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☆ NFL jersey sales: See whose jerseys were the most popular this season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Alex Matthews | Alex Leeds Matthews | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Three of the stars playing in this weekend’s Super Bowl — San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, quarterback Brock Purdy and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes — have dominated jersey sales throughout the NFL season. Mahomes’ jersey sales had a strong start this season, following his 2022 NFL and Super Bowl MVP awards. But while punching a ticket to the Super Bowl helps sell jerseys, it’s not the only thing that drove jersey sales. But over the course of the entire season, Travis Kelce’s brother Jason and his Philadelphia Eagles teammate Jalen Hurts’ jerseys consistently ranked higher in jersey sales. Following that first appearance, he ranked in the top 10 jersey sales another six times in the latter half of the season.

Persons: Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes —, McCaffrey, Mahomes, it’s, Travis Kelce’s, Taylor Swift, Seth Schlechter, Jason, Jalen, Jason Kelce’s, CJ Stroud’s, Micah Parsons, Parsons, CeeDee Lamb Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, 49ers, Chiefs, Super, Super Bowl, CNN, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Sunday’s Super Bowl

☆ Brock Purdy treads the ‘fine line’ between serious and fun ahead of the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Given the relentless nature of Super Bowl preparations, do players ever have the time to take a step back and just enjoy the moment? Niners quarterback Brock Purdy says there is a “fine line” between serious preparations and having fun, but believes it is important to remember what being there means to him. “We are in the Super Bowl. It was the latest chapter of a thrilling season in which Purdy has ascended to become one of the faces of the league. So yes, you understand that and are aware of that, but that stuff you don’t really have time to spend thinking about.

Persons: Brock Purdy, ”, ” Purdy, Purdy, “, ’, ” Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Simon Bruty, Tom Brady, Mike Shanahan, Shanahan, it’s, he’s “, “ You’re Organizations: CNN, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl, Super, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Getty Images San, Denver Broncos, NFL, Los Angeles Raiders, Bowl, 49ers Locations: Getty Images San Francisco

☆ A guide to the Super Bowl, in Taylor Swift lyrics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Aj Willingham | Leah Asmelash | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Story highlights Some Taylor Swift fans may be watching the Super Bowl for the first time Here's a guide to the Chiefs and the 49ers, using lyrics from Swift songs “You know I love the players and you love the game.”CNN —This year’s Super Bowl viewership can be neatly divided into four segments: Those who like football and Taylor Swift, those who only like football, those who only like Taylor Swift, and those who like neither but are, for whatever reason, watching anyway. For all the Swifties who are choosing to care about the Super Bowl for the first time — and all the football fans who need a crash course in Taylor Swift — here is a look at Sunday’s game as seen through Swift’s lyrics. The two rivals faced each other in Super Bowl LIV in 2020, when the Chiefs dealt the 49ers a devastating loss, 31-20, giving Kansas City its first Super Bowl victory since 1970. Fans and analysts alike have already begun comparing Mahomes to Tom Brady, who has seven Super Bowl rings to his name. As Swift says in her song “Blank Space,” “You know I love the players / and you love the game.”

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, there’s, Brock Purdy, Ezra Shaw, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, he’s, ”, we’re, Travis Kelce, let’s, she’s, Patrick Smith, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Williams, Purdy, There’s, — Organizations: Super Bowl, Chiefs, 49ers, CNN, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl LIV, Kansas City, San Francisco, Niners, Seattle Seahawks, Getty, NFC, AFC, NFL, Baltimore Ravens Locations: Super, San, Santa Clara , California, Las Vegas, —, Baltimore , Maryland

☆ Kansas City Stars, With Help From Taylor Swift, Are Advertising Champs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Sunday’s Super Bowl having already won — when it comes to commercials. Over the past year, the star players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, along with Coach Andy Reid, have been inescapable to TV viewers. The estimated amount spent to air the ads on television was $178 million for Mr. Mahomes, $120 million for Mr. Kelce and $69 million for Mr. Reid, according to iSpot.tv, an ad measurement company. Because there were several commercials in which at least two of the three appeared, the dollar totals have some overlap. Basically, the more spend an ad has, the more viewers are seeing it.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, Kelce baring, Mahomes, Reid, Kelce, ”, Cassandra Arora, Deion Sanders, Nick Saban, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday’s, Pfizer, National Football League, “ Brands, Chiefs, University of Colorado’s, University of Alabama, 49ers, Toyota Locations: San Francisco

Six decades later, plans are ramping up for space tourism, missions to the moon and Mars, and mining on the moon. AdvertisementThe Lunar Resources Registry, a private business that locates valuable resources on the moon and helps investors conduct the required exploration and extraction operations, notes: "The space race is evolving into space industrialization." The case for a lunar Anthropocene is interesting. A lunar AnthropoceneAnd now the Anthropocene, this age of human impact, is also arriving on the moon. An increasing number of moon missions and extracting resources from the moon could destroy lunar environments.

Persons: Christophe Bonneuil, Jean, Baptiste Fressoz, Christine Daigle, Jennifer Ellen Good Organizations: Sputnik, U.S, Resources, NASA, Marshall Space, Brock University Locations: Soviet Union, Alamogordo, N.M

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here. ___The underdog Kansas City Chiefs are playing for history against the San Francisco 49ers. Under Shanahan, the 49ers are 32-11 straight up and 28-14-1 against the spread when playing in the Pacific time zone for the second straight game. Pro Picks leans slightly toward the 49ers in a close one that comes down to Purdy having to lead the team to a comeback win for the third straight game.

Persons: —, Rob Maaddi, they’ve, FanDuel, They’re, Patrick Mahomes, “, ” Mahomes, “ I’m, it’s, Kyle Shanahan, Shanahan, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, They’ve, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, don’t, Purdy Organizations: LAS VEGAS, AP Pro Football, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Bowls, Chiefs, Buffalo, 49ers, Patriots, Rams, it’s, Super, All, 49ERS, Twitter Locations: Baltimore, Super, Francisco

☆ Super Bowl LVIII festivities get underway with Opening Night in Las Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —After a long, grueling NFL season, it is finally Super Bowl week. The festivities got underway on Monday’s Opening Night, with players and personnel from both sides engaging with the media. Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes also shook off jeers from crowd as he prepares for his fourth Super Bowl appearance. Though it seemed unlikely at one point, Mahomes and the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl. “I’m in Las Vegas at the Super Bowl, playing football with my teammates for an extra week, there’s only two teams doing it.

Persons: “, ”, Travis Kelce, Kelce, Taylor Swift, Swift, ” Kelce, Ethan Miller, Patrick Mahomes, Mahomes, Vince Lombardi, Lamar Jackson, Matt Slocum, Tom Brady’s, “ I’m, ” Mahomes, ‘ We’re, Brock Purdy, ’, Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, ” Purdy, “ There’s, Marc Sanchez, ‘ Swifties, “ We’re, George Kittle, Kittle, I’ve, there’s Organizations: CNN, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Bowl, Chiefs, 49ers, Niners, Getty, Philadelphia Eagles –, ”, ” After Kansas City, Super, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, AFC, Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Allegiant, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots Locations: Las Vegas, Sin City, Mecca, Vegas, ” After, San Francisco

Irrelevant” as the final pick of the 2022 draft to MVP finalist and starting quarterback in the Super Bowl in a span of less than 22 months. But the Niners spent the early parts of the day of that draft adding depth to the trenches and secondary. Beathard — in free agency — and San Francisco made the move that All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams has equated to winning the Powerball lottery. He was healthy enough to start a throwing program in late May, resumed practice early in training camp and delivered one of the most prolific seasons ever by a San Francisco quarterback. But some critics have tried to downgrade him by calling him a “system quarterback” or “game manager” being carried by his talented teammates and creative coach.

Persons: Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy, marveled, Purdy, It's, ” Purdy, Trey Lance, Steve Slowik, Brian Griese, Klay Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan, —, Beathard, San Francisco, Trent Williams, Lance, Nate Sudfeld, Shanahan, Jed York, Sudfeld, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady, “ They’ve, I’ve, they’ve, We’ve, ”, ” Shanahan, Brock, Francisco's, Steve Spagnuolo, “, He’s Organizations: LAS VEGAS, San Francisco 49ers, NFC, Super, 49ers, Niners, Iowa State, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Green Bay, Detroit, Packers, Lions, ” Chiefs Locations: Francisco, San, Purdy

So, he’s definitely a valued player and I think the most valued player.”There are few backs as versatile as McCaffrey. He excels at picking up blitzes as well as running pass patterns out of the backfield. Or he can line up in the slot or out wide and run pass patterns as well as many receivers. That versatility can sometimes be a curse with some coaches viewing him more as a scat back than a traditional three-down back who can pound it between the tackles for positive yards play after play such as the old-school backs from the 1970s and ’80s. I had coaches in the NFL who didn’t think I could run in between the tackles.

Persons: Jed York, Kyle Shanahan, Christian McCaffrey, McCaffrey, “, York, ” McCaffrey, He's, Brock Purdy, That’s, Shanahan, It’s, ”, it’ll, ’, Steve Spagnuolo Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, Niners, 49ers, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, National Football League, Chiefs, Rams, ” Chiefs Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, Carolina, Francisco

☆ Robert Kraft: New England Patriots owner hails ‘smart’ Taylor Swift, says he was ‘privileged’ to have Bill Belichick as coach
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says singer Taylor Swift has been “smart” by gaining a new audience through her appearances at Kansas City Chiefs games. Despite New England not being involved, Kraft said he “hopes” the Super Bowl ratings will break a record. Kraft said the organization was “privileged” to have Belichick as head coach. We have a great new, young head coach in Jerod Mayo. Kraft said he believes Belichick will be coaching next year, adding: “He’s a great coach.

Persons: Robert Kraft, Taylor Swift, Swift, Travis Kelce, Kraft, Taylor, ”, ” Kraft, CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister, “, Patrick Mahomes –, Brock Purdy, Tom, Brady, ” Robert Kraft, Jordan Strauss, everybody’s, ’ Kraft, Bill Belichick, Belichick, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, Logan Mankins, ” Belichick Organizations: CNN, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, Patriots, AFC, Kansas, Bowl, America, Super Bowl Locations: England, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Jerod Mayo

A run of big draft hits in previous years, two trades for All-Pros and perhaps the greatest get out of jail free card in draft history. He's done all that while getting a salary of $870,000 this season, allowing San Francisco to spend big at other spots. San Francisco also invested heavily in McCaffrey and have the highest-paid fullback in the league in All-Pro Kyle Juszczyk. San Francisco added to the position by dealing a third-round pick at the trade deadline for a former No. San Francisco used a fourth-round pick on punter Mitch Wishnowsky in 2019.

Persons: Trey Lance, Lance, couldn't, Brock Purdy, “ It’s, Trent Williams, Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch, Jed York, “ Kyle, ” York, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Talanoa Hufanga —, Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Shanahan, ” Lynch, “, it’s, Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Francisco, McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Purdy, Aaron Banks, Colton McKivitz, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Lynch, Arik Armstead —, Javon Hargrave, San, Chase Young, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Ward, Robbie Gould, Jake Moody, Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, ___ Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, 49ers, San Francisco, NFC, Kansas City Chiefs, Niners, NFL, Shanahan, Warner, Chiefs Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, San Francisco, Purdy, Washington, Francisco, Cleveland

Winning the Super Bowl would be another major step for either quarterback. Brady won his third of seven Super Bowl rings in his fourth season as a starter at age 27. There’s a reason why no team has repeated since Brady led New England to two Super Bowl victories in a row in the 2003-04 seasons. The two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP has built an impressive resume and is working toward being in the GOAT conversation. You’ve got Mahomes, what he does, their team, they’re special,” Purdy said.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Brock Purdy, Joe Montana, Mahomes, Purdy, it’s, Brady, “, you’ve, ” Mahomes, we’re, ”, Andy Reid, he’s, That’s, Brett Veach, Steve Young, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, Kurt Warner, He’s, Joe Cool, He’d, You’ve, ” Purdy, They’ve Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, Bowls, San Francisco 49ers, NFL, Patriots, Steelers, Chiefs, Super, The Patriots, Pro Football Hall of Fame, 49ers, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Philadelphia, NFC, AP NFL, Niners, AP, Toyota Locations: Las Vegas, New England, Kansas, It’s, San Francisco, Montana

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Shanahan's offense is mimicked throughout the NFL as his innovative schemes are utilized by teams throughout the league. His former assistants are spread around the league as coordinators and head coaches as the “Shanahan offense” has become one of the most predominant ones in today's game. “We’re real proud of a lot of things that we’ve accomplished here in the last five years or so. Shanahan is now 8-3 as a head coach in the playoffs, trailing only Vince Lombardi in winning percentage for coaches with at least 10 playoff games. “The way he describes football, the way that he teaches football to offense, defense and special teams guys.

Persons: — Kyle Shanahan's, Shanahan, ”, ” Shanahan, “, it’s, Jimmy Garoppolo, there’s, Fred Warner, Vince Lombardi, Brock Purdy, I’m, Chris Foerster, We’ve, Kyle, George Kittle, He’s, I’ve Organizations: NFL, 49ers, NFC, Super Bowl, Niners, Kansas City Chiefs, Falcons, Super, New, Kansas City, Chiefs, Green Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, San Francisco, Atlanta, Las Vegas, New England, Green Bay, Detroit, Washington

☆ Tom Brady speaks about the ‘respect’ he has for Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy ahead of Super Bowl LVIII
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Following his retirement from the NFL, Patrick Mahomes appears to be the heir-apparent to that winning pedigree. He’s still a way off Brady’s seven Super Bowl rings, but for some, the Kansas City QB is a serious rival to Brady’s ‘Greatest Of All Time’ tag. Getty ImagesLike many of Brady’s Super Bowl runs with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2023 trek for Chiefs has been one of sheer determination. Kansas City’s season has been fraught with offensive issues, yet the team finds itself in its second successive Super Bowl, primarily on the back of Mahomes’ brilliance in the postseason. But Mahomes isn’t the only quarterback in the Super Bowl who has impressed.

Persons: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, He’s, Brady’s, Brady, Patrick, Pat McAfee, “, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, ” Brady, Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Kyle Shanahan, Purdy, ”, he’s, It’s, Kyle, Shanahan, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, NFL, Kansas City Chiefs, Super, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City, Brady’s Super, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chiefs, Super Bowl, Fox Sports, Bowl, Fox Locations: Las Vegas, Kansas, Francisco, New Orleans

Alabama has had Super Bowl success at quarterback with the first three MVPs being Crimson Tide products, along with Super Bowl 11 winner Ken Stabler. Joe Namath won MVP for the Jets in Super Bowl 3 against the Colts without scoring or throwing for a TD. COMEBACK KIDSSan Francisco reached the Super Bowl thanks to an epic comeback against Detroit in the NFC title game. The only other comeback that big in either a Super Bowl or NFL championship game was the Patriots' rally from 28-3 down to beat Atlanta 34-28 in overtime in Super Bowl 51. That didn't stop them from becoming a dominant traveling show on the way to a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.

Persons: Washington's Curt Knight, DeVonta Smith, Jalen, Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Stabler, Patrick Mahomes, Mahomes, Joe Montana, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Drew Brees, Jeff Hostetler, Tony Eason, San Francisco's Brock Purdy, Josh Allen, Alex Smith, ___ Organizations: NFL, Alabama, Crimson, Chiefs, 49ers, Miami, Penn State, Notre Dame, Coast Guard Academy, Super, Press, Crimson Tide, Kansas City, Raiders, Jets, Colts, Oakland, Minnesota, San, Detroit, NFC, The 49ers, Niners, Atlanta, Cincinnati, New England, Bowl, Patriots, Lions, ROAD, Buffalo, Baltimore, AFC, Giants, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh, Broncos, Super Bowl Locations: Alabama, Florida, California, Philadelphia, Oklahoma, Green Bay, Super, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Green, San Francisco , Kansas City, Tampa, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Denver

The order by the Hong Kong High Court also is not a remedy for the crisis of confidence haunting China’s financial markets. Markets in both Hong Kong and Shanghai fell Tuesday while share prices of property developers sank. State-owned Chinese banks and other domestic entities own most of the debt owed by Chinese property developers. David Goodman, director of the University of Sydney’s China Studies Center, said he thinks China’s property debt burdens are unlikely to precipitate a major financial crisis. “The fact of the matter is that the Chinese financial system is not as open or as marketized (as in the United States),” he said.

Persons: Brock Silvers, haven't, Silver, ”, Seng, David Goodman, —, Soo Organizations: Evergrande, Hong Kong High, Kaiyuan, ”, Sunac China Holdings, F Properties, Shanghai, Swiss Re Institute, Swiss, University of Sydney’s China Studies Center Locations: BANGKOK, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, United States, U.S, Singapore

☆ Brock Purdy’s epic comeback etches his name in 49ers lore as Detroit’s hero Jared Goff is left wondering what could have been
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“All he’s done since he’s been here is play at an elite level and everything starts with him. Facing skepticism after that first season, it wasn’t clear to Lions fans heading into the 2022 season if Goff was going to be around long. It started a wave of momentum that built into the greatest Lions season that most fans have ever experienced. Goff throwing the ball during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Goff, meanwhile, made a few spectacular throws, a few dangerous ones and many safe ones to his playmakers.

Persons: Santa Clara , California CNN — Brock Purdy, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Colin Kaepernick, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brock Purdy, Purdy, Jared Goff, Goff –, Santa Clara –, Goff, Iowa State University –, he’s, I’ve, ” Purdy, God’s, David J, Phillip, Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, Moon, Trey Lance, “ They’ve, they’ve, Garoppolo, Lance, “ He’s, I’m, Kyle Juszczyk, “, Brock, ”, Christian McCaffrey, Alex Anzalone, Mark J, Terrill, Goff wasn’t, Matthew Stafford, Motown –, Dan Campbell’s, Stafford, Campbell, Ezra Shaw, you’re, didn’t, you’ve, ’ ” Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, –, Juszczyk, ” Juszczyk, couldn’t, Dan Campbell Organizations: Santa Clara , California CNN, San Francisco 49ers, Super, Detroit Lions, NFC, Area, Levi’s, Lions, Motor City, Bay, Iowa State University, 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, ” San Francisco 49ers, Warner, Iowa State, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Chiefs, ” 49ers, Games, Los Angeles Rams, Rams, New England Patriots, Bowls, Motown, Detroit, ” Lions Locations: Santa Clara , California, Santa Clara, Motor, Ames , Iowa, alma mater, Vegas, ”, Detroit, Michigan, Purdy

☆ There's an enormous financial divide among the 4 NFL quarterbacks still hoping to win the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The NFL season is down to four teams with the conference championships up next. AdvertisementFour teams are still vying for a chance to play in this year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Despite all four starting quarterbacks helping to take their teams to the playoffs, there is a large divide among what they make, and that can be a huge advantage for NFL teams. Purdy would earn the standard $164,000 Super Bowl bonus all players would receive for winning the championship. He is in his eighth NFL season.

Persons: Brock Purdy, —, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff, Jackson, Spotrac, Mahomes, Goff, Purdy, Tony Avelar, Russell Wilson, Isaiah J, Downing, Purdy's, Nick Zakelj Organizations: NFL, Service, AFC, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, NFC, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, AP, Super, Seattle Seahawks, USA, 49ers, Los Angeles Rams Locations: Las Vegas, San Francisco

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, and the San Francisco 49ers rallied from 17 points down at halftime to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl. He engineered a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter to beat Green Bay last week and then had an even bigger comeback against the Lions. Detroit remains the only team to play every season of the Super Bowl era without reaching the ultimate game. Purdy then drove the Niners to a 33-yard field goal by Jake Moody and their first lead of the game. Campbell bypassed a chance at a game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Niners 30 midway through the fourth quarter.

Persons: — Brock Purdy, San Francisco, Purdy, “, Kyle Shanahan, Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, “ There’s, ” Shanahan, “ It’s, ”, Josh Johnson, Dan Campbell, Josh Reynolds couldn’t, Jared Goff, Brandon Aiyuk, Aiyuk, ” Aiyuk, ” Jahmyr Gibbs, McCaffrey, Reynolds, Jake Moody, Campbell, Goff, Jameson Williams, Francisco’s, David Montgomery, Gibbs, Michael Badgley, ___ Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Super, 49ers, NFC, Kansas City, Chiefs, Super Bowl, Lions, Niners, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, The Lions, NFL, AFL Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, San, Detroit, Green, Vegas, Francisco, Williams

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The aggressiveness that characterized the turnaround for the Detroit Lions under coach Dan Campbell backfired at the worst possible time. Detroit failed on two fourth-down tries in field-goal range in the second half, contributing to a blown 17-point halftime lead and a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game Sunday. The result was just the fourth conference game loss for a team that held a lead of at least 17 points. A magical season for the Lions ended one game short of the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance. Detroit remains the only team to play every season of the Super Bowl era without reaching the ultimate game.

Persons: Dan Campbell, Brock Purdy's, Brandon Aiyuk, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Reynolds, Campbell, Reynolds, Jared Goff's, Goff, San Francisco, ___ Organizations: Detroit Lions, Detroit, San Francisco 49ers, NFC, Lions, Niners, NFL Locations: SANTA CLARA, Calif, Campbell's, San

☆ Super Bowl LVIII logo: Social media is abuzz with theory believing logo predicts the two teams who will play in Las Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —There are 18 weeks of action and then three rounds of playoff games to decide which two teams will compete in the Super Bowl. Social media is abuzz with suggestions that the logo used to promote the Super Bowl each year includes the colors of the two teams who will play in the season’s showpiece finale. What is the Super Bowl logo theory? For this season’s Super Bowl – LVIII which will be played in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 11 – the logo is purple and red. And with the Chiefs in the other conference, we could have a red vs. red matchup in Super Bowl LVIII.

Persons: it’s, Vince Lombardi, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Jackson, Arian Foster, XT4HTsOGnq, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Ramsey, Justin Fields, Ja’Marr Chase –, ”, Keegan, Michael Key, Daniel Elkan, Robert Barton –, Russell Hill, Brock Purdy, Henderson, ” Barton Organizations: CNN, Super, Social, NFL, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Las, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Getty, Ravens, AFC, 49ers, Detroit Lions, NFC, CNN Sport, NBA, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chiefs Locations: Las Vegas, Las Vegas , Nevada, Los Angeles, Phoenix , Arizona, Athens

Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey and Dak Prescott are finalists for The Associated Press 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb are the other two finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and also ran for 821 yards and five scores. Cowboys edge Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland, Raiders edge Maxx Crosby and Steelers edge T.J. Watt join Garrett as finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik also are finalists for Assistant Coach of the Year.

Persons: Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, CeeDee Lamb, Jackson, McCaffrey, Purdy, Myles Garrett, Kevin Stefanski, Joe Flacco, Jim Schwartz, QB C.J ., Will Anderson Jr, Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner, Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Maxx, Watt, Garrett, Crosby, Parsons, Bland, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Nacua, Bijan Robinson, Jalen Carter, Kobie Turner, Joey Porter Jr, Devon Witherspoon, Anderson, Houston’s DeMeco, Detroit’s Dan Campbell, San, Kyle Shanahan, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, Deshaun Watson, Ryans, Campbell, Harbaugh, Shanahan, Schwartz, Ben Johnson, Mike Macdonald, Todd Monken, Bobby Slowik, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Tua Tagovailoa, Damar Hamlin, Rob Maaddi Organizations: Associated Press, 49ers, Dolphins, Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Houston, AP, Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, AFC, Prescott, NFL, NFC, Green Bay, San, Detroit Lions, The Cleveland Browns, The Houston Texans, New York Jets, Texans, Browns, Baltimore, Raiders, Maxx Crosby, Steelers, Lions, Rams, Falcons, Eagles, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Bills, Flacco, Voters, Twitter Locations: Dallas, Green, San Francisco, QB C.J . Stroud, Stroud, Detroit

They host the Detroit Lions, who haven’t reached this point in 32 years and have never played in a Super Bowl. 1 seeds are 34-14 in conference championship games, including 2-0 last season when the Chiefs went on to beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. If the 49ers and Chiefs advance, it'll set up a Super Bowl rematch. The two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP has embraced the challenge and now faces the league’s stingiest defense. CHIEFS, 23-22DETROIT (14-5) at SAN FRANCISCO (13-5)Line: 49ers minus 7Jared Goff and the Lions are one win away from the franchise’s first trip to the Super Bowl.

Persons: Rob Maaddi, Patrick Mahomes, FanDuel, Mahomes, haven’t, it'll, Josh Allen, Justin Madubuike, Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Kyle Hamilton, Pro QB Lamar Jackson, Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie, Jackson, Gus Edwards, Hill, Taylor Swift, Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, Jared Goff, Green Bay, Dan Campbell’s, Brock Purdy, Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Goff, Ra St, Brown, Sam LaPorta, He’s, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa Organizations: AP Pro Football, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl, Chiefs, AFC, Ravens, Colts, Oakland Raiders, 49ers, NFC, Detroit Lions, Eagles, Super, Kansas City, KANSAS CITY, Buffalo Bills, Super Bowls, NFL, Pro QB, Dolphins, Mahomes, Houston, CHIEFS, SAN FRANCISCO, Lions, Green, Packers, All, 49ERS, Twitter Locations: Baltimore, KANSAS, BALTIMORE, Trent McDuffie , Kansas, DETROIT, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Philadelphia

☆ Buffalo Bills fans are haunted by these two words: ‘Wide right’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +36 min

Ryan Kang/AP Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Trent Sherfield celebrate after a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, January 7. Matt Krohn/USA Today Network/Reuters New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams grabs the jersey of Washington Commanders wide receiver Curtis Samuel on December 24. Adam Hunger/AP Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs can't make the catch as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III defends on December 24. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus catches a touchdown pass over Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde on November 26. Michael Dwyer/AP Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams drops a pass in the end zone on October 22.

Persons: Josh Allen, Tyler Bass, hadn’t, Bass, Bass’s, –, Jim Nantz, Josh Reynolds, Craig Reynolds, Junfu, Clyde Edwards, Helaire, Jeffrey T, Barnes, Dre Greenlaw, Emanuel Wilson, Lachlan Cunningham, Lamar Jackson, Sheldon Rankins, Patrick Smith, Jalen, Julio Aguilar, Dawson Knox, Kathryn Riley, Kirby Lee, Jahmyr Gibbs, Rey Del, Jaire Alexander, Ron Jenkins, Dak Prescott, Michael Owens, Patrick Mahomes, DeShon Elliott, Emily Curiel, Christian Harris, Ryan Kang, Trent Sherfield, —, Rich Storry, Thomas Hennessy, Brian Fluharty, Micah McFadden, Boston Scott, Adam Hunger, Bill Belichick, Belichick, David Butler II, Tayler Hawkins, Ezra Shaw, Emmanuel Forbes, Mark Schiefelbein, Tyrique Stevenson, Jeffrey Phelps, Mitchell Wilcox, Jeff Dean, Najee Harris, James Conner, Nicholas Morrow, Chris Szagola, Juan Thornhill, Nick Cammett, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jay Biggerstaff, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Matt Krohn, Quincy Williams, Curtis Samuel, Josh Downs, Clark Phillips III, Danny Karnik, George Pickens, Mark Alberti, Chamarri Conner, Charles Omenihu, Nick Bolton of, Ezekiel Elliott, Sarah Stier, Raheem Mostert, Lauren Sopourn, Desmond Ridder, Jared C, Tilton, Bradley Chubb, Zach Wilson, Sam Navarro, Tommy DeVito, Chris Graythen, Sam LaPorta, Brandon Staley, Staley, Tom Telesco, Sean M, DeAndre Hopkins, Moore, Quinn Harris, Jake Ferguson, Kelee Ringo, Sam Hodde, Jamie Squire, Kevin C, Cox, Tylan Wallace, Wallace's, David Tulis, Nick Bosa, Drew Lock, Lock, Geno Smith, Trevor Lawrence, David Rosenblum, Brock Purdy, Matt Slocum, Tim Boyle, Al Bello, Roger McCreary, Trey Sermon, Andy Lyons, Brandon Aiyuk, Eric Hartline, Courtland Sutton, Eric Christian Smith, Jamal Adams, Roger Steinman, Ian Johnson, Tyler Allgeier, Todd Kirkland, Micah Hyde, Jevon Holland, Tim Boyle's, Mary, Holland, Chris Pedota, Jerome Miron, Reuters Christian Watson, Lauren Leigh Bacho, Marquez Valdes, David Eulitt, Devon Witherspoon, Matthew Stafford, Mark J, Terrill, Joe Burrow, Aaron M, Julian Blackmon, Nathan Ray Seebeck, Reed, Joey Porter Jr, Joe Sargent, Kyler Murray, Mike Christy, Tristan Wirfs, Chris O'Meara, Austin Ekeler, Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Harry, Demario Douglas, Kenny Moore II, Steve Luciano, Noah Sewell, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Joshua Dobbs, Dobbs, Kevin Sabitus, Cooper Neill, Daniel Jones grimaces, John Locher, Cole Kmet, Tyrann Mathieu, Wesley Hitt, Jaylen Warren, Tre Avery, Joe Robbins, Ja'Quan McMillian, Justin Edmonds, Will Levis, Levis, George Walker IV, Brown, Benjamin St, Juste, Alex Brandon, Zack Moss, Michael Conroy, Mahomes, Jack Dempsey, Irv Smith Jr, Talanoa Hufanga, Josie Lepe, Dalton Kincaid, Rich Barnes, Sean McDermott, Michael Dwyer, Davante Adams, Jamie Sabau, Younghoe Koo, Javonte Williams, Darnell Savage, Jonathan Taylor, Trevor Ruszkowski, Charlie Riedel, Brock Purdy scrambles, Jeremiah Owusu, Sue Ogrocki, CJ Henderson, Mostert, Lynne Sladky, Justin Fields, Dick Butkus, Butkus, Todd Rosenberg, Christian Rozeboom, Tony Ding, DeVonta Smith, Robert Spillane, David Becker, Paul Sancya, Dustin Bradford, KaVontae Turpin, Henderson, Matt Durisko, Chase, Marco Wilson, Joe Camporeale, Khalil Mack, Mack, Gregory Trott, Justin Setterfield, Brian Robinson Jr, Mitchell Leff, Damar Hamlin, Hamlin, Adrian Kraus, Evan McPherson, McPherson, Amon, Ra St, Braxton Berrios, Christian Wilkins, Rebecca Blackwell, Amari Cooper, Andrew Nelles, Evan Vucci, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Swift, Alie, Tavius Robinson, Brent Skeen, Isaac Yiadom, Dan Powers, Rick Osentoski, Elijah Mitchell, Cary Edmondson, Nick Chubb grimaces, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Ainsworth, Lawrence, Sam Greenwood, Michael Wilson, Jason Pinnock, Matt York, Noah Gray, Leonard Floyd, Rodgers, Elsa, Christian McCaffrey, Justin K, Jakobi Meyers, Damarri Mathis, Ron Chenoy, Grant Delpit, Nick Wosika, JK Scott, Zay Flowers, Randy Litzinger, T.J, Watt, Matt Freed, Marv Levy, Bill Parcells, Buffalo, Jim Kelly, Scott Norwood, Bass ’, Norwood’s, Norwood, Allen, “, ” Allen, We’ve, Frank Franklin II, it’s, ”, “ I’ve, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Buffalo Bills, AFC, Buffalo, Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl, Kansas City’s, CBS, Detroit Lions, Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ford Field, The Lions, USA, Network, Reuters Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs, Highmark, Super, Baltimore Ravens, AP San Francisco 49ers, Green, Packers, The 49ers, NFC, Getty, Houston Texans, The Ravens, AFC Championship, Philadelphia Eagles, Eagles, Getty Images Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh, Bills, Sports Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Rey Del Rio, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, NFL, Getty Images, Green Bay, Miami Dolphins, Dolphins, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Service, Getty Images Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Texans, Browns, AP Buffalo, Trent, AFC East, New York Jets, The Jets, Reuters New York Giants, Boston, Giants, New England Patriots, Reuters San Francisco 49ers, 49ers, Rams, Getty Images Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys, Chicago Bears, AP Cincinnati Bengals, Bengals, Cincinnati, 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The Detroit Lions have agreed to a deal with three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, a person familiar with the decision the told The Associated Press on Monday night. Ertz caught the go-ahead touchdown in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win over New England six years ago and set a record for catches by a tight end in a season with 116 in 2018. Ertz was traded by the Eagles to Arizona during the 2021 season and asked for his release from the Cardinals earlier this season. The Lions had little depth at tight end behind rookie Sam LaPorta after Brock Wright was knocked out of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay with a forearm injury. Only Anthony Firkser remained with LaPorta in the tight end room.

Persons: Zach Ertz, hasn’t, Ertz, Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Anthony Firkser, ___ Organizations: Detroit Lions, Associated Press, Super Bowl, New, Eagles, Cardinals, Lions, Tampa, LaPorta, San Francisco 49ers, NFC Locations: New England, Arizona

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