data-mm-id=”_3cqxvkdz0″>The best time of year has arrived: the NFL playoffs. It's an extremely competitive field this season, top-to-bottom with quality teams. But not all are made equal. Here are your official NFL playoff power rankings. 12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants / Steven Ryan/Getty ImagesThe Eagles are the kings of the steaming pile of garbage that is the 2019 NFC East. Carson Wentz is playing extremely well, but the Eagles are so depleted from injuries they're starting practice-squad guys at nearly every skill position offensively. The fact that they're even playing in January is an accomplishment itself, but it would be astonishing if they got to play more than one game. 11. Tennessee Titans (9-7)Jacksonville Jaguars v Tennessee Titans / Frederick Breedon/Getty ImagesThe Titans turned things around after they inserted Ryan Tannehill in place of Marcus Mariota. Derrick Henry is the 2019 rushing leader and can consistently make things happen. The defense is stingy. But ultimately, it's hard to take the combination of Tannehill and Mike Vrabel over Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, much less the gauntlet they'd face should they topple the Patriots in Foxboro on Wild Card Weekend. 10. Buffalo Bills (10-6)Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots / Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesThe Bills are a very well-coached team with a fantastic defense. Josh Allen has made strides this season. Are those strides big enough to trust him when every down matters? I don't think so. They're going up against a flawed team in Houston, but a deep playoff run may still be a few years away. 9. Houston Texans (10-6)Houston Texans v Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesBill O'Brien has well-noted shortcomings as a head coach that only become more apparent in playoff football. The secondary is inconsistent, although a potential JJ Watt return seems likely at this point, which would be huge. It's hard to bet against Deshaun Watson and his cadre of wideouts. But Watson looked banged-up near the end of the year, and if he's not fully healthy, Houston is done. 8. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks / Alika Jenner/Getty ImagesI'll probably regret doubting Russell Wilson, but the problems with Seattle, as always, lie with his supporting cast. The run game is extremely important to the Seahawks' offense; it keeps the defense guessing and opens up the play action, but without their top three running backs, the opposing team will sell out to make sure Wilson can't make his magic. They shouldn't have a problem taking down the Eagles in the wild card round, but after that, Wilson can only do so much. 7. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)Atlanta Falcons v Minnesota Vikings / Stephen Maturen/Getty ImagesIt's risky business to trust Kirk Cousins when the lights are brightest, but Dalvin Cook is the key to this offense, and he should be ready to go after resting the past two weeks with his shoulder injury. They drew a tough matchup against the Saints in New Orleans, but between Cook, their top-end pair of receivers, and a defense as stingy as expected from a Mike Zimmer squad, they're a tough out. 6. New England Patriots (12-4)Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots / Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesThe Patriots look as vulnerable as they ever have. The offense is stagnant and their "historic" defense was just torn to pieces by Ryan Fitzpatrick, DeVante Parker, and a bunch of guys off the street with a playoff bye and homefield advantage on the line. It's still Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and the Titans will have their work cut out for them, but it's very hard to believe this New England squad is built for a deep postseason run. 5. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)Los Angeles Chargers v Kansas City Chiefs / Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe Chiefs have rounded into form at just the right time. Everyone important is healthy on offense, and the defense is much-improved from last season. They have homefield for whoever comes out of the wild card round. They aren't as well-rounded as the teams above them, but a Super Bowl run is in the cards. 4. Green Bay Packers (13-3)Green Bay Packers v Detroit Lions / Rey Del Rio/Getty ImagesGreen Bay managed to steal the second seed in the NFC, but they just don't scare anybody. The defense is the best they've fielded since the early years of this decade, and Aaron Rodgers remains Aaron Rodgers, but they've had more than a few duds on both sides of the ball over the course of the year, and Rodgers hasn't turned on the jets very often. It's always tough to play at Lambeau in January, but the offense needs to show more signs of life to get very far. 3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)New Orleans Saints v Carolina Panthers / Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesThe Saints got the short end of the stick with the third seed despite winning 13 games. But this squad is dangerous on both sides of the ball. They have a shutdown corner (Marshon Lattimore) and an elite edge presence (Cam Jordan) on defense. They have one of the best quarterbacks ever (Drew Brees) and 2019's best receiver (Michael Thomas) on offense– and that's not even to mention Alvin Kamara or their elite offensive line. They're more than motivated after two consecutive heart-shattering playoff exits. They don't have an easy road, but they match up well with anybody on the field. 2. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks / Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesThe Niners squeaked out a tough win in Seattle to clinch both the NFC West and the first seed on Sunday night. Their defense has remained one of the best in the league over the course of the season, and Kyle Shanahan has once again engineered an effective and dangerous offense. Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't been tested under this kind of pressure yet, though, and has had more games than you'd like where he has been flat-out bad. They aren't a perfect team, but homefield gives them a slight edge over the other elite teams in the playoff bracket. 1. Baltimore Ravens (14-2)New York Jets v Baltimore Ravens / Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesThe Ravens have played like the best team in the NFL for nearly the entire season, and there's no reason to think they won't continue to do so in the playoffs. Mark Ingram's health is paramount to the offense, but Greg Roman has masterminded an elite unit that perfectly utilizes the skillset of likely MVP Lamar Jackson. The midseason trade for Marcus Peters has already paid huge dividends for the defense. They won't have to leave Baltimore in January. Jackson hasn't been playoff-tested yet, but after the season he's had, everything is lining up for a Super Bowl run. As they have been all year, they're THE team to beat.
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Paulo Fonseca says Milan have been working hard in training after a poor start to the Serie A season and will be prepared to bounce back when they face Lazio.
The newly appointed head coach is already under pressure after a lacklustre start to the campaign, with a 2-2 draw against Torino on matchday one being followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Parma.
We are aware that we haven’t started well. But we are all united and we want to find solutions. That’s what we’ve been doing this week, Fonseca told reporters.
We are united so it’s easier to work. It was a good week and I think we understood where we really need to improve. I expect a different Milan tomorrow.
The Portuguese coach denied that some players were having trouble …
Steve Cooper dismissed fears about losing his job as pressure mounts on the Nottingham Forest boss.
Forest were hammered 5-0 at Fulham on Wednesday – a fourth straight Premier League defeat – which left them six points above the drop zone.
The former Swansea manager accepts his position will be under scrutiny – with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui thought to be a serious contender if he leaves – but ahead of Saturday’s trip to Molineux Cooper insisted he cannot consider the sack.
Full time at Craven Cottage.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC)
He said: “I don’t think like that. That is not a good way to think, it is like saying to a player ‘you have to play well or you will not play again’ – it is not a thought process I believe…
Rob Page says Wales must improve their discipline against opponents “good at the dark arts” of football.
Wales were reduced to 10 men for the second successive game as Joe Morrell was sent off in Monday’s 2-0 European Championship qualifying defeat to Turkey.
Morrell’s first-half dismissal in Samsun for a studs-up challenge on Ferdi Kadioglu came just a few days after Kieffer Moore was sent off for kicking Armenia goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich.
Losing players to red cards has become a recurring theme for Wales who had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey sent off against Iran at the World Cup in November and Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson banished at the delayed Euro 2020 finals two years ago.
“We should be disciplined enough to keep 11 players on the pi…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still evaluating his future and is not in negotiations with Milan over a January transfer, according to the Serie A club s director Frederic Massara.
The 38-year-old has been linked with a return the Rossoneri, where he spent two seasons between 2010 and 2012, after leaving Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy.
MLS commissioner Don Garber last month suggested Ibrahimovic is set to rejoin the Milan, but Massara insists talks between the club and the player are not ongoing.
There is no news on Ibrahimovic, because this is not a negotiation, he told Sky Sport Italia.
I came, I saw, I conquered. Thank you for making me feel alive again. To the Galaxy fans you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome. The story continues Now go b…
Manchester City are on the brink of claiming back-to-back Premier League titles, but Pep Guardiola believes they can be even better next season.
City are on course to become the first Premier League side to retain the title since 2008-09, as they sit on 95 points, one clear of Liverpool heading into the final round of matches.
The defending champions travel to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, while Liverpool host Wolves, and victory for the EFL Cup winners will keep alive their hopes of a domestic treble – a feat never before achieved by an English side.
However, Guardiola is demanding even more from his squad in 2019-20.
The calm before the storm
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
Next season we will be stronger, I am sure. …
Mats Hummels has completed a move from Bayern Munich to Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund and will join the list of players to have returned to their former club after a spell away.
The 30-year-old joined Dortmund from Bayern in 2008 and made 309 appearances for the club, before returning to the Bavarian giants for a three-year stint at the Allianz Arena.
But Hummels will wear the famous yellow strip of Dortmund once again next season and he will be hoping for a positive reaction from BVB supporters.
That is not always the case, of course, with many failing to match their previous highs when returning to a former side.
Here we look at six examples of players going back home in recent seasons, with varying degrees of success.
Let s get to work…
Former Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has taken up a similar role at Serie A rivals Inter, the club announced on Thursday.
Marotta joined Juve in 2010 and presided over a glorious period for the club, which included seven consecutive Serie A titles before stepping down at the end of September.
The 61-year-old had been heavily linked with the presidency of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) towards the end of his tenure, but he strongly denied that and claims of talks with Inter surfaced soon after.
Marotta s installation will surely come with great expectations given Juve s success under his guidance, coupled with Inter s underwhelming last few years.
The Nerazzurri have not won the title since 2009-10, but they will hope Marotta s arrival is the first…
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has reiterated his commitment to the club and stressed he wants to return the Italian giants to the top of the European game.
The Rossoneri have endured an inconsistent season, featuring a disappointing group-stage exit from the Champions League while they trail fierce rivals Inter by 11 points in Serie A.
That has built pressure on Cardinale, chief executive of Milan owners RedBird Capital, following the controversial dismissal of directors Frederic Massara and Paolo Maldini last summer.
Amid continuing speculation over the future of head coach Stefano Pioli, who delivered the title to Milan in 2022, and talk of investment from Saudi Arabia, Cardinale has outlined his long-term vision for the seven-time European champions.
…
Like Cristiano Ronaldo five years ago, Lionel Messi has ended his international trophy drought with continental glory.
Ballon d Ors are one thing, with the pair sharing 11 between them, but achieving success with the national team has been critical to the grander standing and legacy of the two outstanding players of this generation.
There is a school of thought that Messi remains in Diego Maradona s shadow in Argentina.
The late Maradona, of course, took La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 1986, which has eluded Messi who was a runner-up in 2014.
But Messi had also never won the Copa America. That was until Saturday s 1-0 win over Brazil, at the Maracana, the same venue where he lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany.
Messi was part of the Arge…
Espanyol have said their values cannot be measured in Euros after Barcelona defender Gerard Pique claimed he has more money than their budget for the season.
Ahead of their meeting at Camp Nou on Saturday, Pique told Movistar+ show La Resistencia : I have more money than the budget of Espanyol this year. Nope, not just €57million, it s plenty more than that.
Barca boss Ernesto Valverde described the comment as light-hearted but Espanyol have taken to social media with a pointed message towards Pique.
The post highlighted their values and referenced the tribute their supporters make in the 21st minute to former captain Daniel Jarque, who died of a heart attack in 2009 at the age of 26.
The statement read: Our fans. The team that g…