MINNEAPOLIS — Once again, the NFL, if not the entire sports world, revolves around our little slice of flyover country.

The current front-runners for NFL coach of the year should be a Viking, a would-be Viking and a former Viking.

Current Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is 8-2 this season, while relying on a quarterback who not long ago...Read more

DENVER — As a committee prepares to select a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in the coaching category for the 2025 class, Broncos coach Sean Payton had a simple message regarding Mike Shanahan’s candidacy.

“It’s easy,” Payton said Monday. “It’s all there in front of you.”

Shanahan, the winningest coach in Broncos history and...Read more

The San Francisco 49ers expect tight end George Kittle to practice Wednesday and cornerback Charvarius Ward has returned to the team and will be evaluated in hopes of returning in Week 12 to face the Green Bay Packers.

Coach Kyle Shanahan is also holding out hope that edge rusher Nick Bosa can play after exiting in the third quarter of a 20-17 ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Heading into Monday, the Dallas Cowboys had lost and failed to cover their past four games and were also 0-4 straight-up and against the spread at home this season.

One bettor wagered $1 million that the Cowboys will continue to struggle on “Monday Night Football” against the Houston Texans.

Hard Rock Bet, which doesn’t ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — On the 10-hour flight to São Paulo, Brazil for the Eagles’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers, Nick Sirianni decided to save the television show recommendations he had received for another day and watch film instead.

The Eagles coach opted to pore over the offense’s third-down attempts dating back to the beginning...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans squaring off on "Monday Night Football," a large piece of sheet metal fell to the AT&T Stadium playing surface while the retractable roof was being opened during pregame. Stadium officials have since made the decision to close the roof for Monday's game.

Here is a statement ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have added Tyquan Thornton, a speedy wide receiver, to their practice squad, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.

Thornton, a second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2022, has appeared in 28 games over his career, with 13 starts. He has 39 receptions and three touchdowns.

His best season was ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There was something to him being across the country and a whole level of the sport away from the San Francisco 49ers.

Jim Harbaugh was a great coach for San Francisco, and his end in the South Bay was hardly a “mutual” decision.

But even as the Niners floundered for years following Harbaugh’s exit, at least Niners...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus spoke with reporters Monday afternoon after reviewing the 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Eberflus now is tasked with helping his team move on from its fourth straight loss and prepare for another tough meeting with the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) in Week 12.

Here are ...Read more

CHICAGO — The latest end zone celebration sweeping the nation is the Trump dance, made popular by UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones after Saturday’s win over Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.

Surely you know the Trump dance, originally performed by President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign rally, consisting of mild hip gyrations and ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — This wasn't exactly the changing of the guard when a younger Jack Nicklaus beat Arnold Palmer in his own backyard to win the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Or Wayne Gretzky stepping aside for a younger Mario Lemieux.

But, in many regards, this was about Chris Boswell establishing himself as the best kicker in the NFL and taking ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The two passes Justin Herbert completed to rookie Ladd McConkey on the Chargers' final drive were noteworthy not because of their precision or degree of difficulty. What made them extraordinary were the events that preceded them.

Herbert had missed on each of his previous seven pass attempts. He'd lost a fumble. The Chargers had...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers sent a clear message to the rest of the AFC Sunday that they are indeed a legitimate contender for the conference title.

Given what it did to the Ravens' high-powered offense, the defense also sent a message that it's indeed in an elite category.

At times, the Steelers play an ugly brand of football, but there is ...Read more

SEATTLE — The Geno Smith touchdown run may go down as the Seahawks’ season signature moment if the team goes on to make the playoffs. And the 110 receiving yards from Jaxon Smith-Njigba bolster the case that he was one of the better picks from last year’s NFL draft.

Throw in an interception by defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins — which ...Read more

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The best football player in the world rocked left to right, his hands fastened on the pads across his chest.

The Chiefs trailed by one possession with two minutes left against the Bills here in New York, a spot so uncomfortably familiar to the home team that its quarterback later said, “I’ll tell you what — they ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — During a 34-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Chargers players soaked up loud chants of "Let's go Chargers!" Quarterback Justin Herbert was even serenaded with chants of "M-V-P!"

The crowd for Sunday's prime-time game wasn't just the Chargers' loudest home-field advantage of the season, offensive ...Read more

NEW YORK — With quarterback Daniel Jones benched, the Giants are preparing for a second helping of Tommy Cutlets.

The Giants (2-8) are moving forward with Tommy DeVito as their starter, with head coach Brian Daboll on Monday citing the “spark” the second-year quarterback provided last season among the factors that led to the decision.

...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles had an early off week this season after a busy travel schedule during the first four weeks. So after they beat the Washington Commanders, 26-18, Thursday night, they had another chance to exhale for a few days and get away from the NovaCare Complex.

They're due back this week after a few days off to begin preparation...Read more