MILWAUKEE, WI —The U.S. Speedskating team is complete.

Sarah Warren, who narrowly missed the Olympic team four years ago, secured her spot at the Milano Cortina Games by winning the 500-meter race on Monday night. She was one of four skaters added to the U.S. team in the final day of the Olympic trials.

Zach Stoppelmoor qualified in the 500 meters; Ethan Cepuran got a spot in the mass start; and Giorgia Birkdale was nominated as a team pursuit specialist. They join:

Jordan Stolz (500, 1,000, 1,500 meters and mass start)
Cooper McLeod (500 and 1,000 meters)
Casey Dawson (1,500, 5,000, 10,000 meters and team pursuit)
Emery Lehman (1,500 meters and team pursuit)
Conor McDermott-Mostowy (1,000 meters)
Erin Jackson (500 and 1,000 meters)
Brittany Bowe (1,000 and 1,500 meters)
Mia Manganello (mass start and team pursuit)
Greta Myers (1,500 meters and team pursuit)

Stolz will be a gold-medal favorite in all of his events, while the men’s team pursuit also will be favorites for gold. Jackson and Bowe will be contenders at both of their distances, while Mia Manganello has a chance to medal in the mass start. The women’s team pursuit also has medal potential.

‘I think it’s really good,’ Stolz said when asked to assess the team. ‘I think we have some good (medal) opportunities.’

Warren earning her spot was one of the more emotional moments of the night.

After playing soccer at the University of Illinois, Warren returned to speed skating in 2021. She nearly made the U.S. team for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, finishing fourth in the 500 meters and fifth in both the 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

She’s had nine knee surgeries over the course of her career, and another on her ankle.

Jackson, the reigning Olympic champion in the 500 meters, had pre-qualified her spot through her success in the World Cups this season. The person with the next-fastest time after a 500-meter race Sunday and another Monday would join her.

Warren was second to Jackson on Sunday. With Jackson not racing Monday, Warren posted the fastest time to clinch her Olympic spot. When she crossed the finish line, Warren screamed and began crying.

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The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have clinched the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
Wild-card weekend features six matchups, including a Monday night game between the Texans and Steelers.

The NFL playoffs are officially here. The roadmap to Santa Clara is set.

In the NFC, all things go through Seattle with the Seahawks as the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014. While in the AFC, the Denver Broncos clinched the top seed in the conference for the first time since 2015 season.

The Seahawks and Broncos have much-deserved byes during the wild-card round.

Wild-card weekend kicks off in North Carolina with the Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers. Saturday night features an NFC North matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

Sunday begins with the Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. Then the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles play host to the San Francisco 49ers. The main event Sunday night will be the Los Angeles Chargers vs. the New England Patriots.

Wild card weekend ends when the Houston Texans pay a visit to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers for a ‘Monday Night Football’ tilt.

USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for the wild-card round:

NFL wild card predictions, picks

Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers

Date: Saturday, Jan. 10

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Rams (-10)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 27, Panthers 20

Carolina beat the Rams at home in Week 13 in what was probably the worst game of Matthew Stafford’s MVP-caliber season. The Rams committed three turnovers in the loss in which hardly anything went their way. I predict the Rams take better care of the football and send the Panthers packing this time. Los Angeles is the more talented team. However, the Panthers have a lot of bulletin-board material because they are a big home underdog.

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

Date: Saturday, Jan. 10

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: N/A

Streaming: Prime Video

Spread: Bears (-1)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Packers 27, Bears 24

These two NFC North rivals split the season series, each winning on their home turf. The season-ending injury to Micah Parsons lowers Green Bay’s ceiling. But Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Packers have a lot of firepower on offense. This will mark Chicago’s first playoff game since 2020. It’ll also be the biggest game of Caleb Williams’ young career. Will Williams rise to the moment? I think Williams plays well but the Bears falter against Green Bay.

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Date: Sunday, Jan. 11

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

TV: CBS

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Bills (-1.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 26, Bills 22

The Jaguars enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak, the second longest active winning streak in the NFL. Coach of the year candidate Liam Coen has Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his career. The Bills are too dependent on Josh Allen. I think Buffalo’s reliance on Allen comes back to bite the Bills.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Date: Sunday, Jan. 11

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

TV: FOX

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Eagles (-3.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Eagles 25, 49ers 20

The 49ers have been ravaged by injuries all season. Fred Warner and Nick Bosa suffered season-ending injuries. Brandon Aiyuk didn’t even play this year. It’s a testament to Kyle Shanahan that the 49ers are even in the playoffs. This version of the 49ers can’t beat the Eagles, even if Philly doesn’t play its best brand of football. The defending Super Bowl champs are the most dangerous team in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots

Date: Sunday, Jan. 11

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

TV: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

Spread: Patriots (-3.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Chargers 23, Patriots 22

Justin Herbert’s never won a playoff game. Drake Maye’s never played in a playoff game. The Chargers have the NFL’s worst pass block win rate and rank second to last in run block win rate. However, the Patriots don’t have a formidable pass rush. Herbert and the Chargers pull off the biggest upset of wild-card weekend.

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Date: Monday, Jan. 12

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh

TV: ESPN

Streaming: FUBO

Spread: Texans (-3.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Texans 24, Steelers 19

Tyler Loop’s 44-yard shanked field goal saved Pittsburgh’s season. The Steelers will welcome back DK Metcalf, who they’ve sorely missed. However, the Texans have the NFL’s top defense. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have combined for 27 sacks. Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter each matchup well against Metcalf. The Texans should win as long as C.J. Stroud manages the game and takes care of the football.

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

The New Year is bringing some parity to the NBA.

No team is flashing the dominance that we had seen over recent stretches, as the longest active winning streak going in the league is just three games, currently held by the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s interesting because the Celtics suddenly are creeping up the standings and are making a case for the second spot in the East – and with star player Jayson Tatum yet to play a game and possibly out all season. All of this begs the question: if Boston remains competitive deep into the season, and if Tatum is eventually cleared to return, how should the Celtics handle that?

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 10 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Jan. 4. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 11 power rankings: Top 10

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 30-6 (+1)

2. Detroit Pistons, 26-9 (+1)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 25-10 (-2)

4. Boston Celtics, 22-12 (+2)

5. Denver Nuggets, 23-12 (—)

6. New York Knicks, 23-12 (-2)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 23-13 (—)

8. Los Angeles Lakers, 22-11 (+1)

9. Houston Rockets, 21-11 (-1)

10. Phoenix Suns, 21-14 (—)

After prying away the top spot from the Thunder last week, the Spurs have lost three of their last five as Victor Wembanyama suffered another injury scare. So, even though the Thunder have been vulnerable, and even though they have struggled against teams with defensive length and athleticism at the wing, OKC regains No. 1 status.

The Celtics, though, have been quiet risers behind Jaylen Brown, who is having an MVP-caliber season without Jayson Tatum (Achilles); Boston suddenly has the NBA’s second-ranked offensive rating. The Lakers are seemingly dealing with internal tension amid lingering questions about their subpar defense and offensive fit issues with Luka Dončić and LeBron James, but L.A. keeps on winning.

NBA Week 11 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Toronto Raptors, 21-15 (+1)

12. Philadelphia 76ers, 19-14 (+3)

13. Miami Heat, 20-16 (—)

14. Orlando Magic, 20-16 (-3)

15. Cleveland Cavaliers, 20-17 (-1)

16. Golden State Warriors, 19-17 (—)

17. Chicago Bulls, 17-18 (+1)

18. Milwaukee Bucks, 16-20 (+1)

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 16-20 (+2)

20. Atlanta Hawks, 15-18 (-5)

Joel Embiid is playing more minutes for the Sixers and is averaging 28.7 points per game over his last seven. The Heat, after losing nine of 11 throughout December, have course corrected and have returned to their offensive pace with Norman Powell making an All-Star push. Miami has won five of its last six, including one against the top seed in the East, the Pistons.

The Magic have to figure out how to incorporate Paolo Banchero into the offense more efficiently, as his on-off numbers remain relatively underwhelming. And the Hawks are simply out of sorts – whether Trae Young is on the floor or not – losing 12 of their last 16 games.

NBA Week 11 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Los Angeles Clippers, 12-22 (+2)

22. Memphis Grizzlies, 15-20 (-5)

23. Dallas Mavericks, 13-23 (+1)

24. Utah Jazz, 12-22 (-2)

25. Charlotte Hornets, 12-23 (—)

26. Brooklyn Nets, 11-22 (—)

27. Washington Wizards, 9-25 (+2)

28. New Orleans Pelicans, 8-29 (-1)

29. Sacramento Kings, 8-28 (-1)

30. Indiana Pacers, 6-30 (—)

Are the Clippers all the way back? Over their last 10 games, no team has posted a higher offensive rating than Los Angeles (123.0), and Kawhi Leonard has been on an absolute heater, averaging 36.6 points per game over his last seven. The Mavericks got Anthony Davis back and upset the Rockets on Jan. 3, but Dallas will need the big man healthy to climb into the playoff picture.

The Nets have been more competitive on defense, but that hasn’t led to consistency with victories. Winners of four of their last six, the Wizards are getting decent contributions from young starters and from Justin Champagnie and Bub Carrington off the bench.  

The WNBA and WNBPA appear to be at an impasse as the deadline for new collective bargaining agreement approaches on Friday, Jan. 9.

The league has not moved off of any of the numbers from its last offer reported in December.

‘We are at a bit of standstill,’ WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier said when asked about the CBA on ‘Good Morning America’ on Monday, Jan. 5. ‘The timeline is coming up in a couple of days. It’s gonna expire.’

Collier, who was appearing on GMA to tout the second season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league she co-founded with Breanna Stewart, said no one wants a work stoppage but the players will continue to ask for what they believe they deserve.

‘We’re just excited to show at Unrivaled that it is possible to pay the players and create a successful business,’ Collier said. ‘And that’s what we hope to do in the WNBA as well.

‘We feel really confident in what we’re asking for, and I just feel really blessed to be able to play and create something that is already showing that these things are possible.’

WNBA players voted to authorize the WNBPA’s executive committee to ‘call a strike when necessary,’ in late December. The current CBA is set to expire on Jan. 9, 2026, following two extensions from the original Oct. 31 deadline.

The league has proposed a system where players would receive in excess of 70% of net revenue, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The WNBA’s offer includes a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue sharing component that raises players’ max total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026. The maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement. The proposal raises the minimum salary to more $250K and the average salary to more than $530K, growing to more than $780,000 over the life of the deal.

The players have prioritized increased revenue sharing and salary structures in negotiations. According to The Athletic, the league has offered revenue sharing at 15% while the union has proposed 30%. The sides also differ on how that percentage, as well as the salary cap, would be calculated.

When asked to comment on the bargaining, WNPBA executive director Terri Jackson sent this statement to USA TODAY Sports:

“The players know the difference between doing business and creating click-bait. They are focused on the system. Despite what the league and the teams are trying to do, the players are not confused by the numbers. The players want a meaningful share of the revenue they are creating. They want to be properly valued in these negotiations and this next CBA. They do not want to be paid last with only a fraction of the dollars left over. 

‘I cannot comment on the specifics of any proposal but I can speak hypothetically.  The players would not have opted out of the 2020 CBA with a fixed salary system giving them less than 10% of the revenue that their labor drives only to agree to a salary system that is arguably tied to revenue but now gives them less than 15%. The business has grown considerably and the league and the teams project incredible sustainable growth into the (foreseeable) future.

‘How do the capital investors, Changemakers, any one who cares about women’s sports, supports women athletes, understands the value of this investment believe this could be a good deal? Again, hypothetically speaking.”

The Golden State Warriors lost a close game to the Los Angeles Clippers, 103-102, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 5.

The contest was officially decided on a missed potential game-winning baseline fade away from Warriors forward Jimmy Butler, who ended the game with 24 points and four steals.

There was a controversial missed goaltend call with 7:57 left in the fourth quarter that led to a furious Warriors head coach Steve Kerr being ejected when the team was gaining momentum after trailing most of the game.

With just around eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Warriors were down 81-74, and looked to cut into the Clippers lead after starting the period down by 10. Draymond Green found Gary Payton II on a backdoor cut, who then went for a layup off the backboard.

Clippers forward John Collins was credited with a block on Payton but replays showed the Payton had the ball on the glass before Collins made contact and should have been called a goaltend, according the 2025-26 NBA Rulebook. The score would have been 81-76, but instead it was 81-74.

An irate Kerr who was upset with the missed goaltend call, went screaming after an official, and had to be restrained by Payton and assistant coach Terry Stotts. Kerr received back-to-back technical fouls at 7:57 in the fourth quarter and was ejected from the game. Stotts took over as coach for the remainder of the game.

Stotts spoke to reporters after the game in place of Kerr and explained he was answering questions instead of Kerr ‘because I’m saving Steve some money.’

‘What particularly? I think it was that goaltending call that was missed. There were probably some other things, but that was the last straw, probably. I don’t want to speak for Steve,’ Stotts said after the game. ‘I didn’t see a replay but it seemed at the time that it was obvious that it was a goaltend.’

After a Collins made technical free throw and Kris Dunn adding two more free ones after getting fouled, the Clippers led by 10.

Their lead grew to 13 with under five minutes in the game, but one last push from Golden State got them to within a one-possession game.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 27 points and had three steals, his night ended early when he fouled out the game with 42.7 seconds left in the game and his team down, 101-100.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, while rookie guard and Southern California native Kobe Sanders scored a career-high 20 points and added seven rebounds.

Los Angeles is now 13-22 and is 11th in the Western Conference standings, while Golden State is 19-18 at the No. 8 spot.

Warriors vs. Clippers highlights 

Clippers vs. Warriors game notes

It was all Clippers in the first period as they led the Warriors, 31-19. 

In the second quarter, Warriors outscored the clippers 32-24, but still Golden State trailed Los Angeles, 55-51 at the half. Curry had 12 points in the second quarter, 14 in the half. Leonard had 14 points in the half for the Clippers. 

The Clippers’ lead grew to double-digits by the end of the third quarter but the Warriors wouldn’t go away.

Green sparked a 4th quarter run with his defensive presence which turned to easy offense for Payton and Gui Santos when it wasn’t it was all eyes on Curry.

A controversial no-call on what was believed to be a goaltend led to Kerr’s ejection. The Warriors would have been down by five but instead found themselves back at a 10-point deficit, which grew to 13.

Butler scored timely baskets, as did Curry but that stopped when he fouled out with 42 seconds in the game. Green scored to give them one more chance. Butler missed the game-winner.

‘I haven’t seen the replay but live it looked like a goaltend,’ Green said to reporters after the game. ‘Our group kept fighting. That’s what gotta do in that situation and we did. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t come out with the win.’

Green added: ‘I thought we played well. We couldn’t hit shots. We missed a lot of shots, shots that normally make or can make. We took care of the ball. We defended without fouling. I thought we did a lot of good things. We forced turnovers. We just didn’t capitalize enough.’

Warriors’ keys to the game

Unselfish play, spread the ball around: When the Warriors are at their best, they are playing a well-rounded version of team basketball. Everyone is in motion, getting good looks whether at the rim or open shots. The key will be to knock down those looks when the opportunity arises. Warriors just missed shots, going 38% on 92 field goals including 24% on 41 three-point attempts.

Who’s the answer for Kawhi: Warriors will have to throw multiple defenders at Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard to try and stop him. Expect heightened defensive focus from everyone, especially De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton Jr., Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. It was a good job, defensively, on Kawhi. He scored 27 but shot 10-of-25 and had five turnovers.

Productivity from bench: Bench production is key for the Warriors. When they’re playing together and get going, they can compliment Golden State’s stars well. Last game they outscored Utah’s bench, 46-30. Warriors bench outscored the Clippers’ bench 36-15.

Warriors’ next five games

Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Jan. 9 vs. Sacramento Kings
Jan. 11 vs. Atlanta Hawks
Jan. 13 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Jan. 15 vs. New York Knicks

Sweden finished a perfect 7-0 at the world junior hockey championship and played a nearly perfect final to take home a gold medal for the first time since 2012.

Sweden scored short-handed and on the power play, set up by great plays from Flyers prospect Jack Berglund. Then draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg took over in the third with a tremendous skating display before a Sascha Boumedienne goal. He added an empty netter after Czechia pulled close on goals by Adam Jiricek and Matej Kubiesa.

The Swedes usually know heartbreak at the tournament with strong group play and disappointing playoffs. They had lost four of their previous five semifinals, but they got past Finland, 4-3 in a shootout, That set the stage for winning their third gold medal in the 50 years of the tournament.

Silver medalist Czechia gets its fourth consecutive medal and Vojtech Cihar was named tournament MVP. Swedish goalie Love Harenstam, Jiricek and Swedish forward Anton Frondell also received honors.

Sweden vs Czechia highlights

Tournament awards

Final score: Sweden 4, Czechia 2

Czechia made it close at the end, scoring two goals with their goalie pulled. But Sweden played a nearly perfect game for 57 minutes to make the difference. Sweden wins its first gold medal since 2012. Czechia gets silver.

Ivar Stenberg puts it away

The draft-eligible forward tucks in an empty-netter. Sweden 4, Czechia 2

Czechia scores again

Matej Kubiesa scores with 23 seconds left. Sweden 3, Czechia 2

2 minutes left

Czech goalie out. It’s 6-on-5 again.

Czechia breaks through

Adam Jiricek scores on a one-timer with 2:24 left. Sweden 3, Czechia 1.

Czechs pull goalie

It’s 6-on-5

5 minutes left

3-0 Sweden, which leads 35-20 in shots.

Czechia power play

Linus Eriksson is called for holding. Needless to say, Czechia needs to score here. They don’t. No shots. Several Sweden blocks. About 12 minutes left.

Sweden goes up 3-0

This is why Ivar Stenberg is getting so much draft attention. He stickhandles down the ice and around the Czech zone before feeding Sascha Boumedienne for a one-timer. Sweden 3, Czechia 0

Early third period

Still not a lot of space out there, but Czechia gets a couple shots.

Third period underway

Sweden controlling play so far.

End of second: Sweden 2, Czechia 0

Another special teams goal for Sweden. And they look good on the penalty kill, too. Sweden is limiting Czechia’s chances. Just 11 Czech shots so far. Twenty more minutes of this, and Sweden gets gold.

Czechia power play

Loke Krantz is called for interference. Sweden kills it off, blocking several shots.

Sweden scores on power play

Another nice assist by Jack Berglund. Victor Eklund capitalizes. Sweden 2, Czechia 0

Sweden power play

Vojtech Cihar is called for cross-checking.

Sweden pressuring

Ivar Stenberg hits the post.

Second period underway

1-0 Sweden.

End of first: Sweden 1, Czechia 0

Giving up a short-handed goal is never good and Czechia didn’t look good in its coverage. That mistake is the difference in this game. Shots are 10-6 Sweden.

Sweden scores short-handed

Jack Berglund puts on a stickhandling display and then feeds Casper Juustovaara for a short-handed goal. Sweden 1, Czechia 0

Czechia power play

Sascha Boumedienne is called for delay of game.

Czechia power play

Ivar Stenberg is called for holding the stick. It’s killed off. One shot.

Lucas Pettersson in Sweden lineup

He had missed Sunday’s game because he was ill.

Game underway

Sweden’s Love Harenstam vs. Czechia’s Michal Orsulak, Both played in Sunday’s semifinals.

What channel is Sweden vs Czechia world juniors hockey gold-medal game today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time is Sweden vs Czechia world juniors hockey gold-medal game today?

Date: Monday, Jan. 5

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 local time)

The Sweden-Czechia game is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild. The start time could be delayed if the bronze medal game runs long.

World juniors hockey gold-medal game: How to watch, stream

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships medal games today

Monday, Jan. 5

All times p.m. ET

Canada 6 Finland 3 (Canada wins bronze)

Sweden, Czechia lines

Sweden players to watch

Forward Anton Frondell is the No. 3 overall pick of the Blackhawks. He has five goals. Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck are eligible for the 2026 NHL draft.

Czechia players to watch

Vojtech Cihar entered the day tied for the tournament lead with 11 points, though Canadian players have passed him. He scored twice in the semifinals. Defenseman Tomas Galvas, passed over in the NHL draft, has nine points.

Sweden’s recent record in gold medal games

Sweden last won gold in 2012. More recently, it has lost four times in gold medal games: to the USA in 2024, Canada in 2018, Finland in 2014 and USA in 2013.

Czechia will win fourth consecutive medal

The Czechs are guaranteed at least a silver medal. In the three tournaments before this, they won bronzes in 2024 and 2025, plus silver in 2023.

The Los Angeles Rams travel to Charlotte for the second time this season to take on the Carolina Panthers. This time around, the winner goes home.

The Rams enter the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 5 seed after finishing second in the NFC West. The Panthers are the No. 4 seed in the conference after winning a tiebreaker in the NFC South.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had three turnovers during the team’s 31-28 Week 13 loss to the Panthers. The Rams have lost two of their past three games as they enter the postseason but are a dangerous team. The Panthers have lost three of the last four games and are the only sub.-500 team to qualify for the playoffs.

How will the Rams vs. Panthers wild-card matchup go? Here’s what to expect ahead of their Jan. 10 playoff battle:

Rams vs. Panthers wild-card game odds

The Rams are a big road favorite in this contest, according to the BetMGM NFL odds.

Spread: Rams (-10)
Moneyline: Rams (-625); Panthers (+450)
Over/under: 46.5

Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered.

New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

Rams vs. Panthers matchups to watch

Led by MVP candidate Matthew Stafford, the Rams have one of the best offenses in the NFL. The upstart Panthers won the NFC South and have the confidence that they defeated Los Angeles earlier this season. Here’s a look at some of the most notable matchups to watch.

Panthers pass defense vs. Rams aerial attack

Matthew Stafford tossed two interceptions in the previous meeting against the Panthers. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams combined for 10 catches for 130 yards. Adams also had two touchdown receptions.

The Panthers defense allowed 203.9 passing yards per game during the regular season.

It’ll be interesting to see if Panthers standout cornerback Jaycee Horn travels with either Nacua or Adams. Adams has typically drawn the opposing team’s top corner while defenses shade an extra defender to Nacua.

Stafford is the third player in NFL history with at least 45 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season, per NFL Research.

Panthers pass rush versus Rams offensive line

The Panthers defense sacked Stafford twice and pressured him four times in their Week 13 victory. Derrick Brown had a strip sack. Brown had a team-best 35 pressures and his five sacks were tied for a team-high during the regular season. Brown and Carolina’s ability to get after Stafford will be key if the Panthers want to pull off the upset.

Jared Verse, Byron Young and Rams front seven against Panthers offense

The Rams have one of the best defensive fronts in football. Verse and Young combined for 19.5 sacks this season. The Rams defense ranked near the top of the league in both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate during the regular season.

Los Angeles had 10 pressures and sacked Bryce Young twice in Week 13. But the Panthers rushed for 164 yards and averaged a little more than four yards per carry. Carolina was the more physical team in the trenches previously. The Rams have to change that if they want to be victorious on Saturday.

Early prediction for Rams vs. Panthers

Rams 27, Panthers 20

Week 13 was probably the worst game of Matthew Stafford’s MVP-caliber season. Stafford committed three turnovers in the loss in which hardly anything went the Rams way. I predict the Rams take better care of the football and send the Panthers packing this time. Los Angeles is the more talented team. However, the Panthers have a lot of bulletin-board material because they are a big home underdog.

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rivalry dates back to the earliest days of the NFL, and yet they’ve only ever met in the playoffs two times.

A new chapter will be added in the storied history of these teams in the wild-card round of this year’s postseason, when the Bears host the Packers for a third matchup this year. Chicago and Green Bay each won its home game in the two divisional clashes during the regular season, so this meeting in the playoffs will serve as something of a high-stakes rubber match for the season series.

It’s also a rubber match for the all-time postseason series. The Bears won the first playoff matchup between the two teams in 1941. It took over 60 years for the next postseason meeting in 2010, when the Packers won the NFC championship en route to a Super Bowl 45 victory.

Here’s what to know ahead of Chicago’s first home playoff game in seven years:

Bears vs. Packers wild card game odds

The Bears hold a very slight edge over the Packers in the wild-card matchup, according to the BetMGM NFL odds as of Jan. 5. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

Spread: Bears (-1)
Moneyline: Bears (-110); Packers (-110)
Over/under: 46

Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered.

New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.

Bears vs. Packers matchups to watch

Ben Johnson vs. Matt LaFleur

Two of the game’s best offensive minds are set to meet in another head-to-head matchup. We’ve seen plenty of this before, when Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator playing the Packers twice per year. But we’ve only seen the two face off as head coaches twice – earlier this year – and never with the stakes so high. Expect to see both of these young masterminds reach deep in their bag to pull out any and everything they can to put more points on the board and move on to the divisional round.

Jordan Love and Packers WRs vs. Bears passing defense

Love was knocked out of the latter matchup between these two teams earlier this year with a head injury, but he put on a show against the Bears in the earlier regular season meeting, throwing for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago’s defense led the NFL in takeaways during the regular season, boosted by a league-leading 23 interceptions as a defense – including one against Love.

The Bears’ takeaway-focused defensive strategy had major boom-or-bust potential all year – Chicago still had the 10th-worst scoring defense despite the turnovers – and they’ll need to figure out how to stop Love and the Packers’ young wideouts without relying so heavily on interceptions.

Packers’ Micah Parsons-less pass-rush vs. Bears O-line and Caleb Williams

In the first 15 weeks of the season, when Green Bay had their prized offseason acquisition healthy, the Packers ranked seventh in dropback success rate allowed (43.9%) and had 34 sacks as a team with 61 tackles for a loss. Since Parsons’ injury in Week 15, Green Bay is allowing the sixth-highest success rate on dropbacks (53.2%) and had two sacks as a team – both by third-stringers against Max Brosmer in Week 18 – with 11 TFLs.

The Bears’ re-tooled offensive line has been one of its biggest strengths this year, and Williams evades sacks better than almost any other starting quarterback. His 10.8% pressure-to-sack rate is third-lowest of quarterbacks with nine or more starts this year. The Packers are going to have a hard time getting to the quarterback in this matchup and are still looking for their first win without Parsons active.

Early prediction for Bears vs. Packers

Bears 24, Packers 23

It’s a division game in the playoffs. If the first two games these two teams played in the regular season were any indication, this one is also coming down to the wire.

Ultimately, the Packers have looked like a different (read: weaker) team since Parsons suffered his season-ending ACL tear. Quarterback Jordan Love’s absence with a concussion did nothing to help their outlook as they lost four straight to end the season, but at least they’re getting him back for this game.

Week 18 weirdness aside, the Bears have looked resurgent in their first season under Johnson, particularly on offense. Williams has taken a step forward in his second season as a pro, and the offensive line is suddenly among the league’s best, opening up more possibilities in the run and passing games.

Green Bay has won three playoff games since LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019 and only one in the last four years. The injury to Parsons and lack of home-field advantage thanks to their four-game slide down the stretch may be enough to keep LaFleur and the Packers from a fourth playoff win since 2019 and first in two years.

The NBA season is nearing its midway point, meaning we’ve got a pretty good understanding of who’s real, who’s fake, and who’s trying to make a name. In the Eastern Conference, one thing is for certain: both the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks are serious contenders.

The Pistons currently sit atop the Eastern Conference Standings with a 27-9 record; they entered the night three games better than the second-place Knicks (23-13) and added another game to their lead in the standings with a 121-90 rout over New York at Little Caesars Arena.

It was a much-needed win for the Pistons, whose cracks have started to show. Detroit had lost three of its last five games entering Monday, including a loss to the struggling Utah Jazz (12-22). Furthermore, the Pistons were playing the second game of a back-to-back Monday night, making this matchup against an experienced Knicks squad that much tougher — and their dominating win that much more impressive.

The Knicks, however, have suffered a similar drought. They’ve now lost each of their last four games to the Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Stream Knicks vs. Pistons with Peacock

FINAL: Pistons 121, Knicks 90

The Pistons went into cruise control mode in the fourth. Despite some impressive jumpers by Deuce McBride midway through the quarter, it became clear quickly that the game had gotten away from the Knicks as Cade Cunningham only played the first four minutes of the final frame before subbing out for the night. He finishes with 29 points, 13 assists, three rebounds and two blocks.

On their second-to-last possession of the game, Daniss Jenkins slammed home the exclamation point on Detroit’s 30-point blowout win.

END Q3: Pistons 89, Knicks 70

The Pistons rode Cunningham’s hot hand to start the second half on a 17-5 run and take full control of the game. Cunningham doubled his point total on the night with 15 in the third; he’s now scored a game-high 29 points while shooting an incredible 64.7% (11-for-17) from the floor.

With just under 30 seconds left in the frame, Jaden Ivey grabbed a missed shot by Tyler Kolek on the rebound and took it coast to coast for a layup to push Detroit’s lead to 20 points.

Cade Cunningham takes over in third quarter

Cade Cunningham keeps pouring it on in the third quarter, scoring eight of the Pistons’ last 10 points and forcing the Knicks to call a timeout. He’s getting others involved, too: Detroit’s first nine assists of the game all came from their star point guard before Paul Reed added one by finding Cunningham himself for a three from 28 feet.

Cunningham’s also active on the defensive side of the ball; he played the Knicks’ 2-on-1 perfectly and bait Deuce McBride into attacking the rim before emphatically sending the ball into the stands.

END Q2: Pistons 64, Knicks 54

The second quarter featured remarkable defensive adjustments from Detroit. The Pistons learned what wasn’t working at the end of the first quarter and moved accordingly.

Detroit’s scoring is led by Cade Cunningham with 14 points. The former No. 1 overall pick is shooting a stellar 6-of-9 from the field. The team is also getting scoring from a multitude of places, with four other players with at least seven points, including seven from Dannis Jenkins, who has also added three assists on the night.

The variety of scoring for Detroit is in sharp contrast with the Knicks who have 17 points from Jalen Brunson, but only four players with more than five points. Mikal Bridges needs to improve his efficiency (3-of-8) if New York wants any chance of coming back in the second half.

END Q1: Pistons 30, Knicks 29

The Detroit Pistons got out to a sizable early lead thanks to great early shooting. The Knicks, meanwhile, were ice cold, but were kept afloat by Jalen Brunson’s hot hand. Brunson started the game 4-of-5 from the field, and while he cooled down afterwards, finishing the quarter shooting 6-of-10, that start gave the rest of the Knicks just enough time to get their footing, particularly Jordan Clarkson, who managed six points within three minutes of entering the game.

The Knicks slowly clawed their way back into the game, bringing themselves to within one thanks to a late steal. Mayhem went down in the last 15 seconds. We saw two missed shots, and a steal. It wasn’t clear which team would head into the break with the lead. In the end, the Pistons managed to hold their lead, but given the momentum the Knicks have built in the last six minutes of game time, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Knicks grab that lead very early into the second.

How to watch New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons

Tonight’s matchup between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons will stream exclusively on Peacock.

Date: Monday, Jan. 5, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
TV: N/A
Stream: Peacock

Knicks vs. Pistons betting odds

Here are the latest odds for the Knicks vs. Pistons game, according to BetMGM as of Monday afternoon:

Spread: Pistons +1.5
Money: Knicks -120; Pistons +100
Over/under: 232.5

Injury report for Knicks-Pistons

New York Knicks:

Josh Hart – out (right ankle)
Landry Shamet – out (right shoulder)

Detroit Pistons:

Cade Cunningham – probable (right hip)
Jalen Duren – out (right ankle)
Tobias Harris – out (left hip)
Caris LeVert – doubtful (left knee)
Duncan Robinson – probable (left calf)

New York Knicks starting lineup

*Lineups listed per NBA.com

PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Mikal Bridges
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Karl-Anthony Towns
C: Mitchell Robinson

Detroit Pistons starting lineup

*Lineups listed per NBA.com

PG: Cade Cunningham
SG: Duncan Robinson
SF: Ausar Thompson
PF: Paul Reed
C: Isaiah Stewart