Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers sent Lamar Jackson and the Ravens home for the playoffs. The Panthers are NFC South champions for the first time in 10 years. The Broncos are the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Rodgers threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left and Pittsburgh secured the AFC North title with a 26-24 victory when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal wide right as time expired on Sunday night in the final game of the NFL’s regular season. Carolina clinched its division title when the Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 on Sunday to eliminate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left, and the Steelers beat the Ravens 26-24 on Sunday night when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, giving Pittsburgh the AFC North title. Pittsburgh will host Houston in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, Jan. 12, following an electric fourth quarter that saw four lead changes, including three in the final four minutes. Lamar Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gain that put the Ravens within Loop’s range. But the rookie's kick never had a chance.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens head into an uncertain offseason following a sloppy 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh in the regular season finale that cost the Ravens the AFC North title. Quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns but Baltimore's defense wilted late against Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers. The Ravens finished a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations with a record of just 8-9. The club has several questions to answer in the offseason, including whether head coach John Harbaugh will return for a 19th season.
Biathlon is the most-watched winter sport in Europe, where many athletes grow up on skis and have access to biathlon ranges. That has helped European biathletes dominate international competitions, including the Olympics. The sport is less popular in the U.S. where participation has been hampered by a limited access to shooting ranges and the high cost of biathlon rifles. But that’s changing thanks to the investment into new biathlon centers and a laser rifle program that's bringing biathlon to cross country ski centers across the country. It lets people of all ages and abilities participate in the sport. It’s hoped these efforts will foster a new generation of biathletes and level the playing field on the world stage.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United says Ruben Amorim is out as coach. His ouster comes one day after the Portuguese made provocative comments about his own role and the club’s management in a postgame news conference. Amorim lasted just 14 months in what has proved one of the most difficult jobs in English soccer in 13 years since club legend Alex Ferguson retired. United has failed to win a Premier League title in that time.
The Las Vegas Raiders will pick first in this year's NFL draft. The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday, ensuring the Raiders would have the worst record. The Raiders were 2-14 entering their Sunday home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Giants had lost to Dallas, Las Vegas would have needed a loss to the Chiefs to secure the top pick. This is only the second time the Raiders have had the top pick. In 2007, they selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who became one of the franchise's top draft busts.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The team announced the moves hours after completing its its second straight 8-9 finish under Morris and eighth consecutive losing season. Morris said after Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints that he expected to return for a third season. Instead, his 16-18 record was not enough for him to keep his job after the year began with optimism that the Falcons would reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Owner Arthur Blank said in a statement that he has “great personal affinity” for Morris and Fontenot but he believes a change is needed.
The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will debut ski mountaineering next month. Ski mountaineering will feature men's and women's sprints and a mixed relay. Racers sprint uphill, add skins for traction, and then race downhill. The mixed relay includes one female and one male racer from each country. The races will be held in Bormio at the Stelvio Ski Center. The first medal winners in this sport will make history at the Olympics.
PERTH, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff has tried to clarify her comments about American tennis fans on social media just before her United Cup singles match against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The opening match Monday didn't go well for Gauff — a 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-0 loss. Gauff explained her earlier comments about American fans being the “worst,” saying she was comparing the loud and visible support players from smaller countries receive to that of American players abroad. She emphasized that her remarks were an observation and expressed gratitude for any support. Gauff finished the session by helping win the mixed doubles to secure the contest for the U.S. team and a place in the quarterfinals.
Alpine skiing has been a part of the Winter Olympics since 1936. The upcoming games in Italy feature five events for both men and women: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and the debut of the team combined event. Key athletes include Americans Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn, and Swiss racer Marco Odermatt. Events will take place in Bormio and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final OT Montreal 4 Dallas 3
Final OT Pittsburgh 5 Columbus 4
Final Florida 2 Colorado 1
Final OT Chicago 3 Vegas 2
Final Carolina 3 New Jersey 1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Atlanta 19 New Orleans 17
Final Cleveland 20 Cincinnati 18
Final Houston 38 Indianapolis 30
Final Jacksonville 41 Tennessee 7
Final Minnesota 16 Green Bay 3
Final N-Y Giants 34 Dallas 17
Final Buffalo 35 N-Y Jets 8
Final Denver 19 L.A. Chargers 3
Final Detroit 19 Chicago 16
Final L.A. Rams 37 Arizona 20
Final Las Vegas 14 Kansas City 12
Final New England 38 Miami 10
Final Washington 24 Philadelphia 17
Final Pittsburgh 26 Baltimore 24
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (4)UConn 73 Marquette 57
Final (7)Gonzaga 82 Loyola Marymount 47