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Longtime New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, who spent 30 years with the franchise, is retiring.

"Dante Scarnecchia is a Patriot and NFL legend who defied the phrase 'not for long,'" Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement Wednesday. "In an industry of constant change, Dante remained a fixture here for the simple reason that he helped every player reach his highest potential, regardless of whom he was, how he was acquired or how much raw talent he had. In whatever category a coach can be assessed -- evaluator, teacher, motivator, problem solver, disciplinarian, team player, winner -- Dante is as good as it gets. As many games as he helped us win and as much as we would like to work with Dante forever, we are blessed with the opportunity to have been with him as long as we were."

The Denver Broncos are heading to Super Bowl XLVIII after dominating the New England Patriots to win the AFC Championship game 26-16.

Peyton Manning threw for two touchdowns and more than 400 yards to beat Tom Brady in the latest instalment of their great quarterbacking rivalry, but it was Denver's clock management which was at the heart of the Broncos' victory.

The Denver Broncos held off a late rally by the San Diego Chargers to reach the AFC Championship game and set up another Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady battle.

The Broncos eventually won 24-17 after leading 17-0 going into the final quarter before the Chargers finally woke up. Until the final quarter San Diego had looked lost in the windy conditions at Mile High, conceding repeated neutral-zone infractions and failing to show any adventure on offense.

LeGarrette Blount rushed for four touchdowns as the New England Patriots pulled away from the Indianapolis Colts to win 43-22 and advance to the AFC Championship game for the third straight year. 

New England beat Indianapolis by concentrating on their rushing game, benefiting from some big turnovers, and finally running away with the game after leading 29-22 going into the final quarter.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known as a very serious man. Official NFL Website made a compilation of his seven smiles with a press conference during the regular season.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick smiled exactly seven times during postgame news conferences this season. 

Here are all seven smiles. 

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Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson's one game suspension has been reduced to a $100,000 fine for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Darren Sproles of New Orleans.

The NFL announced the decision Wednesday by Matt Birk, who handles appeals of discipline of on-field punishment for players for the league and NFL Players Association.

Goldson was suspended one game without pay Monday for flagrant and repeat violations of NFL safety rules prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players. This will allow him to play Sunday against New England.

He was penalized for unnecessary roughness in last week's game against New Orleans for the hit. It was Goldson's fifth violation for unnecessary roughness since 2011.

Birk upheld a $30,000 fine for another Goldson helmet to helmet hit in the opener against New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland.

Goldson was an All-Pro last season with San Francisco, helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl. He joined Tampa Bay as a free agent, signing a five-year, $41.25 million contract.

If the seventh-year pro's suspension had been upheld it would have cost Goldson $264,705 in salary.

The Bucs have committed a league-high 23 penalties for 220 yards in two games. They've been flagged for six personal fouls — five for helmet-to-helmet contact and the other for a late hit on Jets quarterback Geno Smith.

Article Source: AP NFL website

Jets rookie QB Geno Smith likely garnered confidence in beating the Bucs 18-17 on Sunday. Now New York catches a break with New England losing top rusher Shane Vereen to wrist surgery while top receiver Danny Amendola (groin) is questionable. 

But the Jets will be without WR/PR Jeremy Kerley. He sustained a concussion on Sunday's helmet-to-helmet hit by Bucs S Mark Barron. The Patriots needed a last-minute field goal to beat the Bills in Week 1, so this one might be tighter than expected as well.

For this game, my prediction is:

New England Patriots - New York Jets

New England - win less than 12 points difference, and this game is under 43 points in total