Digital Sports Desk

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Year End #1

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Fenway Sports Group unloaded the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins franchise this weekend at a hefty $1.7-to-$1.8 billion, an increase over the $900m the Boston-based agency paid for the ice hockey franchise in 2021.

Crosstown from Fenway and up at North Station, financier and entrepreneur Bill Chisholm, a lifelong Boston Celtics NBA basketball fan, dropped a cool $6.1 billion in order to purchase a controlling chunk of the C’s.

Is it possible that an NBA franchise is worth $4.3 billion more than an iconic NHL team? Or, if you count the exorbitant $10 billion valuation of the Los Angeles Lakers – recently purchased by Mark Waller (from the family of Dr. Jerry Buss), you’ve got a ridiculous 8.3 billion difference.

To level the playing field, hardwood and ice, you must consider the fact the Celtics and the Lakers, respectively, are the two most decorated franchises in the NBA and only the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors can be held in the lofty rare-air of value. In the NHL, the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks can be compared. Pittsburgh would be in the second tier of NHL franchise valuations. The global allure and the recent TV/media deal struck by the NBA make it a very steady investment for the ultra-rich who might be seeking a vehicle to balance their bank books.

Fenway has been seeking a buyer for the ice hockey franchise for a while. The Penguins were never a good fit for the agency, as its Boston-based sister clubs (Boston Red Sox and NHL Bruins) co-own cash cow regional sports network NESN. FSG also owns Liverpool of the English Premier League, and the (Worcester, Mass) Woo-Sox and the minor league teams which support the Red Sox. Fenway also has its investments in, RFK (Roush Racing venture with driver Brad Keselowski), the PGA Tour, and TGL Golf via the Boston Common GC of indoor golf.

Fenway Sports Group and Hoffmann Family of Companies announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for the Hoffmanns to acquire a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Headquartered in Chicago, the Hoffmann family have built a diverse portfolio of operating businesses and commercial real estate holdings and are also owners of the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The close of the transaction is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors.

“During a formal process to explore investor interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins, we were approached by the Hoffmann family with an offer that warranted serious consideration,” said Sam Kennedy, CEO of Fenway Sports Group. “From our earliest conversations, their love of the sport and their commitment to doing things the right way made it clear they would be thoughtful stewards of the franchise, which is why we chose to seriously consider their interest. We plan to work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition and to carry forward the momentum that’s been built. It has been an honor to be part of the Penguins’ story, working alongside a world-class leadership team, passionate fans, and a dedicated community.”

Hoffmann Family of Companies is a rapidly expanding, family-owned private equity enterprise of over 125 global brands led by brothers Geoff and Greg Hoffmann. Geoff oversees the family’s private equity investments with Greg managing its real estate holdings. In addition to their business ventures, the Hoffmann’s acquired the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in 2019 and are deeply committed to community impact, contributing millions annually to nonprofits across the country.

Their philanthropic efforts include the creation of Type 1 Timer Hockey in 2022 by Geoff Hoffmann and his wife, the only nonprofit hockey camp in North America dedicated to supporting young athletes with type 1 diabetes.

“Hockey has always been a meaningful part of our family’s story, which makes this an incredibly special opportunity,” said Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of Hoffmann Family of Companies. “We’ve long admired the Pittsburgh Penguins – not just for their championship legacy and history, but for the culture, passion, and loyalty that define the organization. From our earliest conversations, we saw how deeply the Penguins are woven into the fabric of Pittsburgh. We are honored to join that tradition and excited to become an active part of the community.

“Our goal is to support Kyle Dubas with everything he needs to bring the Penguins back to the pinnacle of the NHL. We look forward to working alongside the exceptional leadership team already in place, strengthening our connection with Penguins fans, and ensuring the franchise remains a source of pride for the city for generations to come.”

That all equates to a press announcement filled with back-patting along with a stated commitment to the city of Pittsburgh, the home to the Penguins since the NHL expansion of 1967.

The Penguins lifted the Stanley Cup five times, in 1991,1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017, a tremendous run with much of it due to the talents of the great Mario Lemieux. The success noted, it was Lemieux who bailed the franchise out after they were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 1998.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: St. John’s University basketball entered the 2025-26 season with a lofty No. 5 ranking, the highest since the Chris Mullin era in the mid-1980s. Coming off the (31-5) 2024-25 season, a BIG EAST Championship and the magic of Rick Pitino’s off-season recruiting efforts, St. John’s was destined for greatness this season … Not so fast, as Saturday’s 78-66 loss to Kentucky set the Johnnies back to (7-4) on the season, including losses to Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn, and the Wildcats – not to mention an exhibition loss at the hands of Michigan at Madison Square Garden. While St. John’s improved defensively over the first three weeks of the young season, and won three games during that timespan, their half-court offense was non-existent in the loss to the (8-4) Wildcats. St. John’s is (0-3) against ranked teams. After one last non-conference game (home vs Harvard), for St. John’s, the tough, full BIG EAST schedule awaits. … A one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring a gold logo patch commemorating Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 NL MVP Award fetched $3 million during an auction this week. The card was autographed by Ohtani. … Long before the advent of breaking news “Woj Bombs” and “Shams Scoops” on Twitter/X, Peter Vecsey, was writing NBA basketball only sports columns in New York and he fast became an influential NBA insider who helped define modern sports journalism. Author Pete Croatto profiled Vecsey for Poynter.

PGA SCHEDULE: The PGA TOUR usually begins its season with a Tournament of Champions on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Each year, roughly 30 pro golfers, who won on the circuit last season, get a one week head start on the rest of the tour. The SONY Open – which was the second event on the tour in year’s past – will now act as the No. 1 tournament for 2026, playing in Honolulu from January 15-18.

A SHAMELESS PGA TOUR BRUNCH PLUG: Say Happy New Year to your favorite golf fan with PGA Tour Brunch. Posted to in-boxes six days a week (not Tuesdays) for lunch or brunch-time reading, PGA Tour Brunch provides fans of the PGA Tour (and its growing list of Fantasy, gambling and DFS players, too) with a one-stop, mobile friendly e-news to help navigate the hundreds of golf news sites available. PGA Tour Brunch is short and sweet, a couple mobile page scrolls and it provides all the basic information, like tee times, the field, odds, player notes, leaderboards, and even some breaking news. It’s designed by @terrylyons with a blessing from the popular @SoxLunch creators.

What Was Written by WWYI in the First Half of ‘25

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As the Year of 2025 comes to a close, your favorite column does a customary look-back at the stories we looked at each week of the year. It works best when split into two parts. One part this week, then Part 2 next weekend. Here’s January to June 2025:

Part One – January 2025 to June ‘25 (Tune in Next Week for July to December)

Jan. 5:

Bold Predications – Actually chalk – Ohio State will win the College Football Playoffs

I made 10 predictions. Plain text = Incorrect but Bold Text = Correct

Ohio State will win the College Football National Championship.

Free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Canada will win the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Detroit Lions will win the Super Bowl. Jared Goff will be MVP.

Kansas will win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with Tennessee, Duke and Florida falling short in the 2025 Final Four. (2 of 4, and Florida won)

Citizen Bull will win the Kentucky Derby but not the Triple Crown. (Sovereignty won and Citizen Bull came in a lowly 15th).

The Vegas Golden Knights will win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Washington Capitals. (Florida Panthers won, but Vegas was 1st in Pacific but lost to Edmonton in the Second Round).

The Oklahoma City Thunder will win the NBA title, defeating the Boston Celtics with OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning a double MVP for the regular season and NBA Finals.

Scottie Scheffler will repeat as the winner of the TOUR Championship, the FedEx Cup and the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year. He will not get arrested this season. (Scheffler fell short and Tommy Fleetwood won)

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be World Series champions once again.

*****I went five for 10 (.500) with partials at the NCAA Final 4 (Duke and Florida). Roki Sasaki signed with the LA Dodgers in March but was oft-injured and placed on the 60-day IL with right shoulder impingement.

Jan. 12:

  • What happened to the Boston “Title Town” teams?
  • LA Wild Fires
  • Venu is Kaput (ESPN changes direction, never launches site/channel)

Jan. 19:

  • CFP 2025 – Good Job
  • MSG photographer George Kalinsky – RIP
  • FIBA ‘25 – Hall of Fame Inductees

Jan. 26:

  • AFC/NFC Championship – Great Day

Feb 2:

  • Ground Hog Day Meets Red Sox Truck Day
  • MLB Spring Training on the Horizon

Feb. 9:

  • The Doncic Trade
  • All-Time Fictional Character Hoops Team

Feb. 16:

  • Ups & Downs of NBA All-Star
  • Jeff Twiss Named BHofF Bunn Award Winner

Feb. 23:

  • 4 Nations Ice Hockey Scores!

March 2:

  • MLB Spring Training/Little Fenway
  • Diana Taurasi

March 9:

  • On-site at MIT Sloan Sports Conference

March 16:

  • On-site at the BIG EAST Tournament at The Garden
  • MLB Opener in Japan

March | Special:

  • St. John’s Wins Big East Championship

March Madness | Special – March 20:

  • Brackets!

March 22:

  • St. John’s Bows-Out Early (On-site in Providence)
  • Celtics Sale

March 30:

  • Frozen Four
  • College Basketball Crown

April 4 | Special | Fenway Home Opener

  • Digital Sports Desk Opens MLB Season at Fenway

April 6:

  • Boston Red Sox Review of Home Opener | Timeline
  • Torpedo Bats

April 13:

  • The Masters
  • Ch, ch, ch, CHANGES in Sports

April 20:

  • Jackie Robinson Day in MLB (April 15)

April 27:

  • Relegation in the Premier League/European Futbol
  • Relegation: Not So Fast in North American-based Pro Sports
  • Relegation in LARGE College Conferences

May 4:

  • San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Tribute

May 11:

  • The Cooper Flagg NBA Draft Lottery
  • Devers Airs his Grievances with Red Sox

May 18:

  • Seasons Change and So Does Boston
  • PGA Championship | Quail Hollow

May 25:

  • The Memorial
  • The Ultimate Memorial: Carl Richard “Dick” Gumina

June 1:

  • The Belmont at Saratoga

June 8:

  • NBA Finals
  • NBA Photos
  • Look Out for the Florida Panthers

June 15:

  • Great Sports Promos – the NHL
  • Stanley Cup Final | Game 5

June 22:

  • NBA Finals – Game 7s
  • On-site for the PGA Tour | The Travelers
  • Cal Raleigh | Record-breaking Pace

June 29:

  • The “New” Texas Triangle

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: Without pushing it too far or making one of my patented lists, one could easily say the most impactful musical voices of the 20th Century were:

  • The Beatles
  • Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones
  • Elvis
  • Frank Sinatra

Here’s a collection of Sinatra Christmas music for your yuletide enjoyment:

Alabama Shakes Off Oklahoma

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NORMAN – (Wire Service Report) – Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns to overcome a slow start and help No. 9 Alabama rally for a 34-24 win over No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday in the College Football Playoff opener.

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Alabama trailed Oklahoma (10-3) by 17 points in the first half but roared back to tie it then controlled the second half to advance to the quarterfinals. The Crimson Tide became the first road team to win a CFP game on campus after all four home teams won in the opening round of last year’s inaugural 12-team field. Alabama took the lead early in the third quarter when Simpson hit Lotzeir Brooks for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 24-17. Brooks had five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

After the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 10, Oklahoma answered, cutting the deficit to 27-24 on Deion Burks’ 37-yard touchdown catch from John Mateer two plays into the fourth quarter. Alabama extended its lead, though, on Daniel Hill’s 6-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth. The score was set up by Germie Bernard’s 24-yard catch where he wrested the ball from the Sooners’ Jacobe Johnson at the Oklahoma five yard line. Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell missed a pair of field goals late, barely pushing the first wide, then finishing just short on a 51-yard try with just more than a minute remaining, ending the Sooners’ chances of a comeback.

Mateer finished with 307 passing yards and two touchdowns while Burks finished with seven catches for 107 yards as Oklahoma outgained Alabama 362-260. Mateer put Oklahoma on the board with an 8-yard touchdown run on the Sooners’ second drive, and Sandell’s 51-yard field goal made it 10-0 in the final minute of the first quarter. Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation’s top kicker, tied an FBS record with his eighth field goal of 50 of more yards on the season.

The Sooners extended their lead to 17-0 less than five minutes into the second quarter on Mateer’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna III.

To that point, the Crimson Tide didn’t have a first down, going three-and-out on each of their first three possessions. But then Alabama started turning the momentum. Simpson led a 75-yard touchdown drive, putting the Crimson Tide on the board with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brooks on fourth-and-2. A blocked punt gave Alabama the ball at the Oklahoma 30, and the Crimson Tide made it a one-possession game with a 35-yard field goal by Conor Talty with just more than two minutes remaining in the half.

Alabama wasn’t done yet, as Zabien Brown picked off a Mateer pass to the flat and had plenty of clear space ahead of him, returning it 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game heading into halftime.

–Field Level Media

Pats Try to Avoid Back-to-Back Losses

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BALTIMORE – (Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs when they visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

The Patriots (11-3) are coming off last Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Denver (12-2) is the only AFC team with a better record than New England, but the Broncos own the tiebreaker against the Patriots if the teams finish with the same record.

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New England would clinch a playoff berth with a win. Coach Mike Vrabel was asked Wednesday if a team can benefit from a late-season loss.

“I would say that’s TBD,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know. It’s only depending on how you respond, how you prepare, how you practice and ultimately how you play. So, we’ll see. There’s a lot of good things in there and we’ll need all those things on Sunday night against this football team that’s 6-2 after their bye, and really coming off a big win last week. A dominant win.”

The Ravens (7-7) ended a two-game losing streak by beating Cincinnati 24-0 last Sunday. Baltimore, however, will likely need a strong finish to earn a playoff berth.

If the Ravens win their final three regular-season games (New England, at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh), they will win the AFC North, although there are other scenarios in which Baltimore can qualify for the playoffs.

“You just assume that you have to take care of your business,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It would be a stretch for us not to have to win out. So, we’ll plan on that and that’s what we’re going to have to try to do.”

New England is 6-0 on the road this season and will be facing a Baltimore team that’s 3-5 at home. The Ravens were without quarterback Lamar Jackson for home losses to Houston (44-10) and the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) in early October because of a hamstring injury.

“The Houston game was probably our worst home game that I can ever remember, (but) our guys were fighting their butts off — the guys that were out there playing, who were playing in the game,” Harbaugh said. “That game is what it was. The Rams game is what it was. Guys are fighting their butts off in that game, too. So, those games are history.”

New England ranks seventh among NFL teams in both scoring offense (27.3) and scoring defense (19.7). Baltimore is 14th in scoring offense (23.9) and 15th in scoring defense (22.8).

“Obviously, someone is coming into our house,” Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We have to win games. We have to put on a show for our crowd and end up getting wins like how we’re supposed to.”

Jackson (illness) is one of six Ravens who didn’t participate in practice Wednesday. Linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quadriceps) linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot) are the others.

Five Patriots did not participate in practice Wednesday: cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), cornerback Marcus Jones (knee), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), linebacker Harold Landry (knee) and linebacker Christian Ellliss (illness). Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was listed as a limited participant on the team’s participation report, but his situation is non-injury related.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Thursday Night Football Preview

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SEATTLE – (Wire Service Report) – The NFL’s week 16 kicks-off with one of the biggest games of the 2025 regular season, and one chock full of playoff ramifications when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seahawks in the Emerald City on Thursday night. The NFC West rivals enter with identical 11-3 records atop the conference. The Seahawks have won four consecutive games since a Week 11 loss at the Rams. That victory has Los Angeles atop the NFC standings, with Seattle currently in the top wild-card spot.

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A win on Thursday night very well could propel the Rams to the division title and home-field advantage in the NFC. A loss, and Los Angeles risks going on the road throughout its playoff run. And whichever team loses risks falling into a tie with 10-4 San Francisco, which plays at Indianapolis on Monday night.

ODDS AND TRENDS
The Seahawks are a consensus 1.5-point favorite at home. The line has held steady this week at BetMGM, where the Rams have been backed by 64% of the total spread-line bets and 59% of the money.

Los Angeles’ moneyline has also been popular, drawing 67% and 57% of the action, respectively, while shifting from -115 to +105.

The total points line of 42 is down significantly from opening at 45.5, due in large part to the unknown status of Rams wide receiver Davante Adams. The Over has been backed by 61% of the money.

PLAYER PROPS
–Rams TE Terrance Ferguson Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at BetMGM): Ferguson figures to be one of the beneficiaries of Adams being doubtful to play due to a hamstring injury. This has been the most popular Rams-based player prop at the book, even though the rookie has only one catch for 6 yards over his past five games. Ferguson has six catches for 144 yards and one touchdown on the season.

–Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 200+ Passing Yards (-223 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book with Darnold topping 200 passing yards in 11 of his past 13 games. He threw for 279 in the first matchup, but also was picked off four times. Seattle’s offense failed to score a touchdown last week and has struggled in the first half much of the season. If you’re looking for a bigger potential pay out, Darnold is -125 to throw for 220+ and +133 to throw for 240+ yards.

INSIDE EDGE
Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is known for his play-action passing game. However, Seattle ranks third-worst in the NFL with a success rate of just 39.3% on plays with motion this season, according to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine.

KEY STATS
–Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with a passer rating of 126.2 on passes to the right side of the field this season.

–Seattle’s defense ranks second in the league in opponents’ scoring, allowing just 17.3 points per game.

INJURY REPORT
Rams coach Sean McVay said he likely would wait until game time to make a decision on Adams, who aggravated the injury while running a deep route on Sunday in Los Angeles’ 41-34 victory against visiting Detroit.

“I’m not ruling anyone out,” McVay said Tuesday. “He just got his hamstring. He felt it a little bit, and it’s something he’s been dealing with, and he’s as tough as it gets. Want to be able to see what it looks like with the time we have.”

Adams has twice previously dealt with hamstring issues this season, his first with the Rams. He has 60 catches for 789 yards.

Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle) is listed as questionable.

Stafford is a leading MVP contender with a league-leading 37 touchdown passes and 3,722 yards through the air, second only to the 3,931 of the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott.

Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross, who sustained a hamstring injury on Jason Myers’ game-winning kick Sunday, was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday.

“We’re just trying to gather the info right now, exhausting all options to see how fast we can get him back,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Cross.

FLUTTERING HAWKS
While the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,541 receiving yards, the rest of the offense has stalled. Seattle’s offense has scored just six first-half points in each of its past three games (not counting an interception return for a TD).

The Seahawks likely will need more than that against a Rams team that has scored 40-plus points in each of its past two contests.

“We just need to get together and understand the game plan and execute at the end of the day,” Smith-Njigba said. “And I’ll leave it at that.”

Seattle managed a season-low 50 rushing yards against the Colts, with Kenneth Walker III totaling just 17 yards on nine attempts.

“We didn’t run it the way we wanted to,” Macdonald said. “It’s kind of a little bit of everything right now. A little bit late in the year to be saying that. So, I mean, we got to pick it up, really, on all fronts.”

“What a crazy week to be playing on a Thursday,” McVay said. “This is a good challenge. … It’s a blessing to be able to play in meaningful games this late in the season.” –McVay, who admitted he hasn’t gotten much sleep this week after his wife Veronika gave birth to son Christian Alexander McVay on Monday morning.

PREDICTION
Seattle’s offensive line already was struggling before losing Darnold’s stalwart blind-side protector for this game. Minus Cross, the Seahawks will continue to struggle running the ball and Darnold will be prone to the types of poor decisions under duress that put Seattle in a 14-3 hole in the first meeting. –Rams 23, Seahawks 20

–Field Level Media

NFL Week 16: Playoff Positioning

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Denver was the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot and the Broncos have their sights set on the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.

The Broncos (12-2) would need almost everything to break their way in Week 16 to secure the West division title and a first-round bye in the AFC: beat Jacksonville (10-4), a loss by the Patriots and a loss or tie by the Chargers and Bills. They’ll be AFC West champs for the first time since 2015 with a win or tie against the Jaguars and a loss or tie by the Chargers (10-4).

Should the Jaguars win in Denver, not only does Jacksonville clinch a playoff spot, but everything in the conference becomes a shade more interesting. It keeps the Chargers alive in the division race and kicks the door open to multiple teams for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

The Chargers clinch a playoff spot with a victory at Dallas, which would also put the Eagles in the playoffs as NFC East champs.

Angling for the NFC West crown and a leg up in the conference race for home field, the Rams (11-3) clinched a playoff spot last week. But if Los Angeles loses at Seattle (11-3) on Thursday night, the Rams can still end up on the road for the wild-card playoffs. San Francisco (10-4), very much alive in the division race, closes Week 16 at Indianapolis (8-6) with a clear picture of what’s at stake in the grand landscape of the postseason. A Lions’ loss on Sunday punches the 49ers’ ticket to the playoffs. If Detroit wins, the 49ers can still clinch by beating the Colts on “Monday Night Football.”

Philadelphia can clinch the division with a win at any point in the final three weeks, starting Sunday against the Washington Commanders (4-10). The Eagles play the Commanders again on Jan. 4.

The Bears (10-4) and Packers (9-4-1) have their own clinching scenarios predicated on the Lions losing on Sunday. But first the NFC North rivals play in primetime Saturday night in Chicago, where the winner would be sitting pretty. A Packers win gives Green Bay a season sweep of the Bears while dealing Chicago a fifth loss. Beating the Packers pushes the Bears a game and a half up in the win column in the division with two to play.

It’s shakeout week in the NFC South, too. The Panthers (7-7) draw the Buccaneers (7-7) in Charlotte with the division lead on the line.

Here’s the full playoff picture entering Week 16 and the clinching scenarios in play beginning Thursday night:

AFC
–Division Leaders
1. Denver Broncos
AFC West
12-2 overall
7-2 vs. AFC
Up Next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday)

Clinched playoff berth last week

Broncos clinch AFC West division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

DEN win + LAC loss or tie + NE loss + BUF loss or tie

Denver clinches AFC West division title with:

DEN win + LAC loss or tie OR
DEN tie + LAC loss

2. New England Patriots
AFC East
11-3 overall
6-3 vs. AFC
Up Next: at Baltimore Ravens (Sunday night)

Patriots clinch playoff berth with:

NE win or tie OR
IND loss or tie OR
HOU loss or tie

3. Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC South
10-4 overall
7-2 vs. AFC
Up Next: at Denver Broncos (Sunday)

Jaguars clinch playoff berth with:

JAX win + IND loss or tie OR
JAX win + HOU loss or tie OR
JAX tie + IND loss OR
JAX tie + IND tie + HOU loss

4. Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC North
8-6 overall
7-3 vs. AFC
Up Next: at Detroit Lions (Sunday)

–Wild-card leaders

5. Los Angeles Chargers
10-4 overall
8-2 vs. AFC
Up Next: at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday)

Chargers clinch playoff berth with:

LAC win + IND loss or tie OR
LAC win + HOU loss or tie OR
LAC tie + IND loss OR
LAC tie + IND tie + HOU loss

6. Buffalo Bills
10-4 overall
7-3 vs. AFC
Up Next: at Cleveland Browns (Sunday)

Bills clinch playoff berth with:

BUF win + IND loss or tie OR
BUF win + HOU loss or tie OR
BUF tie + IND loss OR
BUF tie + HOU loss

7. Houston Texans
9-5 overall
7-2 vs. AFC
Up Next: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday)

–In The Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts
8-6 overall
6-4 vs. AFC
Up Next: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Monday)

9. Baltimore Ravens
7-7 overall
5-5 vs. AFC
Up Next: vs. New England Patriots (Sunday night)

NFC
–Division Leaders
1. Los Angeles Rams
NFC West
11-3 overall
6-3 vs. NFC
Up Next: at Seattle Seahawks (Thursday)

Clinched NFC playoff berth last week.

2. Chicago Bears
NFC North
10-4 overall
6-3 vs. NFC
Up Next: vs. Green Bay Packers (Saturday)

Bears clinch playoff berth with:

CHI win + DET loss or tie OR
CHI tie + DET loss

3. Philadelphia Eagles
NFC East
9-5 overall
7-3 vs. NFC
Up Next: at Washington Commanders (Saturday)

Eagles clinch NFC East division title and playoff berth with:

PHI win OR
DAL loss OR
PHI tie + DAL tie

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC South
7-7 overall
5-5 vs. NFC
Up Next: at Carolina Panthers (Sunday)

–Wild-card leaders

5. Seattle Seahawks
11-3 overall
6-3 vs. NFC
Up Next: vs. Los Angeles Rams (Thursday)

Seahawks clinch playoff berth with:

SEA win or tie OR
DET loss or tie

6. San Francisco 49ers
10-4 overall
8-2 vs. NFC
Up Next: at Indianapolis Colts (Monday)

49ers clinch playoff berth with:

SF win OR
DET loss OR
SF tie + DET tie

7. Green Bay Packers
9-4-1 overall
7-2-1 vs. NFC
Up Next: at Chicago Bears (Saturday)

Packers clinch playoff berth with:

GB win + DET loss or tie OR
GB tie + DET loss

–In The Hunt
8. Detroit Lions
8-6 overall
5-5 vs. NFC
Up Next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday)

9. Carolina Panthers
7-7 overall
5-4 vs. NFC
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday)

10. Dallas Cowboys
6-7-1 overall
3-6-1 vs. NFC
vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday)

–Field Level Media

Adam Silver: State of the NBA

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LAS VEGAS – (Wire Service Report) – A decision on possible NBA expansion is due next year, and Las Vegas and Seattle are at the head of the line should the league open the door to new franchises, commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged on Tuesday at a media gathering prior to the NBA Cup final.

“It’s not a secret we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas,” Silver said. “We are looking at Seattle. We’ve looked at other markets, as well. I’d say I want to be sensitive there about this notion that we’re somehow teasing these markets, because I know we’ve been talking about it for a while.

“We’re in the process of working with our (existing) teams and gauging the level of interest and having a better understanding of what the economics would be on the ground for those particular teams and what a pro forma would look like for them. And then sometime in 2026, we’ll make a determination.”

The NBA last expanded in 2004 with the arrival of the Charlotte Bobcats as the 30th team. Charlotte previously had a team, the Hornets, that relocated to New Orleans. Seattle hopes to follow a similar pattern, as it lost the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008.

Las Vegas has never been home to an NBA franchise, but it has close ties to the league as the site of a summer league and as the host of the NBA Cup semifinals and final the past few years.

“I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities,” Silver said. “Obviously, we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas in the Aces. We’ve been playing the summer league here for 20 years. We’re playing our Cup games here, so we’re very familiar with this market.”

“I don’t have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team.”

Silver addressed other league topics:

–The NBA commissioner said he is closely monitoring the collective-bargaining talks between the WNBA and its players union.

“As I’ve said before, we, the NBA, WNBA collective, acknowledged that our players deserve to be paid significantly more than they have so far based on the increased success of the league, and it’s just a question now of finding a meeting of the minds in terms of what is a fair deal,” he said. “It’s going to require compromise on both sides. I remain optimistic we’ll get something done.”

–The Miami Heat might be granted salary-cap relief related to the absence of Terry Rozier. The guard is on leave after he was charged with alerting gamblers he would leave a game early, allowing them to cash in on prop bets regarding his statistics. Rozier pleaded not guilty in federal court last week.

“We’re going to try to work something through, work this out with them, but there’s no obvious solution here,” Silver said. “I would just say that there’s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can’t perform services for them. … Obviously, he hasn’t been convicted of anything yet either — but this is an unfortunate circumstance. Sometimes there’s these unique events and maybe sometimes they require a unique solution.”

–Silver disputed assertions that the NBA Cup is overloading the players.

“All I can deal with is the data itself, and the data we have so far this season is we have the lowest number of injuries in the last three years,” Silver said.

–Field Level Media

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NFL Monday Night Football: Preview

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MIAMI GARDENS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Miami Dolphins each are working to improve their chances of making the playoffs as they prepare to clash on Monday night. The Dolphins (6-7) are riding a four-game winning streak and need to extend that run to keep their slim playoff hopes intact.

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The Steelers (7-6) hold first place in the AFC North and are ahead of the Ravens by a half-game after ending a two-game losing skid with a 27-22 win at Baltimore last week. Pittsburgh also faces pressure to keep winning since its best route to the postseason is to win the division.

ODDS AND TRENDS
Pittsburgh is a consensus 3.0-point favorite, essentially due to being at home where the game-time temperature is expected to be in the teens. The Steelers have been backed by 62% of the spread-line money at BetRivers, where Pittsburgh’s -180 moneyline to win the game outright has drawn 83% of the money.

The 42.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 67% of the total bets while the Under has drawn 76% of the money. Each of the Steelers’ past eight home games against AFC teams have gone Under the total points line, according to the book.

KEY STAT
Pittsburgh has won 22 of its past 23 Monday night home games.

PLAYER PROPS
–Dolphins RB De’Von Achane 80+ Rushing Yards (-128 at DraftKings): Achane will play after leaving last week’s win over the Jets with a rib injury. He had already rushed for 92 yards in a game Miami controlled easily, and Achane enters with 1,126 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season. This has been the most popular player prop at the book, perhaps in part due to the Steelers’ defense being charged with an NFL-high 65 broken tackles this season. A higher potential payout is available with Achane at +124 to rush for at least 90 yards, which he has done in four consecutive games.

–Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Under 0.5 INTs (-129 at BetRivers): Rodgers has not thrown an interception in his past six home games and was not picked off in his past three games overall. Pittsburgh figures to have a run-heavy approach in frigid conditions and when Rodgers does go to the air, he will be attacking a Miami defense that has produced just seven interceptions this season.

INSIDE EDGE
Rodgers has completed just 57.4% of his passes thrown over the middle of the field this season, the fifth-worst mark among qualified quarterbacks, according to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine. By comparison, he completed 70.7% of such passes last season.

INJURY REPORT
Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt is out after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung sustained at the team practice facility last Wednesday.

Pittsburgh has multiple players either dealing with injuries or in concussion protocol. Offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) will not play Monday. Running back Jaylen Warren was a late addition to the injury report on Monday morning and, like defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee), is considered questionable. Wide receivers DK Metcalf (rest) and Ben Skowronek (hand), as well as tight end Darnell Washington (concussion), were limited in practice Saturday.

Dolphins cornerback Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) was listed as doubtful to face Pittsburgh. Offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (tricep), the only other limited participant in Saturday’s practice, was questionable.

THEY SAID IT
–“The good news is that how he makes a living is avoiding tacklers. And that’s what he’ll have to do. The bumps and bruises in the National Football League — if you don’t have something in December, you’re probably playing football wrong.” –Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Achane’s rib injury.

PREDICTION
The Dolphins have picked themselves up off the mat this season, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is 0-5 all-time in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees at kickoff. Miami’s 27th-ranked run defense, which allows an average of 131.9 yards per game on the ground, will see a heavy dose of Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as Pittsburgh plays the field position game while capitalizing on a few Tagovailoa mistakes. –Steelers 23, Dolphins 20

–Field Level Media

NFL Sunday Night Football: Preview

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Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Cowboys -5.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings with Minnesota, including a 40-3 road victory in 2022 in the most recent matchup.

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Dallas faces long playoff odds and the Chicago win today eliminated Minnesota. Dallas has been receiving help from the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost three straight games to keep Dallas in the mix in the division race. The Cowboys have won three of their past four games as they ride the arm of Dak Prescott, the NFL leader with 3,637 passing yards. He also is tied for second with 26 passing touchdowns. Prescott has outputs of 354, 320 and 376 yards over the past three games. Standout receiver CeeDee Lamb (865 receiving yards) hasn’t cleared concussion protocol but should do so by Sunday night. Cowboys running back Javonte Williams has career highs of 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with the club. The Vikings staved off elimination last weekend with a 31-0 shellacking of the Washington Commanders.  J.J. McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes against Washington and didn’t throw an interception for the first time in his seven NFL starts. Star receiver Justin Jefferson had just two catches for 11 yards against the Commanders one week after having two receptions for 4 yards in a 26-0 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

–Field Level Media

NFL Game Capsules: 4:25pm Games

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Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Packers -2.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The home team has won nine of the past 10 meetings.

The Packers pack for Denver after plucking away the NFC North division lead from the Bears in Week 14. The Broncos are baffled that they are still considered to be on proving ground as underdogs in Sunday’s home game. With a 10-game winning streak and two-game lead in the division the Broncos are still eyeing the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos (11-2) are two wins clear of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West and can clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Packers have won four in a row, the last two against NFC North rivals Detroit and Chicago. Bo Nix has kept the Broncos on the right side of eight-one score victories this season. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,954 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is also third on the team in rushing (244 yards). The Broncos have leaned on their strong defense in more than a supporting role. Denver ranks fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.1), second in rushing (89 yards), third in total yards per game (282) and first in total sacks (55). Green Bay can win a game with quarterback Jordan Love’s deep and talented groups of wide receivers. The Packers also can throw a knockout punch defensively. They rank sixth in points allowed (19 per game) and fifth in total yards per game (287.2). Micah Parson leads the team with 12.5 sacks and Rashan Gary has 7.5. Love, in his third year as Green Bay’s starter, has a career-high 67.1 completion percentage and has thrown 22 TD passes while only being intercepted four times. He has been sacked 18 times. Injuries the first two months of the season were a setback to strong protection, but not many blocking schemes are built to stonewall Denver’s pressure defense. Nik Bonitto has a team-best 12.5 sacks but the Broncos’ other three starters up front have 19 more combined, led by Jonathon Cooper (7.5).

Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: -5.5, Total 54.5
Series Rewind: The Lions won the past two from the Rams, including a 24-23 playoff victory in the NFC wild-card round in Jan. 2024.

With a victory over the Lions on Sunday, the Rams clinch the NFC’s first playoff berth. With a loss, the Rams could find themselves tied for second place in their own division. Detroit knows the tenuous fit of the crown all too well. With QB Matthew Stafford putting up MVP numbers with the Rams this season, the Lions’ defense has its work cut out this week. Puka Nacua earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by making seven receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-17 road win over Arizona on Sunday. The Rams’ dynamic wide receiver duo of Nacua and Davante Adams will be facing a banged-up Lions secondary that lost playmaking safety Brian Branch to a torn Achilles tendon in Detroit’s 44-30 victory over Dallas on Thursday. Detroit has won two of the last three matchups with Los Angeles since the two teams famously swapped quarterbacks. In last season’s meeting, the Lions won in overtime, 26-20. Stafford threw for 317 yards, 100 more than Jared Goff, and both quarterbacks had a touchdown pass and an interception.

Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: 49ers -12.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The 49ers hold a 9-6 lead in the series, including a 4-3 record at home. Eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 1987 have been one-score games.

The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft goes head-to-head with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft when Brock Purdy and the 49ers host rookie Cam Ward and the Titans. Purdy won three straight starts before San Francisco’s bye last week and has thrown at least one TD pass in all five games this season. Teammate Christian McCaffrey is on pace for his second season with 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards with 849 and 806, respectively, while 49ers WR Jauan Jennings has touchdowns in four of his last five games. Ward leads all first-year QBs in passing yards (2,468) and had his first game with multiple TD passes in last week’s win at Cleveland. The Titans rank last in the NFL in total offense (246.2 yards per game) and 31st in scoring (15.5 points per game). Tennessee DT Jeffery Simmons will try to slow down a 49ers offense that ranks No. 2 in third-down conversions (48.2%).

Carolina Panthers (7-6) at New Orleans Saints (3-10)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Panthers -2.5, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: New Orleans earned its second win of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak with a surprising 17-7 win at Carolina on Nov. 9. The Saints have won four of the last five over the Panthers to lead the all-time series 33-29.

The Panthers benefited greatly during their bye week, watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose to New Orleans to fall into a tie atop the NFC South at 7-6. Seeing that may have caused some deja vu for Carolina’s players and staff after the Saints stunningly upset the Panthers back in Week 10. Avenging that loss on the road this time feels close to essential for Carolina’s chances at snapping the franchise’s seven-year playoff drought as the NFC South co-leaders are two games back of a wild-card spot. The Panthers’ last five games have been hard to get a read on, with wins at Green Bay and over the Rams last time out, but also with that home loss to New Orleans. Carolina comes out of the bye exceptionally healthy, with every active player fully participating in Thursday’s practice. All that’s left for New Orleans this season is the chance to play spoiler and continue to build for 2026 under rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The Carolina game was Shough’s second start and first win and saw him throw for what remains a career-high 282 yards and two touchdowns. In last week’s win at Tampa Bay, Shough completed just 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards and an interception. However, he ran the ball seven times for 55 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Shough may be without one or two of his top running backs this week. Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) appears poised to miss his third straight game after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday while rookie RB Devin Neal (abdomen) has been limited this week due to an injury he sustained in last week’s game.

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -13.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The Seahawks can even the all-time series at 7-7 by registering a third straight win against the Colts, who haven’t won a game in Seattle since the 2000 season. One of the big stories in the NFL this week was the Colts’ signing of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers after Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury. Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard replaced Jones in last weekend’s loss at Jacksonville and could be in line for his first career start if Rivers isn’t ready for his first game since Jan. 9, 2021. Indy’s Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,356) and TDs from scrimmage (18) but faces a Seattle defense that ranks No. 4 against the run. The game also features the NFL’s No. 1 receiver in Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,428 yards). Two of Seattle’s three losses have come at home this season, but the team pitched a 26-0 shutout against the Vikings in their most recent game at Lumen Field in Week 13.

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NFL Sunday Previews: 1:00 pm Games

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Buffalo Bills (9-4) at New England Patriots (11-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -1.5, Total 49.6
Series Rewind: New England beat Buffalo 23-20 on Oct. 5 and eyes its first season sweep of the Bills since 2019, when Tom Brady was the team’s quarterback.

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The Patriots can win their first AFC East title this decade by taking down the Bills, who have won the division five consecutive years. New England is seeking its 11th straight victory and is gunning to be the No. 1 seed for the AFC postseason. The Patriots were just 4-13 last season but have enjoyed a memorable campaign in coach Mike Vrabel’s first season and quarterback Drake Maye’s second with the club. Maye has emerged as an NFL MVP candidate. The 23-year-old has completed a league-best 71.5 percent of his passes and is on track to break Brady’s franchise record of 68.9 percent set in 2007. Maye has thrown for 3,412 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Of course, the reigning MVP is employed by the Bills. Josh Allen has passed for 3,083 yards and 22 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, while completing 70.1 percent of his throws. He also has rushed for 12 scores. In the first meeting, Maye passed for 273 yards while Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted once. Buffalo has won five of its past seven games but a loss will leave the team battling for a wild-card berth. Bills running back James Cook (1,308) is second in rushing yardage but was held to 49 yards on 17 carries by the Patriots in the first meeting.

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -13.5, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: The Jets have won two of the last three games over the Jaguars, including a 32-25 road win on Dec. 15, 2024. The all-time series is tied 9-9.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding high, entering the week on a four-game win streak and in sole possession of first place in the AFC South after last week’s 36-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts. QB Trevor Lawrence appears to have turned a corner when it comes to turnovers. After he had 11 interceptions in the team’s first 11 games this season, he’s been interception free the last two weeks, throwing for 473 passing yards and four touchdowns vs. the Colts and Titans. Lawrence (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, but returned to full participation Thursday. He faces a Jets defense still looking for its first interception of the season. Rookie Brady Cook is set to start for the Jets. Tyrod Taylor (groin) left early in last week’s game and Justin Fields (knee) couldn’t practice all week. Thrown into his first NFL action last week, Cook struggled as the Jets limped to a 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Adrian Martinez was promoted from the practice squad this week and steps into the backup role.

Washington Commanders (3-10) at New York Giants (2-11)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Giants -2.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: With a 107-73-5 record all-time, the Giants own this storied division rivalry that dates to 1932. But the Commanders have won three straight meetings, including a 21-6 home victory back in Week 1.

Barring a tie, one of these teams will go home happy for the first time since early October, as Washington has dropped eight straight games — the longest active losing streak in the NFL — and New York has lost its last seven. The first matchup between young franchise quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart will have to wait. The Commanders have already ruled out the oft-injured Daniels, who fell hard on his previously dislocated left elbow and departed the 31-0 loss at Minnesota last Sunday. Instead, Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start of the season. Dart returned from a concussion in Week 13 and threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 33-15 loss to the Patriots. Despite similar records, New York and Washington have managed to lose in different ways. The Giants have lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter while Washington’s defeats have tended to be more definitive. The Commanders have lost by more than 20 points five times, including last week, when their 30th-ranked defense gave up 25 first downs and 313 yards to a Vikings team that had been shut out the previous week. The Giants rank 31st in total defense and yielded 34 and 33 points in their past two losses to the Lions and Patriots.

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -2.5, Total 51.5
Series Rewind: Cincinnati’s 18-point victory last month ended a four-game skid against the Ravens. Baltimore’s two victories last season were by a combined four points.

The Ravens have lost back-to-back games and fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-22 last week in the battle for the AFC North lead. Making the situation more dire is that Baltimore also stands two games out of the last AFC wild-card spot. The Ravens finish with three of four on the road, beginning with the visit to Cincinnati, where bone-chilling temperatures are in the forecast. The Bengals roughed up host Baltimore 32-14 on Thanksgiving as Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow returned from a toe injury to pass for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Ravens-killer Ja’Marr Chase had seven receptions for 110 yards and has 28 catches for 567 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games against Baltimore. If the Bengals lose, they will be eliminated from playoff contention. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed for 246 yards and committed three turnovers (one interception, two fumbles) in the recent meeting with the Bengals. Jackson threw one TD pass against Pittsburgh after failing to throw one in three consecutive games. Assorted leg injuries this season also have prevented him from being a running force. He had 307 yards and two scores. Derrick Henry has 1,025 rushing yards, marking the seventh time he has topped 1,000 in his superb 10-year career. Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has reached 100 tackles in all eight seasons of his career. Safety Jordan Battle leads the Bengals with three interceptions and 101 tackles.

Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -9.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The Texans and Cardinals have played just six times and are tied 3-3 in the series. Two of those games have been in the last four seasons, with Houston winning 21-16 at home in 2023 and Arizona cruising to a 31-5 home win in 2021.

No team may be hotter at the moment than the Houston Texans, who won their fifth straight game Sunday night at Kansas City to rise into the playoff picture as the No. 7 seed entering Week 15. They’re positioned at the moment to be just the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. The Texans’ defense has played a huge part in this surge, ranking No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) and total defense (266.3 yards). And yet, it could be CJ Stroud and the offense who lead the charge this week against an Arizona defense which has allowed 40-plus points in three of the last five games. Houston could be without running back Nick Chubb (ribs) this week after he missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention since Nov. 30 and enter on a five-game losing streak fresh off a 45-17 home loss to the Rams. While the defense has been consistently gouged of late, QB Jacoby Brissett has been putting up numbers in place of Kyler Murray, who it was announced last week was done for the season with a foot injury. Brissett has passed for 2,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games as a starter. He has Trey McBride, who is tied for the NFL lead with 93 receptions and leads all tight ends with 937 yards. However, it appears Arizona will be without receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) will miss another game this week after missing the first two practices.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -11.5, Total 38.5
Series Rewind: The teams have split the 14 previous meetings, including the Raiders’ 27-10 victory in Super Bowl XV. The Raiders haven’t won in Philadelphia since 2001.

Las Vegas brings a seven-game losing streak to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team trying to avoid a repeat of 2023. The last time the Eagles lost three in a row was in December two years ago, part of an epic 1-5 collapse following a 10-1 start. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts has turned the ball over seven times in his last two games, including a career-high four interceptions in Monday’s overtime loss to the Chargers. Eagles wideout A.J. Brown is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL with three straight 100-yard games. With Raiders signal-caller Geno Smith dealing with a right shoulder injury and Kenny Pickett gets the start against his former team. Pickett won a ring with the Eagles in February, got traded to Cleveland in March and got dealt again to Las Vegas in August. He was 14-10 as a starter for the Steelers from 2022-23 and 1-0 last season. Maxx Crosby needs one sack to reach double figures for the fourth time.

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: -7.5, Total 38.5
Series Rewind: This is the teams’ 19th meeting. Cleveland leads the all-time series 11-7, and the home team has won 10 of the past 11 games. In the most recent meeting, the Browns eked out a 20-17 home win on Dec. 17, 2023.

The forecast calls for single-digit temperatures along the shores of Lake Michigan. The Bears lost at Green Bay and forfeited the top spot in the NFC North last week. Cleveland has lost two straight and five of its past six, but the recent play of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has given the franchise reason for optimism. Sanders passed for 364 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last week in a 31-29 home loss against the Tennessee Titans. The Browns hope to see defensive end Myles Garrett make history. He enters the weekend with a league-high 20 sacks in 13 games. He is 2.5 sacks shy of the NFL’s single-season record of 22 1/2, which Michael Strahan set in 2001 and T.J. Watt matched in 2021. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams knows that Garrett will be tough to stop. Williams wants no part of becoming the answer to a trivia question: Which quarterback did Garrett take down to break the sack record? “I’m going to try and make sure that he doesn’t get the sack record on us and on me,” Williams said. “… As a game plan … everything is not allowing them to wreck the game.

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -5.5, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: The Chargers beat the Chiefs in Brazil in Week 1, their first win in the past eight games in the series. Kansas City leads the all-time series 71-58-1.

A decade-long streak of playoff appearances is in dire jeopardy for the Chiefs will try to ignite their long-shot postseason chances when they play host to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The last time Kansas City was not a playoff participant was 2014, when Alex Smith was the quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has led each of the past seven playoff runs and not only has helped win three Super Bowls, but he has also never missed an AFC Championship Game as a starting QB. The Chiefs are on the outside of the playoff field, two games behind the Houston Texans, who hold the third and final AFC wild-card spot. The Chargers are playoff eligible as a wild-card qualifier. While Kansas City’s defense was much better over the second half last week, dropped passes held Mahomes to a paltry 160 yards through the air while completing just 14 of his 33 throws in the Chiefs’ third consecutive loss. Quarterback Justin Herbert had just 139 yards passing Monday and rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton returned to the lineup.