preview Page 226 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Vikings, Packers battle for playoff positioning in divisional clash
Sam Darnold has played most of his football on either the East or West Coast. ,After staying home to play his college ball at Southern California, Darnold spent his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets before stints in Carolina and San Francisco., ,Now that he's in the Upper Midwest, the v...
No. 15 South Carolina, No. 20 Illinois vie for 10th win at Citrus Bowl
South Carolina's best defensive player -- actually, the nation's best defensive player -- won't play in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. Illinois won't have its all-Big Ten receiver., ,But aside from the Gamecocks' Kyle Kennard and the Fighting Illini's Pat Bryant opting out for NFL Draft purposes...
Lions prepare for NFC Championship rematch vs. banged-up 49ers
The Detroit Lions will know how meaningful their matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night will carry before they step on the field.,If Minnesota defeats Green Bay on Sunday, the Lions will still have to beat the Vikings in the regular-season finale to take the NFC North and gain the top ...
Falcons, Commanders eye playoff clincher behind rookie QBs
Two teams aiming to secure playoff berths meet when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday night in Landover, Md.,The Falcons (8-7) can clinch the NFC South with a win over the Commanders and a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) against the visiting Carolina Panthers. ,The...
Scuffling Warriors try to take down solid Clippers
All eyes will be on the player-availability report when the Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Golden State Warriors on Friday at Inglewood, Calif., ,While the Clippers are moving closer to the season debut of Kawhi Leonard, the Warriors are pondering a day of rest for Stephen Curry on the first ...
Tomas Hertl returns to San Jose wearing a Golden Knights uniform
Center Tomas Hertl makes his first visit to the SAP Center since being traded last season when the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights visit the San Jose Sharks on Friday.,Hertl was the 17th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft by San Jose and in 11 seasons collected 218 goals and 484 points...
Colts need help for playoff shot, while Giants seek end to record skid
The Indianapolis Colts could show up to the stadium on Sunday with nothing to play for.,Or the scenario may call for a victory so they can remain alive in the AFC playoffs.,Either way, the Colts' postseason fate hangs on other teams as they enter Sunday's game against the lowly New York Giants at Ea...
Injuries not slowing down Cavaliers, who face dinged-up Nuggets
The Cleveland Cavaliers have steamrolled through the first third of their schedule and now face one of their toughest stretches when they open a four-game road trip at the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.,The Western Conference swing is the longest road trip of the season so far for Cleveland, which ...
Stingy Devils open home-and-home with Hurricanes
The New Jersey Devils hope the momentum they built leading up to the NHL's holiday break will carry over after the three days off, as the Metropolitan Division leaders start a two-day, home-and-home series with the third-place Carolina Hurricanes on Friday in Newark, N.J.,Coach Sheldon Keefe's team ...
Avalanche hitting their stride ahead of Utah clash
The Colorado Avalanche finally received much-needed rest before they get ready to return from the holiday hiatus by visiting the Utah Hockey Club on Friday in Salt Lake City.,The Avalanche have relished their first break of four days between games all season. Even better, they are finding their stri...
No. 14 Gonzaga, No. 22 UCLA take rivalry into lap of luxury
In a rivalry that has delivered some memorable games, No. 14 Gonzaga is set to face No. 22 UCLA on a brand-new stage Saturday when they become the first college teams to play at the Intuit Dome, the new $2 billion home of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.,Saturday's matchup is the ...
Bills not satisfied with recent play, aim to be better vs. Jets
The playoff-bound Buffalo Bills are far from satisfied.,It's been four weeks since Buffalo punched its ticket to the postseason, but the Bills still have plenty of work to do as they prepare for a meeting with the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y.,Buffalo (12-3) believes it has...
Rams on rise entering matchup with hurting Cardinals
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Rams are playing some of their best football as they close in on a possible NFC West title.,The Rams will aim to maintain their impressive form Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif.,Los Angeles (9-6) is coming off a 19-9 ...
Saints, smarting from shutout loss, seek turnaround vs. Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders aren't going to the playoffs. Neither are the New Orleans Saints.,When the two teams meet Sunday in New Orleans, it will be largely an audition for future employment for coaches and players on both teams.,Las Vegas (3-12) hired Antonio Pierce as head coach after the team had an...
Rockets getting lift from different players while Pelicans seek spark
The Houston Rockets have won three straight games and five of their last six.,The New Orleans Pelicans have lost seven games in a row and have just five victories this season.,The team with the second-best record in the Western Conference will visit the team with the worst record in the conference o...
Wizards host Hornets in a matchup of win-starved teams
The NBA highlighted its marquee teams over a five-game Christmas television slate on Wednesday.,Not among those teams were the Washington Wizards or the Charlotte Hornets, who have 11 wins between them. Instead, the bottom two teams in the Southeast Division will meet Thursday night in Washington.,C...
Broncos on doorstep of playoffs while Bengals try to stay in picture
One team looking to secure a spot in the AFC playoffs and another trying to simply stay alive meet on Saturday afternoon when the Denver Broncos visit the Cincinnati Bengals.,With a win, the Broncos (9-6) would clinch a berth in the postseason for the first time since winning the Super Bowl at the e...
No. 17 BYU, No. 23 Colorado prepare for Big 12-flavored Alamo Bowl
Conference foes No. 17 BYU and No. 23 Colorado will square off on Saturday night in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.,The Cougars (10-2) and Buffaloes (9-3) once had their sights set on a Big 12 Conference championship game appearance and a berth in the College Football Playoff.,But late-season losses ...
Star players sit out as Iowa battles No. 19 Missouri in Music City Bowl
Like every team in postseason play, Iowa suffered defections to the transfer portal or NFL draft preparations, like star running back Kaleb Johnson deciding to turn pro.,But the Hawkeyes (8-4) got quarterback Brendan Sullivan back from injury for their Music City Bowl matchup with No. 19 Missouri (9...
Seahawks strive to keep playoff hopes alive vs. Bears
The Seattle Seahawks have only one path to the playoffs: winning the NFC West.,Seattle finds itself heading into a must-win game against the host Bears on Thursday night, and even if the Seahawks can top Chicago and beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18, they still might miss out on the postseason be...