review Page 170 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Bucs must handle Dolphins for shot at NFC South crown
Tampa Bay's five-year playoff streak is in jeopardy as it takes on host Miami on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens, Fla.,The Buccaneers (7-8) need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and set up a Week 18 showdown with Carolina for the NFC South title. A loss would eliminate Tampa Bay from postse...

Jaguars blistering, Colts frigid since AFC South rivals' last meeting
Though it will have been just three weeks since the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the Indianapolis Colts when they rematch on Sunday, a lot has happened for both teams in the intervening period.,In drastically different directions.,The Jaguars (11-4) have won both of their games since their 36-19 home ...

Seasons derailed by injury, Bengals and Cards face off
Two teams fighting off injuries amid disappointing seasons meet when the Cincinnati Bengals battle the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Cincinnati. , ,The Bengals (5-10) enjoyed arguably their best all-around performance of the season last Sunday, scoring 35 straight points to wipe out an early 14-10 ...

Nuggets, after losing another starter in Cameron Johnson, take on Timberwolves
Denver's four-game road winning streak was snapped at Dallas on Tuesday night, but the Nuggets lost more than just a game heading into their home matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.,Forward Cameron Johnson went down with a knee injury in the second half of the 131-130 loss to ...

Mavs' Cooper Flagg to face college foe, Warriors on Christmas
Dallas Mavericks star rookie Cooper Flagg likely will get a chance to see one of the players who spoiled his college career when the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick makes his first appearance in San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day.,Flagg's one-and-done stopover at Duke end...

QB questions linger but playoff spot in play as Packers, Ravens turn page
Jordan Love and the Packers can put a bow on an NFC playoff spot and choke the Ravens' glimmering hope for crashing the AFC field when Baltimore visits Green Bay in primetime Saturday night. ,The Ravens (7-8) fumbled a chance to set the stage for a winner-take-all AFC North finale next week at Pitts...

Spurs seek home-and-home sweep of Thunder on Christmas Day
The top two teams in the Western Conference -- and two of the NBA's biggest stars -- square off Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs in a Christmas Day matchup.,The Spurs' Victor Wembanyama made a splash in his Christmas debut last year, putting up 42 points in a 117-1...

Stars will be out in force when Lakers, Rockets meet
Two teams looking for a return to form meet when the Los Angeles Lakers face the visiting Houston Rockets in a Christmas Day matchup Thursday.,Both teams still are in the top half of the Western Conference standings, but their recent play has been underwhelming at times. Houston has lost four of its...

Knicks, Cavaliers tip off NBA's five-game Christmas slate
There are few sturdier NBA traditions than the New York Knicks playing on Christmas Day.,The Knicks hope a pair of familiar faces make it back for the customary clash Thursday when New York hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers to tip off the NBA's five-game holiday slate.,Both teams played Tuesday night, w...

In role reversal, Chiefs look to play spoiler vs. Broncos
Late December has arrived and the Kansas City Chiefs are playing out the string while the Denver Broncos are focused on grabbing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.,It is a major change of the script as the Broncos look to protect their AFC West lead when they visit the Chiefs on Thursday for a Christmas nig...

San Diego State challenges No. 25 North Texas' historic season in New Mexico Bowl
No. 25 North Texas looks to cap the best season in program history by breaking a baffling bowl jinx when it squares off with dangerous San Diego State on Saturday afternoon in the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, N.M.,The game will be a clash of strengths, with the Mean Green (11-2) boasting one of t...

Chandler Morris, No. 19 Virginia take aim at short-handed Missouri in Gator Bowl
No. 19 Virginia can reach 11 wins for the first time in the program's 122nd season with a victory against Missouri in the Gator Bowl on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Fla.,The Cavaliers (10-3) tied the 1989 school record for wins by defeating rival Virginia Tech on Nov. 29 before losing to unranked...

No. 21 Houston rising, LSU regrouping ahead of Texas Bowl
LSU and No. 21 Houston enter the Texas Bowl from vastly different positions., ,The Tigers (7-5) are going through a head-coaching transition, adjusting to opt-outs from key players and finishing out a disappointing season., ,The Cougars (9-3) are building stability in head coach Willie Fritz's secon...

No. 12 BYU, No. 22 Georgia Tech miss CFP, set for Pop-Tarts Bowl
Two blowout losses to Texas Tech prevented BYU from being a participant in the College Football Playoff.,The No. 12 Cougars (11-2) now look to set aside the disappointment when they face No. 22 Georgia Tech (9-3) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Saturday.,Being part of the playoffs would have bee...

Fresno State stands between Miami (Ohio) and back-to-back Arizona Bowl crowns
Miami (Ohio) will try to win the Arizona Bowl for the second straight year when it meets Fresno State in the first meeting between the schools on Saturday afternoon in Tucson.,The RedHawks (7-6) defeated Colorado State 43-17 at the University of Arizona last season to cap their fifth straight year i...

Mediocre Cowboys, injury-ravaged Commanders aim for 'some success'
The Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day wondering what might have been.,With a pair of winnable division road games remaining (Commanders and Giants), the 6-8-1 Cowboys could finish with a .500 record -- but there's no possible path to the playoffs thanks to their recent ...

Lions' fleeting playoff hopes on the line Christmas Day vs. Vikings
The Detroit Lions are down but not out.,Not yet, at least.,The Lions (8-7) try to keep their dim playoff hopes alive when they take on the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) in a Christmas Day matchup on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis.,Detroit comes off a crushing 29-24 loss Sunday at home against the Pitts...

UConn, Army eager for last hurrah at Fenway Bowl
BOSTON -- UConn's Skyler Bell wants to finish what he started.,The Huskies (9-3) enter Saturday's Fenway Bowl matchup against Army (6-6) with quarterback Joe Fagnano opted out and coach Jim Mora gone to take over at Colorado State.,Despite rumors that Bell -- who has logged 1,278 receiving yards and...

Plenty of opt-outs as underachievers Penn State, Clemson battle in Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State and Clemson had playoff-sized expectations when this season began.,Instead, both teams nearly missed bowl season altogether until they saved themselves with season-ending winning streaks. One school fired its coach midway through the season, while fans of the other wondered aloud how hot ...

Departures may hurt East Carolina facing Pitt in Military Bowl
Pitt missed out on bigger things late in the regular season, but the Panthers still can capture a nice finishing prize.,Pitt takes on East Carolina in the Military Bowl on Saturday at Annapolis, Md.,The roster for East Carolina (8-4) looks ravaged by departures, but that can't be a concern for the P...