The Los Angeles Chargers are getting one of their big playmakers back in Week 17.

Los Angeles announced Friday afternoon that it activated running back J.K. Dobbins off injured reserve. He is set to play in the Chargers’ Saturday afternoon game against the New England Patriots.

Dobbins had missed the Chargers’ last four games after sustaining a sprained knee in his team’s Week 12 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Now, with Los Angeles needing one win to clinch a playoff spot, the team’s leading touchdown scorer will return with a chance to push the Chargers into the postseason.

Dobbins’ return comes at a perfect time for the AFC wild-card contenders, who announced Thursday they were ruling out running back Gus Edwards for Saturday’s game.

All things Chargers: Latest Los Angeles Chargers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

What happened to J.K. Dobbins?

Dobbins suffered an MCL sprain during the first half of the Chargers’ Week 12 game against the Ravens. He did not return for the second half, and Los Angeles eventually placed the running back on injured reserve ahead of a Week 13 clash with the Atlanta Falcons.

As a result, Dobbins would have to miss four games at a minimum.

J.K. Dobbins injury updates

On Friday afternoon, the Chargers designated the 26-year-old running back to return off of IR.

The team also announced that Dobbins will be ready to play in the team’s Week 17 game against the Patriots on Saturday. How much Los Angeles leans on its leading touchdown scorer remains to be seen.

Notably, the Ohio State product was a limited participant in Los Angeles’ practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, but he was listed as a full participant on Thursday, the team’s final practice of the week. The Chargers initially gave him a ‘questionable’ designation before Friday’s announcement that he would return from IR.

How long is J.K. Dobbins out?

With Dobbins ready to go for Saturday’s game, it means the running back will have missed only four games – the minimum number required for players placed on IR.

The Chargers went 2-2 in their four games without their leading rusher. They averaged 74.8 rushing yards per game in that span and surpassed 100 rushing yards only once.

This story has been updated with new information.

The sports broadcasting world has lost one of its most respected and indelible figures.

Longtime CBS Sports anchor and play-by-play announcer Greg Gumbel has died at the age of 78, with his wife and daughter confirming the news Friday.

“He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer,” Marcy and Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. “Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten. Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”

The older brother of Bryant Gumbel, Gumbel was a beloved figure over the course of his 52-year broadcasting career, someone whose mere on-screen presence was associated with some of the biggest events in sports.

He became synonymous with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, particularly its selection show, and had a lengthy run as an NFL play-by-play broadcaster. In 2001, he became the first Black man to do play-by-play for a major American sports championship when he called Super Bowl 35.

As news of Gumbel’s death spread, outpourings of emotion and support flooded social media, with many fondly recalling his career and the impact it had on them.

Here’s a sampling of the social media reaction to Gumbel’s passing:

Social media pays tribute to Greg Gumbel

With a playoff spot on the line, the Indianapolis Colts may be forced to turn to Joe Flacco in Week 17.

Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson has not been able to practice yet this week while he deals with back and foot injuries. On Friday, Indianapolis designated their starter as ‘questionable’ to play in the Colts’ Week 17 matchup with the New York Giants.

When reporters asked Colts head coach Shane Steichen if Richardson could have been a limited participant in practice, Steichen said the 22-year-old ‘was just sore all week,’ so the team decided to play it safe.

At 7-8, the Colts still have a chance to make the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 7 seed with two wins in their last two games and some help from the Miami Dolphins and the final two teams the Denver Broncos play: the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.

Should Richardson have to miss Week 17’s clash with the Giants, Indianapolis would turn to Flacco, their 39-year-old veteran, to keep its playoff hopes alive.

All things Colts: Latest Indianapolis Colts news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

What happened to Anthony Richardson?

It’s unclear exactly when Richardson suffered the back and foot injuries that have kept him out of the Colts’ practice sessions this week. Steichen didn’t offer more information about them when asked, other than stating that the back injury was more severe.

Indianapolis did not practice on Wednesday since it was Christmas, but Richardson was listed as ‘DNP’ with the back and foot issues on the estimated injury report the Colts put out.

Anthony Richardson injury updates

The Colts designated their starting quarterback as ‘questionable’ for Sunday’s game against the Giants after he missed a second consecutive day of practice.

Richardson did show up to the start of Friday’s practice session, but he wasn’t in uniform. Instead, it was Flacco who took the first-team reps for the second day in a row.

How long is Anthony Richardson out?

The Colts have not yet ruled out Richardson for their Week 17 clash with the Giants, nor have they listed him as doubtful. With Indianapolis still mathematically alive in the playoff race, the team will hope its young starter will be good to go on Sunday.

However, the Colts could be eliminated from the playoffs before they even kick off on Sunday. If the Chargers win their game against the Patriots and the Broncos win theirs against the Bengals, Indianapolis would be knocked out of the wild-card race.

In that scenario, it’s likely the Colts would keep Richardson out of their Week 17 game to avoid aggravating any health issues ahead of the offseason.

This story will be updated with more information.

The Navy Midshipmen concluded an impressive season with a 21-20 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Navy secured the win when it stopped Oklahoma’s attempted two-point conversion.

In his fourth start as quarterback for the Sooners, true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. showed off his potential despite the team’s tough loss. He got the Sooners on the board early, even though the lead was short lived. Hawkins completed 65% of his passes, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Navy came out after halftime with high energy, quickly evening the score on quarterback Blake Horvath’s 95-yard touchdown run. That shifted the momentum in favor of Navy, which claimed its first bowl win since 2019.

Here are the top moments from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Oklahoma’s two-point conversion fails

A penalty against Navy gives the Sooners a new set of downs, and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. takes full advantage. He connects with Jacob Jordan for an 11-yard pass into the corner of the end zone. The Sooners attempt a two-point conversion, but it is unsuccessful. Navy defeats Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Navy takes the lead

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath guides the Midshipmen down the field and completes a 6-yard run into the end zone, marking Navy’s first lead of the game. With 4:34 left in the fourth quarter, Navy is ahead 21-14 against Oklahoma.

Navy evens the score

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath takes control and showcases his running ability with a 95-yard touchdown, evening the score at 14-14 with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Navy gets on the board

Navy relied on their running game and handed the ball to Alex Tecza, who completed an 11-yard run to score a touchdown for the first time in this bowl game. With 3:34 left in the second quarter, Oklahoma leads Navy 14-7.

Oklahoma makes it 14-0

Oklahoma’s quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is unstoppable as he connects with Zion Kearney for a 56-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead to 14-0 against Navy with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter.

Oklahoma scores on the first drive

Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. started strong and led the team down the field to score on their first drive of the game. Oklahoma is now leading 7-0 against Navy with 11:33 left in the first quarter.

When is the Armed Forces Bowl between Oklahoma and Navy?

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen kicks off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

How to watch Oklahoma and Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl

The Armed Forces Bowl game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch Oklahoma take on Navy with a Fubo subscription

Oklahoma vs. Navy: Armed Forces Bowl odds

The Oklahoma Sooners are favorites to defeat the Navy Midshipmen, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Friday, Dec. 27

Spread: Oklahoma (-1.5)
Moneyline: Oklahoma (-120); Navy (+120)
Over/under: 43.5

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl predictions: Oklahoma vs. Navy

USA TODAY: Writers split on winner

Scooby Axson: Navy
Jordan Mendoza: Navy
Paul Myerberg: Oklahoma
Erick Smith: Oklahoma
Eddie Timanus: Navy
Dan Wolken: Oklahoma

ESPN: Navy 24, Oklahoma 20

Adam Rittenberg writes: ‘The Sooners return to a Big 12 stadium seeking a better result than their last appearance in Fort Worth, a 55-24 loss to TCU in 2022. They take on a Navy team capable of piling up points with a new offense coordinated by Drew Cronic and featuring dual-threat quarterback Blake Horvath. But Navy’s offensive mojo slowed in the second half of the season, and Oklahoma will need to lean on its own stout defense after quarterback Jackson Arnold and others are headed to the portal. Sooners coach Brent Venables is trying to avoid his second 6-7 season in three years, ahead of a pivotal 2025 campaign. Oklahoma’s defensive opt-outs are worth watching, and there are more guarantees on the Navy side.’

Docs Sports: Take Navy

Staff writes: ‘The Midshipmen have earned 4,131 total yards for the year. When it comes to getting in the endzone, Navy has amassed 13 touchdowns through the air and 33 touchdowns via the ground. Navy has accumulated 195 first downs as an offense, and they have been called for 57 penalties for 475 yds. As a team they have an average of 247.4 yards via the ground game ranking them 8th in the nation. Concerning scoring points, the Navy Midshipmen are averaging 32.3 points per outing.’

Bowl game picks  

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of the college football bowl games. 

Oklahoma vs. Navy all-time record 

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Navy Midshipmen have faced off one time in their history. The Midshipmen have a 1-0 record in the series.

Navy beat Oklahoma 10-0 in the only matchup on Oct. 2, 1965.

College football bowl game schedule: Entire postseason lineup

College football bowl season began Dec. 14 and will run through Jan. 20 with the College Football Playoff championship game in Atlanta. Click here for the schedule of all upcoming bowls, including the College Football Playoff, and the results of already completed games.

College football bowl game rankings: 35 matchups from best to worst

We’ll begin with a couple of stipulations. First, we’ll operate under the assumption that all the first-round playoff games, as well as the quarterfinal and semifinal bowl contests, will be appointment viewing anyway, so they won’t be included in this exercise. We’ll also add that while some matchups look attractive in terms of records and rankings, whether the games will turn out to be good hinges upon which key players actually show up. We also recognize that your interest in a particular game might differ based upon your rooting interest.

We try to put these in order of what we think will have the highest entertainment value, but circumstances can change before the games kick off. Click here for our watchability rankings for all 35 non-playoff bowls. — Eddie Timanus

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

The NHL is back from its holiday break on Friday and trades can resume at 12:01 a.m. local time on Saturday.

So far, there have been 14 trades, four coaching changes, plus extensions signed by Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Alexis Lafreniere, Linus Ullmark and others. Other top players also remain eligible for extensions, including Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Brock Boeser.

There will be more trades as teams build toward a Stanley Cup run or make moves for their long-term future. The trade deadline is on March 7.

Follow along here this season for signings, trades, transactions and other news from the NHL:

Dec. 27: Avalanche give extension to Mackenzie Blackwood

The Colorado Avalanche gave goalie Mackenzie Blackwood a five-year extension 18 days after acquiring him in a trade. Terms weren’t disclosed, but reports said it was worth $5.25 million a year, up from the current cap hit of $2.35 million in his contract that expires this summer.

The Avalanche goaltending struggled at the beginning of the season, and Colorado traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for Scott Wedgewood on Nov. 30. The Avalanche shipped out Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9 for Blackwood.

Blackwood has gone 3-1 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage since arriving.

Also: Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who’s tied for fourth in the NHL in scoring, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Dec. 26: Red Wings fire coach Derek Lalonde, hire Todd McLellan

The Detroit Red Wings fired coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday after two-plus seasons and brought in veteran Todd McLellan to try to turn around the season.

McLellan, 57, who won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings as an assistant coach in 2008, was signed to a multi-year contract as the franchise’s 29th head coach. He has a 598-412-134 regular-season record over 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, making the playoffs nine times. He was with the Red Wings from 2005-08 and left after the championship season to join the Sharks.

Associate coach Bob Boughner also was fired, and Trent Yawney was hired as an assistant coach. The Red Wings had lost nine of their last 12 games to follow to seventh place in the Atlantic Division

Dec. 19: Bruins waive forward Tyler Johnson

The Boston Bruins placed forward Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating the one-year contract he signed in November. That would make him free to pursue opportunities with other teams. Johnson had two points in nine games this season and the move follows the Bruins claiming Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers.

Dec. 18: Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Kraken

The New York Rangers get back defenseman Will Borgen and 2025 third- and sixth-round picks in exchange for Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick of 2019. The trade happened less than a day after Kakko complained about being a healthy scratch. ‘It’s just easy to take the young guy and put him out,’ he said Tuesday. ‘That’s how I feel.’

Kakko, 23, has never matched the expectation of being that high a pick, getting 40 points in his top season in 2022-23. He has 14 points this season and was named by Finland to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The trade is the second recent shake-up move by the sliding Rangers, who dealt captain Jacob Trouba, a defenseman, to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. Borgen, who was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, had 20 or more points and averaged nearly 200 hits the past two seasons but has just two points and a minus-13 rating this season.

In other trades Wednesday:

The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators swapped defensemen with Justin Barron, 23, heading to Nashville in exchange for Alexandre Carrier, 28. Carrier signed a three-year deal this offseason and the Predators save $2.6 million in cap space with the trade.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman P.O. Joseph from the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. Joseph will help the Penguins with defenseman Marcus Pettersson out with an injury. Joseph played his first four NHL seasons with Pittsburgh.

Dec. 18: Justin Schultz retires after 12 NHL seasons

Defenseman Justin Schultz, 34, who won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced his retirement after 12 seasons with four NHL teams. Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, he couldn’t reach terms with that team and joined the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in 2012, making the all-rookie team. Schultz was traded to the Penguins in 2016 and won championships that season and the following season. He played two seasons each with the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken, finishing his NHL career with 71 goals and 324 points in 745 games. Schultz signed to play in Switzerland this season but stepped down after eight games.

Dec. 14: Blues acquire Ducks’ Cam Fowler in trade

The St. Louis Blues give up minor league defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick to land defenseman Cam Fowler, 33, who spent his entire NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks. St. Louis also gets a 2027 fourth-round pick and the Ducks retain about 38.5% of Fowler’s remaining salary.

The Blues, who will be without Torey Krug (ankle) this season, get a veteran defenseman who averages more than 21 minutes a game in ice time. Fowler was moved eight days after the Ducks acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba in a trade.

“This was a difficult trade to make considering what Cam has meant to this organization,” general manager Pat Verbeek said. “He has been a valuable and respected member of our team for 15 seasons, representing the Ducks with ultimate class. … After meeting with Cam several times over the last few months, it became clear to both of us it may be time for a change.”

Also: The Boston Bruins claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders. The Maine native had played for Boston College in 2018-19.

Dec. 13: Islanders waive Oliver Wahlstrom, Pierre Engvall

The New York Islanders have placed forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Pierre Engvall on waivers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. The move happened after injured forwards Mat Barzal and Anthony Duclair returned to practice. Engvall, who signed a seven-year contract in 2023, passed through waivers earlier this season and played six games in the American Hockey League. He has six points in 20 games. Wahlstrom, a 2018 first-round pick, has four points in 27 games.

Also: The Minnesota Wild claimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. The Wild placed defenseman Jake Middleton on long-term injured reserve after he was hit in the hand by a shot on Thursday night. … The Vegas Golden Knights signed forward Keegan Kolesar to a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Dec. 12: Canucks’ J.T. Miller returns from personal leave

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller said he was returning from his personal leave and played Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. The Canucks announced his leave of absence on Nov. 19. The team went 5-3-2 while he was away.

Miller, who has 16 points in 17 games this season and topped 100 last season, said he wouldn’t answer questions about why he was away from the team.

‘I’m excited to play,’ he said. ‘I want to play and obviously a fun game against the defending champions. Just happy to be around the guys and looking forward to tonight.’

Miller skated a little more than 14 minutes, had two assists and won 60% of his faceoffs.

While he was away, he was named to Team USA for February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Also: Anaheim Ducks forward Travis Zegras had surgery for torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss six weeks. … The Utah Hockey Club claimed defenseman Dakota Mermis off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dec. 10: Kevin Shattenkirk announces retirement

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement on Tuesday after 14 NHL seasons with seven teams. He won a Stanley Cup in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drafted 14th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, he also played for the St. Louis Blues (five 40-point seasons), Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks before joining the Boston Bruins in 2023-24 for what would be his final season.

Shattenkirk, 35, finishes with 103 goals, 381 assists and 484 points in 952 career games, plus 48 points in 91 playoff games. He scored in overtime during Game 4 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

Dec. 9: Avalanche land Mackenzie Blackwood in goalie trade with Sharks

The Colorado Avalanche’s season-opening goaltending tandem of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen is out after a subpar start. Now they’re running with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood after separate trades with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, respectively.

The Blackwood trade is the latest one and includes forward Givani Smith and a draft pick going to Colorado, while forward Nikolai Kovalenko and two picks go to San Jose. Blackwood has a .904 save percentage to Georgiev’s .874, and he made 49 saves in his last game. Georgiev was pulled in his second-to-last start.

GOALIE SWAP: Full details of Avalanche-Sharks trade

Dec. 6: Rangers trade Jacob Trouba, extend Igor Shesterkin

The sliding New York Rangers dominated the news Friday by trading captain Jacob Trouba and giving Igor Shesterkin an eight-year extension that makes him the highest-paid NHL goalie.

The Rangers officially announced the extension on Saturday.

The Trouba trade happened first Friday with the Rangers getting back defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. But the biggest part is the Anaheim Ducks took on Trouba’s $8 million cap hit, giving the Rangers flexibility. Trouba, who has struggled this season and didn’t waive his no-trade clause this summer, adds a veteran presence to the young Ducks. He and new teammate Radko Gudas are two of the hardest hitters in the league.

Shesterkin will average $11.5 million in his new deal, according to reports, moving him past Carey Price ($10.5 million) as the top-paid goaltender. The Rangers rely heavily on Shesterkin, who faces a lot of high-danger shots.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a minor trade. Forward Jacob Perreault, son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault, heads to Edmonton for defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer. … The Carolina Hurricanes placed forward Brendan Lemieux on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. He requested the move so he can pursue another opportunity, general manager Eric Tulsky told the team’s website.

Dec. 5: Blackhawks fire coach Luke Richardson

The last-place Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks’ Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach.

The move happened with generational player Connor Bedard going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He recently ended a 12-game goal drought and didn’t make the Canadian roster for this season’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

‘As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary,’ general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement about the coaching move.

Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record.

Dec. 4: Stars’ Tyler Seguin to have hip surgery, miss 4-6 months

The Dallas Stars announced that forward Tyler Seguin will have surgery on his left hip on Thursday and is expected to miss four to six months. That timeline would have him out of the lineup until near the end of the regular season or into the playoffs. Seguin, 32, had been having a strong season, ranking third on the team with 20 points in 19 games.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF: Rosters announced

Nov. 30: Wild acquire defenseman David Jiricek from Blue Jackets

The Minnesota Wild acquired former first-round pick David Jiricek, 21, from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a package that includes 22-year-old defenseman Daemon Hunt and a package of draft picks including a top-five protected 2025 first-round pick. Jiricek, a 2022 sixth-overall pick who had been sent to American Hockey League, will report to the Wild’s AHL team. The other picks heading to Columbus: 2026 third- and fourth-rounders and a 2027 second-rounder. The Wild get a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Nov. 30: Predators, Avalanche swap goaltenders

The Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators for backup goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick. The Avalanche, who have the league’s third-worst team goals-against average, were expected to make some sort of goaltending move but not necessarily this one. Annunen, 24, has slightly better stats this season, but he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Wedgewood, 32, who was signed in the offseason and played five games for the Predators, has another year left on his contract.

Also: The NHL fined Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin $5,000 each for an exchange in Friday’s game. Zadorov poked Malkin with his stick from the bench, and the Penguins star responded with a slash toward the bench, hitting Mason Lohrei.

Nov. 25: Penguins acquire Philip Tomasino from Predators

Philip Tomasino (one point in 11 games) is the final year of his contract so the struggling Nashville Predators get something in return, a 2027 fourth-round pick. The equally struggling Pittsburgh Penguins get another person for their bottom six. The former first-round pick’s best season was 32 points as a rookie in 2021-22.

Nov. 24: Blues fire coach Drew Bannister, hire Jim Montgomery

In a surprising move, the St. Louis Blues on Sunday fired Drew Bannister after less than a year as coach, replacing him with former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

The announcement from Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong comes with the team losing 13 of its first 22 games this year. Bannister had taken over for Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube last season and had his interim tag removed at the end of the season.

Montgomery, a former assistant to Berube, has an overall regular-season record of 180-84-33 as a head coach with Boston and Dallas. He was just let go by the Bruins last week after they lost 12 of their first 20 games. – Steve Gardner

Nov. 22: Golden Knights sign Brett Howden to five-year extension

Forward Brett Howden will average $2.5 million in the five-year contract extension. He plays in the Vegas Golden Knights’ bottom six and has eight goals this season.

After the Golden Knights lost free agents Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup title team this summer, they’ve been working to get extensions done early. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb signed recently. Goalie Adin Hill and Keegan Kolesar also are pending unrestricted free agents from that championship team.

Also: Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle had surgery on his pelvis and will be out at last three months.

Nov. 21: Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen to have knee surgery

This marks the fourth season in a row that Andersen has missed extended time. He was limited to 16 games last season with a blood-clotting issue and missed more than two months of 2022-23 with a lower-body injury. An injury kept him out of the 2022 playoffs.

Pyotr Kochetkov is the Hurricanes’ No. 1 goalie in Andersen’s absence. Andersen, 35, is in the final year of his contract.

Nov. 19: Canucks’ J.T. Miller out indefinitely for personal reasons

‘Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,’ general manager Patrik Allvin said. ‘Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.’

Miller ranks second on the Canucks and is their top-scoring forward with 16 points in 17 games. He scored 103 points last season.

Nov. 19: Boston Bruins fire coach Jim Montgomery

The Boston Bruins made Jim Montgomery the first coaching casualty of the 2024-25 NHL season, firing him less than two seasons after he was named coach of the year.

Associate coach Joe Sacco, a former Colorado Avalanche head coach, will take over behind the bench as the interim head coach.

The move came after a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Montgomery, who was in the final year of his contract, was let go with the team sitting at 8-9-3 and sporting poor underlying numbers.

BRUINS: More details on coaching change

Nov. 19: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin out with leg injury

Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record is temporarily on hold after the Washington Capitals star left Monday night’s game with an injury.

The team announced Tuesday that Ovechkin is week-to-week with an injury to his lower leg after he absorbed a leg-on-leg hit from Utah Hockey Club forward Jack McBain during the third period.

Ovechkin had been on a torrid scoring pace this season. Before Monday’s injury, he had scored twice in the 6-2 win over Utah, giving him five goals in the last two games and a league-leading 15 goals in 18 games.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. He provides speed and depth to a team that hasn’t received much scoring from the wings this season.

Nov. 18: Islanders’ Mike Reilly to have procedure on heart

General manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters that the pre-existing heart condition was discovered during routine testing for a concussion that had sidelined the defenseman since Nov. 1.

‘It’s probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired,’ Lamoriello said. ‘They detected this, something that you’re sometimes born with, but never knew.’

He said Reilly has been cleared from the concussion.

Nov. 15: Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin returns from suspension

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin returned Friday night from his six-month suspension. He was suspended during the playoffs last May under Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He also was in the program for about two months earlier in the 2023-24 season and missed part of the 2023 playoffs for personal reasons. Nichushkin is a key offensive contributor with 28 goals in 54 games last season. Injured forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood also returned Friday.

Also: The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb, the franchise leader in games played, to a three-year contract extension that averages $3.65 million a year.

OILERS: Connor McDavid is fourth fastest to reach 1,000 points

Nov. 13: Sabres claim goalie James Reimer off waivers

The Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender James Reimer off waivers, bringing him back to where he signed a free agent contract in the summer. Reimer was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks off waivers earlier this season when the Sabres tried to send him to the American Hockey League. The Ducks put him on waivers after the return of injured goalie John Gibson. Reimer, on a one-year, $1 million contract, played two games in Anaheim with a 4.50 goals-against average. No. 1 Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hurt in Monday’s loss but hasn’t been ruled out for Thursday’s game.

Also: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will be out ‘weeks’ with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot, coach Jim Montgomery said.

Nov. 12: Capitals reacquire Lars Eller in trade with Penguins

Center Lars Eller, 35, is a familiar face for the Washington Capitals after playing in Washington from 2016-23 and winning a Stanley Cup there in 2018. He kills penalties and is strong in the faceoff circle. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ side of the trade might be more interesting. They get a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder, and this also could be an indication that the Penguins are shaking up the roster after a disappointing start. Eller’s trade will allow the team to give more ice time to younger players. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent.

Also: The Winnipeg Jets claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and loaned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. They had lost him on waivers to the Avalanche last month.

Nov. 11: Flames’ Anthony Mantha to have season-ending surgery

Also: The Colorado Avalanche placed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. They had claimed him off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last month.

Nov. 9: Penguins recall veteran goalie Tristan Jarry from minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two-time All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry from his conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. Jarry was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 26 after recording a 5.37 goals-against average and .836 save percentage. His AHL numbers were 2.16, .926.

Also: The Philadelphia Flyers made rookie Matvei Michkov a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Nov. 8: Kraken acquire Daniel Sprong from Canucks

The Seattle Kraken landed Daniel Sprong, one of their former players, in exchange for future considerations. The Kraken have struggled to score this season and Sprong had 21 goals for them two seasons ago. The forward has scored double-digit goals five times. He had one goal with Vancouver this season.

Nov. 7: Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov to be healthy scratch

Coach John Tortorella called the move ‘part of the process.’

‘With young guys, they can watch games, too, as far as development,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s trying to help them.’

Michkov, 19, has 10 points in 13 games and a minus-8 rating and was NHL rookie of the month in October. He had just one point in his last five games and his ice time dropped in the last four.

Nov. 4: Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini ready to return from injury

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is ready to return to action after aggravating an injury in the season opener, according to NHL.com.

He took part in practice Monday on the top line with Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Granlund and is looking to play his second game season Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Celebrini said he reinjured his hip on his first shift of the opener but played the full game and had a goal and assist. He has missed 12 games. The Sharks opened the season 0-7-2 but are 3-1 in their last four games.

Also: St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. He needed help getting off the ice Saturday after he was checked by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner. … The Boston Bruins signed forward Tyler Johnson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. He won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nov. 2: Islanders’ Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech go on injured list

New York Islanders No. 1 center Mathew Barzal was placed on long-term injured reserve with an unspecified upper-body injury. He’ll be out four to six weeks. He had 80 points in 80 games last season but had been limited to five points in 10 games this season as the Islanders have struggled to score.

Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech also will be out four to six weeks after being hit in the face by a puck. He went on the injured list.

Oct. 30: Sharks acquire Timothy Liljegren from Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs get defenseman Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Liljegren, 25, had been limited to one game in Toronto this season, and the Maple Leafs recently committed to blue-liner Jake McCabe with a five-year extension. But Liljegren should fit in well in San Jose, which is building around younger players. Benning, 30, and Liljegren are signed through 2025-26.

This is the second day with an NHL trade after none previously since the season opened in North America.

Oct. 29: Utah acquires defenseman Olli Maatta from Red Wings

The Utah Hockey Club gives up a third-round pick as it addresses a desperate need for a veteran defenseman. Sean Durzi and John Marino are out long-term after surgery. Utah has been leaking goals during a four-game losing streak, including blowing a 4-1 lead late in the third period against the previously winless San Jose Sharks. Maatta is solid defensively and has nearly 700 games of NHL experience.

Oct. 28: Maple Leafs sign Jake McCabe to five-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year extension with an annual average value of $4.51 million. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports there is some deferred money in the deal. McCabe, 31, had been acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a February 2023 trade and ranks fourth on the team in average ice time this season. He has three assists in nine games and a team-best plus-6 rating.

Also: The New York Rangers recalled rugged forward Matt Rempe from the American Hockey League after he played two games there. The Rangers play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in what has become a feisty rivalry.

Oct. 26: Penguins send goalie Tristan Jarry to minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate on a conditioning loan after his early season struggles. He had been sent home from the Penguins’ road trip to work on his game after recording a 5.47 goals-against average and .836 save percentage in three games. He was pulled from his last start on Oct. 16 and gave up six goals in the opener.

Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. Rookie Joel Blomqvist has had the most starts in the Penguins net this season and Alex Nedeljkovic recently returned from an injury.

Also: The New York Islanders signed rugged forward Matt Martin for the rest of the season. He had been to camp on a tryout agreement after spending 13 of his 15 seasons with the Islanders.

Oct. 25: Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere gets seven-year extension

The New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere have agreed to a seven-year extension as he builds on last season’s breakthrough. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick will average $7.45 million in the deal, according to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. That’s up from this year’s $2.325 million cap hit. Lafreniere, 23, broke through with 28 goals and 57 points last season and added eight goals and 14 points in the playoffs. He is averaging a point a game this season through seven games and scored his fourth goal of the season on Thursday. He is signed through 2031-32.

Oct. 24: Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore signs for seven years

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will average $7.425 million in the extension, which kicks in next season and runs through 2031-32. Getting him signed now is important after the Golden Knights lost Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup team to free agency during the summer.

Theodore, 29, is the franchise’s top-scoring defenseman with 296 points and has opened this season with seven points in six games. Vegas’ top three defensemen (also Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin) are signed through at least 2026-27.

Oct. 23: Utah’s Sean Durzi, John Marino out long-term after surgery

The Utah Hockey Club, who beefed up their defense in the offseason, will be without two key blueliners long-term after they had surgery.

Sean Durzi, who was injured in an Oct. 15 game, will miss four to six months after shoulder surgery. John Marino, who has yet to play this season, is out three to four months after back surgery.

Utah added defensemen Mikhail Sergachev, Marino and Ian Cole in the offseason. Durzi, acquired last season when the team was in Arizona, signed a four-year, $24 million contract during the summer.

In other injury news, St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas has a fractured ankle and will be evaluated in six weeks.

Oct. 22: Panthers give coach Paul Maurice contract extension

Maurice, who joined the Panthers in 2022-23, went to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season and won it last year. His 29 playoff wins are a franchise record.

He has 98 regular-season wins with Florida and his 873 career wins rank fourth all time in NHL history.

Also: The Blues signed forward Jake Neighbours to a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Oct. 17: Stars’ Jake Oettinger signs eight-year contract extension

The Dallas Stars signed goalie Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension that kicks in next season. The $8.25 million cap hit matches the deals recently signed by the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman and Senators’ Linus Ullmark.

Oettinger has led the Stars to the Western Conference final the past two seasons.

Oct. 12: Aleksander Barkov, Macklin Celebrini are injured

The NHL season is young, but two prominent players are already out with injuries.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will miss two to three weeks after crashing leg first into the boards while trying to prevent an empty net goal on Thursday. His stick had broken but he couldn’t stop Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle from scoring. The time frame should allow Barkov to participate in the two Global Series games against the Dallas Stars in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2. Barkov is the first Finnish NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup. He won the Selke Trophy last season for the second time as top defensive forward.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks placed No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said Celebrini is week-to-week. He had been dealing with an injury in training camp but played in this week’s season opener, scoring a goal and an assist.

Oct. 11: Avalanche claim goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers

The Colorado Avalanche claimed Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado lost 8-4 in the opener, with Alexandar Georgiev giving up five goals and backup Justus Annunen giving up two goals on four shots. The Avalanche are Kahkonen’s fourth team in a year. He split time last season between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.

There are still five available playoff spots and five division titles still up for grabs in the final two weeks of the season.

After two Christmas games on Wednesday and the Seattle Seahawks’ ‘Thursday Night Football’ win over the Chicago Bears, there are still three more days of NFL action this week. Saturday will feature a three-game slate with nine more games on Sunday before the final ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup of the season.

There’s plenty to play for in those remaining 13 games. All four NFC divisions could have a winner determined this week, while three more teams could also clinch a playoff berth by the time Week 17 wraps up.

Here’s what to know about the NFL playoff picture as the penultimate week of the regular season rolls into its weekend action:

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

Who is in the NFL playoffs so far?

Nine teams have clinched a playoff spot as of the start of Week 17. Here’s who they are, grouped by conference:

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
Buffalo Bills (12-3)
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Houston Texans (9-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

NFC

Detroit Lions (13-2)
Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
Green Bay Packers (11-4)

NFL division winners 2024

After Week 17’s edition of ‘Thursday Night Football,’ there are still five division title races yet to be decided, including all four in the NFC. Here’s which teams have already clinched their divisions entering Week 17’s Saturday and Sunday slates:

AFC

AFC East: Buffalo Bills (12-3)
AFC North: TBD
AFC South: Houston Texans (9-7)
AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)*

NFC

NFC East: TBD
NFC North: TBD
NFC South: TBD
NFC West: TBD

(*): The Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their Christmas Day win over the Steelers. The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will go through Arrowhead Stadium.

NFL playoff bracket update

AFC Bracket

No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners): BYE

The Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC with their Week 17 win over the Steelers on Christmas. For the fourth time in seven years, Kansas City is guaranteed home-field advantage up until the Super Bowl. As an extra prize for clinching the No. 1 seed, the Chiefs get a bye through the wild-card round of the playoffs and will play the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.

No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners) vs. No. 7 seed Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 3)

Buffalo can finish no better than the No. 2 seed and no worse than the No. 3 seed in the AFC bracket this year with its 12 wins. If the season ended before Week 17, the Bills would be playing the Broncos in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Buffalo would also maintain home-field advantage up until the conference championship.

The race for the No. 7 seed is still up in the air, so the Bills shouldn’t start preparing for Denver quite yet. The Broncos need one win in their last two games to clinch a playoff spot, but the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals are all right on their heels if they slip up.

No. 3 seed Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders) vs. No. 6 seed Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 2)

The Ravens jumped the Steelers for the top spot in the AFC North and No. 3 seed with their win and Pittsburgh’s loss on Christmas. Baltimore will secure the division title with a Week 18 win over the Browns or a Steelers loss to the Bengals. If Buffalo loses out and Baltimore wins next week, the Ravens would climb to the No. 2 spot.

Los Angeles still needs one more win – or a loss or tie from both the Colts and Dolphins – to clinch its playoff spot. The Chargers can climb as high as the No. 5 seed if they win out and the Steelers lose in Week 18. Though as things stand now, a second Harbaugh Bowl of the season is on the docket for the wild-card round. John Harbaugh and the Ravens came out victorious in the first matchup between these two teams back in November.

No. 4 seed Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners) vs. No. 5 seed Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)

Houston clinched its division title in Week 15, meaning it can finish no lower than the No. 4 seed in the AFC bracket. When the Texans lost to the Ravens on Christmas, it meant Houston could finish no higher than the No. 4 seed.

All that’s left to determine in this wild-card matchup is which team will be the No. 5 seed that will face the Texans. Right now, it’s the Steelers, who fell to second place in the AFC North and into the top wild-card spot in the AFC with their loss and the Ravens’ win on Wednesday. Pittsburgh could drop as low as the No. 7 seed with a Week 18 loss and two wins from each of the Chargers and Broncos, the two nine-win teams currently trailing the Steelers in the AFC playoff picture.

NFC Bracket

No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders): BYE

Unlike in the AFC, the NFC’s No. 1 seed is still very much up for grabs in the final two weeks of the regular season. Both the Lions and Vikings control their own destiny in the race for the top spot with a Week 18 matchup to potentially decide the NFC North title looming.

Entering Week 17, the Lions hold the tiebreaker with their Week 7 win in Minnesota. Detroit has already set a franchise record with 13 wins in the regular season and could clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time ever with two more.

No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders) vs. No. 7 seed Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)

Philadelphia is still in the driver’s seat for the NFC East title but doesn’t control its own destiny in the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. With one more win in the next two weeks – featuring matchups against the lowly Cowboys and Giants – the Eagles can clinch a division title. However, they’ll need to win out and hope for Lions and Vikings losses in Week 17 for a shot at a first-round bye.

The Commanders can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the NFC South-leading Falcons on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ As things currently stand, Washington would be playing a third game against the Eagles this season in the first round of the playoffs after splitting the regular season series with Philadelphia.

No. 3 seed Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West leaders) vs. No. 6 seed Green Bay Packers (11-4, wild card No. 2)

The race for the NFC West division title remained close with the Seahawks’ ‘Thursday Night Football’ win over the Bears in Chicago. Los Angeles still controls its own destiny and can clinch the divisional crown with wins in its last two games. The Rams need some help to secure the title in Week 17, but hold the No. 3 seed entering Saturday night’s clash with the Cardinals.

Green Bay sits in third place – behind the Lions and Vikings – in the triumvirate of outstanding NFC North teams this year. It’s already clinched a playoff spot with the ‘Monday Night Football’ win last week, though the Packers will have to hit the road to start their playoff run now that they’re locked out of the division title race. Still, they’re winners of four of their last five and hold a 5-2 record on the road. They’re still red-hot and will be a dangerous playoff team in the NFC this year.

No. 4 seed Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South leaders) vs. No. 5 seed Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)

The Falcons are leaders in the NFC South after Week 16’s results but neck-and-neck with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with two weeks left to play. Should Atlanta and rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. hold onto the top spot in the division, they’d host whichever NFC North team finishes in second place.

Right now, that’s the Vikings, who could jump into first place in both the division and conference with two wins to close out the year. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and starting quarterback Sam Darnold have been a match made in heaven for Minnesota this year, and the two could match the franchise record for single-season wins with two more. Otherwise, the Vikings need just one more win to be the top NFC wild-card holder – and a scary team for any division leader to host with their 5-1 road record this year.

NFL playoff picture

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners)
Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners)
Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)
Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 3)
Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 2)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8), Cincinnati Bengals (7-8).

NFC

Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders)
Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders)
Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West leaders)
Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South leaders)
Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)
Green Bay Packers (11-4, wild card No. 2)
Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (9-7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when Christmas falls on a Wednesday, we’ll be watching then, too.)

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 Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 17 of the 2024 season underway:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (13-2), NFC North leaders: Last week, they were in a three-way tie atop the conference and deadlocked for the division lead with Minnesota. But Philadelphia’s Week 16 defeat makes it increasingly likely the Lions and Vikings will be playing for all the important regular-season marbles in Week 18. Winning out gives the Lions everything they want, including home-field advantage. So would a win at San Francisco on Monday combined with a Minnesota loss to Green Bay. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings

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

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3), NFC East leaders: They’re coming off a rough Sunday. They lost their 10-game winning streak, an opportunity to wrap up the division and fell a game behind Detroit and Minnesota in the race for home-field advantage. Also, it doesn’t appear like concussed QB Jalen Hurts will play Sunday. But the Eagles are still just one win or Commanders loss from locking up the division and at least the No. 2 seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6), NFC West leaders: Neither they nor the Seahawks have a pathway to a wild-card berth. If both the Rams and Seattle wind up 10-7, the currently undetermined strength-of-victory tiebreaker will come into play, likely in LA’s favor – and it could actually allow the Rams to clinch the division Sunday if they first take care of business against Arizona on Saturday. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7), NFC South leaders: Rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. won his starting debut against the lowly Giants. But the real payoff came last Sunday night, when the Bucs – they were swept earlier in the season by Atlanta – lost at Dallas. The Falcons can win the division in Week 17 with another victory and another Tampa Bay loss. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Panthers

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2), wild card No. 1: Like Detroit, they control their very own potentially high-yield fate – win out, and the NFC North and No. 1 seed are Minnesota’s. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Lions

x – 6. Green Bay Packers (11-4), wild card No. 2: Getting swept by Detroit and losing once already to Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild-card status … though Monday’s whitewash of the Saints was the latest reminder that this might actually be the last NFC North team you want to see in January. But given Packers are guaranteed to open the playoffs on the road, it will be interesting to see how much they play their key starters over the next two weeks given the limited upside to doing so. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (10-5), wild card No. 3: Despite beating the Eagles, they didn’t quite clinch a postseason berth – but did remain alive in the NFC East while eliminating both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers from the playoff picture. A win in Week 17 puts Washington into the dance. A loss could be highly problematic in the tiebreaker space as it would open an alternate avenue for the Bucs, who beat Washington in Week 1. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), in the hunt: They’re going to need help to win the NFC West after a heartbreaking loss to Minnesota last Sunday. But Thursday night’s win at Chicago gets the Seahawks back on track … to a degree. Seattle’s best-case scenario involves a Rams loss Saturday and then beating them in Week 18. If both teams wind up 10-7, the undetermined strength-of-victory tiebreaker will prove pivotal, likely in LA’s favor. The Seahawks can be eliminated this weekend by a Rams win and a loss of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker, which will still be in flux Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), in the hunt: Last Sunday, they couldn’t handle a Dallas team eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day. The Bucs could see their aspirations to keep the NFC South throne die this weekend. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

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AFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions: By crushing Pittsburgh, they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and really two-plus weeks off in actuality depending on whom they want to play in what’s now a meaningless Week 18 contest for the champs. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, BYE

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champions: Now out of the running for the No. 1 seed, finishing second in the conference should still have meaning given the road to Super Bowl 59 could go through Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Patriots

x – 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5), AFC North leaders: Catching fire? Probably an understatement. The Steelers’ loss before Baltimore’s Christmas kickoff vaulted the Ravens atop the division, and their dominant win over Houston keeps them there. A win or tie in Week 18 clinches it. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second straight year, however Wednesday’s loss locked them into the fourth seed … which will likely mean a tough wild-card matchup, albeit in Houston, against an AFC North team. Remaining schedule: at Titans

x – 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6), wild card No. 1: That’s three losses in a row, Wednesday’s flat performance against Kansas City costing them first place in the AFC North. However they can capture the divisional title by winning in Week 18 if Baltimore also loses to Cleveland. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6), wild card No. 2: By sweeping the Broncos for the first time in 14 years, they prevented Denver from clinching in Week 16 while leapfrogging their division rivals and picking up the season tiebreaker (by virtue of the sweep). One more win locks Bolts into the field. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-6), wild card No. 3: They had a win-and-in scenario last week to stamp their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. Still, one more victory will advance Denver to the playoffs. Possibly major trouble ahead if they lose to Cincinnati in Week 17 … though the Broncos’ Week 18 game against Kansas City now means nothing to the Chiefs. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning on Sunday. Their record in AFC games (6-5) is better than Miami’s (5-5) and Cincinnati’s (4-6). Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning on Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Jets

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), in the hunt: Technically alive after winning on Sunday. Though they appear like the best team outside the field, they’ll need the most help to get in, including losses by the Colts and Dolphins. Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Steelers

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17

Detroit clinches NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

Win + Minnesota loss

Atlanta clinches NFC South with:

Win + Tampa Bay loss

Philadelphia clinches NFC East with:

Win or tie
Washington loss or tie

Los Angeles Rams clinch NFC West with:

Win while clinching strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seattle

(Note: Rams clinch strength-of-victory tiebreaker with 3½ or more wins from the following teams: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Minnesota, San Francisco and Washington. A tie equates to a half-win in this formula.)

Denver clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie

Los Angeles Chargers clinch playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Miami loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Washington clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Tampa Bay loss or tie

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18 (incomplete)

Baltimore clinches AFC North with:

Win or tie

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:

Win + Baltimore loss

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2024

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

***

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

Two sailors died in separate accidents on the first night of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in Australia, the event organizers announced.

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia said in a statement on Friday that one sailor on the Flying Fish Arctos and another one on the Bowline were killed two hours apart after being struck by a sail boom. A boom is a pole fixed at the bottom of the sail.

“The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heartbreaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a post on X.

“We send our love and deepest condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.”

Officials said later that another sailor on another boat, the Porco Rosso, was rescued after he was washed overboard.

‘Flying Fish Arctos was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east/south-east of Ulladulla when the incident occurred. Fellow crew members performed CPR, but they could not revive their fellow crew,’ a statement from Cruising Yacht Club of Australia said.

‘Bowline was approximately 30nm east/north-east of Batemans Bay and crew members administered CPR. A short time later officers from the Marine Area Command were informed that CPR had been unsuccessful.’

The annual 630 nautical-mile Sydney to Hobart race started in 1945. There have been 13 deaths over the history of the race, including six sailors killed in storms during the 1998 race.