
Play Ball! Astros strong in AL debut, beat Rangers
Many predicted the Houston Astros would be the worst team in the majors this season. On opening night, they certainly didn't look like it. Rick Ankiel ...

Astros strong in AL debut, top Texas in MLB opener
The Houston Astros and their spiffy new uniforms looked like a perfect fit in the American League. Rick Ankiel and the Astros made an impressive debut ...

SUPER BOWL WATCH: NFL awards, real fun to come
Around the Super Bowl and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of everything surrounding the game: ...

Watt swats defensive player foes
Houston end J.J. Watt has won The Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, missing a perfect ballot by one vote. The NFL's sacks ...

Peterson double winner of AP NFL awards
Adrian Peterson called it a blessing in disguise. Strange way to describe career-threatening major knee surgery. The Minnesota Vikings' star came back ...

NFC blows out AFC 62-35 in Pro Bowl in Hawaii
A handful of shenanigans and plenty of points — yet still another ho-hum Pro Bowl. Whether the NFL's all-star game will return next season is ...

Players defend Pro Bowl after 62-35 NFC win
After a week in Hawaii and a blowout game, the NFL's all-stars are defending the Pro Bowl as a worthy reward for top players who don't make the Super ...

Pats beat Texans 41-28, return to AFC title game
Tom Brady made history. Now it's his coach's turn. The Patriots' quarterback added to a string of postseason success that stretches back more than a ...

Patriots beat Texans 41-28, Ravens up next
Tom Brady is so good at this playoff thing he seems to be going for a championship every year. He gets another chance to lead the Patriots to the ...

Vereen's 2 TDs lead Pats to 31-13 lead after third
Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes, Shane Vereen scored twice and the New England Patriots overcame a 94-yard return by Danieal Manning on the ...

Ravens shock Broncos; 49ers rout Packers
The 49ers and Ravens are getting another shot at making the Super Bowl. Losers in tight conference championship games a year ago, they are returning ...

Adrian Peterson, J.J. Watt unanimous All-Pros
It's unanimous, on both sides of the ball. Vikings 2,000-yard man Adrian Peterson and Texans pass-swatting end J.J. Watt were unanimous choices for ...

Houston beats Bengals 19-13 in wild-card playoff
J.J. Watt swatted away passes, Arian Foster ran away from tacklers and the Houston Texans did just enough to knock Cincinnati out of the playoffs for ...

Texans lead Bengals 16-10 after third quarter
Arian Foster ran for a long-awaited touchdown and set a little postseason history on Saturday, leading the Houston Texans to a 16-10 lead over the ...

All 12 playoff teams have flaws to fix
The NFL's dandy dozen is set — and truth be told, a little scared. Nobody's perfect, and all the teams that made the playoffs face potential pitfalls ...

Playoff picks: Packers a good bet this time
Six days after Adrian Peterson blistered them for nearly 200 yards and helped lift his team to a stunning playoff berth, the Green Bay Packers get ...

Regular season winners don't always make champions
The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, who tied for the league's best record at 13-3, are well aware of one of the NFL's biggest truisms: more often ...

Pagano returns as Indianapolis beats Texans 28-16
Chuck Pagano put on his dancing shoes and savored every moment of Sunday's postgame celebration. He took his customary linebacker stance on the ...

AP falls short of Dickerson; Wilson ties Manning
Adrian Peterson nearly ran into the NFL record book, falling 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing mark. Peterson had 199 ...

Peyton Manning, Peterson make Pro Bowl
Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson want to cap their sensational comebacks with Super Bowl appearances. For now, they can be proud of Pro Bowl spots.

Vikings deny Texans home-field playoff advantage
Adrian Peterson doesn't need to set records to keep the Minnesota Vikings in the playoff race. Peterson rushed for 86 yards, falling far short of the ...

Broncos gallop into top spot in AP Pro32 rankings
A nine-game winning streak has Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on top of the AP Pro32 NFL power rankings for the first time. The latest win came ...

Moments of silence around NFL for shooting victims
The New England Patriots silenced their "End Zone Militia" on Sunday night, taking the muskets away from the Revolutionary War re-enactors who fire ...

Texans need win over Colts to clinch AFC South
Houston's blowout loss at New England exposed a variety of flaws, leaving the Texans with plenty to work on before they host Indianapolis on Sunday ...

Brady throws 4 TDs, Patriots top Texans 42-14
Just another game for the New England Patriots. Just a wire-to-wire domination of the team with the NFL's best record. So when their 42-14 Monday ...