-900(Odds courtesy: Westgate Las Vegas Superbook)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL never passes up an opportunity to make a couple extra bones.Capitalizing on a new trend (and perhaps the only marketable facet of this Super Bowl matchup), the league is selling Philadelphia Eagles underdog mask T-shirts. The Eagles have taken to donning the masks after their two recent playoff victories, games in which they were betting dogs.Those behind the NFL Shop Twitter account decided to boast about the new apparel to Eagles defensive end Chris Long:

The matchup is set. The New England Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII in less than two weeks.Plenty of storylines will emerge in the time between now and Feb. 4. For those still figuring out their rooting interests for the big game, here are eight players to cheer on in hopes they end up with a Super Bowl ring.Chris LongLong is actually a defending Super Bowl champion. The veteran defensive end signed with the Patriots for one year and won his first ever title in 2016.He'll be making his second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, this time in Eagles colors. However, this season, his professional exploits took a back seat to his philanthropic endeavors.Long donated his entire 2017 salary to various educational efforts in his hometown of Charlottesville, Va. Long was essentially playing for free this season and the contributions the Eagles have received in return - such as his recovery of Case Keenum's fumble in Sunday's NFC Championship Game - have been invaluable.James HarrisonHarrison sat and stewed for weeks. Upon returning to Pittsburgh for his 15th season, the linebacker found himself stapled to the bench.Finally, in Week 16, he was given his release and was promptly scooped up by the Patriots. Now, with his 40th birthday approaching, Harrison is back in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010.Fans may not agree with his messy, public divorce from the Steelers, but no one can question Harrison's dedicated pursuit of a third Super Bowl ring.Nick FolesFoles is becoming something of a folk hero.Once Carson Wentz was lost to a season-ending knee injury, the Eagles' odds of reaching the Super Bowl took a decided dip. But Foles is no stranger to rescuing a season. In 2013, he went 8-2 in relief of Michael Vick and led the Eagles to the playoffs.Foles is 4-1 since replacing Wentz and is now eyeing the ultimate fairy-tale ending.Brandin CooksThose looking for a ringless Patriot to root for are short on options. Cooks is one of the few that qualifies.The fourth-year pro was brought aboard via trade to be the Patriots' new deep threat. His numbers took a slight drop, yet he still recorded 1,000-plus yards and seven touchdowns.The slight receiver is often lost in the shuffle in New England, as Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola get much of the media attention, but if Gronk is at all hampered in Super Bowl LII, Cooks could make his greatest contribution as a Patriot.LeGarrette BlountBlount is back in the Super Bowl and, like Long, he'll be facing his former team.The fun-loving running back is an easy player to root for and he's enjoying a successful stretch, having scored a touchdown in the last two playoff games.Now, he'll have the opportunity to make up for his fumble in last year's Super Bowl, the mistake that likely led the Patriots to allow him to hit free agency.Darren SprolesSproles won't be playing in the championship game, but you can still root for him to get the Super Bowl ring he deserves.The dynamo has been a difference-maker for years and he's just now getting his due. He's earned Pro Bowl honors the past three seasons, but broke his arm and tore his ACL in the third game of this year.It's a shame he'll miss out on a chance to perform on the game's grandest stage, but hoisting the Lombardi Trophy would dull some of that pain.David HarrisFor 10 years, Harris has known little more than losing. The veteran linebacker toiled for years with the New York Jets, who only made two playoff appearances during his tenure.Now, in his first season with the Patriots, he's going to the Super Bowl.Harris has been made inactive in the last three games and there's no guarantee he'll play against the Eagles. If he does, though, it'll be an opportunity he's been waiting 11 years for.Torrey SmithThe three-time NFL Man of the Year nominee has as much impact off the field as he does on it.Smith makes a point to stay involved in the community and often leaves inspiring notes on his Twitter page.He's now being afforded a chance to win his second Super Bowl title and, judging by his five-catch performance in the NFC title game, which included a 41-yard touchdown, he's ready to add to his jewelry collection.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles fan who went viral after he was filmed crashing into a pole in the subway is back on his feet and in good spirits.Desai, a 42-year-old Eagles season ticket holder, told The Associated Press he was en route to Sunday's NFC Championship Game after having a few drinks when the mishap occurred."Yeah, I hit the pole, but the passion is there," Desai said. "It reflects the passion of the entire city. We are good fans. Yeah, there are a couple of bad apples in the mix, in any city you're going to find that, but I think as a whole we have supported this team for years and years and years. I think this city is ready to bring home the hardware."

Todd Haley is sticking in the AFC North, as the former Pittsburgh Steelers play-caller will join the Cleveland Browns as their offensive coordinator, sources told Michael Silver of NFL Network.The move, though not yet official, has been rumored for days. Haley is expected to take over play-calling duties from head coach Hue Jackson, who's struggled to ignite the passing game since his hiring two years ago.Haley spent six seasons coordinating Pittsburgh's offense until the team announced last week his contract would not be renewed for 2018. He was previously the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs for three years.The Steelers routinely put up big numbers under Haley's guidance, but his fiery personality and stubborn approach resulted in a strained relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger - one that reportedly worsened this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LII is already attracting big spenders.One person paid $132,052 through StubHub for 10 seats in the lower level of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota at the 35-yard line on the AFC side, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell. Another fan dropped $80,000 for four seats six rows up on the 50-yard line behind the New England Patriots' bench.Resale ticket prices did drop slightly with the Minnesota Vikings' elimination, though. According to Rovell, prices rose to more than $5,400 after the Vikings took a 7-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, but had fallen to under $4,700 when the contest ended.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants officially announced the hiring of Pat Shurmur as their new head coach.The former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator becomes the 18th head coach in Giants' franchise history. The two sides came to an agreement on a five-year deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, citing a source."We are pleased to welcome Pat to our organization and look forward to the leadership he will provide for our team," team president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch said in a release. "He has an outstanding track record in developing young players, and it is clear his players respond to his guidance and direction."Shurmur takes over for Ben McAdoo, who was fired on Dec. 4 during a disappointing 3-13 campaign. During that same time, Shurmur was leading a Vikings offense excelling despite injuries to starting quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford. He was named the assistant coach of the year by the Pro Football Writers Association last week.The Giants interviewed six candidates and pursued Shurmur throughout the hiring process but had to wait for the Vikings' playoff run to conclude.Shurmur now joins new Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and assistant GM Kevin Abrams.The move already has one fervent supporter in star receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Blake Bortles said Monday he hopes to be back with the Jacksonville Jaguars next season, but the quarterback acknowledged he's uncertain if the feeling is mutual."I've enjoyed my four years in Jacksonville and I would love to play here for as long as they let me," Bortles said Monday, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "What they decide and all of the decisions they make are outside of my control. I would be thrilled to be able to stay here and play here. Hopefully that can happen."Bortles has a $19-million team option on his contract for 2018, and he'll become a free agent if it isn't picked up. The former No. 3 overall pick was viewed all season as the Jags' weak link, but he generally performed well during Jacksonville's playoff run that nearly produced a trip to Super Bowl LII.Bortles threw for 3,687 yards with 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in the regular season while completing a career-high 60.2 percent of his passes. His role in the offense was largely limited to being a game manager, as the Jaguars relied on a run-dominant approach.The 25-year-old passed for 293 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers didn't wait long to fill the void at defensive coordinator left by Steve Wilks after he took the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job on Monday, as the club has already promoted defensive line coach Eric Washington to the role.Washington has coached the Panthers' defensive line since 2011 and has been one of the major reasons why the unit has led the league in sacks since 2012.The veteran coach certainly has a talented group to work with, as the Panthers were the 11th-ranked scoring defense in 2017, allowing just over 20 points per game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week during the pro football season, Covers Expert Art Aronson of AAA Sports looks at the NFL odds and tells you which spread to bet now and which total to watch as the week plays out. The Super Bowl matchup is set and the odds are out but where will the spread and total land in two weeks' time?Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (-5.5)If you buy into the old adage “Never bet on a streak to end,” then you have to figure this Super Bowl will be close. The current Kraft/Belichick/Brady iteration of the Patriots will be making its ninth trip to the championship game, and all eight so far (five wins and two losses) have been one-score games – including last year’s overtime victory over Atlanta.This year it figures to be tight again, especially if All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski is unable to go due to the concussion he suffered in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. The Jacksonville Jaguars showed that a solid defense can make things sticky for the Patriots, even if they weren’t able to seal the deal due to their limited offense.Oddsmakers opened the line at New England -5 or -5.5, which allows them plenty of room to maneuver between the key numbers (3 and 7) without exposing them too much. The moneyline at most books is in the Patriots -220 / Eagles +180 range.The week prior to championship weekend was dominated by speculation about Tom Brady’s injured throwing hand, and bettors will be spending the next two weeks trying to figure out whether Gronkowski will be recovered enough to take the field in Minnesota on Feb. 4. Last year against Atlanta, the Patriots struggled for nearly three quarters without Gronkowski before finding a way to move the ball.The Eagles, meanwhile, may have caught a break when Carson Wentz was lost for the season in Week 13 instead of later on. Backup and one-time Nick Foles seems to be getting his legs under him after a few shaky starts, and had the best game (352 yards, 3 TDs, no INTs) of his career Sunday in Philly’s NFC Championship Game blowout win over Minnesota.About the total (48)Gronk also looms large among over/under players, as New England will at minimum have to spend time preparing for the possibility he’ll miss a second straight Super Bowl. If the TE is sidelined, the Patriots will go to Plan B – extensive use of running backs as receivers, with the James Whites and Rex Burkheads getting a lot of touches in a possible bonanza for prop bettors.

A trio of television networks have submitted bids to broadcast Thursday Night Football next season, but one, in particular, seems to overshadow the rest.CBS, Fox, and NBC have all submitted formal bids, however, Fox appears to be the only one that has exceeded the current rights fee of a combined $450 million that both CBS and NBC paid this season, according to John Ourand of Sports Business Daily, citing sources.Networks such as ESPN and Turner Sports did not submit bids.Both CBS and NBC have reportedly submitted bids that would pay a lower rights fee than they currently pay. It remains unknown exactly how much higher Fox's bid was than its competition, according to Ourand.CBS and NBC, who split coverage on the package this past season, have publicly admitted the endeavor resulted in both companies losing money.CBS averaged 14.1 million viewers for its five games this season, which was down four percent from last year, and 20 percent from 2015. NBC reportedly averaged 13.5 million for its five games, down a total of 21 percent from last campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings head toward free agency with all three of their quarterbacks possessing an expiring contract.The one they leaned on most en route to the NFC Championship Game in Case Keenum is likely due for the biggest raise after he played the 2017 season on a one-year, $2-million contract.Related: Bridgewater unsure of future with Vikings, seeks starting jobKeenum says he hasn't thought too much thought about his upcoming, life-altering free-agency decision, and spoke highly of the organization and state that allowed him to have a career year at the age of 29."I love this team, I love these guys, love the coaching staff. I love this whole organization; the Wilfs are awesome," Keenum said, according to Derek Wetmore of 1500 ESPN."The day I signed, I got a call from the owner welcoming me to the team. They don’t have to do that, that’s really cool ... The attitude and the character and just the culture they have around here is awesome. Not to mention Minnesota itself, man, the people here have been great."Keenum was signed by the Vikings with the expectation of serving as the backup to Sam Bradford, but started all but one game after replacing an injured Bradford in Week 2.The Vikings will have the potential to lock up Keenum for the 2018 season with the franchise tag, a deal that would pay him roughly 10 times what he made this year.Teddy Bridgewater, the team's first-round pick in the 2014 draft, began the season on the physically unable to perform list, but was activated in early November and made a brief appearance in a Week 15 blowout victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of Mike Vrabel's introductory press conference as Tennessee Titans head coach on Monday, it's safe to say the former Houston Texans defensive coordinator was relieved to be on the same side as Marcus Mariota.Vrabel is no stranger to Mariota's talents, as the Texans and Titans meet twice per season in AFC South play, and he admitted it was difficult to scheme a defense to stop the 24-year-old quarterback."We were scared to death," Vrabel said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "He pulled a football on Jadeveon Clowney and ran 40 yards. Thank god he pulled his hamstring running 40 yards or that game wouldn't have been what it was that day in Houston. He's a special talent, a special kid, and I can't wait to work with him and help him in the next stage of his career."Vrabel has yet to name an offensive coordinator to work with the quarterback, but taking advantage of his dual-threat abilities will certainly be a point of focus for the new coaching staff.Mariota is coming off his worst season as a professional, as the former Oregon star threw 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for a passer rating of 79.3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals announced Monday the hiring of Steve Wilks as their new head coach on a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth season.Wilks served as the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator for the 2017 season, but had been employed by the Panthers in different capacities since 2012. He has coached in the NFL since 2006, spending time with the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears.Star Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson appeared to share his thoughts on the hire:

The New England Patriots rallied from the brink of defeat to take down the Jacksonville Jaguars in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, and by doing so revived an all-too-familiar narrative among football fans.Despite the Patriots neutralizing the Jaguars' offense late in the game, and Tom Brady's surgical precision in the fourth quarter, the thought that they were helped by a league-wide conspiracy continues to linger for many fans.A few moments from Sunday's game were used to support that argument. However, when analyzed critically, the evidence is clearly circumstantial.One popular photo that emerged saw a referee seemingly celebrating with Patriots players following a touchdown.

For the second time in as many weeks, a Philadelphia Eagles fan was arrested for punching a mounted police officer and their horse.Andrew Tornetta, 19, of North Wales, Pa., was being escorted away from a large crowd that had gathered in the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field prior to Sunday's NFC Championship Game when the incident occurred, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Police said Tornetta punched the horse twice on the shoulder before striking the officer below his right eye.Related: Eagles fan arrested for punching police horse after being ejectedTornetta was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and other related charges.NJ.com has video of the arrest:Warning: Video contains coarse languagePhiladelphia police reported five other arrests in connection with the NFC Championship Game. Three people were arrested for attempting to sell fake tickets and two others were arrested for disorderly conduct.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings were handed their worst loss of the 2017 season in Sunday's NFC Championship Game as the Philadelphia Eagles cruised past the purple and gold, 38-7.In scoring 38 unanswered points and showing pure domination in all facets of the contest, the Eagles were able to force the Vikings and quarterback Case Keenum into the old habits they fostered prior to 2017's NFC North-winning performance.Panic-induced turnoversIn throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble, Keenum matched his season-worst, three-turnover performance from a 31-24 Week 14 loss to the Carolina Panthers. In just one other game had he thrown multiple interceptions.In 2016's lost season with the Los Angeles Rams, Keenum twice threw multiple interceptions with no touchdowns scored. He also had one four-interception game in which he passed for a single score. While he fumbled five times, he lost just one.Keenum took just one sack in Sunday's loss, but the Eagles were able to get sustained pressure all game long, leading to the 50-yard pick six by cornerback Patrick Robinson.

Teddy Bridgewater is confident he'll be a starting quarterback next season, but the former first-round pick is less sure that it'll be with the Minnesota Vikings."I don't know what the future holds," Bridgewater told reporters Monday when asked about his future with the club, according to Chad Graff of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.The 25-year-old, though, said there's "no question" in his mind he'll be a starter in 2018, whether it's in Minnesota or elsewhere, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Dane Mizutani.Bridgewater was one of the feel-good stories of the NFL this season, returning from a devastating knee injury that wiped out his entire 2016 campaign and temporarily jeopardized his career.However, he was relegated to reserve duties behind Case Keenum upon his return to the active roster, and was inactive for the NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles as Sam Bradford suited up. All three Vikings pivots are scheduled to hit free agency in March.Bridgewater threw for 3,231 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2015, his second year in the league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bud Light hasn't forgotten about the promise it made to Philadelphia.In August, Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said he planned to buy a beer for "everybody" if the team won the Super Bowl. Bud Light was quick to get on board, tweeting, "win it all and the party is on us."CBS Philly recently reached out to the company to see if it still plans on footing the bill, and a spokesperson provided this response:"Bud Light has not forgotten about our commitment to Lane Johnson, the Eagles, and the city of Philadelphia. We will be sharing plans soon, but in the interest of not jinxing the team ahead of their upcoming games, we are not going to unveil any plans at this time."

It appears the Arizona Cardinals have found their next head coach, as sources told Kent Somers of Azcentral.com the club is closing in on a deal with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.The 48-year-old completed his second interview with the club last Friday and apparently left a strong enough impression. He just finished his first season as the Panthers' coordinator, leading the league's 11th-ranked scoring defense.Wilks also interviewed for the Titans' and Giants' head coaching jobs, with Tennessee opting for Mike Vrabel and New York set to hire Pat Shurmur in the coming days.The Cardinals planned to conduct second interviews with Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores and Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo this coming week, but appear to be moving on in those plans.The Arizona job became available when Bruce Arians resigned at the conclusion of the 2017 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After winning just three games last season, most would view the Jacksonville Jaguars' narrow loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game as a massive success story.Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey wasn't interested in talking about that after Sunday's loss, however."Nah, there ain't no positives in no Ls, I'll be real with you all," Ramsey said postgame, as per Kevin Patra on NFL.com. "Everybody trying to tell you all, 'We're taking this out of that, we're taking that out of that.' We had one goal today, that was to get to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that. We took an L. So we have to go back to the drawing board for next year and do more than what we did today."While Ramsey wasn't decidedly proud of how the Jaguars have progressed, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future. The team boasts one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, and has a number of key players just entering their prime.The defense is among the best in the league with a number of talented young playmakers, with Ramsey leading the way. Rookie Leonard Fournette powered the NFL's top rushing attack and figures only to get better in his second season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The term "good football player" isn't in any standard dictionary, but it holds great meaning to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who used it to describe one player in particular after Sunday's AFC Championship victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.The comeback was capped by a remarkable Tom Brady-led drive, and arguably no other offensive player had a bigger role than Danny Amendola."Danny's such a good football player," Belichick said, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "When you look up 'good football player' in the dictionary, his picture is right there beside it."The praise was particularly colorful for the notoriously stoic Belichick, but Amendola earned it with his production in Sunday's win. After tight end Rob Gronkowski was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the second quarter, he stepped up to make five of his seven catches in the fourth, totaling 84 yards with two crucial touchdowns.Brady was also complimentary of Amendola's performance."He's made so many big plays for us, and that was huge," he said postgame, referring to Amendola's second touchdown. "Without that, we don't win. It was an incredible play."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears as though new Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will be bringing his own defensive coordinator to the staff, as sources told Jason Wolf of The Tennessean that 80-year-old Dick LeBeau will not return to the club next season.The Hall of Fame defensive back just finished his 59th straight campaign in the NFL, but was informed Monday he won't be a part of Vrabel's staff.LeBeau has two Super Bowl rings from his lengthy career as the defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and served as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2000-02.Prior to beginning his coaching career in 1973, LeBeau played 14 seasons with the Detroit Lions, snagging a franchise-record 62 interceptions.The Titans ranked 17th in scoring defense last season under LeBeau, who would be "comfortable retiring if it doesn't work out in Tennessee," according to a source.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With two weeks to go until the next meaningful game to be played in the NFL, it's time to start looking ahead to the draft with the largest annual prospect game - the Senior Bowl.This year's game, coached by the Denver Broncos' and Houston Texans' staffs, will be played Saturday, Jan. 27 in Mobile, Alabama. Practices will also be broadcast on NFL Network from Tuesday to Thursday, giving everyone the chance to get a good look at the prospects.Though many of the players projected to go in the early picks are underclassmen ineligible for the game or prospects who don't need the extra spotlight to boost their stock, there are plenty of talented potential future NFL stars to watch.Here are the 10 most-important names to pay attention to:10. Rashaad PennyPosition: Running Back | School: San Diego StatePenny averaged 7.8 yards per carry, while rushing for 2,248 yards in his senior season - his first year as a full-time starter. Penny's receiving skills weren't tested a lot in college, but he has the other tools to be an every-down player. If Penny can flash potential as a pass catcher out of the backfield, he could turn out to be one of the best value picks of the draft.9. Armani WattsPosition: Safety | School: Texas A&MWatts loves to play aggressively from the safety position and has impressed from the time he walked on campus at Texas A&M, winning a starting role as a freshman. He has been criticized for questionable tackling skills, but will need to wait until Saturday's game to show scouts he can take the ball carrier to ground properly.8. Allen LazardPosition: Wide Receiver | School: Iowa StateLazard didn't have a lot of competition to overcome in order to be Iowa State's all-time leading receiver, but the 6-foot-5 pass catcher would have been great wherever he went. Lazard amassed at least 800 yards in each of his last three seasons, catching 10 touchdowns in 2017, and playing key roles in his team's upsets of 3rd-ranked TCU and 4th-ranked Oklahoma.7. Chukwuma OkoraforPosition: Offensive Tackle | School: Western MichiganOkorafor checks all the physical boxes scouts are looking for when they search for a franchise offensive tackle: 6-foot-5, 335 pounds, strong hands, and quick feet. However, the Western Michigan product needs a lot of help with his technique and football IQ. He will have the chance to work with NFL coaches in practice all week and will need to show he is able to process and use the information he's given to be successful in the pros.6. Mike GesickiPosition: Tight End | School: Penn StateThere looks to be more talent at the tight end position in this year's draft than in recent years. Gesicki has the potential to sneak into the end of the first round, and can improve his chances by outperforming Senior Bowl teammate Troy Fumagalli of Wisconsin, his closest competition among seniors.Gesicki has ideal size for an NFL tight end (6-foot-6, 252 pounds) and could be the first player taken at his position this spring.5. Marcus DavenportPosition: Defensive End | School: UTSAPlaying at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Davenport was rarely seen by casual fans or given much attention by national media. But, after highly-respected analyst Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com put the defensive end seventh overall in his initial mock draft, you can expect to hear more about him.Davenport improved each season at UTSA, finishing his career with 21.5 sacks and 37.5 tackles for a loss over 42 games. In 11 contests as a senior, Davenport racked up 17.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and four pass deflections.4. James WashingtonPosition: Wide Receiver | School: Oklahoma StateWashington resembles a running back the way he totes the rock in the open field - not to mention his jersey number (28) - but this unanimous All-American was voted the best receiver in college football last season. Washington has been one of the most productive players in college since 2015, producing at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in three straight seasons. Coming off a 1,549-yard, 13-score season, he is expected to be off the board in the first round.3. Shaquem GriffinPosition: Linebacker | School: Central FloridaThe edge-rushing twin brother of Seattle Seahawks corner Shaquill Griffin was born with amniotic band syndrome affecting his left hand and had the hand amputated at age four, going on to compete in football, baseball, and track.Griffin was the defensive leader of UCF's undefeated team this season, compiling 18.5 sacks over his last two seasons and winning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016.2. Josh AllenPosition: Quarterback | School: WyomingThere is no doubt Allen has the physical traits of an NFL quarterback with a strong arm, 6-foot-5 height, and decent mobility for a player of his size. Allen has been widely projected as a first-round pick, though much of his resume doesn't quite add up. Allen was far from dominant in the Mountain West division, winning just eight games in his last two seasons, and throwing for only 1,812 yards and 16 touchdowns through 11 games in 2017.Playing at Wyoming, he didn't get enough of the national spotlight to get a strong look at what makes him so worthy of first-round status, but the week of practice and game will give fans and scouts a chance to judge this small-school passer.1. Baker MayfieldPosition: Quarterback | School: OklahomaThere may not have been a more exciting football player to watch in 2017 than Mayfield - in college or the NFL. The Heisman Trophy winner's fiery personality, competitive nature and on-field success made him a lighting rod for attention at Oklahoma.Despite his tremendous on-field success, some are still doubting the 22-year-old's ability to translate to the pros as he played in a conference known for weak defense and stands only 6-foot-1. How Mayfield interacts with NFL coaches and performs using pro schemes will be very helpful in trying to determine whether he can be successful in the NFL.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets appear to be promoting from within for their offensive coordinator position, as sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN the club is expected to move quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates into the role.Bates has spent time on various NFL and college coaching staffs since 2002 before coming to the Jets in 2017. His work with Josh McCown helped the veteran backup post the best year of his career, throwing for 2,926 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 94.5 passer rating.The offensive coordinator position became available when the club opted to fire John Morton after one season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the days leading up to the AFC Championship contest, much of the discussion surrounded the status of Tom Brady's hand after he suffered an injury in Wednesday's practice.The New England Patriots quarterback received 12 stitches and played with a thick piece of black tape on the bottom of his right thumb. He seemed unaffected and played his usual brilliant game, throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.Appearing on WEEI's Kirk and Callahan show on Monday morning, Brady admitted he wasn't sure he'd be able to play when the injury first happened."I wasn't sure, I really wasn't," Brady said. "It didn't look good there for a little bit, but fortunately, Thursday, I didn't practice, I took some time off. Friday, did just a little bit and things kind of felt a lot better on Saturday and (Sunday). I was just able to kind of do what I needed to do. Everyone deals with injuries. It's just part of the season and part of the year. The timing and where exactly it was wasn't the best thing in the world for a quarterback, but it is what it is."Brady confirmed the stitches will be out for Super Bowl LII, and the hand injury won't be an issue when he takes the field against the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 4th.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been underdogs throughout their playoff run, and are again being discredited in their Super Bowl LII matchup against the New England Patriots.Right tackle Lane Johnson won't be bowing down to the team that's attempting to win back-to-back championships."I know," said Johnson, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. "Hey, Tom Brady. Pretty boy Tom Brady. He's the best quarterback of all time, so, nothing I'd like to do more than dethrone that guy."Brady completed 26 of 38 pass attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns in the AFC Championship win over the Jacksonville Jaguars despite a significant hand injury suffered in practice last week.Johnson will be attempting to avenge his Eagles predecessors who lost Super Bowl XXXIX to Brady and the Patriots, 24-21."For what they did to us in 2004, to get payback, there would be nothing sweeter than that," Johnson said. "I remember watching that game when I was 14 years old. I was hoping the Eagles would win. Just coming up short, you could feel the pain, and you could also feel the passion of what this city wants. And we're here, so it's right at our fingertips."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After twice being the betting underdog while hosting playoff games, the Philadelphia Eagles opened as the longer shot to win Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, according to ESPN's David Purdum.At -5.5, the Eagles are the largest underdogs since 2009, when the Pittsburgh Steelers opened as seven-point favorites over the Arizona Cardinals.This is the Eagles' first trip to the Super Bowl since 2004, when they lost to the Patriots, while New England is heading into the big game for the third time in four years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles underwent precautionary X-rays on his ribs following Sunday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings but is expected to start Super Bowl LII, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Sal Paolantonio."They were just checking. I’m good. I’m good," Foles said.Foles finished 26-of-33 for 352 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, steering the Eagles to a 38-7 NFC Championship victory over the Vikings.The 29-year-old was thrust into the starting role after Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending torn ACL in December.Nate Sudfeld would take over for Foles in the unlikely event he can't start against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to request a second interview with Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo for their vacant head coaching position, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Cardinals are reportedly also conducting second interviews with New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.DeFilippo has served as Eagles quarterbacks coach the last two seasons and filled the role of offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns the year prior. He was also interviewed by the Chicago Bears for their head coaching position, though the Bears hired Matt Nagy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady ensured their prominent places in the annals of football history long ago, and with the New England Patriots advancing to Super Bowl LII, their legacies will be revisited, re-litigated, and revised ad nauseam for the next two weeks.Belichick and Brady deserve the accolades they will be showered with, but the story of Sunday's AFC title game against the Jacksonville Jaguars centered around the Patriots' newest contributors. While the head coach-quarterback duo has created the franchise's aura of invincibility, the AFC juggernaut would not be flying to Minnesota if it wasn't for a legion of fresh faces acquired last offseason.Let's start with Brandin Cooks. In March, the Patriots landed Cooks and a fourth-round selection from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for 2017 first-and third-round picks. Selected 20th overall in 2014, Cooks turned just 24 in September and recorded nearly 1,200 yards in 2016. However, he was feuding with other Saints receivers. By capitalizing on the turmoil, Belichick managed to get his best downfield threat since Randy Moss.This savvy move paid dividends Sunday. Cooks led the Patriots with six catches on eight targets for 100 yards, and his role expanded significantly when Rob Gronkowski left the game with a head injury. Facing a Jaguars secondary with two Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, Cooks' world-class speed added a wrinkle to the Patriots' offense that it lacked in the past. Even when he didn't have the ball, the threat of Cooks' speed created chances for the Patriots' other wide receivers. In retrospect, it seems almost unfair that New England could have added such a weapon by taking advantage of another team.And it wasn't just stars who contributed to the offense. Phillip Dorsett, acquired in a September trade with the Indianapolis Colts, caught a 32-yard pass on a flea flicker that helped spur the fourth-quarter comeback. A former first-round pick, Dorsett's become an afterthought over his first three seasons in the league. In a single play Sunday, however, he justified the Patriots' aggression in acquiring him. The sparingly used 25-year-old caught just 12 passes during the regular season, but role players who would be buried on other teams always seem to find their moment in the spotlight with the Patriots.New England's defense, meanwhile, has been a referendum topic all season, with some arguing that a relative lack of star power would eventually spell the team's playoff demise. Stephon Gilmore - who left the Buffalo Bills and signed a five-year, $65-million contract that contradicts the Patriots' usual frugality - became the face of this debate, especially after he got off to a slow start with his new team. So of course Gilmore submitted perhaps his best game of the season Sunday, recording five tackles and an acrobatic pass deflection on fourth-and-14 with just under two minutes remaining, securing the victory."To come from where I came from last year, signing here, to coming to a great team with great teammates and great coaches, I love it here. It's the reason why I came here," Gilmore said after the game. It certainly appears the feeling is mutual.New England also received key performances from Lawrence Guy (six tackles, sack) who signed a four-year, $20-million deal March 11, and James Harrison (three tackles, one quarterback hit), who signed Dec. 26. There's obviously some benefit to being coached by the greatest defensive coach in history (sorry, Matt Patricia - that's Belichick), but a group that underwhelms on paper is playing better than the sum of its parts.At the time, the Patriots were judged to have aced the offseason, leading some to believe they'd go undefeated. While that feat eluded New England, some of the team's acquisitions have already made bigger playoff contributions than anyone could have expected.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Jan. 1, 2017, Philadelphia Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery made a bold statement."I guarantee you we are going to win the Super Bowl next year."Now, Jeffery was still a member of the Chicago Bears at the time, but as he clarified in November, the receiver "never said a team, though."After Jeffery scored two touchdowns in the Eagles' NFC Championship win on Sunday to send his new team to Super Bowl LII, perhaps he deserves some credit for the prediction.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants will meet with Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to finalize his hiring as their head coach, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.A press conference has yet to be announced.Shurmur was promoted from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator after Norv Turner resigned his post in November 2016. The 52-year-old has previous head coaching experience with the Cleveland Browns (2011-12), recording a cumulative 9-23 mark.Minnesota was eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.New York fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Dec. 4.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Hey Philly, maybe it's time to forget Carson Wentz. Nick Foles might be good enough to win the Eagles their first Super Bowl.Foles was on fire Sunday night against the stingiest scoring defense in the NFL. Philly made big play after big play on both sides of the ball in a stunning 38-7 rout of the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC Championship.Next up after their most-lopsided playoff victory: the Eagles' first Super Bowl appearance since 2005, against the team that beat them then, AFC champion New England.Foles replaced the injured Wentz in Game 13 and finished off a rise from last place to first in the NFC East. There were plenty of doubters entering the playoffs, but the former starter in Philadelphia (15-3) under another regime has been brilliant.His best work might have come against Minnesota (14-4) and its vaunted defense that was torn apart in every manner. Foles threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, showing poise, escapability and moxie in going 26 for 33.In doing so - helped greatly by the Eagles' domination on defense and a spectacular weaving 50-yard interception return TD by Patrick Robinson - Foles ruined the Vikings' hopes of being the first team to play in a Super Bowl in its own stadiumInstead, the Eagles will seek their first Super Bowl crown in Minnesota on Feb. 4; their last championship came in 1960.OVER AT HALFTIME: Minnesota made it look easy at the outset, driving 75 yards on nine plays, each of which gained yardage. The payoff was a 25-yard throw from Case Keenum to Kyle Rudolph well behind linebacker Najee Goode as Philadelphia's defense looked confused on the play.That didn't happen again for Philly.Defensive end Chris Long had a huge hand in Robinson's 50-yard interception return. Long burst in from the left side and got his arm on Keenum to disrupt the throw for Adam Thielen. The ball went directly to Robinson, who sped down the left side, then made a sharp cut to the right and got a superb block from Ronald Darby to reach the end zone.Inspired, Philly's D forced a three-and-out, the Foles led the Eagles on a 12-play, 75-yard masterpiece of a drive. LeGarrette Blount showed all his power and escapability on an 11-yard surge up the middle for a 14-7 lead.Turnovers, something Minnesota rarely committed with an NFC-low 14 during the season, hurt again and not only ended a solid drive, but set up more Philly points. On third down from the Eagles 15, Keenum was blindsided by rookie Derek Barnett, and the ball bounced directly to Long.It was only the second strip-sack the Vikings have been victimized by all season.A blown coverage - another rarity for Minnesota - on third-and-10 allowed Alshon Jeffery to get wide open for a 53-yard TD, and Philadelphia tacked on Elliott's 38-yard field goal to make it 24-7 at halftime.DANCING IN THE LINC: Fifty seconds into the final quarter, with the score 38-7, Eagles players on the sideline and waiting to kick off on the field were dancing up a storm and fans were chanting ''We want Brady.''They get Tom Brady and company in two weeks.BACK TO THE BIG GAME: Long won the Super Bowl last year with the Patriots, as did Blount. Now they return on the other side.QUICK DRIVE: Philadelphia got the ball with 29 seconds remaining in the first half at its 20. Foles hit passes of 11 yards to Jay Ajayi, 36 to Ertz. and 13 to Ajayi before Elliott's field goal to end the half.THIRD DOWNS: Minnesota was the league's best team defending third downs and was third in converting them. Yet Philadelphia went 10 for 14.NEXT UP: Minnesota returns home to watch two other teams play at its stadium for the Lombardi Trophy.With the entire stadium singing ''Fly Eagles Fly'' during the NFC trophy ceremony, Philadelphia can look forward to facing New England in Super Bowl 52 on Feb. 4---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No, the Jacksonville Jaguars are not going to Super Bowl LII - but not because of the reason so many "experts" projected.With a stellar defense and the league's best rushing attack, the fate of the Jaguars against the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game was supposed to sit on the shoulders of Blake Bortles, considered by some to be the Achilles heel of a well-constructed club.The Jaguars used rather simple game plans to throw the ball in their first two postseason contests with their fourth-year quarterback, but that type of conservative play would have been too easy for Bill Belichick's crew to pick apart - so the Jaguars bet on Bortles.For the first time this postseason, Bortles threw more than 26 attempts despite leading most of the game, and came away with his highest yardage (293) since facing the Indianapolis Colts' 28th-ranked pass defense in Week 13. He didn't throw an interception or lose a fumble, nor did he rely on the running game to carry the load.Facing a raucous crowd and much colder temperatures than Florida, he even turned an ill-timed trick play into a key first down despite being pressured hard by the Patriots' pass rush, and was inches away from a potential game-winning score in the final minutes.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)While the Jaguars certainly never would have been in the AFC Championship with any confidence without the play of their defense, it was their undoing late against Tom Brady and the Patriots' attack. Gaining a 20-10 lead to start the fourth quarter, the Jacksonville defense could not stop Danny Amendola from scoring a pair of touchdowns.The Jaguars didn't shy away from their mistakes. Safety Tashaun Gipson was not in denial following the defeat, despite the loss of key defenders Myles Jack, Marcell Dareus, and Calais Campbell for parts of the crucial fourth quarter."At the end of the day, we had them right where we wanted and we let it get away," Gipson told Ryan O'Hallaran of the Florida Times-Union.The Jaguars looked the better team for much of the game, showing they belonged in the contest and could very well return in a year's time. However, the question remains whether Bortles will be under center once again. Perhaps his play Sunday showed the front office he is their guy, but the 25-year-old could become a free agent this spring in a snap as he has no money guaranteed on the final year of his rookie deal.Regardless, Sunday's performance should have silenced many of Bortles' doubters and created even more believers in the quarterback once thought to be the reason his team could never have success.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski is in the NFL's concussion protocol after taking a vicious hit to the head just before halftime of Sunday's victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.Gronkowski missed the rest of the AFC title game win, but there is optimism he'll be ready for Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, added Guregian.The future Hall of Famer will have two weeks to pass through the stages of the protocol.Gronkowski caught just one pass before exiting versus Jacksonville. He caught six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in the divisional round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did it whatever it took to lead his team back to the Super Bowl.Brady injured his hand in practice Wednesday after colliding with running back Rex Burkhead on a routine running play. Although there was concern about his status for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brady played with stitches on his hand, spurring his team to a 24-20 victory.The reigning Super Bowl MVP said he was immediately determined to play upon suffering the injury Wednesday."Out of all the plays, my season can’t end on a handoff in practice. We didn’t come this far to end on a handoff," Brady said via NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Brady is looking for his sixth Super Bowl victory, an accomplishment that would almost certainly cement his status as the greatest player in modern history. Although Brady tore his ACL and MCL in 2008, he considered this week among the more chaotic scenarios of his career."I've had a couple injuries, but this was pretty crazy," Brady said via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.Brady said he's aiming to get his stitches out this week, a development that would surely aid him in his preparation as the Patriots get ready to face the winner of Sunday's NFC Championship Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Harrison has achieved his personal goal: he's heading back to the Super Bowl, even if it won't be on the team with whom he started the year.Harrison was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the season, and angered many in the Steelers fan base when he turned around and signed with their hated rivals, the New England Patriots.The linebacker recorded three tackles in Sunday's AFC Championship Game, helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl LII with a comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars."It feels good," Harrison said to Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network shortly after the win. "That's the goal every year - to go to the Super Bowl and win it. We're one step away."Harrison has two Super Bowl rings from the 2005 and 2008 champion Steelers. He'll now look to win a third before he turns 40 in May.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.