The National Football League - arguably the most popular sport in the US. It is the highest level a football player can reach in professional sports, 32 teams compete in 16 games to reach the playoffs and ultimately the super bowl.
A winter storm couldn't slow down the Philadelphia Eagles. They're plowing their way to the playoffs. Donovan McNabb threw for one touchdown and ran for another, DeSean Jackson had 140 yards receiving and the Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers 27-13 Sunday to clinch a playoff berth for the eighth time this decade. With San Francisco's loss, the Arizona Cardinals clinched their second straight NFC West title. The Eagles (10-4) have won five straight games and have a one-game lead over Dallas... Read Full Story
Ryan Longwell missed a 39-yard field goal while the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers played to a scoreless first quarter Sunday night. Neither team managed to do much offensively early on a chilly night, with Longwell's miss being the biggest play of an otherwise quiet period. Darius Reynaud had a 34-yard punt return that put the Vikings at the Carolina 25-yard line to start a drive, but Longwell's kick bounced off the right upright with 3:56 left in the period. Brett Favre had... Read Full Story
What in the wide world of sports is wrong with the Pittsburgh Steelers? The defending Super Bowl champions seem unable to figure it out, and with Green Bay coming to Heinz Field on Sunday the answers might not come against a true playoff contender. Pittsburgh has dropped five straight after winning five in a row, something we might expect from a middling team with a weak foundation, or a rebuilding club. But from the Steelers? "In this league, there's a very fine line between winning and... Read Full Story
San Diego, Arizona and Minnesota clinched division titles Sunday, while Philadelphia surged into the playoffs as at least a wild card. The Chargers (11-3) edged Cincinnati 27-24 on Sunday, and when Denver lost to Oakland, the AFC West belonged to San Diego for the fourth straight season. "It's an incredible feeling," star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman said. "It's all kind of a blur," added Nate Kaeding, whose 52-yard field goal won it. He hadn't gotten a division championship cap until... Read Full Story
Ben Roethlisberger ended the game the way he started it by throwing a touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, a desperation 19-yarder on the final play that rallied Pittsburgh to a 37-36 victory over Green Bay on Sunday, ending the Packers' five-game winning streak and the Steelers' five-game losing streak. The Packers (9-5) stalled in their playoff run as they couldn't hold leads of 28-27 and 36-30 in a frantic fourth quarter that was much like Oakland's 27-23 win in Pittsburgh two weeks ago, when... Read Full Story
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up a playoff berth when they turned back the San Francisco 49ers 27-13 in their weather-delayed game on Sunday. The Eagles' home win, achieved after a three-hour delay stemming from the massive snowstorm that hit the Northeast United States on Saturday, also gave Philadelphia (10-4) a one-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys (9-5) with two remaining in the NFC East championship race. Donovan McNabb passed for one touchdown and ran for... Read Full Story
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh scored on the final play to beat the Green Bay Packers 37-36 on Sunday and avoid elimination from the playoffs. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tossed a desperation 19-yard pass to Mike Wallace as time expired and Jeff Reed kicked the game-winning extra point as the Steelers (7-7) kept their slim hopes for postseason play alive. The victory ended a five-game slide by the Steelers (7-7) and halted Green Bay's five-game winning streak... Read Full Story
Tony Romo passed for 312 yards and DeMarcus Ware was superb despite playing with a neck injury as Dallas beat New Orleans 24-17, handing the previously unbeaten Saints their first loss. The Cowboys compiled a 21-point lead then held off a New Orleans' rally for the victory which kept their playoff hopes alive. The loss by the Saints (13-1) left the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) as the National Football League's only unbeaten team this season. "We all know how good their offence is so we had to... Read Full Story
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys spoiled New Orleans' bid for a perfect season with a 24-17 victory over the Saints on Saturday. Marion Barber rushed for two touchdowns and Tony Romo stunned the playoff-bound Saints (13-1) with a long touchdown pass early in the game, as the Cowboys (9-5) stayed in the race for a post-season berth. The result left the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) as the NFL's only unbeaten team this season. "We knew coming in the significance of the game -- that they... Read Full Story
DETROIT (Reuters) - The Arizona Cardinals clinched the NFC West title and a playoff berth when they beat the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Kurt Warner connected with Anquan Boldin on a five-yard touchdown pass with 1:54 to play to give Arizona (9-5) a 31-24 win over Detroit (2-12) and back-to-back NFC West titles. San Francisco (6-8) was beaten 27-13 by Philadelphia (10-4) to clinch a playoff berth for the Eagles. The San Diego Chargers... Read Full Story
