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San Diego Chargers vs Denver Bronchos game preview and predictions

Before the wild-card weekend , the San Diego Chargers were the biggest longshots to win the Super Bowl of the playoff team . They entered their Sunday game with the Cincinnati Bengals as seven-point underdogs , getting barely arrived at the postseason as the No .6 seed . With the divisional round , approaching , though , the team stays alive , and trying to keep on their run against the Denver Broncos when the two teams meet at Sports Authority Field at Mile High .

San Diego pulled off the biggest surprise of the first round by easily beating the Bengals , 27-10 . The Chargers won in Cincinnati , that has been something no road team were capable of doing in the 2013 regular season .

Jay Gruden was appointed to be the next head coach of the Redskins on Thursday . The Washington Post originally reported the news , announcing the two sides were creating an agreement and only an "unexpected problem" could keep the deal from being completed . Gruden along with the Redskins have a news conference scheduled for 4 p .m . ET .

Although it's not the Gruden who will be on the top of every candidate wish list , it still seems like a good hire for the Redskins .

Gruden , who had an effective career in the Arena Football League as a player and coach , and has been with the Bengals since 2011 , did wonders with quarterback Andy Dalton ( just not in the postseason ) . Dalton has 11 ,360 yards and 80 touchdowns in three seasons , good numbers for a quarterback who is generally derided for without having the physical skills to be elite .

Now Gruden inherits a quarterback who may have one of the NFL's most intriguing skill sets in Robert Griffin III .

Griffin was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2012 , blew out his knee in a playoff game at the end of the season and never looked right in 2013 , Mike Shanahan's last year as Redskins coach . He hadn't developed much due to a lost offseason , but the Redskins must be hopeful that Gruden and his expertise get Griffin and the offense back on the upward plane it appeared to be on two seasons ago .

Nike announced, on Thursday, a line of items, inspired by the Lombardi Trophy, to use in the Super Bowl on the field and on the sidelines. 

The products as used by the players in the first wintry weather , outdoor Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb . 2 at MetLife Stadium include a Dri-Fit base layer with an integrated hood that protects the player from the effects of rain and snow , a new "zero slip" cleat with better traction whose improvement Nike says was accelerated by way of 3D printer and gloves which have an outer shell to protect the players hands from the elements with the inner part of the glove lined with fleece . 

For the sidelines, Nike offer the players exactly what it calls its Aeroloft Summit Jacket , which is thin and light or a heavier parka , both ones are filled up with goose down for warmth . 

Like most of the collection , the jackets are highlighted by its silver color inspired by the Lombardi Trophy. Many of the items will be available at retail.

The Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to have 16 free agents when the signing period begins, though some will be re-signed before then. Here is a list of the 16 listed by position group:

Wide receiver: Dexter McCluster, Kyle Williams. Tight end: Richard Gordon. Offensive line: Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah, Ricky Henry, Geoff Schwartz. Defensive line: Tyson Jackson, Jerrell Powe. Linebacker: Robert James, Akeem Jordan, Frank Zombo. Defensive back: Husain Abdullah, Quintin Demps, Kendrick Lewis.Long-snapper: Thomas Gafford.

Gordon and Henry are scheduled to become restricted free agents. I’m not clear on whether Powe and James would be exclusive rights or restricted free agents, though neither has a contract for 2014.

Everyone else is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.

I’ll be starting to dig into this with you beginning in the next few days. I’ll have some advice for Andy Reid and John Dorsey as to what they should be doing with this list as well as the players who are under contract for 2014. I’ve already started on what they should do with quarterback Alex Smith.

For now, a couple of quick thoughts on this free-agent list:

Ideally, the Chiefs would keep Albert, their starting left tackle. But his contract demands may be out of their price range. Asamoah and Schwartz split time as the starting right guard. The Chiefs will need to keep at least one of them and Schwartz’s versatility was valuable last season.

Abdullah, Demps and Lewis are among their top four safeties. But the Chiefs will have Sanders Commings, a rookie, coming back from injuries next year. The Chiefs like him a lot.

Article soure: ESPN

Calvin Johnson will not play in the Pro Bowl and will be replaced by Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery.

The Detroit Lions receiver has struggled with knee injuries all season long, including missing two games and being severely limited in at least two others, so it makes sense that he would sit out of the exhibition in Hawaii on Jan. 26.

He is likely going to have surgery on the right knee in the offseason for a sprained knee and to clean out loose bodies in it.

Jeffery, who had a breakout season and now gets a trip to Hawaii, is a player some would argue should have been in the game in the first place.

"Just being from where I came from to where I am now, what I'm doing…it's just special to be part of the success we're having as a team," Jeffery said in a statement released by the Bears. "I want to thank my Mama and my family. I'm going to continue to make you all proud."

Jeffery caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns this season in his second year in the league. He finished sixth in the league in receiving yards, 10th in receptions and tied for 23rd in touchdowns.

Johnson, in 14 games, caught 84 passes for 1,492 yards and 12 touchdowns

GREEN BAY, Wis. – A few observations from the 49ers’ 23-20 win over Green Bay on Sunday evening:

The San Francisco 49eers are moving on. The 49ers survived severe cold and vintage Aaron Rodgers to win this game in the final seconds. San Francisco kicker Phil Dawson hit an 33-yard goal with as time expired to go to give the 49ers the win. They will play at Carolina next week. The 49ers are now 13-4 and have won seven straight games and 12 of their past 14 games.

After big game in the second half, Chargers win over Bengals 27:10. A few thoughts on the San Diego Chargers’ 27-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card round. 

What it means: San Diego’s Cinderella season lives on. The Chargers kept Cincinnati’s 22-year playoff drought alive, and in the process earned their first postseason victory since the 2008 season. San Diego advances to the AFC divisional round, where the Chargers will face a familiar foe in the Denver Broncos. The Chargers split with the Broncos during the regular season, losing 28-20 in San Diego on Nov. 10, and winning in Denver 27-20 on Dec. 12. 

Turnover bonanza: San Diego's defense forced the Bengals into four turnovers on Sunday – a fumble by running back Giovani Bernard and three costly miscues by quarterback Andy Dalton – a fumble and two interceptions. The Chargers only scored six points off those turnovers, but defensively San Diego did a nice job of putting consistent pressure in Dalton’s face. 

Cool-hand Rivers: While Dalton once again struggled in the postseason, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers showed the value of having a franchise quarterback. Philip Rivers didn’t throw for a ton of yards, but he didn’t need to. Rivers finished 12 of 16 for 128 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown to tight end Ladarius Green. More important, Rivers and the San Diego offense finished with zero turnovers. 

Stock watch: Scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, Chargers linebacker Donald Butler showed way San Diego should consider keeping him around. Butler finished with a team-high 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss. 

What’s next: The Chargers travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the AFC divisional round playoffs on Sunday, 4:40 ET.  

Article source: ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS -- A couple of quick thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts' 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs .

What it really means: The Colts created history . They went from looking like they were on their way starting their vacation just after the game to pulling the second-largest comeback in playoff history . The Colts were down 38-10 when quarterback Andrew Luck performed his magic and receiver T .Y . Hilton was on the receiving end on almost all of those passes . Luck shook off three interceptions to go 29-of-45 for 443 yards and four touchdowns . The Colts completed the 28-point comeback when Luck hit Hilton down the middle of the field for a 64-yard touchdown with less than five minutes remaining . Buffalo's 32-point come-from-behind victory over Houston in 1992 playoffs is the largest.

Hilton plays big : Luck deserves a lot of credit for bringing the Colts back – and also for why they fell behind – but he got lots of help from Hilton , his go-to receiver since Reggie Wayne was lost for the season with a torn ACL . Hilton finished with 13 catches for a franchise-playoff record 224 yards , including the game-winning 64-yard touchdown that put the Colts up 45-44 .

Toler leaves the game : Colts cornerback Greg Toler’s day went from bad to worse when he left game with a groin injury in the first half . Toler’s bad game started when he missed tackled Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe twice on a 63-yard reception on their second offensive series . Then former Colt Donnie Avery blew by Toler for a 79-yard touchdown on the third play of the second quarter . Toler left the game later in the quarter with the groin injury . Toler missed seven games during the regular season with a groin injury .

What’s next : The Colts will travel to Denver or New England next weekend depending on the outcome of the Cincinnati-San Diego on Sunday.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Perhaps Green Bay Packers fans have little faith in this year's team.

How else to explain why they are thousands of sold tickets short of a sellout for Sunday's NFC playoff game at Lambeau Field against the San Francisco 49ers? As of Thursday morning, according to a team spokesman, the team has 5,500 unsold tickets. On Wednesday, the number stood at 7,500.

The Packers have a streak of 319 consecutive sellouts (301 regular-season games and 18 playoff games) and nearly 100,000 people on their season-ticket waiting list.

The Packers must sell out by 3:40 p.m. ET on Thursday to avoid a local television blackout. NFL rules say teams must sell out games at least 72 hours prior to kickoff to ensure they will be shown on local TV.

Green Bay isn't the only team having trouble selling out for this weekend's games, with the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals also faced with thousands of unsold tickets.

The Colts, who have sold out 137 of their last 138 games, have 5,500 tickets remaining that they need to sell to avoid having their Saturday game against the Kansas City Chiefs blacked out in the Indianapolis area.

The league extended the Colts' deadline to avoid a blackout to Thursday at 4:30 p.m. because Wednesday is a holiday.

In Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, the Bengals' director of sales and public affairs, said late Monday that after a good day of sales, more than 10,000 tickets remained for Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium against the San Diego Chargers. That number dippedto 8,000 tickets as of Wednesday afternoon.

In an effort to sell more tickets, the Bengals kept their ticket office open on New Year's Eve and will do the same New Year's Day. According to Berding, the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Bengals team spokesman Jack Brennan says the team is confident they can get an extension from Thursday to Friday to try to avoid a blackout.

The Bengals' ticket push has even become a civic issue in the city. On Monday, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley held an impromptu news conference at the start of coach Marvin Lewis' weekly remarks to encourage fans to come out for the game.

The Packers, at 8-7-1, have the worst record among the 12 playoff teams.

The organization sent out playoff ticket invoices to season-ticket holders during the seven-game stretch in which quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sidelined because of a broken collarbone. When Rodgers returned for the regular-season finale Sunday and helped the Packers beat the Chicago Bears to win the NFC North, the team still had 40,000 tickets available for the opening round of the playoffs.

The team gave season-ticket holders another chance to buy seats on Monday morning before opening the sale to the public later in the day. A team spokesman said Tuesday the four-ticket limit per transaction that was in place Monday has been lifted.

The Packers added 7,000 seats this season behind the south end zone, bringing capacity at Lambeau Field to 80,750. The waiting list for season tickets was more than 100,000 people before the seats were added.

ESPN.com previously reported that owners can buy postseason tickets for 34 cents on the dollar to avoid blackout. While that is the case for regular season games, owners must pay full price for playoff tickets.

Ticket sales weren't a problem for the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, with the team saying it sold out in less than 30 minutes. The NFC's top seed opens in the playoffs on Jan. 11.

ESPN.com sports business reporter Darren Rovell, Colts reporter Mike Wells and Bengals reporter Coley Harvey contributed to this report.

Article Source: ESPN