Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's NFL editors run down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set at a $100 budget.QuarterbackNick Foles, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Raiders27%$100Faced with an exceptionally favorable matchup in Week 15, Foles took care of business while replacing Carson Wentz at the helm of the Eagles' offense. Foles completed 63.2 percent of his passes against the Giants and threw for four touchdowns on just 237 yards. Next week's matchup isn't much more difficult.Joe Flacco, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Colts18%$100Flacco has five passing touchdowns, one rushing score, and just one interception in the last four games, while the Ravens have gone 3-1. He hit a season high of 288 yards in Week 15, and he's still playing meaningful games with Baltimore in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.Running BackTion Green, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Bengals3%$100Green carried the ball 10 times Saturday, the second time he's reached that mark in his last three games. At this point of the season, he's one of few waiver-wire options who could see enough work to warrant FLEX consideration, especially in a favorable matchup.Elijhaa Penny, CardinalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Giants0%$100Should Kerwynn Williams be forced to miss the Week 16 game due to a quad injury he suffered in Week 15, Penny should continue to take on the significant role he played this past week. He averaged nearly 4 yards per carry on 17 attempts, and warrants FLEX consideration if named starter.Wayne Gallman, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Cardinals5%$50Fantasy managers competing in a championship shouldn't need to start someone of Gallman's pedigree, but he can be grabbed in order to keep him away from your opponent.Elijah McGuire, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers3%$45McGuire has next to no appeal with Matt Forte and Bilal Powell both healthy and Bryce Petty starting at quarterback, but he does have some keeper-league value.Wide ReceiverMartavis Bryant, SteelersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Texans56%$100The playoff-bound Steelers will allow Antonio Brown plenty of rest for his torn calf, if needed, allowing Bryant to serve as the No. 1 receiver. He caught 4 of 6 targets for 59 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots, and shouldn't have any difficulty against a nonexistent Texans defense.Keelan Cole, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat 49ers5%$100The early injury to Marqise Lee allowed Cole to rack up 186 yards and a touchdown while catching 7 of 9 targets against the Texans. It was a surprisingly quiet game for rookie Dede Westbrook, and Jaydon Mickens caught two touchdowns, but Cole acted as the clear No. 1.Damiere Byrd, PanthersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Buccaneers0%$90With just 25 yards against the Green Bay Packers, Byrd's rise to relevance is the result of two touchdowns - he made just one other catch on two remaining targets. Minor injuries to Devin Funchess and Russell Shepard allowed for extra work, but the Panthers could give some rest to their two starting receivers in an extremely favorable home matchup against the depleted Buccaneers.Tyrell Williams, ChargersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Jets38%$80With Keenan Allen missing part of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Williams saw seven targets Saturday, his most since Week 3. Allen's status will be up in the air throughout the week, but early signs are positive, since the Chargers need to win out to have a shot at the postseason.Tight EndEric Ebron, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Bengals43%$75Ebron has caught 15 of 18 total targets over his past two games. Though he's the No. 3 option behind Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, the Lions' lack of commitment to the run game gives him plenty of opportunities for work.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills rookie Tre'Davious White said Tuesday he isn't seeking personal revenge on Rob Gronkowski ahead of his rematch with the New England Patriots.The last time the Bills and Pats faced off, Gronkowski concussed White with a cheap shot as the cornerback was laying on the ground. Gronkowski later apologized for the hit, but was suspended one game for his behavior."As I've had time to think about it, I knew he wasn't that type of player," White said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, as transcribed by Mike Rodak of ESPN."So yeah, I'm not a guy who's going to try to do a cheap shot after the whistle. Nothing. I'm gonna play the game the way it's supposed to be played. Respect the game and just like I said, going in there and winning would be the best revenge."White was far more emotional in the days after the incident, supposedly texting ESPN analyst Ryan Clark that the "whole hood" wanted revenge on the Patriots' hulking tight end."He could have broke my neck," White told reporters four days after Gronkowski left him concussed. "I mean, I got a son to raise (and) all that. People don't think about that when they just react. ... He is what he did. Dirty shot, so what does that make him? Dirty player. Simple."The Bills fell 23-3 to New England on Dec. 3. A win in the rematch would go a long way in helping Buffalo snap its 18-year playoff drought.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The overturned touchdown in the Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday has caught the ire of many, but New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has no issue with the call.Steelers tight end Jesse James scored on what appeared to be a 10-yard reception, which would have given his team a 27-24 lead with 28 seconds to go. It did not stand, however, after officials ruled James failed to maintain control of the ball when he hit the ground."I know the rules," Manning told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. "I was watching the game live, you see it, and it doesn't look like an incompletion at all. Once they slow it down and see him (James) going to the ground and the ball hitting the ground, incompletion."You hate it, when you're watching it live, you don't even think about that not being a catch. When they run it down, hey, when you go to the ground you got to finish with the ball in your hand. When it hits the ground and there's movement, I was like, 'I think that's enough evidence where they're gonna reverse that."Though many have suggested the catch rule needs to be changed, Manning isn't of the same opinion."I think there's probably more questions on whether it was a catch or not before this rule," Manning said. "There was kinda, 'It looks like a catch, what are the exact rules?' They made it definitive in saying, 'These are the rules and it’s gonna be called fairly and equally every way.'"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was an extremely busy weekend around the NFL. While there are still 20 teams with a statistical chance of getting into the playoffs, Sunday's games had a huge impact on what the postseason will look like.Here's a look at what went down in Week 15:Patriots-Steelers an instant classicExpected to be the game of the year, Patriots vs. Steelers lived up to the hype and then some. There's a lot to digest from this game, and I'd like to analyze two key plays on the Steelers' final drive.First, the Jesse James catch/no-catch was an easy call if you've followed the NFL rules since the Calvin Johnson no-catch in 2010. Since then, I've taken the approach that the pass-catcher should assume they need to have the ball fully secured until they give it to the official. Anything short of that gives the refs the power to make it an incomplete pass.On this play, James secured the ball, but as he reached over the goal line, it was jarred loose by the ground and became unstable in his hands. Based off the last seven-plus years of this rule being enforced, I believed it would be called an incomplete pass the second I saw the replay. I had the exact same feeling when Dez Bryant infamously "dropped" the game-winning touchdown in the playoffs in 2015 against the Packers.James, Megatron, and Bryant all had similar plays with the same result. I believe I'm in the minority, but I think the correct call was made each time. In all three, the ball became loose as it hit the ground and the player didn't secure the ball completely "through the catch."I also like the fact that the NFL tried to remove gray areas as it relates to the criteria of a completed pass. Football is a sport with dozens of bang-bang plays every game. In this situation, though it looks, smells, and feels like a catch, based off the rules, which have been interpreted fairly consistently over the last eight seasons, it definitely wasn't.Even with the play being overturned, the Steelers were in the driver's seat to win this game. At worst, they were going to tie it up and send it to overtime if the offense was unsuccessful on second and third down. Of course, Ben Roethlisberger's interception sealed Pittsburgh's fate.I was disappointed by Big Ben's comments in his press conference regarding the game-ending throw. He said the call to use a fake spike and throw the ball into the end zone came from the sidelines. I have no doubt this is true, and it's the right call by Tomlin's staff. The Steelers had time, and an extra down, to run a play on third before kicking a field goal on fourth.At the end of the day, the ball is in the quarterback's hands. As the clock was running down, there was enough time for Ben to call a multitude of passing plays and take a shot into the end zone. Any quarterback in that situation knows that if a receiver isn't open, they must quickly and safely get rid of the ball while not getting sacked.The Steelers should have called for fade routes by the outside receivers. If he had a good matchup, Ben would've taken the snap and immediately tossed one up for his best receiver to make a play for the win. If the outside players were doubled, he could have just spiked the ball or thrown it high and wide out of bounds. There was plenty of time for him to make a good decision after his second-down completion, which resulted in a running clock.Roethlisberger instead called a slant by his "Z" receiver. Because of the Patriots' defensive alignment, it was covered. He should've immediately tossed the ball out of the back of the end zone. Instead, he tried to force it into triple coverage. The result was a game-ending interception.Ben's answer to the media should've been simple. Yes, he was told to throw the ball instead of spiking it, but he should've stated that after the original read wasn't there, it was his responsibility to safely get rid of it. That didn't happen, and it surely isn't Todd Haley or Mike Tomlin's fault.The Steelers lost not because of a play call, but because their veteran quarterback failed to execute. If the situation was flipped and the ball was in Tom Brady's hands, I assume a quality passing play would've been called, which would've given Brady options to throw for the win. This is the difference between Belichick's team and everyone else in the league.The Patriots and Steelers have identical records at 11-3, with the Pats now owning the tiebreaker. If both teams win their last two games, the Patriots will again have home-field advantage. Belichick's team has the Bills, who need to win their final two games to get into the playoffs, and the Jets. Tomlin's squad will play the Texans and Browns.Over the course of their New England careers, Belichick and Brady have won numerous games that were similar to Sunday's come-from-behind victory. They constantly find ways to manage the end of games better than their opponent.NFC playoffs will be up for grabsWhile the AFC has two teams which are a class above the rest, the NFC is wide open. It would surprise nobody if any of the six teams currently in the playoffs represented the NFC in the Super Bowl.The Eagles have been the best team in the NFC all year, but they have two glaring issues. First, and most obvious: how far can Nick Foles take them? He played very well against a poor Giants team, but the Eagles won't play games against poor teams come January. Each of the next two games is vital for Foles to become more comfortable in Doug Pederson's offense.Just as concerning is the Eagles' defense the last few weeks. Jim Schwartz's unit has given up an average of 28 points per game in its last three outings. Football teams with porous defenses rarely go far in the playoffs, especially those starting their backup quarterback.This is the main difference between the Eagles and one of their biggest playoff threats, the Vikings. Mike Zimmer's defense is one of the best in the league, and is playing at a high level late in the season. In their last three games, which featured Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Andy Dalton as opposing quarterbacks, the Vikings gave up an average of 139 passing yards per game. By contrast, the Eagles gave up 429 passing yards against Eli Manning and the receiver-bereft Giants on Sunday.NFC South is loadedThree teams in the NFC South are currently in the playoffs. I'd be surprised if that's the case through week 17, as all three of these teams only play NFC South opponents the last two weeks of the regular season. If any of the three lose two of their remaining games, the Lions, Seahawks, and Cowboys could sneak in. Atlanta has the least room for error, as they have five losses.The Carolina Panthers just won two huge games against the Vikings and Packers, but there's a cloud over them. The Panthers recently announced that owner Jerry Richardson would sell the team after the final game of 2017.It was widely known that the Panthers would be sold if/when Richardson passed away. He has had myriad health issues recently, and there was no plan in place for him to pass the team down to family members. But the sale at this moment looks more like Richardson attempting to save his legacy as the original owner of the Panthers.On Friday, the team announced he was being investigated by another Panthers co-owner for "misconduct." The wording was vague for a reason. Richardson is being investigated for sexual harassment, among other things. The optics of having a co-owner lead the investigation were so bad the NFL decided to take over the process. Within 48 hours, the Panthers were up for sale.Though Ron Rivera will say this front-office drama won't affect what the Panthers do on the field, this type of distraction does have an impact. It's an awkward situation for the players to be in, and it's occurring at the most important time of the season. Coaches and general managers talk about eliminating distractions. This one will last until the Panthers play their final game.AFC playoff race is tighteningIn the AFC, the Ravens are 8-6 and currently outside the playoff picture, but they'll probably get in. Their remaining games are against the Colts and Browns, two of the league's worst teams.The Bills are in the playoffs but must play the Patriots next week. Even though New England has locked up the AFC East, it has to win its final two games to have home-field advantage. This isn't good news for Buffalo.The Titans, who have the same record as the Ravens, still have to play the Rams and Jaguars. They have the hardest schedule remaining of any team in the NFL.If the Titans or Bills lose a game, and the Ravens win out, we'll see Joe Flacco in the playoffs once again.Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that star wide receiver Antonio Brown will miss Monday's game against the Houston Texans due to a lower leg contusion, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.However, Tomlin wouldn't comment on Brown's status beyond this week. The pass-catcher reportedly tore his calf muscle, but he's expected to return in time for the postseason.The 11-3 Steelers are still on course to secure a first-round bye despite their heartbreaking loss to the New England Patriots in Week 15, though the 10-4 Jacksonville Jaguars are still in contention. Getting Brown an extra week of rest should give Pittsburgh added motivation to win out.In Brown's absence, Martavis Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster are set to be the focal points of the Steelers' passing game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a pass-first league, with interference rules heavily favoring receivers, cornerback is arguably the NFL's toughest position to play, especially for rookies.However, it's a different story for this year's draft class - the strongest since 2013 (Tyrann Mathieu and Desmond Trufant) and 2010 (Devin McCourty and Joe Haden).An unprecedented number of rookie corners are playing like veterans, seamlessly adjusting to the speed and pressure of pro football.Here are the stars of this remarkable group:Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans SaintsLattimore was the first cornerback selected in April’s draft (11th overall), but no one could have predicted this level of production to begin his career. The former Ohio State Buckeye is tied for first among rookie corners with four interceptions and has yet to allow a touchdown in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks have a minuscule 40.4 passer rating when targeting the young defensive back (second in the NFL).Here’s how Lattimore matched up with some of this season’s most productive receivers, according to Pro Football Focus:PlayerWeekTargetsCatchesYardsTDINTPDRobby Anderson155223001Julio Jones146373010Mike Evans93113001Davante Adams7200001Marvin Jones63221010Brandin Cooks23115001Not only a stud in man coverage, the Cleveland native's impact on New Orleans' defense can't be overstated. The Saints are allowing 8.3 fewer points and 60.4 fewer passing yards per game than last season.Tre'Davious White, Buffalo BillsWhite may not garner as much national attention as Lattimore, but he should. White thrives in Sean McDermott’s zone-heavy scheme, showing awareness and football IQ beyond his years.The LSU product has been targeted 21 more times than Lattimore, but only 48.6 percent of passes directed his way are caught. White gets his hands on almost 21 percent of his targets, leading all rookies and ranking second overall.The first-round selection’s signature performance came in Week 4, when Matt Ryan threw eight passes into his coverage. He surrendered 18 yards on four catches and a 56.3 passer rating from the reigning MVP.Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore RavensThe second cornerback drafted in April (16th overall), Humphrey is living up to the hype generated during his time in the SEC. Like Lattimore, the Ravens' youngster has not surrendered a touchdown in coverage this season while giving up just 89 yards after the catch on 27 receptions. Opposing quarterbacks have a 51.4 passer rating when targeting the Hoover, Ala., native.In Week 14, Humphrey did what few defenders are able to do: he shut down Antonio Brown in one-on-one coverage. On five passes intended for Brown, Humphrey allowed just two receptions for 7 yards.Desmond King, Los Angeles ChargersKing is an interesting study, and offers distinct differences from his peers in this class. For one, he was not selected in the first round (rather, the fifth), and he receives most of his snaps in the slot. The former Iowa Hawkeye was not the most athletic defensive back in the 2017 draft, but he's a consistent playmaker. King has accumulated four sacks, one interception, three passes defensed, and 30 tackles behind the line of scrimmage (leading all players at his position).King is a physical corner who thrives in close quarters - ideal traits for the slot. His resume includes shutting down Cole Beasley, Jamison Crowder, and Danny Amendola.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Alabama linebacker and current UFC middleweight Eryk Anders believes he wound up in the safer sport when he transitioned from football to mixed martial arts."Football is way more dangerous than MMA," Anders said Monday on The MMA Hour, according to Alexander K. Lee of MMAFighting.com. "Even if you get knocked out in MMA, it's just one time, then you get up, you take a couple of months off, let your body heal. In football, you may not get knocked out, but you're constantly getting hit, getting hit, getting hit, especially if you play that D-line, linebacker, running back, offensive line position. Every play it's a collision and your body doesn't appreciate that."Anders played a prominent role with the Crimson Tide throughout his college football career, starting on their 2009-10 BCS national championship team. His pro career fizzled out, though, leading him to turn to the world of athletic combat."Football, it's a collision every play," the 30-year-old said. "Car wreck, every play. But now my body, I don't have to lift all those weights and eat all that food, it's kind of the opposite. When I was in college, my back always hurt, my knees always hurt from bearing all the weight and hits and whatnot, but now that I'm doing MMA, my body's never felt better. I'm walking around at more of a natural weight, my diet's much better, and the way we train I can go forever if I wanted to."Anders holds a 10-0 professional fighting record and is gearing up for UFC Fight Night 125 on Feb. 3, where he'll be in the main event against Lyoto Machida.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since undergoing season-ending ankle surgery in October, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been busy adding tattoos to his leg sleeve.Along with portraits of Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, and Heath Ledger as The Joker, Beckham's leg also features the iconic image of Allen Iverson stepping over Tyronn Lue during Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.

Zeke is ready to eat.Ezekiel Elliott is set to practice for the first time Tuesday since returning from his six-game suspension, and the Dallas Cowboys' star running back is ready to explode back onto the NFL landscape, according to teammate Dez Bryant."I texted Zeke last week to talk to him, he's in great spirits," Bryant said, according to Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News. "The passion he brings each and every day is crazy. He gets us juiced. And to have him back, I know he's licking his chops right now. I've seen a couple (pictures). He ready."Elliott spent his suspension training, trying to stay in top shape for a potential late-season playoff push. The second-year runner even reportedly had a documentary crew film a full-length movie about his time away.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week, Monty Andrews breaks down some of the underlying betting mismatches on the National Football League slate, giving you an inside edge when handicapping the schedule and setting your daily fantasy lineup.

Another week, another chaotic change in the NFL's MVP race.The league lost another MVP candidate - Antonio Brown - to injury, though the star pass-catcher is reportedly expected back after injuring his calf in the heart-breaking loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.Meanwhile, a handful of other players either burst into contention or saw their candidacy take a serious hit.Here's how the MVP race stands as we enter Week 16 of the regular season:1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots4,163 passing yards, 67.1 completion percentage, 28 TDs, 7 INTsBrady has not been his dominant self over the past three weeks, and while it might be odd for the signal-caller to take home MVP after one of his least impressive statistical seasons in recent years, he's been the lone player to be in the conversation all year long.The Patriots somehow coming away with the win over the Steelers all but assure the AFC East juggernaut will end up with the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Plus, the veteran pivot ends the campaign with games against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, so he should have a good opportunity to end the season strong and secure the third MVP of his career.2. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams1,187 rushing yards, 54 catches, 630 yards, 17 total touchdownsGurley has been on the outskirts of the MVP debate for a long time, likely never quite cementing his place among the elite due to the fanfare surrounding head coach Sean McVay, as well as his good-but-not-great rushing numbers.However, with MVP candidates dropping out like flies, Gurley put on a show against the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 15, rushing for 152 yards, catching three passes for 28 yards, and producing four total scores, including a 57-yard touchdown run.Related: Gurley's the last player standing between Brady and 2017 MVPWhile Gurley will need to produce something special in the final few weeks to truly make it a fight with Brady, the third-year running back looks unstoppable right now.3. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)1,222 rushing yards, 80 catches, 627 yards, 10 total touchdownsWith Brown done until the postseason and Ben Roethlisberger shattering any hopes of entering the discussion after throwing a back-breaking red-zone interception to seal the Patriots' win, the other member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' triplets becomes the team's default MVP candidate.Bell has lacked his signature big plays on the ground this year, hence his ordinary 4 yards per attempt average. But while the All-Pro isn't lighting it up as a runner - though he's the league's leading rusher in what is a down year for individual rushing yards - he's on pace for 91 catches and over 700 receiving yards.However, Pittsburgh blowing a chance to beat the Patriots and top the AFC likely ended any chance a Steeler has at taking home this award.4. Drew Brees, QB, Saints3,850 passing yards, 71.8 completion percentage, 21 TDs, 7 INTsBrees' numbers are far from what we usually expect from the future Hall of Famer, mostly due to the New Orleans Saints turning into a run-first team.However, the veteran signal-caller is on pace to break the all-time completion percentage record (set last season by Sam Bradford), owns a 104.0 pass rating (exactly the same as Brady), and remains the architect of this high-flying offense.Still, Alvin Kamara is arguably the Saints' most valuable player, so it seems Brees will have to settle for his first playoff appearance since 2013.5. Calais Campbell, DE, Jaguars52 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, 3 forced fumblesAaron Rodgers missed eight weeks, Russell Wilson finally crumbled under the weight of the entire Seahawks team, and Nick Foles ended any chance of Carson Wentz winning the award by tossing four touchdowns in his first start of the year - so why not give some love to the other side of the ball?The Jaguars hit a home run when they signed 31-year-old Campbell to a massive free-agent deal this offseason. Yes, Jalen Ramsey, fellow free-agent signing A.J. Bouye, and the Jaguars' up-and-coming pass-rushers have all played a major part in Jacksonville's third-ranked defense, but Campbell has reached new heights in his 10th season.The veteran defensive end is just half a sack off the NFL lead, has a four-sack performance on his resume from Week 1, and gone sackless in just four games this season. Campbell likely won't get a single MVP vote, but he should be one of the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas wants to be the next owner of the Carolina Panthers.Following Monday's announcement that Jerry Richardson plans to put the Panthers up for sale amid sexual and racial misconduct allegations, Thomas said he'll buy the team if he gets one million retweets.

Aaron Rodgers' much-anticipated return in Week 15 didn't go according to plan.The Green Bay Packers lost a virtual must-win game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and the quarterback may have aggravated his collarbone injury in the process.Head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Rodgers is sore after being "hit too many times."The team will wait and see before deciding Rodgers' status for the Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The Packers will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Atlanta Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is inactive for Monday's game against the rival Atlanta Falcons.Martin is being made a healthy scratch for violating a rule pertaining to a team meeting, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The violation is described as minor, and he's expected to play the last two games of the season.Peyton Barber will move into the starting role after he racked up 58 rushing yards on 12 carries last week. He has 160 rushing yards on 35 carries with 46 receiving yards on five receptions over his past two games.Martin has just 402 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 129 carries through nine games, adding 84 receiving yards while catching nine of 18 targets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton Barber is expected to start at running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Barber is expected to split carries with Doug Martin.The 23-year-old has rushed for 248 yards and two touchdowns on 65 carries in 13 games this season.At 4-9, the Buccaneers are merely trying to play spoiler to the Falcons' playoff bid.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn anticipates that wide receiver Keenan Allen will be fine to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets, Lynn said Monday.Allen was carted to the locker room with a back injury during the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.The 25-year-old is in the middle of an outstanding season, having recorded 88 receptions for 1,197 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games.Los Angeles is fighting valiantly for a playoff bid and Allen will be integral to his team's chances during the final two games of the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn announced Monday that tight end Hunter Henry suffered a small laceration in his kidney in Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and his status is up in the air.Henry was forced from the contest following a hit by Chiefs defensive tackle Bennie Logan. Logan was penalized for unnecessary roughness.He caught all three of his targets before his exit, racking up 28 yards.The sophomore tight end has caught 45 of 63 targets through 14 games, totaling 579 yards and four touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is stepping away from day-to-day control of the team, effective immediately, according to the team.Tina Becker, a 19-year employee of the Panthers, will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer.“Tina is the right person to lead this organization. I know she is committed to the Panthers, to the city of Charlotte, and to ensuring this organization is run in a professional and progressive manner,” said Hugh McColl, former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America.Bekker becomes one of the NFL's highest-ranking female executives."These have been some of the most difficult days of my 19 years with the Panthers, but I am lifted up by the strong resolve and the commitment our employees have shown to this organization,” Becker said. “Our team on the field is performing at a very high level, and I believe is bound for the Super Bowl. My immediate focus will be to ensure the corporate side of the organization performs at the same high level, while addressing the real concerns that have been raised in recent days.”Related: Jerry Richardson to put Panthers up for sale amid misconduct allegationsRichardson's desire to sell the team comes in the wake of a report that he committing several acts of sexual harassment and "improper acts" against female employees, and a report of a racial slur directed at an African American employee.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Sunday's news of Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson looking to sell the team amid widespread allegations and an ensuing investigation for sexual and racial misconduct, the future of a team on the verge of making the playoffs is suddenly in jeopardy.Head coach Ron Rivera is hopeful the Panthers will be able to stay put following any potential sale."This organization has had a tremendous impact on the Carolinas,'' Rivera said, according to David Newton of ESPN. "It has helped the growth of this city and this community. It's been a source of pride and goodwill. I'd like to see it continue."This is a great community, a very supportive fan base that's been out there for us. I hope that, somehow, it's able to stay here.''While acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations against Richardson, Rivera said he needs to keep the focus on football with the Panthers holding a record of 10-4 and vying for the NFC South title."Not to discount the serious nature of these allegations (but) for us, for what we do, we're here to play football,'' he said. "It's important that we remember that. These allegations don't change what we do. So we've got to go out and focus on getting ready for Tampa Bay.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis has been suspended two games for his blindside hit on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams on Sunday, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.Davis will appeal the suspension, according to Schefter.After Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw an interception, Adams ran to put himself in position to make a tackle and Davis delivered a blindside, helmet-to-helmet hit. Adams was concussed on the play."During an interception return, you took a path toward your opponent who was pursuing the play and delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside block to his head and neck area," NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in his explanation for the ban.Davis was fined earlier this season for a helmet-to-helmet hit to Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Adam Humphries."You have been previously fined for violations of safety-related rules. Your actions yesterday warrant an escalation of discipline, not only because they were flagrant, but also because of your status as a repeat offender," Runyan wrote.Adams took to Twitter to question Davis' actions on Monday, to which the veteran defender offered an apology.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A report emerged Sunday suggesting Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis plans to leave the team at the conclusion of the season after 15 years at the helm. Lewis denied the report after his team looked uninspired in a 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.He was pressed further about his intentions on Monday, when he was asked point-blank if he'd like to remain coach of the Bengals in 2018."Sure," was his response, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com."I want to coach football," he added, as reported by Katherine Terrell of ESPN.The Bengals will miss the playoffs for the second time in as many seasons, and it appears the year can't end soon enough for all involved.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kirk Cousins counts himself among those confused by the NFL's catch rule.After leading the Washington Redskins to a 20-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the quarterback watched the Pittsburgh Steelers-New England Patriots game and was baffled by the ruling on the Jesse James would-be touchdown catch."I'm not satisfied with it," Cousins said to Scott Allen of the Washington Post of the league's catch rule."I don't understand the rule. If that happened in our game, I would understand based on precedent that's been set that that's not a catch and it wouldn't catch me off guard, but I wouldn't understand as to why. I wouldn't know the reasoning. I guess I just don't know the rule enough."Related: NFL's 2 worst rules in desperate need of overhaulCousins added he still remains confused by a call on a reception last season.It appears to be a popular refrain that even those that play the game don't understand what is and isn't a catch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After flirting with benching quarterback DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson named the rookie his starter Monday for next week's game against the Chicago Bears.Jackson questioned whether his second-round draft choice would "ever get it" after a 27-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens sent the team to 0-14. On Monday, he reversed course."It's the best decision for our team at this time," he said of sticking with Kizer, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. "I'm not going to stick a guy out there who's not ready or prepared."Sunday's game against a four-win Bears squad that's also starting a rookie quarterback is the Browns' last good chance to avoid an 0-16 record. Their final game will come the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers."I'll talk to the players about it, but I think they know. We don't want to go into the record books like that by any stretch," Jackson said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars clinched a playoff spot Sunday without the services of top receiver Marqise Lee, but he's expected to return ahead of their postseason run, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Lee injured his ankle early in Sunday's blowout win over the Houston Texans, but the results of his MRI on Monday were reportedly positive.The fourth-year receiver leads the team with 56 receptions and 702 yards this season, adding three touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's rulebook is in need of reconstruction.In the span of four hours, two of the league's biggest games were decided by controversial rules. Two plays, in particular, had a seismic affect on this year's playoff picture.The outcomes were decided with a collection of referees thumbing through the rulebook rather than by the play of all-world athletes and their physical talents.That needs to change. The league could start by fixing these two rules:Catch Rule: Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1

Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams was the victim of another helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday, and he's had enough of the malicious plays.Adams attempted to get in position to make a tackle on an interception return in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, but was blindsided by a hit from Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.Adams was concussed on the play, and tweeted about the hit on Monday morning.It was the second time this season he's suffered such a hit, having been concussed and sidelined by a headshot from Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan.

Colin Kaepernick tweeted Monday he wants to be part of a potential Sean "Diddy" Combs-led group that would buy the Carolina Panthers from Jerry Richardson.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Week 16 of the NFL regular season has some key games on tap, but because of how Week 15 is playing out, many sportsbooks aren’t yet posting lines on those matchups. However, thanks to Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu, Covers still gets you a little insight on a quartet of contests with playoff implications.

Jerry Richardson's decision to sell the Carolina Panthers - which came amid alarming accusations of workplace misconduct - left Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones borderline heartbroken."I'm very sad," Jones told reporters Sunday night, according to ESPN. "Jerry is one of the really, really, really outstanding men of football that I've ever met, and I really admire him. I know that he made it the old-fashioned way. He worked for it. He took what he made in a short time in pro football and turned it into a great business and then used that to get the Carolina franchise. So he's a great story."The Panthers announced earlier Sunday that Richardson will sell the club in the offseason. The revelation came hours after a report from Sports Illustrated documented the 81-year-old's history of sexually harassing female employees and using racial overtones to establish a culture within the Panters organization.Richardson reportedly paid at least four ex-employees for their silence regarding his misconduct, and in one incident allegedly directed a racial slur toward a team scout. The NFL was set to investigate the matter when Richardson announced he'll sell the team."I'm saddened by any of the stories or things that might have incited this at this time," Jones said. "He's a battler; he's a big man with a big heart. And by the way, that's somebody else's heart - he's had a heart transplant."Richardson founded the Panthers in 1993. At the time, Jones had owned the Cowboys for four years."He'll be the first to tell you he's had a blessed life," Jones said. "I'm really sad. I want all of those kind of men we can have in the National Football League."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead will undergo an MRI on Monday after injuring his knee in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.The team reportedly believes Burkhead suffered a sprained knee and didn't tear his ACL, and the hope is he'll return in the playoffs.Burkhead leads the team with five rushing touchdowns, scoring his fifth in the first quarter of Sunday's 27-24 victory.The Patriots, who clinched a playoff spot with the win, will rely on Dion Lewis and James White for the remainder of the regular season. New England can also bring in Mike Gillislee - its second-leading rusher - to help fill the void. Gillislee has been inactive since the team's Week 9 bye.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the most baffling scenes unfolded on a football field Sunday night when, in measuring whether the Dallas Cowboys attained a critical fourth-quarter first down, referee Gene Steratore produced an index card out of his pocket to aid in his determination.

Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio and Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett were both confused by the use of an index card to determine a pivotal first down during Sunday Night Football.The Cowboys escaped with a 20-17 victory over the Raiders and were the beneficiary of one of the most confounding rulings in recent memory.Cowboys tight end Jason Witten caught a pass and it was originally determined he earned a first down before being overturned upon review. On the ensuing play, Dak Prescott powered through the defensive line but the referees struggled to determine whether he made it past the first-down marker.To the surprise of viewers everywhere, referee Gene Steratore unfurled an index card and placed it near the measuring device, before ruling Prescott had indeed earned a first down.Both coaches were caught off guard by the unusual sequence of events."Never. Never seen air like that and it somehow got turned into a first down. The air between the ball and the stick. That's sure short and it goes the other way. Period," Del Rio said via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.Related: The 5 necessary questions after a piece of paper decided a 1st downThe Cowboys went on to secure the victory but Garrett too seemed surprised by the first-down ruling."I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that one ... We made it by the thickness of the card," Garrett said via Lakisha Jackson on NFL.com.If the Cowboys sneak into the playoffs, they'll know who to thank.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The playoff picture is becoming much clearer with several teams securing playoff berths during Week 15. There are still numerous spots up for grabs with a few teams cementing their case for postseason entry.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord 1xy-PatriotsEast11-32xy-SteelersNorth11-33x-JaguarsSouth10-44ChiefsWest8-65TitansSouth8-66BillsEast8-6x- clinched playoff berth

The Los Angeles Rams' 42-7 beatdown of the Seahawks will simply go down as another win in the standings, but the victory carries greater significance, as it may have marked the end of Seattle's dominance over the NFC West.With three divisional titles, two Super Bowl trips, and one championship in the past four seasons, there's no question who has been the top dog in the West.Even during an era in which the NFL landscape is rapidly changing, one of the constants has been this strong Seahawks outfit. But their divisional dominance is now over, and here are four reasons why:Awful running gameWe became accustomed to watching Marshawn Lynch run all over opponents in a Seahawks uniform, but those days are over since Beast Mode left town. Seattle is yet to have a 100-yard rusher this season, with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the team in rushing yards in five of its 13 games. Even more shocking, the Seahawks' leading rusher has failed to gain more than 50 yards on the ground in eight contests. The inability to run the ball with any sort of success has placed an inordinate amount of pressure on Wilson to be brilliant on a weekly basis. While he's answered that call more often than not, he can't do it against the better defensive units in the league.Struggling offensive line One of the reasons the Seahawks offense has become one-dimensional is the lack of strong offensive line play. The running game's issues were documented above, but the team has also struggled to protect Wilson on a regular basis, leaving him fleeing for his life on virtually every play. While some of that can be attributed to Wilson's penchant for scrambling at the first sign of danger, it feels as though he's expecting to be hit on every play. The Rams sacked Wilson a whopping seven times on Sunday, never allowing the passing game to get comfortable.Aging defenseThe "Legion of Boom" certainly put the Seahawks on the map, with the dominant defense terrorizing opponents each and every week. But due to an aging core that's been ravaged by injuries, this once terrifying unit is no longer giving its opponents nightmares. Richard Sherman, Cliff Avril, K.J. Wright, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas have all missed time this year due to injuries. All of those players are 28 or older, and when adding 31-year-old Michael Bennett to the list, the glory days of the Seahawks defense seem to be a thing of the past. After Blake Bortles put up a 123.7 passer rating in last week's 30-24 win by the Jaguars, the Rams hung 42 on the scoreboard on the road.The Rams are legitWith a 34-0 lead at halftime, the Rams essentially stormed the bridge, took the Seahawks as their hostages, and announced they were the captains of the NFC West now. With the 49ers rebuilding, the Cardinals aging at a rapid rate, and the Rams coming off a 4-12 season, 2017 originally looked as though it would be an easy walk to the divisional title for Seattle. Los Angeles has quickly shown that won't be the case, as it has put up gaudy numbers on its way to being the league's most prolific offense. With a dynamic quarterback-running back combo in Jared Goff and Todd Gurley, an innovative young head coach in Sean McVay, and the league's best defensive player in Aaron Donald, the Rams aren't going anywhere anytime soon.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's all about the Benjamins and the NFL isn't exempt from this rule.Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson revealed he will be placing his franchise for sale in a statement released Sunday. Richardson is being investigated over sexual and racial misconduct allegations made by several employees.Immediately after the statement was released, rap mogul Diddy announced his intention to purchase the team.

The Seattle Seahawks were routed 42-7 by the Los Angeles Rams, and tensions seem to be running high between the team's star players.Bobby Wagner, billed as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate prior to Sunday's game, played with a hamstring injury and lacked his top-end speed. He recorded seven tackles in the losing effort.After the game, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas said he admired Wagner for fighting through the injury, but thought the linebacker shouldn't have played, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times."I think you have to give your hats off to Wags and a couple guys that played, but my personal opinion, I don't think they should have played. The backups would have did just as good," Thomas told reporters.In response to a follow-up question, Thomas added, "You normally see Wags running from sideline to sideline. He just couldn't do it today. But I think he waited just a little bit too long to take himself out."Wagner appeared to be incensed by the comments and fired back on Twitter before deleting his post almost immediately.

The New England Patriots' Week 15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a crystal clear reminder that Rob Gronkowski is the player who elevates this multifaceted group - one which includes an MVP-caliber quarterback, a deadly deep receiving threat, and an exhausting three-pronged rushing attack - to another tier entirely.Upon returning from a suspension served the week prior - his absence leaving the Patriots looking like a completely different team, en route to an upset loss in Miami - the NFL's best tight end dominated the game against the Steelers.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson removed quarterback DeShone Kizer from the starting role in Week 6, and he could be contemplating doing so again.Following Sunday's 27-10 loss to the division rival Baltimore Ravens that dropped the Browns to 0-14, Jackson admitted there's still a long way to go for his rookie signal-caller."He has some work to do,'' said Jackson, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I think that's a fair question if he'll ever get it. I think he will, but he has to keep working.''Kizer has completed just 53.9 percent of 373 pass attempts for 2,252 yards, nine touchdowns, and 17 interceptions through 14 weeks, after being selected 52nd overall in the 2017 draft.Jackson will do his due diligence to discern if there's a chance Kizer could be the quarterback for the present and future, or if Cleveland should opt to look elsewhere for help under center."Obviously, I'm going to watch the tape and make the best decision for our football team because we're still trying to win," Jackson said. "We're not here just trying to get through the season. I don't look at it like that and I'm not going to let our players look at it like that. We're trying to win. If the best decision is to move forward in a different direction, we will. At the same time, I want him to finish this if he can. We'll see."Kizer showed some promise in Week 14 with the services of wide receivers Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon, but the Browns blew a large lead against the Green Bay Packers, with his 17th interception of the season coming early in overtime.His league-leading sixth pick in the red zone came in Sunday's loss."That's one of the areas of the field where there have been some struggles, but there has also been some improvement. You want to keep it going that way. Today we took a step back," Jackson said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley knows how to pick his spots.With Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown sent to the hospital for a leg injury, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm of a crushing home defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz nursing a knee injury at home while Nick Foles led Philadelphia to victory, the Rams running back staked his claim to the 2017 MVP award in Week 15.The odds have always been stacked against Gurley - Adrian Peterson's the only non-quarterback to win the MVP award in the past decade. But, unaware of what else was happening around the league Sunday, Gurley took care of business by rushing for 152 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, adding another 28 yards and a touchdown added on three receptions.He helped his team solidify a temporary hold on the NFC West title too, checking off the box for team success on his MVP candidacy application.And there aren't many qualified applicants. With Wentz's injury unofficially eliminating him from contention, the demise of the Seahawks doing the same for Wilson, and otherwise mediocre season-long quarterback performance around the league, Tom Brady seems to be in line for his first MVP win since 2010 - seemingly by default.The New England Patriots quarterback has thrown for more yards, more touchdowns, and fewer interceptions in his recent non-MVP seasons. If he didn't win the award for any of those near-legendary campaigns, why should he win this year?Brady's lack of positional competition has cleared the way for him more so than in any past season, when one-off elite campaigns produced first-time - and one-time - winners. With two games to go, Gurley now looks like Brady's last competitor standing.Gurley's been this season's top running back with 13 rushing touchdowns, and ranks among the leaders in yards and yards per attempt. He's also having the best receiving season of his three-year career while playing over 80 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps.By the definition of the award, he should be the MVP. The best season of his career has coincided with the Rams improving from 4-12 in 2016 to 10-4 through 15 weeks, putting them on the brink of clinching their first division title since 2003.Brady's Patriots, meanwhile, will finish with a worse record than they did a year ago, despite many predicting they would go 19-0 this season en route to a second straight Super Bowl victory.Gurley has racked up five 100-yard rushing games, 11 games with 100 total yards, and five games with multiple touchdowns scored, and he seems to be ending the season at his best.He's scored six touchdowns in his past two games, allowing recency bias to help sway voters' opinions, and the Rams finish the season with games against the collapsing Tennessee Titans and upstart San Francisco 49ers.Brady has long been viewed as a measuring stick for the MVP title - someone another player would need to unseat in order to claim the award. If voters want to choose "anyone else," Gurley is the best remaining selection.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was pegged as the game of the season entering play, and the New England Patriots' contest with the Pittsburgh Steelers lived up to the hype and then some.While the entire matchup was high-quality entertainment, the last two minutes of the game were utterly insane.Here's how it all went down:Gronk shreds Steelers' defenseThe Patriots took over with 2:01 to play on their own 23-yard line. As Tom Brady ran onto the field, CBS flashed a graphic that said the quarterback has led 50 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in his legendary career. That stat led Tony Romo, working the game as the color commentator, to exclaim in disbelief, "Is that a real stat?"We'll let the Patriots' official Twitter account explain how the offense decided to attack the Steelers' defense:

Ben Roethlisberger's interception on the Pittsburgh Steelers' final play of Sunday's game against New England Patriots would not have happened if he had the call.Roethlisberger said he wanted to spike the ball with five seconds remaining on a running clock as the Steelers prepared for a snap at the Patriots' 7-yard line down 27-24, but the call from the sideline was to run a play, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Roethlisberger's final pass was intercepted by Patriots safety Duron Harmon, allowing quarterback Tom Brady to kneel out the final few seconds of the clock, clinching the three-point victory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Richardson announced Sunday that he will put the Carolina Panthers up for sale after the season.Richardson is the subject of sexual and racial misconduct allegations that the NFL is reportedly investigating.In a letter on the team's website, Richardson announced he felt it's time for new ownership, but that the sale process won't begin until the 2017 season is officially over.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown won't play next week, but he is expected to return to action for the postseason after partially tearing a left calf muscle in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The star wideout went down early in the second quarter after being sandwiched by Patriots defensive backs Duron Harmon and Eric Rowe on an ill-fated shot at the end zone. Brown was immediately seen favoring his left leg, and had to be helped to the locker room for X-rays before being transported to hospital for further evaluation. Pittsburgh ultimately lost what turned into a nail-biter by a score of 27-24.The Steelers will travel to the Lone Star State to meet the Houston Texans on Christmas Day.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski did it to the Pittsburgh Steelers again.One questionable decision by Ben Roethlisberger helped.Brady fed Gronkowski repeatedly to set up Dion Lewis' go-ahead 8-yard touchdown with 56 seconds remaining and Roethlisberger was intercepted in the end zone with 5 seconds left as the New England Patriots rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24 on Sunday.The Patriots (11-3) gained the inside track for homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs by ending Pittsburgh's eight-game winning streak. Brady threw for 298 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Gronkowski, fresh off a one-game suspension, finished with nine receptions for 168 yards, including four on the game-winning drive.It briefly looked like it wouldn't be enough.The Steelers (11-3), who played most of the game without injured wide receiver Antonio Brown, appeared to take the lead when Roethlisberger connected with tight end Jesse James for a 10-yard touchdown with 28 seconds to left. The play was overturned on review, with official Tony Corrente saying the ball did not ''survive'' the completion of the catch.Roethlisberger hit Darrius Heyward-Bey for a short gain but stayed in bounds. With the clock running and no timeouts left, Roethlisberger hurried to the line. Rather than spike it to set up a short kick that would have sent the game to overtime, Roethlisberger tried to win it.Instead, he lost it. His pass to Eli Rogers was batted into the air, and New England safety Duron Harmon came down with it. One kneel down later the Patriots had their fifth straight victory over the Steelers.Roethlisberger completed 22 of 30 for 281 yards with two touchdowns and the pick. Le'Veon Bell ran for 117 yards and added another 48 receiving as Pittsburgh hung in there even with Brown, the NFL's leading receiver, in a hospital having his left calf injury examined.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hardly downplayed the pregame hype, welcoming the moment and the pressure that comes along with it even while facing an opponent that he's beaten just twice during his 11-year tenure and never in a game of true consequence, including a blowout loss in the AFC championship game 11 months ago.Pittsburgh received an early emotional jolt when cameras cut to injured linebacker Ryan Shazier sitting in a private box less than two weeks removed from spinal stabilization surgery. The crowd at rainy Heinz Field roared as Shazier, who appeared to be seated, waved a Terrible Towe l. The 25-year-old is recovering from spinal stabilization surgery on Dec. 6, two days after leaving a Monday night victory over Cincinnati on a stretcher following a routine hit on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.The emotional boost of Shazier's surprise cameo faded quickly. Brady took a snap, and the reality the Steelers face without their most irreplaceable defensive player set in. Brady took the Patriots right down the field, connecting with Cooks for a 43-yard gain that set up Rex Burkhead's 1-yard touchdown.The Steelers answered immediately on an 18-yard lob from Roethlisberger to Eli Rogers. Pittsburgh took its first lead over the Patriots since 2011 early in the second quarter on a Chris Boswell field goal, one that came at a possibly heavy price. Brown left in obvious pain after getting his left leg tangled up with a pair of New England defenders. He was helped to the medical tent then taken to a hospital for further examination.Still, Pittsburgh hung around thanks to the depth they didn't have while getting rolled by New England the last time the AFC superpowers met.Bryant, suspended all of last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, made a pretty one-handed touchdown catch late in the first half that put Pittsburgh up 17-10 at the break. Bell, limited to just 11 snaps in Foxborough last January, churned up clock and yards. Smith-Schuster, the ebullient rookie, caught six passes for 114 yards, including a 69-yard catch-and-run that put the Steelers in position to at least tie it.Roethlisberger opted to go for the wind instead, a decision now that could have ramifications in January.UP NEXTNew England: Host Buffalo on Christmas Eve. The Patriots handled the Bills 23-3 in the first meeting of the season earlier this month in Buffalo.Pittsburgh: Visits Houston on Christmas Day.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The return of Aaron Rodgers didn't go as planned, as the Carolina Panthers escaped with a 31-24 win over the Packers to effectively dash Green Bay's playoff hopes.Here are five takeaways from the game:Rodgers is rusty in returnSo, he is human after all. Many expected the quarterback to seamlessly slide back into the lineup and recapture his stellar form from earlier in the season.Instead, Rodgers threw three interceptions for the first time since 2009 and looked a half-second slow at times, which was always a danger after an eight-week absence.A full-strength Rodgers possesses the rare ability to make throws with necessary velocity even when off balance and without properly setting his feet. But he underthrew a handful of passes in these situations against Carolina, including a pick on a deep attempt to Jordy Nelson.For his entire career, Rodgers has defied logic and created magic. But in the end, Week 15 was too steep a mountain for even the future Hall of Famer to climb.What could have beenWhile it wasn't the same Rodgers we've watched torch defenses for the better part of a decade, there were flashes of greatness.Rodgers showed no fear of reinjuring his collarbone, using his legs a surprising amount and absorbing several hits to keep plays alive, including a vintage 33-yard touchdown to Randall Cobb.When Rodgers went down with his injury, he left the Packers at 4-2. The team struggled without him and had a razor-thin margin for error if they hoped to make the postseason. Green Bay and the NFL world will likely be wondering what could have been had Rodgers been given enough breathing room to get back up to full speed.Packers need new era on defense(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers has been a target for criticism from the team's fan base for several years, and his unit once again failed to step up when it counted most.The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead on their first drive and Rodgers was playing catchup for the rest of the game. Green Bay simply had no answer for Cam Newton. He threw four touchdowns, added 59 yards on the ground, was sacked just once, and had zero turnovers.The Packers will still be a contender in 2018 if they stand pat on defense, but it may be time to inject that side of the ball with new life by firing Capers. Green Bay can't keep expecting Rodgers to work miracles with an untrustworthy defense backing him up.Rest of NFC can exhaleRodgers didn't look like himself, but the Packers still almost pulled off a stunning comeback, successfully recovering an onside kick before Geronimo Allison fumbled away the team's playoff hopes on the potential game-tying drive.And you can bet the rest of the NFC breathed a sigh of relief.If the Packers had won out and snuck into the postseason as a wild-card team, no one in the conference would have been excited about facing Rodgers and Co. The NFC playoff picture is still set to be as competitive as it's been in years, but Rodgers had the potential to throw the postseason into beautiful chaos.Newton rounding into form at best timeAs mentioned above, there was one NFL MVP on the field who looked as good as advertised: Newton.The Panthers quarterback was playing with such confidence that he called his shot to a Packers defender before throwing the first of his four touchdowns. He didn't look back after that.Newton started the season off slowly as he worked through a shoulder injury, but the signal-caller is getting hot at just the right time. While the current NFC standings boast a host of dangerous playoff teams, none have the kind of game-breaking player under center quite like the Panthers do.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to to a knee injury.Burkhead's day ended with just four carries for 12 yards, but he did score his sixth touchdown in four weeks.The injury leaves the Patriots backfield to Dion Lewis and James White to split work in both the rushing and passing games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.