As goes the adage, defense wins championships. And in the National Football League's 2007 championship game, two masters of the "Cover 2" defensive zone coverage scheme meet: the Colts' Head Coach Tony Dungy, and Da Bearsss' Head Coach Lovie Smith. more ›

It's the best American football wknd of the year. The four still-standing franchises slug it out for a slot in the Super Bowl. Awesome. more ›

In our latest episode, we examine the weaknesses that led to the exit of each franchise that was tossed from the playoffs last wknd. Going into last wknd’s action, there were no “complete” teams left – only those who had outweighed their weaknesses enough to advance to the NFL’s Divisional Playoff Round. more ›

In the most angry game of this 2007 postseason, the ex-Baltimore Colts go to Baltimore to play the ex-Cleveland Browns Ravens. more ›

Stumbled across two bad ideas while walking through the Powell cable car area. more ›

The past two seasons for the 49ers have ended in quixotic wins off of big Joe Nedney's left foot. Yet the 2006 season-ending upset over the Denver Broncos meant so much more the Niners: it revealed a team that believes in themselves. And believes in their coach's plan for the future. more ›

In the spirit of New Year's Eve, we present to you the bad idea that is the Art Shell drink. more ›

In the 49ers' final game of the 2006 regular season, the team will have something more important on their mind than football. * San Francisco vs. Denver Sunday, December 31, 2006. 1:00 PM, PST. Week 17 The Battle Of Remembering #72 Last time the Niners were in Denver was Week 2 of the 2005 preseason. At the end of the game, 49er offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the visitor's locker room after running... more ›

The final week of the National Football League's 2006 regular season is here. It couldn't have come quickly enough for the Raiders. more ›

During the pregame of Thursday's MIN/GB game, NFL.com's Adam Schefter reported that the Raiders will let Head Coach Art Shell go after the end of the season. No source was named to have given this statement. more ›

The Oakland Raiders' 2006 slog of a season continues this Sunday at the Coliseum with their Week 15 scrap with the St. Louis Rams. Plenty of good tickets still available for the game. Well, there must be tickets, since the NFL is blacking the game out on TV. more ›

Holy fancy baby Jesus on a Kaiser roll, the 49ers beat the Seahawks? In storm conditions in Seattle?! Wow. This was unforeseen. That's a sweep of the division series on the year, keeping the Niners' tiiiny window of playoff chance alive. How could this have happened? Here's how: more ›

This Week 15 sends the 49ers up to Seattle mid-week to grapple desperately in hopes of keeping their mathematically-possible playoff hopes alive. more ›

This just in from Terrell Owens' email list: more ›

It doesn't matter that QB Brett Favre is a hero, plays like he loooves the game, is an uncriticizable Maya Angelou-grade national hero -- choosing not to retire and coming for another season to play quarterback for the Packers stunted the Green Bay franchise's growth by a year. more ›

Last Sunday, the 49ers' defense were basically bent into any shape that the New Orleans Saints offense felt like bendin' them into. Want to run? Sure. Want to pass? Sure, as a change of pace. And so it was. And then the game ended. more ›

Having the number one pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, that is. After losing horrifically to the Houston Texans 23-14 in a home game where the dauntless Raider Power Mullet defense limited Yoostun to 32 yards passing yards and still lost! more ›

* Houston vs. Oakland Sunday, December 3, 2006. 1:15 PM, PST. Week 13 The Battle Of The Trough After losing four straight games to every team in the AFC West and one franchise that used to be in the division for good measure (@SEA; DEN; @KC; @ SD), the Raiders limp home. In uglier times early on this season before the wins versus ARI and PIT, this Week 13 game against the flailing Houston Texans had been projected as the Raiders' best chance to get a win. more ›

Week 13, and the 49ers go to New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Take this moment to make a donation to a hurricane-related charity. They still need help. The column can wait. more ›

Our favorite part of the beginning of any sports season is scanning through magazine after magazine for previews of our favorite teams. What will the experts say? Is our team as good as we think it is? As bad? Should we have hope or despair? And who kidnapped Peter King and replaced him with some skinny dude? So this year, as we approach NFL '06, we read through the experts to see what they have to say about our two local teams. This year, they all pretty much said the same thing about both of our local teams. In fact, we could sum it up in two words: last place. more ›