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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Monday, December 29, 2025

Brandin Cooks Posts Game-High 101 Yards for Bills in Loss to Eagles

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks delivered a game-high performance, tallying 101 yards on four catches during Sunday's loss to the Eagles. His six targets were the second-highest on the team and marked a significant increase, doubling his previous high through four games with the Bills. Cooks also received his largest playing-time share since arriving in Buffalo, despite the team continuing to utilize a heavy wide receiver rotation.

Chase Brown Dominates Week 17 with 101 Yards, 2 TDs, Continues Strong Form

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown delivered a dominant performance in Sunday's blowout win over Arizona, tallying 22 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He also proved effective in the passing game, catching all three of his targets for 40 receiving yards. Brown has been on a league-winning tear, recording 29.1 and 32.9 PPR points over his past two matchups, and has not dipped under 15 points since Week 7, solidifying his impact.

Patriots' Barmore Blasts 'Dirty' Jets Player; Vrabel Details Confrontation

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New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore publicly criticized a New York Jets player, labeling them 'dirty' following a confrontation at the end of the first half of Sunday's blowout victory. Head coach Mike Vrabel provided further details regarding the incident, which occurred during the Patriots' dominant performance. The team explained the events that transpired on the field, shedding light on the heated exchange that took place.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson Blasts 'BS Call' Negating Purdy Interception

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Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson publicly criticized officiating on X, calling a penalty a 'BS call' that negated his red-zone interception of 49ers QB Brock Purdy in Sunday's 42-38 loss. The illegal use of hands penalty resulted in a 49ers first down, which Purdy capitalized on with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Gardner-Johnson's comments on social media could potentially lead to a fine from the NFL.

Panthers' Horn: Seahawks Loss Stings, Focused on Week 18 Bucs Showdown

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Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn acknowledged that Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks was painful, especially as the Buccaneers also lost, meaning the Panthers missed a chance to clinch the NFC South. Despite the sting, Horn emphasized that the team's mindset was always focused on beating the Buccaneers in Week 18. The Panthers can secure the division title by defeating Tampa Bay, or through a scenario where the Falcons win out. The immediate goal is to quickly move past the Seahawks defeat and prepare for the crucial divisional matchup.

Bears WR Luther Burden Suffers Quad Injury, Not Serious; Had Career Game

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden suffered a quad injury on the final play of Sunday night's 42-38 loss to the 49ers, requiring him to be carted off the field. Despite the visual, the injury is not believed to be serious, and he will undergo further tests on Monday. Burden had a huge, career-high game before the injury, hauling in 8 of 9 targets for 138 yards and a touchdown. With the Bears having clinched the NFC North, there's a possibility the team may opt to rest starters, including Burden, in Week 18 against the Lions.

Jaquan Brisker Blames Bears Defense for 49ers Shootout Loss

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Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker took responsibility for the team's 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, stating the defense "let the offense down." Brisker emphasized that quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense provided enough points for a victory, but the defense failed to hold up its end. The Bears' defense gave up 42 points and struggled to affect Brock Purdy, registering only one sack despite an early interception.

Lenoir Issues Blunt Warning to Seahawks Ahead of Week 18 Showdown

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49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir discussed the upcoming Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, stating, “They know what time it is, I ain’t got to say too much.” The 49ers are 7-1 since dropping to a 5-3 record, with Lenoir expressing satisfaction in "proving the doubters wrong." HC Kyle Shanahan is enthusiastic about the opportunity to clinch home field advantage for the playoffs with a win over their division rivals.

Zach Charbonnet Dominates Seahawks Backfield with Season-High 110 Yards, 2 TDs

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Seattle Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet delivered his best performance of the season, taking control of the backfield in a 27-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. He rushed 18 times for a season-high 110 yards and scored two touchdowns. This marked the first time since Week 13 that Charbonnet received more carries than fellow running back Kenneth Walker III, signaling a potential shift in the team's rushing attack hierarchy and establishing Charbonnet's lead role.

Kenneth Walker's Carries Reduced as Charbonnet Leads Seahawks Backfield

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Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III saw a notable shift in backfield usage during the team's 27-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. For the first time since Week 13, Zach Charbonnet received more carries than Walker, posting season-highs with 18 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This development suggests a potential change in the distribution of touches within the Seahawks' running back committee, with Charbonnet taking a lead role.

Jake Matthews Nears Father's Consecutive Start Record with 193rd MNF Start

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Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews is set to make his 193rd consecutive start on Monday Night Football. This milestone places him 36 starts behind his Hall of Fame father, Bruce Matthews, as he continues to build on his impressive iron man streak for the Falcons.

Bears Coach Ben Johnson Laments Defense's Inability to Affect Brock Purdy

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Bears head coach Ben Johnson expressed frustration over his defense's performance against 49ers QB Brock Purdy, stating, "we certainly didn't affect him enough." Johnson acknowledged Purdy as a "dangerous player" who extended plays with his legs and had ample time to see downfield, leading to the 49ers' 42-38 victory. The Bears will need a better answer for Purdy if they meet again in the postseason, as Purdy's five total touchdowns proved too much to overcome.

Cameron Jordan Earns $600K Bonus After Replay Ruling Confirms 9th Sack

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Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan secured a lucrative $600,000 contract bonus after a replay ruling awarded him his ninth sack of the season. Jordan, who entered Sunday's game against the Titans with 8.5 sacks, benefited from the overturned play against Titans QB Cam Ward, making it one of his most financially significant sacks despite the game being between two teams out of playoff contention.

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Williams' 330 Yards, 2 TDs Not Enough as Bears Fall, Out of Top Seed Race

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Caleb Williams delivered a season-high 330 passing yards and two touchdowns, adding 18 rushing yards, in the Bears' 42-38 shootout loss to the 49ers. This marked his first career game exceeding 300 passing yards and his fourth consecutive start with multiple touchdowns. Despite leading five scoring drives, the defeat knocked Chicago out of contention for the NFC's top seed. The young QB's impressive outing highlighted the offense's potential.

Jake Tonges Shines with TD, 60 Yards in Spot-Start for 49ers

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49ers TE Jake Tonges capitalized on a spot-start opportunity with George Kittle (ankle) inactive, catching seven of nine targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears. This marked his best receiving line as a pro, leading the 49ers in targets and receptions, including a 1-yard TD pass from Brock Purdy. Tonges had previously accrued a 22-209-2 line on 31 targets in five games when Kittle was sidelined earlier in the season. Kittle's status for Week 18 is uncertain, but Tonges would retain elite streaming status if Kittle remains sidelined.

Brock Purdy Accounts for 5 TDs Again, Leads 49ers to Crucial Win

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Brock Purdy delivered a stellar performance, accounting for five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) in the 49ers' 42-38 victory over the Bears. He passed for 303 yards and added 28 rushing yards, marking his second consecutive game with five total touchdowns. Purdy, the sixth NFL player since the merger to achieve this feat, remained poised despite an early pick-six. His strong play, showcasing improved mobility, keeps San Francisco in contention for the NFC's No. 1 seed, setting up a Week 18 showdown for the top spot.

Jalen Carter Returns Healthy, Dominates With Sack & Crucial PAT Block

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Eagles DT Jalen Carter returned from a three-game absence due to shoulder procedures, feeling 'way better' and immediately impacting the 13-12 win over the Bills. He recorded a sack against O'Cyrus Torrence, generated several pressures, and made a crucial PAT block that helped secure the victory. Coach Nick Sirianni praised Carter as a 'big-time player' whose return is vital for the Eagles' playoff run. The defense, which sacked Josh Allen five times, looks formidable with Carter back at full strength.

Allen's Foot Aggravated in Loss; Sacked 5 Times as Bills' AFC East Hopes End

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Bills QB Josh Allen's right foot was aggravated in Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Eagles, though X-rays were negative. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 262 yards, adding 27 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked five times and failed to throw a TD. The Eagles' defense smothered the Bills, holding them to a season-low 12 points and ending their AFC East title hopes. Despite limping, HC Sean McDermott stated the foot didn't impact his play. With a Wild Card spot secured, Allen may be rested in Week 18.

Loveland Scores TD, Sees Expanded Role in Loss

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Colston Loveland finished with six receptions on 10 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown in the 42-38 loss to San Francisco. The rookie tight end took on a larger role with other receivers out, scoring a 36-yard touchdown. He has averaged 56.2 yards per game over his last nine contests, scoring all five of his touchdowns in that span.

Monangai Gains 47 Yards in Loss to 49ers

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Kyle Monangai handled eight carries for 38 yards and caught three of four targets for nine yards in the 42-38 loss to the 49ers. He averaged well over 4.0 yards per carry against the 49ers' run defense. Monangai has averaged 44.5 rushing yards per game with no touchdowns over his last four contests but remains a featured piece on offense.