The Chiefs have an enormous Bengals drawback, plus MLB Corridor of Fame denies Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens… once more

The Soccer 5 🏈

• The Eagles crushed the Titans, 35-10, with A.J. Brown completely annihilating his former staff with 119 yards and a landing, however it was Philadelphia’s other star wide receiver that set the tone, writes NFL skilled Jeff Kerr. Philadelphia earned an A+ in our weekly grades.
• Taking part in in his first sport in 23 months, Deshaun Watson struggled, however the Browns‘ protection scored a pair of touchdowns and Donovan Peoples-Jones had a punt return landing in a 27-14 win over the Texans.
• The Giants and Commanders tied 20-20, and, effectively… yeah. That is that.
• Geno Smith capped his first fourth-quarter comeback since 2014 with a landing cross to DK Metcalf as the Seahawks earned a crucial 27-23 win over the Rams. Due to the Commanders’ tie, Seattle hopped back into the 7 seed in the NFC.
• Behind 5 turnovers compelled by the protection — together with one on 4 straight drives within the fourth quarter — and scores by just about each offensive star, the Cowboys thrashed the Colts, 54-19. Dallas outscored Indianapolis 33-0 within the fourth quarter, tied for the most important margin in a fourth quarter in NFL historical past. It was also Scorigami! 

Good morning to everybody however particularly to…

THE CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals did one thing no different staff has achieved in an impressive, 27-24 win over the Chiefs. Cincy is now the one staff to beat Mahomes 3 times in his profession (together with playoffs), and all three have come within the 2022 calendar yr: Week 17 final season, final season’s AFC Championship and now once more Sunday.

Here is how:

• Joe Burrow threw touchdowns to Tee Higgins and Chris Evans and ran for one in every of his personal, Samaje Perine had 155 yards from scrimmage with Joe Mixon (concussion) out and Ja’Marr Chase had 97 receiving yards after lacking over a month with a hip harm.
• Patrick Mahomes had season-lows in passing yards (223) and completions (16) and tied his season-low with only one landing. The Bengals did an excellent job on him and on his favourite goal, Travis Kelce (4 receptions, 56 yards, misplaced fumble).
  
• The Chiefs’ five-game successful streak got here to a detailed, whereas the Bengals pushed their very own successful streak to 4.

What I favored most was that Cincinnati closed it out in a vogue many groups aren’t keen to attempt: with a 10-play, 39-yard drive that included two Third-downs transformed by Burrow’s proper arm. So many groups get conservative and easily attempt to run clock, even in opposition to the Chiefs, who can rating within the blink of a watch.

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor rightfully confirmed belief in Burrow, and the Bengals, in flip, confirmed they belong within the dialog among the many league’s greatest.

Honorable mentions

And never such a very good morning for…

BARRY BONDS AND ROGER CLEMENS

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens slowly however certainly improved their BBWAA Corridor of Fame voting share throughout their 10-year keep on the poll. It looks like they are going to want much more assist to make it in by means of the Up to date Period Committee.

Both Bonds and Clemens failed to even receive four votes from the 16-member panel.

• Bonds acquired about 36% of the BBWAA vote in his first look, in 2013, and 66% in his last look, in 2022.
• Clemens had an identical climb, from about 38% in 2013 to 65% in 2022.

The Up to date Period Committee consists of Corridor of Famers, MLB executives and media, and it is clear that it doesn’t look as kindly upon Bonds and Clemens because the BBWAA did — at the very least for now. The following time modern period gamers will be thought of is in 2025, for the 2026 class.

Not so honorable mentions

• Trae Younger missed the Hawks‘ sport in opposition to the Nuggets attributable to a disagreement with coach Nate McMillan.

The 49ers earned a powerful win however suffered an infinite loss. Jimmy Garoppolo is done for the season after breaking his left foot on the primary drive of San Francisco’s eventual 33-17 victory over the Dolphins.

• Brock Purdy — the ultimate choose within the 2022 NFL Draft — carried out admirably in his first prolonged motion, tossing touchdowns to Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk.
• Nonetheless, there is no doubt it is a huge loss for the 49ers, who noticed Week 1 beginning quarterback Trey Lance‘s season finish in Week 2 with a broken ankle.
• Whereas quarterback wins are removed from an ideal stat, the 49ers have proven they will win at a excessive degree with Garoppolo (42-19 as 49ers’ starter), and he posted career-bests as a starter in touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer score this season. Together with his harm, out of the blue, Mr. Irrelevant has change into very related for the NFC West leaders, they usually additionally signed veteran journeyman Josh Johnson off the Broncos‘ follow squad.

In quarterback harm information elsewhere, Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury within the first quarter of Baltimore’s eventual 10-9 victory over the Broncos and didn’t return.

• Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh mentioned Jackson’s harm is “days to weeks” however not season-ending. 
  
• After struggling to get a lot going, Tyler Huntley got here by means of with a game-winning dashing landing with 28 seconds left. It was an enormous win for Baltimore, which stays atop the AFC North.

The Ravens‘ upcoming schedule — Steelers, Browns, Falcons, Steelers — is manageable, however a Week 18 contest in opposition to the Bengals looms massive.

School Soccer Playoff: Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State make area 🏈

For one sport, Ohio State followers turned the world’s largest Utah followers, and the Utes got here by means of for Buckeye trustworthy with a 47-24 Pac-12 Championship win over then-No. 4 USC. The loss pushed the Trojans out of the highest 4 and allowed the Buckeyes to sneak into the playoff area as the one change from final week’s rankings.

Here’s the College Football Playoff layout:

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU | Dec. 31, 4 p.m.
  
• Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State | Dec. 31, 8 p.m.
• CFP Championship: MICH/TCU vs. UGA/OSU | Jan. 9

The Buckeyes weren’t the one nervous staff throughout Sunday’s choice present. TCU fell, 31-28 in overtime, in the Big 12 Championship in opposition to then-No. 10 Kansas State. The Horned Frogs have been rewarded for a powerful total résumé, although, and did not fall within the rankings in any respect.

And regardless of the loss, TCU quarterback Max Duggan made an inspiring Heisman case, writes school soccer reporter Shehan Jeyarajah.

Issues have been far much less nerve-racking for the highest two seeds, Georgia and Michigan. The Bulldogs thumped then-No. 14 LSU, 50-30, and Dennis Dodd says Georgia is college football’s only dominant team. Michigan, after all, hopes to have one thing to say about that, and the Wolverines have been loads spectacular themselves in a 43-22 romp over Purdue. The Bulldogs and Wolverines are early CFB semifinal betting favorites.

As for every part else…

World Cup recap: What’s subsequent for eradicated USMNT? ⚽

The United States males’s nationwide staff fell to the Netherlands, 3-1, on Saturday morning, ending its time on the World Cup. After Memphis Depay and Daley Blind put the Netherlands up 2-0, Haji Wright bought one again for the USA, however Denzel Dumfries restored the two-goal margin shortly thereafter.

The USMNT was one of many youngest groups on the World Cup, and there needs to be loads of momentum for the 2026 World Cup, which the USA will host together with Canada and Mexico. However an enormous query will likely be whether or not Gregg Berhalter ought to stay the staff’s coach.

Here is what analyst Grant Wahl says in his latest mailbag:

• Wahl: “If I have been in cost, I’d most likely rent a brand new coach. That is no knock on Berhalter. It is simply that I do not assume it is sensible to maintain nationwide staff coaches for a couple of cycle. The historical past reveals that efficiency tends to dip within the second cycle. … Even when Berhalter is a candidate, I feel U.S. Soccer ought to interview him and others for the job transferring ahead. Discover out if Jesse Marsch is all in favour of interviewing. Look into Jogi Loew. See if there are some other outstanding coaches who is likely to be . This is a vital choice.”

Regardless of who the coach goes ahead, the USA will need better depth for a deep run in 2026, writes soccer skilled Chuck Sales space.

As for the opposite matches over the weekend:

Jacob deGrom indicators with Rangers, plus what to anticipate at Winter Conferences ⚾

Simply days earlier than the Winter Conferences start, the Rangers made yet one more enormous offseason splash by signing Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185-million deal. DeGrom, 34, was rated as our second-best free agent this year. The 2-time Cy Younger award winner is magnificent when wholesome however has made simply 26 begins over the previous two seasons. He is handled shoulder, elbow, forearm, facet and again illnesses.

Maybe the Mets will be capable of reply these questions throughout Winter Conferences, which started Sunday. However all eyes will likely be on the star of the opposite New York staff — Aaron Choose — and the place he indicators (if anyplace) within the coming days.

You can see all the top storylines here.

What we’re watching Monday 📺

⚽ We’re watching the World Cup. Here’s the schedule.
🏈 Saints at Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Suns at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV