NFL

NFL Coaching Carousel Spinning Slowly

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The annual efforts by NFL teams to change their fortunes by firing one head coach and finding a new leader is moving a little slower than usual. Mangini the only victim of ‘Black Monday’ Traditionally the first day after the end of the NFL regular season sees a number of head coaches receive their pink...

NFL

Sunday Night Football Preview: Rams at Seahawks

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

St. Louis Rams (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (6-9) Who cares if both teams have losing records? Or that the NFC West race has devolved into a turtle derby? This is by far the biggest game in Week 17 of the NFL regular season and as such, the NFL and NBC have “flexed” this game into...

NFL

AFC Playoff Preview: Jags, Colts Vying For Final Spot

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

There’s just one AFC playoff spot remaining, and the two teams still in the running for it are the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Here’s how things can play out: If the Colts beat the Titans, Indy wins the division and makes the playoffs. If the Colts lose, the Jags can win the division by...

NFL

NFC Preview: Seahawks-Rams — Win And You're In

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

St. Louis Rams (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (6-9) Rams Notes: — The NFC West has gone prime-time, bay-bee! A division that could send a sub-.500 team to the playoffs for the first time will be featured Sunday night when the Rams (7-8) travel to Seattle (6-9) in a game that will crown the division champion....

NFL

NFL Preview: Giants and Eagles Can Close Deals on Sunday

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The NFC East’s big two can lock up places in the post-season this weekend and Al Dannity likes Philadelphia and the Giants to do just that. Vikings just want to go home Sunday Night Football will be must-see TV because of Michael Vick and the Philadelphia offense but don’t expect a competitive game. The Eagles...

NFL

NFL Preview: Jets Travel to Chicago to Take On Bears

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

New York Jets (10-4) at Chicago Bears (10-4) Jets Notes: — Here’s the latest on QB Mark Sanchez: He underwent an MRI on his right (throwing) shoulder on Monday and the results were “negative” according to head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan didn’t offer any specifics about the injury; he did say that Sanchez’s shoulder was...

NFL

NFL Preview: Panthers and Steelers, Thursday Night Style

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Carolina Panthers (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) Panthers Notes: — One of the bright spots in this otherwise lost season has been the play of RB Jonathan Stewart. Against Arizona, Stewart carried a season-high 27 times for 137 yards, a fantastic outing and exactly the style of play coach John Fox wants to rely on....

NFL

NFL Preview: Jets, Steelers in Big AFC Battle

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

New York Jets (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) Jets Notes: — Tough week for QB Mark Sanchez. Head coach Rex Ryan admitted he considered benching Sanchez late in the third quarter of the Jets’ 10-6 loss to Miami on Sunday, but decided against it because he believed Sanchez gave the team the best chance to...

NFL

NFL Preview: Eagles Will Soar Against Giants

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The New York Giants badly need to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday but Al Dannity doesn’t like their chances. Tough game for Big Blue after a weird week Last week’s repeated changes to the Giants’ game with Minnesota ended up being only a minor inconvenience in the end. The game was only moved by...

NFL

NFL Preview: Jags vs. Colts Has Huge Playoff Implications

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6) Jags Notes: — This is an absolutely huge matchup in terms of the AFC South championship and first-round home advantage in the playoffs. Yes, it’s true the Colts have dominated the series in terms of wins and losses — Indy is 8-3 since 2005 — but the Jags...

NFL

NFL Preview: Niners, Chargers on Thursday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

San Francisco 49ers (5-8) at San Diego Chargers (7-6) Chargers Notes: — Gotta love those quick turnarounds. After beating Kansas City 31-0 on Sunday afternoon, the Chargers get all of four days to prepare for the San Francisco 49ers, who are fresh off a 40-21 dismantling of Seattle.  If they’re looking for a quality game...

NFL

NFL Preview: Eagles Can Play Tight And Beat Cowboys

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Sunday Night Football sees the Eagles face the resurgent Cowboys. Can Dallas play the spoiler in this NFC East battle? Vick will play smart Dallas have been a revelation under Jason Garrett. Having suffered disappointment after disappointment under Wade Phillips in the first half of the season, the Cowboys have finally started winning games regularly....

NFL

NFL Preview: Ravens, Texans Tangle on Monday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Baltimore Ravens (8-4) at Houston Texans (5-7) Ravens Notes: — Keep an eye on who Baltimore lines up as its starting tight end on Monday Night. Todd Heap (hamstring) didn’t practice Thursday and is expected to miss his first game of the season. Rookie third-round pick Ed Dickson would replace him — but it’s a...

NFL

NFL Preview: Chargers, Chiefs in Key AFC West Clash

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) at San Diego Chargers (6-6) Chiefs Notes: — Nobody’s quite sure what this weekend holds for starting QB Matt Cassel. The Chiefs signal-caller had an appendectomy on Wednesday and it’s unknown whether or not he’ll be able to play on Sunday. Over the last decade, the Chiefs have had two players...

NFL

NFL Preview: Colts, Titans in Key AFC South Clash

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Indianapolis Colts (6-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-7) Colts Notes: — A pretty quick turnaround for both these clubs in the league’s weekly Thursday night affair. Indy will have to figure out what to do in the wake of CB Jerraud Power’s broken right forearm, an injury that will cost him the season. Powers had been...

NFL

NFL Preview: Jets Can Top Patriots on Monday Night

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Jets put their unbeaten road record to the test on Monday Night Football when they travel to Gillette Stadium to take on New England. Jets defense must make early stops Mark Sanchez has taken several steps forward in 2010 but the Jets’ quarterback remains a work in progress. While he has led the Jets...

NFL

NFL Preview: 49ers and Rams Look For Big Wins

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The 49ers travel to Green Bay on Sunday knowing defeat could end their playoff hopes. Arizona meanwhile will hope to be fired up by Derek Anderson’s post-game meltdown so they can stun the Rams. Opportunity knocks for San Francisco If you want to see some emotion in the NFL then 49ers games are mandatory viewing...

NFL

NFL Preview: Colts Look To Get Back On Track Against Dallas

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Dallas Cowboys (3-8) at Indianapolis Colts (6-5) Cowboys Notes: — Dallas could be very thin at linebacker for this contest. Bradie James, who continues to nurse a sore knee, missed practice on Wednesday, although the club chalked it up to “precautionary reasons.” He’s likely to suit up against the Colts, but could be on a...

NFL

NFL Preview: Falcons at Bucs in Key NFC South Battle

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Atlanta Falcons (9-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4) Falcons Notes: — A quick heads-up for those watching on television: This game will be played at 4:15 rather than its originally-scheduled 1 p.m. start time. The NFL is utilizing “flex scheduling” on Sundays in Weeks 11-17. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups in all NFL Sunday...

NFL

NFL Preview: Eagles, Texans Tangle on Thursday Night Football

• Ricky Rothstein

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Houston Texans (5-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) Texans Notes: — The big story to come from Houston’s 20-0 win over Tennessee yesterday was the all-out brawl between WR Andre Johnson and Tennessee CB Cortland Finnegan. They ripped the helmets off each other and were ejected. Johnson landed two solid punches to Finnegan’s face before being...