Los Angeles Chargers
Atlanta Legends coach Kevin Coyle, left, chats with Orlando Apollos coach Steve Spurrier on the field before an AAF football game Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New league pleased with first-week ratings but cautious

By Joe Reedy Feb. 13, 2019 07:12 PM EST

Fans line up outside Mercedes-Benz Superdome before the NFL football NFC championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints 1/20/2019

Feb. 13, 2019 05:12 AM EST

Fans wait in frigid temperatures before an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots , Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots 1/13/2019

Feb. 13, 2019 04:50 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Darius Philon, left, celebrates after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. The Chargers held Tom Brady and New England to just one touchdown in four red zone trips in last year's game. After flummoxing Baltimore last week, Gus Bradley is hoping to come up with another successful game plan this week. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots 10/29/2017

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2017, file photo, then-Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano calls out encouragement during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bears hired former Colts coach Pagano to replace Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, hoping he can help them build on what they accomplished this season. Pagano inherits one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses after Fangio left to take the Denver Broncos’ head coaching job. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars 12/3/2017

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, Calif. Broncos rookie running back Phillip Lindsay will attend the Pro Bowl this month as a social media correspondent on the NFL’s dime. Lindsay became the first undrafted offensive player to earn a Pro Bowl selection. But a wrist injury at Oakland on Christmas Eve threatened to prevent him from attending the all-star game in Orlando, Florida, this month. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers 11/18/2018

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2018 file photo Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Brandon Mebane warms up before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Carson, Calif. Mebane is likely to play for the Chargers this week following the death of 7-week old daughter. Makenna Mebane died on Jan. 3. She was born on Nov. 12 with a defective heart condition. The Chargers defensive end was in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife, Amena, and other two children, 4-year-old Mahailey and 2-year-old Makai, for most of the past two months while Makenna received treatment for a stomach infection. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)
Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers 10/7/2018

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (8) and Joe Flacco walk onto the field before an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens 1/6/2019

Feb. 13, 2019 04:31 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) scrambles in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, in Carson, Calif. The Chargers could go far if Philip Rivers plays like he did for most of the season. Rivers had a 105.5 passer rating during the regular season, which equals his career best. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers 11/25/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles looks to his right while under center during the team's NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Philadelphia. Foles seems to have a magic touch. He's 6-0 in must-win games the past two seasons and it wouldn't be a shocker if he pulled off another miracle.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola, FIle)
Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles 12/23/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) tries to get past Los Angeles Chargers' Jatavis Brown during the second half of an NFL football game, in Seattle. Russell Wilson won a playoff game with Seattle as a rookie, a Super Bowl in his second season and another NFC championship the third time around. The best Dak Prescott can hope for with the Dallas Cowboys is to join Wilson on that list of Super Bowl winners in his third year, a quest that will start with the first postseason meeting of quarterbacks with quite a bit in common, other than postseason pedigree.(AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle Seahawks 11/4/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2018, file photo, Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, left, and cornerback Brandon Carr force a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates during the second half in an NFL football game, in Carson, Calif. Some juicy rematches highlight wild-card weekend, in which, well, just about any of the eight teams advancing wouldn't be a surprise. Seattle beat Dallas early this season, and Baltimore handled the Los Angeles Chargers late. The Colts and Texans split two games. Only the Eagles and Bears didn't face off.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers 12/22/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leaps over the line of scrimmage for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. New England’s mettle has been tested weekly. But after nabbing yet another a first-round bye, it’s put the Patriots in position to make another deep playoff run. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots 10/4/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon wears a University of Wisconsin hat as he warms up before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos 12/30/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 10:53 AM EST

Coach of the Chicago Bears Matt Nagy accepts the award for AP coach of the year at the 8th Annual NFL Honors at The Fox Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul Abell/Invision for NFL/AP Images)
The Latest: Chiefs QB Mahomes wins NFL MVP award

Feb. 02, 2019 07:02 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick holds the AFC Championship trophy as he talks with broadcaster Jim Nantz after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs the AFC Championship NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. Nantz has been the lead announcer for many events during his 34 years at CBS, but calling four major championship events in a span of 106 days will be something new. The stretch begins on Sunday when Nantz calls his fifth Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Super Bowl start of championship stretch for CBS' Nantz

By Joe Reedy Feb. 01, 2019 06:39 PM EST

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass during NFL football practice, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, in Atlanta, as the team prepares for Super Bowl 53 against the Los Angeles Rams. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Patriots right where they want to be entering Super Bowl

By Kyle Hightower Feb. 01, 2019 05:59 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers warms up before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Rivers fought back tears as he accepted an award from the San Diego Sports Association at its annual Salute to the Champions dinner Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Emotional Philip Rivers thanks San Diego for its support

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 01, 2019 03:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2017, file photo, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) tackles San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. Peppers announced his retirement, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, after 17 NFL seasons, nine Pro Bowl appearances and six All-Pro selections. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Carolina's Julius Peppers retires after 17 seasons

Feb. 01, 2019 02:05 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) battles Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (93) for a ball Wilson lost on a fumble and returned for a touchdown by defensive end Dante Fowler during the second half in an NFL football game in Los Angeles. The Rams know they've got to pressure Tom Brady early and often to have a chance in the Super Bowl, and they've been assembling the tools for this job all year long. They signed Ndamukong Suh to a big free-agent deal, wrote a record-breaking contract for Aaron Donald and acquired edge rusher Dante Fowler from Jacksonville down the stretch. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)
Chasing Brady: Donald, Suh to lead Rams' Super Bowl pursuit

By Greg Beacham Jan. 30, 2019 04:06 PM EST