Posts

It’s hard to believe Baltimore hasn’t won a game since it beat Pittsburgh on this field in last year’s divisional playoffs. With Ben Roethlisberger out, there will be no excuses if that losing streak continues. MORE: Full Week 4 predictions | Expert picks | Betting lines, odds, trends Or will there? Star running back Le’Veon Bell is back, and the Steelers picked up DeAngelo Williams in the offseason to complete one of the league’s better rushing duos....

But as Monroe became more and more concerned about the potential negatives — such as addiction and accidental overdose — he began to research marijuana as an alternative. Now he’s convinced, he’s outspoken, he’s involved and he’s on a mission: He wants a marijuana-friendly NFL. “We’re no longer in an era where the government decided that marijuana is illegal with no scientific basis,” Monroe told Sporting News. “Now we have the ability to look at it and determine what it’s comprised of and how those things have an effect on our bodies, and we know now that marijuana has a very positive effect on our bodies, especially in the case of the issues that are brought up through playing football....

Lamar Jackson, who had been huge early in the season leading big fourth-quarter comebacks, was in a passing slump before suffering an ankle injury against the Browns. Although backup Tyler Huntley nearly delivered a Jackson-like successful rally, the bottom line is the Ravens might need to play more games without their one-time MVP quarterback. The Ravens have fallen behind the Patriots, Titans and Chiefs — who all are 9-4 after Week 14 — to the No....

But these NFL playoff predictions include much more than SN’s Super Bowl pick. Which players are flying under the radar and ready to break out in the playoffs? What playoff team fields the most trustworthy offense? Defense? SN NFL writers Tadd Haislop, Bill Bender, Vinnie Iyer and David Steele answer those questions and more below. MORE NFL PLAYOFFS:Analysis of bracket | Full schedule NFL playoff predictions What team playing on wild-card weekend is the biggest threat to win it all?...

The New Orleans Saints were one controversial call away from reaching the Super Bowl last year, while the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers have two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Here’s what to expect from the NFC South this time out. New Orleans Saints A decade has passed since Drew Brees guided the New Orleans Saints to their maiden championship at Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints were one missed passed interference call away from reaching the final dance again last season and are desperate to make the Super Bowl before Brees’ window closes....

Then there’s the new-old team back at No. 1, reigning Super Bowl-champion New England, which keeps coming out and taking care of business. MORE: The biggest overreactions from Week 1 Here’s what teams are rising up or sliding down going into Week 2, according to Sporting News. NFL power rankings New England Patriots, 1-0 (previous ranking: 3) The Patriots had already won the weekend when they agreed to add Antonio Brown to their potent offense....

The Cowboys quarterback will undergo an MRI scan on his right shoulder at the end of the week to re-evaluate a muscle strain, which was first diagnosed by an MRI scan on July 28. “This is something we want to nip in the bud and not let linger,” Prescott, who signed a four-year contract worth $160 million in the offseason, told reporters on Wednesday. The Cowboys also sought to allay fears over his fitness....

League investigators have reportedly spoken with Elliott about the incident that took place while he was still at Ohio State. A person close to Elliott told USA Today the NFL has an ongoing investigation that has run parallel to the investigation conducted by police in Columbus, Ohio. Elliott was the fourth overall pick in April’s NFL Draft and his rookie season has gotten off to a blazing start. He leads the NFL with 703 rushing yards as the 5-1 Cowboys prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) on Sunday....

From the outset, the 2022 season feels a bit different, as there’s a good deal of uncertainty surrounding which first-year pros will put forth a ROY-caliber season. Some rookies have clearly defined roles entering the regular season; many don’t. By taking a quick glance at the odds board, we can see that numerous rookies’ odds are either too high or too low based on their projected playing time situations. Below, we’ll break down a couple of favorites, sleepers, and long shots who provide betting value that could take home the offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022-23....

Chicago last October beat out Los Angeles for the 2015 draft, ending New York’s 50-year run as host — the historic Auditorium Theatre will play the role of Radio City Music Hall as host venue. But the cash-hungry NFL, of course, didn’t move the draft without its list of demands requests for the city. MORE: Sporting News’ latest Mock Draft | Ranking the QBs | Big board of top prospects The Chicago Tribune obtained the league’s wish list that was sent to Chicago Choose, the tourism agency tasked with organizing the event, and pointed out some notable requests....

Thursday night’s matchup looks like the best game of the week, though there are plenty of great games on Sunday as well. Seahawks vs. Packers looks to be the highlight of the Sunday afternoon games, while NBC’s Sunday night game pits the Giants against the Cowboys in an NFC East rivalry game. On Monday night, newly signed Saints running back Adrian Peterson returns to Minneapolis to take on his former team....

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all teams Wednesday informing them of the protocols put in place to have their complexes ready to open. He said he will then advise them as to when they can formally allow personnel to enter. FLASHBACK: Goodell tells teams to close facilities “The protocols are intended to allow for a safe and phased reopening,” Goodell said in the memo. The first phase allows 50 percent of non-player personnel to be permitted into the facility, as well as players who are continuing rehab and therapy that they began before facilities were ordered closed in late March....

The NFL commissioner will address the league’s personal conduct policy. The league has faced increasing criticism it has not acted quickly or emphatically enough concerning the domestic abuse cases. MORE: NFL must do more for gender equality | No Greg Hardy, no problem for Panthers His last public appearance was at a high school in North Carolina on Sept. 10. The commissioner and some NFL teams have been heavily criticized for lenient or delayed punishment of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and other players involved in recent domestic violence cases....

The deal is expected to be for one year, ESPN reports. The move is pending a physical. Baltimore will be the second stop in Ray’s NFL career. He was selected by the Broncos with the 23rd overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, but Denver opted to let him walk rather than pick up his fifth-year option. Ray got off to a strong start with 12 sacks in 30 games during his first two seasons in the league, including eight starts in 2016....

Injuries, however, were also aplenty and much of the focus this week will be centered around how those players’ absences will affect their respective teams. Here we look back at the biggest headlines from Week 1 and the impact they’ll have heading into Week 2. Jaguars need temporary replacement for Nick Foles The veteran quarterback broke his left collarbone early in the first quarter Sunday against the Chiefs and underwent surgery Monday morning....

This analysis is brought to you by TeamRankings, the only site that provides customized picks that maximize your edge in NFL survivor pools. Check out their NFL Survivor Picks, Football Pick ’em Picks, and NFL Betting Picks. For a limited time, you can also get a free trial of all their premium football picks through NFL Week 1. FREE TRIAL: Survivor, pick ’em, betting picks from TeamRankings Week 1 NFL Pick ’em Pool Picks: Tips, strategy How We Identify NFL Week 1 Value Picks...

The good news is there are only 13 games on the schedule in Week 10. The optimist says that’s fewer games to get wrong and for us to be laser-focused with our selections of the week. MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting advice at Sportsbook Review Who’s winning and who’s losing, and by how much? Here’s our latest fearless forecast, hoping that fortunes favor the bold. NFL Week 10 picks, predictions against the spread Game of the Week: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-5 1/2)...

With all that in mind, here are Sporting News’ updated NFL power rankings ahead of Week 15. MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture NFL power rankings New Orleans Saints 11-2 (last week: 2) The Saints’ offense slumped a little more in Tampa, but then the defense and special teams provided a necessary spark, and Drew Brees and the running game found their rhythm again. New Orleans is the Super Bowl favorite because it’s a complete team, now in the NFC driver’s seat....