http://www.mail.com/subjects/57738-nfl-playoffs.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/57738-nfl-playoffs.html http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1762592-indianapolis-ready-to-face-texans-big-test.html INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Things are getting pretty simple in Indianapolis. Win one more game and the Colts are in the playoffs. Win the next two and Bruce Arians sets the NFL record for wins by an interim head coach. Win all three and they're AFC South champs with a home playoff game. The first hurdle is a big one: Sunday's game is at Houst... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:47:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1762592-indianapolis-ready-to-face-texans-big-test.html 2012-12-12T21:47:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1762506-williams-testified-wanted-to-bounties.html Former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams testified that he tried to shut down the team's bounty system when the NFL began investigating but was overruled by interim Saints head coach Joe Vitt, according to transcripts from appeals hearings obtained by The Associated Press. According to the transcripts, Williams said that then-assistant Vitt... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1762506-williams-testified-wanted-to-bounties.html 2012-12-12T21:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1761914-bengals-recognize-eagles-quit.html The Philadelphia Eagles haven't completely given up on the season. They damaged Tampa Bay's playoff chances last weekend and get an opportunity Thursday night to do the same to the Cincinnati Bengals. It's a critical game for the Bengals (No. 16 in the AP Pro32). At 7-6, they are in the midst of the AFC wild-card race, tied with the Steelers and a game in... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1761914-bengals-recognize-eagles-quit.html 2012-12-12T20:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1757270-brady-throws-4-td-passes-pats-lead-texans-28-7.html FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes as the New England Patriots turned their much-hyped game against the Houston Texans into a mismatch, leading 28-7 after the third quarter on Monday night. The Texans (11-1) entered with the NFL's best record. The Patriots (9-3) had the AFC's third-best mark. But New England, with plenty of big... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:09:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1757270-brady-throws-4-td-passes-pats-lead-texans-28-7.html 2012-12-11T03:09:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1755490-numb-cowboys-beat-bengals-20-19-last-second-fg.html CINCINNATI (AP) — Dan Bailey's 40-yard kick went straight through the uprights. The Dallas Cowboys had won an important game on a last-second field goal. They weren't sure how to react. Numb. Grieving. Distracted. The Cowboys were all those things on Sunday, dealing with the death of one teammate and the tribulations of another. Winners, too, though they ... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1755490-numb-cowboys-beat-bengals-20-19-last-second-fg.html 2012-12-10T09:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1755462-giants-cowboys-redskins-win-tight-nfc-east.html Winning was required to keep pace in the NFC East playoff race. Losing was all that was needed in the AFC North. The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants beat New Orleans with an offensive eruption fueled by David Wilson's record-setting performance. That 52-27 romp kept the Giants one game in front of Washington, which rallied to beat Baltimore ... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1755462-giants-cowboys-redskins-win-tight-nfc-east.html 2012-12-10T09:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1754774-grieving-cowboys-beat-bengals-20-19-fg.html CINCINNATI (AP) — Numb. Grieving. Distracted. The Cowboys were all those things on Sunday, dealing with the death of one teammate and the tribulations of another. Winners, too, though they hardly felt like it. Dan Bailey kicked a 40-yard field goal as time ran out, sending the Cowboys to a 20-19 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that ended a tough after... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1754774-grieving-cowboys-beat-bengals-20-19-fg.html 2012-12-09T22:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1743058-texans-1st-falcons-pats-tied-2nd-ap-pro32.html NEW YORK (AP) — An NFL version of No. 1 vs. No. 2 is set for Monday night when the Houston Texans visit the New England Patriots. The Texans remained first in the AP Pro32 power rankings Tuesday, while the Patriots inched up two spots into a second-place tie with the Atlanta Falcons. Houston received eight first-place votes and 376 points in balloting by ... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1743058-texans-1st-falcons-pats-tied-2nd-ap-pro32.html 2012-12-04T21:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1739108-texans-clinch-playoff-berth-beating-titans-24-10.html NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Antonio Smith picked up the ball J.J. Watt forced Titans running back Chris Johnson into fumbling, and the Texans' defensive end ran from the Houston 37 all the way to the end zone. Smith walked around the end zone holding the ball up just in case he'd scored a touchdown. Officials insisted the play had been whistled dead after Smi... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1739108-texans-clinch-playoff-berth-beating-titans-24-10.html 2012-12-03T08:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1739050-broncos-patriots-falcons-win-divisions.html If NFL executives really adore parity, they must be wincing at the early division clinchings by the Broncos, Patriots and Falcons. Not to mention the Texans securing at least a wild-card berth, with nearly all of December still remaining. Sure, there could still be some close races, particularly in the NFC North and for the wild cards. But after Sunday's ... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1739050-broncos-patriots-falcons-win-divisions.html 2012-12-03T08:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1738844-broncos-patriots-falcons-win-divisions.html On the first weekend of December, four teams made the NFL playoffs. With four weeks to go in the regular-season, New England owns the AFC East title, Denver has the AFC West and Atlanta won the NFC South. Houston has not clinched the AFC South, although it has a three-game lead over Indianapolis, but it secured at least a wild-card spot on Sunday. ... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 02:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1738844-broncos-patriots-falcons-win-divisions.html 2012-12-03T02:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1738766-falcons-wrap-up-nfc-south-when-bucs-lose-denver.html ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons were low key about clinching the fifth division title in franchise history. The Falcons (11-1) wrapped up the NFC South on Sunday when Tampa Bay lost at Denver 31-23, handing Atlanta its second division championship in three years. But this team won't be satisfied unless it reaches the Super Bowl. "Ju... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:59:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1738766-falcons-wrap-up-nfc-south-when-bucs-lose-denver.html 2012-12-03T00:59:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1724820-nfl-playoffs-taking-shape-month-to.html Start the playoffs now. Well, just about. More than a month from the end of the NFL season, and nearly every division race is decided. Atlanta and Denver have four-game leads and can earn titles with victories Sunday, although the Falcons also need Tampa Bay to lose — coincidentally, to the Broncos, who don't need any help if they win to walk off with the... Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:34:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1724820-nfl-playoffs-taking-shape-month-to.html 2012-11-26T21:34:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1718368-texans-playing-lions-spot-playoffs.html DETROIT (AP) — The Houston Texans have put themselves in a position to be the NFL's first team to seal a spot in the playoffs and to move a step closer toward earning home-field advantage in the AFC. Houston (9-1) has won four straight and is 4-0 on the road this season, giving the Texans a great shot to be in consecutive postseasons for the first time. "... Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1718368-texans-playing-lions-spot-playoffs.html 2012-11-22T11:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1685122-surging-colts-up-prime-time.html Andrew Luck quickly is erasing the pain of the divorce with Peyton Manning for Colts fans. Now, he and the suddenly playoff-contending Colts head to Jacksonville, where just about everything about the Jaguars is painful. The Colts (5-3) have won three straight and four of five to firmly plant themselves in the AFC wild-card picture. Luck comes off one of ... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1685122-surging-colts-up-prime-time.html 2012-11-07T19:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1649114-panthers-fire-gm-hurney-teams-1-5-start.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers owner Jerry Richardson sat down in his office Sunday night with Marty Hurney and posed two questions to the franchise's longtime general manager: Why are the Panthers 1-5 and when are they going to get better? Hurney said he couldn't give him an honest answer for either question. The following morning Richardson made the to... Tue, 23 Oct 2012 07:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1649114-panthers-fire-gm-hurney-teams-1-5-start.html 2012-10-23T07:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1646954-panthers-gm-hurney-fired-teams-1-5-start.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Marty Hurney admits the "losing environment" for the Carolina Panthers must end. He won't be a part of the effort. Hurney was fired as general manager Monday, one day after star quarterback Cam Newton expressed his frustration with a 1-5 start. The Panthers have the worst record in the NFC in a season that began with big expectation... Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1646954-panthers-gm-hurney-fired-teams-1-5-start.html 2012-10-22T18:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1633812-browns-sale-to-haslam-approved-holmgren-to-leave.html CHICAGO (AP) — New owners want their own people running things. Jimmy Haslam III is sticking to one of the oldest adages in sports, which means Mike Holmgren is out as president of the Cleveland Browns. Haslam's $1 billion purchase of the franchise was unanimously approved by the 32 NFL teams Tuesday. Shortly after the vote, Haslam announced that Holmgren... Wed, 17 Oct 2012 05:28:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1633812-browns-sale-to-haslam-approved-holmgren-to-leave.html 2012-10-17T05:28:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1567518-qb-newton-helps-lead-panthers-saints-35-27.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton says the attitude is changing in Carolina. The second-year quarterback said there's a new swagger and confidence permeating the organization — and that fans finally got a chance to see it on Sunday. Newton threw for 253 yards and ran for a career-high 71 yards to lead the Panthers to a 35-27 win over New Orleans, leaving ... Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1567518-qb-newton-helps-lead-panthers-saints-35-27.html 2012-09-17T08:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1566658-newton-leads-panthers-saints-35-27.html CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton talked all week about how much better the Carolina Panthers were on offense then they showed in their season opener. He proved it on Sunday. The second-year quarterback threw for 253 yards and ran for a career-high 71 yards and led the Panthers to a 35-27 win over New Orleans and leaving the NFC South champion Saints 0-2 ... Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1566658-newton-leads-panthers-saints-35-27.html 2012-09-16T21:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1555652-patriots-top-ap-pro32-power-rankings.html NEW YORK (AP) — While Tom Brady cares for his damaged nose, New England Patriots fans can gain comfort from having their team lead the AP Pro32 power rankings. Thanks to Brady's impressive work at Tennessee, even with a possible broken nose, the Patriots moved into the top spot of the first regular season poll released Tuesday. New England's convincing wi... Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1555652-patriots-top-ap-pro32-power-rankings.html 2012-09-11T18:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1551526-49ers-rodgers-rally-beat-packers-30-22.html GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With the arrival of Randy Moss and a few other additions in the offseason, quarterback Alex Smith knew the San Francisco 49ers were serious about beefing up their passing game. And while the 49ers aren't going to stray completely from the defense and running game-based formula that got them to the NFC Championship game last season, ... Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:29:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1551526-49ers-rodgers-rally-beat-packers-30-22.html 2012-09-10T07:29:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1545858-modell-to-lift-nfl-prominence.html BALTIMORE (AP) — The NFL became America's game under a collection of shrewd businessmen that included some of the biggest names in league history: Pete Rozelle, Vince Lombardi, Dan Rooney and arguably the most influential of all — Art Modell. Modell's insight thrust the struggling league into the public eye and onto the country's television screens on Sun... Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1545858-modell-to-lift-nfl-prominence.html 2012-09-07T06:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1544918-modell-dies-87-legacy-depends-perspective.html BALTIMORE (AP) — Art Modell's fingerprints can still be found all over the NFL. In Baltimore. In Cleveland. On Monday night football. On past labor agreements. Along with colleagues named Rozelle, Halas, Brown and Rooney — all pillars of a fledgling league — Modell helped transform the NFL into America's pre-eminent sport. ... Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:20:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1544918-modell-dies-87-legacy-depends-perspective.html 2012-09-06T21:20:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1543398-college-football-structure-nfl-feel-to.html Fall football Saturdays look an awful lot like NFL Sundays, and not everyone is on board with the growing transformation. College football has taken on a power structure similar to the NFL — which is king of the sports world with its on-field product and popularity across the country. While there are those who are fighting to hold off the change, Wake For... Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1543398-college-football-structure-nfl-feel-to.html 2012-09-06T11:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1539382-nfl-champion-giants-kick-season-vs-cowboys.html EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — A good start is what is on the line this time when the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL season opener. The stakes were much greater the last time the NFC East foes faced off to close the last regular season. New York won to claim the division title en route to the Super Bowl title. Dallas was left out of the ... Tue, 04 Sep 2012 19:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1539382-nfl-champion-giants-kick-season-vs-cowboys.html 2012-09-04T19:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1528332-ravens-poised-to-take-step-crowded-afc.html Two years, two close calls, and two long offseasons pondering "what if" for the Baltimore Ravens. What if Billy Cundiff hadn't missed that chip-shot field goal against the Patriots in the AFC championship game eight months ago, the one that would have sent it to overtime? What if Baltimore's usually reliable defense held onto that seemingly comfortable 14... Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1528332-ravens-poised-to-take-step-crowded-afc.html 2012-08-29T19:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1488686-peyton-field-rg3-luck-going.html Yep, that's Peyton Manning wearing No. 18 and throwing passes. The uniform might look strange, though. And yes, that's a female line judge making calls in the Green Bay at San Diego game. As for those two good-looking youngsters with the Colts and Redskins, they're the top picks from this year's draft making their NFL debuts. ... Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1488686-peyton-field-rg3-luck-going.html 2012-08-08T19:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1475128-browns-owner-wants-winner-cleveland.html BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The new Browns owner said he's ready to bring "winning back to Cleveland" and proclaimed there's "zero chance" he'll move the team out of town. A day after agreeing to purchase the Browns for a reported $1 billion, truck-stop magnate Jimmy Haslam III held a news conference Friday at the club's training camp facility. Introduced by Brown... Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:15:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1475128-browns-owner-wants-winner-cleveland.html 2012-08-03T16:15:00Z