NFL DRAFT CENTRAL: News, scouting reports, team needs, more Laremy Tunsil still sits atop our board, but the Cowboys and Eagles may be jostling for the No. 1 pick. Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch quietly may be coveted by multiple teams, but one particular mid first-round team remains his best fit. It also is time to get to know Mississippi State’s Chris Jones, Houston’s Will Jackson and Boston College’s Justin Simmons....

To kick off Week 8, we have a good Thursday Night Football matchup between two perennial powers, as the Ravens will fly down south to take on the reeling Buccaneers. Finally, on Sunday, we have a 13-game slate where bettors can find some interesting angles on player props, sides, totals, and money lines, especially with only two teams on a bye (Chiefs and Chargers) and a London matchup between the Broncos and Jaguars....

This poster surfaced in the Carolina Panthers’ locker room with several instances and examples of what would be considered illegal according to team rules. Defensive end Greg Hardy was used as an example of excessive use of eye black with the words “face paint” above him. Hardy, who had 15 sacks last year and was given the franchise tag this offseason, uses the face paint to transform into “The Kraken” an on-field persona completed with the use of the eye black....

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Some teams are playing with playoff implications on the line. Some teams are playing for next season. The level of motivation reflects the numbers small and big. There are a couple weeks left of the regular season to finish strong. Without further ado, here’s getting into our latest fearless forecast of pro pigskin prognostications: (Game odds reflect opening odds for Week 17, courtesy of FanDuel) NFL POWER RANKINGS:Cowboys, Bills, Eagles rise; Patriots, Steelers, Browns fall for Week 17...

Although that may sound cliché, and it is, we can’t wait to dive into Week 2 with more NFL picks against the spread. This week presents a lot of interesting betting lines, including three double-digit spreads and three pure toss-ups. Let’s do our best with that, shall we? MORE: Get the latest NFL odds at Sportsbook Review Week 2 NFL picks against the spread Game of the Week: New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (-2, -105)...

The Cardinals, on the other hand, are the league’s only winless team. Based on their playoff chances, they probably should start planning for next season. AccuScore has used data from the first four weeks of the 2018 season and simulated every remaining game. Updated playoff chances are below. WEEK 5 NFL PICKS:Against the spread | Straight up NFL playoff chances 2018 NFL playoff odds Biggest improvements in playoff chances:...

The team we projected to win Super Bowl 55 finished 14-2, is the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the odds-on favorite to repeat as champions. In fact, we correctly picked five of the seven AFC playoff representatives, including the end of the Browns’ 18-year drought and the Bills’ first division title since 1995. However, we didn’t fare as well in the NFC, where we thought the historically bad NFC East would produce two playoff teams (ouch) and our prediction of the top-seeded Packers’ demise was painfully premature....

Arizona would have clinched at least a playoff spot with a win over Detroit. Instead, the NFC West leaders fell to 10-4 with their second consecutive loss. Overall, the Cardinals have gone 3-4 in their past seven games. Here’s how the latest disappointing defeat impacts the Cardinals and the rest of the NFC contenders: MORE: Updated complete NFL playoff picture for Week 15 NFL playoff picture: NFC standings The Cardinals started the day as the No....

Both teams have four regular-season games left to determine who wins the division and advances to the NFC playoffs as a likely top-two seed, earning at least a first-round bye and potentially home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The division runner-up is facing a hard playoff road as the likely No. 5 seed sure to draw a wild-card matchup at the eventual NFC East champions, either the Cowboys or the Eagles....

“I didn’t know 6-6 could feel that good,” Rivers said in his postgame news conference. He’s not the only one who should be experiencing that same emotion. Like the resurgent Chargers, other clubs in the .500 range aren’t out of the playoff mix coming down the home stretch. MORE: NFL playoff picture for Week 14 Since the league adopted its current division standings in 2002, at least one squad at 6-6 or worse through 12 games has reached the postseason....

The Seahawks and Falcons in Week 17 will be fighting for the NFC’s final wild-card spot. Atlanta, which hosts Carolina, only needs to win. Seattle needs to take care of Arizona at home and hope the Falcons fall to the Panthers. In the AFC, both wild-card spots are up for grabs in Week 17. The Ravens and Titans are in the best positions to take those seeds, as they both simply need to win Sunday....

There are some good and bad surprises as usual. Some consistent contenders are finding their way back from rough starts, but others are going back to pretending. Here’s a look at our updated NFL power rankings going into Week 5. WEEK 5 NFL PICKS:Straight up | Against the spread NFL power rankings Los Angeles Rams 4-0 (last week: 1) With Jared Goff going off and Todd Gurley as the exceptional afterthought, it really doesn’t matter if they’re a little shorthanded defensively....

Right after Super Bowl 55, the winning Buccaneers and losing Chiefs looked pretty good to stay near the top going into 2021. Behind them, the rest of the playoff-caliber NFC and AFC contenders did their best to stay ahead of fast risers, but as with every year, some are bound to be displaced. Here’s how things are looking before the offseason training program begins in earnest with OTAs and minicamps just around the corner...

A lot of teams’ fortunes will either look a lot brighter or bleaker after NFL free agency and the NFL Draft. But because the NFL offseason unofficially arrived on Sunday night, here are Sporting News’ way-too-early power rankings for next season. MORE: NFL offseason schedule 1. New England Patriots Until Tom Brady retires, the Patriots have a permanent reserved spot here. 2. Minnesota Vikings The defense is sturdy, and the offense will get better once Dalvin Cook returns as the feature back and they find an upgrade at quarterback post-free agency....

After triumphing on the road in Week 1, the winners of Super Bowl LII have lost both of their preseason games at home. The last of those defeats came against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, with the Eagles losing 26-15 in front of their own fans. To make matters even worse, Philadelphia lost reserve quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler to injuries, and were forced to drag Josh McCown out of retirement to provide back-up for Carson Wentz....

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....