December 13, 2024 4:43 am
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Joshua Karty kicked four field goals and the Los Angeles Rams survived a slugfest a week after winning a shootout, beating the San Francisco 49ers 12-6 in a key game in the NFC West race. Four days after beating Josh Allen and Buffalo 44-42 in the NFL’s highest scoring game of the season, the Rams outlasted the 49ers on a rainy night to move within a half-game of division leading Seattle. San Francisco led 6-3 headed into the fourth quarter but came up short, dealing a major blow to the dwindling playoff hopes for the defending NFC champion 49ers.
December 13, 2024 4:41 am
The AFC North-leading Steelers travel across Pennsylvania to face the NFC East-leading Eagles in a potential Super Bowl preview. Pittsburgh is looking to snap a 10-game losing streak in Philadelphia, where the Steelers haven’t won since Oct. 24, 1965. The Eagles defeated Pittsburgh 21-0 in the only playoff matchup between the teams on Dec. 21, 1947, to advance to the NFL championship game. This is the first meeting between the team teams when both have double-digit victories.
December 13, 2024 4:44 am
New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick’s five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses.
December 12, 2024 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandin Cummings came off the bench to score a career-high 30 points — the most this season by an ACC freshman — and Pitt left Eastern Kentucky behind in the second half to win 96-56 Wednesday night. Cummings, whose previous high was 12, was 10-of-13 shooting, including 6 of 10 from the arc. Zack Austin added 18 points, Ishmael Leggett had 17 points and Jaland Lowe, who was scoreless in the first half, finished with 11 points and 12 assists. George Kimble III scored 16 points, Jordan Crawford 13 and Devontae Blanton 11 for the Colonels. Pitt led by just three at halftime.
December 12, 2024 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to succeed where so many others have failed this season when they face Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley currently leads the NFL in rushing and is threatening the single-season rushing mark set by Eric Dickerson 40 years ago. Pittsburgh has the league’s fourth-ranked run defense, led by inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen says the key to trying to keep Barkley in check is keeping your head up and not trying to do too much.
December 12, 2024 4:36 am
North Carolina and Bill Belichick have agreed to a five-year deal for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach to become the Tar Heels’ next football coach. The school announced the hiring Wednesday. That came roughly a week after the 72-year-old Belichick’s name surfaced as an unlikely candidate to replace the program’s winningest coach in Mack Brown. The deal still requires approval by UNC trustees. Belichick won six titles in his 24-year run as head coach of the Patriots. Most of that success came with quarterbacking great Tom Brady.
December 12, 2024 4:37 am
DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses.
December 11, 2024 4:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mikko Rantanen collected his 10th career hat trick and added two assists as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Rantanen flipped in a puck over Tristan Jarry late in the first period for his 16th goal of the season. He picked up his 17th early in the second and added an empty netter late to celebrate his 600th game in style. Nathan MacKinnon added a goal and four assists for Colorado, which finished 4-1 on a five-game road trip. Michael Bunting and Cody Glass scored for Pittsburgh, which lost for just the second time in its last seven games.
December 11, 2024 4:36 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians pulled off two trades at the winter meetings, first sending three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays. Giménez, considered one of baseball’s best defensive middle infielders, was dealt by the Guardians along with reliever Nick Sandlin to Toronto for infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfielder Nick Mitchell. Cleveland then shipped Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three pitchers: right-hander Luis Ortiz and lefties Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle. Ortiz could slide immediately into a starting slot after going 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA last season. The 27 year old Horwitz finished first among all qualified MLB rookies in on-base percentage, sixth in batting and eighth in slugging percentage while playing 97 games with Toronto last season. He began the 2024 season with Triple-A Buffalo where he ranked second in the International League in on-base percentage and was tied for third in batting average (.335).
December 11, 2024 4:41 am
DALLAS (AP) — The Washington Nationals will have the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft next summer for the first time since picking 17-year-old Bryce Harper in 2010. The Nationals won the draft lottery Tuesday through a drawing of ping-pong balls at the winter meetings in Dallas. Unlike last year, when the Nationals were ineligible after initially coming out with the top spot, they will get to make the first pick in July in Atlanta during All-Star Game festivities. The Los Angeles Angels got the second overall pick for next summer. Seattle, Colorado, St. Louis and Pittsburgh round out the six lottery picks.
