With still plenty of football left to play, here’s how the division leaders and playoffs seeds currently look, and how well they are positioned to stay in place or move up in Week 9 and beyond. MORE: Updated NFL standings NFL Playoff Picture AFC No. 1 seed — Steelers (6-2): First place, AFC North. Pittsburgh survived a physical field-goal fest in Detroit to maintain its slight edge over everyone else in the AFC by virtue of its 4-1 conference record....

The Chargers opted to rest Philip Rivers in the 17-13 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, while Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Keenan Allen weren’t with the team. While there was no explanation given for the latter missing the game, the reasons behind Gordon’s absence are well-known. The running back told the Chargers last month he would not report to training camp until he got a new contract. So far, he has stuck to his word....

From Patrick Mahomes to Julio Jones, there’s no shortage of star power in this year’s lineup. The initial rosters were announced Dec. 18 with the Chargers leading all teams with seven Pro Bowlers. The Chiefs and Steelers come in at second with six. MOCK DRAFT 2019:Kyler Murray goes early; Eagles, Colts find new playmakers Among other notables, Tom Brady was named to his 14th Pro Bowl tying him with Peyton Manning, Bruce Matthews, Merlin Olsen and Tony Gonzalez for most appearances all time....

Of course, in 2019, chatter around NFL officiating has been as loud as ever, leaving referees to explain questionable calls made by their crews after most games. With the addition of pass interference to the NFL’s replay review system this year, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron’s performance is also under the microscope. Each week, the NFL announces its referee assignments for its slate of games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday....

Of course, in 2019, chatter around NFL officiating has been as loud as ever, leaving referees to explain questionable calls made by their crews after most games. With the addition of pass interference to the NFL’s replay review system this year, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron’s performance is also under the microscope. Each week, the NFL announces its referee assignments for its slate of games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday....

Not the NFL’s Referees Association executive director. “There were some rumblings,” Scott Green told co-host Zig Fracassi and me Saturday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. MORE: Blandino expected to take job with CBS, per report Blandino, whose NFL departure was announced Friday, is expected to segue into broadcasting. Green believes the vacancy will be filled “fairly quickly.” Green also knows what type of replacement he hopes gets a job that carries the responsibility of grading officials: Someone who has the on-field background that Blandino didn’t....

The Eagles are set to host the Falcons in the 2018 NFL season-opener Sept. 6. NFL SCHEDULE: Prime-time games | International games Here’s all you need to know about the 2018 NFL schedule. 2018 NFL schedule The NFL has also released the 2018 preseason schedule. NFL team schedules All times Eastern. AFC EAST (Intraconference: AFC South | Interconference: NFC North) New England Patriots Sept. 9 vs. Houston Texans, 1 p....

For the second year, there will be 272 regular-season games starting on Sept. 8, and running over the next 17 weeks. In the past, there have been games both in the United States and in the United Kingdom. This year, in addition to the international games in London, fans in Munich, Germany, and Mexico City, Mexico, will also have a chance to watch NFL action in person as there will be games scheduled to be played in the two nations....

There’s still plenty to be settled in Week 17, with the final spot in the AFC up for grabs and plenty of seeding in flux for the NFC. MORE: Watch NFL Week 17 games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) The Steelers (8-7), Titans (8-7) and Raiders (7-8) are all still in contention for the second AFC wild card spot, making their three games huge. In the NFC, the 49ers and Seahawks will play for the NFC West, and the Eagles look to secure the East....

No other NFL season through six weeks had produced more games decided by seven or fewer points than 2019. Entering Week 7 this year, 51 of 92 games (55.4 percent) had been decided by seven or fewer points, including nine of 14 games last week. This season also was tied for the most one-point games through six weeks since the 1970 merger. So, naturally, the opposite happened. Ten of the 12 games on the Sunday schedule opened with point spreads of seven or fewer, but only three games Sunday ended as one-score contests....

MORE: Must-see Week 8 images | Fantasy injury report | Pick ’em contest NFL scores — Week 8 Monday Night Football Seahawks 14, Rams 9 The Seattle Seahawks completed a lousy night for St. Louis sports fans. Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes to Golden Tate, and the Seahawks made a dramatic goal-line stand in the final minute to preserve a 14-9 victory over the Rams on Monday night — less than an hour after the Cardinals lost to the Red Sox in the World Series just up the street....

Dean Blandino told the Toronto Sun on Wednesday that the committee, which was unanimous in its opposition to the concept last year, is studying two proposals this year that call for an adviser who would assist with game administration and point out officiating errors. The Chargers and Ravens jointly made the proposals, according to the Sun’s report. “I do know both (proposals) had support,” Blandino told the Sun. “There are pros and cons to having two proposals....

Both teams sit at 3-1 but arrive into Week 5 in contrasting moods. Jared Goff set career highs in attempts, completions and passing yards last week, with 68, 45 and 517 respectively, as the Rams put up 40 points against Tampa Bay. Goff’s effort, however, was ultimately futile as Los Angeles allowed 55 points, more than they had in the first three games combined. The Rams quarterback also threw three interceptions for only the second time in his career and admitted the defending NFC champions had to improve....

The public hearings will take place on Oct. 27 in St. Louis, Oct. 28 in San Diego and Oct. 29 in Oakland. MORE: Best photos from NFL Week 6 | Jerry Jones determined to bring NFL back to Los Angeles The league stated the purpose of the hearings as a forum for fans and others in the community to ask questions and express their views directly to the NFL before any decision is made about potentially moving the Rams, Chargers or Raiders to LA....

According to a report from NOLA.com, New Orleans is seeking at least a mid-first round pick for the fourth-year receiver, even turning down a first-round pick from the Patriots for Cooks. MORE: Cooks grew upset with role in Saints’ offense According to report from NFL Network, New England also asked for a lower-round pick from the Saints, in addition to Cooks. At least five teams have made inquiries for the 23-year-old receiver....

Seattle has acquired safety Quandre Diggs from the Lions for a 2020 fifth-round pick, according to NFL Network. The Seahawks will also receive a seventh-round pick in 2021 in return. Diggs, 26, was a sixth-round pick out of Texas in 2015. He has started his last 21 games played for the Lions and 32 games since 2017. He tallied three interceptions each of the last two years and has 20 tackles in five games (five starts) this season....

Entering Tuesday, 13 NFL trades involving 15 players had been completed this month alone ahead of the Oct. 29 deadline. Even though teams in general have been more aggressive around the NFL trade deadline in recent years, some self-awareness on the part of the league’s worst teams in 2019 led to an unusually large flurry of player movement in October. MORE: Rams trade Aqib Talib to Dolphins While some notable names like Jalen Ramsey, Emmanuel Sanders, Mohamed Sanu, Kenyan Drake and Leonard Williams already had been moved, several strong players reportedly were being targeted Tuesday by teams looking to stuff their rosters with as much talent as possible for the second half of the 2019 season....

It was the Bears who surprisingly took the division title in 2018 as the league’s stingiest defense helped first-time head coach Matt Nagy make an immediate impact in Chicago. The Vikings and Packers took steps back but, given the wealth of talent on the two teams, it would not be surprising if either or both made deep playoff runs this time around, while most of Chicago’s roster remains intact....

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Point spreads and totals are the Las Vegas consensus as of Monday morning. Check our odds page for updated Vegas lines. Sunday, Jan. 2 Jets (-3, 43) at Bills The Jets opened between -1 (Wynn) and -2.5 (William Hill), numbers that drew immediate interest from favorite bettors. The Westgate moved from -1.5 to -3 (even) by Monday morning, while The Wynn adjusted to -2.5 on Sunday night. Bucs at Panthers (-10, 47) The Westgate opened Carolina -9....