Joe Burrow played for the first time since Week 2, when the Bengals quarterback suffered a turf toe injury.
The Ravens’ loss means the Steelers move back into first place in the AFC North.
In the game, Derrick Henry passed Jim Brown on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list.

Playing for the first time since he suffered a turf toe injury that required surgery 11 weeks ago, Burrow was good enough to engineer a much-needed 32-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens – though the Bengals (4-8) remain postseason long shots, sitting in 12th place overall in the AFC. The outcome had more immediate consequences for the Ravens, who fell to 6-6 and out of the projected playoff field by ceding first place in the AFC North back to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Asked on NBC’s telecast prior to kickoff why he’d returned to a team with little hope of survival beyond the regular season, Burrow replied: “We’re getting paid a lot of money to play a kid’s game,” adding he wanted to be with his guys − who’d gone 1-8 in his absence.

Now 3-0 with Burrow in the lineup, the Stripes were the obvious winners, their relevance extended at least another 10 days. Yet there were plenty of other winners and losers on Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium:

WINNERS

Joe Burrow

Playing in near-freezing temperatures on a breezy night and with a protective metal plate in his cleat, he was hardly vintage Burrow. But he warmed up in the second half, throwing both of his touchdown passes after Cincinnati had settled for four first-half field goals. As the toe continues to heal, his rhythm returns and maybe WR Tee Higgins (concussion) returns, maybe – just maybe – Burrow can lead this team on a late-season charge similar to last year’s … though that one fell one win shy of a playoff berth.

Bengals defense

Much maligned this season − and, deservedly so, in recent years − Cincinnati’s D played even more inspired football than the Burrow-led offense. Entering the game giving up the most yards and points per game in the league, the Bengals forced a season-high five turnovers and otherwise largely held Baltimore’s offense in check.

Ja’Marr Chase

Cincy’s No. 1 receiver was also back in the lineup after a one-game suspension for a spitting incident with Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey in Week 11. Chase was his typically impactful self, especially so with his longtime QB (going back to their LSU days) throwing to him − to the tune of seven connections for a game-high 110 receiving yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Just 6-5, they move back atop the AFC North from their couches anyway. But they’ll need to beat the Buffalo Bills by the confluence of the Three Rivers on Sunday to maintain sole possession of the lead.

Evan McPherson

Cincinnati largely struggled in the red zone, but the Bengals’ kicker consistently mitigated the issue. ‘Money Mac’ made all fix of his field-goal tries (and both extra points) on a night when he was hardly working in ideal conditions.

Derrick Henry

The Ravens’ bruising back passed Jim Brown, the greatest running back in NFL history by most accounts, for 11th place on the all-time rushing list with his first-quarter touchdown run. Henry now has 12,354 career yards and has a decent shot to displace Tony Dorsett (12,739 yards) and enter the top 10 before the regular season concludes.

DeAndre Hopkins

Baltimore’s backup receiver also hit a major milestone Thursday, becoming the 18th player in league history to amass 1,000 career receptions.

‘John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration’ coin

One side was the familiar profile of the Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders coach and legendary TV analyst. The other? A turducken. Epic. Heads or turducken, folks.

LOSERS

Sloppy Ravens

Soooo many missed opportunities. QB Lamar Jackson continued to look like a player well shy of 100%, fumbling twice, throwing a pick (albeit on a deflected pass) and generally unable to replicate the explosive plays he’s so typically produced over the years. He also didn’t get much help. Wide-open WR Devontez Walker dropped a pass in the second quarter that likely would have resulted in a touchdown. Speaking of likely, TE Isaiah Likely had the ball punched out just shy of the goal line just minutes later on a play that initially appeared to be a 44-yard touchdown catch. WR Zay Flowers scored another would-be TD at the two-minute warning prior to halftime … but nullified his own score by committing pass interference. Jackson ended the unfortunate sequence with a fumble before the half that wound up gifting Cincinnati a field goal. Flowers’ fourth-quarter fumble was the exclamation point on a five-giveaway evening.

Bengals’ red-zone offense

Most weeks, 1-for-6 ain’t gonna get it done.

Ravens’ ‘Purple Rising’ uniforms

They look good, a bit cleaner than Baltimore’s regular uniforms − perhaps because they’re devoid of black. The alternate, beak-on logo is also fine. Nevertheless, the Ravens dropped to 1-1 in their secondary threads after beating the Bengals in a thriller last November when they debuted.

Ravens wideouts

Flowers’ struggles Thursday have been partially documented − but to put a bow on it, he caught two of seven targets for 6 yards. Hopkins made his benchmark reception but only had one other (for a total of 25 yards). Walker and Rashod Bateman went catchless on a combined three targets. Woof.

Baltimore’s crowd

It was cold. Maybe the tryptophan kicked in. The locals weren’t treated to a Jack White show. There were patches of empty seats even though the announced attendance was in excess of 70,000. Their team didn’t give them much to cheer about − and the locals just never made their usual difference, most of them streaming out midway through the fourth quarter with the Ravens down by 15.

CHICAGO – It took Cameron Boozer some time, but the Duke basketball freshman quickly figured it out.

Much like the rest of his team, Boozer needed a few minutes to settle into Duke’s Thanksgiving Day matchup with No. 21 Arkansas. The Blue Devils opened a combined 1-of-9 from the field, with Boozer starting 0-for-2 with a pair of early turnovers. His first basket didn’t come until a layup at the 10:06 mark.

But the flip switched.

From there, Boozer made five of his final six shots to close the half, scoring 15 points in the final 10 minutes. He fueled a 10-0 Duke run in the closing stretch, scoring three times and assisting the others as No. 4 Duke erased a sluggish offensive start and built its first double-digit lead.

Boozer finished with 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting, tying a career-high he set vs. Indiana State on Nov. 14. He powered the Blue Devils past the Hogs, 80-71, at United Center.

Duke is off to its first 8-0 start since 2017-18.

‘He just put us on his back,’ coach Jon Scheyer said. ‘Thirty-five points, nine assists, seven fouls drawn, just passing, doing everything, defending.’

Twenty of Boozer’s points came in the second half, which Duke did not take control of until late. Arkansas held a seven-point lead with 10 minutes remaining, and much as he did in the first half, Boozer scored 14 of his points across those final minutes as Duke outscored Arkansas 27-11 and pulled away to win.

‘I thought that was a key moment for our team, just to learn how to win some games like that,’ Scheyer said. ‘That was the first time being put in that situation.’

Boozer used his size, bullying his way to the paint and drawing a game-high seven fouls, four more than any teammate. He went 7-of-11 from the charity stripe and helped Duke dominate the paint, 42-28.

‘We realized that they weren’t helping from the other big, that they didn’t really have an answer for me,’ Boozer said postgame. ‘Coach was telling me, get down the hill, get to the rim, they can’t stop you, and I did a lot of that in the second half for sure.’

Arkansas tried different matchups and defenses against Boozer, but he always seemed to have an answer.

‘Cameron, he was a beast,’ Razorbacks coach John Calipari said. ‘We were trying different things and trying to get guys just to stay in front and make it a tough thing.

‘As soon as he figured out I can put my shoulder into this guy’s chest and move him, then that’s all he did.’

It marked Boozer’s first time playing, but not being, in United Center. His father, Carlos, played four out of his 13 NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls. Carlos was in attendance to watch the game.

‘I have a lot of memories here, being in the family room, dunking on the mini hoop, I had more bounce back then,’ Cameron said. ‘When you walk into the arena, it’s huge. It’s a great vibe, a lot of aura. I’m just thankful to be in this city.’

Duke next hosts Florida at Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2. The Blue Devils are in the middle of a three-game stretch against ranked opponents, with a road trip to Michigan State also on the docket Dec. 6.

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

The first Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Paramount+ is set for Jan. 24, the company announced this week.

The new $7.7 billion, seven-year UFC-Paramount deal with TKO Group announced in August brings numbered UFC events and all UFC Fight Nights to the streaming service, with select UFC numbered events in 2026 airing live on CBS. The deal runs through 2033 and takes over from Disney-owned ESPN, whose deal with the UFC ends at the end of the year.

UFC 324 will be the first of 13 marquee numbered events next year, and will be headlined by former interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will battle Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett. The co-main event has Kayla Harrison putting her UFC women’s bantamweight champion on the line against UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes.

The event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and those subscribed to Paramount+ can watch UFC 324 live at no additional cost.

‘I am so excited for UFC fans that our first card has six current and former champions, including the long-awaited return of the greatest female fighter of all time – which is definitely the biggest women’s fight ever,’ UFC President and CEO Dana White said in a statement.

The main card of UFC 324 starts at 9 p.m. ET, the prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET, and the early prelims will kick off at 5 p.m. ET.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is expected to miss a week of action with a quad contusion, according to a report from ESPN.com.

Curry was injured in the fourth quarter of a 104-100 NBA Cup loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Nov. 26, when he collided with Rockets guard Amen Thompson.

An MRI later revealed Curry suffered a quad contusion and muscle strain.

‘When I heard it was a quad, I was actually relieved. Better than an ankle or a knee,’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game.

Curry’s absence comes at a bad time for Golden State, who sit at 10-10 and in eighth place in the Western Conference.

Curry, who is averaging 27.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds this season, will miss at least the home games against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Nov. 29, and a Dec. 2 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The College Football Playoff picture could remain stable or descend into chaos depending on the results of rivalry weekend.
Potential coaching changes, such as Lane Kiffin at Mississippi, could influence the selection committee’s decisions.
Losses by favorites like Alabama or Oklahoma could open the door for several bubble teams to claim at-large spots.

The College Football Playoff race has entered choose-your-own-adventure territory.

One door leads to the status quo. This was the story this past Saturday in Week 13, when every playoff favorite held serve to result in no major changes to the fourth playoff rankings.

A drama-free bracket remains the most probable scenario given this week’s schedule and the likely matchups in conference championship games. But just one unexpected result could trigger chaos and even controversy, especially in the debate over which at-large teams reach the playoff.

With at least six teams in competition for the final at-large spots and more than twice that number still alive in the race for Power Four conference championships, let’s examine the potential fallout from rivalry weekend:

What happens if Michigan beats Ohio State?

No. 15 Michigan would be in position to reach the Big Ten championship game with one of two accompanying results: No. 2 Indiana losing to Purdue or No. 5 Oregon losing to Washington.

But a fifth win in a row in this series wouldn’t ensure an at-large berth. While beating No. 1 Ohio State would give the Wolverines the best single win by any team in the Bowl Subdivision, this would represent the only victory against a Power Four opponent with more than seven wins. (The number would double if Washington knocks off the Ducks.)

Even with another setback against its biggest rivals, Ohio State could earn an immediate rematch in the Big Ten championship if Indiana and Oregon lose.

More likely, the Buckeyes stay home for the conference championship but still earn one of the top four seeds and a bye through the opening round.

What happens if Mississippi loses the Egg Bowl?

For one, the stink of a loss on the doorstep of a playoff berth would cling to Lane Kiffin and raise serious questions about his here-and-now investment in the Rebels’ season amid his connection to the unfilled openings at LSU and Florida.

With Kiffin set to announce on Saturday whether he’s staying in Oxford or departing for another SEC locale, a loss to Mississippi State could drop No. 6 Mississippi out of the field.

There is no example of a coach leaving a playoff team before the playoff. One possible analog is the committee’s treatment of Florida State two years ago: While the Seminoles were unbeaten, they were left out of the top four after an injury to quarterback Jordan Travis. But the difference is the committee got to observe the Seminoles for two games without Travis. There would be no data point for Mississippi playing without Kiffin.

The committee might set a new precedent by valuing the loss of a head coach in the same way as the loss of a starting quarterback — even if doing so would ignore the Rebels’ overall résumé, which includes wins against No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 23 Tulane.

What happens if Texas A&M loses to Texas?

There’s no way into the playoff picture for No. 16 Texas barring losses from every two-loss contender, and even then the Longhorns might come up short.

A win would send No. 3 Texas A&M to the SEC championship game and earn a matchup with No. 4 Georgia or No. 10 Alabama. The Aggies are locked into an at-large berth even with a loss.

But a loss would be great news for Georgia, which would earn another trip to Atlanta. A&M could still backdoor into a matchup with the Bulldogs should Alabama drop the Iron Bowl.

What happens if Alabama loses to Auburn?

Heartbreak, anger, tears, venom, bitterness, rage and general despair.

An Alabama loss in the Iron Bowl would knock the Crimson Tide out of the SEC championship game and raise the temperature on coach Kalen DeBoer’s seat to surface-of-the-sun toasty. To lose to this Auburn team — one that has spent most of the year near the bottom of the SEC — would be particularly damning.

A loss would ensure that Georgia plays for the SEC championship against either Texas A&M Mississippi. Alabama would also be eliminated from at-large consideration.

What happens if Oklahoma loses to LSU?

While a win would guarantee Oklahoma’s place in the playoff, a loss would open a door for an-large bid and potentially place a second Big 12 or ACC team in the tournament.

Teams that will be watching this game closely include No. 11 Brigham Young, No. 12 Vanderbilt and No. 13 Miami. The Cougars close with Central Florida before likely drawing a rematch against No. 7 Texas Tech. Vanderbilt takes on No. 18 Tennessee and the Hurricanes face No. 24 Pittsburgh.

A loss would be one-half of the best-case scenario for these bubble teams. Combined with an Alabama loss in the Iron Bowl, an Oklahoma bellyflop against LSU would open up two at-large spots.

What happens if Virginia loses to Virginia Tech?

No. 17 Virginia’s matchup with the Hokies is tipping point in an undecided ACC that could unfold in multiple ways over Thanksgiving weekend.

Should the Cavaliers drop the Commonwealth Cup, No. 25 SMU would be in position to play either Duke or Miami in the conference championship; the tiebreaker between the Blue Devils and Hurricanes could come down to the result between North Carolina State and North Carolina that would impact opponents’ league winning percentage.

A loss to Virginia Tech would also help Miami finish a steady climb into the playoff after dropping two midseason conference games. The easiest path for the Hurricanes involves an SMU win and losses by the Cavaliers and Blue Devils.

In fact, half of the ACC championship could be decided between the Hurricanes and Pittsburgh. The Panthers advance with a win combined with either an SMU or Virginia loss.

What’s the most chaotic playoff scenario?

Let’s start with the rock-solid assumption that four teams are already in the playoff: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Georgia.

Next, let’s add a fifth team in Texas Tech, which is a three-touchdown favorite against West Virginia. Finally, let’s assume that last week’s win against No. 20 Southern California means Oregon is in regardless of what happens against Washington.

That means half of the tournament is essentially set before games begin this week.

Here’s how chaos comes to the playoff:

Mississippi drops the Egg Bowl and, combined with Kiffin’s exit, loses some credibility with the committee. Oklahoma falls to LSU. Notre Dame loses to Stanford. Alabama drops the Iron Bowl. Miami loses to Pittsburgh. Vanderbilt loses to Tennessee. Utah loses to Kansas.

That would leave a bracket with the Big Ten and SEC champions as the top seeds. Texas Tech would climb into the top four with a win against BYU.

The final bye would go to the top one-loss runner-up from the Big Ten and SEC, with the other coming in as the No. 5 seed. The Ducks would be No. 6 with a win against Washington. Two spots would go to the winners of the ACC and the American, leaving four more at-large berths.

While the committee could keep the two-loss Rebels in the field and bump in BYU, which would have only losses to the Red Raiders, that would still leave two open seats. Here’s where Texas could come back into play with a win against A&M. Michigan would also earn an at-large spot with a win against Ohio State even if the Wolverines are boxed out of the Big Ten championship by Indiana and Oregon.

As NFL fans around the United States stumble out of the tryptophan-induced slumbers after Thanksgiving, the league is providing the perfect excuse to sit around and relax a little more on Black Friday.

For a third straight season, the NFL is putting on a game during consumerists’ favorite holiday. Any fans more willing to online shop than chase down deals at their local mall can tune in to the Chicago Bears’ meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles for some more Week 13 action.

This year’s game is the first Black Friday game to not feature a divisional matchup. That’s not to say there isn’t history between the Bears and Eagles.

Chicago and Philadelphia have faced off 47 times, dating back to a 3-3 tie in 1933. Four of those games were in the postseason, including the Bears’ infamous ‘Double Doink’ loss in the wild-card round in January 2019.

Here’s what to know about their Black Friday Week 13 matchup:

Who plays in the NFL Black Friday game today?

Week 13 matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears

What time is the Eagles-Bears NFL Black Friday game?

The Eagles and Bears game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28.

Where to watch NFL Black Friday game Week 13

As was the case in each of the NFL’s last two Black Friday games, Amazon Prime Video will stream the Week 13 game live from Philadelphia. For fans living outside of the two teams’ local markets, that’s the primary way to watch the game.

Viewers in the Philadelphia or Chicago metropolitan areas may be able to tune in to one of their local affiliate stations.

Here’s how to watch:

National: Amazon Prime Video
Chicago: FOX 32
Philadelphia: FOX 29

Amazon announcers Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Kaylee Hartung (sideline reporter) will call the Black Friday game.

Watch Eagles vs Bears with Amazon Prime Video

NFL Black Friday game results

The NFL started its tradition of playing on the day after Thanksgiving two years ago. Here’s how the league’s Black Friday games have gone so far:

Nov. 24, 2023: Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 13
Nov. 29, 2024: Kansas City Chiefs 19, Las Vegas Raiders 17
Nov. 28, 2025: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Bears

This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Post Malone wouldn’t leave stage without a special message.

“We love you 94, we love you!” Malone screamed as the AT&T Stadium crowd roared at the end of his riveting halftime performance on Thanksgiving.

Malone, who also wore a 94 patch on his customized jacket, knew it was fitting that he paid homage to Marshawn Kneeland, the former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle who died by suicide earlier this month.

“The biggest thing for any of us is having someone to lean on when you need it the most,” Malone told USA TODAY Sports as he visited Jerry Jones’ suite following the Cowboys’ 31-28 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Malone, a huge Cowboys fan with an intimate connection to the franchise – his father, Rick Post, worked for nearly 15 years for the team as assistant director of food and beverage – was saddened like so many others by the Kneeland tragedy.

Yet the award-winning country-rock megastar, whose real name is Austin Post, said that his respect for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott also inspired him to make a statement while on the grand stage that came with performing at halftime of one of the most-watched, if not most-watched, NFL game of the season.

Prescott has become a prominent advocate for mental health awareness since his brother, Jace, died by suicide in 2020.

“It was especially for this gentleman up on the TV right now,” Malone said, as Prescott’s postgame news conference was broadcast on monitors in the suite. “I know that he lost someone near and dear to him. It’s very important to be able to have someone you can talk to. I’ve always stood for that.”

That Malone, 30, was chosen as the halftime performer had added significance. While growing up, he once slept at Texas Stadium while his father worked late shifts. Rick Post worked at the Cowboys’ former home before moving to AT&T Stadium.

“He told me that he was more nervous about the game than he was the halftime show,” Charlotte Jones, Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer, told USA TODAY Sports.

Turns out that it was a win-win.

Said Malone, “This is a special place.”

Jerry Jones won’t argue with that. He told reporters during his postgame press conference that he was “extraordinarily excited” that Malone performed at the halftime show, which also kicked off the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign.

“You know his background,” Jones said. “He used to come over every night and sleep in (Texas Stadium) when his dad was in charge of all our beverages. And he slept over there for years, because his mother was working. And then she would finish her work and then he’d go home.”

As Jones remembered it, that kid was about four or five years old.

‘Had a cot for him and he slept,” Jones said.

And look at him now. They had a stage for him and he rocked.

As college football’s regular season comes to a close, it’s time to enjoy the feast after the feast. The weekend slate is jam-packed with meaningful contests, many of which will pit the fiercest of rivals against each other.

As long-time readers know, we can’t preview every game here. And, while we’re sure many of you will be interested in Friday’s Egg Bowl (noon ET, ABC) and Saturday’s Iron Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), we’ll respectfully direct the discerning fan’s attention to these contests with even more on the line.

Here then are our picks for the seven games you don’t want to miss:

No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.

Why watch: We’re quite sure you don’t actually need to ask, but we stick to the script regardless. As we saw last year, this is not a must-win for the Buckeyes. But don’t tell that to their fans, who hope to see their team snap a four-year losing streak against the hated Wolverines. As for Michigan, a win here could mean a berth in the Big Ten title game and would certainly merit at-large consideration. The Buckeyes used their most recent romp against Rutgers to finetune their ground attack, a worthwhile endeavor given the Wolverines’ defensive strength. But Ohio State’s advantage figures to be on the outside, assuming WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are ready to return to QB Julian Sayin’s impressive arsenal. Wolverines QB Bryce Underwood has had only sporadic success throwing the ball but has been helped by RB Jordan Marshall. But they, too, could have a hard time finding holes against Buckeyes defenders Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.

Why it could disappoint: Mother Nature might have a hand in this one, with the possibility of frozen precipitation in the forecast that might curtail any deep passing. In theory that would seem to work in Michigan’s favor, though the ground game might also be affected. In any case, a big lead either way might prove insurmountable.

No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas

Time/TV: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: As if bragging rights throughout the Lone Star State weren’t enough, this contest carries huge SEC title and College Football Playoff implications. The Aggies will play for the conference crown if they win here in Austin. The Longhorns can’t, but they’ll be very much in the at-large conversation if they can spring an upset. Notwithstanding a rough outing at Georgia a couple weeks ago, the Texas offense has operated with more crispness over the course of QB Arch Manning’s first full season as the starter, although last week’s output might be more attributable to Arkansas’s leaky defense. A&M isn’t always airtight either, but DE Cashius Howell must be accounted for at all times. The Aggies have always found points when they’ve needed them thus far, though QB Marcel Reed can be pick prone when under duress, and it will be Longhorns DE Colin Simmons bringing the heat. The game also features two of the nation’s most dangerous return threats, the Longhorns’ Ryan Niblett and A&M’s K.C. Concepcion.

Why it could disappoint: It’s unlikely that it will. Both teams have demonstrated a flair for the dramatic, and the intensity level will be dialed up to 11 given the stakes.

No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 19 Georgia Tech

Time/TV: Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: These Peach State foes staged eight overtimes worth of ‘clean old-fashioned hate’ last season. They aren’t likely to duplicate that, but there’s a lot on the line for the Yellow Jackets, who missed an opportunity to clinch a spot in the ACC title game and now need an at-large resume booster. This year’s edition will be off campus at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will offer a unique environment. The Bulldogs can’t really help themselves but would like to enter the postseason on a high note anyway. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton has been quite efficient of late, improving his completion rate to a healthy 71.4%. DL Jordan van den Berg and the Yellow Jackets’ front seven hope to do a better job securing the line of scrimmage. Tech QB Haynes King is more than capable of keeping pace, though he tends to take a lot more punishment with his commitment tor running regularly. The Bulldogs have been more cohesive on defense over the latter half of the season, though standout LB CJ Allen is likely out after leaving the Texas game early with a knee injury

Why it could disappoint: It won’t if it’s anything close to last year’s version, but while Georgia has looked the part of a playoff team in November, the Yellow Jackets have not. Another slow start by Georgia Tech would be disastrous.

No. 13 Miami (Fla.) at No. 24 Pittsburgh

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: The Hurricanes need a lot of help they quite frankly aren’t likely to get to play for the ACC title. But they need to help themselves first by toppling the Panthers, who are fresh off a big win against Georgia Tech and might also have a shot at the ACC crown. The formula is pretty simple for Miami QB Carson Beck – get the ball in the hands of WR Malachi Toney as often as possible without giving it away. That will mean keeping the ball out of the reach of Panthers DB Kavir Bains-Marquez, who has three of the team’s 14 interceptions. Pitt QB Mason Heintschel must be similarly concerned with ball security, though that will be easier if he continues to get production from RB Ja’Kyrian Turner. Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. will make that difficult.

Why it could disappoint: While it might be overly simplistic to say the Panthers phoned in the Notre Dame game and put all their proverbial eggs in the ACC basket, that’s certainly how it appears. But it’s also possible that the Hurricanes will have a similar personnel advantage and make this another rout, though closing out opponents isn’t exactly Miami’s strong suit.

No. 12 Vanderbilt at No. 18 Tennessee

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: Neither team can reach the SEC final, but it’s nevertheless a contest with significant stakes. That is especially true for the Commodores, who are enjoying their best season in decades that could get even better. The Volunteers probably can’t crack the at-large playoff pool but would still like to keep hopes for a 10-win campaign alive. Vandy QB Diego Pavia is now up to 34 total TDs, and his ball distribution of late has made it difficult for opposing defenses to commit a spy to him. Vols LB Jeremiah Telander will nonetheless want to monitor him. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar has quick-strike capability but might be better served relying on RBs DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas to control the clock. That will likely mean another busy day for Commodores LB Bryan Longwell and DB CJ Heard.

Why it could disappoint: The manner in which both teams manhandled lower-tier SEC opponents last week indicates they’ll be in top form for this one. About the only question is if Vanderbilt can beat a good team away from home.

No. 5 Oregon at Washington

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: The Ducks secured their 10th victory last week and eliminated Southern California from the playoff picture in the process. They now look to close with a win against another of their former Pac-12 rivals. The Huskies at this point can only play for a more favorable bowl destination but would still not mind handing Oregon a costly setback. The backfield tandem of QB DeMond Williams Jr. and RB Jonah Coleman give Washington enough offensive balance to be troublesome, but LB Bryce Boettcher and the Ducks’ front can be quite formidable. Oregon QB Dante Moore has more weapons at his disposal, with TE Kenyon Sadiq often providing the key mismatch in the red zone. The Huskies will need Jacob Lane to provide pressure from the edge.

Why it could disappoint: The Ducks will do their best to make sure it does. Washington has been much better at home but probably won’t have enough answers against a top-tier defense.

LSU at No. 8 Oklahoma

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: A 10-2 record that would include a quality non-conference triumph against Michigan would almost certainly mean a playoff invitation for the Sooners. The final obstacle is a feisty bunch of Tigers, who are similarly strong on defense but like OU have struggled to score points. The LSU attack will again be in the hands of QB Michael Van Buren with Garrett Nussmeier still sidelined with an abdominal injury. He’s almost certainly in for a long day against LB Kip Lewis and the stingy OU defense that ranks third against the run and sixth in scoring. Sooners QB John Mateer has not thrown as effectively since returning from hand surgery, but RBs Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock might provide more help this week. There might be good news for the Tigers on the injury front if LB Whit Weeks can play more snaps Saturday.

Why it could disappoint: This has the makings of a punting contest. It could therefore be a tough watch, but there might be a payoff at the end if it’s close in the final quarter.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is underperforming due to predictability and a lack of explosive plays.
Analysts suggest the team’s struggles stem from an inconsistent run game and the absence of a clear offensive identity.
First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is facing a learning curve, with the scheme appearing stagnant to opposing defenses.

Predictable, inefficient and non-explosive are not terms any NFL offensive unit would want to apply to them. 

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Eagles, as they enter their Black Friday matchup Nov. 28 against the Chicago Bears, all three terms are appropriate descriptions of their offense – a unit that scored 21 points on three possessions against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, only to put up a goose egg the rest of the way. 

“It’s just an offense that is wildly, wildly underperforming,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky told USA TODAY Sports.

That followed performances of 16 and 10 points in prime time – which begs the question: what’s wrong with the Eagles’ offense? 

The answers may sound simple. The reality is anything but. 

No run game, no identity … major problems

The drama from wideout A.J. Brown and the halving of running back Saquon Barkley’s production from a year ago are only symptoms of the larger issues. 

To Andrew Whitworth, after watching the Eagles’ tape from the Cowboys game, “it screams to me a little different than last year,” when the Eagles put up 40 points in the Super Bowl. 

What concerns Whitworth is the lack of an offensive identity in 2025. 

“They don’t know if they want to run it. They (tried) to come out (against the Cowboys) and try to throw it and that started falling apart. And it’s like, ‘Man, what’s our answer when we get into crucial moments?’

“They look a little lost there … “Every time they went to call a run, they tried something different. It’s almost like they’re trying plays.” 

The biggest difference from a season ago is the lack of a run game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ preference of being in the shotgun is hurting the team, although that would be fine if the team was calling designed quarterback runs or run-pass-options (RPOs), Orlovsky said. But they’re not. 

“I think that leads to predictability because Saquon’s alignment tells the defense whether it’s a run or pass,” he said. 

If Barkley lines up a half-yard behind Hurts, the defense can see that and adjust. The offensive line then has more 1-on-1 blocking assignments that leads to penetration and negative plays. “When you get shotgun run, one guy with penetration kills the play,” Orlovsky said. 

In 2024, under offensive coordinator and playcaller Kellen Moore (now the New Orleans’ Saints head coach) the offense executed under-center, double-team runs.  

The offensive line also isn’t the same. Left guard Landon Dickerson injured his knee in training camp and started the season on time if not fully healthy. Center Cam Jurgens missed time. 

The team is also now navigating the loss of right tackle Lane Johnson, who is on injured reserve. Mekhi Becton signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving a hole at right guard. 

“Running game is a fickle thing sometimes,” Whitworth said. 

The struggles compound and result in Barkley pressing. 

“You can see sometimes where he’s searching for, ‘I want to try to create an explosive,’” Whitworth said.

Learning curve for Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo

First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s scheme looks stagnant to opposing defenses and failing to unlock the run game is part of it. 

Head coach Nick Sirianni has stood by Patullo, who was the pass game coordinator for four seasons before his offseason promotion. 

 “I’m never into assigning blame,” Sirianni said. “It’s just looking for answers. 

“No one’s ever gonna pitch a perfect game here.”

The plays, Orlovsky said, are not the problem. The timing and rhythm of it all are. 

“I think the predictability kills them. It’s a significant problem,” Orlovsky said. “As much as the defense has been good, the offense has not.” 

The offense suffers from a simplicity in formation splits and route combinations, Prime Video analyst and ex-NFL cornerback Richard Sherman said. Brown helps mask that. Throw in fellow wideout Devonta Smith and the Eagles have as good of a 1-2 punch at receiver in the NFL. Sherman added that NFL fans and media have been spoiled by the Shanahan coaching tree that is known for its creativity and wrinkles. 

“It makes it easy for a defense,” Sherman said. “Then you have A.J. Brown who makes it an issue even if you do know the play. They’ve been able to get away with it. But I don’t think they get away with it in the playoffs.” 

Smart corners are capable of figuring out what the Eagles are showing pre-snap, Prime Video analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick said. He would like to see Brown – known for running straight-line routes and in-breaking ones – run more out-cuts lined up in the slot to start breaking tendencies down the stretch. 

“While he’s physically gifted, he doesn’t run a lot of routes,” Orlovsky said of Brown. 

Patullo has been with the Eagles for the past four seasons and has an “intimate knowledge” of the personnel, Fitzpatrick said. He’s learning on the job. 

“Have there been some missteps? There definitely have,” said Fitzpatrick. “But I think with coaches as well … you have to continue to see that growth. And for him, it’s this season – we have to continue to see that offense grow and make the necessary changes in the second half of a football game to get this team to be successful.” 

How can Eagles fix offensive deficiencies?

What Sirianni wants those on the outside looking in to realize is that successes and failures are all group efforts, not because of any individual. 

“When it’s going good, and it’s all about the team, that doesn’t switch when it’s not going as planned and we try to assign blame to one person,” he said. “It’s still always about the team.

“I feel like we’ve got the right people, as players, as coaches, that have had success. We’re all searching for answers to make it more consistent.” 

Overall, Orlovsky wants to see the Eagles marry the pass with the run to create play-action explosives and limit negative plays. 

“Is it as easy as that? No,” Orlovsky said. “But it’s not as complicated as putting man-on-the-moon type stuff.” 

Fitzpatrick is interested in how the team responds after failing to score for nearly three quarters against Dallas. 

“I think we’ll find out a lot about what this team is made of on Friday,” he said.

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colorado — Mikaela Shiffrin has two Olympic gold medals and more World Cup wins than any other skier in history. (She’s at 103, for those counting.)

And she might be at her best yet this season.

Shiffrin comes to the World Cup at Copper Mountain having won the first two slalom races of the season and barely missing a medal in the only giant slalom so far. Her technique in slalom has been near perfect — just watch her first run in Levi, Finland — and she is skiing with command.

Perhaps most importantly, she is fully healthy after missing much of last season following a crash in the GS at Killington, Vermont, that left a deep gash in her obliques.

‘I was so focused on GS over the preparation period just to bring my level back to something worthy in GS races. I didn’t get a lot of slalom training, but I got good slalom training,’ Shiffrin said last weekend.

Here’s what to know about the World Cup at Copper Mountain:

What races will Shiffrin do?

While the men had both speed (super-G) and tech (giant slalom) races at Copper, the women have two tech races. The giant slalom is Saturday, and the slalom is Sunday.

How to watch

Broadcast/streaming schedule (all times Eastern)

Outsideonline.com will show all of the races live while NBC, Peacock and CNBC will have a mix of live and delayed coverage.

Saturday, Nov. 29

Noon – First run, women’s giant slalom, outsideonline.com

1 p.m. – Delayed coverage of men’s giant slalom, NBC and Peacock

3 p.m. – Second run, women’s giant slalom, outsideonline.com

Sunday, Nov. 30

Noon – First run, women’s slalom, outsideonline.com

1 p.m. – Delayed coverage of women’s giant slalom, NBC and Peacock

2 p.m. – Delayed coverage of men’s super-G, CNBC and Peacock

3 p.m. – Second run, women’s slalom, outsideonline.com, CNBC and Peacock

Who to watch

Shiffrin is the woman to beat — and it’s going to take some great skiing to do that. Not only has she won the first two slalom World Cups in commanding fashion, finishing more than a second ahead in both, she’s been first in each run of both races.

“I think it’s some of the best slalom skiing I ever did. I feel very stable right now,” Shiffrin said after her win in Gurgl, Austria, last weekend.

“I feel really good with my level of slalom right now,” she said. “I pretty much know what to focus on to bring out fast skiing.”

Shiffrin also was fourth in the only giant slalom race this season, missing the podium by 0.31 seconds.

So who are other contenders?

Lara Colturi. The 19-year-old Albanian was second to Shiffrin in the slaloms at Levi and Gurl, and was seventh in the GS at Soelden.

Paula Moltzan. Shiffrin’s U.S. teammate is picking up right where she left off last season, when she won bronze in the giant slalom at the world championships and made two World Cup podiums. Moltzan has been in the top five in all three World Cup races this season, including a second-place finish in the GS at Soelden.

Camille Rast. The reigning world slalom champion already has a podium finish this season, winning the bronze last week in Gurgl.

Wendy Holdener. The Swiss veteran won silver in the slalom at the world championships last year.

Lauren Macuga. One of the best speed skiers the United States has right now, Macuga will be making her second career GS start in Copper.