NFL – National Football League – Week 14
Last Night
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Dallas Cowboys 20
Bengals 27, Cowboys 20 – Burrow, Chase lift Bengals after botched blocked punt by Cowboys in 27-20 Bengals win
Joe Burrow threw a tiebreaking 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase after Dallas botched a blocked punt to give the ball back to Cincinnati in the final two minutes, and the Bengals beat the Cowboys 27-20. The Cowboys were about to get the ball back with the score tied on the first play after the two-minute warning when Nick Vigil blocked a punt by Ryan Rehkow. Amani Oruwariye tried to field the bouncing ball when leaving it alone would have given Dallas possession. Oruwariye couldn’t hold on, and the Bengals’ Maema Njongmeta recovered. Three plays later, Burrow threw to Chase for the lead with 1:01 to go.
NFL – Latest loss shows issues go beyond coach as Bears’ skid hits 7
The Chicago Bears hoped the first in-season head coaching change in the founding NFL franchise’s history would be the parachute a free-falling team needed. But a 38-13 loss at San Francisco showed the issues go beyond that. The Bears’ skid reached seven in their first game since Thomas Brown replaced the fired Matt Eberflus on an interim basis. Brown says the Bears “will come to battle every single day.” Chicago didn’t Sunday in a loss that was as embarrassing as any. It ensured the Bears will finish with a non-winning record for the 12th time in 14 seasons.
NFL – Lions win over Packers draws 17.29 million viewers, new NFL streaming record
Detroit’s 34-31 comeback victory over Green Bay last Thursday night averaged 17.29 million viewers, making it the most-streamed NFL regular-season game in history and Amazon Prime Video’s most-watched game since exclusively taking over the prime-time package in 2022. According to Nielsen, the audience peaked at 18.87 million viewers during the first half, also a new high. The previous record for “Thursday Night Football on Prime” was 16.23 million for the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Sept. 26. Through 12 games, “Thursday Night Football on Prime” is averaging 13.61 million, a 9% increase over last year’s average at this point.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
(14) Michigan vs. Arkansas, 9;00 p.m. at Madison Square Garden News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 8:30
NCAAFB –Heisman finalists named
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Miami’s Cam Ward have been announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists. The Heisman has been given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday in New York. The top four top vote-getters determined by more than 900 voters are selected as finalists. The voting panel includes members of the media and former Heisman winners.
NCAAFB – Georgia QB Carson Beck’s status for Sugar Bowl uncertain
Quarterback Carson Beck’s status for No. 2 Georgia’s Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal is uncertain after he suffered an elbow injury in Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game win over Texas. Georgia announced Monday there is no timetable on Beck’s return as he and his family explore treatment options. Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Sunday the team was awaiting results of tests. The school did not announce details of the injury. Punter Brett Thorson will need season-ending surgery after injuring his non-kicking leg. Backup Gunner Stockton likely would start in the Sugar Bowl if Beck is unable to play.
NCAAFB – Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game
The Indiana vs. Notre Dame matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff is the most expensive ticket on StubHub, but it’s Tennessee vs. Ohio State that’s selling the fastest. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said Monday that the game being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 21 has sold 34% more tickets than the game in South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 20. StubHub lists tickets for sale from official event organizers, but most of its offerings are from the resale market. The ticket marketplace’s average price for the game at Notre Dame is $733.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Detroit Red Wings 6, Buffalo Sabres 5 – Shootout
Chicago Blackhawks 2, New York Rangers 1
Red Wings 6, Sabres 5 – SO – Red Wings snap 5-game losing streak with a 6-5 shootout win over the Sabres
Andrew Copp scored twice as the Detroit Red Wings snapped a five game skid by rallying to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 in a shootout. Defenseman Moritz Seider, Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond also scored in regulation. Dylan Larkin scored the decider in the shootout. Jason Zucker had two goals and an assist for the Sabres, who are winless in seven straight games (0-5-2). James Reimer made 26 saves in his first start since Nov. 30. Zach Benson, Tage Thompson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored for the Sabres. Detroit’s Sebastian Cossa made 12 saves in relief of Ville Husso and earned a win in his NHL debut. He entered at the start of the second period after Husso made four saves on seven shots in the first.
Blackhawks 2, Rangers 1 – Hall has goal and assist, Soderblom stops 29 shots as Blackhawks beat Rangers 2-1
Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist, Arvid Soderblom stopped 29 shots and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the New York Rangers 2-1. Tyler Bertuzzi also scored for the Blackhawks, who were 0-5-1 in their previous six road games. Will Cuylle scored a short-handed goal and Igor Shesterkin finished with 30 saves as the Rangers lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
MLB – Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets reverberates through MLB
Juan Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, the largest and longest deal in baseball history, has reverberated across the winter meetings. It stung the Yankees, who offered $760 million over 16 years to the All-Star outfielder. Soto’s deal sparked even greater expectations in a free agent market that includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander. Many small-market teams have long sought a salary cap but the consensus since the 1994-95 strike has been not to propose a hard limit.
MLB – RHP Alex Cobb agrees to 1-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, AP source says
The Detroit Tigers have added Alex Cobb to their rotation, agreeing to a one-year contract with the veteran right-hander. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical. Detroit earned an AL wild card this year for its first postseason appearance since 2014. It swept Houston in the opening round before it was eliminated by Cleveland in five games in their AL Division Series. The 37-year-old Cobb joins a rotation fronted by AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
MLB – Boyd thankful for chance with Cubs following return from Tommy John surgery
Matthew Boyd is thankful for his new opportunity with the Chicago Cubs. He is hoping to help the team reach the playoffs as a key addition to its starting rotation. The fact that his late grandpa John Boyd was a big fan? That makes this signing all the more sweet for him. Matthew Boyd says his grandfather grew up in Chicago and was “more excited about the Cubs’ scores than my own performance some of the times.” Boyd finalized a $29 million, two-year contract last weekend after making a successful return from Tommy John surgery.
MLB -New Sox manager Will Venable keeps Grady Sizemore on as offensive coordinator
Grady Sizemore is staying with the Chicago White Sox, serving as the offensive coordinator under first-year manager Will Venable. Sizemore was elevated to interim manager when Chicago fired Pedro Grifol in August. He guided the team to a 13-32 record down the stretch as the White Sox went 41-121 to break the post-1900 major league record for losses in a season. Shortly after Venable was hired in October, he said he anticipated Sizemore being a part of his first staff with his new team. Pitching coach Ethan Katz and hitting coach Marcus Thames also are staying.
MLB – Dodgers expect Ohtani to be ready to hit for opener, but not be on the mound
Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit when the reigning World Series champions open their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs in March but is doubtful to pitch. Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it’s very unlikely that the two-way star will be on the mound pitching for the Dodgers in his home country. Ohtani had surgery last month on his left, non-throwing shoulder after getting hurt on a stolen base attempt during the World Series. He didn’t pitch at all during the first season of his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers while recovering from the elbow surgery in September 2023.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Kalamazoo Hackett 69, Constantine 14
Wyoming Potter’s House 57, Martin 42
Fennville 64, Saugatuck 54
Girls Basketball
Lawrence 27, Our Lady of the Lake 12
Dowagiac 57, Benton Harbor 20
Schoolcraft 50, Michigan Lutheran 12
Buchanan 45, Cassopolis 8
Brandywine 64, Hartford 8
Decatur 39, Howardsville Christian 31
Fennville 58, Comstock 26
Kalamazoo Hackett 52, Constantine 35
Lawton 56, Marcellus 14
White Pigeon 36, Climax-Scotts 33
Tonight
Boys Basketball
SMAC
Gull Lake at St. Jospeh, 7:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Lakeview at Lakeshore, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Portage Central, 7:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Central at Portage Northern, 7:00 p.m.
Wolverine
Paw Paw at Edwardsburg, 7:15 p.m.
Vicksburg at Niles, 7:15 p.m.
Otsego at Sturgis, 7:15 p.m.
Plainwell at Three Rivers, 7;15 p.m.
BCS
Our Lady of the Lake at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at River Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Countryside Academy at Eau Claire, 6:30 p.m.
Howardsville Christian at Covert, 7:30 p.m.
SAC
Holland Black River at Coloma, 7:00 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at South Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Southwest 10
Hartford at Bangor, 7:30 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Centreville, 7:30 p.m.
Lawrence at Comstock, 7:30 p.m.
Cassopolis at Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Marcellus at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
Non-Conference
Dowagiac at Allegan, 7:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Bridgman, 7:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Schoolcraft, 7:00 p.m.
Berrien Springs at South Bend Adams, 7:30 p.m.
Parchment at Harper Creek, 7:00 p.m.
Martin at GR Sacred Heart, 7:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Holland Calvary, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at Marshall, 7:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball
SMAC
St. Joseph at Gull Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Lakeshore at Battle Creek Lakeview, 7:00 p.m.
Mattawan at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Central at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Battle Creek Central, 7:00 p.m.
Wolverine
Sturgis at Otsego, 7:00 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Paw Paw, 6:30 p.m.
Three Rivers at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m.
Niles at Vicksburg, 7:15 p.m.
BCS
Kalamazoo Phoenix at Covert, 6:00 p.m.
SAC
Fennville at Delton-Kellogg, 7:00 p.m.
Coloma at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.
South Haven at Holland Black River, 7:00 p.m.
Allegan at Martin, 7:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Saugatuck, 7:00 p.m.
Non-Conference
Battle Creek St. Philip at Parchment, 7:00 p.m.
Bangor at Vermontville Maple-Valley, 7:00 p.m.
