Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has been mentioned in trade rumors all offseason, and a behind-the-scenes story from ESPN this week attempted to explain the rift between the four-time Pro Bowl selection and the team. More
When Tom Brady made his first Super Bowl appearance, he was but a precocious young player, thrust into the difficult position of replacing a long-time franchise staple. Now, he stands, in many minds, as the greatest QB to ever play the game. More
Josh Norman‘s revenge against the Carolina Panthers was spoiled as his Washington Redskins fell 26-15 at home on Monday night. The Pro Bowl cornerback made it known that he was looking forward to squaring off with the team that unceremoniously rescinded the franchise tag from him in the offseason. Unfortunately for Norman, Cam Newton turned in a vintage performance reminiscent of the games he linked together at the end of 2015 en route to earning league MVP honors. More
Dak Prescott can’t beat the New York Giants, so the Cowboys have to bench him for Romo. Otherwise, Dallas (11-2) could be one-and-done in the playoffs. More
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tony Romo was slipping on the jacket to his suit when Jerry Jones squashed any thought that a quarterback controversy could erupt on a team with just three games remaining and only two losses. More
As it is, this was going to be an emotional afternoon for Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who grew up in suburban Atlanta and was playing at the Falcons for the first time as a pro – and, more meaningfully, the first time since he was treated for cancer in the city. More
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Taylor Rapp returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and Myles Gaskin ran for 159 yards to help No. 4 Washington strengthen its case for a playoff berth with a 41-10 victory over No. 9 Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night.
The Huskies (12-1, No. 4 CFP) broke open a close game when Rapp intercepted Sefo Liufau’s passes on the first two drives of the second half for a touchdown and to set up a field goal that made it 24-7.
Washington rolled from there to its first conference title since 2000 with a performance likely to keep the Huskies in the top four when the College Football Playoff bids are handed out Sunday.
It was a rough day for Colorado (10-3, No. 8 CFP) and Liufau, who was knocked out of the game after injuring his right leg on a sack on the Buffaloes’ first drive of the game. He returned to start the second half and threw three interceptions, including one on the first play from scrimmage that Rapp returned 35 yards for a score.
Liufau threw another interception on the ensuing drive and Colorado could never recover. Even a circus kick return in…
HOUSTON (AP) — Brock Osweiler was supposed to be the man to end Houston’s years of quarterback woes. Instead, he’s thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (12) and has often failed to move the offense.
So now the question for the Texans (6-5) is if Osweiler can improve and help Houston secure a playoff berth? Osweiler threw three interceptions on Sunday against the Chargers as Houston lost for the second straight week. Despite their recent tough stretch the Texans remain one-half game ahead of Tennessee in the AFC South.
Coach Bill O’Brien scoffed at the notion of benching Osweiler on Sunday and refused to criticize his quarterback on Monday. He also lamented that quarterbacks and head coaches take the brunt of the criticism when teams are struggling.
“Could Brock have done some things better? Absolutely,” O’Brien said about Sunday. “Could the offensive line have played better? Could I have coached better? Absolutely. It’s a team sport. Brock is our starting quarterback and that’s the way it is.”
He wasn’t interested in breaking down the play of his quarterback, snapping when asked areas in which Osweiler’s made progress and places he needs to improve.
“I’m not going to dissect … each player (and) what areas they need to do a better job in,” he said. “I mean, we could be here all day. Every player on our team — we have a great locker room. They’re all looking to improve in any way that they can.”
Though O’Brien blamed Houston’s offensive…
The last time that Cam Newton rallied a team from as many as 17 points down to victory was the 2010 Iron Bowl, when Auburn trailed 24-0 in the second quarter and 24-7 at halftime before capturing a 28-27 victory over Alabama.
Six years and one day later, he almost did it again.
Now the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, Auburn’s 2010 Heisman Trophy winner led a comeback that wiped out a 24-7 deficit to the Oakland Raiders and turned it into a 32-24 lead. But that’s where the rally ran out, and Oakland battled back for a 35-32 victory on Sunday.
Newton completed 3-of-12 passes for 18 yards with one interception – which Oakland’s Khalil Mack returned for a touchdown – in the first half. Newton did run 3 yards for Carolina’s only first-half touchdown with 3:10 left in the first quarter.
In the second half, Newton completed 11-of-17 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Carolina scored touchdowns on its first four possessions of the second half to storm into the lead, with Newton contributing touchdown passes of 88 yards with 7:43 left in the third quarter and 44 yards with 13:26 left in the game.
Right. On. The. MONEY. Newton [?] Ginn Jr. for the 88 yd TD! #CARvsOAK #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/sGLSMGtC5A
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 27, 2016
JUMP BALL… POSSESSION ARROW? #Panthers. Epic grab by Kelvin Benjamin! 32-24 Carolina. #CARvsOAK #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/7hLK3d1BIN
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 28, 2016
After Oakland responded with a touchdown drive to tie the game, Newton completed his next six passes for 66 yards. But the Raiders still got a go-ahead field goal while keeping Carolina from scoring. The Panthers’ final possession ended with three straight incompletions and a fumble by Newton when he was sacked on fourth down at the Oakland 44-yard line with 53 seconds to play.
Oakland blocked the extra-point attempt after Carolina’s second touchdown, and the Panthers couldn’t connect on 2-point conversion passes on their next two TDs.
“We have to come together and win these close games,” Newton said at his postgame press conference, “and that’s what it comes down to. The first half wasn’t great. We battled back, took the lead, but we just have to do better as a whole, starting with myself. That’s just unacceptable for the first half. I don’t know what it was. I just couldn’t get into a rhythm and making a lackluster turnover at the end of the first…