Tough to out-trick the Patriots
Two things stood out about the Patriots win over the Colts Sunday night (almost Monday morning). Well, actually three things: It wasn’t as close as score says. Yes, the Colts had a chance to get the...
View ArticleIn addition to that weird ‘trick play’…
There was a bizarre attempted trick play Sunday night … and a whole bunch of other pro football. Here is a recap: TONIGHT New York Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia (2-3). A key matchup in the NFC East,...
View ArticleWhat we learned when Giants beat Cowboys
Five things we learned from Sunday’s game: ANGRY HARDY: Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy walked into the Cowboys special teams meeting after the Harris touchdown and voiced some opinions. He refused to...
View ArticleNFL review: Of dysfunctional Cowboys and overrated Steelers
The 5 things that caught our eye over the NFL weekend: It always helps your cause when you are able to toss a 100-yard kick return for a TD into the late game mix. Someone close to me wrote that … read...
View ArticleDown: Packers, Broncos. Up: Pats, Pathers
Another fascinating day in the NFL. Here are 10 quickie thoughts: Nobody knows what constitutes a catch anymore. Did Odell Beckham have the ball long enough? Apparently not. Love Big Ben. He is not...
View ArticleNFL review: More teams clinch (something); more players hurt
Another fascinating weekend in the NFL and we stand now (after tonight’s meaningless game) with just two regular season weeks to go. The review: MONDAY NIGHT Detroit at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. EST. WR...
View ArticleGood things happen when you start 10-0
For the third time since 1970 two teams began the season 10-0 this year (Panthers and Patriots). Of the 14 teams to do that, nine at least reached the Super Bowl. Here is a look at the teams since 1970...
View Article12 playoff teams, 12 things to know
The NFL playoffs begin Saturday with the Wild Card weekend, and here’s your schedule and early lines: Saturday Chiefs (-3) at Texans, 4:30 p.m. Steelers (-2.5) at Bengals, 8 p.m. Sunday Seahawks (-4.5)...
View ArticleRanking Super Bowl coaches (who won at least 2)
There have been 49 Super Bowls played to date and of those, 32 were won by 13 coaches. There are the legends 4 each: Bill Belichick and Chuck Noll 3 each: Joe Gibbs and Bill Walsh Then there are nine …...
View ArticleLooking at NFL playoff QB quandaries
To the surprise of no one outside of the Osweiler family (and probably not even them), the Broncos will go with first-ballot Hall of Famer Peyton Manning when they open the playoffs in Denver next...
View Article5 things we learned on NFL Sunday
OK, the wild card playoff round in the NFL was less than fantastic. It can basically be boiled down to this: Opening kickoff returned for TD. Violent (nutty) finish to a rivalry game. A missed FG. But...
View ArticleNFL + frigid weather = TV ratings bonanza
As was predicted in The Sunday Republican, the NFL TV ratings this past weekend were HUGE. Seahawks-Vikings most-watched early Sunday wild-card game NEW YORK (AP) — The Seahawks’ comeback win over the...
View ArticleWhat we learned on an NFL weekend
The top four seeds all advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2004. Should be interesting. We wrap up this past weekend: CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES New England at Denver: Tom Brady and...
View ArticleMost dramatic Super Bowl drives
Every Super Bowl kicks off with the hope of a thrilling game, capped by a dramatic drive in which the champion seizes control to capture the Lombardi Trophy. Quarterbacks earn their moment in history —...
View Article5 takeways from Super Bowl (shout out to Broadway Joe)
Here are five takeaways from the Super Bowl as seen through my eyes (and ears): FULL COVERAGE: Go here for latest from the Super Bowl site In today’s NFL, where offense is king and the rules of the...
View ArticleWhat do Vick, O.J. and Eli have in common?
When the Titans dealt the top overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft to the Rams Thursday it was the 11th time that the No. 1 pick was involved in a deal. Some of the trades worked out well, some … read more
View Article1 view of the Top 100 NFL prospects
Here is the work of Tribune New Service NFL writer Jonathan Jones, who amazingly ranks the Top 100 prospects for the NFL Draft: 1. Mississippi OT Laremy Tunsil: The top offensive lineman in this draft...
View ArticleUnemployed and looking for work
NEW YORK (AP) — They were once big names with huge contracts. Now, several former NFL stars are unsigned and unemployed, anxiously awaiting another — and, maybe, final — opportunity to get back on the...
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