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.
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
LANDOVER, Maryland (Reuters) - The New York Giants returned to their imposing early-season form and flattened the Washington Redskins 45-12 on Monday, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. Eli Manning led the Giants' charge, completing 19-of-26 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for two scores for New York, who opened the year with five consecutive wins but then lost six of their next eight. Washington (4-10) lost to the Giants for the seventh time in their... 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 played through the pain of a neck injury as Dallas beat New Orleans 24-17, handing the previously unbeaten Saints their first loss. The Cowboys held off a frenzied fourth-quarter charge by New Orleans to give their playoff hopes a major boost. The loss by the Saints (13-1) left the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) as the National Football League's only unbeaten team this season. "It came down to the mistakes. We eliminated them and the turnovers... Read Full Story
Michael Vick has won the Ed Block Courage Award, voted on by his teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles. The once-disgraced star quarterback returned to the NFL after spending 18 months in a federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring. He's played sparingly with the Eagles, running for two touchdowns and throwing for another in 12 games. "I still have a lot of work to do," Vick said Wednesday. "Having my teammates vote me this award shows I'm doing the right thing." The Eagles were... Read Full Story
As far as Drew Brees can tell, the season of giving in New Orleans started about 14 weeks ago. Brees and the Saints have given this football-mad city more tastes of victory than it has ever known in a single season. The fans have responded in their own way when the players drive home from games, windows down, to share in the excitement. "I got some pralines thrown in (the car) the other day, T shirts, CDs," Brees began. "It's like Christmas. It is Christmas. ... I think it's great how... Read Full Story
The Dallas Cowboys appeared intent on ending their recent history of December swoons during a dominant first quarter against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints. Tony Romo threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin, and Marion Barber scored from 3 yards as the Cowboys took a 14-0 lead before they allowed a first down on Saturday night. After holding the Saints to a three-and-out on the opening possession, the Cowboys struck first when Romo hit Austin deep down the sideline. Austin beat... 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
The undefeated Indianapolis Colts (13-0) have a chance to take one more step towards greatness Thursday when they travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars (7-6). For the home underdog, the win is equally important, but for a different set of reasons; like making the playoffs. NFL Odds: Line: Colts -3 Over/Under: 41.5 Jacksonville missed the post-season party last year and was labelled as one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments. When Sportsbook Online posted win totals and odds for the... Read Full Story
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Nate Kaeding kicked a 52-yard field goal with seconds to play and the San Diego Chargers beat the heart-broken Cincinnati Bengals 27-24 to clinch a playoff berth with their ninth consecutive win on Sunday. The Bengals, playing their first game since Thursday's death of wide receiver Chris Henry, had tied the score with 57 seconds to go on a Shayne Graham field goal before Kaeding responded with three seconds left. The win, coupled with losses by three other teams... Read Full Story
