LAS VEGAS (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 28 points, Jalen Brunson had 25, and the New York Knicks ralli...

LAS VEGAS (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 28 points, Jalen Brunson had 25, and the New York Knicks rallied to beat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on Tuesday night to win the NBA Cup.Now the Knicks can hang a banner next to the 1973 NBA championship banner in Madison Square Garden, the last time they won the title.But this is a championship roster — NBA Cup MVP Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges cut down the nets in college at Villanova — with high hopes of representing a weak Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 11 rebounds despite battling an injury. He went into the locker room with a minute left before halftime and later exited for the bench with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter and didn’t return until late in the fourth. The broadcast said he had calf injury.Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 21 points, Wembanyama scored 18 and De’Aaron Fox had 16.New York dominated inside, outrebounding the Spurs 59-42, with Mitchell Robinson collecting 15 boards, including 10 on the offensive end. That helped give the Knicks a 56-44 edge in points in the lane.The Spurs, however, led for much of the game before the Knicks went on a 13-1 run that began late in the third quarter to go up 100-95. New York never trailed again.The Knicks got more than a trophy, each player with a standard contract got an extra $318,560 for winning, making the total $530,933 for even reaching the final.This game doesn’t count in the standings, so both teams remain 18-7, putting them atop their respective divisions.Just making the final bodes well for both teams. The previous four finalists — Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee — also made the playoffs. The Pacers made the Eastern Conference finals in 2024, and the Thunder won the NBA championship last season.Up nextKnicks: At Indiana on Thursday night.Spurs: Host Washington on Thursday night.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/NBA</a>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat th...

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals by Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford to defeat third-division club Guadalajara 2-0 on Tuesday in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in a game delayed because of problems with the stadium’s temporary grandstand.Kickoff was delayed by half an hour because local authorities did not initially allow fans access to the newly built grandstand at the Pedro Escartín stadium in the city of Guadalajara near Madrid.There were long lines outside the stadium until police finally permitted fans inside. The stadium’s capacity increased from nearly 6,000 to about 8,000 with the new stand.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Barcelona was in control from the start but struggled to create significant scoring chances against its lower-tier opponent.Christensen finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute with a header off a cross by Frenkie De Jong. Christensen’s header deflected off a defender before hitting the net.The hosts had a few opportunities to equalize but couldn’t capitalize, and Rashford sealed the victory on a breakaway in the 90th.Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rested some of the team’s regular starters ahead of Spanish league leader’s visit to third-place Villarreal on Sunday.<h3>Other results</h3>In the upset of the night, second-division Deportivo La Coruna eliminated top-flight Mallorca 1-0.The other first-division clubs advanced. Real Sociedad defeated Eldense 2-1 with a winner deep into stoppage time, while Valencia beat Sporting Gijon 2-0.On Wednesday, Real Madrid visits third-division club Talavera, while Atletico Madrid is at fourth-tier team Atletico Baleares.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

GUADALAJARA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 16: Andreas Christensen of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Copa del Rey match between CD Guadalajara and FC Barcelona at Estadio Pedro Escartin on December 16, 2025 in Guadalajara, Spain.

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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — After finally ending its wait for a Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germai...

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — After finally ending its wait for a Champions League title, Paris Saint-Germain can finish the year by adding a first Intercontinental Cup trophy as well.PSG takes on Brazilian club Flamengo, the South American champion, in the final of the year-end international tournament on Wednesday. No French team has won the Intercontinental Cup, which was played for more than 40 years until 2004 before it was rebranded as the Club World Cup.FIFA brought back the Intercontinental Cup last year after revamping the Club World Cup as a 32-team summer tournament.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>PSG lost to Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup in the United States in July, having won its first Champions League title in May."I'm focused on building on what we saw last season," PSG coach Luis Enrique said on the eve of the game in Doha. "Making history was an objective last season, and we want to continue making history. Every final is different. Flamengo is a very good team, and it will be a close, difficult final."Flamengo is seeking its second Intercontinental Cup title, having beaten Liverpool in 1981 with a team that included Brazil greats Zico and Junior. It is trying to finish off a stellar year in which it won both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian championship.While PSG earned a direct entry to the final as European Champion, Flamengo had to beat Mexico's Cruz Azul and Egypt's Pyramids to reach the title game.South American teams have traditionally taken the tournament more seriously than European clubs, but PSG rested several players in Saturday’s 3-2 league win over Metz with an eye to the trip to Qatar. Right-back Achraf Hakimi did not travel because of an injury."We know how strong PSG is, they are the favorites, but that does not take our confidence away," veteran Flamengo left-back Alex Sandro said. "This match is special for us, we will enjoy every minute, every second, every gap on the pitch, every touch on the ball as if that was the last one. All that matters to us at this moment is this game."The winner gets to sport a FIFA badge on its shirt for the next year.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Players of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) enter the pitch for a training session ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final match between France's Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil's CR Flamengo at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, on December 16, 2025.

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GENEVA (AP) — FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans followi...

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185.It was a rare climbdown by the soccer body and its president Gianni Infantino after soaking up waves of criticism for World Cup strategies, including top-dollar prices and closer political alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump.FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be from 400 to 750 per team, in what FIFA is now calling a “Supporter Entry Tier” price category. FIFA is using 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, plus two in Canada and three in Mexico.FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are “designed to further support traveling fans following their national teams across the tournament.”However, the Football Supporters Europe group, which represents grass-roots fan groups, said the limited price cut was “an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.”“This shows that FIFA’s ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation,” the group said in a statement.The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams — up from 32 — and is expected to earn FIFA at least $10 billion in revenue while being the most expensive ever for fans.Despite the outcry over prices, FIFA says it has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in its latest sales phase.The FSE group said that even with Tuesday’s announcement, “the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before.”<h3>Initial pledge for cheap tickets</h3>Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA’s ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category. Their standard allocation is 8% of stadium capacity per team.The cheapest prices ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The $265 games involve Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo and well-supported teams like Brazil and England.FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago — when they were bidding for the tournament — that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available for games before the knockout rounds.The hospitality program in modern NFL venues, and now managed in-house instead of outsourced to an agency, is expected to earn FIFA billions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions.<h3>European criticism</h3>Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for “dynamic pricing” plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform — both features which are common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide.Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets and that fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team’s potential games — through the final — would not get refunded until after the tournament.In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.<h3>Fans with disabilities</h3>Even before the FIFA statement, the supporter group FSE called Tuesday for a re-think on World Cup policy for fans with disabilities.It said FIFA’s re-sale platform was offering disability access seats at multiple times face value with no assurances those tickets actually would be sold to people with a disability. Those fans also can no longer get free tickets for companions as they could at the last World Cup in Qatar.In Qatar, Infantino started an eve-of-tournament speech with a tirade at perceived critics of the host nation, FIFA and himself that included the line “today I feel disabled.”“True inclusion requires action,” FSE said Tuesday, reminding Infantino of that speech. “It’s time for FIFA to move away from populistic statements and respect its own commitments.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Doha, Qatar - December 15: FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Semi Final match between Morocco and United Arab Emirates at Khalifa International Stadium on December 15, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.

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NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario (AP) — Gavin McKenna knew the haters would be ready to pounce.  The young ...

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario (AP) — Gavin McKenna knew the haters would be ready to pounce.The young forward was expected to be the runaway No. 1 overall selection at the 2026 NHL draft and that might still very well end up being the case.There has also been criticism since McKenna bolted the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers to play at Penn State. He has 18 points in 16 games this season in U.S. college hockey — a circuit with a shorter schedule, older players and more defensive structure — after dominating junior play with 129 points over 56 games in 2024-25.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>McKenna, who wanted a different challenge as part of a “building year” in hopes of being better prepared for professional hockey, is expected to be a key part of Canada’s offense at the upcoming world junior championship. He is certainly motivated.“I don’t mind it at all,” he told the Canadian Press on Monday at training camp of the draft chatter. “Sometimes getting people pumping your tires all the time isn’t the best thing for you. People have been waiting for me to fail … it fires me up.”McKenna put up 41 goals and 88 assists last season in a WHL run that included a 40-game point streak. He’s scored just four times in 2025-26, but isn’t concerned about the noise or his output with the Nittany Lions.“I just try to take it with a grain of salt,” said McKenna, who will turn 18 years old Saturday. “Where my game’s at, if people are watching and if people are smart at hockey and are actually watching the game, not just looking at the numbers, they’d know. I’m confident.“I’ve been playing well. Pucks haven’t been going in for me, haven’t been getting bounces, but I think with world juniors to build my confidence, and then bring it in the second half, I think that’ll be huge for me.”Canada is certainly banking on that. The country finished a disastrous fifth last time in Ottawa — McKenna is one of six returnees — for a second straight embarrassing quarterfinal exit at the annual showcase.“He’s a quality kid,” said Alan Millar, general manager of Canada’s under-20 men’s program. “People are focusing in on a small window. He’s still the player that won a WHL championship and had 120-plus points.”The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nhl-ncaa-chl-0c1a35aa9cba61ad47b1f5056219c0b1">NCAA lifted its ban</a> on Canadian Hockey League players in November 2024, paving the way for McKenna and others — previously considered professionals because they received stipends for living expenses — to defect to the NCAA . More than 300 CHL players had <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-hockey-nhl-chl-eligibility-68f7f6393f9ae4ea79424da908e4bc4b">committed to Division I college programs</a> earlier this year. NCAA schools can also lure recruits with name, image, likeness (NIL) endorsement money.Porter Martone, who’s been skating on Canada’s top line with McKenna and Cole Beaudoin at camp, made a similar switch by heading to Michigan State from the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Steelheads.“He’s got a great mind, great head on his shoulders,” Martone, the No. 6 pick at the 2025 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, said of McKenna. “He’s gonna show up this tournament and maybe get those doubters off his back.”McKenna said there’s a big difference in approach when comparing the CHL and NCAA.“Defensively, it’s a lot harder, there’s less time and space, guys are quicker,” he said of U.S. college play. “It’s a skilled league as well, but it’s just more straightforward hockey — crash and bang, trying to get to those dirty areas to find ways to score.”The 6-foot, 170-pound freshman added that factors taken into account going the college route extended far beyond the ice surface.“Living on your own, learning how to become an adult,” McKenna said. “I wanted to spend more time in the gym, build my frame out. All this stuff is to prepare me to play in the NHL.”

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 22: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna (72) on his way to lining up for a face-off during the first period of a college hockey game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions on November 22, 2025, at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN.

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LONDON (AP) — A driver who injured more than 130 people when he plowed his car into a crowd of so...

LONDON (AP) — A driver who injured more than 130 people when he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/liverpool-soccer-parade-car-ramming-fans-football-9023da916e49a85c1a775648e75f946b">plowed his car</a> into a crowd of soccer fans <a href="https://apnews.com/article/liverpool-crystal-palace-arsenal-women-trophy-parade-b2929e5981eeff72e074bf9c901a0bc5">celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League championship</a> was sentenced to 21 years and six months in prison on Tuesday.Paul Doyle rammed his minivan through a sea of fans on May 26 and halted after a bystander got in the vehicle and forced it into park. It came to a stop atop bodies.“The footage is truly shocking,” Judge Andrew Menary said in Liverpool Crown Court. “It is difficult if not impossible to convey in words alone the scenes of devastation you caused. It shows you deliberately accelerating into groups of fans, time and time again.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Doyle sobbed during the two-day sentencing as prosecutors detailed the crime, using graphic video footage and reading emotional statements from dozens of victims.Doyle, 54, pleaded guilty last month to 31 counts, including dangerous driving and multiple counts of attempting or causing grievous bodily harm and intentional wounding.Prosecutors said Doyle used his vehicle as a weapon to ram through the sea of people walking toward him following the victory parade.People who scrambled for safety said they feared a terror attack was unfolding.But the explanation was “as simple as the consequences were awful,” prosecutor Paul Greaney said. Doyle flew into a fury because he couldn’t get where he was going fast enough to pick up a family friend who had attended the parade.“He was a man in a rage, whose anger had completely taken hold of him,” Greaney said.The judge dismissed Doyle’s explanation of having panicked as “demonstrably untrue.”When Doyle was placed in a police van, he said: “I’ve just ruined my family’s life,” Greaney said.The impact was far broader.A prosecutor spent hours reading out the statements of victims, some still nursing injuries.A 16-year-old boy kept awake by nightmares lost his apprenticeship as a woodworker because he couldn’t concentrate. A 23-year-old man had to learn how to walk again. A woman not from the area said the Liverpool accent now triggers anxiety. A woman whose daughter was a die-hard Liverpool fan could no longer watch its matches.“The sight of red shirts and the sounds of chants are unbearable reminders of that day,” Susan Farrell said.

Police officers stand on duty at a cordon at the entrance to Water Street, at the scene of an incident, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win, in Liverpool, north-west England on May 26, 2025.

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DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 12th tri...

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 12th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings.Jamal Murray added 35 points for Denver, including six of his team’s 11 points in overtime. Murray made 14 of his 15 free-throw attempts.The win was the Nuggets’ fifth in a row and was their first home victory since Nov. 8.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The final 1:40 of regulation had four ties and four lead changes, a stretch capped off by a free throw by Murray that tied the game with 2.3 seconds remaining after an away-from-play foul on Houston’s Amen Thompson. Denver retained possession after the free throw, but a 3-point attempt by Jokic from the top of the key was long.The Nuggets took a 124-117 lead after a Spencer Jones 3 with 2:59 remaining in overtime, but the Rockets clawed back, getting within three with the ball and 13 seconds remaining. Alperen Sengun missed a contested 24-foot 3 with 4.9 seconds remaining, allowing Denver to hold on for the victory.Sengun paced the Rockets with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston, which lost its third consecutive road game.A Nuggets team that was already down two starters in Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) played much of the game without starting guard Peyton Watson, who left six minutes into the first quarter after suffering a right trunk contusion.Up nextRockets: At the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.Nuggets: Host the Orlando Magic on Thursday.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 15, 2025 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 2025 NBAE

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Keyonte George scored 37 points and Lauri Markkanen added 33 to lift the Ut...

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Keyonte George scored 37 points and Lauri Markkanen added 33 to lift the Utah Jazz to a 140-133 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, despite a career-high 42 points from Cooper Flagg.George, who had 39 points on Friday in Memphis, scored the first five points of overtime. Kyle Filipowski scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Jazz won consecutive games for just the second time this season.Flagg has been playing his best basketball the past few weeks as the No. 1 overall draft pick has averaged 25.7 points in the last seven games and became the first 18-year-old in league history to score 40 points. Flagg also tied Mark Aguirre for the most points by a rookie in Mavs history.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
COOPER FLAGG SCORES THE MOST POINTS EVER BY AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN NBA HISTORY!!! 42 PTS (career high) 7 REB 6 AST 2 BLK <a href="https://t.co/oCXzgiKiG7">pic.twitter.com/oCXzgiKiG7</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2000804441780547850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>P.J. Washington scored 25 and Naji Marshall had 15 for the Mavericks, who had won five of six games.The Mavericks led 124-116 before the Jazz reeled off 11 straight points, capped by Isaiah Collier’s driving basket with 53.6 seconds remaining.Flagg scored and was fouled on the next possession but missed the free throw that could have tied it.Markkanen made a contested baseline jumper on the other end before Flagg made one of two free throws to make it 129-127 with 4.5 seconds to play. He missed the second free throw on purpose and Max Christie got the rebound while being fouled. Christie made both foul shots to send the game into overtime.But the overtime belonged to the Jazz as the Mavericks shot 1 for 9.Both teams were missing their starting centers as the Jazz rested Jusuf Nurkic and the Mavericks’ Anthony Davis sat out with a left calf bruise.Rotation regulars Kevin Love and Svi Mykhailiuk were healthy scratches as the Jazz decided to play their youngsters.Up nextMavericks: Host the Pistons on Thursday night.Jazz: Host the Lakers on Thursday night.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 15: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates a three-point shot during the first half of the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on December 15, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) — It felt a little bit like Green Bay. And for Aaron Rodgers, it looked a little ...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — It felt a little bit like Green Bay. And for Aaron Rodgers, it looked a little like Green Bay, too.Frigid conditions. High stakes. The number of games dwindling.During the four-time MVP’s long run with the Packers, this was the time of year that Rodgers thrived. And while Pittsburgh is not Green Bay and the 2025 version of Rodgers is not quite the 2015 version, he offered a reminder on Monday night against Miami that there’s still life in his 42-year-old right arm, and in his maddeningly hot-and-cold team.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Rodgers passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh kept its grasp on the top spot in the AFC North with a clinical 28-15 victory over the Dolphins, who were eliminated from playoff contention.While Rodgers wasn’t quite in what he called a “flow state,” he certainly looked comfortable while becoming the oldest quarterback in league history to complete at least 85% of his passes. Rodgers connected on 23 of 27 against the Dolphins, including third-quarter touchdown throws of 19 yards to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and 28 yards to DK Metcalf.“I think he’s the best quarterback to ever play this game,” said Valdes-Scantling, who played alongside Rodgers with the Packers and signed with Pittsburgh’s practice squad earlier this season. “I don’t care if he’s 65 years old or not, he can still spin the ball and he’s always playing chess with the defense.”Throwing short passes that got the ball out of his hands quickly, Rodgers was fine working underneath and letting Pittsburgh’s skill position players do the work. Running back Kenneth Gainwell had 126 total yards, including a team-high seven receptions. Metcalf’s touchdown catch — he shoved former Steeler Minkah Fitzpatrick out of the way en route to the end zone — came on a pass between two defenders that echoed Rodgers in his prime.The Steelers (8-6) maintained their one-game lead over Baltimore in the division with three weeks to go. As spotty as Pittsburgh has looked at times, everything remains on the table as Christmas approaches.“It’s been a while since I’ve been a part of stuff like this,” said Rodgers, who last made the playoffs in 2021. “Nothing changes. It’s just, I feel real comfortable in this environment.”Done DolphinsMiami (6-8) saw its slim playoff hopes vanish in the chill as its four-game winning streak was snapped. The Dolphins prepped by practicing in the snow at nearby Robert Morris University over the weekend, but it didn’t help.While Miami took a 3-0 lead during a sluggish first half on Riley Patterson’s career-long 54-yard field goal, Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ offense had no answer once Rodgers heated up.Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 254 yards with two garbage-time touchdowns to Darren Waller and his NFL-leading 15th interception. De’Von Achane, who had powered Miami’s recovering from a 1-6 start, ran for 60 yards and caught six passes for 68 more but was a nonfactor during the middle portion of the game, when the Steelers scored touchdowns on four straight possessions to remain unbeaten at home on Monday nights since 1992.Tagovailoa remained winless in games where the temperature at kickoff was under 40 degrees. Miami had minus-20 yards of total offense in the third quarter.“It’s disapppointing we didn’t get the outcome we wanted to, and everything that goes on with the playoffs,” Tagovailoa said. “When you start the season the way we did, we made it hard on ourselves.”Winning without WattPittsburgh won for the second time in 13 tries without outside linebacker T.J. Watt during the perennial All-Pro’s nine-year career. Watt is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a collapsed lung sustained during a dry-needling treatment last week.For a night anyway, Watt’s absence didn’t matter. Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward paid tribute to his teammate after collecting one of Pittsburgh’s four sacks. The 36-year-old Heyward stood up and attempted to emulate Watt's signature leg kick, though Heyward said he probably didn’t get his leg up high enough.“We’ve got all the confidence in our guys to go out there and play a hell of a game,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “Obviously they did.”It helped that Asante Samuel Jr. thwarted an early Miami drive with an interception, his first for Pittsburgh after joining its practice squad in October, six months after neck surgery.“It’s a blessing (to get a second chance),” Samuel said. “You can’t take nothing for granted. None of the hard days. None of the long days. You just take everything and appreciate it.”McDaniel’s future is murkyThe Dolphins’ improved play of late solidified — temporarily, anyway — coach Mike McDaniel’s status. With the playoffs out of reach, Miami will turn its attention to the future, one that might not include the bespectacled 42-year-old whose idiosyncratic approach may be wearing thin.“We have three (more) opportunities with this team,” McDaniel said. “I think really the character of the locker room has been tested all year. My expectation is that we’re going to bounce back regardless of how much it hurts.”InjuriesDolphins: RB Ollie Gordon II left in the second quarter with a left ankle injury. ... Fitzpatrick went down in the third quarter with a calf injury.Steelers: LG Isaac Seumalo exited in the third quarter with a triceps injury and did not return. ... OLB Nick Herbig was evaluated for a hamstring injury late.Up nextDolphins: Host Cincinnati on Sunday.Steelers: At Detroit on Sunday.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Pennsylvania on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Steelers eliminate Dolphins from playoff contention on MNF

NEW YORK (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal six minutes into the third period and go...

NEW YORK (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal six minutes into the third period and got his second on an empty-netter, Lukas Dostal stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Monday night to end a two-game losing streak.Gauthier's first goal with one second left on a power play came off a perfectly placed pass from rookie Beckett Sennecke. Igor Shesterkin barely had a chance to react.Defenseman Jackson LaCombe scored Anaheim's first goal shorthanded in the second period, putting home a rebound after Jacob Trouba sprung Ryan Poehling up the ice late in the Rangers' 5-on-3 power play. Dostal was brilliant at the other end of the rink, at one point making a toe save on J.T. Miller and sliding over to deny Vladislav Gavrikov immediately after.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Ducks got a goal in the final seconds from Pavel Mintyukov and celebrated with Trouba and veteran forward Chris Kreider, who <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-kreider-jacob-trouba-rangers-return-af7a0f8ad6528bc1cce8c54dd851b2f2">returned to play at Madison Square Garden</a> for the first time since the Rangers sent them to southern California in separate trades. Kreider and Trouba each waved to the crowd after tribute videos during timeouts in the first while fans applauded.Matthew Robertson scored the only goal for the Rangers, who have lost 12 of 16 games at home. The shot from Robinson deflected off Frank Vatrano's stick and popped into the air before going in off Dostal's. New York was without center Mika Zibanejad, whom <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rangers-mika-zibanejad-fe71bd8c7306a1691dee2aff7612d222">coach Mike Sullivan scratched</a> for breaking a team rule by missing a meeting. Big winger Matt Rempe took Zibanejad's spot in the lineup, back after he missed 24 games since getting injured <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ryan-reaves-matt-rempe-fight-56570280d881c94cb4e3aa79dd8377c7">in a fight</a> Oct. 23.Up nextDucks: Wrap up their five-game Eastern Conference road trip Tuesday night at the Columbus Blue Jackets.Rangers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL</a>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Cutter Gauthier #61 of the Anaheim Ducks scores the game-winning goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 15, 2025 in New York City. The Ducks defeated the Rangers 4-1.

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Gauthier leads Ducks past Rangers in return of Kreider, Trouba to MSG

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Former U.S. captain Michael Bradley became the New York Red Bulls’ 21st coa...

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Former U.S. captain Michael Bradley became the New York Red Bulls’ 21st coach in 31 seasons when he was promoted Monday to replace Sandro Schwarz, taking over a job his father held two decades earlier.Bradley was hired on June 12 as coach of Red Bulls II in the third tier MLS Next Pro and led the team to the league title.The 38-year-old had 17 goals in 151 international appearances from 2006-19 and spent 20 years playing for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (2004-05), Heerenveen (2006-08), Borussia Mönchengladbach (2008-11), Aston Villa (2011), Chievo Verona (2011-12), Roma (2012-14) and Toronto (2014-23).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bradley was an assistant to his father Bob with Norway’s Stabaek in 2023-24. His father coached the U.S. from 2006-11.New York missed Major League Soccer’s playoffs, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference with 12 wins, 15 losses and seven ties, and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sandro-schwarz-red-bulls-022ca3d9671972b2bdb0c2f9af0b9cb2">Schwarz was fired on Oct. 27 after two seasons</a>. The team was seventh in 2024 and advanced to the MLS final, where it lost to the LA Galaxy.The Red Bulls began play in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey Metrostars. They have never won the MLS championship.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 30: Michael Bradley of Toronto FC celebrates after scoring his team's wins after the MLS Major League Soccer match between Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union at BMO Field on August 30, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

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Ex-USMNT star Bradley named head coach of New York Red Bulls

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Toluca defeated the UANL Tigres on penalty kicks 9-8 on Sunday night to win th...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Toluca defeated the UANL Tigres on penalty kicks 9-8 on Sunday night to win the Apertura tournament title and became the fifth team since 1996 to win back-to-back titles in the Mexican league.Fernando Gorriaran put the visitors side ahead in the 12th minute, but Brazilian winger Helinho leveled the scoring in the 41st and Portuguese striker Paulinho put Toluca ahead in the 52nd to send the match into extra time with a 2-2 aggregate.Former Atletico Madrid winger Ángel Correa gave the UANL Tigres a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the final.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Red Devils joined Pumas, León, Atlas and America as teams that have repeated league titles in Mexico since 1996, when the league started playing two tournaments each year.Toluca now has 12 league titles to tie Chivas as the second winningest team in Mexico. Both teams trail America, which has 16.Toluca’s coach Antonio Mohamed won his fifth league title in Mexico and is two short of the all-time leaders Ignacio Trelles and Ricardo Ferretti.Alexis Vega converted Toluca’s first and 12th penalties, with the latter securing the win in a 24-kick shootout. His successful strike ended a streak of five consecutive misses — three from UANL Tigres and two from Toluca — clinching victory for the Red Devils.___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

Toluca's forward #09 Alexis Vega lifts the trophy next to teammates after winning the Liga MX Apertura final second leg football match between Toluca and Tigres at the Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca, Mexico on December 14, 2025.

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Toluca outlast Tigres in epic shootout to retain Liga MX title

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe scored 35 points apiece and the Portland Tr...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe scored 35 points apiece and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 136-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.Stephen Curry had 48 points for the Warriors. He hit a season-high 12 3-pointers, the NBA-leading 28th time he's had 10 or more in a game.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Steph Curry dazzled as only Steph Curry can, despite the Warriors loss. 🍳 48 PTS 🍳 3 STL 🍳 12 3PM He passes Michael Jordan for the most 40-PT games after turning 30 (45) in NBA HISTORY 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/rbD8KISfWi">pic.twitter.com/rbD8KISfWi</a>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2000434026314866999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>In a back-and-fourth final quarter, Toumani Camara's alley oop dunk from Donovan Clingan tied it or the Blazers at 121, but Curry answered with a 3-pointer and a layup.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Portland went up 127-126 but again Curry came back with a 3. Grant’s basket and free throw gave Portland a one-point lead and Deni Avdija added a pair of free throws with 19.9 seconds left to stretch it to 132-129.Moses Moody dunked to get the Warriors to 134-131 with 13.2 seconds to go but Grant’s free throws pushed the lead to 136-131. Grant finished with a season-high seven 3-pointers.Curry was playing in his second game after missing five straight with a left quadriceps contusion. He scored 39 points in Golden State’s 127-120 loss at home to Minnesota on Friday night.Draymond Green started for Golden State after missing the game against the Timberwolves for personal reasons. He missed two games before that with a right foot sprain.Portland led by 34-23 late in the opening quarter after Caleb Love’s 3-pointer, but the Warriors closed the gap and took a 62-61 lead into halftime.Curry made back-to-back 3-pointers that stretched Golden State’s lead to 79-70 in the third quarter, their biggest lead of the game to that point.Green had eight turnovers, including four in the third quarter, and was called for a technical foul.The game was added to the schedule when both the Blazers and Warriors were eliminated from the NBA Cup.Up nextWarriors: At Phoenix on Thursday night.Trail Blazers: Host Sacramento on Thursday night.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Curry drops 48 points in loss to Trail Blazers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The last time Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys were on their home fiel...

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The last time Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys were on their home field, they had finished a two-game sweep of last season's Super Bowl teams to spark talk of a rally to a playoff spot.This time, they watched those postseason hopes all but vanish.J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score, C.J. Ham had the go-ahead TD on his first carry of the season and the Minnesota Vikings put Dallas on the brink of elimination with a 34-26 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Vikings (6-8) won a second consecutive game after they were eliminated from the postseason race before the kickoff. Minnesota was a 14-win playoff qualifier a year ago.The Cowboys (6-7-1) have to win their three remaining games and hope defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia goes 0-3 in order for Dallas to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East.It was a second straight loss for Dallas after a three-game winning streak put them over .500 for the only time this season, capped with victories four days apart at AT&amp;T Stadium over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles.“Definitely surprised, especially (to) get rolling like we did for those few weeks, then watch the confidence just skyrocket,” Prescott said. “Stopping teams, scoring at will, coming back from 21 points (down), a lot of good wins there that, to be in this position just reminds you every play matters. It's a hard game.”Both of McCarthy's TD tosses were to Jalen Nailor, and the quarterback danced star receiver Justin Jefferson's “Griddy” across the goal line when a nifty bootleg left him all alone on fourth-and-goal at the 1.Ham's 1-yard plunge put Minnesota ahead 24-23 late in the third quarter, and Nailor's second touchdown grab pushed the lead to eight early in the fourth as the Vikings became the spoiler just a few hours after their day was spoiled.“It’s just a thing to keep building on the rest of the way and leading into next year,” Nailor said. “We just have a one-game mindset no matter what our record is.”Brandon Aubrey kicked four field goals and had a 6-yard run for a first down on a fake to keep alive the drive to Dallas' first touchdown, but he missed multiple field goals at home for the first time in his three seasons.Aubrey was wide right from 51 and 59 yards, the latter setting up a short field for a drive that ended in Nailor's 4-yard catch for a 31-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.The Vikings forced a turnover on downs when Malik Davis' catch was originally ruled a first down on fourth-and-7, but replay assist quickly reversed the call.Aaron Jones ran 4 yards on fourth-and-1, and Will Reichard kicked a clinching 53-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining after Dallas' unsuccessful challenge that Jones was down before the ball came out on a 16-yard run for another first down.Aubrey's fourth field goal got Dallas within eight with 19 seconds remaining, but Josh Oliver recovered the onside kick.McCarthy was 15 of 24 for 250 yards with an interception, a tipped ball that ended up in the arms of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on his first pass of the game.While the 2024 first-round pick who won a national championship at Michigan has struggled most of the season, his record as Minnesota's starter improved to 4-4.“I think just experience, getting to my eighth game and just feeing more and more comfortable in the pocket, seeing the defenses,” McCarthy said. “I’m just another piece of the puzzle.”Prescott, the NFL leader in yards passing coming in, was 23 of 38 for 294 yards but was held without a touchdown pass for just the third time this season. Javonte Williams and Malik Davis each had a 1-yard TD run for Dallas.“We never got to the point where I felt like we were able to just kind of seize momentum,” first-year Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “There wasn’t a momentum-changing play in any regard other than probably the interception early in the game.”InjuriesVikings: DL Javon Hargrave exited with a groin injury and was ruled out. ... T Brian O'Neill injured an ankle.Cowboys: Williams was ruled out in the second half with a concussion. ... LT Nate Thomas, the backup filling in for the inactive Tyler Guyton (ankle), injured a shoulder. ... FB Hunter Luepke was ruled out with a concussion after getting injured covering a kickoff to finish the first half. ... DE Jadeveon Clowney was active after missing one game with a hamstring injury.Up nextVikings: Road finale at the New York Giants next Sunday.Cowboys: Regular-season home finale against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NFL">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 14: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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McCarthy accounts for 3 TDs as Vikings crush Cowboys' playoff hopes

SEATTLE (AP) — Philip Rivers fought back tears as he considered what message it would send to his...

SEATTLE (AP) — Philip Rivers fought back tears as he considered what message it would send to his sons, or the young men he has coached, that he nearly led the Indianapolis Colts to victory at age 44.“There is doubt, and it’s real,” Rivers said, choking up briefly. “The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or to not go for it, and the other one is, ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens.’ I hope in that sense that can be a positive to some young boys, or young people.”Rivers ended a nearly five-year retirement to start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks and played efficient football for the desperate Colts, who turned to the future Hall of Famer after Daniel Jones was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2000335335470059660">threw a touchdown pass</a> in the first half, played mostly mistake-free and moved the Colts into position for Blake Grupe’s 60-yard field goal with 47 seconds left. But Jason Myers responded with a 56-yarder that gave the Seahawks <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colts-seahawks-rivers-score-7756e8549d24feaa0c63473f837902a5">an 18-16 victory</a>.It was a remarkable day for a grandfather who’s spent the past few years coaching high school football in his native Alabama.Rivers took a few hard hits from the Seahawks’ stout defense, and he even enjoyed them.“I never minded that part of it,” Rivers said. “My wife always tells me I’m crazy because there’s been times in the last three or four years I said, ‘I wish I could just throw one and get hit – hard.’”This wasn’t a novelty act, as it may have seemed when the Colts signed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/colts-philip-rivers-seahawks-743d55340bbe3ecfcf9c98c33d1d1038">the Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist</a> to their practice squad less than a week ago. Coach Shane Steichen’s Colts, who began the season 7-1 but are trying to stop a second-half collapse, knew what they were getting out of the veteran.Rivers finished 18 of 27 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception, with the pick coming on his final pass as he tried to force the ball down the field in the closing seconds.“I was just thankful — grateful — that I was out there,” Rivers said. “And it was a blast — it was a blast — but obviously the emotions now are disappointment. This isn’t about me. We have a team scrapping like crazy to try and stay alive and get into the postseason.”The Colts (8-6) have dropped four straight and five of six, and they are outside the AFC playoff picture with three games left. They trail both Jacksonville and Houston in the AFC South.Steichen called a conservative game, relying on running the ball and controlling the clock. Rivers threw mostly short passes to the outside, checkdowns and screens.“He went out there and gave us a chance to win it,” Steichen said.Rivers took two sacks, and he showed his age on the first one. He stumbled while evading pressure from Boye Mafe, got up, then fell again.Rivers pumped his right fist and let out a roar after throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs with 1:33 remaining in the first half to put the Colts up 13-3.It was Rivers’ first touchdown pass since he threw a 27-yarder to Jack Doyle in the Colts’ 27-24 loss to Buffalo in a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 9, 2021. He also became the fifth player in NFL history to throw a TD pass at age 44 or older, joining Tom Brady, George Blanda, Steve DeBerg and Vinny Testaverde.“It’s been 1,800 days since I’ve thrown a touchdown — or interception for that matter. So we have both those (boxes) checked,” Rivers said.Rivers was chosen last month as one of 26 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 but will now have his eligibility delayed. A player must be out of the league for at least five years before his candidacy can be considered. The earliest Rivers can be a candidate is for the class of 2031.He ranks among the top 10 in NFL history in wins, attempts, completions, yards passing, touchdown passes and 300-yard games.Since his retirement, he’s been coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, where the team held a watch party on Sunday. Rivers’ players were on his mind as he returned to the NFL.“Maybe it will inspire or teach not to run or be scared of what may or may not happen,” Rivers said.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 14: Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates his touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Rivers reflects on 1st game back in NFL with Colts: 'It was a blast'

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos were slogging their way through a rare clunker Sunday against th...

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos were slogging their way through a rare clunker Sunday against the Green Bay Packers when cornerback Pat Surtain II delivered the game-saving takeaway.The reigning NFL defensive player of the year laid out for Jordan Love's deep throw to Christian Watson and secured his first interception of an injury-marred season, one that sparked the Broncos' playoff-clinching, come-from-behind 34-26 win Sunday.“We may have to use him on offense some,” Bo Nix cracked.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Denver's second-year QB actually had plenty of firepower. Nix tied a career high with four touchdown passes — connecting with Michael Bandy, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Lil'Jordan Humphrey — to lead the Broncos (12-2) to their 11th consecutive victory.The Broncos clinched a playoff berth and moved a game ahead of New England for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They stayed two games ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.Green Bay lost star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who went down with a non-contact knee injury while chasing down Nix. Parsons, who had energized the green and gold ever since his stunning trade from Dallas a week before the season opener, is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn’t been confirmed by tests.“I’m sickened,” Parsons, who forced a fumble on Denver's opening drive, told the AP in a text message.Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Packers (9-4-1), who fell a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears ahead of their Soldier Field showdown next weekend.Parsons was steps away from a sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee.The Packers also lost Watson to a chest injury after Surtain fell on him following his third-quarter interception. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Watson went to a hospital for tests.“I told the guys, ‘Nobody is going to feel sorry for us,’” LaFleur said. “Everybody’s going to have to elevate their play.”The Packers opened the second half with a TD drive to take a 23-14 lead. After Denver went three-and-out, the Packers went for the kill shot with a deep throw to Watson on first down and Surtain came away with the ball, re-energizing both his sideline and the crowd.“I think a play like that, a sudden turnover, just gets some adrenaline, gets some emotion back in the game,” said Nix, who capitalized on the takeaway by leading a touchdown drive that trimmed Denver's deficit to 23-21.“He's had some ups and downs this season, he's battled through it, and that was a Pat Surtain play right there. None many can make it,” Nix said. “Big-time players make big plays in big moments.”Riley Moss also recorded his first interceptions of the season. The Broncos sacked Love three times and held the Packers to just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone while going 4 for 4 themselves.After scoring on their first five drives, the Packers managed one field goal in their final half-dozen possessions. The others ended in a pair of picks, two turnovers on downs and a punt.“We got a lot of fight,” Surtain said. “The Packers, they got a great team on both sides of the ball. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We kept reiterating that throughout the whole ball game: just finish, finish, finish and we'll get the job done. ... In order for us to be great, we've got to find a way to win those games.”Surtain was one of several Broncos who comforted Parsons as the Packers' medical personnel attended to him on the field.“It's very tough,” Surtain said. “Micah, he's a great player in this league and when you see a player of his caliber go down, we feel for him.”Seesaw gameThe game featured a half-dozen lead changes.“Well, we talked about it at halftime and we said that's the habitat we've been living in,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton, whose team has pulled out nine one-score victories during its 11-game winning streak, the franchise's longest since 2012.“When you get comfortable operating in those games, you don't think anything of it,” Payton added.Happy homecoming, sort ofFormer Broncos kicker Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 56, 23 and 35 yards to help the Packers take a 16-14 halftime lead and added a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter that pulled Green Bay within 27-26 before the Broncos iced it on R.J. Harvey's 4-yard TD run.InjuriesPackers: In addition to Parsons and Watson, TE Josh Whyle (concussion) and RT Zach Tom (knee) got hurt.Broncos: Harvey (ribs) was injured late in the game. Also, ILB Justin Strnad (right ankle) and S Brandon Jones (pectoral) got hurt and didn't return.Up nextPackers. At Chicago on Saturday.Broncos: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 14: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton #14 during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field At Mile High on December 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

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Broncos top Packers, become 1st AFC team to stamp playoff ticket

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams faced their biggest deficit in more than two months...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams faced their biggest deficit in more than two months when they fell 10 points behind Detroit with 30 seconds left in the first half. Even worse, both their offense and their defense felt they were letting each other down.That's when Matthew Stafford reminded his sideline that a big comeback must start small.“Let's go steal three (points),” Stafford told his teammates before he led a brisk five-play drive for a field goal as time expired.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Rams rode that momentum into a phenomenal second half on both sides of the ball that ended with Los Angeles officially headed back to the playoffs.Matthew Stafford passed for 368 yards and hit Colby Parkinson for two touchdowns, and the NFC-leading Rams became the first team to clinch a postseason berth with a 41-34 victory Sunday.Kyren Williams rushed for two scores and Blake Corum added another TD for the Rams (11-3), who put up 20 consecutive points while seizing control of their eighth victory in nine games.“When we're firing on all cylinders ... man,” said nose tackle Kobie Turner, who had a key sack of Jared Goff. “You put your foot on the gas, and you leave everybody behind.”Puka Nacua had nine catches for 181 yards for Los Angeles, which is headed to the playoffs for the third straight year and for the seventh time in coach Sean McVay's nine seasons.After throwing his fifth interception of the season in the first half, Stafford ruthlessly led the Rams to victory in the second. He heard chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” from the SoFi Stadium crowd after hitting Parkinson for an 11-yard score with 4:49 to play.Amon-Ra St. Brown scorched his hometown team for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 13 receptions for the Lions (8-6), who were held to 125 yards in the second half. Goff passed for 338 yards and three TDs, but Detroit has alternated wins and losses since Week 5, endangering its hopes for a third straight playoff berth.“We’re resilient,” Goff said. “We really are, and I expect us to bounce back from this, and we still have plenty of stuff in front of us. We’ve got a great group that can win a championship here.”Jameson Williams caught a 31-yard TD pass and had seven receptions for 134 yards. David Montgomery also scored with 2:42 to play to make it close — but the Rams got a first down to exhaust the Lions' timeouts, preventing a last-second comeback.“Third quarter was rough on us,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “They got a jump on us that we couldn’t overcome. Nacua had a huge day. We couldn’t slow him down. Stafford played at a really high level, which we knew he would if we couldn’t disrupt him, and more importantly, stop the run. We weren’t able to do that.”Detroit’s offense dominated the first half, averaging 8.5 yards per play and taking a 24-14 lead shortly before halftime. St. Brown caught a 17-yard touchdown pass set up by Aidan Hutchinson's 58-yard interception return in the first quarter, and the Orange County native scored again in the second before finishing the first half with nine catches for 127 yards.But Parkinson caught a 26-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put the Rams back ahead. His second TD catch in the fourth quarter was his sixth in his past six games, surpassing the veteran tight end's total TDs in his first 5 1/2 NFL seasons.Kyren Williams scored on consecutive drives before the first half got away from the Rams. USC product St. Brown scored his second TD on an 8-yard catch before Jameson Williams got open comfortably for his long scoring catch 30 seconds before halftime, sending the Rams to their first double-digit deficit since Week 5.But after Harrison Mevis made field goals on either side of halftime, Los Angeles reclaimed the lead on Parkinson's sprawling TD catch in tight coverage.The Rams forced a punt and went 50 yards in two plays for another score, with Nacua's 39-yard catch setting up Corum's TD run.Wideout lossesStafford and the Rams controlled the second half even while losing both of their star receivers in the fourth quarter.Davante Adams injured his hamstring while running a long route with 12:36 to play, and Nacua left due to cramps one snap before Parkinson’s second TD. Nacua returned for the Rams’ final series.InjuriesLions: CB Amik Robertson hurt his hand in the second half and didn't finish the game.Rams: Adams, the NFL's leader in TD receptions, has been limited by hamstring injuries twice already this season.Up nextLions: Host Pittsburgh on Sunday.Rams: At Seattle on Thursday for the overall NFC lead.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/NFL">https://apnews.com/NFL</a>

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a catch during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

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Rams outlast Lions in shootout to clinch playoff berth

SEATTLE (AP) — Jason Myers has quietly been a big part of the Seattle Seahawks' success this seas...

SEATTLE (AP) — Jason Myers has quietly been a big part of the Seattle Seahawks' success this season.He was the only reason they won Sunday.Myers kicked a franchise-record six field goals, including a 56-yarder with 29 seconds left, and the Seahawks outlasted 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts 18-16 without scoring a touchdown.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I hit it well,” Myers said. “A little slice there, but once I got it up, I knew (I) hit a really strong ball.”Myers has converted 24 of his last 25 field goals, with the only miss a 61-yard try on Nov. 16, and he leads the NFL with a career-best 154 points.He also converted from 47, 52, 46, 32 and 30 yards, and the Seahawks (11-3) needed every one of them to beat Rivers, who hadn't thrown a pass in an NFL game in nearly five years. Seattle extended its winning streak to four games.Indy trailed for just 1:58 and went ahead 13-3 on Rivers’ first touchdown pass since the Colts’ 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs on Jan. 9, 2021. He connected with Josh Downs on third down for an 8-yard score.“It was exciting,” Rivers said. “Shoot, it was exciting to take a 13-3 lead. But first off, our play that we kind of had all week in the red zone in that area on that down and distance on that hash, we practiced in the exact same spot this week. So, when things go like that, they fire you up. Obviously, you throw in the fact that it’s been 1,800 days since throwing a touchdown or interception for that matter. So, yeah, both of those boxes were checked.”Desperate to salvage their season after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, the Colts (8-6) turned to Rivers, a grandfather who’d been coaching high school football and was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Rivers also led the Colts into position for Blake Grupe’s go-ahead, 60-yard field goal with 47 seconds left. He finished 18 of 27 for 120 yards with the touchdown and an interception, with the pick coming on his final pass as he tried to force the ball down the field in the closing seconds. Coby Bryant made the interception, his career-high fourth this season.“He actually played pretty well,” Bryant said. “They got the ball out fast, we knew that, on screens, and we knew about the run game as well, too. So, we had to respect everything and just play our ball.”Indianapolis has lost four straight and five of six to fall out of playoff position in the AFC.The Seahawks, who had won their previous two games by a combined score of 63-9, grinded this one out.Rashid Shaheed returned Grupe’s kickoff 28 yards to the Seattle 37, and Sam Darnold connected with Shaheed twice for 25 yards to set up Myers. The game-winning drive was Darnold’s third this season and 13th of his career.Darnold finished 22 of 36 for 271 yards in Seattle’s first victory without a touchdown since Dec. 26, 2024, when the Seahawks beat Chicago 6-3.Seattle remained tied with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West, and the rivals meet Thursday night for the division lead.“It gives us a lot of momentum,” offensive lineman Grey Zabel said. “It’s obviously a lot easier to celebrate a tough win than it is to try to come into the locker room and pick our spirits up after a loss. I’m glad we have Jason Myers on our squad.”Smith-Njigba bounces backNFL receiving leader Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was held below 100 yards in each of the last two weeks, had seven catches for 113 yards, including a 39-yard catch to set up Myers’ fifth field goal, which put the Seahawks ahead 15-13.“It means a lot,” Smith-Njigba said. “Taking care of my body and making sure I’m here for my teammates, that’s what I want to do. Honestly, I could care less about any stat right now. I just want to win.”Not Taylor’s eraNFL rushing leader Jonathan Taylor had 25 carries for 87 yards, his most since he had 244 on Nov. 9 against Atlanta, when Indy was still riding high. The Seahawks were happy to hold him to 3.5 yards per carry.“That was big,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “We knew coming in they were going to try to lean on his arm, the whole game. We knew they were going to try to use him a bunch. So, we knew coming in to just make sure we stop him. If anything, all 11 heads to the ball, and let’s hit him hard.”Shaheed surgingShaheed had just four catches for 34 yards in his first four games with the Seahawks after they acquired him from New Orleans. Over the last two games, he has combined for 12 catches and 141 yards — including seven receptions for 74 yards Sunday.“He came in clutch, that’s what we expect for him to get open, and he does that,” Smith-Njigba said. “He runs great routes and he’s somebody we rely on and we can depend on him, so it’s awesome.”InjuriesColts: Offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann injured an elbow in the second quarter and did not return.Seahawks: LB Derick Hall injured his hand in the first quarter and returned in the second quarter. T Abe Lucas injured his right arm/shoulder in the second half but returned.Up nextColts: Host San Francisco on Monday, Dec. 22.Seahawks: Host the Rams on Thursday night.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 14: Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts smacked A.J. Brown helmet-to-helmet after a touchdown pass for a ...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts smacked A.J. Brown helmet-to-helmet after a touchdown pass for a celebration that seemed to release the pent-up tension that came tethered to a losing streak.Nick Sirianni tossed an arm around Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles coach yelled some happy words at the QB who weathered recent criticism as the season started to bend toward a collapse. The sideline vibes were good for the Eagles. The offense, even better. Against a Las Vegas Raiders team that has bottomed out as one of the worst in the NFL, the defense was simply elite — just 75 total yards allowed.Hurts rebounded from his worst NFL game to throw three touchdown passes, Saquon Barkley had a 2-yard touchdown run and the Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with their first shutout in seven years in a 31-0 win Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I feel like we got caught up in stuff that doesn’t matter,” Barkley said. “The only thing that matters is winning football.”The Eagles (9-5) were able to get their maligned offense under embattled coordinator Kevin Patullo right against the woeful Raiders and finally showed signs of life with a nice mix of play calling in bitter cold temperatures and topped 21 points for the first time in six games.Hurts had his moments — that included a shovel pass for a score to Dallas Goedert on a day that started with the field blanketed in several inches of snow. Hurts also hit DeVonta Smith on a 44-yard reception on a drive that stalled in the second quarter and settled for a field goal by Jake Elliott and a 10-0 lead. He pitched a 4-yard TD pass to Goedert in the third for a 24-0 lead.The Eagles defense had their first shutout since Dec. 30, 2018, against Washington. The Eagles limited the Raiders (2-12) to 46 yards rushing and sent them to their eighth straight loss. The Raiders got an anemic performance out of Kenny Pickett in his first start at quarterback for the injured Geno Smith.“This is the result against the world champs last year who maybe weren’t playing quite like that for a month here or whatever, but they looked like it today,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. "It looked like a great team today.”Hurts needed a personal win in his first game since he thew four interceptions and lost a fumble in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hurts’ season has been erratic – he threw five picks against only two touchdowns the last two games, 10 months after he won Super Bowl MVP. Sirianni scoffed at a “ ridiculous ” question on his weekly Philadelphia sports talk radio appearance when he was asked if Hurts would keep his starting job this season.Hurts turned the game into a blowout when he threw a 27-yard touchdown to Brown early in the fourth for a 31-0 lead. He finished 12 of 15 for 175 yards passing.As for the celebration?“Just a natural reaction,” Hurts said through his usual stoicism.The Eagles also staved off talk they were on the brink of their second December collapse under Sirianni in the last three seasons. The 2023 Eagles started 10-1 and finished 11-6 and were bounced in their first playoff game.Hurts and this year’s Eagles have the benefit of a soft schedule down the stretch that started against the Raiders and includes two games with Washington. The Eagles still control the NFC East and have a home playoff game in sight — and yes, they can still repeat as Super Bowl champions, even as Barkley recently criticized the sideline demeanor noted how it seemed “the sky's falling outside the locker room.”Barkley is still well off his 2,000-yards rushing pace from a season ago but added 78 yards rushing and his TD run sent the Eagles into halftime with a 17-0 lead.“We've been committed to playing Eagles football and doing the things we need to do to play Eagles football,” Sirianni said. “That’s tough, detailed, together, and that happens during the week. If we rode the wave of the outside noise, then you’re not able to do that.”Graham breaks through with sacksBrandon Graham had his first two sacks with the Eagles since he ended his short-lived retirement after the Super Bowl and returned to the team in late October.At 37 years, 255 days old, Graham became the oldest player in Eagles history with a sack. Richard Dent was 37 years, 1 day when he had a sack in 1997.“We were just going stingy with everything,” Graham said of the defense's success.Pickett and the Raiders strugglePickett won a Super Bowl ring last season as Hurts' backup. In his return to Philadelphia, Pickett threw for only 64 yards and was sacked four times.Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of last Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Denver. Smith has a good chance to return next week when the Raiders visit Houston.Carroll offered faint praise: “The only good thing that happened, we didn’t have anybody hurt today.”Hail to the BirdsFormer President Joe Biden attended the game and told a sports reporter from the local NBC TV station he was rooting for the Eagles.“Go Birds, man, all the way,” Biden said. “Gotta win the Super Bowl again.”InjuriesHurts and Barkley were both checked out by trainers on the sidelines but stayed in the game until the score got out of reach. Both players said after the game they were fine.Up nextRaiders: Play Sunday at Houston.Eagles: Play Saturday night in Landover, Maryland, against the Commanders.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 14: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 runs the ball during the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 14th, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots are still in good position to win the AFC East....

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots are still in good position to win the AFC East. But the Buffalo Bills made sure it would have to happen on another day, against a different opponent.Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes, and James Cook ran for two TDs and caught another as the Bills rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat New England 35-31 on Sunday, preventing the Patriots from clinching the division title.Allen finished 19 of 28 for 193 yards. Cook ran 22 times for 107 yards, and Dawson Knox had two TD catches for the Bills (10-4), who avoided being swept by a division opponent for the first time since 2019 and moved within one game of the Patriots. Buffalo reached 10 wins for the seventh consecutive season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“No matter what the score is, if it’s in the third quarter, in the fourth quarter, whatever it is, if we’ve got a chance and we’ve got the ball, we feel like we like our chances," Allen said.The Bills overcame a double-digit deficit for the third time this year after previously rallying in their opener against Baltimore (down 15 points in the fourth quarter) and last week against Cincinnati (down 10).The Patriots (11-3) lost their first division game of the season and their 10-game win streak ended. They haven’t won the AFC East since 2019.Quarterback Drake Maye had a pair of touchdown runs, and TreVeyon Henderson ran for scores of 52 and 65 yards. Henderson finished with 14 carries for 148 yards.Trailing 35-31 with 2:43 to play, the Patriots had fourth-and-5 on their own 22. Maye was flushed out of the pocket and had a pass batted down by Joey Bosa.The Bills ran out the clock from there.“We just have to be better when we’re up,” Maye said. “I didn’t feel like we relaxed, just didn’t make enough plays.”With light snow falling, the temperature at kickoff was 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). The conditions didn't slow down a Patriots offense that scored on four of its first five possessions to take a 24-7 lead into halftime.Buffalo punted on all but one of its first-half possessions. But it marched down the field on the first drive of the third quarter, getting a 58-yard kickoff return by Ray Davis and a 20-yard run by Allen to set up Allen’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Knox.After a three-and-out by New England, the Bills needed just over five minutes and 11 plays to cap a 70-yard drive with Cook's 3-yard TD run.Maye had a deep pass intercepted by Tre’Davious White on the Patriots’ next drive. The Bills took over on the New England 9 and drove across midfield, where they faced fourth down on the Patriots 45.Allen kept the drive alive, completing a 37-yard pass to Dalton Kincaid. He then found Knox for a 14-yard TD to put the Bills in front 27-24.That lead lasted just 14 seconds. On New England's next offensive play, Henderson scampered down the sideline for a 65-yard score.The Bills struck right back, capping a seven-play, 65-yard drive with Cook's 11-yard touchdown run that made it 35-31 with 6:48 remaining. The series included a third-down pass-interference call on New England's Carlton Davis III.“That’s how this game goes. A few small plays make the difference,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said.Bosa returned for Buffalo after a one-game absence with hamstring and wrist injuries. The Bills played without linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) for the third straight game, as well top cornerback Christian Benford (toe).Those absences were evident as the Patriots moved the ball at ease early. Maye used a 30-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte to set up his own 8-yard touchdown run that capped an eight-play, 73-yard opening drive.Maye's 7-yard scramble for a TD put the Patriots up 14-0.White is looking ahead to a potential third meeting with the Patriots this season.“Both of us are playoff teams. So in order to win the Super Bowl, we’ll see them again," he said.Knox breaks franchise recordWith his two TD catches, Knox has 26 for his career, surpassing Pete Metzelaars for the most by a tight end in Bills history.Long runsHenderson has four TD runs of at least 50 yards this season. He is only the second player in NFL history to have multiple games in a season with two rushing TDs of 50-plus yards, joining Chris Johnson (2009).Moment of silenceThe Patriots held a moment of silence for the victims of a mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday that killed two students and wounded nine others. The Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island, is located about 20 miles south of Foxborough.InjuriesBills: DT Jordan Phillips walked off on his own power in the second quarter with an ankle injury.Patriots: CB Carlton Davis III left in the third quarter with a groin injury but returned.Up nextBills: Visit Cleveland next Sunday.Patriots: At Baltimore next Sunday night.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 14: Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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