The Kansas City Chiefs have had their share of playoff struggles in recent years, but they reached new heights Saturday in a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans to begin Wild Card Weekend.Andy Reid's crew raced out to a 21-3 lead as they searched for a playoff win at home for the first time since 1993, only to blow it in the second half in another postseason disaster.The agonizing defeat can be traced back to three key plays that turned the result from a surefire triumph into a heartbreaking defeat:1. Kelce's concussionTravis Kelce reeled in four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown before he was knocked out of the game with 1:30 to play in the second quarter, and the Kansas City offense crumbled without its star tight end. Alex Smith, who began the affair on fire and went 19-of-23 for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, was just 5-of-10 for 33 yards after the break. He had -2 passing yards in the third quarter.2. Mariota's miracleTennessee needed something - anything - to get momentum on its side after the abysmal first half, and it got exactly that on a circus touchdown from Marcus Mariota early in the third quarter. The athletic pivot caught his own pass six yards shy of the end zone after it was deflected into the air by a defender, and he took it in for the Titans' first touchdown of the day.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is likely to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.McCoy is officially listed as questionable with a sprained ankle.The veteran running back suffered the injury during the Bills' regular-season finale and was deemed a game-time decision throughout the week. McCoy said Thursday that his ankle was feeling better than he initially thought, but expressed concern about his ability to cut.McCoy has been an essential piece of the Bills' offense this season, accounting for 1,138 rushing yards, 448 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns over 16 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady attempted to defuse rumors of a power struggle within the New England Patriots' organization between him, head coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft in a Saturday interview with Westwood One."I see it as I've seen it for the last 18 years, that we're all there to do a job, and that's to go out to do our best and help the team win," Brady said, as transcribed by ESPN's Mike Reiss. "That's been very consistent here. That's been a big reason why our team has been so successful, and I don't see that any different going into this week."A report from ESPN on Friday claimed the trio has been at odds throughout varying points of the season. Among the issues to supposedly plague them has been the involvement of Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, with the rest of the team, the trade of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been groomed to succeed Brady in New England, and Belichick's criticisms of Brady during film sessions.The three of them quickly denied any bad blood between them, and Brady said Saturday it's been business as usual during the Patriots' playoff bye week."I think in so many ways, adversity that our team has faced over the years only makes us stronger," said Brady, who's been named MVP of the Super Bowl in two of the last three years. "Everything is a great opportunity and we have a great opportunity as a team."The 40-year-old led the Patriots to the top seed in the AFC playoff picture and could be in line for his third regular-season MVP award after another Brady-esque campaign in 2017."I think for so long we've proven that we ignore the noise, we do our job, we speak for ourselves, and we focus on what we need to do to help the team win," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Marcus Mariota led Tennessee to three second-half touchdowns, incredibly throwing one of his TD passes to himself , and the Titans rallied from a 21-3 deficit to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 22-21 on Saturday for their first playoff win in 14 years.Mariota threw for 205 yards and two scores, including the 22-yard go-ahead strike to Eric Decker with just over six minutes left that ushered the Titans into the divisional round of the playoffs.''Special, special,'' Mariota said. ''I'm a part of a great team. I'm a part of a group of guys that really just believe in each other. And, it's something special and I'm look forward to playing next week.''They'll head to New England or Pittsburgh next week.Derrick Henry had a career-high 156 yards rushing and another score for Tennessee (10-7), while a defense that was fileted by Alex Smith and the Chiefs (10-7) during the first half pitched a shutout in the second half - dooming the Kansas City franchise to another humiliating postseason defeat.The Chiefs haven't won a home playoff game since January 1994.Smith threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns , but most of that came before halftime. He couldn't get on track in the second half and misfired on fourth-and-9 at the Titans 44 with just over two minutes to go, denying the Chiefs a chance for Harrison Butker to kick a go-ahead field goal.The letdown was made even more depressing when Henry appeared to fumble as Tennessee tried to run out the clock.The Chiefs' Derrick Johnson picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown with 1:47 to go, but a video replay showed that Henry was down and the call was overturned.Tennessee succeeded in running out the clock from there.In the first half, the Chiefs looked every bit the team that had won four straight in convincing fashion, and the Titans looked every bit the team that backed into the playoffs.Kareem Hunt, the league's top rusher this season , plunged in from 1 yard for a 7-0 lead, and Smith hit Travis Kelce with a 13-yard touchdown pass a few minutes later. Smith added another touchdown toss to Demarcus Robinson on the final offensive play for a 21-3 lead at the break.Smith was 19 of 23 for 231 yards in the half. Mariota was 7 of 13 for 81 yards and a pick.The Titans' young quarterback got on track in the second half, though, converting a couple of key third downs - one of them with his legs - in marching his team 91 yards. He capped it by throwing the first TD pass to himself, the first player to accomplish the feat in playoff history.The previous player to do it in any game was the Vikings' Brad Johnson during the 1997 season.''Right place, right time,'' Mariota said with a smile.Tennessee nearly squandered its momentum when Adoree Jackson fumbled a punt, but the Chiefs were unable to pick up a first down and Butker knocked a 48-yard field goal off the upright.This time, it was Henry who led the Titans downfield, capping another TD drive by rumbling nearly untouched 35 yards right up the middle to get within 21-16 with 14:08 to go.''Grit. It's just grit,'' Henry said of his team's rally.''You've got to believe in each other, man. We were down like this last year and we came back. We told them we've got 30 minutes left, all we've got to do is play our game, execute the plays and everything will take care of itself.''The Chiefs' offense had been rendered impotent by that point, unable to move the ball much after Kelce left with a concussion in the first half. The Titans blanketed Tyreek Hill whenever he touched the ball, and they stacked the box to slow Hunt down in obvious rushing situations.The Titans finally pulled ahead when Mariota threw a strike to Decker from 22 yards, and that led to a moment of controversy. The Titans went for a 2-point conversion and the field-goal edge, and Mariota lost the ball as he was getting sacked by the Chiefs' Daniel Sorenson.Frank Zombo picked it up and began running for two points that would have swung the lead back to Kansas City, but the officials had ruled that Mariota's progress had been stopped.It wound up being a crucial call in a game that came down to the wire.RECORD RALLYOnly two road teams have rallied from at least 18 down to win a playoff game in NFL history. The Cowboys came back from 21-3 down in the first half to beat the 49ers 30-28 in December 1972, and the Lions came back from 27-7 in the second half to beat the 49ers in December 1957.KELCE HURTKelce sustained a concussion on a wicked blow from Titans S Johnathan Cyprien late in the first half. Kelce, who had four catches for 66 yards, lay stunned on the turf for a moment before wobbling toward his huddle. Trainers quickly took him to the locker room.UP NEXTThe Titans' opponent in the divisional round will be decided Sunday. If the Jaguars beat the Bills in their wild-card matchup, Tennessee heads to New England to face the No. 1 seed. If Buffalo wins, the Titans head to face No. 2 seed Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce suffered a concussion in Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Tennessee Titans after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter.Kelce hauled in a 12-yard reception late in the quarter and was drilled by Titans safety Johnathan Cyprien. He needed help getting up and had trouble gaining his footing. He was immediately taken to the locker room.Kelce, the team's leading receiver in the regular season, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Chiefs up 14-0 in the first quarter. The Titans rebounded to pull out a 22-21 victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

VisitorFinal ScoreHomeTitans22-21Chiefs1st quarter

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. 6.The Green Bay Packers' struggles to find their next general manager continued, as they were denied interviews with both Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider and Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie.Report: Raiders' McKenzie declines Packers interview; will work with Gruden

Disgruntled Cleveland Browns fans carried out a "Perfect Season" parade Saturday, in honor of the team's 0-16 season.Here are the best tweets from the day's celebration of imperfection:

Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson could be filing a massive lawsuit against the Cosmopolitan after being permanently banned by the Las Vegas hotel-casino in November.TMZ Sports reported that Simpson was was drunk and became hostile toward staff at the hotel's Clique bar, leading to him getting kicked out and banned by the Cosmopolitan. However, Simpson claimed "nothing happened."Representatives for Simpson are now threatening to sue the Cosmopolitan for $100 million, claiming staff "acted with malice and racial prejudice," according to Joe Nelson of FOX 5.In a letter to the Cosmopolitan, Simpson's lawyer, Malcolm P. LaVergne, said his client was "singled out amongst his non-African American friends and expelled him for a fake reason while he peacefully visited the Cosmopolitan property." The letter also states that staff neglected to reverse Simpson's ban after it was confirmed by police through surveillance video that they made up a "false narrative."LaVergne claims Cosmopolitan staff wanted to put Simpson in a false light to affect the terms of his parole.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he believes Bill Belichick will "absolutely" be the team's head coach in 2018 and dismissed the idea of trading the five-time Super Bowl winner, according to Peter King of MMQB.com."When you're lucky enough to have someone exceptional, you let them do their job and you get out of the way," Kraft said of Belichick.On Friday, the trio of Kraft, Belichick, and Tom Brady denied a rift between them following an in-depth piece from ESPN's Seth Wickersham on the supposed growing tensions in New England.In the wake of the report, some speculated that Belichick's time in New England could be coming to an end.Kraft also denied ordering Belichick to trade Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers, calling the report that he and the head coach spent half a day discussing what to do with their former backup quarterback "total fabrication and fiction."Kraft added that he didn't speak to Belichick about moving Garoppolo from June until the trade deadline on Oct. 30, when the head coach brought the 49ers' offer to him and asked the owner to sign off on the transaction.Asked for comment on the blowback to his report, Wickersham told King, "I absolutely stand by my story."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A brewery in Buffalo has come up with a unique way to celebrate the end of the Bills' postseason dry spell.Resurgence Brewing Company has stamped "RIP Drought" on the bottom of some of its beer cans.The special cans will be available in the taproom and at select craft beer stores, according to the brewery.- With h/t to Busted CoverageCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The writing was on the wall for Alex Smith after the Chiefs' blockbuster trade to move up in the draft to select Patrick Mahomes, and it appears Kansas City still intends to move on from the veteran despite a playoff berth.The Chiefs are still open to trading Smith this offseason, though they won't actively seek out a trade partner, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Rapoport reports the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals are among the teams that will likely be interested in Smith.Smith could save his job in K.C. by taking the team to the Super Bowl, however, added Rapoport.The 33-year-old - who produced the best regular season of his career - admitted in September he believes the Chiefs will move on from him at the end of the season."For sure," Smith said when asked if 2017 feels like his last year with the Chiefs. "It absolutely does. Without a doubt."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers continue to get rebuffed in their search for a new general manager.Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie rejected an interview request from the Packers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Related: Report: Packers denied permission to interview Seahawks' Schneider for GM jobMcKenzie will stay with the Raiders and is expected to work with reported new head coach Jon Gruden.He's been general manager of the Raiders since 2012, but worked with the Packers from 1994-2012, starting as a scout and working his way up to director of football operations by the end of his tenure.The Packers stripped longtime general manager Ted Thompson of that title at the conclusion of the 2017 regular season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey's job is not considered safe despite guiding his team to the postseason for the first time under his watch, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Titans are prepared to make a run at New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and could do so if they lose Saturday's wild-card game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Rapoport reported ahead of the Titans' Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars that Mularkey would only be in the clear if Tennessee was to advance past the first round.McDaniels is one of the NFL's most sought-after head coaching candidates, and the Titans may have the offensive pieces to finally lure him away from the Patriots in quarterback Marcus Mariota, sophomore running back Derrick Henry, and rookie wide receiver Corey Davis.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been showered with gifts from the Bills and their fans since helping end Buffalo's 17-year postseason drought. On Friday, it was the Bengals' turn to pay it forward.The 1,440 chicken wings that the Bills sent as a "thank you" to the Bengals were donated to Autism High School at the Children's Home of Cincinnati. Safety George Iloka and former Bengals running back Eric Ball, who now works as the team's director of player relations, were on hand to serve the wings to the students.

The Carolina Panthers announced a two-year contract extension for head coach Ron Rivera through the 2020 season. The deal is worth $15.5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rivera has coached the Panthers since January 2011, winning three NFC South championships, and will be making a fourth playoff appearance Sunday. They sport a 3-3 playoff record with Rivera at the helm.This is the first big move completed by COO Tina Becker, who took over the role following a series of misconduct allegations against owner Jerry Richardson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A cleated version of the Air Jordan 11 "Concord" will make its debut this weekend.Jordan Brand athletes Jalen Ramsey of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers will wear the cleats during their respective wild-card games Sunday, according to Sneaker News. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden have also received a pair.In keeping with the NFL's policy for on-field footwear, the cleats won't feature any Jumpman logos.

The Green Bay Packers aren't holding back in their search for a new general manager following a pair of reportedly denied interview requests on Friday.Green Bay submitted paperwork for permission to interview Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, but it was denied, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Schneider, a Wisconsin native, started his career with the Packers as a scout in 1993, and later served as personnel analyst to the general manager and director of football operations from 2002-09. He was widely believed to have had an out in his original Seahawks contract in 2010 that would have allowed him to leave in order to assume GM duties with Green Bay.He signed an extension with the Seahawks in July 2016 that did not contain this clause, and Schneider denied it ever existed.The Packers would have to work a trade with the Seahawks if they wish to pursue Schneider's services.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 season was a tumultuous one for New York Giants corner Eli Apple.The second-year pro was benched, fined, suspended, and criticized by his teammates. On top of that, he had a forgettable year on the field.To end the campaign, Apple was suspended for the season finale for what the team deemed "a pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team." In the days that followed, safety Landon Collins called the 2016 first-round pick "a cancer."It all brought into question whether the Giants would retain Apple under new management.The Giants' new general manager Dave Gettleman met with the corner on Friday and offered some insight."It went fine. We talked. He was very attentive. He was focused. ... I told him he's got a clean slate for me," Gettleman said to Steve Serby of the New York Post."Let's move forward. Let's see what happens."Gettleman has opted to give the roster that went 3-13 a reprieve in 2018. He's also said he'd like to move forward with quarterback Eli Manning rather than turn the page.Apple, along with the rest of the Giants, will be afforded an opportunity to redeem himself next season.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the pressure of trying to become the first Super Bowl hosts to raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy wasn't enough, the Minnesota Vikings will face another crucial moment little more than a month after Super Bowl LII.The Vikings are at risk of losing three of the four quarterbacks they currently have under contract when free agency opens March 14. Only Kyle Sloter is signed beyond this season, and in a quarterback-hungry NFL, the Vikings represent a feeding ground for many starving teams.Rewarding the proper signal-caller with a long-term contract could help set up the Vikings as an annual contender in the NFC. They have over $57 million in cap space for next season and already have offensive centerpieces Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook locked into bargain contracts through at least 2019.Making the wrong decision, however, could lead to years of struggle, second-guessing, and ridicule if the Vikings' chosen franchise quarterback can't measure up to his departed peers.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The 2017 Vikings were led to the playoffs by Case Keenum after signing him to a one-year, $2-million contract in the offseason to serve as Sam Bradford's backup. Discarded by both the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, the undrafted Keenum proved this season that he's a fully capable starter, and is sure to receive another look in that role.Bradford, meanwhile, is in the final year of a two-year, $36-million contract he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before they traded him to Minnesota. He was injured during his miraculous Week 1 performance against the New Orleans Saints and aggravated the issue when he returned in Week 5, ultimately ending up on injured reserve.The former No. 1 pick is coming off a nearly full 2016 season with a 71.6 percent completion rate, and would represent a major upgrade for any of the teams that suffered from horrendous quarterback play this season. He has returned to practice, but says it was more about gaining confidence for next season, and there's little chance he sees playoff action."I think it's been really encouraging for me, mentally, to know that I can go back out there and do it. I'm just happy to be on the field," Bradford said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Both Bradford and Keenum entered 2017 with plenty of question marks attached in terms of both injuries and poor play - they held career passer ratings of 81.0 and 78.4, respectively, prior to arriving in Minnesota. When the 2018 campaign starts, they'll both be 30 years old. With just one season remaining on each of their contracts, they were viewed as placeholders for Teddy Bridgewater.Drafted 32nd overall by the Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater's career got off to a strong start with a playoff appearance in 2015. However, his development was stalled by a horrible knee injury he suffered immediately before the start of the 2016 season.That kept him out until a brief Week 15 appearance this year, in which his lone drive near the end of the Vikings' blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals concluded with an interception.The Vikings chose to not exercise Bridgewater's fifth-year option for the 2018 season in May. Picking up the deal would have secured him for a bargain salary of $12 million next season, but the option would have been guaranteed in the event of an extended injury absence for Bridgewater or a new injury, making it risky.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)With Bridgewater back to health and several weeks of full practices under his belt, though, it'll soon be time for the Vikings to sign the 25-year-old to an extension that recognizes him as their franchise quarterback - albeit at a far loftier annual rate than they could have paid him in 2018.Bradford and Keenum should be allowed to leave as free agents regardless of what accolades the latter may earn for himself or the team throughout January and February. Opting to retain their own first-round quarterback is the best route for the Vikings to take in order to avoid future humiliation.The team would be much better off risking a surprise downturn from Bridgewater - who posted a passer rating of 87.0 over his first two seasons in the league - than locking into the extensive samples of negative play by Bradford and Keenum, which the whole league witnessed prior to their days in Minnesota.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 the updates on the league's hiring carousel from Jan. 5.It was a busy day for New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The 41-year-old interviewed with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears for their head coaching gigs on Friday. He met with the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.The Giants also interviewed Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia on Friday.The Indianapolis Colts will interview Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel for their coaching vacancy on Saturday, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.Related: Raiders giving Gruden 10-year deal worth about $100M

ESPN announced Friday it has severed ties with former NFLers and radio contributors Donovan McNabb and Eric Davis after a month-long investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against them.McNabb and Davis were among a group of athletes-turned-analysts named in a lawsuit filed by a former NFL Network wardrobe stylist.The stylist alleged McNabb sent her text messages with sexually explicit comments and Davis rubbed his body against her and made sexually charged comments.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Guerrero's name has made headlines in recent weeks.On Friday, his name was again featured in a report from ESPN's Seth Wickersham, linking the personal trainer and business associate of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to a rift that has formed within the organization.Hours after the Patriots released a joint statement discrediting the report, Guerrero tried to clear the air, and his name, with a statement of his own in which he said he has "never tried to create divisiveness or conflict."

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of selected picks.Season record: 138-109-9Tennessee Titans (+8.5) at Kansas City ChiefsThe Titans have struggled to run the ball in recent weeks, and without DeMarco Murray, they will need a big game out of Derrick Henry to get the win in Kansas City. Luckily for the former Alabama star, the Chiefs have the 25th-ranked rush defense in the league, allowing 118 yards per game. If the Titans can move the ball on the ground, Marcus Mariota should be able to hit some big plays off play-action and open up the Chiefs defense.After failing to hit the 90-yard mark in seven straight games, six of which were losses, Kareem Hunt has regained his star form for the Chiefs. The talented rookie averaged 120 yards over his last three games of full work to end the season, and the KC offense relies heavily on him loosening up the opposition. That's bad news against the league's fourth-best rushing defense. The Titans will make Alex Smith beat them on Saturday, and that's not good for Kansas City. Tennessee pulls off the shocker. Titans 24, Chiefs 23Atlanta Falcons (+6) at Los Angeles RamsThe experienced Falcons against the youthful Rams is the most unpredictable game of the opening weekend. The Rams are undoubtedly the better team, but the Falcons' core has been through a deep playoff run before and won't be affected by the moment. While Matt Ryan and Julio Jones get the publicity, it's actually the Falcons' defense that has carried the team this year. Atlanta ranks eighth in the league in points allowed, and has held opponents under 24 points in six straight games.If the Falcons can slow down the league's top-scoring offense, and get some timely plays from Ryan and their own attack, they can pull off the upset. If you aren't feeling bold enough to pick them outright, at least grab them on the spread. Rams 27, Falcons 24Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (-8)(Photo courtesy: Action Images)After qualifying for the playoffs thanks to the Bengals' dramatic last-minute touchdown to oust the Ravens, the Bills head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. It's a matchup of strength versus weakness, as the Jaguars' top-ranked rushing attack faces the league's 29th-ranked rushing defense. Leonard Fournette should run wild and get the home crowd fired up in Florida.On the other side of the ball, LeSean McCoy's injury puts the Bills offense in a tough spot, as the electric running back is by far the most dangerous player on the unit. Whether he plays or not remains to be seen, but he certainly won't be at 100 percent against the league's second-ranked defense. The inability to move the ball by Buffalo will make this one comfortable for Jacksonville. Jaguars 27, Bills 14Carolina Panthers (+6.5) at New Orleans SaintsThe Panthers are hoping third time is a charm this season, as the Saints have already beaten their NFC South opponent twice on the schedule. Both wins were by double digits, so New Orleans should definitely be expected to advance with a home win. Carolina's front seven will be the key, as the Panthers need to hold the dynamic duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara down to have a chance. Carolina didn't allow any opponent to rush for over 120 yards this season... except the Saints, in both games.As divisional opponents, these two teams know each other very well, so it will be tough to surprise with a wrinkle in the game plan. Look for the Panthers to call on Cam Newton to run the ball more than he usually does and keep the Saints' offense off the field with time-consuming drives. That will make this one close, and Carolina will cover the number. Saints 28, Panthers 24Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have reportedly reached an agreement to make Jon Gruden their next head coach. Since the financial commitment and duration is said to be close to $100 million for 10 years, social media naturally had a lot to say about it.

Jon Gruden is going back to where his NFL coaching career began - and it's set to be a lucrative reunion.The Oakland Raiders are giving Gruden a 10-year deal worth approximately $100 million, sources informed ESPN's Adam Schefter. That would be the longest coaching contract in NFL history.Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks are the league's highest-paid coaches, each with a salary of $8 million. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the winner of five Super Bowls, is third ($7.5 million).There were reports that the Raiders' pursuit of Gruden included offering him a stake in ownership, though it's not clear if that ended up being part of the agreement.In 2015, it was reported that Gruden's salary as an ESPN analyst was $6.5 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive line got a swanky thank-you present from Leonard Fournette for helping the rookie running back eclipse the 1,000-yard mark this season.Fournette bought Rolex watches engraved with each player's number and initials for the entire offensive line, including reserves Tyler Shatley and Josh Wells. They're expected to arrive Friday."I couldn't do it myself," Fournette told ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I can't block 11 guys on my own. That's the O-line, and wide receivers, too. They played a big part of contributing to me getting 1,000 yards."Fournette rushed for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Gruden is reuniting with the Silver and Black.The Oakland Raiders have called a "significant" press conference on Tuesday in which the ESPN analyst is expected to be re-introduced as the team's head coach, according to multiple reports, seemingly confirmed by ESPN's Adam Schefter.The former head coach has already begun to round up his staff as Los Angeles Rams quarterback coach Greg Olson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, and Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Rich Bisaccia are expected to join Gruden in Oakland, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Gruden's last game behind the booth is slated for Saturday's AFC wild-card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another of Gruden's former teams, also expressed interest in a reunion but instead announced the return of Dirk Koetter.Related - Report: Raiders giving Gruden 10-year, $100-million dealThe Raiders' pursuit of Gruden intensified when the team dismissed Jack Del Rio following the team's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The defeat concluded a disappointing season in Oakland, with the team going from 12-4 and making the playoffs last year for the first time since 2002 to 6-10 and out of contention this past year.Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001, guiding the team to two straight division titles and postseason appearances. He was traded to the Buccaneers the following year and defeated the Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have rid their locker room of distractions ahead of Sunday's NFC wild-card matchup against the Carolina Panthers.Players had a ping pong table, miniature basketball hoop, and Nintendo 64 console that could be used to pass time during the regular season. But come Wednesday, the games had been removed from the locker room, according to Amos Morale of The Times-Picayune.Saints linebacker Adam Bighill, an avid player of Super Smash Bros., doesn't have an issue with the games being gone."It's you win or you are done," he said. "We don't want to have any garbage bags in this locker room. There's no problem putting all the games aside and focusing up for this whole week and just being completely and utterly focused on winning. It's a good thing. It's a good feeling and a good vibe in the locker room."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wild Card Weekend kicks off this Saturday starting with the Tennessee Titans versus the Kansas City Chiefs, and there'll be a variety of factors at play in determining whose Super Bowl LII dreams stay alive and whose seasons come to an end.Here are the four key matchups to watch on the weekend:Titans at ChiefsTyreek Hill vs. Adoree JacksonHill is simply terrifying. There isn't a comparable player to him in terms of big-play ability. There's nothing that defensive coordinators fear more than a player who can score in a blink of an eye from anywhere on the field. That describes Hill exactly. While the Titans' pass defense has been problematic this year, it has done a nice job of disallowing big plays. Jackson is just a rookie and isn’t overly big or physical, but he's one of the few players in the league that might be able to hang with Hill in terms of foot speed.Jackson was a track All-American in 2015 and 2016 at USC and has had a fine rookie season for the Titans. He is an exceptional athlete with game-breaking skills of his own when he handles the ball and Jackson should see snaps on offense on Saturday. Tennessee would be nuts to not supply safety help over the top of their rookie cover man, but this matchup doesn't favor Kansas City as much as most weeks.Tennessee is a heavy man-to-man coverage team and matching up against Travis Kelce then becomes a big problem, so Jackson may see Hill in more 1-on-1 situations than many might think. Jackson must keep Hill in check in terms of not giving up big plays, and maybe he can just pull it off.Falcons at RamsAtlanta's Guards vs. Aaron DonaldJulio Jones' matchup with Trumaine Johnson is a big one, but the Falcons have a big problem on their hands with Donald. Donald, the best defensive player in the NFL, is a handful for every offense he faces, but this week is particularly concerning from Atlanta's standpoint. The Falcons have a decent offensive line, but it's strong at the tackle positions and with Alex Mack at center. The guards are a problem, especially with Andy Levitre now on injured reserve.Wade Phillips will put Donald all over the interior of the line, but he's at his best as a 3 Technique on the outside shoulder of a guard. None of the Falcons' guards can handle Donald - not even close.To give this offense a chance of containing Donald, who is known to wreck game plans week after week, two linemen will have to be dedicated in his direction. And that isn't guaranteed to do it. As a result, guys like Robert Quinn on the outside and Michael Brockers on the interior will have a lot of one on one blocking. Quinn and Brockers are both having excellent seasons and could give the Falcons fits in single blocking situations. Plus, Donald was rested in Week 17 and should come out like gangbusters.Donald is a wrecking machine in both phases and is possibly the best interior pass-rusher in football, but overall, the Rams' defense can be had on the ground.Bills at JaguarsBlake Bortles vs. TurnoversBoth of these teams most likely will be leaning on their running game, even if LeSean McCoy can't play for the Bills. Leonard Fournette is coming off an excellent game in Week 17 in which he looked more explosive than in recent weeks and also is coming along well as a receiver. Jacksonville will lean very heavily on Fournette when they have the ball. Buffalo's run defense has been very problematic all year and even more so of late. Still, it's playoff time and your quarterback is going to have to make plays in order to advance.Bortles surprised many this year and certainly has taken a big step forward from 2016. Valuing the football was an obvious priority and is a big reason for Bortles' improvement. But the stats show that Bortles is turning the ball over more of late. While that is true, the film doesn't imply that he's regressed back to the inept player he was a year ago. Still, Bortles will have to be very careful against Buffalo.The Bills play a high amount of zone coverage and their philosophy is to force opposing offenses to sustain long drives down the field. Buffalo also has some ball hawks in their secondary and was amongst the league leaders in interceptions. The Bills have the least talented roster of any playoff team and had a minus-57 point differential for the year.The Jaguars were only one of six teams though that had a better turnover differential than Buffalo. If the Bills are going to pull off the upset, they most likely will need Bortles to make several mistakes with the football.Panthers at SaintsNew Orleans' Running Backs vs. Carolina's LinebackersThe Saints' offense has changed. Of course Drew Brees makes it all go still, but less stress has been placed upon him. Instead, it's Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara that are the focal point of Sean Payton's attack.It has worked brilliantly both with the ground attack as well as featuring Ingram and Kamara as receivers. The Panthers stress their second-level defenders more than any franchise in the NFL. Not only do they have the league's very best in Luke Kuechly, but they also have two other former first-round picks in Thomas Davis and Shaq Thompson.All three are fantastic athletes and space players and excel in coverage. They are also excellent tacklers, which is extremely important with Ingram and especially Kamara. When these teams first met, in Week 3, Carolina did an exceptional job of keeping Ingram and Kamara in check even though the Saints won that game 34-13. In the rematch, the Saints again emerged victorious in Week 13. In that game, Ingram and Kamara combined for 248 total yards and three touchdowns.Contrary to popular belief, the Panthers have become a very blitz-heavy defense. In turn, they often rely on their three linebackers to take care of the intermediate portions of the field rather than four defenders. Payton is a master at using personnel, formations, and pre-snap movement to exploit such a situation and of course, Brees should execute Payton's plan flawlessly. As great as the Panthers' linebackers are, this puts a lot of stress on Kuechly, Davis, and Thompson, especially against such a dynamic player like Kamara.The Panthers have been very stingy in the running game against basically every opponent they've faced other than New Orleans, but even if they do keep Ingram and Kamara in check, Michael Thomas could be poised for a huge game himself.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.

With the NFL postseason upon us, theScore's football editors make seven bold predictions about what will transpire.James Harrison wins Super Bowl MVPHarrison's "business" decision to join the Patriots following his highly publicized release from the Steelers rubbed his former teammates the wrong way, but with the 39-year-old linebacker fully rested due to his lack of playing time in the Steel City, he should be ready to produce in the postseason. In Week 17, Harrison made an immediate impact in his first game as a Patriot. The trend will continue with an ageless wonder not named Tom Brady winning Super Bowl LII MVP. - Lucas CasalettoRams break postseason scoring recordSean McVay has transformed the Rams' offense into a juggernaut, and very few defenses have been able to even slow them down. But the young head coach has been saving his best for last. Riding a red-hot Todd Gurley, Los Angeles will exceed the total postseason record of 126 points, set by the 49ers in 1989. - Jack BrowneBridgewater leads Vikings to victory off the benchTeddy Bridgewater's return from a crippling knee injury has been nothing short of remarkable. And while Sam Bradford is back at practice, he won't be the one Mike Zimmer turns to when Case Keenum struggles. Instead, Bridgewater will erase all doubts about his remaining abilities and use his opportunity to help the Vikings win. - Dylan PeregoJaguars shut out Bills, then SteelersOnly the Vikings allowed fewer points during the regular season than the Jaguars' 16.8 per game. Meanwhile, the Bills were the lowest-scoring team to qualify for the playoffs (ranking 22nd in the league), and could be without star running back LeSean McCoy in Jacksonville. Looking ahead to the divisional round, the Jags intercepted Ben Roethlisberger five times in a 30-9 win in their lone meeting this season. A repeat is in store. - Esten McLarenFoles shines, leads Eagles to Super BowlThe Philadelphia Eagles, the top seed in the NFC, will likely be underdogs when they host a divisional-round matchup. Such is life after Carson Wentz's season-ending knee injury. Nonetheless, backup Nick Foles will step in and over-perform to ensure the Eagles' remarkable regular season doesn't go to waste, leading Philly all the way to Super Bowl LII. - Michael McClymontDonald shatters single-playoffs sack recordAaron Donald's tour-de-force campaign will only gain more momentum during the playoffs. The All-Pro defensive tackle will record eight total sacks, breaking a three-way tie for the most in a single postseason (six) as the Rams continue their ascent as a surprise juggernaut in the making. - Arun Srinivasan5 HC vacancies are filled by a coordinator coaching in the playoffsUnless you're a Raiders fan, don't expect your team to fill its head coaching vacancy with someone who's already available. The Eagles, Vikings, Patriots, Panthers, Chiefs, and Steelers currently employ coordinators who are garnering plenty of attention as candidates. And all five teams searching for a new bench boss - not including the Raiders, who reportedly have their sights set on Jon Gruden - will hire a coordinator who's currently coaching in the playoffs. - Mitch SandersonCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick, and team owner Robert Kraft released a joint statement Friday denying recent reports that conflicts and tension have disrupted the heralded trio's working relationship - reports that include an in-depth piece from ESPN's Seth Wickersham.

One of the most exciting players in college football history is heading to the pros as Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson declared Friday morning that he'll enter the 2018 NFL Draft.The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner leaves Louisville as the best player in program history, and holds a number of records both nationally and with the school.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Thank God that’s over.

After a strong opening to the 2016 season as a replacement starter for a suspended Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, the New England Patriots' second-round pick in the 2014 draft, suffered a shoulder injury late in his second game.Instead of seeking treatment with Patriots team trainers, Garoppolo would set up a visit at the TB12 Sports Therapy Center and with Brady's personal trainer Alex Guerrero, as many of the Patriots' most notable and successful players would do, according to a report from ESPN's Seth Wickersham:

A rift is rumored to have formed within the NFL's preeminent power. And power appears to be the problem.At odds are New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady, after disagreements over several issues - including the future of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo - and months of "behind-the-scenes frustration," according to a detailed report by ESPN's Seth Wickersham published Friday morning.Together, the Kraft-Belichick-Brady trio has won five Super Bowls, 15 division titles, and recorded 15 regular seasons of 10 wins or more, spanning 2001 to present day.No other franchise has appeared capable of dismantling the juggernaut, but an all-too familiar foe may prove worthy.We've seen this story play out before.The Dallas Cowboys bored a dynasty in the early 1990s. At the forefront were owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson.After purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones dismissed legendary coach Tom Landry and replaced him with a former college teammate: Johnson.Within two seasons, the duo transformed Dallas from a 1-15 team to an 11-5 contender.In the two seasons that followed, the Cowboys captured Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII. A dynasty formed. But it collapsed almost as quickly.Jones and Johnson admittedly clashed and bickered over who deserved credit for the team's success. Jones went as far as saying: "There are 500 coaches who could have won the Super Bowl with our team."Two months after going back-to-back, they mutually parted ways.Sure, the Cowboys ultimately won three Super Bowls in four seasons, but they haven't won another since. In fact, Dallas hasn't made it out of the divisional round of the playoffs since 1995.Jones recently copped to his role in the breakup of the Cowboys dynasty. Former players are convinced the team would have even more Lombardi trophies had Jones and Johnson stayed together.The Kraft-Belichick-Brady Patriots have enjoyed and sustained more success, but the ingredients for a power struggle are there and are reportedly threatening to bubble over.Since winning a fifth championship last February and composing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, Brady cemented himself as the best quarterback to ever play the game and Belichick is revered as one of the sport's greatest minds - if not the greatest.Yet, if one were to pose the question as to who is more responsible for the team's success - player or coach - votes would likely be divided rather evenly.In the 18 seasons they've been together, there's been little evidence of any friction between Belichick and Brady. The first may have been revealed in December when the coach reportedly banned his MVP pivot's associate and personal trainer Alex Guerrero from the team facility. The issue is written about in detail in the ESPN report.Related - Report: Belichick banned Brady's associate Guerrero from locker roomBoth brushed the rumors aside, yet neither denied them. It may be the first crack to show in the foundation.One theme that has prevailed in the reporting of any tete-a-tete over Guerrero's access is control - whether Brady and his associate were afforded too much control of practices at the Patriots facilities or Belichick strived to regain a semblance of normalcy, and control.Wickersham also writes in detail about the apparent fact Brady and Belichick were at odds over the future of Garoppolo, always thought to be the quarterback who would succeed Brady. But with Brady talking of playing well into his 40s, a power struggle ensued, with Kraft eventually delivering a "mandate" to Belichick to trade Garoppolo.And it will be Kraft who'll likely have the final say in decisions of this magnitude for the franchise, because he is the man who, in the end, wields ultimate control. Belichick may have power over roster construction and philosophy, and Brady over the results the team achieves on the field, but Kraft will determine who prevails, if there is in fact a power struggle in Foxborough.No opponent has been able to come between the Patriots and their progress. Not injury. Not free agency. Not time. Not age.Ego is ultimately what led to the breakup of the Cowboys of the '90s.Will the Patriots' dynasty meet a similar fate?(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the past 17 years, the New England Patriots have been the NFL's model franchise, led by the power structure of owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady.While the team continues to roll this season, claiming the top seed in the AFC with Brady the likely MVP, a lengthy piece by Seth Wickersham of ESPN shows signs the powerful trio may be starting to crack.Brady has always followed the chain of command associated with the team and taken well to Belichick's often tough coaching, but it appears that is starting to wear on the 40-year-old, according to Wickersham:

Super Bowl victories and unparalleled success have defined the New England Patriots over the last two decades, but a rift has been growing behind the scenes between the biggest names at the franchise, according to a detailed report by ESPN's Seth Wickersham.The article outlines several points of contention that have arisen between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Robert Kraft, and cites a variety of sources who believe this could be the final year all three will share the spotlight in New England.One of the main issues covered in the article was the reluctance on the part of Belichick to trade his now former backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.Brady voiced his intent to play well into his 40s on multiple occasions, including meetings with both Kraft and Belichick, the latter of which ended in a "little blowup," according to ESPN. Belichick wasn't convinced a quarterback could maintain an elite level of play that far into their career.Belichick and Kraft had a closed-door meeting two weeks prior to the Nov. 1 trade deadline which reportedly lasted half the day. Friends of Belichick told ESPN the acclaimed head coach was "furious and demoralized" after being instructed by Kraft to trade Garoppolo and find a new quarterback to develop behind Brady.Belichick had passed on trading Garoppolo last offseason, when his value was presumably higher. However, on Oct. 30, Garoppolo - who had repeatedly turned down extension offers of $17-18 million annually from the Patriots - was sent packing to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their second-round pick in the 2018 draft.After the trade, Brady was reportedly "liberated" over the fact there wasn't a clear-cut No. 2 looking to gain his spot. He even embraced Kraft in front of a number of his teammates the week the trade went through.All of the in-house drama involving Brady, Belichick, and Kraft was reportedly going to be addressed in a late-December meeting, which never happened.Sources told Wickersham there's a "lingering sadness in the building, as if coaches and staff know that the end may be near."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have reportedly fulfilled the requirements of the Rooney Rule in their current search for a new head coach.There was some question as to whether the Raiders ran afoul of league stipulations in their rumored pursuit of Jon Gruden. However, John Wooten - the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works with teams on hiring practices - informed ESPN's Josina Anderson that the team interviewed two minority candidates during its coaching hunt.One of those interviews was with Raiders tight ends coach Bobby Johnson, according to ESPN's Adam Caplan.The Rooney Rule is in place to ensure NFL teams interview a minority candidate for any head coaching or general manager opening.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Expect Friday to be full of discussions surrounding the future of the New England Patriots as ESPN's Seth Wickersham will be publishing a piece on the "severe" power struggle between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft on Friday morning, a source told Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch.The rift among the three surrounds a disagreement over who deserves the most credit for their dynasty, which has included five Super Bowl victories and seven appearances since 2001. The article reveals that many Patriots players believe the power struggle could result in this being the last year all three remain together.One major bombshell from the article is that Brady went to Kraft to force Belichick to trade his former backup Jimmy Garoppolo.Last offseason, Wickersham published a similar piece detailing a rift between the offense and the defense of the Seattle Seahawks that stemmed from their Super Bowl-losing interception.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin has been named to the NFC Pro Bowl team as a replacement for Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald.It will be Baldwin's second consecutive trip to the NFL's all-star game.Fitzgerald made the initial team of four receivers picked for the NFC roster, but has bowed out of the annual game due to injury.In his seventh season, Baldwin led the team with 75 receptions and 991 yards. He added eight touchdowns."Before, I was just getting by on my athleticism, but talking to Larry and some other guys across the league, they really taught me the chess match that's within the game of football," Baldwin said of Fitzgerald.Fitzgerald recorded another 100-catch, 1,000-yard season and climbed to No. 3 on the list of most receptions in NFL history.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 the updates on the league's hiring carousel from Jan. 4.Related - Report: Packers interviewing Eliot Wolf for GM positionPittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak will interview with the Arizona Cardinals in regard to their open head coach position this weekend, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced earlier this week that offensive coordinator Todd Haley injured himself in a fall during New Year's Eve, but that his injury wouldn't keep him from preparations for the team's playoff game next weekend.He may be in extreme pain, however.Haley "shattered" his pelvis in an episode outside a bar, a team source informed Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Haley refused to go into detail about the incident, but did speak to the media on Thursday."A few nights ago unfortunately I was in a situation," Haley said. "The situation, though not of my doing, has been made clear to me by the Steelers that it is a non-issue to both the team and the Steelers organization. My sole focus is on preparing for next week's playoff game, so it won't be addressed further."The Steelers will enjoy a bye this week before hosting a divisional playoff game next Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier has regained feeling in his legs, his father Vernon told WPXI on Thursday.Shazier suffered a spinal injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4 and had to be stretchered off the field without feeling in his legs. He underwent spinal stabilization surgery later that week and started rehab in mid-December."He's making progress daily," Vernon says.Vernon believes his son will play football again, though it will certainly not be this season as the linebacker has been placed on injured reserve.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blake Bortles may finally know where he stands with the organization that drafted him third overall in 2014.Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan told Mark Long of The Associated Press that Bortles is the team's quarterback of the present and the future. Khan took a shot at all the critics who have doubted Bortles and the Jaguars for picking up his fifth-year option last offseason."Maybe we're not the biggest idiot on the football block," Khan said on Thursday. "When his option was picked up, it was like, 'What are these guys smoking?'"Related: Like it or not, Blake Bortles has played well enough to keep his jobDespite the Jaguars picking up Bortles' extension in 2017, the team had expressed it was unsure of his talents going forward, spending much of the offseason program focusing on his mechanical issues and teasing a possible change to backup Chad Henne in the preseason.The Jaguars had their best season since drafting Bortles this year as the quarterback limited his turnovers to a career-low 16 (13 interceptions and three lost fumbles) and are now preparing for their first postseason game since 2007.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers own one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, yet, for all their individual success, they haven't won a conference championship since 2010.More recently, the Steelers' season ended in the wild-card round in 2014, the divisional round in 2015, and in the conference title game last season, all for varying reasons.Star running back Le'Veon Bell missed the '14 wild-card game with a knee injury, Bell and receiver Antonio Brown missed the '15 playoff exit, and Bell was injured in the first quarter of the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots last year."We feel like we haven't finished what we started last year. It was a crazy run. We go into the AFC championship game without all the players we need and I ended up going down and it cost us," Bell said to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."We're at full strength. There's no more excuses now."Bell may be fresh and healthy, but Brown is rehabbing from a calf injury he suffered in Week 15 and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury in Week 13.Bell's message is loud and clear, however: The time is now for Pittsburgh to capitalize on its opportunities.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeSean McCoy is feeling more optimistic about his chances of playing this Sunday in the Buffalo Bills' first playoff game since 1999 after suffering an ankle injury in the regular-season finale."It wasn't as bad as I thought," the veteran running back said of the injury when speaking to media on Thursday.However, cautioned McCoy, "I got a lot more room for improvement, especially for where I want to be at."The ninth-year pro had his walking boot removed, but expressed concern he may not be able to cut while running like he typically does should he play Sunday. McCoy didn't participate in practice Wednesday or Thursday and is expected to be a game-time decision against the Jacksonville Jaguars.McCoy has been the leading force of the Bills' offense this season, rushing for 1,138 yards and catching 59 passes for 448 yards with eight total touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's going to be all teal everything at EverBank Field on Sunday.The Jacksonville Jaguars announced they'll be selling teal food and beer during the team's AFC wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. The teal beer will be made by Anheuser-Busch. Food supplier Delaware North will sell hot dogs and burgers in teal buns, as well as teal ice cream, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell.

Former NFL linebacker Aaron Maybin is stepping up to help several Baltimore schools that are currently operating without heat.Maybin, a 2009 first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills who now teaches at Matthew A. Henson Elementary in Baltimore, tweeted a video Wednesday of him talking to some of his students about the conditions at the school. One student can be heard saying they had frostbite a day earlier.