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NHL (National Hockey League)

Oilers’ Connor McDavid has decided not to appeal his three-game suspension

Connor McDavid takes the puck to the opponent goaltender

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) have decided not to challenge his three-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, according to an NHL source who spoke with ESPN on Tuesday.

There had been speculation on Monday night that McDavid might appeal the suspension to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who would have the final say on whether the penalty could be reduced.

However, McDavid’s team chose not to pursue an appeal, understanding that the process might not allow enough time to prevent him from missing the next three games. Additionally, Bettman rarely changes decisions made by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

“I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game,” said Oilers center Leon Draisaitl on Tuesday regarding McDavid’s suspension. “I’ll leave it at that.”

McDavid, who ranks fourth in NHL scoring with 65 points in 43 games, will miss three home games: one against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, one against the Canucks on Thursday, and one against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. As part of the suspension, McDavid will forfeit $195,312.51 in salary, which will be donated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

“It’s a game, you know. It’s a passion, obviously. I don’t think he meant to do that,” said Capitals star Alex Ovechkin when asked about McDavid missing the game. “But sucks for him, good for us. He’s not playing tonight, we’ll take it.”

Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid (NHL)

The suspension came after an incident in Saturday night’s game when McDavid and Garland fell to the ice with less than a minute left in regulation.

As McDavid tried to get back up, Garland grabbed his arm, which led McDavid to punch him with his glove to free himself. When McDavid tried to get back in the play, Garland wrapped his arms around him and took him down a second time. As they got up again, McDavid delivered a hard cross-check to Garland’s head.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety explained that this was not a typical move by McDavid to gain body position. Instead, McDavid was retaliating aggressively, raising his stick significantly and making contact with Garland’s head with enough force to warrant a suspension.

McDavid has been suspended once before in his NHL career, for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders’ Nick Leddy in February 2019. He was also fined $5,000 in March 2021 for elbowing Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Montreal Canadiens.

Many Oilers players expressed disagreement with the suspension. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm called the decision “way too high” and said it was “mind-blowing” that the NHL Department of Player Safety imposed such a penalty.

Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers also received a three-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, which happened right after the McDavid incident.

“I think three games is a little too much for either side,” Draisaitl added.

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NFL (American Football)

The availability of Bills DBs Benford and Rapp for the Chiefs game in Kansas City is uncertain

Sean McDermott watches from the sidelines

The Buffalo Bills have some key defensive concerns heading into their AFC Championship rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday.

On Monday, Coach Sean McDermott shared that starting cornerback Christian Benford is currently in concussion protocol. Benford sustained the injury during a final onside kick attempt by the Baltimore Ravens in the Bills’ 27-25 win during the divisional round on Sunday.

Kaiir Elam, a former first-round draft pick, has stepped in as a replacement when one of the team’s cornerbacks has been sidelined in the past. This season, Elam has made four starts. If Benford doesn’t clear concussion protocol in time for the game, defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram is another option for the Bills to consider.

Along with Benford, starting safety Taylor Rapp is listed as day-to-day, according to McDermott, after suffering a hip injury that caused him to leave the Ravens game in the second quarter. Rapp had to be carted off the field after being examined in the medical tent.

“We’ll see how [Rapp’s injury] goes throughout our week,” McDermott said.

Rookie Cole Bishop replaced Rapp for the remainder of the game. This season, Bishop has started four games for the Bills.

Buffalo Bills players celebrate after the win

Defensive coordinator Bobby Baich praised Bishop’s performance despite the difficult circumstances. “He did a solid job there. It’s tough, man. It’s tough,” Baich said. “You’re playing special teams, you’re standing on the sideline watching the game, trying to stay into it, but being out there with the speed of what’s going on and those type of things, you get thrown right to the fire.

So, he did a nice job stepping in. There’s a couple things he could do better as they all can, including myself, and it was good to see. All the experience he’s getting is tremendous.”

Looking ahead, the Bills will travel to Kansas City this Sunday (6:30 p.m. EST, CBS) to face the Chiefs in what will be their fourth meeting in five postseason appearances. This marks the second-most matchups in a five-postseason span in NFL history. Kansas City has won all three of the previous meetings during this stretch.

However, the Bills did manage to beat the Chiefs earlier this season in Week 11, with a 30-21 victory.

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NFL (American Football)

The Ravens believe Lamar Jackson will lead them to a Super Bowl victory, calling it “inevitable” in Baltimore

Lamar Jackson speaks to the reporters after the game

The Baltimore Ravens are still confident that it’s only a matter of time before quarterback Lamar Jackson leads them to a Super Bowl victory, even after another disappointing loss.

Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard shared his belief on Monday, saying, “It’s inevitable. He’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it. It just sucks that it hasn’t happened yet.”

Jackson, the only player to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award twice without reaching a Super Bowl, has faced setbacks in the postseason. The Ravens’ 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday dropped Jackson’s playoff record to 3-5.

Sunday’s game was tough for Jackson, who threw an interception in the first quarter and lost a fumble in the second. However, after halftime, Jackson nearly orchestrated one of his best comebacks.

He threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, bringing the Ravens within two points of the Bills at 27-25 with just 1 minute, 33 seconds left. But on the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt, tight end Mark Andrews dropped a pass that would have tied the game.

Ricard, feeling for his quarterback, said, “I personally feel bad for him because he deserves it just because of how great of a player he is. He deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks. He already is, but I know everyone considers championships as the standard, and he’ll get it one day.”

Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson (NFL)

Ricard likes to compare Jackson to former NFL star Peyton Manning. In their first seven seasons, both Jackson and Manning won multiple MVP awards but had 3-5 playoff records. Manning eventually won two Super Bowls. Ricard is confident that Jackson will follow the same path: “There’s still time. He’s still young. He’s definitely going to [get] one at some point.”

At 28 years old, Jackson could become the youngest player ever to win three MVP awards. The announcement will take place at the NFL Honors show on February 6.

This past season, Jackson had one of his best statistical years, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw more than 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions in a season. He finished with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Despite his success in the regular season, Jackson has struggled in the playoffs. He has yet to win back-to-back postseason games and, since entering the NFL in 2018, his 11 turnovers in the playoffs are the most in the league during that period.

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers acknowledged Jackson’s frustration after the loss, saying, “Oh, he’s mad. He’s mad for sure. We know our team. We know what we’re supposed to do and we know the only way that we can’t do what we want to is what we did yesterday. So I already know how he’s feeling.”

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MLB (Baseball)

Ichiro is on track to be Japan’s first Hall of Famer. Here’s a look at others who could join him in Cooperstown, NY

Ichiro Suzuki pauses before answering a question

Ichiro Suzuki may soon make history by becoming the first Japanese player inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Along with him, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, and Carlos Beltrán could also be elected when the results of the writers’ voting are revealed on Tuesday.

Any player who receives 75% of the votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 27. They will join Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were voted in by the classic era committee last month.

Suzuki could become only the second player to be selected unanimously, joining Mariano Rivera. Rivera is the only player in history to have received 100% of the votes, appearing on all 425 ballots in 2019. Other players who came close were Derek Jeter (395 out of 396 votes in 2020) and Ken Griffey Jr. (437 out of 440 votes in 2016).

Suzuki made his MLB debut in 2001 at the age of 27. In that year, he became only the second player in history to win both the American League Rookie of the Year and the AL MVP in the same season, joining Fred Lynn (1975). Suzuki was also a two-time AL batting champion, 10-time All-Star, and a Gold Glove winner as an outfielder.

He hit .311 with 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases during his time with the Seattle Mariners (2001-2012, 2018-2019), New York Yankees (2012-2014), and Miami Marlins (2015-2017).

Considered one of the best contact hitters in baseball history, Suzuki accumulated 1,278 hits in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and 3,089 hits in Major League Baseball, giving him a combined total of 4,367 hits, surpassing Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256. In 2004, he set a record with 262 hits in a single season.

CC Sabathia, another strong contender for the Hall, was a six-time All-Star and won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award. He also helped the New York Yankees win the World Series in 2009.

Ichiro Suzuki and Mariano Rivera celebrate after the game

Sabathia finished his career with a 251-161 record, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts, ranking third among left-handed pitchers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton. He played for Cleveland (2001-2008), Milwaukee (2008), and the Yankees (2009-2019) during his 19-year career.

Billy Wagner, who received 73.8% of the vote last year, is very close to earning induction. He needs just a few more votes to reach the 75% threshold. A seven-time All-Star, Wagner posted a 47-40 record with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves throughout his career with Houston (1995-2003), Philadelphia (2004-2005), the New York Mets (2006-2009), Boston (2009), and Atlanta (2010). He holds the record for the most strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) among pitchers with at least 900 innings.

Carlos Beltrán, who appeared on the ballot for the first time in 2023, received 46.5% of the vote in his first year and 57.1% last year. A nine-time All-Star, Beltrán finished his career with a .279 batting average, 435 home runs, 1,587 RBIs, and 312 stolen bases. He played for several teams, including Kansas City (1998-2004), Houston (2004, 2017), the Mets (2005-2011), San Francisco (2011), St. Louis (2012-2013), the Yankees (2014-2016), and Texas (2016).

However, Beltrán’s career was tainted when he was linked to the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, leading to his firing as the Mets’ manager in 2020, just three months after being hired.

Other players still on the ballot include Andruw Jones, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettitte, Mark Buehrle, Francisco Rodríguez, Torii Hunter, and David Wright.

Newcomers to the ballot include pitcher Félix Hernández, outfielder Carlos González, and infielders Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramírez, along with reliever Fernando Rodney, second baseman Ian Kinsler, second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, catchers Russell Martin and Brian McCann, and outfielders Curtis Granderson and Adam Jones.

Looking ahead, players like Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, and Matt Kemp will join the ballot in 2026.

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MLB (Baseball)

In Toronto, Anthony Santander signs a 5-year, $92.5M contract with the Blue Jays

Anthony Santander hits a home run in the 4th inning

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract on Monday, finally securing a high-profile free agent.

The deal also includes an opt-out option and a team option for 2030, with the possibility of earning up to $110 million over six seasons, according to Santander’s agency, the Beverly Hills Sports Council.

Toronto had been trying to sign big-name players in the past, including Shohei Ohtani last year and Juan Soto, who was traded to the New York Mets in December. The Blue Jays were also in the running for Roki Sasaki, but the Japanese pitcher chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, Toronto successfully added Santander to its roster, where he will join stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer. The Blue Jays are hoping to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 season, finishing last in the AL East with a 74-88 record.

Santander had a standout 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, setting career highs with 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 91 runs scored in 155 games. He batted .235 and had a .506 slugging percentage, earning his first All-Star appearance in the American League.

At 30 years old, Santander became the first switch-hitter since 2006 to hit 40 home runs in a season. He also became the fourth switch-hitter in MLB history to hit at least 44 homers, joining the ranks of Mickey Mantle (twice), Lance Berkman, and Chipper Jones.

Anthony Santander crosses the plate after hitting a home run in the 6th inning

Santander helped the Orioles make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, although they were swept by Kansas City in the opening round.

After the season, the Orioles extended a qualifying offer to Santander, meaning they will receive a compensatory pick after the first round of the 2025 amateur draft. In return, the Blue Jays lose their second-round draft pick and $500,000 in international signing bonus allocation for the 2026 season.

To make room for Santander on Toronto’s 40-man roster, left-hander Brandon Eisert was designated for assignment.

Santander first signed with Cleveland as an international free agent in July 2011. He was then selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft in December 2016. After dealing with right elbow inflammation, Santander made his MLB debut with the Orioles on August 18, 2017, though he appeared in only 13 games that season.

Santander had a breakout year in 2022, hitting .240 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs in 152 games. He became a key player as the Orioles improved from a 110-loss team the previous season to an 83-79 record.

In 2023, Santander hit .257, with 28 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a career-high 41 doubles, helping the Orioles win the AL East title with a 101-61 record. However, they were swept by the Texas Rangers in the AL Division Series.

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MLB (Baseball)

In Tokyo, Mookie Betts advises Shohei Ohtani to rest up before the baby arrives

Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning

Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child, and Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers teammate, Mookie Betts, has some advice for him.

“He should get his sleep now,” Betts said during an interview in Tokyo on Tuesday. “Because when the baby comes, he won’t get any.” Betts, who has two children of his own, speaks from experience.

During a brief interview while on a promotional tour for a Japanese tea brand, Betts answered a few questions at a hotel. As expected, most of the questions were about Ohtani and rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki, who recently signed with the Dodgers, the World Series champions.

Both Ohtani and Sasaki will be featured when the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs start the Major League Baseball season on March 18 and 19 in two games at the Tokyo Dome.

Betts shared that he had already met Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitcher being called a “phenom” even before making his MLB debut. Sasaki will join Ohtani and another pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani runs onto the field for introductions before Game 3

“Roki is really, really soft spoken,” Betts said. “You can tell that he’ll love being around Yoshi (Yamamoto) and Shohei. I think that will really help him a lot.”

Betts described Sasaki as a quiet person, which is likely due in part to the language barrier.

“I’m going to get him out of his shell,” Betts said. “I’m going to laugh and joke and get him to really embrace the American culture. I think that will really help him to be the best pitcher on the planet. Because I think that everyone believes he can definitely be the best pitcher on the planet.”

Betts also shared his thoughts on Ohtani, repeating what many have said about the star player and giving the Japanese media what they wanted to hear.

“He’s like a god,” Betts said. “His presence in the clubhouse — it’s so important.”

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MLB (Baseball)

LeBron James supports Ohio State at the College Football Playoff Championship in Houston

LeBron James reacts in the 1st half

LeBron James attended the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to support his favorite team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, as they played against Notre Dame.

ESPN cameras spotted James in a suite about 45 minutes before the game started. He had come to town the day before the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Washington Wizards, which he was scheduled to play the next day.

Late in the first half, James appeared on the stadium’s video board. He removed his red Ohio State hat, showed it to the crowd, and raised his right fist in excitement as the fans cheered.

LeBron James has always kept close ties to his home state of Ohio. He is originally from Akron and began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Bryce Harper, a star for the Philadelphia Phillies, was also present to support Ohio State. Harper’s wife, Kayla, attended Ohio State, and she was part of the Buckeyes’ cheering section.

On the Notre Dame side, there were several notable figures in the crowd. Former coach Lou Holtz, who is 88 years old, was in attendance, as was singer Jon Bon Jovi, both of whom watched the game from suites.

Bryce Harper in the 5th inning

Before the game, two legendary running backs were introduced on the field. Archie Griffin, who won the Heisman Trophy for Ohio State in 1974 and 1975, appeared alongside Jerome Bettis, a former Notre Dame star and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

Also at the game was Rev. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is the CEO of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. This was the first time the College Football Playoff National Championship was held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as well as the first time the game was played on the day of a presidential inauguration.

Bernice King had delivered a speech earlier in the day, warning against anti-woke rhetoric at a service held before her father’s former congregation in Atlanta. Later, she participated in the pregame coin toss at the championship game.

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College Football

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard delivered a standout performance in their journey to the national title

Will Howard passes in the 1st half

Will Howard transferred to Ohio State with the goal of winning a national championship, and he achieved that by playing the best football of his career during the Buckeyes’ four College Football Playoff games.

His performance in Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame on Monday night was especially impressive in the first half and at the game’s end. Howard completed his first 13 passes, setting a record for consecutive completions in a CFP title game. When Notre Dame had pulled within eight points, Howard threw a crucial 56-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith on third-and-11, all but sealing the victory.

“I give this guy a lot of credit right here,” said Buckeyes coach Ryan Day, as Howard sat next to him. “I think he ran the ball 16 times, and we knew it was going to be that way. It was the last game of the season, and we were going to use all our bullets. He really put the team on his back.”

Howard entered the game in Atlanta with great momentum, and Notre Dame didn’t slow him down early. He distributed the ball to six different receivers, frequently opting for short passes that allowed his receivers to gain yards after the catch.

He tied the record for consecutive completions late in the second quarter, hitting Carnell Tate for 20 yards on third-and-7. Howard broke the record with a 15-yard pass to Smith on the following play. The streak ended when Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts broke up a pass intended for TreVeyon Henderson near the goal line.

“Coming into the season, one thing Coach Day emphasized was taking completions,” Howard explained. “Maybe I had to check it down or it wasn’t perfectly drawn up. You just want to keep the ball moving and stay on schedule.”

Alabama’s Mac Jones held the previous record, with 12 consecutive completions in the 2021 title game against Ohio State.

Howard finished the game 17 of 21 for 231 yards and was named the offensive MVP. He threw two touchdown passes: one for 8 yards to Smith and another for 6 yards to Quinshon Judkins in the first half.

Will Howard after a touchdown in the 2nd half

Throughout the four playoff games, Howard completed 75.2% of his passes (82 out of 109) for 1,150 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.

“It can be a lot,” Howard said about the pressure of playoff games. “The lights are bright. It’s a spectacle. The TV timeouts are long; everything’s a show a little bit. You have to block that out and eliminate all the distractions. It’s about whoever has the poise in the noise and overcomes adversity.”

In addition to his passing, Howard’s running ability played a key role in the win. He gained first downs on five of his first six designed runs or scrambles, and late in the game, his 8-yard run gave Ohio State a vital first down. Howard ended with a career-high 16 carries for 57 yards.

“It may not always be pretty and sometimes you have to pick it up with your legs,” Howard said.

Before coming to Ohio State, Howard spent his first four years at Kansas State, where he struggled with injuries and lost a quarterback competition in 2022.

However, when the starting quarterback was injured, Howard led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship. He was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2023. Ohio State’s Ryan Day saw potential in Howard and brought him in through the transfer portal.

Howard’s decision to play at Ohio State allowed him to work with some of the best offensive talent in the country, which improved his game and positioned him to be a potential middle- or late-round pick in the NFL draft.

“I saw something in him, a football IQ intelligence,” Day said. “I saw him play on film at Kansas State and win championships and big games. He was able to make an impact with his feet but also throw with accuracy, and those are hard things to find.”

Reflecting on his journey, Howard said, “It’s crazy to look back at all that’s happened during my career — going from playing as a freshman at Kansas State and not really knowing what I’m doing, then going into my junior year, not thinking I’d be playing, and winning a Big 12 championship. I’m just so unbelievably thankful that I got a chance to be a Buckeye, even if it was just one year.”

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College Football

Notre Dame’s Leonard struggles to maintain the intense pace set during the explosive opening drive in the loss to Ohio State

Riley Leonard runs in the 1st half

Riley Leonard started the national championship game with an impressive drive that made it seem like the Notre Dame quarterback could win the title all by himself.

However, Leonard would need more support from his teammates. His two touchdown passes to Jaden Greathouse in the second half showed the Fighting Irish’s resilience, but their comeback effort came too late. Greathouse’s first touchdown catch came late in the third quarter of Ohio State’s 34-23 victory on Monday night.

Leonard contributed three touchdowns, passing for 255 yards with two touchdowns and running for 40 yards and another touchdown on 17 carries.

He was the star of a long, 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game, where Leonard had nine carries for 34 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run. This drive lasted 9 minutes and 45 seconds.

Nine carries in one drive? That was half of Leonard’s season high for carries in a full game. His previous record was 18 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown in Notre Dame’s 27-24 Orange Bowl victory over Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Leonard had no complaints about coach Marcus Freeman’s game plan. “If coach wants to call my number and have me run the ball every single time, I’ve got no problem with it,” Leonard said.

However, Freeman knew they couldn’t keep asking Leonard to handle so many carries.

“We couldn’t run Riley every play,” Freeman said. “It’s not right for Riley and it’s not going to sustain the success we needed offensively.”

After the touchdown run to cap the opening drive, Leonard pointed to the Bible verse “Matthew 23:12” on his wristband. The verse reads: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Leonard may have been signaling that it was time for Notre Dame to be praised. Instead, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and running back Quinshon Judkins proved difficult to stop.

Riley Leonard celebrates after a touchdown in the 1st half

Without more help from his teammates, Leonard and Notre Dame couldn’t keep up with Ohio State. The Buckeyes led 21-7 at halftime, while Leonard’s teammates only managed eight yards on six carries. Leonard himself passed for just 46 yards in the first half.

When Judkins ran for 70 yards to set up a 1-yard touchdown run, Ohio State took a 28-7 lead, and Leonard realized the deficit couldn’t be overcome with more quarterback runs alone.

The three-touchdown gap put Notre Dame in a tough spot. An incomplete pass on a fake punt early in the second half gave Ohio State the ball at Notre Dame’s 33-yard line, which made things worse.

The Fighting Irish were behind 31-7 before they finally scored again on a 34-yard touchdown catch by Greathouse from Leonard with 3:03 left in the third quarter. Greathouse later added a 30-yard touchdown catch, and a successful two-point conversion brought Notre Dame within eight points. But Howard’s 57-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith with two minutes left ended Notre Dame’s comeback hopes.

Leonard took responsibility for not completing the comeback.

“Everything was just clicking,” Leonard said about the drives that led to touchdown passes to Greathouse. “The next couple of drives maybe I got relaxed a little bit and I can’t let that happen.”

Notre Dame’s 14-2 record ended with a loss, and their 13-game winning streak was snapped. The Fighting Irish are still searching for their first national championship since 1988. Coach Marcus Freeman’s attempt to make history as the first African American head coach to win a national title also fell short.

Charles Jagusah started in place of left tackle Anthonie Knapp, who was out with a high ankle sprain. Jagusah was making only his second career start, having missed the regular season due to a torn right pectoralis muscle, but returned for the postseason.

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NFL (American Football)

There’s a difference between Kelce in the regular season and playoff Kelce. The same goes for the Chiefs, too

Travis Kelce celebrates after the game

Patrick Mahomes knows well that there are two different versions of Travis Kelce.

There’s the regular-season Kelce, a player who is on his way to the Hall of Fame, and then there’s the postseason Kelce, who has become almost legendary by helping the Chiefs win three Super Bowls and now getting close to a fourth.

Even though Kelce didn’t have his best regular season, the 35-year-old showed up big again in the divisional round against the Texans on Saturday. He caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in a 23-14 victory. Those 117 yards were almost all of Mahomes’ total passing yards for the game, and it made up more than half of the team’s total offense.

“Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. That’s how simple it is,” Mahomes said after the game. He threw the touchdown pass to Kelce while getting pulled down by a Houston defender at a crucial point in the match.

“He just goes out and executes at a high level, just like he does in the regular season, but at a higher intensity in the playoffs.”

The Chiefs seem to do the same thing.

Yes, they had an impressive 15-2 record in the regular season and earned the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. But even though they were the defending Super Bowl champions, they often won their games in dramatic and close fashion, relying on made field goals, blocked field goals, and key fourth-down stops. It never really seemed like they were a dominant team charging toward another title.

However, on Saturday, they looked like a team ready for another championship.

The Chiefs’ offense chose to play it safe, controlling the ball and avoiding mistakes, which resulted in modest yardage. But their defense made up for it by sacking quarterback C.J. Stroud eight times.

The special teams also played their part, almost scoring a touchdown on a kickoff return and making all of their field goals and extra points. This balanced effort sent the Chiefs to their seventh straight AFC championship game.

Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs

And guess who their opponent is? The Buffalo Bills, who won 27-25 against the Ravens on Sunday. The Chiefs have beaten the Bills three times in the playoffs since January 2021, including a 38-24 win that secured them a Super Bowl spot that year.

“Every feeling and every journey is different,” said Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. “It depends on what you have to go through.

We think about the battles we’ve faced to get here — like losing to the Patriots (in 2019), and having to overcome that to finally get a (Super Bowl) win. I think this journey is different. We’ve been here a few times, and we’re even more driven to get there now because of what’s at stake: a three-peat.”

What’s working
On Saturday, the Chiefs made life very difficult for quarterback C.J. Stroud. George Karlaftis had three of the Chiefs’ eight sacks, including a key one on fourth down late in the game that helped secure the win. What stood out was that the Chiefs, who usually rely on blitzing to pressure the quarterback, managed to get to Stroud without having to send extra defenders.

What needs help
The Chiefs won even though key receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster didn’t catch any passes. This worked in the divisional round against Houston, especially since Kelce had a strong game. However, this approach probably won’t work in the AFC title game, where they will need more from their wide receivers.

Stock up
Xavier Worthy has been showing growth, continuing his strong play in the playoffs. The first-round pick caught five passes for 45 yards, with a standout moment being a leaping, one-handed catch along the sideline early in the game.

Stock down
Isiah Pacheco hasn’t been the same since suffering a broken fibula in Week 2. Against Houston, he rushed five times for 18 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry, with most of that coming from a single 10-yard run. In comparison, Kareem Hunt averaged 5.5 yards per carry on eight attempts and even scored a touchdown. It’s clear who the top running back is now.

Injuries
Bryan Cook and fellow safety Justin Reid were both injured during the game against Houston, but they both returned to play. Defensive back Jaylen Watson also came out healthy after playing his first game since breaking his ankle on Oct. 20 against San Francisco.

Key number
7 — That’s the number of consecutive AFC title games the Chiefs have reached. They have won four of the previous six.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson accepts head coaching role with the Bears in Chicago

Ben Johnson in the warmups before the game

Ben Johnson helped Jared Goff become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Now, he will try to do the same for Caleb Williams.

Johnson, who has been the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three years, has agreed to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke anonymously because the contract was still being finalized.

This will be Johnson’s first head coaching job. He has been highly sought after, after his time in Detroit under head coach Dan Campbell. Johnson joined the Lions in 2019 after spending seven years as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.

Under Johnson’s guidance, Goff has thrown for over 4,400 yards in each of the last three seasons. During this time, Goff made two of his four career Pro Bowls.

The Lions finished the regular season with the best record in the NFC at 15-2, though they were surprisingly eliminated by Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in the divisional playoffs on Saturday. Detroit led the league in points scored per game and ranked second in passing yards and total yards per game.

The Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on November 29 and replaced him temporarily with Thomas Brown. Chicago finished at the bottom of the NFC North with a 5-12 record, losing 10 games in a row before ending the season with a win over Green Bay.

The top priority for Johnson in Chicago will be to develop Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft. Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in his rookie season, but was sacked a league-leading 68 times, setting a franchise record.

Williams has shown respect for Johnson. “I think it’s been really cool to watch,” Williams said a couple of weeks ago when the Bears cleaned out their lockers. “During our game, I would sit back and watch and try and learn something. It was fascinating to watch. He had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game.”

Ben Johnson looks from the sidelines

Johnson praised Williams’ talent when the Lions played the Bears in Week 16. “There’s no question that this guy is talented. I remember standing on the sideline last game and you can hear the ball whistle by you,” Johnson said.

“He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him, can extend plays and is accurate down the field as well. Like I said, I haven’t really dove in and can tell you much more beyond that, but he’s been impressive from afar.”

The Bears interviewed 17 candidates for the job, including former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Chicago has only three playoff appearances since the 2006 season when they reached the NFC Championship Game. Their only Super Bowl title came in the 1985 season.

The Bears have not won a postseason game since 2010, when they reached the NFC Championship Game under coach Lovie Smith. Johnson will be the team’s sixth head coach since then, not including Brown, who served as interim coach.

Under general manager Ryan Poles, the Bears have a 15-36 record over three years, with two double-digit losing streaks. In 2022, they lost their last 10 games, a part of a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak.

Coming into this season, the Bears hoped to make a playoff run after making big moves in the offseason, including drafting Caleb Williams and trading for Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen. However, after a strong 4-2 start, the season quickly fell apart.

The Bears made history by firing a coach mid-season for the first time in the franchise’s history. They also fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just nine games, replacing him with Brown, who had been the passing game coordinator. Brown eventually became interim head coach a few weeks later.

The Bears’ struggles led to fans chanting “Sell the team!” during the final home game against Seattle, a 6-3 loss on Thursday night that aired nationally.

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NFL (American Football)

Saquon Barkley leads the Eagles to a home NFC Championship game against Washington with a standout performance

Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half

Saquon Barkley made his mark in the Eagles’ record book recently, setting a new standard for rushing yards in a playoff game. Last week, Barkley looked up who held the previous record for most rushing yards in a playoff game and found it was Steve Van Buren, who had 196 yards in the 1949 NFL Championship game against the Rams.

Van Buren’s name is well-known to longtime Eagles fans, as his No. 15 is retired, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

Barkley, who had his sights set on greatness, now holds the playoff rushing record after rushing for 205 yards with two touchdowns in a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams. His 78-yard touchdown run in the snow clinched the win, sending the Eagles to the NFC Championship game at home against the Washington Commanders.

Throughout the season, Barkley has been an essential part of the Eagles’ offense, proving that no matter the conditions, he’s capable of delivering. His performances have helped the Eagles maintain their status as one of the favorites to make a return to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.

“Given the conditions or not the conditions, it doesn’t matter. It’s a luxury to have him, that’s for darn sure,” said head coach Nick Sirianni. “Love him. I can’t say enough good things about him and the leadership he brings to this football team and just everything he brings to this football team. He’s special.”

With quarterback Jalen Hurts dealing with an injury, Barkley will need to keep performing at an elite level to help the Eagles move past the Commanders and keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Jalen Hurts runs with the ball in the 2nd half

Sirianni, who has had some critics, has managed to lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship for the second time in three years. The Eagles also boast the best home winning percentage in the NFL since 2022, tied with Buffalo at .833. However, Sirianni’s success is not without challenges, especially when it comes to the passing game.

A.J. Brown, who had over 1,000 receiving yards in the regular season, voiced concerns earlier in the year about the offense not playing up to standard. This issue persists, as Brown has only recorded three catches for 24 yards in two playoff games. DeVonta Smith hasn’t been much more productive either, with only eight catches for 76 yards in the two games against Green Bay and Los Angeles.

The passing game struggled during the win over the Rams, as Hurts was sacked seven times, including a safety. He also suffered a knee injury during the game but still managed to complete his sixth win of the season despite throwing for only 128 yards.

While Hurts’ ability to win games is unquestionable, the Eagles’ offense may face difficulty against high-scoring teams like Washington or more potent offenses in the Super Bowl.

“Our performance today was enough to win, but enough is never enough in terms of the standards we have for ourselves and what we want to do,” Hurts said after the game.

Hurts has deflected questions about the offense, stating that any play-calling concerns should be directed at Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. However, with Barkley serving as the driving force for the offense, the Eagles’ playoff hopes rest on whether Hurts can step up and lead the offense to greater heights when needed, especially if the team faces tougher competition.