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Seahawks Take the West

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SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) – Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined to rush for 171 yards, Sam Darnold played turnover-free and Seattle’s defense was dominant as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and the conference’s top playoff seed with a 13-3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in California.

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Jason Myers kicked two field goals and Charbonnet scored the game’s lone touchdown for the Seahawks (14-3), who won their seventh consecutive game. Walker rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries and Charbonnet added 74 on 17 attempts. Darnold was 20-of-26 passing for 198 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making six catches for 84 yards.

The 49ers (12-5), who had won six in a row and scored more than 40 points in each of their previous two games, were limited to 173 yards of total offense and nine first downs. Brock Purdy was 19 of 27 for 127 yards with one interception and Christian McCaffrey was limited to 23 yards on eight carries.

Myers kicked a 31-yard field goal with 14:15 remaining to give the Seahawks a 10-point lead. The 11-play, 55-yard drive was kept alive when Walker rushed for 19 yards on third-and-17 and the 49ers’ Renardo Green was called for pass interference against Rashid Shaheed on third-and-nine. The 49ers didn’t get a first down on the ground until Purdy scrambled for one with 13:34 remaining.

San Francisco reached the Seahawks’ 6-yard line on that drive before McCaffrey bobbled a tipped pass and the ball fell into linebacker Drake Thomas’ arms for an interception.

The Seahawks dominated the first half statistically but led just 10-3 at the intermission.

Seattle got a first-and-goal at the 49ers’ 1-yard line on the game’s opening drive before Darnold was sacked for a 12-yard loss by Tatum Bethune. The Seahawks went for it on fourth down from the 4, but Darnold’s pass for Cooper Kupp fell incomplete.

The 49ers were held to a three-and-out on their first possession and Seattle needed just three plays to take the lead on Charbonnet’s 27-yard run around the left end.

Myers converted from 45 yards with 5:19 left in the half to make it 10-0.

The 49ers’ Eddy Piniero booted a 48-yarder with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter for the hosts’ lone points.

The Seahawks had a 12-3 advantage in first downs and 196-69 edge in total yards at the half.

–Field Level Media

Star Bucs Still Have Hope

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TAMPA – (Wire Service Report) – Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Buccaneers kept their chance to win the NFC South alive by beating the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on a rainy Saturday at Tampa.

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The Buccaneers (8-9) and Panthers (8-9) finish tied in the NFC South, but they’ll be joined by the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) if they beat the New Orleans Saints (6-10) on Sunday. A three-way tie would benefit Carolina and put the Panthers into the playoffs, while the Buccaneers will be rooting for the Saints because Tampa Bay would win the division if there’s only a two-way tie.

Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was 16-for-22 for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His 20-yard completion to Cade Otton for a first down late in the fourth quarter helped seal the outcome.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was 24-for-35 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Carolina produced only 19 rushing yards.

McLaughlin’s 48-yard field goal with 14:12 remaining marked the first points of the second half and stretched the Buccaneers’ lead to 16-7.

Then the Panthers moved to the Tampa Bay 20, but a flea-flicker went awry with a wayward pitch from Rico Dowdle, resulting in a fumble recovered by Lavonte David for the Buccaneers.

But Carolina had another chance and went 72 yards on eight plays, capped by Young’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker with 2:27 left. The Panthers forced a punt, but got the ball back at their own 3-yard line with 18 seconds left and no timeouts.

It was the second Panthers-Buccaneers matchup in less than two weeks, with Carolina winning 23-20 on Dec. 21 in Charlotte.

The Buccaneers scored on the game’s first possession, with Mayfield completing three passes, including an 18-yard touchdown to Otton.

Tampa Bay threatened again right away but settled for McLaughlin’s 29-yard field goal.

Carolina’s Christian Rozeboom intercepted Mayfield and his 20-yard return put the ball at Tampa Bay’s 19. Three plays later, the Panthers were within 10-7 after Young’s 8-yard pass to Tommy Tremble.

Carolina’s next possession ended when Jacob Parrish picked off Young at the Tampa Bay 42. The Buccaneers converted on McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half to stretch their edge to 13-7.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoff Picture: Week 18

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PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are starting the playoffs one week early.

At least that’s the mindset shared by Broncos coach Sean Payton with Denver (13-3) in line to secure the No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC by beating the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) on Sunday.

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Week 18 shapes up as a maze for many teams assured only a spot — but not their current seeding — in the postseason bracket.

The Seahawks and 49ers settle the NFC West in a Saturday night game that also decides the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Two other division titles — and playoff spots — are up for grabs in the regular-season finale. The Buccaneers and Panthers play for the second time in three weeks for the NFC South crown in which the eliminated Atlanta Falcons are suddenly a significant factor.

Because of Atlanta’s win over the Rams on Monday night, the Buccaneers now face a two-tiered clinching scenario.

Even if the Buccaneers win Saturday, they would still need the Falcons (7-9) to lose at home to the New Orleans Saints (6-10).

And if the Panthers lose, but Atlanta beats the Saints, Carolina would win the division. Wins by the Bucs and Falcons would create a three-way tie with the Panthers at 8-9. But Carolina would win the first tiebreaker by virtue of their head-to-head record (currently 2-0 vs. Falcons, 1-0 vs. Buccaneers).

AFC North rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh drop the gloves in primetime Sunday for the final spot in the playoff field.

If the Broncos stumble against the Chargers, a Denver loss kicks the door open for the New England Patriots to jump to the front of the pack in the AFC. The Patriots host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Should Denver and New England lose, the Jacksonville Jaguars could claim the top seed with a home win Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Here’s a look at the current playoff picture by conference:

Clinched AFC playoff and/or division:
Denver Broncos (13-3) — AFC West
New England Patriots (13-3) — AFC East
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) — playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (11-5) — playoff berth
Houston Texans (11-5) — playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) — playoff berth

Clinch AFC playoff and division with win Sunday:
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Blood Bath in Pasadena

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PASADENA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Blue blood meets new blood and they’re both red bloods when Alabama and Indiana square off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in California. Though the ninth-seeded Crimson Tide have a storied history, they are the underdogs coming in with something to prove.

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The Hoosiers entered the season as the losingest program in college football history, but they assume the Goliath role as the No. 1 playoff seed and college football’s lone undefeated team, with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in tow.

“I want to stop quarterbacks, whether they’ve won the Heisman Trophy or not,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said.

The Hoosiers-Crimson Tide winner will take on either No. 4 Texas Tech or No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

The Hoosiers (13-0) are not only trying to continue to break long-term precedent in continuing their best season in school history — ahead of 2024’s 11-2 mark — but also break recent precedent set last season in the first edition of the 12-team playoff.

All four first-round winners beat the top four seeds last season.

“Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “But that’s not the case. We’re excited about playing.”

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Mendoza has thrown for 229.2 yards per game, with 33 total touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also has rushed for six touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide have had plenty of success slowing down quarterbacks this season, entering with the No. 10 passing defense in FBS at 168.4 yards allowed per game.

Alabama (11-3) is coming off a 34-24 road win over Oklahoma in the first round on Dec. 19.

Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson struggled late in the season but had a bounce-back game against the Sooners. He averages 250 passing yards per game and has tallied 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The biggest difference in the offenses comes in the ground game, where Indiana is in the top 10 nationally with 221.2 rushing yards per game, while Alabama has struggled with just 109.9 rushing yards per game (118th).

“I look at (the Hoosiers’) skill around the offensive line, they just all complement each other,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They go make plays. When the opportunities are there, they get it done.”

Indiana has been in the Rose Bowl just once before — losing to Southern California to end the 1967 season.

Alabama is in the game for the ninth time, going 5-2-1 with their most recent appearance coming in a 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinal two seasons ago. The Crimson Tide also won the 2009 national title with a win over Texas in the then-BCS Championship Game in the historic stadium.

Cignetti was Alabama’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for that championship team.

While Cignetti has an appreciation for Alabama’s history, DeBoer also can recognize how far Indiana has come under Cignetti. DeBoer was the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019.

Mendoza figures to have one of his favorite targets back Thursday.

Hoosiers receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who suffered a right leg injury early in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 6, is cleared to play in the Rose Bowl. Cooper, a redshirt junior, leads Indiana with 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Alabama also figures to get a key piece back with the return of edge rusher LT Overton.

Overton, a senior, missed the Southeastern Conference championship game and the first-round win over Oklahoma due to an illness.

–Field Level Media

CFP Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Ole Miss

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NEW ORLEANS – (Wire Service Report) – Ole Miss did just fine in its first rematch of a regular-season game in the College Football Playoff. But the No. 6 Rebels find themselves in a much different situation in their CFP quarterfinal matchup with No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night in NOLA.

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Ole Miss (12-1), which defeated Tulane 45-10 on Sept. 20, rolled past the No. 11 Green Wave 41-10 in a first-round game Dec. 20 in Oxford, Miss. But this time the Rebels are hoping the outcome changes as they have a second meeting with the Bulldogs (12-1).

Georgia outlasted Ole Miss 43-35 on Oct. 18 in Athens, Ga., but there have been significant developments in the nine-plus weeks since that game ended.

And some things the Rebels realize will need to change to flip the script in the sequel.

Pete Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to Ole Miss head coach when Lane Kiffin departed to become head coach at LSU at the end of the regular season, said he remembers one thing most of all from the first meeting.

“They didn’t punt,” he said.

The Rebels had a 35-26 lead but were outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter. They were outgained in the game 510-351.

“I think the biggest thing versus these guys is you’ve got to contest every play,” Golding said. “We can’t give them free things, whether it’s a lack of communication, whether it’s a missed tackle.”

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who passed for 263 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting, is the engine for this group.

But Golding said the Rebels will have to run the ball better overall after having just 88 yards on the ground in the first meeting. Kewan Lacy, who has 1,366 rushing yards for the season and a school-record 21 rushing touchdowns, did score twice in the first meeting but had just 31 yards.

Lacy left the victory over Tulane in the third quarter after injuring a shoulder. Ole Miss is hopeful that he’ll be able to start Thursday.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the first game is meaningless in preparation for the rematch.

“I don’t think either team is exactly the same,” Smart said. “Both teams have evolved some. And everybody will have new wrinkles. That’s what you do during this time.”

Ole Miss has won its last six games. The Bulldogs have won nine in a row since a 24-21 home loss to Alabama on Sept. 27.

“We didn’t really get tested until the road game at Tennessee (a 44-41 win in the third game of the season),” Smart said. “And then as the season evolved and we’re playing high-level opponents, we were stopping the run pretty well, and we were running the ball pretty well.”

Georgia also has a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in Gunner Stockton, who completed 26 of 31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns in addition to rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting.

Smart is pleased with the way his defense has evolved over the course of the season, and the scoreless fourth quarter against the Rebels appears to have been a turning point. The Bulldogs have allowed a total of just 70 points in the six games since beating Ole Miss.

Stockton’s first career start came 12 months ago in the Sugar Bowl, a loss to Notre Dame that fed the quarterback’s fire all offseason. He said upon arriving in New Orleans for the playoff matchup that he knows he doesn’t take losses well.

“I know he’s got a bad taste in his mouth about our first opportunity in the playoffs last year,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said of his quarterback. “I know it was his first start, but he wants to go out, like our whole football team, and play well in this game and give ourselves a chance to win a ball game.”

–Field Level Media

“U” Da Men

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ARLINGTON – (Wire Service Report) – Miami’s Carson Beck passed for 138 yards and a touchdown as No. 10 seed Hurricanes upset No. 2 seed and defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl in Texas on Wednesday night.

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Miami (12-2) will play either No. 3 Georgia (12-1) or No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1) in a semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. The Bulldogs and Rebels meet on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans. In the two years of the CFP 12-team playoff, all five teams to receive first-round byes lost.

The Hurricanes stunned the Buckeyes (12-2) with a 14-0 halftime lead on the strength of a 9-yard touchdown catch by Mark Fletcher Jr. and a 72-yard pick-6 by Keionte Scott. Fletcher also ran for 90 yards in the game.

After Jeremiah Smith’s 14-yard TD catch on a pass from Julian Sayin made it 17-14 with 13:28 to go, the Hurricanes marched 70 yards to wrap it up when CharMar Brown ran in from the 5 with 55 seconds left. Sayin completed 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while Smith made seven catches for 157 yards.

Big East Brings In New Year

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CINCINNATI – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – UConn led wire-to-wire in a win at Xavier, Villanova used a second half rally to get past DePaul, and St. John’s set a new program standard for 3-point shooting at Georgetown.
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Wednesday, Dec. 31
UConn 90, Xavier 67 – Box Score 
Alex Karaban led all scorers with 19 points as UConn won its ninth straight game.  The Huskies started strong out of the gate and led for the entire game.  Xavier got within 13 points twice in the second half, but the Huskies maintained their advantage by shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes.  Karaban added seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.  Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins each added 17 points, combining to make seven of UConn’s season-high 13 3-pointers on the night.  For Xavier, Malik Messina-Moore scored a team-high 16 points while Filip Borovicanin added a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards.
Of Note
Villanova 71, DePaul 66 – Box Score 
The Wildcats erased a 10-point second half deficit, using outscoring DePaul 31-16 over the final 11 minutes to move to 2-0 in BIG EAST play. A 9-0 run early in the first half for the Blue Demons gave them the lead the rest of the way, including a 32-28 edge at the break.  DePaul would grow its lead to 50-40 with 11 minutes remaining before Villanova run kickstarted its comeback.  A Tyler Perkins 3-pointer would tie it at 56-56 with six minutes and change left before a Devin Askew trifecta gave Nova the lead for good.  Perkins and Bryce Lindsay each had 19 points for Villanova, combining for nine of Nova’s 10 made 3-pointers.  DePaul was led by CJ Gunn’s 15 points and seven rebounds, while Layden Blocker added 13.
Of Note
St. John’s 95, Georgetown 83 – Box Score 
The Red Storm’s long-range shooting set the tone in their win at Georgetown.  The first three field goals for the Johnnies all came from beyond the arc as they took an 11-9 lead less than four minutes in.  But a 9-0 run by the Hoyas allowed them to retake the lead in a back and forth first half that featured four ties and seven lead changes.  SJU held a 52-47 advantage at the break and led the rest of the way.  Zuby Ejiofor posted one of his most complete stat lines of the season, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, a career-best seven assists, and two steals.  Oziyah Sellers added 16 points and Ian Jackson 14 in the win.  The Hoyas’ KJ Lewis led all scorers with 27, while Malik Mack added 18 points and eight assists.
Of Note
There are no BIG EAST games on Jan. 1 and 2

Diggs Facing Felony Charges

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing a felony charge of strangulation or suffocation and a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery.

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The charges were announced Tuesday morning in Dedham (Mass.) District Court with Diggs’ attorney, Michael DiStefano, calling in via phone, according to a Boston 25 News report.

DiStefano reportedly sought to have the police report sealed so that the details are not made public. He also shared that Diggs has made a financial offer to the alleged victim in an effort to end the dispute.

The judge is expected to make a ruling on whether the details will be impounded or not ahead of Diggs’ scheduled arraignment on Jan. 23.

The alleged incident in question occurred Dec. 2, the day after New England’s 33-15 win over the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.”

“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs. Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon,” the Patriots said in a statement. “We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

The team did not share an update on Diggs’ status for Sunday’s Week 18 home game against the Miami Dolphins. The four-time Pro Bowl receiver could be placed on the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt List and be ineligible to play depending on what the league learns about the alleged incident.

Diggs, 32, signed a three-year, $69 million contract which includes $26 million guaranteed with New England in March. In his first season with the Patriots, he leads the team in catches (82) and receiving yards (970) with four touchdowns in 16 games (all starts).

New England (13-3) enters the final week of the regular season in second place in the AFC, although it could claim the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage to the Super Bowl with a win on Sunday paired with a Denver loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

As of now, Diggs’ arraignment is scheduled for two days before the AFC championship game. However, the judge is considering moving the arraignment to March in order to not conflict with the potentially ongoing Patriots season.

–Field Level Media

Pro Football Hall Finalists

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Kraft and Belichick Both Up for Enshrinement in 2026

CANTON – (Wire Service Report) – Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Drew Brees and Eli Manning and one of the most clutch kickers in league history, Adam Vinatieri, are among 15 finalists up for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

The Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LX, and any players selected will be revealed February 5 during the “NFL Honors” broadcast in San Francisco.

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Brees, Manning, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and edge rusher Terrell Suggs (Ravens, Cardinals, Chiefs) are among the candidates up for debate by the Selection Committee in February.

Four other players — Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Vinatieri — reached the committee’s Final 7 for election with the Class of 2025 and were automatically advanced in the 2026 class.

Holt and returning finalist Reggie Wayne (Colts) have been finalists seven times and this is the fifth year Anderson is among the group openly debated for election.

Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson (fourth time as a finalist) is in his 18th year of eligibility. He’s joined by first-timer and former Dallas tight end Jason Witten. Brees, Fitzgerald, running back Frank Gore (five teams in 16 seasons) and former Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams are also first-time finalists. Williams has been eligible for six years.

Up to five “Modern Era” players for the Class of 2026 can be elected by the Selection Committee, which requires a minimum positive vote of 80%.

Seniors category finalists Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood, coach finalist Bill Belichick and contributor finalist Robert Kraft are candidates for the Class of 2026 with voting held separately and a maximum of three of these five finalists can be elected.

Between four and eight total enshrinees can be elected in a given year according to the Hall of Fame bylaws.

Willie Anderson, a right tackle with four All-Pro seasons for the Bengals, has been eligible for 13 years and this is the 12th year for Holt. Holt had 920 career receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 TDs and caught at least 80 passes in eight consecutive seasons with the Rams.

The 2026 Modern-Era Finalists (positions, years and teams):

Willie Anderson, Right Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Drew Brees, Quarterback — 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-20 New Orleans Saints
Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-16 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver — 2004-20 Arizona Cardinals
Frank Gore, Running Back — 2005-14 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker — 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
Eli Manning, Quarterback — 2004-19 New York Giants
Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End — 2003-18 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
Adam Vinatieri, Kicker — 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-19 Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-14 Indianapolis Colts
Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle — 2003-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
Jason Witten, Tight End — 2003-17, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle — 2007-19 Baltimore Ravens

–Field Level Media

Celtics Botch One in Portland

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PORTLAND – (Wire Service Report) – Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe scored 26 points and Deni Avdija added 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help the host Trail Blazers defeat the Boston Celtics 114-108 on Sunday. Toumani Camara scored 20 points and Donovan Clingan recorded 18 points and 18 rebounds as the Trail Blazers halted a three-game skid. Caleb Love scored 18 off the bench as Portland also snapped a six-game losing streak against the Celtics.

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Jaylen Brown had 37 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which saw a four-game winning streak end. Brown has scored at least 30 in all nine of his appearances this month. Hugo Gonzalez and former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons added 13 points apiece for Boston. Derrick White scored 12 and Neemias Queta added 11.

Love drained a 3-pointer to give the Trail Blazers a 103-100 advantage with 4:30 remaining. Boston later pulled within 109-108 on White’s 3-pointer with 43 seconds left. Clingan’s three-point play with 22 seconds left again gave Portland a four-point advantage.

After a Boston timeout, White turned the ball over with a bad pass. Avdija made two free throws with 15 seconds left to make a six-point margin and the Trail Blazers closed it out to improve to 1-3 on a five-game homestand.

The Trail Blazers made 47.2% of their field-goal attempts and were 18 of 51 from distance. Sharpe made 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

Brown scored 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the first half as Boston held a 63-55 lead. Sharpe had 15 in the half for Portland.

The Celtics led by 10 early in the third quarter before the Trail Blazers responded with a 14-2 push. Avdija’s jumper capped it and gave Portland a 69-67 lead. Simons scored eight straight points to put Boston up by two before Sharpe connected on a 3-pointer with 31 seconds to go and Portland took an 86-85 lead into the final stanza.

–Field Level Media