THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

1. VALPARAISO (8) | VALPARAISO COUNTRY CLUB | MON, 9 AM CT | RESULTS
BOONE GROVE, CHESTERTON, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, HAMMOND MORTON, HOBART, PORTAGE, VALPARAISO, WHEELER

2. LAKE CENTRAL (10) | PALMIRA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB | MON, 8 AM CT | RESULTS
ANDREAN, CALUMET, CROWN POINT, HANOVER CENTRAL, HIGHLAND, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LAKE CENTRAL, LOWELL, MERRILLVILLE, MUNSTER

3. LAPORTE (11) | BEECHWOOD GOLF COURSE | THURS, 8:30 AM CT | RESULTS
GLENN, KNOX, LAPORTE, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, MICHIGAN CITY, NEW PRAIRIE, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, OREGON-DAVIS, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), TRI-TOWNSHIP, WESTVILLE

4. PENN (10) | KNOLLWOOD COUNTRY CLUB | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
ELKHART, JIMTOWN, MISHAWAKA, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, PENN, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND RILEY, SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, TRINITY AT GREENLAWN

5. LOGANSPORT (12) | DYKEMAN PARK GOLF COURSE | MON, 9:30 AM ET | RESULTS
CASTON, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, KANKAKEE VALLEY, LOGANSPORT, NORTH NEWTON, PIONEER, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY, TWIN LAKES, WINAMAC COMMUNITY

6. NORTHRIDGE (10) | MEADOW VALLEY GOLF CLUB | FRI, 8:30 AM ET | RESULTS
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, CONCORD, EAST NOBLE, FAIRFIELD, LAKELAND, NORTHRIDGE, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WEST NOBLE

7. ANGOLA (12) | ZOLLNER GOLF COURSE | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
ANGOLA, DEKALB, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER, FREMONT, GARRETT, HAMILTON, LEO, WOODLAN

8. WARSAW COMMUNITY (12) | STONEHENGE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB | THURS, 8:30 AM ET | RESULTS
BREMEN, COLUMBIA CITY, CULVER ACADEMIES, CULVER COMMUNITY, MANCHESTER, NORTHWOOD, PLYMOUTH, TIPPECANOE VALLEY, TRITON, WARSAW COMMUNITY, WAWASEE, WHITKO

9. HOMESTEAD (11) | CHESTNUT HILLS GOLF CLUB | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
ADAMS CENTRAL, BELLMONT, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HERITAGE, HOMESTEAD, NEW HAVEN, NORWELL, SOUTH ADAMS

10. EASTBROOK (12) | ARBOR TRACE GOLF CLUB | SAT, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
BLACKFORD, BLUFFTON, EASTBROOK, HUNTINGTON NORTH, MADISON-GRANT, MARION, MISSISSINEWA, NORTHFIELD, OAK HILL, SOUTHERN WELLS, SOUTHWOOD, WABASH

11. HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (11) | COYOTE CROSSING GOLF COURSE | MON, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
CARROLL (FLORA), CLINTON CENTRAL, CLINTON PRAIRIE, DELPHI COMMUNITY, FAITH CHRISTIAN, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, MCCUTCHEON, ROSSVILLE, WEST LAFAYETTE

12. WESTERN (10) | CHIPPENDALE GOLF COURSE | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
EASTERN (GREENTOWN), KOKOMO, LEWIS CASS, MACONAQUAH, NORTH MIAMI, NORTHWESTERN, PERU, TAYLOR, TRI-CENTRAL, WESTERN

13. GUERIN CATHOLIC (9) | PEBBLE BROOK GOLF CLUB | MON, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY, CARMEL, GUERIN CATHOLIC, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, LEBANON, PIKE, SPEEDWAY, UNIVERSITY, WESTFIELD

14. ATTICA (10) | HARRISON HILLS GOLF CLUB | SAT, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
ATTICA, BENTON CENTRAL, COVINGTON, CRAWFORDSVILLE, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, NORTH MONTGOMERY, NORTH PUTNAM, SEEGER, SOUTHMONT, WESTERN BOONE

15. BROWNSBURG (12) | WEST CHASE GOLF CLUB | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
AVON, BEN DAVIS, BROWNSBURG, CASCADE, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS), DANVILLE COMMUNITY, DECATUR CENTRAL, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF INDIANA, MOORESVILLE, PLAINFIELD, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS, ZIONSVILLE

16. NOBLESVILLE (11) | HARBOUR TREES GOLF CLUB | MON, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, ANDERSON, ELWOOD COMMUNITY, FISHERS, FRANKTON, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, LAPEL, NOBLESVILLE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, TIPTON

17. MUNCIE CENTRAL (12) | CRESTVIEW GOLF COURSE | SAT, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
BLUE RIVER VALLEY, DALEVILLE, DELTA, JAY COUNTY, MONROE CENTRAL, MUNCIE BURRIS, MUNCIE CENTRAL, UNION CITY, WAPAHANI, WES-DEL, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY, YORKTOWN

18. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (11) | MAPLE CREEK GOLF COURSE | MON, 8 AM ET | RESULTS
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), PARK TUDOR, WARREN CENTRAL

19. NEW PALESTINE (9) | THE LINKS GOLF COURSE | MON, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
EASTERN HANCOCK, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, KNIGHTSTOWN, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), NEW PALESTINE, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SHENANDOAH, TRI, TRITON CENTRAL

20. RICHMOND (9) | ELKS LODGE AND COUNTRY CLUB | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, CENTERVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, HAGERSTOWN, NEW CASTLE, NORTHEASTERN, RICHMOND, UNION (MODOC), UNION COUNTY

21. NORTHVIEW (13) | FOREST PARK GOLF COURSE | FRI, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
CLAY CITY, CLOVERDALE, GREENCASTLE, MONROVIA, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), NORTHVIEW, PARKE HERITAGE, RIVERTON PARKE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTH VERMILLION, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO, WEST VIGO

22. JASPER (11) | BUFFALO TRACE GOLF COURSE | SAT, 10 AM ET | RESULTS
BOONVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, FOREST PARK, GIBSON SOUTHERN, HERITAGE HILLS, JASPER, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, SOUTH SPENCER, SOUTHRIDGE, TECUMSEH, TELL CITY

23. EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL (12) | THE FARM GOLF COURSE | SAT, 7 AM CT | RESULTS
CASTLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, EVANSVILLE NORTH, MT. VERNON, NORTH POSEY, SIGNATURE

24. NORTH KNOX (12) | HIGH POINTE COUNTRY CLUB | THURS, 10 AM ET | RESULTS
BARR-REEVE, LINTON-STOCKTON, NORTH DAVIESS, NORTH KNOX, PIKE CENTRAL, PRINCETON COMMUNITY, SHAKAMAK, SOUTH KNOX, SULLIVAN, VINCENNES LINCOLN, VINCENNES RIVET, WASHINGTON

25. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (12) | OTIS PARK GOLF COURSE | SAT, 8:30 AM ET | RESULTS
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, EASTERN GREENE, MITCHELL, ORLEANS, PAOLI, SALEM, SEYMOUR, SPRINGS VALLEY, TRINITY LUTHERAN, WEST WASHINGTON, WHITE RIVER VALLEY

26. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (12) | CASCADES GC | MON, 8:30 AM ET | RESULTS
BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, BROWN COUNTY, COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EDGEWOOD, EDINBURGH, HAUSER, INDIAN CREEK, MARTINSVILLE, OWEN VALLEY

27. GREENSBURG (11) | GREENSBURG COUNTRY CLUB | SAT, 9 AM ET | RESULTS
BATESVILLE, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, JAC-CEN-DEL, MILAN, NORTH DECATUR, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, SHELBYVILLE, SOUTH RIPLEY, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)

28. CENTER GROVE (10) | HICKORY STICK GOLF CLUB | MON, 10 AM ET | RESULTS
BEECH GROVE, CENTER GROVE, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, PERRY MERIDIAN, RONCALLI, SOUTHPORT, WHITELAND COMMUNITY

29. CORYDON CENTRAL (14) | OLD CAPITAL GOLF COURSE | SAT, 12:30 PM ET | RESULTS
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, CLARKSVILLE, CORYDON CENTRAL, CROTHERSVILLE, EASTERN (PEKIN), FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, LANESVILLE, NEW ALBANY, NORTH HARRISON, PROVIDENCE, SILVER CREEK, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)

30. MADISON CONSOLIDATED (10) | SUNRISE GOLF COURSE | SAT, 11 AM ET | RESULTS
AUSTIN, CHARLESTOWN, JENNINGS COUNTY, LAWRENCEBURG, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NEW WASHINGTON, SCOTTSBURG, SOUTH DEARBORN, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY

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+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS:+++

https://in.milesplit.com/results

_____

+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS SCORES:+++

NO SCORES REPORTED

_____

+++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED FLAG FOOTBALL+++

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 42 FLOYD CENTRAL 26

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 49 JASPER 30

_____

+++MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL+++

ATLANTA 6 DETROIT 5

CLEVELAND 6 MINNESOTA 0

WASHINGTON 5 NY METS 3 (11)

MIAMI 4 TEXAS 3

NY YANKEES 6 BALTIMORE 1

BOSTON 6 TAMPA BAY 3

SEATTLE 6 HOUSTON 4

SAN DIEGO 7 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3

CLEVELAND 8 MINNESOTA 0

KANSAS CITY 2 TORONTO 1

MILWAUKEE 3 ST. LOUIS 2 (10)

LA ANGELS 3 COLORADO 0

ARIZONA 4 PHILADELPHIA 3

LA DODGERS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 5

_____

+++MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL+++

INDIANAPOLIS 5 GWINETT 3

_____

+++COLLEGE FOOTBALL+++

TOP 25

#17 TEXAS TECH 34 #16 UTAH 10

#15 TENNESSEE 56 ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM 24

#6 OREGON 41 OREGON STATE 7

#24 NOTRE DAME 56 PURDUE 30

#21 MICHIGAN 30 NEBRASKA 27

#7 FLORIDA STATE 66 KENT STATE 10

#13 OLE MISS 45 TULANE 10

#11 OKLAHOMA 24 #22 AUBURN 17

#18 GEORGIA TECH 45 TEMPLE 24

#23 MISSOURI 29 SOUTH CAROLINA 20

#4 MIAMI FLORIDA 26 FLORIDA 7

#19 INDIANA 63 #9 ILLINOIS 10

#20 VANDERBILT 70 GEORGIA STATE 21

#3 LSU 56 SE. LOUISIANA 10

#8 TEXAS 55 SAM HOUSTON 0

#25 USC 45 MICHIGAN STATE 31

BIG 10

MARYLAND 27 WISCONSIN 10

WASHINGTON 59 WASHINGTON STATE 24

MAC

LOUISVILLE 40 BOWLING GREEN 17

UNLV 41 MIAMI OHIO 38

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 49 WEGNER 10

TROY 21 BUFFALO 17

EASTERN MICHIGAN 34 LOUISIANA 31

WESTERN MICHIGAN 14 TOLEDO 13

UCONN 31 BALL STATE 25

OHIO 52 GARDNER WEBB 35

MISSISSIPPI STATE 38 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 10

AKRON 51 DUQUESNE 7

BIG 12

TCU 35 SMU 24

CENTRAL FLORIDA 34 NORTH CAROLINA 9

KANSAS 41 WEST VIRGINIA 10

BYU 34 E. CAROLINA 13

ARIZONA STATE 27 BAYLOR 24

COLORADO 37 WYOMING 20

SEC

MEMPHIS 32 ARKANSAS 31

MISSISSIPPI STATE 38 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 10

ACC

SYRACUSE 34 CLEMSON 21

VIRGINIA TECH 38 WOFFORD 6

DUKE 45 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 33

VIRGINIA 48 STANFORD 20

SAN DIEGO STATE 34 CALIFORNIA 0

_____

+++NFL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE+++

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21

PITTSBURGH AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M. (CBS)

HOUSTON AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M. (CBS)

INDIANAPOLIS AT TENNESSEE

CINCINNATI AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M. (CBS)

NY JETS AT TAMPA BAY, 1 P.M. (FOX)

GREEN BAY AT CLEVELAND, 1 P.M. (FOX)

LAS VEGAS AT WASHINGTON, 1 P.M. (FOX)

ATLANTA AT CAROLINA, 1 P.M. (FOX)

LA RAMS AT PHILADELPHIA, 1 P.M. (FOX)

NEW ORLEANS AT SEATTLE, 4:05 P.M. (CBS)

DENVER AT LA CHARGERS, 4:05 P.M. (CBS)

DALLAS AT CHICAGO, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)

ARIZONA AT SAN FRANCISCO, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)

KANSAS CITY AT NY GIANTS, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

MONDAY, SEPT. 22

DETROIT AT BALTIMORE, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)

_____

+++WNBA SCORES+++

PLAYOFFS

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

_____

+++MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER+++

NEW YORK CITY 2 CHARLOTTE 0

PHILADELPHIA 1 NEW ENGLAND 0

ATLANTA 1 SAN DIEGO 1

ORLANDO CITY 3 NASHVILLE 2

NY RED BULLS 2 MONTRÉAL 0

MIAMI 3 DC UNITED 2

COLUMBUS 1 TORONTO 1

CHICAGO 3 MINNESOTA 0

VANCOUVER 2 KANSAS CITY 0

HOUSTON 1 PORTLAND 0

DALLAS 3 COLORADO 1

ST. LOUIS 3 SAN JOSE 1

CINCINNATI 3 LA GALAXY 2

_____

+++TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES+++

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 19 INDIANA DESTROYS NO. 9 ILLINOIS BY 53

Fernando Mendoza threw for five touchdowns and No. 19 Indiana took ninth-ranked Illinois behind the woodshed for a 63-10 Big Ten spanking in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday night.

Mendoza was nearly perfect, completing 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards as the Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0) rolled up 579 total yards and dominated in every facet. Khobie Martin peeled finished with two rushing scores and 107 yards on 12 carries, Kaelon Black added 89 yards on 10 rushes and a touchdown and Elijah Sarratt reeled in nine catches for 92 yards and a pair of scores.

Indiana’s defense stifled the Fighting Illini (3-1, 0-1), who entered the teams’ conference opener averaging 45 points per game. Illinois managed only 161 total yards and nine first downs, gaining two yards on the ground in 20 attempts. Quarterback Luke Altmyer hit 14 of 22 throws for 146 yards and a score but was sacked seven times.

The pregame hype concerned the fact this was the first time in 75 years these teams met as ranked foes. It lived up to the hype for a quarter before the Hoosiers exerted their will in all three phases.

No. 3 LSU 56, Southeastern Louisiana 10

Garrett Nussmeier threw three touchdown passes and ran another score, and the Tigers had a breakout offensive performance in a rout of the Lions of the FCS in Baton Rouge, La.

Nussmeier completed 25 of 31 passes for 273 yards, and LSU (4-0), which hadn’t scored more than 23 points in any of their first three games, scored touchdowns on eight consecutive possessions. The Tigers had four rushing touchdowns after totaling two in the first three games.

Carson Camp passed for 87 yards, Kyle Lowe passed for 29 yards, and Southeastern Louisiana (2-2) totaled just 204 yards on offense.

No. 4 Miami 26, Florida 7

CharMar Brown rushed for two touchdowns and accounted for 133 scrimmage yards to help the Hurricanes down the Gators in nonconference play at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 116 yards and one score while Brown had 80 yards on the ground and 53 receiving for Miami (4-0). Carson Beck completed 17 of 30 passes for 160 yards and one interception for the Hurricanes, who failed to put the game away during a dominating first half before piling on late.

Jadan Baugh rushed for a touchdown for Florida (1-3), which lost its third straight game. DJ Lagway was 12-of-23 passing for just 61 yards with a long gain of 12 for the Gators, who were 0-for-13 on third down and had just 141 total yards.

No. 6 Oregon 41, Oregon State 7

The Ducks tuned up for their massive Big Ten showdown at Penn State next weekend with a romp over the in-state rival Beavers in Eugene, Ore.

Oreon (4-0) racked up 585 yards of total offense. Quarterback Dante Moore completed 21 of 31 passes for 305 yards with four touchdowns, and he along with six running backs helped the Ducks run for 280 yards.

Oregon State (0-4) punted eight times and lost a fumble. Quarterback Maalik Murphy went 5 of 18 for 68 yards and the Beavers were held to 147 total yards. Anthony Hankerson had 38 rushing yards and a touchdown.

No. 7 Florida State 66, Kent State 10

The Seminoles set program records with eight rushing touchdowns and 498 rushing yards, smashing the Golden Flashes in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State (3-0) racked up 356 yards over the opening 15 minutes while scoring rushing touchdowns on each of its five possessions that quarter, tying a program record with 35 first-quarter points. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos and running back Gavin Sawchuk had two of those scores each while Micahi Danzy added another on a 64-yard reverse.

FSU finished with 775 yards of offense, marking the second straight week the Seminoles surpassed 700 yards after previously not having done so since 2000. They averaged a gaudy 9.9 yards per play.

No. 8 Texas 55, Sam Houston 0

Arch Manning passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores as the Longhorns dismantled the hapless Bearkats in what amounted to a glorified scrimmage.

Manning hit 18 of his 21 throws and connected with eight different receivers before heading to the bench early in the third quarter. Ryan Wingo hauled in two of Manning’s TD passes and racked up 125 total yards. The Longhorns (3-1) outgained Sam Houston 607-113 and amassed 10 tackles for a loss, including five sacks.

Quarterback Hunter Watson finished with 118 total yards (86 passing and 32 on the ground) in the loss for Sam Houston (0-4).

No. 11 Oklahoma 24, No. 22 Auburn 17

John Mateer threw for 271 yards and a touchdown and ran for another, and the Sooners set a program record with 10 sacks in a win over the Tigers in Norman, Okla.

Oklahoma tied the program record on Gracen Halton’s sack of Jackson Arnold on third down, and then on the next play, R Mason Thomas brought down Arnold in the end zone for a safety.

Arnold, Oklahoma’s starting quarterback for much of last season before transferring, finished 21-of-32 passing for 220 yards and a touchdown.

No. 13 Ole Miss 45, Tulane 10

Trinidad Chambliss threw two touchdown passes and rushed for 112 yards, and the Rebels dominated on defense in a victory over the Green Wave in Oxford, Miss.

Chambliss started in place of the injured Austin Simmons (ankle) for a second consecutive game and completed 17 of 27 passes for 307 yards for Ole Miss (4-0).

The Ole Miss defense held Tulane (3-1) to 282 total yards and limited Jake Retzlaff to 5 completions on 17 attempts for 56 yards. Brendan Sullivan replaced Retzlaff and finished 5 of 12 for 48 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

No. 15 Tennessee 56, UAB 24

Joey Aguilar completed 15 of 22 passes for 218 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, and the Volunteers cruised to a win over the Blazers in Knoxville, Tenn.

DeSean Bishop rushed for two touchdowns for Tennessee (3-1), which bounced back from an overtime loss against then-No. 6 Georgia a week ago. Star Thomas had one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown.

Jalen Kitna completed 38 of 51 passes for 364 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for UAB (2-2). Kaleb Brown led the Blazers with 79 receiving yards to go along with a touchdown.

No. 17 Texas Tech 34, No. 16 Utah 10

Backup quarterback Will Hammond threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Red Raiders to a Big 12 conference victory over the Utes in Salt Lake City.

Hammond added 61 yards on the ground while playing much of the second half in relief of Behren Morton. Morton threw for 142 yards and had two interceptions before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent head injury.

Utah trailed 13-3 early in the fourth before scoring its first touchdown. Wayshawn Parker scored on a 5-yard run with 10:22 left to cut the deficit to 13-10. The wheels fell off for the Utes as Texas Tech scored touchdowns on three straight drives to seal the victory.

No. 18 Georgia Tech 45, Temple 24

Haynes King threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a score on the ground, helping the Yellow Jackets post a victory over the Owls in Atlanta, Ga.

Jamal Haynes ran for 107 yards, Malachi Hosley rushed for 59 yards and two scores, and Georgia Tech began the year with four straight wins for the first time since 2014.

Evan Simon completed 13 of 32 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown for Temple, which dropped its second straight.

No. 21 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27

The Wolverines got touchdown runs from three different players, plus three field goals by Dominic Zvada in a win over the Cornhuskers in the Big Ten opener for both teams in Lincoln, Neb.

Michigan ran for 286 yards, with Justice Haynes going for 149, including a 75-yard touchdown. Quarterback Bryce Underwood threw for 105 yards and ran for 61 plus a score. The Wolverines had seven sacks from six different players.

Nebraska dropped its sixth consecutive conference opener and 28th straight game against a ranked opponent despite 308 yards and three touchdown passes from Dylan Raiola. Jacory Barney Jr. had six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary reception to end the first half.

No. 23 Missouri 29, South Carolina 20

Ahmad Hardy rushed for 138 yards and one touchdown and Jamal Roberts recorded the go-ahead score as the Tigers notched a 29-20 victory over the Gamecocks in Columbia, Mo.

Beau Pribula passed for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception and also rushed for 72 yards for Missouri (4-0, 1-0). Joshua Manning had a receiving touchdown and Robert Meyer kicked three field goals for Tigers, who are unbeaten after four games for the third straight season.

LaNorris Sellers passed for 302 yards and two touchdowns for South Carolina (2-2, 0-2), which dropped its second straight game. Vandrevius Jacobs had seven receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown and Brian Rowe Jr. also had a scoring reception.

No. 24 Notre Dame 56, Purdue 30

Jeremiyah Love rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and the Fighting Irish stormed to a win over the Boilermakers in South Bend, Ind.

Jadarian Price added 74 rushing yards, three touchdowns on the ground and a kick-return score for Notre Dame (1-2), which posted a resounding victory after losing to ranked opponents Miami and Texas A&M by a combined four points to open the season.

Ryan Browne completed 21 of 34 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Purdue (2-2). Nitro Tuggle had a team-high 66 receiving yards and a touchdown.

_____

NFL NEWS

WEEK 3 NFL GAME CAPSULES

ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1) CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2)

Bank of America Stadium | Referee: Craig Wrolstad

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: ATL leads series, 37-23 (Home team has won 4 of past 6)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 1/5/25: CAR 44 at ATL 38 (OT)

Postseason: —

FALCONS NOTES:

QB MICHAEL PENIX aims for his 4th in row with 80+ rating. Has 200+ pass yards in 4 of his 5 career starts. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON had 168 scrimmage yards (143 rush, 25 rec.) in Week 2 & is 1 of 3 RBs (James Cook & Christian McCaffrey) with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 292 scrimmage yards in 2025. Aims for his 4th in row with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 278 scrimmage yards (139 per game) & 4 rush TDs in 2 games vs. Car. last season. • WR TYLER ALLGEIER rushed for 76 yards & had 11th-career rush TD last week. Rushed for 105 yards & TD in last road meeting (10/13/24) & aims for his 5th in row vs. Car. with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR DRAKE LONDON has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 on road. Had 10 catches for career-high 187 yards & 2 rec. TDs in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Car. with TD catch. • TE KYLE PITTS aims for his 4th in row on road with 4+ catches. Had 70 rec. yards in last road meeting (10/13/24). • ED LEONARD FLOYD had 1st sack of season last week. • ED JALON WALKER (rookie) had 1st-career sack in Week 2. • ED JAMES PEARCE (rookie) had 1st-career half sack last week. • DL DAVID ONYEMATA aims for his 3rd in row on road with TFL. • DL ZACH HARRISON had 1.5 sacks & 1st-career FF last week. • DL BRANDON DORLUS had career-high 1.5 sacks in Week 2. • DB BILLY BOWMAN (rookie) had 2 PD & 1st-career INT last week. • LB KADEN ELLISS had 10 tackles in last meeting. • LB DIVINE DEABLO had 2nd-career FR last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S XAVIER WATTS (rookie) had 1st-career INT last week. Is 1 of 3 rookies (Trey Amos & Will Johnson) with PD in each of 1st 2 weeks. • S JESSIE BATES aims for his 5th in row vs. Car. with 5+ tackles.

PANTHERS NOTES:

QB BRYCE YOUNG set career highs in completions (35) & pass yards (328) & had his 3rd-career game with 3 TD passes last week. Has TD pass in 12 straight games, longest active streak among NFC QBs. Has 0 INTs in 4 of his past 5 home starts. Passed for 251 yards & had career-high 5 TDs (3 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs for career-high 123.5 rating in last meeting. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD had 5 catches, 77 scrimmage yards (39 rec., 38 rush) & rec. TD last week & is 1 of 2 RBs (De’Von Achane) with TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 4th in row with TD. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Atl. with 100+ scrimmage yards. • WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN led team with 6 catches for 100 yards last week, 1st. Car. rookie with 5+ catches & 100+ rec. yards since 2018 (DJ Moore). Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. • WR HUNTER RENFROW had 7 catches for 48 yards & 2nd-career game with 2 rec. TDs last week. • TE JA’TAVION SANDERS had career-high 7 catches for 54 yards last week. Had 5 catches in last home meeting. • S TRE’VON MOEHRIG is 1 of 3 DBs (Chamarri Conner & Talanoa Hufanga) with 9+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks. • LB CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM aims for his 3rd in row with 7+ tackles. • LB D.J. WONNUM had TFL & 1st-career INT last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • LB PATRICK JONES had TFL & 1st-career PD in Week 2. • LB PRINCELY UMANMIELEN (rookie) had 1st-career sack last week. • DT DERRICK BROWN had 5th-career game with 2 PD last week, tied 2ndmost among DL since 2020. Has 7 TFL in his past 5 vs. Atl. • DE A’SHAWN ROBINSON had TFL in 3 of his final 4 home games last season. Since 2023, ranks 4th among DL with 149 tackles.

PANTHERS HOPE HOME OPENER VS. FALCONS CAN SPARK SLOW OFFENSIVE START

The Atlanta Falcons are looking at this week’s trip to take on the Carolina Panthers as just as big as other games that might come with a high-profile tag.

“The big part for us is teaching all the rookies, letting them guys know that every week in the National Football League is primetime,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You got to always bring the energy.”

The teams meet Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.

The Falcons (1-1) are coming off Sunday night’s 22-6 victory at Minnesota.

“We haven’t played our best game yet,” Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said.

The Panthers (0-2) will be playing in their home opener after losses at Jacksonville and Arizona. There are no hints that the Panthers will bench quarterback Bryce Young like they did a year ago following two games.

“Obviously, there’s stuff Bryce would come up here and say he’d like to clean up from the first two games,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said about Young. “I’m fired up with where we’re headed.”

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has gained 167 yards on the ground across two games, while picking up another 125 yards on receptions.

Morris elevated Robinson’s stature this week by proclaiming him “definitely the best player in football.”

“It was great to be able to see the run game going,” Penix said. “I want to see this offense when we have the run and the pass going at the same time and see how electric we can be.”

While this will be the Panthers’ divisional opener, the Falcons have already taken a Week 1 home loss to Tampa Bay, making this game that much more important.

Penix threw for 312 yards against Carolina in last year’s regular-season finale, though the Panthers won 44-38 on a day that began with Falcons still holding hopes of reaching the postseason. He said he expects to see a variety of setups from the Panthers defense.

“They present a lot of different things,” Penix said. “They got playmakers. They will make plays. We just got to make more.”

Carolina racked up 537 yards in that game last January, and Young had the best game of his professional career, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 251 yards with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.

There was little flow offensively last week for the Panthers in the loss to Arizona until late in the third quarter when facing a 27-3 deficit. The rushing attack stalled, managing just 49 rushing yards.

“I want to see that mix come alive,” Canales said.

The Falcons need a replacement for A.J. Terrell Jr., a cornerback who did not practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury suffered last weekend and is considered week-to-week, Morris said. Dee Alford filled in, but Morris wouldn’t commit to Alford’s role against the Panthers.

“We want to have those guys go out there and compete at a very high level this week in order to figure out who gets the best opportunity,” Morris said, pointing out that Clark Phillips III is trending up as he comes off a preseason rib injury.

Defensive end James Pierce Jr. (groin), tight end Charlie Woerner (ankle) and receiver Jamal Agnew (groin) also did not practice for Atlanta Wednesday. Receivers Darnell Mooney (shoulder) and Jamal Washington (concussion) were limited along with offensive lineman Jack Nelson (calf), linebacker Kaden Elliss (neck) and safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring).

The Panthers are retooling their offensive front with guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett going on injured reserve. Cade Mays is shifting to center to take Corbett’s spot, while Chandler Zavala will start at right guard. Mays started eight games at that position last year.

Canales said Mays competed for the starting position this season, so should be well-suited to be back as a starter.

“Those reps are going to pay dividends for us,” he said.

Panthers linebacker Patrick Jones II and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton both were held out of Wednesday’s practice due to hamstring injuries. Receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) was a limited participant.

The Falcons are 37-23 all-time against Carolina, with a 16-14 mark in Charlotte. The teams have split games in each of the past five seasons.

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GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-0) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-2)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: GB leads series, 13-7 (GB won 6 of past 7)

Postseason: GB leads series, 1-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/25/21: CLE 22 at GB 24

Postseason: NFL-C 1/2/66: CLE 12 at GB 23

PACKERS NOTES:

QB JORDAN LOVE passed for 292 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 113.9 rating in Week 2 & is 1 of 3 (Justin Herbert & Lamar Jackson) with 2+ TD passes & 110+ rating in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has TD pass in 15 of 17 career road starts. Aims for his 5th in row on road with 90+ rating. Since 2023, ranks tied-2nd among QBs with 9 games with 2+ TD passes & 0 INTs. • RB JOSH JACOBS can become 5th player ever & 1st player since 2004 (HOFer LaDainian Tomlinson) with rush TD in 12 straight games, incl. postseason. Has 223 scrimmage yards (111.5 per game) in 2 career games at Cle. Had 9 rush TDs in his final 6 road games last season. • TE TUCKER KRAFT led team with career high tying 6 catches for career-best 124 yards & rec. TD in Week 2, his 11th-career TD catch. Is 1 of 3 TEs with rec. TD in each of 1st 2 weeks. • WR ROMEO DOUBS had 16th-career TD catch in Week 2. • DL MICAH PARSONS aims for his 3rd in row with GB with 0.5+ sacks. Had sack in his only career game at Cle. (9/8/24 w/ Dal.). Aims for his 8th in row on road with TFL. • DL RASHAN GARY had sack in 3 of his final 4 road games last season & aims for his 5th in row on road with TFL. Aims for his 4th in row overall with sack & 5th in row overall with TFL. Had 2 sacks in last meeting. • DL DEVONTE WYATT had career-high 2 PD last week & aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Has 5 TFL in his past 6. • LB EDGERRIN COOPER had 10 tackles & half sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. Had 8 TFL in his final 5 road games last season. • LB QUAY WALKER has 5+ tackles in 17 of his 21 career road games. • CB KEISEAN NIXON had career-high 5 PD last week, 1st player with 5 PD in single game since Week 12, 2023 (James Bradberry). • S XAVIER MCKINNEY had 1st PD of season last week.

BROWNS NOTES:

QB JOE FLACCO passed for 199 yards & TD last week. Aims for his 9th in row in Cle. with 285+ pass yards. Has 90+ rating in 2 of his past 3 starts vs. GB. • QB DILLON GABRIEL (rookie) made NFL debut & had 1st-career TD pass last week. • RB QUINSHON JUDKINS (rookie) led team with 71 scrimmage yards (61 rush, 10 rec.) last week in NFL debut. • RB DYLAN SAMPSON (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. • RB JEROME FORD had 54 scrimmage yards (31 rush, 23 rec.) & 5 catches last week. • WR JERRY JEUDY led team with 51 rec. yards in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with 50+ rec. yards. Aims for his 7th in row at home with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 64 yards in his last game vs. GB (10/22/23 w/ Den.). • WR CEDRIC TILLMAN is 1 of 6 WRs with TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. • TE HAROLD FANNIN (rookie) had 5 catches last week. Ranks tied-3rd among TEs with 12 catches in 2025, tied with Keith Jackson for 2nd-most by TE in 1st 2 career games in NFL history. Can join Sam LaPorta as only TEs ever with 5+ catches in each of 1st 3 career games. • DE MYLES GARRETT is 1 of 2 in NFL (Carl Granderson) with 1.5+ sacks in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Leads NFL with 6 TFL in 2025 & tied for lead with 3.5 sacks. Has 2+ sacks in 4 of his past 5 at home. • DT MASON GRAHAM (rookie) had 5 tackles & 1st-career TFL last week. • LB CARSON SCHWESINGER ranks 2nd among rookie LBs with 12 tackles. • LB DEVIN BUSH had 8 tackles, 2 PD & 2nd-career sack last week. Aims for his 4th in row with TFL & 3rd in row with 7+ tackles & PD. Had 6 tackles & sack in only career game vs. GB (10/3/21 w/ Pit.). • CB DENZEL WARD had 2 PD in last meeting. • CB GREG NEWSOME had 7 tackles & TFL in Week 2.

PACKERS PRIME PASS RUSH WITH TARGET ON JOE FLACCO, BROWNS

The Green Bay Packers hit the road for the first time this season in search of their first 3-0 start since 2020 when they meet the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The Packers (2-0) are coming off a 27-18 victory over the Washington Commanders in the Thursday night game, after opening with a statement-making 27-13 win over defending NFC North champion Detroit.

Cleveland (0-2) lost 41-17 at Baltimore last week after opening with a 17-16 loss to Cincinnati.

The Packers’ defense, bolstered by the acquisition of star edge rusher Micah Parsons from Dallas before the start of the regular season, has been dominant and yet to allow a first-half touchdown.

Green Bay led Washington 17-3 after three quarters before the Commanders connected on a pair of fourth-quarter scoring passes. The Packers kept Detroit out of the end zone until a touchdown pass in the final minute.

The Browns lead the NFL in total defense, allowing 191.5 yards per game, while the Packers are third at 238.0. Green Bay averages 335.0 yards per game total offense, while Cleveland averages 324.5.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the “attack front” predicated on penetration is a chore for any offensive line. His anxiety is heightened with right tackle Zach Tom (oblique) and left guard Aaron Banks (groin) less than full strength after missing Week 2.

“They’re going to try to get eight guys in the box. There’s been a lot of ugly runs on tape when going against this defense,” LaFleur said Wednesday.

Parsons gives Green Bay an added dimension off the edge and a test for the Browns, who are still figuring out the pecking order at running back. Quarterback Joe Flacco is tied for the league lead with 90 pass attempts in two games. Green Bay is tied for second in the NFL with eight quarterback sacks.

“He’s one of the purest throwers I’ve ever seen,” said LaFleur. “You’ve got to be really dialed in in terms of your coverage. The big key is going to be get him off the spot, get pressure to him. As I tell our guys, our quarterback or anybody else, it’s hard to throw from your back.”

Flacco was hit nine times at Baltimore last week, when he committed two costly turnovers and buckled under the Ravens’ relentless pass rush.

The Browns finished the game with rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, but Flacco is set for this third consecutive start.

“We have to play better for Joe before we make any of those decisions,” Browns left guard Joel Bitonio said of sticking with Flacco.

Bitonio (back) did not practice Wednesday. Right tackle Jack Conklin (elbow), punter Corey Bojorquez (ankle), safety Grant Delpit (back) and defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (knee) were limited. Cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) was a full participant.

Cleveland is tied for last in turnover differential at minus-4, while the Packers are plus-1.

“They’re a really talented team. I’ll start with their defense, talent at all three levels,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. “Bringing over Micah Parsons, bringing a great player to an already great defense. They play very fast.”

The Ravens scored 41 points last week, but Cleveland is controlling the line of scrimmage defensively. The Browns gave up 91 rushing yards on 44 carries (2.1-yard average) and one rushing touchdown through two weeks.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs was limited Wednesday with an ankle injury but it’s not considered serious. He has rushed for 150 yards and two scores this season and owns a TD carry in 10 consecutive games.

Cleveland’s stop-the-run focus highlights Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who leads the league with 12.5 average air yards per pass.

He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 480 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Tight end Tucker Kraft has eight catches with two scores. Love has spread the ball around to 11 different receivers and gone nine consecutive games without an interception.

Wide receiver Jayden Reed, who had 55 catches last season and 64 in 2023, had surgeries on his cracked clavicle and a foot injury on Wednesday.

Green Bay has won four straight against Cleveland and six of the last seven meetings.

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HOUSTON TEXANS (0-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: HOU leads series, 31-15 (HOU won 12 of past 14)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/1/24: HOU 23 at JAX 20

Postseason: —

TEXANS NOTES:

QB C.J. STROUD totaled 234 yards (207 pass, 27 rush) & had TD pass & 0 INTs with 97 rating last week. Is 3-1 with 8 TDs (7 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 110.1 rating in 4 career starts vs. Jax. Has 19 TDs (18 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs with 107.9 rating in 11 career starts vs. division. • RB NICK CHUBB led team with 72 scrimmage yards (43 rush, 29 rec.) & had 1st rush TD of season last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 60+ scrimmage yards. Had 176 scrimmage yards (144 rush, 32 rec.) & rush TD in only career game vs. Jax. (11/29/20 w/ Cle.). • WR NICO COLLINS led team with 52 rec. yards & had 1st TD catch of season in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Jax. with 7+ catches & 100+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 vs. Jax. Has 80+ rec. yards in 7 of his past 8 vs. division. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK can make Hou. debut after spending past 3 seasons (2022-24) with Jax. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 5 catches for 61 yards & TD in last meeting. • DE DANIELLE HUNTER led team with 2 sacks & FF last week, 18th-career game with 2+ sacks. Has 101.5 career sacks, 7th-most among active players. • DE WILL ANDERSON has sack in each of 1st 2 games of season & aims for his 6th in row overall, inc. playoff, with 0.5+ sacks. • DT SHELDON RANKINS had 2 TFL & sack in Week 2. • LB HENRY TO’OTO’O led team with 11 tackles & had TFL last week. Has 5+ tackles in 9 of his past 10. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 10 tackles & PD in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with 7+ tackles. • CB DEREK STINGLEY led team with 2 PD last week. Has 9 PD & 3 INTs in 4 career games vs. Jax., with 2+ PD in each game. • CB KAMARI LASSITER aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Jax with 6+ tackles & TFL.

JAGS NOTES:

QB TREVOR LAWRENCE passed for 271 yards & 3 TDs last week, 7th-career game with 3+ TD passes & 1st since 12/10/23. Has 2 TD passes in 3 of his past 4 vs. division. Has 102.5 rating over his past 4 home starts vs. division. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE led team with 89 scrimmage yards (71 rush, 18 rec.) & had 1st TD catch of season in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 75+ scrimmage yards. Has 596 scrimmage yards (99.3 per game) in 6 career games vs. Hou. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 214 rush yards in 2025. • RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN (rookie) had 74 scrimmage yards (42 rush, 32 rec.) & 1st-career TD catch last week. • WR BRIAN THOMAS JR. had 49 rec. yards last week. Has 75+ rec. yards & TD catch in 3 of his past 4 at home. Had 75+ rec. yards & TD catch in both games vs. Hou. last season. Had 75+ rec. yards in each of 6 games vs. division last season. • WR PARKER WASHINGTON had 5 catches for team-high 76 rec. yards in Week 2. Had 6 catches for career-best 103 yards & TD in last meeting. • WR DYAMI BROWN had 5 catches for 57 yards & 1st TD of season last week. • WR/DB TRAVIS HUNTER (rookie) had 3 catches, 2 tackles & 1st-career PD last week, becoming 1st player since at least 2012 with 20+ snaps on both offense & defense. • DE JOSH HINES-ALLEN had 6 tackles in Week 2. Had sack in last meeting & has sack in 2 of his past 3 vs. Hou. Aims for his 5th in row vs. division with sack. • DT ARIK ARMSTEAD had 1st sack of season last week. Had PD in last meeting. • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN had 7 tackles, 2 TFL & 1st sack of season last week. Had 2 PD in last meeting. Is only player in NFL with sack, FF & INT in 2025. • LB TRAVON WALKER had 5 tackles, sack & PD last week. Has sack in 3 of his past 4. Had sack in last meeting. • LB DEVIN LLOYD had 5th-career INT in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Hou. with PD. • CB JOURDAN LEWIS led team with career-high 8 tackles & had 2 TFL & PD last week. • S ERIC MURRAY had 4th-career INT in Week 2. Spent past 5 seasons with Hou.

JAGUARS TAKE ON WINLESS TEXANS IN PURSUIT OF AFC SOUTH BREAKTHROUGH

Two-time reigning AFC South champions, the Houston Texans are headed to Jacksonville winless and wary of losing further ground.

Winners of the division eight of the last 14 years, Houston lost at the Rams in Week 1 and another tight one to Tampa Bay in their Texans’ home opener Monday night. At (0-2), they are moving further away from recent playoff showings and already two games back in the division.

Houston has a chance to start making up ground Sunday, opening division play at Jacksonville (1-1), a destination that has been all sunshine for the Texans in recent seasons. They’ve won their last seven games with 12 wins in the last 14 against the Jaguars.

“Our guys are eager to get going. That’s what I felt from our team meeting,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. ” … They understand how small of a margin it is to win in this league.”

The Jaguars are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 start eluded them in late in last week’s loss at Cincinnati.

While they intercepted backup quarterback Jake Browning three times after Joe Burrow left the game with a toe injury, the Bengals threw the last punch. Browning marched the Bengals on a 92-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with 18 seconds left.

Even in a loss, there have been bright spots for Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ defense leads the league with six takeaways and five interceptions.

The Jaguars’ offense ranks fourth in yards per game (389.0), No. 1 in rushing yards per game (169.5) and Travis Etienne ranks second in rushing yards (214) behind only Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.

Record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hasn’t yet found his rhythm. On a team-high 19 targets, he has just five catches for 60 yards, a slow start after he racked up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Thomas received online criticism for a perceived lack of effort and a few plays he missed in Sunday’s loss. Coen said Monday that Thomas has been playing through a sore wrist, which first showed up on Wednesday’s practice report although he was a full participant.

“We had some really good conversations,” Coen said of Thomas. “Everybody was frustrated. But at the end of the day, he’s got a great opportunity to bounce back, as does the rest of our team, and (I) feel really confident about that.”

Houston has lost its first two games by a combined six points.

It took a 19-14 lead over the Buccaneers with 2:10 left on Monday, but Tampa Bay responded with a touchdown drive of its own, taking the lead back with six seconds left to hand the Texans another loss.

While the defense has done enough, the offense isn’t clicking yet under first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The Texans rank 28th in total yards (265.5 per game) and dead last in scoring offense (14 points per game).

C.J. Stroud, the 2023 offensive rookie of the year, has just 395 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

He hasn’t been helped by a depleted receiver room with Tank Dell on injured reserve. Free agent acquisitions Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios were sidelined with hamstring injuries before participating in limited fashion Wednesday.

Stroud is optimistic the veterans will boost a relatively young receiving room.

“Kirk will help those guys as he’s in the room,” Stroud said. “On gamedays, they can see him, how he works.”

Cornerback Jaylin Smith (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday for the Texans. Center Jake Andrews (ankle), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (knee), safety Jalen Pitre (rib) and defensive end Darrell Taylor (hip) were all limited.

Jaguars offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland and tight end Hunter Long missed Wednesday’s practice with ankle injuries. Cornerback Jarrian Jones (back), offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (knee) and running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) were limited participants.

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CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: CIN leads series, 8-7 (Home team won 14 of 15)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/16/23: MIN 24 at CIN 27

Postseason: —

BENGALS NOTES:

BENGALS are 2-0 for 1st time since 2018 & can begin 3-0 for 1st time since 2015. • QB JAKE BROWNING passed for 241 yards & had 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) last week. Can make 8th career start & 1st since 1/7/24. Passed for 324 yards & 2 TDs with 97.7 rating in last meeting. • RB CHASE BROWN had 65 scrimmage yards (47 rush, 18 rec.) in Week 2, his 10thstraight game with 50+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 4th in row on road with TD. • WR JA’MARR CHASE had 14 catches for 165 yards & TD last week, 3rd-career game with 14+ catches, tied 3rd-most all-time. Has 6 games with 10+ catches, 150+ rec. yards & rec. TD, most-ever by player under age of 26. Has 75+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 on road. Has 165 rec. yards (82.5 per game) in 2 career games vs. Min. • WR TEE HIGGINS had 56 rec. yards & 1st TD catch of season in Week 2. Had 61 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs in last meeting & has rec. TD in both career games vs. Min. • WR MITCHELL TINSLEY had 1st-career TD catch last week. • TE NOAH FANT has 50+ rec. yards in both career games vs. Min. • DE TREY HENDRICKSON had sack & PD last week & is 1 of 5 AFC DL with sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Aims for 8th in row with TFL & 6th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. • LB LOGAN WILSON aims for his 14th in row with 7+ tackles & 3rd in row with PD. Had 7 tackles in each of 2 career games vs. Min. • LB DEMETRIUS KNIGHT is 1 of 5 rookies with 5+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks. • CB DAX HILL had 8 tackles & 3rd-career INT last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. Had 6 tackles & PD in last meeting. • CB DJ TURNER is 1 of 2 with 2+ PD in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. • CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT had 2 PD in Week 2. Has PD in 3 of his past 4 on road. • S JORDAN BATTLE is 1 of 2 in NFL (Cam Bynum) with INT in each of 1st 2 weeks. Had 10 tackles in last meeting. • S GENO STONE tied career high with 9 tackles last week.

VIKINGS NOTES:

QB CARSON WENTZ can make Min. debut. Has 22,410 pass yards & 164 TDs (153 pass, 11 rush) in 98 career games (94 starts). Has 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) in 2 career starts vs. Cin. • RB JORDAN MASON has 75+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3. Since 2022, is 1 of 3 RBs (De’Von Achane) with 5+ yards per rush att. (5.2), min. 250 rush atts. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 81 rec. yards last week. Has 502 receptions & tied Larry Fitzgerald (26 years, 90 days) as youngest player ever to reach 500 career catches. Aims for his 13th in row at home with 50+ rec. yards. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Cin. with 5+ catches & 70+ rec. yards. Jefferson (95.7 rec. yards per game) & CIN WR Ja’Marr Chase (87.8) rank 1st & 2nd all time in receiving avg., min. 50 career games. • WR ADAM THIELEN had 9 catches for 92 yards & 2 rec. TDs in his last game vs. Cin. (9/12/21 w/ Min.). • TE T.J. HOCKENSON had 6 catches for 63 yards in last meeting. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. • LB JONATHAN GREENARD had 1st sack of season last week, his 36th-career sack. Had sack in his last game vs. Cin. (11/12/23 w/ Hou.). • LB ANDREW VAN GINKEL had 7 TFL in 9 home games last season. • LB ERIC WILSON had 5 tackles & 3rd-career FF last week. • LB IVAN PACE had 8 tackles & 10th-career TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB DALLAS TURNER had career-high 5 tackles & 1st sack of season last week, his 4th-career sack. • CB BYRON MURPHY has 6 PD in his past 6 at home. Had FF in last meeting. • S JOSH METELLUS had sack in last meeting. • S THEO JACKSON led team with career-high 9 tackles & had 1st-career FR last week.

INJURIES PUSH BACKUP QBS INTO SPOTLIGHT FOR BENGALS, VIKINGS

As a kid growing up in Bismarck, N.D., Carson Wentz rooted for the Minnesota Vikings and occasionally made the trip with his family to see them play at the Metrodome.

On Sunday, Wentz will play quarterback for the organization he used to support from the stands. He will make his team debut in place of injured starter J.J. McCarthy when the Vikings (1-1) oppose the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) in Minneapolis.

“Believe it or not, my family was already planning to come,” Wentz said. “Now, there’s even more coming. Everybody’s pretty excited. You never wish for injuries, but just the way this has happened to get a chance for the team I grew up cheering for, close to home, all those things.”

The Bengals also will turn to their No. 2 quarterback in a battle of the backups.

Cincinnati star Joe Burrow left last week’s game because of turf toe, an injury that is expected to sideline him for several months. Burrow’s absence means an extended opportunity for his top backup, Jake Browning, who has appeared in 13 games in parts of three seasons.

Browning made seven starts in place of an injured Burrow in 2023, posting a 4-3 record. This time, he said, he feels more comfortable with stepping away from the sideline and into the spotlight.

“I don’t think you really know until you know what it feels like (to start on short notice),” Browning said. “And so in 2023, I had no idea what all that was going to feel like. I kind of had to make some adjustments on the fly. …

“So I think just the experience, and I look at last year — I didn’t take a meaningful snap, but I had a good year, as far as watching my film in practice and stuff like that. So I feel like I made some improvements that I needed to. I’m excited for the opportunity to play.”

The Bengals opened the season with a 17-16 road win over the Cleveland Browns and a 31-27 home victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ja’Marr Chase leads the team with 16 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown, and Chase Brown has a team-high 90 rushing yards and a score.

Cincinnati likely will also be without first-round pick Shemar Stewart against the Vikings after the defensive end injured his right ankle during the fourth quarter against Jacksonville.

The Vikings earned a 27-24 win over the host Chicago Bears in McCarthy’s NFL debut in Week 1, but they lost 22-6 against the visiting Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. McCarthy struggled to move the ball on offense and was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain this week.

Wentz is no stranger to the NFL, having started for five other teams. He should benefit from the presence of All-Pro teammate Justin Jefferson, who has seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

McCarthy is one of several Vikings players who have been sidelined by injuries the past couple of weeks. Starting running back Aaron Jones is out because of a hamstring injury, meaning backup Jordan Mason could figure prominently into the game plan. Wentz and Mason will work behind a line that may be without center Ryan Kelly and offensive tackle Justin Skule after both were held out of practice on Wednesday because of concussions.

Wentz started one game in each of the past two years, getting a win with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023 and taking a loss with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. He owns a career 47-46-1 record as a starter.

“I’ve been staying ready behind the scenes, doing whatever I can,” Wentz said. “It’s been fast-paced trying to learn the offense and learn these guys.

“Physically, I feel great. Mentally, I feel I’m in a good spot. Coaches have done a great job helping me try to grasp this as quick as I can.”

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: Series is tied, 15-15 (NE won 7 of past 8)

Postseason: NE leads series, 4-1

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/7/23: NE 21 at PIT 18

Postseason: AFC-C 1/22/17: PIT 17 at NE 36

STEELERS NOTES:

QB AARON RODGERS passed for 203 yards & TD last week. Needs TD pass to surpass HOFer Brett Favre (508) for 4th-most & needs 42 pass yards to surpass Philip Rivers (63,440) for 6th-most in NFL history. Has 230+ pass yards & 2 TD passes in each of his past 5 starts vs. NE. • RB JAYLEN WARREN led team with 134 scrimmage yards (career-high 86 rec., 48 rush) in Week 2. • WR DK METCALF had TD catch last week. Has 90+ rec. yards & TD catch in both career games vs. NE, incl. 10 catches for 129 yards & TD in his only game at NE (9/15/24 w/ Sea.). • TE PAT FREIERMUTH had 3 catches for 31 yards in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with 25+ rec. yards. • TE JONNU SMITH co-led team with 4 catches last week. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4. Had 9 catches for 87 yards & TD in his last game vs. NE (11/24/24 w/ Mia.). • LB T.J. WATT has 108 sacks in 123 games & can surpass HOFer DeMarcus Ware (110.5) for 2nd-most sacks in 1st 125 games since 1982. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NE with TFL. • DT CAMERON HEYWARD had 5 tackles & PD in Week 2. Has PD in each of his past 3, longest active streak by DT. Had 6 tackles & sack in last meeting. • LB NICK HERBIG co-led team with 2 TFL & had 1st-career INT last week. • LB PATRICK QUEEN had 6 tackles & TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 13th in row with 5+ tackles. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3. Has 5+ tackles & TFL in both career games vs. NE. • LB JACK SAWYER (rookie) had 5 tackles & 1st-career sack last week. • LB PAYTON WILSON led team with 9 tackles & had 1st-career sack in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles & TFL. • CB JALEN RAMSEY led team with 2 PD & had 25th-career INT in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Has PD in each of his past 3 games vs. NE.

PATRIOTS NOTES:

QB DRAKE MAYE completed 19 of 23 atts. (82.6 pct.) for 230 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with career-high 137.3 rating & rushed for 31 yards & TD in Week 2. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON led team with 142 scrimmage yards (88 rec., 54 rush) & 5 catches in Week 2. Rushed for 47 yards in his last game vs. Pit. (9/18/22). • WR KAYSHON BOUTTE had 1st TD catch of season last week. Has TD catch in 2 of his past 3. • WR STEFON DIGGS had 4 catches for 32 yards in Week 2. Has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3. Has 8+ catches, 100+ rec. yards & TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Pit. • WR MACK HOLLINS had 1st TD catch of season last week. • TE HUNTER HENRY had 2 TD catches in last meeting. • DE MILTON WILLIAMS led team with 2 sacks in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Has PD in both career games vs. Pit. • LB K’LAVON CHAISSON had sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 0.5+ sack. Had sack in his last game vs. Pit. (10/13/24 w/ LV). • LB CHRISTIAN ELLISS had 5 tackles last week. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB HAROLD LANDRY had sack in Week 2. Has sack in each of his past 3, tied longest active streak (Rashan Gary & Trey Hendrickson). • LB MARTE MAPU had 1st INT of season last week. • LB ROBERT SPILLANE had 3 tackles, sack & PD in Week 2. Spent 4 seasons with Pit. (2019-22). Had 8 tackles & PD in his last game vs. Pit. (10/13/24 w/ LV). • S KYLE DUGGER had 7 tackles, PD & half sack in last meeting. • S JAYLINN HAWKINS led team with 8 tackles last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Had 5 tackles in his last game vs. Pit. (12/4/22 w/ Atl.). • S CRAIG WOODSON (rookie) had 6 tackles in Week 2. Is 1 of 4 rookies with 5+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks of season.

RUN DEFENSE, INJURIES IN SPOTLIGHT AS STEELERS VISIT PATRIOTS

After each team split its first two games, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots will both be looking to climb over the .500 mark Sunday when they meet in Foxborough, Mass.

New England is coming off a 33-27 victory over Miami last week and will be attempting to win back-to-back games for the first time since the 2022 season, when the Patriots defeated Detroit (29-0) and Cleveland (38-15) in consecutive weeks.

“There’s a lot of stats here, guys, that I’m not familiar with, nor am I concerned with,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said during his weekly press conference. “The focus is trying to build some consistency, which would then lead to confidence, and continue to build on what we did, improve the things that we have to fix and then continue to eliminate some of the things that we feel like could get you beat.”

Run defense will be a key for Pittsburgh, which allowed 117 yards rushing on 29 attempts during last Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Seattle. The Steelers gave up 182 yards rushing in a 34-22 victory over the New York Jets in Week 1.

Pittsburgh has allowed at least 30 points in each of the season’s first two games for the first time since 2002. The Steelers gave up 30 points or more twice last season.

Cornerback Darius Slay (rest), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (knee), linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle), and linebacker T.J. Watt (rest) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Offensive lineman Max Scharping (knee) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) had limited participation, and linebacker Patrick Queen (oblique) was a full participant.

Harmon, a rookie out of Oregon, said Wednesday he’s ready to play after missing the first two games with a knee injury suffered in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game.

“I’m ready to go,” Harmon said. “If my number is called, I’m ready to go.”

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin cited attrition as one of the reasons the Seattle offense was able to have so much success last Sunday.

“I thought our defense wore down some, particularly as the game went on,” Tomlin said. “We had the desire to improve our run defense, and I thought, particularly initially, we did. But there’s an attrition component to the game, and our lines got a little thin at various points in the game.”

Defensive end Keion White (illness) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non-injury related), linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (hamstring), cornerback Carlton Davis III (Achilles), cornerback Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), linebacker Harold Landry (foot), linebacker Marte Mapu (neck), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot), fullback Jack Westover (hamstring) and guard Jaren Wilson (thigh) had limited participation.

New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced Wednesday for the first time since he sustained a hamstring injury July 28 in training camp, but it isn’t clear if he will play Sunday.

“Excited to be out there,” Gonzalez said. “I love football. This is what I do, so I mean it’s been very challenging to be out for so long.”

The Patriots would welcome Gonzalez’s return as they have allowed a league-high 630 passing yards this season, despite also leading the league in sacks (nine).

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LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-0) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-0)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: PHI leads series, 23-18-1 (PHI won 8 of past 9)

Postseason: Series is tied, 2-2 (Home team won past 2)

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 11/24/24: PHI 37 at LAR 20

Postseason: NFC-D 1/19/25: LAR 22 at PHI 28

RAMS NOTES:

QB MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 298 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT for 105.4 rating in Week 2 & is 1 of 5 QBs with 100+ rating in each of 1st 2 weeks. Has 380 TD passes & can tie Matt Ryan (381) for 9th-most in NFL history. Passed for 324 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 97.2 rating in 2024 NFC-D at Phi. Has 17 TDs (16 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 98 rating in 8 career starts vs. Phi., incl. playoffs. • RB KYREN WILLIAMS had 80 scrimmage yards (66 rush, 14 rec.) in Week 2 & has 50+ scrimmage yards in 30 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. Rushed for 106 yards in 2024 NFC-D at Phi. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Phi. with 50+ rush yards, incl. postseason. • WR PUKA NACUA had 8 catches for 91 yards & 45-yard rush TD in Week 2, his 2nd-career rush TD. Has 2nd-most receptions (202) & 3rd-most rec. yards (2,697) by player in 1st 30 career games all-time. Aims for his 11th in row with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Has 22 catches (7.3 per game) for 285 yards (95 per game) & rec. TD in 3 career games vs. Phi., incl. playoffs. • WR DAVANTE ADAMS had 33rd-career game with 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD in Week 2, tied 5th-most such games in NFL history. Has 5 rec. TDs in 4 career games vs. Phi. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Phi. with 10+ catches & 4th in row vs. Phi. with 100+ rec. yards. • TE DAVIS ALLEN is 1 of 3 TEs with rec. TD in each of 1st 2 weeks. • LB BYRON YOUNG had 2 sacks & 4th-career FF last week, his 2nd-career 2-sack game. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. • LB NATE LANDMAN had 1st-career FR last week. • LB JARED VERSE had 2 sacks & 3 TFL in 2024 NFC-D at Phi. • DE KOBIE TURNER had 1st sack of season in Week 2. Had sack & 2 TFL in 2024 NFC-D at Phi. • DE BRADEN FISKE had sack in 2024 NFC-D at Phi. • S KAM CURL had 7th-career sack & 3rd-career game with 2 TFL in Week 2.

EAGLES NOTES:

QB JALEN HURTS had rush TD in Week 2 & has 45 career games with rush TD, incl. playoffs, 3rd-most by QB in NFL history. Had rush TD in 2024 NFC-D vs. LAR. Aims for his 6th in row with rush TD. Incl. postseason, is 9-0 in his past 9 home starts with 21 TDs (11 pass, 10 rush) vs. 0 INTs. • RB SAQUON BARKLEY rushed for 88 yards & TD in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with rush TD. Had 232 scrimmage yards (205 rush, 27 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in 2024 NFC-D vs. LAR & 302 scrimmage yards (255 rush, 47 rec.) & 2 rush TDs at LAR in Week 12 last season. His 534 scrimmage yards vs. LAR in 2024 were most vs. single opponent in single season since 1953, incl. playoffs. • WR A.J. BROWN had 5 catches last week. Had 6 catches for 109 yards & rec. TD in last reg. season meeting (11/24/24). • WR DEVONTA SMITH had 53 rec. yards last week. Has 7 rec. TDs in his past 8 at home. • LB ZACK BAUN had TFL, PD & FR in 2024 NFC-D vs. LAR. • LB JIHAAD CAMPBELL (rookie) tied for team-lead with 7 tackles last week. • LB NOLAN SMITH had 1st FF of season last week. Had sack & FF in 2024 NFC-D vs. LAR. • DT JALEN CARTER had TFL last week. Had 2 sacks, 2 PD & FF in 2024 NFC-D vs. LAR. Had FF in last reg. season meeting (11/24/24). • DT JORDAN DAVIS had 1st-career game with 2 PD last week & aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH had half sack in Phi. debut last week. • DB COOPER DEJEAN aims for his 3rd in row vs. LAR with PD, incl. playoffs. • CB QUINYON MITCHELL aims for his 3rd in row vs. LAR with PD, incl. playoffs. • CB ADOREE’ JACKSON aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S ANDREW MUKUBA (rookie) had 1st-career INT & 1st-career half sack in Week 2.

RAMS OUT TO STIFLE SAQUON BARKLEY, EAGLES IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS

The Los Angeles Rams take another shot at stopping Saquon Barkley when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles for an early clash of unbeaten teams on Sunday.

The Eagles (2-0) knocked the Rams (2-0) out of the playoffs last season with a 38-22 divisional round win, with Barkley rushing for 205 yards and two touchdowns on a snowy January day in Philadelphia.

That came two months after his franchise-record 255-yard, two-TD effort in Philadelphia’s 37-20 road win against Los Angeles in Week 12 that supercharged Barkley’s historic 2,000-yard season.

Barkley broke off touchdown runs of 62, 70, 72 and 78 yards in those two meetings — by far the four longest TD runs allowed by the Rams all season.

“He’s great and they’re great,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Barkley on this week’s “The Coach McVay Show.” “Football is the greatest team sport that there is and they’ve got legitimate threats across the board, whether that’s on the perimeter, at the tight ends. They’re excellent across the board with all five of their offensive linemen, and then obviously Jalen (Hurts) can beat you with his arm, his legs or his mind.

“But you know Saquon is so dynamic. He obviously had such a tremendous impact. Nobody had the production in the history of this game that he had when you combine his regular season and playoffs. And certainly he made his impact and his presence felt in the two games that we played them last year.”

The Rams responded this offseason by signing defensive tackle Poona Ford and linebacker Nate Landman. Results so far have been positive, as Landman was the Week 1 NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the Rams have not given up a TD run through two games.

Barkley, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 148 yards and two scores this season and could be poised for a breakout on Sunday — along with the rest of Philadelphia’s 29th-ranked offense in yards per game (259.0).

All five of the Eagles’ touchdowns have been red-zone runs of 13 or fewer yards, three by quarterback Jalen Hurts, as critics claim the offense has been too predictable under first-year coordinator Sean Patullo.

“We’re constantly making sure that we’re not giving anything away to the defense,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Monday. “But there are times you’re going to have tendencies. You do your best to put a seed of doubt in the defense’s mind to break tendencies. But a lot of teams — good teams have tendencies. But that doesn’t mean you don’t fight like crazy to fight them and to, again, put seeds of doubt in the defense’s mind of what you’re doing.”

Barkley rushed for 88 yards and found the end zone for the second straight week in last weekend’s 20-17 victory at Kansas City, a rematch of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win.

The Rams arrive with the NFL’s seventh-best offense, averaging 367.5 yards per game behind 37-year-old Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Stafford threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns and Adams recorded his first 100-yard game and first score with L.A. in last week’s 33-19 triumph at Tennessee. Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards to increase his team-leading totals to 18 and 221.

Rams guard Steve Avila (ankle), tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) and defensive end Braden Fiske (oblique) were considered questionable to begin the week. Avila and Fiske did not practice Wednesday while Parkinson was a limited participant.

For the Eagles, veteran tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) returned to practice Wednesday after missing Week 2 and was a limited participant along with star defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder) and backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb). Backup running back Will Shipley (oblique) remains sidelined with the injury he suffered Week 1.

Including the postseason, the Eagles have won nine of the last 10 meetings. The exception was the Rams’ 37-19 win in Philadelphia in Week 2 of 2020.

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NEW YORK JETS (0-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: NYJ leads series, 10-3 (TB won past 2)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 1/2/22: TB 28 at NYJ 24

Postseason: —

JETS NOTES:

QB JUSTIN FIELDS rushed for 49 yards in Week 2. Passed for 211 yards & TD in his last start vs. TB (9/17/23 w/ Chi.). • QB TYROD TAYLOR had TD pass & 106.6 rating last week. Had 321 yards (268 pass, 53 rush) & TD pass vs. 0 INTs with 96.5 rating in his last start vs. TB (10/22/17 w/ Buf.). • RB BREECE HALL has 50+ scrimmage yards in 12 of his past 13. • WR GARRETT WILSON led team with 50 rec. yards in Week 2. Aims for his 8th in row with 50+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in each of his past 2 on road. • TE JEREMY RUCKERT had 1st-career TD catch last week. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • DL JOWON BRIGGS had 5 tackles & 1st-career sack & FF in Week 2. • DL HARRISON PHILLIPS had 8 tackles & PD in his last game vs. TB (9/10/23 w/ Min.). • LB JERMAINE JOHNSON had 4 tackles & PD last week. • LB JAMIEN SHERWOOD led team with 13 tackles & 2 TFL in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & TFL. Has 9+ tackles in each of his past 8 on road. • LB QUINCY WILLIAMS had 5 tackles & PD in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 7 tackles in last meeting. • S TONY ADAMS aims for his 3rd in row with 5 tackles. • CB MICHAEL CARTER had PD last in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had 8 tackles & sack in last meeting. • S ANDRE CISCO had 6 tackles & his 25th-career PD last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles. • CB SAUCE GARDNER had PD last week. Has PD in 5 of his past 6. • CB BRANDON STEPHENS has PD in 2 of his past 3.

BUCS NOTES:

TAMPA BAY is 1st team since 1970 with GW-TD in final minute of each of 1st 2 games of season. • QB BAKER MAYFIELD had 2 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 98 rating in Week 2 & is 1 of 4 (Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson & Jordan Love) with 2+ TD passes & 0 INTs in each of 1st 2 weeks. Aims for his 8th in row with 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating. Since 2023, leads NFL with 74 TD passes. • RB BUCKY IRVING had 6 catches & 121 scrimmage yards (71 rush, 50 rec.) last week, his 6th-career 100-yard game. Had 50+ scrimmage yards in 8 of his 9 home games last season. • RB RACHAAD WHITE rushed for 65 yards & had GW-TD in Week 2, his 11thcareer rush TD. Had 6 TDs (5 rec, 1 rush) in his final 6 home games in 2024. • WR MIKE EVANS aims for his 7th in row with 5+ catches & 10th in row with 50+ rec. yards. Ranks 9th in NFL history with 105 career rec. TDs. Had TD catch in last meeting. • WR EMEKA EGBUKA is only rookie with TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks & can become 1st rookie since 2021 (Ja’Marr Chase) with rec. TD in each of his team’s 1st 3 games. • LB LAVONTE DAVID aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYJ with 2+ TFL. • LB SIRVOCEA DENNIS aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • LB YAYA DIABY aims for his 3rd in row at home with sack. • LB HAASON REDDICK appeared in 10 games for NYJ last season. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYJ with 1.5+ sacks. • CB ZYON MCCOLLUM aims for his 5th in row with 5+ tackles. • S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. has 7+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 at home. Had 8 tackles in last meeting. • S TYKEE SMITH led team with 6 tackles & had career-high 2 TFL with 1stcareer sack in Week 2.

BUCCANEERS GEAR UP FOR STRUGGLING JETS WITH HOPES OF 3-0 START

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 for the fifth straight season, but they haven’t achieved a 3-0 start since 2005.

The Buccaneers will try to end a string of four consecutive Week 3 losses when they host the reeling New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa Bay rallied for a 20-19 road victory over the host Houston Texans on Monday night. Rachaad White scored the winning points on a 2-yard run with six seconds remaining to cap a stellar 11-play, 80-yard drive.

The Buccaneers also staged a comeback in the fourth quarter of Week 1 to beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. The game-winning score was made with 59 seconds remaining.

“We’re always in the fight,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield said Wednesday. “Anytime we step on the field, we expect to win. We expect to play well and do our job at a high level. It’s just the mentality.”

Mayfield was the recipient of some blows while completing 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans. He also rushed for 33 yards on three attempts.

Mayfield (foot, toe) was a full participant at Wednesday’s walkthrough. He said his left leg was feeling “Good. Great.”

Mayfield has thrown five touchdown passes without an interception in 70 attempts this season.

The Jets (0-2) certainly would cherish some stability at quarterback as they aim to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2021.

Justin Fields (concussion) was ruled out on Wednesday and veteran Tyrod Taylor will make his 59th career regular-season start.

Fields sustained the concussion in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 30-10 home loss against the Buffalo Bills.

Fields wasn’t even at the team complex Wednesday as he recovers from the injury.

First-year New York coach Aaron Glenn expressed confidence that Taylor can get the offense moving. The Jets are averaging just 274 yards per game, 26th in the NFL.

“There is no coverage, there is no pressure that he hasn’t seen,” Glenn said of Taylor. “So that’s why I have confidence in him and he’s a very studious person, good athlete. Again, been around this league for a long time. There is no better player you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point of time.”

Taylor last started games in 2023 for the New York Giants — he started five — and has a 28-28-1 regular-season record.

He completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo after replacing the injured Fields.

“I can’t sulk in or what-if, or what should happen,” said Taylor of his role. “The reality is that you have to be in the moment, and I’ve learned to be more vocal over the years. I think as a quarterback, eyes are always on you, so how you are when you’re up, when you’re down, when things aren’t going your way, is a reflection of your character. So I’ve never been one to question why my time isn’t right then or right now, it’s more so just prepare myself for whenever it does happen and that I make the most of it.”

Undrafted rookie Brady Cook of Missouri will serve as the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback.

Fields was one of seven Jets to miss practice. The others were safety Tony Adams (hip), cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II (ankle), defensive lineman Jay Tufele (illness), receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring).

Tampa Bay formally placed standout defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (pectoral) on injured reserve on Wednesday. Kancey had a team-leading 7.5 sacks in just 12 games last season.

“Everybody has to step up,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said of replacing Kancey. “We can’t replicate what Kancey can do for us and some of them have to play the run and some of them have to be ready for the pass. Everybody has to do their job.”

Receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip/groin) missed the walkthrough, but star wideout Chris Godwin Jr. (ankle) and standout left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) were both limited and could possibly make their season debuts on Sunday. Offensive tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) didn’t participate and is expected to miss multiple weeks, while guard Cody Mauch (knee) also sat out.

The Jets lead the series 10-3, but Tampa Bay has won the past two meetings.

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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-0) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (0-2)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: IND leads series, 39-21 (IND won past 4)

Postseason: TEN leads series, 1-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/22/24: TEN 30 at IND 38

Postseason: AFC-D 1/16/00: TEN 19 at IND 16

COLTS NOTES:

COLTS are 2-0 for 1st time since 2009. Became 1st team in SB era to not punt in either of 1st 2 games of season. • QB DANIEL JONES passed for 316 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 107 rating last week, 10th-career 300-yard game. Is only QB in NFL with TD pass, rush TD & 0 INTs in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Completed 17 of 21 atts. (career-high 81 pct.) for 188 yards & 2 TDs with 115.9 rating in only career start vs. Ten. (9/11/22 w/ NYG). Ranks 2nd in NFL with 588 pass yards in 2025. • RB JONATHAN TAYLOR had 215 scrimmage yards (165 rush, 50 rec.) with 6thcareer TD catch last week, 1st 200-yard game in NFL this season & 5th-career 200-yard game. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 7 straight games, 2nd-longest active streak in NFL (Bijan Robinson – 8). Rushed for 218 yards & 3 TDs in last meeting. Leads NFL with 313 scrimmage yards & 236 rush yards in 2025. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN had 4 catches for 40 yards last week. Aims for his 5th in row on road with 5+ catches. Aims for his 3rd in row at Ten. with rec. TD. • WR JOSH DOWNS led team with 6 catches & had 51 rec. yards in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ten. with 60+ rec. yards & TD catch. • TE TYLER WARREN (rookie) is only TE in NFL with 75+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks of season & only TE in NFL history with 75+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 career games. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 6 tackles & team-high 2 TFL last week. Has TFL in 5 of his past 6 on road. Had 5 tackles, TFL & PD in last meeting. • DT GROVER STEWART had 7 tackles & TFL last week. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. • DE KWITY PAYE has TFL in 4 of his past 5. Had sack in last meeting & has sack in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ten. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN had 5 tackles & PD last week. Had 7 tackles in last meeting. • CB KENNY MOORE had TFL last week. Had 2 INTs in last meeting. • S CAM BYNUM is 1 of 2 in NFL (Jordan Battle) with INT in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. • S NICK CROSS had 7 tackles & PD in Week 2. Had PD in last meeting.

TITANS NOTES:

QB CAM WARD (rookie) passed for 175 yards & 1st-career TD with 0 INTs last week. Is 1st No. 1 overall pick QB ever with 0 INTs in each of 1st 2 career starts. • RB TONY POLLARD rushed for 92 yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 85+ scrimmage yards. Has rush TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. Ind. • WR CALVIN RIDLEY led team with 57 rec. yards last week. Has 55+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5. Had 78 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting. Needs 5 catches for 400 career catches. • WR ELIC AYOMANOR (rookie) had 4 catches for 56 yards & 1st-career TD in Week 2. • WR TYLER LOCKETT had 100 rec. yards & 2 TD catches in his last game vs. Ind. (9/12/21 w/ Sea.). Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ind. with 65+ rec. yards. • TE CHIG OKONKWO had 4 catches last week. Set career highs in catches (9) & rec. yards (81) in last meeting. Has 60+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. Ind. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS tied career high with 9 tackles & had sack in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ind. with TFL. • LB CODY BARTON had 5 tackles & 6th-career INT last week. Has 5+ tackles in 7 of his past 8. Had 8 tackles in his last game vs. Ind. (12/15/24 w/ Den.). • LB DRE’MONT JONES had TFL last week. Had half sack in his last game vs. Ind. (10/6/22 w/ Den.). • CB JARVIS BROWNLEE aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. Had TFL in last meeting. • CB L’JARIUS SNEED led team with 2 PD last week & aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had 8 tackles & TFL in last home meeting. • CB ROGER MCCREARY aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles & PD. • S AMANI HOOKER tied for team lead with 8 tackles & had 1st-career sack in Week 2. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. Had INT in both games vs. Ind. last season & aims for his 4th in row vs. Ind. with PD. • S XAVIER WOODS had 6 tackles last week.

TITANS FOCUS ON PROTECTING CAM WARD VS. 2-0 COLTS

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan can see why the Indianapolis Colts are off to a 2-0 start ahead of the teams’ meeting on Sunday in Nashville.

“I don’t think they’ve punted and they’ve been really, really good moving the ball,” Callahan said. “We have to go play well.”

Given that Tennessee enters the matchup with an 0-2 mark, even playing well might not result in a win. But to give the home crowd a victory and get rookie quarterback Cam Ward his first professional “W,” the Titans first will have to figure out a way to win the running game.

Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones, cast aside by the New York Giants midway through last year, suddenly looks like the guy the Giants gave a four-year, $160 million contract after he led the team to the playoffs in 2022.

Through two games for his new team, Jones is 45 of 63 for 588 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions. His passer rating is a pristine 111.1.

Part of that is the presence of Jonathan Taylor in his backfield. The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week is coming off a 165-yard rushing effort last week in a 29-28 win over the Denver Broncos and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry so far.

Tennessee needs to find a way to neutralize Taylor while turning its top running back, Tony Pollard, loose on the Colts’ defense. Pollard is coming off a 92-yard performance last week in a 33-19 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Getting Pollard off the mark should give Ward better spots to throw and lessen the chances of Indianapolis’ pass rush swamping him in the backfield. The Titans have allowed a league-worst 11 sacks, and while a couple of those have been Ward holding the ball too long, the protection in front of the rookie simply breaks down too often.

With right tackle JC Latham (hip) perhaps out for a second straight game and right guard Kevin Zeitler (biceps) also sitting out practice on Wednesday, there is reason to wonder if Tennessee can adequately protect Ward. But Callahan is optimistic that John Ojukwu, Oli Udoh or both can do the job.

“We’ve got to do our part to help them, and they’ve got to do their part to play,” Callahan said.

Ward finished 19 of 33 for 175 yards last week against the Rams. He threw his first touchdown pass on a play that he kept alive for nearly eight seconds by scrambling right before flinging a 9-yard strike across his body to Elic Ayomanor.

“This guy’s a talented player,” Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. “He’s played against two really good teams, so he’s seen a bunch of things thrown at him and kind of his feel for this is … you can see it growing week by week.”

Anarumo’s boss, third-year Colts head coach Shane Steichen, believes Indianapolis’ fast start has much to do with discipline and togetherness.

“I think they’re playing together,” he said. “I think everyone’s dialed in every play. The camaraderie is great.”

Indianapolis does have injury concerns, though. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren (toe) and wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) sat out practice on Wednesday. Warren is the team leader in receptions with 11, and Downs is third with eight.

Tennessee injuries to watch include corner L’Jarius Sneed (back) and nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat (ankle). The latter practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and said he would play Sunday if it were his decision.

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LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: Series is tied, 7-7 (WAS won 4 of past 5)

Postseason: LV leads series, 1-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/5/21: WAS 17 at LV 15

Postseason: SB XVIII 1/22/84: WAS 9 vs. LAA 38

RAIDERS NOTES:

QB GENO SMITH totaled 200 yards (180 pass, 20 rush) last week. Has 7 TDs vs. INT with 109.7 rating over his past 5 road starts. Passed for 369 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 103.9 rating in only career start vs. Was. (11/12/23 w/ Sea.). • RB ASHTON JEANTY (rookie) has 40+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 2 games. • TE BROCK BOWERS is 1 of 5 TEs with 5+ catches in each of 1st 2 games of season. Has 5+ catches & 75+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 on road. Has 1,335 rec. yards in 19 career games & needs 77 rec. yards to surpass HOFer Mike Ditka (1,411 rec. yards) for most-ever by TE in 1st 20 games. • WR JAKOBI MEYERS aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches & 60+ rec. yards. Ranks tied-3rd in AFC with 14 catches this season. • WR TRE TUCKER aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD catch. • DE MAXX CROSBY had 5 tackles & TFL last week. Aims for his 6th in row with TFL. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 on road. Had TFL & PD in last meeting. • DE MALCOLM KOONCE had sack in last meeting. • DE TYREE WILSON had 1st-career PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 0.5+ sacks. • DT JONAH LAULU had career-high 3 TFL & 2 sacks in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with sack. • LB DEVIN WHITE is 1 of 4 in NFL with 8+ tackles & TFL in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had career-high 18 tackles with 3 TFL & 2 sacks in only career game vs. Was. (11/14/21 w/ TB). • LB GERMAINE PRATT had 7 tackles & team-high 2 PD last week. Aims for his 11th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 9 tackles & FF in his last game vs. Was. (9/23/24 w/ Cin.). • CB KYU BLU KELLY had TFL & PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S JEREMY CHINN had 6 tackles, TFL & PD in Week 2. Had 7 TFL & 5 PD in 2024 with Was. Had 13 tackles & TFL in his last game vs. Was. (11/21/21 w/ Car.).

COMMANDERS NOTES:

QB JAYDEN DANIELS passed for 200 yards & 2 TDs vs 0 INTs in Week 2, his 9th-career game with 2+ TD passes. Has 4,001 pass yards & 976 rush yards in 19 career games & can become 1st player ever with 4,000+ pass yards & 1,000+ rush yards in 1st 20 career games. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 65+ rush yards & 5th in row at home with 95+ rating. • RB JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT rushed for 82 yards & TD in 1st home game in Week 1. • WR TERRY MCLAURIN had 5 catches last week. Set to appear in his 100th career game in Week 3. • WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 7 receptions & 1st rec. TD of season last week, his 23rd-career TD catch. Is 1 of 5 with 7+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks. • TE ZACH ERTZ had 6 catches for team-high 64 rec. yards & 55th-career rec. TD in Week 2. Aims for his 5th in row with rec. TD. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Raiders with 8+ catches & 75+ rec. yards. • LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with 11 tackles last week & is 1 of 5 with 10+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks. • LB VON MILLER had half sack last week & leads all active players with 130 career sacks. Has 9 sacks in 17 career games vs. Raiders. • DT DARON PAYNE has TFL in 4 of his past 5 at home. • DE DORANCE ARMSTRONG aims for his 3rd in row with sack & 5th in row with TFL. • CB MARSHON LATTIMORE had 6 PD in his past 3 & aims for his 4th in row with PD. • CB MIKE SAINRISTIL had 6 tackles last week & has 5+ tackles in 12 of his 19 career games. • S QUAN MARTIN had 7 tackles & 1st PD of season last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ tackles.

JAYDEN DANIELS’ STATUS UP IN THE AIR AS COMMANDERS PREP TO HOST RAIDERS

The vast majority of the buzz leading up to this week’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders surrounds who will be under center for the home team.

Jayden Daniels’ availability remains in question after he suffered a knee sprain in a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday. Daniels did not practice Wednesday but did undergo a rehab session and do some throwing.

It remains to be seen if he’ll miss a start for the first time in his NFL career when the Commanders (1-1) take on the Raiders (1-1) Sunday afternoon in Landover, Md.

“We’re gonna be smart and not just fast in this assessment,” head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday. “This is a player that is absolutely wanting to do everything all the time. So, it was a good start to the week, for us — the throwing, the movements at the position.”

Daniels was sacked seven times in the first two games and the Commanders’ struggling pass protection faces another strong pass rush with Maxx Crosby and the Raiders coming to town. Las Vegas has six sacks in two games.

If Daniels can’t play, veteran Marcus Mariota will step in. Mariota, 31, played in three games off the bench last season for the Commanders. When Daniels exited the Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers with a rib injury, Mariota led Washington to a 40-7 victory, completing 18 of 23 pass attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns.

The Raiders have some familiarity with Mariota from his time with the organization in 2020-21. However, head coach Pete Carroll is leaning towards Daniels being the starter based on his team’s preparation this week.

“We have a lot of background about Marcus on the staff, so we know what his capabilities are, we think,” Carroll said. “We’re preparing for both guys, but primarily for Jayden.”

The Commanders lost running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and defensive end Deatrich Wise, Jr. (quad) for the season after both suffered injuries against the Packers. Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round rookie who impressed in preseason, is expected to start on Sunday.

The Raiders, 20-9 losers to the visiting San Diego Chargers Monday night, are looking to jump-start their offense. They are averaging 14.5 points per game, second fewest in the league.

Geno Smith finished 24-of-43 passing for 180 yards, threw three picks and was sacked three times against Los Angeles. Running back Ashton Jeanty has 81 yards on 30 carries (2.7 yards per carry) and one touchdown in two games.

Tight end Brock Bowers did not practice until last Saturday and had five catches for 38 yards against the Chargers. He was targeted eight times and should be more of a factor on Sunday.

“I think you see we were just trying to get him out there and get him playing and he looked okay,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said. “We got to him in the second half more, but we really need him. We need him being active throughout the game.”

Looking to boost their pass rush with Wise out, the Commanders added veteran edge rusher Preston Smith on Wednesday. A second-round pick in 2015, Smith spent four seasons in Washington before moving on to Green Bay. The 32-year-old, who played for the Packers and Steelers last season, has 70.5 sacks in his 10-year career.

“I’m a guy who knows how to get to the quarterback,” Smith said. “I’m a guy who’s versatile…who can be used in any way. I can be an asset to this defense and this team overall.”

One advantage Washington has Sunday is rest. The Commanders last played on Thursday, Sept. 11. The Raiders played the second game of Monday night’s NFL doubleheader and will travel across the country on short rest.

Washington cornerback Jonathan Jones, who suffered a hamstring injury against Green Bay, was placed on injured reserve this week and will miss a minimum of four games.

Among those not practicing Wednesday in addition to Daniels were wide receiver Noah Brown (groin/knee) and tight end John Bates (groin). Cornerback Trey Amos (shoulder), offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (shoulder), running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) and tight end Colson Yankoff (hip) were limited.

For the Raiders, Bowers, safety Jeremy Chinn (pectoral) and offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (concussion) were limited on Wednesday.

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DENVER BRONCOS (1-1) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-0)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: DEN leads series 72-57-1 (LAC won past 2)

Postseason: DEN leads series, 1-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 12/19/24: DEN 27 at LAC 34

Postseason: AFC-D 1/12/14: SD 17 at DEN 24

BRONCOS NOTES:

QB BO NIX completed 22 of 30 atts. (73.3 pct.) for 206 yards & 3 TDs vs. INT with 111.2 rating last week, 6th-career game with 3+ TD passes. Has 2+ TD passes in 5 of his past 6. Has 12 TDs vs. 2 INTs with 107.5 rating over past 5 road games. Had 2 TD passes in both games vs. LAC last season. Has 15 TDs (14 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT with 112.2 rating in 6 career games vs. division, with 2+ TD passes in each game. • RB J.K. DOBBINS rushed for 76 yards & TD last week & is 1 of 5 RBs with rush TD in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Totaled career-high 1,058 scrimmage yards (905 rush, 153 rec.) & had 9 rush TDs in 2024 with LAC. • WR COURTLAND SUTTON has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 on road. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 vs. LAC & in 4 of his past 5 vs. division. • WR TROY FRANKLIN led team with career highs in catches (8) & rec. yards (89) & had 3rd-career TD catch in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with 4+ catches. • WR MARVIN MIMS had 8th-career rec. TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD catch. Had 62 rec. yards in last meeting. • TE ADAM TRAUTMAN had 10th-career TD catch in Week 2. • LB NIK BONITTO has TFL in 3 of his past 4 vs. LAC & in 8 of past 9 vs. division. • LB JONATHON COOPER aims for his 5th in row with TFL. Has 0.5+ sacks in 2 of his past 3 vs. LAC & in 5 of his past 6 vs. division. • LB JUSTIN STRNAD is 1 of 6 LBs with sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. • LB ALEX SINGLETON aims for his 9th in row with 6+ tackles. Has 57 tackles (14.3 per game) over his past 4 games vs. LAC, with 11+ tackles in each game. • DE ZACH ALLEN has 7 TFL in 5 career games vs. LAC. • CB PAT SURTAIN II led team with career-high 11 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Has PD in 2 of his past 3 vs. LAC. • CB RILEY MOSS aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles & PD. • S TALANOA HUFANGA is only DB in NFL with 10+ tackles in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had INT in only career game vs. LAC (11/13/22 w/ SF).

CHARGERS NOTES:

CHARGERS are 2-0 for 2nd consecutive season & can begin 3-0 for 1st time since 2002. Rank 3rd in NFL in scoring defense (15 points per game allowed). • QB JUSTIN HERBERT completed 19 of 27 atts. (70.4 pct.) for 242 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 122.8 rating & had 31 rush yards last week. Is 1st QB since 2021 with 70+ comp. pct., 2+ TD passes & 0 INTs in each of team’s 1st 2 games of season. Aims 7th in row with 2+ TD passes, 6th in row with 110+ rating & 5th in row with 0 INTs. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Den. with 90+ rating. Has 13 TDs vs. INT with 109.3 rating over past 8 starts vs. division. • RB NAJEE HARRIS had 48 scrimmage yards (28 rush, 20 rec.) last week. Has 216 scrimmage yards (108 per game) & rush TD in 2 career games vs. Den. • WRs KEENAN ALLEN & QUENTIN JOHNSTON are only 2 players in NFL with 60+ rec. yards & TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Allen has 6+ catches & 65+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 vs. Den. Johnston aims for 4th in row overall with 70+ rec. yards. • WR LADD MCCONKEY has 5+ catches in 9 straight games, 3rd-longest active streak in NFL & longest active streak in AFC. Aims for his 8th in row at SoFi Stadium with 50+ rec. yards. Had 6 catches for 87 yards in last meeting. • LB DAIYAN HENLEY had 10 tackles, 2 PD, sack & 2nd-career INT last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles & sack. Had 10 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • LB TULI TUIPULOTU had 5 tackles, career-high 2 PD & TFL in Week 2. • DT JAMAREE CALDWELL (rookie) had 1st-career sack last week. • CB TARHEEB STILL had career-high 9 tackles with 2 PD & TFL last week. Has 7+ tackles & TFL in 2 of past 3. Had PD in both games vs. Den. last season. • S DERWIN JAMES had 7 tackles & 2 PD in Week 2. Aims for 3rd in row with 7+ tackles & has TFL in 3 of his past 4. Has PD in 4 of his past 5 vs. Den. • S TONY JEFFERSON had 5 tackles, 2 PD & 5th-career INT in season debut last week. Has 5+ tackles in each of 3 career games vs. Den.

AFTER 2-0 START VS. AFC WEST RIVALS, CHARGERS CLASH WITH BRONCOS

Perfect to start the season, the Los Angeles Chargers are out for a clean sweep of the AFC West through three games when they play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

The Chargers (2-0) took down another division opponent when a shorthanded defense stepped up to dominate a 20-9 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. Los Angeles also won its season opener 27-21 over the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Quarterback Justin Herbert continues to grow into a steady veteran with the third-most passing yards through two games at 560 and the fifth-best completion percentage among starters at 72.1. He has five touchdown passes without an interception.

On Monday, the Chargers were without linebacker Denzel Perryman (ankle) and lost linebacker Khalil Mack (elbow) on the final play of the first quarter. Linebacker Daiyan Henley had been questionable with an illness before playing.

Henley ended the night with one of three interceptions for the Chargers against Raiders QB Geno Smith, along with a sack and 10 tackles. Mack, diagnosed with a dislocated left elbow, and Perryman will both miss at least the next four games after being placed on injured reserve.

The victory put the Chargers alone in first place for the first time since 2021.

“To be in the conversation to be competing for a spot like that is our goal,” Herbert said Wednesday.

That the 2-0 record has happened without the Chargers playing a home game provides more reason for optimism.

“I think it’s been great the past couple weeks for us to go play on the road,” Herbert said. “To be the team that we want to be, we need to go play and win games like that, but to (now) stay at home and lose some of the travel, it’s always good for us.”

In addition to Henley not practicing on Wednesday, wide receiver Ladd McConkey (biceps), tight end Will Dissly (knee), defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (foot) and safety Elijah Molden (hamstring) were also absent.

The Broncos (1-1) looked like winners in Week 2 when the Indianapolis Colts missed a field goal to end the game. But a leverage penalty against Denver gave Indianapolis another chance and Spencer Shrader delivered to give the Colts a 29-28 victory.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed 22 of 30 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Nix led Denver on a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to open the second half, with J.K. Dobbins scoring on a 5-yard run.

But the Broncos had just 83 net yards the rest of the way, with Wil Lutz missing a 42-yard field goal attempt with 3:19 remaining to leave the door open for the Colts to win it.

“I felt like it slipped away from us,” Nix said. “Got away. We made errors at the end that cost us.”

One of those miscues was Nix’s interception with 11:25 remaining. Through two games, the second-year QB has thrown for 382 yards with a 67.1 completion percentage, four TDs and three interceptions.

“There will be a bitter taste in our mouth for a little bit, and it’s because we put ourselves in a position to control that game late — and then it slipped out of our hands,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said. “It’s hard.”

The Broncos practiced Wednesday without tight end Evan Engram (back), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) and linebacker Justin Strnad (foot).

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: NO leads series, 10-6 (NO won 6 of past 7)

Postseason: SEA leads series, 2-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 10/9/22: SEA 32 at NO 39

Postseason: NFC-D 1/11/14: NO 15 at SEA 23

SAINTS NOTES:

• QB SPENCER RATTLER completed 25 of 34 atts. (career-high 73.5 pct.) for 207 yards & career-high 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for career-best 118.1 rating in Week 3, his 1st-career game with 2+ TD passes. Is 1 of 2 (Joe Flacco) with 25+ completions in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. • QB ALVIN KAMARA had 6 catches & 120 scrimmage yards (99 rush, 21 rec.) in Week 2. Has 581 career receptions & can surpass HOFer Marcus Allen (587) for 5th-most by RB in NFL history. Had 781 scrimmage yards (130.2 per game) & 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in 6 road games last season. Has 25 receptions (8.3 per game), 534 scrimmage yards (178 per game) & 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in 3 career games vs. Sea., incl. 160+ scrimmage yards in each game. • WR CHRIS OLAVE had 6 catches for team-high 54 yards last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Had rec. TD in last meeting. • WR RASHID SHAHEED had 52 rec. yards & 1st rec. TD of season last week, his 11th-career TD catch. Has 70+ rec. yards in 4 of his last 5 road games & aims for his 4th in row on road with 80+ rec. yards. • WR DEVAUGH VELE had 1st rec. TD with NO last week. • TE JUWAN JOHNSON had 19th-career rec. TD last week. Is 1 of 5 TEs with 5+ catches in each of 1st 2 weeks & aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches. • DE CARL GRANDERSON had 7 tackles & tied his career highs with 3 TFL & 2 sacks in Week 2. Is 1 of 2 (Myles Garrett) with 1.5+ sacks in each of 1st 2 weeks. • DE CAMERON JORDAN had 3 TFL & 2 sacks in last meeting. • DE CHRIS RUMPH had 4th-career sack last week, 1st since 12/26/22 with LAC. • DE BRYAN BRESEE had 10th-career PD in Week 2. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS led team with 11 tackles & had 9th-career FR last week. Had 10 tackles, 4 TFL & 2 sacks in last road meeting (10/25/21). • LB PETE WERNER had career-high 2 PD & 15th-career TFL last week. • CB ALONTAE TAYLOR had 2 PD & TFL last week & aims for his 3rd in row with TFL.

SEAHAWKS NOTES:

QB SAM DARNOLD passed for 295 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 30th-career game with 2+ TD passes. Has 100 career TD passes. Aims for his 3rd in row with 85+ rating. • RB KENNETH WALKER had 118 scrimmage yards (105 rush, 13 rec.) & 25thcareer rush TD in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Rushed for 88 yards & had 1st-career rush TD in last meeting. • RB ZACH CHARBONNET has rush TD in 2 of his past 3 at home. • WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA had 8 catches for 103 yards in Week 2 & is 1 of 2 (CeeDee Lamb) with 100+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Can become 1st player since 2015 (Antonio Brown & Julio Jones) with 8+ catches & 100+ rec. yards in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of season. Aims for his 8th in row at home with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. • WR COOPER KUPP had 7 catches for 90 yards last week. Needs 119 rec. yards to reach 8,000 for his career. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 4 of his 5 career games vs. NO. • WR TORY HORTON (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch last week. • LB ERNEST JONES led team with 10 tackles in Week 2. Had 2 TFL, 2 PD & sack in his last game vs. NO (12/21/23 w/ LAR). • LB TYRICE KNIGHT aims for his 8th in row with 6+ tackles. • DT BYRON MURPHY had career-high 1.5 sacks last week. • NT JARRAN REED had 1st sack of season in Week 2. • DE LEONARD WILLIAMS had half sack in Week 2. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 at home. • CB JOSH JOBE aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • CB RIQ WOOLEN had 13 PD in his past 10 at home & aims for his 7th in row at home with PD. Had INT & FR in last meeting. • S JULIAN LOVE had 1st PD of season last week. • S COBY BRYANT had 4th-career INT last week. Had FF in last meeting.

KELLEN MOORE’S SEATTLE HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS SAINTS VS. SEAHAWKS

The New Orleans Saints’ first road game of the season will double as a homecoming of sorts for new coach Kellen Moore.

Moore, who grew up in Prosser, Wash., and the Saints (0-2) are heading to Seattle to face the Seahawks (1-1) on Sunday.

“It’ll be a lot of fun to be back up there,” Moore said. “It’s a really cool environment, really fun environment. There’s a lot of challenges with playing up there and the crowd noise. But it will be an awesome opportunity for our football team.”

The Saints opened the season with a pair of one-score defeats at home to Arizona (20-13) and San Francisco (26-21). They’ll get their third straight matchup with an NFC West opponent Sunday.

Last weekend’s loss to the 49ers wasn’t sealed until New Orleans’ Spencer Rattler was sacked on fourth down with 57 seconds left.

“We’re putting ourselves in position to win games,” said Moore, 37, who was the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles last season. “Ultimately, we have to take advantage of those opportunities.

“Through two games, we have a great group of guys that work their tail off. Their play style, you can’t take advantage there or assume those sorts of things. We’ve got everything we need, but we have to play cleaner football and we have to play and do what winning teams do in each and every moment. From the beginning of the game, all the way to the end, every play matters. We can’t take it for granted.”

Rattler threw for a career-high three touchdowns but still dropped to 0-8 as an NFL starter.

“Man, we’re close,” Rattler said. “These games come down to the wire and you’ve got to do what winning teams do.”

After losing their opener at home to San Francisco, the Seahawks rebounded with a 31-17 victory last weekend at Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks got their new-look offense on track, gaining 395 yards against the Steelers.

Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while Kenneth Walker III rushed for 105 yards and a TD — his first 100-plus yard game on the ground since the 2024 season opener.

“This offense is designed to get everybody the ball,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “And I felt like it did that (Sunday). And we’re on our way on that front.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a game-high eight receptions for 103 yards and Cooper Kupp added seven catches for 90 yards, with tight end AJ Barner making a TD grab.

“We put ourselves in good positions on first and second down to get us into good third downs, third and manageable,” Darnold said. “And we converted a lot of those third downs.”

The Seahawks could be short-handed in the secondary, with safeties Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and Julian Love (hamstring) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) all missing practice time this week, as did running back Zach Charbonnet (foot). The Saints practiced without offensive linemen Taliese Fuaga (knee/back) and Dillon Radunz (toe) as well as defensive end Chase Young (calf).

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DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (0-2)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: DAL leads series, 14-12 (Home team won 4 of past 5)

Postseason: DAL leads series, 2-0

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 10/30/22: CHI 29 at DAL 49

Postseason: NFC-WC 12/29/91: DAL 17 at CHI 13

COWBOYS NOTES:

QB DAK PRESCOTT passed for 361 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT for 96.7 rating in Week 2. Has 18 career games with 350+ pass yards, 2nd-most in NFL since 2018 (Patrick Mahomes, 22). Passed for 334 yards & TD in his only career game at Chi. (12/5/19). Had 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) & 114.5 rating in last meeting. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS had 6 catches, 130 scrimmage yards (97 rush, 33 rec.) & rush TD in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 3rd in row with rush TD. • RB MILES SANDERS had 24th-career rush TD last week. • WR CEEDEE LAMB had 9 catches for 112 yards in Week 2, his 4th-straight & 23rd-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 77 yards & rec. TD in last meeting. Aims for his 15th in row on road with 5+ catches. • WR GEORGE PICKENS had 5 catches for 68 yards & 1st rec. TD with Dal. last week. Needs 61 rec. yards to reach 3,000 career rec. yards. • WR KAVONTAE TURPIN had 6th-career TD catch last week. • TE JAKE FERGUSON had career-high 9 catches for 78 yards, his 5th-career game with 75+ rec. yards. Had rec. TD in last meeting. • DT KENNY CLARK had 1st sack with Dal. last week, his 36th-career sack. • LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY can make Dal. debut. Has 58 sacks & 108 TFL in 140 career games. Has 3 sacks & 5 TFL in 3 career games vs. Chi. • LB KENNETH MURRAY had 6th-career game with 2 TFL last week. • LB JACK SANBORN had 149 tackles, 14 TFL & 4.5 sacks in 48 games (2022- 24) with Chi. Aims for his 3rd in row in 2025 with 6+ tackles. • DE JAMES HOUSTON had 10th-career sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Had career-high 3 sacks, 2 TFL & FF in his only career game vs. Chi. (1/1/23 w/ Det.) • CB KAIIR ELAM led team with 9 tackles last week. • S DONOVAN WILSON had 7th-career INT in Week 2.

BEARS NOTES:

QB CALEB WILLIAMS passed for 2 TDs & 91.9 rating in Week 2, his 8th-career game with 2+ TD passes. Can make 20th career start in Week 3. Has 85+ rating in 4 of his past 5 home starts. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT rushed for 63 yards & had 30th-career rush TD last week. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 15 of his past 16 & aims for his 10th in row at home with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR ROME ODUNZE led team & set career highs with 7 catches for 128 yards & had his 2nd-career game with 2 rec. TDs in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ catches & rec. TD. Needs 101 rec. yards to reach 1,000 career rec. yards. • WR DJ MOORE had 5 catches last week. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 50+ rec. yards. Had 8 catches for 113 yards & 2 TDs in his last game vs. Dal. (10/3/21 w/ Car.). • TE COLE KMET had TD catch in last meeting. • LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS aims for his 11th in row with 5+ tackles. Has PD in 4 of his past 5. • LB T.J. EDWARDS had 4 tackles in season debut last week. Had TFL in 3 of his final 4 home games last season. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Dal. with 14+ tackles. • DL MONTEZ SWEAT has 5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FF & INT-TD in 7 career games vs. Dal. Has 5 TFL in his past 4 at home. • DL GRADY JARRETT aims for his 4th in row vs. Dal. with TFL. • DL GERVON DEXTER aims for his 3rd in row in 2025 with TFL. • CB TYRIQUE STEVENSON had 7 tackles & 3rd-career TFL last week. • S JAQUAN BRISKER has 5+ tackles in 17 of his past 18 games & aims for his 11th in row at home with 5+ tackles. Had 9 tackles & sack in last meeting. • S KEVIN BYARD has 4 PD & 3 INTs in 4 career games vs. Dal. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Dal. with 5+ tackles.

BEARS WELCOME MATT EBERFLUS, COWBOYS, DISCOUNT INTEL ON CALEB WILLIAMS

Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will return to Chicago as defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and not everyone is glad to see his unit.

“Make no mistake about it, (Dallas) was one of the more challenging defenses we faced when I was in Detroit,” first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Wednesday. “We struggled to run the ball at times. Really good red-zone defense. We’ve got to be on our stuff this week.”

The Bears (0-2) prepare for the Cowboys knowing there are few details about Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams that Eberflus doesn’t know. Johnson said the inside knowledge works both ways.

Eberflus is in his second stint with the Cowboys (1-1). He was a linebackers coach in Dallas before being hired as Colts defensive coordinator, which predated his hire as Chicago’s head coach in 2022. Eberflus was fired after seven months working closely with Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, when the team got off to a 4-8 start last year.

“I feel like we know what he knows. We’ll be just fine there,” Johnson said.

When it comes to slowing down the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott, Johnson and the Bears might have major cause for concern. Dallas scored 30 points after halftime last week to escape an upset bid by the New York Giants, prevailing 40-37 in overtime.

“So many guys that we got, and it kind of got put on display in the last game,” wide receiver George Pickens said of the Dallas passing game. “You got so many guys and I feel like that’s how offense is supposed to be. I don’t want to say you can’t stop us, but we’re definitely going to come out and dominate.”

Chicago’s secondary is not at full strength. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) left last week’s game after missing Week 1, and defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Jones did not practice on Wednesday due to hamstring injuries. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) are also banged up.

That’s tantalizing news for Prescott, who ranks fifth in the NFL with 549 passing yards, and an offensive line group that is performing well. The Cowboys are working with a new blend of bodies on the front five without center Cooper Beebe. He was placed on injured reserve with a foot and ankle injury on Monday. Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (shoulder) was limited in practice on Wednesday.

Prescott has been challenged by a Dennis Allen-run defense four times in his career and is 2-2. Allen is Chicago’s defensive coordinator, and he designed the Saints’ defense that recorded two picks and three sacks of Prescott last season.

Getting Prescott behind the sticks is no guarantee of success. He leads the NFL with 15 third-down completions and a league-best 11 completions for first downs. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb shook off a drop-heavy opener and carries a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games into this week. Pickens has 98 yards and a TD catch in his first two games with the Cowboys.

“I think he’s playing how we would expect him to play. We have a high standard for Dak and the way he’s supposed to perform,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “I think there’s a confidence about him right now, which is great.”

The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions tipped the Bears with an aggressive pass rush to keep Williams unsettled in the pocket. The Lions sacked him four times.

The Cowboys have four sacks in the first two games. Jadeveon Clowney, who has 58 career sacks, signed Monday and is expected to debut on Sunday as the Cowboys shake up a front seven still working through the loss of pass rusher Micah Parsons in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are allowing quarterbacks to complete 76.6 percent of their passes and average 301 gross passing yards per game.

Giants quarterback Russell Wilson connected on completions of 48, 50 and 52 yards last week, but the Cowboys intercepted him in overtime to set up the winning field goal. Wilson’s final numbers: 30 completions, 450 yards, three TDs.

Cowboys cornerbacks DaRon Bland (foot) and Trevon Diggs (illness) were not available for practice Wednesday. To aid recovery and reward players for “70 minutes of kick-ass football,” Schottenheimer held a light walkthrough rather than a full practice and kept the attention on recovery with a goal of being fresh when kickoff comes at Chicago.

“I think we have a responsibility to kind of trust the numbers and see what they say,” he said. “I told the guys from Day 1, if they go all out for us, we’ll take care of them.”

A collective exhale for the Bears might be due following a 52-21 rout at Detroit. The Lions scored seven touchdowns and made a field goal on 12 total drives, averaging 8.8 yards per play.

Chicago has allowed an NFL-high 79 points in two games. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 75 percent of their passes with seven TDs.

Ben Johnson said the greater process doesn’t change despite dire results. He is not having any talk of light practices or tapping the brakes.

“I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team,” Johnson said. “We should be going to the football, finishing hard. Our fundamentals, our finish and our technique.”

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ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-0) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-0)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: SF leads series, 36-31 (ARI won past 2)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 1/5/25: SF 24 at ARI 47

Postseason: —

CARDS NOTES:

QB KYLER MURRAY totaled 252 yards (220 pass, 32 rush) & had TD pass last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 90+ rating & 6th in row with TD pass. Passed for 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 128.5 rating in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row at SF with rush TD. • RB JAMES CONNER had 60th-career rush TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD. Had 100 scrimmage yards (86 rush, 14 rec.) in last meeting & has 50+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his 7 career games vs. SF. • TE TREY MCBRIDE had 6 catches for 78 yards last week. Has 6+ catches in 8 of his past 9 & aims for his 5th in row with 6+ receptions. Had rec. TD in last meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. SF with 6+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Since 2023, has 22 games with 5+ receptions, most among NFL TEs. • WR MARVIN HARRISON JR. aims for his 3rd in row on road with 5+ catches & 70+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 63 yards & rec. TD in last meeting. • WR MICHAEL WILSON had 1st rec. TD of season in Week 2. Had 5 catches for 78 yards in last road meeting (10/6/24). • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL became 4th player since 1982 with 2+ sacks in game at age 39-or-older in Week 2, joining James Harrison, Clay Matthews & HOFer Bruce Smith (3x). Has 15 TFL in 19 career games vs. SF. • LB JOSH SWEAT had 1st sack of season & 8th-career FF last week. • LB BARON BROWNING had 2nd-career INT last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • LB MACK WILSON aims for his 3rd in row with 8+ tackles & PD. Had INT in last road meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. SF with PD. • LB ZAVEN COLLINS had 1st-career FR-TD in Week 2. Had sack & FF in last meeting. • CB DENZEL BURKE (rookie) set career high with 3 PD in Week 2. • CB WILL JOHNSON (rookie) aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S BUDDA BAKER aims for his 13th in row vs. SF with 5+ tackles. • S JALEN THOMPSON led team with 10 tackles in Week 2.

49ERS NOTES:

QB MAC JONES passed for 279 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 113.1 rating in SF debut last week, his 2nd-career game with 275+ pass yards & 3+ TD passes. Has 20+ completions & 30+ pass atts. in 6 of his past 7 starts overall. • RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY had 6 catches, 107 scrimmage yards (55 rush, 52 rec.) & 30th-career TD catch in Week 2 & became 3rd player ever with 50+ career rush TDs (52) & 30+ career rec. TDs. Is 1 of 3 (James Cook & Bijan Robinson) with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 2 weeks. Can become 1st player since HOFer Marshall Faulk (2000) with 50+ rush yards & 50+ rec. yards in each of 1st 3 weeks of season. Has 1,609 scrimmage yards (107.3 per game) & 16 TDs (10 rush, 6 rec.) in 15 home games with SF since 2022. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 100+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ari. with 175+ scrimmage yards & 3+ TDs & has 100+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his 7 career games vs. Ari. • RB BRIAN ROBINSON aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ari. with TD. • WR JAUAN JENNINGS had 5 catches for team-high 89 yards & 1st rec. TD of season in Week 2. Had 7 catches for 52 yards in last meeting. • WR RICKY PEARSALL aims for his 5th in row with 50+ rec. yards. Had TD catch in last meeting. • LB FRED WARNER led team with 11 tackles & had TFL, PD, FF & FR last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ari. & 5th in row overall with TFL. • DL NICK BOSA aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Has 35 sacks & 46 TFL in 42 career home games. Had 2 TFL & INT in last home meeting. • DL BRYCE HUFF had 1st sack of season & 3rd-career FF last week. • DL MYKEL WILLIAMS (rookie) had 1st 2 career TFL in Week 2. • CB UPTON STOUT (rookie) had 1st career sack last week. • CB RENARDO GREEN has PD in 10 of his past 11 & aims for his 6th in row with PD. Had career-high 3 PD in last meeting.

49ERS, CARDINALS DON’T WANT TO LEAVE IT LATE IN UNBEATEN MATCHUP

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals meet on Sunday for at least a share of the lead in the NFC West, the only division with more than one undefeated team two weeks in.

Each 2-0 team understands its good fortune thus far.

Both of the Cardinals’ victories — on the road against the New Orleans Saints and at home against the Carolina Panthers — were decided in the final seconds on defensive stops in their territory.

“We could be 0-2, but we’re 2-0 with this issue,” Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray said.

Similarly, the 49ers’ wins — against the Seattle Seahawks and the Saints — were not decided until San Francisco recorded game-saving strip sacks in the final minute.

“A lot of positives,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “And a lot to learn from.”

The 49ers opened the season with a pair of road wins for the fourth time since 2019, which history suggests could indicate a long playoff run. In two of those seasons, 2019 and 2023, they made the Super Bowl. In 2021, they reached the NFC Championship Game.

The Cardinals are 2-0 for the first time since 2021, when they won their first seven and made their latest playoff appearance.

The teams have split the past 10 meetings, and home field has not been a particular advantage.

The Cardinals have won on three of their past five visits to Santa Clara, Calif., the most recent a 24-23 victory last October on Chad Ryland’s 35-yard field goal in the final two minutes. Murray had 195 yards passing and 83 rushing, scoring each way.

“Any time you have a quarterback like Kyler, no regard to how the game is going or how well you are doing schematically, he can unlock something and get an off-schedule (play),” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said.

The 49ers have won games with quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones this year. Purdy missed the New Orleans game with turf toe, and Jones passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns.

Purdy “does have a chance to play” Sunday, Shanahan said on Wednesday.

The 49ers are eighth in the league in total offense, though they are just 22nd in the run game despite the return of Christian McCaffrey. The two-time All-Pro has been held to 124 yards and a 3.5 average per carry, although he has 15 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

“You can’t get tackled, that’s on me,” McCaffrey said with a laugh. “We’re close. Being able to break those long ones comes from all 11 guys being on point.”

The Cardinals are 24th in total offense, 27th in passing, although they are limiting mistakes.

San Francisco All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner is the reigning NFC defensive player of the week after registering 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against the Saints.

“The guy’s a freak, man,” McCaffrey said. “He’s a game-changer.”

Arizona’s top three cornerbacks got hurt against Carolina, and one of them, Garrett Williams, landed on injured reserve this week due a knee injury. Neither Max Milton (knee) nor Will Johnson (groin) practiced on Wednesday, meaning Denzel Burke and Kei’Trel Clark could more see time against San Francisco.

Niners tight end George Kittle will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who sustained a concussion against New Orleans, did not practice on Wednesday.

San Francisco guard Ben Bartch played only 10 snaps against New Orleans before sustaining a high ankle sprain, and he was placed on injured reserve this week. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday.

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: NYG leads series, 11-4 (Home team won 4 of past 5)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 11/1/21: NYG 17 at KC 20

Postseason: —

CHIEFS NOTES:

QB PATRICK MAHOMES totaled 253 yards (187 pass, 66 rush) & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) last week. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Daniel Jones) with TD pass & rush TD in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Aims for his 5th in row on road with 0 INTs. Passed for 275 yards & TD in last meeting. Is 8-1 in his past 9 starts on SNF. Needs 3 TD passes to become fastest player ever (115 games) to reach 250 career TD passes. • RB ISIAH PACHECO has 90+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. NFC. Has 100+ rush yards in 3 of his past 4 on SNF. From Vineland, NJ & had 158 scrimmage yards (115 rush, 43 rec.) & rush TD in only career game at MetLife Stadium (10/1/23 vs. NYJ). • RB KAREEM HUNT has 80+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. • TE TRAVIS KELCE led team with 61 rec. yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD catch. Had 8 catches for 109 yards in only career game at NYG (11/19/17). Has 2nd-most catches (150) & rec. yards (1,939) & tied 2ndmost rec. TDs (12) all-time among TEs on SNF. • WR HOLLYWOOD BROWN aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches. Has TD catch in each of 2 career games vs. NYG. Aims for his 4th in row on SNF with 50+ rec. yards. • WR TYQUAN THORNTON had 59 rec. yards & 3rd-career TD catch last week. • DT CHRIS JONES led team with 2 TFL in Week 2. Had sack in last meeting. • DT OMARR NORMAN-LOTT (rookie) had sack in NFL debut last week. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS has sack in 2 of his past 3. Aims for his 4th in row on road with sack. • LB NICK BOLTON aims for his 4th in row with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of his past 3 on road. Had 11 tackles in last meeting. • LB DRUE TRANQUILL aims for his 8th in row with 5+ tackles. • CB NOHL WILLIAMS (rookie) had 1st 2 career PD in Week 2. • CB TRENT MCDUFFIE aims for his 7th in row with PD. • CB JAYLEN WATSON had 9 tackles last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ tackles. Has PD in 4 of his past 5 on road. • DB CHAMARRI CONNER aims for his 3rd in row with 9+ tackles.

GIANTS NOTES:

QB RUSSELL WILSON passed for 450 yards & 3 TDs vs. INT for 123 rating in Week 2, his 4th-career 400-yard game. Became 6th player ever with 400+ pass yards & 3+ TD passes in game for 3 different teams. Has 43 TDs (40 pass, 3 rush) vs. 13 INTs for 100.5 rating in 20 career SNF starts. Has 16 TDs (13 pass, 3 rush) in 7 career starts vs. KC. • RB TYRONE TRACY had 51 scrimmage yards (36 rec., 15 rush) in Week 2. Had 65+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his final 5 home games last season. Aims for his 3rd in row in primetime with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • RB CAM SKATTEBO (rookie) had 1st-career rush TD last week. • WR MALIK NABERS had 9 catches for 167 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 3rdcareer game with 2 rec. TDs & 4th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in 16 of his 17 career games. • WR WAN’DALE ROBINSON had 8 catches for career-high 142 yards & 6thcareer TD catch last week. Aims for his 6th in row overall & 7th in row in primetime with 5+ receptions. • LB BRIAN BURNS had sack, 2 TFL & PD last week. Can become 1st player since 2021 (Matt Milano) with 2+ TFl in each of his team’s 1st 3 games of season. Has 7 sacks & 8 TFL in 9 career primetime games. Aims for his 3rd in row in primetime & 3rd in row overall with sack. • LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX had sack last week. Aims for his 5th in row with 0.5+ sacks & TFL. Has 5.5 sacks & 7 TFL in 8 career primetime games. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE had 10 tackles last week & aims for his 8th in row with 9+ tackles. Aims for his 3rd in row in primetime with FF. • CB PAULSON ADEBO had career-high 13 tackles & 45th-career PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • CB DRU PHILLIPS had 11 tackles, career-high 2 PD, TFL & 2nd-career INT last week, his 2nd-career game with 10+ tackles.

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DETROIT LIONS (1-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1)

All-Time Series History

Regular Season: BAL leads series, 6-1 (BAL won past 5)

Postseason: —

The Last Time…

Regular Season: 10/22/23: DET 6 at BAL 38

Postseason: —

LIONS NOTES:

QB JARED GOFF passed for 334 yards & 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 156 rating in Week 2, his 4th-career game with 5 TD passes & 5th-career game with 150+ rating. Became 5th player ever with 4 career games with 300+ pass yards, 3+ TD passes & 150+ rating. Became 5th QB ever to start 5 games in which his team scored 50+ points. Has 2+ TD passes & 95+ rating in 7 of 9 career MNF starts. • RB JAHMYR GIBBS rushed for 94 yards & 1st TD of season last week. Had 9 catches, 126 yards (68 rush, 58 rec.) & rush TD in last meeting. Has 32 TDs (27 rush, 5 rec.) in 34 career reg. season games. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 16 of his 17 career road games. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had 1st rush TD of season last week & has 26 rush TDs in 30 reg. season games with Det. since 2023. Gibbs & Montgomery have both rushed for TD in 10 games as teammates, tied-most games by RB duo in NFL history. Aims for his 6th in row in primetime with rush TD. • WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN had 9 catches for 115 yards & career-high 3 rec. TDs last week, his 20th-career 100-yard game. Is 1 of 5 WRs with 15 games of 9+ catches since 2021. Had 13 catches for 102 yards in last meeting. Has 5+ catches in 11 of his 13 career primetime games. • WR JAMESON WILLIAMS had 108 rec. yards & 11th-career TD catch last week, his 4th-career 100-yard game. Since 2022, has 8 scrimmage TDs of 40+ yards, tied 3rd-most in NFL over span. • DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON had 1st sack of season last week. Had FR in last meeting. • LB JACK CAMPBELL led team with 7 tackles & had 1st-career FR last week. Aims for his 8th in row with 6+ tackles. • DB BRIAN BRANCH had 3rd-career sack, 2 TFL, PD & 3rd-career FF last week. Aims for his 3rd in row overall & 4th in row on road with TFL. • S KERBY JOSEPH had 18th-career INT last week, most in NFL since 2022. Has 6 INTs & 9 PD in 11 career primetime games.

RAVENS NOTES:

RAVENS are 6th team since 2000 to score 40+ points in each of 1st 2 games of season & can become 1st team ever to do so in each of 1st 3 games. • QB LAMAR JACKSON passed for 225 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 128.6 rating last week, 11th-career game with 4+ TD passes & 0 INTs, most-ever by QB in 1st 100 career starts. Can become 6th QB ever with 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in 11 straight games, incl. playoffs. Totaled 393 yards (357 pass, 36 rush) & 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 155.8 rating in last meeting. Is 7-2 with 25 TDs (22 pass, 3 rush) vs. 0 INTs & 124.3 rating in 9 career starts on MNF. • RB DERRICK HENRY has 135+ rush yards in 4 of his past 5 & rush TD in 3 of his past 4. Rushed for 147 yards & TD in his last game vs. Det. (12/20/20 w/ Ten.). Is 1 of 2 RBs (James Cook) with 200+ scrimmage yards (205) & 2+ rush TDs (2) in 2025. • WR ZAY FLOWERS is 1 of 4 in NFL with 7+ catches & 75+ rec. yards in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had 75 rec. yards in last meeting. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS had 64 rec. yards & rec. TD last week & is 1 of 6 WRs with TD catch in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Had 10 catches for 137 yards in his last game vs. Det. (9/27/20 w/ Ari.). • WR DEVONTEZ WALKER had career-high 2 rec. TDs in Week 2. • WR TYLAN WALLACE had 2nd-career TD catch last week. • LB ROQUAN SMITH had 15 tackles, 3 TFL & 63-yard FR-TD last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. Has 85 tackles (9.4 per game) in 9 career games vs. Det., tied-most tackles vs. any opponent in career. • LB TAVIUS ROBINSON had 6 tackles, sack & 1st-career FF in Week 2. • DT NNAMDI MADUBUIKE is 1 of 5 AFC DL with sack in each of 1st 2 weeks of season. Has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 5. Had sack & FF in last meeting. • CB NATE WIGGINS had career-high 3 PD, TFL & 2nd-career INT last week, 5thcareer game with 2+ PD. Has PD in 3 of his past 4. • S KYLE HAMILTON had 5 tackles & TFL in Week 2. Had 7 tackles & TFL in last meeting.

WR XAVIER GIPSON NOW CUT BY BOTH NEW YORK TEAMS IN TWO WEEKS

Wide receiver/return specialist Xavier Gipson’s time with the New York Giants was short, as the team waived him on Saturday before he could appear in a game.

The Giants had signed Gipson on Sept. 11, one day after he was cut by the New York Jets, who share the same home stadium, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Gipson, 24, had fumbled a kickoff return in that stadium that contributed to the Jets’ 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener Sept. 7. He averaged 9.5 yards on two punt returns and 28.4 yards on five kick returns as well as the fumble.

The Jets signed Gipson as an unrestricted free agent before the 2023 season. Primarily a special teams contributor, Gipson appeared in 35 games and made 27 catches for 268 yards and one touchdown. He added one rushing touchdown.

Gipson also returned 68 punts with an average of 8.9 yards per return and a touchdown. As a kick returner, he averaged 26 yards on 44 chances.

The Giants waived Gipson to recreate a roster spot for outside linebacker Tomon Fox, who was signed from the practice squad. The Giants (0-2) host the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) on Sunday night.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

MLB ROUNDUP: TIGERS FALL AGAIN TO BRAVES AS GUARDIANS CLOSE WITHIN 1 GAME

Nacho Alvarez Jr. slugged the first two homers of his career and drove in three runs as the visiting Atlanta Braves rallied past Detroit 6-5 on Saturday afternoon, sending the Tigers to their fifth straight loss and reducing their lead in the American League Central to one game over Cleveland.

The second-place Guardians swept a doubleheader over host Minnesota on Saturday to run their winning streak to 10 games and stay well within striking distance of the Tigers with a week to go in the regular season.

Cleveland has won 15 of its past 16 games and Detroit has lost eight of nine.

For Atlanta on Saturday, Jurickson Profar completed a two-run rally in the ninth with a tiebreaking RBI single as the Braves extended their winning streak to seven games. Drake Baldwin hit a two-run homer for Atlanta, which got a scoreless inning of relief from Dylan Dodd (1-0) and the 27th save of the season by Raisel Iglesias.

Guardians 6, Twins 0 (Game 1)

Bo Naylor hit a pair of solo home runs as red-hot Cleveland pulled away for a shutout 6-0 win over Minnesota in the first game of a day-night doubleheader in Minneapolis, Minn.

Guardians All-Star Jose Ramirez secured his third 30-30 season, clubbing his 30th homer to go along with 40 stolen bases in 150 games. He also has two consecutive 30-40 campaigns.

Cleveland right-hander Slade Cecconi (7-6) struck out eight batters in seven scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and walked one. Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (13-9) gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Guardians 8, Twins 0 (Game 2)

Steven Kwan went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and Cleveland pulled away to beat host Minnesota and finish off a sweep of the day-night doubleheader.

Gabriel Arias doubled and drove in two runs for the Guardians, who won their 10th game in a row. Left-hander Logan Allen (8-11) shined in eight scoreless innings in the nightcap, limiting the Twins to four hits and one walk, striking out seven.

Royce Lewis went 1-for-3 with a double for Minnesota, which tallied just four hits. Right-hander Bailey Ober (5-9) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings.

Mariners 6, Astros 4

Cal Raleigh set the franchise single-season record with his 57th home run, and right-hander George Kirby twirled six scoreless innings as visiting Seattle clinched a crucial three-game series with a victory over Houston.

The Mariners secured both a two-game lead over the Astros in the American League West and the tiebreaker by claiming the season series. Houston fell into a tie with Cleveland for the final wild-card spot with the loss and does not hold the tiebreaker.

Seattle tagged Astros starter Framber Valdes (12-11) for five runs over 4 2/3 innings, plating runs in each of the first three innings. The Astros got on the board with Jeremy Pena’s first career grand slam in the seventh but stranded the tying run on second in the eighth with a pair of strikeouts.

Nationals 5, Mets 3

Daylen Lile hit a tiebreaking, two-run, inside-the-park home run in the 11th inning for visiting Washington, which squandered a three-run lead before handing New York a loss in the middle game of a three-game series.

Automatic runner CJ Abrams opened the 11th by getting tagged out as he tried advancing to third on Andres Chaparro’s grounder against Tyler Rogers (4-6) before Lile hit a ball well over the head of Mets center fielder Cedric Mullins.

The ball bounced off the fence and caromed past Mullins, and the fleet-footed Lile, who has 11 triples in just 85 games this season, never broke stride sprinting around the bases and slid home well ahead of the throw.

Pirates 2, Athletics 0

Bubba Chandler and two relievers combined on a one-hitter and Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Athletics.

Nick Yorke and Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates, who recorded their MLB-best 18th shutout of the season and won for just the second time in their last 14 games.

Jacob Wilson doubled in the second inning for the Athletics’ lone hit. The Atheltics’ only other baserunner came with one out in the third inning, when Brett Harris was hit by a pitch.

Reds 6, Cubs 3

Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl and Tyler Stephenson each homered, propelling Cincinnati to a crucial victory over visiting Chicago.

Zack Littell (10-8) allowed two runs on three hits across five innings for the Reds, who won their fourth straight, cutting their deficit to one game behind the New York Mets for the National League’s final wild-card spot.

Cubs starter Javier Assad surrendered two runs on three hits in four innings, while striking out two and walking two. Drew Pomeranz (2-2) allowed Steer’s go-ahead homer in the fifth for Chicago, which dropped its third straight.

Yankees 6, Orioles 1

Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge homered, and Carlos Rodon set a career-high mark with a sterling outing on the mound as New York defeated host Baltimore.

The Yankees won for the seventh time in their last 10 games, keeping hopes alive in the American League East race. Stanton’s three-run homer in the first inning was the 450th of his career while Judge’s was his 49th of the season. Rodon (17-9) set a new career high for victories in a season.

The Orioles didn’t score until Coby Mayo’s two-out double in the seventh inning. He had two of the team’s four hits. Baltimore starter Tomoyuki Sugano (10-9), who hasn’t won in more than a month, took the loss. He lasted three innings, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk.

Red Sox 6, Rays 3

Trevor Story knocked in the go-ahead run in a three-run ninth inning as Boston crafted its eighth straight win over Tampa Bay.

Tied 3-all, Story put the Red Sox ahead by singling in Ceddanne Rafaela, who reached on third baseman Junior Caminero’s second fielding error, for a 4-3 lead off reliever Jesse Scholtens (0-1). Masataka Yoshida (single) and Romy Gonzalez (sacrifice fly) drove in runs for the three-run lead as Boston moved to 10-2 against the Rays this season.

Garrett Whitlock (7-3) was credited with the win. Aroldis Chapman notched his 31st save. Tampa Bay’s Jake Mangum was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Yandy Diaz was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Padres 7, White Sox 3

Jackson Merrill homered and Ryan O’Hearn’s three-run double gave San Diego the lead for good in a come-from-behind win over host Chicago.

Reliever Adrian Morejon (13-5) got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Padres, who had lost three of their last four. Starter Yu Darvish allowed two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

The White Sox have lost seven of their last eight. Chicago got a home run from Lenyn Sosa and three spectacular catches from right fielder Mike Tauchman. Starter Yoendrys Gomez (3-3) was the loser as he gave up three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and had four strikeouts.

Royals 2, Blue Jays 1

Kansas City rookie Noah Cameron allowed one run over 6 2/3 strong innings, and Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back-to-back homers in the fourth, as host Kansas City handed AL East-leading Toronto a fourth straight defeat.

Cameron (9-7) pitched into the seventh inning for a third consecutive outing and recorded the 10th quality start off the left-hander’s first year in the majors. Cameron owns a 2.90 ERA over his 23 major league starts.

Though the Blue Jays are on the verge of reaching the postseason, they have totaled three runs during this four-game skid. George Springer doubled Saturday for Toronto, which had just one at-bat with a runner in scoring position.

Marlins 4, Rangers 3

Troy Johnston and Connor Norby hit back-to-back solo home runs in the sixth inning and Miami held on to beat host Texas.

The victory was the fifth straight and the ninth in 10 games for the surging Marlins, who have assured themselves of winning their third consecutive series.

The Rangers’ loss was their sixth in a row and all but doomed their chances for an AL wild-card spot. Texas is five games behind the Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians for the final AL berth in the postseason with seven games to play.

Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 3

Zac Gallen pitched seven strong innings, Ildemaro Vargas hit a tie-breaking single in a two-run sixth, and Arizona gained a game in the NL wild-card race with a victory over visiting Philadelphia.

Gallen gave up three runs on four hits, striking out nine and walking two in what could be his final home start for Arizona. He is a free agent this winter.

Alec Bohm had two hits including a homer, and Kyle Schwarber had two hits and an RBI double for the Phillies, who had won three of four and 16 of 21.

Brewers 3, Cardinals 2 (10 innings)

Brice Turang’s go-ahead 10th-inning RBI single lifted visiting Milwaukee past St. Louis, putting the Brewers at the brink of another National League Central title. Their magic number is down to one.

Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick allowed two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, then reliever Jared Koenig (6-1) pitched two innings to earn the victory. Catcher William Contreras exited the game in the eighth inning. He had injured his glove hand earlier in the seventh inning on a catcher’s interference incident.

Reliever JoJo Romero (4-6) took the loss for the Cardinals, who lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Starter Miles Mikolas allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks in five innings.

Angels 3, Rockies 0

Mike Trout hit his 400th career home run to help Los Angeles break their eight-game losing streak with a win over host Colorado in Denver.

The eighth-inning blast was Trout’s 22nd of the season. He became the 59th player in major league history to hit 400 home runs. Trout, who has played his whole career with the Angels, has 200 home runs at home and 200 on the road.

Taylor Ward and Nolan Schanuel also hit solo home runs for Los Angeles. German Marquez, making possibly his last start at Coors Field after 10 years with the Rockies, took the loss.

Dodgers 7, Giants 5

Shohei Ohtani hit his NL-leading 53rd home run, Max Muncy, Michael Conforto and Tommy Edman added homers of their own and Los Angeles made it three straight over visiting San Francisco.

After rallying from a four-run deficit to win for the fourth straight time, the Dodgers retained a four-game lead over the Padres atop the NL West with seven games remaining.

The loss prevented the Giants from gaining a game in the wild-card race on the New York Mets, who lost to the Washington Nationals earlier Saturday. San Francisco stayed four games back with seven to go.

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GOLF NEWS

STEVEN ALKER TIES MIKE WEIR ATOP PURE INSURANCE LEADERBOARD

New Zealand’s Steven Alker carded a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday to tie first-round co-leader Mike Weir atop the leaderboard after 36 holes of the Pure Insurance Championship in Monterrey, Calif.

Both the Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill par-72 courses are being used for the tournament, which has a purse of $2.4 million. Alker fired a 67 at each to get to 10-under 134, while Canadian Weir followed a 66 at Pebble Beach with a 68 at Spyglass Hill.

Alker recorded six birdies playing Pebble Beach Golf Links at Nos. 1, 2, 8, 10, 11 and 13, and gave a stroke back with a bogey at the par-5, 543-yard No. 6 when he left a putt well short of the hole.

“I got some birdies in the middle and just kept some momentum,” said Alker, 54. “After bogey on 6, kind of thinking that’s a birdie hole, keep my round going but it slowed it down. I think I birdied 8, which was a great birdie, and 10, 11 and 13, so that little patch was great. It wasn’t easy coming in. We had some wind holes straight into it, you know, 12, 13, 14, 15. So yeah, just pleased to get in at 10.”

Alker, who is third in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, has nine career wins on the PGA Tour Champions, including in March at the Cologuard Classic.

He said the course has gotten firmer since the practice rounds.

“The ball’s starting to bounce, and you can see the fairways are bouncing a little bit more,” Alker said. “You’ve just got to be careful off the tee, just kind of think a little bit more into the greens, allow for a bit of a bounce. And then, obviously, it cools down. The later it gets, it cools down, the ball’s not flying. So all those things you have to take into account here at Pebble Beach; that’s the beauty of this place.”

Weir lost a stroke with a bogey at the par-4 No. 4 at Spyglass, then rebounded with consecutive birdies at Nos. 6 through 8. Weir went birdie-bogey at Nos. 11 and 12 but finished strong with birdies at Nos. 17 and 18, both par-4 holes.

Stewart Cink rose 20 spots to a tie for third with Vijay Singh at 8 under after his 66 on Saturday at Spyglass Hill. Starting on the back nine, Cink carded birdies at Nos. 11 and 13, only to bogey Nos. 15 and 16, followed by a birdie at No. 17. The front nine wasn’t quite the adventure, as he notched five birdies at Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9 without a blemish to go out in 31.

Fiji’s Singh played Pebble Beach at 3-under 69, with five birdies and two bogeys.

First-round co-leader Cameron Percy fell six places to a tie for seventh when he followed a 66 at Pebble Beach with an even-par 72 at Spyglass Hill, bringing his total to 6-under 138.

INCLEMENT WEATHER SUSPENDS 2ND ROUND OF LPGA EVENT IN ARKANSAS

Dangerous weather conditions suspended play for the day at 3:25 p.m. local time on Saturday at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.

Eight groups completed at least one hole of the second round before play was suspended, with the golf course at Pinnacle Country Club described as unplayable.

The LPGA announced Saturday night that rules officials assessed the golf course and are “hopeful” with drying conditions overnight that Round 2 will resume at 7:10 a.m. local time on Sunday. An announcement will be made after officials evaluate course conditions earlier Sunday and also determine if the tournament will be 36 or its originally scheduled 54 holes.

Alison Lee completed three holes at 1-under par and is tied for the tournament lead at 8 under with first-round co-leaders Sarah Schmelzel and Japan’s Minami Katsu, who had yet to start their second round with scheduled afternoon tee times after both carded an 8-under 63 on Friday.

Starting on the back nine, Lee birdied the par-4 No. 12.

South Korea’s Narin An, who also completed three holes and in 2 under, is tied for fourth at 7 under with five others who didn’t play on Saturday: Lilia Vu, Spain’s Calota Ciganda, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, South Korea’s Somi Lee. An started at No. 1 with a birdie and also birdied the par-5 No. 2.

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NASCAR NEWS

JOEY LOGANO CLAIMS POLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

LOUDON, N.H. — Team Penske’s Joey Logano thrilled his enthusiastic local fan base by turning a pole-winning lap at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon, with the Connecticut native claiming the first NASCAR Cup Series pole position of his career at his “hometown” New England track.

The three-time and reigning series champ posted a lap of 130.622 mph around the one-mile track — the second Busch Light pole position of the season for the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang. He’ll start alongside his Penske teammate, 2023 series champ Ryan Blaney, on the front row.

Fords swept the top three starting positions on the grid for Sunday’s Mobil 1 301, with the Wood Brothers team driver Josh Berry rolling off third after holding the top speed for much of the qualifying session. He’ll line up next to 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota on the second row.

“The expectation is to win all the time; that’s why I’m here, that’s why (crew chief) Paul (Wolfe) is here, that’s why (team owner) Roger (Penske) is here, and they expect us to win,” Logano said. “The expectation is always to be first, but it’s a hard sport and there’s one in 40 chances to make it happen.

“At Loudon, we expect to be fast,” he continued. “Paul has always had fast cars here. Compared to the last few years, our cars have been really fast. We haven’t capitalized on it, but we’ve had speed good enough to win the last few races here. Hoping to have just a nice smooth race tomorrow and maintain track position.”
Logano is a two-time Loudon winner, claiming the famed “lobster” trophies in 2009 and 2014.

Six of the 12 playoff drivers qualified among the top 10, including Logano, Blaney, Reddick, regular-season champion William Byron (fifth), Ross Chastain (eighth) and Denny Hamlin (ninth), who leads the championship standings coming into New Hampshire — the first of the three second-round playoff races.

Bubba Wallace, who will start 14th, Kyle Larson (16th), Chase Briscoe (18th), defending New Hampshire race winner Christopher Bell (19th), Austin Cindric (22nd) and Chase Elliott (27th) round out the other playoff contenders on the grid.

Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing, in particular, has had a fast start to the 10-race playoff run, sweeping the first round — JGR’s Briscoe, Hamlin and Bell — taking the opening three trophies.

The last time a Ford won at New Hampshire was in 2021 (Aric Almirola). The last time a Chevrolet won was 2014 (Kevin Harvick).

“I think we’ve got a good shot,” Logano said. “I feel like Loudon is one of those race tracks that’s in our wheelhouse; a flat one-mile type track seems like it is a Team Penske kind of thing. Hopefully, we’re able to translate this pole into a win, because that’s what really matters.”

NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Mobil 1 301
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
1. (22) Joey Logano (P) @, Ford, 130.622 mph.
2. (12) Ryan Blaney (P) @, Ford, 129.865 mph.
3. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 129.754 mph.
4. (45) Tyler Reddick (P) @, Toyota, 129.745 mph.
5. (24) William Byron (P) @, Chevrolet, 129.670 mph.
6. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 129.560 mph.
7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 129.542 mph.
8. (1) Ross Chastain (P) @, Chevrolet, 129.529 mph.
9. (11) Denny Hamlin (P) @, Toyota, 129.511 mph.
10. (88) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 129.511 mph.
11. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 129.445 mph.
12. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 129.256 mph.
13. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 129.213 mph.
14. (23) Bubba Wallace (P) @, Toyota, 129.178 mph.
15. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 129.164 mph.
16. (5) Kyle Larson (P) @, Chevrolet, 129.129 mph.
17. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 129.112 mph.
18. (19) Chase Briscoe (P) @, Toyota, 129.064 mph.
19. (20) Christopher Bell (P) @, Toyota, 128.994 mph.
20. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 128.906 mph.
21. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 128.854 mph.
22. (2) Austin Cindric (P) @, Ford, 128.710 mph.
23. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 128.671 mph.
24. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 128.615 mph.
25. (35) Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 128.589 mph.
26. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 128.537 mph.
27. (9) Chase Elliott (P) @, Chevrolet, 128.420 mph.
28. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 128.325 mph.
29. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 128.001 mph.
30. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 127.984 mph.
31. (41) Cole Custer, Ford, 127.928 mph.
32. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 127.864 mph.
33. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 127.214 mph.

34. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 126.981 mph.

35. (51) Cody Ware, Ford, 126.442 mph.

36. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 125.894 mph.

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+++TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES+++

COLTS FOOTBALL

COLTS CB CHARVARIUS WARD, TE TYLER WARREN TO PLAY VS. TITANS

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward and rookie tight end Tyler Warren are expected to play against the host Tennessee Titans on Sunday after having their respective questionable designations removed by the team.

Ward cleared concussion protocol while Warren was dealing with a toe injury.

Ward sat out Indianapolis’ 29-28 victory over the Denver Broncos last Sunday after sustaining a concussion during the Colts’ 33-8 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the season opener.

Ward, 29, has played in 103 games in his career, including all 17 regular season contests in 2022 and 2023. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and was named to the Pro Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

Warren, who was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, appeared to injure a toe on his plant foot after a catch with 11 minutes left in the third quarter against the Broncos.

Warren, 23, has a club-best 11 receptions and leads all tight ends in yards (155) and yards after the catch (90). He was the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

INDY PREVAILS OVER GWINNETT IN PENULTIMATE GAME OF 2025 SEASON

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Indianapolis Indians posted two-run innings in two of the first three frames and held off the Gwinnett Stripers to prevail in the penultimate game of the 2025 season on Saturday night at Coolray Field, 5-3.

The Indianapolis (44-30, 86-62) offense got going early. Ji Hwan Bae led off the game and sliced a single to left field. Liover Peguero then worked a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and Nick Solak grounded out to short to send home Bae. One out later, Jase Bowen singled home Peguero.

That two-run output was matched in the third by Indy. With two outs and nobody aboard, Solak smacked a double to left field. Nelson Velazquez then knocked a hit to left field and Solak scampered home. Bowen struck again as he doubled to left-center field to drive in Velazquez. After a four-RBI night on Friday, Bowen has driven in six runs over the past pair of contests.

Gwinnett (34-40, 63-86) picked up a run in the second when David Fletcher advanced Eddys Leonard home, and they cut the Indianapolis lead to just one run in the sixth. With Conner Capel and Adam Zebrowski aboard, Carlos Rodriguez singled to right field to trim the deficit.

Indy plated an insurance run to gain some breathing room in the eighth. Solak led off and reached on an error. He would move to second on a wild pitch, and two batters later, scored on Brett Sullivan’s single.

Po-Yu Chen (W, 2-0) worked five innings and conceded just one run to earn the win for the Indians. Brandan Bidois (S, 2) recorded the final four outs for the save.

Ian Anderson (L, 1-4) was handed the loss after he allowed four runs in his starting role for the Stripers.

The Indians will conclude the 2025 season when they face Gwinnett on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm. Drake Fellows (9-6, 4.36) will go for his 10th win as he starts for Indy in the finale. He’ll be opposed by Gwinnett’s Carlos Carrasco (6-4, 4.13).

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INDIANA FOOTBALL

HOOSIERS EARN TOP-10 WIN OVER ILLINI

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – White towels twirled. Boy, did they twirl. The record sell-out crowd of 56,088 cheered. Boy, did it cheer. Rain fell and no one left. Boy, did the Indiana Hoosiers appreciate it.

Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium became a nationally televised stage to all that is good with Indiana football Saturday night, a 63-10 display of dominating offense, defense and special teams against Illinois, a veteran top-
10 team with playoff expectations. It left no doubt these No. 19/17 Hoosiers (4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten) mean championship business.

“This was our first Big Ten game,” cornerback D’Angelo Ponds said. “We wanted to make a statement. We did that. It shows how dominant we can be. We deserve to be in the top 10. I feel we proved that.”

Or, as head coach Curt Cignetti put it, “They couldn’t stop us. We broke their will and pounded them.”

The pounding included the most points a Big Ten team has ever scored against an AP top-10 team. IU also has won a program-record 12-straight home games under Cignetti, who has never lost at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.

“It showed we are a great Big Ten team,” quarterback Fernando Mendoza said. “We can run and throw. It’s starting to click.”

IU rocked Illinois (3-1) in the opening quarter — first with Ponds’ blocked punt, recovery and 11-yard touchdown run, then by converting a fourth-and-one gamble at midfield, followed by two quick Mendoza passes of 39 and 11 yards to Omar Cooper Jr. and another TD.

Statement sent and received.

“That gave us momentum and allowed us to keep on rolling,” receiver Elijah Sarratt said.

Mendoza was ruthlessly efficient for the second-straight game, going 21-for-23 for 267 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in three quarters before his brother, Alberto, replaced him.

Against Indiana State the previous week, he was 19-for-20 for 270 yards and five touchdowns. That’s 43 passes, three incompletions, 537 yards, and 10 TDs.

Not good enough, he said, especially with a trip to defensive-minded Iowa (3-1) next.

“There’s still stuff I have to clean up,” he said. “I missed Elijah and Coop on throws. We’ll get back to that and be ready for Iowa.”

For the season, Mendoza has thrown a Big Ten-best 14 touchdown passes without an interception.

“He took a big step last week and took another this week,” Cignetti said “He’s playing with a lot of confidence. His progress has really accelerated the last couple of weeks. He wants to be great.”

Greatness had help from Sarratt and Cooper Jr., who combined for 15 catches, 170 yards, and three touchdowns.

IU also recorded its fourth-straight 300-yard rushing game, finishing with 312. Running back Khobie Martin again came on strong late for his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 107 yards and two touchdowns. Kaelon Black added 89 yards and one TD.

Defensively, the Hoosiers held Illinois to 163 total yards and nine first downs. They had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and forced nine punts, plus had an interception (by defensive back Amare Ferrell).

“When they do that,” Ponds said, “it makes our job way easier. It felt like they were sacking the quarterback almost every play.”

IU also didn’t commit a turnover and had just two penalties.

“We tried to give our best effort every play,” Cooper said. “Our defense did a great job. We had a great week of practice. The coaches had a great game plan. The O-line played amazing. Fernando has an amazing arm.”

A near-perfect Hoosier first half delivered a 35-10 lead and one over-riding Cignetti mandate — no letup over the final 30 minutes.

The Hoosiers didn’t, adding a rushing and throwing TD in the third quarter, then two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter while continuing to punish Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer into irrelevance. He finished 14-for-22 for 146 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought our D-line could whip their O-line,” Cignetti said. “Our guys are tied in together. They don’t talk a lot. They hit the field and it’s all business.

“The way we’re playing in all three phases, there’s no let up with these guys.”

*****

Defense ruled for the first six minutes. Then Ponds rocked Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium with his blocked punt, recovery and touchdown for a 7-0 Hoosier lead.

Illinois countered with a 59-yard tying touchdown pass a minute later to tie the score. IU countered back with Mendoza’s 11-yard TD pass to Cooper Jr. for a 14-7 IU advantage. Mendoza’s 11-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr. made it 21-7 with 11 minutes left in the second quarter.

Mendoza’s 43-yard screen pass for a touchdown to tight end Riley Nowakowski and a nine-yard scoring pass to Sarratt made it 35-7. Illinois got a field goal for a 35-10 halftime score.

Then the Hoosiers unleashed their rushing attack. Black bolted 40 yards for a touchdown and a 42-10 lead less than four minutes into the third quarter. IU finished with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt and Martin TD runs of 31 and eight yards.

In the aftermath, Cignetti downplayed suggestions IU’s performance sent a message about its national title prospects. Not with their first road game of the season looming at Iowa City.

“I have to get them ready. We play the games and see where it shakes out at the end of the year.”

Added Sarratt: “It was not a statement for us. It was us going to work. We put the time in and executed.

“This game was important, but the next game is just as important. I know Illinois is a good team, but this was just another game. We want to keep doing what we’re doing.”

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PURDUE FOOTBALL

PURDUE DROPS FIRST ROAD GAME AT #21 NOTRE DAME

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Purdue Football fell in its first road game of the season, 56-30, at No. 21 Notre Dame on Saturday.

The game was delayed for lightning with 1:31 left in the first half, Purdue’s second consecutive game with a weather delay. The game was suspended for 1 hour and 54 minutes until resuming at 7 p.m. ET.

The delay also served as the game’s halftime break. Action resumed and ran straight into the third quarter with a regular quarter-length break.

The Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1 B1G) scored 23 first half points, including 10 in the final two minutes thanks to a Myles Slusher strip sack that led to a field goal, followed by a Nitro Tuggle touchdown reception. It was Purdue’s most points in a first half against an FBS opponent since Nov. 11, 2023, against Minnesota (28). However, the Fighting Irish (1-2) firmed up after that and kept Purdue out of the end zone until the final two minutes of the game.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne completed 21-of-34 passes (61.8%) for 250 yards and a touchdown.

Tuggle finished with three catches for a team-high 66 yards. He also hauled in a 24-yard pass for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter, his third straight game with a receiving score. He is Purdue’s first receiver to score in three consecutive games since Charlie Jones in 2022.

Senior Devin Mockobee caught a career-high seven passes for 56 yards. On a trick play in the first quarter, he connected with a wide-open Browne on the perimeter for a 14-yard passing touchdown. It was Mockobee’s first career pass and Browne’s first career catch.

Mockobee’s touchdown pass was the first by a Boilermaker running back since Montrell Lowe at Minnesota (Sept. 29, 2001).

Quarterback Malachi Singleton saw his first extended action early in the fourth. He tallied five carries for 26 yards and completed 3-of-4 passes for 39 yards, including his first touchdown pass as a Boilermaker. The touchdown pass was also Jesse Watson’s first career score.

Slusher led the defense with 11 tackles (nine solos). Purdue secured its first takeaway of the season when Slusher strip-sacked Irish quarterback CJ Carr shortly before halftime. CJ Nunnally IV recovered the fumble at the Notre Dame 19-yard line.

Spencer Porath went 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts to remain perfect (7-for-7) this season. His first was a career-long 48-yarder in the second quarter, followed by a 26-yarder and a 35-yarder. With seven straight makes, he is off to the best start by a Purdue kicker since Mitchell Fineran hit his first nine in 2021.

Punter Jack McCallister converted a fake punt for a first down in the second quarter, rushing for 10 yards on 4th-and-5. It was the first carry by a Purdue punter since Joe Schopper at Rutgers on Oct. 21, 2017, and the fourth-longest run by a Boilermaker punter since 1995.

UP NEXT

The Boilermakers enter their first bye week before returning to Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4. They will host No. 8 Illinois in the historic Cannon Trophy rivalry game.

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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

IRISH DOMINATE PURDUE AFTER WEATHER DELAY

The University of Notre Dame football team (1-2) scored three consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter to seize control of a 56-30 victory over Purdue (2-2) in Notre Dame Stadium. The game was delayed just before halftime due to inclement weather and the threat of lightning.

Jadarian Price led the Irish offensive output with four touchdowns, rushing for three and returning a kickoff 100 yards for a score. Freshman quarterback CJ Carr was highly effective, completing 10 of 12 passes for 223 yards and two long touchdown passes to Jordan Faison and Malachi Fields.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The start of the game followed a perfect script for the Fighting Irish. Purdue buried itself with an unsportsmanlike penalty on its first drive and faced third and 24 after two ineffective runs. Donovan Hinish hurried the Boilermaker quarterback into a throw out of bounds and the Notre Dame offense quickly got the ball into their hands.

CJ Carr dropped back and found Malachi Fields streaking down the middle of the field on a post pattern. Fields made a clean catch at the 18-yard line and scampered the rest of the way for a 66-yard touchdown reception.

Purdue answered quickly with a 31-yard pass into scoring position then executing a perfect throw back to the quarterback who was wide open at the 14-yard line to tie the game at 7-7.

Jadarian Price placed the Irish in great field position on the next possession with a 42-yard kick return. Jeremiyah Love powered the Irish down the field with two third-down run conversions while a Jordan Faison 17-yard reception set the Irish up in position to score.

Love followed up with a burst for 13 yards to the one-yard line then scored two plays later to put the Irish back in the lead.

Boubacar Traore put Purdue behind the sticks with a sack and forced fumble (recovered by Purdue) to eventually for a punt but Purdue went back in their bag of tricks and executed a fake punt to keep possession. Eventually driving to the 30-yard line, Purdue tried a pass into the end zone broken up by Mark Zackery IV. Zackery made his first career start in the game today replacing the injured Leonard Moore.

Purdue converted a 48-yard field goal to cut Notre Dame’s lead to four points 10 seconds into the second quarter.

The Irish made it three touchdowns on three drives when they received the kick off. Jordan Faison got his team moving with a first-down catch, Carr scrambled for a first down then Love broke away for a 17-yard run.

Love was relieved by Price at the Purdue 21-yard line and he burst through the right side for the scoring run.

It was time for the defense to make a play and they stepped up. Freshman linebacker Madden Faraimo popped an intended pass across the middle up in the air and Christian Gray made the interception at the Purdue 44-yard line. Gray returned the interception to the Purdue 36.

Price continued his determined runs, stiff arming a defender and getting 12 yards around the left side. He burst for a third down conversion next, just tripped up by a defender before he could break into the clear at the Purdue nine-yard line. He found pay dirt on the next play, looping around the right side this time, aided by a Eli Raridon block on the end of the line, to reach the end zone for his second time in the game.

The Boilermakers drove back down the field in 12 plays eventually getting stopped on third and five in the red zone. Purdue tacked on another field goal from 26 yards out with just under two minutes remaining in the half.

Notre Dame looked to drive in the time remaining before the break, but Carr was sacked from behind and fumbled, with the ball recovered by Purdue at the Irish 19-yard line.

The Boilermakers ran one play before the game was stopped for lightning in the area.

The delay due to weather lasted until 7 p.m. ET (exactly one hour, 54 minutes) and the game was restarted and would skip a halftime break.

The Irish held the Boilermakers once play resumed with the kicker coming on again and converting a 35-yard field goal. Donovan Hinish and Gabriel Rubio combined on a sack to force the field goal attempt.

The delay seemed to kickstart the Irish special teams as well. Price took the Purdue kickoff at the goal line, broke through a hole and bounced off another tackle for a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The scoring in the first half would not end. Purdue answered with a lightning quick 75 yard drive in six plays, scoring on a 24-yard touchdown toss.

Purdue’s momentum did not last long. Carr started the drive with a 14-yard strike to Faison then three plays later Love tried the middle, bounced to his right behind blocks from Jaden Greathouse and Faison and raced down the sidelines for a 46-yard touchdown.

The defense earned a stop on Purdue’s next drive, forcing the first punt of the game. Faison started the drive again with 14 yards then broke open down the left sideline for a 48-yard touchdown grab.

Following Faison’s big play the defense earned another stop when Bryce Young sacked the quarterback on third down.

Love began the drive with 36 rushing yards on four carries and he would finish the game with a career-high 157 yards. Carr hit Will Pauling for 21 yards into the red zone, then Price finished off the drive with a 12 yard run and a one-yard plunge for his third rushing score of the game.

The teams started to substitute liberally after Price’s touchdown with Kenny Minchey seeing his first quarterback action of the year along with numerous other Irish players.

Purdue tacked on a touchdown late in the game to represent the final score of 56-30.

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BUTLER FOOTBALL

PASSINI’S BIG NIGHT NOT ENOUGH AS WEBER STATE TOPS BUTLER, 38-24

Down by 20 late in the first half to Weber State, Butler nearly was able to complete a comeback before ultimately falling on the road, 38-24, Saturday night in Ogden, Utah.

Butler quarterback Gabe Passini had 175 yards rushing on 23 carries. He added five completions for 51 yards, while accounting for touchdowns both on the ground and through the air.

With the late-night result out West, both Butler and Weber State are 2-2 on the season.

LINES OF SCRIMMAGE:

Weber State led 27-7 after a touchdown with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter. Butler scored 10 points over the final stretch of the first half to pull within 10 at halftime.

Passini’s 12-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter cut the Weber State lead to 30-24 but the hosts were able to put the game out of reach with a touchdown with 2:54 remaining in the contest.

Passini and Brady Preston connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Butler forced Weber State into three turnovers – highlighted by interceptions from Devaon Holman and Danny Orgler – but WSU held a 442-248 advantage in total yards.

Butler was 0-for-14 on third down after entering the game ranked fourth in the FCS by converting 55 percent of their third-down opportunities.

Holman, Steven Stephany and Mason Armstrong each had seven tackles to lead the Bulldogs.

Davion Godley led the Weber State offensive attack with 193 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Jackson Gilkey threw for 185 yards and two scores through the air.

After Weber State scored on five of their first six possessions, Butler allowed the home team only 10 points over the final 34 minutes of the game.

Saturday was the first meeting between the two programs. Butler’s only other game against a Big Sky opponent came in the 2023 season opener, a 35-20 road loss at Montana.

Weber State opened the season with road losses at James Madison and Arizona before defeating McNeese a week ago.

UP NEXT: Butler returns to the Sellick Bowl Sept. 27 to host Marist. The game serves as the PFL opener for the Bulldogs and Homecoming Weekend on the Butler campus. The Bulldogs are 16-4 when playing at the Sellick Bowl since the beginning of the 2022 season.

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BALL STATE FOOTBALL

BALL STATE FALLS TO UCONN ON THE ROAD

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – In its final non-conference matchup of 2025, Ball State met Connecticut at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in front of 25,025, falling to the UConn 31-25.

The Huskies’ (2-2) 67-yard dash into the endzone at the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter was the score that brought the contest just out of reach for the Cardinals (1-3, 0-0 MAC). Ball State quickly responded, covering 65 yards and giving Dahya Patel his second-career touchdown. Ball State was successful on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to six, but the Huskies would control the ball and run out the final nine seconds of the game.

Both teams scored most of their offense in the final quarter, going back-and-forth with two touchdowns each.

Seeing a 10-point deficit in the opening quarter, Ball State gained momentum in the closing minutes, started by a career-best 53-yard connection between Kiael Kelly and Qian Magwood. With the first throw of his career two plays later, Magwood returned a handoff back to Kelly for a 19-yard reception, shrinking the gap to three.

After a UConn touchdown just over midway in the third quarter, Carson Holmer converted on his single field goal attempt from 23 yards out, bringing the score to 17-10 going into the final quarter.

The Cardinals had a successful afternoon in the passing game, scoring two of their three touchdowns from the air. Donovan Hamilton was the target of seven throws for 61 yards, leading the unit. Ball State had a total of three receivers with 40 yards or more.

Kelly threw a season-high 17 completions, tallying 209 yards with one touchdown on a 71% completion percentage.

On the ground, Ashley led with 86 yards on 18 attempts, including the Cardinals initial touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Alfred Chea led the defensive unit at his former stomping ground, totaling eight tackles. Ball State finished the contest with two tackles for loss, as well as two pass breakups.

The Cardinals return home Oct. 4 to open conference play against Ohio. Kickoff is slated for noon, with broadcasting available on CBS Sports Network and WLBC 104.1 FM.

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INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL

SYCAMORES CLOSE OUT 2025 NON-CONFERENCE SLATE WITH LOSS AT NO. 5/5 MONTANA

MISSOULA, Mont. – Nick Osho broke off a pair of long touchdown runs and Rashad Rochelle hauled in a 51-yard touchdown reception to highlight the Indiana State offensive efforts as the Sycamores fell on the road to No. 5/5 Montana on Saturday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Field, 63-20.

The Sycamores (2-2), making the return trip of the home-and-home series started in 2022, started off strong defensively with Bryce Patterson stuffing a 3rd-and-2 for a two-yard loss on the opening drive of the game, while the Indiana State defense forced a Montana (3-0) punt on the second possession.

The Griz broke free on their ensuing possession as Eli Gillman went 69 yards down the right sideline for an early Montana touchdown with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. Indiana State answered four plays later as Keegan Patterson targeted Rashad Rochelle up the seam and completed the 51-yard touchdown pass to the senior wide receiver to even the score at 7-7.

Montana broke loose from there scoring 49 consecutive points as Gillman added two more touchdown runs, while quarterback Keali’I Ah Yat added a 14-yard touchdown run and completed scoring passes to both Josh Gale (19 yards) and Jordan Dever (62 yards). The Griz added a defensive touchdown in the second quarter on a Solomon Tuliaupupu strip-sack recovered by TJ Rausch in the end zone to pull away.

Indiana State rallied late in the fourth quarter as senior running back Nick Osho broke loose with a pair of long touchdown runs. His first went for 55 yards down the left sideline with 12:14 left in the first quarter to end the Sycamores’ scoring draught. His second, a 79-yard carry, featured several broken tackles near the line of scrimmage before he outran the Montana defense down the sideline for the score.

Osho finished with a career-high 134 rushing yards on five carries with his two rushing touchdowns highlighting the Indiana State offense. Plez Lawrence added 15 carries for 57 yards as the Sycamores racked up 198 total rushing yards on 30 carries in the game.

Keegan Patterson was 15-of-27 through the air for 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Sycamore quarterback completed passes to eight different receivers with Rochelle the top target with four catches for a season-high 75 yards and a touchdown.

Nic Yatsko paced the Indiana State defense with a career-high nine tackles in the game, while Braxton Sampson and Kaden Gajewski had eight stops apiece with each recording 1.0 tackles-for-loss. Bryce Patterson added a career-high seven tackles and 1.5 TFL in the contest.

Montana quarterback Ah Yat was 22-of-27 for 313 yards and two touchdown passes in the win. Overall, Montana quarterbacks completed passes to 11 different receivers paced by Michael Wortham’s team-high five catches for 78 yards. Eli Gillman, the NCAA FCS’ leading rusher heading into the game, recorded 13 carries for 120 yards and three touchdowns overall.

Elijawah Tolbert led Montana’s defense with nine tackles and a half-sack in the contest, while Clay Oven added seven stops. Peyton Wing recorded an interception in the win.

News & Notes

Indiana State closes out nonconference play with a 2-2 overall record featuring wins over McKendree and Eastern Illinois, while falling to Indiana and Montana.

Nick Osho recorded his first 100-yard rushing game as an Indiana State Sycamore following his 134-yard performance.

Osho’s 100-yard game and Indiana State’s second 100-yard rushing game of the season following Lawrence’s 133-yard, two-touchdown game against McKendree in the season opener.

Yatsko’s nine tackles marked a career-high for the redshirt freshman safety.

The Sycamores fall to 0-2 all-time against Montana.

Up Next

Indiana State closes out the three-game road trip on Saturday, October 4, as the Sycamores travel to Carbondale, Ill. for the start of Missouri Valley Football Conference play. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Southern Illinois Salukis is set for 7 p.m. ET at Saluki Stadium and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

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VALPO FOOTBALL

VALPO FALLS TO NO. 16/17 NORTH DAKOTA

The Valparaiso University football team played against a top-25, full-scholarship FCS opponent on Saturday at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., dropping the game 58-7 to the No. 16/17 Fighting Hawks. Micah Mackay (Zionsville, Ind. / Lutheran) had a 67-yard touchdown reception for the Beacons.

How It Happened

The Beacons moved the ball on the opening drive, which started with a 25-yard kickoff return by Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) with a penalty tacked onto the end of it. Valpo reached midfield but punted on fourth-and-short on the opening drive.

The Fighting Hawks put together a 10-play, 85-yard drive that lasted just under six minutes, culminating with a 7-yard touchdown rush by Sawyer Seidl.

The Beacons moved the ball again on their second drive of the game, twice converting in third-down scenarios. Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) scrambled for 11 on third-and-8 from the Valpo 27, then found Devin Yeats (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire) for an 11-yard grab on third-and-11 from the Valpo 37. The Beacons did eventually punt after moving the ball to midfield.

The Valpo defense forced a punt late in the first quarter, but the offense went three-and-out early in the second.

North Dakota scored on a 2-yard TD pass to Deng Deng to make it 14-0 with 9:40 left in the second quarter, completing an eight-play, 59-yard drive

The Valpo defense forced its second punt of the opening half, but UND forced one of its own and the teams exchanged punts.

The deficit was just two scores with a minute remaining on the first-half clock, but a 20-yard TD reception by Seidl with 55 seconds to play made it 21-0, then the Fighting Hawks forced a three-and-out and used their timeouts, getting it back in time for a 38-yard field goal that made it 24-0 at halftime.

Valpo got a stop on the first drive of the half with freshman Micah Markley (West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West) making his ninth tackle of the game on the third-down play. After a nice 13-yard grab by Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield), the Beacons got on the board when Mackay went 67 yards for a score on a pass from Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) to make it 24-7 with 11:59 left in the third.

North Dakota got it right back on a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that made it 31-7 with 11:59 left in the half. The Fighting Hawks blocked a punt to set up a short field and took advantage with another score to extend the lead to 38-7 with 7:40 left in the third.

North Dakota added a 23-yard rushing touchdown and a 38-yard field goal prior to the end of the third, and led 48-7 through three quarters.

North Dakota added 10 points in the final quarter.

Inside the Game

Mackay’s touchdown catch was the first of his collegiate career and his second overall score with his first coming on a return. It marked the longest offensive play from scrimmage for the Beacons this season.

On a day where two Micahs made positive contributions for the Beacons, Markley was the team’s leading tackler with 13 stops including six solos, a career best for the true freshman. Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) chipped in six tackles for the Brown & Gold.

Keefe passed for 111 yards on 8-of-15 through the air.

Yeats had by far his biggest game of the season, making four catches for 22 yards after entering the game with one catch over the first three weeks.

Up Next

Valpo (1-3) will have a bye week next week before opening Pioneer Football League play at Drake at noon on Saturday, Oct. 4.

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+++SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES+++

UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

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+++SPORTS EXTRA+++

+++TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY+++

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Sept. 21

1934 — Daffy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers for 3-0 victory in the second game of an Ebbets Field doubleheader. Daffy’s brother Dizzy, held Brooklyn hitless until the eighth inning in the opener and won 13-0.

1947 — Boston’s Johnny Pesky had two hits in each game of a doubleheader and finished the day with 202 hits. Pesky surpassed the 200-hit mark for the third time in as many major league seasons. He is the only player to lead a league in hits in his first three seasons in the game.

1964 — Manager Gene Mauch’s first-place Phillies lost 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds on Chico Ruiz’s steal of home in the sixth inning. It was Philadelphia’s first of 10 straight losses, a streak that cost them the NL pennant.

1970 — Oakland’s Vida Blue pitched a no-hitter in his eighth major league start, beating Minnesota 6-0.

1995 — Colorado’s John Vander Wal set a major league record with his 26th pinch-hit of the season with a home run in the seventh inning against San Francisco.

2000 — Colorado’s Jeff Cirillo doubled twice in a 13-4 win over San Diego, giving him 51 doubles for the year. Cirillo and Todd Helton (57) became the seventh pair of teammates in major league history to reach 50 doubles in the same season.

2001 — Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and doubled in a run in St. Louis’ 9-5 win over Pittsburgh. The slam gave him the major league record for extra base hits by a rookie (83), one more than Johnny Frederick’s total for Brooklyn in 1929.

2001 — Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez hits his 47th home run tying the major league record for home runs in a season by a shortstop. Cubs legend Ernie Banks established the record in 1958.

2006 — David Ortiz hit his 51st and 52nd homers, breaking the Red Sox record for most homers in a season of 50 set in 1938 by Jimmie Foxx. The homers also set the major league record by a designated hitter at 45, two more than he hit when he set the record last season.

2008 — Baseball said farewell to Yankee Stadium, the home of baseball’s most famous team. What began with a Babe Ruth home run on an April afternoon in 1923 ended with Mariano Rivera retiring Brian Roberts on a grounder to first baseman Cody Ransom, completing a 7-3 victory over Baltimore.

2013 — Matt Carpenter broke Stan Musial’s team record for doubles by a left-handed batter in a season and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2. Carpenter’s fifth-inning double was his 54th of the season, one more than Musial’s total in 1953.

2016 — Rookie Gary Sanchez hit two more homers and drove in five runs to lead the New York Yankees to an 11-5 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays. Sanchez homered in his fourth straight game. The catcher hit a three-run shot in a four-run second off Alex Cobb and added his 19th homer in 43 games this season on a solo drive in the sixth against Justin Marks. Including two games last season, Sanchez became the first player in major league history to hit 19 homers in his first 45 games. Wally Berger, with the Boston Braves in 1930, went deep 19 times in his first 51 games.

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Sept. 22

1911 — Cy Young, 44, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 for his 511th and final major league victory.

1936 — The Detroit Tigers swept the St. Louis Browns 12-0 and 14-0 to record the biggest double shutout in major league history.

1954 — Karl Spooner of Brooklyn became the first pitcher in the majors to strike out 15 in his first game as the Dodgers beat the New York Giants 3-0.

1966 — The Baltimore Orioles clinched their first AL pennant in 22 years with a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City A’s. Their last pennant came in 1944 when they were the St. Louis Browns.

1968 — Cesar Tovar played one inning at each position for the Minnesota Twins, becoming the second major leaguer in history to do it. Bert Campaneris of the Oakland A’s was the other.

1969 — Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants became the second player to hit 600 career home runs — joining Babe Ruth. The two-run shot off San Diego’s Mike Corkins in the seventh inning, gave the Giants a 4-2 win.

1973 — Baltimore’s Al Bumbry tied the major-league record with three triples as the Orioles beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 and clinched the American League East title.

1977 — Bert Blyleven tossed a 6-0 no-hitter for Texas against the Angels at Anaheim Stadium.

1986 — Fernando Valenzuela of Los Angeles became the first Mexican to win 20 games, beating the Houston Astros 9-2 while allowing two hits.

1990 — Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs stole his 300th base in an 11-5 loss to the New York Mets, to become the second player with 300 homers, 300 steals and 2,000 hits. Willie Mays was the other.

1993 — Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers faced three Seattle batters before hurting his right elbow. Ryan finished his career with 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters.

2000 — Houston’s Jose Lima set an NL single-season record by allowing his 47th homer in the Astros’ 12-5 loss to Cincinnati. The major league record for home runs allowed in a season is 50, set by Minnesota’s Bert Blyleven in 1986.

2003 — Detroit set an AL record with its 118th loss, falling 12-6 to Kansas City. The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117) set the record.

2003 — Second baseman Alfonso Soriano broke a major league record by hitting his 13th leadoff homer of the year in the New York Yankees’ 10-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox.

2006 — Alfonso Soriano became baseball’s first 40-40-40 player in Washington’s 3-2 win over the New York Mets. Soriano hit his 40th double and stole his 41st base. With 45 homers, he already was only the fourth major league player with 40 homers and 40 steals in a season.

2018 — The Atlanta Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. A year after going 70-92, manager Brian Snitker and his Baby Braves surged back into the playoffs.

2023 — By hitting his 40th homer of the season, Ronald Acuña Jr. becomes just the fifth member of the exclusive 40-40 club consisting pf players whp have hit 40 homers and stolen 40 bases in the same season. He already has over 60 steals, the first player to ever combine the two totals, and has a chance to reach 70. The Braves defeat the Nationals, 9 – 6. For the second time in a month, Aaron Judge hits three homers in a game to lead the Yankees to a 7 – 1 lead over the Diamondbacks. Judge had never had such a game before this year, and becomes the first player in Yankees history to have two in one season.

Sept. 23

1908 — In a crucial game with the Chicago Cubs, Fred Merkle of the New York Giants failed to touch second base as the apparent winning run crossed home plate. This resulted in a great dispute and the game was eventually declared a tie and played over on Oct. 8 when the Cubs and Giants ended the season in a tie.

1939 — Brooklyn’s Cookie Lavagetto went 6-for-6 to lead the Dodgers’ 27-hit attack in a 22-4 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. Lovagetto had four singles, a double and a triple and scored four runs. He was the only Dodger without an RBI. Dixie Walker, Gene Moore and Johnny Hudson each drive in three runs.

1952 — The Brooklyn Dodgers clinched the NL title, the first time since 1948 that the pennant wasn’t decided in the season’s final game.

1957 — Hank Aaron’s 11th-inning homer gave the Milwaukee Braves a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and the NL pennant. It was the first time since 1950 that a New York team hadn’t finished first.

1979 — Lou Brock stole base No. 938, breaking Billy Hamilton’s record, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Mets 7-4 in 10 innings.

1983 — Steve Carlton of Philadelphia recorded his 300th career victory with a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

1984 — The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 4-1, making Sparky Anderson the first manager to win more than 100 games in each league.

1986 — Rookie left-hander Jim Deshaies set a major league record by striking out eight batters to start the game and finished with a two-hitter and 10 strikeouts to lead the Houston Astros past of the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0.

1987 — Albert Hall of the Atlanta Braves hit for the cycle in 5-4 win over the Houston Astros.

1988 — Jose Canseco became the first major leaguer to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in one season as the Oakland Athletics beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-8 in 14 innings.

1992 — Bip Roberts tied the NL record with his 10th consecutive hit, then grounded out against Pedro Astacio to end his streak in the Cincinnati Reds’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1998 — Houston’s Craig Biggio became the second player this century to have 50 steals and 50 doubles in a season, joining Hall of Famer Tris Speaker.

2001 — Sammy Sosa became the first player to hit three home runs in a game three times in a season, but Moises Alou’s two-run shot rallied Houston to a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

2008 — The New York Yankees’ streak of postseason appearances ended. Boston beat Cleveland 5-4, minutes before the Yankees’ win. The Red Sox victory clinched at least the AL wild card and eliminated New York, which had made 13 straight postseason appearances.

2013 — Alex Rios of Texas hit for the cycle in a 12-0 rout of Houston. Rios finished off the cycle with a triple to right-center field in the sixth inning.

2016 — David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the first inning to set the RBIs record for a player in his final season, and the AL East-leading Boston beat Tampa Bay 2-1 for its ninth straight victory. Ortiz’s 37th homer came off Chris Archer and raised his RBIs total to 124, one more than Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1920. The 40-year-old’s 540th homer, his 300th on the road, struck an overhanging catwalk above the right-field seats.

2022 — Albert Pujols, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season no matter what happened, becomes the fourth player to reach the 700-home run mark – after Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. He does so by going deep twice, first off Andrew Heaney in the 3rd inning and then off Phil Bickford in the 4th for #700. The Cardinals win handily, 11 – 0, over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

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Sept. 24

1940 — Jimmie Foxx of the Red Sox hit his 500th career home run off Philadelphia’s George Caster in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park. Foxx’s homer came in the sixth inning after Ted Williams homered. Joe Cronin followed with a homer and, later in the inning, Jim Tabor also homered. The four homers in the inning were a first in the AL.

1969 — The New York Mets clinched the NL East title, with Gary Gentry pitching a four-hitter in a 6-0 victory over St. Louis.

1974 — Detroit’s Al Kaline doubled down the right-field line off Dave McNally of Baltimore for his 3,000th career hit. The Orioles beat the Tigers 5-4 at Memorial Stadium.

1977 — Jack Brohamer of the Chicago White Sox had four extra base hits and hit for the cycle in an 8-3 win over the Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome.

1984 — Rick Sutcliffe threw a two-hitter and led the Chicago Cubs to their first league title since 1945 with a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh.

1988 — Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays, one strike from a no-hitter, gave up a bad-hop single to Julio Franco. Stieb settled for a 1-0, one-hit victory over Cleveland.

1998 — Boston’s Tom Gordon set a major league record for most consecutive saves with his 42nd to preserve the Red Sox’ 9-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

2004 — The Atlanta Braves clinched their 13th consecutive division title, winning the NL East with an 8-7 victory over the Florida Marlins. The Braves’ record streak of division championships began with the 1991 NL West title and excludes the 1994 strike-shortened season.

2006 — Trevor Hoffman became baseball’s career saves leader, earning No. 479 to pass Lee Smith and help NL West-leading San Diego beat Pittsburgh 2-1. It was his NL-leading 43rd save in 48 chances.

2008 — Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth inning of the Los Angeles Angels’ 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners to end the season with a major league record 62 saves.

2014 — The New York Yankees were eliminated from postseason contention after losing to the AL East champion Orioles 9-5. The Yankees missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1992 and ’93.

2016 — Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 3-0 to send New York to its third consecutive shutout defeat — the first time that has happened to New York since 1975.

2022 — The Braves’ Kyle Wright, who had only won two regular season games in four seasons, becomes the first 20-game winner in the majors this year with a 6 – 3 win over Philadelphia. The win moves Atlanta within one and a half games of the Mets, holders of first place in the NL East.

_____

Sept. 25

1941 — Pete Reiser’s homer and Whitlow Wyatt’s five-hitter helped Brooklyn beat the Boston Braves 6-0 and clinch the Dodgers’ first pennant in 21 years.

1955 — Detroit’s Al Kaline, at the age of 20, became the youngest player to win a batting title, finishing his second season with a .340 average. Ty Cobb was one day older when he won the crown, batting .350 in 1907, also playing for Detroit.

1956 — Sal Maglie of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.

1960 — The New York Yankees clinched manager Casey Stengel’s 10th and last American League pennant with a 4-3 victory over Boston.

1965 — Satchel Paige, at 60, became the oldest player in the majors, taking the mound for Kansas City and pitching three scoreless innings over the Boston Red Sox. He gave up one hit, to Carl Yastrzemski.

1965 — Willie Mays, who hit 51 home runs in 1955, joined Ralph Kiner as only the National Leaguers to have more than one 50-home run season.

1974 — Dr. Frank Jobe transplanted a tendon from Tommy John’s right wrist to the Dodger pitcher’s left elbow. The revolutionary ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction allowed John to win an additional 164 games, more than half of his career total of 288 victories.

1980 — Oakland’s Brian Kingman lost his 20th game when the A’s were defeated by the Chicago White Sox 6-4. Kingman was the first pitcher to lose 20 games with a winning team since Dolf Luque went 13-23 for the 1922 Cincinnati Reds.

1984 — Rusty Staub of the Mets became the second player to hit homers as a teenager and past his 40th birthday. Staub’s game-winning home run off Larry Anderson to give the Mets a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia at Shea Stadium. Ty Cobb was the other major leaguer to accomplish the feat.

1987 — San Diego’s Benito Santiago set a modern major league record for rookies by hitting safely in his 27th consecutive game in a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1998 — The New York Yankees set the AL record for wins with their 112th, beating Tampa Bay 6-1 to break the victory mark held by the 1954 Cleveland Indians.

2001 — Richie Sexson and Jeromy Burnitz became the first teammates to hit three home runs apiece in a game as Milwaukee defeated Arizona 9-4.

2003 — Toronto’s Carlos Delgado became the sixth player to homer in four straight at-bats in one game as the Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-8 at SkyDome. Delgado tied the game at 8-8 in the eighth with his fourth homer, a solo shot off Lance Carter.

2007 — Prince Fielder, at 23 years, 139 days old, became the youngest major league player to hit 50 home runs in a season, connecting twice in Milwaukee’s 9-1 rout of St. Louis.

2013 — The New York Yankees failed to make the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years, getting mathematically eliminated during their 8-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

2016 — Jose Fernandez, 24, ace right-hander for the Miami Marlins, was killed in a boating accident.

2017 — Aaron Judge broke Mark McGwire’s major league record for home runs by a rookie, hitting a pair for the second straight day to raise his total to 50 and lead the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 11-3.

2018 — Max Scherzer became the 17th pitcher since 1900 to strike out 300 batters in a season, reaching that milestone by fanning 10 in seven innings during Washington’s 9-4 win over Miami.

+++TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY+++

Sept. 21

1940 — For the first time in the history of photo finishes a triple dead heat for first place is recorded, at Willow’s Park, Victoria, British Columbia.

1955 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Archie Moore in the ninth round at Yankee Stadium in New York to retain the world heavyweight title.

1980 — Richard Todd of the New York Jets completes an NFL record 42 passes and throws for 447 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-27 loss to San Francisco.

1982 — NFL players begin a 57 day strike.

1985 — Michael Spinks wins a 15-round unanimous decision over Larry Holmes Las Vegas to win the world heavyweight title.

1985 — Montana State’s David Pandt catches 21 passes for 169 yards against Eastern Washington to set an NCAA record.

1986 — Ken O’Brien’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Wesley Walker at 2:35 in overtime ends one of the highest scoring games in NFL history as the New York Jets defeat the Miami Dolphins 51-45. O’Brien passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns, all to Walker. Miami’s Dan Marino passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns as both quarterbacks set a record with 884 combined yards passing.

1991 — U.S. Basketball announces “Dream Team” for the 1992 Olympics.

1994 — The North Carolina women’s soccer team wins its 89th straight game, setting the unofficial record for the longest winning streak in college sports. The 5-1 victory over rival N.C. State broke the mark of 88 in a row set by the UCLA men’s basketball team during the early 1970s.

1997 — The Buffalo Bills stage the third-biggest comeback in NFL history, overcoming a 26-0 deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-35. The Bills made the greatest comeback in the 1992 AFC playoffs, wiping out a 35-3 deficit to beat the Houston Oilers 41-38 in overtime.

2003 — Sam Hornish Jr. wins the fastest open-wheel race in history at California Speedway. Hornish’s Chevrolet-powered Dallara averages 207.151 mph in the Toyota Indy 400 — breaking the previous closed course race record of 197.995, set here last year by Jimmy Vasser in a CART Champ Car event.

2008 — The United States take back the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory over Europe. It’s the largest margin of victory for the Americans since 1981.

2008 — Baseball says farewell to Yankee Stadium, the home of baseball’s most famous team.

2008 — Miami wins for just the second time in 22 games, ending New England’s NFL record 21 straight regular-season wins with a 38-13 win over the Patriots. Ronnie Brown scores a Miami-record four rushing touchdowns and passes for another. The 25-point loss is New England’s biggest in seven seasons at Gillette Stadium.

2014 — Tom Brady passes for 234 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 16-9 win over Oakland. The win is Brady’s 150th career victory as a starting quarterback, joining Brett Favre (186) and Peyton Manning (169) as the only quarterbacks to accomplish the feat.

2018 — English golfer Oliver Fisher shoots the first round of 59 in the 46-year history of the European Tour. Fisher makes an eagle and 10 birdies on a par-71 course in the second round of the Portugal Masters held at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club in Vilamoura.

_____

Sept. 22

1905 — Willie Anderson wins the U.S. Open for the fourth time in five years, beating Alex Smith with a 314-total at the Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Mass.

1927 — Gene Tunney wins a unanimous 10-round decision over Jack Dempsey at Soldier Field in Chicago to retain his world heavyweight title. The fight is marred by a long 10-count in the seventh round. Dempsey knocks Tunney to the mat, but Dempsey doesn’t go to a neutral corner. The referee doesn’t start counting until four or five seconds after Tunney is down. Tunney regains his feet and goes on to win.

1969 — Willie Mays becomes the second major league player to hit 600 homers with a two-run shot off Mike Corkins, giving the San Francisco Giants a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

1974 — The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos are the first teams to play to a tie, 35-35, with the new overtime rule in effect.

1984 — Mississippi Valley State’s Willie Totten passes for 526 yards in a 49-32 victory over Jackson State. Wide receiver Jerry Rice has 285 yards receiving.

1986 — LA Dodger Fernando Valenzuela is 1st Mexican to win 20 games.

1987 — The 1,585-member NFL Players Association goes on strike after the New England-New York Jets Monday night game. The strike lasts 24 days.

1990 — Illinois’ Howard Griffith sets an NCAA record when he scores eight rushing touchdowns in a 56-21 rout of Southern Illinois. Griffith gets touchdowns on three consecutive carries in the second quarter and ties an NCAA record with four touchdowns in the third quarter. Griffith doesn’t play in the fourth quarter. It’s the most points scored in an NCAA game by a player other than a kicker.

1990 — Andre Dawson steals his 300th base & is only player other than Willie Mays to have 300 HRs, 300 steals & 2,000 hits.

1991 — Miami coach Don Shula gets his 300th career victory in the Dolphins’ 16-13 win over Green Bay.

1993 — Nolan Ryan, 46, pitches his last game.

2002 — New England’s Tom Brady completes 39 of 54 passes for 410 yards and throws touchdown passes to four different receivers, leading the Patriots to a 41-38 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

2007 — Graham Harrell of Texas Tech completes 46 of 67 passes for 646 yards, the fourth-best total in major college history, in a 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State.

2007 — Kentucky’s Andre Woodson sets a major college record for consecutive passes without an interception, breaking the mark of 271 held by Fresno State’s Trent Dilfer.

2012 — Cobi Hamilton of Arkansas has 10 catches for a Southeastern Conference record 303 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-26 to Rutgers.

2012 — Old Dominion’s Taylor Heinicke smashes NCAA Division I records by throwing for 730 yards. He completes 55 of 79 attempts without being intercepted and leads the Monarchs back from a 23-point, third-quarter deficit to a 64-61 victory against New Hampshire.

2018 — Anthony Joshua retains his IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles by stopping Alexander Povetkin in the seventh round at Wembley Stadium.

2018 — Jess McDonald scores two goals and the North Carolina Courage win the National Women’s Soccer League championship with a 3-0 victory over the Portland Thorns.

Sept. 23

1926 — Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey with a 10-round decision to retain the world heavyweight title.

1952 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round to retain the world heavyweight title.

1979 — St. Louis’ Lou Brock steals his 938th base to break Billy Hamilton’s record as the Cardinals beat New York Mets 7-4 in 10 innings.

1979 — The Houston Oilers overcome a 24-0 deficit to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 in overtime.

1983 — Gerry Coetzee knocks out Michael Dokes in the 10th round to win the WBA heavyweight title in Richfield, Ohio.

1988 — Jose Canseco is the first player to steal 40 base and hit 40 home runs in the same season.

1992 — Manon Rheaume becomes the first woman to play in one of the four major pro sports leagues when she takes the ice in the first period for the NHL expansion Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game. The 20-year-old goalie faces nine shots and allows two goals in St. Louis’ 6-4 victory.

2000 — Ben Matthews ties an NCAA record with five interceptions as Bethel beat Gustavus 14-13. Matthews ties the all-division record shared by eight players.

2007 — For the first time in NFL history, two players have 200-plus yards receiving in the same game — whether they were opponents or teammates — in Philadelphia’s 56-21 rout of Detroit. Philadelphia’s Kevin Curtis has 11 receptions for 221 yards and Detroit’s Roy Williams catches 9 passes for 204. Detroit’s Jon Kitna sets a franchise record with 446 yards passing.

2012 — The Tennessee Titans become the first team in NFL history to score five touchdowns of at least 60 yards in a game in their 44-41 overtime win over Detroit. The scorers are Tommie Campbell with a 65-yard punt-return; Jared Cook’s 61-yard reception from Jake Locker; Darius Reynaud’s 105-yard kick-return; Nate Washington’s 71-yard reception from Locker; and Alterraun Verner’s 72-yard fumble-return. The Lions also become the first team in NFL history to score two touchdowns in the final 18 seconds of regulation to either take the lead or force overtime.

2012 — Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles rushes for 233 yards, including a 91-yard TD run in the Chiefs’ 27-24 overtime win over New Orleans. Ryan Succop kicks six field goals, one to force overtime in the final seconds and a 31-yarder in overtime for the Chiefs.

2017 — The St. John’s-St. Thomas rivalry game obliterates the NCAA Division III attendance record with a crowd of 37,355. The Tommies use a stingy defense to hang on for a 20-17 win over the Johnnies at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. The previous mark was set on Oct. 8, 2016, with 17,535 fans watching Wisconsin-Oshkosh play at Wisconsin-Whitewater.

2017 — Juwan Johnson catches a seven-yard TD pass as time expires and fourth-ranked Penn State rallies to stun Iowa 21-19 in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Saquon Barkley has 211 yards rushing and 94 yards receiving for the Nittany Lions, who outgain Iowa 579-273 but nearly blew the game. With the Hawkeyes leading 19-15, Penn State goes 80 yards on 12 plays to close out the game, and Trace McSorley finds Johnson in a crowded end zone on fourth down.

2017 — U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws invitation to the White House for NBA champions Golden State Warriors after Stephen Curry says he doesn’t want to attend.

2018 — Tiger Woods caps off one of the most remarkable comebacks in golf history. Woods ends his comeback season with a dominant victory at the Tour Championship. He taps in for par and a 1-over 71 for a two-shot victory over Billy Horschel. It’s the 80th victory of his PGA Tour career and his first in more than five years.

2018 — Drew Brees sets the NFL record for career completions while passing for 396 yards and three touchdowns and running for two scores to lift New Orleans past Atlanta 43-37 in overtime. Brees breaks the record of 6,300 career completions set by Brett Favre.

2022 — St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hits 2 home runs with 5 RBI in 11-0 win over Dodgers in LA; becomes fourth player in MLB history to hit 700 career HRs.

2022 — Tennis great Roger Federer plays his final professional match during Laver Cup in London; teams with friend and rival Rafael Nadal but loses 6–4, 6–7 (9–11) to Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.

_____

Sept. 24

1930 — The Portsmouth Spartans beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 12-0 in the first NFL game played under floodlights. More than 6,000 fans turn out on an unseasonably warm evening to watch the game at the new University Stadium.

1950 — Philadelphia’s Russ Craft has four interceptions to lead the Eagles in a 45-7 rout of the Chicago Cardinals. Chicago quarterback Jim Hardy sets an NFL record by throwing eight interceptions.

1953 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Rolando La Starza in the 11th round at the Polo Grounds in New York to retain his world heavyweight title.

1967 — Jim Bakken of St. Louis Cardinals kicks an NFL-record seven field goals to give the Cardinals a 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. His longest field goal is 33 yards.

1971 — The World Hockey Association announces its formation with 12 teams to start play in October 1972.

1974 — Detroit’s Al Kaline doubles down the right-field line off Dave McNally of Baltimore in the fourth inning for his 3,000th career hit. The Orioles beat the Tigers 5-4 at Memorial Stadium.

1988 — American heptathlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee sets new world record 7,291 points to win the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics; East Germans Sabine John & Anke Behmer take the minor medals.

1988 — American swimmer Matt Biondi sets world record 22.14 to win the 50m freestyle gold medal at the Seoul Olympics; his 4th of 5 gold medals for the Games.

1988 — Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson breaks his own 100m world record with a time of 9.79 at the Seoul Olympics; disqualified 3 days later for use of drug stanozolol; Carl Lewis awarded gold and world record 9.92.

1993 — Juniata’s women’s volleyball team beats Washington of St. Louis to end Washington’s NCAA-record winning streak at 59 matches.

1994 — Washington ends Miami’s NCAA-record home winning streak at 58 with a 38-20 victory against the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl.

1995 — On the final day of competition, Europe rallies past the U.S. to win the Ryder Cup 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y. Europe takes seven singles matches to win its first Ryder Cup since 1989.

2001 — Green Bay’s 37-0 shutout of Washington ends the Redskins’ NFL record of scoring in 231 consecutive road games.

2006 — The Europeans turn the Ryder Cup into another rout, winning 18 1/2-9 1/2 and becoming the first European team to win three straight times.

2006 — Washington’s Mark Brunell breaks the NFL record for most consecutive passes completed in a game when he connects on his first 22 throws in a 31-15 win over the Houston Texans.

2011 — Dwayne De Rosario scores the quickest hat trick in MLS history, leading D.C. United to a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake.

2012 — Russell Wilson throws a disputed 24-yard touchdown to Golden Tate on the final play of the game, and the Seattle Seahawks rally to beat the Green Bay Packers 14-12.

2013 — Skipper Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA extend their winning streak to seven to force a winner-take-all America’s Cup finale against Emirates Team New Zealand.

2016 — Daniel Carlson kicks six field goals and Auburn beats No. 18 LSU 18-13 after a ruling that Danny Etling’s apparent last-gasp scoring pass comes after time expired.

2017 — Peter Sagan of Slovakia becomes the first man to win three straight road race titles after holding off Norway’s Alexander Kristoff at the World Cycling Championships.

2017 — Diego Valeri scores twice to extend his MLS-record scoring streak to nine straight games and Portland beats Orlando City 3-0. Valeri moves in front of NYCFC’s David Villa for most goals this season with 20.

2017 — Jake Elliott kicks a 61-yard field goal as time expires to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 27-24 victory over the New York Giants. It is the longest by a rookie in NFL history.

2017 — Laver Cup Men’s Tennis, Prague: Roger Federer is unbeaten as Team Europe dominates Team World, 15-9 in the inaugural teams event.

2018 — Real Madrid midfielder & Croatian World Cup captain Luka Modrić is named world’s best male player at the FIFA Awards in London; Brazil & Orlando Pride forward Marta best female player; France’s Didier Deschamps best men’s coach.

_____

Sept. 25

1866 — Jerome Park, named for its founder Leonard Jerome, opens in the Bronx in New York. Jerome, seeking to emulate the British racing system, also establishes the American Jockey Club, precursor to the present Jockey Club, formed in 1894.

1920 — Molly Bjurstedt Mallory wins her fifth title in six years with a two-set victory over Marion Zinderstein in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championships.

1926 — Walter Hagen wins his third straight and fourth overall PGA Championship. Hagen beats Leo Diegel 4 and 3 in the championship match at Salisbury Golf Links in Westbury, N.Y.

1949 — Louise Suggs wins the U.S. Women’s Open by 14 strokes over Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

1962 — Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson at 2:06 of the first round at Comiskey Park in Chicago to win the world heavyweight title.

1966 — Gloria Ehret wins the LPGA Championship by three strokes over four-time champion Micke Wright.

1982 — Ricky Edwards rushes for 177 yards and four touchdowns to help Northwestern end its 34-game losing streak in a 31-6 victory over Northern Illinois.

1988 — Americans sweep the medals in the long jump at the Seoul Olympics; Carl Lewis wins his second gold of the Games with leap of 8.72m ahead of teammates Mike Powell & Larry Myricks.

1988 — Super swimmer Matt Biondi wins his 5th gold medal of the Seoul Olympics anchoring the victorious American 4 x 100m medley relay team.

1994 — Oliver McCall scores a major upset by stopping Lennox Lewis 31 seconds into the second round to capture the WBC heavyweight title in London.

1995 — Jerry Rice has 181 yards receiving in San Francisco’s 27-24 loss to Detroit. It’s his 51st 100-yard game, which breaks Don Maynard’s NFL record.

1997 — WNBA announces it will add Detroit & Washington, D.C. franchises.

2000 — American basketball player Vince Carter jumps over 7 foot 2 Frédéric Weis in 2000 Summer Olympics, known in France as “le dunk de la mort” (the dunk of death).

2004 — Bobby Seck of Hofstra throws eight touchdown passes to tie an Atlantic 10 mark and set a school record in the Pride’s 62-43 victory over Rhode Island.

2005 — Fernando Alonso becomes Formula One’s youngest champion by finishing third in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Alonso, 24, a six-time winner in his third full season in Formula One, ends Michael Schumacher’s five-year hold on the title.

2010 — Collingwood and St. Kilda plays to a 68-68 tie, the first in an Australian Rules football grand final since 1977, setting up a rematch to decide the league title.

2011 — The Detroit Lions snap a 13-game losing streak with a 26-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions, who won in the Metrodome for the first time since 1997, are 3-0 for the first time since 1980.

2013 — Skipper Jimmy Spithill and Oracle Team USA win the America’s Cup with one of the greatest comebacks in sports history to keep the oldest trophy in international sports in the United States. Spithill steers Oracle’s space-age, 72-foot catamaran to its eighth straight victory, speeding past Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand in the winner-take-all Race 19 on San Francisco Bay. All but defeated a week ago, the 34-year-old Australian and his international crew twice rallies from seven-point deficits to win 9-8.

2016 — Rory McIlroy rallies to enter a three-man playoff and win the FedEx Cup. After trailing by three shots with three holes to play in the Tour Championship, McIlroy holes a 15-foot birdie putt on the fourth extra hole to win the playoff and claim the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus.

2022 — Laver Cup Men’s Tennis, London: Team World sweeps final day for 13-8 victory over Team Europe; tournament marks retirement of Roger Federer.

_____

+++TV SPORTS+++

(All times Eastern)
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Sunday, Sept. 21
AUTO RACING

6:55 a.m.

ESPN — Formula 1: The Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan

10 a.m.

FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, zMax Dragway, Concord, N.C. (Taped)

Noon

FS1 — NHRA: The NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, zMax Dragway, Concord, N.C.

2 p.m.

USA — NASCAR Cup Series: The Mobil 1 301, Playoffs – Round of 12, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.

3 p.m.

CBSSN — Women’s FIM Motocross World Championship: The MXGP, Darwin, Australia (Taped)

NBC — IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship: The Tiretrack.com Battle on the Bricks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis

9 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross World Championship: The MX2, Darwin, Australia (Taped)

10 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross World Championship: The MXGP, Darwin, Australia (Taped)

COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY

Noon

ACCN — Boston College at Wake Forest

COLLEGE SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

2 p.m.

SECN — Georgia at Mississippi

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

1 p.m.

BTN — Florida at Wisconsin

3 p.m.

BTN — Notre Dame at Michigan

5 p.m.

BTN — California at Southern Cal

6 p.m.

FS1 — Minnesota at Marquette

GOLF

6:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The FedEx Open de France, Final Round, Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Breteche, Paris

1 p.m.

GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Final Round, The Ohio State University Golf Club, Upper Arlington, Ohio

4 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Final Round, Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Ark.

6 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The PURE Insurance Championship, Final Round, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, Calif.

HORSE RACING

1 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

3:30 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

MLB BASEBALL

1:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (1:40 p.m.) OR Washington at N.Y. Mets (1:40 p.m.)

4:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers (4:10 p.m.) OR Philadelphia at Arizona (4:10 p.m.)

7 p.m.

ESPN — Seattle at Houston

NFL FOOTBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Indianapolis at Tennessee, Cincinnati at Minnesota, Pittsburgh at New England, Houston at Jacksonville

FOX — Regional Coverage: Green Bay at Cleveland, L.A. Rams at Philadelphia, N.Y. Jets at Tampa Bay, Las Vegas at Washington, Atlanta at Carolina

4:05 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Denver at L.A. Chargers OR New Orleans at Seattle

4:25 p.m.

FOX — Regional Coverage: Dallas at Chicago OR Arizona at San Francisco

8:20 p.m.

NBC — Kansas City at N.Y. Giants

NHL HOCKEY

1 p.m.

NHLN — Preseason: N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey

5 p.m.

NHLN — Preseason: Minnesota at Winnipeg

RODEO

5 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: PBR: Camping World Team Series, Elmont, N.Y. (Taped)

SAILING

9:30 a.m.

CBSSN — SailGP: Event 10 – Day 2, Geneva

SOCCER (MEN’S)

6:30 a.m.

CBSSN — Serie A: AS Roma at Lazio

9 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Newcastle United at AFC Bournemouth

5 p.m.

CBSSN — USL Championship: Birmingham at Indy

6 p.m.

FS2 — Canadian Premier League: York United FC at Vancouver FC

9 p.m.

FS1 — MLS: Real Salt Lake at LAFC

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

8:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — NWSL: NJ/NY at Bay FC

TENNIS

TENNIS — Laver Cup: Day 3 Day Session

5 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Chengdu- ATP Semifinals

6 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Chengdu- ATP Semifinals

TRACK AND FIELD

6:30 a.m.

CNBC — World Athletics Championships: Day 9, Tokyo (Taped)

Noon

NBC — World Athletics Championships: Day 9, Tokyo

WNBA BASKETBALL

3 p.m.

ABC — Playoffs: TBD, Semifinal – Game 1

5 p.m.

ESPN — Playoffs: TBD, Semifinal – Game 1

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

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