Dugger, Hightower active for Pats' playoff game versus Bills
(AP Photo/Paul Connors) (Paul Connors)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — (AP) — New England defensive back Kyle Dugger and linebacker Dont’a Hightower returned to the lineup for the Patriots' wild-card playoff game at the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night after missing last week’s regular-season finale. Dugger was sidelined by a hand injury and Hightower a knee injury in a 33-24 loss at Miami last weekend. Also active is defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who practiced on a limited basis this week after being carted off the field last weekend with a knee injury. The Bills, by comparison, are injury-free with defensive end Efe Obada the most significant among the team’s inactive players. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comSeahawks' Diggs breaks right leg, dislocates ankle
GLENDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl safety Quandre Diggs was carted off the field after suffering a broken right leg and dislocated ankle in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Diggs broke his right fibula. “Just a heartbreaker because everybody loves who he is,” Carroll said after the Seahawks beat the Cardinals 38-30. Diggs appeared to slip on the grass just before being blocked and immediately grabbed his lower leg. Before taking questions after a loss to Miami, New England Patriots defensive back Adrian Phillips made a teary-eyed statement about Diggs.
wftv.comSwaggering Pats stifle Falcons 25-0 for 5th straight victory
Patriots Falcons Football New England Patriots safety Adrian Phillips (21) runs for a touchdown after his interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Atlanta. The New England Patriots won 25-0. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA — (AP) — Led by a defense that is downright nasty, the New England Patriots are suddenly playing with the swagger of their Tom Brady years. FINISHING IT OFFThe Patriots didn't let up, even after the Falcons essentially put up the white flag by pulling Ryan. The Falcons became the first team since Nov. 12, 2000, to have three QBs picked off in the same game.
wftv.comPhillips pick-six propels Patriots past Chargers 27-24
It was the first multi-interception game for Phillips, who played six seasons for the Chargers (2014-19) before signing with the Patriots last year. Los Angeles (4-3) has dropped two straight. Los Angeles scored on its opening drive for the third time this season as Ekeler went 5 yards up the middle. Los Angeles grabbed a 14-7 advantage early in the second quarter when Herbert connected with Keenan Allen for a 5-yard TD. Not only was it was it the longest run of Jackson's career, but it was the Chargers' second-longest run in the past 10 years.
wftv.comMurray returns from ankle injury, can't rally Cardinals
Left tackle Justin Herron left with an ankle injury. — Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. — Lions offensive linemen Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson left with concussions and defensive tackle Nick Williams injured an ankle vs. Minnesota. — Giants linebacker Blake Martinez left briefly after appearing to injure his left ankle or foot in the third quarter. — Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson (wrist) and cornerback Greg Martin (hamstring) left the game.
Akers runs wild, Newton benched as Rams rout Patriots 24-3
These Rams even looked good enough to contend for a chance at some actual Super Bowl redemption later this season. “We’ve got a lot of respect for them, but it’s a totally different year,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. New England managed only 220 total yards — just 62 in the second half with a series of misbegotten drives. Akers' yards mostly came in big chunks during the biggest rushing game by an NFL rookie this season and just the ninth 150-yard game against a Belichick-coached defense since 2000. But Young opened the second quarter with an interception by Donald's disruption up front, taking it all the way back for the third-year linebacker's first NFL touchdown.
Patriots rally around Belichick amid COVID-19 outbreak
The New England Patriots have canceled practice amid reports that a third player has tested positive for the coronavirus. – The New England Patriots activated quarterback Cam Newton from the NFL's COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday. Three Patriots remain on the COVID-19 reserve list: cornerback Stephon Gilmore, defensive tackle Byron Cowart and practice squad DT Bill Murray. New England players say they have found an ally in coach Bill Belichick amid growing local criticism of the NFL’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bill has done a good job of (saying), ‘Hey, this is forever kind of changing, it’s very fluid,’” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said.