A staggering number of ‘high-end’ motorcycles − worth an estimated $40 million − were seized earlier this month in Mexico and authorities believe they belong to former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding.

The 44-year-old Canadian is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for allegedly running an international drug ring that brought cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Just last month, the U.S. Department of Justice increased its reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and conviction to $15 million.

On Monday, Dec. 29, the FBI’s Los Angeles office released several photos of what Mexican officials recovered. Included were 62 motorcycles, as well as two vehicles, artwork, two Olympic medals, drugs and other items, according to Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.

Authorities executed search warrants on four properties in Mexico City last month, which led to the recovery. Wedding, however, remains at large. Officials believe he is in Mexico and being protected by the Sinaloa cartel.

Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he finished 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom.

The King will celebrate his 41st birthday on the hardwood.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Dec. 30, as James will try to become the ninth player in NBA history to score a point after turning 41 years old. But this game isn’t just about James; the Lakers have hit something of a skid and have the Pistons, the East’s No. 1 team at 24-8, coming into Los Angeles.

The Lakers have lost three of their last four and six of their last 11, and the offense has dragged. After a 23-point loss Christmas Day against the Rockets, Lakers coach JJ Redick ripped his team’s performance and said the Lakers would be having an “uncomfortable” team meeting. Many of the issues stem from the ball stagnating when both James and star guard Luka Dončić are on the floor.

Los Angeles (20-10) responded with a 24-point victory Sunday, Dec. 28 against the Kings, James’ final game as a 40-year-old.

Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday night’s matchup between the Lakers and Pistons.

Lakers vs. Pistons injury report

(Updated 10:45 a.m. ET)

Lakers: Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness; out), Austin Reaves (left calf strain; out), Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain; out)

Pistons: Caris LeVert (left knee soreness; doubtful), Isaac Jones (G League assignment; out), Bobi Klintman (G League assignment; out), Wendell Moore Jr. (G League – two-way; out), Tolu Smith (G League – two-way; out)

How to watch Lakers vs. Pistons: TV channel, live stream

Start time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, California)
TV Channel: NBC
Live stream: Peacock; Fubo

Lakers vs. Pistons odds

Spread: Pistons by 2.5 (-115)
Over/Under: 232.5 (O/U -115)
Moneyline: Lakers +125

Lakers next five games

Jan. 2 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Jan. 4 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Jan. 6 at New Orleans Pelicans
Jan. 7 at San Antonio Spurs
Jan. 9 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Clemson’s recent struggles are attributed to a decline in quarterback performance since Trevor Lawrence’s departure.
Coach Dabo Swinney has been criticized for not utilizing the transfer portal to acquire talent, particularly at quarterback.
The team’s scoring offense has dropped significantly, finishing 71st in the nation under recent offensive coordinators.

Dabo Swinney danced around reality at the end of a bitterly disappointing season, painstakingly avoiding the obvious that must be said. 

Clemson isn’t Clemson anymore because it hasn’t been good enough at quarterback over the last five years.

Want to know why Swinney, after 17 season of unthinkable success as the Clemson coach, suddenly looks like Tommy Bowden? 

It’s always the quarterback.

DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik are not Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. Or even Tajh Boyd.

Fix the quarterback, Dabo. And fix Clemson.

“Sometimes you can do your very, very best, you can give it all you’ve got,” Swinney said of this Clemson team. “And not get the result that you worked for.”

And now it’s on Swinney to figure it out. 

No more avoiding the transfer portal, no more overlooking impact players for the sake of his locker room — where “everything I need is right there.” Because it’s not. 

And it hasn’t been since Lawrence left for the NFL.

For all the great Swinney has produced, all the championships and All-Americans, and the two head-to-head wins in the national title game over Nick Saban and Alabama, the college football nirvana he built at Clemson is unraveling because the most important position on the field is in turmoil. 

Clemson has missed badly at the position in high school recruiting, signing Klubnik, Christopher Vizzina, Bubba Chandler (who chose Major League Baseball), Chris Denson and Trent Pearman since Lawrence left for the NFL. 

If any of those other than Chandler were capable of winning games, they would’ve played over any of the last three seasons. Klubnik played because that’s what Clemson had.

You want stubborn? I’ll give you stubborn. 

Swinney not only doubled down on his ability to find and develop high school quarterbacks, he did so with the failed experiment of moving longtime quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter to offensive coordinator and play caller. 

Then did again after another seemingly failed offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach hiring of Garret Riley, who was paid among the top at his position in college football — and has produced the uneven play of Klubnik and a scoring offense that just finished 71st in the nation (27.2 ppg.).

Imagine what could’ve been if Swinney would’ve reached into the transfer portal at just one position. If he just signed a quarterback who could’ve pushed Klubnik, who clearly knew there was no threat behind him on the depth chart ― and played that way.

Klubnik was a great teammate and leader, did everything the right way and was exactly what Swinney wanted from the most important position on the field. So was Uiagalelei, who had a 21-7 record as a starter.

Both had arm talent, and all the physical and athletic traits you want in a game-changing quarterback.  Except the ability to consistently make the right decision and the best throw.

Swinney doubled down over and over on those two mistakes, something that just can’t be done in this age of player movement and teams getting better (and more difficult to beat) by adding through the portal.   

So now here we are, heading into the fifth offseason of free player movement, and Swinney finally seems resigned to reality. 

“Obviously, the portal opens on (Friday),” Swinney said. “So we’ll have some recruiting we’ve got to do there.”

Want to see Swinney and Clemson among the elite of college football again? Watch what happens if the Tigers land Brendan Sorsby, Josh Hoover or Byrum Brown. 

Or if they gets the chance to develop Dylan Raiola or DJ Lagway or Aidan Chiles. 

This isn’t that difficult to figure out. Clemson had a defensive line with two first round NFL draft picks, and had a loaded team from a group that reached the CFP in 2024 and nearly won at Texas in the first round. 

That was Klubnik’s best season, when he had 43 total touchdowns (7 rushing) and the Tigers were among the top 20 in the nation in scoring offense. A year later, Klubnik had 20 total touchdowns, and Clemson finished it by digging out of a season-long hole in the freezing cold at the Pinstripes Bowl. 

“You evaluate everything, that’s part of our business,” Swinney said. “Is it personnel, is it scheme, is it bad calls.”

It’s the quarterback, Dabo. Been that way for five years. 

Fix it, and fix your program.  

The year 2025 was one for the history books.

Women’s sports continues to grow in popularity as its stars show the world what they can acheive. From Las Vegas Aces All-Star A’ja Wilson’s unprecedented fourth WNBA MVP to alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s historic 100th (and counting) World Cup victory, fans were treated to historic athletic feats.

USA TODAY Sports complied a list of the top 10 female athletes of the year who shattered ceilings, blazed trails and stretched boundaries on the court, field, rink, track and mountain tops:

1. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson had one of the best seasons in WNBA history and earned the top spot on our list. Wilson led the Aces to their third title in four years after sweeping nearly every major award in the calendar year. She earned her second WNBA scoring title, third Defensive Player of the Year award, an unprecedented fourth MVP and her second Finals MVP, becoming the first player in WNBA or NBA history to accomplish it all in a single season. Becky Hammon said it best: Wilson is “Everest. There is no one else around.”

Wilson isn’t ready to be in the GOAT conversation just yet. ‘I still got a little bit more winning to do before you put me in that conversation. When you’re compared to greats, when you’re compared to legends, that means you’re doing something right and I’m so grateful,’ she said after sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals.

 2. Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic alpine skier

Mikaela Shiffrin is in a league of her own. The two-time Olympic gold medalist owns the most World Cup wins of any alpine skier and is the only skier, male or female, to surpass the 100-victory milestone after reaching triple-digit World Cup victories in February. She’s been on a tear ever since. Shiffrin has won five consecutive slalom races, including her win at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, in March and four wins to start the 2025–26 season. She’s up to 105 World Cup wins, extending her own record, and is in great form ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where she’s a heavy favorite to medal.

3. Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Bueckers’ prolific resume at UConn included everything but a national championship. That changed in April, when Bueckers led the Huskies to the program’s 12th title. The win kicked off a whirlwind year for Bueckers. She was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings and was a bright spot in the franchise’s otherwise dismal 10-34 season. She was named the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year and earned an All-WNBA second-team nod, the only rookie selected to an All-WNBA Team.

Bueckers told USA TODAY Sports she recently had the opportunity to catch her breath and process her achievements and what’s ahead: ‘On my birthday (on Oc. 20), I reflected on the year 23 itself and how much of a journey it was. I stayed the most present and it ended up being one of the most fun, joyful, just peaceful years of my life. Just embracing everything that kind of came my way.’

4. Aryna Sabalenka, tennis

Sabalenka spent the entire year at the top of the WTA rankings. Although the year got off to a rough start with back-to-back losses to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff in the Australian Open final and French Open final, respectively, Sabalenka rebounded to win the U.S. Open and clinch the fourth major title of her career. She finished the year with the most finals appearances (nine), most titles (four), most match wins (63) and set a single-season prize money record by taking home $15,008,519. She was named the WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, the seventh player in WTA history to repeat and third in the past 25 years.

5. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Collier joined Elena Delle Donne in the exclusive 50-40-90 club, finishing the regular season with a 53.1% field goal percentage, 40.3% 3-point percentage and 90.6% free throw percentage. She led the Minnesota Lynx to the league-best 34-10 record, but Collier’s accolades stretched far beyond the court. She’s a vocal leader in the players’ push for higher compensation in ongoing CBA negotiations with the WNBA and used her exit interview to publicly criticize league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Collier also co-founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league that’s drawn praise for prioritizing player amenities and paying competitive salaries. Unrivaled has provided an alternate avenue to earn money outside of the WNBA, which will be paramount as players are prepared to strike if CBA negotiations with the league remain at a standstill.

6. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track

All Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone does is win. The four-time Olympic gold medalist won two gold medals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. McLaughlin-Levrone won gold in the 400m flat with a time of 47.78 seconds, which broke the 42-year-old North American record with the second-fastest time by a woman in the distance. With the win, McLaughlin-Levrone became the first athlete to win world titles in both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles, an event for which she owns the world record (50.37 seconds). The 26-year-old has been so dominant she hasn’t lost in a 400m or 400m hurdles race in two years.

‘I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training,’ McLaughlin-Levrone said after winning World Athletics Women’s World Athlete of the Year. ‘For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible. I want to continue pushing boundaries in 2026.’

7. Catarina Macario, USWNT

Catarina Macario has been on fire. Macario led the U.S. women’s national soccer team with eight goals this season, including a brace in Team USA’s 3-0 win over Italy in late November. Macario is the first U.S. player to score in three straight games since Mallory Swanson scored six in a row from November 2022 to February 2023. Macario now has 16 total goals and five assists in 29 national team appearances. Macario’s brilliance extended past the USWNT. The Chelsea FC midfielder is up to two assists in nine league matches so far and scored two goals in Chelsea’s 6-0 UEFA Women’s Champions League win over St. Polten last month.

8. Hilary Knight, hockey

Hilary Knight is synonymous with Team USA hockey. She led the Americans to the top of the podium at the 2025 Women’s World Championships to claim her 10th gold medal, the most of any hockey player. She also holds world championship records for the most goals, assists and points. Knight led Team USA to the first sweep of Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series with five goals and two assists across four games. Knight also had a PWHL-leading 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 30 games for the Boston Fleet. She’s set to appear in her fifth Olympics next year, which will mark the most for a U.S. hockey player, male or female. 

9. NiJaree Canady, softball

Texas Tech may have lost to Texas in the 2025 Women’s College World Series, but pitcher NiJaree Canaday emerged as the face of college softball. The reigning national player of the year transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech and earned a seven-figure payday from the school’s collective, marking the largest NIL deal for a college softball player. It was well deserved. Canady finished the season with a 1.11 ERA (second-best in the nation) and a team-high 11 home runs. She led Texas Tech to a school-record 54 wins, a Big 12 regular-season and tournament title and the program’s first WCWS appearances. Even Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes came to see what all the hype was about and attended Game 2 of the WCWs.

WCWS 2025: Texas Tech coach says focus on NiJaree Canady NIL deal is ‘insulting’

10. Kyndal Stowers, Texas A&M volleyball

Just last year, Kyndal Stowers was medically retired after suffering four concussions in a matter of months. She didn’t know if she would ever play volleyball again. By December 2025, Stowers was named the most outstanding player in the 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament after leading Texas A&M to their first national championship in program history with a sweep of SEC rival Kentucky. Stowers finished with 10 kills on .304 hitting, plus six digs, two service aces and one block. The Aggies shocked the world by defeating No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in five-sets, before sweeping No. 1 Pitt and No. 1 Kentucky in the Final Four.

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ATLANTA — Weird stuff.

One team is headed to the NFC playoffs, led by a quarterback who might bag the first NFL MVP award of his career.

The other team was eliminated from the playoff race a couple of weeks ago, amid swirling speculation about the job security of key powerbrokers.

So, what good was that equation?

Well, when you add Falcons wonder back Bijan Robinson to the mix, anything can happen.

And it did.

Backed by Robinson’s 195-yard rushing showcase – which included a scintillating 93-yard touchdown run – the Atlanta Falcons stunned the Los Angeles Rams, 27-24, in a display of theatre that kept on giving.

The winning points came on a 51-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez with 21 seconds left. But even after that, the Rams had a chance to force overtime.

How crazy was it?

Matthew Stafford, the LA QB who might be MVP, threw three interceptions and still nearly won.

Oh, that tricky NFL. What a show.

There was a pick-six, as Falcons safety Jessie Bates III went 34 yards to the house. Rams linebacker Jared Verse one-upped that by blocking a Gonzalez field goal try late in the third quarter and returning it 76 yards for a touchdown.

There was an amazing catch by Puka Nacua (who else?) between two defenders for an apparent game-tying 41-yard TD in the fourth quarter … except it was nullified.

Then Nacua’s apparent catch in the final seconds, which might have set up a try for a field goal, was, well, confirmed as incomplete by instant replay. It appeared that his second foot lifted off the turf a split-second before he survived the ground as he landed out of bounds with the ball cradled by his left arm.

A crazy game of inches.

“One hundred percent,” Nacua agreed. “It takes every inch. It requires every ounce of effort that you’ve got.”

Robinson said that as the replay review determined whether it was a catch or not, he sat on the Falcons bench pleading to a higher power.

Prayer answered.

That the Falcons were so invested, though, provided another testimony. They have won three consecutive games since being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, determined to finish the season strong while questions persist about the direction of the franchise under coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot.

What’s there to play for? Pride, for one thing. Jobs, for another.

“We’re in the NFL,” Robinson said. “We can’t give up on anything in this league. Number one, that’s how injuries happen. That’s how bad things happen. You lose the identity of a team. So, for us, we made it known that as soon as we got that elimination, we’re going to finish the season off the right way. Finish off strong. We’re all men.”

Robinson, who also caught five passes for 34 yards, had 229 yards from scrimmage to mark another banner night. He broke the franchise’s single-season record for yards from scrimmage that had stood for 43 years since set by William Andrews in 1983 (2,176), raising his league-leading total to 2,255.

And the record was so fitting on a night that the Falcons (7-9) started off so hot. They led 21-0…then still had to sweat the ending.

The comeback attempt, though, was no consolation for Stafford, who had his worst game of the season.

“I obviously didn’t play well enough,” he grumbled afterward. “That’s what it is.”

And it was another example of the wild-swinging games that have marked this NFL season.

The Rams (11-5) know it all too well. In Week 16, they had a 30-14 lead in the fourth quarter at Seattle, then lost 38-37 in overtime. That, after the incredible Week 15 drama that involved the Falcons, who trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-14, in the fourth quarter. And won, 29-28.

Speaking of the Bucs, Monday night’s outcome weighed heavily on their chances to claim a fifth straight NFC South crown. Even if the Bucs knock off the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, there’s the prospect of a three-way tie for the division title with three teams all finishing with 8-9 records.

And if the Bucs, Panthers and Falcons – who close against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday – wind up tied, the tiebreaker edge and division crown would go to the Panthers.

Go figure.

“Man, that sucks,” Robinson said. “But it is what it is. You never know what can happen in this league.”

Of course, with Monday night providing a fresh example, crazy things never cease to happen in the NFL.

Who clinches the final two available NFL playoff spots?

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to battle for the NFC South title and associated playoff spot. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers clash for the division crown in a high stakes win-or-go-home game.

The final week of the regular season is here. Playoff seedings will be official by the end of Sunday. Who is in the best position for a trip to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60? Here’s an early look at predictions and picks to win the AFC, NFC and which team will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

AFC standings ahead of Week 18

Denver Broncos (13-3)
New England Patriots (13-3)
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Houston Texans (11-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
Buffalo Bills (11-5)

AFC Championship prediction: Bills survive against Patriots

Josh Allen’s the fourth player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes in six of his first eight career seasons, per NFL Research. The Bills are too reliant on Allen, but I predict he’ll have plenty of assistance against the Patriots in an all-AFC East championship game.

Running back James Cook produces more than 130 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Buffalo’s defense gets just enough stops as the Bills upset the Patriots in Foxborough again.

It’ll mark Buffalo’s first Super Bowl appearance since the 1993 season.

NFC standings ahead of Week 18

Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Chicago Bears (11-5)
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Carolina Panthers (8-8)
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Los Angeles Rams (11-4) ******
Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

NFC Championship prediction: Eagles hang on against Rams (again)

The Eagles are starting to play better football. I believe the Eagles finally find their groove during win-or-go-home situations in the postseason.

Philadelphia’s offense has struggled to establish an identity and they haven’t been consistent this season. But I predict they return to form with running back Saquon Barkley leading the way.

Barkley ran all over the Rams in two meetings last season, but he was limited to 55 yards from scrimmage in a Week 3 win over Los Angeles.

The Eagles have won four straight games, including the playoffs, against the Rams dating back to 2023. The Rams’ explosive offense will keep this game close, but Philly’s overall talent on both sides of the ball prevails.

Super Bowl 60 prediction

Losers of four Super Bowls in a row in the early 90s, the Bills have a painful Super Bowl history. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Feb. 8 will add to the franchise’s Super Bowl misery.

The Eagles have back-to-back standout performances to complete their title defense and win their second-straight Super Bowl.

Philadelphia’s opportunistic defense forces two takeaways and the team scores 14 points off the turnovers.

Super Bowl 60 odds breakdown

According to the current betting odds at BetMGM, the Los Angeles Rams have the best odds of winning Super Bowl 60 at +475.

NFL playoff schedule

Wild card round: Saturday, Jan. 10 to Monday, Jan. 12, 2026
Divisional round: Saturday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
Conference championship: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026
Super Bowl: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

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

Photos circulated on social media Monday, Dec. 29 showing British boxing star Anthony Joshua and two of his close friends. The three men were together earlier in the day, too, during a car accident in Nigeria.

Joshua, the former world heavyweight champion who suffered minor injuries in the two-vehicle crash, was the only one of the men to survive.

Though the initial reports identified only Joshua by name, subsequent reports identified the two men who died — Sani Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele. Their relationship with Joshua began to emerge.

Just hours before the accident, Joshua posted video of his playing table tennis with Ayodele, a trainer also known as ‘Latz.” He worked with Joshua and had known the boxer before he became a star.

Matchroom Boxing, which promotes Joshua, confirmed reports the British boxing star sustained injuries and was in stable condition. The company also addressed the grim news.

“With profound sadness it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away,’’ Matchroom Boxing said in a statement issued on its X account.

The men being together in Nigeria was no happenstance. Joshua’s parents were born in Nigeria before moving to Great Britain, where Joshua was born and raised. Ayondele, a former soccer player, was active in humanitarian projects in Nigeria. The photos online reinforced the three men spent time together.

One photo on Ayodele’s Instagram page shows him and Joshua flexing their muscles as they stand shirtless. Ayodele was a devout Muslim and one of the multiple photos with Joshua shows the two men wearing traditional Islamic clothing.

Ghami, who owned Evolve Gym in London, was Joshua’s coach for more than a decade. According to Evolve Gym’s website, Ghami also had worked with Draymond Green, the four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, and Le’Veon Bell, the retired NFL running back who was a three-time Pro Bowler.

But Ghami was best known for his work with Joshua. In 2017, he posted a photo on Instagram showing him posing in a boxing ring with a smiling Joshua and seven other men. It was the day after Joshua upset Wladimir Klitchko, then the IBO world heavyweight champion.

It was a signature victory on Joshua’s path to superstardom during which he was accompanied by men like Ghami and Ayodele.

On Dec. 19, there was more cause for celebration. Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their highly anticipated fight.

Ten days later, Joshua had been hospitalized and those who knew two of his close friends were in mourning.

“Life is much more important than boxing,’’ Paul wrote on his X account. “I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.’’

The final week of the NFL regular season is upon us.

Almost all playoff spots have been clinched. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers in a battle for the NFC South title and the final playoff slot in the conference.

The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers meet in the Bay Area for chance to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

The final game of the regular season features the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in a win-or-go home matchup.

Playoff positions and teams will be determined by the end of Jan. 4. The roadmap to Santa Clara will be set. USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for Week 18:

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

NFL Week 18 predictions, picks

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Date: Saturday, Jan. 3

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

TV: ESPN

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bucs (-3)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bucs 21, Panthers 17

A win-or-go-home game in Tampa Bay. The Bucs have lost four-straight games and don’t have the look of a playoff team. But can Bryce Young lift the Panthers in the biggest game of his NFL career? I think the Bucs hang on at home.

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

Date: Saturday, Jan. 3

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

TV: ESPN

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: 49ers (-1.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Seahawks 28, 49ers 25

The 49ers have overachieved all year despite major injuries on both sides of the ball. Seattle is the more balanced team, with a better defense. The Seahawks lost to San Francisco at home in Week 1. They return the favor in Santa Clara this week.

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Falcons (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Falcons 25, Saints 21

Both teams are playing for bragging rights. The Saints have quietly won four straight games. Bijan Robinson and the Falcons score just enough to win in front of their home fans.

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bengals (-7.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bengals 26, Browns 20

Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the sack record is the story of this game. I think he sets the record against a below-average Bengals O-line. However, the Bengals should win.

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Vikings (-6.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Packers 24, Vikings 20

The Packers are locked in the No. 7 seed in the NFC and could rest multiple starters. But I still think Green Bay has enough to get the win.

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Cowboys (-5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Cowboys 26, Giants 20

Both these teams should be better next year. The Cowboys and their high-powered offense finish the season on a high note.  

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Jaguars (-11.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 27, Titans 20

The Jaguars are playing for playoff positioning. That’s bad news for an inferior Titans club. Cam Ward will make a couple plays that will have fans optimistic about the future.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Texans (-10)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Texans 26, Colts 17

The Texans are the hottest team in the NFL right now (as I said in a recent column). Houston extends its NFL-best win streak to nine games and enters the playoffs as a scary team.

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills  

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bills (-8.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bills 27, Jets 17

The Bills are coming off a tough loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Expect Buffalo to win in its final game at Highmark Stadium. The Jets are thinking about the draft.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bears (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bears 27, Lions 26

The Bears are the most improved team in the NFC. The Lions are the most disappointing team in the NFC. Fittingly, Chicago wins.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Broncos (-7.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Broncos 24, Chargers 20

The Chargers are undefeated in the AFC West this year. Los Angeles might rest multiple starters in Week 18. The Broncos need to win to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They’ll do it.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Chiefs (-5.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Chiefs 24, Raiders 20

Tank for the No. 1 draft pick is alive and well in Las Vegas. The Raiders clinch the 2026 top pick with a loss. The Chiefs are motivated to play well in what seems to be Travis Kelce’s final game.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Rams (-9.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 28, Cardinals 17

The Rams are playing for playoff positioning. The Cardinals are already thinking about how different their roster will look next year. Advantage Rams.

Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Patriots (-10.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Patriots 28, Dolphins 19

The AFC East Champion Patriots can still clinch the top seed in the AFC. Expect New England to dominate a Dolphins team ready for vacation in South Beach.

Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Eagles (-8)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Eagles 24, Commanders 17

The Eagles have won three straight games and are beginning to resemble the team that won Super Bowl 59. The Jayden Daniels-less Commanders are ready for this season to end.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh

TV: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

Spread: Ravens (-3.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Ravens 25, Steelers 20

Baltimore’s gameplan should center around handing Derrick Henry the football regardless of Lamar Jackson’s status. DK Metcalf’s suspension hinders Pittsburgh’s offense. The Ravens win in a winner-take-all game.

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

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In the history of the NBA, 31 players have scored at least one point in a regular-season game following their 40th birthday.

The number of players to do so at 41 is only eight; Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James on Tuesday night will become the ninth.

In yet another marker of his longevity and greatness, James will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, Dec. 30 on the hardcourt, in a nationally broadcast home game against the Detroit Pistons. James is the singular talent of this era. His play, naturally, is in decline. Yet, regardless of the nightly emotion and angst that surrounds his performances, James is reimagining the standard of production for someone his age. Put another way: he’s doing things that have never been done.

“I’m in a battle with (Father Time),” he told reporters Sunday, Dec. 28. “And I would like to say that I’m kicking his ass on the back nine.”

Though he might not have that explosive first step and though he’s playing a career-low 32.9 minutes per game, James is nonetheless averaging 20.5 points, 6.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds on a solidly efficient 50.7% shooting — figures that are striking for someone his age.

By comparison, before James turned 40 last season, the nightly averages for players after their 40th birthdays had been 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

“It is remarkable,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters on Monday, Dec. 29 after a Lakers practice. “I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and got to get an injection on my knee. My body is old and broken. It’s like that (saying) ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it,’ and once I stopped using it, I lost it all. I can still barely touch the rim, though, which is nice.”

This is another area where James has an advantage over pretty much every human. During his final game as a 40 year old — a 24-point victory Sunday over the Kings — James didn’t just touch the rim, he soared by it, throwing down a thunderous reverse dunk, two of his 24 points in the win.

Although Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA record for most career points scored (1,941) by a player after turning 40, Abdul-Jabbar played in 156 such games.

Tuesday night against the Pistons, James will be playing in his 57th game since his 40th, and he already has 1,340 points since then, fourth all-time. And while many players only picked up spot minutes after the Big 4-0, James is playing a key role in Los Angeles, starting and carrying the team in non-Luka Dončić minutes.

James’ 23.9 points per game post-40 rank first all-time, just ahead of Michael Jordan’s 22.4.

Yet, this season has not been the smoothest for James. For one, he missed the entire preseason and the first 14 games of the year with a sciatica nerve issue. This marked the first time in his basketball career, going back to prep school, that he had missed any season opener.

Los Angeles won the first four games in which James played. Then, James had his record streak of consecutive games of double figures in scoring snapped at 1,297 — or nearly 19 years — though he did it on a play that exemplified his leadership: he passed up the would-be game-winning shot for the game-winning assist.

And, now, the Lakers are struggling through the worst stretch of their season, losing six of their last 11 and three of the last four, a stretch that prompted an “uncomfortable” team meeting.

A lot of it is fit and philosophy.

Since James has returned from his injury, the Lakers have struggled to find cohesion on the floor. He and star guard Luka Dončić both thrive when the ball is in their hands, and Redick has failed to create a structure that balances Dončić playing off the ball and James staying engaged and avoiding periods of deference.

“Since we’ve gotten Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively,” Redick told reporters Saturday, Dec. 27. “Too many random possessions. That’s on me.”

It’s also incumbent on Redick to solve the issue, because if the Lakers crash out — they currently rank fifth in the Western Conference at 20-10 — they will face an uncertain future this offseason with no established star to pair alongside Dončić.

Plenty of blame will also be heaped on James, unfairly or not.

There’s even a bloc of Lakers fans on social media who have been calling for James to be moved, which becomes unlikely, given that he has a no-trade clause.

The reality is Los Angeles is stuck with James for the rest of this season unless he asks to be dealt before the trading deadline (Feb. 5). The window to win is now, and the Lakers need to do what they can to maximize that; think coaching adjustments and complementary trades.

Because despite the massive contract and despite the constant second-guessing that comes with having him on the roster, James is giving the Lakers far more than what they should expect from someone his age.