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WNBA: Sides Pitched by the Fever

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever fired head coach Christie Sides on Sunday after a 20-20 season that ended in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

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“We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” said Kelly Krauskopf, the team’s president of basketball operations, in a statement.

Sides is the sixth WNBA coach to be fired since the end of the regular season. The Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics also are looking for new head coaches.

The Fever could be looking to turn back the clock to 2016.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that the Fever were one of three teams Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White could lead in 2025. While she is under contract through the 2025 season, per the report, the Sun could choose to make her available to other teams.

The Sun, Fever and Sky are rumored as teams she could coach next season.

White was the head coach of the Fever in 2015 and ’16, with the first team losing to the Minnesota Lynx in five games in the WNBA finals. She owns a 92-56 career record in the regular season and 13-13 mark in the playoffs over four seasons with the Fever and Sun.

White, 47, previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach and five as a player with the Fever. She starred in college at Purdue.

–Field Level Media

NFL Thursday Night Football Preview

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Los Angeles Rams host Minnesota on Thursday night seeking consecutive victories for the first time this season, while the Vikings try to rebound from their first loss of the campaign. Los Angeles (2-4) snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Las Vegas Raiders 20-15 last weekend. Meanwhile, Minnesota (5-1) dropped a back-and-forth 31-29 affair to division rival Detroit on a field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

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ODDS AND TRENDS
The Vikings are about a field goal favorite on the road by most sportsbooks.

The line is 3.0 points at BetRivers, where the Vikings have been backed by one-sided action with 79 percent of the spread-line money and a lopsided 93 percent on their -150 moneyline.

The public jury is certainly still out on Minnesota. After suffering their first loss of the season in Week 7, the Vikings have received only 4 percent of the total money wagered on the NFC championship at DraftKings, where they’re being offered at +650 to reach the Super Bowl. That’s the same percentage that have backed the Rams as +5000 long shots.

The Over/Under for Thursday night’s game is 48 total points at BetRivers, with the Over backed by 65 percent of the money.

PROP PICKS
–Cooper Kupp Over 6.5 Receptions (-130 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at DraftKings with Kupp expected to play for the first time since Week 2. Kupp had 14 receptions on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, and had hauled in four catches on six targets before leaving the Week 2 loss to Arizona.

–Justin Jefferson Anytime TD (-143 at BetRivers): Jefferson reaching the end zone on Thursday night has drawn the most total money (1.5 percent) and bets (4.5 percent) of any player prop at the book. He has a touchdown in all but one game thus far, two weeks ago against the Jets in a game where Jefferson was targeted 14 times.

INJURY REPORT
Both teams are hoping to get key playmakers back for this contest.

For the Rams, Kupp is expected to play. Kupp participated in full at practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, while fellow receiver Puka Nacua was limited both days due to a knee injury after having his 21-day practice window opened up. Still, NFL Network reported Thursday the Rams are “optimistic” Nacua is ready to play, which would require a decision to activate Nacua off injured reserve.

Defensive end Braden Fiske (back) was limited Wednesday and linebacker Troy Reeder (hamstring) has been ruled out.

This week could also mark the return of tight end T.J. Hockenson for the Vikings. The veteran has been sidelined since late last season, when he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said it was “very much a possibility” that Hockenson could return against the Rams, although his workload could be limited. He was limited in practice this week and listed as questionable on Wednesday.

“It’s early,” O’Connell said as the Vikings returned to practice this week. “We’ll make that determination as these next couple of days (go by). As we put together game plans, we want to have a good feel for that.”

Hockenson caught 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) for Minnesota last season. His return would give quarterback Sam Darnold another top target in the passing game alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Aaron Jones also said he felt good to play on short rest despite a hip injury that has nagged him for a couple of weeks. Jones racked up 116 total yards (93 rushing, 23 receiving) and a touchdown against Detroit.

“No problems out of it,” Jones said. “I’ll continue to stay on top of it on my end and do everything to check the boxes so I don’t end up back in that situation (with the injury).”

Linebacker Blake Cashman missed the Vikings’ practice this week because of a toe issue and has been declared out against the Rams. Hockenson and Jones were among those limited on Tuesday, although Jones was a full participant on Wednesday.

SCUFFLING RAMS NEED STAR WRs
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will look to improve upon his 83.6 passer rating against a physical Vikings defense. Stafford has thrown for 1,392 yards and three touchdowns, with four interceptions this season.

Kyren Williams is the Rams’ biggest threat on offense. He has rushed for 436 yards and eight touchdowns in six games (all starts).

Tutu Atwell leads the team’s receiving unit with 23 catches for 332 yards. Demarcus Robinson, Kupp and Williams each have a receiving touchdown.

THEY SAID IT
“I’m aware of it, but at the end of the day, I mean, I’m going to be where my feet are. That’s all I know. I have a job to do here. And I take a lot of pride in giving everything I can for the guys in this building and being able to step on the field knowing that I prepared the best that I can.” — Kupp on rumors he could be traded ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.

PREDICTION
This has the feeling of a do-or-die game for the Rams, who could look to trade Kupp and other veterans should they fall further in the NFC West. The Vikings are coming off a loss, but were toe-to-toe with the high-powered Lions. Los Angeles enters with the 26th-ranked defense, which even Kupp’s return can’t mask against a Minnesota offense averaging 333.2 yards per game. — Vikings 27, Rams 23

–Field Level Media

Wizards Focused on Deconstructing?

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WASH DC – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Washington Wizards kick off their 2024-25 season Thursday night with a home game against the Boston Celtics. The Wizards finished last season 15-67 — the worst record in team history — and the rebuild is ongoing.

Washington’s offseason additions include first-round draft picks Alex Sarr (No. 2), Carlton “Bub” Carrington (No. 14) and Kyshawn George (No. 24). The Wizards also added veterans Jonas Valanciunas, former Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon and Saddiq Bey, although Bey is expected to miss much of the season while he recovers from a torn ACL.

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Brogdon will also miss Thursday’s game because of a torn thumb tendon.

“If we’re really to think about it — the phases of the rebuild — there’s the deconstruction phase. There’s the laying-the-foundation phase. There’s the building it back up, and then there’s fortifying what you build,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said during the team’s media day. “We’re still focused on deconstructing and laying that foundation.”

Jordan Poole, who is entering his second season with the Wizards after being acquired from Golden State, is expected to play more point guard this season. Poole’s role as a ball handler increased when Brian Keefe replaced Wes Unseld Jr. as the team’s head coach last January.

“Being able to get into transition, building confidence into my teammates — it’s something I’ve always been able to do, especially with the ball,” Poole said. “Guys are open, just get them the ball and try to put them in situations to be successful.”

Defending NBA champion Boston opened its season Tuesday with a 132-109 victory over the visiting New York Knicks. The Celtics tied an NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in the win.

Al Horford made the 29th 3-pointer with 8:54 to play, but Boston missed its next 13 shots from behind the arc to end the game. Boston tied the record set by the Milwaukee Bucks against the Miami Heat in 2020.

“It’s almost like we got jinxed or something,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown said. “When we were just playing, having fun, playing our style of basketball, everything was going in. And then once the crowd got into it and we started hunting them, we couldn’t even hit the broad side of the barn. Everything was off. We got a bunch of great looks and it was like a lid on the basket.”

Jayson Tatum made eight 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 37 points. Boston also received multiple 3-pointers from Derrick White (six), Brown (five), Jrue Holiday (four), Horford (three) and Sam Hauser (two). Payton Pritchard connected on the other 3-pointer.

“The biggest thing I’m proud of us is the mindset of the guys,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We weren’t stuck in the past. … We were physical on defense and were together on offense. It’s a great start.”

Washington hasn’t won 50 games in a season since 1979, which was the last time the franchise advanced to the NBA Finals.

“This is the best team I’ve been around in terms of chemistry, camaraderie and character since I’ve been in Washington,” Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma said.

–Field Level Media

NYJ at NE: Somebody’s Got to Win

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) A 1-6 start has New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo questioning his team’s toughness. Mayo believes there still is time to flip the script, though, and New England will have a chance to do just that when it faces the New York Jets on Sunday on the Pats’ home field in Massachusetts.

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After an all-out disaster in London last weekend, the Patriots were called out by Mayo following a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with their first-year coach declaring them a “soft football team across the board.”

More conversations went on behind closed doors between Mayo and his players, and while he wouldn’t share exactly what was said, he is confident that New England will be playing inspired football against the Jets (2-5).

“We’re on to the Jets,” Mayo told reporters on Wednesday. “We’ve had those conversations. I’ve always looked at that as an opportunity to go out there and prove everyone wrong. Once again, going back to a chip on your shoulder, we’ve all had those chips on our shoulders at times that have gotten us through. So, this is no different.

The opening line was reminiscent of a line used by former coach Bill Belichick when the Patriots blew a game in their glory years and were next playing the Bengals at Cincinnati

“Obviously, once again, we are struggling as a team. Our record is what it is. It’s about what we can do to get better.”

New York also is out to turn things around after a 37-15 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week pushed its losing streak to four games. Star wideout Davante Adams, acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 15, was reunited with Jets signal-caller Aaron Rodgers, but he hauled in just three catches for 30 yards.

Mayo doesn’t think Adams will be nearly as quiet in his second game with New York.

“He’s a good player, obviously has a great rapport with the quarterback,” Mayo said of Adams. “I expect him to be more involved, even though he was involved the first game.”

Adams, now in his 11th NFL season, already considers himself a vital piece of the Jets’ offense and is willing to do anything he can to help New York get out of its funk.

“Regardless if I just got here, I’m a leader of this football team,” Adams said. “Whether or not every single person in there sees it that way, that’s how I see it and that’s my responsibility and that’s something I take seriously.”

There is a chance that Rodgers might not be throwing to him on Sunday, as knee and hamstring injuries limited the 40-year-old quarterback during practice on Wednesday.

Cornerback Michael Carter II (back), edge rusher Will McDonald IV (shoulder), linebacker Quincy Williams (neck) and offensive lineman Morgan Moses (knee) also were limited. Wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) and safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion) were among those held out.

Linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who is working through shoulder and knee issues, was one of six Patriots who missed all of practice on Wednesday. Receiver Ja’Lynn Polk remained on the sideline because of a concussion.

New England had another six players who were limited, including safety Kyle Dugger (ankle).

The Jets and Patriots met back in Week 3, when New York cruised to a 24-3 victory ahead of its current four-game skid.

–Field Level Media

Dodgers Win, Head to World Series

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Tommy Edman hit a two-run home run and drove in four runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series with a 10-5 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday night in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.

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Will Smith added a two-run home run as the Dodgers earned a Friday night date with the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic, which begins in Los Angeles. It will be the Dodgers’ fourth World Series appearance in the past eight seasons.

In a bullpen game, seven Dodgers pitchers gave up 11 hits and struck out nine. Ben Casparius (1-0) went 1 1/3 innings to earn the win, and Blake Treinen pitched the final two innings for his third save of the playoffs.

Edman had 11 RBIs in six games against the Mets to tie Corey Seager’s franchise record for RBIs in a single NLCS, a mark set in 2020.

Mark Vientos hit a two-run home run for the Mets, while Sean Manaea (2-1) gave up five runs on six hits over two-plus innings. The Mets fell two victories short of a Subway Series after securing a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season and getting past the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs.

The Mets had an early 1-0 lead after Pete Alonso hit a blooper over the mound for a run-scoring infield single in the first inning.

The Dodgers responded in their half of the first when Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez singled before Edman doubled them home for a 2-1 lead.

Los Angeles made it 6-1 in the third inning when Edman hit a two-run home run off Manaea and Smith hit a two-run shot off Phil Maton.

The Mets got within 6-3 in the fourth inning when Vientos greeted right-hander Ryan Brasier with a two-run home run for his fifth long ball of the postseason.

Los Angeles added a run in the sixth inning on Ohtani’s RBI bloop single to center field. The Mets got the run back on a sacrifice fly from Francisco Alvarez. The Dodgers poured it on in the eighth inning with an RBI double from Mookie Betts, a sacrifice fly from Hernandez and an RBI single from Enrique Hernandez.

New York had its chances but left the bases loaded in the third inning, when McNeil struck out, and in the sixth, when Jesse Winker hit a lazy flyout to left. The visitors left 13 runners on base in the game and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Give Me Liberty

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BROOKLYN – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New York'[s Nyara Sabally picked a good night to play one of the best games of her life.

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In the first overtime winner-take-the title Finals game in WNBA history, Sabally had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench — and connected on a breakaway layup in overtime that proved to be crucial game-sealing points — as the host New York Liberty defeated the visiting Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Sunday night’s Game 5 to win their first championship in franchise history.

It was the first double-digit scoring performance of the postseason for Sabally. Her steal and fast-break bucket with 3:14 to play put the Liberty ahead 65-60. The Lynx would knock down two free throws to trim the deficit to three points, but never got any closer. Sabally blocked Napheesa Collier’s layup attempt with 1:18 to play, and Breanna Stewart later padded the Liberty lead with a pair of free throws.

The Lynx had the ball with 18.4 seconds to play in overtime with a chance to tie, but Bridget Carleton’s 3-point attempt missed the mark.

Stewart, who never came out of the game, finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. Two free throws from her at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime. The Liberty also got 17 points from Jonquel Jones, 13 points from Leonie Fiebich, and five points, eight assists and seven rebounds from Sabrina Ionescu.

Jones was named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game throughout the series.

The Liberty won despite Stewart and Ionescu — its two Olympians — combining for 5-of-34 shooting from the floor.

Collier, who fouled out with 13 seconds left in overtime, powered Minnesota with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Kayla McBride had 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Minnesota opened the decisive final game of the season with a 6-0 run and finished the first quarter ahead 19-10. Collier scored eight points in the opening frame and six more in the second. At halftime, the Lynx maintained a seven-point lead.

The momentum of the game seemed to swing in the Liberty’s favor midway through the third quarter when Sabally entered the game. When the third-year forward out of Oregon checked in, the Liberty trailed by five points. At the end of the third quarter — and after Sabally piled up nine points and two rebounds in about four-and-a-half minutes — New York led Minnesota by three points. Each of Sabally’s three field goals in the third frame were assisted by her former Oregon teammate, Ionescu.

“I feel like we just had to settle in, honestly,” Sabally said. “I’m blessed. Look at this arena. This is what I’ve been dreaming off.”

While Sabally soared, Ionescu struggled mightily, missing each of her first 14 shot attempts from the floor. According to ESPN, it marked the most consecutive misses in a winner-take-all game in WNBA history. Ionescu didn’t make her first field goal until there was 3:10 left to play, as she connected on a 3-pointer from 28 feet out on an assist from Stewart that put the Liberty ahead by four points.

A late surge from Minnesota, capped off by back-to-back baskets from Collier, gave the Lynx a two-point lead with 1:04 to play. With less than six seconds left, Stewart tied the game up after being fouled and then knocking down a pair of free throws. McBride’s late look from 3-point land didn’t connect for Minnesota as the game went to overtime.

For a team that plays in the New York borough of Brooklyn, the championship won by the Liberty is the first for a Brooklyn-based team since Major League Baseball’s Dodgers won the World Series in 1955.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Sunday Night Football

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New York Jets (2-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2), 8:20 p.m. ET

Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers are together again, as the longtime Packers’ teammates debut with the Jets at Pittsburgh in prime time with little time to waste. The week before acquiring Adams the Jets fired their head coach, and falling to 2-5 could prompt more changes. The Steelers made waves of their own by opening the door for Russell Wilson to claim the QB job this week in what head coach Mike Tomlin framed as a declaration of health for the former Broncos and Seahawks starter.

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Justin Fields accepted responsibility for the demotion, saying he didn’t do enough to win the job while Wilson was hobbled. Pittsburgh’s defense might give Wilson time to settle in, as the Steelers give up just 14.3 points per game. LB Patrick Queen, in his first season in the middle of the 3-4 after playing for the Ravens, is becoming a major part of the machine and posted a season-high 13 tackles last week. He’ll have the responsibility of helping contain Jets RB Breece Hall (169 yards from scrimmage last week).

NFL: Afternoon Game Capsules

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Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) at Los Angeles Rams (1-4), 4:05 p.m. ET

Aside from a popularity contest — California still loves the Raiders — Sunday’s game matches a pair of teams off to disappointing starts with offenses in dire need of consistency and a few good men to play wide receiver. The Raiders and Rams are two of 11 NFL teams averaging fewer than 19 points per game. And the concerns are even more heightened on defense, where the Raiders are tied for fifth worst in the NFL at 27.2 points allowed per game, while the Rams are fourth worst at 27.8 per game. Rams QB Matthew Stafford has averaged 247.6 yards per game, 11th best in the NFL, but has just three touchdown passes in five games and has been sacked 16 times behind a makeshift line.

The Raiders moved away from Gardner Minshew last week and went to Aidan O’Connell at quarterback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. But Las Vegas had its second-lowest point total of the season in a 32-13 home loss. O’Connell is set to start again this week to guide an offense that has moved away from wide receiver Davante Adams, after he was traded to the New York Jets for a third-round draft pick. Adams played the first three games and caught 18 passes. Without him the past three games, rookie TE Brock Bowers had 19 receptions for 187 yards and one TD. Jakobi Meyers, considered the Raiders’ top wideout in Adams’ absence, did not play last Sunday with an ankle injury.

Carolina Panthers (1-5) at Washington Commanders (4-2), 4:05 p.m. ET

Dave Canales and the Panthers had a vision for what this season might look like for 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, and it appears to be playing out — in Washington. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels has performed at what teammates dubbed this week “an MVP level,” steering Washington to the top of the NFC East in Dan Quinn’s debut season with the Commanders. Daniels’ 75.3 completion percentage is the second-highest all-time in the first six games of an NFL career (minimum 100 pass attempts). Young was bypassed by journeyman Andy Dalton at QB and the offense has performed well enough to hang around in most games. RB Chuba Hubbard is third in the NFL with 485 rushing yards. Getting the ball in the end zone isn’t a challenge for Washington, which averages 29.7 points per game. But the Panthers are putting up only 17.2 points per game. Daniels has connected with Terry McLaurin for a TD in four consecutive games while the combination of RBs Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler and Daniels has helped Washington generate a dynamic running game, averaging 157.3 yards and more than two TDs per game.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) at San Francisco 49ers (3-3), 4:25 p.m. ET

49ers LB Fred Warner and head coach Kyle Shanahan were frank in their discussions about facing the Chiefs, who beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl in February (and in 2019), and QB Patrick Mahomes on Sunday. Mahomes is 4-0 with 1,356 pass yards (339 per game), 11 TDs (10 pass, one rush) with a passer rating of 104.6 against San Francisco. The Cliff’s Notes version of their outlook on the Week 7 matchup: Beating Mahomes can’t be done at the microphone. The 49ers are relatively rested coming back from a Week 6 Thursday night victory at Seattle, but the Chiefs are returning from their bye week. They’ve won five of the past six games coming out of the bye, and head coach Andy Reid is 21-4 all-time after byes. Kansas City got back to work this week with RB Kareem Hunt reinstalled as the lead back and the Chiefs leaning on a collective at wide receiver to help settle an offense prone to stalling in the red zone. Mahomes has six touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024. Production isn’t a problem for San Francisco. QB Brock Purdy has 1,629 passing yards and nine touchdowns with the 49ers developing a running game without RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles). Jordan Mason (shoulder) left last week’s game only to see rookie Isaac Guerendo gain 99 yards on the ground.

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NFL: Sunday Game Capsules

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Today’s 1pm NFL Games:

Seattle Seahawks (3-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-2), 1 p.m. ET

The Falcons are riding a three-game winning streak, their longest since winning the last four games of the 2019 season. Seattle opened the season by winning its first three games before dropping three straight. Atlanta is looking for its first winning season and playoff appearance since 2017 having just completed a three-game sweep of divisional opponents. QB Kirk Cousins set the franchise’s single-game passing total with 509 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-30 win to open October. Then the run game took over against Carolina. Backup running back Tyler Allgeier led the team with 105 rushing yards and one score, while Bijan Robinson ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns. First-year head coach Raheem Morris has been impressed with the work of offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who is also in his first year. Robinson, who spent the last two seasons as the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Los Angeles Rams, has Atlanta averaging 24.8 points per game, up from 18.9 last season. Seattle is fighting injuries, especially in the secondary, and could be forced to use its fourth-string right tackle.

Tennessee Titans (1-4) at Buffalo Bills (4-2), 1 p.m. ET

The Bills introduce new No. 1 WR Amari Cooper, who was acquired Tuesday from the Browns and is looking forward to bigger and better things in his fourth NFL home. Not only did he gain three games in the standings by joining Buffalo, but he’s now the top target of Josh Allen. Allen has thrown 156 passes this year without an interception. RB James Cook (toe) might not play. But he wasn’t missed in Monday night’s 23-20 win at the New York Jets as rookie Ray Davis accumulated 152 total yards (97 rushing, 55 receiving) on 23 touches. QB Will Levis struggled again and the Titans blew a late lead to the Colts last week. Levis completed 16 of 27 passes for only 93 yards. Of more importance to Tennessee is his turnover trouble. His fourth-quarter interception last week was his seventh in five games and his 10th giveaway this season. The Titans’ problems offensively are obscuring the solid work of their defense, which is ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense (248.8 yards per game) and against the pass (137.0).

Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) at Cleveland Browns (1-5), 1 p.m. ET

Maybe AFC North rivalries can awaken the Browns, or perhaps the long-awaited return of RB Nick Chubb. Cleveland faces its first division opponent, hosting the Bengals in pursuit of a season-shifting win. Chubb is expected to take the field for the first time since a Week 2 knee injury prematurely ended his 2023 season. He comes back in a time of need for Cleveland, which just traded wideout Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday. The Browns are scoring the third-fewest points per game in the NFL (15.8) and have dropped four games in a row. The Bengals got off to an 0-3 start, but they have since won two of their past three games, most recently beating the New York Giants 17-7 in Week 6. Cincinnati’s defense finally stepped up, holding an opponent under 24 points for the first time since a season-opening 16-10 setback against the New England Patriots. But Cincinnati has a six-game losing streak in Cleveland and has yielded an average of 27.5 points per contest in those defeats. QB Joe Burrow continues to do his part, ranking second in the NFL with 12 TD passes and fifth with 1,578 passing yards.

Houston Texans (5-1) at Green Bay Packers (4-2), 1 p.m. ET

Two of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league since the start of the 2023 season are center stage at Lambeau Field. Jordan Love has two-plus TD passes in 15 games since he became the Packers’ starter to open last season. C.J. Stroud has multiple TD passes in three of his past four road games, driving the Texans to the top of the AFC South. He had three TD passes in a 41-21 win at New England last week. Neither quarterback could solve the Vikings’ defense run by Brian Flores, but Love thrives at home with four TD passes in each of his last two games in Green Bay. The Packers’ defense is tops in the NFL with a plus-9 turnover differential and will be looking to force Stroud into uncharacteristic mistakes. Safety Xavier McKinney leads the league with five interceptions. Green Bay will use new kicker Brandon McManus after releasing rookie Brayden Narveson, who missed five of 17 field-goal attempts this season.

Miami Dolphins (2-3) at Indianapolis Colts (3-3), 1 p.m. ET

The visiting Dolphins are back at it following a well-timed week off and Miami has won four in a row coming out of its bye. The road team is also 4-1 in the past five meetings in this series. Miami remains in a holding pattern as it awaits word on the future availability of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion). Tyler Huntley will again guide the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense on the road. The Dolphins’ output of 3, 12 and 15 points in the full games Tagovailoa sat out was two steps back from the juggernaut that averaged almost 30 per game last season. Standout receivers Tyreek Hill (23 catches, 286 yards, TD) and Jaylen Waddle (21-258-0) are taking a hit during the offensive upheaval. Last season, the two players combined for 191 receptions, 2,813 yards and 17 scoring receptions. Miami did have Raheem Mostert on the field for the first time in four weeks when he rushed for 80 yards against New England in Week 5. The Colts are experiencing their own quarterback quandary. Anthony Richardson (oblique) will start unless he has a setback but a number of Colts are hurting. WR Michael Pittman (back) played through severe pain last week — and caught a TD pass from Joe Flacco — and RB Jonathan Taylor (349 yards, four touchdowns) has missed the past two games due to an ankle injury.

Detroit Lions (4-1) at Minnesota Vikings (5-0), 1 p.m. ET

No matter the quarterback, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson isn’t the player the Lions want to see coming after losing their top pass rusher. Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg) was the league’s leader in sacks and without him, the Lions might need to dig deeper into their bag of tricks to move QB Sam Darnold out of the pocket. Jefferson has 140-plus yards in three consecutive dates with Detroit. In eight career games vs. the Lions, Jefferson has 62 catches for 1,073 yards (134.1 per game) and three TD catches. A Vikings’ win would be significant in the packed NFC North standings and give Minnesota its first 6-0 start since 2009. The Lions are clicking of late behind mistake-free QB Jared Goff. He’s going for his fourth consecutive win over the Vikings and has averaged 302 passing yards with six touchdowns and no picks in the past three meetings. His own alpha wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, had seven catches and 100-plu yards in both matchups with the Vikings last season. Lions coach Dan Campbell is 4-2 against the Vikings since he arrived in Detroit.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) at New York Giants (2-4), 1 p.m. ET

Saquon Barkley is back at MetLife Stadium and heads to the visitor’s locker room with the Eagles for the first time since exiting New York for Philadelphia in free agency. He’s looked the part of difference-maker with at least 115 yards from scrimmage in four of five games this season. A main obstacle to Philadelphia’s success inside is containing Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence, who is tied for second in the NFL with 7.0 sacks and vowed not to miss this matchup despite being dinged up last week. The Giants are not well-suited to match up with the Eagles outside now that A.J. Brown is recovered from a hamstring injury. Brown and DeVonta Smith both hauled in TD passes from Jalen Hurts last week. Pass protection reemerged as a concern for the Giants when LT Andrew Thomas had season-ending foot surgery on Tuesday. It ended a stretch of more than 400 snaps together for the offensive line and introduces untested options into the starting mix. The Giants are getting production in the passing game from Jones and Wan’Dale Robinson, and first-round rookie Malik Nabers suits up for the first time in three weeks after clearing concussion protocol. Nabers could join a tiny group of receivers who had at least five catches in their first five career games (Terry Glenn, CeeDee Lamb, Puka Nacua).

 

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Yankees Advance to World Series

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CLEVELAND – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New York’s Juan Soto hit a three-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning and the visiting Yankees advanced to their first World Series since 2009 with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night.

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Giancarlo Stanton of New York hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning for the Yankees, who won Game 5 of the American League Championship Series after trailing through the first five innings and never taking the lead until Soto’s heroics. Soto had three hits while teammate Gleyber Torres had two.

In the 10th, Soto hit four consecutive foul balls against Guardians right-hander Hunter Gaddis (1-1) before smashing a 1-2 fastball over the wall in right-center field. It was his second home run in two games and third of the series.

Stanton hit home runs in three consecutive games and had four in the series. Four New York relievers held Cleveland scoreless over the final 5 1/3 innings with Luke Weaver (1-0) pitching the last two innings to earn the win.

Bo Naylor doubled home brother Josh Naylor to give the Guardians a lead in the second inning, and Steven Kwan added an RBI single in the fifth. Cleveland right-hander Tanner Bibee held New York scoreless until Stanton hit his two-run homer with two outs in the sixth.

Torres led off the game with a single but was thrown out at home trying to score from first on a Soto double.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Josh Naylor singled with one out and scored on Bo Naylor’s two-out double that came on the 10th pitch of the at-bat against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon.

It was the first time a brother drove in a brother in a postseason game since the 2001 AL Division Series when the Oakland Athletics’ Jeremy Giambi brought home Jason Giambi.

The Guardians got to Rodon again in the fifth inning for a 2-0 lead when Kwan’s two-out single knocked in Andres Gimenez, who had doubled.

The Yankees opened the sixth with singles from Torres and Soto before Aaron Judge grounded into a double play. Stanton followed by working the count full before crushing a game-tying home run to left center with a 117.5 mph exit velocity.

After Weaver pitched a perfect ninth inning, he worked around Kyle Manzardo’s one-out single in the 10th, getting Jose Ramirez to line out to center and getting Lane Thomas to fly out to Soto in right field to end the game.

–Field Level Media