CLEVELAND (AP) — Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings for his second postseason win, Tampa Bay’s offense kept on constant pressure and the Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series. The Rays will try to capture their third AL pennant and first since 2020 on Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Since the LCS expanded to seven games in 1985, road teams winning Game 5 for a 3-2 lead have won the series four of five times. Game 7 if needed would be Tuesday. The World Series starts Friday at NL champion Milwaukee.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass and also scored on a 1-yard keeper as the Green Bay Packers held Dallas’ high-powered offense in check and beat the Cowboys 23-13 in a penalty-filled game. Love went 23 of 41 for 276 yards to help the Packers improve to 11-1-1 in their last 13 meetings with the Cowboys. The Packers have won three straight. Green Bay intercepted Dak Prescott twice to thwart scoring opportunities. The game featured 22 penalties, including 11 by each team.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — J.J. McCarthy took over as the New York Giants’ quarterback after Jameis Winston threw his second interception of the game early in the fourth quarter against New Orleans, then led them on three scoring drives to get within seven points in the final minute. McCarthy threw for 243 yards in just over 11 minutes, including a TD pass to Isaiah Likely after getting picked off on his first possession. Coach John Harbaugh said after the Giants' 34-27 loss to the Saints that it was too early to say whether Winston or McCarthy would start next weekend at Houston.
Miami is now No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2002. No. 2 BYU has reached its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season. Notre Dame and Georgia remain in the top five despite close losses. This week, five of the top seven teams lost, marking a first in the AP poll's 90-year history. Miami and BYU benefited most from the chaos, joined by Ohio State in a tightly packed top three.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Late in games, Gabby Williams starts counting. She constantly computes math in her head, all while handling the pressure of being the one to regularly take big shots for the Golden State Valkyries. Better Williams than coach Natalie Nakase, that’s for sure. She doesn’t do math. The Dream had been outstanding down the stretch during their first two series, both sweeps, to reach the franchise’s fourth finals. Yet Atlanta is still yet to win a finals game. Coach Karl Smesko can’t wait for his team to find a way to bounce back Monday night in Game 2.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has apologized to his teammates after being ejected from Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders for spitting on an opponent just before halftime. Gardner-Johnson says he let his emotions take over and he needs to be better. Officials ejected Gardner-Johnson for unsportsmanlike conduct following an exchange with a group of Raiders players, including tight end Brock Bowers. Referee Shawn Smith told a pool reporter that the umpire saw Gardner-Johnson spitting. Bills coach Joe Brady says such an incident “can't happen” and “is going to be addressed.”
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Notre Dame might have deserved one more play at the end of its game at BYU. Florida State was furious over how referees saw its two Hail Mary completions for would-have-been touchdowns in double overtime against Miami. And once again, end-of-game officiating was under fire. Dramatic — and sometimes controversial — endings were the story of a wild college football Saturday, with late-game calls deciding some outcomes and potentially even having an effect on how the College Football Playoff shapes up a couple months from now.
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tyler Reddick earned his sixth win of the NASCAR season at Phoenix Raceway, boosting his position in the Cup Series championship standings. On Sunday, Reddick's No. 45 Toyota overtook Chase Briscoe with 17 laps to go. Kyle Larson, the leader, had a rough day, finishing 34th after hitting the wall due to a flat tire. Larson's lead is now just five points over Christopher Bell as they head to Talladega next week. Denny Hamlin and others remain in contention. Joey Logano won both stages, collecting 20 points. The Cup Series continues with three races left in the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder has a shot at winning his third consecutive NBA MVP award this season. Only three players have ever achieved that feat. Despite his focus on team success and championships, Gilgeous-Alexander's individual performance stands out. He leads the NBA in scoring over the past two seasons and has received more than 75% of first-place MVP votes. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has praised his work ethic and emotional awareness. If the Thunder remain contenders, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be a top MVP candidate again, emphasizing leadership over individual accolades.
Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in practice, ending his comeback attempt this season with the Sacramento Kings before the season even started. The Kings said Simmons hurt himself during a live drill and will need to undergo surgery three days before the season opener Wednesday night on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons signed a one-year deal with Sacramento this summer as he tried to revive his career.
Finals
AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Tampa Bay 3 Cleveland 1
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Minnesota 2 Columbus 1
Final Calgary 3 Carolina 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Houston 34 Jacksonville 31
Final Carolina 25 Philadelphia 14
Final Chicago 31 Atlanta 23
Final Cleveland 13 Baltimore 10
Final New England 26 N-Y Jets 19
Final New Orleans 34 N-Y Giants 27
Final OT Pittsburgh 26 Tampa Bay 19
Final Tennessee 26 Indianapolis 20
Final Arizona 18 L.A. Rams 16
Final Buffalo 33 Las Vegas 30
Final Kansas City 22 L.A. Chargers 6
Final Green Bay 23 Dallas 13