The NFL released its playoff scenarios update for Week 15, explaining the Seahawks actually could become the first of seven teams to clinch playoff spots or seeds with a win over the Rams Thursday in Seattle. The Lions and Giants also can clinch playoff spots with wins and help, while the Cowboys can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a unique scenario: a win Sunday night over the Buccaneers and a tie in the Lions-Giants game....

On the AFC side, the Chiefs will host the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. On the NFC side, the Packers will host the Buccaneers at Lambeau Field. All four teams have top-tier quarterbacks, though the status of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is uncertain after his concussion in the divisional round. Star defensive players litter the remaining contenders, but it will be those passers making Sunday a special occasion for postseason action with a significant national draw....

Newsweek has detailed the weather and a preview for each of the NFL’s divisional games below. Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers The first matchup of the National Football Conference (NFC) divisional round will feature the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, January 11, at 4:35 p.m. ET. According to AccuWeather forecasters, the game is projected to have an average temperature of around 56 degrees, which is usual for Southern California in January....

The wild, wacky 2021 season of parity has taken “any given Sunday” to a whole new level. Every week, upsets and upstarts change the landscape of the league when trying to separate its best teams from its worst. Starting with No. 1 (again), there are more big changes, more risers and fallers, in this week’s Sporting News’ power rankings. Here’s how SN sees the teams stacking up against each other, from 1-32, going into Week 12:...

We have been treated to some nice surprises in the NFL standings, but disappointing teams can no longer trick us. Every week, there’s a little more information as to who’s more of a full-sized candy bar and who’s an uneaten piece of candy corn. Who are the teams to fear, and which have proved to be frighteningly bad? Here are this week’s power rankings, with a tip of the helmet to Halloween....

Everything in between, however, is seeing a lot of change. A few good teams are tumbling fast because of bad Week 2 losses that included injuries to quarterbacks. On the other hand, few supposedly bad teams are surging as early-season surprises. WATCH: The best of NFL Week 2 in 60 seconds Here’s how it all shakes out in order ahead of Week 3. NFL power rankings New England Patriots, 2-0 (previous ranking: 1) The Patriots’ defense has been dominant, somehow an underrated storyline because of all the drama surrounding the acquisition of Antonio Brown....

This is about the time when teams separate as true contenders for the Super Bowl. With more unpredictability, however, that group is expanded conveniently, for now, to this week’s top 10 teams in Sporting News’ latest power rankings. MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture NFL Power Rankings: Week 12 Philadelphia Eagles 9-1 (last week: 1) They started a little slow after the bye in Dallas, but they quickly found overdrive with a dominant rushing attack and swarming defense to support Carson Wentz....

The Cowboys’ latest regression to mediocrity cost coach Jason Garrett his job. He was replaced by Mike McCarthy, who was used to taking his Packers teams consistently to the playoffs. Dallas’ offense was explosive enough to win more games last season. But a red-hot 3-0 start was marred by a weak end, allowing the Eagles to take the division instead. The biggest concern was the Cowboys not being able to finish out close games....

Two of Jones’ three older brothers serve in the military, and one of them wouldn’t be able to leave his base to join the family in Chicago. “If all of them couldn’t go,” Jude Kelly recalled his former player saying, “then I couldn’t go, because we all are going together.” MORE: SN draft central | Latest Mock | Late-rising prospects | Sleepers That’s typical, Kelly said. For those who know Jones, the only things less surprising than the spectacular athletic ability he showed at February’s Combine are the deep family ties and the generous, humble nature he exhibits for everybody everywhere....

The NFL has 10 new head coaches this season, and five of them are rookies. While there’s usually a bit of a learning curve, most rookie head coaches who made their debuts in Week 1 were on the winning end of things. Matt Eberflus (Bears), Brian Daboll (Giants), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins) and Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) all helped guide their squads to winning performances in the opening weekend of the NFL season....

A year later, the Browns have already moved on from Tate; West is slipping down the depth chart during training camp; and only Crowell has shown signs of being at least a rotational back. Enter Duke Johnson, the team’s third-round rookie out of the Univ. of Miami. His big-play ability and versatility will be relied upon instantly and in multiple areas for the offense. He’s already the No. 2 back on the preseason depth chart and he’ll also be used as the team’s best short-area receiving threat....

On March 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear the NFL’s appeal of a federal court decision that nullified a four-game suspension given to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal. Reuters first reported the date of the scheduled hearing. MORE: Patriots-Bills odds | Know your ‘gates’ According to a pre-argument statement filed in September by league attorneys, the NFL will appeal U....

The league is getting “intense interest” in the Thursday night package, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with NBC, Turner and Fox possible bidders in addition to the incumbent, CBS. MORE: Images | Why is nobody criticizing Cam? Did you see him? | LINEMAKERS: Bills at Patriots odds, props Not surprisingly, the NFL will come out the big winner no matter what happens. Analysts told THR the rights package could bring in $600 million annually — double what CBS is paying the league this year....

The playoff drama will begin hours before the battle in the AFC South, though. That’s the case in the AFC North, in particular, where either the Steelers or the Ravens will exit Week 17 as division champions. The other will fail to make the playoffs. It all comes down to those teams’ games against the Bengals and Browns, respectively. Also up for grabs is the final NFC wild-card spot. The Vikings can earn it by beating the Bears, but the Eagles, who face the Redskins, are lurking in case Minnesota slips....

Following a shocking loss to the Jaguars, the Bills return to AFC East competition when they head to East Rutherford to take on the Jets. The Cowboys will be back in Jerry World to face off against the Falcons hoping to rebound falling to the Broncos. And the Raiders will hope to hold off the Chiefs in the AFC West after losing to the Giants. But there are also a few teams looking to keep the ball rolling on Sunday....

MORE: Scoreboard | Best of Week 4 photos | Vinnie Iyer’s picks | David Steele’s picks NFL WEEK 4 SCORES All times ET Monday night New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:30 p.m., ESPN | Preview MORE: Chiefs’ McKnight tears Achilles COMPLETE Green Bay Packers 38, Chicago Bears 17 | Recap | Stats | Highlights IYER: Rodgers, Packers spell victory R-E-L-A-X Baltimore Ravens 38, Carolina Panthers 10 | Stats | Highlights...

MORE: NFL scores (live) | Must-see photos | Latest news NFL SCORES — WEEK 9 Indianapolis Colts 27, Houston Texans 24 Recap | Stats | Video Case Kennum's first NFL start got Houston rolling, and the team was up 21-3 as it headed for the locker room. But coach Gary Kubiak never made it there, collapsing on the field. With Kubiak getting treatment and tests at a hospital the Texans can't maintain their edge....

Davis, considered one of the top linebackers in this year’s NFL Draft, is still recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the final three games of the Gators’ 2016 season. Rapoport reported Davis will meet with NFL teams at the Combine but is expected to do a full workout — including the 40-yard dash — at Florida’s Pro Day. MORE: NFL Scouting Combine 2017: TV schedule, dates, participants...

Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s latest playoff field and seedings, looking at the contenders on the brink of joining the potential postseason party: NFL POWER RANKINGS: 49ers, Seahawks surge as NFC contenders; Raiders, Steelers flirt with worst NFL standings after Week 9 AFC playoff picture Buffalo Bills (6-2), first place, AFC North. The preseason Super Bowl 57 favorites stumbled for a second time in a division road game, losing at the upstart Jets in Week 9....