NEW YORK — As the sold-out crowd at Citi Field rose to its feet before Pete Alonso’s first at-bat on Sunday night, home-plate umpire John Lipka waited for the Mets first baseman to make his move.

‘Hey are you gonna do something?’ Lipka asked Alonso, who was honed in on his approach against the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler.

‘Are you gonna tip your cap or something? I can give you time right here.’

It gave Alonso an opportunity to soak in the moment.

As Alonso played what could be his final home game at Citi Field as a member of the Mets, the crowd brought noise and adoration for the homegrown All-Star. The 29-year-old Alonso, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, received a standing ovation with every at-bat.

All things Mets: Latest New York Mets news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

And before his first plate appearance, Alonso doffed his batting helmet to the fans, who have been with him for every step of his six-year major-league career, including 226 home runs and four All-Star selections.

‘It was really special. It’s right out of a storybook for me,’ Alonso said. ‘That was truly remarkable to be able to see and feel that reaction from a packed house like that. It’s something you kind of hear about or read about or kind of see in movies, but for me, that was really special.’

Alonso was serenaded with chants of ‘Peeeete’ and ‘Pete A-lon-so!’ throughout the night. The signs dotted the crowd, from ‘Polar Bear Please Stay’ to ‘We Pete.’

The support was felt by Alonso, his teammates and coaches during the Mets’ final regular-season home game. Alonso finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts but also robbed Bryson Stott of a hit with a slick diving stop to his right for the final out of the sixth inning.

‘Pretty incredible. That’s what it’s all about,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of the response. ‘That’s what makes this city such a special city and our fan base, the Mets fans. I got goosebumps when that happened.’

In the last week, Mendoza has consistently said he believes Sunday won’t be the Mets’ final home game of the 2024 season. With a 2-1 win over the Phillies, the Mets moved into the National League’s No. 2 wild-card spot, tied with the Diamondbacks and remained two games ahead of the Braves, who are the first team out.

The team is confident heading into the final week, which includes three-game road series against the Braves and Brewers. And for now, Alonso is not focused on what could be his last few games in a Mets uniform. He’s set on leading the Mets to the postseason.

‘We’ve really built ourselves a wonderful opportunity, and it’s an honor to play with this team, play with these boys, and play for this franchise,’ Alonso said before the game. ‘It’s sick putting on the orange and blue every day. And I love it. I’m excited.

‘We’re playing meaningful baseball. This is what all offseason we’ve wanted to do. This is what we’ve prepared for all year and now it’s here. And now we got to go do it.’

Sunday might not be the last time Alonso steps on the Citi Field grass as a member of the Mets, but their fans made one loud pitch for the first baseman to return if it turns out that it is.

Those hoping to watch Peyton and Eli Manning host ‘Manningcast,’ the alternate broadcast of ‘Monday Night Football,’ will have to wait.

There are two Monday night games in Week 3 with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals against the Washington Commanders. One could have hoped the doubleheader on ESPN meant an NFL RedZone-type of broadcast from the two most famous brothers in football, but none will be in store this week. In fact, it will a few weeks before the Manning brothers return to the booth for their in-game analysis of the Monday night action. The duo were in action for the first two weeks of the season.

Is there ‘Manningcast’ on this week?

There is no ‘Manningcast’ on for Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season. The Bills vs. Jaguars and Bengals vs. Commanders will have just the regular broadcast.

When will ‘Manningcast’ return?

‘Manningcast’ will be back for Week 5 on Oct. 7 when the New Orleans Saints visit the Kansas City Chiefs.

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

2024 ‘Manningcast’ schedule

Week 1 (Sept. 9): Jets at 49ers
Week 2 (Sept. 16): Falcons at Eagles
Week 5 (Oct. 7): Saints at Chiefs (ESPN2)
Week 6 (Oct. 14) Bills at Jets (ESPN)
Week 7 (Oct. 21): Ravens at Buccaneers (ESPN2, ESPN+)
Week 7 (Oct. 21): Chargers at Cardinals (ESPN+)
Week 8 (Oct. 28): Giants at Steelers (ESPN2, ESPN+)
Week 9 (Nov. 4): Buccaneers at Chiefs (ESPN2)
Week 11 (Nov. 18): Texans at Cowboys (ESPN2)
Week 12 (Nov. 25): Ravens at Chargers (ESPN2)
Week 14 (Dec. 9): Bengals at Cowboys (ESPN2, ESPN+)
Wild card game (Jan. 13): TBD (ESPN2, ESPN+)

Antonio Pierce is making his displeasure with the Las Vegas Raiders’ effort known.

The head coach appeared to call into question some of his players’ persistence down the stretch of Sunday’s 36-22 loss to the previously 0-2 Carolina Panthers. And Pierce suggested there could be forthcoming consequences.

‘As the game went on … there were definitely some individuals made business decisions,’ Pierce said in a postgame news conference, noting his belief that his team didn’t ‘show up’ Sunday. ‘And we’ll make business decisions going forward, as well.’

Just one week after scoring a 26-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Raiders were dealt a significant setback on Sunday. Andy Dalton, taking over for benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, became the first quarterback in the NFL this season to throw more than 300 yards (319) and three touchdowns in a single game.

In the team’s first home game this season at Allegiant Stadium, fans repeatedly booed an offense that mustered just seven points through three quarters.

All things Raiders: Latest Las Vegas Raiders news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘I would have booed us, too,’ said Pierce.

The Raiders host the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.

DO YOU LIKE FOOTBALL? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 15-12 victory Sunday over the New Orleans Saints was merely the beginning of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson show.

The former Saints defensive back did not withhold much while meeting with the media after the game. From outside of the visitor’s locker room, Gardner-Johnson could be heard yelling ‘they ain’t no contenders, they’re pretenders. They have Derek Carr. Remember that,’ per NFL Network.

The Saints quarterback was 14-of-25 with 142 passing yards, one touchdown and a game-ending interception to Eagles safety Reed Blankenship as New Orleans attempted a game-tying drive.

Said Gardner-Johnson when asked about the turnover: ‘We knew (Carr) was going to give us one all day.’

The Saints traded Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles during the 2022 preseason after he spent three seasons with the team that drafted him in the fourth round. In Philadelphia, his six interceptions was tied for the league lead. He signed with the Detroit Lions for the 2023 campaign but an injury cost him much of the season, though he did return for the team’s run to the NFC Championship Game.

All things Eagles: Latest Philadelphia Eagles news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘They got rid of me,’ he said of the Saints. ‘I (didn’t) get rid of them.’

Gardner-Johnson refused to acknowledge that Saints entered as the top statistical offense despite the small sample size of two games.

‘Still got 16 weeks to go,’ said Gardner-Johnson, who had eight tackles (five solo) and a pass breakup.

The Eagles’ secondary had plenty to prove after allowing Kirk Cousins to drive the Atlanta Falcons down the field for a game-winning touchdown in the final minute on Monday.

‘We keep receipts,’ said Gardner-Johnson.

Gardner-Johnson was also heated about how the Saints comported themselves on the field. Reacting to the hit that knocked out Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith early in the fourth quarter, Gardner-Johnson said ‘that’s the dirtiest (expletive) I ever saw in football.’

‘For them to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show you what type of team that is,’ he added, ‘they’re frontrunners.’

For the first time in 2024, fans will have two NFL games to choose from on ‘Monday Night Football.’

Week 3 presents the first of four instances this season when there will be a double dose of NFL games on Monday night. Weeks 4, 7, and 15 will also have two ‘MNF’ games to close out the weekend slate. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills open the night with an AFC showdown in Buffalo. Less than one hour later, the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals will kick off their Week 3 interconference clash.

Jacksonville and Cincinnati will be looking to avoid a dreaded 0-3 start to their seasons on Monday night. Meanwhile, Washington and Buffalo can remain in the top spot in their respective divisions with wins.

Here’s everything to know about the two ‘Monday Night Football’ matchups in Week 3.

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

Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight?

There are two games on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 3.

Earlier game:

Matchup: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Later game:

Matchup: Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

What time is the NFL game tonight?

The bulk of both ‘Monday Night Football’ games will happen simultaneously. Here are the kickoff times for each one:

Jaguars vs. Bills: 7:30 p.m. ET
Commanders vs. Bengals: 8:15 p.m. ET

What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight?

Each game will air on one of two Disney-owned channels on Monday night.

Jaguars vs. Bills

Cable TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Streaming: Fubo

Commanders vs. Bengals

Cable TV: ABC
Streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo

Stream NFL on ABC with an ESPN+ subscription

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.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — As Caitlin Clark goes, so go the Indiana Fever. That was true throughout a remarkable regular season of rookie joy, uplifting achievement and unexpected triumph. 

It also was true on Sunday afternoon, when the rough-and-tumble reality of the WNBA postseason came crashing down on a Fever starting five that had never played a second in the playoffs before they stepped onto the court for Game 1 against the formidable and seasoned Connecticut Sun.

For Clark, the day began fabulously. She finished fourth in WNBA voting for Most Valuable Player, an award won appropriately and unanimously by Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson. Clark also collected three honors from the Associated Press: Rookie of the Year, unanimously; All-WNBA First Team and All-Rookie Team. 

So the morning was terrific for Clark. The afternoon, not so much. 

In a 93-69 loss to the Sun, Clark received a black eye, both literally and figuratively. Poked in the right eye in the game’s first 90 seconds by the Sun’s DiJonai Carrington, Clark ended up with quite a shiner. It was logical to ask if that had anything to do with her 4-for-17 shooting, including 2-of-13 from 3-point range, but, after the game, she quickly shut down that theory.

“Obviously, got me pretty good in the eye. I don’t think it affected me, honestly, I felt like I got good shots, they just didn’t go down. Obviously, a tough time for that to happen. I got some really good looks. I had two, three pretty wide open 3’s in the first half that you usually make,” Clark said. 

“So that’s tough, but I felt like I battled and tried my best, took care of the ball better than I usually do (she tied her season low with two turnovers), which is a positive.”

Clark said the Fever still were in it until things got out of hand late as the relentless Sun poured it on at the end. 

“Like coach (Christie Sides) said in the locker room, we’re down three first quarter, down five (more) second quarter, and then lost by three (more) in the third — we were right there, and it felt like we just played a crappy game, like the flow of the game was really bad,” she said.

GAME 1 RECAP: Fever, Clark struggle in playoff loss to Sun

But as for her eye, she made it crystal clear: “It didn’t bother me. Obviously, it didn’t feel too good when it happened. But it is what it is.”

As they prepared for this best-of-three series, the Fever had talked about how they were hoping their youthful exuberance might carry the day. They were buoyed by what had worked over the past month, a Clark-fueled adrenaline rush of a run leading to a 9-5 post-Olympics record, including an 84-80 victory over Connecticut in Indianapolis August 28. Clark and her running mate Kelsey Mitchell had finished the summer on a tear, with a supporting cast that rose to the occasion over and over again, including some magnificent play by Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, among others.

Could that be the formula for success in a short series against a far more experienced foe? Connecticut’s players came into Sunday’s game having played a combined 222 playoff games. The entire Fever roster had played just 19.

WNBA PLAYOFF PICKS: Will Fever advance and will the Aces repeat?

The answer to that question was obvious as the game wore on: not on this day. Connecticut was just too physical, just too good. Clark ended with 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Sun Coach Stephanie White decided to switch things up after losing that August game to Indiana, putting 6-4 veteran DeWanna Bonner on the 6-0 Clark.

“So much about this game is about comfort, it’s about rhythm, it’s about timing, it’s about all those things,” White said. “How can you make an adjustment that disrupts some of that? … Credit to (Bonner) for accepting this challenge. It gave us a different look at the point and I really liked that.”

Now Connecticut is one win away from taking the series and eliminating the Fever, while Indiana needs a victory in Game 2 here Wednesday to force a decisive Game 3 in Indiana Friday.

In the Fever camp, there was optimism. “These guys are going to shoot the ball a lot better on Wednesday,” Sides said, “and that’s going to make a huge difference.”

With a grand total of one playoff game now on her resume, Clark and her teammates will do the only thing they can do in this series. They’ll go right back at it. 

Editor’s note: Christine Brennan is writing a book on Caitlin Clark and the revolution in women’s sports to be published by Scribner in spring/summer 2025.

Follow Christine Brennan on social media @cbrennansports

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers looked like they were going to cruise to their first NFC West win in front of a sea of red and gold at SoFi Stadium.

San Francisco jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, had a 10-point advantage with under seven minutes remaining. They never trailed – until kicker Joshua Karty nailed a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a comeback 27-24 win against their archrival.

“It was a frustrating game throughout it. I thought we had every chance to win that game,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We had a number of times in the game where we had opportunities to run away with it, especially early in the game, having that 14-point lead.”

The 49ers controlled a majority of the contest; They outgained the Rams 391 to 296 in total yards and possessed the football for over 33 minutes. The momentum started to turn following a successful Rams fake punt late in the first half. They ended the drive with a touchdown.

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

The Rams built on that after halftime, scoring on their last four possessions of the second half to stun a shorthanded 49ers squad.

“You got to fight. No pity parties,” 49ers left tackle Trent Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “Nobody gives a damn what we’re going through. We just got to fight.”

The truth is the 49ers and Rams game was a battle of the walking wounded.

A chart of San Francisco’s injured players looks like a VIP guest list. The 49ers were without versatile wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and standout tight end George Kittle (hamstring), while defending NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey is one of five players currently on injured reserve. Plus, 2024 first-round pick WR Ricky Pearsall is on the non-football injury list as he recovers from a tragic gunshot wound.

As currently constructed, the 49ers are far from the NFC representative we saw in Super Bowl 58 with Samuel, Kittle and McCaffrey.

However, the Rams are dealing with a host of injuries too, including wide receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee), who are on injured reserve.

The Rams entered into Week 3 winless. The 49ers came into the game battered and bruised, though the better team. That much seemed apparent when the 49ers went up 14-0 in the first quarter, and again when they had a two-score advantage in the final period.

Sunday was a game the 49ers should’ve held on to win, yet they let it slip away. Now, San Francisco finds itself sitting at the bottom of the NFC West at 1-2, giving the 3-0 Seattle Seahawks some early season breathing room.

“It’s definitely a rough start, but there’s a ton of football to be played. We’ve been through some tough stretches before, and we just have to stay together. We have the guys to do it,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said postgame. “I think we have to feel the loss for sure. You can’t just move on and act like it’s fine. Feel the loss and just start stacking week by week.

“We’re in a hole now. So we got to dig it out.’

But can the 49ers dig out of a self-inflicted hole?

Sure.

In 2022, the 49ers started 1-2 and made it to the NFC championship game.

San Francisco dealt with injuries during a three-game slide last October before winning seven of their last nine to close out the regular season, ultimately advancing to Super Bowl 58.

This season, the scheduling Gods worked in San Francisco’s favor as they host the rebuilding New England Patriots and a young Arizona Cardinals team the next two weeks.

The 49ers should be able to dig themselves out of a 1-2 rut. But we witnessed Sunday that the 49ers are reeling from injuries – and maybe even a slight Super Bowl appearance hangover.

This story has been updated with new information.

Andy Dalton didn’t take long to reward Dave Canales for the Carolina Panthers coach’s bold move.

The veteran quarterback helped spark the Panthers to a 36-22 win Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders, marking the team’s first victory of the season and a much-needed moment of relief for the franchise just six days after it benched former No. 1 pick Bryce Young.

Dalton finished with 319 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-37 passing, helping the Panthers pile up 437 total yards. The 14-year veteran’s scores through the air were the offense’s first of the season, and his first-half passing yardage total (212) exceeded Carolina’s sum from its first two games (204).

He also became the first NFL quarterback this season to throw for at least 300 yards with three touchdowns.

All things Panthers: Latest Carolina Panthers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘It felt great,’ Dalton said in a postgame news conference. ‘Obviously for me to get the opportunity to be out there and for it to go the way it did, couldn’t have drawn it up any better. … We never slowed down. And that was the fun part about it. We didn’t just put one drive together. We did it the whole game.’

Dalton provided a stark contrast out of the gates, marching the offense 70 yards on a nine-play opening series, which he capped by finding running back Chuba Hubbard for a 9-yard score. It marked the first touchdown on the Panthers’ first drive of a game since Week 17 in 2022.

He added two more touchdown passes in the second quarter: a 5-yard connection with Diontae Johnson and a 31-yard strike to Adam Thielen, in which Dalton split two defenders to deliver the highlight-reel throw.

In the Panthers’ first two games, the team converted a league-low two of its 22 third-down conversions. On Sunday, Carolina found success on five of 12 third-down looks.

‘The whole thing revolves around that,’ Canales said in a postgame news conference. ‘Both offensively and defensively, the story was third down. We did a better job, so we could play our kind of ball.’