CHICAGO (AP) — Case Keenum passed for two touchdowns in his first start in almost three years, and the Chicago Bears shut down Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles for a 27-7 victory. Stepping in for the injured Caleb Williams, Keenum was 24 for 34 for 247 yards. He also scored his first rushing touchdown since 2019 on a 1-yard plunge with 7:19 left, capping a 13-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock. It was Keenum’s first action since he started for Houston in a 36-22 loss to Cleveland on Dec. 24, 2023. Philadelphia turned the ball over three times.
DENVER (AP) — Pat Bryant's acting skills have drawn comparisons to famous sports "floppers." On Sunday night, Bryant sold a defensive pass interference call against Josh Wallace, negating an interception and setting up a Denver Broncos touchdown. The Broncos won 30-26 over the Los Angeles Rams. Broncos coach Sean Payton acknowledged the theatrics but said it wasn't rehearsed. Replays showed some contact between Bryant and Wallace, but the call stood. Rams coach Sean McVay refused to blame the loss on the call. Analysts debated the decision, recalling a similar controversy involving McVay's Rams in 2018.
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — LeBron James has joined the Philadelphia 76ers, wearing the No. 23 jersey. He's excited to play with close friend Tyrese Maxey and start his 24th NBA season. On Monday, James said he didn't leave his family behind in California to lose in the second round. The Sixers are gearing up for a highly anticipated season, with James, Maxey, Joel Embiid and new star Jaylen Brown leading the charge. James aims to end Philadelphia's title drought, similar to his success in Cleveland. The 41-year-old signed a modest two-year contract and remains a dominant force in the NBA.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a sweeping bipartisan bill that would regulate college sports. It's an attempt to end “chaos” in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools. Passage of the legislation Monday would be the strongest effort yet by Congress to set national regulations governing payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and how often they can transfer. It would give the NCAA new authority over those rules and limited antitrust protections to enforce them. The legislation still has to pass the House.
The New York Giants have acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Vikings announced the trade Monday pending McCarthy passing a physical. The Giants made the aggressive move days after Jaxson Dart had surgery on his left knee that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season. Jameis Winston started and beat Tennessee on Sunday, and coach John Harbaugh said afterward that Winston would get the nod again this coming weekend against Arizona. It's unclear what that means moving forward after adding McCarthy.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hopes to rejoin the New York Yankees for the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. Sidelined since Sept. 16 with a strained right calf, Judge took batting practice on the field Monday. He emphasizes the importance of being healthy for the long stretch ahead. The Yankees captain, a three-time AL MVP, received a platelet-poor plasma injection on Sept. 21. He hasn't run the bases since the injury but has been using an anti-gravity treadmill. Judge aims to return as an outfielder, believing it best helps the team. He acknowledges the risks but feels motivated by the passage of time.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has asked the Department of Homeland Security to take down a video on social media showing highlights of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins in reference to a potential caravan of immigrants approaching the U.S. border. The video posted on Sunday shows Dawkins’ pregame walkout as he chants “The time has come,” followed by a series of big hits. The DHS post includes the caption “Our time has come.” Dawkins was a nine-time Pro Bowler and five time All-Pro safety during 16 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos before retiring in 2011.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Bronny James seems to realize that the wildest part of LeBron James’ decision to change teams before his 24th NBA season is the fact he left behind his son to do it. Bronny is still with the Los Angeles Lakers after his 41-year-old father’s departure for the 76ers. He enters his third season still working to win a rotation role with the team that drafted him in 2024. In his first extensive public comments of the new season Monday, Bronny said he isn’t angry or disappointed by his dad’s decision. He knows when your father is LeBron James, many things are bigger than you.
Roberto Mancini appears to have transformed Italy almost immediately. Italy stormed to a dominant 4-1 win at Turkey in the Nations League on Monday. It was Mancini’s second match in charge. Italy will face a much tougher test in its next match when it plays France away on Friday. France also has a new coach in Zinedine Zidane. He saw his team snatch a 1-0 win at Belgium thanks to a stunning late goal from Michael Olise. France was without the injured Kylian Mbappé.
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Rodón of the New York Yankees says players are ready for a long lockout if MLB owners push for a salary cap. The current labor contract ends Dec. 1, and an expected lockout would halt trades and free-agent signings. MLB argues a cap is needed to reduce economic disparity, but players disagree, citing successful low-payroll teams like Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. MLB’s proposal includes a cap on team spending and a revenue split, but players say the details would reduce their earnings. This would be MLB's 10th work stoppage. No regular-season games have been lost since 1994-95.
Finals
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Chicago 27 Philadelphia 7