ORLANDO, FL — There was no one who had a better morning at the baseball winter meetings Tuesday than Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson.

Thomson not only learned that he’s getting the team’s most valuable player back in Kyle Schwarber, signing him to a five-year, $150 million contract, but Thomson received a two-year contract extension himself and vowed to finish his career in a Phillies uniform.

The Phillies were devastated after losing their first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers in October, believing they had the team to win their first World Series title since 2008, only to crumble in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, losing 2-1 in 11 innings on a walk-off error by reliever Orion Kerkering.

Now they plan to run it back again with Schwarber, the heart and soul of their team, who hit a National League-leading 56 home runs while also being the Phillies’ clubhouse leader.

“We’ve always wanted him back,’ Thomson said. “He’s so different than most of the guys I’ve ever been around. He’s a great player, and he knows how to bring the heartbeat of the clubhouse down when things are going rough, not only in the clubhouse, but individuals as well.

“He’s just a huge part of our ballclub. … He does so much in the community, so much in the clubhouse. I mean, there’s more to him than there are a lot of guys because he just brings a lot to a lot of different people.’

Schwarber, who finished runner-up to Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani in the NL MVP race, was also pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds. The Phillies were hoping to avoid guaranteeing him the fifth year but knew they had to up the ante to assure he’d return.

Schwarber will be 37 years old by the time his contract expires, but Thomson says he has no worries that he’ll age well throughout the contract.

“I think just his work ethic,’ Thomson said. “The body’s gotten better over time. He’s in the best shape of his life right now, and I don’t think that that’s going to change. He’s so intelligent. He sees the game a little bit different than a lot of other guys, and he works at it, watches a lot of film.

“I think there’s a really good chance that he’s going to maintain this level.’

Well, maybe not hit 56 homers and drive in 132 runs each year, but he can still be one of the game’s premier sluggers.

“This was an unbelievable year for him,’ Thomson said. “So I don’t think we can expect this every year, but I still think he’s going to be a high-level performer.’

Schwarber, who hit at the top of the lineup last season, could be moved to the heart of the order in 2026, Thomson hinted, providing protection for Bryce Harper. Harper, the two-time MVP and the Phillies’ highest-paid position player, hit .261 with 27 homers and 75 RBI last season with an .844 OPS, his lowest since 2016.

The Phillies’ signing of Schwarber may signal an end to their pursuit of adding Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger or Bo Bichette to the roster. The Phillies had a luxury-tax payroll of $308 million last season and privately say they lost  about $75 million. They still are hoping to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto, which leaves no room for any other nine-figure players.

“Even if we sign both of those guys back,’ Thomson said of Schwarber and Realmuto, “there’s still going to be some changes. And there might be some change within the lineup, as far as the order, which could infuse a little bit of energy.

“We won 96 games last year. It’s not like we’re not doing well. We’ve got a good club. No matter what happens, we’re still going to have a good club.’

Still, there’s pent-up angst after another early exit.

“There was some frustration there,’’ Thomson said. “It was a hard-fought battle. I think everybody in that clubhouse felt like last year was the year. So, it was heartbreaking, to tell you the truth. …

“Guys are a little bit frustrated that we’ve been there, we’ve been close, and haven’t gotten it done. I think that’s great motivation going into next year.’

While no one was more emotionally devastated by the defeat than Kerkering after his throwing error, Thomson says he’s not worried about Kerkering’s psyche, believing he’ll bounce back.

“He’s doing good,’ Thomson said. “I talked to him a lot obviously after the game, the next day. The following day he came in to pack up and we had another chat. I talked to him a few weeks ago. He’s in a good spot.’

One player who definitely won’t be returning is outfielder Nick Castellanos, who complained about his playing time and criticized Thomson’s communication skills. The Phillies are desperately trying to trade him and could even release him before spring training even with $20 million remaining in his contract.

“I haven’t talked to him, to tell the truth,’’ Thomson said, “but I still respect Nick. At the end of the day, what he wants to do is play every day. You can’t dog a guy for wanting to play every day. I’ve been around plenty of people who didn’t really want to play every day. …

“I think that in some cases it is good for guys to have a change of scenery and go to a different place that motivates them in some certain way, or helps them in some certain way. Whether that’s the way it is with Nick, I’m not sure.’

The College Football Playoff bracket includes controversies over Miami’s and James Madison’s inclusion.
Several teams face uncertainty due to coaching changes and potential player opt-outs.
The projection has Ohio State and Oregon in the national championship game.

The ink is dry on a College Football Playoff bracket defined by two controversies: Miami’s late jump into the last at-large spot at Notre Dame’s expense and James Madison’s inclusion over ACC champion Duke.

There are still a few unanswered questions about the bracket.

One is how Mississippi will fare under new coach Pete Golding. A second is teams dealing with coaches set to leave after the end of the year, including Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and James Madison’s Bob Chesney, recently hired at Florida and UCLA, respectively. Another is whether any teams will lose players to the transfer portal or as early opt-outs for the NFL draft.

With the opening round set for later this month, let’s project how the playoff will play out:

First-round game predictions

No. 5 Oregon 41, No. 12 James Madison 17: This matchup feels reminiscent of Oregon’s rout of Liberty two years ago in the Fiesta Bowl. While JMU has been a Group of Five juggernaut, the gap in talent is profound enough to require something resembling a miracle to pull off the upset as roughly three-touchdown underdogs.

No. 6 Mississippi 35, No. 11 Tulane 14: The first of two rematches in the opening round could follow the same script as the previous meeting, a 45-10 win by the Rebels. But there’s a question about how they’ll look with Golding replacing LSU-bound Lane Kiffin, so don’t be surprised if the Green Wave make things more competitive the second time around.

No. 10 Miami 24, No. 7 Texas A&M 23: Miami is surging into the postseason while A&M had a rough close, beating South Carolina by a point with the biggest comeback in school history and then dropping its rivalry game against Texas. The Hurricanes have the size, physicality and speed at the skill positions to pull out a narrow win.

No. 9 Alabama 21, No. 8 Oklahoma 16: Oklahoma won the earlier matchup in Tuscaloosa, sparking the Sooners’ late rebirth as a playoff contender. Look for this one to be a low-scoring, defense-focused affair defined by which team wins the turnover battle. That favors the Tide, but only barely.

Quarterfinal games

Oregon 38, No. 4 Texas Tech 31 (Cotton Bowl): This should be the most frenetic matchup of the quarterfinals, pitting two teams more than happy to play at an up-tempo pace. The Ducks played their best football in November; you could say the same about the Red Raiders. Here’s guessing Oregon has enough firepower to overcome Tech’s depth and aggressive style.

No. 3 Georgia 28, Mississippi 20 (Sugar Bowl): Hey, another rematch. Georgia beat the Rebels during the regular season and would be heavily favored to so again in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs major improvement on defense gives them the edge.

No. 2 Ohio State 33, Miami 17 (Orange Bowl): We’ll see if heading into the postseason on the heels of a tough loss will trigger another Ohio State national championship. Miami has the overall talent to match up favorably with the Buckeyes but could be bottled up by the nation’s best defense.

Semifinal games

Oregon 30, Indiana 20 (Peach Bowl): Indiana beat Oregon on the road earlier in the year. For the Ducks, the keys to flipping the script are trimming turnovers, setting themselves up for more manageable third downs and protecting Dante Moore after giving up six sacks and eight tackles for loss in the early meeting.

Ohio State 24, Georgia 10 (Fiesta Bowl): This one would be a physical slog at the line of scrimmage defined by Georgia’s ability to control the clock and keep the Buckeyes’ offense on the sidelines. The Bulldogs will also need to deliver big plays on defense and special teams to set up shorter fields for their own offense. Ohio State would have more margin for error in this matchup.

National championship game

Ohio State 37, Oregon 28: Oregon is looking to follow Ohio State’s blueprint from last season by failing to win the Big Ten and then rolling off four wins in a row to claim the first national championship in program history. That’s a tall order. Look for Ohio State to learn from the loss to Indiana and repeat as national champions

The old guy may still have it.

Eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers ended his retirement and signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad today in a surprise move for the 44-year-old. Rivers last played an NFL game for the Colts on Jan. 9, 2021 in a wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Colts started the season 8-2 before their Week 11 bye. They’ve dropped three games in a row since and lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achilles injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14.

To add injury to injury, third-string quarterback Riley Leonard also suffered a knee injury during Week 14 when he entered the game for Jones.

It’s unclear whether Rivers will get the start in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans. He worked out for the team yesterday and ‘threw the ball well’ on his 44th birthday. If Leonard isn’t able to go, the Colts may rely on Rivers – who is in his first year as a Hall of Fame semifinalist.

With a start, he’d be the latest notable quarterback to un-retire and take the field once again. Here are three examples of that happening in the last 20 years:

NFL QBs to come out of retirement

Teddy Bridgewater

The former first-round pick spent the first four years of his career in Minnesota with the Vikings before bouncing around to New Orleans (2018-19), Carolina (2020), Denver (2021), Miami (2022) and Detroit (2023). After his lone season with the Lions, Bridgewater decided to hang up his cleats in December of that season.

He spent a calendar year away from the NFL and won a state championship with his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, before reuniting with the Lions late in the 2024 season. Detroit was hit hard by injuries all year and Bridgewater came on as veteran insurance at the most important position.

He’s stuck around, though, and is currently the backup in Tampa Bay for Baker Mayfield.

Tom Brady

The future Pro Football Hall of Famer flirted briefly with retirement in February 2022 after a second season with the Buccaneers. It wasn’t for a drop-off in performance; he’d set a career-high in passing yards with 5,316 and led the NFL in touchdowns with 43 in 2021.

His retirement was ultimately short-lived. Brady needed just 40 days to decide he wanted back in and returned to the Buccaneers for the 2022 NFL season. His return wasn’t as triumphant as the previous two years; Tampa Bay went 8-9, giving him his lone losing season as a starter in the NFL. Brady retired again – this time for good – in February 2023 and transitioned immediately to the broadcast booth.

Brett Favre

NFL fans under the age of 27 may not remember the annual offseason drama that was Favre’s retirement decision. The three-time MVP and Hall of Famer mulled retirement on a yearly basis in the late 2000s. His future was in doubt after the 2006 season but he ultimately returned to the Green Bay Packers for the 2007 season. On March 4, 2008, he retired for the first time.

Four months later, he wanted to return to the team but Green Bay did not grant him an unconditional release. The Packers eventually traded him to the New York Jets for a 2009 draft pick. Favre led he league in interceptions and went 9-7 as a starter.

He had a resurgent season in 2009 with the Minnesota Vikings. He nearly made the Super Bowl, falling in the NFC championship game to the eventual champion Saints on a late interception. Favre returned in 2010 and went 5-8 as a starter before officially filing his retirement papers in January 2011.

The Indianapolis Colts are dealing with injuries to their top three quarterbacks all while trying to make a playoff push.

Their solution? The Colts are signing a Hall of Fame semifinalist who hasn’t played in the league since the 2020 NFL season to try to bridge the gap at quarterback.

The Colts are set to add veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad, per multiple reports. Rivers most recently played during the 2020 NFL season and helped lead the Colts to a postseason berth in what appeared to be his final NFL season.

But now, Rivers will be back in the saddle for one last ride and will hope to lead Indianapolis (8-5) into the postseason.

Naturally, Rivers has become a lightning rod for NFL fans excited to see how his story plays out. After all, it’s not often that a grandfather gets a chance to play in the NFL.

Here’s everything to know about Rivers, from his on-the-field achievements to facts about his personal life and family.

When did Philip Rivers retire?

Rivers retired following the 2020 NFL season after spending the final season of his career as a member of the Colts.

Rivers led Indianapolis to an 11-5 record in his lone season with the Colts. He completed 68% of his passes for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while getting his team into the playoffs as the first-ever AFC No. 7 seed.

The Colts were unable to earn a postseason win, losing their wild-card matchup 27-24 on the road against the Buffalo Bills. Rivers completed 27 of 46 passes (58.7%) for 309 yards and two touchdowns in the contest before retiring during the offseason.

Rivers retired during the offseason having played 17 total NFL seasons – 16 with the Chargers and one with the Colts. He also signed a ceremonial, one-day contract to retire with the Chargers in July 2025.

But now, Rivers will rejoin the NFL ranks for one final ride in Indianapolis.

When was Philip Rivers drafted?

Rivers was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was originally chosen by the New York Giants but was traded to the then-San Diego Chargers in exchange for Eli Manning, who had been the No. 1 overall pick.

Rivers played collegiately at North Carolina State and was one of four quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft along with Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and J.P. Losman.

Philip Rivers career stats

Here is a look at Rivers’ stats from his 17-year career:

Record: 134-106
Completion rate: 64.9%
Passing yards: 63,440
Passing TDs: 421
Interceptions: 209
Passer rating: 95.2

Rivers ranked sixth all time in passing yards at the time of his retirement in 2020 and fifth in touchdown passes. He has since been passed in both categories by Aaron Rodgers.

Is Philip Rivers in the Hall of Fame?

Not yet. Rivers was one of 26 players named a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, an honor that came in his first year on the ballot.

However, Rivers’ eligibility for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be reset if he takes a snap for the Colts in 2025. The earliest he could get a gold jacket after that would be 2031.

How old is Philip Rivers?

Rivers celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday, Dec. 8. By joining the Colts, he immediately becomes the NFL’s oldest active player, taking the mantle from 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

Oldest active NFL players

Philip Rivers, QB, Indianapolis Colts: 44 years old
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: 42 years old
Nick Folk, K, New York Jets: 41 years old
Matt Prater, K, Buffalo Bills: 41 years old
Marcedes Lewis, TE, Denver Broncos: 41 years old
Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: 40 years old
JJ Jansen, LS, Carolina Panthers: 39 years old
Jon Weeks, LS, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years old
Morgan Cox, LS, Tennessee Titans: 39 years old
Thomas Morstead, P, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years old
Josh Johnson, QB, Washington Commanders: 39 years old
Calais Campbell, DL, Arizona Cardinals: 39 years old

While Rivers is the NFL’s oldest active player, he still falls short of George Blanda’s all-time record. The quarterback-slash-kicker played 26 total NFL seasons and was 48 during his final campaign with the then-Oakland Raiders in 1975.

Is Philip Rivers a grandfather?

Yes, Rivers is a grandfather. He told Jon Gruden in an interview that he has a grandson who, at the time of the interview, was six months old.

Rivers won’t be the first grandfather to play in the NFL, as Brett Favre had a grandson during the final stages of his career. Still, NFL fans will be happy to point out Rivers’ status as they see what the 44-year-old may still have in the tank.

How many kids does Philip Rivers have?

Rivers has 10 children. The oldest, Halle, is 23 years old while the youngest, Andrew, is just 2 years old.

Here’s a full look at the Rivers siblings:

Halle: 23
Caroline: 20
Grace: 19
Gunner: 17
Sarah: 15
Peter: 14
Rebecca: 12
Clare: 10
Anna: 6
Andrew: 2

Football fans may be familiar with Gunner Rivers. He is following in his father’s footsteps as a quarterback, and the junior is currently projected to be a four-star recruit in the Class of 2027 by 247 Sports.

Philip Rivers career earnings

In case you’re wondering how Rivers has managed to raise 10 children, his NFL career has helped support his family.

Rivers earned just more than $243.9 million during his playing career, per Spotrac.com. That presently makes him the 13th-highest-paid player in NFL history.

Philip Rivers contract with Colts

Rivers is signing to the Colts’ practice squad, so he will be compensated on a weekly basis. Players with more than two years of NFL service will make between $17,500 and $22,000 per week in 2025.

On Rivers’ previous one-year deal with the Colts in 2020, he was paid $25 million, per Spotrac.com.

We must have this league pegged given there was just one change in the top 10.
The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers made significant jumps in the rankings, moving up four and seven spots, respectively.
The Chicago Bears experienced a notable drop, falling from the NFC’s top projected playoff seed to seventh after Sunday’s loss.

NFL power rankings entering Week 15 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles Rams (1): They’re holding steady at No. 1 − Sunday’s 45-point outburst, a season high, indicative that their Week 13 stumble in Charlotte was fairly fluky. Matthew Stafford continues to play like the MVP favorite, whether or not he’s actually the league’s best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if LA is able to stave off Stafford’s former club, the formidable Lions, and thereby wrap up the NFC’s first playoff berth.

2. New England Patriots (2): They’re holding steady at No. 2 − though they lost their grip on the AFC’s No. 1 seed during their bye week. Drake Maye continues to play like the MVP runner-up, whether or not he’s actually the league’s second-best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if New England is able to complete a season sweep of the Bills and wrap up its first AFC East crown since 2019.

5. Denver Broncos (5): They’re holding steady at No. 5 − but it could be tough to stay there, and on top of the AFC, given the only opponent among their final four not projected to reach the playoffs … is Kansas City. But beat the Pack on Sunday, and the Broncos secure a postseason invite.

8. Detroit Lions (12): It’s amazing how many good players coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have amassed here − and a shame so many of them are sidelined. But Jahmyr Gibbs, who needs to be recognized as the league’s premier running back at this point, fortunately remains in the lineup for a team still capable of offensively overwhelming its competition.

10. San Francisco 49ers (10): They’re holding steady at No. 10 − and even moved up a spot in the wild-card standings during their much-needed bye week. The Niners are also just a game off the NFC West lead but only have one more divisional game (Seattle) while the Seahawks and Rams seem to face a tougher final month.

11. Chicago Bears (8): It’s been a fantastic ride in Year 1 with Johnson. Yet it also feels like the bottom could fall out at any point following a weekend when the Bears dropped from the NFC’s first seed to its seventh. Chicago’s final three games are against Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (11): If a team goes as its quarterback goes? Jalen Hurts doubled his season turnover total from five to 10 on Monday night, becoming the first player since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to commit two giveaways on a single play. After going to two Super Bowls in three seasons, it’s sure starting to feel like Philly will now experience two cheesesteak meltdowns in three seasons.

14. Carolina Panthers (17): Quite the bye week. Not only did they move into a first-place tie atop the NFC South, they now control their destiny. Simply Sweep the Bucs in Weeks 16 and 18, and the Panthers win the division for the first time since they went to Super Bowl 50 … which, coincidentally, was in Santa Clara, also the site of Super Bowl 60 this season.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (20): Who would have thought DE Trey Hendrickson would be shut down before QB Joe Burrow? Whatever. Score 40 points a week, and they’ll be fine. Maybe.

22. Indianapolis Colts (13): When you’re recycling a 44-year-old quarterback who hasn’t played in five years, then the writing is pretty much on the wall.

28. Cleveland Browns (23): Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will start the rest of the way − and is already fomenting quite a dilemma for a team that once seemed certain to spend one of its 2026 first-round picks on another passer.

30. Atlanta Falcons (27): They definitely won’t secure the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft … because the Rams own it, and this ain’t the NBA.

31. Las Vegas Raiders (31): If the season ended today, they would own the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft − and a team with such a glaring need at quarterback sure could use Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

The top nine teams in the women’s basketball coaches poll remained unchanged this week.
Iowa State moved up to No. 10 ahead of its matchup with No. 12 Iowa.
Michigan State and Ole Miss fell in the rankings after losses to unranked opponents.
North Carolina State dropped out of the poll entirely.

The top nine in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll stayed the same this week. The only movement in the top 10 came with North Carolina and Iowa State swapping places.

The Cyclones are now ranked No. 10 heading into their matchup against the No. 12 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Iowa State center Audi Crooks leads the nation in scoring, averaging 27.6 points a game.

The biggest tumble this week was Michigan State, which fell four spots after losing to unranked Wisconsin by 14 points. Ole Miss dropped three spots to No. 16 after losing to unranked Kansas State. Ohio State made the biggest move up — moving up to No. 21.

North Carolina State, which had been ranked as high as No. 9 early in the season, dropped out of the poll.

In completing their back-to-back World Series championship run, the Los Angeles Dodgers lacked one critical element: A lockdown closer.

On Dec. 9, they took care of that, agreeing to terms with All-Star reliever Edwin Diaz, as first reported by The Athletic.

Diaz, who will be 32 on opening day, spent the past seven seasons with the Mets after beginning his career with the Seattle Mariners.

It’s the second consecutive winter the Dodgers have spent big money on a reliever, after their four-year, $72 million investment in lefty Tanner Scott went sour. While the Dodgers expect Scott to bounce back in 2026, he was not on the World Series roster. The club had to tap Yoshinobu Yamamoto to pitch the final 2 ⅔ innings of their 11-inning victory in World Series Game 7 – one night after throwing 96 pitches to win Game 6. 

A three-time Reliever of the Year (2018, 2022 and 2025) threatened to break his own record for largest free agent contract for a relief pitcher, the five-year, $102 million deal that he signed with the Mets after the 2022 season. Diaz opted out of the final two years of that deal to become a free agent for the second time in three years.

Diaz’s exit from New York was at least partially sealed when the Mets agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with two-time All-Star Devin Williams.

Diaz missed the entirety of 2023 – the first year of his contract – after suffering a freak knee injury celebrating a win in the World Baseball Classic. He returned to action in 2024 and was inconsistent early in the year, but returned to form with a 2.73 ERA in his last 30 games and helped the Mets reach the NLCS.

The Mets acquired Diaz and Robinson Cano in a trade with the Seattle Mariners after the 2018 season, a deal that initially looked to be an all-time blunder as Diaz had a miserable first year with New York. He pitched better in the shortened 2020 season and was more reliable in 2021, but re-claimed the mantel as one of baseball’s top closers in 2022 with a 1.31 ERA, 32 saves and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings as the Mets won 101 games.

Edwin Diaz stats

Edwin Diaz has career 253 saves and a 2.82 ERA in nine MLB seasons, making his debut for the Mariners in 2016.

2025: 28 saves, 1.63 ERA
2024: 20 saves, 3.52 ERA
2023: Did not play due to injury
2022: 32 saves, 1.31 ERA
2021: 32 saves, 3.45 ERA
2020: 6 saves, 1.75 ERA (COVID season)
2019: 26 saves, 5.59 ERA
2018: 57 saves, 1.96 ERA
2017: 34 saves, 3.27 ERA
2016: 18 saves, 2.59 ERA

The New England Patriots put their 10-game win streak on the line versus the Buffalo Bills in an AFC East showdown. In Kansas City, the Chiefs aim to keep their slim playoff hopes alive versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

In the NFC, Matthew Stafford faces his former team in the Detroit Lions.

Week 15 also features a good interconference showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Denver is enjoying its own 10-game winning streak.

Who wins and who loses? USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for Week 15:

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

NFL Week 15 predictions, picks

Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Date: Thursday, Dec. 11

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

TV: N/A

Streaming: Prime Video

Spread: Bucs (-5.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bucs 28, Falcons 14

The Bucs had an inexplicable loss to the lowly Saints. Tampa Bay bounces back at home on a short week.  

Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bears (-7.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bears 24, Browns 16

Hard to imagine the Bears losing at home to the rebuilding Browns. Myles Garrett is closing in on the NFL’s single-season sack record. The Browns win when they allow fewer than 17 points. Cleveland’s defense won’t be able to keep Chicago’s offense under 17.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Ravens (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Ravens 30, Bengals 26

Both teams are coming off a loss. The Ravens have lost two straight games, including a Thanksgiving defeat to Cincy. This is pretty much a must-win game for Baltimore if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs  

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Chiefs (-4.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Chiefs 26, Chargers 23

The Chargers beat the Chiefs Week 1 in Brazil. The Chiefs return the favor at home on American soil. Kansas City keeps its very slim playoff hopes alive.

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots  

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bills (-1.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bills 28, Patriots 24

The best two teams in the AFC East. New England’s Week 5 victory in Buffalo was Drake Maye’s coming out party. The Patriots will be rested coming off a bye, but their 10-game win streak ends at the hands of the Bills.

Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Giants (-1.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Commanders 20, Giants 19

The Commanders got throttled in Jayden Daniels’ return, but the QB didn’t look healthy in Week 14. Daniels shouldn’t play another down with Washington being eliminated for postseason contention. Marcus Mariota is a capable backup.  

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Eagles (-13.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Eagles 30, Raiders 15

Two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Raiders are eliminated from the playoffs and haven’t won a game since October. The Eagles are trying to be the top seed in the NFC.

New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Jaguars (-12.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 26, Jets 16

Jacksonville’s won four in a row. The Jets just extended their dubious record to 15 years without a playoff appearance, the longest active drought of all four major American sports.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Texans (-7)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Texans 27, Cardinals 13

Houston’s defense just contained Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and the Texans defense are going to give Arizona fits. Plus, C.J. Stroud should have his way versus the Cardinals offense.

Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Packers (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Packers 24, Broncos 20

The Broncos have won 10 straight games. Nine of Denver’s wins have come within one score. They lose a one-score game this week against Jordan Love and the surging Packers.

Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Rams (-5.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 27, Lions 24

Matthew Stafford gets revenge over his former team in LA. The Lions defense won’t be able to stop a potent Rams offense. The season-ending Achilles injury to defensive back Brian Branch is a huge blow to Detroit’s defense.

Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Panthers (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Panthers 26, Saints 20

The Saints got their biggest win of the season last week against Tampa Bay. There are good vibes in Carolina right now as the Panthers are tied for first in the NFC South. This is a trap game for the Panthers as they have two games versus Tampa Bay and a contest against Seattle to close the season. However, the Panthers get the victory in the Big Easy.

Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: 49ers (-12.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: 49ers 25, Titans 17

The Titans scored a season-high 31 points against a stingy Cleveland defense last week. Tony Pollard rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns. But the 49ers will contain Tennessee. San Francisco’s won three straight games and will make it four in a row.  

Indianapolis Colts vs. Seattle Seahawks

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Seahawks (-10.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Seahawks 26, Colts 16

Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury is a devastating blow to Indy. I don’t believe the Colts win another game this year.  

Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys

Date: Sunday, Dec. 14

Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

TV: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

Spread: Cowboys (-6)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Cowboys 28, Vikings 20

J.J. McCarthy is coming off the best game of his young career. However, McCarthy and the Vikings offense won’t be able to keep pace with a high-powered Cowboys offense.

Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Date: Monday, Dec. 15

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh

TV: ESPN

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Steelers (-3.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Steelers 26, Dolphins 20

The demise of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh was unwarranted and overblown. The Steelers are fresh off a huge win against Baltimore. Pittsburgh controls its own destiny in the AFC North. The Steelers end Miami’s four-game winning streak.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

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Kyle Schwarber, who hit a National League-best 56 home runs in 2025, is heading back to the Philadelphia Phillies, agreeing to a five-year, $150 million contract Dec. 9, according to a baseball official familiar with the agreement. The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.

Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, closed out his four-year, $79 million contract with Philadelphia in epic fashion, setting a career-high in home runs and leading the major leagues with 132 RBIs to finish second in NL MVP voting. He averaged nearly 47 home runs and posted an .856 OPS in his four years with Philly.

That set him up as one of the most coveted sluggers on the free-agent market this winter, and the Phillies decided they could not live without his peerless slugging ability and clubhouse leadership.

The commitment continues a mid-career renaissance for Schwarber, a star with the Chicago Cubs and a member of their 2016 World Series champion club. But the Cubs non-tendered Schwarber after the shortened 2020 season.

Since then, it’s been increasingly difficult to keep Schwarber in the ballpark.

He’s hit 219 home runs since the start of the 2021 season, behind only Aaron Judge (249) and Shohei Ohtani (233). Schwarber’s hit 340 homers in his career, and should pass the 400-homer plateau in 2027.

Schwarber was also lauded by the Phillies for his clubhouse presence, thanks to an ability to connect with players of all ages. Though almost exclusively a designated hitter nowadays, Schwarber produced 3.5 and 4.7 WAR the past two seasons.

That created a robust market for the slugger, who’d already received a reported four-year, $120 million deal from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and others were also in the running for his services.

But a Schwarber return to Philly was viewed in the industry as about as close to a fait accompli as these transactions get. He’s been a perfect fit for the city – even garnering an endorsement deal from area minimart powerhouse Wawa – and in the Phillies’ lineup.

Schwarber joins Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola and Nick Castellanos in the Phillies’ nine-figure contract club. The team is expected to trade or release Castellanos – entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal – and upgrade in right field.

Move over, Aaron Rodgers. Step aside, Joe Flacco. There’s a new – or rather, old – oldest quarterback in the NFL.

The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday are signing 17-year NFL veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad, according to multiple reports.

Rivers, who turned 44 on Dec. 8, has not played in the NFL since his one-year stint with Indianapolis in 2020. The long-time Chargers standout signed a deal with the Los Angeles-based franchise over the summer to officially retire as a member of the team he spent 16 years with.

Momentum toward a return for Rivers started to pick up on Monday. The Colts brought Rivers in for a workout that day before both sides mulled their options, according to multiple reports.

Prior to this year’s surprise transaction, Rivers had been another team’s contingency plan. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero pointed out that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said his team would have attempted to sign the veteran quarterback to play in Super Bowl 57 in 2023.

The 49ers lost to the Eagles in the NFC championship game that year after Brock Purdy’s elbow injury, so Rivers did not make his return at the time.

Rivers is currently a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. If he is elevated to the active roster, his eligibility would reset, leaving him ineligible for induction until at least 2031.

The Colts, who have lost four of their last five games and dropped out of the AFC playoff picture, face the Seattle Seahawks on the road Sunday.

Why are the Colts signing Philip Rivers?

The Colts are turning to Rivers in a moment of desperation. Indianapolis has no fully healthy quarterbacks on its active roster in Week 15.

Starting quarterback Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14. Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone that he sustained during pregame warmups in Week 6. Third-string quarterback Riley Leonard suffered a strained knee ligament after entering Week 14’s game for the injured Jones.

Leonard is the healthiest as Week 15 approaches, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the rookie is week-to-week with his knee injury.

Along with Rivers, the Colts also have Brett Rypien on their practice squad. Otherwise, rookie tight end Tyler Warren is Indianapolis’ emergency quarterback, according to FOX59/CBS4 Sports’ Mike Chappell.

How old is Philip Rivers?

Rivers is 44 years old. He celebrated his most recent birthday on Monday, Dec. 8.

Philip Rivers career stats

Rivers played 17 years in the NFL prior to his signing with the Colts’ practice squad Tuesday.

Here are his career stats from 16 seasons with the Chargers and one (2020) with the Colts:

Record: 134-106
Completion rate: 5,277-of-8,134 (64.9%)
Passing yards: 63,440
Passing touchdowns: 421
Interceptions: 209
Passer rating: 95.2

Rivers has never won a Super Bowl. He came closest in 2007, when he led the Chargers to the AFC championship game before losing to Tom Brady and the then-undefeated New England Patriots.

Rivers earned eight Pro Bowl nods in 17 seasons and won the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year Award.