OLIVIER VERNON

They were once at the top of the NFL.

New York Jets defensive lineman Carl Lawson is lost for the season after rupturing an Achilles tendon during a joint practice Thursday with the Green Bay Packers.

A person familiar with the situation tells the AP that the Cleveland Browns remain in active pursuit of free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.

Left tackle Justin Herron left with an ankle injury. — Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. — Lions offensive linemen Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson left with concussions and defensive tackle Nick Williams injured an ankle vs. Minnesota. — Giants linebacker Blake Martinez left briefly after appearing to injure his left ankle or foot in the third quarter. — Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson (wrist) and cornerback Greg Martin (hamstring) left the game.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates after the Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cleveland. The Browns, winless just three seasons ago and so bad for so long, are in the playoffs. The Browns and their passionate fan base endured 197 losses, 14 double-digit-loss seasons and seven coaches since the last playoff appearance. For the moment he got to Cleveland in 2018, Landry's goal was to get the Browns back to the postseason. Steelers: Will be back at full strength for their first playoff appearance since the 2017 season.

With the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us, Week 11 saw both conferences’ playoff races begin to heat up. Tight end Christopher Herndon caught two passes for 32 yards including a six-yard touchdown reception late in the contest to keep the Jets alive. Braxton Berrios also had four returns for 76 total yards, including a long of 28 yards. Defensive end Olivier Vernon made life tough for Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, sacking him three times while recorded 3.5 total tackles for loss and five tackles overall. Falcons defensive end Allen Bailey made two tackles and a half sack in a 24-9 losing effort at New Orleans.

A seemingly tame play on Monday Night Football was actually extraordinary, assuming one is a fan of the Miami Hurricanes. The Los Angeles Chargers fell 29-21 at the Miami Dolphins, but three former Canes returned to Hard Rock Stadium for the matchup Sunday. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins made five tackles, four of them solo, while linebacker Denzel Perryman added three total tackles. Dallas also logged two carries for eight yards as tight end Greg Olsen caught two balls for 33 yards. New York Giants linebacker Trent Harris logged three total tackles in a 27-17 upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The National Football League season continues to fly by, with seven weeks already in the rearview mirror in the 17-week season. Week 7 was marked by a pair of NFC East clunkers, a battle between two 5-0 teams and Sunday night shootout in the desert. The New York Jets fell to 0-7 with an 18-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills despite leading at halftime. Running back Frank Gore led New York with 60 yards rushing on 11 carries and Braxton Berrios caught four passes for 35 yards. And Broncos linebacker Anthony Chickillo had two tackles, one solo in a 43-16 home loss to Kansas City.

Redwine also had a tackle assist in the victory and defensive end Olivier Vernon had a solo tackle. And on the other side of the field, Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad made three total tackles, one of which was a sack on Baker Mayfield. However, three former Canes are continuing to leave their mark in New York week in and week out. Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell made two solo tackles in a 27-3 home win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Carolina Panthers cornerback Corn Elder logged four tackles, including two solo tackles in a 23-16 win at the Atlanta Falcons.

(AP Photo/David Richard)CLEVELAND – Bill Belichick was their coach and Nick Saban was on his staff the last time the Cleveland Browns were this good this early. On the Colts' next possession, Browns safety Sheldrick Redwine, who came in while Harrison was being evaluated for a concussion, picked off Rivers. The defense bowed up in the second half and played well enough to win. Mayfield showed patience on his 2-yard scoring pass to Hunt, which gave the Browns a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. Rookie LB Jacob Phillips injured his knee in the second half.

Jeudy is active for the Bucs game as Denver quarterback Jeff Driskel makes his first start while Drew Lock recovers from a shoulder injury. Cardinals: QB Brett Hundley, WR Christian Kirk, RB Eno Benjamin, OL Mason Cole, OL Josh Miles, DL Leki Fotu. ___CHICAGO AT ATLANTABears: CB Duke Shelley, OG Arlington Hambright, NT Daniel McCullers, WR RIley Ridley, OLB Trevis GipsonFalcons: WR Julio Jones, CB A.J. Browns: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, CB Greedy Williams, LB Jacob Phillips, Olivier Vernon, Evan Brown and WR Rashard Higgins. Brown, CB Chris Jackson OLB Derick Roberson, C Aaron Brewer, TE Geoff Swaim, DT Matt DickersonVikings: WR Tajaé Sharpe, WR K.J.

CLEVELAND – Backup right tackle Chris Hubbard will start over injured Jack Conklin for the Cleveland Browns when they host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. Conklin, who was the Browns' biggest signing in free agency this winter, injured his ankle and a finger in last week's season-opening, 38-6 loss at Baltimore. He's active to face the Bengals, but the Browns announced before the game that Chris Hubbard is starting. Cleveland starting center JC Tretter (knee) and rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) are both playing. Starting cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder) will miss his second straight game andThe Bengals are missing defensive tackles Geno Atkins (shoulder) and Mike Daniels (groin).

The Browns remain interested in Clowney, the talented defensive end _ and former No. The Browns remain interested in Clowney, the talented defensive end and the No. During a Zoom meeting with reporters on Thursday, Woods praised Clowney but deferred any questions about the Browns' pursuit of the speedy edge rusher to general manager Andrew Berry. Obviously, he has been a really good player in this league, a great pass rusher when he was in Houston, in Seattle," Woods said. But until Clowney, who reportedly turned down an offer from the Browns already, decides what he wants to do, it's still in play.