Somebody had to win this game. 

It turned out to be the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most chaotic finishes of this or any other NBA season. 

The Lakers held a 20-point lead over the Phoenix Suns Sunday night with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. The Suns then rallied to take their own lead with 12.2 seconds remaining, only to blow it in the final seconds. 

The finish featured a go-ahead 3 from Dillon Brooks, who was then immediately ejected for bumping LeBron James in the aftermath. James missed the ensuing technical free throw, but the Lakers managed to pull out the 116-114 win regardless.

Whew. Here's how it went down.

Lakers build, then blow 20-point lead

The game was tied at 62-62 early in the third quarter. But the Lakers took control via a 24-0 run that started midway through the third and gave them a 95-77 lead on a 3 by James with 9:30 remaining in the fourth. The Lakers then appeared to be on cruise control when they expanded the lead to 99-79 with 8:40 remaining. 

But the Suns ween't done. They went on a 35-14 run of their own that concluded with a 3 by Brooks with James' hand in his face. That bucket gave the Suns a 114-113 lead with 12.2 seconds remaining.

And the Suns should have had the opportunity for more.

Officials miss foul on LeBron, T up Brooks for bump

James clearly bumped Brooks on the follow through and should have been called for an and-1 foul. But officials didn't blow their whistles. 

So Brooks, who has plenty of history with James, got up from the court and walked over to bump James in the chest. Officials definitely noticed this. 

And they called Brooks for a technical foul upon replay review for "unsporting contact" and "aggressively approaching James." The technical was his second of the game, and his night was done. Officials did not address the contact James initially made with Brooks on his shot.

James went to the line to shoot the technical free throw. But he missed, and the Suns maintained their one-point lead. 

James hits his last 2 FTs after critical misses

But James was offered redemption at the line after officials whistled Devin Booker for fouling him on a closeout as James attempted a 3. Here's that foul, which Booker immediately protested:

The Suns challenged the foul. But their protest was to no avail. Officials determined that Booker made "illegal contact with his right hand to the right wrist of James." 

James went to the line for three free throws and a chance to take the lead. He missed the first. But he made the last two to give the Lakers a 115-114 lead with 3 seconds remaining. 

Grayson Allen had a contested look at a go-ahead floater on the other end that missed, and the Lakers held on for the win following a Phoneix foul on the rebound with 0.4 seconds remaining. 

It was a wild finish made even wilder in postgame interviews. 

Redick on LeBron's missed FT: 'Luka should've shot that'

It turns out that Luka Dončić, not James, was supposed to shoot the free throw after Brooks' technical foul. Here's Lakers coach JJ Redick after the game:

"Luka and I talked, and I thought Luka was gonna shoot it," Redick told reporters. "I walked back, and LeBron was at the free throw line, and he shot it. 

"I don't know what the dialogue on the court was. ... Luka should have shot that. Yeah."

James was asked about Redick's comments regarding the free throw. Here's what he had to say:

’S***, I was just walking to the free throw line," James said of shooting the free throw. "Why wouldn’t I? I mean, I’d have been OK with Luka taking it too. We’ve both been in pressure situations. 

I just took it. Unfortunately I missed it. But I made up for it.”

James finished with 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 8 turnovers. Dončić tallied 29 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 6 assists in the winning effort. 

Brooks helped spark the late Suns run and finished with 18 points while shooting 4 of 7 from 3 before he got tossed. He hit three of his 3s and scored 11 points in the final 7:44 as the Suns mounted their rally. Booker scored a team-high 27 points.

But it wasn't enough as the Lakers got the last laugh and the win in Phoenix.

The goal of All aTwitter is to give readers a detailed or quirky look, through the unique lens of Twitter, at the Commanders, the NFL, and sports in general, along with a smattering of other things.

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Is that victory monday i smell. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/jQCluoDLSz

— Chris Bryant (@HogfarmerChris) December 14, 2025

Got the W 🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/Hnmf69Hq3f

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 14, 2025

Dan Quinn: “we made it a lot harder than it needed to be.”

— John Keim (@john_keim) December 14, 2025

#Commanders HC Dan Quinn didn't have definitive injury updates on LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique), TE Colson Yankoff (ankle) or WR Noah Brown (rib)

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 14, 2025

Just gonna leave these here 🥹 pic.twitter.com/IgVmKuhSWD

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 15, 2025

DQ referring to this as “The division tournament” is bad ass.

An example of the mentality he’s trying to set. COMPETE.COMPETE.COMPETE 😤

There are some questions that can be answered down the stretch

Love this from DQ https://t.co/jicHGM7JOS

— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) December 15, 2025

Mikey Sainristil now has 8 picks in his young career, second only to Calen Bullock (9) for the most of any defender in the 2024 class.

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) December 14, 2025

That’s Mikey’s 8th INT in his career.

If he can get back to last years Mikey he may have a great role in our defense. #RaiseHail
pic.twitter.com/wEbMwBkQZz

— SJM 🪖 (@DMVCommanders) December 14, 2025

Mike Sainristil on interception No. 4 pic.twitter.com/92vyqrLHyz

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) December 14, 2025

JAYLIN LANE for his 2nd PR TD of the season. His last one was in week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. #Raisehailpic.twitter.com/iB9zJzx5mp

— R4R (@Reek4RealPC) December 14, 2025

Terry McLaurin “Don't put a safety on me.” 🥶#RaiseHail
pic.twitter.com/dBVRflWKRK

— Wizskins (@Itswizskins) December 14, 2025

I don’t wanna hear any Croskey- Merritt slander

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt 18 Carries, 96 YDS, 1 TDs vs Giants pic.twitter.com/fNQyAdTmTp

— Ye (@JaydenHeisman) December 14, 2025

#Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury called a designed run on 55.2% of Washington's offensive snaps today. When he's called designed runs on at least 40% of his plays, they've averaged 24.2 PPG. When they've failed to meet that mark, they have averaged just 14.6 PPG. https://t.co/KFv41WDX4c

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 14, 2025

Antonio Hamilton played a combined 31 snaps on D before Sunday; he played 56 today.

— John Keim (@john_keim) December 14, 2025

Antonio Hamilton will be 33 next year, but I think after today’s game he’s earned a chance to come back for depth at corner next season. My player of the game! #Raisehail

— Nick Kerns (@nicktkerns) December 14, 2025

I was really impressed by Antonio Hamilton today.

He’s 32 (UDFA way back in 2016) and has bounced around NFL. Stints with OAK, NYG, KC, TB, AZ, ATL. Got a legit shot to play today, 50+ snaps, more than doubling his season snap total in one game.

Covered well. Showed nicely!

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 15, 2025

CB Antonio Hamilton: "Only two things happen when you getting a lot of targets. You either get exposed or you get exposure. Tonight was more exposure and I'm thankful for it."

— John Keim (@john_keim) December 14, 2025

Frankie Luvu says his warmup in the snow reminded him of college at Washington State – “it wasn’t bad, it was actually pretty nice out there” pic.twitter.com/SxazjN2ouV

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 15, 2025

No matter the owner, name, draft order, opponent or record.

I will unapologetically root for my team to win every single game.

Its how I fan. 🙌 #RaiseHail

— Chris Bryant (@HogfarmerChris) December 14, 2025

For all the tank the season fans that want to lose, when the Patriots started their Super Bowl dynasty in 2002 all the way through 2019, their average first round selection was the 21st pick. If you have a competent general manager it don’t matter where you select. #RaiseHail

— ᖇIGGO 70 ᑕᕼIᑭ ™ 🌊🤙🏽🎧 (@karl_diesel) December 14, 2025

For the draft pick crowd it’s just not realistic with 4 games left. Players want to win. They play to win

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 14, 2025

Not pretty.

But it has been 70 days since Washington last won a football game.

Tonight, we celebrate. #RaiseHail

— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) December 14, 2025

Don't care about no draft pick order, respectfully! Love yall though ❤️

— Jeremy Reaves (@JR1ERA) December 14, 2025

Mariota on the emotional victory: It’s hard to go 2 months without winning a football game pic.twitter.com/3Qygzq50HR

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 14, 2025

It is nice to see the Commanders smile again.

— CWallSports (@cwallse) December 14, 2025

Commanders open as 5.5 point underdogs for next Saturday against Philadelphia

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 15, 2025

Cowboys fall to the Vikings at home: Cowboys 26 – Vikings 34 ✭ #MINvsDAL#DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/bksc12D6mu

— The Cowboys Network (@TheCowboysNet) December 15, 2025

JJ McCarthy delivers a TD strike rolling to his left!

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/1oLnZ2MYfQ

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

swaggy with it. @jjmccarthy09

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/lOebuiwp9q

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

JJ McCarthy to Jalen Nailor on 4th and 3…

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/HmWRWfG3ja

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

JJ dealing to Hockenson!

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/cqF4gdLPiV

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

What a tackle to prevent the first down ‼️

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/B07Pd5LaPQ

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

Mahomes – ACL
Parsons – ACL
Adams – another hamstring injury

It’s the NFL. Injuries happen. Nothing to do with a players frame#RaiseHail@Commanders

— Tim Meek (@IndySkinsFan) December 15, 2025

#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan on WR Brandon Aiyuk being placed on the reserve/left squad list:

“We haven’t seen him in forever. It's been pretty simple for me … I haven’t seen him in a month."

(📽️ @49ers) pic.twitter.com/eoPbsxu9YU

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 15, 2025

Oh Boy: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders speaks on the pass to Jerry Jeudy that was intercepted.

“I’m not one to kick someone while they’re down. He understands it was a big play, and I’m sure he’s hard on himself. There’s no need for me to be extra.”

😬😬😬pic.twitter.com/MEMsJ50Pbf

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 15, 2025

Amazing message from #Colts QB Philip Rivers on playing his first game today:

"Hopefully, my sons and those players that I'm in charge of at the school, they'll say like, 'Crap, coach wasn't scared.'" 👏👏pic.twitter.com/qyQSyRnoUF

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 15, 2025

ACL tear even more clear from this angle pic.twitter.com/nf0HM7jvBa

— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) December 14, 2025

Breaking: #Chiefs superstar QB Patrick Mahomes just went down with a knee injury.

Does not look good at all. pic.twitter.com/FL8o9a8JMU

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 14, 2025

Chiefs bets went up in flames today after their loss to the Chargers eliminated them from the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/vm9TN7Eqzr

— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) December 15, 2025

Ron Rivera style! pic.twitter.com/X7Jw8eUKaq

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 15, 2025

As Hanukkah begins, we send our condolences to everyone affected by the horrific attacks in Sydney, Australia.

May light prevail in the darkness and may all who celebrate have a safe and happy holiday. pic.twitter.com/MKOkyhOKgX

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 14, 2025

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Bayern Munich head coach knows Lennart Karl is not having a normal one. The wonderkid’s out-of-this-world form for one of Europe’s best teams is taking care of that. But Kompany has faith that the teenager will make the transition to full professional.

“When you score so many goals at 17, not everything is normal,” Kompany had relayed ahead of Bayern’s match on Sunday vs. Mainz 05 (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “His mental and physical development is currently fine. He was a bit tired sometimes, but that’s normal playing every three days. In the future, he will be a player who can handle the workload very well – I believe he has the profile for it.”

Karl added another one — this time a tap-in, but it counts just as much as his worldies — in Bayern’s 2-2 draw against Mainz, and now has six goals and two assists across all competitions. His has been one of the more sensational introductions to top-level professional football in recent memory, at least as far as Bayern is concerned.

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If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

Yahoo Sports | Alexander Wilson: It’s been a relatively quiet off-season thus far for the Bronx Bombers. But a report out of Japan hints that may not be the case much longer. The Yankees, if Nikkan Sports is accurate, “will be fully involved in the bidding” for 27-year-old Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai. The price tag for Imai could well exceed $150 million, if projections can be trusted. But, as the article wonders, can the Yankees afford to go into 2026 without another high-level starting pitcher, considering Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón will both start the season on the injured list?

MLB Trade Rumors | Nick Deeds: Speaking of high-level starting pitching, New York has been steadily linked to former Yankee Michael King. Unsurprisingly, so are a bevy of other clubs. In some cases, those calls are coming from inside the house… or inside the division, at least. Among the teams vying for the right-hander are the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles (they were initially reported as finalists but later clarified as just top contenders). It would be a less than ideal outcome to miss out on King and have him land in the AL East. I would be… annoyed.

New York Post | Bridget Reilly: Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has been going through it recently, with stretch of mediocre play. To annoy Eagles fans ever more, Hurts showed up before Sunday’s game rocking a Yankees cap. Unsurprisingly, the social media responses from many Eagles fans were, uh, unsupportive of Hurts’s choice, though many were surprisingly sanuine about it, given the Philly sports fan reputation. Considering the Eagles won 31-0 to steady a rickety ship, perhaps they should encourage their Super Bowl MVP QB to wear Yankees gear more often.

In the present day, Kendal Grey (real name Peyton Prussin) reigns as the WWE Evolve Champion, with the NXT Women's Championship also in potential reach following her recent Women's Iron Survivor Challenge win. Long before she stepped into a professional wrestling ring, though, Grey wowed spectators as an amateur wrestler at Life University. During an interview with Denise Salcedo, Grey explained how she eventually arrived at the major leagues of WWE.

According to Grey, "WWE Raw" star and fellow former amateur wrestler Julius Creed first put WWE on her radar as a post-college destination. "When I kind of got in contact with WWE, it was through the NIL program. NIL, not just with WWE, but it's more common for them to look at the best top athletes at NCAA level. So NAIA is not really looked at too much," she said. "I have to give credit to Julius Creed because with wrestling community, he wrestled in college, the wrestling community is kind of small. So after I won my second or third national title, he was like, 'Oh, when you're done, WWE next.'

"I thought he was joking," Grey continued. "I did not know this would be an opportunity, so I was like, 'Yeah, totally.' He's like, 'No, I'm being so like for real. If you're interested, I'll get you in contact with them.' It kind of took off through there."

WWE announced Grey's signing through the NIL program in January 2023. Her respective class consisted of 15 collegiate athletes from across the United States. Sometime in late 2023, Grey then inked a full-time deal, paving the way for her WWE television debut the following year.

Read more: Wrestlers Immediately Axed After A Match

Grey Pursued WWE On A Full-Time Basis After Careful Consideration

Prior to signing a full-time contract with WWE, Grey said she seriously considered its pros and cons, with one con being that it would take away the opportunity for her to try out for the Olympics. Still, she ultimately opted to pursue WWE.

"I came and tried out, and ever since then, I loved it," Grey said. "I'm so grateful to be here. I'm so grateful for the opportunity. Wrestling is a weight cut sport; I was wrestling at 109 pounds, very small. I am still small. I'm still trying to gain weight and still get bigger, but I was super small. So when I came to my tryout, I know there was concerns like she's really small, maybe her wrist can break. I'm like, 'No, I swear. I promise.'"

Since the age of 11, Grey had cut weight out of necessity for her various athletic ventures, including amateur wrestling. Armed with a desire to join WWE on a permanent basis, however, she vowed to bulk up at that point.

"I want to get bigger. I want to do this,'" Grey said, "so I think I had to bet on myself and they kind of had to take a risk on me to see like can she handle it? Can she handle stepping into the ring? I feel like they took a risk. But I hope I'm showing that I am taking this serious, I love this, and I'm so passionate about it."

Two years removed from her WWE tryout, Grey has made major strides in the professional wrestling world. Come time for "WWE NXT" New Year's Evil, she could now possibly reach the highest peak in "NXT." 

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Denise Salcedo with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, and since they did, they are almost fully eliminated from playoff contention. Almost.

Dallas is technically alive as it relates to a spot in the tournament as the winner of their division in the NFC East. It is incredibly unlikely and impractical that they would win it now, it was going to be difficult enough if they’d beaten Minnesota, but it is still possible in a literal sense is all.

Here is the situation relative to the division and overall NFC playoff picture as far as the Cowboys are concerned.

NFC East standings

Technically speaking the division is still alive for the Cowboys, but it would take a full and total Christmas miracle.

1. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-5
2. Dallas Cowboys, 6-7-1
3. Washington Commanders, 4-10
4. New York Giants, 2-12

The Eagles took care of business on Sunday and for what it’s worth the Commanders won as well. Given the fact that Dallas lost the Eagles will clinch the NFC East with a win or Cowboys loss at any point across the next three weeks.

Current NFC playoff picture

While the Cowboys technically have hope for the NFC East (being technical!) they are done in terms of any potential Wild Card spot.

1. Los Angeles Rams, 11-3 [NFC West leader]
2. Chicago Bears (10-4) [NFC North leader]
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) [NFC East leader]
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) [NFC South leader]
5. Seattle Seahawks, (11-3) [Wild Card]
6. San Francisco 49ers, (10-4) [Wild Card]
7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) [Wild Card]

The first team out remains the Detroit Lions, but they lost in Week 15 which opened the door of possibility all the more entering Sunday night’s game. Considering that they and the Packers both fell… a Wild Card berth was still possible for the Cowboys, although that fizzled out with the loss to the Vikings.

The Los Angeles Lakers had some time off after getting run out of Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday by the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday's Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal round game. They got back to work on Sunday in a "make-up" game at the Phoenix Suns, who also lost in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday.

The Lakers got out to a solid early lead, but after leading 22-16 with 4:54 left in the first quarter, Phoenix responded with a 20-9 run to go up 36-31 at the end of the period. It looked like Los Angeles still had some of the same deficiencies it displayed on Wednesday — it committed 13 turnovers in the first half, and Phoenix consistently capitalized off those mistakes.

L.A. managed to tie the score at 62 at halftime, and finally, late in the third quarter, it found a formula that worked on the defensive end. After trailing 77-71 with just over five minutes to go in the quarter, it scored an amazing 24 unanswered points stretching into the fourth quarter. The Lakers led 99-79 with 8:40 left in the game, and it looked like they were on their way to an easy win.

But they had to make things hard on themselves. They lost discipline and started to milk the clock offensively instead of continuing to play with some pace, which allowed Phoenix to continually nip away at their lead. After Marcus Smart had a layup attempt blocked with 20 seconds remaining, Dillon Brooks hit a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound to put Phoenix ahead 114-113 with 12 seconds left.

Luckily, the Suns lost just enough composure after that. After hitting that trey, Brooks bumped LeBron James and was called for a technical foul. James missed the technical free throw, but he was then fouled on a 3-point attempt on the ensuing possession. He made two of the three resulting free throws, and after Grayson Allen missed, Marcus Smart was fouled. Smart made the first foul shot and intentionally missed the second to provide the finishing touches on a 116-114 Lakers victory.

Ultimately, the Lakers earned this victory. They pounded the offensive boards and had a 24-10 edge in offensive rebounds and a 54-37 overall advantage in rebounding, not to mention 25 second-chance points. They also attempted 43 free throws compared to 25 for Phoenix, and while they committed a total of 22 turnovers, Phoenix had 20 turnovers of their own.

Rui Hachimura: D

Hachimura wasn't aggressive offensively in this game, and when he did look to shoot the basketball, he couldn't get his shot to fall. He took only five shot attempts, four of which were 3-pointers, and he made only one of them, which limited him to three points. However, he did have seven rebounds, two steals and one assist in 31 minutes to help the Lakers' cause.

Marcus Smart: C-plus/B-minus

Smart went 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point range, giving him eight points, but he helped out in other areas. He had four rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal in 32 minutes, and he was one player who helped the Lakers outhustle and outwork Phoenix for a good chunk of the second half.

Deandre Ayton: A

Ayton went 10-of-11 from the field, and he wasn't just getting easy layups near the rim. Six of his made baskets came outside the restricted area, and two of them were taken from outside of the paint. He ended up with 20 points, but that wasn't the best aspect of his performance on Sunday.

His effort on the boards was very impressive. He fought hard for rebounds and ended up with 13 of them, and in his spare time, he contributed two steals and one block in 30 minutes.

LeBron James: B

It's starting to look like James is settling back into a superstar level of production after taking some time to get into game shape following his 14-game absence to start the season. Versus Phoenix, he shot 8-of-17 from the field and scored 26 points, to go along with four assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Had the Lakers bothered to shoot better than 7-of-37 from downtown, James would've easily had a few more assists.

He did, however, commit eight turnovers, with six of them coming in the first half. So far this season, he has kept his turnovers down, but over the years, ball security has been a problem for him at times.

James and his old adversary, Dillon Brooks, got into it a couple of times during this game, other than in the final seconds when Brooks bumped him. In the first half, Brooks pushed James, and in the third quarter, James apparently retaliated by committing an offensive foul on the forward. As has often been the case, Brooks' desire to be the villain backfired — his collision with James near the end of the game got him ejected, as he was called for his second technical foul.

Luka Doncic: D-plus

Doncic just couldn't get his shots to go through the hoop consistently in this game. He went 7-of-25 overall and 2-of-14 from 3-point land, and outside of the second quarter, he made only four of his 20 shot attempts. He finished with 29 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal. This was the first time in exactly a month he didn't reach 30 points in a game.

The Slovenian superstar also had problems with ball security. He committed five turnovers in the first half and six for the game, and like James, he has had turnover problems over the years.

Jarred Vanderbilt: B-plus

Vanderbilt made only his second appearance in the Lakers' last 11 games, and he got meaningful playing time for the first time in about a month. It is fair to say he made the most of the 15 minutes he received on Sunday.

He entered the game to start the second quarter, and just 18 seconds into the period, he scored a bucket right after getting an offensive rebound. A few minutes later, he drew a moving screen violation on the Suns. Midway through the second quarter, he got a steal and drew a clear path foul, which resulted in two made free throws for him and a made basket by Doncic on the Lakers' subsequent possession.

Vanderbilt's energy defensively and on the boards made a palpable impact, and he led the Lakers in plus-minus with a plus-13. He grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals, and he scored seven points on five shot attempts. He will never be any type of offensive threat, but he will always be a grinder who will make a real impact on the court whenever he wants to.

Jake LaRavia: B-minus/B

LaRavia, as has been the case too often this season, had trouble hitting, as he went 2-of-9 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point tries. But he had eight rebounds, and he played some effective, opportunistic defense in this game, especially in the second half. He tallied two steals and two blocks, and his defensive pressure helped force a number of Suns mistakes when L.A. made its big run in the second half.

Jaxson Hayes: A-minus/A

In 18 minutes, Hayes snatched nine rebounds, scored 12 points on 4-of-4 field-goal shooting and 4-of-5 from the free throw line and added two assists. During the third quarter, he ran the floor hard on a fast break off a LaRavia steal, and LaRavia fed him for a poster dunk while he got fouled.

He has been playing with very good energy this season, which has allowed him to ably fill in for Ayton when Ayton has gotten rest.

Gabe Vincent: C

In 19 minutes, Vincent made two of his five shot attempts and one of his three 3-point attempts to score five points, and he also had one steal.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player grades: L.A. holds on to defeat Suns after uneven effort

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe scored 35 points apiece and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 136-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.

Stephen Curry had 48 points for the Warriors. He hit a season-high 12 3-pointers, the NBA-leading 28th time he's had 10 or more in a game.

In a back-and-fourth final quarter, Toumani Camara's alley oop dunk from Donovan Clingan tied it or the Blazers at 121, but Curry answered with a 3-pointer and a layup.

Portland went up 127-126 but again Curry came back with a 3. Grant's basket and free throw gave Portland a one-point lead and Deni Avdija added a pair of free throws with 19.9 seconds left to stretch it to 132-129.

Moses Moody dunked to get the Warriors to 134-131 with 13.2 seconds to go but Grant's free throws pushed the lead to 136-131. Grant finished with a season-high seven 3-pointers.

Curry was playing in his second game after missing five straight with a left quadriceps contusion. He scored 39 points in Golden State's 127-120 loss at home to Minnesota on Friday night.

Draymond Green started for Golden State after missing the game against the Timberwolves for personal reasons. He missed two games before that with a right foot sprain.

Portland led by 34-23 late in the opening quarter after Caleb Love's 3-pointer, but the Warriors closed the gap and took a 62-61 lead into halftime.

Curry made back-to-back 3-pointers that stretched Golden State's lead to 79-70 in the third quarter, their biggest lead of the game to that point.

Green had eight turnovers, including four in the third quarter, and was called for a technical foul.

The game was added to the schedule when both the Blazers and Warriors were eliminated from the NBA Cup.

Up next

Warriors: At Phoenix on Thursday night.

Trail Blazers: Host Sacramento on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Tuemay Weldlibanos won the Honolulu Marathon finishing at Kapiolani Park today with a time of 2 hours and 13.38 minutes.

1 /2 COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Tuemay Weldlibanos won the Honolulu Marathon finishing at Kapiolani Park today with a time of 2 hours and 13.38 minutes.

COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Calli Hauger-Thackery was crowned the first female finisher of the Honolulu Marathon today at Kapiolani Park.

2 /2 COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Calli Hauger-Thackery was crowned the first female finisher of the Honolulu Marathon today at Kapiolani Park.

COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Tuemay Weldlibanos won the Honolulu Marathon finishing at Kapiolani Park today with a time of 2 hours and 13.38 minutes.

COURTESY HONOLULU MARATHON ASSOCIATION Runner Calli Hauger-Thackery was crowned the first female finisher of the Honolulu Marathon today at Kapiolani Park.

Tsegay Weldibanos from Eritrea and Calli Hauger-Thackery of England won the JA Honolulu Marathon today, both edging the 2024 winners.

Weldibanos covered the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 38 seconds. Yemane Haileselassie finished second in 2 :14 :29.

Hauger-Thackery won in 2 :30 :43, while 2023 and 2024 winner Cynthia Limo was second in 2 :31 :33.

They were are among 28, 746 registrants for the 53rd running of the marathon, with most still on the course three hours into the race. The field dealt with moderate to heavy rain from the 5 a.m. start until about an hour into the race.

The concurrent Start To Park 10K drew 10, 812 entrants, and Saturday’s Kalakaua Merrie Mile had 3, 404. The total of 42, 962 for the Honolulu Marathon Week broke last year’s record by around 4, 000.

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Ex-FOX Sports analyst questions Fernando Mendoza's Heisman win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza cruised to a decisive Heisman Trophy victory Saturday night, but not everyone was sold on his candidacy.

Former FOX Sports commentator Skip Bayless questioned the selection on social media, arguing that Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was more deserving despite finishing second in the voting. 

Bayless congratulated Mendoza while suggesting Pavia’s on-field production outweighed any concerns about his demeanor.

Congrats to Fernando Mendoza ... nice memorized, rehearsed speech ... but Diego Pavia deserved this award for his performance on the field, even if his swagger and edge rubbed some voters and viewers the wrong way.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 14, 2025

Mendoza won comfortably, earning 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189 and sweeping all six geographic voting regions. The fan vote went to Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

Bayless pointed to Pavia’s historic season at Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores to 10 wins for the first time in program history. Pavia threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns and added 826 rushing yards and nine scores, following a seven-win campaign last season that included an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama.

Pavia lack of marquee victories this season was a reason for concern. Vanderbilt’s best win came against No. 25 Missouri, and Pavia threw six touchdowns and four interceptions against winning FBS teams as the Commodores missed the College Football Playoff.

As for Mendoza, he guided Indiana to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking. He passed for 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns, rushed for six more scores and delivered signature performances in a comeback win over Penn State and an upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.

Mendoza’s resume leaned heavily on defense in key wins, but Heisman voters overwhelmingly backed his claim to college football’s top individual honor.

More college football news: 

• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Fernando Mendoza won't keep the Heisman Trophy if he wins
• Why LSU should be extremely nervous about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore
• Jim Harbaugh trends after comments on Sherrone Moore's firing
• Diego Pavia asks Donald Trump to fix the College Football Playoff

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Toluca defeated the UANL Tigres on penalty kicks 9-8 on Sunday night to win the Apertura tournament title and became the fifth team since 1996 to win back-to-back titles in the Mexican league.

Fernando Gorriaran put the visitors side ahead in the 12th minute, but Brazilian winger Helinho leveled the scoring in the 41st and Portuguese striker Paulinho put Toluca ahead in the 52nd to send the match into extra time with a 2-2 aggregate.

Former Atletico de Madrid winger Angel Correa gave the UANL Tigres a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the final.

The Red Devils joined Pumas, León, Atlas and America as teams that have repeated league titles in Mexico since 1996, when the league started playing two tournaments each year.

Toluca now has 12 league titles to tie Chivas as the second winningest team in Mexico. Both teams trail America, which has 16.

Toluca's coach Antonio Mohamed won his fifth league title in Mexico and is two short of the all-time leaders Ignacio Trelles and Ricardo Ferretti.

Alexis Vega scored two penalty kicks, including the game winner.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

J.J. McCarthy stats vs. Cowboys: Vikings QB produces second-straight strong game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

J.J. McCarthy has been a lightning rod this season, with the second-year quarterback adjusting to the NFL on the fly.

While the Minnesota Vikings have taken a step back this year, a big reason why is because of poor quarterback play. However, since McCarthy returned from his most recent injury, the young quarterback has looked more comfortable on the field.

That continued on Sunday night, with the Vikings defeating the Dallas Cowboys to produce a second-straight victory. With just a few games left in the season, McCarthy's progress will go a long way to determining how the Vikings approach the offseason.

Here's a look at how McCarthy performed on Sunday night.

MORE: Micah Parsons injury devastating for Packers' Super Bowl hopes

J.J. McCarthy stats vs. Cowboys

• Completions/Attempts: 15/24
• Passing yards: 250
• Yards per attempt: 10.4
• Passing touchdowns: 2
• Interceptions: 1
• Passer rating: 107.9
• Rushing yards: 16
• Rushing touchdowns: 1

McCarthy had one of the better games of his career on Sunday night, scoring three times and leading the Vikings to a win. It's a second-straight positive performance for McCarthy and also results in the first winning streak of the young quarterback's career.

MORE: How did Philip Rivers perform in his return?

J.J. McCarthy highlights vs. Cowboys

McCarthy's night started on a sour note, as he threw an interception on his first pass of the game. However, he was able to bounce back and make some nice plays against Dallas.

In the first quarter, McCarthy scored his first touchdown of the game, a pass to Jalen Nailor while moving to his left to tie the game at seven.

WHAT A STRIKE @jjmccarthy09 🎯

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/q40LRbnKjO

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

McCarthy's second score came while the quarterback used his legs, as the Vikings called a naked bootleg on the goal line. It allowed the quarterback to easily strut and griddy into the end zone.

Griddying for a touchdown.

You.

Love.

To.

See.

It.@jjmccarthy09

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/pKkcz7rYi2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

Then, McCarthy found Nailor for another touchdown, this time to extend a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.

NAILOR! AGAIN!@jjmccarthy09@jalennailor#ProBowlVote

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/JnsDToU2Mn

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

McCarthy's biggest highlight of the night might not have resulted in a score, with the Vikings quarterback completing a pass to Jordan Addison deep down the field.

AIRING IT OUT!!! @jjmccarthy09 ➡️ Jordan Addison#ProBowlVote

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/D07i2lZDHA

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

MORE: Josh Allen, Bills produce comeback win against Patriots

Vikings schedule 2025

Date	Opponent	Time	TV Channel
12/21	@ Giants	1:00 p.m.	Fox
12/25	vs. Lions	4:30 p.m.	Netflix
TBD	vs. Packers	TBD	TBD

Yes, the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Denver Broncos hurt.

But the injuries, and there were many of them, made it hurt even more.

The Packers lost several players to injury, including to some of their most valuable to the roster, in the 34-26 loss to snap a four-game winning streak.

Here's a look at all the Packers' injuries during the Week 15 game.

Micah Parsons

This is devastating.

The Packers' impactful edge rusher suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter and the NFL Network is reporting there is fear that Parsons has a torn ACL.

Parsons went down with the non-contact injury as he was approaching Broncos quarterback Bo Nix on a first down play with the Packers nursing a 23-21 lead.

Trainers immediately tended to him and Parsons could be heard saying "I'm out."

If Parsons has a torn ACL he'll be out for the season, ending a dominant first year in Green Bay in the most cruel way for one of the NFL's biggest game changers.

Parsons was acquired by the Packers in a monumental trade before the start of the season and the multi-time All-Pro lived up to the hype and then some.

Now, the Packers defense will have to somehow manage without him.

Christian Watson

Before Parsons, it was Christian Watson, the Packers' most explosive player on offense, who left the game in the third quarter with an injury.

Watson has established himself as the Packers' No. 1 offensive threat since returning in late October from his own torn ACL that he suffered in the 2024 regular season finale.

But that momentum could be halted.

Watson exited with a chest injury when he came crashing to the field as he tried to make a catch on a deep ball that was intercepted by Patrick Surtain.

He went to the hospital but has been released and is flying home with the team.

#Packers WR Christian Watson, who was taken to the hospital after suffering a chest injury against the #Broncos, is flying home with the team.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) December 15, 2025

Zach Tom

Zach Tom departed Sunday's game in the first half with a right knee injury.

He was confident it wasn't anything long term. But it's a blow for a line that is already missing veteran Pro Bowl center Elgton Jenkins with a season-ending broken ankle.

Tom had signed a massive contract extension this summer.

Better news for the #Packers: RT Zach Tom said there didn’t appear to be any structural damage in his injured right knee. S Evan Williams said he’d have tests on his knee. He said it didn’t feel as badly as when he missed four games in college.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) December 15, 2025

Evan Williams

The Packers' second-year safety also departed the game in the second half with a knee injury.

The injury doesn't appear to be long term.

But with the Packers set to face Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and the Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson in the next two weeks being down any one is going to hurt.

Josh Whyle

The first injury on the day was to Josh Whyle, the Packers' third-string tight end. He suffered a concussion in the first quarter.

He has been on the active roster since tight end Tucker Kraft was lost with a torn ACL in early November.

Whyle, a third-year player, had spent the first part of the season on the practice squad.

Jayden Reed

The Packers' third-year receiver might not show up on the injury report but it's worth mentioning that he was slow to get up on the team's final drive.

He departed with 56 seconds remaining as the Packers trailed 34-26. It wasn't clear what was ailing him - it appeared to be a lower body injury - but he didn't finish the game.

Reed had just returned last week after missing three months of the season with a broken collarbone and foot injury.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers injuries today: Micah Parsons, Christian Watson and more

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WJHL) – East Tennessee State (ETSU) women’s basketball couldn’t sustain its early momentum Sunday afternoon, falling 73-55 to Virginia Tech.

The Lady Bucs came out firing, outscoring the Hokies 16-10 in the opening quarter behind six points and two boards from sophomore guard Carmen Richardson. But Virginia Tech found its rhythm shortly afterward, using a strong second half to pull away.

Senior forward Meghan Downing showed out on the glass, grabbing a season-best 12 rebounds. Downing’s five rebounds in the third quarter also marked the most by any Buc in a single frame this season.

Junior guard Daniela Lopez led ETSU in scoring for the second time this year, finishing with 14 points.

Thirteen Bucs saw the floor as ETSU totaled 55 points, 38 rebounds and nine assists.

ETSU women’s basketball returns home to Brooks Gymnasium where they’ll take on Gardner-Webb on Thursday, Dec. 18, for their final game of 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.

LAWRENCE (KSNT) – Kansas soccer head coach Nate Lie joins this week’s episode of K-Nation.

Lie talks about the success of his team in his second year with the program, continued growth and what he wants from his squad in year three.

“It’s always sad to end a season with a group of people whom you admire and respect. When you find success, it hurts to end,” Lie said. “I’m really proud of what we did this season.”

You can watch the full interview above or on Sunday’s episode of K-Nation.

For more sports news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

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Matt Harmon and Chris Allen provide instant fantasy analysis to all the action from Week 15 in the NFL. The two react to all the major injuries that took place on Sunday, including the Kansas City Chiefs losing Patrick Mahomes for the season to a torn ACL. The two place games in three fantasy buckets: Games we care about the most, games we sort of care about and games that could have been an email.

(2:00) - Boom and Bust players of Week 15: Trevor Lawrence and Quinshon Judkins

(6:30) - Games we care about the most: LAC@KC, BUF@NE

(25:40) - Games we care about the most: DET@LAR, GB@DEN

(41:15) - Games we sort of care about: BAL@CIN, NYJ@JAX, CAR@NO, IND@SEA

(59:10) - Games that could have been an email

Jason Jung

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Warriors' Stephen Curry broke another all-time Michael Jordan record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stephen Curry continues to do amazing things on the hardwood thanks to his remarkable three-point shooting. 

The 37-year-old Golden State Warriors superstar routinely embraces his responsibilities as the franchise’s top scoring threat, allowing him to deliver regardless of the circumstances. 

Although the Warriors fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night, Curry broke another all-time Michael Jordan record.

“Steph Curry passes Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games after turning 30 years old,” Real Sports stated on X/Twitter. 

Curry passed the Chicago Bulls legend for most 35-point games after turning 30 on Friday night, but clearly didn’t feel inclined to stop there. 

The Davidson product was able to surpass Jordan a second time by recording 48 points on 63% field goal shooting and 66.6% three-point shooting in the Warriors’ 136-131 loss to the Trail Blazers on the road. 

While Curry is likely impressed by his own record-breaking/history-making ability, it’s reasonable to assume he isn’t thrilled with the franchise’s inability to find a rhythm and rattle off several wins in a row. 

The Dubs are now under .500 following their most recent Western Conference loss, which should be the final straw for Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Dubs. 

If the seven-time NBA champions don’t complete a blockbuster trade to help Curry inch closer to winning his fifth title, the future Hall of Fame’s heroic efforts may sadly go to waste this season.

More NBA:  Knicks predicted to pull off 'Luka Doncic-like trade heist' involving Karl-Anthony Towns

The Virginia Tech Hokies improved to 10-2 on the season Sunday with an 82-53 win over the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks.

The Hawks were competitive early, taking their first lead, 9-7, at the 15:32 mark of the first half. However, a layup from sophomore guard Ben Hammond two minutes later gave the Hokies an 11-10 lead that they would never relinquish. Virginia Tech spent the remainder of the half attempting to pull away. However, UMES hung tough. The Hokies finally had some breathing room, going on a 13-5 run to end the first half with a 38-29 advantage.

Much like we’ve seen several times this season, Tech pulled away with an impressive second-half performance. It was a 15-1 run in the final minutes that really blew things up in favor of the Hokies. Tech shot an impressive 54% from the field, including 11 of 24 (46%) from 3-point range.

Moments we won't forget 💪 @SinCereJones_pic.twitter.com/GrXAaCjA5H

— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 14, 2025

Freshman guard Neoklis Avdalas led a balanced Tech scoring effort with 16 points. He also led the team with seven assists. Freshman big man Christian Gurdak came off the bench and contributed 13 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Amani Hansberry was excellent again, scoring 12 points and leading the team with nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Tyler Johnson scored 12 for the Hokies, while Hammond finished with 10 points and four assists.

The Hokies have some time off before hosting Elon next Saturday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum. That will be VT’s last non-conference game before jumping straight into ACC play, where the Hokies will host Virginia on New Year’s Eve.

Whatever the chance is now it has be little to non existent for the Dallas Cowboys, who in their final primetime game of the season fell at home to the Minnesota Vikings 34-26.

Dallas finished with a 0-3-1 record against the NFC North this season, and fell to 6-7-1 on the year and have now dropped back-to-back after winning three straight.

Up next will be another home matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers who won earlier today 16-13 and eliminated the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention.

Instant Reactions

Ali Jawad

A close, competitive game shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Minnesota has a defense that allows it to hang in there, while the Cowboys have a defense that allows anyone to stay in it.

While the Cowboys’ offense made some big plays, it wasn’t the usual explosive unit we have seen at home this season.

The third-down offense was an Achilles’ heel as Dallas finished 2-of-12 in that category, and while Brandon Aubrey had four makes, he had two misses that could have pulled this game closer.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy who saw a pass tipped on just the second play of the game that was intercepted by Quinnen Williams, rebounded by making some big throws on the night including a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Jalen Nailor and a 58 yard completion to Jordan Addison who burned Caelen Carson for the big reception, and the highlight for the second year McCarthy, was fooling the entire defense like Peyton Manning did back in 2013 on a yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

What the Vikings defense did do, was allow a 200 yard passer for the first time in over a month, as quarterback Dak Prescott finished the night throwing for 294 yards but was held without a touchdown pass for the first time since Week 8.

Prescott’s attempt at becoming the first Cowboys quarterback in franchise history to throw for 300 yards in four straight games however, was denied by just six yards.

CeeDee Lamb led the way receiving with 111 yards, while George Pickens was a non factor just 33 yards off three receptions.

Javonte Williams, who finished with over 80 yards rushing, for the eighth time this season, tied for the most, ran for 91 yards and a score, while his fellow teammate in the backfield, Malik Davis carried the rock and got his second score of the year, in place of Williams who left in the first half with a shoulder injury but later returned.

Defensively, Dallas did not register a single sack on McCarthy who entered the night with the second highest average time to throw of 3.07 seconds and behind a Viking line that has allowed 47 sacks this season.

All that mattered of course was just getting the win and staying alive in the NFC East race with the Eagles, who shut out the Raiders 31-0 earlier today on this Week 15 Sunday.

It appears those hopes, while not over, are now just microscopic.

Clarence Hill

The Dallas Cowboys are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but there is little hope now after an embarrassing 34-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium Sunday night.

The Cowboys needed to win their last four games to have a chance and that was with help with two losses from the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the division title. Considering the Vikings were already eliminated from the playoffs, a Cowboys team had won three of their last four was favored to continue their playoff push.

But Cowboys, who put themselves in a hole with a 3-5-1 start, reverted back to the mean.

The defense allowed struggling quarterback J.J. McCarthy to gain confidence with three touchdowns, two passing and one running. The Cowboys defense struggled to rush the quarterback and defend the pass.

The Cowboys simply didn’t have it. Kicker Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals.

The Vikings defense kept a lid on quarterback Dak Prescott and the team’s explosive passing attack, and coach Brian Schottenheimer seemingly blinked when it mattered most.

He settled for a field goal third quarter with 20-17 lead rather than going for it on fourth down and 3 at the Minnesota 18. He had three fourth down gambles in the first half, a successful fake field goal and two regular fourth down conversion.

The field goal put the cowboys up 23-17. 

But the suspect defense allowed the Vikings to walk down the field and take the lead at 24-23.

On the next possession, Schottenheimer trotted out Aubrey for a 59-yard field goal when he should have punted to pin the Vikings deeep.

Aubrey missed.

And the Vikings moved right down the field on the Cowboys for a touchdown and a 31-23 lead. It tied for the second most points the Viking scored all season.

George Pickens, the team’s leading receiver, had just three catches for 33 yards in the game.

Prescott was under duress all night and had to throw everything underneath, he finished with 294 yards, but the third down offense was a dismal 2-of-12.

The Cowboys have now lost two straight after winning three straight after the bye.

They are 6-7-1 into the final three weeks of the season and needing a miracle.

The University of Dayton men’s basketball team will finish non-conference play this week before heading home for Christmas.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The university had final exams last week, and UD played one game.

The Flyers hosted North Florida on Saturday night at the UD Arena.

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After a slow start, Dayton went on a 17-0 run to take a 23-point halftime lead. They led by as much as 37 points in an 84-61 victory.

De’Shayne Montgomery led UD with 23 points. He made 9-of-10 shots. Malcolm Thomas came off the bench and scored a career-high 14 points.

Both players had highlight-reel dunks in front of the UD’s all-time dunk leader, Obi Toppin.

The 2020 National Player of the Year was inducted into the UD Athletic Hall of Fame at halftime.

The other inductees were former UD women’s basketball player Kelley Austria, former UD Director of Athletic Communication Doug Hauschild, and former UD men’s cross country runner Chris Lemon.

The Flyers are now 8-3 overall.

Dayton will host Florida State on Tuesday and finish non-conference play on Saturday against Liberty.

Both games will at the UD Arena.

Larry Hansgen will call both games on WHIO Radio.

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J.J. McCarthy’s first pass of the night on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys was just about as bad as it could be. Fortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, the rest of his night went signifcantly better.

McCarthy had his second straight three-touchdown performance, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to Jalen Nailor and adding a rushing touchdown as the Vikings won their second consecutive game, defeating the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Dallas by a final score of 34-26.

The Vikings got the ball first and turned the ball over almost immediately, as McCarthy’s first pass was tipped into the air by Donovan Wilson and wound up in the arms of Quinnen Williams for an interception. Then, the Cowboys faked a field goal attempt, as star kicker Brandon Aubrey took a pitch on the field goal attempt and ran for a first down. The drive ended with Javonte Williams going in from a yard out to give the home team a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Minnesota’s offense got on the board late in the first quarter, as McCarthy atoned for his interception by finding Jalen Nailor on a 20-yard touchdown strike to tie things at 7-7 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter of play. The score was set up by a pass to Aaron Jones that saw him draw a penalty for a late hit out of bounds that put the Vikings into the red zone to give them the opportunity to tie it up.

WHAT A STRIKE @jjmccarthy09 🎯

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/q40LRbnKjO

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

Dallas took the lead back on the second play of the second quarter, as Malik Davis gave the Cowboys their second 1-yard touchdown run of the night. That gave the home team a 14-7 lead less than ten seconds into the second frame.

The Vikings then got a big pass from McCarthy to Jordan Addison, the longest pass of McCarthy’s career. It was a 58-yarder to put the Vikings down at the Dallas 4-yard line to set up a first-and-goal.

AIRING IT OUT!!! @jjmccarthy09 ➡️ Jordan Addison#ProBowlVote

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/D07i2lZDHA

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

It came down to a 4th-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, and the Vikings went for it. They brought in their heavy personnel, and it looked like a handoff to Jordan Mason. . .but, in the end, McCarthy had fooled everybody, taking it in himself for a touchdown run to tie things back up at 14-14.

Griddying for a touchdown.

You.

Love.

To.

See.

It.@jjmccarthy09

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/pKkcz7rYi2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

The Vikings caught a break on the Cowboys’ next possession, when Aubrey pushed a 51-yard field goal attempt wide to the right with just under six minutes left before halftime, giving the Vikings good field position. They turned that into a field goal of their own, as Will Reichard connected from 29 yards out to give them their first lead of the night at 17-14 just after the two-minute warning. The Cowboys then tied it just before halftime on a 37-yard field goal from Aubrey to make it 17-17 heading into the locker room.

Dallas took the lead back on their first possession of the second half, as they got a 26-yard field goal from Aubrey to go up 20-17. After Minnesota went three-and-out on their first possession of the half, Dallas got three more as Aubrey connected from 41 to make it 23-17 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.

Minnesota then took the lead back, as the Vikings went down the field and got a big fourth-down conversion as McCarthy found Nailor for a 23-yard gain that put the Vikings into the red zone. A few plays later, it was C.J. Ham who carried the ball into the end zone from a yard out to put the Vikings back on top, 24-23, with just over a minute left in the third quarter.

HAMMER TIME 🔨@cjham28#ProBowlVote

📺: @SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/GUI8mYgG0U

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 15, 2025

The Cowboys gave Aubrey a chance at another long field goal, but he pushed one wide to the right from 59 early in the fourth quarter to give the Vikings the ball near midfield. Aubrey had just two misses coming into the game, so missing two in the same game is significant.

The Vikings took advantage of the missed field goal, as McCarthy got his second touchdown pass of the night to the same guy he got his first one to. He connected with Jalen Nailor again, this time from four yards out, putting them up 31-23 with just over nine minutes left in regulation.

On the ensuing possession, Dallas faced a 4th-and-7 from the Minnesota 45-yard line with about five and a half minutes remaining and elected to go for it. Prescott’s pass was complete but Eric Wilson brought the ball carrier down short of the line to gain, and Minnesota forced a turnover on downs with an opportunity to close the game out.

They did just that with just over a minute left on the clock, as Reichard connected on his second field goal of the night, this one a 53-yarder to make it an 11-point lead at 34-23. The Cowboys then gave Aubrey a chance at a 41-yard field goal, which he connected on to cut it back to an 8-point game at 34-26 with 19 seconds remaining.

That meant the Cowboys needed to rely on an onside kick recovery to give themselves a chance at winning the game. Aubrey’s onside kick was recovered by Josh Oliver, and that was that for a Vikings upset victory.

Minnesota’s record moves to 6-8 on the season, and even though they have fallen out of playoff contention for this season, they did see some more positive things out of their young quarterback, which is something that I think we were all hoping for going forward this season.

Next week, the Vikings will play their final road game of the 2025 NFL season, as they’ll travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants.

The Vikings travel to Dallas and pull off a road upset over the Cowboys by a final score of 34-26. Thank you to everybody who got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!

Can Cowboys still make the playoffs? Explaining Dallas' slim postseason hopes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the brink.

The Cowboys had almost zero margin for error going into their Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

However, the Cowboys couldn't get the job done and lost, 34-26, which now drops their playoff chances even more.

Here's how the 6-7-1 Cowboys can still make the playoffs.

Can Cowboys still make the playoffs?

Yes, the Cowboys can still make the playoffs, but the wild-card is no longer an option for Dallas, even if they win the rest of their games.

Instead, the Cowboys can only make the playoffs by winning the division, and even that path is extremely bleak.

It's very simple: Dallas must win its last three games and the Eagles have to lose their last three for the Cowboys to win the division.

Any Eagles win or Cowboys loss seals the deal in the NFC East.

The Eagles play the eliminated Washington Commanders in Week 16, and will do so on Saturday, so the Cowboys might be knocked out of the division race before taking the field on Sunday.

When the Cowboys do take the field on Sunday, they'll be squaring off against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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The biggest shakeup in the AFC on Sunday was not about which teams will be making the postseason, but about one specific team that won’t. Thanks to the Chargers and their 16-13 win over the Chiefs, Kansas City has been eliminated from postseason contention.

The Broncos played the Packers in the late afternoon window, chalking up one more in the wins columns and clinching a playoff berth after the 2025 season.

The Chargers are two games back of the Broncos in the AFC West, and they’re sitting at 10-4 with a playoff probability of 92%. Here are the full updated standings.

AFC West standings

1. Denver Broncos, 12-2
2. Los Angeles Chargers 10-4
3. Kansas City Chiefs 6-8
4. Las Vegas Raiders 2-12

Updated AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos 12-2 (clinched playoff berth)
2. New England Patriots 11-3
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 10-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
5. Los Angeles Chargers 10-4
6. Buffalo Bills 10-4
7. Houston Texans 9-5
8. Indianapolis Colts 8-5
9. Baltimore Ravens 7-7
10. Miami Dolphins 6-7

Eliminated from AFC playoff contention

• Kansas City Chiefs
• Cincinnati Bengals
• New York Jets
• Cleveland Browns
• Tennessee Titans
• Las Vegas Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys had a shot. It was a long shot, but it was a shot. With four games remaining in their season, the path to make the playoffs was murky, but obvious. The team had to win their final four games, running the table to move from 6-6-1 to 10-6-1, then get help from any one of several teams. Their Week 15 game was one of three remaining contests against teams under .500, and it was at home.

Yet despite the opportunity ahead of them, the Cowboys offense allowed the Minnesota Vikings defense to dictate to them, and the Dallas defense made yet another subpar quarterback have his best game of the season. Second-year QB JJ McCarthy had his best performance as a pro, and Brian Flores turned Brian Schottenheimer's offense timid, as the Vikings won, 34-26.

Dallas had received a little help earlier on Sunday, with the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers all falling, but it makes little difference now. The Cowboys have been eliminated from the wild-card pursuit, and they would have to win their remaining three contests while the Philadelphia Eagles lose their remaining three contests.

The Cowboys allowed an opponent to score 30 points for the seventh time in 2025, tied for most in the NFL. The game started out well, with the defense intercepting McCarthy on his first pass of the game, as Donovan Wilson deflected a pass into the air with Quinnen Williams corralling it.

Dallas capitalized, using a fake field goal to extend the drive before Javonte Williams punched it in. But from that point, the Cowboys' defense didn't have any answers for the beleaguered young QB, who completed several deep balls despite not being on the same page with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys seemed to move the ball at will, but had no solutions for third downs (2 of 12) or once they got into scoring range. Questionable playcalls were everywhere, and matters were made worse as kicker Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals.

Back under .500, the Cowboys can be eliminated before they next take the field, with the Eagles playing on Saturday against Washington. Dallas will host the 10-4 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys drop must-win game to Vikings, 34-26, let air out 2025 season

The much-anticipated return of Jamal Musiala to the Bayern Munich squad after a long injury layover is edging even closer to happening. He’s been out of the squad ever since the FIFA Club World Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta, Georgia this past summer, but Vincent Kompany’s side have shown no signs of being too affected by Musiala’s absence. Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and youngster Lennart Karl have been spearheading what’s been an electric attacking line for the German Rekordmeister that have only lost once across all competitions so far this season.

In Bayern’s 3-1 Champions League over Sporting Lisbon, they finally welcomed back Alphonso Davies, who had also been out for quite some time after injuring his knee on duty with Canada at the CONCACAF Nations League back in March. Hiroki Ito has also made his way back into the squad after a considerable injury spell, meaning Musiala will be the last of the three long-term injuries to return to action.

Per information from Bild (via @iMiaSanMia), Musiala is expected to make his return to the squad as early as next week, which has been confirmed by Kompany when he was speaking in the press conference ahead of the Bundesliga clash against Mainz. “Jamal is close. Hopefully next week. But I want to make it very clear: zero pressure on Jamal and the medical department. But hopefully he can manage a few training sessions before Christmas. That would be wonderful – for the team and for him. And then his first playing minutes should follow in January. That would be the ideal plan for us,” the Belgian manager explained.

Considering the gap that Bayern has at the top of the Bundesliga table, the final match of the hinrunde vs. Heidenheim could be Musiala’s first bit of action since returning from injury. If anything, he would more than likely come off the bench for that match, whether Bayern is in a comfortable lead, or in need of goals and/or a creative spark in attack. A balance of getting him reintegrated but not pushing too hard too soon will be the name of the game for Kompany and his coaching staff.

The Dallas Cowboys knew that their odds were long. Even if they won four games in a row to close the 2025 season out, playoffs were not promised.

But you can only control what you can control and that was the message that the team preached all week. The Week 14 loss in Detroit took some wind out of their playoff sails, but a win at home against the Minnesota Vikings could keep hope alive. It could make things interest. It was part of what they controlled.

What’s more is that so many believed that they would. Oddsmakers favored them by over a field goal and just a few hours before kickoff the Vikings were formally eliminated from playoff contention themselves. It was as ideal of a situation as you could conjure up.

It would appear that there is a more ideal one as the Cowboys dropped the ball and just about ended their season. They are still technically alive, we will talk about that soon enough, but this was when they knew they had to be perfect and they were nowhere close to it.

Obviously this is not shocking to anyone who has been following this team all season long. They have fallen short in these types of moments over and over again.

Those “types” of moments are just about gone until 2026 following the loss to Minnesota. Any real energy belongs to the 2026 season at this point.

Below you will find our recap of how Sunday night unfolded. It was rough.

---

First Quarter

The Dallas Cowboys won the toss and deferred which put the defense on the field first. Given that there were reports about how Logan Wilson was set to start at linebacker… it was exciting to say the least.

It took two plays for things to get legitimately exciting. Donovan Wilson got pressure in J.J. McCarthy’s face and wisely put his hand up to block a pass. That errant ball landed in the expectant arms of Quinnen Williams to give the Cowboys a turnover and more importantly… the ball!

QUINNEN WILLIAMS INT! pic.twitter.com/ImWT83EQCu

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 15, 2025

After a couple of plays the Cowboys appeared to stall out and had to settle for a Brandon Aubrey field goal. They didn’t, though! They ran a fake! And got it!

BRANDON AUBREY WITH THE WHEELS pic.twitter.com/GGGBuE5B1i

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 15, 2025

Amazingly the Cowboys got down to another fourth down and went for it yet again, although this time conventionally by way of a Javonte Williams run.

After getting it Javonte was in the end zone one play later.

JAVONTE TD! pic.twitter.com/3ObBLpnpmW

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 15, 2025

SCORE: COWBOYS 7, VIKINGS 0 (Javonte Williams touchdown)

The Cowboys defense went to work and while they were not able to generate a turnover they did force a punt. Dante Fowler was a particular point of pride on the possession in question and helped stop Aaron Jones.

Unfortunately KaVontae Turpin let a punt go that he maybe should have fielded. The bounce really worked against Dallas and put them just about on their own goal line.

Malik Davis was in at running back for the possession as it was reported that Javonte Williams was dealing with a shoulder injury. Ultimately the Cowboys wound up punting after a three and out as they did not want to get too cute.

It took two plays once more for Minnesota to have a moment. On the first one of them Aaron Jones had a massive gain and a penalty added to it to make matters worse. A few seconds later J.J. McCarthy hit Jalen Nailor for a game-tying touchdown.

SCORE: COWBOYS 7, VIKINGS 7 (J.J. McCathy to Jalen Nailor touchdown)

When the Cowboys took over it was noted by the NBC broadcast that Javonte Williams was questionable to return with a shoulder injury so that corroborated everything to date.

Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a huge gain and the Cowboys were in striking distance as the opening quarter came to a close. To help matters a facemask penalty really put Dallas close to another score.

Second Quarter

Two plays into the second quarter… the Cowboys had a touchdown once more. This one was courtesy of Malik Davis who was (obviously) in for Javonte Williams.

MALIK DAVIS TD! pic.twitter.com/C3fbKMycuX

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 15, 2025

SCORE: COWBOYS 14, VIKINGS 7 (Malik Davis touchdown)

The Vikings made sure to show up for the next drive, though. They moved thoroughly down the field and kept getting in their own way to keep themselves from scoring a touchdown. They wound up with a short situation right on the goal line and then J.J. McCarthy pulled the Peyton Manning bootleg.

Embarrassing pic.twitter.com/AJugDLlRaS

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) December 15, 2025

SCORE: COWBOYS 14, VIKINGS 14 (J.J. McCarthy touchdown)

The game was tied at this point which felt weird because it had for so long felt like Dallas was in control. The Cowboys nevertheless began moving once more and ultimately stalled out in field goal range. Brandon Aubrey, though.

Unfortunately Aubrey pushed his 51-yard attempt wide to the right which kept things tied and gave the Vikings solid field position to work with.

Minnesota was able to scrap out a field goal which gave them their first lead of the night. It set Dallas up with a chance to score and 1:48 to do so. Given that Dallas deferred to start the game the drive also offered a potential double-dip opportunity.

SCORE: COWBOYS 14, VIKINGS 17 (Will Reichard 29-yard field goal)

The Cowboys were able to work quickly to get in field goal range themselves. Given Aubrey’s recent miss there was a little bit of breath holding for the first time in a while with him.

Never fear. All was good.

SCORE: COWBOYS 17, VIKINGS 17 (Brandon Aubrey 17-yard field goal)

That was the half.

Third Quarter

The Cowboys received mixed news as the second half started. Javonte Williams was back (and did well on his first carry), but Hunter Luepke was ruled out with a concussion. It was noted that the injury occurred on the final kickoff to end the first half.

Luke Schoonmaker (really) had an amazing catch that put the Cowboys at the Minnesota 11-yard line. A play later it appeared that CeeDee Lamb was interfered with in the end zone, but nothing was called.

Unfortunately the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal which felt like a failure. Still, points are points.

SCORE: COWBOYS 20, VIKINGS 17 (Brandon Aubrey 26-yard field goal)

This will sound shocking, but it is true. The Dallas Cowboys defense pitched a three and out on their next drive. It was a Christmas miracle.

Dallas tried to get KaVontae Turpin involved on offense on the next possession, a curious move given that George Pickens had not really had many moments at this point in the game. But hey, whatever.

Things stalled out yet again and Brandon Aubrey delivered once more.

SCORE: COWBOYS 23, VIKINGS 17 (Brandon Aubrey 41-yard field goal)

Right off the bat the Vikings were across midfield. Playing with your food has consequences.

Not long after that the Vikings were up against the goal line. Keep in mind before you reed the next sentence that the previous Cowboys four possessions ended with a field goal kick (they missed one obviously).

Boom. Vikings touchdown. The lead changed hands.

C.J. Ham is in for the go-ahead touchdown

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/Mr3FNwwnmg

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

SCORE: COWBOYS 23, VIKINGS 24 (C.J. Ham touchdown)

The Cowboys crossed midfield right as the third quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter

As noted the Cowboys were across midfield pretty soon into the possession. It will shock you to learn that things stalled for them once more.

Dallas settled again for a Brandon Aubrey field goal and this one was a 59-yard attempt. Nobody is perfect and this really applied to Aubrey on Sunday night as he pushed it wide right for his second miss on the game.

The ball does not lie as they say and as if it told the truth enough on that miss… it really sang some prophecy as the Vikings were driving down the field for another touchdown to make things feel grim.

SCORE: COWBOYS 23, VIKINGS 31 (J.J. McCarthy to Jalen Nailor touchdown)

Obviously things were tense for the Cowboys at this point. They moved and operated that way, but they just could not find any kind of success.

Soon enough it was 4th and 7 right around midfield. They got 6. Story of the year.

Minnesota reached a fourth and short near midfield and went for it. It was Aaron Jones, because of course it was.

From that point on the Vikings went into clock-draining mode and were mostly successful. They had to settle for a field goal inside of two minutes, but that made it a 11-point game.

SCORE: COWBOYS 23, VIKINGS 34 (Will Reichard 53-yard field goal)

The Cowboys did scrap out a Brandon Aubrey field goal in an attempt to pull off a miracle.

SCORE: COWBOYS 26, VIKINGS 34 (Brandon Aubrey 41-yard field goal)

There was no miracle, though. There never is with this team.

At halftime, they trailed by 17 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Nets’ lead ballooned to 28 points. Less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, it was up over 30 and ultimately stopped at 45 points (tying the Nets’ largest win in franchise history) as the buzzer sounded to end Sunday’s embarrassing effort. It was only the fourth time in franchise history the Bucks have lost by 45 or more points and their worst margin of defeat since a 114-69 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 31, 2007. “No question. Absolutely,” Kuzma said when asked by The Athletic if he viewed this as the low point of the Bucks’ season. “Lost by 45 points to a team that’s trying to lose. They got four wins, five wins, whatever it is now. “No disrespect at all because that’s the beauty of this league, right? There’s so much talent, and if you’re not ready, you’re gonna get your butt whooped. By any team. And we were proof of that tonight.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kyle Kuzma on Bucks' loss to Brooklyn: We lost by 45 points to a team that’s trying to lose

After starting the season with an 8-5 record, the Bucks have lost 11 of their last 14 games. They desperately need to find their way out of the hole they have dug for themselves and find a way to start winning games again, even with Antetokounmpo sidelined with a strained right calf. “Each guy has to look in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better to help the team? What can I do better to impact winning? What can I do better to help us get back to .500?’” Bobby Portis (10 points, three rebounds) said. “Then, we can start rolling again. “I just think that should be the mindset. One game at a time, obviously, but we have about seven games left (until 2026). Six and one, right back at .500, so I think that should just be the goal, man.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: After starting the season with an 8-5 record, the …

“I heard one of the guys said, ‘Man, we’re down that much to this team?’” Rivers recounted. “It’s like, ‘This team? What about our team? We’re 11-16. What are you talking about?’ “We need all of us — including me, it starts with me — but I gotta get these guys right because clearly tonight was not the right night.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I heard one of the guys said, ‘Man, we’re down that …

Three teams in the NFC West have reached double digits in the win column. The Rams, Seahawks, and Niners are a combined 32-10 after 15 weeks. That's an impressive mark, and it sets up a huge game on Thursday when LA visits Seattle. On the field that night will be two of the best receivers -- the two best? -- in 2025. Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are difference makers and will look to be exactly that with the NFC West lead on the line.

16. New York Giants (2-12)

The Giants had a home game against a Commanders team that has been battered by injury and Big Blue managed to allow 29 points and lose again.

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

Just an awful team. Time for another complete overhaul.

14. Washington Commanders (4-10)

The Commanders found a team they could handle in divisional foe the New York Giants. Nothing to get overly excited about but a win is a win.

13. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

The Falcons showed up and spoiled things in Tampa. Hard to understand the way this team plays from week to week.

12. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

Someone named Charlie Smyth kicked a 47-yard field goal for the Saints, who are now big-time spoilers having beaten the Bucs and Panthers back-to-back.

11. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

The Panthers had a chance to take the NFL South lead but in the most mediocre of divisions failed to beat the Saints.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

The Buccaneers are struggling but so is everyone else around them in the NFC South. They get a chance to make a statement by beating the Saints in Week 16.

9. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

Seems like a long time ago -- it was actually about eight days -- when there was excitement about the Cowboys and their playoff hopes. Pair of losses in a row to NFC North teams have practically dashed those dreams.

8. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

The Vikings have come to life against NFC East teams. It is way too late in the season but at least they get a good look at what they have in J.J. McCarthy.

7. Detroit Lions (8-6)

Another game against a strong team and another Lions loss. This team needs to play strong football over the last three weeks to find a wild-card postseason home.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

Green Bay had a lead against Denver, saw Christian Watson suffer a chest injury and it derailed the team in the loss to the Broncos. One week the tie plays to the Packers' favor in the standings. This week it has them behind the Bears.

5. Chicago Bears (10-4)

The Bears prepped for a Week 16 game against the Packers by crushing the Browns. This is what a contending team does. Not looking ahead but taking care of business while knowing a huge rematch was on the horizon.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

The Raiders were the perfect opponent for a struggling Eagles team. Philly came out and dominated big time, shutting out LV and Jalen Hurts had a big game after a rough outing.

3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

Imagine being 10-4 and in third place in a division. That is where the 49ers sit after 15 weeks of the NFL season.

2. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

The Seahawks will need more than field goals on Thursday when they play the Rams. This is a huge game and there has to be concern about Sam Darnold against LA.

1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)

The Rams continue to be unstoppable on offense and do enough stopping of opponents on defense to be fierce. No one can control Puka Nacua. LA has to be concerned about Davante Adams' hamstring injury with such a short week and Seattle coming up.

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFC Power Rankings after Week 15

Matt Infield: GOOD NEWS for the Grizzlies. Brandon Clarke is listed as doubtful for tomorrow night’s game with the Clippers. He might get an extra game to ramp up, but I’d imagine this puts him in position to return by this Saturday against the Wizards at the latest.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Matt Infield: GOOD NEWS for the Grizzlies. …

Dave McMenamin: “Luka should have shot that.” - JJ Redick on LeBron James taking the technical free throw after Dillon Brooks was tossed with 12.2 seconds left.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dave McMenamin: “Luka should have shot that.” - JJ …

Jon Krawczynski: Rudy Gobert is OUT for the rest of the game for personal reasons, the team says. Hope everything is OK for him.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jon Krawczynski: Rudy Gobert is OUT for the rest of …

Geneva takes over the top spot. Aurora Christian moves up and Burlington Central joins rankings.

Top 10

With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.

1. Geneva 7-0 (2)

Barrage of five 3-pointers by Nathan Palmer lifts Vikings past Wheaton Warrenville South 51-41.

2. Oswego East 6-2 (1)

Wolves’ winning streak snapped at six straight in back-to-back losses to Bolingbrook and Curie.

3. Kaneland 6-0 (3)

Connor Kimme steps up as a strong third option with 19 points in 92-62 win over Rochelle.

4. Aurora Christian 8-0 (6)

Jacob Baumann tops the 1,000-point mark as the Eagles down Chicago Christian 69-59.

5. Jacobs 6-2 (5)

Samson Averehi scores 18 points as Golden Eagles roll past Dundee-Crown 51-34.

6. Waubonsie Valley 5-2 (4)

Kyler Payne scores 17 points but the Warriors can’t hold on to lead in a 56-54 loss to Oswego.

7. Yorkville 5-2 (7)

Joey Jakstys returns from an injury and provides a spark as Foxes win two of three games.

8. Oswego 4-4 (8)

Bench players outscore Waubonsie Valley’s reserves 14-0 as Panthers rally for 56-54 win.

9. Burlington Central 5-2 (NR)

Basket by Declan Wilson with 1.6 second left slips Rockets past Crystal Lake South 54-53.

10. Marmion 4-2 (10)

Dave Malley embraces sixth-man role with 11 points in 60-25 rout of Aurora Central Catholic.

Player of the Week

Senior guard Jayden Riley, a Southern Illinois Edwardsville recruit, scored 36 points with six assists and six steals in leading Yorkville Christian to an 80-70 win over Lemont in the Team Rose Shootout at Mount Carmel in Chicago.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The silence was the secret. In the visceral clamor of a 41-34 victory, a riot of crunching pads and roaring throats, the first domino in their team goals fell, and it went without much fanfare. 

The Los Angeles Rams, having just vanquished the Detroit Lions and the haunting memories of two straight defeats, clinched a playoff berth. And in the heart of the locker room, amidst the sweat and the laughter, nobody knew.

"We had no clue that we clinched it," defensive tackle Kobie Turner said. "Super cool for sure."

This is the paradox of this team, this moment. 

A goal achieved in deafening silence. A collective step forward, while the Rams' leader, Sean McVay, balanced on the precipice of a profoundly personal leap. 

The Lions, an old demon that's plagued Los Angeles, were exercised by a brotherhood so focused on the next snap they missed the final horn. The playoffs, that gleaming destination, were secured by men who only looked at their feet.

The imps announced themselves early. 

Aidan Hutchinson, a 6-foot-7 mountain, intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass intended for a tight end screen and returned the pass 58 yards. The Lions quickly transformed the turnover into a 17-yard Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown. 

The specter of a third straight loss loomed. But this Rams team is woven from different threads. They are built not to avoid the dark, but to operate within it.

Enter Puka Nacua. Nine catches. One hundred eighty-one yards. A career-high carved from will. He resides in "the dark place," a zone of pure focus where trust rules reality and physics is a mere suggestion. 

He found it after an early drop, and in the third quarter, he thrived in it.

A post route. A catch. Nacua transformed from a gregarious guy into a runaway engine, bouncing off one defender, then two, a third clinging for dear life as he churned forward for 39 impossible yards.

"I was in a dark place after I dropped that first one," Nacua said. "But it feels fun. I have so much trust and confidence in number nine… The ability to put my foot in the ground and trust where that placement is going to be." 

That trust is the cornerstone. It's the same trust that fuels the machine around Nacua.

The Rams' backfield is a case study in symbiosis. 

Kyren Williams, the incisive blade, slashed for two touchdowns. Blake Corum, the pounding hammer, finished a drive with an 11-yard scoring run. They are not a committee; they are a continuum of punishment. 

"Being able to be with Blake and doing the things that we do is amazing," Williams said. "We have that belief and confidence that we are the best running back duo in the league." 

One fuels the other, and the Rams' identity never wavers.

Witness the tight end room, where camaraderie breeds production. Colby Parkinson, once a quiet cog in Seattle, has become a red zone revelation in Los Angeles. 

Two more touchdowns Sunday, his fifth in six games. Yet his praise sprayed outward like a fountain. 

"Our tight end room is amazing," Parkinson said. "It could be any one of us any week… It all starts as a group." 

This is not rhetoric. It's the culture.

You see it on the defensive front, in a moment stripped of all strategy, pure in its concern. Rookie Braden Fiske limped off, ankle bent. While Fiske sat on the trainer's table, Turner was there, a mountain of muscle leaning into a moment of tenderness. 

"That's my brother," Turner said. "That was the first thing that was on my mind." 

This is a defense, as Turner said, "built different." 

Built from the mud of overlooked colleges and unheralded paths. Built to care.

And Stafford, the veteran conductor, orchestrated the team's catharsis. The early pick was an anomaly. 

What followed was a masterpiece of poised fury: 368 yards, two touchdowns, a surgical dismemberment of every Lions blitz. 

"It's business as usual with him," Parkinson said of Stafford. 

Business, on this day, meant redemption.

It meant a 20-point second-half surge. 

It meant a 41-34 final that punched a ticket nobody immediately realized they held.

And in the middle of it all, McVay. 

The architect of this focused brotherhood now faced a dichotomy only he could feel. He exercised the professional demons Detroit represented. 

"We talk about being present all the time," McVay said. But his present was expanding, splitting, demanding more.

When asked about how he compartmentalizes the playoff berth and exorcism, coupled with the birth of his second son while preparing for a Thursday night showdown in Seattle, McVay paused, his mind clearly traveling a different map. 

"How do I answer that one?"McVay said as he gathered himself. "We're praying for a safe and healthy arrival of our second little boy. That'll be awesome. My wife is a total stud… I'll be stressed out preparing for Seattle on a short week, but it's good stress."

There it was. 

The silent clinch for the team. The loud, beautiful, terrifying impending joy for him. 

McVay's next play call won't be into a headset; it will be encouragement he offers in his wife's ear. His next game plan won't be against Seattle; it is a drive to a delivery room, a game plan for fatherhood.

The players didn't know they'd clinched because they're taught not to look ahead. Now that the victory is complete and the ghosts of Detroit are gone, the playoffs, secured in beautiful ignorance, await. 

But first, life. 

First, family. 

As the final whistle blew on their battle against the Lions, their playoff hopes will begin to bloom. 

The Rams are built for, and welcome new life. 

And now, so will McVay.

Make that five straight wins for Gavin Petersen’s Utah women’s basketball squad.

The Utes steamrolled the Big Ten’s Northwestern 91-66 at the Huntsman Center on Sunday, avenging a loss to the Wildcats in nonconference play last season.

This time, Utah pulled away in the second and third quarters after a tight first quarter.

The team is rounding into shape before Big 12 play

The Utes have taken some time to find a rhythm with a new group that doesn’t include former Ute greats like Gianna Kneepkens, Jenna Johnson, Kennady McQueen and Ines Vieira.

In the win over Northwestern, senior guard Lani White continued to solidify her position as someone the Utes will rely on this season as they try and make a fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance.

After going 5 of 5 from 3-point range last week in a win over Boise State, White upped that performance and was a perfect 7 of 7 shooting from 3-point range against Northwestern, including 4 of 4 in the third quarter when Utah outscored Northwestern 32-13.

White scored a career-high 26 points and added seven rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Reese Ross added a season-high 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

The Utes followed their veterans to the win, including a tough 11-point, five-rebound, four-assist day from Maty Wilke, who’s playing through a shoulder injury.

Utah shot a blistering 76.5% in the third quarter, made 53.8% of their shots in the game and had 24 assists against their power conference opponent.

The Utes made 13 3-pointers, a staple of their recent string of success in the Petersen and Lynne Roberts era, while holding Northwestern to two 3-point makes.

It all led up to a dominant win over a Wildcats team that brought a 6-3 record to Salt Lake City.

Utah endured some early adversity and thrived

For as good as things went in the final two-plus quarters for Utah — the Utes outscored Northwestern 45-30 in the second half — the home team had to fight through a close matchup early on.

The Wildcats led by as many as five points in the first quarter, thanks to 14 points from Grace Sullivan in the opening period, and were up 24-23 after one quarter.

Northwestern even had it at a 34-34 game with just over three minutes left in the second quarter, before Utah started to pull away.

The Utes outscored the Wildcats 12-2 to end the second quarter and went into the half up 46-36, then extended that to a 38-8 run by scoring 26 of the first 32 points of the third to go up 72-42.

It was more than enough to put away the Wildcats, who were led by 21 points from Sullivan.

What it means for Utah

The Utes (8-3) have won by an average of 24.6 points per game during their five-game winning streak, beating Weber State, Montana, Colorado State, Boise State and Northwestern in that stretch.

Utah will finish up the nonconference portion of its schedule with a home game this Wednesday (7 p.m. MST) against UC Riverside, which is 2-7 on the season.

Utah is just eight days out from the start of Big 12 play, with a Dec. 22 game at Arizona prior to the Christmas break.

The Utes will then host unbeaten Arizona State on Dec. 31 in the team’s conference home opener.

Following a three-game losing streak earlier this year against three teams currently projected as NCAA tournament teams in Washington, Syracuse and defending national champion UConn, the Utes have responded well and started to showcase the kind of efficiency Utah fans are familiar with in recent years.

Can young players like LA Sneed, Avery Hjelmstad and Evelina Otto continue to develop as the conference season gets underway?

There’s one more chance to further that development before Big 12 play hits.

The Green Bay Packers were in control early in the second half against the Denver Broncos, eventually possessing the ball up nine points in the third quarter, but a costly turnover and an avalanche of injuries turned the game on its head, and Matt LaFleur's team gave up 20 points in the second half and lost 34-26 at Empower Field at Mile High.

Here's the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers' loss in Week 15:

The Good

The first 32 minutes: Jordan Love completed 18 of his first 22 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, and the Packers took a nine-point lead when Josh Jacobs burst off the left side of a duo run and scored from 40 yards out to open the second half. Green Bay scored on five straight possessions to start the contest. Up 23-14, Jeff Hafley's defense immediately forced a three-and-out, giving the Packers the football up two scores in the second half. There was an opportunity for the Packers to score for a sixth straight time and put their foot on the Broncos' throat, but pro football is a 60-minute game. Winning the first 32 minutes means nothing without the finish. And for a multitude of reasons, the Packers did not finish in Denver.

Edgerrin Cooper stops: He delayed the inevitable, but Cooper just wouldn't die, breaking up a pass on fourth down and making a tackle for loss on fourth down in the fourth quarter. He could have been one of the heroes had the Packers offense been able to accomplish anything on a pair of possessions late.

The Bad

Back-to-back turnover on downs: Even after losing Christian Watson and Micah Parsons to injuries and allowing the Broncos to go on a 20-3 run in the second half, the Packers had a pair of chances to tie the game down eight points in the fourth quarter. The two drives actually netted -4 yards and the Packers never threatened a game-tying score. While the Packers got into Denver territory on the first possession, Jordan Love took a sack on both second down and fourth down. Given one final chance, Love threw four straight incompletions, including an incompletion under pressure that had no chance on 4th-and-15.

Pass defense: Bo Nix came into the game ranked below average in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating, but he shredded the Packers pass defense, completing 23 passes for 302 yards and four scores. Nix's 134.7 passer rating was a season high. The Packers didn't have a sack and dropped several potential interception chances.

The Ugly

Four-series stretch in the third quarter: The Packers took a 23-14 lead on Josh Jacobs' 40-yard touchdown run with 13:59 left in the third quarter. It was a dominant first 31 minutes for the Packers, but everything unraveled in four short series. After a three-and-out, Jordan Love threw an interception to Patrick Surtain II going deep to Christian Watson, who suffered a chest injury on the play. The Broncos then quickly turned the takeaway into a touchdown. After the Packers punted, Micah Parsons suffered a noncontact knee injury chasing Bo Nix outside the pocket, and the Broncos scored the go-ahead touchdown two plays later. Denver didn't trail again. And Watson and Parsons might not play again this season, potentially ruining a promising Packers season.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Good, bad and ugly from Packers' loss to Broncos in Week 15

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia issues public apology for behavior after Heisman loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia issued a public apology Sunday after a social media post criticizing Heisman Trophy voters drew widespread attention following his second-place finish in the 2025 race.

Pavia finished runner-up to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza for college football’s most prestigious individual award. Shortly after the ceremony, Pavia posted an Instagram story that included the phrase “F-all the voters,” followed by a message about loyalty to family. The post quickly went viral, which didn't sit well with many supporters. 

Pavia later addressed the situation in a statement on social media, calling his actions “disrespectful” and acknowledging he let emotions get the better of him.

“Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor,” Pavia wrote. “As a competitor, just like in everything I do, I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to.”

Pavia apologized directly to voters and praised his fellow finalists, including Mendoza, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, just like in everything I do I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the…

— Diego Pavia (@diegopavia02) December 15, 2025

“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award,” Pavia wrote. “I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments.”

The graduate transfer also reflected on his path to success, citing years of doubt and the support of his family, teammates and coaches. He said he did not want the moment to distract from what Vanderbilt accomplished this season.

Pavia completed 71.2% of his passes for 3,192 yards and an SEC-leading 27 touchdowns during the regular season, while adding 826 rushing yards and nine scores. He led Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season and a second straight bowl appearance.

The Commodores will face Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.

More college football news: 

• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Fernando Mendoza won't keep the Heisman Trophy if he wins
• Why LSU should be extremely nervous about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore
• Jim Harbaugh trends after comments on Sherrone Moore's firing
• Diego Pavia asks Donald Trump to fix the College Football Playoff

The Detroit Red Wings are recalling forward John Leonard from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, rewarding one of the hottest hands in the minors as the NHL club prepares for its upcoming four-game homestand.

Leonard, 27, has been simply dominant this season, helping power the Griffins to a historic 22-1-0-1 record. The New Jersey native has emerged as the AHL’s top scorer, producing 19 goals and 10 assists for 29 points in just 20 games. He has shown off his top end goal scoring ability, finding the back of the net in 15 of those 20 contests. For his efforts in the month of November, Leonard was named the AHL's Player of the Month with 24 points in just 15 games.

Despite playing fewer games, Leonard trails the AHL scoring lead by just two points behind two other forwards tied atop the league leaderboard. His offensive surge has been a driving force behind Grand Rapids leading the AHL with 93 goals, four more than the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, despite playing two fewer games.

Leonard’s performance made the call-up unavoidable as the Red Wings recalled him late Sunday night ahead of a homestand that begins Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled John Leonard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and assigned Erik Gustafsson. pic.twitter.com/NuBkOR17cx

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 15, 2025

A former sixth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, Leonard has previous NHL experience, appearing during the 2020-21 season. He has played 70 NHL games overall, recording 17 points across stints with the Sharks, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes and now Detroit. Most of his career, however, has been spent in the minors, where his game has steadily surged.

Last season, Leonard posted 36 goals and 25 assists for 61 points in 72 games with the Charlotte Checkers. He followed that with 14 points in 18 playoff games during their run to the Calder Cup Final.

THAT'S PLAYER OF THE MONTH JOHN LEONARD TO YOU 🫵 pic.twitter.com/Rx7GYXdMyj

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 4, 2025

In a recent interview with The Hockey News, Leonard credited his success this season to chemistry with his linemates Dominik Shine and Sheldon Dries.

"This year been fun playing with, playing with Dries and Shine, and I think we're just kind of clicking right now and obviously when you're playing with with really good guys, it goes a long way and I've obviously been fortunate to be on some of the finishing ends of that, but now playing with those two guys has been a lot of fun," Leonard explained. "I think it's a fun system to play, It's a fast North-South game, I think that benefits me well and the coaching staff is awesome."

Exclusive: Griffins' John Leonard Talks Early Season Success, NHL Call-Up BuzzGriffins' league-leading scorer John Leonard reveals the secrets behind their historic hot streak and discusses his own NHL call-up potential.

Leonard also emphasized the depth of the Griffins roster, saying the sky is the limit for a team he believes can match up with anyone in the league. When asked about recent rumors of an NHL call-up, Leonard said he tries to remain focused on the present.

"At the end of the day, I think everyone's dream is to be an everyday player in the NHL but I'm here in Grand Rapids right now, and that's my focus and I try not to get too caught up in that," he said.

Leonard is expected to work in as a depth forward with Detroit and could see time on the bottom lines as the Red Wings look for internal solutions while some players at the bottom of the lineup, including Marco Kasper, continue to struggle.

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North Bend’s girls basketball team won a pair of games during the week to keep its record perfect.

The Bulldogs won at Dallas 48-40 and beat Ashland 60-17 to improve to 3-0.

North Bend also is at North Valley on Tuesday before playing in Marshfield’s Les Schwab South Coast Holiday Basketball Tournament starting Thursday. The Bulldogs face Crook County in the opening round.

MUSTANGS TOP MARSHFIELD: Marshfield suffered its first loss of the season when visiting Hidden Valley edged the Pirates 36-34 on Friday.

The Pirates’ game against Phoenix was canceled on Saturday, leaving Marshfield 1-1 entering their home tournament. They play Mountain View in the first round of the event.

EAGLES EDGE COQUILLE: Harrisburg tipped visiting Coquille 35-33 on Friday, handing the Red Devils their first loss of the season.

Coquille also beat Days Creek 60-20 during the week and this week competes in Marshfield’s tournament.

BILLIES BEAT BANDON: Bandon’s girls lost their game in the showcase event at Mac Court in Eugene when Pleasant Hill beat the Tigers 43-29 on Saturday.

It was Bandon’s first loss of the season. The Tigers beat North Valley 44-23 and Powers 41-34 earlier in the week.

This week, Bandon is at East Linn Christian on Thursday, Crosshill Christian on Friday and Santiam on Saturday.

CRUISERS TOP BOBCATS: Before falling to Bandon, Powers beat Myrtle Point 53-33 last week.

This week, the Cruisers are at Mapleton on Tuesday and then head to the northeast Corner of the state for the three-day Bobcat Classic at Union High School. They open against Molalla on Thursday.

PANTHERS BEST PACIFIC: Gold Beach beat host Pacific 54-20 in the Pirates’ lone game of the week.

This week, Pacific is home against Reedsport on Tuesday and at Mohawk on Friday.

SIUSLAW TOPS REEDSPORT: The Brave lost their lone game of the week, falling to host Siuslaw 50-10.

In addition to visiting Pacific this week, Reedsport also is at Toledo on Thursday and faces Umpqua Valley Christian on Friday on the first day of the Tall Timbers Tournament at Elkton High School. Reedsport plays the host Elks on Saturday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

PIRATES WIN TWO: Marshfield’s girls won a pair of home games as they tuned up for their home tournament.

The Pirates topped Hidden Valley 62-49 and beat Phoenix 80-31. Marshfield is 3-1 heading into the tournament, opening against Sutherlin on Thursday.

BULLDOGS WIN: North Bend won at Dallas 56-49 last week to improve to 2-1.

The Bulldogs visit North Valley on Tuesday as they tune up for Marshfield’s tournament. The Bulldogs face Crook County on Thursday.

BANDON WINS AT MAC: Bandon won its game in the Mac Court festival on Saturday, beating North Valley 59-39.

The Tigers improved to 2-2 on the season, having also lost to Days Creek 44-41 in a game played on a neutral court at Powers during the week. Bandon is home against Douglas on Tuesday before visiting East Linn Christian on Thursday, Crosshill Christian on Friday and Santiam on Saturday.

DEVILS DROP TWO: Coquille lost a pair of road games. Days Creek beat the Red Devils 78-54 and Harrisburg beat Coquille 67-27.

The Red Devils are at Gold Beach on Tuesday and St. Mary’s on Friday for their final games before the new year and Bandon’s holiday tournament.

REEDSPORT LOSES TWO: Reedsport dropped a pair of games to larger schools during the week. The Brave fell to Siuslaw 53-45 and lost to Sutherlin 49-42.

This week, Reedsport is at Pacific on Tuesday and at Toledo on Thursday.

BRUINS TOP BOBCATS: Myrtle Point fell on the road to Brookings-Harbor 58-54, falling to 2-2 on the season.

The Bobcats host Camas Valley on Tuesday and visit Douglas on Wednesday this week.

PIRATES FALL: Pacific fell to visiting Gold Beach 79-57 in the Pirates’ lone game last week. This week, Pacific hosts Brookings-Harbor on Monday and also hosts Reedsport on Tuesday and visits Mohawk on Friday.

It’s hard to win a basketball game when the ball isn’t falling through the net.

That was clear for the Chicago Bulls in Sunday’s 114-104 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at the United Center.

The Bulls missed 36 shots from behind the arc in the loss, resulting in a dismal 26.5% clip from deep. This is the latest in an icy stretch of shooting after going 32.6% from behind the arc over the last 10 games — the second-worst in the entire league during that span. The hot-and-cold nature of this team’s shooting efficiency has been a key factor in keeping the Bulls from consistently winning this season.

Isaac Okoro went 1-for-8 from deep and Nikola Vučević went 2-for-6. Most notable was a rare 1-for-10 shooting night from Coby White, who led the Bulls in both attempts and misses from behind the arc.

White said the Bulls planned to take a higher volume of 3-pointers against the Pelicans, who pack the paint and limit opportunities at the rim. And a large bulk of that responsibility fell on White, who was playing in only his eighth game of the season as he continues to battle calf injuries. Despite the result, White — a career 36.8% shooter from behind the arc — expressed confidence in his shot selection against the Pelicans.

“I thought all but maybe two were great looks for me. A lot of them felt good coming off my hand, they were either short or long or in and out. I can’t control whether they go in. If I had to go back, I’d take those same shots again. I’ve just got to continue to work to find that rhythm from 3-point range.”

Coach Billy Donovan agreed. He emphasized the importance of increasing shot volume from higher efficiency players on the team: “If Coby White gets up 10 3-point shots, I’m fine with that.”

And despite the team’s lack of finishing, Donovan felt his players produced a more sustainable style of offense — something the Bulls have sought urgently throughout their free fall over the last three weeks.

“We moved the ball,” Donovan said. “We generated good shots. We’ve got to take those 3s. I thought we did a lot of really good things in terms of ball movement.”

A short streak of efficient shooting — going on an 11-for-24 flurry in the third quarter — powered the Bulls to rip off a 14-0 run and regain a 73-72 lead as the Pelicans failed to score a single point for more than four minutes in the third quarter. But that was fleeting for the Bulls, who were overpowered by the Pelicans bench and several ill-timed second-chance scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter.

It was not the worst offensive night of the season — that still belongs to a 91-point performance against the Golden State Warriors earlier this month. But still, winning didn’t last long for the Bulls, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

Here are three takeaways from the loss.

1. A quiet night from Matas Buzelis.

The Bulls offense could use a secondary spark — but it still isn’t coming from Matas Buzelis.

The second-year forward took only five shots in the loss to score nine points. Only two other players (Jalen Smith and Zach Collins) took fewer shots than Buzelis, a player the Bulls hope to position as a centerpiece of production for their offense in future seasons. This is his lowest shot attempt production since the second game of the season, when he logged fewer than 13 minutes after fouling out quickly in a win over the Orlando Magic.

Buzelis aims to develop a strong outside shot, but he’s shooting 32.4% from behind the arc this season — and still struggles to create his own shot from outside. Donovan noted that Buzelis played a lower rotation of minutes due to Chicago’s need to put a larger body on Zion Williamson, swapping in Patrick Williams and Isaac Okoro to avoid pulling a trap over to deal with the bigger body in the paint.

2. Dueling bigs

The Bulls continued to experiment with double-big rotations that played Jalen Smith at the four. But coach Billy Donovan did not stick with his closing changes from Friday’s win in Charlotte, when he benched Vučević in favor of Zach Collins down the stretch.

Despite Vučević’s poor shooting night, the Bulls stuck with their starter down the stretch while utilizing forwards to counter Williamson. Collins logged under 12 minutes and Smith logged just under 13 minutes. The pair combined for eight points and two rebounds.

3. A homecoming for Jeremiah Fears.

Sunday’s game featured a cheering section for one Pelicans player — rookie Jeremiah Fears, a Joliet native playing in his first hometown game.

Fears played his first two years of high school ball for Joliet West, then transferred to AZ Compass Prep as a junior. His older brother, Jeremy, also played for Joliet West. He immediately drew draft speculation during his solo year in the NCAA playing for Oklahoma, ultimately going No. 7 overall this summer.

The rookie made an impact in front of his local crowd, tallying 20 points and three assists. Fears scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter to clinch the fifth win of the season for the Pelicans.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Barely 27 months after he kicked an American football for the first time, Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth drilled a game-winning field goal in the NFL.

His 47-yarder with 2 seconds left on Sunday gave the New Orleans Saints their first lead and handed the Carolina Panthers a 20-17 loss that was as excruciating for them as it was exhilarating for him.

“I was just delighted to get the opportunity,” said Smyth, who was serenaded with chants of “Charlie, Charlie” in the locker room after receiving a game ball from coach Kellen Moore. “It was a good moment and one I’ll never forget. I’m pretty ecstatic right now, to be honest.”

The 24-year-old Smyth graduated college as a primary school teacher in the summer of 2023, with his only kicking experience coming in Gaelic football as a goalkeeper. He signed up for a master’s program in Belfast, but ended up pursuing the NFL instead, joining the league’s International Player Pathway Program.

“If you told me I’d be kicking in a game in the NFL, I probably would have laughed at you,” he said. “Just the way things panned out, it’s been really a dream scenario.”

During the 2024 preseason, Smyth hit a 37-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to beat Arizona and ended up on the practice squad. After the Saints cut Blake Grupe three weeks ago, Smyth was promoted to the active roster for the first time in Week 13 at Miami, where he made a 56-yard field goal in his first attempt.

That one came in a loss. His latest kick gave the Saints their second consecutive win after they started 2-10.

“The outside world would say there’s a lot of pressure on you, but I’d like to say I embrace those moments,” Smyth said. “It’s just up to you to go out and execute everything you’ve been practicing the last two years.”

His teammates felt his confidence.

“We had no doubt,” said rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who guided the Saints 62 yards to set up Smyth’s kick. “He does that every single day in practice. You’ve got to have a level of cold-bloodedness to play that position. I think everybody knew what the result was going to be.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

SEATTLE — From the way Shane Steichen and Philip Rivers are talking, it does not sound like there is much question about who the starting quarterback will be when the Colts take the field on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” against the 49ers.

Rivers was clearly limited in Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Seahawks, completing 18 of 27 passes for just 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

But the Colts liked the way he managed the game, avoided turnovers and gave Indianapolis a chance to win at the end, although the kickoff unit and the defense weren’t able to hold the lead.

“Very encouraged,” Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. “There's no question about it. For him to go out there and do what he did after five years off, to have a chance to win it and get a game-winning field goal, close to it, obviously, with 40 seconds left, in a hostile environment, against a tough defense just shows his commitment to coming back.”

Indianapolis decided to roll the dice on a 44-year-old Rivers instead of sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard for several reasons.

Rivers’ experience, knowledge of the offense, ability to get the Colts into the right plays and encyclopedic knowledge of what defenses are trying to do gave him the edge over Leonard’s age and athleticism.

Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in relief of Daniel Jones last week in Jacksonville, but Leonard is dealing with a reported PCL sprain in his right knee, although he was able to practice in full all week long.

The Colts wanted to see if Rivers could handle the rigors of an NFL game.

From what they saw on Sunday, it looks like the 44-year-old can handle it, even being hit after five years away from the NFL.

“I never minded that part of it,” Rivers said. “My wife always tells me I'm crazy because there's been times in the last three or four years I said I wish I could just throw one and get hit hard. She says, that's not normal. … The one where the ball was snapped didn't feel great, but the other ones kind of got me going in the game.”

Rivers acknowledged that the offense wasn’t very explosive on Sunday.

But he also talked like a quarterback who expects to start next week.

“It's going to continue to get better,” Rivers said. “This is obviously the first one, we're talking about three days of practice.”

Rivers wasn’t entirely happy with his performance.

Or the offense’s. Indianapolis scored 13 points in the first half, but the Colts were held scoreless in the second half until Blake Grupe’s go-ahead field goal with 47 seconds left, giving Indianapolis a one-point lead that Seattle erased in 25 seconds.

“I'm speaking offensively,” Rivers said. “If I can stay healthy — like, I feel good — it's gonna get better as we go, but the catch in that is we gotta win. Doesn't really matter if it's getting better as we go, we gotta win, or it's going to be over in three weeks. That's the catch.”

Rivers was already talking like a quarterback thinking about ways the offense can be better.

The 44-year-old came back to the Colts in a Hail Mary attempt to get Indianapolis into the playoffs. He wants to see it through.

“Certainly going to quickly turn my attention to the 49ers,” Rivers said. “I know they have a Monday night game (at Lucas Oil Stadium). I never got to experience that, either, in that COVID year. And we're going to scratch and fight and claw. I do know that. Not because I'm here. But I do know that any team I've ever been a part of, not because of me, but I've been a part of, will fight like crazy until they tell us the season is over. So you can guarantee that for the next three weeks.”

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who will Colts start at QB vs 49ers? What Philip Rivers, Shane Steichen said

All Times EST

Monday, Dec. 15

NFL

Miami at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

NBA

Detroit at Boston, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m.

Houston at Denver, 9:30 p.m.

Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

NHL

Anaheim at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Florida at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Nashville at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

T25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 14 Vanderbilt vs. South Florida, 7:30 p.m.

No. 23 Oklahoma St. vs. Tulsa, 7:30 p.m.

_____

In dramatic fashion, the New Orleans Saints secured their second straight divisional win, edging the Carolina Panthers 20-17 to complete a season sweep. Now 4-10 on the year, New Orleans oddly finds itself 3-2 within the NFC South – effectively throwing a wrench into the plans of the teams jockeying for position at the top of the division.

How did they do it? By leaning on a young quarterback who continues to deliver when it matters most, paired with a defense that has fully embraced a bend-but-don’t-break identity — and broken through at the most critical moments.

A lot went right once again for the Saints, but let’s break down this Week 15 statement win by answering four key questions:

• What went right?
• What went wrong?
• What’s the bottom line?
• What comes next?

What went right?

Simply put: a lot. The Saints showed resilience, composure, and timely execution en route to their second straight divisional victory – one that continues to complicate things for their rivals. At the center of it all was rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who once again proved capable of rising to the moment. After a relatively slow start — aside from an impressive 17-play, 95-yard touchdown drive — Shough took control in the second half. He completed 15 of 19 passes (excluding a late-game spike) and led the Saints on four consecutive scoring drives, three of which ended in points.

What stood out most was his command in long down-and-distance situations. Shough converted seven throws on downs of 10+ yards, nearly adding an eighth on a 17-yard completion to DeVaughn Vele on second-and-18 that left the Saints just a yard short. A quick glance at the third-down numbers tells part of the story as well, with New Orleans converting six of 11 attempts.

It’s clear that Shough has injected confidence into this offense in moments that felt tight earlier in the season. It wasn’t perfect — nor does it need to be — but with Shough under center, the Saints are winning games, and he’s beginning to look more and more like a legitimate part of the franchise’s future. The defense also deserves significant praise. While far from dominant from start to finish, they came up with their biggest plays when it mattered most. Early in the fourth quarter, trailing by seven with Carolina driving, the Saints defense delivered a massive fourth-and-one stop, preventing the Panthers from extending their lead to double digits.

Two drives later, after forcing a three-and-out, defensive end Chase Young made perhaps the play of the game – sacking Bryce Young on first-and-10 after Carolina had just converted a critical third-and-long with under two minutes remaining. The sack swung momentum, forced a punt, and set the stage for the Saints’ game-winning drive. And finally, credit where it’s due – Charlie Smyth delivered. After connecting on a 42-yard field goal earlier, the rookie kicker calmly drilled a 47-yard game-winner with two seconds remaining, the first walk-off kick of his young career. Moments like that can define confidence for a young specialist.The vibes were as high as they’ve been in New Orleans all season.

What went wrong?

Despite the strong finish, the Saints once again struggled out of the gate offensively. Two early drives – a 3-play, 4-yard and 6-play, 17-yard drive drained early momentum from a crowd eager for a fast start. While the offense responded in the second half, slow starts like this can be costly against more complete opponents.

The defense faced similar issues early. Carolina scored on three of its first four possessions, consistently moving the ball on the ground and extending drives on third down. Credit the unit for tightening up after halftime, but the early lapses mirrored what we saw against Miami a few weeks ago – the difference this time was finishing the job.Faster starts on both sides of the ball would allow this team to build separation rather than fighting until the final whistle.

What’s the bottom line?

The Saints have officially made things interesting. With a rookie quarterback leading the way, New Orleans has rattled off back-to-back wins after once being projected to pick inside the top 3-5 of next year’s draft – with major questions still looming at quarterback. That narrative is starting to shift. If this upward trend continues, the Saints may pivot from searching for a quarterback to aggressively building around one. How they close out the final three games will go a long way in shaping the organization’s offseason approach.

What comes next?

Next Sunday, the Saints return home to host the New York Jets – a matchup with real implications for draft positioning at the top of the board. That said, based on recent play, this is another winnable game for New Orleans and an opportunity to secure a third straight victory.

Finishing the season strong may be the most important objective for this team moving forward. With a young quarterback instilling confidence across the roster, momentum matters — not just for the locker room, but for the veterans already in place and the free agents the organization will evaluate come March.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Instant analysis: What went right, what went wrong in Saints-Panthers

While Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has had his fair share of struggles with managing the clock in 2025, that wasn’t the case on Sunday.

As the Seahawks barely eked out a victory over the Indianapolis Colts, thanks in large part to Macdonald using his three timeouts to preserve 47 seconds for his offense’s game-winning drive. At his post-game press conference, Macdonald gave the credit for the decision to long-time Seahawks analyst and Director of Football Analysis and Special Situations, Brian Eayrs.

“He was really decisive, I give him a lot of credit,” Macdonald said. “I gave him a game ball in the locker room because he put us in a position to still have a chance to win the game.”

Off the back of a sixth Jason Myers field goal from 56 yards out, the Seahawks did manage to win the game. Making this the fourth game in franchise history the Seahawks have won a game without scoring a touchdown.

All 70.

M.O.B. pic.twitter.com/DwJhkG1JcJ

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 15, 2025

Macdonald said he and Eayrs thought the Colts were out of range for a Blake Grupe game-leading field goal on that drive, in which Grupe nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal to give Indianapolis the lead.

“It was actually deeper than we anticipated. The guy made a heck of a kick,” Macdonald said. “We thought he was beyond his line.”

Next up for the Seahawks are the Los Angeles Rams on a short week, where Seattle’s offense will try to get back on track by giving Myers’ leg a rest and scoring at least one touchdown.

Dec. 14—With three bracket champions and 10 varsity placers, Flathead placed a close second at its own Flathead Invitational girls wrestling meet that concluded Saturday.

Behind champs Bella Downing (120 pounds), Julia Kay (130) and Kiera Lackey (135), the Bravettes piled up 271.5 points, while defending state champion Billings Senior won with 281.5.

Billings West edged Class A Ronan for third place, 185.5 to 184.5. Butte was fifth at 170, and Polson was sixth at 142.

Glacier was 15th at 67.5 points for the tournament, which brought 330 wrestlers to the Gene Boyle Gym for two days of competition.

"I thought our girls really came together," Flathead coach Amber Downing said. "Julia Kay was named outstanding wrestler, based on the difficulty and size of her bracket."

"And it was cool to see the Hard Luck mat, where a lot of the young girls were getting their first action, all the support they got from the team."

Counting those consolation bracket points Flathead had 337.5 while Senior had 290.5.

State champions that won their weight classes on Saturday included Taylor Lay of Helena Capital (125) and Meadow Mahlmeister of Senior (145). Kay fell to Lay in last year's 130-pound final at state.

Bella Downing had three pins and a technical fall; Kay had four pins after her first opponent defaulted with an injury; Lackey had five pins.

Not to be outdone, Sam Bennetts had went 6-2 and had five pints on the way to a fourth-place finish at 126.

Ronan's River Cote won the 105 title, and the Maidens had six place in the top six besides her.

Glacier's Keria Oftedahl was third at 100, which Polson's Ciri Nice won. The Wolfpack also saw Katelyn Spuhler take sixth at 105.

"It seems like our all visiting teams were happy with how we ran things," Amber Downing said, noting the tournament finished ahead of schedule Friday and on time Saturday.

"It was the first oportnty to ever complete for some, and they rose up to the challenge. I'm excited to see them grow throughout the season."

Flathead Invitational

Friday and Saturday

Flathead High School

Team scores — 1, Billings Senior 281.5; 2, Flathead 271.5; 3, Billings West 185.5; 4, Ronan 184.5; 5, Butte 170; 6, Polson 142; 7, Helena Capital 149; 8, Missoula Big Sky 137.5; 9, Billings Skyview 147; 10, Belgrade 143; 11, Browning 111; 12, Simms 92; 13, Gallatin 80; 14, Hardin 77; 15, Glacier 67.5; 16, Columbia Falls 59; 17, Mission 58; 18, Havre 57.5; 19, Eureka 52; 20, Corvallis 50; 21, Frenchtown 49; 22, Choteau 47.5; 23, Helena 40; 24, Whitefish 35; 25, Missoula Sentinel 28; 26, Plains-Hot Springs 17; 27, Bigfork 10; 28, Florence 7; 29, Missoula Hellgate 4.

Individual results

100 — Ciri Nice, Pol, md. Josie Hillman, Cor, 25-13, first; 3, Keira Offedahl, Glacier; 4, Alexus Thompson, Flathead; 5, Jadyn Rowe, Flathead; 6, Mykell Hoyt, Brw.

105 — River Cote, Ron, p. Delilah Bahm, BW, 1:30t; 3, Seria Catt, BSr.; 4, Quinn Lindsley, Bel; 5, Victory Tenney, Sky; 6, Katelyn Spuhler, Glacier.

110 — Payten Van Pelt, West, p. Danyka Doll, Skyview, 0:37, first; 3, Hayley Petersen, Simms; 4, Idania Ocampo, Boz; 5, Brooke Jamieson, MBS; 6, Marie Cheff, Ronan.

115 — Hannah Leonard, Skyview, p. Ashlyn Sausedo, Har, 1:17; 3, Piper Gershmel, BSr; 4, Cadence Crookston, Simms; 5, Sydney Drake, Cap; 6, Avery Faler, Ronan.

120 — Bella Downing, Flathead, p. Alexandria Johnston, Senior, 3:04, first; 3, Ava Dewitt, Senior; 4, Mariska Harrisk, Cap; 5, Violet Turnquist-Linn, Bel; 6, Breiah Davis, Havre.

125 — Taylor Lay, Cap, p. Araeya Nelson, West, 5:38; 3, Adalie Hazlett, Butte; 4, Sam Bennetts, Flathead; 5, Kyra McMahon, Flathead; 6, Lily Fisher, Eureka.

130 — Julia Kay, Flathead, p. Taylor Dorvall, Whitefish, 2:21; 3, Charliee Lund, Bel; 4, Rebel Montanez, Ftn; 5, Leila McKay, Cap; 6, Sierra McGreevey, Ronan.

135 — Kiera Lackey, Flathead, p. Kaiah Dumont, Polson, 3:52; 3, Skadi Smith, Big Sky; 4, Elisa Bernabe, Flathead; 5, Laila Neiss, Ronan; 6, Korah Yerian, C-Falls.

140 — Elizabeth Sherman, Senior, dec. Lindsay Yoder, Simms, 14-7; 3, Addison Clixby, Big Sky; 4, Loretta Matteson, Butte; 5, Ariana Banner, Simms; 6, Haley Wilson, Flathead.

145 — Meadow Mahlmeister, Senior, p. Vanessa Wheeler, Polson, 5:25; 3, Tita Fandrich, Senior; 4, Elizabeth James, West; 5, Alisha Cook, Flathead; 6, Sage Queer, Butte.

155 — Mattie Stepan, Butte, p. Olivia Carnell, Mission, 2:41; 3, Leona Dodson Howe, Ronan; 4, Luisa Rivera-Rosas, Senior; 5, Meadow Ragen, Mission; 6, Kinsley Birdrattler, Browning.

170 — Soraya Shirley, Senior, md. Ashtyn Dziekonski, Capital, 10-0; 3, Hannah Gohde, Gallatin; 4, Hadassah Rea, Ronan 5, Keara Wieczorek, Eureka; 6, Eva Rodriguez, West.

190 — Lauren Krebs, Hardin, p. IsaBela Rangel, Belgrade, 4:27; 3, Brooklen Larsen, West; 4, Malia Glassing, Senior; 5, Keyenaa DeRoche, Browning; 6, Aspen Martinez, West.

235 — 1, Rylee Murgel, Helena, p. Elizabeth Henkins, Big Sky, :10; 3, Chyanne Robinson, Butte; 4, Allie Ballensky, Butte; 5, Manina Left Hand, West; 6, Rylie Massa, West.

Dec. 14—BUTTE — The Flathead Brave Brawlers' run of Jim Street Mining City Duals championships ended at four but they certainly gave it a shot.

Two-time defending AA champion Billings West beat the Brawlers 50-22 in the final dual Saturday at the Butte Civic Center; Flathead went 5-1 at the tournament.

"So proud of this team," coach Jeff Thompson sid. "West is just so sold up and down their lineup but we gave them our best."

The Brawlers beat Billings Senior 52-24 and Butte High 40-28 to advance in Saturday's championship bracket. On Friday they handled Frenchtown 59-18, Helena Capital 58-23 and Three Forks 66-17 in pool competition. Frenchtown, which went 2-1 in Flathead's pool, joined the Brawlers in the championship bracket.

Kellen Downing (138 pounds) and Caleb Poe-Hatten (118) scored pins against West, and Hunter Arriaga (144), Brett Chivers (157) and Colton Conover (175) won their matches. Arriaga went 4-0 in Butte and the rest were 5-0; Arriaga, Downing and Poe-Hatten were named outstanding wrestlers for the Duals.

The Golden Bears came up with six falls and two technical falls in the final.

"The Mining City Duals are always an early-season blueprint of what's out there for competition," Thompson said. "The Braves most definitely are in the mix for a team trophy come February. We have already seen tremendous growth from last week.

"Conor and Liam LeDuc, and Kohen Rilley, only had one loss this weekend. Conor is just really good at 190. Caleb Poe-Hatten beat two state championships this weekend. Aiden Lake won a match against Senior that put 37 points on the board."

Glacier's young squad went 1-4 in Butte, beating Missoula Hellgate 59-24 on Friday before dropping duals with Butte (59-20) and Billings Skyview (53-30). In Saturday's consolation action the Wolfpack lost narrowly to Polson (41-39) and fell to Three Forks (57-21).

"Our lineup at this point doesn't bode well for team scores, but we some some great experience gains for the team," Glacier coach Mark Fischer said. "Matt Ahner, Zander Fuehr and Noah Horn continued their win streaks and remain undefeated.

"Before this weekend we had six kids in the lineup that had never won a match in their life or high school. Four of them got their first wins this weekend."

Columbia Falls went 0-2 on Saturday in the championship bracket. In Friday's pool action the MatCats beat South Fremont (Idaho) 41-36 and Ronan 47-36, and also lost 73-5 to Billings West.

On Saturday they fell to Spokane's Gonzaga Prep 50-28, and then to Frenchtown 46-30.

Blaise Cronk at 165 had an outstanding tournament, scoring three pins plus a technical fall against West for Columbia Falls' only points in that dual. Kolbe Cronk went 4-1 at 138 as well.

The Green Bay Packers gave up a 23-14 lead in the second half, lost several key players to injury and limped to the finish line of a 34-26 defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Matt LaFleur's team had its four-game win streak snapped and is now 9-4-1, but the injuries to Micah Parsons and Christian Watson are the big story coming out of this defeat.

Here's what went right, what went wrong and what it means for the Packers moving forward:

What went right

-- Jordan Love was red hot in the first half, completing 17 of 21 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown as the Packers scored on their first four possessions.

-- Josh Jacobs played through a right knee injury and produced 92 total yards and two big scores.

-- Credit Edgerrin Cooper. There was no quit in him. He broke up a fourth down pass and had a tackle for loss on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, keeping the Packers alive. He finished with eight tackles, two for a loss and a pass breakup.

-- The Packers run defense limited the Broncos to 2.9 yards per carry and didn't give up a run over eight yards.

-- First-round pick Matthew Golden drew a pass interference penalty on a scoring drive, had a 27-yard catch, an 18-yard catch and an 11-yard catch converting a third down.

What went wrong

-- Pretty much everything after Jordan Love threw a deep ball to Christian Watson with 12:46 left in the third quarter.

-- The offensive line struggled post-Zach Tom. The passing game flat-lined post-Christian Watson. The defense couldn't rush Bo Nix post-Micah Parsons.

-- The Packers defense gave up 23 completions, 304 passing yards and four touchdowns to Bo Nix, who wasn't sacked, didn't have a turnover and finished with a passer rating of 134.7. The secondary got burnt time and time again in big spots. The pass rush produced only three quarterback hits.

-- The Broncos went 4-for-4 scoring touchdowns in the red zone. The Packers were 1-for-4 and settled for three field goals under 40 yards.

-- Courtland Sutton tortured Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine to the tune of seven catches, 113 yards and one touchdown. The cornerbacks weren't good enough on Sunday.

-- Love turned the ball over twice. On the first, he aggressively attacked downfield in a one-on-one opportunity with Christian Watson. On the second, he threw slightly behind Dontayvion Wicks. Both times, Love gave his receiver a chance to make a play. Neither was a perfect throw, and the Broncos made him pay. Denver scored seven points off two takeaways, Green Bay got only three points off one.

-- The Packers were penalized 10 times for 72 yards. Many were completely avoidable infractions. Rasheed Walker was flagged four times.

-- Given two opportunities with the ball down eight points in the fourth quarter, the Packers turned the ball over on downs on back-to-back possessions. Jordan Love took a sack on fourth down ending the first, and his pressured attempt on 4th-and-15 wasn't close to end the game.

-- Xavier McKinney had three passes defensed, but he had two failed opportunities to make a game-changing interception right before Micah Parsons' noncontact injury.

What it means

It isn't hyperbole to say this defeat -- and everything that factored into it -- is season-altering for the Packers. Not only is Matt LaFleur's team now 9-4-1 and in second place in the NFC North, but losing Christian Watson and Micah Parsons to injuries significantly lowers the Packers' championship potential entering the final three games. In fact, if both are done for the season, the championship potential for Green Bay might be zero. Watson had supercharged the passing game. Parsons was the most important player on the team not named Jordan Love. They are indispensable players. The Packers might only need one more win to get into the postseason, but winning the division just got a lot more challenging, and it's extremely difficult to envision the Packers going on the road and winning three straight games without Watson and Parsons. It sure feels like an ascending team that was becoming title worthy just had the rug pulled out from under it in the most devastating way.

What's next

Somehow, the Packers must shake off this loss, recover from a physical, injury-filled afternoon in the altitude in Denver, put together a game plan without several important pieces available and go into Chicago and beat the Bears -- who won on Sunday -- at Soldier Field on Saturday night. If the Packers want to win the NFC North and host a playoff game in January, winning next Saturday is a must. Big stakes involved in the rematch.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Breaking down Packers' 34-26 loss to Broncos: What went right, wrong

Winning cures everything -- that's a common line you'll hear in football circles, and it's often true. Whether it's personnel disagreements, contract squabbles, or just the ugliness that comes with losing, correcting the course and getting back in the win column seems to bring everyone onto the same page.

And that's where the New Orleans Saints have put themselves. The Saints have beaten two NFC South rivals in back-to-back weeks, putting them at 4-10 on the season. And that's moved them from what would have been a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL draft to fifth, and now seventh, after Week 15's action. New Orleans owns a strength of schedule tiebreaker over the two other 4-10 teams, the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals.

Here's how the top 10 picks shake out this week:

1. New York Giants (2-12)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
3. Tennessee Titans (2-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
5. New York Jets (3-11)
6. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
7. New Orleans Saints (4-10)
8. Washington Commanders (4-10)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
10. Los Angeles Rams, via Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

How many more wins can the Saints get this season? Each of their final three opponents are also picking in the top 10, with the Titans and Jets each having a shot at the first overall pick. Tyler Shough playing well and making clutch throws in big moments -- plus an overachieving defense -- has made a big difference, and we can't rule out the possibility they could win out. That would mean ending the year at 7-10. Their floor is probably around the 15th overall pick. This is seen as a top-heavy draft class so if you don't have a top-four pick you're probably looking at many of the same prospects at No. 7 as at No. 15.

And continuing to build momentum is more important than picking as early as possible in a draft like that. Gaining confidence that Shough is the guy to build around while developing a winning culture is critical. Let's see if they can keep it up down the stretch.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Where Saints pick after last-second Panthers win

Leonardo Jardim made the decision to leave the management of Cruzeiro.

The 51-year-old Portuguese has a contract until December of next year, but no longer wishes to continue his coaching career.

According to ge, this decision was made a few days ago.

Even before the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil.

It will be made official after a meeting this Monday with Pedro Lourenço and Pedro Junio, president and vice-president of the SAF celeste.

Tite, available on the market and targeted by Internacional, is reportedly on Cruzeiro's radar.

According to the report, some staff members and part of the Cruzeiro squad were already aware of Jardim's desire.

Artur Jorge, former Botafogo coach and currently leading Al-Rayyan in Qatar, is another person of interest.

Jardim joined Cruzeiro in February of this year to replace Fernando Diniz.

The team was runner-up in the Mineiro, eliminated in the group stage of the Sul-Americana, and finished third in the Brasileirão before being knocked out in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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📸 JOSE ALMEIDA - AFP or licensors

Former Red Sox pitcher changes plans on retirement for 2026 MLB season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chris Martin was expected to retire at the end of the 2025 MLB season. 

Instead, he looks like he'll be back in 2026, according to a report from MassLive's Chris Cotillo.

Cotillo added that the Red Sox would be interested in bringing Martin back after he spent time in Boston in both 2023 and 2024.

After those two seasons with the Red Sox, Martin went to the Texas Rangers on a $5.5 million contract in 2025.

He was great, putting up a 2.98 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched out of the bullpen.

MORE: Christian Yelich shows his puppy a proper appreciation of Tavon Austin

Martin went on the Injured List multiple times, though -- for right shoulder fatigue, a left calf strain, and a thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis in September.

He'll turn 40 in June, so Martin's days have to be numbered. Apparently, though, he doesn't want to hang the spikes up yet.

Martin entered pro baseball originally as a 21st-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2005 out of McLennan Community College.

He has pitched for the Rockies, Yankees, Rangers, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and Rangers again, in addition to a stint in Japan.

Martin has a career 3.33 ERA in 418 MLB appearances. And it sounds like he'll be getting on a big league mound again in 2026.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers' payroll is even more loaded with Edwin Diaz
• It's a good day to remember Bob Feller's brilliance and his time in the U.S. Navy
• How Aroldis Chapman is able to pitch for Great Britain in the WBC
• What the Kyle Schwarber signing means for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Poetic paragraph reveals Cody Bellinger's free agent landing spots
• Royals keep Maikel Garcia around for a long time

The Seattle Seahawks almost had one of the most embarrassing losses of the season. Key word is almost.

Credit to 44-year-old Philip Rivers for not looking woefully out of his place in his first start in five years (well, up until his final throw of the game), but the Seahawks would’ve been summarily and maybe justifiably dismissed as serious Super Bowl contenders. They had to gut this victory out against a desperate Indianapolis Colts side and did so without scoring a touchdown.

Let’s get to Winners and Losers for Seahawks 18, Colts 16.

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Winners

Jason Myers is our hero

Six field goal attempts, six makes, and a valuable win thanks to the leading field goal maker in the NFL this year. What more needs to be said? Also huge props to him for not botching the final kickoff and forcing the Colts to burn time with a return that was inefficient in terms of field position and time off the clock.

Rashid Shaheed is getting more involved in the offense

Shaheed’s punt return decisions could use some work, but we’re finally starting to see that chemistry build between Shaheed and Sam Darnold. He finished with 5 catches for 74 yards on 7 targets, continuing his strong offensive performance from last week. The game-winning drive was just about all Shaheed: kick return + a pair of catches to get Seattle into field goal range.

Mike Macdonald’s timeout usage was masterful

By calling timeouts the minute the Colts crossed midfield, Macdonald preserved time for the Seahawks in case the Colts made a field goal without picking up another first down. Had the Colts had another first down, the timeouts wouldn’t have mattered, but his defense stopped Jonathan Taylor on 3rd and 7 and left Sam Darnold with enough time to score again. I’ve been critical of Macdonald holding onto his timeouts too much at the end of halves, but he nailed situational football on this occasion. I might as well give Brian Eayrs a game ball since he’s a research analyst for Seattle and informs Macdonald of these choices.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back above the century mark

Chasing Calvin Johnson’s record looks like a lost cause unless he really unleashes hell on Earth over the final three weeks, but he still had 113 yards on 7 catches. His one bad play was an uncharacteristic dropped pass on a Sam Darnold dime over the middle. JSN is still far and away Seattle’s best offensive weapon and he continues to have one of the great seasons in Seahawks history.

Cooper Kupp gets more involved

Kupp caught 5 passes for 46 yards, which may not seem like much, but it’s his first time with that many catches since October. There’s still a little bit of life left in Kupp as a chain mover who rarely makes negative plays with the ball in his hands.

Sam Darnold delivers when it matters most

Was that a great game from Darnold? I thought he was good enough; he didn’t really put the ball in harm’s way (outside of yet another fumble, this time on a scramble) and essentially led two game-winning drives in a quarter. Apart from wanting a 3rd and 2 completion to assure the Colts never get the ball again, he executed that one-minute drill very well. Darnold is showing some accuracy issues a bit that weren’t there at the start of the season, which I partially attribute to an offensive line struggling a little bit more as of late.

Nick Emmanwori was the best defensive player

The rookie keeps wowing. He recorded a “sack” that was mostly Philip Rivers falling, getting up, then falling again with Nick in the area ready to deliver the boom on a man twice his age. Emmanwori also sniffed out a screen pass for minimal gain in the fourth quarter, recorded a tackle for loss, and recorded two passes defensed early on. If this is E-Man’s floor then he’s going to be a perennial Pro Bowl talent. His ceiling? One of the best defensive players in the NFL.

Leonard Williams keeps dominating

I didn’t think the Seahawks defensive line was all that great today, eespecially with some of the successful run plays allowed and lack of pass rush, but Big Cat had several runs stops, two tackles for loss, and two QB hits/pressures.

Coby Bryant is a closer

Four interceptions on the year for Coby, and now he’s picked off 44-year-old Rivers and 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

Losers

Klint Kubiak’s offense is running on borrowed time

Over the last 12 quarters of play, the Seahawks have had a burst of points in the 2nd half against the Atlanta Falcons and that’s about it. One offensive touchdown versus the Minnesota Vikings, none in the first half against Atlanta, and none in the whole game versus the Colts.

The lack of a cohesive dropback passing game without play action is glaring. Sam Darnold is the best in the business by EPA/play when using play action and average at best without it. When the Seahawks are put in unfavorable game scripts, Kubiak’s group has a hard time digging themselves out of tough situations. They’re seemingly fine in tempo/hurry-up situations, but it’s clear to me that the Seahawks offense is struggling in prolonged stretches that could prove catastrophic in the playoffs.

The running game may just be a lost cause

No explosive runs for the Seahawks. None. The offensive line got whipped up and down the field and struggled to open holes for either Kenneth Walker or Zach Charbonnet. On this day, Charbonnet was more effective with 31 yards on 8 carries to Walker’s 17 on 9, but combine those two and you get three yards per carry. That ain’t gonna get it done.

I’m not sure there’s really anyone to pinpoint, either. Seattle just lacks the people movers to dominate in the trenches and create space for their backs.

Brady Russell replaces Robbie Ouzts and blows his audition

Dropped an easy pass and made no impact in his limited snaps as a blocker. Either play Ouzts (despite his lack of effectiveness as a fullback) or don’t play a fullback at all. Russell is definitely not a fullback and his hands are as bad as they were in preseason.

Josh Jobe struggles on a day when the Colts barely had a passing attack

Jobe gave up the only touchdown on a crosser to Josh Downs, was fortunate not to get beaten deep on a play where Downs lost track of the ball, allowed a back shoulder crosser to Alec Pierce that allowed the Colts a chance to get into field goal range, and was the victim of a BS pass interference call. Ultimately, I think Jobe is a good player but he’s lived a charm life in terms of some plays breaking in his favor when he was otherwise beaten (see: Darnell Mooney touchdown last week). Riq Woolen should be getting the main snaps in base defense over Jobe; this isn’t to bench Josh as much as it’s to play Riq more.

Pass rush underwhelms against banged up Colts offensive line

Indianapolis lost their starting right tackle before the game started and then Bernhard Raimann went down in the first half. Rivers was getting the ball out quickly as expected, but the conservative pressure plan meant that Rivers was rarely put in bothersome spots throughout the afternoon. I know I sound like a broken record, but the Seahawks defense would really be upgraded by having a standout edge rusher and not a by-committee approach. Boye Mafe is almost destined to be elsewhere next season.

Adrian Hill’s crew only let one team play aggressively

I don’t get how Josh Jobe’s PI was PI but Jaxon Smith-Njigba could get hugged before the two-minute drill without a whistle. In fairness, the penalty count was light and not lopsided, but if you’re going to let physical play happen then make it happen both ways.

Final Notes

• Rylie Mills got his first NFL snaps, which surprised me. I didn’t expect him to go in cold with zero training camp and preseason reps. I’m curious to see what the snap counts were and whether this was pseudo-load management to not overwork the main guys ahead of Thursday’s game.
• A.J. Barner continues to be a security blanket as a receiver for Sam Darnold, but I’d like to see him utilized more in the intermediate passing attack.
• Zach Charbonnet has had pass protection issues three straight weeks, which is uncharacteristic given that’s been a strength of his. The one sack allowed was to Laiatu Latu, and while he’s Indy’s best pass rusher, Charbonnet’s rep was sub-optimal.
• The Colts didn’t have a great offensive performance. They averaged 3.7 yards per play, barely moved the ball after halftime, but the key for them was field position. Seattle’s offense failed to flip the field on multiple occasions when backed up, and Rashid Shaheed’s just gotta not fair catch punts inside his 10.
• Seattle’s streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher continues. If the leading rusher in the NFL can’t do it, who can? Hopefully not Kyren Williams, who came really close in the first Seahawks vs. Rams tilt.
• Perhaps the biggest win for the Seahawks was having few injury issues outside of Abe Lucas and Derick Hall, both of whom returned to the game after heading into the medical tent.
• Beat the Rams and you’re in the playoffs. The No. 1 seed is still in sight, but getting into the playoffs is the first thing to do and winning on Thursday night clinches a spot with room to spare.

This is your place to keep track of everything Husky related in the transfer portal this season. The portal still doesn’t officially open until January 2nd but there are already some Husky players who have announced their intention to enter once available (or that intention has been reported by reputable sources). There won’t be any official offers to players until we hit January 2nd but we’ll include updates from Max Vrooman’s transfer portal rankings with every player in the portal with a tie to Washington in some way.

Husky Players Expected to Enter the Transfer Portal (4)

WR Audric Harris

Harris was a three-star recruit out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas, NV. He committed to Jedd Fisch at Arizona but transferred to Washington when Fisch took the job at UW. As a freshman, Harris played 72 offensive snaps across 9 games to burn his redshirt although nearly half of them were in the Sun Bowl. He finished with 2 catches for 17 yards.

This year it appeared Harris was passed on the depth chart by freshmen Raiden Vines-Bright, Dezmen Roebuck, and Chris Lawson. He played 5 games and was needed more heavily late in the year due to injuries at the receiver position. Harris’s highlight as a Husky was a 61-yard TD against Purdue.

Thank you Husky Nation for everything! It’s always love! 💜 https://t.co/Jvv34PVCWr

— Audric Harris (@audricharris2) December 3, 2025

LB Deven Bryant

Bryant was a three-star recruit out of St. John Bosco in the class of 2023. Over his first two seasons at Washington he played 64 snaps as a reserve. Opportunity opened up for Bryant as Washington lost almost their entire linebacker corps from 2024 to eligibility or the portal. Bryant stepped up and surprisingly won a starting spot, starting the Huskies’ first 10 games this season.

But it was clear that the path to playing time would be harder next season with Jacob Manu and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale both back following 2024 ACL tears plus Buddah Al-Uqdah coming back from injury and Xe’ree Alexander playing well down the stretch. There was no way that there would be enough playing time for all 5 next season and so Bryant is the first of the group to depart as the only one of the group not initially signed by the current coaching staff.

FYI: Husky LB Devin Bryant is not with the team in LA. Planning to enter the transfer portal.

Also, G Geirean Hatchett has been granted a waiver by the NCAA and is planning on returning to UW next year

— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) December 14, 2025

CB Dyson McCutcheon

McCutcheon was a three-star recruit in the class of 2021 having originally committed to Jimmy Lake as the slot corner in Lake’s defense. Lake of course was out by the end of McCutcheon’s freshman year but he stuck around under Kalen DeBoer playing 84 snaps over his 2nd and 3rd seasons in the program. McCutcheon once again stayed at UW when Jedd Fisch came in and in 2024 played 254 snaps as the backup nickel corner. He was seemingly passed on the depth chart by Rahshawn Clark in the preseason though and then suffered a season-ending injury in the first month of the year before playing a snap. He is hoping to earn a medical waiver for 2026 and otherwise would be out of eligibility so his departure doesn’t change UW’s expected scholarship count.

NEW: Washington cornerback Dyson McCutcheon plans to enter the transfer portal, @PeteNakos reports.

The son of former NFL player Daylon McCutcheon missed the 2025 season but played in 12 games in 2024. He's seeking a sixth year of eligibility.https://t.co/kSYG7dYADjpic.twitter.com/NUWNgFnu3F

— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) December 14, 2025

OL Davit Boyajyan

Boyajyan was a three-star recruit out of Clovis, CA in the class of 2024. He signed with Washington as his only P4 offer with Washington looking to replenish an offensive line that had absolutely no depth when Jedd Fisch took over in Seattle. Boyayjyan hadn’t seen the field yet through two seasons and didn’t appear likely to be one of the top 8 linemen for next season barring a huge leap in the offseason.

Washington OL Davit Boyajyan plans to enter the portal.

Boyajyan signed with the Huskies in 2024 out of Clovis (Calif.) North- redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining. https://t.co/kUwKSzhG03pic.twitter.com/44zbh4JQ1L

— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) December 14, 2025

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Transfer Portal Rankings Dashboard

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Chiefs-Chargers fight: How hit on Kansas City's Tyquan Thornton led to ejections originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs season is hanging by a thread as they played a must-win game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

As expected, this AFC West battle between rivals was physical, as it featured two teams fighting for playoff positioning. The tensions boiled over in the second half, as one play led to a fight and an ejection in a three-point game.

A loss for the Chiefs would essentially end their dreams of making the playoffs, while a loss for the Chargers would make it tough for them to win the division. Therefore, it's no surprise that the game got chippy as time wound down.

Here's why a fourth-quarter hit led to a fight in Kansas City.

MORE: Chiefs DL Chris Jones injures hamstring vs. Chargers

Chiefs-Chargers fight

Early in the fourth quarter, , with Los Angeles up three but Kansas City driving, the Chiefs and Chargers got into a scuffle after Tony Jefferson laid a big hit on Tyquan Thornton. The Chiefs wide receiver went to haul in a pass, but Jefferson then hit Thornton in the head, resulting in a penalty.

Thornton was slow to get up, and his Chiefs teammates went after Jefferson for a perceived illegal hit. That led to a fight between the two sides.

things have gotten heated between Chiefs & Chargers after a big hit on Tyquan Thornton pic.twitter.com/OAJ8rNfAOL

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 14, 2025

While Thornton was able to get up and walk off the field under his own power, the referees ultimately ejected Jefferson from the game for an illegal hit to the head.

After the game, Jefferson apologized to Thornton and the rest of the Chiefs for the hit, saying he is "classier than that."

"I was caught up in the moment, I'm classier than that."

Tony Jefferson apologizes to Chiefs Kingdom for his gesutre towards the fans after being ejected for his hit on Tyquan Thornton.@chrishayre | #BoltUppic.twitter.com/wWzL0CwJrB

— Sports Central LA (@SportsCentralLA) December 14, 2025

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures after Week 15 results 

Tyquan Thornton injury

Thornton was hit in the head by Jefferson in the second half, and he was extremely slow to get up. While the Chiefs and Chargers fought a bit over the hit, Kansas City medical staff evaluated Thornton on the field.

Fortunately, Thornton was able to get up and walk off the field himself, but he immediately entered concussion protocol.

Why Cowboys' Stephen Jones was using walkie talkie during Week 15 game vs. Vikings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

During the first half of the Week 15 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was spotted using a walkie talkie from the owner's box.

After seeing that, many were wondering what Jones was doing with the walkie talkie, with some even thinking there might be a nefarious reason behind it.

However, that is not the case, as one Cowboys beat writer pointed out.

Why Cowboys' Stephen Jones was using walkie talkie

According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Jones uses the walkie talkie to get injury updates from the sideline.

"To clarify: The walkie talkie is for injury updates from the sideline," Machota wrote.

So, there you have it. Jones is just trying to stay on top of the team's injuries, of which the Cowboys had a few in the first half.

Running back Javonte Williams suffered a shoulder injury and was questionable to return, and offensive lineman Tyler Smith is dealing with an eye injury.

Both players managed to return to the game, though.

More NFL News

• Davante Adams injury update from Rams leaves Week 16 status in doubt
• Packers' Micah Parsons feared to have season-ending injury
• Patrick Mahomes' injury diagnosis is worst-case scenario for Chiefs
• Patrick Mahomes makes first public comment since knee injury
• Broncos-Packers fight: Denver, Green Bay get into pre-game scuffle

Javonte Williams injury update: Latest news on Cowboys RB's status in Week 15 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys have an injury concern with running back Javonte Williams in the first half of the Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams suffered an apparent arm injury on the Cowboys' first drive of the game. He did finish the drive with a touchdown run but did not return to the field for Dallas' second drive.

Follow our tracker below for the latest updates on Williams' status for the rest of the game against the Vikings.

Javonte Williams injury update

UPDATE: Williams has returned to the game.

UPDATE:ESPN's Todd Archer notes that Williams is still on the sideline but does not have his helmet on, so it looks like he isn't getting back into the game for now.

"Javonte Williams is on the sidelines but doesn't have his helmet. He was examined again by medical staff. He's flexing his left arm/shoulder," Archer wrote.

Williams remains questionable to return, per the team.

END OF UPDATE

UPDATE: Williams is officially questionable to return with a shoulder injury, the Cowboys said.

As we stated, Williams is on the sideline and not in the game. He was spotted sitting on the bench but did not have his helmet on.

We'll update this page once more information is available.

More NFL News

• Davante Adams injury update from Rams leaves Week 16 status in doubt
• Packers' Micah Parsons feared to have season-ending injury
• Patrick Mahomes' injury diagnosis is worst-case scenario for Chiefs
• Patrick Mahomes makes first public comment since knee injury
• Broncos-Packers fight: Denver, Green Bay get into pre-game scuffle

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A lot of emotions from both head coaches, good shooting, and a fourth quarter run weren’t enough for the Mean Green in Champaign on Sunday.

Behind Berry Wallace’s 28 points, Illinois continued its hot stretch to start the season with a 81-69 win over North Texas at State Farm Center.

“It’s a good, gritty win,” said head coach Shauna Green.

The physical contest was a good test for the Illini (10-1, 1-0 Big Ten) as they near the end of non-conference play.

The two teams combined for 29 turnovers and 50 fouls, which led to each team playing double-digit players and a whole lot of yelling and emotion from both sidelines.

“It was the most physical game we’ve been in all year, hands down,” Green said. “It’s good for our young team to learn.”

The game started off very slow from both teams with multiple offensive fouls and even a three second call for the Illini. This all changed towards the back half of the first quarter.

Just as the Illini started to hit some shots, North Texas committed a flagrant one foul sending Illinois redshirt sophomore Gretchen Dolan to the line for two shots plus the ball.

After knocking down the two free throws it seemed as if a switch had flipped for the Illini as they all of a sudden started playing a lot faster, a lot more in control, and started knocking down a lot more shots.

The second quarter is where the three-point parade really began for Illinois. In the second, four different Illini connected from deep and as a team they shot five of six for the quarter.

This shooting helped extend the Illini’s seven-point first quarter lead to 14 by halftime.

“We shot lights out from three,” said Green. “We were getting some paint touches and some kickouts, and a lot of it happened organically.”

The three-point shooting surge only continued in the second half, however, as Dolan, sophomore Berry Wallace, and junior Maddie Webber each finished the game with at least three made threes for the game (four for Dolan).

As a team the Illini connected for 11 makes from beyond the arc, the most they’ve had in a game all season. They also did so on the highest efficiency all season at 64.7%.

“It was really good, it was fun too,” Wallace said. “It’s hard for them to guard all of us and stop all of us.”

The Illini also shot well from the free throw line and they shot from there often. The game had 50 combined fouls with 30 of those committed by the Mean Green.

Eleven of those 30 were committed against Wallace as well leading to her going 9-for-11 from the free throw line.

Illinois scored 26 points from the charity stripe which helped them lead by as much as 20 and really helped them hold their lead towards the end of the game.

Shooting wasn’t the only thing that won this game for the Illini, however, rebounding played a large role as well.

North Texas senior forward Megan Nestor is currently fifth in the NCAA for rebounds per game at 12.1. Green was prepared for this and multiple bigs such as sophomore Hayven Smith, sophomore Irene Noya Catoira, and freshmen Naomi Benson saw extended minutes Sunday.

“I knew with this game we could go bigger,” Green said. “I really wanted to try to get some other people some opportunity and some minutes and experience.”

All of this preparation and strong play from all Illini bigs resulted in Nestor ending with only six rebounds on the day, and a big reason that the Illini were able to come out on top as they prevented the Mean Green from even more second chance opportunities.

“I thought we did a phenomenal job against Nestor,” Green said. “We really neutralized her.”

Stat stuffers

• Berry Wallace: 28 points (career high), 9 rebounds, 4 assists
• Gretchen Dolan: 19 points (4-6 from three), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
• Maddie Webber: 16 points (3-4 from three), 4 rebounds, 3 assists

Moments that mattered

Berry Wallace starts the quarter with one from long range.

Another 3️⃣ from Wallace! 👀👏 pic.twitter.com/mqBgFxaPHG

— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) December 14, 2025

Dolan passes it to Webber for the three.

.@gretchendolan4 ➡️ @MaddieAWebber FOR THREE! pic.twitter.com/TYai3fzPYi

— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) December 14, 2025

Gretchen Dolan knocks down her fourth three of the game.

1️⃣1️⃣ 3-pointers for the Illini!!!!

.@gretchendolan4pic.twitter.com/quOgcRVSbc

— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) December 14, 2025

This is a tough way to lose ground in the playoff race.

The Carolina Panthers needed a win over the three-win New Orleans Saints on Sunday to take the lead in the NFC South over Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead, they lost to one of the NFL's worst teams in part due to a late hit that cut 15 yards off a would-be 62-yard field goal attempt. 

With 12 seconds remaining in a 17-17 game, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough took off on a designed run up the middle as New Orleans tried to get into field-goal range. Shough gained 4 yards and slid at the last moment as rookie Panthers safety Lathan Ransom barreled down on him. 

Ransom hit Shough as Shough slid, immediately drawing multiple penalty flags. 

Officials flagged Ransom for unnecessary roughness, and a 4-yard gain turned into a 19-yard gain. 

Two plays later, Saints kicker Charlie Smyth hit a 47-yard go-ahead field goal with 2 seconds remaining that iced the 20-17 New Orleans win. Without the penalty, Smyth's attempt would have been from 62 yards. 

Would Smyth have hit from 62? We'll never know. The kicker was playing in just his third NFL game and has a career long of 56 yards in his brief pro career. 

Regardless, it added up to a difficult way to lose a football game and a tough moment for Ransom, a fourth-round rookie out of Ohio State. It's always tough for a defender to be penalized when a quarterback goes into his slide that late. But that hit will consistently draw a flag in the NFL as the burden remains on defenders to avoid late hits on quarterbacks. 

Ransom was asked to address the penalty at his postgame locker. 

"Every yard matters in that situation, so he's running the ball, and I'm just thinking stop him as fast as I can," Ransom said. 

Ransom added that it's "difficult" when asked how difficult it is for a defender to anticipate when a quarterback will initiate his slide. He was then asked what he could have done differently to avoid the penalty. 

"Not hit him," Ransom said. 

The loss dropped the Panthers to 7-7 and into a tie atop the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost Thursday night to the Falcons. A win, obviously, would have given them a one-game lead with three games remaining in the regular season.

The good news for the Panthers is they have two of their three remaining games against the Buccaneers and remain in control of their path to the playoffs. But they missed a critical chance to build a cushion over the Bucs in excruciating fashion. 

Minnesota got vengeance for one of its worst losses of the season on Sunday.

Three weeks after kicking away a late lead in Sacramento, the Timberwolves closed the door on the Kings at Target Center for a 117-103 victory.

Minnesota has now won seven of its last eight games. The last two have come short-handed. Anthony Edwards (foot soreness) and Mike Conley (Achilles tendinopathy) each missed both Sunday’s tilt and Friday’s win over the Warriors).

The Wolves (18-9) played most of the second half against Sacramento without Rudy Gobert. The center logged seven points and 12 rebounds in 20 minutes before exiting early in the third quarter due to what the team said were personal reasons.

Minnesota was unimpressive early and trailed the Kings (6-20) at the break. And the lead was just one early in the final frame before the Wolves finally hit their closing gear with a 26-10 run that quickly moved the game out of reach.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch lauded the improvement his team has shown down the stretch of games of late. The Sacramento collapse from three weeks prior was one of a few of that sort in a short span.

The Kings threatened a rally again late Sunday, as a pair of triples trimmed a 12-point Wolves lead to six with 2 minutes, 22 seconds to play. But Minnesota responded in short order. Naz Reid hit a triple on the other end, then Donte DiVincenzo got a steal he turned into a layup on the other end to quickly boost the lead back to 11 and effectively play the game on ice.

“Just playing with intensity, playing with a little bit more effort and desire,” Naz Reid said in his on-court, postgame television interview.

Bones Hyland, who got his second straight start, scored nine of his 18 points in the final frame. Reid scored eight in the quarter, while Julius Randle had seven and Donte DiVincenzo had five.

That’s the balance Minnesota has flashed over each of its last two wins. The Wolves have five guys drop 17-plus points on Friday. Five players scored 18 or more on Sunday. That included double-doubles for Randle (24 points and 10 rebounds) and Reid (20 points and 11 rebounds), while Jaden McDaniels had 21 points and DiVincenzo and Hyland scored 18 apiece.

Hyland played only four minutes in Friday’s win over Golden State before a knee bruise ended his starting opportunity in the first quarter. He recovered in time to start again Sunday and logged 36 minutes in the win.

“Last game, it was such a bummer. … That one, I couldn’t walk. It was hurting bad,” Hyland said in his postgame television interview. “I wanted to be out there.”

Yes, the balance is part of Minnesota’s way of compensating for the absence of Edwards’ scoring, but Reid seemed to indicate it’s the type of egalitarian offense the Wolves can produce even when their best player returns.

“Even when he is in the game, we’ve got a bunch of guys who can go,” Reid said. “I think it just speaks to the talent that we have. … We have talent all across the board.”

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Dec. 14—LANGLEY, B.C. — Tyus Sparks and Ryan Lin scored two goals apiece and the Spokane Chiefs lost to the Vancouver Giants 8-4 in a Western Hockey League game at Langley Events Centre on Sunday.

The Chiefs (16-15-0-0) have lost back-to-back games after winning four in a row.

The Giants (14-17-1-1) broke out to a 2-0 lead on goals 2 minutes, 25 seconds apart in the first period by Colton Gerrior and Ty Haliburda — his 18th of the season.

Sam Oremba scored his seventh goal in his last six games to halve the deficit, then Rhett Sather's shot pinballed off two defenders and in with 31 seconds left in the first to tie it.

The teams traded goals throughout the second period, with rookie Bryson Roberts scoring his first WHL goal off and Owen Martin tallying his ninth of the season, both off primary assists by Mathis Preston.

But it was all Vancouver after that.

Sparks' 11th goal of the season with 5 1/2 minutes left in the period game Vancouver a 5-4 lead after two.

The Giants made it a two-goal game on a one-time blast by Sparks 2 seconds after the expiration of a power play with a little more than 8 minutes left in the game.

They made it 7-4 a few minutes later when Lin's goal was upheld by review and Marek Howell added an empty net goal with 1:16 to go.

The Chiefs host Portland on Tuesday in their last game before the Christmas break.

Dec. 14—Fall 2025 high school sports all-league teams for the Greater Spokane League, Northeast A, Northeast 2B, Northeast 1B and Southeast 1B leagues.

Football

GSL 4A/3A

Offensive MVP: Connor Collins, jr., Cheney. Defensive MVP: Brendan Hughes, sr., Mt. Spokane. All-Purpose MVP: Jonah Keller, sr. Gonzaga Prep.

Coach: John Graham, Cheney. Assistant: Ty Graham, Cheney; Freshman: Bill Schilb, University.

Offense

First Team: QB: Sam Kincaid, sr. (GP). RB: Chris Wilson, sr. (CHE); Max Faagau, sr. (MEA). WR: Tank Best, sr. (CHE); Mason Stinson, sr. (CHE); Isaiah Docken, sr. (GP). OL: Karson Palmer, jr. (CHE); Johnny Doree, sr. (GP); Cooper Daines, sr. (MEA); Jackson Simmons, sr. (MtS); Colten Kuhl, jr. (RL). K: Tyler Bissell, sr. (CV).

Second Team: QB: Landon Thomas, sr. (MEA); RB: Jimmy Grainger, sr. (GP); Toby Thornberg, so. (UNI). WR: Lee Colomb, jr. (MEA); Andrew Thomas, sr. (MtS); Grant Peterson, so. (UNI). OL: Ben Kapaun, sr. (GP); Dom Karr, sr. (MEA); Sean Jones, sr. (MEA); Caleb Kuhl, jr. (RL); Nathan Croff, jr. (UNI). K: Donavan Damiano, sr. (MEA).

Defense

First Team: DB: Andrew Houndonoughbo, sr. (CHE); Porter Pearson, sr. (LC); Rock Franklin, sr. (MtS); Jacobe McClelland, sr. (GP); Jack Pierce, sr. (GP). DL: Nehemiah Areta, sr. (GP); Cooper Daines, sr. (MEA); Jackson Simmons, sr. (MtS); Jaxon Lefler, sr. (UNI). LB: Tank Best, sr. (CHE); Will Jackson, sr. (GP); Luke Hills, sr. (GP); Garrett Miller, sr. (MEA). P: Kyle Rayment, sr. (MtS).

Second Team: DB: Chris Wilson, sr. (CHE); Mason Stinson, sr. (CHE); Tyce Tuggle, jr. (MEA). DL: Skyler Harty, sr. (CV); Bryce DeLange, sr. (CHE); Sam Evans, sr. (LC); Beau Tampien, sr. (MtS). LB: Connor Monks, sr. (CV); Wren Jackson, sr. (GP); Noah Schlosser, sr. (LC); Max Faagau, sr. (MEA). P: Tyler Bissell, sr. (CV).

GSL 2A

Offensive MVP: Nathan Zettle, jr., West Valley. Defensive MVP: Erik Borg, sr., West Valley. All-Purpose MVP: Jerry Allen III, sr., Rogers.

Coach: Adam Fisher, East Valley. Assistant: Geoff Hensley, West Valley. Freshman: Brennen Hill, Deer Park.

Offense

First Team: QB: Tarin Fields, sr. (EV). RB: Elijah Newman, jr. (WV); Nick Neville, sr. (PUL). WR: Nick Elliott, sr. (NC); Erik Borg, sr. (WV); Hands Warrick, jr. (ROG); Marvin Zauana-Kavezeri, jr. (EV). OL: Baron Botello, sr. (EV); Jace Carson, jr. (WV); Blake Gipson, sr. (WV); Caleb Erickson, sr. (DP); Alex Walker, jr. (PUL). K: Nathan Jeffries, sr. (WV).

Second Team: QB: Akiylon Washington, sr. (NC). RB: Casey Stephens, sr. (EV); Evan Brinlee, sr. (DP). WR: Conner Nicholson, sr. (EV); Kale Blades, jr. (DP); Dray Torpey, sr. (CLK). OL: JJ Roberts, sr. (ROG); Gavyn Dealy, jr. (PUL); Dominic Vaughn, sr. (NC); Logan Gehring, sr. (CLK); Damien Shaw, sr. (ROG). Specialist: Adam Knapp, sr. (WV).

Defense

First Team: LB: Connor Dunfield, jr. (WV); Blake Berger, sr. (DP); Theo Engle, sr. (PUL); Mason Watt, sr. (EV). DL: Logan Riley, sr. (WV); Ryder Johnson, sr. (WV); Jacob Proctor, sr. (ROG); Siua Fotofilli, so. (PUL). DB: Conner Nicholson, sr. (EV); Adie Wright, sr. (NC); Nathan Jeffries, sr. (WV). Specialist: Eoin Bogle, jr. (DP).

Second Team: LB: Jason Rinard, sr. (CLK); Everett Long, sr. (ROG); Kainen Jaklitsch, jr. (WV); Brandon Sanchez, sr. (ROG); Hunter Recknagle, sr. (PUL). DL: Alex Walker, jr. (PUL); Gavyn Dealy, jr. (PUL); Darius McKinley, sr. (ROG); Branen Sandven, sr. (DP). DB: Lee Brown, sr. (ROG); Asher Putman, sr. (OG); Wyatt Metcalf, jr. (EV). Specialist: Kole Miller, sr. (DP).

Northeast A

League MVP: Brock Benson, sr., Colville. Offensive MVP: Jeff Winger, sr., Lakeside. Defensive MVP: Bridger Lewis, sr., Colville. Coach: William Benbrook, Colville.

Offense

First Team: QB: Tanner Cummings, jr. (LAK). RB: Sean Trochta, sr. (RIV); Mason Beardsley, sr. (COL). WR: Noah Merrill, sr. (LAK); Dylan Harris, jr. (ML); Sam Sears, jr. (COL). TE: Cy Reeves, sr. (LAK). FB: Bridger Lewis, sr. (COL). OL: Braedon Heater, sr. (COL); Austin Jenkinson, sr. (RIV); Colton Howell, sr. (LAK); Derek Witt, jr. (LAK); Triston Lebsack, jr. (RIV); Toby Fowler, jr. (COL).

Defense

First Team: DL: Mel Hatch, sr. (LAK); Zach Schneider, jr. (RIV); Braedon Heater, sr. (COL); Porter Fain, jr. (LAK). LB: Tanner Cummings, jr. (LAK); Sean Trochta, sr. (RIV); Mason Beardsley, sr. (COL); Gunnar Baker, so. (COL). DB: Dylan Harris, jr. (ML); Jet Winger, sr. (LAK); Noah Merrill, sr. (LAK); Marcus Orgel, sr. (RIV); Parker Sackman, sr. (COL).

Special Teams: Punter: Julian Taylor, sr. (ML). Returner: Parker Sackman, sr. (COL). Kicker: Noah Merrill, sr. (LAK).

Northeast 2B

Offensive MVP: Logan Schultz, sr., Freeman. Defensive MVP: Ares Swain, sr., Newport. Coach: Mark Duxbury, Newport. Assistant: Justin Farnsworth, Freeman.

Offense

First Team: QB: Cody Ells, sr. (Asotin). RB: Kutter Driver, jr. (NEW); Jacob Reimers, sr. (NEW). FLEX: Adin Spuler, jr. (NWC); Hunter Flaa, sr. (REA). WR: Braylon Comfort, jr. (NWC); Daniel Smith, sr. (FRE). OL: Ares Swain, sr. (NEW); Robert Warren, sr. (NEW); Rayben Jurgens, jr. (NEW); Levi Wellner, sr. (FRE); Chase Engle, sr. (ASO).

Second Team: QB: Mason Gassaway, sr. (NWC). RB: Hudson Somes, so. (NWC); Blake Wynecoop, sr. (REA). FLEX: Archer Killian, so. (LRS). WR: Wyatt Campbell, sr. (ASO); Jaelyn Cole, jr. (FRE). OL: Noah Baker, sr. (FRE); Ben Bak, sr. (NWC); Carter Bowman, sr. (ASO); Hayes Hennings, sr. (LRS); Damien Hamburg, jr. (NEW).

Defense

First Team: DL: Noah Baker, sr. (FRE); Rayben Jurgens, jr. (NEW); Damien Hamburg, jr. (NEW); Landon Hall, so. (NEW). LB: Brad Martin, sr. (NEW); Jacob Reimers, sr. (NEW); Logan Schultz, sr. (FRE); Levi Collier, sr. (REA). DB: Cody Ells, sr. (ASO); Tyce Gilbert, sr. (FRE); Daniel Smith, sr. (FRE). FLEX: Colton Newman, jr. (NWC).

Second Team: DL: Carter Bowman, sr. (ASO); Cooper Florence, jr. (FRE); Ben Bak, sr. (NWC); Wyatt Colvin, sr. (REA). LB: Dylan Finney, sr. (ASO); Levi Wellner, sr. (FRE); Jerod Harder, sr. (LRS); Hudson Somes, so. (NWC). DB: Hunter Flaa, sr. (REA); Jaetyn Cole, jr. (FRE); Adin Spuler, jr. (NWC); FLEX: Doug Olson, sr. (LRS).

Special Teams: K: Alex Bowman Boast, sr. (NWC). P: Levi Collier, sr. (REA). KR: Braylon Comfort, jr. (NWC).

Northeast 1B-North

Offensive MVP: Logan Ringstad, sr., Curlew. Defensive MVP: Judah Sutton, jr., Cusick.

Offense

First team: QB: Derek Perez, so. (INC). RB: Judah Sutton, so. (CUS); Connor Bouge, so. (CUR); Dean (SPR). WR: Gaige Stensgar, sr. (INC); Daniel Lyon (CUS). OL: Austin Guyll, sr. (CUR); Tyson Kane, jr. (SPR); Josiah Seymore, jr. (INC). Specialist: Quin Doyen, so. (CUR).

Second team: QB: Sylas Stotts, sr. (CUR). RB: Blaine Rieckers, (SEL); Hoiland (COL); Ricky St. Pierre, jr. (INC). WR: Charles Whitford (CUS); Dustin Hoffman, so. (INC). OL: Judah Creach, jr. (SEL); Kayson Levi, so. (CUR); Walker Leskinen, jr. (INC).

Defense

First team: DL: Dallas Wysong, sr. (CUR); Tyson Kane, jr. (SPR); Jones, (COL). LB: Connor Bouge, so. (CUR); Ricky St. Pierre, jr. (INC); Logan Ringstad, sr. (CUR); Judah Creach, jr. (Selport). DB: Gaige Stensgar, sr. (INC); Jake Olson, so. (CUR). Specialist: Walker (COL). Special Teams: Jake Olson, so. (CUR).

Second team: DL: Kayson Levi, so. (CUR); Walker Leskinan, jr. (INC); Josiah Seymore, jr. (INC). LB: Williams (COL); Hoiland (COL); Abdallah (REP). DB: Daniel Lyon (CUS); Quin Doyen, so. (CUR). Specialist: Charlie Anderson, so. (SEL).

Northeast 1B-South

Offensive MVP: Max Grindy, jr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline. Defensive MVP: Max Grindy, jr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline. Coach: Brandon Walsh, Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

Offense

First Team: QB: Caden Correia, sr. (ACH). RB: Jaeger Brashears, so. (WCK); Nolan Grindy, 9th (ACH); Brady Roberts, sr. (ACH). WR: Brody Pitts, jr. (ACH); Evyn Krause, sr. (WCK). OL: Tucker Bayless, jr. (ACH); Luke Goetz, sr. (ACH); Ian McWalter, jr. (ACH); Cole Snider, jr. (WCK). All-Purpose: Dustin Strozyk, sr. (WCK).

Second Team: QB: Josh Park, jr. (Wellpinit). RB: Aiden Villane, sr. (Odessa); Ronnie McCullough, sr. (WEL). WR: Dane Lone Bear, jr. (WEL); Adyn Peha, sr. (ACH). OL: Miller Stout, sr. (ODE); Jayce Kieffer, 9th (WEL). All-Purpose: Landon McMillan, jr. (ODE).

Defense

First Team: DB: Brady Roberts, sr. (ACH); Adyn Peha, sr. (ACH). LB: Jaeger Brashears, so. (WCK); Brody Pitts, jr. (ACH); Nolan Grindy, 9th (ACH); Dustin Strozyk, sr. (WCK). DL: Cole Snider, jr. (WCK); Tucker Bayless, jr. (ACH); Ian McWalter, jr. (ACH); Evyn Krause, sr. (WCK). All-Purpose: Dane Lone Bear, jr. (WEL); Aiden Villane, sr. (ODE).

Second Team: LB: Porter Wood, jr. (ACH). DL: Caden Correia, sr. (ACH); Miller Stout, sr. (ODE); Evan Tipps, sr. (ACH).

Southeast 1B-Wheat

Co-Offensive MVP: Kyzer Herres, sr., Pomeroy; Lane Collier, Garfield-Palouse. Defensive MVP: Peyton Cannon, sr., Pomeroy. Coach: Cody Chapman, Dayton.

Offense

First Team: QB: JJ Gleason, jr. (Waitsburg). RB: Beau Hazelbaker, jr. (Dayton); Kaleb Kelnhofer, sr. (GAR-PAL). WR: Isa Reyes, sr. (WAI); Landen Henry, jr. (WAI). OL: Peyton Cannon, sr. (POM); Rowen Edwards, sr. (GAL-PAL); Nathaniel Knittel, jr. (POM).

Defense

First Team: DB: JJ Gleason, jr. (WAI); Beau Hazelbaker, jr. (DAY). DL: Nathaniel Knittel, jr. (POM); Jarod Hankins, sr. (WAI); Koyen Fortune, sr. (WAI). LB: Conrad Nelson, so. (POM); Kyzer Herres, sr. (POM); Kaleb Kelnhofer, sr. (GAR-PAL); Martin Vasquez, sr. (WAI). ATH: Cooper Parzuchowski, jr. (GAR-PAL).

Volleyball

GSL 4A/3A

MVP: Mara Sandberg, jr. Gonzaga Prep. Co-Coaches: Nikki Gilbert, Gonzaga Prep; Kara Nitteberg, Lewis and Clark.

First Team: OH: Mara Sandberg, jr. (GP); Mercedes Gilroy, jr. (MEA); Ashlyn Aaron, sr. (UNI). MH: Berkeley Neilson, sr. (MtS); Ryan Libey, jr. (RL). S: Kjersti Jacobson, sr. (FER); Noella Migliuri, sr. (GP); Hailee Biegler, sr. (LC). L: Kela Williams, jr. (MtS); Jade Livingston, sr. (RL).

Second Team: OH: Rowan Greenfield, fr. (GP); Aspen Henry, sr. (CV); Brynn Hooper, sr. (SP); Alayna Smeltzer, jr. (MEA); Brynlee Allred, jr. (RL); Jennavieve Roberts, so. (LC); Karolina Flanagan, sr. (GP). MH: Jayna Humbert, so. (GP); Teagan Schroeder, sr. (SP). S: Delaney Davis, sr. (MtS).

GSL 2A

MVP: Hailey Colyar, sr., West Valley. Coach: Megan McNannay, Pullman.

First Team: OH: Hailey Colyar, sr. (WV); Laney Augir, so. (CLK); Cassie Brooks, sr. (WV). MB: Jasmyne Washington, sr. (PUL). S: Jacey Boesel, sr. (DP); Camber Wolfe, jr. (PUL). L: Khloe Wanberg, sr. (WV); Kate Armstrong, sr. (PUL).

Second Team: OH: Elly Good, sr. (EV); Talia Harbour, sr. (PUL); Hailee Orgill, so. (DP). MB: Rowyn Lee, sr. (PUL); Jordan Cassetto, sr. (CLK); Maddie Ellingston, sr. (DP).

Northeast A

Co-MVPs: Sienna Weinberger, jr., Lakeside; Trinity Auckerman, sr., Medical Lake. Co-coaches: Kari Jones, Lakeside; Hailey Van Soest, Medical Lake.

First Team: Mackenzie Martin, sr. (LAK); Bella Tobeck, jr. (LAK); Juie Smith, so. (ML); Anna Pace, sr. (RIV); Georgia Beardslee, jr. (COL); Layla Jones, so. (LAK).

Honorable Mention: Neeley Pederson, jr. (LAK); Addison Rice, sr. (RIV); Addie Marshall, sr. (COL).

Northeast 2B-North

Co-MVPs: Naomi Rainwater, sr., Davenport; Kaitlyn Waters, sr., Northwest Christian. Coach: Dave Whitehead, Northwest Christian.

First Team: Sarah Harbaugh, jr. (StG); Emersen Sprecher, jr. (Reardan); Kaylia Earl, jr. (Newport); Faith Bell, sr. (DAV); Tatum Hupp, jr. (DAV): Chloe Hammond, sr. (DAV); Macey Shamblin, sr. (NWC); Chlarice Carey, jr. (NWC); Lauren Mathews, jr. (NWC).

Northeast 2B-South

Co-MVPs: Zoe Galbreah, sr., Lind-Ritzville/Sprague; Greta Van Gemert, sr., Freeman. Coach: Josie Anderson, Asotin.

First Team: Isabella Huntley, sr. (Colfax); Brenna Tiegs, jr. (Liberty); Rylee Omlin, so. (LIB); Hannah Towne, sr. (LRS): Zoey Mendez, fr. (LRS); Avery Boswell, sr. (FRE); Logan Pecht, jr. (FRE): Finley Pecht, fr. (FRE).

Northeast 1B-North

MVP: Kate Beardslee, so., Northport. Co-coaches: Norm Gaston, Republic; Shy Guglielmino, Northport.

First Team: Dalilah Colton, sr. (NOR); Ember Berndt, sr. (REP); Liesel Stark, 8th (NOR); Marisa Lyons, sr. (Selkirk); Alison Koch-Booher, sr. (REP); Annika Baker, jr. (CUR); Jacki Ward, so. (COL); Dalilah Littlecrow-Curtis (CUS); Jessa Culianan, sr. (SEL); Kylie Colton (NOR).

Honorable Mention: Ellie Calhoun, sr. (CUR); Shandi Evans, sr. (INC); Courtney Hastings, sr. (SEL); Megan Richard, jr. (REP).

Northeast 1B-South

Co-MVPs: Naomi Molitor, sr., Almira-Coulee-Hartline; Kaylin Gines, jr., Springdale. Co-coaches: Emily Pouley, Wilbur-Creston-Keller; Matt Gines, Springdale.

First Team: Rocksie Timentwa, sr. (WCK); Grace Okamoto, jr. (ACH); Sina Nelson, so. (WCK); Callie Cousins, sr. (WCK); Cloie Isley, sr. (Valley Christian); Brystal Neilsen, jr. (WCK); Emma Brummett, sr. (ACH); Lexi Rimpler, so. (WCK); Samiah Smoger, sr. (WCK).

Honorable Mention: Gemma Tichy (CAND); Brielle Basson, so. (VC); Jordyn Lewis, jr. (Odessa); Trinity Farnsworth, jr. (SPR).

Southeast 1B-Wheat

MVP: Bradyn Henley, sr., Oakesdale. Coach: McKenzie Therrian, Oakesdale.

First Team: Bradyn Henley, sr. (OAK); Elana Flansburg, sr. (GAR-PAL); Clare Bowechop, sr. (GAR-PAL); Grace Perry, jr. (OAK); Megan Crider, so. (OAK); Hollie Van Vogt, so. (POM); Kyra Brantner, jr. (GAR-PAL); Lyla Kjack, so. (OAK); Olivia Cooper, sr. (POM); Morgan Lentz, sr. (GAR-PAL); Sadie Klaveano, sr. (POM); Kendyll Potoshnik, jr. (POM); Kayla Eilertson, sr. (Tekoa-Rosalia).

Second Team: Molly Warren, jr. (POM); Abagale McGuire, jr. (T-R); Marissa Tupling, sr. (DAY); Kaylee Kimble, jr. (GAR-PAL); Alexa Jones, jr. (DAY); Sophie Anderson, sr. (StJE); McKinley Chase, sr. (T-R).

Slowpitch Softball

GSL 4A/3A/2A

MVP: Ella Bendele, sr., Central Valley. Coach: Carl Adams, Mt. Spokane. Asst. Coach: Chuck Scheiwiller, Lewis and Clark.

First Team: P: Avery Fox, jr. (MtS). C: Ellie Robinson, so. (FER). INF: Addison Jay, sr. (MtS); Kapri Bailey, so. (DP); Emme Bond, jr. (MtS); JC Weger, sr. (EV); McKenzie Duncan, sr. (SP). OF: Claire Fulkerson, sr. (UNI); Cora Donley, sr. (CV); Jaycee Coffield, sr. (MEA); Rhiannon Kilgore, jr. (LC); Riley Kincaid, sr. (MtS). EP: Quincy Schuerman, sr. (MtS). U: Laniya Mawdsley, sr. (SP).

Second Team: P: Berkley Noble, sr. (UNI). C: Bailey Tampien, so. (MtS). INF: Vienna Klein, sr. (LC); Ella Jensen, jr. (UNI); Hope Murdock, sr. (MEA); Jillian Marshall, jr. (DP); Whitney Hollen, jr. (CV). OF: Quincy Coder, sr. (RL); Ava DeLeon, sr. (FER); Hayden Wheeler, sr. (UNI); Annie Beito, fr. (CHE); Bethany Rinas, sr. (SP). EP: Cheyenne Kinswa, jr. (UNI). U: Amelia Beito, jr. (CHE).

Girls Soccer

GSL 4A/3A

Offensive MVP: Quinn Mueller, sr., Ridgeline. Defensive MVP: Nora Cullen, sr., Mead. Goalkeeper MVP: Myleah Puletasi, so., Mead. Coach: Casey Curtis, Mead.

First Team: F: Leah Weller, jr. (FER); Bre Caul, sr. (MtS); Keegan Tee, sr. (LC). M: Hailey Orellana, jr. (FER): Ruby Shaw, sr. (LC); Avery Davidson, jr. (MtS). D: Reese Peterson, sr. (MtS); Maylin Nicholson, sr. (LC); Lilly Heaton, sr. (UNI); Caroline Spink, sr. (MEA). GK: Tayler Nordean, jr. (UNI).

Second Team: F: Addison Cox, jr. (UNI); Lydia Lynn, jr. (RL); Charlotte Dix, so. (LC). M: Kinley Collins, jr. (CHE); Paige Stolp, sr. (UNI); Kinlee Lutz, jr. (LC). D: Emery Baker, sr. (MtS); McKenna Litscher, sr. (GP); Makenna Moore, sr. (RL); Mackenzie Stewart, sr. (UNI). GK: Kenzie Shuler, sr. (MtS); Mallory Olson, sr. (CV).

GSL 2A

Offensive MVP: Hayden Anderson, sr., East Valley. Defensive MVP: Alanis Bobo, jr., Pullman. Coach: CC Collins, West Valley.

First Team: F: Claire Busse, sr. (WV); Jenna Howe, sr. (WV); Lauren Matthew, sr. (WV); Chloe Van Wey, sr. (WV). MF: Daniella Lucas, sr. (CLK); Sienna Breneman, sr. (DP); Sidney Johnson, sr. (PUL); Kyia Silva, sr. (WV). D: Kailey Willis, jr. (WV); Cassie Kappen, sr., (WV); Shiah Mullerleile, jr. (EV). GK: Embree Kirby, jr. (EV).

Second Team: F: Vicky Villarino, so. (PUL). MF: Katelyn Marshall, so. (EV); Kate Turnbull, sr. (NC). D: Ashley Eggleston, sr. (CLK); Taylor Darling, jr. (PUL); Saige Stuart, jr. (ROG); Katelyn Reiter, jr. (DP); Olivia Berg, fr. (EV); Gabriella Phillipe, sr. (NC); Audrey Bartlett, sr. (NC); Andrea Wu, so. (PUL). GK: Addison Fritz, sr. (NC).

Northeast A

Offensive MVP: Laninee Higgins, sr., Lakeside. Defensive MVP: Joslyn Craddock, Colville. Co-coaches: Wayne Farris and Darrin Mott, Lakeside.

First Team: GK: Amelia Carroll, sr. (RIV). D: Ava Kelley, jr. (COL); Kailaya Vanderholm (COL); Lyla Heinemann (ML); Annabella McDonald, sr. (RIV); Norah Kaluza, sr. (LAK); Masame Osborn, sr. (LAK). MF: Julia Baker, sr. (COL); Natalie Housworth (COL); Addison Heffernan, sr. (LAK); Halle Cossette, sr. (LAK); Margaret St. Amand, sr. (RIV); Izzy Delzer, so. (LAK); Mikaela Davis, sr. (RIV).

Northeast 2B

Co-MVPs: Rylee Russell, sr. Freeman; Glenna Soliday, sr., Davenport. Coach: James Turner, third year, Upper Columbia Academy.

First Team: Rylee Russell, sr. (FRE); Glenna Soliday, sr. (DAV), Claire Wichman, jr. (NWC); Rylie Rettedal, jr. (NWC); Julianna Pope, so. (NWC); Avery Gass, sr. (FRE); Nora Gass, so. (FRE); Charlotte Soliday, so. (DAV); Gabriella Daniel, fr. (FRE); Chloe Strandy, fr. (NWC). GK: Abbie Strandy, sr. (NWC).

Second Team: Hannah Fish, jr. (NWC); Samantha Stiles, sr. (DAV); Chloe Goodall, sr. (KE); Delaney Abustallo, fr. (FRE); Nicole DuPont, sr. (FRE); Have Dye, jr. (UCA); Paityn Kyle, sr. (NWC); Katie Michaelis, jr. (UCA); Joelle Brandtner, jr. (NEW); Delaney Brandtner, 8th (NEW). GK: Addie Schneider, sr. (DAV); Chloe Reese, sr. (UCA).

Boys Soccer

1B

Co-MVPs: Gavin Eliason, sr., Saint George's; Francisco Gonzalez, sr., Mabton. Coach: Mark Rickard, Saint George's.

First Team: Tallon Greenwood, sr. (Riverside Christian); Ethan Fly, jr. (Upper Columbia Academy); Becket Dornay, jr. (Chesterton Academy); Sean Conway, sr. (CAND); Gavin Eliason, sr. (StG); Eduardo Valdovinos, sr. (Prescott); Christian Camacho, sr. (Mabton); Graham Reichel, so. (StG); Michael Sears, jr. (CAND); Donte DiBiase, sr. (UCA); Micah Morgan, sr. (RC); Francisco Gonzalez, sr. (MAB). GK: Pierce English, sr. (StG).

Second Team: Orlando Mendez, fr. (PRE); Solomon Chen, sr. (StG); Colin Brennan, sr. (StG); Alexander Cisneros, so. (MAB); Scout Jordan, sr. (UCA); Per Sande, sr. (StG); Atom Miller, so. (StG); Lyle Houck, so. (CAND); Will Conway, jr. (CAND); Armando Chavez, sr. (MAB). GK: Victor Garcia, so. (WWVA).

Boys Cross Country

GSL 4A/3A

Coach: Austin Stuchel, Mead.

First Team: Miro Parr-Coffin, fr. (GP); Zach Frazier, sr. (GP); Stejer Franklin, so. (MEA); Becks Bird, jr. (SP); Jovanny Lieb, sr. (MEA); Gatlin Michaelson, jr. (MtS); Andrew Ward, so. (CHE); Jonah Wiser, sr. (MEA); Elijah Tobin, jr. (LC); Aaron Pooler, jr. (MEA).

2.1-Mile Unified First Team: Luke Gottschalk, athlete and Mcquang Nguyen, partner (MEA).

Second Team: Noah Reischman, sr. (MEA); Corbin Eiseman, sr. (LC); Liam Frantzich, sr. (CHE); Elliot Yegge, jr. (NC); Ethan Martin, sr. (CHE); Marshall Loew, jr. (GP); Nathan Smith, sr. (MtS).

GSL 2A

Coach: Mark Esvelt, West Valley.

First Team: John Kiernan III, so. (WV); Cade Udy, jr. (PUL); Avery Peters, jr. (CLK); Evan McKenzie, jr. (WV); Caden Hoskinson, sr. (WV); Aaron Swensen, jr. (PUL); Tryston Harris, so. (ROG); Lucas Mortensen, sr. (WV); Anthony Berube, jr. (WV); Miles Bourterse, jr. (CLK).

Second Team: Quinn Bartley-Peck, jr. (PUL); Trenton Kurle, so. (ROG); Leonid Matveev, jr. (PUL); Ryder Chavez, so. (WV); Isaac Hendrickson, so. (WV); Blake Dobbins, sr. (PUL); Jude Newbold, jr. (PUL).

Northeast A

MVP: Malik Ortiz, jr., Colville. Coach: Gene Blankenship, Medical Lake.

First Team: Isaiah Ortiz, sr. (COL); Mercury Bergquist, so. (ML); Steven Shotts, so. (ML); Matthew Bolles, sr. (LAK); Joshua Fagerholm, fr. (LAK); Connor Schneider, sr. (COL); Jerrin Patrick, jr. (COL); Taegen Hart, fr. (RIV); Brady Stetson, sr. (LAK); Erik Moon, jr. (ML); Silas Kaluza, sr. (LAK); David Parker, sr. (RIV); Josten Simons, so. (LAK).

Girls Cross Country

GSL 4A/3A

Co-Coaches: Todd Hawley, University; Kara Ames, Central Valley.

First Team: Jane Wycoff, sr. (MtS); Erin McMahon, so. (GP); Avery Parker, jr. (MEA); Claire Philips, fr. (MEA); Claire Gee, jr. (GP); Triniti Ramos, so. (FER); Frances Rein, jr. (MtS); Emery Sevy, fr. (RL); Kalia Blanchard, fr. (RL); Kyla Roberts, sr. (UNI).

2.1-Mile Unified First Team: Rosie Mortensen, athlete and Emma Danaraj, partner (FER).

Second Team: Alissa Rennaker, fr. (UNI); Brianna McKell, sr. (MtS); Addy Chaffins, sr. (MEA); Aubrey Harvey, so. (CV); Ella Menard, sr. (FER); Emma Anderson, fr. (LC); Ellie Apatow, so. (FER).

GSL 2A

Coach: Allix Potratz-Lee, Pullman.

First Team: Ada Harris, sr. (PUL); Aubrey Lightfoot, fr. (PUL); Quincy Andrews, sr. (WV); Randy Mattix, fr. (PUL); Katelyn Scharff, fr. (EV); Aviana Marek, jr. (WV); Elise Stoffregen, so. (CLK); Leah Ellingson, fr. (DP); Kaelin Newsom, jr. (DP); Ally Ellingson, fr. (DP).

Second Team: Eisa Johnson, fr. (PUL); Nellie Goggin, jr. (EV); Addy Steppe, jr. (ROG); Peyton Fisher, fr. (EV); Camryn Peterson, sr. (EV); Hazel Ebert, jr. (EV), Rebecca Kwon, fr. (PUL).

Northeast A

MVP: Kaylee Dennler, sr., Medical Lake. Coach: Gene Blankenship, Medical Lake.

First Team: Zadience Zier, sr. (COL); Jillian Owen, sr. (LAK); Ava Meusy, jr. (LAK); Aya McNeill, fr. (ML); Olivia Devine, sr. (LAK); Isla Dotson, jr. (LAK); Isabella Golf, fr. (LAK); Autumn Trout, jr. (ML); Alyssa Riek, jr. (RIV); Feodora Lalicker, jr. (RIV); Faith Jackson, jr. (RIV); Avery Owen, sr. (LAK); Amelia Morris, fr. (RIV).

The Wisconsin Badgers wore black for a reason on Sunday: they went to a Texas Funeral.

The No. 3 Badgers upset the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 3-1 on Sunday, sending them to the Final Four against the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats in an impressive win.

Wisconsin, facing the team that swept them earlier in the season, came ready to play. Falling behind 10-7 in the first set, the Badgers went on a four-point run before the two sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with neither side leading by more than two before Wisconsin had a monster end to the set.

Leading 18-17, the Badgers had an impressive 6-0 run thanks to a trio of Texas attack errors, a Mimi Colyer kill, a Kristen Simon service ace, and a Carter Booth kill. The Longhorns tried to mount a comeback, scoring five straight points, but Colyer got the set-winning kill, and Wisconsin started up 1-0.

The Badgers got off to a good start in the second half, starting off with a 10-6 lead. After the Longhorns went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to one, the Badgers controlled the remainder of the set, starting with a 3-0 run of their own. From there, Wisconsin led by at least three for the rest of the set, with Carter Booth and Mimi Colyer having a flurry of kills, and they ultimately took the second set 25-21 to go up 2-0.

But, the work wasn’t done just there. The Longhorns were still a big threat, and they showed that in the third set, taking an early 8-6 lead after going on a 4-1 run. Wisconsin fought back with a 4-1 run of their own moments later, retaking the lead 12-11, with Colyer recording four straight kills.

However, a five-point Texas run right after proved to be the difference in the set, as the Longhorns took a 16-12 lead and never relinquished it, despite Wisconsin fighting to cut the deficit to one at 20-19. Texas closed out the set on a 5-1 run, taking the third set and we had a ballgame.

Things did not look good at the start of the fourth set, as the Longhorns started the set on a 4-0 run, picking up where they left off in the third set. That’s when the tables turned. Wisconsin completely flipped the script on a 13-4 run to take a five-point lead, with reserve Trinity Shadd-Ceres having two clutch back-to-back kills.

Moments later, that lead was extended to 18-11, thanks to a Colyer kill and two more attack errors from Texas. The Longhorns had a four-point run, but the deficit was too much to overcome, as the Badgers closed the set on a 6-3 run to win the fourth set 25-19 and take the match.

Colyer had another impressive game, following her 27-kill performance against Stanford with a 23-kill performance on Sunday. Una Vajagic came up huge in the end, getting 15 kills while hitting .458, while Booth had 11 kills of her own.

Elsewhere, Charlie Fuerbringer followed her 61-assist game on Friday with 57 assists on Sunday, while Alicia Andrew had a team-high five blocks. Wisconsin had 25 attack errors and 10 service errors, but they were still too much for Texas to handle.

Now, they’re heading back to the Final Four, with the Kentucky Wildcats up next on Thursday.

Mets sign 3.99 ERA pitcher to free agent contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets added some interesting pitching depth via free agency this weekend.

They've signed a right-handed pitcher named Daniel Duarte to a contract.

The signing was reported on MLB.com's transactions page, with it noted first by MLB Trade Rumors.

Duarte didn't pitch at all in 2025 in the Minnesota Twins organization as he recovered from 2024 Tommy John surgery.

He has thrown 38.1 innings in his MLB career, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023. 

In that small sample size, Duarte has a 3.99 ERA as a groundball pitcher.

MORE: Christian Yelich shows his puppy a proper appreciation of Tavon Austin

Duarte did help his cause by getting back on the mound in the Mexican Winter League, where he has thrown 19.2 scoreless innings.

He's 29 years old, so there's still time for him to make a solid impact at the MLB level if Duarte's stuff has hung in there as he recovered from elbow surgery.

The Mets seem likely to start Duarte at Triple-A Syracuse, but they often need extra arms, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him spend at least a portion of the 2026 season in Queens, too.

It's a good opportunity for Duarte to show he still belongs at the upper levels of baseball after dealing with the serious injury. He'll arrive at spring training looking to prove himself.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers' payroll is even more loaded with Edwin Diaz
• It's a good day to remember Bob Feller's brilliance and his time in the U.S. Navy
• How Aroldis Chapman is able to pitch for Great Britain in the WBC
• What the Kyle Schwarber signing means for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Poetic paragraph reveals Cody Bellinger's free agent landing spots
• Royals keep Maikel Garcia around for a long time

Dec. 14—SEATTLE — Maybe when the opponent wheels out Gaylord Perry to start at quarterback, it tends to drain a little bit of the competitive fervor from your team.

Nobody wants to be accused of disrespecting their elder, right?

That might stand as an alibi for the Seattle Seahawks defense, but the offense? Dreadful most of the day, except for the right leg of kicker Jason Myers, whose six field goals salvaged an 18-16 win over the visiting Indianapolis Colts at Lumen Field on Sunday.

The Seahawks did almost everything they could to lose this game. But Myers wouldn't let them, booting through the game winner in the final seconds to keep Seattle at the top of the NFC West Standings with an 11-3 record.

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald has preached the importance of complementary football. He might want to clarify that message to his team, as the Hawks played below standard on both sides of the ball for much of the day.

Except for Myers and holder Michael Dickson, and snapper Chris Stoll.

The story all week for the Colts has been how they would replace their three injured quarterbacks.

Coming off three straight losses, the Colts brought 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement. The former Chargers great hadn't played in the NFL in five years.

Father Time catches up to every athlete, and Sunday, the role of Father Time should have been taken the embodiment of Seattle defenders Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence and the other pass rushers.

Surprisingly, though, not much pressure was brought to bear. Rivers threw 27 passes with only one sack and four quarterback hits. In the second quarter, Rivers threw his first touchdown in five years, putting the Colts ahead, 13-3. At that point the game took on a seriously surreal quality.

An example of first half offensive futility: After a kickoff return to the Seahawks 42, the Hawks offense marched backward with two penalties, a fumble and tackle for loss, to have to punt on fourth down from their own 8.

The Seahawks defense had been so dominant this season, considered among the very best in the NFL. But at that point, they were being out-gained and outscored by a grandfather quarterback who could have been otherwise employed filming TV ads for reverse mortgages.

The 13-6 halftime deficit seemed a small concern after last week's second half against Atlanta, when the Hawks awakened in the second half to outscore the Falcons 31-3.

Yes, they'd only rushed for a total of 3 yards (on 9 carries) in the first 30 minutes against Indy, and star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a mere 3 catches for 31 yards — and had, gasp, a very uncharacteristic drop.

Still, surely, they'd pull off another reversal as they did in Atlanta.

They didn't, and still won. Failing on 11 of 13 third-down conversion attempts, they put their trust in Myers' foot.

In the second half, the defense held the Colts scoreless until the final minute of the game, when kicker Blake Grupe booted a 60-yard field goal to give Indy a 16-15 lead.

With :42 left and the ball on the Seattle 37, quarterback Sam Darnold completed two passes to Rashid Shaheed to set up Myers for the 56-yard game-winner.

"Wins in this league come in all different shapes and sizes," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "The great teams figure out ways to win. (We were) mentally tough and stuck together, and the way we closed that game out was phenomenal."

Absolutely right, the really good teams find ways. The real good ones don't have to.

They have to rack it up again Thursday with division positioning on the line when the Los Angeles Rams visit.

With that on the line in a few days, this win felt like a fortunate escape.

Get a win without scoring a touchdown?

Get a win with only 49 total rushing yards (22 carries)? Get a win without getting pressure on a largely inert quarterback?

Macdonald gave a hat-tip to Rivers and the Colts staff, devising an attack that kept him vertical.

The plan actually seemed a little audacious, and maybe a little insulting to the Seattle defense.

The Colts made it clear from the start that Rivers was going to hand the ball off to back Jonathan Taylor and maybe toss a few short routes when he had to.

They dared the Hawks to shut them down, and they took the lead and held it until the final minute of the game.

"We responded and we were able to get the win, that's all that matters," said linebacker Ernest Jones IV.

Macdonald reeled off at least half a dozen things the Hawks needed to improve on before they face the Rams.

Although the most important prep for Thursday's game might be to get a few days of ice treatments on Myer's overworked right foot.

BLOOMINGTON — The CBS newsmagazine show 60 Minutes traveled to Bloomington to trace Indiana football's rise from also-ran to powerhouse.

The award-winning program known for its in-depth reporting ran a 13-minute piece on Sunday that featured interviews with coach Curt Cignetti, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, athletic director Scott Dolson, longtime broadcaster Don Fischer and famed musician John Mellencamp.

Here's a recap of the segment that was reported out by Jon Wertheim, a sports journalist and author who is a Bloomington native:

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza feels 'imposter syndrome'

After noting Indiana football's turnaround compared to famed sports movies in the state — "Hoosiers," "Rudy," and "Breaking Away" — Mendoza spoke about the team's sideline being filled with "overlooked" coaches, players and staff.

He became IU's first Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night told Wertheim that he sometimes feels "imposter syndrome."

"Human nature is like, 'Wow, like, how did I get here?'" Mendoza said in an interview conducted prior to Heisman weekend. "And there's a little bit of an imposter syndrome from that point. 'Whoa, am I supposed to be here? I was a two-star recruit. I wasn't a five star. Who's supposed to be in this position, who's supposed to be on the No. 1 team in the nation.'"

John Mellencamp stayed a fan of the Hoosiers through 'thick and thin'

Mellencamp started going to IU games as a kid and later donated the funds for an indoor practice facility the team still utilizes. Wertheim noted his contributions to point out he's not a "bandwagon" supporter of the team.

"No, no, I've been around through thick and thin," Mellencamp said with a smile.

Mellencamp, who was shown watching a game at Memorial Stadium from a suite at the top of the press box that allows him to smoke during games, traced Cignetti's success to the fact that he does not show emotion.

"Not outwardly. Not outwardly," Mellencamp said. "Jon, I've made my worst decisions being emotional. And I bet you have, too."

New era of college athletics ushered in Indiana football's success

Wertheim highlighted the changes in college athletics, from the transfer portal to name, image and likeness opportunities for players, that fueled Indiana's transformation. Cignetti brought 13 players over with him from James Madison — six of them are starters on this year's team — and Mendoza was a highly sought after quarterback transfer from Cal.

"There's so many different dynamics that were never there in college football," Mendoza said. "And I think that's why you see so many teams either rising or fizzling."

Mendoza, who reportedly makes $2 million, revealed that he had actually written a paper in high school that athletes shouldn't be paid.

Wertheim asked Dolson about IU investing $60 million into football while the university cuts academic jobs and programs.

"The market is what the market is," Dolson said. "And it costs a lot of money. But we earn that money. We make it through our revenue streams. And at the same time people understand if we can get football going, the impact and the consequences for the rest of the university are — are significant."

60 Minutes highlights Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti's greatest hits

Wertheim walked viewers through Cignetti's résumé and him landing his first Power Four head coaching opportunity "beyond the usual sell-by date." He recapped his early days on the job, from him calling out IU's rivals at Assembly Hall to uttering his famed "Google Me" catchphrase.

Cignetti explained those moments were all related to his overall frustrations with the vibes in Bloomington surrounding the football program at the time.

"As soon as I walked in the building," Cignetti said. "Facilities that had been neglected. The stadium banners that looked old. The offices that looked like they were from 1980. And then — you know, just the general attitude of the people I met, the lack of excitement."

He continued.

"I was — furious, pretty much. 'Cause all we did was win conference championships year in, year out as a staff — and I mean, we —  we win. And so it was a clashing of two worlds. And I wasn't gonna lower my standards."

He wanted to see if the fans were "just dead or on life support" when he called out Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State.

Did he accomplish that mission?

"Little bit," Cignetti said with a smile.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football on 60 Minutes, highlights from Cignetti, Mellancamp

BLOOMINGTON — The CBS newsmagazine show 60 Minutes traveled to Bloomington to trace Indiana football's rise from also-ran to powerhouse.

The award-winning program known for its in-depth reporting ran a 13-minute piece on Sunday that featured interviews with coach Curt Cignetti, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, athletic director Scott Dolson, longtime broadcaster Don Fischer and famed musician John Mellencamp.

Here's a recap of the segment that was reported out by Jon Wertheim, a sports journalist and author who is a Bloomington native:

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza feels 'imposter syndrome'

After noting Indiana football's turnaround compared to famed sports movies in the state — "Hoosiers," "Rudy," and "Breaking Away" — Mendoza spoke about the team's sideline being filled with "overlooked" coaches, players and staff.

He became IU's first Heisman Trophy winner on Saturday night told Wertheim that he sometimes feels "imposter syndrome."

"Human nature is like, 'Wow, like, how did I get here?'" Mendoza said in an interview conducted prior to Heisman weekend. "And there's a little bit of an imposter syndrome from that point. 'Whoa, am I supposed to be here? I was a two-star recruit. I wasn't a five star. Who's supposed to be in this position, who's supposed to be on the No. 1 team in the nation.'"

John Mellencamp stayed a fan of the Hoosiers through 'thick and thin'

Mellencamp started going to IU games as a kid and later donated the funds for an indoor practice facility the team still utilizes. Wertheim noted his contributions to point out he's not a "bandwagon" supporter of the team.

"No, no, I've been around through thick and thin," Mellencamp said with a smile.

Mellencamp, who was shown watching a game at Memorial Stadium from a suite at the top of the press box that allows him to smoke during games, traced Cignetti's success to the fact that he does not show emotion.

"Not outwardly. Not outwardly," Mellencamp said. "Jon, I've made my worst decisions being emotional. And I bet you have, too."

New era of college athletics ushered in Indiana football's success

Wertheim highlighted the changes in college athletics, from the transfer portal to name, image and likeness opportunities for players, that fueled Indiana's transformation. Cignetti brought 13 players over with him from James Madison — six of them are starters on this year's team — and Mendoza was a highly sought after quarterback transfer from Cal.

"There's so many different dynamics that were never there in college football," Mendoza said. "And I think that's why you see so many teams either rising or fizzling."

Mendoza, who reportedly makes $2 million, revealed that he had actually written a paper in high school that athletes shouldn't be paid.

Wertheim asked Dolson about IU investing $60 million into football while the university cuts academic jobs and programs.

"The market is what the market is," Dolson said. "And it costs a lot of money. But we earn that money. We make it through our revenue streams. And at the same time people understand if we can get football going, the impact and the consequences for the rest of the university are — are significant."

60 Minutes highlights Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti's greatest hits

Wertheim walked viewers through Cignetti's résumé and him landing his first Power Four head coaching opportunity "beyond the usual sell-by date." He recapped his early days on the job, from him calling out IU's rivals at Assembly Hall to uttering his famed "Google Me" catchphrase.

Cignetti explained those moments were all related to his overall frustrations with the vibes in Bloomington surrounding the football program at the time.

"As soon as I walked in the building," Cignetti said. "Facilities that had been neglected. The stadium banners that looked old. The offices that looked like they were from 1980. And then — you know, just the general attitude of the people I met, the lack of excitement."

He continued.

"I was — furious, pretty much. 'Cause all we did was win conference championships year in, year out as a staff — and I mean, we —  we win. And so it was a clashing of two worlds. And I wasn't gonna lower my standards."

He wanted to see if the fans were "just dead or on life support" when he called out Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State.

Did he accomplish that mission?

"Little bit," Cignetti said with a smile.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football on 60 Minutes, highlights from Cignetti, Mellancamp

MONTREAL (AP) — Jakub Dobes stopped 27 shots and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Sunday night, preventing Leon Draisaitl from reaching 1,000 points.

Ivan Demidov, Joe Veleno, Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Texier scored for Montreal. The Canadiens rebounded after squandering a 3-0 lead to the New York Rangers in a 6-5 overtime loss Saturday night.

Dobes played his first game since the Canadiens lost 6-1 to Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, sparking the call-up of up-and-coming netminder Jacob Fowler, who started the two previous games.

Zach Hyman scored and Calvin Pickard stopped 23 shots for Edmonton.

Draisaitl remained at 999 points through 823 games after picking up three assists in a 6-3 victory Saturday night in Toronto to open a five-game trip.

Up next

Oilers: At Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Canadiens: Host Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Broncos' Christmas night showdown with Chiefs has become much easier, less interesting originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When the 2025 NFL schedule dropped, it looked like one of the biggest games of the year, certainly for fans inside Broncos Country. 

That was the game pegged for December 25, a Christmas night battle at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. At the time, Broncos fans were still seething over the Broncos' loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead last year in which a freak blocked field goal broke their hearts. 

Fans sought revenge and felt that this year's team would be able to get it. Christmas night would be the perfect time, on national television, to defeat the Chiefs on the road and the Broncos officially announce themselves as a serious Super Bowl contender. But none of that seems necessary now. 

The Broncos are 12-2, in first place in the AFC, and a serious contender already. They have beaten the Chiefs once already this season and now, seemingly, everyone else is going to beat the Chiefs, who were shockingly eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. 

That takes a lot of the excitement out of that game, but so does the devastating news that the Chiefs received on Sunday that Patrick Mahomes, who was injured in the final seconds of their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, tore his ACL. He obviously won't be on the field when the Broncos face the Chiefs and will be out for the foreseeable future. 

Instead, Gardner Minshew will take the reins as the team's starting quarterback. The Broncos can't overlook Minshew as he has been one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, but there is no doubt that this game has lost almost all of its luster at this point. 

READ:Riley Moss has become a victim of NFL officials, and it's created a false narrative

If you were worried about how you might balance your Christmas night while also catching the action in the Broncos game, you might be able to relax a little bit and just have the game on in the background.  

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Denver Broncos must buck two negative trends for Super Bowl dreams to come true

The LSU Tigers had great success overall in the transfer portal last season, but they weren't all hits. For the second straight season, they brought in a high profile wide receiver that failed to live up to expectations.

CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno listed Tigers wideout Nic Anderson among the "biggest transfer portal busts" of this past season. While the list wasn't ranked, Anderson was the first player mentioned.

His presence on this list and being brought up so early will be no surprise to any LSU fan.

Anderson was listed as a four-star transfer, the ninth-overall player and third-best wide receiver by the 247Sports rankings. Zachariah Branch, KC Concepcion and Barion Brown were some notable wideouts that he was listed above who made far larger impacts.

The 6-foot-4 deep threat transferred over from the Oklahoma Sooners, hoping to find himself in a higher-powered offense. He seemed like a great fit with the big arm of Garrett Nussmeier. That obviously didn't happen.

With the Sooners, he had a breakout redshirt freshman campaign in 2023 where he had 38 catches for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's absurd big-play production. He looked on the path to becoming a superstar in the sport.

He played just nine snaps after dealing with an injury in 2024. He was rushed back for his first game in Week 4 and it bit both him and the team as he missed the rest of the year.

While his first year with the Tigers was cut short due to an injury, as well, that wasn't the reason he was a bust. Virtually no one on the offense was very productive, and he was no exception. He was targeted 20 times in 123 passing snaps and finished with 12 catches for 206 yards and two scores. He just never really found a groove in Baton Rouge.

It's clear that Anderson has a ton of talent. It would be fun to see him run it back in purple and gold and give things another go in what should be a much higher-powered offense run by Lane Kiffin.

LSU will need to find some new production on offense with players like Aaron Anderson and Barion Brown leaving. Perhaps Anderson can shed the "bust" tag and establish himself next year.

Three Pistons players land on ESPN's list of best NBA players under 25 years old originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Pistons had not one, not two, but three players land on ESPN’s list of the top 25 NBA players under 25 years old.

First, there’s star guard Cade Cunningham, who has blossomed into one of the absolute best guards in the entire NBA. Cunningham was selected to his first All-Star and All-NBA teams last season, and he’s built on that momentum so far this season. As a result, he ranked No. 3 on ESPN’s list, behind only Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards.

From ESPN:

“For a second straight season, Cunningham is on an All-NBA pace. He ranks first in fourth-quarter points and second behind last year's MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in total clutch points. Cunningham has at least 20 points and 10 assists in 11 games this season.”

Cunningham is the best player on the Pistons, but he has help, including from Jalen Duren, who is in the midst of a breakout season in Detroit. He’s averaging career-highs across the board – 18.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per performance.

Duren is poised to potentially make his first All-Star appearance this season, and he’s also in the Most Improved Player conversation. As a result, he was ranked as the 14^th-best player under 25 by ESPN.

Lastly, guard Ausar Thompson placed No. 24 on he list and was lauded by ESPN for his defensive prowess.  

“Thompson is the quarterback of a Pistons defense that ranks fourth in both efficiency and in total points off turnovers,” Bobby Marks wrote of Thompson. “Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Thompson has held opponents to 40% as the contesting defender. That ranks fourth best among 291 players to contest at least 400 shots, per GeniusIQ tracking.”

With three of the top young players in the league on the roster, the future is bright in Detroit.

Dec. 14—PULLMAN — Kirby Moore has his first touchdown at Washington State.

Hired on Friday as the Cougars' new head coach, Moore landed Sunday afternoon at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, where he greeted a collection of WSU fans and offered a word of excitement.

"Thank you, guys. I appreciate you coming out," Moore said, stepping out from the passenger seat of a white Jeep Wagoneer SUV. "Excited to be home and build this thing. I'll see you guys at the press conference on Tuesday."

Joining Moore on the flight from Columbia, where he was Missouri's offensive coordinator each of the previous three seasons, was his family, including his wife, Kayla, and their three children: sons Cohen and Crew and daughter Sutton. Also on the flight was WSU interim AD Jon Haarlow, who led the coaching search, as well as team digital media staffer Dayton Byrne.

Moore's introductory news conference is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

After greeting fans, Moore and his family headed to Gesa Field, where all five walked around the field. A team photographer snapped pictures, some candid, others posed. On the stadium videoboard was Moore's picture, welcoming him to WSU. The same message beamed across the smaller videoboards that wrap around the stands.

It's hardly Moore's first time at the venue. A native of Prosser, which is about 170 miles west of Pullman, Moore sometimes found himself at Cougar games growing up. A photo of him at the 2012 Apple Cup has been floating around social media throughout the week.

Moore is replacing former coach Jimmy Rogers, who left last weekend for the same job at Iowa State. In less than one calendar year at WSU, Rogers went 6-6, helping lead the Cougars to the Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State. That game is set for Dec. 22 in Boise.

The Cougars are not expected to owe any buyout on Moore's Mizzou contract, which stipulated that if he were to leave early for a head coach position, his buyout would become zero. The details of his WSU contract have yet to surface.

It remains unclear what Moore's staff will look like.

Moore's coaching career

2025-pres. — Washington State (Head coach)

2023-2025 — Missouri (Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)

2022 — Fresno State (Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)

2020-21 — Fresno State (Wide receivers/passing game coordinator)

2017-19 — Fresno State (Wide receivers)

2015-16 — Washington (Graduate assistant/offense)

2014 — College of Idaho (Wide receivers)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anticipates a rivalry brewing between the Spurs and Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost their second game of the season on Saturday night, falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinals. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, but an inefficient second quarter (18 points) proved to be too much to overcome as the the Thunder lost by two in a tight Western Conference matchup. 

On the other side of the floor, Victor Wembanyama looked dominant in his return from injury posting 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. San Antonio ended with four scorers of 22 points or more (Fox, Vassell and Castle in addition to Wembanyama).

The game gave fans a preview of what is to come in the Western Conference as both the Thunder and Spurs are expected to be dominant forces for many seasons.

After the game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anticipated that fact, praising San Antonio. When asked about the two teams developing a rivalry, SGA had this to say: “Possibly, yeah, there’s a good chance. They’re young, really good, have a lot of talent, play the right way. Yeah, definitely a possibility. I’ve noticed that anything can happen in a couple of years.”

Oklahoma City won't have to wait long in order to get their revenge, as the two teams are set to face off once more on Dec. 23. 

In the meantime, they'll look to get back into the win column on Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Thunder win their next five games, they'll remain on pace with the 2015-16 Warriors for the best record in NBA history, as Golden State suffered their second loss in their 31st game of the season (29-2). 

More NBA news:

• Danny Wolf's stock continues to rise
• Michael Porter Jr. is lighting it up in the month of December
• Victor Wembanyama sets lofty ambitions for return
• SGA makes his feelings clear on breaking the 2015-16 Warriors 73-9 record
• aPistons' head coach forgot about Victor Wembanyama

With a dominant 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, extending their spectacular winning streak to six games, the Houston Texans (9-5) have firmly established themselves as one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC. What started as an improbable run from an 0-3 hole is now a legitimate surge for a playoff spot, and perhaps, a division title.

This Texans squad is peaking at the perfect time. Coach DeMeco Ryans is always looking to improve for the next game. They are currently the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff picture, but their true standing is far more precarious for the rest of the conference.

Always improving 📈 pic.twitter.com/GiDFj8QPor

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 14, 2025

The AFC South Showdown is Imminent

The most immediate goal, and the one that would dramatically alter their playoff outlook, is the AFC South crown. The Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) still hold a one-game lead, but the Texans are breathing down their neck.

Jaguars (10-4): Currently the No. 3 seed.

Texans (9-5): Currently the No. 7 seed.

Houston's path to a home playoff game is simple, but not easy: win out and hope for a Jaguars stumble. They split the season series, and while the Jags look to be on a five-game winning streak themselves, the pressure is mounting.

Winning the division would jump the Texans from the seventh seed to the third or fourth, securing a crucial home game at NRG Stadium. Given how well this team has played recently, especially on the defensive side of the ball, securing that home-field advantage could mean the difference between an early exit and a deep run.

The Anatomy of a Contender

The foundation of Houston’s resurgence is built on two key pillars that travel well in the playoffs: elite quarterback play and a suffocating defense.

C.J. Stroud's Brilliance: Stroud continues to play like an MVP candidate, demonstrating a maturity far beyond his experience. His connection with wide receiver Nico Collins—who just hit his third straight 1,000-yard season—is explosive. They can flip the field on any given snap, as evidenced by the 57-yard touchdown on the second play against the Cardinals. In the playoffs, where the margin for error is razor-thin, having a quarterback who can consistently avoid turnovers and deliver timely, big plays is non-negotiable. Stroud is that player.

DeMeco Ryans' Defense: The defense, anchored by the phenomenal Will Anderson Jr. on the defensive line, has become truly suffocating. They are limiting opponents' scoring and forcing turnovers in critical moments. They held the Chiefs to just 10 points last week, and while the Cardinals are slumping, holding any NFL team to 20 points in the modern era is a solid performance. Playoff football is often decided by defensive performance, and Houston's unit is peaking.

 

The Wild Card Logjam: Even if the division crown eludes them, the Texans are in fantastic shape for a Wild Card berth. Their 9-5 record puts them ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Baltimore Ravens (7-7), and their remaining schedule appears manageable: Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts.

Crucially, the Chiefs (6-8) have officially been eliminated, removing a perennial powerhouse from the bubble competition. The real threat is the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) and Buffalo Bills (10-4), who currently hold the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. They are essentially competing against the Colts for the final Wild Card spot, an advantage they hold by a full game or more.

 

The Final Verdict: A Legitimate Threat

The Houston Texans are no longer a fun, feel-good story. They are a legitimate problem for every other team in the AFC. Their six-game winning streak is the longest since 2018, and they have the momentum, the star quarterback, and the defense needed to win in January.

While the Denver Broncos (11-2) and New England Patriots (11-3) look like the conference's top-tier teams, no one wants to face the Texans in the Wild Card round. A team that started 0-3, rallied to 9-5, and now has a shot at the division title is playing with house money and a frightening level of confidence.

 

‘Tis the season.

It’s the time of year where we get a lot of weather-centric handicaps, and if you’ve listened to anyone talking about this game this week, you didn’t have to listen too carefully — or for all that long.

No, the Dolphins don't have a very good record in the cold — though we’ve seen the bar for what is “cold” get dropped like the mercury in December after Miami won easily in freezing, but bearable, conditions in New York (41 degrees at kickoff).

Yes, it helped that Miami played the Jets, but who do you think they’ve been playing when it’s been aggressively chilly as part of Tua Tagovailoa’s 0-5 record in sub-40 degree temperatures?

Th answer? The Bills (twice), the 2024 Packers, the Chiefs and the Titans (when Tennessee went 12-5 in 2021). Some were close, and others were not, but was Miami supposed to win any of those?

The trends don’t like the Dolphins here, but the past week has seen a bizarre situation with a key personnel issue that actually affects the on-field matchup in a way that conflicts with the worries over the weather.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 42.5)

The Steelers will be without T.J. Watt due to a punctured lung stemming from a needling treatment. A star since basically the first time he stepped on the field for Pittsburgh, Watt's missed 11 games in his career.

The Steelers have won once without him.

Pittsburgh, often boasting a dangerous defense thanks to an aggressive pass rush, has allowed an average of 27 points in the 10 losses, with the lone win coming 20-18 over the Buccaneers in Tom Brady’s last season — thanks to a late stop of a two-point conversion, and a Steelers drive to run out the clock.

If there’s a silver lining to Watt’s being out, it’s that Pittsburgh might not have many chances to rush the passer. During the Dolphins’ four-game winning streak, Tagovailoa has only thrown the ball 85 total times. Part of that is due to having a lead for much of those four games, and being able to run the ball 105 times in that time, but you can’t hand the ball off that high a percentage of your plays if you’re not successful at it.

Since Week 10, the Dolphins are second in the NFL in Expected Points Added per rushing play (behind only the Rams). That’s come after starting the season 13th, with a negative EPA/play on running plays.

Meanwhile, on the season, the Steelers are 28th in the defensive version of that metric, and the last time they were at home, the Bills set an all-time record for most rushing yards by a visiting team in Pittsburgh.

Tagovailoa might not be thrilled about playing in the cold, but how many 42-year-olds with a fracture in their left wrist do you know that would be psyched about the prospective conditions on Monday night?

Unlike Miami's QB, Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a reliable, and potentially explosive, ground attack to rely on. Plus, if Tagovailoa has to throw more than usual, he should have more time than expected to do it without Watt bearing down on him.

Pick: Dolphins +3

Player props

QB Tua Tagovailoa under 28.5 pass attempts (-125)

You can do the math on what 85 pass attempts averages out to over the four games where the Dolphins have focused more on the run game, but we’ll make it easy on you: The most throws Tagovailoa has attempted is 23. Given the potential mismatch between the Dolphins’ run game and the Steelers’ run defense, it’s going to take a series of special outlier events for Pittsburgh to take Mike McDaniel out of his game plan for his quarterback.

QB Aaron Rodgers longest pass completion under 35.5 yards (-120)

If you had the under on this prop last week, you know it lost on the first play from scrimmage. You likely heard how surprised Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were that Rodgers connected deep to DK Metcalf, since the Steelers hadn’t completed a long pass in the entire month of November. Rodgers added a later long gain thanks to a coverage break on a checkdown to Jaylen Warren, but we’ll bet that it will be tougher to connect for a long gain on a much colder night.

WR Adam Thielen over 1.5 receptions (+110)

If you weren’t on top of the real-life waiver wire last week, it might still be news to you that Thielen is even on the Steelers, but the veteran was picked up and immediately inserted into the Pittsburgh lineup, playing the second-most snaps of any of their wide receivers.

Thielen only caught one ball on one target, for all of four yards, but he played that much because he knows where to go (an apparent issue for the Steelers’ pass-catchers). After another week to practice with Rodgers, let’s bet that a career of being sure-handed earns Thielen a couple looks that a long-time possession receiver can haul in.

Anytime touchdown

Darren Waller (+333)

In Waller’s return to the NFL this season, he started this stint with the Dolphins by scoring four times in three games. Then, he got hurt 16 snaps into his fourth.

The pass-catching tight end has been back for a pair of games, and while he’s been held scoreless, of the minimal throws Tagovailoa has attempted, three in each game have gone Waller’s way.

While handicapping the side by the weather can be perilous, near the goal line, size is a high priority in the cold.

Jaylen Wright (+500)/Ollie Gordon (+825)

Let’s split a unit across each of the Dolphins’ backup running backs.

Why not De’Von Achane? Because his -130 price tag is a little steep for a player who left last week’s game with a rib injury.

Why Jaylen Wright? Because he picked up right where Achane left off in New York, running for 107 yards, which likely earned himself the opportunity to spell the starter (even if Achane’s fully healthy).

[Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

Why the long shot, Gordon? Because, at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, he’s played the role of short-yardage hammer. He's scored four times in this, his rookie season, including in three of the Dolphins’ last four games.

Kenneth Gainwell (+175)

At this point in his Steelers tenure, Rodgers has “his guys” that he trusts, particularly in the red zone, and Gainwell is one of those, as he’s capable of running an outside toss for a race to the pylon as he did in Baltimore last week, or in the passing game, as he did twice against the Bengals a few weeks back. In fact, in last week’s crucial game, Gainwell was involved in eight different red-zone plays.

Darnell Washington (+400)

While Washington hasn’t scored since Week 7, he’s actually become more involved in the offense, up until leaving last week’s game in Baltimore before getting his now-usual 4-6 targets (five times since a Week 5 bye). The big, 6-7, 260-pound target doesn’t seem like one who the Dolphins’ defense would be interested in tackling in the cold, and Rodgers has looked his way more than even the counting stats suggest, with several targets called back due to penalty.

You can find more valuable betting analysis from Yahoo Sports betting contributor, Matt Russell, at THE WINDOW.

Former Illinois football head coach Mike White died Sunday at age 89, according to the program.

White coached the Illini from 1980-87, leading them to a 47-41-3 record. He led Illinois to three bowl games, including the 1984 Rose Bowl. The Illini won the Big Ten title in 1983, becoming the only team ever to beat every team in the conference in one season.

White also coached California from 1972-77 and the Oakland Raiders from 1995-96. He won a Super Bowl as a member of the St. Louis Rams’ staff during the 1999 season.

WCIA-TV shared some video of the late coach on X on Sunday.

Some video of Mike White from the WCIA 3 archives: pic.twitter.com/lBOiLZ8gI1

— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) December 15, 2025

Early Week 16 Fantasy Kicker Rankings: Who to start, best sleepers, top streamers at K this week originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With December halfway complete, emphasizing indoor matchups or typically favorable outdoor climates becomes more crucial in fantasy football.

With the potential for strong winds and snow or other wintry precipitation, it's smart to target kickers who are prepared for these weather conditions. 

Planning ahead for the fantasy playoffs should also include lining up boots likely to play in domes or generally sunny climates.

Read more to see our Week 16 PK rankings.

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Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings Week 16: Who to start, sit at PK

Rk	Kicker	TM	OPP
1	Cameron Dicker	LAC	@DAL
2	Brandon Aubrey	DAL	LAC
3	Jake Elliott	PHI	@WAS
4	Harrison Mevis	LAR	@SEA
5	Jake Bates	DET	PIT
6	Ka'imi Fairbairn	HOU	LV
7	Jason Myers	SEA	LAR
8	Wil Lutz	DEN	JAX
9	Chase McLaughlin	TB	@CAR
10	Tyler Loop	BAL	NE
11	Matt Prater	BUF	@CLE
12	Evan McPherson	CIN	@MIA
13	Chris Boswell	PIT	@DET
14	Will Reichard	MIN	@NYG
15	Cam Little	JAX	@DEN
16	Andy Borregales	NE	@BAL
17	Harrison Butker	KC	@TEN
18	Cairo Santos	CHI	GB
19	Brandon McManus	GB	@CHI
20	Chad Ryland	ARI	ATL
21	Riley Patterson	MIA	CIN
22	Joey Slye	TEN	KC
23	Eddy Pineiro	SF	@IND
24	Ryan Fitzgerald	CAR	TB
25	Nick Folk	NYJ	@NO
26	Zane Gonzalez	ATL	@ARI
27	Blake Grupe	IND	SF
28	Charlie Smyth	NO	NYJ
29	Daniel Carlson	LV	@HOU
30	Andre Szmyt	CLE	BUF
31	Jake Moody	WAS	PHI
32	Younghoe Koo	NYG	MIN

Who are the best fantasy kickers in Week 16?

Any of the kickers in those highly anticipated matchups are always great options for fantasy football: Jason Meyers, Harrison Mevis, Brandon Aubrey, Cameron Dicker, and plenty of others. 

These games should be fairly high scoring, which gives plenty of opportunities to the kickers. 

Who are the best fantasy kicker sleepers in Week 16?

The last game between the Packers and Bears was a classic NFC North slugfest. Games like this can result in offenses settling for field goals, which is good for Brandon McManus and Cairo Santos. 

FANTASY TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports

The Detroit Lions (8-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) will square off in a Week 16 interdivisional battle between two teams with NFL playoff aspirations. While we know the outcome of the Lions’ Week 15 game, the Steelers have yet to play—they take on the Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football”—but that won’t prevent the sports betting sites from taking a look ahead to Week 16.

The folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook have set theinitial betting line at Lions -7 points.

The Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North, but that is more an indictment of how much of a mess the division has been in 2025, rather than praise for Pittsburgh. After starting the season with a 3-1 record, they’ve gone 4-5 since and have not recorded back-to-back wins—something they’ll be hoping to accomplish on Monday night.

While the Steelers are in a prime position to make the playoffs and potentially host a playoff game, Pittsburgh fans and analysts are frustrated with the team’s performance and have spent most of the season hoping for change.

Steelers fans have squarely pointed their fingers at the Pittsburgh coaching staff as the root of the team’s problems, blaming coach Mike Tomlin for his decisions in staffing, offseason player acquisition, and lack of change/adaptability in their scheme. While Steelers fans have started “Fire Tomlin” chants during games, no coach has come under more fire than defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

The Steelers’ defense has not lived up to expectations, and Austin is getting dragged for it. Not only are fans upset, but even former Steelers players have trashed him in the media. Former starting corner Steven Nelson, who played under Austin in Pittsburgh in 2019-20, said this on a recent podcast:

“The defensive scheme is ass. The DC needs to get the (expletive) up out of there. Teryl Austin. He was the DB coach when I was there. I didn’t think he was that great then, you know what I’m saying? Now he’s the DC. It’s an opportunistic defense. … They’ve been running the same (expletive) every year with no adjustment.”

On offense, despite the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they’ve struggled to stay on the field and create consistent drives. While his passer rating of 96.2 is decent, the rest of his statistics are mediocre, as he has become more of a checkdown artist in his later years. Rodgers has thrown the ball beyond 10 yards on only 22.7% of his passing attempts, is averaging 5.8 air yards per attempt, and just 3.3 air yards per completion; all three stats are the lowest in the NFL. He’s coming off a 284-yard passing performance against the Ravens (his highest total on the season), but it’s also the first time in a month he’s thrown for more than 161 yards in a game.

Despite the inconsistency and underachieving play, the Steelers remain in contention for the postseason, making them a dangerous opponent for a Lions team that likely needs to win their remaining three games.

There are some early Week 16 odds available from our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, and they have the Chicago Bears as a 2.5-point underdog over the Green Bay Packers for their big divisional showdown on Saturday night, December 20, at Soldier Field. FanDuel has the point total over/under at 46.5, with the moneyline for the Bears at +112 and for the Packers at -132.

Earlier today, the Bears blew out the Cleveland Browns, 31 to 3, while the Packers lost to the Denver Broncos, 34 to 26, and for now, the Bears are back in first place of the NFC North. Much like their meeting two weeks ago at Lambeau, when the Packers won 28-21, Saturday’s rematch will see the winner take over the division lead. That game opened with the Packers as a 5.5-point favorite, and on game day, it was up to 6.5 points.

The Packers lost more than just the game in Denver, as All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons is believed to have torn his ACL. Green Bay wide receiver Christian Watson also left the game with a chest injury, which necessitated a trip to the hospital in an ambulance.

The Bears lost rookie wideout Luther Burden III to an ankle injury in their game that will be evaluated this week, and receiver Rome Odunze was scratched before kickoff after his foot didn’t feel right during pregame warmups.

If Green Bay’s injury fears are confirmed, this line may move off the Bears +2.5, so if you like the Bears getting points at home, you may want to jump on this one.

What are your thoughts on the early odds for the game?

Former BYU linebacker Larry Carr’s tireless crusade to save football and football players — and anyone else with a brain injury — received a big shot in the arm last month. Two shots, actually.

First, the scientific publication Journal of Neurotrauma — a respected publication not known for being an easy grader — accepted a research paper that reports positive results from a season-long study involving BYU football players using the infrared light therapy known as transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM): a treatment that Larry swears rehabilitated his brain and saved him from suicide seven years ago.

Second, Tom Holmoe, BYU’s recently retired athletic director, and former BYU and NFL player Jim Herrmann volunteered for the latest light therapy study being conducted at the University of Utah by neuropsychologists Elisabeth Wilde and Carrie Esopenko, co-directors of the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center in the School of Medicine.

Holmoe and Herrmann didn’t sign up to have their brains studied because they heard about the upcoming article, they volunteered because they were already aware of the positive news. Namely, that before-and-after images of people’s brains show healthy changes that aren’t just anecdotal, but actual physiological improvements.

And why is Tom and Jim’s participation in the latest study important?

Because they are not only the two most recognizable people to participate to date, but they have also agreed to have their results made public when the study concludes in late January or February.

In previous studies conducted over the past five years, football players, firefighters, boxers and athletes from a variety of other contact sports have helped generate the data, but always anonymously.

Those testees included more than 100 active BYU football players who wore the infrared light therapy headsets during the 2021, 2024 and 2025 seasons. As BYU’s athletic director, it was Holmoe who authorized those studies, which received the support of head coach Kalani Sitake as well as the team’s medical staff.

Intrigued by the possibilities from what he observed, after Holmoe stepped down as AD earlier this year, he decided that as a “retired citizen” he could participate in the newest study without showing any bias. If light therapy is as viable as the evidence suggests, the number of people it could help is virtually uncountable. A number that includes himself.

Holmoe played defensive back on four conference-winning football teams at BYU from 1978-82, followed by a seven-year pro career with the San Francisco 49ers, where he won three Super Bowl rings. All that football, especially in an era when you led with your head, meant a lot of contact. He had his share of concussions, including one his rookie year against the Raiders.

“It was my first game in the NFL and I hit this opponent at the goal line, head to head,” Holmoe remembered. “We both went down. I got up and meandered off the field, but I was really groggy. The next day at practice the doctor said I’d had a concussion. I asked, ‘How do you know that?’ He said, ‘Because we asked you what team you played for and you said, Seattle Seahawks.’”

Holmoe, 65, said he doesn’t have any symptoms that would suggest he has CTE, the most severe brain damage associated with former football players. “I don’t have headaches, anxiety, depression. I feel good; I feel very fortunate,” he said. But he’s also practical and proactive.

After playing football that many years, “I have brain injury to some degree, I must have,” he said.

If light therapy can help reverse any damage — as Larry Carr and many others insist — he has a vested interest to find out.

“I like the research so far,” he said, “I’m a bio major so I get it for the most part. It looks promising. I want to help and participate.”

Herrmann’s career as a defensive end at BYU culminated with the 1984 national championship. He went on to play parts of two injury-plagued seasons in the NFL.

He has since paid the price for “all those three points of contact drills.” He’s had numerous back surgeries, the latest for an artificial disc replacement.

“Based on my surgeries and playing the line for too long, I know my brain’s not perfect,” said Herrmann, 64. “I don’t know exactly what’s happening with this therapy, but I’m super excited to find out. Larry’s got an unbelievable story. I believe it’s changed his life. You look at all the evidence, and the MRIs, and I don’t know how you deny it. I still have the lawyer in me that makes me choose my words wisely, but yeah, from all accounts this looks like something that will move the needle.”

Carr, who has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and assists Drs. Wilde and Esopenko and their team with their research at the University of Utah, welcomes Holmoe and Herrmann to the latest study. “Their participation is invaluable to add credibility and awareness,” he said. “I have complete confidence they will find positive results.”

Carr, who played linebacker at BYU from 1972-74, is also confident that his alma mater’s use of the light therapy headsets during the research year of 2021 as well as over the past two seasons has not only helped keep football players’ brains healthy, it has also been a contributing factor in the team’s 85% winning record during those years. A brain that doesn’t deteriorate over the course of the season results in better reaction times, cognitive processing speed and physical strength. “It gives them that three percent edge that allows them to win at the end of the game,” he said.

“Of course on-field patterns are only anecdotal,” he said. “However, considering the emotional, cognitive, motor and brain physiology data collected over five years, you do not need a Ph.D. in neuroscience or physiology to recognize the pattern and the hugely positive health and performance benefits of this technology. Data is data. I don’t know why anyone would not use this.”

For more information, contact Larry Carr at larry.carr@hsc.utah.edu.

The Cincinnati Bengals were shut out at home on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, losing 24-0 on a frigid December day. Joe Burrow took the blame in his postgame press conference for his subpar play today. This comes on the heels of his remarks earlier in the week about trying to find his joy for the game.

Ja’Marr Chase had some intriguing comments after the loss today, as well. He discussed that he would make some changes, but didn’t elaborate on what specific changes he wanted to see.

Another topic of discussion with Chase was his relationship with Burrow. He discussed that he has never had to worry about lifting Burrow up in the past. He said Burrow has done that for him in the past, and it is something he may need to start doing for his teammate and friend.

Perhaps the most important thing Chase said was about making potential changes to the team this offseason if given the choice.

“If I had a say-so, it would probably be something, but I don’t know what I could do. All I can do is control what I can control,” he said.

It’s a tense time in Cincinnati, and hopefully the players can lean on each other to help get through it.

“If I had a say-so, it would probably be something. But I can only control what I can control.” Ja’Marr Chase on whether or not he would make changes going forward based on a 4-10 record pic.twitter.com/s1KGjwQY2u

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 14, 2025

“If I’m being honest, I’ve never been in a situation with him where I’ve had to uplift him, but going forward I might need to because he does it for me. You never know what he might be going through. I might need to start doing that.” Ja’Marr Chase on Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/RDwsnlx28m

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 14, 2025

The Los Angeles Rams (11-3) are playoff bound after defeating the Detroit Lions (8-6)! America’s Game of the Week featured a high scoring affair between Sean McVay’s Rams and Dan Campbell’s Lions but it was Los Angeles that prevailed 41-34. The Lions clawed their way out to a 10 point lead (24-14) but the Rams offense stayed aggressive – scoring 20 unanswered points at one point. With 75 total points between the two teams, there were plenty of big moments. Here are the 5 key plays that solidified the Rams win.

1a. Matthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua on 4th & 4, (Rams 0 – Lions 7), 5:34 left in the 1st Quarter 

The Rams knew going into this game that they wanted to capitalize on every possession. After throwing an interception on the opening drive, McVay trusted his MVP caliber quarterback to deliver. The Rams faced a 4th down at the DET 45. Instead of attempting a 62 yard field goal or punting, McVay kept his foot on the gas; trusting the Stafford-Nacua connection. 

—> DET (7) @ LA (0) <—
LA has 4th & 4 at the DET 45, Q1 05:34

Recommendation (STRONG): 👉 Go for it (+3.9 WP)
Actual play: 👉 (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to P.Nacua to DET 39 for 6 yards (A.Anzalone). pic.twitter.com/lqVsfPuR8H

— 4th down decision bot (@ben_bot_baldwin) December 14, 2025

1b. Stafford finds Nacua again on 4th & 8, (Rams 0 – Lions 7), 4:14 left in the 1st Quarter

Three plays later, the Rams offense couldn’t convert again on 3rd down. This time, McVay could have attempted a 55 yard field goal, but passed yet again. Stafford hit Nacua along the near sideline for 10 yards to move the chains. 

Stafford hits Nacua for the big 4th down conversion!!! 🐏 🎯 💥 #NFL#RamsHouse
pic.twitter.com/kJvBe41v4v

— OutOfSightSports🚀™️ (@OOSSports) December 14, 2025

The two 4th down conversions ultimately set up a Kyren Williams touchdown run from the 4 yard line, tying the game at 7-7.

2. Nacua hauls in deep bomb from Stafford to set up field goal before halftime, (Rams 14 – Lions 24), 0:18 left in the 2nd Quarter

LA’s defense did not have any answers to stop the Lions offensive attack in the first half. Detroit scored 14 straight points giving them a 10 point lead just a few minutes before half. With two timeouts, McVay wanted points before the half. And right on cue, Stafford hit Nacua who beat DJ Reed up the far sideline. Though they couldn’t score a touchdown in the waning seconds, Harrison Mevis was able to drill a 37 yard field goal to give the team momentum going into halftime.

Matt Stafford AIRS IT OUT for Puka Nacua 🙌

pic.twitter.com/DayPUeJJ3s

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2025

3. Colby Parkinson 26 yard touchdown [play stands], (Rams 27 – Lions 24), 2:26 left in the 3rd Quarter

Trailing by 4 points towards the end of the 3rd quarter, Matthew Stafford operated out of shotgun on 1st & 10. Without hesitation, Stafford looked left and then immediately turned to his right looking up the far sideline for… Colby Parkinson. Stafford laid the ball in perfectly to his tight end, who beat safety Daniel Thomas. The play was ruled a touchdown as video review could not give indisputable evidence as to when Parkinson gained complete control of the football. 

To quote @TomBrady, an absolute piss missle from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson for six!

📺 @NFLonFOX | #ProBowlVotepic.twitter.com/4OCFJe8QZ9

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 14, 2025

4. Kobie Turner drags down Jared Goff for sack, (Rams 27 – Lions 24), 2:15 left in the 3rd Quarter

Los Angeles finally got some defensive support in the second half; forcing three consecutive three & out drives for the Detroit Lions offense. The second three & out was in large part because of Kobie Turner. The third year defensive lineman pulled down Jared Goff for the team’s only sack. It was a pivotal one that completely saw the Rams defense and the home crowd fired up. 

Kobie Turner’s 2 play sequence of QB hit & sack after LA’s go ahead touchdown helped turn the game for the #Rams – we talked about that, clinching a playoff spot & more in our postgame interview👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/NtwRY0Hw6b

— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) December 15, 2025

5. Kyren Williams picks up first down to move chains before 2:00 warning, (Rams 41 – Lions 34), 2:37 left in the 4th Quarter 

The Rams needed every play to seal their win against Detroit. Even though it wasn’t a highlight reel play, the offense was able to convert a first down with under 3 minutes remaining in the game. Knowing they needed to burn Detroit’s timeouts, the offensive line continued to generate running lanes for Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Kyren powered through to pick up 6 huge yards. The conversion allowed LA to drain nearly 2:30 minutes of game clock before punting. With no timeouts, Detroit was only able to run one play before time expired.

Rams get a much-needed first down! We're at the two-minute warning.

Kyren Williams picks up the first down and that will nearly do it. One more first down puts this game away.

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) December 15, 2025

What other plays stood out to you? What do the Rams fans think of Tutu Atwell’s shoe string catch?

EAST RUTHERFORD - In a post-game moment of honesty and humility, Jaxson Dart admitted that he's still searching for ways to cope with all this losing.

The New York Giants have done far more losing than Dart ever anticipated when he took over as their quarterback, especially after upsetting the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles in his two of his first three starts.

Then, on the road in Denver the week after that, Dart refused to accept what has been this franchise's unfortunate reality for much of the past decade-plus. And when he scored on a gutsy touchdown run for a two-point lead with 33 seconds left, the rookie from Ole Miss never gave a thought to the idea that somehow, the Giants would find a way to give the game away.

Of course, they did - and Dart's Giants have not won since, testing his patience and his confidence with each of the eight consecutive defeats, the Broncos' collapse included. The latest: Sunday's 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders after which Dart was asked how he avoids getting as discouraged as others may expect him to be.

"I think I'm still learning that," said Dart, who completed 20-of-36 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 63 yards. "I haven't gone this long without a win in my career. You definitely try to obviously learn from the things that you didn't play well enough from. I'm trying to just live week to week and trying to get a little bit of motivation, be a little bit of a spark, just trying to communicate as positively as I can. These hurt, so you've got to try to take it for what it is and try to rally the troops to get better for the next week."

Make no mistake: regardless of what happens with the Giants down the stretch of this lost season, with the firing of head coach Brian Daboll well in the rear view now, with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen fired two games ago and this team still struggling the last two weeks to find a way to change the narrative, the presence of Dart must be an organizational priority.

That comes with preserving and protecting Dart from losing the swagger and aura that preceded his ascension to the position he is in now as the franchise's quarterback of the present and future.

Because after this one, Dart seemed at a loss for how this keeps happening to a team he believes has far more potential than its 2-12 record shows.

"I think that our losses have been pretty simple for the most part: just us not being a team that finishes consistently in the fourth quarter. I think that that's just the reason," Dart said. "That's what we have to fix. I think that when you watch back the tape, you understand why we're not winning games."

Certainly did not take a rocket scientist to figure out why against the Commanders.

The horrendous coverage on Washington rookie Jaylin Lane's 64-yard punt return for a touchdown in the waning moments of the first half. Two critical drops by veteran captain Darius Slayton, one that would have gone for a first down and one that could have been a touchdown.

A foolish personal foul on center John Michael Schmitz that preceded Slayton's second drop, with Schmitz for excessive yapping with Commanders players instead of going back to the huddle on a third-quarter drive on which the Giants were building momentum.

Two missed field goals by Younghoe Koo, but neither had much of a chance as both were from beyond 50 yards and going against the wind. Still, they represented two additional empty possessions. There was also a 51-yard pass play from Marcus Mariota to Terry McLaurin, who spun safety Dane Belton around in coverage before breaking a tackle attempt by cornerback Paulson Adebo on his way to the end zone.

Perhaps the most frustrating development in the game was the officials' seemingly overbearing treatment of Dart himself. The Giants had a first-and-goal from the 1 when Dart tried to get back to the line of scrimmage when a first-down pop pass into the end zone was covered. The officiating crew took Dart off the field even though he did not appear to take a big hit relative to perception, sending him to the sideline and the medical tent for a concussion evaluation.

Any rhythm the Giants had been building was lost when Jameis Winston was forced into the game ice cold from the bench. Dart was cleared soon after, but he missed two plays, only to return and fire incomplete to Wan'Dale Robinson.

Because of the narrative that has been perpetuated by discourse surrounding Dart and the need for him to protect himself on the field, there is reason to question whether that has unfairly created this dilemma in which he is being forced to walk upon a fine line that does not apply to most players.

"I'm not really sure what the reason was I had to come out of the game," Dart said. "It was just a really – it was weird. I don't understand it. ... But I was definitely surprised, just didn't feel like it was that big of a hit at all. Obviously, just the situation that we were in too, first-and-goal on the two, that's a big thing that happens in the game. So, I was definitely surprised."

Dart promises that he is still confident in the Giants' future, even after another uninspiring performance in a half-empty MetLife Stadium. Admittedly, the present is starting to wear on the QB who continues to be adamant in embracing the role of leading a floundering franchise out of the oft-embarrassing malaise that has become its brand, overshadowing the dulled shine of the four Vince Lombardi trophies that sit on display in the lobby of the Giants' training facility.

"It’s little plays that you have to make, and the other team is making, and we're not," Dart said. "And we’re not making enough of those."

For the Giants, that adds up to an eight-game losing streak.

It's something that has become all too familiar for this team.

With three games left, hope is doubtful to return until next season.

And as much as Jaxson Dart continues to fight the apathy that has gotten the best of so many around here, the reality isn't what he expects it to be.

That's more painful than anything he has experienced previously, which is why Dart is motivated and desperate to change that before it's too late.

The Giants' young QB deserves better, and that's the bottom line.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jaxson Dart at a loss with this Giants' losing and he deserves better

While the Washington State Cougars were able to battle and keep things close, they just didn’t quite do enough to steal a win in Los Angeles, falling to the USC Trojans 68-61. It’s the Cougars’ fifth straight loss.

WSU (3-8) overcame some early offensive struggles to keep things tight in the second half but ultimately just didn’t have enough to keep pace down the stretch with USC (10-1).

Freshman Ace Glass was not in the starting lineup for WSU for the first time since scoring 26 off the bench against Chaminade. He ended up only scoring three points on seven attempts from the field in 23 minutes off the bench.

Neither team could find much of a rhythm offensively to begin the game until USC went on a 15-0 run about midway through the first half. It looked like that would be the catalyst for a Trojan blowout win. WSU wasn’t doing much on the offensive end to inspire confidence in a comeback with a slew of turnovers—11 total in the first half—and wasn’t shooting efficiently enough to make up for the possessions ending in turnovers.

Emmanuel Ugbo ended the run with a three-pointer, which also snapped a run of eight straight missed three-point attempts. USC quickly rebuilt the lead up to a game-high 16 points, but the Trojan offense finished the half ice cold, missing their last six field goal attempts. The Cougars took advantage of USC’s inability to shoot, closing the half on a 9-0 run to head to the locker room down seven.

Eemeli Yalaho extended the run with a jumper out of the halftime break to make it 11 straight points. The Trojans ended the run with a free throw from Ezra Ausar, but the Cougars continued to keep chipping into the lead with a layup from Jerone Morton and a trey from Rihards Vavers to make it a one-point game. Every time USC tried to put together a run to pull away, WSU answered, never letting the Trojans build a lead back into double digits for the majority of the second half.

With 1:23 remaining, the Cougars forced a turnover, and Vavers whipped the ball to a streaking Adria Rodriguez, who saw an open lane for a layup attempt. Rodriguez went up with the right hand, but Chad Baker-Mazara came flying in from behind to pin the layup off the backboard for a huge block. The Trojans cashed their 23rd and 24th free throws of the game on the opposite end to ice it.

The Cougars put together an impressive second half, only turning the ball over twice, scoring 1.094 points per possession, and limiting a sharpshooting Trojan offense to 1-7 from beyond the arc. The biggest difference came at the free throw line, where the Trojans scored nearly 40% of their points (27). Vavers led WSU in scoring with 13 points.

While it was one of the better games WSU has put together against a quality opponent, it still ended in an all too familiar loss. WSU will wrap up non-conference play this week with a neutral-site game against Eastern Washington in Spokane on Wednesday and a home game vs. Mercer on Saturday.

It’s only a coincidence that on the night the Minnesota Wild paid tribute to the movie “Star Wars,” on the ice there was “A New Hope” on display for all to see.

By the time their 6-2 blowout of previously high-flying Boston was complete on Sunday, the high price that Wild general manager Bill Guerin paid to bring defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota was looking like a savvy investment.

Hughes — widely regarded as one of the top defensemen in the NHL — scored a third-period goal, ran the team’s top power-play unit and had fans buzzing all night in his first game in a Wild uniform.

“The crowd was electric from, I would say, warmups to the introductions and throughout the game,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “It was great to see the building like that, and the guys performed the way they did, so it was a great combo.”

Brock Faber is used to trading hockey-related texts with his Wild teammates. But when he was cooking on Friday evening and his phone started to light up with messages from his high school friends, he knew something big was up.

“I don’t have Twitter, really, and I don’t follow any hockey accounts on my only other social media, Instagram, so all my buddies were texting me,” Faber recalled. “They were like ‘Quinn Hughes is coming!’ I obviously was shocked. It was something you never saw coming. Obviously, my buddies were joking that they’re mad because I’m not going to be on the first power play anymore.”

Indeed, when the Wild got their initial man advantage of the night versus Boston, it was Hughes taking the first shift on the blue line. Although, it was the second power-play unit that gave the home team the lead, with Faber setting up Jared Spurgeon for the game’s first goal.

Faber started Sunday’s game alongside Hughes, who early on appeared perhaps a bit jittery, with an uncharacteristic giveaway in the neutral zone and a puck that hopped Hughes’ stick at the offensive blue line.

If there were first-period adjustments to be made, it would be understandable following a span of roughly 50 hours that saw Hughes fly from Vancouver to Newark, learn of the trade that would send him to Minnesota, spend a night with his two brothers that play for the Devils, then head to the “State of Hockey” via Wild owner Craig Leipold’s private jet, with general manager Bill Guerin accompanying him.

“My body was a little fatigued. I didn’t really have my legs today,” Hughes admitted, adding that he came to Minnesota on a below-zero night owning almost nothing in the way of warm winter clothing.

“I definitely have some shopping to do,” he said, after logging nearly 27 minutes on the ice with three shots on goal.

Faber was traded to Minnesota in the offseason without ever playing a game for Los Angeles, the team that drafted him. He was immediately empathic to what his new defensive partner was facing, and equally impressed with what Hughes brought in Game 1.

“For his personal life, he’s just had to up and leave, and 48 hours later, he’s playing for a new team,” Faber said. “That’s hard and he made it look pretty dang easy.”

In his postgame press conference, Hughes had the look of someone who had seen and done a lot in 48 hours, including instilling belief that this could be a special season in the minds of Wild fans. He admitted still getting to know his new team and their system, and promised that there is definitely hope on the horizon in Minnesota.

“A little nerves there in the first, and you could see them on my first power play,” Hughes admitted. “It might take a couple games, but I think as we get to Christmas and after Christmas, we’ll be rolling.”

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Texas A&M women's volleyball hands Nebraska first home loss in three years to reach Final Four originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Top-ranked Nebraska’s bid for a sixth national championship came to a stunning end Sunday night, as Texas A&M rallied for a 3-2 victory in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament, stunning a sold-out crowd at the Bob Devaney Center and sending the Aggies to the program’s first Final Four.

The previously undefeated Cornhuskers had cruised through much of the season, but ran into an Aggies team peaking at the right time. Texas A&M, the No. 3 seed in the Lincoln Regional, won the decisive fifth set 15-13 after the teams split the first four sets in dramatic fashion.

“We have a lot of seniors who’ve been through this,” Texas A&M’s Logan Lednicky said via ESPN. “Everyone was ready to grind.”

Lednicky finished with 24 kills and six block assists, while sophomore Kyndal Stowers added 25 kills and 16 digs for the Aggies (27-4). Texas A&M out-blocked Nebraska 30-16, a factor in the upset.

Nebraska forced the fifth set after winning a marathon fourth set 37-35 on its 10th set point, igniting the crowd and swinging momentum briefly back to the Huskers. But Texas A&M locked in and closed out the match, handing Nebraska its first home loss since November 2022.

The loss marked another heartbreaking finish for the Huskers, who last won a national title in 2017. First-year coach Dani Busboom Kelly, a former Nebraska player, praised her team’s resilience.

“I’m proud of how we fought,” she said. “They played their hearts out.”

Texas A&M will face top-seeded Pitt in the national semifinals Thursday in Kansas City.

More college sports news: 

• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Fernando Mendoza won't keep the Heisman Trophy if he wins
• Why LSU should be extremely nervous about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore
• Jim Harbaugh trends after comments on Sherrone Moore's firing
• Diego Pavia asks Donald Trump to fix the College Football Playoff

It was an absolutely brutal day in Denver for the Green Bay Packers, who are now the 7th seed in the NFC playoff race after a 34-26 loss to the Broncos. The game was a great one, until it wasn’t. The Packers now look to be at risk of missing the playoffs altogether, after what appear to be serious injuries for both Christian Watson and Micah Parsons. Let’s dive into the winners and losers from an absolutely cursed day.

Winner: Matthew Golden

Early in the second half of the game, Christian Watson went down, and everyone’s hearts collectively sank (don’t worry, they could and DID sink lower!) as he was helped off the field. Watson left the stadium in an ambulance, and his injury was officially ruled as a chest injury. We saw the offense before Watson returned from his torn ACL in October—it lost its spark. With him appearing set to miss some time again (for how long, we don’t know), Matthew Golden is back to being their only speed threat.

He was targeted 4 times on Sunday, bringing in 3 of them for a team-high 55 yards. He ran some great routes, which led to some big gains, including two on crucial third downs. It wasn’t the breakout game we’ve been waiting for, but the extra attention towards Golden on Sunday allowed us to see that some special play is brewing. With 3 games left in the regular season, will we get to see the big one soon?

This catch was Golden ⭐️

GBvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/qRervXoynK

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

Winner: Josh Jacobs

After being listed as questionable for Sunday’s game due to a lingering knee injury, Jacobs played on a pitch count in Denver, splitting snaps with the sickly Emanuel Wilson. On 14 total touches, Jacobs grabbed his second-ever receiving touchdown and also scored his longest rushing touchdown of the season. His touchdown catch was one of the better catches you’ll see all week, by any player.

WHAT A CATCH JOSH JACOBS!#ProBowlVote

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/voGiH0yyEi

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 14, 2025

To start off the second half, he had all the room in the world and brought it in for an explosive 40-yard score. He simply can’t be stopped (unless the offense is running the ball on 2nd and long). Jacobs finished the day with 12 carries for 73 yards and a TD, and 2 catches for an additional 19 yards and a TD.

OPE! He just scooted right past ya#ProBowlVote + Josh Jacobs

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/ml7QmjG1Hz

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 14, 2025

Loser: Special Teams

I know this seems impossible and highly unlikely, but the special teams unit blew it on Sunday. As Denver received the ball for their second drive of the game, the Packers gave up a 37-yard return, giving the Broncos the ball at their own 40-yard line. After the Broncos punted at the end of this very drive, Kingsley Enagbare was flagged for unnecessary roughness after running into the punter, who was quite literally just existing.

Just before halftime, Emanuel Wilson muffed a kick return in the end zone, which resulted in just a 14-yard return as the Packers were trying to get some points before they got the ball back for the second half. The drive would end in a field goal, but a touchdown would obviously have been preferred here, and who knows how it would’ve ended with better starting field position. In the second half, when the Broncos were a drive away from taking the lead, Isaiah McDuffie was called for holding on a punt return. The drive ended in a Denver touchdown, and the Packers were never able to get the lead back.

Rich Bisaccia absolutely needs to coach a more disciplined special teams unit, but we’ve been saying this for a few years now, so I don’t think we should be holding our breath. Can’t wait to see how they mess up next week!

Loser: Offensive Line

The offensive line absolutely collapsed late in the 4th quarter as the team was attempting to come back. In a matter of a few seconds of playing time, Jordan Love was sacked twice, forcing a turnover on downs. The Packers would get just one more drive after this, during which Anthony Belton was flagged for a false start. They were unable to get any yards this drive, and the game was over.

Don’t worry! I’ve saved a whole paragraph for Rasheed Walker. Walker was flagged four times during the game. His first penalty was a false start, which set the Packers up for a 1st and 15; they were unable to convert, forcing them to settle for a field goal. He was next flagged for being an ineligible player downfield, setting them up with a 1st and 15. They were yet again unable to convert, settling for a field goal. He was then flagged for holding on 2nd and goal, which they were luckily able to get past, due to Josh Jacobs turning into Randy Moss for a brief moment. Walker then had one more false start, setting the Packers up for 2nd and 18. They were able to convert this one, but the drive would end with 0 points after Love took a sack on 3rd and 10.

Really, really disheartening play from the offensive line on Sunday. Everyone needs to play better because the last thing the Packers need is an injury to their star QB.

Winner: Edgerrin Cooper

His name is Edgerrin Cooper, and he’s never heard of a sophomore slump. Cooper had a great game Sunday, recovering an RJ Harvey fumble during Denver’s first drive of the game. He had some big stops, including two for a loss. He forced two turnovers on downs in a row, late in the game, doing what he could to stop the Broncos from getting more than one score ahead. He also forced an incompletion on 4th down to give the Packers the ball back in a one-possession game. While it seems like the injuries sucked the momentum out of the whole team, Cooper still played a high-energy game and did what he could to keep the Packers in it until the end.

Edgerrin Cooper on Marvin Mims is absolutely the matchup the Broncos wanted, but Cooper with the great recovery and closing speed to get the 4th down stop pic.twitter.com/yITKfPfSPy

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 15, 2025

Loser: Carrington Valentine

For the love of all that is holy, Carrington, please. Valentine had a rough game and was being picked on all day by the Broncos’ offense. He gave up a big first down to Courtland Sutton after being unable to make a pass break-up, which could’ve been possible had he used his arms. He had a bad missed tackle during Denver’s fourth drive of the game—this tackle could’ve stopped the Broncos behind the line of scrimmage, and instead turned into a gain that was stopped near the goal line. The Broncos would score just a few plays later. Valentine was also burned badly in the 2nd half, giving up a 16-yard completion to Troy Franklin. He also dropped a pick when the Packers could’ve desperately used some momentum. Rough, rough day for #24.

Loser: Keisean Nixon

Carrington Valentine was not the only player being burned by Courtland Sutton on Sunday. Keisean Nixon was torched a few times, giving up a huge 42-yard play on the Broncos’ second play of their fourth drive. They would score shortly thereafter. He also gave up a touchdown to Sutton in the second half, looking completely incapable of making a big play. Nixon does a lot of chirping, which is only fun when the play backs it up. This week, it wasn’t fun.

A great pass from Bo Nix and a great catch from Courtland Sutton!

GBvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/uzHntGTxeM

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

Winner: Micah Parsons

Forgive me, as I am crying while I write this. Parsons was on absolute fire in Denver from the very first drive of the game. He forced a fumble, which was recovered by Edgerrin Cooper. He also finally got a holding call! It was shaping up to be another monster game. He was able to spot a screen play by Denver’s offense, and forced an incompletion instead of running for the QB and leaving the receiver open.

He was in Bo Nix’s face constantly, forcing quick throws which led to incomplete passes and near-interceptions. And then, late in the third quarter…he went down. At the edge of my screen, I could see that it was non-contact. When the camera went back to Parsons on the ground holding his knee, I think we all knew immediately what had happened. The sinking feeling that coursed through my body in that moment can’t be accurately described. I’m heartbroken for Parsons, as the fear from the team is that he’s suffered a torn ACL. After an incredible start to his Packers career, it looks like things are paused for the next 10 or so months. Here’s to hoping he has a swift recovery and that the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year campaign is one to be remembered.

COOP WITH THE RECOVERY!#ProBowlVote + Edgerrin Cooper

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/dp7OgbGerB

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 14, 2025

The vibe heading into Week 16 is suddenly much different from what it was heading into this week’s game. The Packers head to Chicago to take on the first-place Bears in their final head-to-head matchup of the regular season. A win will keep them in it, a loss will…hurt very badly. Catch all the action on Saturday night at 7:20 local time.

Ever since the antitrust suit against NASCAR was settled, I have had people who formerly worked in the sport ask me who won, and I have responded, they both won.

Immediately, I receive the question, “How so?” I think it’s hard to conceive both sides winning in a federal court settlement, but that’s what happened.

The NASCAR Cup teams received:

• A form of “evergreen” or permanent Charter, which they desperately wanted. The revenue will be periodically negotiated amidst new media rights deals.
• A say in decisions NASCAR makes that will affect their costs. The three-strike rule that existed in the 2016 Charter agreement was reinstated as a five-strike rule.
• A share of NASCAR’s international revenue.
• A third of revenue from intellectual property rights.

On NASCAR’s side:

• The France family retained ownership of the sanctioning body that it has possessed since Bill France Sr. incorporated NASCAR in February 1948.
• The sanctioning body retained governance of the nation’s premier stock car racing series.
• It didn’t have to sell any of its tracks.
• It retains ownership of IMSA, ARCA, American Flat Track motorcycle racing, and Historic Sportscar Racing.
• It avoided the nation’s premier stock car racing series being ripped apart as open-wheel racing was in 1980 and again in the mid-1990s.

If the settlement hadn’t been reached at the beginning of the federal trial’s ninth day and it had gone to the six-man, three-woman jury, it could have been detrimental to all of racing in the United States. That’s because every racing series is privately owned, most have spec engines or parts, and the series owners govern their series via the rulebook. A loss by NASCAR would have affected all of those issues.

US District Court Judge Kenneth Bell made it clear to NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports that they were “burning down the house from the inside.” He continuously encouraged them to settle, telling them if it went to the jury and the plaintiffs won, he could dismantle the Charter system and force NASCAR to sell tracks that it owned.

Everyone knew whichever side lost, the other side would appeal to the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and from there to the US Supreme Court. Instead of putting the sport back together, the continued litigation would have ripped it apart.

Throughout the legal proceedings, ugly emails and text messages that became public have left a burning trail of hurt feelings and destroyed relationships. People can say it’s just business, but that doesn’t always repair the damage, especially with racers who never forget.

Often the antitrust suit filed by NBA Hall of Fame member Michael Jordan’s and NASCAR Cup driver Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing and Bob Jenkins’ Front Row Motorsports was characterized as a battle of billionaires and millionaires. However, when former driver and veteran NASCAR championship team owner Richard Childress testified, he showed that it was so much more. During Childress’ 50-minute testimony, he said that before the Cup teams were given Charters by NASCAR, his team was worth 10 cents on the dollar. Recently, a Cup Charter sold for more than $40 million.

The Charters provide the team owners with something they can sell that amount to more than race car parts and a building if they chose to leave the sport. Before the antitrust suit. the owners felt they had no financial choice but to sign the Charter agreement NASCAR gave them even if they disagreed with it. If they didn’t sign a Charter agreement, they lost their Charter and any financial benefit they might have received from it. Jenkins continuously testified during his nearly four hours of questioning over two days that he felt he “had a gun to his head” when it came time to sign or not-sign the 2025 Charter agreement.

Now that’s all changed and let’s face it, Jordan was the only team owner that could afford to sue NASCAR. Even though he’s been a NASCAR fan since childhood, he didn’t need NASCAR financially. Instead, he took the course he felt the teams needed to be financially sustainable.

This isn’t the first time NASCAR has been sued, and it probably won’t be the last, but for now, it appears the waters have been calmed in a way that benefits both parties.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored in the shootout and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Sunday.

William Carrier and Taylor Hall scored in regulation for the Hurricanes, who have won four straight — three in a shootout. Brandon Bussi made 24 saves — all in regulation — for his ninth straight win, matching a franchise record.

Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale scored in regulation for Philadelphia and Dan Vladar stopped 31 shots.

Svechnikov was the only skater to score in the shootout, with Bussi stopping all three attempts by the Flyers.

Carolina outshot Philadelphia 3-0 in the overtime period.

Zegras scored with 1:52 left in regulation to tie the score 2-2. Travis Konecny found Zegras alone at the far post after Bussi couldn't control a rebound with Philadelphia pressing with an extra skater.

The Flyers have had hard luck against Carolina this season, losing all three matchups in shootouts, including a 4-3 defeat in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Carrier gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 5:44 in the first period when he beat Vladar to the glove side, thanks to a perfectly-timed screen from Jordan Martinook.

Getting the first goal has been a good sign for the Hurricanes this season. They improved to 14-2-0 when scoring first.

The Hurricanes made it 2-0 on Hall’s power-play goal with 4:07 left in the first. Hall has three points in the past four games. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin picked up an assist on Hall’s goal and leads all rookies in plus/minus this season at plus-11.

Bussi improved to 11-1 in his rookie season, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to win 11 of his first 12 starts. The Hurricanes claimed the 27-year-old rookie on waivers on Oct. 5 and he made his first NHL start in a 5-1 win over San Jose on Oct. 14.

Drysdale scored with 52.4 seconds left in the first with assists from Zegras and Matvei Michkov.

The Hurricanes’ defense was bolstered by the return of Jaccob Slavin, who had missed the previous 29 games with a lower-body injury.

Up next

Flyers: At Montreal on Tuesday night.

Hurricanes: At Nashville on Wednesday night.

------

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Minnesota Vikings are officially eliminated from the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t play spoiler or will be an easy out for the remainder of the season.

J.J. McCarthy is coming off a solid game where Minnesota won 31-0, and McCarthy threw three touchdowns. Justin Jefferson hasn’t been involved much at all, but the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary hasn’t been able to slow anybody down. If there were ever a time for Jefferson to have a big night, it’s against the Cowboys.

Dak Prescott is currently on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. They are only one game behind the Eagles in the loss column, but losing to the Vikings tonight could make their postseason hopes a long shot. I think both offenses will thrive in what should be a relatively high-scoring affair.

The Vikings don’t have anything to play for, but they are too talented to lose big. Don’t be surprised if they win.

The NFC South is officially the weirdest division in football. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night to fall to second place in the division standings, but it didn't last long. The New Orleans Saints scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to upset the division-leading Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

And just like that, the Buccaneers are back on top of the NFC South at 7-7 with three weeks left in the season. The Panthers will host the Bucs in Week 16 with a chance to retake the division lead. The two NFC South rivals will then face off once more in Week 18.

As for the Falcons, they were already out of the division race with a 5-9 record. The same goes for the Saints, who still sit in fourth place at 4-10. Atlanta and New Orleans will face off in the final week of the 2025 NFL season. Check out the updated NFC South standings entering Week 16 below.

NFC South standings entering Week 16

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
2. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
3. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
4. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

The Falcons will face off against the Arizona Cardinals on the road in Week 16. Sunday's game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET. Atlanta will look to get wide receiver Drake London back after missing the last four games.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFC South: Panthers lose to Saints, Bucs lose to Falcons

Cowboys vs. Vikings final score, results: J.J. McCarthy has three touchdowns as Vikings shatter Cowboys playoff hopes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The clock has all but run out on the 2025 Dallas Cowboys season.

What was billed as a pivotal, prime-time opportunity to revive their flagging season and gain ground in the NFC East instead spiraled into a catastrophic collapse, 34-26 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. This painful loss, their second consecutive in prime time, drops the Cowboys' record to a dreadful 6-7-1 and leaves their already slim Wild Card hopes almost dead.

The game was a perfect encapsulation of Dallas’s inconsistent season. Their high-powered offense struggled repeatedly to punch the ball into the endzone, relying primarily on kicker Brandon Aubrey for their second-half points as Dallas failed to find the end zone in the final two frames. Though quarterback Dak Prescott threw for nearly 300 yards, he was unable to engineer the crucial late-game touchdown drives needed to overcome the scrappy Vikings defense, which kept the pressure on in critical situations. Compounding the offensive struggles, the defense surrendered over 30 points for the second straight loss, solidifying the unit's disappointing identity this year.

The Vikings’ offense, led by rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, had one of its best outings of the season, with the quarterback logging three touchdowns for the second straight game. McCarthy, who had previously shown struggles with consistency and turnovers, played one of his cleanest games, accounting for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) after throwing an interception on his first pass attempt. The Cowboys’ defense failed to generate enough pressure or force the critical turnovers they desperately needed after a first-drive interception offered a momentary jolt of hope.

Combined with the Week 15 action, this loss is arguably the most damaging of the season. The NFC East lead widened after the Philadelphia Eagles advanced to 9-5. With the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers all winning and moving further ahead in the Wild Card race, the Cowboys are now buried deep in the NFC standings. Their path to the playoffs has become a nearly impossible mathematical equation.

For the entire Dallas organization, the focus shifts from postseason dreams to the immense pressure that will now linger over the final three weeks and a pivotal, looming offseason. To even maintain a faint prayer of reaching January football, the Cowboys must now win out and hope for a complete, unprecedented collapse from multiple teams ahead of them, including the Super Bowl champion Eagles.

The Sporting News followed all the action as Dallas' postseason hopes continued to crumble. Check out all the action below.

STREAM: Watch Vikings vs. Cowboys LIVE with Peacock

Cowboys vs. Vikings score

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Cowboys vs. Vikings live updates, highlights from 'Sunday Night Football'

Final: Vikings 34, Cowboys 26

11:28 p.m.: Minnesota has the onside recovery, and this game is over,

J.J. McCarthy kneels and the Minnesota Vikings have delivered maybe the final blow to the Dallas Cowboys' postseason hopes.

Minnesota has its second straight win, advancing to 6-8, while Dallas has its second straight loss. The Cowboys drop to 6-7-1, and with other NFC contenders victories, see their playoff aspirations take a major hit.

Vikings 34, Cowboys 26

11:26 p.m.: Lamb is over 100 yards after hauling in his sixth reception of the game. It's the second game in the row Lamb has over 100 yards.

Now, Aubrey hits his fourth field goal of the night (out of six tries), and it's a one-score game again.

But, Dallas needs an onside kick recovery, a score, and a two-point conversion with 19 seconds remaining.

Do you believe in miracles?

11:24 p.m.: The Cowboys are across midfield twice, with Prescott finding Jonathan Mingo over the middle of the field and Dallas is inside the Minnesota 40.

Vikings 34, Cowboys 23

11:21 p.m. FIELD GOAL: With 1:13 remaining, Reichard comes on for a field goal that will make it a two-score game. 

The kicker is ice cold, drilling a 53-yard field goal to extend the Vikings lead to 11. He does the Carmelo Anthony celebration as he basically ices the game for the Vikings.

11:15 p.m.: Jones has another huge run, going for 16 yards down to the Dallas 30.

The Vikings have a first down in a day where the Dallas defense has struggled mightily.

11:11 p.m.: Facing a 3rd & 7 inside their own territory, the Vikings fall just short of the line.

McCarthy hits Hockenson, but his lunge is stopped by DeMarvion Overshown.

Though, on their own 48, the Vikings go for it. Jones takes a carry up the middle, and while it's short, it gets the first down. The Vikings have a first down with just over three minutes remaining.

11:04 p.m.: After a penalty drew them back, Dallas is once again across midfield. But, on 3rd & 7, Prescott's pass to Luepke comes up incomplete.

Dallas has to go for it on 4th & 7, and while Prescott connects with Luepke this time, it's a foot short of the line to gain.

Minnesota takes over on downs, up eight. With 5:20 remaining, a lengthy drive can put the game out of reach.

11:00 p.m.: With under seven minutes remaining, Dallas is across midfield after an eight-yard Flournoy reception.

10:58 p.m.: On the first play of the drive, Prescott finds Pickens on the right side. It goes for 17 yards and a first down.

The next play, Williams rumbles forward for 15 yards to the Dallas 42.

10:57 p.m.: It looked like Turpin had a huge return, but it's brought back by a holding penalty on C.J. Goodwin.

Instead of starting past the 50, Dallas will instead start on its own 10.

Vikings 31, Cowboys 23

10:54 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Nailor has his second touchdown of the game and Minnesota extends the lead.

On 1st & goal, McCarthy throws a bullet to Nailor, who was on an out-route, and he walks into the end zone. It's Naylor's second two-touchdown game of the season.

McCarthy to Nailor for the second time tonight!

MINvsDAL on NBC
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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

The Vikings now lead 31-23

10:53 p.m.: McCarthy now has a big completion to his other tight end.

JJ dealing to Hockenson!

MINvsDAL on NBC
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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

He lobs one to Hockenson, and the Vikings now have a 1st & goal.

10:51 p.m.: The Vikings have a first down after a McCarthy scramble. He goes for eight yards to the Dallas 40.

The next play, he finds Josh Oliver on a boot leg and it goes for major yardage. The 22-yard reception has the Vikings right outside the 20.

10:48 p.m.: Dallas is inside the 40 after a seven-yard Pickens reception. But, Prescott goes down on 3rd & 4.

It's still Aubrey range, but he misses his second field goal of the game and the Vikings still lead, 24-23.

End of the third quarter: Vikings 24, Cowboys 23

10:42 p.m.: Williams is back with two big carries. He takes it 10 yards on the first play of the Dallas drive, then nine plays on the ensuing carry, as the Cowboys are already across midfield.

Vikings 24, Cowboys 23

10:38 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: The Vikings have taken the lead.

An eight-play, 73-yard drive ends in a C.J. Ham touchdown on his first carry of the season.

C.J. Ham is in for the go-ahead touchdown

MINvsDAL on NBC
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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

It's his first carry and his first touchdown of the season.

10:35 p.m.: Jefferson reels in a reception from McCarthy and takes it for another first down, and the Vikings have a 1st & goal.

10:34 p.m.: On 3rd & 1 inside the Dallas 40, Nailor gets blown up on an outside handoff. It's Wilson, who forced the interception earlier in the game.

The Vikings go for it on 4th & 3, and this time Nailor has a catch for a much larger gain.

JJ McCarthy to Jalen Nailor on 4th and 3...

MINvsDAL on NBC
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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

This one goes for 23 yards and Minnesota is inside the 15.

10:32 p.m.: Minnesota is across midfield, with McCarthy connecting with Hockenson in the seam for 29 yards and a first down.

Cowboys 23, Vikings 17

10:27 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Dallas kicks a field goal to take a six-point lead.

The Cowboys stalled out after the first down, and instead of making it a two score game it remains at one.

Aubrey hits his third field goal in a row, and McCarthy and Minnesota will get it back with a chance to take the lead.

10:24 p.m.: The Cowboys have a new set of downs right outside of the 20, and Javonte Williams has re-entered the game.

10:20 p.m.: Dallas has another big play courtesy of Lamb.

The superstar gets another target from Prescott and he goes for 30 yards.

A few plays later, a Turpin nine-yard reception has Dallas inside the 30.

10:17 p.m.: McCarthy tries hitting Naylor on 3rd & 9 but it comes up incomplete.

Minnesota has to punt on its first drive of the half.

Dallas has the ball back, up three.

10:16 p.m.: Starting across the 40, McCarthy hands it to Jones and it's immediately stuffed by the Cowboys.

Cowboys 20, Vikings 17

10:11 p.m. FIELD GOAL: On 3rd & 8 inside the red zone, Prescott finds Turpin for a small gain, but it's not even close to a first down.

Aubrey comes on to hit his second field goal of the game, this one from 26 yards, and Dallas has the lead back.

10:09 p.m.: Dallas has a big play, with Prescott tossing the ball to Luke Schoonmaker, who takes it 29 yards down to the Minnesota 11.

10:07 p.m.: The second half is underway in Dallas, with Prescott and the Cowboys having possession first.

Halftime: Vikings 17, Cowboys 17

9:53 p.m.: At halftime, it's a tie game in Dallas.

Two touchdowns and two field goals per side have the Vikings and Cowboys in a 17-17 deadlock.

Dallas, who desperately needs a win, will get the ball first to start the second half.

Vikings 17, Cowboys 17

9:51 p.m. FIELD GOAL: Prescott throws it over Lamb's head on third down, giving Aubrey time to kick a field goal.

This time, the kicker drills a 37-yarder and the game is tied.

9:48 p.m.: Luepke is having a big game in Williams' abscence. Here, he takes in a pass from Prescott for 11 yards.

The next play, Pickens gets his first reception of the game for 10 yards, and the Cowboys are right outside the red zone.

9:45 p.m.: Dallas has a new set of downs across midfield. Luepke takes a carry five yards to the Minnesota 46.

9:43 p.m.: The Cowboys will start the drive at the 40 after the kickoff goes out of bounds.

Prescott and co. have 1:48 to work with.

A note: George Pickens still has zero receptions. Let's see if Dallas can get him involved.

Vikings 17, Cowboys 14

9:40 p.m. FIELD GOAL: The Vikings are unable to find the end zone, with McCarthy's pass to Hockenson coming up incomplete.

Will Reichard comes on to hit a 29-yard field goal attempt, the first field goal of the game.

The Vikings take the lead for the first time tonight.

9:36 p.m.: At the two-minute warning, Minnesota is threatening to take the lead.

Coming out of the break the Vikings will have a 2nd & 10 at the 11.

9:32 p.m.: On 2nd & 5, McCarthy throws a bullet to Justin Jefferson for his first reception of the game. It goes for 12 yards down to the Dallas 21.

9:30 p.m.: The Vikings are across midfield after Jones takes a 13-yard carry to the Dallas 38. 

The next play, McCarthy hits Jones again, this time for five yards.

9:26 p.m.: Prescott gets crushed on 3rd & 5, going in between two Vikings defenders who stuff the Cowboys star. It was Jonathan Greenard who got to him first.

Aubrey comes on to attempt a 51-yard field goal, and it's a rare miss. This one is his third of the season.

The Vikings have the ball back with the game tied.

9:22 p.m.: On 3rd & 10, Prescott finds Jake Fergusson for his first reception of the game, but it's short of the line to gain.

The Cowboys go for it on 4th & 3 at the 50 and come up huge, with Prescott hitting Lamb over the middle of the field. It's the second 15+ yard reception for Lamb, this one going for 17 yards.

9:20 p.m.: KaVontae Turpin takes the kickoff across the 40, and Dallas will start at the 43.

Vikings 14, Cowboys 14

9:15 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: McCarthy scrambled seven yards but got tackled right before the goal-line. It sets up a 4th & goal, and McCarthy pulls a naked bootleg and griddys it into the end zone.

JJ McCarthy griddys into the end zone!

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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

It's the second-year quarterback's second touchdown of the night and it's 14-14.

9:12 p.m.: The Vikings get into the end zone on a Justin Jefferson touchdown, but an illegal formation penalty takes the score off the board.

Minnesota is now on the Dallas 8.

9:10 p.m.:  On 3rd & 8, McCarthy unleashes a bomb to Jordan Addison, and the receiver reels it in inside the 10. While he does not score, this one goes for 58 yards down to the Dallas 4.

BIG time play from JJ McCarthy to Jordan Addison!

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— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

It's the longest play of the game and Minnesota is in business.

9:07 p.m.: Minnesota gets a first down after three Jordan Mason carries.

The Vikings backup gets a combined 11 yards and Minnesota is across the 30 with a new set of downs.

Cowboys 14, Vikings 7 

9:04 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: For the second tiem tonight, a Dallas running back takes a short carry into the end zone.

This time, with Williams still on the sideline, it's Davis who gets the score.

Malik Davis goal line TD puts the Cowboys ahead

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The teams have now exchanged touchdowns, and Dallas leads 14-7.

End of the first quarter: Vikings 7, Cowboys 7

8:59 p.m.: On the final play of the quarter, Malik Davis takes a carry up the middle for five yards down to the Minnesota 2.

To start the second, Dallas will have a 1st & goal.

8:57 p.m.: The Cowboys open up the drive with two big plays.

First, Prescott hits Ryan Flournoy for 19 yards, and then it's CeeDee Lamb over the middle of the field for an even bigger completion.

This one goes for 30 yards and just like that, Dallas is down to the Minnesota 24.

Vikings 7, Cowboys 7

8:51 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: It only took two plays for the Vikings to get on the board.

Right after the Jones play, McCarthy hits Jalen Nailor, who makes an acrobatic catch in the end zone. The receiver was banged up after the play, but got up and walked off in his own power.

JJ McCarthy delivers a TD strike rolling to his left!

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/1oLnZ2MYfQ

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

It's Nailor's third touchdown of the season and it's 7-7.

8:50 p.m.: Here's the latest update on Dallas back Javonte Williams, who injured his shoulder in the first quarter.

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams has a shoulder injury and is considered questionable to return tonight.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2025

8:49 p.m.: The Vikings have a chunk play courtesy of Jones.

McCarthy swings one out for the back, who takes it 18 yards. With a horse collar tackle on the end, Minnesota is now at the Dallas 20.

8:45 p.m.: Pinned deep inside their own territory, the Cowboys go three-and-out.

Hunter Luepke takes a carry eight yards but it's not enough, and the teams have exchanged punts.

8:40 p.m.: On 3rd & 1, Jones gets stuffed again.

It was Shavon Ravel Jr. who got the tackle, and the Vikings have to punt.

It takes a great bounce and falls down on the Dallas 3. 

8:38 p.m.: Right after, the Vikings get their first first down.

McCarthy looks left and finds T.J. Hockenson, who takes it 13 yards for a first down.

8:37 p.m.: Minnesota's next drive starts with a negative play.

Jones gets stuffed immediately by Kenny Clark, who was there in a second. It goes for a three-yard loss.

Cowboys 7, Vikings 0

8:33 p.m. TOUCHDOWN: Dallas is on the board.

After Williams extended the drive, he takes the next carry up the middle again, and this time, it ends in the end zone.

Javonte Williams 6️⃣

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/z2OE5MrpcR

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

Dallas capitalizes off the McCarthy turnover and strikes first blood. It's 7-0.

8:31 p.m.: Now on the six-yard line after a Ryan Flournoy reception got Dallas into the red zone, Prescott scrambles up the middle on a 3rd & 2. He was just short, setting up a 4th & 1.

The Cowboys go for it, and Javonte Williams takes a carry up the middle for a first down.

8:27 p.m.: The Cowboys go three-and-out on their first drive, and Aubrey's field goal is a fake, and completed.

Brandon Aubrey fake field goal alert 🚨

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/AV3FAqrMOW

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

Brian Schottenheimer pulls one out of a hat to extend the drive.

8:25 p.m.: McCarthy throws an interception on his first pass attempt of the game.

He tries targeting Justin Jefferson on a curl, but it is deflected by Donovan Wilson at the line of scrimmage and it falls into the arms of Quinnen Williams.

Cowboys get a pick on the second play!

MINvsDAL on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/5m6IdSL9gf

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2025

The trade deadline acquisition from the New York Jets has the first turnover of the game.

8:24 p.m.: Aaron Jones Sr. starts off the game with a six-yard carry. The back had 76 yards rushing last week against the Commanders.

8:22 p.m.: Brandon Aubrey has kicked off and we are underway in Dallas.

First-year starter J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings offense have the ball first at the 30-yard line.

8:12 p.m.: With the game moments away, here's what's at stake-tonight.

With a win, the Cowboys would advance to 7-6-1 and keep pace in the NFC wild card race. With a loss, they will be almost eliminated from the postseason.

Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs earlier today, but has a key opportunity to play spoiler.

8:00 p.m.: Kickoff is quickly approaching, with the Cowboys needing to win to stay in the NFC playoff picture.

primetime 🍿

🔄 Repost to #ProBowlVote for #GeorgePickens + @Osagoeshard#MINvsDAL | @bswhealthpic.twitter.com/FWzzvBC3Oj

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 15, 2025

7:46 p.m.: Minnesota has posted its inactives ahead of "Sunday Night Football."

#MINvsDAL inactives

QB John Wolford
OLB Chaz Chambliss
T Christian Darrisaw
T Walter Rouse
DL Elijah Williams

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 14, 2025

7:30 p.m.: Brandon Aubrey has established himself as one of the best kickers in the NFL, consistently drilling 50 and 60 yarders.

Pro Bowl Power 🔋

🔄 Repost to #ProBowlVote for @Brandon_Aubrey + @tsieg58 + #BryanAnger#MINvsDAL | @bswhealthpic.twitter.com/lyqzsEaCzY

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 15, 2025

7:09 p.m.: Last time out, CeeDee Lamb had six receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions.

sunday night fit 🔥#MINvsDAL | @Abercrombiepic.twitter.com/sUKaUI1NxU

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 15, 2025

He now faces a Vikings defense that is coming off a shutout victory. 

6:50 p.m.: The Cowboys return home for the first time since Thanksgiving, where they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28.

Maybe the calmest doors-opening in the history of Cowboys games at AT&T Stadium pic.twitter.com/zN3MICbWwM

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 14, 2025

6:35 p.m.: Minnesota has its playoff hopes hanging by a thread entering Week 15, and they have been cut off before the team even takes the field.

The Vikings have been eliminated from postseason contention pic.twitter.com/hTbqyRaKu0

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 14, 2025

After a 14-win season in 2024, Minnesota has dealt with a quarterback carousel after losing Sam Darnold in free agency; McCarthy struggled to execute on his return, and now the Vikings are officially out of the playoffs in 2025.

6:03 p.m.: The Vikings are on-site, looking for their second straight victory.

J.J. McCarthy and the rest of the Vikings have arrived. pic.twitter.com/EW4krLvuvO

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 14, 2025

6:01 p.m.: "Sunday Night Football" is back in Dallas.

Waitin' all day 4️⃣ Sunday night

🔄Repost to #ProBowlVote@dak | @blockchainpic.twitter.com/b2YsO7wAlL

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 14, 2025

The Cowboys desperately need a win to stay in the NFC postseason race. 

Where to watch the NFL game tonight

Cowboys vs. Vikings start time

• Date: Sunday, Dec. 14
• Date: 8:20 p.m.

The Vikings and Cowboys will kick off at 8:20 p.m. on Sunday from AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

This is Dallas' second "Sunday Night Football" game at home this season.

What channel is Cowboys vs. Vikings on today?

• TV Channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

"Sunday Night Football" airs nationally on NBC. Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Chris Collinsworth (color commentator) will be on the call, with Melissa Stark on the sidelines.

Peacock is the premium streaming option for the contest, carrying the national broadcast.

Vikings 2025 schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV Channel
12/14	@ Cowboys	8:20 p.m.	NBC
12/21	@ Giants	1:00 p.m.	FOX
12/25	vs. Lions	4:30 p.m.	Netflix
1/4/26	vs. Packers	TBD	TBD

Cowboys 2025 schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV Channel
12/14	vs. Vikings	8:20 p.m.	NBC
12/21	vs. Chargers	1:00 p.m.	FOX
12/25	@ Commanders	1:00 p.m.	Netflix
1/4/26	@ Giants	TBD	TBD

MORE: Where the Cowboys lie in the NFC East picture

The Carolina Panthers did not carry themselves like a team that was two consecutive wins away from a division title on Sunday.

For the second time this season, the Panthers fell to the last-place New Orleans Saints. This time, they ate a heartbreaking 20-17 loss down in the bayou—one headlined by a myriad of flags.

Thanks to their less-than-sharp play, Carolina was penalized 11 times for a total of 103 yards.

Head coach Dave Canales started out his post-game press conference by acknowledging the sloppy showing.

"We talk about our play style, talk about play smart and finish. That did not show up today," Canales stated. "And that's something we certainly have to talk about."

Carolina's most damaging flag of all came with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when safety Lathan Ransom dove at Saints quarterback Tyler Shough at the end of a slide. The folly gifted New Orleans another 15 yards and set up the go-ahead 47-yard field goal from kicker Charlie Smyth.

A victory would have given the Panthers a one-game lead in the NFC South heading into their Week 16 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A win in that showdown, had Carolina taken care of business in New Orleans, would've clinched the franchise their first division crown since 2015.

Canales was later asked about the effects of spoiling such a golden opportunity.

"Yeah, there's two things goin' on," he replied. "There's a lot of guys who are really disappointed because of the missed opportunity that we had. At the same time, there's a lot of great leaders in that locker room that understand we got a lot of football in front of us.

"We have to make sure that we move on quickly. We look at the film, make sure we tidy up the things that we need to and get ready for the next game."

That next game is slated for 1:00 p.m. ET next Sunday, and will be the biggest game the Panthers have hosted in quite some time.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers HC Dave Canales talks about agonizingly sloppy loss to Saints

Grading Philip Rivers' return for Colts: How did un-retired QB do in 2025 NFL debut? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philip Rivers, father of 10 and grandfather of one, returned to the NFL after a five-year break to start at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, the team for which he played for last in 2020.

But with Daniel Jones (torn Achilles) out for the season, Anthony Richardson (eye) still shelved and Riley Leonard (knee) banged up, Rivers was pressed back into duty to help his old friend Shane Steichen.

Although Steichen's team lost as big underdogs in Seattle, 18-16 to fall further out of the AFC wild-card race at 8-6, Rivers did better than expected in a pinch. Here's a break down of his debut after five years away.

Philip Rivers' stats vs.  Seahawks

Passing: 18-of-27, 120 yards, 4.3 yards per attempt, sack, TD, INT, 88.5 rating

Rivers did the best he could on a short week, getting used to the speed of the NFL game after his layoff. The Colts' defense and a run-heavy attack gave him a chance to win the game in the end until he threw an interception.

PHILIP RIVERS TO JOSH DOWNS TUDDY.

📺 CBS | #ProBowlVotepic.twitter.com/6fF358D6ih

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 14, 2025

Philip Rivers 2025 Colts debut grade

What Rivers did well

Rivers ran the Shane Steichen offense he knew well from several years together on the Chargers. He spread the ball around well and leaned a lot on running back Jonathan Taylor (25) carries to faciliate his short-to-intermediate passing game. All things considered, coming back and facing a tough Seahawks' defense in an even duel with Sam Darnold was a testament to the mental and physical toughness that was Rivers' Hall of Fame-caliber trademark.

MORE: How Jason Myers’ clutch six field goals spoil Colts QB’s fairytale return to NFL

What Rivers didn't do well

It's not surprising that Rivers offered nothing in the way of mobility with an older body and plenty of wear and tear. He got the ball out quickly to avoid pressure but that made him settle for check downs and be dink-and-dunk dependent. The Colts lost any ability to stretch the field, either outside or down the middle.

Rivers did give them a better chance to win than anybody else they could have gotten to replace Jones and fill in for Riley Leonard. He just didn't have the juice to maximize the playmaking potential without Taylor dominating on the ground.

Grade: C

The one where we mock billionaires and the Dallas Cowboys…

What an awful game these billionaire entities have demanded NFL fans consume this evening. Once again, it’s “America’s Team” in action since they reportedly draw the biggest ratings. Some might say, as I’m doing now, that the Cowboys’ fan base is made up of sheep.

On the other sideline, there’s not a lot to dislike about the Minnesota Vikings (now that boat gate is at least a generation old). But, they’re not very entertaining, and we’ve already seen them enough in primetime this season. It’s also unfortunate that the Vikings didn’t suffer this type of season last year when the Buffalo Bills had Minnesota’s draft slot in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. At any rate…

Here we are, another night game where you’re stuck eyeballing Dallas and (the suddenly brilliant?) Jerry Jones who sold out at the trade deadline to save a fruitless season. As I’ve said before, Dak Prescott is a likeable guy, it’s just unfortunate he plays quarterback for the insufferable Cowboys who really haven’t made true noise since 1996.

What else? Oh right, this is your open thread for Week 15 of Sunday Night Football. You might not like the matchup, and dislike one of the teams more passionately than most, but you’re tuning in. You know it’s happening. As always, be kind to one another — and in all things… Go Bills!

Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence makes football history never done by an NFL QB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Trevor Lawrence played the game of a lifetime on Sunday for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In fact, he put up numbers that have never been done before in NFL history.

The final stats for Lawrence:

• 20-for-32 passing
• 330 passing yards
• 5 passing TDs
• 5 carries
• 51 rushing yards
• 1 rushing TD

The account QBGami confirmed that there had never been an NFL game when a quarterback threw for 330 yards, threw five TDs and wasn't intercepted.

MORE: Bills may not win the AFC East — but they sent a clear warning to the rest of the NFL

That doesn't even account for the rushing stats that Lawrence put up, which gave him a gargantuan day.

Trevor Lawrence
330 YDS / 5 TD / 0 INT

🚨QBgami!🚨

It's the 6,398th unique QB stat line in NFL history, and the 17th unique combination of the 2025 season.

— QBgami (@QBgami) December 14, 2025

It was quite the day for Lawrence to go off.

Week 15 is the start of the fantasy football playoffs in many leagues, and for others, the last week of the regular season and trying to get into the playoff field at all.

Lawrence wouldn't have been started everywhere, but anyone pressed into using him will be celebrating him greatly all week long.

More NFL news:

• Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
• Texans scored a TD by snapping it through C.J. Stroud's legs
• Mack Hollins really doesn't like wearing shoes
• Micah Parsons' injury doesn't look good
• Patrick Mahomes' injury has fans asking Tom Brady ACL question
• Commanders' All-Pro puts down fans' draft order concerns

Lions playoff picture: Updated chances for Detroit to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 15 loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Lions' playoff aspirations suffered a major, perhaps fatal, blow in Week 15 in a 41-34 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Though the Lions secured a crucial Week 14 win over the Cowboys, that brief resurgence was brutally countered by a 41-34 road loss to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. The offense was able to perform against one of the league's best in the Rams, but in the end Lions great Matthew Stafford was too much.

The high-scoring defeat, which dropped the Lions to an 8-6 record, severely impacted their playoff standing. Not only did they fail to beat a direct NFC rival, but other Wild Card contenders — including the Seattle Seahawks (11-3), Chicago Bears (10-4), and San Francisco 49ers (10-4) — all posted key victories in Week 15. This perfect storm of losses and wins for their competitors has left the Lions squarely on the outside looking in, with their playoff probability plummeting and the pressure mounting to win their final three games to avoid extending their postseason drought.

Here's where Detroit lies in the playoff picture after the loss.

MORE WEEK 15 NFL:

• NFL power rankings for Week 15
• NFL Week 15 picks, predictions
• NFL Week 15 picks against the spread

Lions playoff picture 

After the loss and coupled with the pivotal victories by the Seahawks, Bears, and 49ers, the Lions' probability has plummeted.

The Lions' chances of making the 2025-26 playoffs are now estimated to be around 35% to 40%.

Regarding the Wild Card, the Lions remain the top team in the bubble Week 15. Detroit holds the No. 8 spot in the NFC, but after wins from the Bears, 49ers and Seahawks, the deficit has become larger.

Here is how the NFC playoff picture looks after a wild Week 15 Sunday. The first four seeds are the division leaders. 

Rank	Team	Record
1	Los Angeles Rams*	11-3
2	Chicago Bears*	10-4
3	Philadelphia Eagles*	9-5
4	Tampa Bay Buccaneers*	7-7
5	Seattle Seahawks	11-3
6	San Francisco 49ers	10-4
7	Green Bay Packers	9-4-1
8	Detroit Lions	8-6
9	Dallas Cowboys	7-7
10	Carolina Panthers	7-7
11	Minnesota Vikings	6-8
12	New Orleans Saints	4-10
13	Washington Commanders	4-10
14	Atlanta Falcons	3-11
15	Arizona Cardinals	3-11
16	New York Giants	2-12

*Division leaders

MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 14 results

NFC North standings

Team	Record
Chicago Bears	10-4
Green Bay Packers	9-4-1
Detroit Lions	8-6
Minnesota Vikings	5-8

After the loss to the Rams combined with the Chicago Bears' win against the Cleveland Browns, the Lions sit two games out of the NFC North.

Detroit's best chance at making the postseason is through the Wild Card.

Lions remaining schedule

The Lions' last three games are definitely challenging, each being crucial for Detroit's postseason chances. 

They'll face the Pittsburgh Steelers before heading on the road for two NFC North battles, with a road trip to face former coordinator Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears in Week 18 being the biggest.

As mentioned, the Lions need to win out to boost their chances of making the Wild Card, or at least finish strong. There is a small chance they could win the NFC North, but it's unlikely. 

Here is a look at Detroit's remaining schedule.

Week	Opponent
16	vs. Steelers
17	at Vikings
18	at Bears

MORE CHIEFS NEWS: 

• Six reasons why the Chiefs never got over Super Bowl hangover
• Patrick Mahomes suffers knee injury on final drive of Chiefs-Chargers
• Chiefs officially eliminated from NFL playoffs with loss to Chargers
• How long Chiefs are expected to be without Patrick Mahomes after knee injury

The San Francisco 49ers improved to 11-4 with a 37-24 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, maintaining their place as the No. 6 seed in the NFC with three games left in the season.

It was a dominant day offensively for the 49ers, who scored on seven of the team’s eight possessions, although the defense saw some gaps defending the run.

With the win, San Francisco’s win streak improved to four games, and it remained a half-game back of both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams for the division lead. With three games left, the 49ers are in a great position to make the playoffs, sitting two games ahead of the eighth-place Lions.

Here are three quick takeaways from the 49ers 37-24 win over the Titans on Sunday.

Purdy stacking games

I felt that Brock Purdy arguably had his best game of the season against the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago when it came to decision-making. Sure, the stats weren’t overwhelming (168 passing yards, 1 touchdown), but he consistently made good decisions, getting out of sacks and throwing the ball away when necessary while avoiding turnovers.

On Sunday, he topped that performance with a 295-yard, three-touchdown game, while adding 44 yards on the ground. He was instrumental in San Francisco scoring on seven of their eight drives on Sunday (the lone miss being a strip-fumble).

Purdy played well in structure and also made a number of big plays working out of structure, both in the air and with his legs. He started the game hot, going 5/6 for 50 yards on the opening drive, which ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings.

From there, he just took off, having seven plays of 20+ yards, while also being a killer on third downs (more on that later). It was a great performance from the quarterback, and it’s good to see him stacking performances late in the season.

Third downs

I felt like third downs were going to be a big deal, given how well the 49ers have executed on them this season.

Well, on Sunday, the 49ers were 9-of-15 on third downs and converted their lone fourth down. That included a 3rd & 13 where Purdy extended the play and hit Ricky Pearsall for the conversion.

San Francisco started really hot on third downs, which is how they started the game with back-to-back touchdown drives and a field goal. The 49ers did a good job sustaining long drives and controlling the pace of the game. Four of their drives went for 10+ plays, while they also had scoring drives of seven and eight plays.

The Titans, on the other hand, were only 3-of-9 on third downs. One problem in the first half, though, was that Tennessee wasn’t getting to third down, due to its success on early downs in the run game.

Still, it’s good to see the defense come up with plays on key downs, regardless of the opponent. Now to the big issue…

Run defense

The 49ers run defense was a serious problem on Sunday.

They allowed Tennessee to run for 136 yards on 6.8 yards per attempt, with lead backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears combining for 138 yards on 8.1 yards a carry. That’s awful and a big reason why Tennessee kept the game competitive throughout the first half.

Now, the 49ers offense being as good as it was on Sunday eventually forced the Titans to be more one-dimensional as they were chasing the score down 21 entering the fourth quarter. But, against quality teams, like the three San Francisco faces to end the year, the run defense will be a serious problem if the 49ers don’t improve following Sunday’s game.

The problem was even bigger when considering that Tennessee entered Sunday averaging just 4.1 yards per carry and ranked 31st in the NFL with under 85 rushing yards a game.

Robert Saleh’s got to figure out a solution fast.

In the midst of a resurgent season for Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams has already drawn a parallel between himself and Golden State Warriors basketball legend Stephen Curry. He previously compared his game-winning touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals back in early November to a classic Curry dagger 3-pointer from way downtown. While Williams is very far away from having the same reputation or accomplishments as Curry, you could at least see this specific comparison on this singular play basis.

After the Bears blew out the Cleveland Browns 31-3 on Sunday, Williams inadvertently made another connection between himself and Curry, albeit an indirect one that is much more #online-coded for people used to sports memes from social media than anything else. Also, I'm not entirely sure its wording was inadvertent.

When asked about his success carving up the Browns' defense with play-action, Williams said, "he was told" he couldn't do that kind of thing and succeed at the NFL level. That wording is curious, to say the least:

"Yea...I was told I couldn't get under center or turn my back to the defense"

Caleb on his success in play action

— 79th & Halas Podcast (@79thAndHalas) December 14, 2025

For those of you who (thankfully) don't spend that much time on social media, Williams' wording here sure sounds like a famous sports X/Twitter post that notes how there are always people making up strawman arguments by making a point no one else was making. It uses Curry's prolific, all-time 3-point shooting as an example, noting that a person with this mindset would say Curry's critics were calling him out for being a poor shooter, even though no one who was serious has ever said such a thing.

It's been a good template for similar sorts of arguments and rhetoric in the sports sphere over the years:

there’s always someone on twitter arguing with no one. saying stuff like “but I was told steph curry wasn’t a good shooter”

— Bris Bristofferson (@killakow) June 11, 2019

All of this to say, the Bears have been running an under-center offense all season. Williams has been terrific in play action ... all season. Anyone paying attention who is still criticizing Williams notes his occasionally poor accuracy or the Bears' still-developing dropback game, not how he can't play from under center or utilize play action well. That's the Bears' bread and butter under Ben Johnson!

Nonetheless, I appreciate Williams going at his critics and showing some spiciness. That he did it while using the wording of an all-time sports social media post just makes it even funnier. I find it awfully convenient that his wording is reminiscent of a legend he's already compared himself to. That can't be an accident.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Caleb Williams playfully roasted his critics after Bears' blowout win

The Tennessee Titans had no answer for the San Francisco offense in their Week 15, 37-24, loss to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. 

Tennessee (2-12) did look good in spurts, but the young offense couldn’t keep up with the 49ers' dynamic attack. Cam Ward started strong, looked good, and Tony Pollard continued to produce, but it was not enough to lead the Titans to a victory. 

Unfortunately, the Titans lost three safeties early in the contest, and Purdy exploited the lack of depth with a barrage of explosive plays, which put the Titans down and allowed the 49ers' defense to pin their ears back and attack the Titans’ offense and harass Ward throughout the second half of the contest. 

Here’s how fans reacted to the loss on social media. 

If this meh version of the Titans offense was the version we got all year - all else equal, the #titans would be the middle of the pack-ish team we all expected this year.

— Dern Sharts (@xMillerTime9x) December 15, 2025

As a Titans fan, I’m excited for next year. Get Cam Ward a true WR1 and a new OC and we will see a leap in his numbers.

Borgonzi’s first draft class looks legit as well. Excited to see his upcoming moves.

— Ecçlesiastes. (@the4four3) December 15, 2025

Titans Fall 37-24 on the road against the 49ers

Game recap presented by @LGUS

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 15, 2025

Sigh, sad that we lost 24-37, but at least it’s nice to see that Titans can finally put up 20+ points again

— 🍂🍁I’m Just Tony🍁🍂 (@DaNoodleBowls) December 15, 2025

I can take a loss like today for the Titans, similar to the Seahawks game. They lost because they were talent deficient instead of incompetent.

— Noah McKay (@NoahMcKayUCR) December 15, 2025

inject it into my veins https://t.co/9eA79Ug5iq

— stephhhhh (@StephaniieVoris) December 15, 2025

Don’t let anyone tell you Cam isn’t good or going to be a good QB. He needs to work on plenty but the talent is there. Titans needs to lose out and land the #1 pick. They’ll get a haul and build around him. https://t.co/Cm7agJdXIk

— JD (@ThatdamnDeuce63) December 15, 2025

Tennessee Titans can't stop Brock Purdy, 49ers offense in 37-24 loss https://t.co/8VuVOhSPihpic.twitter.com/ieyjQkEKFE

— The Titans Wire (@TheTitansWire) December 15, 2025

We had some fun, scored some points, and stayed in contention for that #1 pick. Not a bad day. #Titans

— Jim McCaslin (@JimMcCaslin23) December 15, 2025

The #Titans played three alright quarters and one really really gross one.

Don't play gross quarters, I guess.

Titans are 2-12.

Quick recap: https://t.co/ROKL7WoKTm

— Nick Suss (@nicksuss) December 15, 2025

#Titans fall 37-24 to #49ers, dropping to 2-12 on the season.
TN returns home next week to face #Chiefs team that's out of the playoff chase and won't have Mahomes (ACL).

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) December 15, 2025

I hate Bo Hardegree so much. Easily the worst play caller I've ever seen.
Worse than Todd Downing.

There's no time left, just throw the ball down field, why are we still running screens?@Titans#Titans#TitanUp

— Mohammed ☀️ (@mhesen09) December 15, 2025

#Titans lose to the 49ers. #TENvsSFpic.twitter.com/deEzucZVTs

— 104-5 The Zone 📻 (@1045TheZone) December 15, 2025

Final:

🤝 tough game and good luck Titans!#Titans 24 vs #49ers 37#TitanUp vs #FTTB#TENvsSF#BeatTEN#BeatTheTitans#BangBang#9erGang

LET’S GO 9ERS!!!
ALL DAY!!!
EVERY DAY!!!
FAITHFUL TO THE BAY!!!

— Devin Hernandez (@KaBar85) December 15, 2025

Listen to this #titans fans https://t.co/YQynjegMkm

— Teen Titan (@TitanTeen_) December 15, 2025

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans fall to San Francisco 49ers: Here's how fans reacted

The mechanism of the injury, early reports following Sunday's loss in Denver and comments from coach Matt LaFleur all paint the same picture on the knee injury suffered by defensive end Micah Parsons.

Parsons went down with a non-contact knee injury while chasing Bo Nix outside the pocket in the third quarter on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the initial belief from the Packers' side is that Parsons tore his ACL, a season-ending injury.

"It doesn't look good, I'll leave it at that," LaFleur said post-game.

Testing will be done in Green Bay on Monday to confirm the diagnosis.

Parsons' left knee buckled while on the chase, and he appeared to be in significant pain after going to the ground. He eventually hobbled back to the locker room.

LaFleur called the day a "double whammy" because of the defeat to the Broncos and the loss of several key players, including Parsons.

"You don't wish that on anybody. It's obviously tough," LaFleur said. "We all know what kind of player he is and the impact he's had on our football team. To lose someone like that, it's tough. But no one is going to feel sorry for us. We need to find a way. Guys have to rally around each other."

Parsons, who was acquired via trade with the Dallas Cowboys in September, had 12.5 sacks during the Packers' first 13 games. He was on an All-Pro pace entering Sunday.

With a recovery timetable of at least nine months ahead, the start of the 2026 season will almost certainly be impacted for Parsons.

The Packers also lost Christian Watson (chest), Zach Tom (knee) and Evan Williams (knee) to injuries on Sunday in Denver.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers fear torn ACL for Micah Parsons: 'It doesn't look good'

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Addy Brown had 21 of her season-high 28 points in the first half, and No. 10 Iowa State routed in-state rival Northern Iowa 81-53 on Sunday with national scoring leader Audi Crooks sitting out with an injury.

Crooks, who averages 27.6 points per game, was injured Wednesday in the Cyclones' win over No. 11 Iowa. She was expected to finish return-to-play protocol early this week, the school announced, without disclosing the nature of the injury.

The Cyclones (12-0) are out to their best start since the 2013-14 team was a program-best 14-0.

Alisa Williams made her first career start in Crooks’ place and scored 11 points and grabbed five boards.

Brown knocked down four 3-point shots in the first half, and the Cyclones broke open the game with a 34-6 run spanning the first and second halves. The lead grew to 33 points in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Jada Williams had eight assists to go with 10 points.

Iowa State was 12 of 29 on 3s (41.4%), scored 22 points off the Panthers' 16 turnovers, and had assists on 20 of its 30 field goals.

Brown shot 8 of 13 from the field in the first half, including 4 of 5 on 3s, as the Cyclones wiped out an early deficit and took control in the second quarter.

The Panthers (4-6), who upset Iowa State 87-75 last season, got 13 points from Abby Tuttle. It was UNI's second game against a Top 25 opponent. The Panthers lost to Iowa on Nov. 16.

Up Next

Northern Iowa travels to St. Thomas on Sunday.

Iowa State opens Big 12 play at home against Kansas on Sunday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

The Tennessee Titans (2-12) got off to a decent offensive start, but never strung together enough defensive stops against the San Francisco 49ers (10-4). Unfortunately, the Titans whiffed their way to a 37-24 loss.

The Titans' defense opened things up by allowing a 49ers touchdown drive on the first defensive drive. The Titans marched down the field on their second offensive drive, but only came away with three points after a 63-yard drive. That would be the closest the deficit would get after the scoring started. The Titans' defense looked befuddled, failing to contain Jauan Jennings, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey for the most part. The deficit would eventually escalate to 31-10. However, there were rare moments when the defense made plays, especially in the fourth quarter. The defense opened up that quarter with a strip sack fumble by your Titans' Wire Week 15 Player of the Game, Jeffery Simmons.

His performance didn't turn around this team on Sunday, but he put in a valiant effort. Not only did he produce on defense, but he also produced on offense with a receiving touchdown immediately following his strip sack fumble. Outside of the bizarre special teams penalty, he showed how to be a consummate pro on this failing football team yet again. He put together an outstanding performance with seven tackles (four solo), two tackles for a loss, one sack, one quarterback hit, one forced fumble, and his second career receiving touchdown! This was, without a doubt, one of the strongest Player of the Game performances of the season.

On the season, Simmons has 55 tackles, 32 solo tackles, nine sacks, and one receiving touchdown.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans Week 15 Player of the Game: DT Jeffery Simmons

Free Press sports writer Rainer Sabin highlights the best and worst performances from the Detroit Lions’ 41-34 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season Sunday, Dec. 14, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Lions vs Rams winners

QB Jared Goff

Goff played like a quarterback who was still out for revenge against his former team. Almost five years after the Rams gave up on him and shipped him to Detroit, Goff came back to the Los Angeles area and barbequed their defense in the first half Sunday while passing for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

Among his highlights was a brilliant 52-yard throw to Amon-Ra St. Brown, when he evaded multiple rushers and delivered the ball to the receiver just after he entered a vacant zone. Not long thereafter, Goff torched the Rams again, when he connected with Jameson Williams on a deep post in the end zone. The 31-yard scoring strike in the final minute of the second quarter widened the Lions’ lead to 10 points.

Although Goff wasn't able to sustain that level of brilliant play in the second half, he gave Detroit a fighting chance. By the end of the game, he cobbled together a terrific stat line: 25 completions on 41 attempts, 338 passing yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.

WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams

During a three-week span that elapsed between mid-November and early December, the Lions placed their top two tight ends, Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, on injured reserve. The loss of LaPorta was particularly significant because he was the team’s second-most productive receiver at the time he was shelved. With LaPorta sidelined indefinitely, St. Brown and Williams assumed a bigger burden as the complexion of the offense changed. On Sunday, they helped Goff power the passing game.

St. Brown had 13 receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Williams added seven catches, 135 receiving yards and another score. Both repeatedly came through in clutch situations, hauling in completions that prolonged drives. Williams’ 25-yard catch on third down late in the first quarter extended a possession that would result in a field goal. St. Brown’s 14-yard grab on fourth-and-1 at the Lions’ 29-yard line allowed Detroit to continue a quick march to the end zone at the end of the half. Together, they accounted for 88% of the team's receiving yards.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Lions playoff room for error is gone — win out or they're done

DE Aidan Hutchinson

Since the Lions rewarded Hutchinson with a gargantuan contract extension in late October, he hasn’t made many impact plays. But on Sunday, he helped swing the momentum in the Lions' favor on the Rams’ sixth offensive snap, when he swiped a pass from Matthew Stafford and returned the ball 58 yards inside the Rams’ red zone. The interception, Hutchinson’s first since October 2023, not only extinguished L.A.’s promising opening drive but it also set up the Lions’ first touchdown. One play after Hutchinson picked off Stafford, Goff hit St. Brown in the end zone to put the Lions up, 7-0.

AIDAN HUTCHINSON NEARLY TOOK IT BACK FOR A PICK-SIX

DETvsLAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxVpic.twitter.com/DYmJraN5aV

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

Although the Lions’ defense earned few wins over the remainder of the game, Hutchinson remained productive. He finished with four pressures, three quarterback hits and a sack.

Lions vs Rams losers

CB D.J. Reed

Reed was the Lions’ most expensive free-agent acquisition this past offseason and was brought in to replace Carlton Davis III, who signed with New England following his lone season in Detroit. In the first month of the 2025 season, an argument could be made Reed had been the team’s best defensive back. But then he pulled a hamstring in a Week 4 victory over Cleveland and missed six games. Since he returned to action Nov. 23 against the New York Giants, he has struggled to hold up in coverage.

In the Lions' win over the Cowboys in Week 14, Reed surrendered nine receptions for 130 yards before a late-game interception provided him measure of redemption. On Sunday, he was repeatedly burned by Puka Nacua. Nacua beat him on an early fourth-down completion and then scorched him again on a 36-yard out-and-up pass down the sideline in the second quarter. Not long thereafter, Reed was flagged for defensive pass interference near the goal line, which negated a 10-yard holding penalty on the Rams. With their top three safeties out of action, the Lions needed to get more out of Reed. But he wasn’t just good enough.

Lions' running game

Since coach Dan Campbell arrived in 2021, he has wanted the Lions to impose their will by controlling the line of scrimmage with a powerful running game. They often did last year. In 17 of 18 games, they topped 100 rushing yards. But they have now failed to cross that threshold five times this year. The Lions gained only 70 yards on 20 carries Sunday, as the Rams repeatedly clogged the running lanes for both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs, who has emerged as one of the most dynamic skill players in the NFL, could never gain traction. Neither could Montgomery, who had little room to maneuver. Blame the offensive line, who couldn’t create much push.

Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions winners/losers vs Rams: Jahmyr Gibbs shut down? Blame the OL

The Los Angeles Rams stayed in first place in the NFC with their win over the Detroit Lion in Week 15, but the Seattle Seahawks are lurking. Week 15 was important, but Week 16 looms for Los Angeles.

Both the Rams and Seahawks won, so they remain tied. Los Angeles’s win over Seattle is the tiebreaker right now, so the 11-3 Rams are in first place over the 11-3 Seahawks. They play each other in Week 16 in the biggest game of the week.

Around the NFC, the Chicago Bears won and the Green Bay Packers lost, so there is a new second-place team. Chicago is back in while the Packers drop to the wild card race.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost, and fell out of the playoffs, but then the Carolina Panthers lost and the Bucs are back in fourth place.

The Lions clinched a playoff spot by being three games up on the Lions plus a tiebreaker with three games to go.

NFC West standings

The Seahawks are tied with the Rams atop the NFC West again, and the tiebreaker is the Rams’ win over the Seahawks. The two teams play again in Week 16 and the winner will be in first place with a one-game lead.

1. Los Angeles Rams: 11-3 (win over SEA)
2. Seattle Seahawks: 11-3 (loss to LAR)
3. San Francisco 49ers: 10-4
4. Arizona Cardinals: 3-11

Current NFC playoff picture

The Rams will fall to fifth place with a loss to the Seahawks next week. But for now, they rule the roost.

1. Los Angeles Rams 11-3
2. Chicago Bears 10-4
3. Philadelphia Eagles 9-5
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-7
5. Seattle Seahawks 11-3
6. San Francisco 49ers 10-4
7. Green Bay Packers 9-4-1
8. Detroit Lions 8-6
9. Carolina Panthers 7-7
10. Dallas Cowboys 6-6-1

The San Francisco 49ers hosted the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Levi's Stadium for an interconference battle in Week 15, and Kyle Shanahan's team went on to earn a 37-24 victory.

Throughout the game, the 49ers had a few players deal with injuries, including wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who suffered an ankle and knee injury on Sunday.

After the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided a small update on Pearsall's injuries.

"We'll know more for sure tomorrow," Shanahan said. "He hurt the ankle on the first play and returned and played with that the whole game. And then the knee thing, I think, was just him most likely irritating his PCL from the past. Those linger, so I'd expect him to be alright, but he was battling through a lot today."

Pearsall had five receptions for 20 yards in the last three weeks since returning from his injury. On Sunday, he caught six passes for 96 yards. The 49ers will need him to play to that level going forward if they want to make a run in the postseason.

Shanahan also mentioned defensive lineman Jordan Elliott, who was injured in the locker room pre-game, cornerback Chase Lucas and left guard Spencer Burford as other players who were injured in Week 15.

Shanahan said that Burford's ankle was bad early, and he's hoping that the fact that he returned to the game means it's not a high-ankle sprain.

More 49ers: Kyle Shanahan says 2025 49ers aren't the team he's been most proud of

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan provides update on Ricky Pearsall after his 2 injuries

NFC playoff picture: Where Dallas Cowboys sit in NFC East, wild-card standings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes are on even thinner ice following their Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Cowboys entered Week 15 in second place in the NFC East and in the No. 10 spot in the wild-card standings going into Sunday.

According to the New York Times Playoff Simulator, the Cowboys had an 11% chance to make the postseason going into Sunday and a 9% chance to make the playoffs.

Let's see where things stand after Dallas' loss to the Vikings on Sunday night.

NFC East standings

1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

2. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

3. Washington Commanders (4-10)

4. New York Giants (2-12)

UPDATE: With the Cowboys' loss to the Vikings and the Eagles' win over the Raiders, the Eagles' magic number is down to one. That means an Eagles win or Cowboys loss next week clinches the division for Philadelphia.

So, that also means the Cowboys must run the table and need the Eagles to lose the rest of their games for Dallas to win the division. The Eagles play on Saturday, so the Cowboys could be eliminated before they play in Week 16.

END OF UPDATE

It's a two-team race between the Cowboys and Eagles with four games left to play entering Week 15, as both the Giants and Commanders have been eliminated.

If the Eagles win on Sunday, their magic number would be down to two. If the Cowboys lose, also, that magic number drops to one, which would mean that Philadelphia can clinch the division next week with a win or a Cowboys loss.

If the Cowboys win and the Eagles lose in Week 15, Dallas will be in position to take over first place in the NFC East next week with the same results in Week 16.

The Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, while the Eagles draw a very favorable matchup against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders at home.

NFC wild card standings

Seed	Team	Record
5	Seattle Seahawks	11-3
6	San Francisco 49ers	10-4
7	Green Bay Packers	9-4-1
8	Detroit Lions	8-6
9	Carolina Panthers	7-7
10	Dallas Cowboys	6-7-1

UPDATE: The Cowboys can no longer grab a wild-card spot with their loss to the Vikings on Sunday night, so this path is dead.

It's NFC East or bust for the Cowboys going into Week 16.

END OF UPDATE

The Cowboys' path to the playoffs is much tougher through the wild card.

The Cowboys enter this week sitting in the No. 10 spot and the highest they can move up is to No. 9, but will need a win to do so.

Long story short: the Cowboys have to win out and will need multiple losses from the teams in front of them just to have a chance to secure a wild-card spot.

More NFL news

• Eagles vs. Raiders forecast sets up troubling scenario for fantasy playoffs
• Bills vs. Patriots weather forecast concerning for fantasy playoffs
• Brandon Aiyuk saga with 49ers takes latest shocking twist
• Daniel Jones injury update gives ideal timeline for Colts QB
• How Panthers can clinch NFC South title over Bucs as soon as Week 16
• Todd Bowles drops 7 F-bombs in heated post-game presser

With their 34-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers, the Denver Broncos improved to 12-2 on the year, won their 11th straight game, and beat one of the better teams in the NFC. On top of all that, the Broncos officially clinched a spot in the NFL postseason for a second straight season after suffering through a long playoff drought which ended last season.

We're in.

And we're still climbing. pic.twitter.com/Y4D1u0QcZk

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 15, 2025

The Broncos’ magical season continues with a postseason berth, but they have much larger goals that they are chasing after. With the New England Patriots blowing a large lead in the second half, they fell to 11-3 on the year and now trail the Broncos in the race for the number 1 seed. We also keep a two-game lead over the Chargers with three to go, as the Chargers officially eliminated the Chiefs earlier today.

Next up for the Broncos is a home game vs. a very hot Jacksonville Jaguars team. We will get clinching scenarios later this week, but a win over the Jags and losses by the Patriots and Chargers could lock all but lock things up for the Broncos.

While we are in the middle of this magical ride, we need to take a step back and enjoy what is happening right now. After Peyton rode off into the sunset after Super Bowl 50, we have dealt with some very dark times. However, things changed last season when Head Coach Sean Payton started to turn the Broncos in the right direction, and rookie quarterback Bo Nix started to flash real potential. They locked themselves into the postseason last year in the finale vs. the Chiefs, who were resting their starters. but were quickly one-and-done in the playoffs.

One year later, after a tough 1-2 start that included two walk-off field goal losses and a leverage penalty, the Broncos have now won 11-straight games. Quarterback Bo Nix is looking like the real deal in year two, Vance Joseph has this defense playing at a high level, and Sean Payton has this team firing on all cylinders as we near the postseason.

Next up: Clinching the AFC West, followed by clinching the one seed in the AFC.

In their fourth matchup since the 2021 trade, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams faced off in another close game. Detroit took the lead first, and while they were up 24-17 at the half, their adjustments made in the second half hurt the team. In the second half, the offense scored only 10 points, while the defense allowed 24 points. The Lions couldn’t overcome the Rams’ high-powered offense in the end as they lost 41-34.

Every game from here on out is a must-win game for the Lions. No more mistakes, and the team can’t do anything wrong in the next month. Before we look forward, here are my five takeaways from the loss to the Rams.

Hutchinson finally makes some big plays

For weeks, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson hasn’t had the type of impact that Lions fans come to expect. He gets pressure on the quarterback, but he’s been low on the sack total and struggling in filling his gaps on run defense. His best game this year was against the Baltimore Ravens, where he took over and made some key stops when the team needed them. Against the Rams, the Lions needed a stop after missing a field goal on their opening drive, and the Rams were moving down the field with ease.

As soon as it appeared that this game might be a long day for the Lions’ defense, Hutchinson read the play and picked off Stafford, returning it 58 yards to put the Lions in the red zone.

Wolverine with HANDS@aidanhutch97 | #ProBowlVotepic.twitter.com/uZEQFlIp9G

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 14, 2025

Detroit scored on the following play to take the lead 7-0, but Hutchinson wasn’t done yet. He continued to be a problem for LA, finishing with three tackles and a big sack in the second quarter to force the Rams to punt for the first time all game. Hutchinson continued to pressure Stafford all game long and forced a few incomplete passes, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end.

Miles Frazier must replace Trystan Colon if Christian Mahogany doesn’t return next week

Last week, we saw the return of the infamous guard rotation at the left side as starting guard Kayode Awosika missed the game due to an ankle injury. It was between Trystan Colon and rookie Miles Frazier, and I believed Frazier had the better performance.

Colon got the start again against the Rams, and unlike last week, it seems the rotation between him and Frazier wasn’t as frequent, with Colon getting the majority of the snaps. Seeing more time on the field, it wasn’t a good day at the office for Colon. He was beaten on the inside frequently, struggling to run to the outside on pull plays, and Frazier appeared to do a better job once again.

If left guard Christian Mahogany can return next week for the Lions, the offensive line will see an upgrade overall. If he still needs another week, I want Frazier to get the start and get more snaps than Colon. Colon just doesn’t seem to have the juice the team needs in that left guard spot, and his performance today was forgettable.

4th down defense can’t finish

In a game where the Lions needed to make a stop on defense to force a punt, it was a rare thing to see. Detroit was actually great on third down, holding the Rams to 2-of-9 conversions. But when the Rams faced fourth down, on the other hand, they were aggressive, converting on all three attempts.

It’s deflating to force so many fourth downs, but not be able to get off the field. Detroit still held the Rams to two field goals and three punts. The defense did all it could, but it still was far from enough. If they could’ve made a few more plays here or there, this game could’ve gone in their favor.

Amon-Ra is back to himself

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is back to his old ways again. He had a good game against the Dallas Cowboys last week, but the Rams game was his best of the season. St. Brown had a rough patch in the middle of the season, dropping passes and not being on the same page with quarterback Jared Goff. I criticized St. Brown for those drops, as it became a weekly issue of him making mistakes he never used to make.

Whatever was going on with St. Brown earlier this season is now in the past, with St. Brown playing like the top-five wide receiver he is. He finished with a season-high 163 yards on 13 catches, finding the end zone twice. When St. Brown is at his best, it opens up the game for everyone else. Jameson Williams saw some big plays because of it, but the running game with Jahmy Gibbs didn’t execute when they were given the chances.

Secondary had a rough day

When the Lions lost safety Brian Branch last week, their only hope for an upgrade in the secondary was to see safety Kerby Joseph return. Joseph suffered a setback in his return and was ruled out later in the week, forcing safeties Daniel Thomas and Erick Hallett to fill in with veteran Avonte Maddox. The Rams targeted the safeties often, and the great duo of wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams was too much for the Lions’ secondary. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns, as Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards.

Cornerback Amik Robertson struggled early in the game, but rebounded with a few pass deflections. D.J. Reed had a game to forget as he was constantly a step behind whoever he was assigned to cover. When it came to getting a turnover, Hutchinson was the only player on the defense who made a play through the air.

The secondary is down a starting corner and both safeties, but they played like they had no experienced starters. This game was expected to be high scoring but Detroit didn’t have answers for what the Rams were doing. It wasn’t always the wide receivers, either, as Rams tight end Colby Parkinson got 75 yards on five catches, finding the end zone twice.

The Dallas Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings tonight at JerryWorld™. Both teams are having disappointing seasons, but Dallas is still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. Will Dallas keep pace for the playoffs? Can Minnesota pull off the road upset? Let’s tune in and find out!

Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys

AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Kickoff – 5:20pm PST / 7:20pm CST / 8:20pm EST

Network – NBC

Odds – Cowboys -6.5, O/U 47.5

Enjoy the game with the CSC family and join the thread below!

The Green Bay Packers had injuries pile up throughout their loss to the Denver Broncos, including but not limited to receiver Christian Watson, right tackle Zach Tom, defensive end Micah Parsons, linebacker Quay Walker and safety Evan Williams, all of whom are starters on the team. The two most concerning injuries seemed to be to Watson and Parsons, who never returned to action after they went down.

Parsons is believed to have an ACL tear, per reports, but head coach Matt LaFleur wouldn’t specify what the team’s belief is of his non-contact knee injury. Instead, LaFleur noted simply that “it doesn’t look good.”

On the Watson end, LaFleur did confirm that the receiver did leave the stadium in an ambulance, which was reported previously. He couldn’t comment on whether Watson will stay overnight in Denver, but the belief seems to be that he broke a bone somewhere in his collarbone/sternum area, which is why it looked like he went down with a shoulder injury, but the team officially called it a chest injury. Bones broken in that area can sometimes impact a person’s breathing because of how close it is to the trachea.

We’re going to have to wait for further updates to learn about what Tom, Walker and Williams went through, as LaFleur wasn’t asked about those players in the press conference. For what it’s worth, Tom was replaced by Darian Kinnard while Williams was replaced by Zayne Anderson.

Philip Rivers came back after a five-year retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The stage was set for an incredible NFL story. However, the Seattle Seahawks played spoiler by defeating the Colts 18-16 on the sixth of Jason Myers' field goals. It was the fourth time in Seattle's history that it won a game without scoring a touchdown. By returning, Rivers reset the clock on his Hall of Fame candidacy for another five years whenever he retires for good. How did the 44-year-old fare in his return?

What was Philip Rivers' completion percentage?

Rivers was 18 of 27 on pass attempts, more successful on short throws.

How many yards passing did Philip Rivers have?

120 yards.

How many touchdowns/interceptions did Philip Rivers throw?

Rivers threw one TD pass and one interception, which was on the Colts' final offensive play.

What was Philip Rivers' QB rating?

73.1

What is Philip Rivers' career win-loss record as a starter?

134-107

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Philip Rivers' stats in NFL return with Indianapolis Colts

Patrick Mahomes' injury has NFL fans wondering when Tom Brady tore his ACL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have a lot of career overlap.

Apparently, they even match when it comes to tearing their ACL.

The Kansas City Chiefs' legendary QB sustained that injury on Sunday in the same game that eliminated K.C. from playoff contention.

Brady had done that to his knee back when he played for the New England Patriots.

On social media on Sunday evening, fans realized just how alike those injuries were.

MORE: Bills may not win the AFC East — but they sent a clear warning to the rest of the NFL

When did Tom Brady tear his ACL?

Brady tore his ACL in the first game of the 2008 season.

That's about the only thing that makes it different than the Mahomes injury, which came in Week 15.

When Brady had his season-ending injury, it was his ninth NFL season and he had three Super Bowl rings.

Mahomes is in his ninth NFL season and has three Super Bowl rings.

Brady, because the injury was right off the bat, missed the rest of the season but then was good for the following year.

Mahomes' Week 1 status will be less certain.

Brady obviously did well for himself after the injury, winning four more rings. Mahomes would love to do the same.

More NFL news:

• Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
• Texans scored a TD by snapping it through C.J. Stroud's legs
• Mack Hollins really doesn't like wearing shoes
• Micah Parsons' injury doesn't look good
• Chiefs reveal status of Patrick Mahomes' ACL
• Commanders' All-Pro puts down fans' draft order concerns

The Tennessee Titans should be big fans of the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders in the final three weeks of the NFL season.

Tennessee (2-12) remains at No. 3 in the projected NFL draft order despite losing at San Francisco on Dec. 14.

At 2-12, the Giants and Raiders have the strength of schedule tiebreaker advantage atop the projected order. The two teams play in Week 17.

Three other teams are at 3-11, including the Browns, Jets and Cardinals.

Here's the current projected 2026 NFL draft order:

PLAYOFF PICTURE: NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 15

Updated NFL draft order in 2026 if season ended right now

Order updated after Sunday's games

1. New York Giants (2-12)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
3. Tennessee Titans (2-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
5. New York Jets (3-11)
6. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
7. New Orleans Saints (4-10)
8. Washington Commanders (4-10)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
10. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta) (Falcons' record is 5-9)
11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
13. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
14. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
15. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
16. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
17. Detroit Lions (8-6)
18. New York Jets (from Indianapolis) (Colts' record is 8-6)

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL draft order update, Titans rooting for Giants, Raiders wins

Davante Adams injury update from Rams leaves WR's Week 16 status in serious doubt originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Rams saw wide receiver Davante Adams exit the Week 15 game against the Detroit Lions early due to an injury.

Adams suffered what was diagnosed as a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and he did not return to the game. The injury was to the same hamstring that had Adams on the injury report and questionable before Sunday's game.

After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay revealed that Adams is optimistic about his chances of playing in Week 16.

However, McVay also added that he has a hard time believing Adams will be able to play on what is a short week with the Rams playing on Thursday night.

"It didn't look good," McVay said. 

"(Davante) was optimistic. He knows his body really well. ... We'll see what that means. I can't imagine that's good for Thursday," McVay added.

It's not hard to say why McVay is pessimistic. Not only do the Rams have a short week, but Adams re-aggravated an existing injury.

It goes without saying that the Rams desperately need Adams to play next week, as Los Angeles draws a huge matchup against a Seattle Seahawks team that sports an elite defense.

Adding to that, the winner of that contest between Los Angeles and Seattle will take over first place in the NFC West going into Week 17, as the Rams and Seahawks are both 11-3 but the Rams currently hold the head-to-head tie-breaker.

A win for the Rams would clinch the head-to-head tie-breaker, which is the first one when determining a division winner between teams with the same record.

We'll get our next update on Adams on Monday, when the Rams release their first injury report of the week.

More NFL News

• Packers' Micah Parsons feared to have season-ending injury
• Patrick Mahomes' injury diagnosis is worst-case scenario for Chiefs
• Patrick Mahomes makes first public comment since knee injury
• Broncos-Packers fight: Denver, Green Bay get into pre-game scuffle

Davante Adams left Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter after suffering a hamstring injury. It happened on a deep shot where Adams came up limping before going down to the ground in pain.

Trainers tended to the receiver and took him to the locker room. He was unable to return as the Los Angeles Rams went on to win, 41-34.

Adams had been dealing with a hamstring injury for the last two weeks, managing it in practice by getting several days off. He aggravated it in Sunday’s game, Sean McVay said, and could miss some time.

After the game, McVay told reporters that it “didn’t look good” and that although he won’t rule Adams out for Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, it seems unlikely he’ll be ready to play.

He said it’s the same hamstring Adams has been managing. After speaking to Adams, McVay said the receiver is optimistic but “I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday,” the coach added.

The Rams visit the Seahawks on Thursday night in a game that could determine the NFC West winner, so it's as big a matchup as Los Angeles will have all season. If Adams is unable to play, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell would be asked to step up.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Davante Adams injury: Latest update, news on Rams WR's hamstring

There were some huge TSSAA basketball performances last week. 

Who should be the Ponce Law Nashville area Boys Athlete of the Week? You get to decide. 

Vote in our poll below. Voting closes Dec. 18 at noon. 

Hudson McKnight, Brentwood: McKnight had 15 points in a 55-52 win over Independence. He also had 18 points in a 76-58 win over Stewarts Creek. 

Camden Cole, Eagleville: Cole led the Eagles with 28 points in a 62-30 win over Riverdale.

More: Ponce Law is honored to offer the 2026 Perspectives Scholarship to support students’ educational journey. Learn more.

More: Davis Cochran’s 34 points tops Nashville area’s basketball top performers

Carson Vaughn, Franklin: Vaughn led the Admirals with 21 points and six rebounds in a 70-68 win over Warren County. 

Dakota Hull, Lewis County: Hull scored 24 points while also adding four rebounds and a block in a 79-60 win over Spring Hill.

Loni Pughsley, MBA: Pughsley scored 25 points in a 74-70 overtime victory against Shelbyville.

Emerson Lanier, Independence: Lanier made five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points in a 47-45 win over Ravenwood. He also had 15 points and three 3-pointers in a win over Centennial. 

Elijah Carter, MTCS: Carter led MTCS with 26 points in an 87-58 win over Zion Christian.

Kade McCormack, Richland: McCormack scored 28 points in a 60-41 win over Cascade.

Ty Cobb, Upperman: Cobb had 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in a 62-42 win over Lawson.

Callyn Sullivan, Van Buren County: Sullivan had a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds as well as seven assists and one steal in a 65-44 win over Sale Creek. 

Tucker Blanks, Zion Christian: Blanks had six 3-pointers and 28 points in a 74-56 win over Dickson Academy. He also scored 20 points with six 3-pointers in an 87-58 loss to MTCS.

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.

He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA basketball stars up for Ponce Law Boys Athlete of the Week

The 7-7 Carolina Panthers, with today’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, are tied again with the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Technically, they are second in the NFC South. They have multiple paths to the NFC South title from here and are still, very barely, in control of their own destiny.

NFC South

Apparently, nobody wants to win this division. That’s my big takeaway from the last week of football. The Bucs look tired, the Panthers look like they still haven’t figured out how to tie their shoes every day, and the 4-10 New Orleans Saints might legitimately be the best team in the division.

For the Panthers to win the division, they have to at least split their games against the Bucs. Likely, they will need to sweep them.

Splitting the Bucs

A 1-1 or 0-0-2 record against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the next three weeks will see the Panthers into the playoffs IF the Bucs LOSE to the Miami Dolphins and the Panthers WIN against the Seattle Seahawks. Fun fact, the Seahawks could be the projected first seed in the NFC when they play the Panthers. Carolina is 2-0 against projected first seeds this season. They are also 0-2 against the New Orleans Saints, so who knows.

A winning record against the Bucs

This is the simplest path forward and where the Panthers destiny is in their hands. Win and they are in. Even a 1-0-1 record against Tampa Bay with a Tampa Week 17 win and a Panthers Week 17 loss sees the Panthers winning the division with an 8-8-1 record. Fun fact, that is the only way to get to a .500 record in a 17-game season.

The fourth seed

Despite today’s unlikely, yet inevitable performance, the Panthers still have a technical path to climb to the third seed in the NFL playoffs. Doing so would require the Panthers to win out and finish with a 10-7 record while a complicated series of results, including a Bears vs Packers tie in Week 16, are required to jump Carolina ahead of a lot of teams that are already at nine wins and are all but guaranteed to make the playoffs.

It’s possible in the same way that Bryce Young converting a 4th & 1 on a QB sneak is possible.

The wildcard?

With today’s loss, and a handful of other results around the league, the Carolina Panthers have been eliminated from wildcard contention. They either win the NFC South, or they miss the playoffs.

The Panthers paths to the playoffs:

1. 10 wins is a first place finish in the NFC South
2. 8-8-1 with an 1-0-1 record against the Bucs is a first place finish for the Panthers.
3. 9-8 with two wins against the Bucs is a first place finish for the Panthers.
4. 9-8 with one win against the 8-9 Bucs and one win against the Seahawks is a first place finish for the Panthers.
5. Any scenario with two losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an elimination from the playoffs.

DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix tied his career high with four touchdown throws and Denver's defense stifled Jordan Love in the second half of the Broncos' 34-26 win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers, who lost star Micah Parsons to a knee injury.

With their NFL-best 11th consecutive victory, the Broncos (12-2) clinched a playoff berth and moved a game ahead of New England for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They stayed two games ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.

The Packers (9-4-1), who led 23-14 in the third quarter before falling apart offensively, slipped a half-game behind Chicago ahead of their Soldier Field showdown with the Bears next weekend. This was Green Bay's first loss by more than three points.

Denver cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss recorded their first interceptions of the season, the Broncos sacked Jordan Love three times and Denver held the Packers to just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone.

After scoring on their first five drives, the Packers managed one field goal in their final half-dozen possessions. The others ended in a pair of picks, two turnovers on downs and a punt.

Former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 56, 23 and 35 yards to help the Packers take a 16-14 halftime lead, which they quickly stretched to 23-14 on Josh Jacobs' 40-yard touchdown run following a debatable pass interference flag on Moss.

Denver's defense finally got a stop when Surtain intercepted Love's deep throw to Christian Watson, who suffered a chest injury on the play.

The Broncos turned that takeaway into points when Nix drove Denver 71 yards on seven plays, hitting Courtland Sutton from 14 yards out to pull the Broncos within 23-21.

Nix's 23-yard pass to Troy Franklin put the Broncos ahead for good at 27-23 and R.J. Harvey, who suffered a rib injury, capped the scoring with a 4-yard TD run.

In the first half, Love threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jacobs one play after Broncos coach Sean Payton declined a holding penalty that would have pushed the Packers back to the Denver 24.

The Broncos responded with their second straight touchdown drive, the payoff coming on a perfectly placed 5-yard throw from Nix to Lil'Jordan Humphrey that gave Denver a 14-13 lead.

Earlier, Franklin was mistakenly ruled down at the Green Bay 7 even though his knees never hit the grass as he broke tackles and rambled into the end zone. Nix made sure it didn't matter by finding fullback Michael Bandy for a 20-yard touchdown reception that erased Green Bay's 6-0 lead.

Parsons, who stripped Harvey at midfield on Denver's opening drive, sustained a non-contract injury with 44 seconds left in the third quarter. He had a clear shot at Nix but pulled up and grabbed his left knee before tumbling to the ground.

As he was being tended to by trainers, several Broncos players went up to him with comforting words before he headed to the locker room to be evaluated.

Injuries

Packers: In addition to Parsons' knee injury, TE Josh Whyle sustained a concussion in the first quarter and RT Zach Tom sustained a knee injury in the second quarter.

Broncos: In addition to Harvey's rib injury, ILB Justin Strnad injured his right ankle in the first quarter and didn't return. Also, S Brandon Jones was ruled out with a pectoral injury just after halftime.

Up next

Packers. At Chicago next Sunday.

Broncos: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The Baltimore Ravens roared back to life on Sunday in their 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are the instant takeaways from the victory:

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Zach Orr and his defense came ready to play.

This is undoubtedly the story of the game. The Ravens defense handed Joe Burrow his first shutout in the NFL and his first in any game since a 2018 loss to Alabama. With the incredible Kyle Van Noy interception/Alohi Gilman return touchdown, the unit was actually +7 on the day. Their frustration with their last two games showed up on the field with a clear and intentional physical edge that took a toll on the Bengals as the game went on. In below-freezing temps, Baltimore’s defenders flew to the ball for punishing tackles that set the tone for the game.

Burrow again funneled the ball to Ja’Marr Chase with Tee Higgins sidelined, and though he made a few key plays, the Ravens limited him to an inefficient game as they did on Thanksgiving. None of the Bengals’ other playmakers made an impact with Burrow largely forced to check the ball down when he could not find Chase. Overall, Cincinnati converted just three of their 15 third downs and averaged just 4.2 yards per play.

Zach Orr, take a bow.

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The Ravens offense held up their end of the bargain…

On Thanksgiving, the Ravens defense put up a valiant performance but was ultimately let down by turnovers and general ineptitude on the other side of the ball. This week, Baltimore’s offense stumbled out of the gate but course-corrected with two touchdowns to end the first half. In the second half, they scored a field goal on their first possession, ate up 4:16 on their second, and did not see the ball against until Tyler Huntley kneeled it out in victory formation.

Subtracting those plays, the Ravens racked up 192 yards on 21 carries (9.1 YPC) after not getting the most out of their run game in the last matchup. Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell both ripped off explosive rushes behind a solid performance from the offensive line, and Lamar Jackson chipped in two key carries for 26 yards. The unit did not dominate the Bengals, but they held their own and didn’t continually put their defense in tough situations.

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…but still did not look their best.

The Ravens offense still went punt-punt-interception on their first three possessions with a number of mistakes from multiple players. Zay Flowers’ drop into the arms of Jordan Battle was the biggest, but in general, Baltimore could not establish the run or find a rhythm in the passing game. They went two-for-seven on third down and did not convert their only red zone opportunity.

The offense’s efficiency and lack of penalties were welcome signs of progress, but this unit is still not playing up to its potential. It may not have mattered in this game, but it can and will in the future.

---

Baltimore’s pass rush showed signs of life.

The Ravens only logged one sack and seven quarterback hits against Burrow on Thanksgiving, but they pressured him all afternoon on Sunday. Mike Green, Travis Jones, and Tavius Robinson all sacked Burrow, and Dre’Mont Jones got in five(!) quarterback hits (and plenty of chirping). Even better, those numbers were a result of individual pass rush wins as well as nifty blitz designs by Zach Orr.

Baltimore’s inability to consistently pressure opposing passers has been their Achilles’ heel on defense this year. On Sunday, they turned that weakness into a strength that propelled a dominant defensive performance and a shutout victory.

How long is Micah Parsons out? Latest updates, recovery time on Packers star after left knee injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl chances took a massive hit in Week 15, and not because of the result of their matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Star defender Micah Parsons, who was acquired by the Packers before the 2025 season and has remained one of the most impactful pass rushers in the NFL, left the game with an apparent non-contact knee injury.

Parsons' official diagnosis hasn't yet been confirmed, but based on the "initial belief," per ESPN's Adam Schefter, it appears to be a long-term setback for the Packers star.

Here's the latest on Parsons' return timetable.

MORE: Updated Packers playoff chances 

How long is Micah Parsons out?

The "initial belief" is that Parsons tore his ACL against the Broncos, according to Adam Schefter. Still, that will have to be officially diagnosed after further testing, but the early signs are not positive for the star defender.

The initial belief is that Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL today, as @ProFootballTalk reported. There will be further testing to see if that is the case. pic.twitter.com/YmLUtdFaV7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2025

After the game, Packers coach Matt LeFleur did not have good words to say about the injury.

Packers HC Matt LaFleur told reporters that Micah Parsons’ knee injury, thought to be a torn ACL, “doesn’t look good.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2025

Parsons was in a lot of pain on the ground, grabbing at his left knee following a non-contact injury.

Micah Parsons is down on the field for the Packers pic.twitter.com/EY4EfyiQFK

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 14, 2025

He was then helped to the locker room by trainers, and he was ruled out by the Packers soon afterward.

Micah Parsons left the game after suffering a non-contact injury to his leg.

He was able to walk to the locker room with assistance.

(📺 CBS) pic.twitter.com/4pG52dRySQ

— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025

With Green Bay still in playoff contention, it appears that the team will have to fill a massive defensive void left by Parsons' injury. For now, the expectation is that Parsons won't be on the field again in 2025.

Torn ACL recovery timeline

If the MRI officially concludes that Parsons tore his ACL, as is the reported initial belief, then he will be out for the rest of the season and also in danger of missing the start of the 2026 season, given the timing of the injury. A torn ACL typically requires a recovery time of 9-12 months, depending on the severity.

Another NFL star was diagnosed with a torn ACL in Week 15 as well, as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went down for the long-term. 

MORE CHIEFS NEWS: 

• Six reasons why the Chiefs never got over Super Bowl hangover
• Patrick Mahomes suffers knee injury on final drive of Chiefs-Chargers
• Chiefs officially eliminated from NFL playoffs with loss to Chargers

Packers schedule 2025

Here's a look at the Packers' final three regular season games.

Date	Opponent	Time	TV Channel
12/20	@ Bears	8:20 p.m.	Fox
12/27	vs. Ravens	8 p.m.	Peacock
TBD	@ Vikings	TBD	TBD