Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin confirmed he will undergo surgery to repair his torn meniscus after the season ends.Benjamin, who was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Carolina Panthers, is a key component of the Bills' attempt to break the NFL's longest playoff drought.During Sunday's 24-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Benjamin caught two passes for 20 yards.The Bills moved to 8-6 on Sunday and are fighting for a wild-card spot, with the New England Patriots almost certain to clinch the AFC East.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blake Bortles had one of his better games of the season in a 45-7 hammering of the Houston Texans on Sunday, but don't expect Jadeveon Clowney to change his opinion on the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback because of it.Bortles completed 21 of 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns to clinch a playoff spot, but Clowney offered a very blunt assessment after the contest.

Top Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game opposite the New England Patriots after suffering a calf injury in the second quarter.According to Steelers' PR man Burt Lauten, he'll be taken to hospital for further evaluation.

For the first time in a long time, Nick Foles played like a starting NFL quarterback Sunday.Filling in for injured MVP candidate Carson Wentz, the Philadelphia Eagles pivot completed 24 of 38 passes to the tune of 237 yards and four scores in a 34-29 victory over the New York Giants, earning the NFC East champs a first-round bye in the postseason.The 28-year-old found four different targets for those touchdowns in what's arguably his finest performance since his first full season under center for the Eagles in 2013, when he threw 27 scores to just two picks under Chip Kelly.Foles looked like a one-season wonder over the following two campaigns, making eight lukewarm starts in 2014 before a miserable 2015 under center for the St. Louis Rams.The signal-caller may never replicate the statlines of his honeymoon with the since-ousted Kelly. Between Sunday's performance and a defensive unit that's firing on all cylinders, however, the Doug Pederson-led squad is likely feeling better about its chances of embarking on a substantial playoff run - even with Wentz on the couch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is refuting a pregame report that he plans to leave the team at the end of the season.The 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which dropped the Bengals to a record of 5-9, seems to have changed the tune of the seemingly frustrated head coach.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Cam Newton threw for 242 yards and four touchdowns, and the Carolina Panthers spoiled Aaron Rodgers' return from a broken collarbone with a 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.Damiere Byrd had two touchdown catches, and Christian McCaffrey had 136 yards from scrimmage, including a 7-yard touchdown reception and the Panthers (10-4) won their fourth straight home game.Greg Olsen had his most productive game since returning from a broken foot, catching nine passes for 116 yards and a TD and the Panthers kept pace with the first-place New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.Rodgers, making his first appearance since Oct. 15, threw for 290 yards with three touchdowns but was intercepted three times as the Packers' playoff hopes took a potentially critical blow.Green Bay (7-7) had a chance to send the game into overtime for a third straight week, but Panthers cornerback James Bradberry stripped wide receiver Geronimo Allison of the ball after a completion at the Carolina 28-yard line with 1:48 remaining. Safety Mike Adams recovered the fumble.The Panthers trailed 14-10 at halftime, but Newton threw TD passes to Olsen and Byrd in the third quarter to give them a 24-14 lead.Byrd's first touchdown, a 9-yard grab in the back of the end zone, came with some controversy. The play was initially ruled an incompletion, but coach Ron Rivera challenged the play and officials overturned the call ruling that Byrd's backside landed inbounds and overturned the play.After Green Bay's field goal cut the Carolina lead to 24-17, Newton found Byrd again on a slant route to make it a two-possession game with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter.The Panthers started bringing the pressure after that, sack Rodgers three times in the fourth quarter including a takedown by former Packer Julius Peppers on a fourth-and-14 deep in Carolina territory.But Rodgers struck with a TD pass to Richard Rodgers and the Packers recovered the ensuing onside kick with 2:40 left.ADAMS CONCUSSION: It didn't help that Rodgers lost his most productive receiver in the third quarter with a concussion.Davante Adams took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis on an interception return by Colin Jones. As Adams was running to make the tackle on Jones, Davis appeared to launch himself at Adams with a peel-back block, immediately sending the wide receiver to the ground.Davis was flagged for a 15-yard penalty.Davis immediately appeared to know what he had done, cupping his head in hands as he sat on the Panthers bench. Adams had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers before leaving the game.COMING IN BUNCHES: After going 12 games without an interception, Panthers starting cornerbacks Bradberry and Daryl Worley both have interceptions in back-to-back games. Worley got Rodgers in the first half on a deep route along the left sideline, while Bradberry got one on an underthrown deep ball.INJURIES:Packers: Linebacker Nick Perry left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter and did not return.Panthers: Wide receiver Russell Shepard left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury and did not return.UP NEXTPackers: Host the Vikings on Saturday night.Panthers: Host the Buccaneers on Sunday.---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.

There's no doubt Antonio Brown is among the best receivers in the NFL, but on Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers star took another step toward being mentioned as one of the best ever.With a reception in the first quarter of the AFC contest against the New England Patriots, Brown now has at least 100 catches for the fifth straight season, the first time that's been accomplished in NFL history.AntonioAt just 29 years of age, it won't be a shock to anybody if Brown continues that streak for a few years to come.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Nick Foles threw four touchdown passes in his first start replacing the injured Carson Wentz, and the Philadelphia Eagles secured a first-round playoff bye, rallying from an early 14-point deficit to defeat the surprising New York Giants 34-29 on Sunday.Foles hit 24 of 38 passes for 237 yards and no interceptions. The Eagles (12-2) made a late stand on first-and-goal in the final minute in edging the Giants (2-12) for the second time this season, spoiling a three-touchdown, season-high 434-yard passing game by Eli Manning.Foles hit Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton and Nelson Agholor on scoring passes ranging from 3 to 13 yards in filling in for Wentz, who tore an ACL last week and was lost for the season after a brilliant year.The Eagles also got two field goals from Jake Elliott and three blocked kicks from their special teams, foiling an extra point, a punt and field goal. The block on the punt set up a touchdown.Manning finished 37 of 57 and hit Tavarres King on two touchdowns and Sterling Shepard on one. Orleans Darkwa scored on a short run and Aldrick Rosas kicked a 28-yard field goal.Manning drove the Giants from their 25 with 3:56 to play to the Eagles 9 with about a minute to go. A 2-yard loss on a pass to Shepard, an incompletion in the end zone and 5-yard run by Shane Vereen got New York to the Philadelphia 6 with 48 seconds to play. Right tackle Bobby Hart had a procedure penalty on fourth down, putting the ball at the 11.Manning then threw a pass to Evan Engram at the back of the end zone that was high and incomplete.It was Manning's ninth career 400-yard game and his first since last season.The Giants scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to take a 20-7 lead.Darkwa capped the opening drive with 1-yard run and Manning hit King on a 13-yard TD pass on the second. He found Shepard on a 67-yard catch and run on the third.Mistakes by Manning and special teams got the Eagles back in the game in a less than three-minute span in the second quarter.A 37-yard interception return by Ronald Darby to the Giants 18 set up Foles' second touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Ertz, cutting New York's lead to 20-14. Kamu Grugier-Hill blocked Brad Wing's punt on the Giants' next series. Foles found a wide-open Trey Burton on a 13-yard pass to give the Eagles a 21-20 lead. He added a 10-yard to Agholor in the third quarter.Rosas had a go-ahead 28-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the half for a 23-21 lead.UP NEXTEagles: host Oakland on Dec. 25.Giants: at Arizona on Sunday.---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.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars are returning to the playoffs for the first time in a decade thanks to a 45-7 drubbing of rival Houston on Sunday.Once the NFL's poster child for futility and a punchline for potential relocation, the Jaguars (10-4) are now one of the league's top turnaround stories.Blake Bortles threw three touchdowns passes, including two to a reserve receiver who slept in his car earlier this season. The Jaguars won for the seventh time in eight games to clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2007.Bortles finished with a season-high 326 yards and the best QB rating (143.8) of his career, including 186 yards and a touchdown to rookie Keelan Cole. Primary punt returner Jaydon Mickens, who stepped in for injured starter Marqise Lee in the first quarter, caught four passes for 61 yards and two scores against the Texans (4-10).It was a career day for Mickens, who said this week he spent nights in his car outside the facility while on the practice squad in September and October. He did it to save money, not knowing how long he would remain in town.Now, he and teammates will be getting playoff checks.That's a huge change for Jacksonville. The Jaguars were an NFL-worst 22-74 over the previous six years, more a laughingstock than a postseason contender.Owner Shad Khan fired coach Gus Bradley one year ago Sunday, following a close loss at Houston. Khan hired Tom Coughlin to oversee football decisions and made interim Doug Marrone the head coach. Coughlin and Marrone added several key players and changed the culture with a grueling offseason and training camp.The Jags got off to an up-and-down start, but have hit their stride down the stretch.Bortles has been better than expected of late, with seven touchdown passes and no turnovers the last three games. Cole and fellow rookie Dede Westbrook have been equally impressive.The Jags didn't even need rookie Leonard Fournette on Sunday. He was inactive because of a sore right quadriceps muscle.Jacksonville's defense has been the glue all season and was dominant again. Jacksonville led 31-0 for the biggest halftime lead in team history.The defense had one lapse, when DeAndre Hopkins beat Jalen Ramsey for gains of 40 and 25 yards in the third quarter. The second one went for a touchdown.T.J. Yates, making his first start since 2015, was mostly ineffective in place of Tom Savage (concussion). Yates completed 12 of 31 passes for 128 yards, with the TD and an interception.INJURIESTexans: Center Nick Martin (ankle) and right guard Jeff Allen (concussion) left in the second half. Linebacker Benardrick McKinney injured a shoulder making a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return.Jaguars: Lee injured his right ankle in the first quarter and was later ruled out. Ramsey (groin), defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (hamstring) and safety Peyton Thompson (foot) left the game but later returned.QUESTIONABLE CALLThe Texans could have run out the clock trailing 24-0 late in the first half, but with 53 seconds remaining and three timeouts, coach Bill O'Brien decided to try to get something going. Yates threw an interception, and the Jaguars scored three plays later.UP NEXTTexans: Host Pittsburgh next Monday in the team's home finale.Jaguars: Play at San Francisco on Sunday.---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.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Eric Kendricks had an interception return for a touchdown, Case Keenum passed for 236 yards and two scores, and the Minnesota Vikings clinched the NFC North title with a 34-7 victory over the depleted and disinterested Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.Running backs Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon combined for 37 touches and 242 yards from scrimmage for the Vikings (11-3), who were given quite the reprieve on the schedule a week after their eight-game winning streak ended at Carolina in the last of three consecutive road trips. They were never challenged by a Bengals team missing more than half of its starting defense to injuries and met with a morning report by ESPN that head coach Marvin Lewis will not return next season .The game went so smoothly that Teddy Bridgewater even made his grand entrance, his first live action in 16 months since a massive knee injury. Bridgewater's first pass was intercepted, a high throw that bounced off McKinnon's hands and into the arms of strong safety Shawn Williams deep in Vikings territory. That set up a short touchdown run by Giovani Bernard to keep the Bengals from being shut out for a second time this year.Terence Newman also picked off former teammate Andy Dalton, who went just 11 for 22 for 113 yards and three first downs before the Bengals (5-9) turned to backup quarterback A.J. McCarron midway through the fourth quarter after the interception by Williams.Keenum completed 20 of 23 passes, including seven easy tosses to McKinnon for 114 yards in the first 100-yard receiving game for a Vikings running back since Onterrio Smith on Sept. 26, 2004, against Chicago. With the Bengals already missing both starting cornerbacks and all three regular linebackers, they lost standout free safety George Iloka in the first quarter to a shoulder injury. That left Williams as the only starter in the back seven.About the only bright spot for the Bengals was five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who sacked Keenum twice in the first quarter. Dalton and the offense produced these four possessions in the first quarter: three-and-out, interception, turnover on downs and three-and-out. The Bengals didn't cross midfield with the ball until less than 3 minutes were left in the third quarter.Murray scored on a short run to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive by the Vikings to start the game. Keenum found Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph for touchdown passes in the second and fourth quarters. Rudolph, a Cincinnati native, paid tribute to the 50-year-old franchise's better days by doing his version of the ''Ickey Shuffle'' to celebrate his score.TORMENTING HIS MENTORVikings coach Mike Zimmer won his first regular-season meeting against his old boss, Lewis, who lost to a former assistant for the first time in eight matchups. Zimmer was the defensive coordinator for the Bengals from 2008-13.STILL SEARCHINGThe Bengals have never won in six all-time visits to Minnesota. The Vikings were division champions in five of those seasons: 1970, 1989, 1998, 2009 and 2017.INJURY REPORTBengals: The long list of missing starters began to grow almost immediately, when Iloka and LT Cedric Ogbuehi (shoulder) left in the first quarter. RT Andre Smith limped off in the fourth quarter.Vikings: Rudolph (ankle) played TE despite being originally listed on Friday as doubtful to play. RT Mike Remmers (back) returned from a five-game absence, but LT Riley Reiff (ankle) missed his first game of the season. CB Mackensie Alexander (ribs) was out. WR Jarius Wright hurt his foot in the fourth quarter and did not return.UP NEXTBengals: Play their final home game against Detroit, with the Lions still carrying an outside chance at a wild-card spot.Vikings: Travel to Green Bay to face the Packers on Saturday night, with their sights set on securing a first-round bye for the playoffs.---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.

He's back.After a near two year absence, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made his return Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals in relief of starter Case Keenum.Bridgewater entered the game with 10:38 left in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation from the home crowd with the Vikings dismantling the Bengals by a score of 34-0.

Aaron Rodgers' return to the gridiron hasn't exactly gone entirely as planned.The former MVP recorded a noteworthy, albeit unwanted, statistic on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, throwing three interceptions in a single game for the first time since Nov. 8, 2009.After a strong start against the Panthers, Rodgers coughed up his first interception in the second quarter with the Green Bay Packers trailing 10-7, and added the next two during the third quarter.Rodgers did contribute a pair of additional touchdown passes in his return as the Packers trailed 24-14 towards the end of the third.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott will make his return to the Dallas Cowboys' facility on Monday in great physical shape, and with a documentary in tow.The Cowboys running back spent his six-game suspension in Europe training for his eventual return and allowed a film crew to follow him for a full-length documentary, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram.In the movie, Elliott will provide his side of a long battle with the NFL that stemmed from a domestic violence allegation from his former girlfriend.His ban for violating the league's personal conduct policy wraps up with the Cowboys' Sunday-night matchup with the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will make his return from a one-game suspension Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to the team.Smith-Schuster missed the bulk of practice this week, being limited for Thursday's and Friday's sessions due to a hamstring issue. He had been ruled questionable but will suit up for the key Week 15 game.Cornerback Joe Haden, who returned to practice this week as he works his way back from a fractured fibula suffered on Nov. 12, has been ruled inactive.“We are in the playoffs, we have something to look forward to,” said Haden earlier this week. “I don’t want to go out there half (way), and be out there hurting the team, hurting myself. Knowing we have games coming, knowing I am on my way back. I want to play if I can play, if I can’t it is what it is.”Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis launched himself into Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams during an interception return, connecting on a scary helmet-to-helmet hit.Adams was diagnosed with a concussion and won't return to the game, the team announced.

Seattle Seahawks star linebacker Bobby Wagner is active for Sunday's pivotal NFC West clash with the Los Angeles Rams despite missing the entire week's practice due to a hamstring injury.However, fellow linebacker K.J. Wright is inactive as a result of a concussion.Wagner has been playing at an All-Pro level this season and is in contention for Defensive Player of the Year honors. With defensive stalwarts Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor done for the season, the Seahawks couldn't afford to be without Wagner against the high-flying Rams offense.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy has surpassed 10,000 rushing yards for his career.The veteran rusher needed 39 yards to reach the plateau and attained that figure in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.McCoy entered the day 30th all-time in career rushing yards and required just 48 yards on the ground to pass Ricky Williams for 29th on that list.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers were forced to pay out significant confidential settlements to at least four former team employees as a reaction to workplace misconduct by owner Jerry Richardson, sources told L. Jon Wertheim and Viv Bernstein of Sports Illustrated.Some of the complaints leveled at Richardson were for sexual harassment against female employees and for directing a racial slur at an African American employee.In addition to verbal harassment - including commenting on female's backsides during Jeans Day at the Panthers' facility - Richardson consistently "engaged in improper acts."Sources told Wertheim and Bernstein that Richardson would ask female employees to visit him during a workday in his suite inside Bank of America Stadium, and would often be alone with junior employees. One former female employee alleges that Richardson came into the room barefoot and asked for a foot massage."The first time, you thought it was an important meeting with the owner," said one female employee who received such an invite. "You (then) realized it was never anything that couldn’t be discussed over the phone.” Others talk of Richardson giving back rubs that lingered too long or went too low down the spine.Other multiple former employees told Sports Illustrated that "there were also occasional racial overtones in Richardson’s interactions with his workers."The Panthers announced they'd launched an internal investigation into Richardson's misconduct Friday, and on Sunday, the team confirmed that the NFL would be taking over the inquiry.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The NFL’s Week 15 Sunday slate brings the much-anticipated return of one of the league’s best quarterbacks, in a key clash with playoff implications for both teams. Covers checks in on action for that contest and a few other key games, with insights from Scott Shelton, sportsbook supervisor at The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip, and Will Bernanke, lead analyst for CG Analytics, also in Las Vegas.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will soon resume throwing when he returns from Europe, where he's been continuing his rehabilitation, sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.If the pain in his throwing shoulder returns, the Colts will reportedly discuss whether the franchise player should undergo a second corrective surgery on his biceps tendon.The procedure would sideline Luck for three to six months, added Mortensen, so Indy will likely look to make a decision on the procedure by mid-January.Luck underwent surgery last January and was expected to return for the start of the season. However, the pivot remained sidelined as the campaign got underway, and he was ultimately placed on season-ending IR in early November after experiencing discomfort in the shoulder.The Colts have fallen apart without their star signal-caller, and are on pace to secure a top-five pick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots receiver Chris Hogan has been listed as inactive for Sunday's pivotal clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a shoulder injury.Hogan returned from a four-game absence only to haul in one pass for one yard in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins, despite getting in a full workload.In his second year with the Patriots, Hogan was averaging 54 yards per contest before he sustained his injury.In his absence, the team has been relying heavily on Danny Amendola. Tight end Rob Gronkowski returns from a one-game suspension Sunday and the Patriots signed veteran Kenny Britt early in the week. Britt is active for the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has already been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a quad injury, but it's only expected to be a one-week absence.The rookie runner is expected back for a meeting with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Chris Ivory is expected to draw the start against the Texans in Fournette's absence.The Jaguars enter Week 15 still in contention for the second seed in the AFC playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is taking over the investigation into Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson after the team suggested the league step in, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, citing sources.The Panthers confirmed that an internal investigation into workplace misconduct allegations against Richardson was launched Friday, with the team issuing an official statement shortly after.The NFL initially declined to comment on the matter, but it appears now the league will be taking a much more prominent role in the investigation."The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” team spokesman Steven Drummond said. "The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it."Panthers head coach Ron Rivera stated his respect for Richardson following the initial investigation announcement, but stated he would withhold judgment until the investigation was complete.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals may be preparing for life without Bruce Arians, as the team's front office believes the head coach could call it a career following the season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, citing league sources.Those close to Arians believe he is not intending to return to the sidelines, although the head coach has made no such confirmation on the matter, according to La Canfora.Arians has manned the helm of the Cardinals since 2013, however, the 65-year-old has had to overcome a number of health-related obstacles during that time.Entering Sunday's matchup against the Washington Redskins, Arians holds an overall record of 47-29 in Arizona, highlighted by two consecutive trips to the playoffs in 2014-15. The Cardinals currently sit third in the NFC West, and have been forced to overcome the loss of quarterback Carson Palmer and running backs Adrian Peterson and David Johnson this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis plans to leave the team after the season to explore other opportunities, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on "Sunday NFL Countdown."Lewis has spent the past 15 years coaching the Bengals. He led Cincinnati to the playoffs for five straight seasons from 2011 to 2015, but the Bengals failed to qualify last season and enter Week 15 at 5-8 and on the brink of elimination from contention this year.During his tenure, Lewis also failed to register a playoff victory, losing in all seven of his appearances.The 59-year-old entered the campaign in the final year of his contract. With the Bengals in the midst of a disappointing season, Lewis was a candidate to be fired.He will be a candidate for head-coaching jobs elsewhere, Schefter reports, but Lewis is also interested in a front-office position if he doesn't return to the sidelines.Lewis is currently the second-longest tenured head coach, second only to Bill Belichick who has spent the past 18 seasons as coach of the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The broadcast of Saturday night's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers caught a scene in which Adrian Phillips' wife made her way onto the sidelines after the safety picked up an ankle injury.

The Seattle Seahawks' defensive unit has endured a number of absences in recent weeks, however, one mainstay believes he will be in the lineup Sunday despite being hampered with a hamstring injury.Linebacker Bobby Wagner missed practice this past week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but remains optimistic he will be able to suit up against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Ian Rapaport of NFL Network.Wagner will test the hamstring prior to the game in order to determine whether or not he will be ready to go, according to Rapoport.Due to the losses of both Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor, Seattle has relied on Wagner, who has recorded a total of 86 tackles, two interceptions, and 1.5 sacks on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Aaron Rodgers is returning to action Sunday, the man who put him on the shelf hasn't been forgiven by the Green Bay fan base.Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr delivered the Week 6 hit to the Packers quarterback that resulted in a broken collarbone and he hasn't heard the end of it.On Saturday, Barr showed Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press a Twitter message he had just received that read, "I hope you tear your ACL.""I don't feel it's going to stop. So it kind of is what it is," Barr said of the non-stop notifications.Barr and Rodgers are scheduled to meet again next week two days before Christmas.The rivals haven't been sharing pleasant messages, as Rodgers alleged that Barr gave him the finger after the play, while the Viking defender said he only responded to a profane rant from the Packer QB.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 15.Standard

Dez Bryant may need to take a little extra care when coming down with receptions this week.For the first time in almost three years, Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys will play a game officiated by referee Gene Steratore when they take on the Oakland Raiders, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.The pairing is significant, considering Steratore was the referee who made the infamous no-catch call against Bryant that ultimately led to the Cowboys being eliminated from the 2014 playoffs by the Green Bay Packers.The ruling has lived on as one of the most controversial calls in recent memory, and while Sunday's contest may not have a playoff setting, the result will significantly impact the Cowboys' playoff chances.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers will make his return to the field Sunday after an eight-week absence, but those two months away weren't long enough for his broken collarbone to fully heal, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources."It's not 100 percent healed," a source said. "But it's looking really good. Any time you're going through the final maturation, then weighing estimates and pixels on a CT scan or MRI, there's a decision. Everyone is concerned, as you can imagine."But everyone is ecstatic about the way the shoulder looks. There is a significant and robust enough physical response that we could put him in position to make a decision."An injury such as the one Rodgers sustained generally takes 12 weeks to heal, and the Green Bay Packers quarterback said in November he'd only return this season if his collarbone was completely healed.However, with the Packers entering Week 15 one game behind the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks for the final playoff spot in the NFC with three games to play, the decision has been made to fast-track Rodgers' comeback.The former two-time league MVP opted for an aggressive procedure that included inserting 13 screws to mend the broken collarbone.Everyone involved with the decision to put Rodgers back on the field accepts there is risk with the move."With a guy of this magnitude, and considering he's going to sign the biggest contract in NFL history this offseason, there were a lot of different voices," a source told Rapoport. "Trust me, no one is sleeping well on Saturday ... except Aaron."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans star receiver DeAndre Hopkins will play in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being listed as questionable with a toe injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.More to come.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Reports of Kareem Hunt's demise were premature.The rookie submitted a star performance during the Kansas City Chiefs' 30-13 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown, and adding seven receptions for 51 yards and another score.Hunt, selected 86th overall in the 2017 draft out of Toledo, has been one of this season's revelations, and it's clear that the Chiefs will go as far as Hunt takes them.And when Hunt rushes for more than 100 yards, they go quite far. Here are three stats from games when Hunt exceeds that mark that illustrate his importance to his team.The Chiefs are 6-0Hunt showed flashes of stardom in his very first NFL game. He racked up 246 total yards and three touchdowns in his professional debut, leading the Chiefs to a 42-27 victory over the New England Patriots and foreshadowing the trajectory of his season.As the Chiefs jumped out to a 5-0 start, Hunt drew MVP consideration, rushing for 148, 81, 172, 101, and 107 yards in those games. Hunt and the Chiefs hit a midseason lull, however, and it took until December for him to find his footing again.In consecutive weeks, Hunt has posted 116 and 156 yards rushing, and the Chiefs have once again looked like the class of the AFC West. That correlation certainly doesn't appear to be spurious, as the high-octane rookie breathes life into a once-stale offense.The Chiefs average 11 more pointsHunt's contributions directly impact the rest of the offense. In games where Hunt rushes for under 100 yards, the Chiefs average 20.75 points per game - which would rank 20th in the league if it was their average for the season. However, the Chiefs average a whopping 32.16 points per game when Hunt goes over 100 yards rushing, and that figure would lead the NFL.Due to his explosive ability as a rusher and receiver, Hunt is difficult to account for on every play, which also helps create opportunities for Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. For the first time during Andy Reid's Kansas City tenure, opposing defenses have to pick their poison.Smith's passer rating is nearly 20 points betterThe biggest beneficiary of Hunt's massive outputs is Alex Smith, who's been painted as both an MVP candidate and a pariah at various points of the Chiefs' inconsistent season.Smith's passer rating is 97.9 when Hunt doesn't go for over 100 yards. When Hunt excels, though, Smith becomes almost a completely different player, sporting a 117.3 passer rating.For comparison, Tom Brady leads the NFL with a 105.2 passer rating. Before Saturday's win, Smith ranked second at 104.4. At the risk of discrediting Smith, Hunt makes the quarterback's job significantly easier, especially when the rookie's at the top of his game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals while recovering from an ankle injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rudolph was previously listed as doubtful on the team's injury report and reportedly made progress throughout the week while being held out of practice. He was upgraded to questionable Saturday.The 28-year-old has caught 53 receptions for 506 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games, serving as a key component of the Vikings' passing game.Minnesota can clinch the division with a victory or tie Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was carted to the locker room late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a back injuryAllen was deemed questionable to return.Prior to leaving the game, Allen caught five passes for 54 yards on eight targets.Allen is in the midst of an outstanding campaign, but the 25-year-old has never completed a full season during his five-year career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 15 of the NFL season is set to feature games on four different nights, but it's Sunday's 12-game ticket that will be packed with high-profile matchups, many having playoff implications in both the AFC and NFC.Here's how neutral fans should devote their time to maximize viewing pleasure.Nope12. Arizona Cardinals at Washington Redskins, 1:00 p.m. ETIt's likely Kirk Cousins' second-last game in Washington, but with no playoff implications and Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson being ruled out for the remainder of the season, there's no reason to be tuning in.If you're looking for a reason11. Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ETThe development of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is worth following, but with the 49ers out of the playoff race, and the Titans having a firm grasp of at least an AFC wild-card spot, the game has little meaning on its own.10. Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, 1:00 p.m. ETCheck in to see how the Eagles look with Nick Foles starting in place of Carson Wentz, but the Giants aren't the type of competition they need to measure up against. Come back if it's headed for an upset.9. New York Jets at New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ETJosh McCown could have made this somewhat interesting, but there's no reason to be watching Bryce Petty. Alvin Kamara will make his return for the Saints, so you can watch him strengthen his grip on the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award with plenty of second-half work in a blowout.8. Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ETIt's win and you're in for the Vikings, and they have a very winnable game against the visiting Bengals. Watch Case Keenum clinch the NFC North title.7. Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ETThe Ravens are hanging around with a record of 7-6, but somehow this still seems like a game the 0-13 Browns can win. Quarterback DeShone Kizer looked promising for much of last week's game with both Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman at his service, up until one of his worst throws of the season came early in overtime.Watch for the playoff race6. Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m. ETA win could help propel the Bills toward the AFC's second wild-card spot, while a Dolphins' victory would even the records of the divisional rivals while keeping both teams alive. It should be a tight one.5. Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders, 8:30 p.m. ETBoth teams are just barely holding onto their playoff hopes, with a loss all but eliminating either side, while not doing much to boost the chances of the victor. This one would be more fun if both could win.4. Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ETA win gets the Jaguars into the postseason. Can you believe it? Watch Blake Bortles accomplish what was widely believed to be impossible, without star rookie running back Leonard Fournette.The cream of the crop3. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ETIt's about as close as it gets to do-or-die for the Seahawks, while the Rams need to beat the reigning NFC West champions to convince the few remaining doubters of their status as true NFC contenders. A Rams win would even up the season series between division rivals.2. New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m. ETWhile most would consider this the top game of the week, both teams are firmly entrenched in playoff spots with their positioning the only remaining unknown. There's also the possibility neither team gives its opponent a full look at its game plan. This one will be much more entertaining in the seemingly inevitable playoff rematch.1. Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ETFresh off injured reserve, Aaron Rodgers has returned to save the Packers and deliver them to the postseason once again. Or, a Panthers victory all but eliminates Green Bay from contention while keeping the race in the NFC South incredibly tight.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's an inevitability that the New England Patriots march into December as a leading Super Bowl candidate, and this year is no different.New England's being presented with an opportunity to win its third Super Bowl in four years, cementing its place as one of football's greatest dynasties.With Sunday's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers shaping up as one of the most compelling games of the season - and a true test of how the Patriots stack up with the playoffs on the horizon - let's examine how this year's team compares to last year's champions.Tom Brady Ordinarily, it would be silly to distinguish a quarterback from the offense as a whole. Tom Brady is no ordinary quarterback, however, and he may walk away with 2017 NFL MVP honors despite stiff competition from Russell Wilson and Antonio Brown.After serving a four-game suspension to begin the 2016 season, Brady was intent on revenge and submitted one of the most efficient campaigns of his career. He completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,554 yards and 28 touchdowns with just two interceptions, and the Patriots steamrolled opponents, racking up a league-best 14-2 record before winning the Super Bowl. He's posted gaudier numbers, but from a technical standpoint, Brady's seldom been better than he was in 2016, and earned second-team All-Pro honors for his troubles. People may look back at Brady's 2016 season and wonder if he deserved better.At 40, Brady's been no slouch either. Sporting an identical 67.4 completion percentage, Brady has thrown for 3,865 yards, 27 touchdowns, and six interceptions with three games to go. He's done an excellent job of incorporating Brandin Cooks into the offense, and the team hasn't missed a beat in Julian Edelman's injury-related absence. At this point, it seems apparent that Brady will win his third NFL MVP award. However, by most metrics, Brady was better and more effective in 2016. It's a close call.Edge: 2016 Patriots, by a sliverRushing attack Before Saturday's games, New England ranked fourth in the NFL with 28.3 points per contest, once again confounding defenses trying to stop the team's multifaceted attack. Dion Lewis is arguably the NFL's most underrated lead back, averaging 5.2 yards per carry, while Rex Burkhead has been equally proficient in the running and passing games. The Patriots have always been better at sprinkling multiple running backs into their offense than any other team, and this season may be the best example to date. Lewis, Burkhead, and James White have kept opponents guessing, to say nothing of Mike Gillislee's early-season contributions.Last year, the Patriots averaged 27.6 points per game. LeGarrette Blount led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, but that statistic is somewhat misleading since he was only effective in short-yardage scenarios. Meanwhile, Lewis and White weren't nearly as proficient before the latter became the hero of Super Bowl LI. New England averaged 117 rushing yards per game in 2016, while posting 113.2 per game in 2017. It's a close call, but what's harder to stop: a bulldozing goal-line back, or a three-headed monster?Edge: 2017 PatriotsDefense Last year's Patriots held opponents to a league-best 15.6 points per game, despite lacking the star power of other units. Malcolm Butler proved to be more than the hero of Super Bowl XLIX, earning second-team All-Pro honors, and safety Devin McCourty and linebacker Dont'a Hightower joined him on that roster. New England's pass rush was its weakness in the regular season, posting 34 sacks (tied for 16th), but rose to the occasion during Super Bowl LI. Trey Flowers registered 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits against the Falcons, while Hightower strip-sacked Matt Ryan at a critical juncture to spur the team's comeback.Many believed the Patriots' defense had completely fallen off during the opening month of this season; the team allowed 128 points during its first four games. New England has recovered strongly, though, holding opponents to 19.2 points per game (fifth in the NFL) and recording 30 sacks (20th). Stephon Gilmore's overcome a shaky start to the year too. If the Patriots' defense peaks in the playoffs, that's all Bill Belichick can really ask for.Edge: 2016 PatriotsIntangibles Also reeling from their AFC Championship Game loss to the Denver Broncos, the 2016 Patriots were so motivated by Brady's suspension that they played every game with the ferocity of a Super Bowl. Once Brady returned, they immediately looked like the class of the AFC. Their only serious challengers were the Steelers, and New England routed them in the conference title game. The Patriots' determination to reclaim their throne produced one of the most dominant years of the Belichick-Brady era.This year, the Patriots appear to be playing for history, as three titles in four years would elevate them to a new echelon. Though they had to overcome losing Edelman during the preseason, this version of the team is secure in its identity. The Patriots remain the squad to beat until proven otherwise, but they're no longer hell-bent on vindication.Edge: 2016 PatriotsVerdictBrady may capture his third MVP award thanks to his 2017 efforts. He's supported by a more versatile running game, and the defense has overcome a rough start to the year. Last year's Patriots absolutely wiped the floor with the competition, however, and may be remembered as one of the best teams of all time. Though there's still plenty of football to be played, last year's Patriots look superior. It's on Brady and Co. to prove us wrong - which he's only done umpteen times during his decorated career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a quad injury, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Fournette was previously listed as questionable on the team's injury report. He's also battling an ankle injury.The rookie standout has rushed for 923 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games.Chris Ivory will start in Fournette's absence while T.J. Yeldon is also expected to get carries.Fournette has been a key component of the Jaguars' offense as the team is trying to wrap up their first divisional title since 1999.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Vince McMahon is, in fact, planning a reboot of the XFL, it may have a different name.Amid rumors that the WWE CEO is interested in bringing back the defunct football league, Corey Jacobs of WrestlingNews.co reports McMahon's Alpha Entertainment has registered for trademarks on URFL and UrFL. The trademarks were filed by K&L Gates, which is the law firm belonging to McMahon's long-time attorney, Jerry McDevitt.VKM Ventures, another one of McMahon's companies, has also reportedly filed trademarks for UFL, United Football League, and "For the Love of Football."Chris Harrington, who co-hosts the "Wrestlenomics Radio" podcast, tweeted screenshots of both trademark filings:

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is putting his recent history behind him as his team gears up for one of the most pivotal games of the regular season.Gronkowski was suspended for Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins after delivering a late hit on Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White. White suffered a concussion on the play.With the Patriots preparing for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a contest that could eventually determine home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs, Gronkowski isn't looking backward."I definitely learned from the mistake that I made, for sure, a couple weeks ago," Gronkowski said to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "But I have a huge game this Sunday, we have a huge game as a team, so I'm just putting all my focus on to the Steelers this week."Gronkowski deferred when asked if it was difficult to watch Monday's loss to the Dolphins.On pace for another All-Pro campaign, the tight end will certainly play a huge role in trying to lead the Patriots to a key road victory over their biggest conference rival.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers need some help getting Lambeau Field ready for their final home game of the season.The Packers issued a call for as many as 600 volunteers to shovel snow at the stadium Monday ahead of their Dec. 23 game against the Minnesota Vikings.Shovelers must be at least 18 years old and will be paid $10 per hour, with compensation coming immediately after the completion of their work. Shovels will be provided by the team.The Buffalo Bills also asked fans to help shovel snow in advance of their Week 14 matchup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers fans apparently aren't welcome at Chicago Public Safety headquarters.Bright yellow splash guards featuring the Packers logo were spotted in one of the men's washrooms in the building Friday morning, according to Stefano Esposito of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Jaydon Mickens joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in September, but up until recently, the first-year wide receiver was living out of his car.Not knowing how long he'd be around after signing with the Jaguars' practice squad, he decided it made more sense financially to sleep in his car rather than sign a lease."If you're on a month or year lease, you can't break it," Mickens told Phillip Heilman of the Florida Times-Union. "I didn't know how long I was going to be here. You can be here for two weeks and then gone tomorrow."Mickens, along with fellow practice squad player Larry Pinkard, would hang out with teammates before finding a place to park their cars for the night - usually in the parking lot at EverBank Field. He didn't tell many teammates about his living situation, nor did he ask the Jaguars for help."I came from nothing," he said. "I've been through way worse."The Jaguars promoted Mickens to the active roster Oct. 21 and has been an integral part of the special teams unit, recently becoming the first returner in franchise history to win two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams have been a thorn in the Seattle Seahawks' side for some time now.Prior to this season and ever since Seattle kickstarted its dominant era by drafting Russell Wilson in 2012, the Rams have been as bad as the Seahawks have been great.However, despite failing to produce a winning record from 2012-16, the Rams have also matched up well with the Seahawks and made their encounters far more competitive than they had any right to be.In fact, since Wilson was drafted, the Seahawks have won just six of their 11 games against the Rams and lost three straight during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.Now, the Seahawks are dealing with an all-new, revitalized Los Angeles team under the guidance of first-year head coach Sean McVay.The division-leading 9-4 Rams will take on the 8-5 Seahawks in a pivotal NFC West matchup Sunday. Here are three reasons why L.A. is finally ready to dethrone Seattle:The Legion of GloomThe Seahawks have been without founding Legion of Boom members Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor since Week 10. Cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Shaquill Griffin and safety Bradley McDougald have stepped up admirably in their absence, but none are game-changers like Sherman and Chancellor.Seattle's defensive play since Week 10 has been up and down. The Seahawks have won two of four games, including a masterclass performances against the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles offense in which they held them to just 10 points, but have also given up 34 points to the Atlanta Falcons and 30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.And things are about to get worse.Bobby Wagner - who's in contention for Defensive Player of the Year honors - reinjured his hamstring against the Jaguars and is questionable to play against the Rams after missing the entire week's practices. Meanwhile, fellow linebacker K.J. Wright, an underrated piece of the Seahawks' defense, is all but certain to miss the game due to a concussion.Wilson's heroics have been keeping Seattle afloat, but there are only so many injuries one team can take - especially on one side of the ball - before succumbing to the inevitable.Rams' red-hot weapons(Photo courtesy: Action Images)And the injury-ravaged Seattle defense will have its hands full Sunday.The man who should get the most attention is Todd Gurley, and rightfully so. The star running back is in the midst of a stellar campaign and is coming off one of his best performances of the year, averaging 7.4 yards per rush and scoring two touchdowns against the usually stingy Eagles run defense.But the Rams' firepower is more than just Gurley. Their top target in the passing game, Robert Woods, is set to return after a three-game absence. Woods was leading the Rams with 47 receptions and 703 receiving yards before going down, and gives L.A. another big-play threat alongside Sammy Watkins.In Woods' absence, rookie Cooper Kupp has stepped up in a big way. The third-round pick has averaged six catches and just over 100 yards per game in the past three games and has caught one touchdown.Stopping just Gurley will be a huge task for the Seahawks. Trying to slow down all of the Rams' weapons will likely be impossible.A fair fight on the sidelinesSorry, Jeff Fisher, but the Rams have been hilariously outmatched in terms of coaching during this recent rivalry.But finally, in McVay, the Rams have a head coach who's more than capable of going toe to toe with Pete Carroll, one of game's best.According to headcoachingranking.com, which evaluates the in-game performances of coaches in five key areas, the Rams actually have the advantage based on this season.The site has McVay edging Carroll in play-calling, personnel, game plan, and in-game adjustments (Carroll barely took the clock management category), and ranks McVay (fourth) far above Carroll (tied-19th) in overall performance.Carroll's superior experience must be taken into account, but that's where veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips becomes a huge factor. The McVay-Phillips combination has the perfect blend of creativity, smarts, and leadership, and is more than capable of outmaneuvering the Seahawks' sideline staff.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Joe Mixon won't play in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings after he was downgraded from questionable to out due to a concussion.Mixon missed last week's loss to the Chicago Bears with the problem, which he sustained in Week 13.Giovani Bernard will likely take the bulk of the carries in Mixon's absence, with rookies Brian Hill and Jarveon Williams acting as backups.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The XFL could be making a comeback.On Friday night, Twitter user @TheBradShepard reported WWE CEO Vince McMahon is "looking to bring back" the defunct football league and that an announcement may come next month.

The official Pro Bowl rosters will be announced next Tuesday, but in terms of fan voting, two of the three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers' "Killer B's" reigned supreme.Le'Veon Bell topped the fan vote, finishing more than 20,000 votes ahead of MVP candidates Tom Brady and Antonio Brown, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt.RankPlayerVotes1Le'Veon Bell8555392Tom Brady8334813Antonio Brown8324464Carson Wentz8291745Drew Brees7433556Todd Gurley6936977Russell Wilson6515928Jared Goff5716569Rob Gronkowski55105810Leonard Fournette544068Bell and Brown both lead their respective positions in yards this season. Brown is 276 yards ahead of his closest competitor, while Bell is on pace to surpass 2,000 yards from scrimmage.It wasn't just the Steelers' offensive weapons who dominated the fan vote, as three of Pittsburgh's starting offensive lineman topped their respective positions in AFC voting:

Tom Brady has dominated the NFL for 18 seasons, and few defenses have been able to slow the star quarterback down.Some teams, like the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, have caused the New England Patriots' veteran pivot to falter on occasion, but most have crumbled before Brady time and time again.Surprisingly, few teams have fared worse against him than the Pittsburgh Steelers, the AFC's other main powerhouse since the turn of the century.Here are some ridiculous Brady stats from his 12 career games (including playoffs) against Pittsburgh ahead of their key conference matchup Sunday:4465: The last time the Steelers intercepted Brady was Sept. 9, 2005 - a span of 4,465 days. He has gone seven (!) games against Pittsburgh without a pick.13.5: The Brady-led Patriots haven't just beaten the Steelers, they've routinely annihilated them, producing an average margin of victory of nearly two touchdowns in 10 wins over the Steelers.39: If you expand Brady's stats to a 16-game sample, his 39 touchdowns would be tied for the second-best mark of his career, behind only his then-record-setting 2007 season.3: A passer rating over 100 is considered exemplary. Brady has failed to reach that mark just three times in 12 games. In six of his nine 100-plus passer rating games, he eclipsed the 120 mark, too.294.3: Drew Brees owns five 5,000-yard seasons, but his 283.3 career passing yards per game average still falls short of Brady's average when facing Pittsburgh.9.6: Brady has thrown 29 touchdowns with just three interceptions, giving him a touchdown-to-interception ratio that's more than triple his career mark of 3.06 (second best all-time).12: Brady's career passer rating (115) against the Steelers is so good he could throw 12 straight interceptions before his rating dipped below 100.71.60: The only thing more impressive than Brady's completion percentage in regular-season games against Pittsburgh (69.59) is his completion percentage in postseason contests.(Stats courtesy: Pro Football Reference)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brought over from the Miami Dolphins at the trade deadline in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round draft pick, running back Jay Ajayi was viewed as the final piece of the Philadelphia Eagles' championship puzzle.Coming off a 1,272-yard season in 2016, he joined running backs LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement in one of the league's top rushing attacks, behind MVP front-runner Carson Wentz and the wildly efficient Eagles' passing attack.Used as a novelty item with just 50 total touches through five games in Philadelphia, it's time for Ajayi to rise above his backfield teammates and be the focal point of an offense with championship aspirations that's coming off the loss off its franchise quarterback to a season-ending knee injury.Ajayi was used as a workhorse by the Dolphins this season, receiving at least 20 touches in four of seven games. That followed last season's trend, when Ajayi received an average of 22.7 touches per game over his final 11 regular-season games.With low usage, Ajayi has raised his average yards per attempt from 3.4 with the Dolphins, to seven with the Eagles, though the number is being helped dramatically by long runs of 71, 46, and 30 yards.Through 14 weeks, the Eagles rushing attack ranks second in the league in yards, tied for third in yards per attempts, and tied for 17th in touchdowns. Here's how the individuals have performed since Ajayi's Week 9 arrival:NAMEATTYDSY/ATDAjayi443076.981Blount522294.400Clement311595.133Clement has seen the most work in the passing game, with Ajayi catching six of nine targets for 30 yards since landing in Philadelphia.The Eagles already possess one of the league's most balanced offenses, passing the ball on 54.32 percent of offensive plays. The drop from Wentz, who was ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 2 quarterback, to Nick Foles should see them lean even more heavily on the run.Ajayi's 15 carries and 16 total touches against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14 were his most with the Eagles, with eight of those carries coming in the fourth quarter, after Wentz had left the game.Here's how the Eagles final three regular-season opponents have fared against the rush:TEAMYDS/GYDS/ATDGiants130.04.39Raiders109.54.19Cowboys107.44.27According to Football Outsiders' DVOA, the Giants, Raiders, and Cowboys rank 25th, 21st, and 27th, respectively, against the run.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Now, it's clear the Eagles haven't needed Ajayi to do any more than he has up to this point. Having paid such a low price for him and owing a pro-rated share of just $325,588 for this season and $705,000 in 2018, his small role hasn't affected anyone's view of the deadline deal.But without an MVP quarterback under center and a finishing schedule conducive to the rushing game, it's time for the Eagles to focus on the 24-year-old and allow him to help them finish the season atop the NFC.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.