nfl-playoff Page 14 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

The NFL Wants Monday Playoff Games
NFL playoff expansion is coming, and probably within the next couple of years—there's too much money in it for it not to happen, once the league and the union can figure out how to split up the take. But more playoff teams means more games, and that means the weekends simply won't be big enough to c...

Jon Ryan Doing "The Belt" Is A Truly Great Moment In Punter History
After Seattle's batshit overtime victory over the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, we learned that Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, immediately after throwing a touchdown pass to backup tackle Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal, did Aaron Rodgers's belt move right at Packers head coach Mike McCarthy...

The Patriots' Ballghazi Scandal Cannot Be Overblown Enough
If you've been struggling to care about the Patriots being accused of deflating footballs, and have been hoping the whole thing would just blow over so we could get to talking about a truly excellent and fascinating Super Bowl matchup, you, my friend, are shit out of luck. Ballghazi is real, and it ...

This Fan-Shot Video Is The Best Way To Relive Jermaine Kearse's TD Catch
As far as in-stadium, fan-shot highlights go, this one is hard to top. It's shot from the best possible angle, it is crystal-clear in quality, and it features just enough of the Blair Witch-style screaming and shaking that makes this particular genre of highlight so enjoyable. If you're a Seahawks f...

Woman Goes Bonkers At Opportunity To Buy Patriots "AFC Champion" Shirt
If you're like me, you assumed those "conference champion" shirts and hats exist for players and coaches to wear in the moments after cashing their ticket to the Super Bowl. It turns out people actually buy these things, and one woman is really, really excited that her local Modell's is stocking P...

This Is How Close The Seahawks Came To Never Even Starting A Comeback
At The MMQB, Robert Klemko has a fascinating breakdown of the Seahawks' fake field goal that got them on the board and set the stage for their historic comeback. And it's incredible just how specific a scenario the Seahawks required to even give the green light for punter Jon Ryan to loft that tou...

Tom Brady Calls Ball-Tampering Allegations "Ridiculous"
Tom Brady, fresh off absolutely destroying the Colts, flying to Indianapolis to beat up their children, then salting the Indiana earth so that nothing will ever grow again, addressed the NFL's pending investigation into whether the Patriots illegally deflated footballs, and just as quickly dismissed...

Brandon Bostick Wasn't Supposed To Try To Catch That Onside Kick
On the other side of the Seahawks’ disbelieving delirium is, necessarily, a whole lot of Packers feeling individually shitty about something they did, or failed to do, any one of which might have been enough to ice this game for good. Settling for a pair of field goals from the 1-yard line comes to ...
![Patriots Under NFL Investigation For Deflating Footballs [Update]](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/nd1hgkzxcuyzoameq25e.jpg)
Patriots Under NFL Investigation For Deflating Footballs [Update]
WTHR's Bob Kravitz is reporting the NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots illegally deflated footballs during the team's AFC Championship game against the Colts Sunday night....

We All Make Mistakes
Clearly the Colts feel inspired by the turnover-laden NFC title game....

Michael Bennett Rode A Police Bike Around The Field
After a game like that, I don't think it's possible for anything to seem weird. A Seahawks DE commandeering a police bicycle, and pedaling triumphantly down the sideline and across the CenturyLink turf, feels entirely normal!...

Richard Sherman Still In Game After Apparent Hyperextended Elbow
It's never good to get armbar'd by your own teammate, but that happened in the fourth quarter to Seattle's Richard Sherman, who has yet to tap out; despite being in visible pain, he's remained in the game. ...

Russell Wilson's Neck Got The Worst Of His Interception
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NFL Playoff Bonuses Are A Fucking Disgrace
Time for your weekly edition of the Deadspin Funbag. Got something on your mind? Email the Funbag. Today, we're covering weird TV people, jock strap games, chapped lips, boner grinding, and more....


The NFL's Rules Are Dumb
The thing we have to establish to be able to talk about this with the same frame of reference is that Dez Bryant didn't catch that football. Oh sure, maybe he had the ball firmly in his grasp, maybe he was confident enough in his possession to turn and lunge for the end zone, wheeling his feet under...

T.J. Lang's Block On Nick Hayden Sparks Cowboys-Packers Shove-Fest
Green Bay offensive lineman T.J. Lang shoved Dallas defensive tackle Nick Hayden to the ground as officials blew their whistle on a Davante Adams catch, and that enough to start a big pushing match between some Packers and Cowboys....

The Patriots Annoyed John Harbaugh By Having Fun With Eligible Receivers
The Patriots needed creativity to beat the Ravens last night. Julian Edelman showed he could throw a deep ball better than Tom Brady on a trick-play touchdown bomb to Danny Amendola, but New England also ran a few plays that mixed up eligible receivers. Those formations were totally legal, but Balti...

Marshawn Lynch To Every Postgame Question: "I'm Thankful"
Marshawn Lynch had a relatively pedestrian game with 59 total rushing yards—including one impressive 25-yard run—in the Seahawk's 31-17 win over the Panthers, but after the game, the taciturn running back had to answer questions. His response of the week: "I'm thankful."...