Panthers owner David Tepper defends lack of patience, decision to draft Bryce Young No. 1 overall
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has defended his perceived lack of patience after firing Frank Reich 11 games into his first season, and defended the team’s decision to draft Bryce Young No. 1 overall.
QB Bryce Young's status for Sunday uncertain because of ankle injury; Andy Dalton may get start
Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice because of an ankle injury, opening the door for the possibility of veteran Andy Dalton starting on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Brian Burns' status for Panthers opener against Falcons uncertain because of contract dispute
Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns sat out his second consecutive practice Monday because of a contract dispute, raising questions about whether the two-time Pro Bowler will play in Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
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AP source: Eagles send Carson Wentz to Colts for draft picks
FILE - Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz (11) passes during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Philadelphia, in this Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, file photo. The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, according to a person familiar with the deal. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)PHILADELPHIA – Carson Wentz helped steer the Philadelphia Eagles to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title and later received the richest contract in team history. The Eagles agreed to trade Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, according to a person familiar with the deal. AdThe deal reunites Wentz with Colts coach Frank Reich, who served as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator his first two seasons in the league.
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Eagles hire Colts OC Nick Sirianni as head coach
FILE- In this Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, file photo, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facility in Indianapolis. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)PHILADELPHIA – Three days after choosing Nick Sirianni to be their new coach, the Philadelphia Eagles made it official. He worked under coach Frank Reich, who was offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when the Eagles won the Super Bowl three years ago. The Colts finished in the top 10 in points and yards in two of Sirianni’s three seasons as offensive coordinator.
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AP sources: Eagles plan to hire Colts OC Nick Sirianni
FILE- In this Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, file photo, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni speaks during a news conference at the NFL football team's facility in Indianapolis. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons. The Colts finished top 10 in points and yards in two of Sirianni's three seasons as offensive coordinator.
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Colts QB Rivers, 39, retires from NFL after 17 seasons
“Every year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “It is St. Sebastian’s Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, I’m announcing my retirement from the National Football League. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.”Rivers was one of a kind. In the 2006 season opener, Rivers made his starting debut — and then the next 251 in a row including the playoffs. “My son never did throw a big ball like I did at that age and he throws it the exact same way,” Rivers said.
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Chiefs' Chad Henne goes from backup QB to playoff stage
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Chad Henne came off the bench cold in the heat of a tense playoff game and delivered the game-sealing plays for Kansas City in his most consequential performance in a win since 2013. He got the nod again the following week in a playoff game against Green Bay with a limited number of plays on a wrist band. JEFF HOSTETLER: Hostetler had started just two games in almost seven full seasons for the Giants when Simms injured his foot in Week 14. FRANK REICH: Two years after losing to Hostetler, the Bills relied on a backup to make it to their third consecutive Super Bowl. He threw for 725 yards and six touchdowns in wins over Minnesota in the NFC title game and New England in the Super Bowl.
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Colts' comeback bid falls short in 27-24 loss to Bills
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) reacts during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Colts coach Frank Reich couldn’t manufacture another comeback in Buffalo. We just didn’t get it done.”After squandering scoring opportunities through three quarters, the Colts finally mustered a response when trailing 24-10. Rivers engineered consecutive touchdown drives over a six-minute span before coming up empty on the Colts' final possession. The game ended with Rivers throwing three consecutive incompletions, including a 47-yard desperation pass intended for T.Y. “He exceeded expectations on what he brought to the team this year on and off the field,” Reich said.
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Bills beat Colts 27-24 for 1st playoff win in 25 years
In a season in which the Bills busted numerous slumps, Allen became Buffalo's first starter in a quarter century to win a playoff game. Made enough plays to win,” Allen said. The Colts responded with a seven-play, 75-play drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass to Pascal. Rivers’ pass for Michael Pittman glanced off the diving receiver’s fingertips on fourth down. Facing fourth-and-3 from the Colts 26, Allen drew defensive end Kemoko Turay offside with a second left on the play clock.
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The Latest: Heinicke starts for Washington vs. Brady, Bucs
So Taylor Heinicke is getting his second career NFL start when Washington hosts Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card playoff Saturday night. Metcalf to cut the Los Angles Rams' lead to 13-10 in the second quarter of their wild card game. They held off Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 in the first of six wild card games this weekend. Four of those teams play on what the NFL is calling “Super Wild Card Weekend” with Green Bay earning the NFC’s first-round bye. Washington won the middling NFC East despite a 7-9 record to earn a home wild card game.
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Reich remains focused on game with return to Buffalo looming
FILE - Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, in this Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. Reich, a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, returns to Orchard Park, N.Y. for an NFL wild-card football game against the Bills on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. This week will be different, though, as Reich takes his new team to his old stomping grounds for Saturday's wild-card game. But when Josh McDaniels backed out of his deal to join the Colts, Reich was perfectly positioned to return to another of his favorite cities, Indianapolis. “We’re each our best when we’re ourselves," Colts quarterback Philip Rivers said.
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Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC
While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.
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AP Source: Wentz needs time to think about future in Philly
(AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)PHILADELPHIA – Carson Wentz needs time away to think about his future with the Philadelphia Eagles and there's hope his relationship with the team won’t end in a divorce, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Wentz also hasn’t discussed his future with team officials yet, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it’s a private matter. Carson Wentz doesn’t want to be a backup quarterback,” said Zach Ertz, one of Wentz’s closest friends on the team. The Eagles would absorb a significant cap hit of $33.8 million in dead money on the 2021 cap if they trade Wentz before March 19. Wentz started every game in 2019 and helped the Eagles win the NFC East with an excellent four-game stretch in December.
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Bills eliminate Dolphins with 56-26 rout; set to host Colts
Jomal Wiltz #33 of the Miami Dolphins tackles Antonio Williams #35 of the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter at Bills Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills were intent on not easing into the playoffs, while ending the Miami Dolphins' chances. The Dolphins (10-6) didn’t get results they needed earlier in the day after Cleveland beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore routed Cincinnati. And the team unraveled in all three phases in being exposed by a Bills team showing no signs of relenting in racking up the second-most points in team history. “It just shows that this is a different Buffalo Bills football team.
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Hilton, Taylor lead Colts' 44-27 rout of fading Raiders
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (34) jumps over Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)LAS VEGAS – Frank Reich found himself regularly amazed while he watched everything his Indianapolis Colts accomplished in their first trip to Sin City. He also marveled at the breakaway speed of Jonathan Taylor, who outran the Raiders' entire secondary on a 62-yard TD sprint. Moreau eluded two defenders on a 47-yard catch-and-run TD shortly before Agholor's 21-yard TD reception put the Raiders up 14-10 early in the second quarter. BIG CATCHMoore blew both teams' minds with his interception in the second quarter.
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Colts grab AFC South tiebreaker by beating Titans 34-17
Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Coaches and quarterbacks change for the Indianapolis Colts. Philip Rivers threw for 308 yards and a touchdown, and Nyheim Hines scored twice as the Colts trounced the Titans 34-17 Thursday night to grab the head-to-head edge atop the AFC South. The Colts (6-3) will host the rematch in Indianapolis on Nov. 29 after helping coach Frank Reich improve to 4-1 against Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Indianapolis took advantage of the Titans' special teams woes to score twice in the third quarter for a 27-17 lead. He passed Marino on the Colts’ first play from scrimmage with an 11-yard pass to rookie Jonathan Taylor.
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Rivers' 3 TDs in 2nd quarter help Colts beat Lions 41-21
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. Rivers threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter to help the Colts surge past Detroit for a 41-21 victory Sunday following a first quarter in which they averaged a little more than 1 yard rushing on 10 carries. Rivers threw passes to 11 teammates. Hines had so much energy he celebrated each of his two touchdowns in the second quarter with moves that would make a gymnast proud, pulling off roundoffs into full twists in the end zone. Three plays later, Rivers threw a 7-yard, tiebreaking touchdown pass to Jack Doyle.
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Rivers throw 3 TD passes as Colts rally past Bengals 31-27
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – Philip Rivers never flinched with the Indianapolis Colts facing a 21-0 first-half deficit Sunday. He went back to work and joined MVP quarterbacks Bert Jones and Peyton Manning in the Indianapolis Colts' record book. ... Mixon left in the first half with a right foot injury but returned at the start of the second half. ... DT Christian Covington and CB William Jackson III both got hurt in the second half and returned later. ... CB Xavier Rhodes and WR Marcus Johnson also were shaken up in the second half but returned.
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The Latest: Wilson rallies Seahawks past Cowboys 38-31
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)The Latest on Week 3 in the NFL (all times EDT):__8 p.m.Russell Wilson threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns without an interception as the Seattle Seahawks edged the Dallas Cowboys 38-31. -Tim Booth reporting from Seattle__6:15 p.m.Russell Wilson has thrown three touchdown passes to Tyler Lockett and the Seattle Seahawks have a 23-15 halftime lead over the Dallas Cowboys. Wilson capped his big first half with a 1-yard toss to Lockett with 7 seconds left in the half. Out of 48 NFL games so far in 2020, 10 have included paying customers.
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Unmasked: NFL fines coaches, teams for not covering faces
(AP Photo/Don Wright)NFL coaches thumbed their collective — and exposed — noses at the NFL’s mask mandate in Week 2. More coaches and clubs can expect similar punishments as the memo last week from Troy Vincent, who oversees the league’s football operations, was largely ignored throughout the weekend. Players, who, like the coaches, are subject to daily COVID-19 tests, are exempt from the face covering requirements. Some coaches such as Belichick, McDaniels and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wore their masks or gaiters over their mouths but not noses. Others such as Carroll, Spagnuolo and Fangio wore their face coverings around their chins or necks, exposing both their mouths and noses.
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Barkley, 49ers hit with potentially season-ending injuries
Start with running back, where Giants star Saquon Barkley is believed to have torn the ACL in his right knee early in their loss at Chicago. The 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo tried to play through a right ankle injury before Nick Mullens took over for the second half. Tevin Coleman also left San Francisco's win over the Jets with a late knee injury. Along with Lock and Sutton, the Broncos lost defensive end Dre'Mont Jones to a knee injury in their defeat at Pittsburgh. Washington guard Brandon Scherff, who left early in Arizona with a knee injury, was among the offensive linemen hurt around the NFL on Sunday.
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The Latest: Seahawks' Diggs ejected for helmet-to-helmet hit
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)The Latest on Week 2 in the NFL (all times EDT):___8:55 p.m.Seattle safety Quandre Diggs was ejected late in the first quarter Sunday night for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New England’s N’Keal Harry. Multiple flags were thrown and after a few minutes of deliberation, referee Craig Wrolstad announced Diggs had been ejected. Watkins made an 11-yard catch to convert a third down when Desmond King started to bring him down and Denzel Perryman landed a helmet-to-helmet hit. San Francisco lost both defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas to left knee injuries earlier in the game. Brady struggled in an 11-point loss to New Orleans in his first NFL game not in a New England Patriots uniform.
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Minshew Mania 2.0: Jags stun Colts, Rivers 27-20 in opener
Undrafted rookie running back James Robinson accounted for 90 yards, including 62 on the ground. Robinson's 62 yards broke the previous mark for undrafted rookie running backs in season openers. He became the first undrafted rookie running back in 30 years to start in Week 1. Several undrafted rookie fullbacks have started openers over the years. Washington’s Ralph Nelson held the previous high for rushing yards by an undrafted rookie in Week 1, gaining 44 yards against New Orleans on Sept. 21, 1975.
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Racial injustice themes on display in empty NFL stadiums
After about 15 seconds, they rose, trotted off the field, and the game proceeded as normal. So we’ll just stay inside until it’s time to play the game,” Miami players said in the video. Goodell posted a video in June conceding that the league had been late in acknowledging the problem. Since then, the league has taken visible steps like allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts. Some team owners have pledged money toward social justice causes or offered their stadiums as polling places for the November election.
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Colts overpower Jaguars with strong ground game in 33-13 win
Indy rushed for a season-high 264 yards and overpowered Jacksonville 33-13 for the franchise’s 300th win since moving to Indianapolis in 1984. “I can’t give our guys enough credit for how well they played.”The Colts turned a milestone day into an unforgettable performance. The only thing that went awry: Nelson’s apparent 1-yard TD run on third down was nullified by a replay review. He was 33 of 47 with 296 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as the Jaguars (4-6) in his first game back. He has made a league-record 597 field goals and has 503 extra points and 1,505 points since joining the Colts in 2016.