GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Darnold tried to step up in the pocket to find a receiver but there was nowhere to go. The blue and yellow wall that was the Los Angeles Rams’ defense closed too fast. Akhello Witherspoon got there first, knocking the Minnesota quarterback to the ground as the ball popped loose. Jared Verse scooped it up and the Rams faithful roared their approval in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium as the rookie ran untouched for a 57-yard touchdown. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was right there with them. “Our defense,” he said, “just went crazy.” Los Angeles — the football team, but especially the city — has had a tough week as wildfires have decimated large portions of the metropolitan area. The Rams channeled all that sorrow and uncertainty into a dominant defensive performance, sacking Darnold an NFL playoff record-tying nine times to win 27-9 Monday night in an NFC wild-card game that was moved from Southern California to Arizona.
CHICAGO (AP) — Infielder Josh Rojas can earn up to $1 million in performance bonuses in addition to his $3.5 million salary with the Chicago White Sox. Rojas can earn $500,000 based on games played, according to the deal announced Jan. 8: $100,000 each for 90 and each additional 10 through 130. He also can make $500,000 for plate appearances: $100,000 for 300 and each additional 50 through 500. Rojas would get a $150,000 assignment bonus each time he’s traded. Rojas hit .225 with eight homers, 31 RBIs and 10 steals in 143 games with Seattle last season. He became a free agent in November when Seattle failed to offer a 2025 contract. The 30-year-old has a .247 average with 34 homers and 189 RBIs over six seasons with Arizona (2019-23) and Seattle (2023-24). He also would earn $100,000 for MVP, $90,000 for finishing second in the voting, $80,000 for third, $70,000 for fourth and $60,000 for fifth. He would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $75,000 for League Championship Series MVP, $50,000 for winning a Gold Glove or making The Sporting News All-Star team, $25,000 for election to the All-Star team and $15,000 for selection.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — James Harden scored 13 of his 26 points in a third-quarter revival that rallied the Los Angeles Clippers past the Miami Heat 109-98 on Monday night, snapping a two-game skid. The Clippers were playing their first game in five days after their scheduled game on Saturday was postponed because of deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area. White towels with LA Strong and the state of California in blue were given out. Norman Powell led the Clippers with 29 points. Ivica Zubac had 21 points and a season-high 20 rebounds for his 25th double-double. Harden added 11 assists. Tyler Herro had 32 points and 11 rebounds to lead Miami, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Kel’el Ware added 19 points and a career-best 13 rebounds off the bench.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Carson Beck has been through his first team meeting at Miami, and he’s starting to build relationships with his new teammates with the Hurricanes already working out in advance of the 2025 season. When Miami’s new quarterback will start throwing, however, remains unclear. There may be a chance that Beck’s surgically repaired right elbow will be healed enough for him to take part in spring practice, Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Monday — but there’s no timetable yet. “There’s always hope,” Cristobal said. “You know, the sooner the better. I know we went through examinations yesterday and everything’s ahead of schedule. I’ll probably have more clarity in maybe a couple of weeks, so I’d hate to say this or that. I know that certainly for the summertime everything is scheduled to be full-throttle, full-go. But there is anticipation of maybe earlier. I just don’t have it yet.”
NFL PLAYOFFS
AFC WILD CARD ROUND
No. 4 Houston 32, LA Chargers 12
No. 3 Baltimore 28, No. 6 Pittsburgh 14
No. 2 Buffalo 31, No. 7 Denver 7
AFC
DIVISIONAL ROUND
No. 4 Houston at No. 1 Kansas City
Saturday, Jan. 18, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN/ABC
No. 3 Baltimore at No. 2 Buffalo
Sunday, Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+
NFC WILD CARD ROUND
No. 6 Washington 23, No. 3 Tampa Bay 20
No. 2 Philadelphia 22, No. 7 Green Bay 10
No. 4 LA Rams 27, No. 5 Minnesota 9
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
No. 6 Washington at No. 1 Detroit
Saturday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. on Fox
No. 4 LA Rams at No. 2 Philadelphia
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m. on NBC