v Page 72 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Two of NFC's best face off when 49ers host Bears
Two teams with aspirations of claiming the NFC's top seed battle Sunday night when the Chicago Bears take on the San Francisco 49ers at Santa Clara, Calif.,Both teams have 11-4 records but the NFC North-leading Bears are currently in the No. 2 position while the 49ers are at No. 5.,Chicago clinched ...

Pride, and the No. 1 pick, on the line in Vegas as Giants visit
To the loser goes the spoils as the Las Vegas Raiders play host to the New York Giants on Sunday.,The side that falls short in the second-to-last game of the regular season moves into sole possession of the bottom spot in the overall NFL standings, and in clear view of next year's No. 1 overall draf...

Pats head to New York with AFC East, perfect road record within reach
The New England Patriots will look to continue their road dominance Sunday when they visit the New York Jets in Week 17.,New England clinched a playoff berth and improved its road record to 7-0 when it beat Baltimore 28-24 last Sunday night. The Patriots, who will play the Dolphins at home next week...

Browns bank on spoiling Steelers' celebration
When the football is placed on the tee at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon for opening kickoff in Cleveland, the possibility exists the Pittsburgh Steelers will have nothing on the line.,That's because a loss by the Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay on Saturday night would nudge the Steelers onto the thron...

Can Justin Herbert exorcize playoff demons when Chargers host Texans?
Justin Herbert threw just three interceptions during the 2024 regular season before topping that total in a miserable playoff performance against the Houston Texans.,Herbert gets another opportunity against Houston in a crucial clash Saturday when the Chargers battle the Texans in Inglewood, Calif.,...

Rookie QBs Cam Ward, Tyler Shough face off in Nashville
The Tennessee Titans made quarterback Cam Ward the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft in April.,Tyler Shough had to wait until the second round and the 40th overall pick before the New Orleans Saints made him the third quarterback drafted. In between, the New York Giants used the 25th pick to grab ...

Expect no rest for playoff-bound Eagles, Bills
Two playoff-bound teams with something to prove meet Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.,The NFC East champion Eagles (10-5) want to show the doubters that their resurgent ground game is legitimate and not built on the backs of lesser opponents.,The Bill...

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 ...

FBS rushing leader Cam Cook of Jacksonville State to enter portal
Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, the FBS rushing leader, announced on Wednesday that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.,Cook, who transferred from TCU to Jacksonville State for the 2025 season, leads the FBS in yards (1,659) and carries (295) and shares fourth in rushing touchdowns...

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...

With elimination looming, Ravens' Lamar Jackson misses practice
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice Wednesday with a back injury, putting his availability in question for Saturday's road game against the Green Bay Packers.,Jackson was knocked out of Sunday's 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots with a back injury in the second quarter.,T...

Raiders place TE Brock Bowers, S Jeremy Chinn on IR
The Las Vegas Raiders placed tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday.,The Raiders (2-13) are on a nine-game losing streak with two games remaining at home against the New York Giants (2-13) on Sunday and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18.,Bowers has ...

CFP ratings plummet 7% as games opposite NFL struggle again
While college football is big business, the NFL remains king as more evidence arrived from last weekend's television ratings.,Even the first round of the College Football Playoff last Friday and Saturday struggled to compete against opposing NFL regular-season games on the airwaves.,The four first-r...