GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — After six losses and one month, Wilfried Nancy’s brief and disastrous ti...

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — After six losses and one month, Wilfried Nancy’s brief and disastrous time as Celtic manager is over.Just 33 days since Nancy <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-celtic-coach-columbus-80e58bd90a66d421bfaf21869b8aeb95">left Columbus Crew</a> in Major League Soccer for Celtic, he was sacked by the club on Monday.Celtic brought back Martin O’Neill within hours to manage the team to the end of the season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>O’Neill was in interim charge before Nancy was hired. Like Nancy, O’Neill also oversaw eight games but won seven of them. The fan favorite who won three Scottish titles with Celtic in the early 2000s said he would have been happy to stay on.“I am really pleased, in fact, very honored to be asked back to manage the team again,” O’Neill said on the Celtic website. “I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game. He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again.”Paul Tisdale was also leaving as Celtic head of football operations.Nancy lost his first four games in charge, including a League Cup final, and six out of eight in total. His final outing was the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/celtic-rangers-nancy-d4de76615f971be177abd7f481a54a28">3-1 home loss</a> to Glasgow rival Rangers on Saturday in the Old Firm derby, the biggest match in Scottish soccer.Nancy’s tenure ended up being slightly shorter than the interim stint of O’Neill, who took over following the departure of Brendan Rodgers on Oct. 27. Nancy was appointed on Dec. 3.Celtic next plays Dundee United on Saturday, starting a hectic run of eight games in 24 days.That includes two crucial Europa League games against Italy’s Bologna and Dutch club Utrecht as Celtic, currently in the 24th and last qualifying spot, seeks to avoid an early exit from the competition.Celtic also visits Hearts on Jan. 25 in what could be a decisive game in the Scottish Premiership title race.Hearts is six points clear of Celtic and Rangers at the top of the standings as the Edinburgh club aims to become the first non-Old Firm team to win the title since Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in 1985.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 03: Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on January 03, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland.

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RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah scored with the last kick in extra time to seal’s Egypt’s 3-1...

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah scored with the last kick in extra time to seal’s Egypt’s 3-1 win over Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations last 16, and Nigeria enjoyed a 4-0 rout of Mozambique on Monday.Egypt had to dig deep after being surprisingly held to 1-1 in normal time after Benin’s Jodel Dossou pounced on a rebound to level the game in the 83rd minute.The Pharaohs dominated from the start but had to wait till the 69th before Marwan Attia finally made the breakthrough.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Attia was involved again when Yasser Ibrahim met his cross with a looping header to send the ball inside the top left corner in the seventh minute of extra time.Salah had the final say on a counterattack, shooting past Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou from outside the penalty box after Zizo played him through. It was his third goal of the tournament.Egypt, which has played every game in Agadir, will stay in the coastal city for a quarterfinal on Saturday against Burkina Faso or defending champion Ivory Coast, who were meeting on Tuesday.The Pharaohs will have an extra day of rest before facing their next opponents as they bid for a record-extending eighth title.Egypt was dealt a blow before the break when left back Mohamed Hamdy went off on a stretcher with what looked like a serious left knee injury after his foot connected with Dokou Dodo’s head. Dodo was OK to continue but Hamdy covered his eyes as he was carried off while receiving well wishes from teammates.<h3>Super Eagles soar</h3>Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman starred as Nigeria routed Mozambique in Fez.The Super Eagles were singing and dancing as they made their way into the stadium and heavy rainfall failed to dampen their mood.Osimhen had an early goal ruled out for offside but Nigeria didn’t have to wait long for Lookman to get off the mark in the 20th when he was set up by Akor Adams.Osimhen got his goal five minutes later, again set up by Adams, though the cross took a deflection.Any hopes the Mambas had of a comeback were dented after the break when Lookman set up Osimhen for his second goal. Lookman also set up Adams to seal the result on a break in the 75th.Osimhen was already off the field for a rest by then. Nigeria coach Eric Chelle took Lookman and Adams off in the final minutes, too.The Super Eagles next face a quarterfinal against Algeria or Congo, who were to play in Rabat on Tuesday.Mali and Senegal will play the first quarterfinal on Friday, followed by host Morocco facing Cameroon.___AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Mohamed Salah celebrates with his team mates after scoring the 3rd goal for Egypt during the match between Egypt vs Benin in the African Cup of Nations 2025 - 16th Round at Grand Stade D'Agadir , Agadir, Morocco

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LONDON (AP) — West Ham signed Lazio striker Valentín “Taty” Castellanos on Monday in a move credi...

LONDON (AP) — West Ham signed Lazio striker Valentín “Taty” Castellanos on Monday in a move credited to under pressure coach Nuno Espírito Santo.In a potential sign of support for Nuno, the statement announcing Castellanos said he had been “identified as a key target by head coach Nuno Espírito Santo.”In an interview on the club website, Castellanos was also asked about Nuno wanting him in the squad and quoted as saying: “The guys have welcomed me really well, the coach and all.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nuno has only been in charge since September and there had been speculation about his future following Saturday’s 3-0 loss to previously winless Wolverhampton, which left the team 18th in the Premier League. West Ham next plays Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.Castellanos joins on a four-and-a-half-year contract with an option for a further year, West Ham said, without confirming the transfer fee.It was <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2006807056389648548">reported</a> last week that the deal is worth €29 million.Castellanos has scored twice in 12 games for Lazio this season after a hamstring injury interrupted his campaign. He’s played twice for Argentina and also won the MLS Cup with New York City FC in Major League Soccer. He joined Lazio in 2023 and leaves with 22 goals from 98 games.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

ROME, ITALY - DECEMBER 20: Valentin Castellanos of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico on December 20, 2025 in Rome, Italy.

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PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain stayed one point behind surprise Ligue 1 lead...

PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain stayed one point behind surprise Ligue 1 leader Lens after beating Paris FC 2-1 on Sunday in the first capital city derby in French men’s league soccer <a href="https://apnews.com/article/paris-derby-psg-pfc-ligue-1-0b0ad52e7b5b5bb4cc772d2a6697681f">since 1990</a>.Star forwards Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembéle struck for PSG.Inconsistent Marseille is now eight points behind Lens in third place after losing 2-0 at home to Nantes earlier Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Paris derby was held at PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, which is just 44 meters away from where PFC plays its home games at Stade Jean Bouin since moving there this season.PSG wasted a couple of good scoring positions with overly intricate passing before Doué netted just before halftime, latching onto a pass and clipping the ball over the right shoulder of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp from near the penalty spot.Willem Geubbels equalized from the spot in the 51st minute after Illia Zabarnyi gave away a penalty. But PSG regained the lead two minutes later when Dembélé cut in from the right and his deflected shot beat Trapp, a former PSG goalkeeper.

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 4: Ousmane Dembele of PSG (hidden) celebrates his goal with Senny Mayulu, Warren Zaire-Emery during the Ligue 1 McDonald's football match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Paris FC at Parc des Princes stadium on January 4, 2026 in Paris, France.

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MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich’s latest young sensation is already thinking about a future elsewhere...

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich’s latest young sensation is already thinking about a future elsewhere.Lennart Karl, the 17-year-old midfielder who became Bayern’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bayern-munich-lennart-karl-champions-league-ce59789bf50cb9be9025bccaf86a5995">youngest Champions League scorer</a> in October, prompted laughs, criticism and confusion Sunday with an admission he dreams of moving to Real Madrid.During a question-and-answer session at a small-town fan gathering Sunday, the sort of visit that’s a new year’s tradition for the club’s players, Karl was asked if he had a “dream club” other than Bayern.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Bayern’s a very, very big club in any case, and it’s a dream to play there, but some day I’d definitely like to go to Real Madrid. That’s my dream club, but that stays between us,” Karl said, to laughter from the Bayern fans in the audience, in comments broadcast by Sky Sport in Germany.“But obviously Bayern is something very, very special and it’s lots and lots of fun at the club.”While the fans in the audience seemed to take Karl’s comments with good humor, the young midfielder faced criticism from Bayern supporters online questioning his loyalty to the club.Karl came through Bayern’s youth academy and made his first-team debut in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City at the Club World Cup in June before becoming a regular this season, with six goals in 22 games.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 22: Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between FC Bayern München and Club Brugge KV at Football Arena Munich on October 22, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

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CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — One fan is standing tall above all others at the Africa Cup of Nations...

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — One fan is standing tall above all others at the Africa Cup of Nations.He has even brought a pedestal to make sure.Congo supporter Michel Nkuka Mboladinga has become a social media star for posing as a statue of the country’s assassinated independence hero Patrice Lumumba during games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lumumba Vea, as the sharply dressed supporter is known for his resemblance to the slain leader, raises his right arm and stays perfectly still, adopting the position of the Lumumba memorial statue in Kinshasa, and holds the pose for the entirety of games.“I remain still to give strength to the team, to give energy to the players,” Nkuka Mboladinga told The Associated Press during an interview in his hotel room in Casablanca this week.He said it was his last before the team plays Algeria in Rabat on Tuesday. Nkuka Mboladinga was clearly exhausted from relentless media attention after Congo’s first three games in the tournament, and exasperated after it seemed every media outlet had spelled his name wrong.But he was grateful for the attention and pleased to bring Lumumba’s support to the team.“He’s the one who gave us the freedom to express ourselves,” Nkuka Mboladinga said of the Congolese leader. “He sacrificed his life for us, to give us liberty. So he’s a hero for us, Lumumba is a spirit for us, he’s a model for us.”Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end Belgium’s colonial rule over Congo in 1960. He became the new independent country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was killed within a year during a struggle against a Belgian-backed secessionist movement in the mineral-rich Katanga region.Questions have persisted over <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-patrice-lumumba-belgium-africa-761a2655c15ef56ce6c64d6537b146f2">how complicit Belgium and the United States may have been</a> in his death. A Belgian parliamentary probe later determined the government was “morally responsible” for Lumumba’s death. A U.S. Senate committee found in 1975 that the CIA had hatched a separate, failed plan to kill the Congolese leader.For many in Congo, Lumumba remains a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tooth-lumumba-congo-museum-c0a6b7ae625004e04d22aa3dfda5909b">symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved</a> after its independence. Instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.“He’s like family,” Nkuka Mboladinga said of the visionary leader.Nkuka Mboladinga rehearses before each match by staying still for 45 to 50 minutes at a time. With Congo through to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-cup-afcon-last-16-teams-knockout-6c57def913d516da1493abdb067364a2">knockout round</a>, he also faces the prospect of having to stay in statue mode through extra time and penalties, when the fans around him are anything but.“It’s difficult,” he acknowledged about staying still while supporters dance around and behind him. “Everyone plays their part, they play their role and I am in mine.”He hasn’t met the players yet but has heard they appreciate his efforts.“The players know me, but I haven’t spoken with them personally. They’re very happy with what I’m doing,” he said.___AP at the Africa Cup: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations">https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations</a>

RABAT, MOROCCO â" DECEMBER 30: Congolese superfan and entertainer âLumumbaâ stands throughout the match with his arm raised, passionately supporting DR Congo during the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) Group D match against Botswana at Agdal Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on December 30, 2025, as he aims to set a new personal record.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — The way Aaron Rodgers looks at it, part of his job is to be a “magnetic force."...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The way Aaron Rodgers looks at it, part of his job is to be a “magnetic force."This is, after all, why the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the four-time NFL MVP to a one-year deal last summer. And why Rodgers opted to return for a 21st season after two miserable years with the New York Jets, eager to prove he could still sling it. Still deliver. Still win.Turns out, there's some life in Rodgers' right arm yet.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>And in his team's season, too.The 42-year-old Rodgers threw for a season-high 294 yards, the last 26 coming on a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left, and the Steelers claimed their first AFC North title in five years with a 26-24 victory that wasn't assured until Baltimore's Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@nfl/video/7591738342740380941" data-video-id="7591738342740380941" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@nfl" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nfl?refer=embed">@nfl</a> fourth quarter madness 😳 <a title="nfl" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nfl?refer=embed">#nfl</a> <a title="pittsburghsteelers" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pittsburghsteelers?refer=embed">#pittsburghsteelers</a> <a title="baltimoreravens" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/baltimoreravens?refer=embed">#baltimoreravens</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - NFL" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7591738474609330957?refer=embed">♬ original sound - NFL</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></figure>Pittsburgh (10-7) will host Houston (12-5) in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, Jan. 12, hoping to end a postseason victory drought that stretches back nearly a decade.“The belief level in the locker room after a win like this is exponentially greater,” Rodgers said.Considering the way Pittsburgh kept bouncing back against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, maybe it should be.Even with Rodgers' late heroics, Baltimore (8-9) was poised to swing the lead back its way one last time when Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gain that put the Ravens within Loop's range.The rookie's kick never had a chance, sailing well to the right of the goalposts as the Steelers poured onto the field in somewhat jubilant disbelief.“I’m not going to ask questions,” longtime Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. “The good Lord made a good decision tonight. I am thankful, and we keep moving on.”Loop, who had made 30 of 33 field goals this season before his final kick, placed the blame squarely on his 24-year-old shoulders.“Just mishit the ball,” Loop said while being flanked by holder Jordan Stout and long snapper Nick Moore. “We call it hitting it thin.”A perhaps fitting way for a Ravens season that began with Super Bowl expectations but never seemed to quite get right to end.Jackson, dealing with a painful back contusion, passed for 238 yards and three scores, including a pair to Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter. Each of Flowers' TDs — from 50 and 64 yards — put Baltimore in front.It just wasn't enough. And now a long and potentially turbulent offseason awaits.“I'm definitely stunned,” said Jackson, who declined to speculate on his future. “I thought we had it in the bag, man. ... I don't know what else we can do.”The Steelers trailed by 10 early, and a repeat of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/steelers-ravens-score-a2b85b29ef885b5706ae35ddf55ae733">bludgeoning they took</a> at the hands of Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs last season seemed in the offing.The defense, pushed around repeatedly by Derrick Henry since he joined the Ravens last season, finally pushed back, and the offense — playing without suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf — slowly found its footing.Henry ran for 126 yards for the Ravens and became the ninth player in NFL history to reach 13,000 career yards rushing, but was held mostly in check during a second half that morphed into an improbable shootout.Jackson's first touchdown pass to Flowers was a thing of beauty. The two-time MVP ducked out of the reach of two would-be tacklers before floating a pass to a streaking Flowers to put the Ravens up 17-13.Steelers running back Kenny Gainwell sprinted in from 2 yards out with 3:49 remaining to put Pittsburgh back in front. The Ravens, looking to become the first team since the creation of the AFC North in 2003 to win the division three consecutive years, needed all of three plays to reclaim the lead when Jackson lofted a pass to a wide-open Flowers for a 64-yard score.Yet on the Pittsburgh sideline, there wasn't much panic. Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, who had an interception in his return from a three-game absence while recovering from surgery to repair a collapsed lung, saw that there was still over 2 minutes to play. Plenty of time for someone with 36 game-winning drives on his resume.“(I thought), ‘This is the best dude in the NFL for this moment,’" Watt said.A 37th game-winning drive followed.Rodgers deftly guided the Steelers 65 yards in six plays, the last a rainbow down the left sideline to Austin, who was alone after a Ravens defender fell.“Being the old guy having a lot of gray in your beard, they expect that (kind of play),” Rodgers said. "And it’s nice to deliver in moments like that.”Boswell then missed his first extra point of the season after 40 straight makes, opening the door for the Ravens. Baltimore appeared poised to end its longtime rival's season for the second time in 12 months before Loop's kick started right and stayed there.The miss pushed Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's regular-season victory total to 193, tying him with Hall of Famer Chuck Noll for the franchise record.Yet moments after the 40th meeting between Tomlin and Ravens coach John Harbaugh — only Hall of Famers George Halas and Curly Lambeau faced each other more — all the longest tenured coach in major North American professional sports could do was admire his team's fight.Asked about the punches the Steelers have absorbed this season, Tomlin responded by saying simply, “We've thrown a lot too.”A chance to unleash a few more awaits.InjuriesRavens: S Kyle Hamilton left with a concussion in the third quarter after colliding with S Alohi Gilman. Rodgers and Pittsburgh's passing game took off in the three-time Pro Bowler's absence.Up nextRavens: Plenty of time to figure out how to break through next season while Jackson, who turns 29 this week, remains in his prime.Steelers: Prepare to host the Texans with a chance to end the franchise's longest playoff win drought since Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception more than 50 years ago.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 4: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — New Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her two sisters appea...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — New Indianapolis Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her two sisters appear poised to bring back general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen for next season despite a second-half collapse that extended the franchise’s playoff drought to five years.While no announcement was made Sunday after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-colts-score-e066e3a5716775da19310a5d41620dcc">Indy lost 38-30 at Houston</a> to finish the season on a seven-game skid, the team issued a media schedule that included Steichen and Irsay-Gordon speaking to reporters Monday, with Ballard expected to hold his season-ending news conference later this week.Shortly after the schedule release, a reporter employed by the team <a href="https://x.com/JJStankevitz/status/2007955054486237690">posted on X</a> that Ballard and Steichen will return in 2026, and the team reposted it.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ballard and Steichen <a href="https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-colts-ballard-nfl-2519a6fa88cb2d89999a31b6362cca38">began this season on the hot seat</a> after continually missing the playoffs.Steichen is 25-26 in three seasons while Ballard has only two playoff appearances and one postseason win in his nine years as GM. Indy hasn’t won the AFC South since 2014.Steichen’s record pales in comparison to that of the Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, who also was hired ahead of the 2023 season. Ryans is 32-19 and has led Indy’s division rival to three playoff appearances and two AFC South titles.It looked like all that could change this season when new Colts quarterback Daniel Jones and 2021 NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor helped Indy’s offense get off to a historic start. Both were MVP contenders when the Colts were 8-2.But the season started to unravel when Jones was diagnosed with a lower left leg injury following Indy’s Week 10 win over Atlanta in Berlin. Four weeks later, in a 36-19 loss at Jacksonville, Jones suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon.“Yeah. I do, because I believe that,” Steichen said Sunday when asked if he thought the Colts were headed in the right direction. “That’s how I feel about it. Obviously, we showed signs early in the season that were pretty darn good, and we had some unfortunate circumstances. But that’s part of the league. You have to overcome those circumstances.”Jones’ injuries also stalled Taylor’s push for a second career rushing title, and Indy resorted to bringing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement to salvage their playoff hopes. That didn’t work, either. Rivers lost each of his three starts before sitting out Sunday’s game and watching rookie Riley Leonard deliver a solid performance at Houston — eight days after Houston had eliminated Indy (8-9) with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers.The Colts became the first team since the 1995 Oakland Raiders and just the sixth since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to miss the playoffs after starting 8-2.But that didn’t persuade the Colts’ owners to go in a different direction. It’s the biggest decision for Irsay-Gordon and her sisters since the death of their father, longtime owner Jim Irsay, in May.“You know, for me that’s not to decide,” Steichen said Sunday when asked about his job status. “What I will say is that I love this team, I love this organization, I love this city and I love the fans.”Ballard and Steichen will enter yet another season trying to figure out their quarterback situation.Jones was expected to cash in on his early success with a lucrative new contract. Instead, he heads into a second straight offseason as a free agent trying to answer questions about his injury history.Ballard and Steichen also must decide how to handle oft-injured quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2023 who lost the starting job to Jones in training camp and only threw two passes this season. He was never active after injuring an orbital bone in a bizarre pregame locker room accident in mid-October when a stretching band broke.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 05: General Manager Chris Ballard of the Indianapolis Colts looks on prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scored in the eighth round of a...

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scored in the eighth round of a shootout to give Sweden a 4-3 victory over Finland on Sunday night in the world junior hockey semifinals.Canada faced Czechia in the second semifinal. The final is Friday night.The Swedes avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in the semifinals last year in Ottawa, Ontario. Sweden won its lone title in 1981 and 2012. It last appeared in the title game in 2024, falling 6-2 to United States on home ice in Gothenburg.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Frondell — drafted third overall by Chicago last summer — put a wrist shot through Petteri Rimpinen’s pads after failing on his first two attempts in the tiebreaker.Sweden survived a power play in the 10-minute, 3-on-3 overtime after Viggo Bjork — who missed on three OT breakaways — was called for slashing with 2:03 left.Linus Eriksson, Ivar Stenberg and Eddie Genborg scored for Sweden in regulation, and Love Harenstam stopped 33 shots.Atte Joki, Japser Kuhta and and Joona Saarelainen countered for Finland. Rimpinen made 29 saves.Saarelainen tied it at 3 from close range with 5:59 left in the third.Eriksson opened the scoring for Sweden at 36 seconds of the first period. Joki tied it with 3:34 to go in the period. Stenberg struck for Sweden at 1:20 of the second, and Kuhta countered 50 seconds later.Genborg gave Sweden a 3-2 lead with 5:53 left in the second period.On Friday in the quarterfinals, Finland beat the two-time defending champion United States 4-3 in overtime.

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 4: Anton Frondell #16 of Sweden celebrates his game-winning goal during a shootout in a semifinal game against Finland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship at Grand Casino Arena on January 04, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota. Sweden defeated Finland 4-3.

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Sweden outlasts Finland to reach world junior hockey final

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s top playoff seed with a 19-3 win over the Los ...

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s top playoff seed with a 19-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers’ bevy of backups Sunday, a victory fueled by Ja’Quan McMillian’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.Wil Lutz was 4-for-4 on field goals as the Broncos (14-3) tied their franchise record for most victories in a season and earned their first No. 1 playoff seed since 2015, which they parlayed into a third Super Bowl title.They’ll get a week off before hosting their first playoff game in a decade, which could be against these same Chargers (11-6) if L.A. beats the Patriots (14-3) at New England in the wild-card round next weekend.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had one of his worst games of the season, throwing for just 38 yards in the first half and 141 overall, but he tied Russell Wilson’s record of 24 wins in his first two NFL seasons.With no chance to win the division, the Chargers treated this game much like a bye week as they prepare to hit the road for the playoffs in the wild-card round. Coach Jim Harbaugh sat several of his starters, most notably quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu.QB Trey Lance made his sixth career start and first with the Bolts. His fourth pass went off the hands of KeAndre Lambert-Smith and into the arms of McMillian, who raced down the Broncos’ sideline for a 45-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.Lance finished 20 of 44 for 136 yards. Lambert-Smith later left the game with a hamstring injury.After five fruitless drives, Cameron Dicker’s 30-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the second quarter pulled the Chargers to 10-3 at halftime.The Broncos had four sacks, none bigger than Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack at the Los Angeles 20-yard line early in the fourth quarter. That led to Lutz’s third field goal, from 41 yards, and a 16-3 lead with 11:45 left.The Broncos’ four sacks gave them a franchise-record and NFL-high 68 for the season, four shy of the 1984 Chicago Bears’ NFL-record 72 sacks.The game was profitable for at least one Chargers player — wide receiver Keenan Allen, whose seven catches for 36 yards allowed him to reach contract incentives worth $1 million in bonuses Sunday.Winter wonderlandTemperature at kickoff was a 69 degrees, which is the warmest on record in Denver, besting the old mark of 67 degrees in 1956. The average temperature for the Broncos’ nine home games in the regular season was 68.2 degrees, a franchise high. The coldest game was on Nov. 6, when it was 60 degrees on a Thursday night kickoff against the Raiders.InjuriesChargers: RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) and LT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) were inactive. CB Donte Jackson (ankle) left in the first quarter. Lambert-Smith pulled his let hamstring with 6 seconds left in the second quarter and walked gingerly to the sideline. S Kendall Williamson injured an ankle in the third quarter.Broncos: LT Garett Bolles (ankle) got hurt with 5:55 left in the first half and headed to the locker room. He returned on the ' opening drive of the second half. S P.J. Locke (leg) also was injured in the second quarter and didn’t return. Locke has been starting in place of injured S Brandon Jones.Up nextChargers: visit the No. 2 seed New England Patriots in the wild-card round.Broncos: get a much-needed bye before hosting their first playoff game since the 2015 season in the divisional round.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

DENVER , CO - JANUARY 4: Ja'quan McMillian (29) of the Denver Broncos celebrates his pick six with Riley Moss (21) during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

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Broncos clinch No. 1 seed in AFC with win over Chargers

ATLANTA (AP) — Dee Alford's red-zone interception stopped a potential go-ahead drive by New Orlea...

ATLANTA (AP) — Dee Alford's red-zone interception stopped a potential go-ahead drive by New Orleans, and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 on Sunday to give the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
YEAH GLO!!!!! FOX | NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/jOPkTElM0F">pic.twitter.com/jOPkTElM0F</a>— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/2007917752183377921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>By closing the season with four consecutive wins, the Falcons (8-9) finished in a three-way tie with Carolina and Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. The Panthers won the tiebreaker with the best record within the division.The Falcons completed a season sweep of the Saints (6-11), who had their four-game winning streak end.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tampa Bay stayed alive with a 16-14 home win over Carolina on Saturday. The Buccaneers needed a win or tie by the Saints on Sunday to win the division. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and won the division for the first time in a decade.Trailing 16-10, the Saints drove from their 25 to the Atlanta 20 before Alford returned his interception of Tyler Shough's pass intended for Dante Pettis 59 yards to the Saints 27 with 3:14 remaining. The play set up Zane Gonzalez's fourth field goal, a 38-yarder, to extend Atlanta's lead to nine points.Shough answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell with 1:11 remaining, but Atlanta's Kyle Pitts recovered an onside kick.While the NFC South winner was the big prize in the game, the Saints and Falcons played the opening quarter as if determined to show why they had long been eliminated from postseason contention.On the Saints’ first play from scrimmage, tight end Juwan Johnson fumbled after a 26-yard reception and Xavier Watts recovered for Atlanta.The Falcons then gave the ball back when defensive end Carl Granderson, who already had a sack, intercepted a pass from Kirk Cousins. Later in the opening quarter, Falcons safety Jammie Robinson blocked a punt by Kai Kroeger, and Feleipe Franks recovered and returned it 3 yards to the New Orleans 5.A Falcons penalty negated an apparent touchdown run by Bijan Robinson before Cousins’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.Gonzalez’s 40-yard field goal increased Atlanta’s lead before Shough’s 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter.The Saints were denied a touchdown on an apparent 1-yard scoring pass from Shough to Kevin Austin Jr. in the third quarter when Austin was called for offensive pass interference. Instead, Charlie Smyth’s 29-yard field goal trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 13-10.Shough completed 22 of 35 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for a score.Sacks recordRookie James Pearce Jr. sacked Shough on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. It gave the Falcons four sacks in the game and a team-record 57 for the season. The Falcons entered the weekend second in the league with 53 after finishing next-to-last with 31 last season.Pearce finished with 10 1/2 sacks to lead NFL rookies.Injury reportSaints: LT Kelvin Banks Jr. (left ankle) was ruled out after he was carted to the locker room in the second quarter. QB/TE Taysom Hill left with a right shoulder injury.Falcons: CB Cobee Bryant (concussion) was knocked out of the game late in the first quarter. ... DL Brandon Dorlus (hamstring), CB Clark Phillips (triceps, illness) and ILB Ronnie Harrison (illness) were held out. Harrison, Cousins and DL David Onyemata were all added to the injury list on Sunday with illnesses, while CB A.J. Terrell, DL Ruke Orhorhoro and long snapper Liam McCullough were listed as questionable with illnesses.Up nextSaints: New Orleans will look forward to the NFL draft. The Saints entered the week holding the No. 8 overall pick.Falcons: Atlanta heads into an offseason of possible changes as there has been speculation about the futures of second-year coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Dave Canales and Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers celebrate after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Panthers win NFC South after Falcons top Saints

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, breaking the franchise’s ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, breaking the franchise’s single-season record for total scores, and the Jacksonville Jaguars won the AFC South and earned a home playoff game with a 41-10 drubbing of Tennessee on Sunday.It was most lopsided outcome in series history.The Jaguars (13-4) clinched their third division title in nine years, swept the Titans (3-14) for the third time in four seasons and topped a dozen wins for just the second time in the team’s 31-year history.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jacksonville, though, will have to wait several hours to learn its postseason seeding and opponent. The Jaguars could land the AFC’s No. 1 seed but more likely will end up as the third and host Buffalo, Houston or the Los Angeles Chargers next week.No one should want to play the Jaguars, who have won eight in a row and nine of 10 since their bye. And Lawrence has been the hottest quarterback in the league during the streak.He completed 22 of 30 passes for 255 yards against Tennessee, with TDs to Brenton Strange, Parker Washington and Quintin Morris. After a lackluster opening possession, Lawrence picked apart the Titans’ depleted secondary and watched most of the fourth quarter from the sideline.Tennessee rookie quarterback Cam Ward also spent much of the game on the bench. Ward landed on his right shoulder while scrambling for a 7-yard touchdown on the Titans’ opening drive and returned wearing a sling in the second half.Journeyman backup Brandon Allen replaced him and was mostly ineffective, completing 11 of 23 passes for 44 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.Antonio Johnson picked off Allen’s third down pass over the middle in the second quarter and took it 58 yards the other way.It was the 22nd interception of the season for Jacksonville and broke the previous team record set in 2017.Lawrence, meanwhile, closed the regular season with 38 total TDs — 29 passing and nine rushing. Blake Bortles had a combined 37 in 2015. Lawrence also passed Bortles (17,646) for the second-most passing yards in team history. He now trails only Mark Brunell (25,698 yards).Lawrence played into the fourth quarter so he could top 4,000 yards passing for the third time in his professional career. He got a nice ovation while exiting following a 23-yard completion to Washington.Another long kick for LittleJacksonville's Cam Little kicked a 67-yard field goal to end the first half, giving him the two longest kicks in NFL history in the same season. Little set the record with a 68-yarder at the Las Vegas Raiders in early November. Little also drilled a 70-yarder in the preseason.Finale for Titans interim coachMike McCoy finished 2-9 as Tennessee’s interim coach. The former Jaguars assistant replaced Brian Callahan in mid-October following a 1-5 start. Now the Titans will look to hire their next head coach and someone who can continue Ward’s development.Key injuriesTitans guards Kevin Zeitler (quadriceps) and Corey Levin (biceps) were ruled out after sustaining injuries.Jaguars left tackle Cole Van Lanen, who signed a three-year contract extension this week, injured his right knee in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Greg Newsome II (shoulder) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (concussion evaluation) left the game for tests but returned.Up nextTitans will continue their search for a new coach.Jaguars expect to be back at EverBank Stadium next week for a home game.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 04: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans on January 4, 2026 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl.

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Jaguars crush Titans to clinch 1st division title since 2022

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jaylen Brown matched his career high with 50 points and the Boston Celti...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jaylen Brown matched his career high with 50 points and the Boston Celtics completed a successful West Coast swing with a 146-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.Brown had 19 points in the third quarter. Derrick White added 29 points and Anfernee Simons had 15 as the Celtics went 4-1 on the trip and 3-1 against Western Conference teams. Boston is 7-1 since Dec. 19.Brown was 18-of-26 from the floor, while White went 10-of-20. Boston shot 55.2% overall and 47.1% from 3-point range. Brown and White combined to go 11-of-22 from long range.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
50 POINTS FOR JAYLEN BROWN 🚨 HE TIES HIS CAREER-HIGH IN POINTS. <a href="https://t.co/9u7bBOPuSM">pic.twitter.com/9u7bBOPuSM</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2007689015722459497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Kawhi Leonard and John Collins each scored 22 points as the Clippers saw their season-best, six-game winning streak end. Collins made his first eight shots in the game and went 9 of 10 from the floor.Derrick Jones scored 19 points for Los Angeles before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent right knee injury. James Harden had 18 points and 12 assists, and Ivica Zubac had four points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes after missing the previous five games with a sprained left ankle.Brown put the game away with nine consecutive Celtics points for a 128-107 lead with 6:15 remaining. He scored inside in traffic with 3:56 remaining to reach 50 points.Up nextCeltics: Host Chicago on Monday night.Clippers: At New Orleans on Tuesday night.

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 3: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on January 3, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE

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Brown ties career high with 50 points, Celtics end Clippers' 6-game win streak

DALLAS (AP) — Houston center Alperen Sengun left the Rockets' loss to Dallas on Saturday night on...

DALLAS (AP) — Houston center Alperen Sengun left the Rockets' loss to Dallas on Saturday night only 1:04 into play after spraining his right ankle.Sengun landed awkwardly after grabbing a defensive rebound and fell to the court. As he got into a sitting position, he grabbed at his ankle. He limped to the bench and was soon led to the locker room. The team said at halftime that he wouldn't return to the game.Sengun averages 22.6 points, second on the team to Kevin Durant, and leads the team with 9.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Rockets were already playing without reserve big man Steven Adams because of a sprained ankle.Houston fell 110-104 and was outscored 66-54 in the paint.The Mavericks also lost a starter early. Forward P.J. Washington Jr. played all 12 minutes of the first period and was then ruled out with a sprained right ankle.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 01: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 01, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Houston Rockets won 120-96.

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Rockets' Sengun leaves game vs. Mavericks with ankle sprain

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Zach Charbonnet scored on a 27-yard run in the first quarter and Seatt...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Zach Charbonnet scored on a <a href="https://x.com/Seahawks/status/2007625756172771798?s=20">27-yard run</a> in the first quarter and Seattle shut down the high-powered San Francisco offense in a 13-3 victory over the 49ers on Saturday night that secured the No. 1 seed for the Seahawks in the NFC playoffs.Seattle (14-3) won its first division title since 2020 and is now two home wins away from returning to Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl next month after besting San Francisco (12-5) in just the fourth season-ending game ever where the winner was guaranteed the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.The loss sends the 49ers on the road for the wild-card round next weekend against an opponent that will be determined after Sunday’s games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive unit flummoxed a 49ers offense that had been the NFL’s most potent since Brock Purdy returned from an injury in Week 11.The Seahawks didn’t allow a first down in the opening quarter, generated three sacks and made the biggest defensive play early in the fourth quarter when Drake Thomas <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2007653928268378288">got an interception</a> at the Seattle 3 on a pass that went off the hands of Christian McCaffrey.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
UNREAL INT BY THE SEAHAWKS! 😱 Drake Thomas picks off Brock Purdy after CMC bobbled the tipped pass ‼️ <a href="https://t.co/NZ33omeJ0a">pic.twitter.com/NZ33omeJ0a</a>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2007654478581772711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Sam Darnold did just enough for the Seahawks as he won a Week 18 showdown this season after falling flat a year ago for Minnesota against Detroit in a loss that cost the Vikings a chance at the No. 1 seed. Darnold went 20 of 26 for 198 yards and didn’t turn the ball over once as Seattle relied heavily on the running game.Kenneth Walker III ran for 97 yards, Charbonnet had the long TD and the Seahawks finished with 180 yards on the ground, their second most in a game this season.Purdy went 19 of 27 for 127 yards and the interception and McCaffrey was held to 23 yards on eight carries as the 49ers had their lowest-scoring game since losing 23-3 to Carolina in coach Kyle Shanahan’s debut in 2017.The 173 yards gained by the 49ers were their fewest in any regular-season game under Shanahan.The Seahawks controlled the first half, outgaining the 49ers by 127 yards and allowing only three first downs, but led only 10-3 at the break after two long drives ended with no points.Seattle got stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 4 on the on the opening drive but managed to force a three-and-out that set up a short field and Charbonnet’s TD run.Jason Myers also missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. He went 2 of 4 on the night, missing from 26 yards late in the fourth quarter.InjuriesSeahawks: LT Josh Jones, who was staring in place of Charles Cross, left briefly in the second half but quickly returned.49ers: LB Dee Winters (ankle) left in the second quarter and didn’t return. ... LB Tatum Bethune left in the second half with a groin injury. ... LT Trent Williams (hamstring) and WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) were inactive.Up nextSeahawks: Will host the divisional round on either Jan. 17 or 18.49ers: Will play a wild-card game on the road next weekend.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during the third quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

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Seahawks clinch No. 1 seed, NFC West title with win over 49ers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the NFC South will have a losing record and be crowned at home w...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the NFC South will have a losing record and be crowned at home watching on television.Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton, Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoided elimination with a sloppy 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on a rain-soaked Saturday.The Buccaneers (8-9) need New Orleans (6-10) to beat or tie Atlanta (7-9) on Sunday to clinch a fifth straight NFC South title.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>If the Falcons win, the Panthers (8-9) will secure their first division championship since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.The Buccaneers hold a two-team tiebreaker over the Panthers. But Carolina holds the three-team tiebreaker over Tampa Bay if Atlanta also finishes 8-9.Before the Buccaneers faced New Orleans in October, Mayfield accused the Saints of dirty play and said: “I do not like them.”Now, Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes hinge on the Saints beating the Falcons on the road on Sunday.The Buccaneers were 0-8 in games where Mayfield threw an interception before overcoming his ninth pick in the last eight games.After McLaughlin’s 38-yard field-goal try was blocked with just over five minutes remaining, Carolina got within 16-14 on Bryce Young’s 8-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker with 2:27 left.Mayfield tossed a short pass to Otton for a <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2007606171516162085">20-yard gain</a> on third-and-4 to extend Tampa Bay’s drive and run off more time. The Panthers got the ball back at their 3 with 18 seconds and no timeouts left. The game ended on a desperate series of laterals that resulted in a fumble.Mayfield connected with Otton on an 18-yard TD pass for a 7-0 lead as the Bucs scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the third straight game. It was Otton’s first TD of the season.Down 10-0, the Panthers turned Christian Rozeboom’s interception into a quick score. Rozeboom returned the pick 20 yards to Tampa Bay’s 19. Young then connected with Tommy Tremble on an 8-yard TD pass to cut it to 10-7.Jacob Parrish picked off Young late in the second half and the Buccaneers got a 36-yard field goal from McLaughlin to take a 13-7 halftime lead.McLaughlin kicked a 48-yard field goal early in the fourth to extend Tampa Bay’s lead.Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 54-yarder short on the opening drive of the third quarter.Mayfield completed his first six passes before misfiring on a cross-field, 13-yard toss to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone. The Bucs settled for McLaughlin’s 29-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.End of an eraGene Deckerhoff, the voice of the Buccaneers for 37 years on radio, is retiring after the season. Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and veteran linebacker Lavonte David could have played their last game with the Buccaneers and possibly in the NFL if they choose to retire.David was a second-round pick in 2012, made one Pro Bowl, was a first-team All-Pro once and second team All-Pro twice.Evans, the No. 7 overall pick in 2014, had a 1,000-yard season every year of his career until this one, when he broke his clavicle in October and missed several games.InjuriesPanthers: DT Bobby Brown III (head) left the game to be evaluated for a concussion.Buccaneers: LB Anthony Walker (ankle) was injured on the opening kickoff. ... CB Jamel Dean (shoulder) and OLB Anthony Nelson (knee) didn't play. ... DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral) was active for the first time since Week 2.Up nextPanthers: Host a wild-card game or start the offseason.Buccaneers: Host a wild-card game or start the offseason.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 3: Cade Otton #88 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

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Bucs earn big win over Panthers, still need Falcons loss to clinch NFC South

HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — Hannah Bilka and Anna Wilgren scored in a shootout to lift the Seattle T...

HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — Hannah Bilka and Anna Wilgren scored in a shootout to lift the Seattle Torrent to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Sceptres on Saturday.The game was played at TD Coliseum as part of the PWHL’s Takeover Tour.Natalie Spooner and Daryl Watts scored in regulation for Toronto. Lexie Adzija and Alex Carpenter had the Seattle goals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Corinne Schroeder made 27 saves for the Torrent. Raygan Kirk made 37 stops for the Sceptres.Announced attendance was 16,012.Up nextSceptres: Host the New York Sirens on Tuesday night.Torrent: Visits the Boston Fleet on Wednesday night.___AP women’s hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

HAMILTON, CANADA - JANUARY 03: Lexie Adzija #78 of the Seattle Torrent celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Sceptres at TD Coliseum on January 3, 2026 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

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Torrent top Sceptres in shootout at Takeover Tour

LONDON (AP) — Luke Littler is a back-to-back world darts champion at the age of 18.  The English ...

LONDON (AP) — Luke Littler is a back-to-back world darts champion at the age of 18.The English phenom beat Gian van Veen of the Netherlands 7-1 in the final at Alexandra Palace on Saturday to secure a record winner’s prize of 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) and underline his status as a generational talent in the sport.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The moment Luke Littler became the fourth player to win back-to-back World Championship titles! 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCDarts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WCDarts</a> <a href="https://t.co/0IOFgv9vCQ">pic.twitter.com/0IOFgv9vCQ</a>— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/2007577511291670886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It was Littler’s third straight appearance in the final of darts’ showpiece tournament. He lost to Luke Humphries in 2024 — as a precocious 16-year-old who quickly became a household name across Britain — and defeated Michael van Gerwen last year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Twelve months later and now the world’s top-ranked player, Littler — nicknamed “The Nuke” — has become the 16th player to win multiple men’s world titles.Such is Littler’s talent that many are already wondering whether he can challenge the 16 world titles collected by Phil Taylor, darts’ greatest ever player.

Luke Littler celebrates with the Sid Waddell trophy after victory against Gian van Veen after the final of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace, London. Picture date: Saturday January 3, 2026.

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OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Brianne Jenner scored twice to lead the Ottawa Charge to a 5-2 win over th...

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Brianne Jenner scored twice to lead the Ottawa Charge to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Saturday.It marked just the second regulation victory for the Charge (2-3-0-5), who have won four straight games.Emily Clark, Sarah Wozniewicz and Katerina Mrazova also scored for Ottawa and Gwyneth Philips made 24 saves. Jenner iced the win with an empty-net goal with 2:44 remaining.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kelly Pannek and Britta Curl-Salemme scored for the Frost (4-1-1-3). Maddie Rooney stopped 17 shots.The Charge opened the scoring early in the first period on a backdoor tap-in for Jenner.The Frost tied it with a power-play goal 38 seconds into the second period. Philips thought she had secured the puck, but Pannek knocked it in for her fourth goal of the season.Ottawa pulled away later in the period with three goals in just over six minutes.Clark delivered a highlight-reel goal on an end-to-end rush, putting the puck through Sidney Morin’s legs before beating Rooney on the far side. Wozniewicz tallied a few minutes later and Mrazova added a power-play goal.The Frost scored late in the period when Ottawa was unable to clear the puck. Pannek found Curl-Salemme out front and she beat Philips on the glove side.Up nextCharge: Ottawa hosts the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Friday.Frost: Minnesota takes on the Montreal Victoire on Sunday.___AP women’s hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 03: Brianne Jenner #19 of the Ottawa Charge leads teammates Mannon McMahon #18, Sarah Wozniewicz #23 and Rory Guilday #5 to the bench after scoring against the Minnesota Frost during the first period at The Arena at TD Place on January 03, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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Jenner scores twice to lead the Charge over Frost

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — It has taken 20 games but Wolverhampton Wanderers finally have thei...

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — It has taken 20 games but Wolverhampton Wanderers finally have their first win in the Premier League.A 3-0 victory over West Ham at Molineux on Saturday brought some respite for Wolves after its historically bad start to a top-flight season.No team has taken this long to record its first win of a Premier League campaign since the competition’s inception in 1992.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The record for the longest winless start to a top-division campaign is held by Bolton Wanderers, who won for the first time in the 1902-03 season on their 22nd attempt.Wolves, which has won twice in the English League Cup this season — including against West Ham — last tasted success in the Premier League on April 26. That was a month before the end of last season.Jhon Arias, Hwang Hee-chan and Mateus Mané scored first-half goals for Wolves, which moved onto six points — still 12 from safety with 18 games remaining — but was only six points behind next-to-last Burnley, which lost at Brighton 2-0 on Saturday.West Ham stayed in third-to-last place, four points from safety.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 3: Hwang Hee-Chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates their 1st goal after providing the assist during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 3, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.

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Wolves crush woeful West Ham to finally get 1st win of season

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