January 4, 2026 5:38 am
DETROIT (AP) — Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings for the second time in three days, 4-1. Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar added empty-net goals to clinch Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive victory. Kris Letang’s overtime goal gave the Penguins a 4-3 win over Detroit in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to six games with two assists Saturday. Crosby, who scored two goals on Thursday, has four goals and six assists during that stretch and 53 points in 40 career games against the Red Wings.
January 4, 2026 5:44 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The winner of the NFC South will be crowned at home watching on television. Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton, Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoided elimination with a sloppy 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on a rain-soaked Saturday. The Buccaneers need New Orleans to beat or tie Atlanta on Sunday to clinch a fifth straight NFC South title. If the Falcons win, the Panthers will secure their first division championship since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance 10 years ago.
January 4, 2026 5:42 am
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco’s offense had been nearly unstoppable heading into a showdown with Seattle with the No. 1 seed in the NFC at stake. But the 49ers could generate almost nothing against the Seahawks in a 13-3 loss on Saturday night. The defeat means San Francisco will have to open the playoffs on the road in the wild-card round. The Niners will earn the fifth seed and the chance to play the 8-9 winner of the NFC South in the playoffs if the Rams lose or tie against Arizona on Sunday. They would fall to the sixth seed with a trip to Philadelphia or Chicago if Los Angeles wins.
January 4, 2026 5:36 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jestin Porter scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half and Clemson beat Pittsburgh 73-68 for its fifth straight win this season and 14th consecutive victory over the Panthers. The Tigers (12-3, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) lead the series 14-3 and haven’t lost to Pitt (7-8, 0-2) since 2014. Porter was 8-of-12 shooting with three 3-pointers for the Tigers. Nick Davidson and RJ Godfrey scored 14 points each. Damarco Minor had 17 points with three 3-pointers for Pitt. Omari Witherspoon scored all 14 of his points in the second half and Roman Siulepa had 12.
January 4, 2026 5:34 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out receiver Rashod Bateman for Sunday night’s game at Pittsburgh that will decide the AFC North title. Bateman hadn’t practiced this week because of an illness. The Ravens had listed him as questionable Friday for the game. There was no update Saturday on cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who also missed Friday’s practice with an illness. The winner Sunday takes the division, and the loser misses the playoffs. Baltimore also announced Saturday that it has signed long snapper Nick Moore to a four-year contract extension.
January 3, 2026 4:14 am
The NFL’s regular season has reached its final weekend with plenty undecided in terms of the playoff picture, including the No. 1 seed in both the AFC and NFC. The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars all have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which includes a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs. The Broncos have the clearest path — if they beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, they’ll earn the top seed. The Seattle Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night with the NFC’s No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage on the line.
January 3, 2026 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night with the AFC North title at stake. Both teams have been uneven, with the Ravens at 8-8 and the Steelers at 9-7. The losing team will miss the playoffs. And whichever coach suffers that fate could face questions about his future. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Baltimore’s John Harbaugh have faced each other 39 times in a rivalry that has lasted nearly two decades. But both coaches have come under scrutiny this season, with fans voicing displeasure about their underachieving teams.
January 2, 2026 4:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kris Letang scored 58 seconds into overtime in his 1,200th NHL game and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3. Sidney Crosby had two goals an and assist to extend his point streak to five games, and Blake Lizotte also scored for the Penguins in their third straight win. Pittsburgh has four wins in its last five games following an eight-game losing streak. Erik Karlsson had two assists to become the second active and 14th defenseman in NHL history to reach 900 points. Arturs Silovs stopped 24 shots for Pittsburgh. James van Riemsdyk and Alex DeBrincat had power-play goals for the Red Wings, and Andrew Copp also scored. Cam Talbot made 27 saves for the Red Wings, who had won five of six.
January 2, 2026 4:27 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson says he’s expecting to play when the Baltimore Ravens take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the AFC North title Sunday night. Jackson returned to practice Wednesday and was a full participant, but he didn’t talk with reporters at the podium until Thursday. He said he’s feeling good after missing last weekend’s game at Green Bay because of a back injury. That was the fourth game this season Jackson has missed, the first three because of hamstring problems. The Ravens need a win this weekend to make the playoffs after they entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick.
January 2, 2026 4:27 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trinidad Chambliss passed for 362 yards and two touchdowns, and Lucas Carneiro kicked his third field goal of the game with 6 seconds left to put No. 6 Mississippi in front for good in a 39-34 victory over third-ranked Georgia in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in the Sugar Bowl. In an unusual twist, Ole Miss was awarded a safety on its final kickoff when Georgia’s return team tried a cross-field lateral that hit the pylon. Gunner Stockton ran for two TDs and rallied Georgia from a 10-point, fourth quarter deficit before Chambliss drove the Rebels for Carniero’s decisive 47-yard kick in less than a minute.
