Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL’s ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we’ll be watching then, too).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized Sunday, Jan. 4.

Here’s where things stand with Week 17 complete:

AFC playoff picture

y − 1. Denver Broncos (13-3), AFC West champions: After surviving the Chiefs on Christmas night, win in Week 18, and Denver gets the top seed … but can’t in Week 17. The Bolts’ loss Saturday wrapped up the Broncos’ first division title in a decade − which was also the last time they won the Super Bowl. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers

y − 2. New England Patriots (13-3), AFC East champions: After blowing out the Jets on Sunday, they wound up with their first division title since 2019 after Buffalo lost to Philadelphia. The Pats are just a tiebreaker (common games) of sitting atop the conference and could get the top seed in Week 18 if they win and Denver loses. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins.

x − 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4), AFC South leaders: They won their eighth straight but need one more to lock up the division. A victory combined with defeats for Denver and New England lands the No. 1 seed in Duval County. Lose, and Houston can keep the AFC South with a win. Remaining schedule: at Titans

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7), AFC North leaders: They failed to win the division crown at Cleveland. Now they’ll have to beat Baltimore in Week 18. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens

x − 5. Houston Texans (11-5), wild card No. 1: They’ve won nine of 10, including eight in a row after Saturday’s triumph over the Chargers, but haven’t been able to overtake similarly surging Jacksonville yet for the top spot in the AFC South. Still, Saturday’s victory over the Bolts clinched at least a wild-card berth for Houston, which has a shot to win the division for a third straight season − now needing just a Week 18 win and loss by the Jags. The Texans’ victory officially eliminated Indianapolis. Their sweep of the Chargers and Bills currently has them sitting in the fifth seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts

x − 6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), wild card No. 2: Saturday’s stumble against Houston ended their bid to rally for the AFC West title. Now the Bolts will have to chart their postseason path as a wild-card entrant. Remaining schedule: at Broncos

x − 7. Buffalo Bills (11-5), wild card No. 3: Sunday’s oh-so-narrow loss to Philadelphia wiped out their hopes of a sixth straight AFC East title. The Bills fall to the seventh spot due to the Chargers’ two-game advantage (5-1) in the common-games tiebreaker. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8), in the hunt: (The eliminated Colts are technically in eighth place in the AFC.) Saturday night’s win in Green Bay plus Pittsburgh’s loss means the Steelers and Ravens will vie for the AFC North crown in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Steelers

NFC playoff picture

x − 1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3), NFC West leaders: Win in Week 18, and they secure the division and NFC’s top seed. Remaining schedule: at 49ers

y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-5), NFC North champions: Green Bay’s loss Saturday night was doubly sweet, as it also wrapped up the division title for Da Bears. However coming up short in Sunday night’s thriller at San Francisco means Chicago can’t get the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions

y – 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), NFC East champions: They can’t get into the top spot but could still reach the second seed … which got them to the Super Bowl last season. With Week 16’s defeat of Washington, Philly became the first team this season to wrap up a division in 2025 − and the first to win this division in successive years since they last did it 21 years ago. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8), NFC South leaders: They blew an opportunity to wrap up the division Sunday. A Week 18 defeat of Tampa Bay will still do the job. Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers

x − 5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), wild card No. 1: Win out, which would entail completing a season sweep of Seattle on the final weekend of the regular season, and the Niners would get the top seed. Continue winning, and they won’t leave their building again this season − which would mean playing Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium. A 4-1 record in NFC West games moved them ahead of the Rams last Monday. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

x − 6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5), wild card No. 2: They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot but lost the pathway to home-field advantage and a first-round bye after consecutive losses. They can settle into the fifth seed − and a matchup with the NFC South champion − by beating Arizona if Seattle also beats the Niners. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals

x − 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1), wild card No. 3: The Lions’ Christmas night loss put the battered Pack into the field. But Saturday night’s loss to Baltimore means Green Bay locks in as the No. 7 seed and won’t play another game at Lambeau Field this season. Remaining schedule: at Vikings

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9), in the hunt: (Their record is actually worse than the Vikings’, Lions’ and Cowboys’ in the overall NFC standings, hence the 11th place designation.) Their loss to lowly Miami would have done them in … had the Panthers not bailed the Bucs out by also losing. Now the teams will face off in Week 18, the winner taking the NFC South crown − assuming Atlanta loses its final game to the Saints. If all three clubs finish 8-9, the tiebreaker would go to Carolina given the Panthers’ 3-1 record against the other two squads would confer priority. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18 (incomplete)

Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win

New England clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win + Broncos loss

Jacksonville clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win + Broncos loss + Patriots loss

Jacksonville clinches AFC South with:

Win

Houston clinches AFC South with:

Win + Jaguars loss

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:

Win or tie

Baltimore clinches AFC North with:

Win

Seattle clinches NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win or tie

San Francisco clinches NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Win

Carolina clinches NFC South with:

Win or tie

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South with:

Win + Falcons loss

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

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

After an emotional overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week, the Los Angeles Rams performed like their minds were still in the Pacific Northwest.

The Rams were upset 27-24 by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

A Jessie Bates pick-six got Atlanta out to a surprising 14-0 second-quarter lead. Then Bijan Robinson put his imprint on the game with a 93-yard touchdown run to break the game open.

Atlanta led 21-0 at halftime. However, the Rams rallied back in the second half.

Jared Verse had a block field goal touchdown return and Puka Nacua produced a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24-24.

The Falcons got the football back with under three minutes in the fourth quarter and managed to put together a game-winning drive that was capped off by a 51-yard field goal by kicker Zane Gonzalez.

It’s Atlanta’s third straight win and the playoff-bound Rams have lost two in a row.

Winners

Bijan Robinson is a shining star

With the Falcons backed up near their own end zone, the Falcons called a run play to Robinson.

Robinson made a defender miss in the backfield, found a hole, sliced through the second level of the Rams’ defense, and raced down the field for a 93-yard touchdown.

It was the longest run of Robinson’s career and the longest touchdown run in Falcons franchise history. It also represented the fourth-longest touchdown run in ‘Monday Night Football’ history, per the ESPN broadcast.

Robinson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage. He compiled 195 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. The Falcons’ versatile running back had five catches for 34 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Robinson produced 229 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the win. He was the best player on the field.

Falcons safeties Jessie Bates, rookie Xavier Watts

Matthew Stafford threw a high pass that was intended for WR Konata Mumpfield. The football hit Mumpfield’s outstretched hands and went right to Bates. Bates returned the football 34 yards to the house to give Atlanta a surprising 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Rams LB Jared Verse

The Rams’ Pro Bowl edge rusher got the team back into the game when he blocked Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal, picked up the football, and ran for a 76-yard touchdown. The score cut the Rams’ deficit to 24-17.

It was the first block field goal return for a touchdown for the Rams since 1986, per the ESPN broadcast.

Special teams have been a sore spot for the Rams all season. Sean McVay fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and replaced him with Ben Kotwica earlier this month.

Losers

MVP candidate Matthew Stafford has an off night

Stafford is a leading candidate for NFL MVP, but Bijan Robinson performed like the MVP on Monday.

Stafford threw two interceptions in the first half. One interception came on a high pass and the other INT came on a deep pass that was a 50-50 ball.  

The Rams quarterback tossed a third interception in the fourth quarter.

Stafford also missed a wide-open WR Xavier Smith on a play where Smith could’ve scored a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Smith would’ve at least put Los Angeles in position for a game-tying field goal.

Rams run defense

Remember when Saquon Barkley rushed for 460 yards and four touchdowns in two games versus the Rams, including the playoffs, last year? Bijan Robinson had a comparable performance. Robinson rushed for a 93-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He compiled 195 rushing yards and one rushing TD on 22 carries.

The Rams came into Week 17 allowing 105.7 rushing yards per game, ranking 12th in the NFL. Los Angeles gave up 219 rushing yards in the loss.

The Rams could face Barkley and the Eagles in the wild-card round. Or a Bears team that ranks third in the league in rushing.

Rams’ offense missed two linemen, Davante Adams

The Rams were without starting offensive linemen Alaric Jackson and Kevin Dotson and Adams at wide receiver due to injuries.  

The Rams could’ve used Adams’ scoring prowess in the red zone. Adams leads the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions and Los Angeles went scoreless in the first half – going 1-3 in the red zone.

What loss means for Rams

The Rams are in sixth position in the NFC playoff race. They still have a slim chance to move up to the fifth seed. The Rams can still get the fifth seed if the San Francisco 49ers lose to the Seattle Seahawks.

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

The Denver Nuggets, suddenly, are holding their breath and hoping for the best.

Star center and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić suffered an left knee injury Monday, Dec. 29 in a game against the Miami Heat after awkwardly hyperextending it. Jokić trudged off the court with an extreme limp and did not return in the second half.

“Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters after the game, an eventual 147-123 Heat victory. “This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.”

Initially, the Nuggets had said Jokić was questionable to return to the game, though he was not on the floor at the start of the second half.

The injury came late in the second quarter, with just 6 seconds left to play in the period, when Jokić was defending in the paint. As he was shuffling his feet, Nuggets forward Spencer Jones was pushed backward and Jones stepped on Jokić’s left foot as Jokić was planting it, causing his left knee to buckle and hyperextend backwards.

Jokić lay on the court in apparent discomfort and grabbed at his knee. Trainers and medical staff tended to him, before he eventually got up and left the floor.

The immediate concern is a ligament injury, which would be worst case scenario and could force Jokić to miss extended time. The Nuggets will evaluate Jokić with testing and imaging Tuesday, Dec. 30 before offering a more complete update.

“We’ll find our more tomorrow and move on as a team,” Adelman said. “I’m more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It’s unfortunate and we’re hoping for the best. We have to stay withit to best support our teammates who are out and honor them when they play.

“It sucks, but hoping for the best.”

Jokić was playing MVP-caliber basketball this season for Denver, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists in 31 games.

In the first half against Miami, Jokić had scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, with 8 assists and 5 rebounds.

With Jokić sidelined — at least momentarily — the Nuggets currently have four of their five starters injured; Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Cameron Johnson (knee) and Christian Braun (ankle) are also out.

Denver dropped to 22-10 and is currently on a seven-game road trip. The next game is Wednesday, Dec. 31 against the Toronto Raptors.

Though Woods has somewhat stepped away from the PGA Tour in recent years — focusing on his businesses as well as Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) as they prepare for their second season — Woods’ career still leaves people in awe the more they learn.

Woods’ dominance on the links cannot be understated. So, as the man of the hour hits five decades, let’s take a look back at the 10 best moments of his career.

Keep in mind, this is a subjective list. You are allowed to disagree with it, but if you do, know that you are wrong and you look silly.

Top 10 moments of Tiger Woods’ career

10) ‘Better than Most’ — 2001 Players Championship

Ask any golfer and they can tell you the exact putt that the words ‘Better than Most’ came from. The iconic putt was great in and of itself, but it was made legendary by analyst Gary Koch’s commentary, repeating ‘Better than Most’ over and over with increasing enthusiasm as it got closer and closer to the hole.

9) 2000 U.S. Open

Woods’ dominance is well-documented, but it wasn’t always. The 2000 U.S. Open was one of the first tournaments where fans started to realize just how much damage Woods could do. After leading by just one shot after the first round, Woods then kicked his game to another gear, leading by six after 36, 10 after 54, and 15 when all was said and done.

Woods was the only player in the entire tournament to finish under par. He finished at 12-under.

8) Woods aces the 16th at 1997 Phoenix Open

Often referred to as the ‘loudest hole in golf,’ the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is known for producing legendary moments. Of course, Woods had to add himself to that mix. Woods’ ace in 1997 sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy, the kind of eruption that would make Shooter McGavin lose his mind.

7) Just short? — 2005 Masters

This is arguably the shot that Woods is most known for. Any golf fan can close their eyes and see the ball stop at the lip of the cup, flashing that iconic Nike logo, and leaving the crowd disappointed just moments before it takes one final turn into the cup and sending everyone into hysterics. The fact it happened at Augusta just added to the legend.

6) 2022 Masters

Woods did not win this tournament, but Woods’ career isn’t all about the wins, it’s also about the resilience, the ability to get back up when you get knocked down. Woods was involved in a serious car crash just 14 months prior to this tournament. Somehow though, Woods still managed to make the cut, extending his streak of consecutive Masters cuts made to 22, tying him with Fred Couples and Gary Player for the longest such streaks in tournament history.

5) ‘Hello, world’

Fresh off winning the U.S. Amateur for the third time in his young career, the golfing world was waiting in anticipation wondering if Woods would remain an amateur. However, it was clear that there was something in the works. After all, Woods’ dad, Earl, had secured a five-year, $40 million deal with Nike, which in all likelihood, wasn’t a spur of the moment deal.

Woods’ iconic ‘I guess, hello world’ marked the beginning of what would become the most iconic professional career in golf history.

4) The ‘Tiger Slam’

Not many golfers can say they’ve won a career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods won all four tournaments in a year. Though some skeptics will say that it doesn’t count since they didn’t all happen in the same year, those people don’t have friends, so who cares what they have to say.

Woods won all four major tournaments in a row, making him the defending champ at each of the biggest events in golf. That’s like being an undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing, but probably a thousand times less likely.

It’s very likely that we never see another golfer win all four majors in a row. That’s how insane this feat truly was.

3) 2006 Open Championship

Though this wasn’t the first or even the second time Woods would win the Open Championship, Woods’ victory in 2006 was iconic because of what Woods was dealing with at the time. Woods lost his father, Earl, earlier that year. You can see the emotion on Woods’ face after the winning putt as he shares an embrace with his caddie.

2) 1997 Masters

Woods was under a lot of pressure prior to this tournament. He was the young up-and-comer who would bring in a new era of golf. But he’d never won a major, he’d yet to make a major impact on the sport.

Then the 1997 Masters happened. He won by 12 strokes, and set a then-record four-round score of 270 (-18).

Even more iconic was Woods’ resilience in the tournament. Through nine holes, Woods carded a 4-over and was struggling immensely. He then shot four birdies and an eagle on the back nine, finishing the first round at 2-under. That was just a taste of all that was to come.

1) 2019 Masters

By 2019, Woods was well past his prime. He wasn’t the same dominant force that shook the Earth when he walked by. Woods hadn’t won a major in over a decade. Fans had written him off, but Woods wasn’t done.

It was a flash from the past that had fans giddy with enjoyment. He didn’t dominate like fans were accustomed to years prior, but he managed the win anyway. The best part was definitely him embracing his children behind the 18th green, the same place he hugged his parents after his win in 1997. It was really a full circle moment and an exclamation point on one of the greatest careers ever.

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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking a job at the next level.
Freeman confirmed his decision to remain with the Fighting Irish on social media.
Freeman received a raise to remain at Notre Dame, according to multiple reports.

As Billy Madison once said, it’s “back to school, back to school” for Marcus Freeman. 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach informed NFL teams he won’t be seeking job opportunities beyond his current one. Once those reports circulated, the 39-year-old confirmed his stance with a message on social media.

“2026 … run it back,” Freeman wrote. “Go Irish.”

Freeman was by no means a shoo-in for any current or potential NFL head-coaching vacancy. But the 2024 Coach of the Year was drawing interest from teams, per multiple reports. With good reason. He’s a young, successful coach who presents competence and projects confidence. Any organization looking for the traditional “culture-changer” archetype – cough, New York Giants, cough – would have had Freeman’s name on the interview list. 

For those front offices, it’s on to the next. 

Fans of Freeman, 39, say his leadership style will translate to the pros. Any team looking for a “CEO” at head coach rather than an offensive or defensive whiz – although Freeman made his bones as a successful defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Notre Dame – would have to look at him. His experience, from leading the most visible program in America to playing at Ohio State, is another positive bullet point on Freeman’s resume.

Of all the cycles to fully commit to the NFL interview process, this was close to an ideal one for Freeman, since his current team is sitting at home, on the wrong side of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s policies and debates. The irked Irish – somewhat impolitely – also denied any bowl invitations.   

Perhaps Freeman wanted more options, with two openings currently, the Giants and Tennessee Titans. More jobs will become available. The normal average is seven NFL head coach openings each year, however, and that number might be lower this offseason. The counterpoint to that is the absence of a hot-shot coordinator or two who are sure to receive any of the openings, a distinction Ben Johnson held, for example, before being hired by the Chicago Bears last year. 

Get ready for the annual Marcus Freeman to NFL rumor cycle

The fluidity of roster construction in the college ranks, thanks to the transfer portal and NIL, has decreased the gap in the difference of responsibilities a college coach faces compared to a pro coach. Everybody’s getting paid now. Everybody’s a professional (allegedly). Egos are more pronounced in the NFL, but so is the overall maturity of the locker room, in most cases. 

Freeman boasts a 43-12 record since taking over after Brian Kelly’s departure four years ago and led Notre Dame to the national championship game last year. Every time his name floats into NFL coaching conversations, Freeman can look at Notre Dame’s coffers and do the “money please” dance. ESPN reported that the Irish gave Freeman an “enhanced contract,” on the heels of a raise in December 2024 that paid him $7.4 million annually, according to USA TODAY Sports’ NCAA coaches’ salary database. Per Sports Illustrated, the new deal puts him in the “top tier” of compensation among his peers. 

For Freeman, this can become an annual tradition – the next-generation Pete Carroll. On-field success. Rumors. Raise. Rinse and Repeat. 

Until Freeman actually makes the jump, that’s how it’ll go. And NFL owners will have to simply wonder what he’d look like leading their team. 

Southern California coach Lincoln Riley blamed Notre Dame for why the historic rivalry between the two teams has paused, adding the Fighting Irish didn’t keep to their word.

USC and Notre Dame announced on Dec. 22 their rivalry would not continue after they couldn’t come to terms on the future of the series that has been played 96 times since 1926. A week after the news, Riley was asked at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 29 ahead of the Alamo Bowl about what led to the halt of the rivalry game, and he pointed to Notre Dame as the reason.

Riley said both sides worked for months to continue the series and recently, USC athletics director Jen Cohen offered a proposal that would extend the game for two more years and Notre Dame rejected it.

‘We took Notre Dame at their word that they would play us anytime, anywhere,’ Riley said.

The Trojans coach added five minutes after the offer was rejected, Notre Dame announced a home-and-home series with Brigham Young that effectively ended any chance of the rivalry continuing. He said ‘that might be the fastest scheduling act in college football history.’

The main blocking point in the future of the game centered on the scheduling. Traditionally, it took place at Notre Dame in mid-October in odd years, and in even years, occurred in Los Angeles in November. The recent deal for the series ended with the 2025 game. The belief was USC wanted the game to be played earlier in the schedule to avoid it being in the middle of conference play. 

‘Had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing in the next two years, and looking ahead after that and hopefully, continuing the series,’ Riley said. ‘They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.’

Riley has stated several times he has great respect for Notre Dame and the rivalry and wanted to keep it going. Since Riley took over at USC in 2022, Notre Dame has won three of the four meetings, including three consecutive victories. He said he’s hopeful something can be worked out in the future and ‘we at SC would love for the game to continue, and we have no problem following through on our promises in the future.’

After it was announced the rivalry would be paused, both schools said in a joint statement they ‘look forward to meeting again in the future.’

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 51–37–5.

Three more college football bowl games are on the Tuesday docket as the new year draws ever nearer.

The day’s slate features a couple of Big Ten squads in action in their respective opponents’ home states. One will be in SEC country, while the other faces Big 12 opposition. But before the power conference representatives take the field, a matchup of so-called mid-major squads gets a brief turn in the spotlight in the matinee.

Here’s a breakdown of the trio of contests slated for the penultimate day of 2025. Yes, we’re obligated to use the word penultimate whenever possible – it’s in our contract.

Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech

Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN in Shreveport, La.

Why watch: The Tuesday tripleheader kicks off with yet another clash between representatives of the Sun Belt and Conference USA. The Chanticleers will be led by interim coach Jeremiah Johnson before Ryan Beard fully takes charge after his arrival from Missouri State ahead of next season. Given their passing issues all year, they’ll likely count on RB Ja’Vin Simpkins and more mobile QB Samari Collier to mount drives. If Collier is unable to play due to injury, the job will likely fall to Tad Hudson. The Bulldogs have been only slightly more successful in the passing game, but QB Trey Kukuk directed victories starting Tech’s last two contests.

Why it could disappoint: Some of the Chanticleers are in the portal, but other players might be auditioning for future roles. The Bulldogs should have the edge in crowd support and interest level.

Music City Bowl: No. 23 Tennessee vs. Illinois

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN in Nashville, Tenn.

Why watch: The Volunteers fell short of their bid to return to the College Football Playoff but at least get to play their final game in front of a home-state crowd. The Fighting Illini, who also spent time in the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 during the season but couldn’t crack the Big Ten’s top tier, should provide a suitable matchup. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar stepped into a challenging situation and did what he could, but the SEC’s most accomplished defenses were too much to overcome. His primary playmakers should be WR Braylon Staley after Chris Brazzell opted out of the game. QB Luke Altmyer had similar issues as Aguilar at Illinois, though he took better care of the ball despite sketchy ground support. His main deep threat is WR Hank Beatty, who is also a dangerous punt returner.

Why it could disappoint: The Vols’ no-show in their regular-season finale against Vanderbilt raises serious questions about their mindset heading into their bowl game. The Illini were on the short end of a few blowouts themselves, so things could get sideways for them as well.

Alamo Bowl: No. 16 Southern California vs. TCU

Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN in San Antonio, Texas.

Why watch: The Trojans were realistically behind the proverbial playoff eight ball after their early setback at Illinois, but for the most part they won the games they were supposed to. TCU also had some nice results but also some curiously uneven performances that had their fans frustrated for large portions of the fall. Unfortunately for the viewers, the most recognizable names will not be participating as USC WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are prepping for the draft and Horned Frogs QB Josh Hoover is transferring. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava will need to find some new targets, while TCU turns to backup Ken Seals, who has attempted just six passes all season but completed four of them.

Why it could disappoint: The Horned Frogs figure to be at more of a personnel disadvantage. If TCU’s defense can’t get stops early, it might be a long night.

At this time last season, we were asked to make some bold predictions for NHL teams in 2025. We went with three, and it’s now a great time to re-examine those bold predictions and see how we fared. Here we go:

2025 Prediction 1: TheToronto Maple Leafs finally win second-round series but get eliminated in Eastern Conference final

The Rationale: “The meat of this prediction is that, at long last, the Maple Leafs will not only win their first-round series, but they’ll win a second-round series for the first time since 2001-02. That will mean they likely eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers, but we’re not nearly so confident in Toronto’s play in the Eastern Conference final series.”

How’d We Do? Not too shabby. It wasn’t fully correct, but we did have the Leafs winning a playoff round, and we were one game away from being 100 percent accurate on the entire prediction. Toronto was a handful for the Ottawa Senators last season, and they nearly knocked off the back-to-back Cup-champion Panthers. 

Small consolation for Leafs fans, but this is what makes the Buds’ current struggles so strange – Toronto’s core is still talented enough for them to be playoff contenders, and Leafs star Mitch Marner’s absence shouldn’t be the sole cause for the Leafs’ struggles.

It may already be too late for Toronto to avoid missing the playoffs this year, and a catastrophic end like that will ensure major trades happen in Leafs Land next summer.

Anyhow, let’s say we get a passing grade for this prediction. Not an A+ result, but not bad at all.

The Rationale: “The Avalanche’s overall lack of depth — especially in goal and at forward — will mean Colorado doesn’t have the talent base needed to go on a deep post-season run unless they only play their top stars.” 

How’d We Do? In the words of Christoph Waltz’s character in the ‘Inglorious Basterds’ film: That’s a bingo.

Okay, if you want to quibble about it, the Avs didn’t get steamrolled. And yes, we did write as part of that prediction that Mikko Rantanen would stay in Denver. But we’ll take success as it comes, and we did believe Landeskog would be back in action, only for the Avalanche to lose in the first round. We’re calling that a big win.

2025 Prediction 3: The Pittsburgh Penguins will finally start to tear down their roster, trading Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang after the Penguins fail to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

The Rationale: “The Penguins have been an up-and-down team this season, but though they’re fourth in the Metropolitan Division, they’re outside of a wild-card spot and have a handful of teams below them that aren’t far behind. That means there are plenty of potential reasons why the Penguins could fall down the Metropolitan Division standings and wind up missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

“If and when the Pens miss the playoffs yet again, there will be pressure to drastically change the lineup. While captain Sidney Crosby isn’t going anywhere, trades for Malkin and Letang could finally become realistic enough to happen.”

How’d We Do? On this one, we are going to claim a bit of success in predicting that Pittsburgh would miss the playoffs for the third straight year. But despite another stellar season from Crosby, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas did not make changes to his aging core.

Sure, there were some fringe changes Dubas made this past summer, but the Pens looked like a sinking ship right out of the gate last year – remember that six-game losing streak, or going 7-12-4 to start the season? Dubas chose to run it back with the same group this season.

Now, you might say that the Penguins validated Dubas’ optimism in them by being a better team in the current season, but once there is some separation in the standings, Pittsburgh is going to have a difficult time staying in the playoff mix. As a matter of fact, they’re currently outside of a playoff spot.

We’re going to give ourselves a C+ on this prediction. It could’ve happened and could still happen, so while we’re certainly not giving ourselves an A or B grade on this one, it still got some things right.

So, out of three predictions, we hit a home run with one, we had an RBI single in another one, and we had a line-drive flyout on the third.

The predictions business is fraught with danger, so getting the framework of the predictions right was the key for us, and we didn’t do badly at all in that regard this past year. But who knows – in our next round of predictions, we could miss on all of them.

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The Golden State Warriors got back in the win column with a 120-107 victory against the Brooklyn Nets in a valiant team effort. 

Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 48 points, scoring 27 and 21, respectively. But it was the effort from the Golden State reserves that really told the tale of the game. 

The Warriors’ bench outscored the Nets’ bench 58-27. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 11 points. De’Anthony Melton, Will Richard and Gary Payton II each had 10. 

‘With the back to back, we knew we were going to play a lot of people, which we did. I think we had 12 guys play 10 minutes or more,’ Kerr said to reporters after the game. ‘It was great. That group came in and really got the game right. From there, it was really fun to watch everybody contribute.”

Watching Curry go on solo runs as he did throughout the game, Kerr said, “It never gets old coaching Steph, I’ll tell you that.”

The Nets were led by Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. Brooklyn rookie guard Egor Demin scored a career-high 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting from three-point territory. 

Golden State’s second unit came in defensive minded. They had high intensity and made the hustle plays, racking up eight steals and four blocks. 

Nic Claxton added 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for Brooklyn, as they fell to 10-20. The Nets played their last game of 2025 and will face the Houston Rockets on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. 

The Warriors are back over .500 at 17-16. The Warriors’ next game is Wednesday, Dec. 31 against the Charlotte Hornets. 

Warriors vs. Nets highlights

1st quarter highlights

Brooklyn jumped out to a 10-point game to start the game, leading 18-8, with 7:33 remaining after a Michael Porter Jr. dunk. 

The Nets knocked down six threes in the opening period on 55% shooting from deep as a team. Their biggest lead was 15. 

The Warriors got a big boost from Trayce Jackson-Davis who recorded three points, two blocks and a steal in the first quarter to set the tone defensively for Golden State. 

His presence helped spark a 15-2 run to end the quarter. The Dubs were down 30-28 at the end of the first period. 

Nets forward Michael Porter scored 10 points in the opening 12 minutes. Jimmy Butler led Golden State with eight points. 

2nd quarter highlights 

The continued to show up defensively forcing turnovers, getting deflections, drawing offensive fouls and making it difficult for Brooklyn. 

Golden State seemed to find a rhythm and were in sync offensively, sharing the ball, finding the open man cutting to the basket. 

The Warriors got great bench production in the first half, scoring 37 points in the first half. 

Golden State ended the half with the lead, 59-57, led by Stephen Curry who had 10 points. Davis had nine points off the bench in the first half. 

3rd quarter highlights 

Both teams traded baskets through the third quarter. Curry began to catch fire, scoring 10 points. 

There were a couple of questionable calls where Curry made a three pointer and a pull up near the free throw line and believed he was in the act of shooting, but officials called both on the floor, not counting the shots. 

Porter continued to score in bunches for the Nets. He was helped out by rookie guard Egor Demin, who had 17 at the end of three quarters. 

Butler came alive in the period, initiating an 11-0 run by himself. He ended the quarter with 21 points. Warriors led 89-85 after three quarters.

4th quarter highlights 

Brooklyn’s Traore cashed in a three to open the quarter before the Warriors went on a 8-0 run.

Curry nailed a 25-foot three-pointer from straight ahead to pass Kevin Garnett at No. 21 on the NBA all-time scoring list. 

Noah Clowney kept the Nets in it after getting to the line, making one of two, before hitting a three to keep Brooklyn within six. 

Demin hit a career-high when he hit a corner three giving him 20 points. 

Brandin Podziemski followed with a three of his own helping the Warriors eventually build a double-digit lead. 

Nic Claxton went on a sequence with a block then back-to-back dunks to bring Brooklyn within six. 

A few plays later, Curry answered with a three-point play getting fouled and hitting a mid-range jumper. 

The game was sealed when De’Anthony Melton blocked a Demin three-point attempt and scored on the other end. Will Richard followed with a steal and slam to put Golden State up 116-106. The Warriors would go on to win 120-107. 

Warriors keys to victory

Learn from last game’s mistakes:After a loss to the Raptors, Golden State should look to focus on the little things that cost them the game in Toronto: taking care of the basketball, rebounding and continuous physical play. The Warriors cut their turnovers down to 14, and outrebound the Nets 40-34.
Contain the Thomas-Porter Jr. Show: Defensively, there will have to be a heightened focus as the Warriors face volume scorers Michael Porter Jr., averaging 25.8 points per game, and Cam Thomas, who averages 22.3 points. Porter scored 27, however Thomas was held to 13.
Defend the paint: It’s easier said than done since Quinten Post is the lone 7-footer on the team, but the Warriors have to defend the paint better than they have. Not only were they outrebounded last game, but they also allowed 70 points in the paint. Nets only scored 30 points in the paint.
More involvement from others: When the Warriors are passing the ball and everyone is involved they are a much better team. No matter how entertaining it is to watch Curry go on a flurry, guys have to remain involved in the offense and knock down good looks when the ball swings their way.Warriors’ bench scored 58 points behind Davis (11) and Payton, Richard and Melton (11 each).

Warriors’ next five games

Dec. 31 at Charlotte Hornets
Jan. 2 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks