CHICAGO — Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett is in rare territory.

His 20 sacks through 13 games puts him just 2 1/2 shy of the single-season NFL record set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and matched by T.J. Watt in 2021. Garrett has four games to tie or surpass the record. (Unofficially, the Detroit Lions’ Al “Bubba” Baker recorded...Read more

Last week was a bloodbath for many of us in the habit of making public our picks. Not saying I’m happy with 8-6 straight-up and 7-7 vs. the bet line, but relatively speaking I’m OK with it. Nailed our Upset of the Week with Chargers beating Eagles (”Aawwk!”), had two other ‘dogs-with-points on covers by Saints and Steelers, and missed ...Read more

Here's a look back at Week 14's action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 14 RECAP

Lions 44, Cowboys 30: Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 120 total yards and three rushing touchdowns on 19 touches (seven receptions) in a victory over Dallas. Gibbs is on pace to produce 2,009 total yards and 21 total TDs on 321 touches, including 76 ...Read more

BALTIMORE — With around two dozen Ravens players slated to hit free agency this offseason, Baltimore addressed one of its biggest needs on Thursday.

Defensive tackle Travis Jones has agreed to a three-year extension, the team said Thursday. The deal is worth $40.5 million and includes $25 million guaranteed, a source with direct knowledge of ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 15 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 6-8 (.429) record. Through the first 14 weeks of the season, he is 136-72 (.654).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt remained in a Pittsburgh hospital on Thursday afternoon as he continued to be evaluated for a lung issue. His availability for Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins in question.

According to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Watt experienced discomfort at the team's practice ...Read more

Sometimes the chaos of the NFL hands you exactly what you need when you’re busy doing absolutely nothing.

The San Francisco 49ers spent last week on their couches, resting and watching RedZone, only to see the football gods — and the Philadelphia Eagles — part the Red Sea for them.

The Eagles lost. The path to the NFC’s No. 1 seed, ...Read more

MIAMI — Mike Tomlin has not only been a pillar of granite for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise for 19 seasons, but he has also been a painful reminder of one of the Miami Dolphins’ biggest missteps that took place nearly two decades ago.

I’m referring to a mind-set this franchise’s decision makers had back in 2007, right after Nick ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers as a collective have come out in defense of Mike Tomlin after they beat the Ravens on Sunday. And many among his legion of national media shills have come to his defense, as well.

Aaron Rodgers said he hopes the win over the Ravens will get everyone criticizing Tomlin to “shut the hell up,” and Ryan Clark went ...Read more

SEATTLE — They say that comparison is the thief of joy, but sometimes it can be the source of it.

Nobody here is arguing that the Seahawks will ever see a three-year draft stretch like the one that spawned the Legion of Boom era, but these past few springs might not rank too far behind.

There was a little lull regarding what this team ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears have not given a clear answer as to cornerback Kyler Gordon’s status moving forward after he injured his groin in pregame warmups Sunday in Green Bay, Wis.

Asked Wednesday if Gordon will return this season, coach Ben Johnson said, “to be determined.”

“I haven’t heard (a status) over the last couple of ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Troy Aikman said he’s “done with NIL” after writing a check to a UCLA football player who never thanked him and went on to leave for another school after one season.

There was a reason for that lack of gratitude, according to one person familiar with the Bruins’ football name, image and likeness operations from that time...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Philip Rivers has never been quick on his feet, but he can make quick decisions. That's what made him such an outstanding NFL quarterback, and it's part of the reason he's a Hall of Fame semifinalist.

So it's not surprising that, even at 44 and a grandfather, he didn't linger long when the Indianapolis Colts called to take his ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The NFL is advocating a more performance-driven model for its game officials, one linking bonuses and postseason assignments to regular-season grades as opposed to seniority.

The plan was outlined in a memo distributed to the league's 32 teams Wednesday and obtained by the Los Angeles Times. It comes with the NFL's collective ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The NFL is the ultimate wait-until-next-year sports league. The Atlanta Falcons have been waiting for eight years.

Make it nine years with no playoffs in 2026 for the Falcons. I don’t see how they’ll be much better next year.

The quarterback will be unproven next season, as he was this year, except Michael Penix Jr....Read more

NEW YORK — Surely the Giants can’t be serious.

Or maybe they are serious. And don’t call them Shirley.

Airplane seating apparently was the final straw that led to the firing of assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox during the team’s bye week.

“You’d have to ask him,” head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday of Cox.

The Giants’...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 15 THURSDAY PICK

FALCONS (4-9) at BUCCANEERS (7-6)

Line: TB by 4 1/2.

Cote’s pick: TB, 24-21.

TV: 8:15 p.m., Prime Video.

Among this year’s many NFL mysteries: Who is Tampa Bay? Is it the Buccaneers who were sailing at 5-1 and 6-2 ... or the team that has withered since? With that reverse gear caused by Baker ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time all season, the Bucs’ top four receivers could be in the lineup Thursday night against the Falcons.

Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were activated from injured reserve Wednesday after a solid week of practice, giving a boost to Tampa Bay’s struggling offense.

Both were listed as questionable on Wednesday’...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — This is bigger than stopping the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

It’s more important than stopping Kirk Cousins or Bijan Robinson or Drake London.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, the real question is this:

Are they capable of stopping their own demise?

We are at the point of the season where Tampa Bay’s defense ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It may not appear as such after the Pittsburgh Steelers allowed the Baltimore Ravens to rush for over 200 yards for the third consecutive meeting.

Or when, beginning with the 10-play drive that produced a field goal at the start of the fourth quarter, the Ravens outgained the Steelers, 209 yards to eight, the rest of the way.

...Read more