Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Why Heat will have hard time completing improbable title run against Lakers

Miami should be commended for its run to the NBA Finals, but the Heat have a daunting task in trying to take down LeBron James the Los Angeles Lakers.



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New on Sports Illustrated: 'It Was a Doozy': Braves' 13-Inning Win Over Reds Is Extreme Version of 2020 Baseball

The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves needed four hours, 39 minutes to score one run in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. That's baseball in 2020.

A baseball game was scheduled for Truist Park in Atlanta Wednesday and a Bingo game broke out, or so it seemed if you’re the type who needs constant action. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves needed four hours, 39 minutes to score one run in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Thirty-seven batters struck out—as many whiffs in one afternoon as in the entire 1990 World Series, the last time Cincinnati played in the Fall Classic.

A ball was put in play on average once every five minutes, 21 seconds, or the entire album version of Midnight Train to Georgia with another 43 seconds to spare.

And yet … let Braves starting pitcher Max Fried provide the proper clinical review of what transpired:

“It was a doozy.”

Braves starter Max Fried threw seven scoreless innings against the Reds in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

Here are the scores of the first eight postseason games this year: 4-1, 4-1, 3-1, 12-3, 3-1, 1-0, 5-1, 5-3. After a season in which batting average hit an all-time low in the DH era and walks, strikeouts and homers accounted for an all-time record 36% of all turns at-bat, you were expecting something else with seasons on the line?

Some runs will shake loose once we get to the five consecutive games in the Division Series and seven straight games in the League Championship Series. But with No. 1 and 2 starters and rested bullpens, the Wild Card Series is a swing-and-miss festival—46% of the batters Wednesday in Atlanta did not put the ball in play.

My kingdom for a single, which Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman provided in the 13th inning—Bingo!—to give Atlanta its 1-0 doozy of a win.

Freeman is a good place to start to explain what is going on. If you truly want to understand why so few balls are hit into play, you must understand Freeman’s day. He faced four pitchers in six plate appearances. Their 2020 rates of strikeouts per nine innings were 12.3, 12.1, 9.4 and 12.8. He saw 29 pitches, only eight of which were fastballs, and those rare fastballs averaged 96 miles per hour.

At one point Freeman grabbed his tablet, which is pre-loaded with information on pitchers, and compared it to radar readings he was seeing on the scoreboard.

“Everyone was throwing three or four miles per hour harder than they normally throw, even on our side,” Freeman said. “It’s postseason baseball.”

Back in the old days when the New York Yankees were winning championships, their hitters would talk about running up the pitch count of the starting pitcher to dip quickly into bullpens, exposing sinker-slider middlemen tossing 89 mph. These days you can drill down as deep as you want into the bullpen and you will not find any relief from extreme velocity and spin. Everyone has closer’s stuff. The soft-tossing sinker-slider guy is virtually extinct.

The last of eight Braves pitchers Wednesday, A. J. Minter, was throwing 98-mph fastballs and 86-mph cutters. The last of six Reds pitchers, Amir Garrett, has one of the nastiest sliders in baseball.

“That guy kills lefties,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.

Reds reliever Amir Garrett "kills lefties."

Reds manager David Bell summoned Garrett to get Freeman with runners on first and third and one out in the 13th. There was no doubt about how Garrett was going to attack Freeman: a barrage of sliders.

Here is how nasty Garrett’s slider is on left-handed hitters. Since Sept. 10, 2019, Garrett had thrown 102 sliders to lefties. Nobody got a hit off one. Not one. They were 0-for-21 against the pitch. Over the past two seasons lefties hit .084 against the Garrett slider.

Decreasing Freeman’s chances further, shadows covered the hitting area while the hitting background was bathed in sunshine on the cloudless day—the worst possible hitting environment. The ballpark lights were on but offered little help.

“You know you’ve been playing a long time,” Freeman said, “when you have a noon game and they turn the lights on.”

Bell ordered a five-man infield. Freeman looked for something even a little bit up in the zone to hit a sacrifice fly into the two-man outfield. Garrett’s fourth straight slider obliged. With an abbreviated stroke that fit the situation—just put the ball in play—Freeman served a single into centerfield for a run that was 96 batters in the making.

“This is what it’s all about in the postseason,” Freeman said. “The numbers I saw on the iPad show pitchers are throwing even harder. They have a little extra in the tank.”

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a walk-off single in the 13th inning of his team's 1-0 win over the Reds in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

The Reds’ staff led the world in strikeouts. Trevor Bauer, when he wasn’t mocking the Tomahawk chant of Braves fans or asking people to please pay attention to him (Freeman: “We noticed everything he did. That’s okay.”) was positively brilliant in how he used his variety of pitches, especially some of the nastiest breaking stuff in the game. Raisel Iglesias hit 99 mph. Michael Lorenzen was throwing 94-mph cutters.

It’s never been more difficult to be a hitter. Freeman’s day proved it, getting whipsawed from Bauer to Iglesias to Lorenzen to Garrett.

You can mock the strikeouts all you want. You can yearn for hitters who control the bat the way Tony Gwynn did. But you have to pay attention to the depth and quality of pitching, especially in the postseason, when pitchers use fewer setup pitches and rely more on their “kill” pitch.

It sounded odd to hear a 26-year-old pitcher give the game a high compliment by calling it a “doozy,” which The Farmer’s Almanac says derived from “daisy” about 100 years ago. But Fried happened to be right.

Tension can be as exhilarating as action. The game was packed with tension, especially as the Reds kept making outs on the bases when they weren’t leaving runners out there. Both pitching staffs made a tremendous amount of clutch pitches. This was an extreme version of baseball in 2020: one great arm after another keeping the ball out of play while building drama. There is more to come.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Things I Noticed: Is Carson Wentz broken beyond repair?

I’m certainly not in the “Bench Wentz” camp, but he bears considerable blame for the Eagles' start. On the bright side: head coach Doug Pederson hinted about a solution.



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Kurt Warner's Top 5 QBs of Week 3

NFL Network's Kurt Warner shares his top 5 quarterbacks of Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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McGinest: Texans will repeat 2018, turn 0-3 start into big revival

NFL Netweork's Willie McGinest believes the Houston Texans will repeat 2018, turn 0-3 start into big revival. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Daniel Jones acknowledges need to be better when Giants face Rams

After an 0-3 start with the Giants struggling on offense, things don't get any easier as a Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams awaits on Sunday. Leading a unit that ranks among the NFL's worst in total yards (272.3) and points (12.7) per game at 31st for each category, Daniel Jones is aware.



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James Jones: Falcons' schedule sets up for major turnaround

NFL Network's James Jones states the Atlanta Falcons' schedule sets up for a major turnaround. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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2020 Thanksgiving Day Football Schedule

Check out this year's Thanksgiving Day schedule.



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Deandre Hopkins misses practice with ankle injury

Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins has caught 32 passes in three games. Whether he'll add to that total this weekend against the Panthers currently is up in the air. Hopkins didn't practice on Wednesday, due to an ankle injury. Ten Cardinals in all missed practice, and only two of them (receiver Larry Fitzgerald and defensive tackle [more]



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Injury woes have Chargers shuffling offensive line

Anthony Lynn has already done more shuffling to the Los Angeles Chargers offensive line over the first three weeks than most coaches do in a season. Unfortunately for Lynn, more changes might be in store as the Chargers prepare to face one of the league's more aggressive defenses. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Trai Turner did not practice Wednesday as the Chargers (1-2) began preparations for Sunday's contest at Tampa Bay.



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Vikings RB Dalvin Cook named FedEx Ground Player of the Week

Cook ran for a career-high 181 yards in Week 3 against the Titans.



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McGinest uses film to detail Cowboys' top defensive issues so far in 2020

NFL Network's Willie McGinest breaks down the Dallas Cowboys' defensive issues. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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49ers injury report: George Kittle has 1st full practice since Week 1

49ers tight end George Kittle was a full participant in practice -- a good sign for his availability vs. the Eagles.



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Warner previews Cam vs. Mahomes QB duel in Week 4

NFL Network's Kurt Warner previews New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton vs. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes duel in Week 4. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Dontari Poe will continue taking a knee during national anthem

Dontari Poe this season became the first Cowboys player to protest during the national anthem. He continues to stand alone. The defensive tackle talked to reporters Wednesday for the first time since taking a knee in protest of social injustice and police brutality. "I felt like America, in the whole, wasn’t doing the right thing [more]



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Devin McCourty explains why Patriots vs. Chiefs is 'classic Do Your Job game'

The Patriots' "Do you Job" mantra will be on full display in Sunday's much-anticipated Week 4 game against the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.



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A grandfather, a grandson and a bucket of old baseballs going viral

Ethan Anderson's grandfather cleaned out his garage and decided it was time for the bucket of baseballs to go. He left a note with them at a batting cage. They went viral which make it even better for a grandfather who doesn't use social media.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Lamoriello optimistic Isles will stay mostly intact

The Islanders, coming off their first conference finals appearance in 27 years, are projected to be about $10 million under the $81.5 million cap, which remains unchanged from last season.

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Source: Buyout ends Lundqvist's Rangers tenure

The New York Rangers are buying out the final year of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's contract to end his 15-year career with the team, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by the New York Post.

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QB Mahomes, fiancée reveal baby on the way

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and fiancée Brittany Matthews announced on social media Tuesday that they will soon be having a baby.

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Buckle up: Virus outbreak throws NFL for first loop

Four weeks in and the NFL is facing its first significant COVID obstacle. What happens next will tell us whether finishing the season is a likelihood or pipe dream.



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Maskless Raiders players attend crowded indoor event as COVID-19 strikes NFL

Quarterback Derek Carr was one of several Raiders players seen in a crowded ballroom full of maskless attendees on Monday.



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Kimmi Chex's Top 3 fantasy waiver-wire targets for Week 4

Check out NFL Network's Kimmi Chex's top 3 fantasy waiver-wire targets for Week 4. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Week 3 Fantasy Football Bad Beats: Never celebrate early!

Andy Behrens walks us through some of the worst fantasy bad beats of Week 3!



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Former 'Hawks, Jets WR Jermaine Kearse announces retirement

Former Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets wide receiver Jermaine Kearse has announced his retirement. Kearse, who posted his decision on social media Tuesday, has not played in a regular season game since 2018 when he was with the Jets. Kearse suffered a broken leg during the 2019 preseason with Detroit.



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Gase focused on delivering Jets a win, not 'wasted energy'

Adam Gase is doing all he can to tune out all the negative talk and criticisms aimed directly at him. With the New York Jets off to a second straight 0-3 start, the heat is on the head coach in a major way. ''It's something, I can't focus on that,'' Gase said Tuesday.



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Ugo Amadi keen to grasp opportunity as Seahawks starting nickel once again

The fourth-round pick out of Oregon continues to impress with Marquise Blair out for the season.



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Detroit Lions' Jeff Okudah 'trending in the right direction' after 2 starts

After missing the opener with a hamstring injury, Detroit Lions' Jeff Okudah has started and played 132 of a possible 138 snaps the last two weeks



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Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week nominees | Week 3

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson, San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert are the Rookies of the Week for Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Kerryon Johnson earning high praise for doing the dirty work in Detroit Lions' backfield

After leading the Detroit Lions in rushing in 2018-19, Kerryon Johnson had just 18 carries for 62 yards through the first three games.



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Raiders fail to wear masks at public event, potentially putting them in hot water

The news out of Tennessee today should serve as a warning to the rest of the NFL: Playing a season amid a pandemic is not going to be easy. It's going to be harder if players succumb to protocol fatigue. Enter the Las Vegas Raiders. Raiders players potentially violated NFL and state of Nevada mandates [more]



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Garafolo: Titans tentatively planning to return to facility Saturday

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports Tennessee Titans tentatively planning to return to facility Saturday. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Giants sign Alfred Morris, Clayton Thorson to practice squad

A pair of players from NFC East teams are set to join the Giants. Running back Alfred Morris and quarterback Clayton Thorson signed to the practice squad, the Giants announced Tuesday.



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Mad Bets: Will the Broncos cover -1 vs. Jets?

Minty Bets, Jared Quay & Matt Gothard give their picks for the Broncos-Jets game on Thursday Night.



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Bills at Raiders is lining up to be the ‘Zay Jones revenge game’

Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders could be the Zay Jones revenge game.



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Patrick Mahomes' fiancée announces she's having a baby

2020 keeps getting bigger for Patrick Mahomes.



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Mack jabs Calipari, then says Kentucky-L'ville on

Chris Mack offered a sarcastic response to John Calipari's assertion that Louisville doesn't want to play Kentucky this season: "I want to do what's most convenient for John and his program."

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Messi: Attempted exit was for Barca's own good

Lionel Messi says he acted with Barcelona's best interests in mind when trying to engineer a move away from Camp Nou this summer.

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QB Mahomes, fiancée reveal baby on the way

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and fiancée Brittany Matthews announced on social media Tuesday that they will soon be having a baby.

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Monday, September 28, 2020

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy insists that Trysten Hill didn't mean to hurt Chris Carson: 'Trust me'

Pete Carroll doesn't share Mike McCarthy's optimism about Trysten Hill's intent.



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Erik McCoy reached higher speed than Alvin Kamara on 52-yard touchdown

Erik McCoy may have missed his calling. The Saints center had a key role in running back Alvin Kamara's 52-yard catch and run on Sunday night, hustling downfield to throw a block that helped fuel Kamara's quest for the end zone. According to the NFL's NextGenStats account on Twitter, Kamara never moved faster than 15.28 [more]



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Jordan Reed will miss 6-8 weeks with MCL injury

The 49ers are placing tight end Jordan Reed on injured reserve, coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. Reed returned from an early ankle injury before leaving with a knee injury. He played only 18 snaps, and further examination Monday revealed an MCL injury that will keep Reed out 6-8 weeks. "He had an unfortunate injury," Shanahan [more]



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Chiefs DE Alex Okafor inactive for KC against Ravens

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Chiefs injured defensive end Alex Okafor has been placed on the inactive list for Monday night's game against the Baltimore Ravens.



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Safety Jayron Kearse officially reinstated from his suspension by the NFL

Kearse can be activated by the Lions at any time



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Mark Sanchez: Jets becoming 'synonymous' with rebuilding

Mark Sanchez says the New York Jets are en route to the road they have been down too many times this decade: rebuilding.



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NFC West roundup: How the division fared Week 3

The Seattle Seahawks moved into first place in the NFC West standings Week 3 - here's a look at how the rest of the division fared.



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Nick Foles is now the Bears starter, but should we be pumping the brakes on Chicago’s 3-0 start?

Senior NFL Writers Terez Paylor & Charles Robinson discuss the Bears change at quarterback, and how their 3-0 start may not be all that it seems. Hear the full conversation on the Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen.



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Even amid 3-0 start, Seahawks must correct defensive issues

Bobby Wagner sounded deflated. The Seattle Seahawks should have been celebrating after they improved to 3-0 for the first time since their Super Bowl season of 2013 after Sunday's 38-31 win over Dallas. Seattle is undefeated in perhaps the most un-Seahawks way possible.



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Sammy Watkins, Charvarius Ward active for Chiefs

The Chiefs will have receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Charvarius Ward against the Ravens tonight. Watkins was questionable with a concussion and neck injury. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday and fully participated in Saturday's practice. Ward was questionable with a hand injury. The Chiefs' inactives are tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, [more]



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Packers' offense sizzling, defense remains work in progress

The Green Bay Packers have capitalized on the strengths of their potent offense and the circumstances of this unusual season to get an early jump on the rest of the NFC. Now they need to get better and healthier on defense. Green Bay (3-0) leads the NFL in points per game (40.7) and yards per play (6.9) after winning 37-30 at New Orleans on Sunday night without star receiver Davante Adams, who missed the game with an ankle injury.



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Texans sign C.J. Prosise to active roster, place A.J. Moore on IR

The Texans promoted running back C.J. Prosise from the practice squad Saturday on the eve of their game against the Steelers. But Prosise reverted to the practice squad Monday after the game. The Texans made sure Prosise's stay on the active roster continues, signing him to the 53-player roster. They placed safety A.J. Moore on [more]



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Eagles coach Doug Pederson regrets playing for the tie

On second thought, Doug Pederson would not have played for a tie. The Philadelphia Eagles (0-2-1) lined up for a 59-yard field goal on fourth-and-7 with 19 seconds left in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. After a false start penalty on Matt Pryor, Pederson elected to punt instead of going for it on fourth-and-12 from the Bengals 46 or letting Jake Elliott attempt a 64-yarder.



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Zimmer seeks more from veterans on winless Vikings

After losing the first two games of the season for the first time in his seven years as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Mike Zimmer acknowledged last week some surprise by the growing pains taking place on the side of the ball that's long been his expertise. ''I probably misjudged the defense a little bit, because we had so many new guys,'' Zimmer said, alluding to the lack of offseason practices due to the virus outbreak. Following his team's latest defeat, Zimmer sounded far more disappointed.



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Gronkowski sees increased output in passing game; is it a sign of things to come?

The guy who came to Tampa Bay to be a blocking tight end is suddenly catching plenty of passes. Rob Gronkowski, after being targeted four times in two games and catching two passes, caught six passes on seven targets for 48 yards against the Broncos. The one target that didn't result in a completed pass [more]



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Ravens vs. Chiefs inactives: Who’s not playing on ‘Monday Night Football’

The Baltimore Ravens have kept their inactives list largely the same in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs despite good health this week.



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Brockers: Rams motivated when comeback fell short in Buffalo

The Los Angeles Rams all realized they did enough to lose in Buffalo long before a highly debatable pass interference call went against them in the last minute. ''There's no question this is a great team,'' Brockers said Monday. The Rams (2-1) rallied from a 25-point deficit midway through the third quarter and were one play away from stealing a win before that fourth-down flag went against Darious Williams with 21 seconds to play.



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Jags promote DT Daniel Ekuale to active roster, release DT Timmy Jernigan

The Jags made a roster transaction on defense by releasing Timmy Jernigan and signing Daniel Ekuale off their practice squad.



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Every Brandon Aiyuk touch from win over Giants | Week 3

Watch every touch from San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in his team's win over the New York Giants in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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'No moral victories here': Tie disgusts Burrow, Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals didn't lose Sunday, but the 23-23 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles was just as difficult to take. Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked eight times, and the Bengals (0-2-1) offensive line still can't give him enough time to look downfield. The running game is virtually non-existent.



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Jets' ugly 0-3 start has Gase, Darnold searching for answers

The New York Jets are banged up and begging for answers to turn around a season that is already spiraling after just three games. The heat on coach Adam Gase's hot seat is at a full blaze, and the questions about whether Sam Darnold is truly a franchise quarterback persist. The Jets haven't been particularly competitive in any of the losses, and now have a short week before a home game against Denver on Thursday night.



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Shaquem Griffin will play again in Week 4 after impressive showing vs. Cowboys

Pete Carroll said "he earned it" in regard to Griffin's pivotal role in the Seahawks' win against Dallas.



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Ohio State stars Wade, Davis cleared for return

Ohio State's Shaun Wade and Wyatt Davis have been cleared to play this season after opting back in.

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Sunday, September 27, 2020

Josh Allen outdoes Bills great Jim Kelly as Buffalo starts 3-0 with win over Rams

The Bills' Josh Allen throws four touchdown passes and runs for a score in win over the Rams and has accounted for 12 touchdowns in first three games.



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Lions earn their first win and hand Cardinals their first loss

After blowing double-digit leads in four straight games, the Lions showed some heart in today's fourth quarter. A hard-fought game in Arizona ended with Matt Prater kicking a field goal as time expired and the Lions beating the Cardinals 26-23. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray made some big plays but also made some very bad throws, [more]



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Buccaneers vs. Broncos highlights | Week 3

Watch the highlights from the Week 3 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Panthers beat Chargers 21-16 for Rhule's first NFL victory

Carolina's defense forced three Los Angeles turnovers, Joey Slye kicked five field goals and the Panthers beat the Chargers 21-16 on Sunday, giving coach Matt Rhule his first NFL victory. The Panthers had not recorded a sack and allowed 65 points in their first two games but looked like a different unit. Teddy Bridgewater was 22 of 28 for 235 yards and a touchdown in his first win with Carolina (1-2).



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Tom Brady's best throws from 3-TD game | Week 3

Watch the best throws from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady in his Week 3 matchup against the Denver Broncos. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Kyle Shanahan, 49ers' mental fortitude on display in Week 3 win vs. Giants

The 49ers showed a strong resolve in their dominant win over the Giants on Sunday.



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Detroit Lions beat Arizona Cardinals, 26-23: Game thread replay

Carlos Monarrez for Detroit Lions live blog updates, play-by-play, analysis and scoring vs. Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 4:25 p.m.



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Finally! Detroit Lions edge Arizona Cardinals, 26-23, to snap 11-game losing streak

The Detroit Lions beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday on Matt Prater's 39-yard field goal, snapping an 11-game losing streak.



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Justin Herbert flashes promise but struggles with turnovers in Chargers' loss

A strong defensive effort keeps the Chargers in contention, but turnovers and penalties ultimately doom them in a 21-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers.



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Buccaneers improve to 2-1, beat winless Broncos

Tom Brady had his best game yet in a Buccaneers uniform as Tampa Bay took an early lead in Denver today and never looked back. Brady completed 25 of 38 passes for 297 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Bucs went up 23-3 in the second quarter and ultimately won 28-10. Rob [more]



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WATCH: No shortage of 49ers highlights in Week 3 win

The 49ers' dominant win over the Giants came with a slew of highlight-reel plays.



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Packers' Adams, Clark and Saints' Onyemata, Davenport out

Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams and defensive tackle Kenny Clark have been ruled out Sunday night against the New Orleans Saints. Adams has not practiced since injuring his hamstring during in the Packers' Week 2 victory over Detroit and had been listed as doubtful on the Packers' final injury report of the week. Clark had been limited in practice with a groin injury and had been listed as questionable.



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Jamal Adams doubtful to return with groin injury

Seahawks safety Jamal Adams didn't look happy when he limped off the field. Adams tossed his helmet. The reason? Adams injured his groin and is doubtful to return, according to the team. He injured himself when his foot slid on the turf while rushing Dak Prescott. The Cowboys ended up scoring on the drive on [more]



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Adam Gase: Job security something I can’t worry about

The Jets lost 36-7 to the Colts on Sunday to fall to 0-3 while being outscored by 57 points on the season. Those three losses mean that they've had 10 double digit losses in 19 games with Adam Gase as their head coach. That's a big reason why Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported on Sunday [more]



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Can't-Miss Play: Mike Edwards makes slick one-hand INT at the goal line

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards makes the interception on Denver Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Colts defense, Rivers come up big as Colts ground Jets 36-7

Xavier Rhodes delivered the first punch for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. T.J. Carrie finished it off on a milestone day for Philip Rivers. Rhodes and Carrie each returned an interception for a touchdown, Indianapolis recorded its second safety in as many weeks and Rivers added his 400th career TD pass as the Colts routed the New York Jets 36-7.



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Colts’ Philip Rivers has milestone day in win vs. Jets

Rivers achieved three milestones on Sunday.



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Panthers snap 10-game losing streak, beat Chargers

The Panthers will find plenty to work on. But they won't apologize for enjoying a win, since it had been so long. The Panthers went on the road and beat the Chargers 21-16, snapping a 10-game losing streak across two seasons. The last time they won was Week Nine of last season (Nov. 3, 2019 [more]



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Davante Adams, Kenny Clark inactive for Packers tonight

The Packers will not have receiver Davante Adams tonight against the Saints. The team held out hope he could play through a hamstring issue as Adams made the trip. But he is among the Packers' inactives. Without their leading receiver, the Packers will turn to Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Malik Taylor and Darrius Shepherd at [more]



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Rams say costly 4th-down PI penalty 'wrong call'

The Rams were one play away from completing a historic comeback against the Bills on Sunday when a fourth-down pass interference penalty resulted in a go-ahead touchdown for Buffalo. Said Rams safety John Johnson III: 'It was the wrong call.'

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NFL Week 3 takeaways: Bills survive, but the Falcons collapse -- again

The Bills outlasted the Rams in Buffalo, but the Falcons dropped another multiscore lead, this time to the 3-0 Bears. Here's what to know from Week 3.

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2020 MLB playoffs: Why this could be the wildest postseason ... ever

Sixteen teams! A first round in which absolutely anything is possible. Buckle up: It's going to be a wild ride.

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WWE Clash of the Champions: Live results, recaps and analysis

Every WWE title from SmackDown and Raw will be up for grabs at Clash of the Champions on Sunday night.

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Saturday, September 26, 2020

A pair of Pittsburgh Steelers slapped with hefty Week 2 fines

Boneheaded penalties were costly both on the field and off the field, as two in the Steelers secondary faced hefty fines by the NFL this week.



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Seahawks promote Shaquem Griffin and Ryan Neal from practice squad

Defensive end Shaquem Griffin and cornerback Ryan Neal have been activated to the roster ahead of the Seahawks vs. Dallas contest Week. 3.



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Patrick Mahomes bragged, then his mood sagged considerably Saturday

Patrick Mahomes was deeply involved with a game Saturday, not one the Kansas City Chiefs were prepping for this week.



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49ers refuse to use injuries as excuse heading into Week 3 Giants game

The 49ers don't want to hear about injuries or the MetLife Turf anymore.



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What Jerick McKinnon asked Kyle Shanahan before returning to 49ers

Running back Jerick McKinnon has looked good and should play a big role for 49ers in Week 3.



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Miss. St.'s Costello sets passing mark as LSU falls

Mississippi State quarterback K.J. Costello, in his first game with the Bulldogs, threw for 623 yards, an SEC record, on Saturday as Mississippi State upset No. 6 LSU.

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Trout on missing playoffs again: 'Don't like losing'

Angels star Mike Trout, who has been to the playoffs only once in his nine seasons, said Saturday of being mathematically eliminated from the postseason, "It sucks being out of it. It's time. We gotta get to the playoffs."

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Follow live: Lightning trying to put away Stars for franchise's second Stanley Cup

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Lakers’ Anthony Davis “good to go” for Game 5 despite sprained ankle

The Lakers have been 30.7 points better per 100 possessions this series with Davis on the court.



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Celtics great Paul Pierce not a fan of Heat rookie Tyler Herro's 'bucket' nickname

Paul Pierce adamantly refuses to call Heat rookie Tyler Herro by his "bucket" nickname.



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New on Sports Illustrated: Heat take another shot at eliminating Celtics in Game 6

Two teams that hope to have learned something from the second half of their previous encounter will attempt to put their new information to good use Sunday night when the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics square off in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals near Orlando.

The fifth-seeded Heat remain one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in six years after squandering a seven-point halftime lead in a 121-108 loss in Game 5 on Friday night.

The win allowed the third-seeded Celtics not only to remain alive in the best-of-seven but move to within two wins of another NBA Finals appearance of their own, an opportunity the 17-time champions haven't had since 2010.

Both teams came out of Friday's game talking energy -- some used, some kept in reserve.

"We knew we had to play better. We were fighting for our life," Celtics star Jayson Tatum said of the mood at halftime of a game his team trailed 58-51. "It was going to take a collective effort in the second half, and that's what we did."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra agreed, then spun it in his team's direction.

"Boston played great in the second half. They deserved and earned what they got," he assured. "We understand how tough it is to win in the playoffs. We did not compete hard enough defensively and we paid the price for that."

With Tatum and Miami's Jimmy Butler neutralizing each other's brilliance, the first five games have swung in the favor of the team with the more productive supporting cast.

The Heat got that from Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder with a combined 51 points in an overtime win in Game 1. Then from Duncan Robinson's six 3-pointers and 18 points in Game 2. And most notably, from Tyler Herro's historic 37-point flurry in Game 4 that brought the Heat within arm's length of advancing.

The Celtics countered that with a combined 67 points from Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart in their first win in Game 3, and with an out-of-nowhere double-double from Daniel Theis that helped keep Boston alive on Friday.

Such has been the up-and-down nature of the series. Herro followed up his 37-point explosion with just 14 in Game 5. Meanwhile, Theis had totaled just 18 points and 21 rebounds in Boston's three losses before going for 15 and 13 on Friday.

Something else that reversed itself in Game 5 was the series' turnover disparity. After the Celtics had averaged 4.7 more per game in the first four meetings, they had two fewer (13-11) than the Heat in Game 5.

That led to the Heat losing their greatest advantage in building a 3-1 lead: Shot attempts. Even though Boston had connected at a greater rate, Miami had averaged 6.0 more shots than the Celtics before Friday, when Boston held a 93-86 edge.

Neither team lists a significant injury for Game 6, but you have to wonder about Heat center Bam Adebayo, who has been nursing a sore left wrist in the series.

He shot under 50 percent (5-for-11) for the first time since Game 1 and was held to a series-low 13 points on Friday, accumulating a minus-15 plus/minus after having been in the positive in each of the first four games.

"I'll put that game on me," he said afterward. "I feel like I was a step behind today. I wasn't a difference-maker today."

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: Real Salt Lake-Minnesota United Preview

Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath believes a tough run of results has made his team feel more tired amid a packed schedule that sees the Loons return home to host Real Salt Lake on Sunday.

A three-match road trip saw Minnesota return with just a single point from a draw at Houston Dynamo when they let a two-goal lead slip.

There were also defeats at Sporting Kansas City and, on Wednesday, Columbus Crew to leave Heath's side seventh in the West. They head back to Allianz Field this weekend for yet another match, but Heath suggests the mental burden is proving greater than the physical impact.

"Results change the way that you are mentally," Heath said. "And, at this moment in time, with the away games that we've had, it's been mentally tough for the guys. If you're winning games, you don't feel as tired. That's a given. I've been through this. But this has been a tough stretch for us. We know that.

"We welcome a couple of games at home, but we know they're not going to be easy because everybody is in the same boat. People are preparing the best they can."

The Loons could at least hand veteran new signing Kei Kamara a debut against Columbus, his former club.

"It's nice for us to get some minutes out of Kei," Heath said. "That will stand him in good stead for the next couple of games at home, which we know are going to be big for us."

Meanwhile, RSL enter this game on a high after beating LA Galaxy 2-0, moving into the playoff places just a point behind Minnesota.

"I would be lying to you if I didn't think it was important," said coach Freddy Juarez. "It matters and that's what we play for."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United - Emanuel Reynoso

Designated Player signing Reynoso supplied two assists in his two home appearances for Minnesota but has struggled to have the same impact on the road. Supplying passes to Kamara, he will hope to return to form this week.

Real Salt Lake - Albert Rusnak

RSL's form has been wildly inconsistent, but results tend to follow when Rusnak plays well. He scored a penalty against the Galaxy, assisted the other goal and created three chances in all, the most of any home player.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Minnesota have lost only one of their eight matches against RSL (W4 D3), including earning a home win and a draw at MLS is Back this year. The Loons have won all four of their home matches against RSL, outscoring them 14-5 in those contests, netting at least three goals in each match.

- Five of United's past seven games have been played away from home, from which they have collected just one point and scored four goals. The Loons have won both of their home matches in that time, scoring seven goals in those matches, including a 4-0 win over RSL.

- Real Salt Lake have conceded four goals in each of their past two away matches, a 4-4 draw at Portland Timbers in late August and a 4-0 loss to Minnesota in early September. RSL have never let in four goals in three straight away matches in their MLS history.

- Robin Lod has been directly involved in five goals in his past four league starts (four goals, one assist), including scoring twice against RSL earlier this month. Lod was only directly involved in one goal in his first 14 MLS starts dating back to joining the Loons in August 2019.

- Ten of Real Salt Lake's past 11 goals have been scored in the second half, including both of their strikes against the Galaxy on Wednesday. Overall, 16 of their 19 goals during the 2020 regular season have been scored in the second halves of games; only Colorado Rapids (18) have scored more goals after half-time this season.

New on Sports Illustrated: Atlanta United-Fire Preview

A win and a new signing had Atlanta United interim coach Stephen Glass in a positive move heading into Sunday's match at Chicago Fire.

It has been a tough season for the 2018 champions, who lost star striker Josef Martinez to injury early on, sacked Frank de Boer after a dismal run and then sold Pity Martinez.

But the arrival of Martinez's Designated Player replacement was confirmed on Friday as Atlanta brought in Marcelino Moreno from Lanus, the same club from which Miguel Almiron – their former playmaker – was signed.

Moreno's transfer followed in the wake of an encouraging 1-0 victory over FC Dallas, too.

The performance as well as the three points were cause for optimism for Glass.

"There's a lot of strange things going on this year," he told 92.9 The Game. "But what we have is a group of players who have got a determination to do better than what we've been doing. We saw that the other night. There's been a lot for the boys to cope with, but it felt the other night like the tide is ready to turn."

But Atlanta face a side also suddenly looking up the table after Chicago thrashed Houston Dynamo 4-0 in midweek.

"Results always give confidence to players," said Fire coach Raphael Wicky. "But I also liked that the team didn't lose confidence from the last results that didn't go all our way. That was a positive.

"The players have to enjoy this. They should enjoy this. But then we prepare the next game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire – Fabian Herbers

Herbers is a man in form all of a sudden. He has two goals and an assist in his past three appearances and looks determined to net again on Sunday. "We have just got to keep it going now in the next game against Atlanta," he said.

Atlanta United – Franco Escobar

An exciting right-back, Escobar was brilliant as Atlanta won the title two years ago but has struggled to find the same rhythm since. If results can continue to improve, the defender and his boundless energy could again come to the fore.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Chicago have won two of their three home matches against Atlanta United, including a 5-1 victory in Bridgeview last season. The Fire tied an MLS record in that match by scoring five times in the first half. They had scored just four times total in their first five MLS meetings with the Five Stripes.

- The Fire snapped a five-match winless run (0-3-2) with a 4-0 victory over Houston on Wednesday. Only Los Angeles FC (eight) have more wins by four or more goals than Chicago (four) since the start of the 2019 season, despite the fact the Fire have just 13 wins in that time, only more than FC Cincinnati (nine) among teams who played both campaigns.

- Atlanta have lost 10 of their past 16 away matches (4-10-2) dating back to May 2019 after losing just 13 of their first 39 (17-13-9) on the road in MLS. The Five Stripes have managed to keep scoring away from home, netting in 15 straight away matches.

- Robert Beric scored in Chicago's 4-0 win over Houston on Wednesday, netting for the third straight league match. It is Beric's first three-game league scoring run since May and July 2015 and he has scored in four straight league matches just once in his career, both times with Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga.

- Jeff Larentowicz has scored twice in his past three MLS matches and is now Atlanta's joint-leading scorer this season. Larentowicz had scored just three goals in his previous 143 MLS matches (including playoffs) in the five years prior to this run.

New on Sports Illustrated: Sporting Kansas City-Rapids Preview

Peter Vermes acknowledges it is difficult to keep Sporting Kansas City motivated ahead of a trip to Colorado Rapids as their recent performances have not been rewarded with results.

Sporting KC have lost their past two matches by a single goal, going down 3-2 to FC Dallas and 2-1 to Orlando City. But coach Vermes felt his team would have been good value for a result in either game.

Vermes recognized Sporting KC must now collect points, starting against Colorado, but found solace in the encouraging displays at least.

"It's very difficult," he said. "(Staying motivated) is not an easy thing to do. The bottom line is you've got to keep fighting for results. It's really hard when you're not playing well; then you're not playing well and not getting results and you're trying to muster up the positives you can look at.

"I don't think it's that, so that helps immensely. I think the guys know they have the quality in the team. If I'm not mistaken, we're the only team in the league who've scored in every game we've played in this year - that's a positive thing.

"But the demoralizing thing is when you give up really, really soft goals when you've worked really hard in the game and you've controlled the game. We've got to be better there."

By contrast, Robin Fraser, whose Colorado Rapids won 5-0 against San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, would rather focus on performances.

"We just try to concentrate on the performance," he said. "The score is great, it looks great, scoring goals obviously is great, but at the end of the day we try to focus on the performance.

"The plan is to come out on Sunday and execute the things offensively and defensively that we have done."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids - Andre Shinyashiki

Cole Bassett is stealing the headlines for Colorado, but Shinyashiki is also now up and running for 2020. After no goal involvements in his first seven matches of the season, the young striker has two goals and an assist in his past three.

Sporting Kansas City - Khiry Shelton

Johnny Russell has scored each of Sporting KC's past four goals, but it is time their strikers stepped up. Shelton has four goals this season but none in his past four and only one since mid-July. He must get his season back on track.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Sporting KC beat the Rapids 3-2 at MLS is Back but could only manage a 1-1 draw in Colorado in late August. The Rapids are unbeaten in their past seven at home against Sporting KC (W4 D3), although the past three meetings have ended in draws.

- The Rapids recorded a 5-0 win over San Jose on Wednesday, matching their club-record margin of victory they set against Real Salt Lake on September 12. Colorado have won two of their past four matches by five-goal margins after not winning any of their first 812 MLS matches (regular season and playoffs) by more than four goals.

- Sporting KC's 2-1 loss to Orlando City on Wednesday was their second in a row and third in four matches. Although Vermes' side has won just one of their past seven MLS matches (D2 L4), they have scored in all 13 games this season, the longest such run to start a season in club history.

- Bassett has been directly involved in six goals (three goals, three assists) in September, tied with Gyasi Zardes and Pedro Santos (both of Columbus Crew) for most in the league this month.

- Sporting KC have attempted 15.5 shots per match this season, second only to Los Angeles FC (17.1), although they have hit the target with an MLS-low 28.9 per cent of those shots.

New on Sports Illustrated: Sounders-Galaxy Preview

Guillermo Barros Schelotto says LA Galaxy must be "smart" and "calm" before hosting Seattle Sounders after two defeats that left his team on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

Galaxy were beaten 2-0 by both Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake and fell to 10th in the West.

But prior to a draw with San Jose Earthquakes that preceded those setbacks, Schelotto's side had won four in a row since the MLS is Back Tournament - including two derby successes against Los Angeles FC.

"I think we need to be smart," Schelotto said. "If we think only about the last two games where we lost, that's not so smart. You have to look at the last seven games. We beat LAFC, Portland, San Jose. We win one game, get three points and we move up three positions.

"The tournament is very even, everyone is there, everyone is ready to climb the table. We need to think we're building a team, we keep working every game and get some points. That is the way.

"We need to be calm. It's a bad moment, but we need to be calm even in a good moment. The word is calm."

He added: "The next game will be very hard, very difficult.

"It's good to know we are going against Seattle, the last champions, in first position. We know how important this game is for all of us."

Seattle are top of the West, but Brian Schmetzer is not thinking about a Supporters' Shield challenge after a 1-0 defeat to rivals Portland Timbers, who moved level on points at the summit.

"We lost a massive, massive opportunity to put some room between us and the other guys in our conference," he said. "Once we solve that one, I'll start talking about Columbus."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy - Sebastian Lletget

All of Lletget's four goals and two assists this season came in the Galaxy's four-match winning run. Having failed to inspire the team through their subsequent struggles, the midfielder will look to return to form this week.

Seattle Sounders - Jordan Morris

With six goals and five assists this season, Morris was arguably Seattle's key man even before Raul Ruidiaz was suspended for this match. Morris is without a goal or assist in two following a dominant showing against San Jose.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- The Galaxy have won just one of their past nine MLS meetings with Seattle (D4 L4), including collecting just one point from the two matches in 2019. LA have not lost any of their past three home matches against the Sounders, however (W1 D2), holding Seattle to just two goals in those games while they have conceded 10 goals in their past three matches at CenturyLink Field.

- The Galaxy have collected just one point from their past three matches after a four-match winning streak from late August to early September. They have lost their past two matches after going unbeaten in their previous six (W4 D2).

- The Sounders lost for just the third time all season on Wednesday, falling 1-0 at Portland, as all three of their defeats have been by one-goal margins. You have to go back to May and June 2019 for Seattle's most recent losing streak as they have bounced back with a win following seven of their past nine defeats (D2).

- The Galaxy have failed to score in their past three matches, their first three-match goalless run since August 2017. The Galaxy have gone more than three matches without a goal just once in their history, failing to score in five straight in May 2006.

- Ruidiaz has scored six goals since the MLS regular season resumed last month, tied with Kacper Przybylko for most in MLS in that time. The absent striker has also scored three times in four career MLS matches against the Galaxy.

New on Sports Illustrated: Crew-Toronto FC Preview

Caleb Porter believes Columbus Crew's attacking players do not get the credit they deserve as Gyasi Zardes and Co prepare to take on fellow contenders Toronto.

Eastern Conference leaders Columbus won 2-1 against Minnesota United in midweek with goals from Lucas Zelarayan and Pedro Santos.

The pair assisted goals for one another, while there was also time for Zelarayan to miss a penalty in a busy display.

The Crew have conceded a league-low five goals this season, yet only Orlando City in the East have now scored more than their 22.

"Our defending has gotten a lot of the talk and yet I think quietly we're becoming one of the best attacking teams in the league," Porter said. "We have a good balance now. We have Lucas back and Pedro and Luis Diaz and Gyasi. I think they're all sharing the responsibilities to create something and I think it's a very good balance for us."

While Porter was able to marvel at his stars in midweek, next opponents Toronto are repeatedly shuffling their options to combat a tough schedule.

Alex Bono returned in goal for a win against New York City, while Liverpool loanee Tony Gallacher made his debut.

"Credit to the guys playing roles that they don't usually play, doing things defensively that they don't necessarily always do," Greg Vanney said.

"We've got to continue to build in our depth. It's something that we had mapped out, getting guys opportunities. We've got to get everybody games. This season has to be something where everybody is able to move forward."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Toronto – Alejandro Pozuelo

Pozuelo has provided at least one goal or assist in nine of his 13 appearances this season. Toronto's man for the big occasion, his last-minute penalty against NYCFC kept them on the tails of Columbus.

Columbus Crew – Gyasi Zardes

It is not often Zardes does not get on the scoresheet. The forward had four in three before the midweek meeting with Minnesota but watched his attacking team-mates get the job done. He will look to prove the depth of Porter's forward line on Sunday.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Including the playoffs, Toronto has lost just one of its past eight matches against the Crew (4-0-3) dating back to 2017. TFC has won nine of its past 20 matches (9-5-6) against Columbus after winning just one of the first 17 encounters (1-9-7).

- The Reds picked up their seventh win of the season with a 1-0 victory over New York City after a late Pozuelo penalty. Six of Toronto's seven MLS wins this season have come by a one-goal margin, with the exception a 3-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps in August.

- The Crew are the seventh team in MLS history to collect 30 points from their first 13 matches of a season and the second in as many years after Los Angeles FC also had 30 points at this stage last season. The last team to have more points at this stage of a season was LA Galaxy (32 points) in 2010.

- Pozuelo has been directly involved in an MLS-high 13 goals this season (five goals, eight assists) but has scored in two straight for the first time in the 2020 campaign. Pozuelo has never scored in three consecutive league matches in his career (211 games Belgium, Spain and the United States).

- Going into the final matchday of September, three players are tied for the most direct goal contributions in the month with six – Cole Bassett (three goals, three assists) of Colorado Rapids, as well as Crew duo Zardes (four goals, two assists) and Santos (three goals, three assists).

New on Sports Illustrated: Orlando City-FC Dallas Preview

Oscar Pareja claimed Orlando City were facing "the best two teams in the West" this week, with the Lions now confident of claiming all six points on offer.

Orlando faced a grueling stretch that took them first to Sporting Kansas City and then, this Sunday, to FC Dallas.

Pareja felt at the start of the week these were the top two outfits in the Western Conference, but Orlando claimed a 2-1 win at Sporting KC. According to striker Daryl Dike, buoyed by that success, they now believe they can win again at Dallas, Pareja's former club.

"We've had seven unbeaten games on the trot," he said. "We went to a strong Sporting Kansas City side and proved we can compete against anybody. We know FC Dallas will be a strong side, but at the same time, we're also a very strong side. I think we'll be able to cope with it.

"We expect ourselves to go out and get the three points."

Pareja is maintaining his focus despite the return to familiar surroundings, saying: "It is special, yes, but at the end of the day, i''s a game that comes just like the next one.

"We're trying to prepare and do the same as we have done."

There will be fans present and Pareja's replacement Luchi Gonzalez, whose side were beaten 1-0 by Atlanta United on Wednesday, anticipates a positive response.

"I know that Oscar will have great emotion to be in this stadium and he will surely have a good reception because he did very positive things here," Gonzalez said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas - Matt Hedges

A rather harsh handball call marred Hedges' impressive defensive display against Atlanta United. He contributed four clearances and a block and will hope to prove his worth again against Orlando's dangerous attack.

Orlando City - Nani

After a slow start to September, Orlando's captain is back on top form. Nani had a goal and an assist against Chicago Fire and then created the winner at Sporting KC with a gorgeous pass in behind. Dallas must more effectively track runners when the winger's in possession.

KEY OPTA FACTS

- Orlando recorded their first win over Dallas in MLS with a 2-0 home victory in August last year. Dallas won three of their first four matches against Orlando, including both in Frisco by a 6-0 aggregate score.

- Dallas have won their past three home matches and have lost only one of their seven at home this season (W4 D2). A win over Orlando would give Dallas their first four-match home winning streak since June to July 2018.

- Orlando are on a club-record seven-match unbeaten run (W5 D2), surpassing the previous mark of six straight with a 2-1 win at Sporting KC on Wednesday. Orlando's 25 points and 25 goals are both the most they have had through 13 matches of an MLS season.

- Franco Jara has scored an MLS-high five goals in September, scoring in four of his five starts this month, including his past three starts in a row. Jara has scored in both of Dallas' home matches this month.

- Benji Michel has scored in four of his past five MLS matches, including both away games in that time. Michel could become just the third Orlando player to score in three straight away matches after Nani (April to June 2019) and Cyle Larin (July to August 2016).

Rangers trade Staal, 2nd-round pick to Red Wings

The Red Wings acquired Marc Staal and a second-round draft pick from the Rangers for future considerations Saturday.

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Chargers suffer key loss on defense after Ingram goes on IR

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without two of their starting defensive linemen for at least the next three games after placing defensive end Melvin Ingram and defensive tackle Justin Jones on injured reserve Saturday. Ingram practiced on Wednesday and Thursday but did not go Friday due to a knee injury. Ingram and Joey Bosa have combined to form one of the league's top pass rushing duos in recent years, but Bosa could be drawing more double teams after recording two sacks in the first two games.



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5 bold predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3

5 bold predictions for the Eagles vs. Bengals in Week 3



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Va. Tech starting QB, CB out Sat. due to virus

Hokies starting QB Hendon Hooker is among 23 players out Saturday for Virginia Tech due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing, among other reasons.

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UFC 253 Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa: Live updates and results from Fight Island

Follow all the action live from Fight Island.

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2020 French Open experts' picks: Can anyone stop Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep?

Rafael Nadal may seem the obvious pick, but Novak Djokovic is hungry for redemption. On the women's side, Simona Halep is fresh and is the overwhelming favorite to run the table in Paris.

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Friday, September 25, 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Hurt Cam Akers out of running, so Rams' Malcolm Brown-Darrell Henderson duo is in

Cam Akers will not play against Buffalo because of a rib injury, but Rams running back combo Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson are ready to go.



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Herbert hopes week of preparation benefits him in 2nd start

Justin Herbert proved last week that he could excel when being put into a game on a minute's notice. The Los Angeles Chargers' rookie quarterback will get his second NFL start Sunday against Carolina with Tyrod Taylor sidelined indefinitely due to chest and rib injuries. Herbert said he spent the week leading up to the Kansas City game preparing as if he was going to play in case Taylor was injured during the game.



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Seahawks continue to wait for Josh Gordon’s reinstatement

The Cowboys will have Aldon Smith against the Seahawks. The Seahawks won't have Josh Gordon against the Cowboys. While Smith gained reinstatement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory conditional reinstatement, the Seahawks have no idea when the league will allow Gordon to return. “I don’t know,” Carroll said, via Gregg [more]



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MJD on the importance of D.J. Chark to the Jaguars offense

NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew on the importance of wide receiver D.J. Chark to the Jacksonville Jaguars offense. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Schottenheimer enjoying view of Seahawks offense from up top

Brian Schottenheimer returned to his seat after halftime last Sunday night and found a gift waiting for him. ''Somebody actually put a hot dog at halftime of our game here. Maybe it was you guys,'' Schottenheimer joked with the media this week.



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Chargers' offense runs better behind Austin Ekeler-Josh Kelley combination

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn envisioned using multiple backs would improve ground game, and through two games L.A. ranks sixth in rushing. The Chargers last finished in the top 10 in 2007.



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Bengals-Eagles Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Bears-Falcons Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Raiders-Patriots Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Jalen Ramsey has changed his opinion of Josh Allen from “trash” to “talented”

With Jalen Ramsey coming to town, Bills quarterback Josh Allen this week downplayed Ramsey's "trash" comment about Allen. Much has changed since Ramsey made his critique of Allen and several other NFL quarterbacks during an interview with GQ in 2018. Allen, the seventh overall choice that season, hadn't even taken his first snap. Ramsey still [more]



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Cowboys-Seahawks Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Chiefs-Ravens Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Packers-Saints Score Predictions in Week 3 | 'GameDay View'

NFL Network's Steve Wyche, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal preview the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Jets’ final injury report vs. Colts in Week 3

Jets' final injury report.



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Real or Not: Will Conor McGregor fight Manny Pacquiao next? Can he beat him?

Conor McGregor tweeted that he will fight Manny Pacquiao next. Will the megafight happen? Is this fight actually a good thing for combat sports?

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Thursday, September 24, 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Follow live: The Beard vs. the 'Stache. Gardner Minshew and the Jaguars take on Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins

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Seahawks' Adams motivated to face Cowboys

Set to face the Dallas Cowboys, his hometown team, Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams said Thursday he's heard through the grapevine that the Cowboys don't think he's that good in coverage, providing a little extra motivation for Sunday's game.

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Cam Newton only focused on winning games: 'There are no moral victories'

Cam Newton and the New England Patriots have no interest in moral victories. It's all about winning games, and they hope to get back to that Sunday afternoon against the Las Vegas Raiders.



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How do the Bills feel about Rams CB Jalen Ramsey now?

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs on Los Angeles Rams CB Jalen Ramsey.



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Jags release list of 6 inactive for Week 3 game vs. Dolphins

D.J. Chark and Brandon Linder were officially listed amongst the Jags inactives for Thursday Night Football.



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Seahawks QB Russell Wilson makes it clear: 'I want to win MVP'

Wilson didn't mince words when discussing the game's highest individual honor on Thursday.



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Russell Wilson commends Dak Prescott for publicly speaking out about mental health: 'That's courage'

Wilson is one of several NFL players to show his support for Prescotts vulnerability to speak out about mental health awareness.



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Washington vs. Browns to make history with female official, coaches on each side

Female assistant coaches Jennifer King and Callie Brownson and official Sarah Thomas will make history Sunday when they all take the field for Washingtons game against the Browns.



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Keelan Cole is expected to start for DJ Chark, who is inactive

The Jaguars downgraded receiver DJ Chark earlier Thursday, ruling him out of tonight's game. He is inactive with chest and back injuries. Keelan Cole is expected to start in Chark's place. The Jaguars' other inactives are quarterback Jake Luton, cornerback Josiah Scott, cornerback Luq Barcoo, defensive lineman Doug Costin and center Brandon Linder (knee). Kicker [more]



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Cam Newton reiterates long-term future with Patriots isn't his focus right now

Asked on Thursday if after three months he could envision himself sticking with the Patriots for the long haul, Cam Newton was as elusive as he looked in the pocket at times in Seattle last weekend.



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Jaguars WR Cole starts in place of Chark against Dolphins

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Keelan Cole will make his second start since 2018, filling in for injured star DJ Chark against the Miami Dolphins.



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Tua Tagovailoa's parents talk about the QB's journey to the NFL

Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's parents talk about the QB's journey to the NFL. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Packers’ Davante Adams, Saints’ Michael Thomas both miss Thursday practice

Adams and Thomas, the two superstar WRs of Sunday's Week 3 matchup, both missed practice on Thursday.



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Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox's secret of success: Quick hands, aggressive approach

Detroit Lions rookie punter Jack Fox used his time last season as a "redshirt" year and improved his technique and the use of his hands.



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Miami Dolphins inactives for Week 3 vs. the Jaguars

The Miami Dolphins are a little over an hour from kickoff, and we now know which Dolphins on the 53-man roster will not be suiting up for today's game.



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With Jimmy Garoppolo injured, what can we expect from Nick Mullens?

The San Francisco 49ers are banged up and that includes Jimmy Garoppolo. What can they expect from Nick Mullens?



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Former UGA DT expected to miss several games for Chicago Bears

Former Georgia Bulldog John Jenkins is anticipated to miss several games with a torn thumb ligament. Jenkins signed with the Bears following a career year with the Miami Dolphins last season. Last season, Jenkins recorded a career-high 34 tackles in 16 games for the Miami Dolphins



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49ers All-Pro TE George Kittle feeling better by the day

The San Francisco 49ers finally have gotten some good news on the injury front. All-Pro tight end George Kittle practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day on Thursday in a sign that he could be ready to return after missing one game with a knee injury. ''The last two days have gone well,'' Kittle said from the team's temporary base in West Virginia.



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Unbeaten Titans bring blueprint of what winless Vikings were

The Vikings could be forgiven for harboring envy, after all, for these are attributes they thought they had. Instead, the Vikings will try to reverse course from their troubling start and pick up their first victory of this abnormal season against the unbeaten Titans, the type of team they want to be. If you go back and look at the times that we've been here, the identity of our team has always been tough and physical and smart and not beating ourselves,'' said coach Mike Zimmer, who has his only 0-2 start in seven years with the Vikings.



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Pac-12 to play 7-game schedule starting in Nov.

The Pac-12 will play a seven-game football schedule beginning Nov. 6, a source told ESPN. The conference is scheduled to have an 8 p.m. ET conference call Thursday to discuss the decision to play.

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Sources: Cubs expect Wrigley crowd limits in '21

With uncertainty surrounding the number of fans who will be allowed in the stands when Major League Baseball opens its 2021 season, the Chicago Cubs laid off about 25% of their business staff on Thursday, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

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Pens ship 2-time champ Hornqvist to Panthers

The Penguins traded Patric Hornqvist to the Panthers on Thursday in exchange for Mike Matheson and Colton Sceviour.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Diggs focuses on giving and receiving in 1st year with Bills

Stefon Diggs is more interested in giving than receiving. Putting aside the AFC-leading numbers the Bills receiver has generated two weeks into his first season in Buffalo, Diggs shifted the focus by instead paying a compliment to quarterback Josh Allen. ''If there's anything I can say, I give all the credit to Josh and his consistency,'' Diggs said Wednesday.



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Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford doesn't want to play with too much emotion. Here’s why

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford wants to avoid playing with too much emotion because he says that can keep him from focusing on the next play.



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NFL’s chief medical officer explains why face coverings are “not optional”

The NFL proved it is serious about making head coaches wear face coverings on the sideline. Pete Carroll, Kyle Shanahan, Vic Fangio, Sean Payton and Jon Gruden found that out the hard way. The NFL docked those five coaches $100,000 each and fined each of their teams $250,000. The question many are asking is: Why [more]



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L.A. Times' Sam Farmer predicts Dolphins-Jaguars winner on Thursday football

L.A. Times' Sam Farmer predicts Dolphins-Jaguars winner on Thursday football



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Kurt Warner's Top 5 QBs of Week 2

NFL Network's Kurt Warner ranks his top five quarterback performances from Week 2 of the 2020 season. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Brooks, Amadi about to get their chance on Seahawks defense

Two youngsters are about to get their chance to prove they can be long-term options to help the Seattle Seahawks' struggling defense. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive back Ugo Amadi will step into starting roles beginning Sunday against Dallas following season-ending injuries to Marquise Blair and Bruce Irvin. Amadi will be the nickel cornerback while Brooks' role is still unknown.



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No practice for Michael Thomas, in estimation

When the Saints didn't place receiver Michael Thomas on injured reserve, the non-move implied that he'd be back within three weeks. And he very well may be. For now, however, he's still not back at practice. If the Saints had practiced. The high-ankle sprain suffered by Thomas in Week One against the Buccaneers would have [more]



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McGinest: How Packers are producing explosive offense with 11 personnel

NFL Network's Willie McGinest analyzes how the Green Bay Packers are producing explosive offense with 11 personnel. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Reaction to the death of Hall of Fame RB Gale Sayers

''Football fans know well Gale's many accomplishments on the field: a rare combination of speed and power as the game's most electrifying runner, a dangerous kick returner, his comeback from a serious knee injury to lead the league in rushing, and becoming the youngest player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. People who weren't even football fans came to know Gale through the TV movie ''Brian's Song,'' about his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo. Coach Halas said it best, when presenting Gale for induction at the Hall of Fame: 'His like will never be seen again.'



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Freddie Swain's offseason work paying big dividends for Seattle Seahawks

The rookie wide receiver caught his first-career touchdown pass Sunday evening.



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Packers' Davante Adams unsure of his status for Saints game

Green Bay wide receiver Davante Adams says he doesn't know yet whether he'll be able to play Sunday night at New Orleans after leaving the Packers' previous game early with a hamstring injury. ''It's too early to tell,'' Adams said Wednesday. Adams left the Packers' 42-21 victory over the Detroit Lions in the second half and didn't practice Wednesday.



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Week 3 fantasy football metrics notebook: Carson Wentz has been a problem — but there are signs of hope

Matt Harmon opens up his advanced metrics notebook to look at five key situations around the NFL, including a franchise quarterback in Carson Wentz playing well under expectations for the Philadelphia Eagles.



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Colts injury report: TE Jack Doyle begins Week 3 as DNP

Jack Doyle is in danger of missing another game.



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Warner: 'No doubt' Russell Wilson is 'unanimous' MVP so far

NFL Network's Kurt Warner weighs in on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's performance through the first two weeks of the 2020 NFL season. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Raiders place OL Richie Incognito on injured reserve

The Las Vegas Raiders placed starting left guard Richie Incognito on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, the latest injury to their offensive line. Incognito left Monday night's 34-24 win over New Orleans in the first quarter with the injury that slowed him in practice the previous week. The Raiders then decided Wednesday to shut him down for at least three games on injured reserve.



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Warner: One thing Ravens must avoid vs. Chiefs on 'MNF'

NFL Network's Kurt Warner explains one thing the Baltimore Ravens must avoid vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on 'Monday Night Football'. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Trent Williams admits he will have turf on his mind Sunday

No team -- not even the Broncos -- have had as many injuries as the 49ers have. It has become a daily dose of bad news for San Francisco. Running back Tevin Coleman was the latest addition, with news he will miss around four weeks with a knee injury. The 49ers have questioned the condition [more]



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Rams Week 3 injury report: Brown, Akers and Williams sit Wednesday

The Rams are playing it safe with three key contributors.



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Gale Sayers, Bears Hall of Fame running back, dies at 77

Gale Sayers, the dazzling and elusive running back who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite the briefest of careers and whose fame extended far beyond the field for decades thanks to a friendship with a dying Chicago Bears teammate, has died. Nicknamed ''The Kansas Comet'' and considered among the best open-field runners the game has ever seen, Sayers died Wednesday, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Relatives of Sayers had said he was diagnosed with dementia.



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Longhorns in the NFL: Former Texas punter named NFC Player of the Week

Former Longhorn, Michael Dickson, was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Against the New England Patriots in Week 2, all four of Dickson’s punts landed inside the 20-yard line. Dickson was drafted in the fifth round, No. 149 overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Seahawks



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Kenny Golladay returns to practice on a limited basis

Lions coach Matt Patricia said Monday that star receiver Kenny Golladay was "close" to returning. Golladay did indeed return to practice Wednesday, getting in limited work on his balky hamstring. The next two practices will determine Golladay's availability for Sunday. Matthew Stafford and the Lions have missed Golladay's big-play ability. “He’s one of the top [more]



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Motivated Davis ready to replace Panthers All-Pro McCaffrey

There were days when running back Mike Davis wanted to quit the NFL, frustrated over his role as a practice squad player with the Seattle Seahawks. Now, two years later, the 27-year-old Davis is set to take over as the Carolina Panthers starting running back on Sunday against the Chargers replacing All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, who was moved to short-term injured reserve Wednesday and will miss at least three games because of a high ankle sprain. ''What stands out most is I never gave up,'' Davis said of his journeyman career in the NFL which has seen him play for four teams.



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Patriots' Isaiah Wynn explains how Cam Newton boosts team's morale

Patriots offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn joins our Phil Perry to discuss the energy quarterback Cam Newton brings to the locker room.



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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Radioactive: Bristol – “Say it again man. I was getting my (expletive) chewed out here.”

NASCAR RaceHub's, 'Radioactive' from Bristol Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Cup Series' Bass Pro Shops NRA Night at Bristol.

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Patriots' Cam Newton on his small contract: ‘All blessings do not come in financial means.’

Cam Netwon’s contract with New England is the smallest of any starting quarterback in the league.



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Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin: No one’s panicking right now

Despite the defense's two disappointing performances, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin says no one’s panicking.



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WR Devin Smith among 4 Texans practice squad protections for Week 3

The Houston Texans protected four players from their practice squad, including newly signed receiver Devin Smith.



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Packers place Lane Taylor on injured reserve

The Packers placed offensive guard Lane Taylor on injured reserve Tuesday, the team announced. Taylor, 30, injured his right knee only 63 snaps into the 2020 season. He will require season-ending surgery. Lucas Patrick moved from left guard to right guard to replace Taylor in Week Two, with Elgton Jenkins starting at left guard. Taylor [more]



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Packers place OL Lane Taylor on IR, release OLB Greg Roberts from PS

The Packers finally put OL Lane Taylor (torn ACL) on injured reserve.



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Fitzpatrick, Minshew trade barbs about each other's facial hair ahead of 'TNF'

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew trade jokes about each others facial hair. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Next Gen Stats: How Julian Edelman has transformed with Cam Newton at QB

Next Gen Stats analyzes how New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman has transformed with quarterback Cam Newton at quarterback. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Kimmi Chex: Top 5 fantasy waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 3

NFL Network's Kimmi Chex shares the top 5 fantasy waiver-wire players before Week 3. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Lions keep the same foursome protected on the practice squad as Week 2

The Lions have been very consistent in who they protect on the practice squad



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Saints normally dynamic offense looking sluggish in 2020

Saints quarterback Drew Brees doesn't quibble with the notion that New Orleans' normally dynamic offense has looked somewhat out of sync to start the 2020 season. ''We're not even close to what we are capable of,'' Brees asserted.



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Week 2 Fantasy Football Bad Beats: Injuries, injuries, and more injuries

Andy Behrens talks us through the Week 2 edition of Fantasy Bad Beats, when injuries laid waste to many fantasy matchups.



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Steelers bring in young WR talent for tryout

Pittsburgh brings Cody White in for a tryout.



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David Montgomery explains his comeback from 'scary' Week 2 injury

Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery explains his comeback from 'scary' Week 2 injury. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL Network



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Here's why NFL is being strict on coaches wearing masks on gameday, even when players don't

The NFL doesn’t want the centerpiece faces of the league essentially blowing off safety protocols set in place.



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Injuries cause busy day for 49ers in running back market

The 49ers are busy trying to stabilize their running back situation with Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman hurt.



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Browns sign DE Jalen Jelks, PK Matthew McCrane to practice squad

To make room the Browns released DT Tanzel Smart from the practice squad



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Chase Young, Jordan Reed among players off to hot starts with new teams

Both former and current Washington football players are among those who have made a good first impression with their new teams.



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James Jones: Raiders offense 'a well-oiled machine' that must be reckoned with

Former wide receiver James Jones says that the Las Vegas Raiders offense is 'a well-oiled machine' that must be reckoned with. This game is streaming live on the Yahoo Sports mobile app, or on NFL.com



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Seahawks promote Linden Stephens from practice squad

The Seahawks are promoting cornerback Linden Stephens from the practice squad, according to Stephens' agents. The team lost both linebacker Bruce Irvin and safety/nickelback Marquise Blair for the season with torn ACLs in Sunday's game. Stephens, 25, played three games for the Dolphins last season. That's his only career action, seeing time on 30 defensive [more]



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Bills react to AJ Epenesa’s first game vs. Dolphins

Buffalo Bills Leslie Frazier on rookie AJ Epenesa's first game with the team.



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The Mustache vs. The Beard: Minshew, Fitzpatrick have a friendly exchange for upcoming battle

Thursday Night Football won't only feature an in-state rivalry, but it will also be a battle to declare the NFL's facial hair king.



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Ravens sign TE Sean Culkin to practice squad with Xavier Grimble injured

The Baltimore Ravens' newest tight end, Xavier Grimble is hurt on the practice squad. So the team added Sean Culkin to fill his spot.



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Monday, September 21, 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Edmonton's Draisaitl takes Hart Trophy as MVP

Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl, who posted a 110-point season, was named winner of the Hart Trophy, given to the most valuable player, during the NHL's awards show Monday night.

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Winners Weekend: Kevin Harvick on his Bristol win and holding off Kyle Busch in the closing laps

On this week's, 'Winner Weekend', Kevin Harvick sits down with NASCAR RaceHub's Alan Cavanna to talk about his big win at Bristol Motor Speedway and what it was like racing against Kyle Busch in the closing laps Saturday night.

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Falcons owner weighs in on onside kick blunder

Falcons owner Arthur Blank offered his reaction to the onside kick blunder that led to the Falcons' stunning 40-39 loss to the Cowboys. "In my view, they didn't clearly understand what the rules were and exactly what they had to do," Blank said.

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MRI confirms torn ACL for Nick Bosa, 49ers announce

The 49ers began preparing for the worst by signing Ziggy Ansah. They were hoping for the best. Unfortunately for the 49ers and Nick Bosa, the MRI confirmed the defensive end tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Sunday's game. The team announced the bad news Monday evening. Bosa, 22, will undergo season-ending [more]



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Detroit Lions' Matt Patricia blasts report he didn't want Jeff Okudah: 'Blatantly not true'

Mike Valenti reports Matt Patricia wanted Detroit Lions to take Auburn DT Derrick Brown over Jeff Okudah, and that Bob Quinn went rouge.



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Former Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus made his first NFL start for the Detroit Lions

Former Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus made his first start as a Detroit Lion after a week one injury to Kenny Golladay. Cephus finished the game with three catches for 54 receiving yards and a long reception of 36 yards. Quintez Cephus continues to work his way up the Lions depth chart after starting the season as a bubble player to make the team



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Wilson magnificent, but defense a concern for 2-0 Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks seem determined to see just how much Russell Wilson's talent and skill can carry them. Because for the first two weeks of the season, the Seahawks' 2-0 start has been predicated on Wilson playing some of the best football of his career and making up for a defense that continues to show deficiencies, especially when trying to protect a lead. Seattle's wild 35-30 win over New England on Sunday night was another showcase performance for Wilson.



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49ers confirm torn ACL for DE Nick Bosa

The 49ers officially confirmed Nick Bosa tore his ACL in their win over the New York Jets.



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Henry Ruggs is active, but Trent Brown, Nick Kwiatkoski, Sam Young aren’t

Rookie receiver Henry Ruggs was questionable heading into Monday night's game. He is active, though, confirming reports earlier in the day. Ruggs, the 12th overall choice this spring, led the Raiders in receiving yards with 55 on three catches in the season opener. He injured his knee in the second quarter but still played 42 [more]



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LOOK: Raiders light up Allegiant Stadium before kickoff with the Saints

The New Orleans Saints are set to visit the Las Vegas Raiders at their very shiny new Allegiant Stadium, which is making its NFL debut.



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Marcus Johnson visited the Colts on Monday

Marcus Johnson comes in for a visit.



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49ers’ East Coast road trip has been a disaster from the start

The San Francisco 49ers can't catch a break in their East Coast trip.



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Lions embattled coach Matt Patricia backed by his players

The Matt Patricia-led Detroit Lions lost another double-digit lead and an 11th straight game, putting even more pressure on an embattled coach. ''I think it comes down to the players,'' Lions center Frank Ragnow said. Super Bowl-winning linebacker Reggie Ragland signed with the Lions in the offseason after liking what he saw on the roster.



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Analysis: 49ers do not have to let road trip from Hell crush their season

The 49ers are in a much-better position than a couple years ago to handle the spate of injuries that crushed the team in Week 2.



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