If you thought the Philadelphia Eagles looked overly prepared for the Atlanta Falcons' final offensive play of the game on Saturday, it was because they were.Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line with a minute to go, the Falcons rolled Matt Ryan out of the pocket to the right side of the field and the quarterback found he had no one to throw to.

Stop us if you've heard this before, but the NFL world isn't happy about the perceived preferential treatment for the New England Patriots by the referees.First, Titans wide receiver Eric Decker was hit with a questionable offensive pass interference penalty that wiped away a third-down conversion and forced Tennessee to punt. The Patriots took the lead on the ensuing drive.Later, the officials changed an offsides penalty against the Patriots on a fourth-down punt to a neutral zone infraction against the Titans, giving New England a first down. Again, the Patriots took advantage of their good fortune and engineered a scoring drive.Twitter wasn't impressed by the performance of the referees:

Bill Belichick etched his name into the history books once again Saturday, coaching his 37th career playoff game as the New England Patriots hosted the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.Belichick was previously tied with Tom Landry and Don Shula.The 65-year-old has won 26 of his previous 36 postseason games, including a record five Super Bowl titles.Belichick can make more history if he guides New England to the Super Bowl for the second straight year. He has 34 playoff games with the Patriots (two with the Cleveland Browns) and trails Landry (36) for most postseason games with one team.- With h/t to Boston HeraldCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Fly Eagles Fly.With the wind and against it.With Nick Foles engineering several long drives, Jake Elliott converting three field goals, and the defense getting stingy in the tightest spot, Philadelphia moved into the NFC championship game with a 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.Foles directed brilliant marches of 74 and 80 yards in the second half - one into the whipping wind, the other with it - and Elliott atoned for missing an extra point by converting from 53 yards at the end of the second quarter, 37 and 21 in the second half. Then the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to the 9-yard line with a first down, and to the 2 on fourth down.When Matt Ryan's final pass sailed over Julio Jones' head in the end zone , Philly could celebrate its first playoff victory since the 2008 season.Next Sunday, the Eagles will host either Minnesota or New Orleans for the conference crown. The Eagles last made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season, losing to New England.''I mean, we just kept believing in each other,'' said Foles, who became the starter when Carson Wentz, a leading MVP contender, injured his knee in December. ''That was it. Our team never wavered, defense did an amazing job, special teams - that's just been the story this year is that we just all stuck together...''The Falcons, of course, memorably blew a 28-3 second-half lead to the Patriots in last year's Super Bowl. They will not get the opportunity to atone for it, though Ryan got them close at the end.Despite being underdogs as the No. 1 seed, the Eagles showed plenty of moxie.A masterful 74-yard, 12-play drive on which Foles was 5 for 6 for 70 yards - the only incompletion was Jay Ajayi's drop - led to Elliott's 37-yard kick into the wind that made it 12-10.The Eagles put together their best drive, an 80-yarder covering 14 plays, yet again faltered close to the end zone. Elliott added a 21-yarder with 6:02 remaining after coach Doug Pederson briefly considered going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 3.Then, as the fans in the Linc held their breath, the Eagles held deep in their territory.''Man, just stay calm,'' said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who was a force all day. ''We always talk about that. We've been in those situations during the regular season, so we kind of know how to handle those situations, not try to make a play but let the play come to us.''And the road to the Super Bowl remains through Philly.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brett Favre may have been inducted into the Green Bay Packers' Hall of Fame in 2015, but he isn't ignoring his time with their rivals.The Hall of Fame quarterback says he's hoping the Minnesota Vikings can defeat the New Orleans Saints in front of their home crowd on Sunday to move onto the NFC Championship game."I want to see the Vikes win," Favre told Mark Craig of the Star Tribune via email Friday. "It's their time."Favre played for the Vikings the final two years of his career, leading them to the 2009 NFC Championship game, where he lost to the Saints in large part thanks to a late interception. The 48-year-old retiree believes the Vikings will have the Saints' number this time."The Vikings match up well, especially against the Saints' offense," Favre said. "The Saints will have some success, but I don't think enough to get a win. The hostile environment will help tremendously."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to name Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer their new offensive coordinator, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a league source.The Seahawks were also rumored to be targeting Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo for the position.Schottenheimer has nine years of experience as an offensive coordinator. He held the job with the New York Jets from 2006-11 and with the St. Louis Rams from 2012-14.The Seahawks recently fired longtime offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots' power trio of owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady plan to meet after the season to clear the air, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Together, they have denied any reported tension between them, but they plan to address any lingering issues that have arisen after the trade of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the reported revoked access of Brady's personal trainer Alex Guerrero.The Patriots will face the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in the divisional round of the 2017 playoffs, as they continue on their quest to repeat as champions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield surprised many when he accepted an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl.The pre-draft showcase is typically reserved for players hoping to improve their draft stock or merely get on the NFL radar. Mayfield will head to the pros as a possible first-round draft pick.He recently revealed his motivation for joining fellow prospects in Mobile, Ala."There are a lot of skeptical people out there who think I have character issues. That's why I'm doing it - to sit down and have a conversation with people. Let them know I love the game of football and I'll do anything to win," Mayfield said Friday to Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt on Sirius XM NFL Radio."Quite frankly, I think that matters a lot more than anything else."Among the antics Mayfield has been derided for include: planting a team flag in the middle of an opponent's field after a victory this year, had to apologize for grabbing his crotch in the direction of the opposing bench, and telling Baylor players, "You forgot who daddy is, I'm gonna have to spank you today."His resume - both on and off the field - has drawn comparisons to NFL flameout Johnny Manziel. Mayfield hopes to put any concerns to rest."It's a job interview. That's what it is. I want to ace my job interview at whatever the cost," Mayfield said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Cable is back with the Silver and Black.The Oakland Raiders brought back Tom Cable to be their offensive line coach days after he was fired by the Seattle Seahawks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Cable was the Raiders' head coach in 2009 and 2010, but upon being fired, then-team owner Al Davis criticized him in the media.Before he was promoted to head coach, Cable was the team's offensive line coach in 2007 and 2008.The Cable hire could come with some added benefits.

There was plenty of movement in NFL coaching circles Saturday, and it could ramp up even more after four additional teams are eliminated from the playoffs this weekend.The Seattle Seahawks were said to be targeting Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo for their vacant offensive coordinator position, but instead are reportedly expected to hire Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer.Related - Report: McDaniels, Vrabel finalists for Colts' coaching jobThe New York Giants also have positions to fill and have their eyes on Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. A playoff loss Sunday could lead the Giants to move on their target, according to Rapoport.Related - Report: Raiders bring back former coach Tom Cable to run offensive lineA new name in the Arizona Cardinals' coaching search is Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, Rapoport reports. Munchak served as the Tennessee Titans head coach from 2011-13 and could find himself back in a head job after the Steelers' postseason run.

The Houston Texans locked up two key pieces of its leadership Saturday, announcing an extension for head coach Bill O'Brien along with the hiring of Brian Gaine as general manager.The contracts will reportedly run through the 2022 season, according to John McClain of The Houston Chronicle.It was previously reported that O'Brien was negotiating a long-term deal with the team, and it seems both sides only needed a matter of days to get something done.Earlier reports also indicated Gaine would be brought in to fill the GM role after Rick Smith took a leave of absence to support his wife in her battle with breast cancer.In four years with the Texans, O'Brien has led the team to the playoffs twice and with a 31-33 overall record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts have narrowed their coaching search to two.New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel are the finalists for the vacant head coaching gig, though more candidates could emerge, Albert Breer of The MMQB reports, citing sources.The Colts fired head coach Chuck Pagano at the end of the regular season, calling an end to his six-year tenure.McDaniels is currently involved in the Patriots' playoff run which continues in a divisional matchup Saturday. Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker, has steadily climbed the coaching ranks, from position coach in 2014 to defensive coordinator this season, and is a hot head-coaching candidate.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL continues to investigate whether the Carolina Panthers followed proper concussion protocol after quarterback Cam Newton sustained an injury in last week's wild-card game. But a new dynamic has emerged.Team officials have informed the league that a knee injury was partly to blame for Newton staggering to his feet and then stumbling to the ground after taking a blow to the head from New Orleans Saints defensive lineman David Onyemata, a league source informed ESPN's Adam Schefter. Newton - who argued he suffered only an eye injury, not a concussion, on the play - was evaluated in the medical tent on the sidelines and was cleared of a concussion by the team moments later.

The health of running backs is front and center for the AFC divisional playoff game between the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.Patriots running backs Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee are not expected to play in Saturday's playoff game due to knee injuries, while fellow back James White - who missed the past two weeks with an ankle injury - is planning to suit up, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The roster shuffling comes as, on the other side of the field, the Titans have already ruled rusher DeMarco Murray out for the game with a knee sprain.It's been weeks since any of Burkhead, Gillislee, or White have seen the field for New England. Burkhead and White have missed the club's last two games and Gillislee was sidelined for the regular-season finale. Dion Lewis carried the backfield load the last time the Patriots took the field, rushing 26 times for 93 yards in a victory over the New York Jets.The Patriots and Titans will meet at 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday with a trip to the AFC title game on the line.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was reportedly arrested Friday in Alabama and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com.The report was based on information in the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest database that is no longer available.Foster's bond was set at $2,500. Second-degree possession is a misdemeanor.The Alabama product just finished his rookie season with the 49ers. He was flagged in drug testing leading up to last spring's draft due to a diluted sample, which the league treats as a positive test.Foster finished his rookie season with 72 tackles and one pass deflection over 10 games as he dealt with multiple injuries.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pierre Garcon isn't exactly surprised that President Donald Trump referred to Haiti as a "shithole" - but that doesn't mean the San Francisco 49ers receiver wants to fight hate with hate.Garcon, whose parents were born in Haiti, says he was initially angry and confused as to why the president of the United States of America would make such "embarrassing" remarks. Asked what he would say to Trump, however, Garcon told TMZ Sports: "We would forgive him."Garcon continued, "That's all we really can do. You can only try to show somebody something. If they don't want to experience it, that's theirs, but we are happy to be from Haiti. We are happy to be Haitian immigrants."The 31-year-old receiver says there's no point to "stooping" to Trump's level with personal attacks."You don't fight fire with fire," said Garcon, who held up Haiti's flag while celebrating winning the AFC championship with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010. "You try to shed light on the situation and try to see it from a different point of view ... Let's not get into a shouting match."Garcon's charity, the Pierre Garcon Helping Hands Foundation, works to bring education, health, and community programs to Haiti, and was founded several months after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in January 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no secret that the Chicago Bears of recent years haven't exactly resembled the Monsters of the Midway that ruled the NFL in the 1940s and again in the mid-1980s.With four straight seasons of double-digit losses since 2014, the Bears are on the worst skid in franchise history and haven't made the postseason since 2010.But things could turn around in a hurry.Chicago named its 19th head coach in franchise history Monday, revealing that former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will run the show.Nagy had a busy first week on the job, reportedly bringing in former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and retaining Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator.The Bears' 5-11 record suggests they're still in the early stages of rebuilding, but the team's development is further along than the typical first-year head coach is accustomed to, and Chicago could return to playoff contention quickly.Nagy's background as Chiefs offensive coordinator - and Alex Smith's former quarterbacks coach - makes him one of the more suitable fits for Mitch Trubisky, who just finished his first season as the Bears' quarterback.Though Trubisky is his own player, he has a few undeniable similarities to Smith, who enjoyed his best career season under Nagy in 2017. Both quarterbacks are comfortable throwing on the move and can use their legs to take advantage of what defenses give them. They aren't particularly outspoken in the media, but still appear to command the respect of their teammates. Both passers depend more on accuracy than arm strength.Luckily for them, Nagy's offense takes advantage of its best athletes by working to find them space without requiring the quarterback to throw the ball deep or rely on an abundance of playmakers. This season, three Kansas City players - Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill - accounted for 4,069 of the team's 6,007 scrimmage yards, and they finished with the fifth-best offense.Helfrich, Nagy's new offensive coordinator, is a disciple of Chip Kelly, and coached under him at Oregon from 2009-12 when the team implemented and popularized running a hurry-up offense from the spread. Helfrich's college system was designed to isolate playmakers, reward speed, and simplify quarterback reads.Nagy and Helfrich need to figure out how to combine their stylistic preferences to fix the Bears' offense, which ranked last in passing in 2017. The good news is that most of the pieces may already be on the roster - or could be there soon, since the team holds the eighth overall pick and plenty of cap space.In terms of running backs, Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard are the best backfield duo that Nagy or Helfrich has ever worked with. Cohen's speed and shiftiness can make him the Hill of this offense as a gadget player, though someone else will have to fill the deep-threat role.Several pass-catchers already on the roster have the pace to pull defenses out of position with deep routes, though finding a No. 1 receiver is the top priority on the offensive side of the ball before next season. Tight end Adam Shaheen, who caught three touchdowns in his rookie season out of little-known Ashland University, and receiver Cameron Meredith, who was injured all of 2017, are potential breakout candidates next year. The rest of the Bears' skill position players can fill supporting roles the way that Albert Wilson, Charcandrick West, and Demetrius Harris have done for the Chiefs.Defensively, the Bears are already a stout unit - provided they can stay healthy.While dealing with a slew of injuries and a rookie quarterback in charge of keeping the offense on the field, the Bears allowed the 10th-fewest yards in 2017. Twelve players recorded more than one sack, while none had more than 8.5 as the Bears finished with the seventh-best pass rush. Despite the impressive statistical finish, only three opening-day defensive starters - Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson, and Akiem Hicks - managed to record 16 starts.Chicago's most important defensive need this offseason is a top cornerback to elevate the secondary and lock down the likes of Davante Adams, Marvin Jones, and Adam Thielen in the NFC North.Nagy's rise to head coach has come quickly; he held a position above NFL quality control coach for only five years before the Bears hired him. He joins general manager Ryan Pace's rebuild without a huge pool of experience and data to draw from. Judging from what we know about Nagy and his staff, however, it looks like the Bears made a smart hire by bringing in someone who suits their roster, and the move may yield positive results in the near future.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Larry Fitzgerald's future is up in the air, but the fact he's the last remaining member of the Arizona Cardinals' old guard apparently won't affect his plans.The Cardinals' star pass-catcher said Friday that the retirement of head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer won't have any impact on when he also decides to walk away from football, according to James Palmer of NFL Network.The future Hall of Famer could be motivated to return for at least one more year, with two milestones in reach. Fitzgerald needs just 92 catches and 390 yards to move into second on both the all-time receptions and receiving yards lists - both achievable marks for the upcoming season.Arizona has yet to hire a new head coach and is likely to be in the quarterback market this offseason, whether via free agency or the draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to be a game-time decision for Sunday's divisional-round matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Brown's uncertain status is reportedly due to the calf strain he suffered in Week 15, not the illness that forced the Steelers to send the pass-catcher home from practice Friday.Head coach Mike Tomlin announced Friday that he still expects Brown to suit up and said the receiver "looked really good" in practice this week, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com, so it's unclear if he's suffered a setback with the calf injury.Brown is officially listed as questionable for the playoff game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Plenty of NFL teams are searching for new head coaches, coordinators, and front-office staff. Follow here for updates on the league's hiring carousel from Jan. 12.Related: Bills fire offensive coordinator Rick Dennison

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis intends to retire after the 2018 season, the veteran told Brooke Cersosimo of NFL Network.The two-time Pro Bowler overcame three ACL tears over the course of his standout career.Davis said last week he expects a "reduced role" next season, according to Bryan Strickland of the Panthers' official site.The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Panthers after being selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos may want a closer look at a potential candidate for the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage said the Broncos' coaching staff requested Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield to be placed on their team, according to Andy Staples of SI Now.The Broncos will coach the North team, with the Houston Texans coaching the South.The Broncos also hold the eighth pick of the second round, and the No. 7 pick in the third round.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears have retained defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the team announced Friday.Fangio has agreed to a three-year contract, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.The move rounds out new head coach Matt Nagy's staff. He's also brought on former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich as offensive coordinator and Chris Tabor as special teams coach.Fangio interviewed for the Bears' head coaching vacancy and became a free agent Tuesday, so it was possible he'd seek a new start elsewhere.By retaining him, Chicago ensures continuity on one side of the ball. The coordinator guided the Bears to 10th in total defense in 2017 despite a host of injuries to key contributors.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown was sent home from practice Friday due to an illness, but Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he is still confident of the star receiver playing in Sunday's divisional-round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.Brown missed the last two games of the regular season due to a calf injury. However, he reportedly had been expected to be at full strength prior to this latest setback.While the pass-catcher may not miss the contest, it could be a significant factor if he isn't 100 percent healthy.The Jaguars boast arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league in Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, so Pittsburgh needs its No. 1 receiver in top form.Brown caught 10 passes for 157 yards in the Jaguars' Week 5 win over the Steelers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings are planning to dress Week 1 starting quarterback Sam Bradford for Sunday's divisional-round game against the New Orleans Saints, a league source told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.Bradford has been sidelined since Week 5 due to a knee injury, with Case Keenum taking over under center. Bradford did return to practice last week, though he is yet to be officially activated to the 53-man roster.Asked Friday about Bradford potentially suiting up, head coach Mike Zimmer remained tightlipped."It's kind of (hard) to judge with five practices. He's working in, but he's got a ways to go still," Zimmer said, according to Tim Yotter of scout.com."It's kind of hard to get reps when you're getting your starter ready. You've got 40 reps in practice and he gets five and (Teddy) Bridgewater gets five."It's unclear whether both Bradford and Bridgewater will be active behind Keenum, added Volin.Coincidentally, the Saints were the Vikings' Week 1 opponents. In that game, Bradford torched New Orleans to the tune of 346 yards and three touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills shook up its coaching staff Friday, announcing the firing of offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.The move comes less than a week after the Bills were ousted by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wild Card Weekend, with the offense scoring only three points.Dennison's tenure with the Bills ends after just one season. Prior to joining head coach Sean McDermott's staff last January, Dennison spent two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos from 2015-16, being an integral part of the team's SuperBowl 50 win.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers announced the hiring of Norv Turner as offensive coordinator Friday.The two sides had reportedly reached an agreement in principle Thursday evening.Turner most recently served as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-16. His last head coaching job was with the San Diego Chargers from 2007-12.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan was removed from the team's injury report on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's divisional-round game against the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.It marks Hogan's return from the shoulder injury that ruined a potential career year, sidelining him for all but one game since Oct. 29.His regular season finished with 34 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns in nine games, as he served primarily as a starter opposite Brandin Cooks. He still set a career best in touchdowns.The trio of Phillip Dorsett, Danny Amendola, and Kenny Britt will likely see smaller roles with Hogan's return.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of selected picks.Last week's record: 3-1

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall doesn't want general manager John Elway making the same mistake while trying to address the team's biggest need this offseason."In my opinion, we've already drafted a quarterback, first round a couple years ago. So we've tried that," Marshall said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Marshall was referring to Paxton Lynch, who has played in just five games since being selected by Elway with the 26th pick of the 2016 draft. The light workload is a result of poor play and consistent injuries since entering the NFL."I think he's going to get a free-agent quarterback. I think he's going to go spend some money and fix the position, you know, because it's kind of a toss-up with these rookie quarterbacks. You never know," Marshall said.Even though the Broncos are equipped with the No. 5 selection in this year's draft, Marshall has his eyes set on a particular veteran."I mean, there's a couple guys out there," Marshall said. "You know. We played against a guy in Week 16 that was pretty good."Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins racked up 299 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception while completing 19 of 37 pass attempts in the matchup.Although the Redskins remain interested in Cousins and will have the first opportunity to retain his services for 2018 with the franchise tag, Marshall isn't the lone Broncos defender hoping to upgrade the team's woeful passing offense with the Washington pivot."A lot of teams would kill to have a quarterback like that," linebacker Von Miller said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady continues to defy the perceptions of the effects of age on athletes, the 40-year-old says his 34 playoff games of experience won't impact the results of Saturday's divisional-round game against the Tennessee Titans."I think it just comes down to how well you play," Brady said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, when asked if experience trumps youth. "At the end of the day, it's not like the old guys are going to win or the young guys are going to win. Or the home team or the road team. It's really going to come down to execution."An NFL playoff-record of 16 years and 88 days separate Brady and Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who'll be making just his second playoff start, after debuting with a come-from-behind upset of the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend.It was Mariota's reception of his own deflected pass for a 6-yard touchdown that helped swing the results of last week's game, pulling the Titans back to within two scores on their first drive of the third quarter, after trailing 21-3 at halftime.Brady knows it's those types of plays that truly matter at this time of year."That was pretty cool," Brady said. "It's plays like that, and things you obviously wouldn't expect; this time of year anything can happen, and any play can really decide the fate of the season."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first time the Pittsburgh Steelers met the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, they were embarrassed 30-9 on their home field.The Steelers rebounded to rattle off eight consecutive wins and clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. Now their postseason begins with a rematch against the Jaguars at Heinz Field.If Pittsburgh is to return to the AFC Championship Game, the team needs to learn a few lessons from its first date with Jacksonville.Bell needs more touchesLe'Veon Bell only carried the ball 15 times for 47 yards in that first meeting. When a team goes away from the run in a blowout loss, the typical excuse is that it resorted to the pass in an attempt to catch up. However, that wasn't the case for the Steelers in Week 5.Pittsburgh trailed 7-6 at halftime and took a 9-7 lead midway through the third quarter. In such a low-scoring affair, the Steelers would have been wise to turn to their patient running back. Jacksonville's pass defense is the best in the league, while its run defense ranks 21st.Pittsburgh supplemented Bell's carries by throwing to him 10 times for 46 yards, but 25 touches still isn't enough for a player who finished second in the league in all-purpose yards.After Pittsburgh grabbed its 9-7 lead, Bell touched the ball five times. Multiple Steelers share the blame for that oversight - as does Bell, who earned 0 yards on those five touches - and the Jaguars deserve some credit for forcing the ball out of his hands.Nonetheless, going away from the run is a recipe for defeat, and it's a mistake the Steelers can't make again in their second matchup.Make Jaguars turn to Bortles, not FournetteLast week, the Jags won a playoff game with Blake Bortles throwing for 87 yards. Hilarious, right?Well, Bortles completed just eight passes for 95 yards and an interception in Jacksonville's dismantling of Pittsburgh. The offense came in the form of the defense, special teams, and rookie running back Leonard Fournette going off for 181 yards and two touchdowns.Pittsburgh's mandate is clear: Stack the box and force Bortles to throw. That game plan worked for Buffalo in the wild-card round. The Bills held the Jaguars to 10 points and, if not for their own atrocious offensive output, would be playing in the divisional round.In obvious running situations during their first meeting, the Steelers mostly stuck to their base defense. Now, they should load up against the run and force the Jaguars to take to the air in the January cold.Bortles has thrown seven interceptions in his last three games. Until he regains his confidence, the offense will run through the ground game, and the Steelers must be prepared.Respect their opponentThe Steelers have a tendency to play down to inferior opponents (they lost to the Bears and squeaked out wins against the Browns, Colts, and Aaron Rodgers-less Packers), and in early October, they may have classified the Jaguars as such. After all, Jacksonville was entering the game off a loss to the New York Jets.Pittsburgh learned the hard way that Jacksonville is not to be discounted.Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball an astonishing 55 times against a secondary that features the Pro Bowl duo of A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey. Big Ben's punishment was five interceptions, two of which were returned for game-breaking touchdowns. The Jaguars' fearsome front seven also broke through for two sacks.The whole experience left Roethlisberger questioning whether he still had it. Last week, he said he'd like another shot at the Jags and an opportunity to redeem himself.He got his wish. On Sunday, we'll see if the Steelers have learned their lesson.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You can take Matt Rhule out of consideration for the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job as a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network that the Baylor head coach will remain with the school.Rhule interviewed for the Colts position earlier in the week, but has ruled out a return to the NFL in favor of a second season with the Bears.The 42-year-old was an assistant coach for one season with the New York Giants in 2012 before taking over as the frontman at Temple the following season. After four years as head coach with the Owls, Rhule jumped to the Big 12 and took over a Baylor program reeling from significant roster movement in the wake of Art Briles' firing.The Bears struggled mightily in Rhule's first season with the program, posting a dismal 1-11 record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have narrowed their coaching search to three men, as a source told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post that the team will pick between Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, and Pat Shurmur.McDaniels, the New England Patriots offensive coordinator, has been mentioned for the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job, while his Patriots colleague Patricia is considered in the running for the Detroit Lions gig. Shurmur, the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, is an option for the Arizona Cardinals' head coaching position as well.Both McDaniels and Shurmur have head coaching experience, while Patricia has yet to serve in that capacity at any level. McDaniels was the Denver Broncos' frontman during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, posting an 11-17 overall record before being fired, while Shurmur coached the Cleveland Browns for the 2011 and 2012 campaigns, finishing with a 9-23 mark.All three coaches are still in the NFL playoffs meaning the Giants can't officially hire any of them until their team is eliminated, but can reach an unofficial agreement in the meantime.The Giants fired Ben McAdoo after the team began the 2017 season 2-10 after he went 11-5 in his debut campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers appear to have their offensive coordinator.The team "agreed in principle" to hire Norv Turner for the role, a Panthers source told Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network.Turner last coached with the Minnesota Vikings, spending 2014-16 as the team's offensive coordinator.The 65-year-old replaces Mike Shula, who was fired along with quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey on Tuesday. Shula and Dorsey had been with the team in their respective roles since 2013.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has officially begun an investigation into the Oakland Raiders' hiring process, pertaining to the addition of head coach Jon Gruden, and whether or not the team violated the league's Rooney Rule, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing a league official.The announcement comes one day after The Fritz Pollard Alliance asked the league to investigate the matter, citing a concern that Raiders owner Mark Davis failed to interview a minority candidate prior to hiring Gruden.The issue arises from a statement Davis made during Gruden's introductory press conference when he said he believed he had a commitment from Gruden prior to the Raiders' game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day.The Raiders interviewed both tight end coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin for the job, but if Davis and Gruden had in fact come to an agreement before those interviews took place, the potential for a Rooney Rule violation would be in place.The Rooney Rule, named after former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for both head coaching and senior football operations vacancies.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Plenty of NFL teams are searching for new head coaches, coordinators, and front-office staff. Follow here for updates on the league's hiring carousel from Jan. 11.Related - Report: Bears tab former Oregon HC Mark Helfrich as new offensive coordinatorFormer Houston Texans running backs coach Charles London accepted the same position with the Bears on Wednesday, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. London voluntarily left the Texans after four seasons.Related - Report: Panthers agree in principle to hire Norv Turner as OCMatt Zenitz of AL.com reports that Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has poached Alabama defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley to join his staff.

Le'Veon Bell really doesn't want to be franchise tagged again.The star running back put the Pittsburgh Steelers on notice Thursday, announcing he's prepared to sit out for a season or even retire if the team places a franchise tag on him for a second straight year."I hope it doesn't come to that, but I would definitely consider it," Bell said prior to practice Thursday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.The 25-year-old's 2017 franchise tag was worth $12.1 million, and his 2018 tag is projected to be about $14.5 million. Behind him, the NFL's highest-paid running back is Devonta Freeman, who signed a five-year, $41.25-million extension with the Atlanta Falcons in August.Bell insisted the Steelers need to value him this offseason, though seemed more concerned about setting the market for younger players at his position than getting a specific dollar amount."Just get the numbers straight, exactly where we want them. I'm not going to settle for anything," Bell said. "I know what I do and what I bring to the table. I'm not going out here getting the ball 400 times if I'm not getting what I feel I'm valued at."He added, "I don't necessarily care about the money aspect of it. I just want to be valued where I'm at. If I am playing this game, I want to set standards for all the other running backs behind me, like Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon, guys like that. I'm a guy they can kind of look at. I feel I can do that. I'm in a position where I can do that, and I'm going to do it."If he did sit out the 2018 season, Bell said his football career would "probably be done."He rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns on 321 carries this season, adding 655 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 85 catches.After his comments made news in the afternoon, Bell tweeted a message on Thursday evening clarifying that his main focus is on the upcoming playoff game this weekend.

As excitement builds with regards to the Minnesota Vikings vying to become the first NFL team to play in a Super Bowl on its home field, the league is preparing for what could be an unprecedented short turnaround of U.S. Bank Stadium.The Vikings are hosting the New Orleans Saints this Sunday in the divisional round, and could be presented with another home game in the NFC Championship next weekend should the Atlanta Falcons beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. That would leave the league just two weeks to prepare the stadium for the big game - something that has never happened before."We're watching it closely, no question about it, and we have been for a while," NFL senior vice president of events Peter O'Reilly said, according to Jonathan Jones of SI.com. "The good thing is there is a really detailed contingency plan in place that hasn’t had to be rolled out before, but is in place. We’ve been talking with the Vikings and the host committee throughout the back-half of this regular season on a regular basis on all the different scenarios. It adds another factor for sure, but we feel good about the planning in place."Ahead of the Super Bowl, organizers will need to build additional booths for international broadcasters, set up an auxiliary press box in the upper level of the stadium, make the necessary arrangements for the halftime show, prepare the locker rooms for larger press conferences, and construct the security perimeter around the outside of the stadium, potentially eating into parking space that would be necessary for the NFC Championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Branden Albert made a $1-million donation to charity after seeing Kim Kardashian do the same on an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."In the episode, Kim visits Alexandria House, a residence in Los Angeles that provides safe and supportive housing for women and children transitioning from emergency shelters to a permanent residence.Albert, who last played in the NFL in 2016 for the Miami Dolphins, told TMZ Sports that the episode struck a chord because he grew up in a single-parent household, and his mother and aunt had to work several jobs to make ends meet. He donated to Alexandria House in honor of his mother, who died five years ago from pancreatic cancer.A representative for Alexandria House told TMZ Sports that they hope to use Albert's donation to purchase another complex to accommodate the 600 or more people they turn away monthly due to a lack of space.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alabama's top defensive prospect is heading to the NFL.Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban announced Thursday that defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has elected to forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com.Fitzpatrick has been heralded as one of the best defensive prospects in this year's draft, with most expecting him to be taken in the first round. The junior finished the season with 60 tackles, eight passes defended, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.Saban also confirmed earlier reports that defensive back Ronnie Harrison, defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne, running back Bo Scarbrough, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley will also be entering April's draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees seems to be taking a "kill them with kindness" approach into Sunday's divisional-round game against the Minnesota Vikings.The veteran signal-caller issued a large amount of praise for Vikings quarterback Case Keenum, who heads into his first career playoff appearance."Case has done a phenomenal job, phenomenal job," Brees said, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN. "I've been really happy for him, just knowing him a little bit and knowing the road he’s traveled to get where he is."Case is his own guy, but we can relate. I think there’s just kind of that mentality of having the chip on your shoulder, always being told you couldn’t do it for whatever reason, height whatever. But I love the way that guy plays, and he’s played extremely well for his team."Keenum, an undrafted free agent out of Houston, has enjoyed a career year in his first season with the Vikings since replacing quarterback Sam Bradford, who missed all but one other start after sustaining an injury in the Week 1 meeting with the Saints.At 6-foot-1, Keenum just barely tops Brees, who's listed at 6-feet."I always root for guys like that, kind of the undersized guy coming out that nobody wants to give any credit and just always plays with a chip on his shoulder," Brees said.Brees will be making his 13th career playoff start, after being selected with the 32nd pick of the 2001 draft by the San Diego Chargers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

So far, the playoffs have been Derrick Henry's domain.After sharing the backfield with DeMarco Murray throughout the regular season, Henry had the rushing duties all to himself during the Tennessee Titans' opening-round victory over Kansas City. He'll be the lead back again for Saturday's divisional round game against the New England Patriots, with Murray ruled out due to injury.The sophomore flourished in that role against the Chiefs, rushing 23 times for 156 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown.And a franchise legend believes Henry has even more in him."He has the ability to lead the league in rushing. I think he has the ability to be the league MVP," former Titans/Houston Oilers running back Eddie George told Cameron Wolfe of ESPN."The sky is the limit. We're scratching the surface in what he can do. The more opportunities he gets, the better he gets."Henry has said he gets stronger the more carries he receives, but the Titans have largely been cautious about putting too much on his plate. However, he's been getting all he can handle in recent weeks.Meanwhile, Murray has two years remaining on his contract, but he can be released after the season without the team incurring any dead money. With that in mind, Henry could be set to take over as the No. 1 runner moving forward.And that may be all he needs to succeed."I have no question that Derrick can be a 1,500-to-1,800-yard type of running back when he gets the opportunities," George said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots scored 184 more points than the Tennessee Titans during the regular season, and are rightfully big favorites in Saturday's AFC divisional round matchup.Slowing down Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense is a daunting task, especially in Foxboro. And going back to his days with the Steelers, Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau hasn't had much success doing so - particularly in the playoffs.New England's biggest weakness on offense is its pass protection. This has become more obvious with the loss of Marcus Cannon, who's on injured reserve. However, Brady is a great remedy for this problem, as he recognizes blitzes and the rush in general as well as any quarterback in history.Brady is still a good deep passer, and while he's better in the shorter areas of the field at this point in his career, New England's passing game has been more vertically inclined this year than in recent seasons. Brady, while not a great athlete, is a master of stepping up and making subtle movements within the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield to deliver the ball. He handles pressure as well as any quarterback in the league.Still, the Titans have some pass-rushers that could cause problems. Tennessee registered 42 sacks during the regular season, with a high percentage of them coming from Jurrell Casey, Derrick Morgan, and Brian Orakpo. The Titans may have their best one-on-one advantage against New England's tackles, but getting to Brady from the outside is very hard to do.To aid his pass rush, LeBeau should also bring Wesley Woodyard - who has Tennessee's fourth-most sacks this season - on interior blitzes.In fact, Blitzes have done some damage against the Patriots' passing game this year, and LeBeau should try to be very aggressive coming after Brady, especially with Woodyard through the A and B gaps.In the secondary, the Titans have become mostly a man-coverage team, and they stack up reasonably well against New England's wide receivers. As we saw against Tyreek Hill last week, Adoree' Jackson is capable of hanging with top speed receivers, and he should see plenty of Brandin Cooks this weekend.Former Patriot Logan Ryan has been an excellent pickup for Tennessee. He's a physical corner with size and does his best work in the slot. The Titans should have an advantage with Ryan against any of New England's secondary wide receivers.The problem here is Rob Gronkowski, who's as difficult to account for in man coverage as any player in the league.Tennessee does have active linebackers, while Johnathan Cyprien and Kevin Byard form a diverse and effective safety combination. Byard is better in coverage than Cyprien and has proven to be a ball hawk, but manning him up on Gronkowski would remove the Titans' best middle-of-the-field deep defender and could compromise the help given to the cornerbacks. But none of these players can handle Gronkowski one-on-one.Of course, there are ways of helping the primary cover man, but if LeBeau blitzes a lot, surely Gronkowski will see single coverage and the Patriots are excellent at scheming him into such favorable matchups. Travis Kelce was causing the Titans all kinds of problems last week, and was on pace for a dominant performance before falling to injury.The Patriots' stable of running backs could also be a problem for Tennessee. The Titans have been exceptional this year at taking away the deep ball, but the short quick-hitting passing game has eaten them up. And we know how deadly Brady can be in this capacity.Only three defenses have allowed fewer yards on the ground per game than the Titans. The league’s leading rusher, Kareem Hunt, was a non-factor against Tennessee last week. Over their last eight games, Tennessee has allowed just 555 rushing yards to running backs.Tennessee is big and powerful up front and is capable of controlling the line of scrimmage. They also don’t miss a lot of tackles at any level. Cyprien is at his best near the line of scrimmage, but surely Brady will go to the air if he repeatedly sees an extra defender in the box.Since Week 10, Dion Lewis has been pretty remarkable, and handled 61 touches over New England’s final two games. Over the course of the season, he combined with Rex Burkhead and James White to rack up 2,228 total yards and 20 touchdowns - big-time production from the running back position.Even if Cyprien spends a lot of time in the box, don’t expect the Patriots to give up on the run as Kansas City did in the wild-card round, even against a strong Titans run defense.It may shock some, but at least on paper, the Titans' defense (with the massive exception of defending Gronkowski) looks like it should be able to hold its own against one of the NFL's best offenses. However, if Tennessee doesn't get a lot of help from Derrick Henry and its ground game, it could be all for not.Henry got a lot of yardage on his own last week and needs to have another dominant performance. Marcus Mariota is far superior when using play action and the Titans must play keep-away on the road.Tempo and time of possession will be vital, as the Patriots' offense is among the league leaders in terms of offensive plays run while Tennessee ranks near the bottom. New England should also be a healthy and well-rested offense, which is especially important for Brady, Burkhead, White, and Chris Hogan - who are all nursing injuries.If they can keep Brady on the sidelines and execute on defense, the Titans might just have a chance at the upset. However, Belichick knows what Tennessee wants to do with the ball and will focus on taking it away. And for that reason, New England should do as expected and advance to the AFC Championship Game.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.

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The NFL announced Thursday its slate of games in London, England, for the 2018 season.The Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders will meet in Week 6 on Oct. 14 at the new home of the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur, the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the Philadelphia Eagles in either Week 7 or 8 on Oct. 21 or 28 at Wembley Stadium, and the Los Angeles Chargers will face the Tennessee Titans in Week 7 or Week 8 at Wembley Stadium.The group would bring the total number of teams to play in the British capital to 29. The Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Houston Texans have yet to make the trip across the pond.A record four games were played in London in 2017. The goal was to play half of a home schedule of regular-season games in the city, as the NFL continues to gauge the prospect of placing a franchise there. The intention this year is to play the U.K. games in three consecutive weeks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have found an offensive coordinator to pair with Matt Nagy: former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich.Helfrich led the Oregon program for four seasons. He succeeded Chip Kelly and led the Ducks to the national championship game in 2014. He was fired in 2016 after a 4-8 season, the school's worst showing since 1991.Helfrich was rumored to be a contender to join Kelly's staff at UCLA. Instead, he'll be tasked with running an offense centered around 2017 first-round draft pick Mitch Trubisky and running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen.Nagy is replacing John Fox as head coach after serving as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance, a group dedicated to promoting diversity and equality of job opportunities in NFL front offices, is asking the league to investigate whether the Oakland Raiders violated the "Rooney Rule" when hiring Jon Gruden as head coach.Cyrus Mehri and N. Jeremi Duru, legal counsel for the group, voiced concern to The Associated Press as to whether Raiders owner Mark Davis reached agreement with Gruden before interviewing any minority candidates."As soon as we learned of the reports, we formally requested that the NFL thoroughly investigate the matter to conclusively determine whether the Rooney Rule was violated - and if it was violated, to impose an appropriate punishment," the pair said.Davis said during Gruden's introductory press conference on Tuesday that he finally believed he had secured the former broadcaster as new head coach prior to the Raiders' game on Christmas against the Philadelphia Eagles.Jack Del Rio wouldn't be fired until after the season ended a week later, and Davis admitted he wouldn't have made the move if he didn't believe Gruden would agree to coach the team.The minority candidates interviewed by the Raiders prior to Gruden's official hiring on Tuesday were Oakland's tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin. If Davis had indeed already gotten a commitment from Gruden, that could be in violation of the "Rooney Rule."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Norv Turner could be returning to the NFL, as a source told David Newton of ESPN the veteran coach is finalizing a deal to become the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.Turner has been out of football since leaving the Minnesota Vikings following a 5-2 start to the season in 2016. He's certainly familiar with head coach Ron Rivera, as the Panthers frontman was on the San Diego Chargers staff under Turner from 2007 to 2010.It's expected Turner's son, Scott, will be coming with his father to serve as quarterbacks coach. He was quality control coach under Rivera with the Panthers in 2011 and 2012, and spent the last season on Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan.The elder Turner is known for his strength in developing quarterbacks, with Troy Aikman, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers all on his resume.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Houston Texans have decided Bill O'Brien is the man to lead them going forward, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle is reporting the club is negotiating a long-term extension with the head coach.The 48-year-old has been with the team since 2014, leading them to two AFC South titles in his four seasons. Battling a slew of injuries, the Texans finished last in the division this season, but O'Brien's work in developing star quarterback Deshaun Watson certainly reflected well on the veteran coach.The news comes at the same time it was reported the Texans are expected to hire Brian Graine as their new general manager. Graine previously worked in the Houston front office from 2014-16 before spending the last season with the Buffalo Bills.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.