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Falcons-Saints rivalry renewed with a playoff berth still possible for either team

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

ATLANTA (7-9) at NEW ORLEANS (8-8)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBSBETTING LINE: Saints by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Falcons 5-11, Saints 6-9-1.SERIES RECORD: Falcons lead 55-54.LAST MEETING: Falcons beat Saints 24-15 on Nov. 26, 2023, in Atlanta.LAST WEEK: Falcons lost to Bears 37-17; Saints beat Buccaneers 23-13FALCONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (8), PASS (22), SCORING (26).FALCONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (19), PASS (8), SCORING (T-9).SAINTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (2), PASS (28), SCORING (T-21).SAINTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (1), PASS (25), SCORING (T-21).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Falcons minus-9; Saints plus-8.FALCONS PLAYER TO WATCH: With QB Taylor Heinicke possibly limited by his left ankle injury, Atlanta could re-emphasize its running game led by rookie Bijan Robinson. Robinson is tied with William Andrews (1,332 in 1979) for most yards from scrimmage by a rookie in franchise history. SAINTS PLAYER TO WATCH: TE Juwan Johnson set career highs with...

With Huntley at QB, the Ravens will try to get even for their loss to Steelers earlier this season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

PITTSBURGH (9-7) at BALTIMORE (13-3)Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, ESPNOPENING LINE: Steelers by 4 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Steelers 9-7, Ravens 11-5.SERIES RECORD: Steelers lead 34-25.LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Ravens 17-10 on Oct. 8 in Pittsburgh.LAST WEEK: Steelers beat Seahawks 30-20; Ravens beat Dolphins 56-19.STEELERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (12), PASS (25), SCORING (25).STEELERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (18), PASS (22), SCORING (7).RAVENS OFFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (1), PASS (21), SCORING (2).RAVENS DEFENSE: OVERALL (4), RUSH (13), PASS (6), SCORING (1).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Steelers plus-11; Ravens plus-12.STEELERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Mason Rudolph. The longtime backup will make his third straight start after leading Pittsburgh’s offense to a pair of breakout performances in season-saving (for now) wins over Cincinnati and Seattle. Rudolph could establish himself as a viable challenger to Kenny Pickett in 2024 if he can keep finding ways t...

49ers and Rams turn to some reserves headed into low-impact finale

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Figuring out how many players he can rest for the playoffs while still fielding a team in a meaningless Week 18 game is a new challenge for San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.It sure beats the alternative of still having plenty at stake in the regular-season finale.The NFC West rivalry between the 49ers (12-4) and Los Angeles Rams (9-7) will have a decidedly different feel when they meet on Sunday with both playoff-bound teams approaching the game almost like an exhibition. “This is just stuff that’s a little annoying to think about but once you kind of do, which we had time to do the last couple days, I just had to talk to some players so they understand it,” Shanahan said. “We’re good. We’re going to enjoy this week.” San Francisco clinched the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye last week, allowing Shanahan to make the decision to sit quarterback Brock Purdy in place of Sam Darnold, giving running back Christian McCaffrey time to heal from a min...

Former Montana football coach Don Read, who led team to first national title, dies at age 90

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Don Read, who helped build Montana into a Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse during a decade as its coach and led the team to its first national championship in 1995, died Wednesday, just days before the Grizzlies were set to play for a third national title. He was 90.Read’s son, Bruce, confirmed his father’s death to the Oregonian while not disclosing a cause.“He was a great person who touched many hearts and lives in a positive way,” said Bruce Read, an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. “I can’t tell you how many people have reached out.”Read’s teams ran an exciting, pass-first offense, drawing capacity crowds to Washington-Grizzly Stadium, which opened in 1986 — Read’s first season. Under Read, Montana never had a losing season, won all 10 of its games against rival Montana State, and posted an 85-36 record.“He was a great guy and great coach and he really got things going here,” Robin Sel...

Barcelona edges Las Palmas with late Gundogan goal. Ramos tells fan to ‘shut up’ after Sevilla loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed a penalty kick in stoppage time to win 2-1 at Las Palmas and keep pace with leaders Real Madrid and Girona in the Spanish league on Thursday.Ilkay Gundogan sent his shot from the penalty spot into the middle of the net three minutes into added time to keep Barcelona within seven points of leaders Madrid and Girona at the halfway point of the season.Madrid, which is ahead of Girona on a tiebreaker, defeated Mallorca 1-0 on Wednesday, while Girona beat fifth-place Atletico Madrid 4-3.“Everyone is having a hard time winning,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. “Girona’s victory came in the last second, Madrid needed a goal off a corner in the 80th, and we did it with a penalty in the final moments. We have what it takes to win the league, you have to respect the defending champions.”It was another poor performance by Barcelona, which ended last year with three setbacks before edging last-place Almeria in a match in which it was booed by its ...

Edge rusher Bralen Trice hopes for one more big performance for Washington, this time for the title

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — More than most, Roger Rosengarten knows the difficulty that comes with trying to block Washington’s Bralen Trice.So allow the Huskies’ right tackle, who spent the entire offseason and fall camp trying to contain Trice in practice, explain what makes Washington’s standout edge rusher so difficult.“Bralen does a really good job with his balance between his rushes. I think he does a really good job balancing his power to speed moves and he’s also a technician with his hands,” Rosengarten said Thursday. “As soon as that guy gets off the line; I think he’s got the best get-off in college football.”Understandably overshadowed by Washington’s high-powered offense and the performance this season from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and his stable of wide receivers, the Huskies understand their defense has to do its part in the national championship game against No. 1 Michigan on Monday.That likely means another big game from Trice, who was at his most disruptive in Washington’s...

Court records bring new, unwanted attention to rich and famous in Jeffrey Epstein’s social circle

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Before and after he was exposed as a pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein loved to mingle with the world’s elite.The millionaire invited politicians and academics to his private island and luxury homes. He offered celebrities rides on his private jet. He and his girlfriend, the socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, hung out with princes and supermodels. They made donations that brought them into contact with leading philanthropists.After Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in 2019, many of those people have apologized for associating with him and said they were unaware he was habitually abusing underage girls.Newly released court records have revved up interest again in the big names who associated with Epstein and Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison term for helping recruit and abuse Epstein’s victims.Many of those people have never been accused of any wrongdoing, but have nonetheless become the subject of a whirlwind of conspiracy theorie...

Arsenal to wear all white in campaign against knife crime and youth violence

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal will wear an all-white kit in its FA Cup third-round match against Liverpool on Sunday as part of its campaign against knife crime and youth violence.It will be the first time the Premier League team has worn the kit in a home game for its ‘ No More Red ’ initiative.“Young people face multiple challenges as they grow up in today’s world and we don’t have all the answers, but we are confident that by acting together and shining a light on the support network available across our community, we can make a significant contribution to the lives of our participants,” said Freddie Hudson, Head of Arsenal in the Community.The campaign was launched in 2022 and this is the third season Arsenal has worn a kit “drained of the club’s traditional red” to raise awareness.The Arsenal women’s team will wear all white for the first time against Watford in the FA Cup later this month.While the kits are not for sale, a community T-shirt will be sold and Arsenal said 100% of ...

NFC North champion Lions hope to beat Vikings and get some help to secure No. 2 seed in NFC playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

MINNESOTA (7-9) at DETROIT (11-5)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOXOPENING LINE: Lions by 3 1/2, per FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Vikings 7-7-2, Lions 11-5.SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 80-42-2.LAST MEETING: Lions beat Vikings 30-24 at Minnesota on Dec. 24.LAST WEEK: Vikings lost to Packers 33-10, Lions lost to Cowboys 20-19.VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (27), PASS (6), SCORING (22)VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (9), PASS (18), SCORING (12)LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (4), PASS (3), SCORING (T-5).LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (5), PASS (T-25), SCORING (23).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Vikings minus-10; Lions minus-2.VIKINGS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Justin Jefferson. With 882 receiving yards, a fourth straight 1,000-yard season remains in play for the fourth-year star despite missing much of the season. He had a seven-game absence because of a severely strained hamstring and a chest injury that forced him out early from another game. Jefferson had six catches for 141 yards and a...

Crib videos offer clue to mysterious child deaths, showing seizures sometimes play a role

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:31:25 GMT

The last bedtime of 17-month-old Hayden Fell’s life was heartbreakingly normal. Crib video shows the toddler in pajamas playing happily as his parents and sister sang “Wheels on the Bus” with his twin brother.The next morning, Hayden’s dad couldn’t wake him. The tot had become one of several hundred seemingly healthy U.S. toddlers and preschoolers each year who suddenly die in their sleep and autopsies can’t tell why. But Hayden’s crib cam was recording all night — and offered a clue.Seizures during sleep are a potential cause of at least some cases of sudden unexplained death in childhood, or SUDC, researchers at NYU Langone Health reported Thursday after analyzing home monitoring video that captured the deaths of seven sleeping toddlers.Similar to SIDS in babies, SUDC is the term when these mysterious deaths occur any time after a child’s first birthday. Little is known about SUDC but some scientists have long suspected seizures may play a role. In addition to some genetics resear...