Latest News
Rested Eagles take win streak into matchup with Rams
Two of the NFC's hottest teams meet Sunday night as the streaking Philadelphia Eagles visit the Los Angeles Rams. The NFC East-leading Eagles (8-2) have won their past six contests, while the Rams (5-5) have won four of their past five to keep pace in a crowded NFC West. Philadelphia enters Week 12 with the league's No. 1 defense, allowing 273.1 yards per game, and the No. 5 offense powered by Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. Hurts has accounted for 23 touchdowns (12 passing, 11 rushing), and Barkley leads the NFL with 1,347 yards from scrimmage. The Eagles are well-rested, as they have been idle since a 26-18 win on Nov. 14 against division rival Washington. Philadelphia held the Commanders to 264 total yards -- the sixth straight game an opponent failed to gain more than 280 vs. the Eagles. Philadelphia is also road-tested. The Eagles are 4-1 in road games, which doesn't include their "home" win against Green Bay in Brazil to open the season. Road success is nothing new for the team, as the Eagles are 22-9 away from home in three-plus seasons under coach Nick Sirianni. "I think the biggest thing out of all that is just having that mental toughness that everyone is going to be against you on the road," Sirianni said this week. "Now, we travel pretty well, and I've been really appreciative of the Eagles fans that show up no matter where we are. But you still feel like the stadium is against you. "It's just an opportunity for you to unite as a team, lock arms as a team and have that mental toughness, that dawg mentality as far as understanding just play the next play, control what you can control, and unite as a team. Those are two of our big-time core values: connect and toughness. So we take pride in that. Then I just think that speaks volumes of our players and coaches that they handle that." The Eagles have won all three road games in the series since the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016, including a 23-14 victory in Week 5 last season. "They (Eagles) are red hot," Rams coach Sean McVay said this week. "They have played really well. They are finding their identity. They have great playmakers, coaches, and schemes. So they are checking all the boxes of what really good teams do. So, that is a great challenge. ... "We have a lot of respect for this group. But you know, these are the moments that you love as a competitor. This is what is the best part of the NFL." The Rams are 3-2 at home this season, losing by five to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5 and by eight to the Miami Dolphins in Week 10. Los Angeles rebounded from the defeat to the Dolphins with a 28-22 win at New England last weekend. Matthew Stafford threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua combining for 13 receptions, 229 yards and three scores. Stafford has a 4-2 record in his career against the Eagles with 12 touchdown passes and one interception. The Eagles announced Wednesday that defensive end Bryce Huff would have wrist surgery and could go on injured reserve. The team also opened the practice window for wide receiver Britain Covey (shoulder). Hurts (ankle) was listed as limited at Wednesday's practice. Wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring), defensive tackle Milton Williams (foot) and linebacker Jalyx Hunt (ankle) did not participate. For the Rams, starting right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) and cornerback Charles Woods (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Cobie Durant (thigh), defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (neck) and offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (ankle) were limited. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Cardinals look to continue pre-bye-week, high-flying ways at Seahawks
When a team is going bad, a bye week is a welcome respite. But what about when a team is going good? The Arizona Cardinals (6-4), who have a one-game lead over the three other teams in the NFC West, had last week off in preparation for Sunday's divisional showdown at Seattle (5-5). "When you're in a rhythm, you're playing good football as a team, you don't want to stop," Cardinals tight end Trey McBride said. "We've won three or four in a row now and it's fun. You want to keep this thing going, you don't want to take this break." For the record, the Cardinals have won four consecutive games, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 17-15, Chicago Bears 29-9 and New York Jets 31-6 at home, and the Miami Dolphins 28-27 on the road. One of the keys for the Cardinals has been a healthy Kyler Murray. He completed 22 of 24 passes for 266 yards two weeks ago against the Jets and also rushed for two scores. "He's got that look in his eye, and when he's in that mode, he's unstoppable," said McBride, who has a team-high 49 receptions. "He's playing at a really high level right now. I'm excited for him and I'm excited to continue to grow with him." Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon called Sunday's game a "big-time test on the road." "Seattle is always loud and the weather is kind of gray," Gannon said. The Seahawks are coming off a 20-17 victory against host San Francisco last week as quarterback Geno Smith scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining. Seattle snapped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in seven games. "These are the most important games of your season," Smith said. "I think the way that we came out and we fought, collectively as a unit and as a team, it just spoke to our urgency. I thought the way that we practiced all week, I knew we were going to come out and play well and get the monkey off my back." Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said his team is treating Arizona's visit "like a home playoff game for us." "Look, we've earned the opportunity to be fighting for the lead in the division going into the home stretch," Macdonald said. "So, that's the way we're treating it. It's very much like a playoff mindset for us at this point. Can't afford to drop games. You want to have the right to play for these really important games in December and January. You've got to be able to execute and put yourself in that situation." The Cardinals had just one player miss practice time this week, safety Jalen Thompson (ankle). Veteran right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) was activated off injured reserve after being out since the season opener. The Seahawks were without tight ends Noah Fant (groin) and Brady Russell (foot), wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (back), defensive end Leonard Williams (foot) and cornerback Dee Wiliams (ankle) at practice. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Texans look to continue winning ways against visiting Titans
The Houston Texans hope their midseason malaise is behind them and they get the chance to prove it when they host the lowly Tennessee Titans in an AFC South clash on Sunday. The Texans (7-4) hold a two-game division lead over the Indianapolis Colts despite recently losing three of four games, including blowing a 16-point halftime lead in a loss to the Detroit Lions. But Houston roared to a dominating 34-10 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, perhaps signaling the team is ready to go on a roll. In fact, the Texans visit a Jacksonville Jaguars team in disarray in Week 13 before having a bye week. Just don't mention the word "playoffs" anywhere near Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. "I just want our guys to remain focused, remain locked in on the task at hand each week," Ryans told reporters. "If we do that, we're a really good football team. We can play with anybody. It's just about finishing." Quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 257 yards and was intercepted once against Dallas. Big-play receiver Nico Collins returned from a five-game absence due to a hamstring injury to catch four passes for 54 yards. But the big reason for the trampling of the Cowboys was running back Joe Mixon, who rushed for three touchdowns and had 153 yards from scrimmage. His 109 on the ground represented his fifth 100-yard outing in the past six games. "When he's on, Joe's a force," Ryans said. "I liked the way we just kept churning it in the run game. And I'm proud of the guys for stepping up to the challenge." Houston expects to have star Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) after a two-game absence. Anderson, who was limited in Wednesday's practices, shares the team lead of 7.5 sacks with fellow defensive end Danielle Hunter. The Titans (2-8) lack an identity after the offseason departure of franchise icon Derrick Henry, the star running back. Tennessee has lost six games by double digits as it begins back-to-back road games against the Texans and Washington Commanders. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is putting on a brave face. He liked the effort in last Sunday's 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. "The fight this team showed, especially in the second half, is why you want to play this game," Simmons said. "No matter what the record may be, that's why I come to work, and I'm ready to go to war with my guys." Quarterback Will Levis passed for a season-best 295 yards against the Vikings. One third of them came on one play when Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught a pass at his own 40-yard line and raced down the right sideline for a 98-yard scoring play. Levis completed just 17 of 31 passes and was intercepted once. He isn't thrilled that Tennessee ranks 28th in the NFL in scoring offense (17 points per game) and 25th in total offense (295.4 yards per game). "You have to just continue coming to work, knowing that how you approach your job and how you approach your day-to-day are the habits that create winning football," Levis said Wednesday. "And, we just have to know that if we just keep doing those things, then the wins are going to come." Titans standout cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) will not play on Sunday, according to coach Brian Callahan. He and receiver Calvin Ridley (illness) were among nine Titans to miss Wednesday's practice due to injury or illness. Among the others to sit out were defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (biceps) and running back Tyjae Spears (concussion). Linebacker Jack Gibbens (ankle) underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week and will be placed on injured reserve. He was injured and subsequently carted off the field during the loss to Minnesota. Houston defensive end Denico Autry (knee/oblique) sat out Wednesday's session. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot) and offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) also missed practice. The Texans have won the past three meetings. The teams will meet again in the final week of the regular season at Nashville. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Buccaneers try to end four-game losing streak against host Giants
With a merciless stretch of the schedule concluded and a bye week to freshen up, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go on the road Sunday and will attempt to end a four-game losing streak against a New York Giants team either in transition or a freefall. Tampa Bay (4-6) was two games over .500 and challenging for the NFC South lead a month ago before falling in succession against Baltimore (41-31), Atlanta (31-26), Kansas City (30-24 in overtime) and San Francisco (23-20). The Giants (2-8) have lost five in a row and are also coming off a bye. Quarterback Tommy DeVito will make his first start of the season and seventh of his two-year career after the Giants announced the benching of Daniel Jones this week after an overtime loss to the woeful Panthers. "Tommy Cutlets" has a career passer rating of 89.2, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. The 2023 undrafted free agent is 3-3 as a starter. "Those are never easy conversations," Giants coach Brian Daboll said. "[I've] got a lot of respect for all three of those guys. After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that's the reason why we're going with Tommy." DeVito had been the third-string quarterback but Daboll chose him over backup Drew Lock. Tampa Bay's potent offense figures to heap even more pressure on DeVito and running back Tyrone Tracy, who has 545 yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Giants' only viable option. Rookie Malik Nabers (607 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns) and Darius Slayton (469, 1) could provide inviting targets for DeVito against a Bucs pass defense that has allowed 20 aerial scores this season, which ranks fifth worst in the NFL. The Giants, meanwhile, have excelled in red-zone defense and rank second in sacks (36). Tampa Bay (4-6) is the only team in the NFL to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 more on four different occasions. The Bucs, led by a committee of Bucky Irving (492 yards, four touchdowns), Rachaad White (306; 1) and Sean Tucker (186; 1) have rushed for more than 100 yards seven times. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has been an offensive dynamo. Fourth among Bucs rushers with 192 yards and two scores, he's third in the NFL in touchdown passes (24), total touchdowns (26) and fifth in passer rating (103.6). Mayfield could get back a key contributor on Sunday. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who went down with a hamstring injury in Week 7, returned to practice on Wednesday. Evans had 335 yards and six receiving touchdowns before the injury. Slayton was a full participant on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion. The wide receiver left the Giants' Week 9 loss to the Commanders and wasn't able to gain clearance to travel to the Giants' Week 10 loss in Germany to the Panthers. Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum, who departed the 49ers loss with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday. All-Pro left tackle Tristin Wirfs, who sprained an MCL in the loss to the 49ers, worked on the sideline with trainers. Bucs coach Todd Bowles said it is "going to be close" for both players to play on Sunday. Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) was a limited participant on Wednesday. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
No. 3 Gonzaga defeats Long Beach State to remain undefeated
Graham Ike and Khalif Battle scored 15 points each to lead five players in double figures for No. 3 Gonzaga in its 84-41 win against Long Beach State on Wednesday night in Spokane, Wash. Braden Huff scored 12 points off the bench, Ryan Nembhard had 10 points and seven assists and Nolan Hickman also scored 10 points for Gonzaga (5-0), which never trailed. Devin Askew scored 12 points and Derrick Michael Xzavierro added nine points and 11 rebounds for Long Beach (1-4). The Bulldogs took a 40-24 lead into halftime after leading by as many as 24 points in the first half. Nembhard hit a spot-up 3 to extend the lead to 51-27 with 16:16 left in the game. Long Beach tried to make another run, but Dusty Stromer sank another 3 from in front of the Gonzaga bench to stretch the lead back to 57-33 with 12:29 remaining. Battle followed with two free throws to give Gonzaga its biggest lead of the game at 59-33, and the 14-0 run continued as the Bulldogs stretched the advantage to 68-33. Battle missed a dunk off a lob, but Michael Ajayi dunked the follow-up to give the Bulldogs a 9-2 lead with 15:19 left in the first half. Stromer sank a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 12-4 and spark a 14-0 run that increased the advantage to 23-4 with 10:25 remaining in the half. TJ Wainwright ended the run with a reverse layup for Long Beach, but Gonzaga continued to convert on the other end and took its biggest lead of the first half, 33-9, on a 3-pointer by Battle with 7:40 remaining. Long Beach followed with a 9-0 run that was capped by Austin Johnson's dunk off an offensive rebound. Askew hit his second 3-pointer of the first half to keep it a 15-point deficit at 38-23, and Long Beach got as close as 14 before the Bulldogs took a 40-24 lead into the break. Long Beach shot just 30 percent from the floor in the first half, compared to 45.5 for Gonzaga. --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
No. 8 Alabama puts up 100 in win over No. 25 Illinois
Grant Nelson scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half and finished with eight rebounds and four blocked shots to help No. 8 Alabama cruise to a 100-87 victory over No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night at Birmingham, Ala. Aden Holloway added 18 points and Labaron Philon recorded 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Crimson Tide (4-1). Latrell Wrightsell Jr. also had 16 points for Alabama, which reached the 100-point mark for the second time this season. Will Riley recorded 18 points and nine rebounds and Kylan Boswell had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Fighting Illini (3-1). Kasparas Jakucionis added 15 points and six assists, Tomislav Ivisic contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and Ben Humrichous scored 11 points for Illinois. The Crimson Tide shot 52 percent from the field, including 11 of 34 from 3-point range. Alabama All-American Mark Sears went scoreless and missed all five of his field-goal attempts, including four from long distance. Illinois made 45.1 percent of its shots and was 10 of 30 from behind the arc. The Illini were within 11 early in the second half before Nelson scored on a layup and Labaron made two free throws to give the Crimson Tide a 61-46 edge with 17:15 remaining in the game. Aiden Sherrell knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead to 71-54 with 13:11 left. The Illini then made a run with eight straight points and moved within nine on Boswell's 3-pointer with 11:31 to play. Humrichous buried a trey to bring Illinois within 73-65 with 10:11 left. However, Alabama quickly restored order, beginning with Derrion Reid's three-point play. Holloway, Reid and Wrightsell added layups to make it 82-65 with 7:16 remaining. Riley later scored six straight points to pull the Illini with 86-78 with 3:35 remaining. But Alabama scored the next six points -- the span included a steal and layup by Philon -- to make it a 14-point margin with 2:19 left. Nelson made four first-half treys to help the Crimson Tide establish a 52-38 advantage. Nelson produced Alabama's first nine points on three 3-pointers. He later scored on a layup to give the Crimson Tide a 19-11 advantage with 15:14 left in the first half. Alabama later rattled off 13 straight points, and Clifford Omoruyi's layup capped the burst to make it 36-19 with 8:33 to go before the break. Jakucionis scored 13 first-half points for Illinois. --Field Level Media
NCAA Basketball Breaking News
LPGA Awards: Nelly Korda takes top two honors
Nelly Korda capped her best season by capturing the top two honors on Wednesday at the Rolex LPGA Awards in Naples, Fla. The 26-year-old Florida native received the Rolex Player of the Year Award and the Rolex Annika Major Award, which goes to the major winner who had the best overall results in the season's big five events. Korda won seven events in 2024, including the Chevron Championship, her second career major title. "It's been crazy, it's been such a fun year, full of ups and downs, but I am so, so grateful for my team sitting right here," Korda said. "It's been an amazing year and I'm so grateful to be doing what I love." Korda entered the year with six career LPGA tournament wins but she added victories at the LPGA Drive On Championship, the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, the Ford Championship, the T-Mobile Match Play, the Mizuho Americas Open and The Annika in addition to the Chevron Championship. She missed the cut at both the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's PGA Championship before tying for 26th at the Evian Championship and tying for second at the Women's British Open. With Lilia Vu having won Player of the Year in 2023, U.S. golfers have captured the honor in consecutive years for the first time since Betsy King and Beth Daniel did so in 1993 and 1994, respectively. New Zealand's Lydia Ko was awarded the Heather Farr Perseverance Award, given for "hard work, dedication and love of the game of golf." Ko, 27, earned the gold medal at the Paris Olympics to become the youngest player to earn Hall of Fame status since the current format went into place. Ko's three official victories this year included a major, the Women's British Open. "2024 has felt like a fairytale, one word, fairytale," Ko said. "I can't believe it, even now while looking at some of the highlights. I still get goosebumps." Ally Ewing received the Founders Award, given to the player who best "exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA through her behavior and deeds." Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, and Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, were given the Commissioners Award. The honor recognizes "a person or organization that has contributed uniquely to the LPGA and its Members, furthered the cause of women's golf, and possesses character and standards of the highest order." Gale Peterson, a teaching pro at Sea Island Golf Performance Center in St. Simons, Ga., won the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award. First-time LPGA tournament winners Bailey Tardy, Linnea Strom and Lauren Coughlin also were recognized. --Field Level Media
Golf Breaking News
76ers' Paul George injures left leg, exits game at Grizzlies
Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers was injured in the opening seconds of the third quarter of Wednesday's game against host Memphis and taken to the locker room. George, 34, appeared to suffer a left leg injury with 11:21 left in the third after grabbing a rebound under the Grizzlies' basket, possibly rolling his left ankle. He had missed the team's first five games with a bone bruise in his left knee. George, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid were playing together for the first time this season. Philadelphia has lost nine of its last 10 games, including four in a row in starting the season 2-11. The 76ers signed George, a nine-time All-Star, as a free agent in July. He has played seven games (all starts) and was averaging 16.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals in 30.6 minutes. --Field Level Media
NBA Breaking News
Braves' Chris Sale, Tigers' Tarik Skubal collect Cy Young Awards
Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers culminated dominant seasons by winning the Cy Young Awards of their respective leagues, as announced Wednesday night by Major League Baseball. Both left-handers won the pitching Triple Crown, with Sale leading the National League in wins, strikeouts and earned-run average, and Skubal -- who was voted for the award unanimously -- repeating the feat in the American League. It is the first Cy Young Award for each. Sale took the honors over fellow National League finalists Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes. Sale received 26 first-place votes and four for second for 198 total points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "This wasn't an easy way to get to winning this trophy for the first time," Sale said, per MLB.com. "As soon as it happened, I'm thinking about people and teammates and coaches and family. It's special to me because of all the hard work that other people put in to get me here." Wheeler was second with 130 points (four firsts, 25 seconds, one fourth) and Skenes, the NL Rookie of the Year, was third with 53 (one second, 13 thirds, three fourths). Dylan Cease of the Padres (45), Shota Imanaga of the Cubs (38) were also among the top five vote-getters. Sale's teammate, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, was one of three NL pitchers who received a single fifth-place vote. Skubal, with all 30 first-place votes for 210 points, bested American League finalists Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals (93) and Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase (66). "It's special," Skubal said. "All the hard work, all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, moments like this make it extremely worth it." The Royals' Cole Ragans (48), the Orioles' Corbin Burnes (47), the Mariners' Logan Gilbert (25), the Astros' Framber Valdez (17), the Rangers' Kirby Yates (two), the Astros' Yusei Kikuchi (one) and the Guardians' Cade Smith (one) rounded out the voting. Sale, 35, had been in the Cy Young conversation multiple times, the runner-up in 2017 and finishing in the top six in voting for seven consecutive seasons from 2012-18. The award is the crowning achievement in the comeback for Sale, who missed all of the 2020 season following Tommy John surgery and was limited to just 11 combined starts in 2021 and 2022 due to injury. After a 6-5 season with a 4.30 ERA with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, he was traded to the Braves last Dec. 30 along with cash for infielder Vaughn Grissom. In his first season in Atlanta, Sale finished 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA. Over 29 starts and 177 2/3 innings, he struck out 225 batters and walked 39, giving up just nine home runs. He was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year last week. "My goal at the beginning of this year was just to be healthy," Sale said. "Getting greedy and thinking of things like this would have been maybe a little over my skis. I was coming to a new team that made a trade for me, when I'm sure there were a lot of people that kind of gave that trade the side-eye when it first happened. ... To say I'd be sitting here right now would be crazy. I just wanted to be able to do my job, really." Sale's season ended in disappointment, however, as a back ailment kept him from pitching in the postseason. In his career with the Chicago White Sox (2010-16), Red Sox (2017-23) and Braves, Sale has a 138-83 record with a 3.04 ERA and 2,414 strikeouts over 372 appearances (292 starts). As for Skubal, he won the award on his 28th birthday. A ninth-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2018, he made his debut in 2020. In 31 starts this season, he finished 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA, striking out 228 and walking 35 over 192 innings. Skubal was 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA over his last eight starts as Detroit surged from eight games below .500 in mid-August into the playoffs for the first time since 2014. He beat the Astros in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series and finished the postseason 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA in three starts. "It was a ton of fun to be part of," Skubal said. "The last two months of our season and even the postseason was very special. The memories and the experience will obviously help our club going forward, and I'm glad we got to experience it as a team and as a young team." Over 106 career regular-season appearances (103 starts), Skubal is 41-31 with a 3.37 ERA. He has 648 strikeouts in 571 1/3 innings. Sale became the first Atlanta pitcher to win the award since Tom Glavine won for the second time in 1998, which capped a dominant decade by Braves pitchers when Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz combined for six Cy Youngs in eight seasons. Skubal is the third Tigers pitcher in the 2000s to take home the prize, following Justin Verlander (2011) and Max Scherzer (2013). This season was the fourth in major league history that both leagues had a Triple Crown winner in the same year. The last time that happened was 2011, when Verlander of the Tigers and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers accomplished the feat. --Field Level Media
MLB Breaking News
Lions speed into Indianapolis with win streak at 8
It's up to Shane Steichen and his Indianapolis Colts staff this week to figure out ways to neutralize the steamrolling Detroit Lions. The Lions head into Indiana on Sunday with an eight-game winning streak, their longest since their first season in Detroit in 1934. They carved up Jacksonville 52-6, while scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions last week. "They're tough on all three phases, and it shows," Steichen said. "It definitely shows. All those guys are flying around, making plays. They're having fun doing it." Led by Jared Goff, Detroit (9-1) leads the NFL in points scored (33.6 per game) and point differential (plus-159) this season. Goff bounced back from a five-interception outing in Houston by throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns against the hapless Jaguars. Top target Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for a season-high 161 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown has a receiving touchdown in eight straight games. And the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has combined to rush for almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. The powerful Montgomery has found the end zone 10 times, including twice against Jacksonville. "He's a throwback. There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect," head coach Dan Campbell said. "His running style is -- it's rare. David is just different, and he's downhill, doesn't give up, first guy, he's not going to let him tackle him, continues to churn his legs, and just violent, violent, never give up, never going down." The lightning-quick Gibbs is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. His one reception last week went for 54 yards. "To me, they're the perfect combination," Campbell said. Indianapolis is scoring just 21.5 points per game and has reached the 30-point mark only one time, in a 37-34 loss at Jacksonville. The Colts rallied to beat the New York Jets last week in the return of super-sized quarterback Anthony Richardson. But Detroit isn't just any opponent. The Lions established a new franchise record for points in a six-game stretch last week with 232. "Their offense is super-powered, so we're going to have to do our part, and we're excited for it," receiver Michael Pittman said. The Colts (5-6) reinstated Richardson in the lineup and snapped a three-game losing streak. In the 28-27 victory, Richardson passed for one touchdown and ran for two more, including the go-ahead score with 46 seconds left. "Very encouraged," Steichen said of Richardson's outing. "I think when you go through a three-game stretch like we had and you go on the road and get a win, and winning in the two-minute drive, you get some momentum -- the confidence. Obviously, coming back at home, we've got to continue that momentum and carry that confidence into this week. We're looking forward to it." Richardson wasn't picked off in 30 attempts, though he fumbled twice and the Jets recovered one of them. He has fumbled eight times this season and lost three of them. They'll be facing a much tougher opponent this week, though one of the Lions' top defenders, linebacker Alex Anzalone, sustained a broken forearm on Sunday and was placed on injured reserve. "Just seeing the toughness from our team. We're definitely trying to carry that over because we know we're getting ready to play a physical team," Richardson said. "So, they're going to bring it to us. We got to bring it to them. But just trusting my guys each and every play, like I did in that fourth quarter, and just trust in my ability. I feel like I'm a decent football player, and I like to make plays out there." Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta missed Sunday's game with a shoulder injury but could return this week. He was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's walk-through. The Colts listed only offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) as a non-participant in their walk-through on Wednesday. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
49ers hit Green Bay with Packers in pursuit of NFC leaders
A victory against the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Green Bay Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. Host San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. The good news: the 49ers anticipate the return of some key contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," he said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with right shoulder soreness, but coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy is on track to play. Shanahan and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that included Sean McVay and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Bosa (hip/oblique) didn't practice Wednesday but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said this week "there's just as good of a chance for him to not play as play." Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Chiefs move past first loss, place target on Panthers
Rested and ready, the Carolina Panthers might find a testy crew of Kansas City Chiefs when Patrick Mahomes plays in Charlotte for the first time Sunday afternoon. The Panthers (3-7) have won two games in a row and are coming off an open week. The Chiefs (9-1) don't have a winning streak for the first time since January. They lost last weekend at Buffalo, though they share the best record in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. The Chiefs are bound to be paying attention to more details after a rare disappointment for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions. "Try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end," Mahomes said of the loss to the Bills. Mahomes said the Chiefs are keeping perspective after their first defeat since Christmas Day 2023 (20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders). "The undefeated thing was cool, but that's not our ultimate goal," he said. Kansas City lost back-to-back games once last season but not during their 14-3 season in 2022. They dropped two in a row once in 2021 and finished 12-5 but ran up a 14-2 record in 2020 without losing consecutive games. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the focus clicked quickly from Buffalo to the Panthers without players discussing being undefeated. "I don't really hear a lot of that talk from them or think they care too much about that, other than exhausting yourself the best you can to prepare yourself for that team there that week." Reid said. "Then you get to a point where you say, 'Listen, I've done everything I possibly can. Here's a product.' And you go play." Mahomes challenges defenses in multiple ways even operating with an offense dented by injuries. There's a chance running back Isiah Pacheco (broken leg) returns from injured reserve, but Reid said that decision wouldn't be made until late in the week. Pacheco's hard-charging style commands a team approach to tackling, but Carolina doesn't want to distract from intent to keep Mahomes under wraps. With defensive backs doing better at formation identification, the Panthers are giving themselves a stronger chance to be effective at the back end. "And making plays when the ball comes to them," first-year coach Dave Canales said. "So a lot of growth there." The Panthers are sticking with Bryce Young at quarterback, something that was expected given a couple of victories since he returned to the first-string role. "This is about the continued progress," Canales said. "Bryce looks more and more confident." With a quarterback who's still trying to settle in and bolster production, the Panthers expect that the Chiefs will dial up some defensive packages to test Young's ability to handle different looks. "We just have to be prepared for those answers," Canales said. "They're going to have variety, (so) let's do our best stuff as fast that we can to try to put a little bit of stress on them." The Panthers won't be overconfident by any stretch. They're aware of what the Chiefs are all about. "I feel like we just got to tighten up our details even more knowing that they're coming in to find a way to win," Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn said. The Panthers were without starting left guard Damien Lewis because of illness Wednesday, but otherwise the team's list of available players should be growing. Receiver Adam Thielen is expected to be in action for the first time since September as he comes off a hamstring ailment. Perhaps the biggest development that has been brewing for a few weeks is that running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) should be set for his NFL debut. "I have really high hopes for him playing this Sunday," Canales said. "Particularly with Miles (Sanders) out (ankle), to give us another running back in there with Chuba (Hubbard)." --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) could return from IR this week
Kansas CIty Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco could make his return from injured reserve and play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "We'll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we're at the end of this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said. "But yeah, just have to see. (It's a) day-by-day type thing." Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He's keeping the door open for one or both to show they're ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he's not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input. "He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point." Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game. Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn't ready to practice. "Making very good progress, (I) can't tell you when he'll be back," Reid said. "He's another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he's approached the whole thing." Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) on track to return
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans participated in parts of practice on Wednesday and is planning to suit up Sunday for the first time since a Week 7 hamstring injury. Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8). "You guys know: Mike's a pro. He's going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time," Mayfield said Wednesday. Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team's leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril. With 336 yards in 2024, he'll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games. "The streak, yeah, it's important to us, but he cares about winning," Mayfield said. "He's a huge part of this offense when he's there, so I think that'll come naturally. But I've been in the situation where you're trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that's not how this offense works especially. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Abandoned rivals reunion pits Oregon State, Washington State
The Pacific-12 Conference championship will be on the line when Washington State plays Oregon State on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. Or perhaps that should be the Pac-2 championship. With 10 teams bolting for other conferences this fall, the Cougars (8-2) and Beavers (4-6) are all that's left of the Pac-12. That makes Saturday's showdown the lone conference game of the season. There seemingly was a camaraderie that developed between the two schools as they've tried to keep the brand alive. But WSU coach Jake Dickert isn't buying the friendly territory chatter as the Cougars hit the road. "First thing, I've never gotten into, like, they're our buddy. Oregon State's not our buddy. They would have left us as fast as we would have left them. This is what it is. It's one of our biggest rivals now," Dickert said. "That's the way I looked at it. That's not bulletin board material. I hope they would say it the same way, let's go compete. We've been waiting to compete with these guys. "They've dealt with a lot of adversity. We've dealt with a lot of adversity. I think it's going be an energized (game). Their stadium is going to be packed, and there's going to be a lot of Cougs there. To know that this is going to be opponent that we're going to play for a long time, let's go do it." The Cougars dropped out of the College Football Playoff race with a stunning 38-35 loss at New Mexico on Saturday. The loss wasted a peak performance from quarterback John Mateer completing 25 of 36 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. The Beavers have lost five consecutive games, including a 28-0 defeat Saturday at Air Force. "When you lose like we've lost the last five weeks, it's never just one thing, and it's certainly not just the players," Beavers coach Trent Bray said. "Absolutely, I challenge myself and the coaches to come up with a better way to get these guys to perform at the level we know." The Beavers' biggest problem is at quarterback. Transfer Gevani McCoy has started eight of nine games, but has twice as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes (three) and was benched at halftime last week for freshman Gabarri Johnson. Junior Ben Gulbranson has starting experience but missed last week's game with an injury. "It's hard to get a beat and a pulse on them," Dickert said. "I'm sure that's what they're feeling a little bit offensively too, as well, and who gives them the best chance of winning. We'll prepare for all three (QBs)." --Field Level Media
NCAA Football Breaking News