LIENZ, Austria — Mikaela Shiffrin finished 2023 with an eye-catching performance even by her standards, winning a World Cup slalom race by a huge margin of 2.34 seconds on Friday for her 93rd career victory.

The American posted the fastest times by far in both runs on the Schlossberg course to finish ahead of runner-up Lena Duerr of Germany. Swiss skier Michelle Gisin was 0.11 further back in third.

‘Today was a very special day for me. I felt perfect on the skis, so I’m super happy,’ said Shiffrin, who also won Thursday’s giant slalom on the same hill. ‘It’s a very nice feeling right now.’

Friday’s result was the seventh-biggest winning margin ever in a women’s World Cup slalom. Shiffrin set four of those other marks, including the record of 3.07 seconds from a race in Aspen, Colorado, in November 2015.

Her American teammate, Paula Moltzan, who was second after the opening leg, straddled a gate and did not finish her final run.

Shiffrin’s main rival in slalom, Olympic champion Petra Vlhova, finished 3.24 seconds behind in fifth. The Slovakian had beaten Shiffrin in a night slalom in France last week.

Seeking a record-extending 56th career win from 107 starts in slalom, Shiffrin dominated the opening run ahead of Moltzan and positioned herself for a second win in two days.

Shiffrin had a flawless first run down the Schlossberg course to lead Moltzan by a huge margin of 1.14 seconds.

Shiffrin also carved out a big lead in Thursday’s giant slalom, when she used a rather conservative second run to secure her record-extending 92nd career win. But there was no holding back in the afternoon this time, despite the packed schedule this week.

‘It’s definitely a push today,’ Shiffrin said after the first run. ‘I took the last four days of training and then straight to the race yesterday, and so I knew today would be six days in a row, it was going to be maybe a little bit tiring. But I wanted to feel comfortable with the skiing.’

Moltzan posted the fastest time in the opening section, even beating Shiffrin by 0.07, but was slowed halfway down her run when she leaned backward and her ski tips went up in the air before she quickly regained her rhythm.

Moltzan initially extended her lead over Duerr in the final run before losing time at the following splits. She straddled a gate near the end of her run.

The women’s World Cup continues with a GS and a slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Jan. 6-7.

Every week for the duration of the 2023 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide real-time updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the schedule (through Thursday’s game or Saturday’s, if applicable).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on the evening of Jan. 7.

Here’s where things stand at the moment:

NFL playoff picture during Week 17

AFC playoff picture

x – 1. Baltimore Ravens (12-3), AFC North leaders: Decisive win at San Francisco sets them up for an even bigger game Sunday. Beat Miami, and the Ravens clinch the division, first-round bye and home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers

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x – 2. Miami Dolphins (11-4), AFC East leaders: They secured a long-awaited victory against a team with a winning record (Dallas) – and locked into the playoff field – continuing to apply pressure to the front-running Ravens in the conference while not giving any more ground to the hard-charging Bills in the divisional race. Win out, and the Fins snag the No. 1 seed. Win at Baltimore, and they wrap the AFC East. Lose out, and they could be a wild card. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Bills

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6), AFC West leaders: Coal in the collective K.C. stocking. Not only did the reigning champs fail to secure their eighth consecutive division crown on Christmas by stumbling against Las Vegas, they played themselves out of any shot at the AFC’s top spot. But one more win, and division is theirs. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Chargers

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7), AFC South leaders: They’ve lost four in a row and five of seven … and looked like a team that should have a top-five draft pick after getting embarrassed at Tampa on Sunday. Still, the Jags are hanging on to first place by retaining the tiebreaker (4-1 division record) to hold off the Texans and Colts – they swept Indy – who are also 8-7. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Titans

x – 5. Cleveland Browns (11-5), wild card No. 1: They’ve now won four in a row, enough to graduate to postseason for the third time since their 1999 rebirth. The Browns can still win the AFC North and even the conference’s No. 1 seed with one more win, two losses by Baltimore, and a Miami defeat in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Bengals

6. Buffalo Bills (9-6), wild card No. 2: Despite all the adversity, on and off the field, there’s a strong heartbeat here – and this team persevered Saturday night to rejoin the playoff field. The division crown remains a possibility if the Bills can sweep their final two games and hope Miami also loses to Baltimore. Either way, win out, and Buffalo is in. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Dolphins

7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7), wild card No. 3: Still highly viable postseason candidate … despite getting smacked Sunday. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Texans

8. Houston Texans (8-7), out of playoff field: Still highly viable postseason candidate … despite getting smacked Sunday. They can even scales with Indianapolis in Week 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7), out of playoff field: If nothing else, they took a big step toward salvaging Mike Tomlin’s career-long streak of non-losing seasons as a head coach after completing a season sweep of Cincinnati. Still, head-to-head losses to Houston and Indianapolis are among Pittsburgh’s problems. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Ravens

10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7), out of playoff field: A winless mark (0-5) against the division and a 3-7 record in conference are shaping as season-killing detriments … to say nothing of an upcoming trip to Arrowhead. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Browns

11. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8), out of playoff field: Despite dealing Chiefs a huge blow Monday, the Silver and Black remain very long shots to reach postseason … though there are still paths to AFC West title or a wild card. Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Broncos

12. Denver Broncos (7-8), out of playoff field: And Russ is cooked after that Christmas Eve debacle – though mathematically this team, now on a two-game skid, will remain alive a bit longer for the AFC West and a wild card. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Raiders

NFC playoff picture

y – 1. San Francisco 49ers (11-4), NFC West champions: Convincing loss Monday drops them into three-way tie with Philly and Detroit in terms of the NFC’s best record. But Niners’ 9-1 mark in conference – including wins over the Eagles and Cowboys – make them best bet to finish first, possibly even this weekend. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Rams

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4), NFC East leaders: Back atop the division, they strengthened their grip on first place by eliminating the Giants on Monday, 24 hours after the Cowboys lost to Miami. The Eagles have guaranteed an opportunity to defend their conference crown but haven’t necessarily looked up to the task as of late. But progress was seemingly achieved on Christmas, when Philly also moved ahead of Detroit thanks to its strength of victory tiebreaker. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Giants

y – 3. Detroit Lions (11-4), NFC North champions: A Christmas Eve win secured the Lions’ first-ever NFC North title and first division championship of any kind since 1993 (when Detroit was in the old NFC Central). Still a shot at home-field advantage here. Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Vikings

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), NFC South leaders: A fourth win in a row – plus New Orleans’ Week 16 defeat – served the surging Bucs well, and they will put a bow on the division Sunday by beating New Orleans. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Panthers

x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (10-5), wild card No. 1: They’ve lost two in a row, both on the road, and that’s exactly where they seem likely to find themselves once the postseason begins with the Eagles now decidedly in command in the race for the NFC East crown. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Commanders

6. Los Angeles Rams (8-7), wild card No. 2: Last Thursday’s defeat of the Saints elevates LA to the sixth spot. Win out, and Rams snatch a wild card – or win this week and hope Seattle doesn’t. Remaining schedule: at Giants, at 49ers

7. Seattle Seahawks (8-7), wild card No. 3: They’ve pulled wins out of the fire two weeks in a row, Sunday’s victory in Nashville moving the Seahawks ahead of Minnesota. Next, a de facto playoff game against Pittsburgh. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals

8. Minnesota Vikings (7-8), out of playoff field: A slew of turnovers cost them dearly against Detroit, ejecting the Vikes from a wild-card spot. But wins over the Falcons, Saints and Packers help … for now. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Lions

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-8), out of playoff field: Big win over Indianapolis – and previous ones over New Orleans and Green Bay – allowed Atlanta to pick up some ground. Remaining schedule: at Bears, at Saints

10. Green Bay Packers (7-8), out of playoff field: Back on track (sort of) after taking care of the Panthers on Sunday, but they need some breaks. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears

11. New Orleans Saints (7-8), out of playoff field: They lost control of their postseason path last week. Gotta have upcoming game at Tampa. Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, vs. Falcons

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division title

NFL playoff clinching scenarios in Week 17

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

BAL win or tie OR

Baltimore clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

BAL win

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

BUF win + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie ORBUF win + PIT loss or tie + JAX loss or tie ORBUF win + PIT loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie ORBUF win + CIN loss or tie + JAX loss or tie ORBUF win + CIN loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie ORBUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + JAX loss ORBUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + HOU loss or tie ORBUF tie + PIT loss + CIN loss + IND loss or tie ORBUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie ORBUF tie + PIT loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie ORBUF tie + PIT loss + HOU loss + IND loss ORBUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + HOU loss or tie ORBUF tie + CIN loss + JAX loss + IND loss or tie ORBUF tie + CIN loss + HOU loss + IND loss

Jacksonville clinches playoff berth and AFC South division title with:

JAX win + IND loss + HOU loss

Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West division title with:

KC win or tie ORLV loss or tie + DEN loss or tie

Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

MIA win or tie ORBUF loss or tie

LA Rams clinch playoff berth with:

LAR win + SEA loss ORLAR win + GB-MIN tie

Philadelphia clinches NFC East Division title with:

PHI win + DAL loss or tie ORPHI tie + DAL loss

San Francisco clinches NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

SF win + DET loss + PHI loss

Seattle clinches playoff berth with:

SEA win + GB-MIN tie

Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth and NFC South division title with:

TB win ORTB tie + ATL loss

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

It’s time for the Detroit Pistons to embrace history.

Tortured history.

History that welcomes owners of the longest losing streaks in sports.

Think Prairie View A&M football. Think Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Think about what might come next.

The Pistons’ 28-game losing streak has equaled the NBA’s record longest skid, set by the Philadelphia 76ers over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The record-breaking 29th loss in a row could come Saturday in Detroit against the Toronto Raptors.

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But for now, the rich history of losers deserves to be celebrated.

How Philadelphia 76ers mastered the art of losing

The 76ers had lost 21 games in a row when on Nov. 18, 2015, they found themselves huddled during a timeout in a game against the Indiana Pacers. Moments after breaking the huddle, the 76ers were assessed a technical foul.

The extra player added an extra layer of ineptitude for a team saddled with The Process (a.k.a. tanking).

The streak began March 27, 2015, with a 119-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and the 76ers strung together nine more losses to finish the 2014-15 season. They opened the following season with 18 consecutive defeats before the streak came to a merciful end on Dec. 1, 2015 with a 103-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The only thing the 76ers mastered was the art of losing.

Prairie View A&M football stunk

It started innocently enough on Nov. 4, 1989, when the Prairie View A&M football team lost to Langston respectably enough, 19-18. Not much respectable transpired during the next 79 games. Prairie View A&M lost them all and may forever owns the longest losing streak in NCAA college football history.

The 80-game losing streak is almost twice as long as the runner-up, 44 games lost by Columbia between 1983 and 1988.

During the streak, Prairie View A&M, then a Division I-AA program, went through four coaches. The program also was shut out 19 times, outscored 3,408-626 (for an average margin of defeat of almost 35 points per game) and suffered more indignities off the field.

The school shut down all sports in 1990 amid a financial scandal in the athletics department and the football program faced allegations of using ineligible players.

Mercy arrived Sept. 26, 1998. That day Prairie View A&M beat Langston 14-12.

In an understatement almost as epic as the losing streak itself, Greg Johnson, then Prairie View’s A&M’s coach, said of the victory, ‘It was well overdue.’

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ streak included humor

Between 1942 and 1945, the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals lost 29 consecutive games. But the longest losing streak since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970 belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Which is our good fortune.

It offers a chance to recount quotes from John McKay, head coach when the Bucs lost 26 in a row over the course of the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

‘Well, we didn’t block today,’ McKay once said, ‘but we made up for it by not tackling.’

‘Gentlemen, we can’t stop a pass or a run,’ he said another time. ‘Otherwise, we’re in great shape.’

The on-field laughter and anguish began Sept. 12, 1976, when Tampa Bay played its first game in franchise history, a 20-0 loss to the Houston Oilers. The opening season ended with a 31-14 loss to the New England Patriots. How wretched did things get?

A 42-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers extended the slide to 13 games and, according to ESPN, after the game someone asked McKay if he was embarrassed by the loss.

‘I was embarrassed before we came here,’ the Bucs coach replied.

The embarrassment and the losing streak ended Dec. 11, 1977, when the Bucs defeated the New Orleans Saints, 33-14.

Philadelphia Phillies experienced excruciation

On July 29, 1961, Philadelphia Phillies manager Gene Mauch ordered Willie Mays to be intentionally walked, loading the bases for the San Francisco Giants in the first inning. Orlando Cepeda then stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam. The Giants won, 4-3.

Thus began the longest losing streak in Major League Baseball history since the American League joined the National League and formed the majors in 1901. During that 23-game streak, the Phillies were outscored 133-54, shut out four times and subjected to excruciation.

Eight times they lost by one run.

The streak ended Aug. 20, 1961 with a 7-4 victory over the Milwaukee Braves. The winning pitcher was John Buzhardt.

‘I had a feeling we were going to win,’ Buzhardt told the Philadelphia Daily News after the game. ‘I said, ‘Get me two runs and I’ll win.’ It’s a good thing they got me seven.’

Two teams share NHL’s unwanted record

Ryan Malone, a rookie left winger with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003-04, said that year, ‘You have to lose before you win, and we’re doing that.’

Lose, lose and lose Malone and the Penguins did – 18 times in a row – for longest losing streak in NHL history. The Buffalo Sabres matched the streak in 2021.

(The pre-overtime record is 17 losses in a row, set by the Washington Capitals in 1975 and the San Jose Sharks in 1993.)

En route to ignominy, the Penguins were outscored 83-40 during a skid that began Jan 13, 2004, with a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and ended Feb. 25, 2004, with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Phoenix Coyotes.

For their part, the Sabres gave up five goals a game over a stretch of five games. Their streak began Feb. 25, 2021, with a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils and ended April 1, 2021, with a 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

All those losses, piling up collectively between the 2003-04 Penguins and the 2020-21 Sabres.

‘You learn from these times,’ Malone, the former Penguins left winger, said during Pittsburgh’s skid.

What we learned is how bad those teams were.

Some of this year’s biggest bowl games will be missing many of college football’s biggest stars.

That includes the Heisman Trophy winner, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who opted out of the Tigers’ ReliaQuest Bowl matchup against Wisconsin.

Another All-America pick, Ohio State’s superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison, has yet to announce whether he’ll play in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri. Like Daniels, Harrison is seen as one of the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft and a likely top-five pick.

Looking across the New Year’s Six bowl lineup and Jan. 1 games, here are the best draft prospects who have decided to opt out and get an early head start on life in the NFL:

Penn State DE Chop Robinson (Peach Bowl vs. Mississippi, Dec. 30)

Robinson was a two-time all-conference pick after transferring to Penn State from Maryland following the 2021 season. The Nittany Lions will miss his ability to cause havoc off the edge against an opponent that ranked 15th nationally in yards per game and 13th in quarterback efficiency during the regular season. Robinson projects as a first-round pick.

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Florida State edge Jared Verse (Orange Bowl vs. Georgia, Dec. 30)

Verse would’ve landed in the first round a year ago but opted to return for another season with the Seminoles, again playing a huge role for a team that came within a whisper of the College Football Playoff. The former Albany transfer had 18 sacks in two seasons at FSU and should be one of the top linemen off the board in late April.

Florida State WR Keon Coleman (Orange Bowl)

After a productive 2022 season at Michigan State, Coleman cemented his place as a first-round pick by leading the ACC champs in receptions (50), receiving yards (658) and touchdowns (11). Like the rest of the Seminoles’ offense, Coleman’s production has taken a nosedive since quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury against North Alabama in November.

LSU QB Jayden Daniels (ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 1)

Daniels made a late-season charge to move ahead of Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix to become the second LSU quarterback in five seasons to capture the Heisman. He accounted for nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and 50 touchdowns during the regular season to offset a dismal LSU defense and nearly carry the Tigers to a second New Year’s Six bid in a row. Sophomore Garrett Nussmeier will replace Daniels.

Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson (Fiesta Bowl vs. Liberty, Jan. 1)

Powers-Johnson is one of the top interior linemen in this year’s draft class after playing a key role on one of the Bowl Subdivision’s top offenses. While the Ducks will have Nix under center for what is expected to be a Fiesta Bowl rout, Powers-Johnson was the leader of this offensive front and will be difficult to replace.

Oregon WR Troy Franklin (Fiesta Bowl)

Franklin arrived as an all-conference talent in 2022 (61 receptions for 891 yards) but took things to another level this season, leading the Ducks in catches (81), yards (1,383) and scores (14) to complete one of the top receiving seasons in program history. Oregon will have Tez Johnson (75 grabs for 1,010 yards) against Liberty and will get a more substantial look at younger receivers Gary Bryant Jr., Kyler Kasper and Jurrion Dickey.

Tennessee QB Joe Milton III (Citrus Bowl vs. Iowa)

Milton was a late and somewhat surprising optout heading into the bowl matchup against Iowa. Given that Iowa ranks second nationally in yards allowed per attempt and has allowed 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the year, this might’ve been a good decision. Milton’s choice opens the starting role to true freshman and heir apparent Nico Iamaleava, who played in four games during the regular season and retained his redshirt.

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns’ big night Thursday got off to an ominous start when leading receiver Amari Cooper was ruled out with a heel injury less than two hours before their playoff-clinching 37-20 win over the New York Jets. Then, right before halftime, they lost their No. 2 wide receiver when Elijah Moore left with a concussion.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on a Zoom call Friday that Moore spent Thursday night at the hospital. He said 23-year-old was home but remains in the concussion protocol.

‘I don’t have a ton of other information other than say that he’s doing better,’ Stefanski said Friday. ‘He’s home. I’ve been texting with him.’

The Browns (11-5) will finish the regular season at the Cincinnati Bengals, either on Jan. 6 or 7. The NFL will set the date and time after Sunday’s games.

Moore was in the midst of having one of his best games with the Browns when he sustained the concussion with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. With Cooper out, he had taken on the challenge of being the primary wide receiver target for quarterback Joe Flacco, with five catches on six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown.

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The concussion occurred after Moore had caught a pass on a crossing pattern on second and 7 from the Browns 28 and gained 22 yards to midfield. As he was tackled by Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, Moore landed and hit his head on the ground first.

Moore immediately began to go through what looked like convulsions while lying on the ground before the training staff got to him. He spent several minutes on the ground before sitting up first, then getting to his feet and walking with the trainers to the medical tent.

‘Those are always scary as we all know, but I will say this about him — I’m very proud of him,’ Stefanski said. ‘He was getting going. I thought the route he ran for that touchdown was outstanding. He’s done a great job for us, and with Amari going down, put him over there in that spot and didn’t miss a beat.’

The third-year pro whom the Browns acquired along with a third-round pick from the Jets in March had started to find his comfort zone in the passing game over the last two months of the season. He has set career highs with 59 catches for 640 yards and two touchdowns on 104 targets.

The connection Moore had with Flacco from their two seasons together in New York only helped both with that bond. Since Flacco took over as the starting quarterback in Week 13 at the Los Angeles Rams, Moore had been targeted 31 times with 16 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown.

Browns will monitor Amari Cooper going into regular-season finale at Bengals

Cooper is the other big receiver injury the Browns are continuing to track. Thursday night was the first game he had missed as a pro since Nov. 25, 2021, while he was with the Dallas Cowboys.

Stefanski was non-committal with regards to Cooper’s status against Cincinnati. He tried to go through early warmups but departed after taking a throw from Flacco.

‘I hope so, but it’s really hard to say,’ Stefanski said. ‘What happens on these short week, you go into it and you don’t know until the guys get out there on the field and have to move around. In Amari’s case, he couldn’t go, and he tried like crazy. I do think rest will be a big deal this weekend, and then we’ll see how he’s doing next week.’

The heel injury originally occurred near the end of Cooper’s 75-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of a Dec. 24 win over the Houston Texans. He finished out that game with a franchise-record 265 yards on 11 catches, a performance that earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

No update for Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez injuries

Stefanski wouldn’t say too much on two other significant injuries that impacted the Jets game. The Browns played without both kicker Dustin Hopkins (left hamstring) and punter Corey Bojorquez (left quad), with recently signed practice squad players Riley Patterson and Matt Haack taking their places.

‘I don’t really have an update,’ Stefanski said. ‘I think Corey has probably a better chance than Dustin. We’ll see how that goes throughout the next few days.’

Patterson was four of five on PATs and added a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against New York. Haack averaged 51.7 yards with a net of 41.7 yards on three punts.

‘Rest vs. rust’ a question Kevin Stefanski won’t answer now

If the Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, the Ravens will clinch the AFC North and No. 1 seed in the AFC. That would leave the Browns essentially locked into the No. 5 seed.

It would also, as far as the Browns are concerned, make the game at Cincinnati meaningless in terms of impacting their playoff positioning. That could lead to Stefanski giving several key players the day off to rest them up for the playoffs.

‘I think it’s so dependent on where you are and what you feel like you need for your football team,’ Stefanski said. ‘Obviously there’s moving parts here going into these last ball games, so we’ll see how it plays out on Sunday and then we’ll make the appropriate decisions. It doesn’t change the fact that we want to finish strong.’

Kevin Stefanski connected to Paul Brown, Bill Belichick, Marty Schottenheimer

The win Thursday night gave the Browns 11 wins for the season. It’s the second time in four seasons Stefanski has coached them to 11 wins.

The only other coach in franchise history to have multiple 11-win seasons was Paul Brown. The legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer did so in 1951 and 1953.

That’s not the only Browns coach from the past Stefanski joined. His second playoff appearance with the team makes him the first since Marty Schottenheimer, who led the Browns to the playoffs from 1985-88, with multiple playoff appearances.

Thursday night’s win improved Stefanski’s regular-season record to 37-29. That puts him one win ahead of Bill Belichick, who won 36 games from 1991-95 with the Browns.

‘Yeah, as you can imagine, I don’t really spend time thinking about how I factor into that,’ Stefanski said. ‘I’m proud of this football team. I’m proud of the players. Look at that locker room. Look at how they are on the field. Look at them picking each other up. I think it’s about those guys out there on the field.’

A dominant first half performance proved to be all the Cleveland Browns (11-5) needed on Thursday night, defeating the New York Jets (6-10) at home, 37-20, to secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Joe Flacco has been nothing but impressive since signing with the Browns, and he showcased how elite he can be by throwing for 303 passing yards, 296 of which came in the first half. He also tossed three touchdown passes and one interception. The 37 points scored on Thursday was the most New York has given up all season.

On the other side of the ball, the Browns defense never let New York generate any momentum and never trailed in the game. The unit also made big plays in the first quarter by forcing a fumble on a kickoff return and Ronnie Hickman taking an interception to the house to put Cleveland up two-scores early. 

The Jets had several chances to get back into the game in the second half, but like much of the season, opportunities were wasted. Despite getting into Cleveland territory three separate times in the half, they were only able to muster up three points in the final 30 minutes.

With one week left in the regular season, Cleveland still has a slim shot of securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC — assuming the Baltimore Ravens collapse in the final two weeks. Regardless, the Browns remain one of the most impressive, and dangerous, teams at the No. 5 seed. — Jordan Mendoza

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Winners and losers of Browns’ playoff-clinching win vs. Jets

WINNERS

Postseason-bound Browns: The crowd at Cleveland Browns Stadium got a late Christmas present.

Thursday’s win clinched the Browns a playoff berth. This year is just the third time the Browns have reached the postseason since the 2002 season.

The Browns are the first team to make the playoffs after having four quarterbacks make multiple starts.

Joe Flacco shines in fifth start as Browns QB: Flacco continued his solid play. Flacco had 296 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, resulting in a 135.4 passer rating. Flacco’s only blemish in the first half was a pick-six.

The Browns didn’t reach the end zone in the second half, but Flacco was steady. The 38-year-old quarterback finished 19-of-29 passing for 309 yards to go with three touchdowns and one interception.

In just his fifth start with the Browns, Flacco has a good grasp of the Browns offense, and he’s comfortable behind center.

Browns fans even chanted Flacco’s name in satisfaction.

David Njoku dominates early: Njoku had six catches for a season-high 134 yards. The Browns tight end did most of his damage in the first half, tallying 128 yards in the first two quarters.

Njoku has transformed into arguably a top five tight end this season.

Njoku did lose a fumble. But overall, the tight end had a good night. The Browns needed Njoku’s production without wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was inactive due to a heel injury.

Browns in first half: The Browns’ 34 first-half points were the second most points in the first half in their franchise history, per the Amazon Prime broadcast.

Browns’ Sione Takitaki and Myles Garrett: Takitaki had a career-high 15 tackles in the win. Garrett registered three tackles, one sack and three QB hits. Garrett created plenty of pressure.

LOSERS

Jets’ ball security: Thursday night’s game featured five combined turnovers. The Browns had three and the Jets coughed the football up twice.

Sloppy Jets: In addition to two giveaways, the Jets were called for 12 penalties.

Jets defense falters: The Jets didn’t perform like a top-five defense Thursday night. New York came into Week 17 allowing 294 yards and 21 points per contest. But the Jets defense allowed 34 points in the first half and a total of 428 yards in the loss. — Tyler Dragon

Browns vs. Jets highlights

Joe Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth — just their second since 2002 — despite numerous injuries this season with a win over the Jets.

Browns 37, Jets 20: Jets turnover on downs results in Browns field goal

New York’s last chance at a comeback attempt failed with a little over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Down 34-20, Trevor Siemian and the Jets turned the ball over on downs at their own 27-yard line.

The Jets offense is 0-1 on fourth down and 4-13 on third downs in the game.

The Browns converted a 33-yard field goal in six plays after they took over possession of the football.

Browns 34, Jets 20: Jets cut into Browns’ lead

The first points of the second half came via a field goal, with the Jets adding three points to make it 34-20 Browns lead with just under nine minutes left.

New York got the ball in Cleveland territory after recovering a fumble, but the offense was only able to pick up one first down, thanks to a flag on the Browns on a fourth down. Greg Zuerlein was able to knock in a 44-yard field goal after having a kick in the third quarter blocked.

Jets defense forces takeaway

The Jets aren’t out of it yet.

The Jets defense forced a turnover with 11:55 remaining in the fourth quarter when linebacker Quincy Williams forced a fumble on Browns running back Pierre Strong at the Cleveland 35-yard line.

Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson recovered the football.

Jets, Browns go scoreless in third quarter

The third quarter featured no points. It was the first scoreless quarter from both sides in the game.

The Browns still have a commanding 34-17 lead entering the final quarter. Cleveland is holding a two-score lead despite just one first down and 12 total yards in the third quarter.

The Jets had five first downs and 99 total yards in the quarter. But New York had a short 31-yard field goal blocked and were called for three penalties in the third period. — Tyler Dragon

Elijah Moore out for remainder of the game

The Browns have a healthy lead against the Jets, but they’ll have to deal with another star receiver out.

Elijah Moore is out for the rest of Thursday’s game with a concussion, the Browns said. Moore suffered the injury late in the second quarter. After making a catch, his facemask went right into the ground on the tackle and despite moving his arms around, he noticeably looked injured.

Moore had five catches for 61 yards in the game, including a touchdown. He entered Thursday with 54 receptions for 579 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland was already playing without leading-receiver Amari Cooper. — Jordan Mendoza

Shelby Harris blocks Greg Zuerlein’s field goal

New York’s promising drive to start the second half resulted in no points.

The Jets’ drive stalled inside Cleveland’s 10-yard line. New York was forced to settle for a short 31-yard field goal, but Greg Zuerlein’s kick was blocked by defensive tackle Shelby Harris.

The trajectory of the football appeared to be low coming off Zuerlein’s foot which allowed Harris to block the field goal.

Browns offense on fire, leads 34-17 at halftime

Joe Flacco and company were not phased by the vaunted Jets defense, as it picked apart New York to get to a 34-17 lead at the half.

Flacco continued his impressive play on Thursday, going 16-for-22 with 296 passing yards and three touchdown passes in the first 30 minutes, nearly doubling the 168 passing yards a game the Jets allowed entering the matchup. Daivd Njoku was the leading receiver for Cleveland with five catches for 128 yards.

The 34 points is the most the Jets have given up in one half, and tied for the most points they’ve given up in a game. 

Meanwhile, New York’s offense got off to a great start with a 75-yard opening drive touchdown, but mostly stalled afterward. In their next six drives, the Jets gained just 78 yards, which included a kickoff return fumble and a thrown pick-six. New York was able to hang around with a pick-six from Jermaine Johnson and a field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

Browns 34, Jets 14: Joe Flacco, Jerome Ford keep Browns rolling

Joe Flacco showed off his mobility as Cleveland extended its lead.

The 38-year-old QB alluded pressure from Jets DT Quinnen Williams and escaped the pocket. Then while on the run, Flacco passed to RB Mike Ford. Ford grabbed the football, weaved through a couple defenders and raced to a 50-yard touchdown to give the Browns a 34-14 lead with 1:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Browns 27, Jets 14: Jermaine Johnson gets New York back into the game

Just when it looked like the Browns might put the dagger in, the Jets come up with a huge touchdown.

Up by 20 and driving, Flacco attempted a screen to Daivd Njoku, but Jermaine Johnson was in the way. Flacco tried to get it around the defender, but Johnson tipped it in the air and caught it. He then ran 37 yards untouched into the end zone to make it a 27-14 game, and keep New York alive late in the second half.

Browns 27, Jets 7: Joe Flacco, Elijah Moore extend Cleveland’s lead

Two former Jets hooked up for a Browns touchdown.

Browns QB Joe Flacco passed to an open WR Elijah Moore on an out route for an 8-yard touchdown to end a 10-play, 79-yard drive. Moore’s touchdown pushed Cleveland’s lead to 27-7 with 6:15 remaining in the first half.

Flacco is having a good first half. The veteran quarterback has 215 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Jets get ball back after David Njoku fumble

David Njoku has had an impressive first half, but he made his first mistake of the day by gifting New York a fumble.

As the tight end was running across midfield, Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley punched the ball out of his hands. The ball continued to roll before Mosley was able to get to it and recover it for the turnover. It was the first Browns turnover of the game, and third takeaway so far. 

Browns put up 20 points in the first quarter

The Browns completed their highest scoring first quarter of the season.

Cleveland leads the Jets 20-7 after the first period. The Browns scored on their first two possessions and safety Ronnie Hickman had a pick-six in what was a solid intial 15 minutes of football for Cleveland.

The Jets offense went right down the field on their opening possession and running back Breece Hall found the end zone. But New York had two turnovers in the first quarter.

Browns 20, Jets 7: Ronnie Hickman pick-six extends lead

The Cleveland offense wasn’t able to capitalize on a redzone turnover, but the defense was able to turn one into points.

Ronnie Hickman sat in front of a Trevor Siemian pass intended for Garrett Wilson, and weaved around for 30 yards into the end zone to turn a pick-six into a 20-7 Browns lead with two minutes left in what has been a thrilling first quarter. The pick six was the rookie’s first interception of his NFL career. — Jordan Mendoza

Turnover doesn’t cost Jets

The Jets’ first quarter turnover didn’t cost them. 

Jets returner Israel Abanikanda had the football stripped loose from him by Matthew Adams on a kickoff return. The Browns’ Mike Ford recovered the football at the New York 12-yard line.

Browns 13, Jets 7: David Njoku having monster first quarter, Browns retake lead

What a first quarter its been for Daivd Njoku, as he’s already racked up 113 yards on four receptions in just 10 minutes of game time.

Njoku added to his total on the second drive of the game with a 43-yard catch and run, setting up Cleveland inside the 10-yardline. One play later, Kareem Hunt ran it up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, making it a 13-7 Browns lead. — Jordan Mendoza

Browns 7, Jets 7: New York answers on its first offensive drive

Two stout defenses are having a little trouble to start the game.

The Jets offense matched Cleveland’s opening drive touchdown.

Running back Breece Hall led the Jets on a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in a little over three minutes. Hall scored the game-tying touchdown when he caught a short pass from quarterback Trevor Siemian and scampered 21 yards to the end zone.

Browns 7, Jets 0: Air attack leads to score on opening drive

Joe Flacco isn’t scared of one of the best passing defenses in the NFL, as he marched the Browns right down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown.

Thanks to an offensive pass interference, the Browns faced third-and-15 from its 20-yard line, but Flacco found tight end David Njoku for a 36 yard pass to get into Jets territory. A few plays later, Flacco connected with his tight end for a 28-yard gain. The drive was then capped off with a seven-yard pass to Jerome Ford, who was able to dive across the goal line for the touchdown.

What time is Browns vs. Jets?

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET

How can I watch Jets vs. Browns?

Jets at Browns will be streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and will be broadcast in local markets only.

As is the case with ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchups in 2023, the Browns-Jets Week 16 showdown will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will be on the call, with Kaylee Hartung patrolling the sidelines.

Jets vs. Browns: Picks, predictions and odds

The Browns are favorites to defeat the Jets, according to BetMGM NFL odds.

Spread: Browns (-7)Moneyline: Browns (-350); Jets (+280)Over/under: 34.5

USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:

Lorenzo Reyes: Browns 26, Jets 13 — Cleveland has won and covered each of its last three games. Quarterback remains a question mark for the Jets, with Zach Wilson ruled out. Trevor Siemian did well against Washington but the Browns defense is far superior. And Joe Flacco has Cleveland’s downfield passing game in a full revival.Tyler Dragon: Browns 21, Jets 13 — The Browns have won three straight games behind good defense, and Joe Flacco is managing games without costly mistakes. Browns WR Amari Cooper broke a single-game franchise record with 265 receiving yards last week. Cooper against Jets CB Sauce Gardner is going to be a fun matchup to watch.Safid Deen: Browns 24, Jets 14 — The Jets scored 30 points for the third time this season last week against the Commanders, but the Browns will be a different story. Joe Flacco’s renaissance continues as Cleveland moves closer toward a playoff spot on Thursday night.Victoria Hernandez: Browns 27, Jets 13 — The Browns are far from playing pristine football, but they’re getting the job done. Joe Flacco has them in playoff contention and Amari Cooper balled out last week. Cleveland has something to play for and their stout defense will make sure the Jets don’t pose a threat.Jordan Mendoza: Browns 20, Jets 6 — Seeing how Amari Cooper follows up his big day against a stingy Jets defense will be fun to watch. What won’t be fun to watch is the Jets offense trying to go against the Cleveland defense. The Browns win their fourth-straight.

NFL playoff clinching scenarios: Browns can earn postseason berth

With a win against the Jets on Thursday night, the Browns will secure just their third playoff berth since coming off hiatus in 1999. The Browns last made the playoffs during the 2020 season.

➤ Browns clinch playoff berth during Week 17 with:

Win or tieSteelers loss or tieBills lossJaguars loss or tieTexans loss or tie, Colts loss or tie

Playoff picture: Browns in thick of AFC race

The Browns have won three in a row, maintaining a slim cushion to separate them from the rest of the AFC wild-card fray. The Browns’ AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens, are in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. — Nate Davis

2024 NFL draft first-round order: Jets trending toward top-10 pick

The 2023 season opened with so much optimism for the Jets, who had pulled off an offseason trade for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. An injury to Rodgers on the first offensive series in Week 1, derailed the Jets’ season.

Now, the Jets find themselves in position to pick in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL draft. Here is the top 10 2024 draft order heading into Week 17:

Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)Arizona CardinalsWashington CommandersNew England PatriotsNew York GiantsLos Angeles ChargersTennessee TitansChicago BearsNew York JetsAtlanta Falcons

The Jets have had selections in the top 10 in two of the previous three drafts. In 2022, the Jets selected cornerback Sauce Gardner with the No. 4 overall pick. In 2021, the Jets picked quarterback Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall. — Jim Reineking

Jets vs. Browns inactives: Amari Cooper out for Cleveland

Wide receiver Amari Cooper (heel), who is coming off a record-setting game for the Browns, will not play Thursday night against the Jets. Cooper leads the Browns with 1,250 yards receiving, and has seen his production spike since the arrival of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.

With kicker Dustin Hopkins and punter Corey Bojorquez both out, Riley Patterson and Matt Haack will handle the placekicking and punting duties, respectively.

For the second straight week, the Jets are rolling with Trevor Siemian at quarterback.

Jets’ inactive players:

WR Allen LazardQB Aaron RodgersQB Zach WilsonOL Austin DeculusTE Jeremy RuckertDL Carl LawsonCB Bryce Hall

Browns’ inactive players:

WR Amari CooperLB Anthony Walker Jr.K Dustin HopkinsP Corey BojorquezDE Ogbo OkoronkwoC Luke WyplerDE Sam Kamara

Don’t expect a lot of passing yards

Jets vs. Browns: A history lesson

The Browns and Jets are meeting for the 30th time. The Browns lead the series, 15-14 (14-14 in the regular season, 1-0 in the playoffs).

In a 1986 AFC divisional playoff game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Browns outlasted the Jets, 23-20, in a game that went into double overtime. The Jets looked to be in a good position to advance to the AFC championship game, leading 20-10 late in the fourth quarter. However, a late-hit penalty against Mark Gastineau on Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar extended a drive that led to a touchdown. A 22-yard field goal by Mark Moseley sent the game into overtime. After going scoreless in the first overtime period, Moseley ended the game with a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime to send the Browns to the AFC title game.

That 1986 AFC championship game, of course, is famous for one of a series of unfortunate events that befell the Browns in the playoffs during that era. It became known as ‘The Drive.’ Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway led a 98-yard drive in the game’s final minutes to force overtime, where the Broncos won 23-20 to advance to Super Bowl XXI.

More than 16 years earlier, on Sept. 21, 1970, the Browns hosted Joe Namath and the Jets for the first-ever ‘Monday Night Football’ game. The Browns won that game, 31-21.— Jim Reineking

Scrimmage yards leaders

Jets vs. Browns: How to bet on ‘Thursday Night Football’

Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Sunday Night Football odds and/or Monday Night Football odds.

 If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

NFL Week 17 picks, predictions and odds

Detroit Lions at Dallas CowboysMiami Dolphins at Baltimore RavensNew England Patriots at Buffalo BillsAtlanta Falcons at Chicago BearsTennessee Titans at Houston TexansLas Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis ColtsCarolina Panthers at Jacksonville JaguarsLos Angeles Rams at New York GiantsArizona Cardinals at Philadelphia EaglesNew Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay BuccaneersSan Francisco 49ers at Washington CommandersPittsburgh Steelers at Seattle SeahawksLos Angeles Chargers at Denver BroncosCincinnati Bengals at Kansas City ChiefsGreen Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

How to watch Jets vs. Browns on local TV in Cleveland and New York

TV channel (NY): Fox (Channel 5)TV channel (Cleveland): ABC (Channel 5)

The Week 17 ‘Thursday Night Football’ game between the Jets and Browns will not be nationally broadcast on linear television. However, viewers in the NYC market can tune to Fox (Channel 5) while those in the Cleveland market can tune to ABC (Channel 5).

Best and worst of 2023 NFL season

As the countdown clock ticks toward 2024, this is surely the time to look back at the year it has been in the NFL. As usual, no shortage of drama. — Jarrett Bell

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz  

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We are now just a couple of days from closing the book on 2023. More important for us faithful followers of college football, we’re starting to see bowl games on the schedule with more familiar names. In some cases, that means more big-name programs participating as well.

Indeed, the Friday lineup features some of the most successful schools of the four-team playoff era, although they are not playing on Monday as they’d prefer. The day will conclude with the initial top-10 clash of the postseason as the first of the majors kicks off. Without further ado then, here are the matchups (All times Eastern).

Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky, noon, ESPN

Much like last season, the Tigers were playing better by the end of the campaign but any playoff aspirations they might have had were extinguished early. The Wildcats had some moments but were uncompetitive against the SEC’s heavyweights, but they have a chance to close with consecutive triumphs over the ACC. A low-scoring affair seems likely. UK’s best weapon, RB Ray Davis, is bound for the NFL draft but will play in the game. The Clemson defense, however, remains the team’s strength despite key contributors like DT Ruke Orhorhoro and LB Jeremiah Trotter opting out. Wildcats’ QB Devin Leary will still need to provide a modicum of air cover to keep LB Barrett Carter from crowding the gaps. A solid performance from Tigers’ QB Cade Klubnik would go a long way toward boosting the morale around the program for the offseason. Having veteran RB Will Shipley in his backfield will help, but UK LBs D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace could keep the interior clogged.

POSTSEASON FORECAST: Our staff picks for every college football bowl

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Sun Bowl: No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 22 Oregon State, 2 p.m., CBS

There’s an ironic quality to this pairing of a program desperately seeking a new conference home against the school fiercely opposed to joining one. In any case, the Beavers would love to make a favorable last impression as a representative of the Pac-12 against a name-brand program, though both teams will look a lot different. Oregon State will be led by interim coach Kefense Hynson with Jonathan Smith off to Michigan State, and while Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is still around, his offensive coordinator Gerad Parker accepted the top job at Troy. QB Sam Hartman and RB Audric Estime are skipping the game, so underclassmen like QB Steve Angeli and RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will get the chance to accrue yards against the equally depleted Beavers’ defense that will be without standouts like LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and his stepbrother S Akili Arnold. Oregon State QBs D.J. Uiagalelei and Aidan Chiles are transferring out, but Ben Gulbranson, who led the Beavers to victory in last year’s Las Vegas Bowl against Florida, is still around.

Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Memphis, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

The Tigers largely flew under the radar of poll voters throughout the year but were in the mix in the American Athletic Conference race until the final weeks. They earned what amounts to an additional home game against the Cyclones, who overcame a slow start to the campaign to pick up some solid wins in the tightly bunched Big 12. Curiously, Iowa State beat the Tigers 21-20 at this same event in 2017, so the home team might have a little extra incentive. Memphis has a well-balanced attack featuring QB Seth Henigan and RB Blake Watson. They’ll have to keep things clean, however, as the Cyclones thrive on takeaways, led by DB Jeremiah Cooper’s five interceptions. The Iowa State offense enjoyed a youth movement, spearheaded by rookie QB Rocco Becht and classmate RB Abu Sama III. The Memphis defense isn’t a stone wall, but LB Chandler Martin is usually in the middle of things.

Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri, 8 p.m., ESPN

The ‘‘happy to be here’ factor is admittedly an imperfect predictor of success in these non-playoff bowls, but the contrast is undeniable in this one. The Tigers are absolutely ecstatic for this opportunity following their breakout year, while the Buckeyes are clearly not where they want to be. Mizzou’s magnificent triad of QB Brady Cook, WR Luther Burden III and RB Cody Schrader was productive even against the SEC’s top-tier defenses. The Buckeyes’ unit of stoppers might not be at full strength, but DB Denzel Burke is among the team’s draft-eligible players to announce he will play. The offensive side has uncertainties for the Buckeyes as well, with QB Devin Brown slated to make his first start with Kyle McCord off to Syracuse. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is likely to sit out, but WR Emeka Egbuka has also declared his intention to play. Tigers DE Darius Robinson, who recorded 7½ sacks, will lead the rush against the Buckeyes’ new signal caller.

LeBron, happy birthday! It’s your 39th Saturday, and where does the time go?

I looked up an article I wrote from an interview I did with you in 2008.

“I lose sight of the fact of how young I am,” you told me then. “When rookies come on your team and they’re 20 years old, I call them youngsters, and I’m only 23 years old.”

That your oldest son Bronny, 19, is as close to 23 today as you are to 43 is mind-bending.

I won’t call you old. But you’re no longer young. Some of these youngsters in the NBA today were just born when you entered the league in 2003.

And you’re still producing at an All-NBA level for the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s amazing and unprecedented.

For years, you’ve said “Father Time is undefeated.” I’m beginning to think it was all a setup, a little Muhammad Ali Rope-A-Dope. You even went as far as to do a commercial with Jason Momoa playing Father Time.

Lately, your sentiment has changed. “Just trying to push the limit. See how far I can take this thing. It’s me vs. Father Time. I’m trying to change the narrative,” you said in late November.

Then, a couple of weeks later in early December you said of Father Time: “I’m trying to give him one loss.”

Let’s just call it:

You beat Father Time.

To do what you’ve done, at the level you’ve done it, for the amount of years you’ve done it is a victory over Father Time.

During a recent game, TNT flashed a stat of how many points Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Robert Parish and Kevin Garnett averaged in their 21st seasons. Carter had the highest points per game at 7.4.

This season, your 21st, you are at 25.1 points, 7.6 rebounds. 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game – right around your career averages of 27.2, 7.5, 7.3 and 1.5. And you’re shooting 53.9% from the field and 41.3% on 3-pointers, percentages that are among your career highs.

No player has averaged at least 25 points past the age of 36. Except you, LeBron. You’ve done it the two previous seasons and are on pace to do it again this season.

You continue to put distance between you and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. You will reach 40,000 points most likely later this season. No active player is at 30,000 points, and while Kevin Durant, 35, is in the top 10, he’s still 2,300 points from 30,000.

We know most records don’t last forever so someone will threaten your all-time scoring record someday. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic may make a run at it. If Doncic played 70 games a season and scored 28 points per game, he wouldn’t reach 40,000 points until his 20th season – in 2037-38.

Looking ahead to next season, no player 40 or older has averaged at least 20 points and unless there’s a drastic decline in your game – and that’s difficult to see that happening – you’re going to do that.

And next year at this time, you will shoot for the rare 40 For 40. Michael Jordan is the only player to score at least 40 points at 40 or older. You just scored 40 against Oklahoma City a week ago. You have one of those in you next season.

That is, if you keep playing. You had a minor existential crisis when you and the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference final in May and you wondered if it was time to retire from the NBA.

“I was exhausted. I was tired. Mentally, I was in too many different places,” you explained at the start of the season. “And that’s what drew that comment or that statement. Because that’s just how I felt at the moment. But I’m happy to be returning for another season and helping this team, hopefully, get this team to the Finals. That’s just the goal.”

However, you wouldn’t commit to playing beyond this season other than to say, “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank to give.”

You have said you’d like to be in the league when and if your oldest son Bronny made it to the NBA. But he had a health scare with sudden cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in the summer. A life-altering event changes perspectives.

Time is a fascinating concept. Where did it go? How do I get more? Time takes forever and goes by in a blink. A billion years ago and a billion from now are unfathomable.

But LeBron, it seems you have a sound grasp of getting the most out of the time you have.

LOS ANGELES — If Michigan loses the College Football Playoff semifinal to Alabama on Monday, the recriminations will be swift and severe. Connor Stalions and sign-stealing. Jim Harbaugh’s constant dalliances with the NFL and incomplete contract negotiations with Michigan. The general weakness of the Big Ten. All of it will all be on the table as the reason the No. 1 Wolverines once again couldn’t get it done in the CFP. 

I’ll be thinking about a 30-second video clip. 

To be honest, I’ve already been thinking about it — a lot. Maybe way too much. But my eyes can’t unsee what happened on Dec. 3 when an ESPN reporter captured the reaction from Michigan’s watch party when the Wolverines learned Alabama — not Florida State — would be their opponent in the Rose Bowl. 

You’ve probably seen the video by now. The first few seconds — a gasp, followed by a groan and then stunned semi-silence — was reminiscent of a crowd at a Broadway play learning the star performer was taking the night off. Or maybe an airline pilot telling 200 people that the flight had been cancelled. Either way, I’ve seen people get more excited opening letters from the IRS.

My first thought, and the one I just can’t shake as this titanic Rose Bowl approaches: Michigan doesn’t want Bama. 

“It was funny — real funny,” Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond said. “You see people’s true emotions.” 

Michigan players, of course, say we have this all wrong. They’re aware of the video. They know how it’s been interpreted. They say it was simply a matter of collective surprise that the CFP selection committee snubbed 13-0 Florida State in favor of 12-1 Alabama.  

“It’s funny that I keep hearing everybody say we’re scared because we got ‘Bama, and it was more like the shock of not seeing an undefeated Power Five team get picked,” Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett said. “It wasn’t really like fear, never that, of any team.”

Riiiiiiiiight. 

Listen, maybe Barrett is telling the truth. But the Wolverines sure didn’t do a very good job in the moment of showing — to use Harbaugh’s pet phrase — an enthusiasm unknown to mankind when they learned all their hard work to get the No. 1 seed had landed them a matchup against the most successful college football program of the modern era rather than a Florida State team whose starting quarterback broke his leg.

Was it really just shock? Or was it disappointment, too? 

Because if it’s the latter, Michigan is in trouble on Monday. Big, big trouble. There are only two kinds of teams that play Alabama: Those who truly want the challenge and those who fake it while knowing they’re about to get run over by an 18-wheeler. 

The dichotomy for Michigan is clear.

All season, it has acted, talked and played like a bully that wants all the smoke. After two Harbaugh suspensions and a month of accusations that its unbeaten record was at least in part gained through illegal sign-stealing, it was Michigan vs. Everybody, shutting up the critics one win at a time. 

But there’s also the reality of Michigan’s previous two forays into the College Football Playoff, neither of which have gone very well. Against Georgia two years ago, there wasn’t a single second of the game in which Michigan looked like it belonged on the same field. 

This year, the Wolverines are better. They’re older. They have a better understanding of what it takes to beat an SEC powerhouse in the semifinals. 

And that might be exactly the problem. 

“It’s an opportunity to play against the college football team over the last 15 years,” Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “The team that’s won all those national titles and been in these situations a bunch. I think for us, for our guys, the disappointment creates a mindset that this is the opportunity you want, and let’s embrace it.” 

Did you see anyone with a big maize ‘M’ on their chest embracing it when Michigan learned who it was playing in this game? 

Hey, sometimes short videos clips are unfair. They don’t tell the whole story. But we all saw what we saw in that moment. Of course the Wolverines would rather have played Florida State, which kind of justifies why the CFP committee made the right choice in the first place. 

“Who wouldn’t want to play a team who was missing their starting quarterback for a chance to go to a national championship game?” Barrett acknowledged. “I feel like that’s kind of what that shock was — like, ‘Oh, dang,’ we probably could have caught them slipping or whatever. At the end of the day, we’re here now. We have who we have, and we’re about to go handle business.”

Sorry, but Michigan wasn’t going to get off the hook that easily. You can’t backdoor your way into a national title, and in this era, that usually means beating Alabama. 

Maybe it’s a coincidence and maybe it’s not, but it is notable that the program with the most playoff success against Alabama over the last decade was led by former Alabama player and assistant coach Dabo Swinney. 

He got the whole Alabama aura. He understood it and respected it, but he coached his Clemson players in a way that made them expressly unafraid of it when they faced Alabama for the national title in 2015, 2016 and 2018 — winning two of those matchups.

Clemson truly relished that stage. Not everybody does.

But Michigan’s coaching staff understands it’s an issue, an existential hurdle that must be overcome to reach the top of the sport.

This season, Harbaugh instituted a “Beat Georgia” period of practice that mostly amounts to a toughness drill where you have to run the ball even though the other team knows you’re going to run it and you have to stop the run even though you’re outnumbered at the line of scrimmage.

Obviously, Michigan didn’t end up playing Georgia, but it was a clear nod to the idea that the Wolverines would likely play a game at some point that required them to be even more physical and effective in the trenches than they’ve been against Ohio State. It’s a drill they’ve been doing all season expressly for a game like this. 

“Four years ago, it probably would have been called the ‘Beat Alabama’ drill, and just because Georgia had won the last two (national championships) that was the team,” Minter said. “I sort of put those two together. They’re kind of built from the same cloth, they play the same style and you know what you’re going to get when you play one of those teams.”

When that script “A” flashed up on the television opposite Michigan in the bracket on Dec. 3, they knew exactly what kind of game they’d be in for — for better or worse.

“It was kind of just like an ‘Ahh’ moment,” Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham said. “Everyone in the room really knew what was going on.”

Let’s just say Michigan’s attempts to spin that video were less convincing than its win over Ohio State. In both cases, actually beating Alabama is going to take much more than it’s shown thus far.