Falcons owner Arthur Blank fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot Sunday
The firings come after the team missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, Morris’s second in Atlanta.
Blank’s decision reflects his growing impatience and the desire for a quick turnaround like other NFL teams have seen.

Run it back.

It’s too bad that doesn’t mean Raheem Morris will get a shot at a third season as the Atlanta Falcons head coach. Never mind the momentum of a four-game winning streak to close the season. Or that two years hardly seems like enough time in this case.

Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, on his post since 2021, were issued their pink slips from team owner Arthur Blank shortly after a 19-17 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday sent, gulp, the Carolina Panthers to the NFC playoffs.

Run it back?

In this case, it means Blank and the Falcons will embark on yet another search for a new head coach. Once again, they will beat the bushes, burn the phone lines and fire up the private jet in search of some coaching (and GM) magic.

Maybe the Falcons should give out T-shirts to mark the occasion that read: Been there, done that.

It is so clear that Blank, 83, is running thin on patience as his football team just ripped off an eighth consecutive season of missing the playoffs. Blank gave his last coach, Arthur Smith, four years. Before that, Dan Quinn had more than five years. Now Morris is two-and-out.

In one sense, it’s understandable that Blank would make a move. Like the Falcons fan base, Blank sees rookie coaches like Liam Coen and Ben Johnson win division titles with the Bucs and Bears, respectively, in their first seasons at the helm and realizes that in this day and age in the parity-influenced NFL, a quick turnaround is indeed possible.

He sees Mike Vrabel return to New England and change the culture ASAP. He sees Mike Macdonald, in Year 2 on his first job, and Sean Payton, in Year 3 on his second job, earn No. 1 seeds in the playoffs with their rebuilt programs.

And he has to wonder: Why can’t we get one of those guys?

Falcons blowing things up faster than they can rebuild

Sure, every circumstance is different and Morris has had some good moments (mixed with the bad) in putting up back-to-back 8-9 finishes. I’m guessing that if he had been given another year, they would have been better?

It’s striking that as the news of Morris’ ouster broke on Sunday night, the Steelers and Ravens were engaged in a win-or-go-home clash for the AFC North title, led by the two longest-tenured NFL coaches with the same team. Mike Tomlin is in his 19th season in Pittsburgh; John Harbaugh is in his 18th season in Baltimore.

Tomlin, for sure, was in no danger of getting fired if the Steelers blew the once-seemingly insurmountable division lead and missed the playoffs. When fans chanted “Fire Tom-lin! Fire Tom-lin!” during an embarrassing loss against Buffalo in late November, the response from the team, according to media, was that if Tomlin didn’t return for a 20th season, it would be his call.

It reminds me of a chat I had with Steelers owner Art Rooney II, tapping into the philosophy that has resulted in just three head coaches since 1969 – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin. Like his father, Dan, Art is not one to blow it up after a down year or in response to outside noise. Blowing it up means starting over.

The alternative is to make key changes in key positions among assistant coaches and players, and retool from there. You can argue that the Steelers can freshen that approach, given that they haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 and haven’t been to a Super Bowl in 15 years. Then again, another argument is that they have never had even a single losing season under Tomlin and more often than not are at least in the hunt to compete.  

The Falcons, on the other hand, tend to blow it up. And this time it goes beyond the coach. Fontenot has acquired some prime talent, including dynamic running back Bijan Robinson, big-play receiver Drake London and the rookie edge rushers, James Pierce and Jalon Walker.

But the GM apparently also drove the pursuit to sign QB Kirk Cousins as a free agent in 2024 – which cost a guaranteed $100 million, weeks before drafting Michael Penix, Jr. with a first-round pick.

Obtaining Cousins wasn’t the bad move, even as he came off a torn Achilles tendon and even if they were targeting Penix. It was the cost, and for an aging player coming off a torn Achilles. The price for Cousins was the drag on the salary cap that prevented the Falcons from pursuing other talent.

The speculation about Fontenot’s status only intensified with a Sports Illustrated report revealing that Blank hired a consulting firm, Sportology, to look into the operation of the Falcons, among other Blank sports entities. That’s not a good sign. And ironically, one of the board members for the firm, former Texans GM Rick Smith, was one of the candidates on the short list the last time Blank sought a GM.

There was also a report by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer that the Falcons are talking about bringing back former NFL MVP Matt Ryan for a significant front office role.

No, the status quo – and especially another playoff run at home – won’t cut it.

With another search launched, Blank, who will meet with media on Thursday in Atlanta, might have a would-have, could-have, should-have mood about now.

The last time he sought to hire a head coach, Bill Belihick wasn’t the only candidate that Blank interviewed before settling on Morris.

Blank also interviewed Macdonald, Vrabel and Jim Harbaugh. And look at them now. They’re all headed to the playoffs while Blank is running it back.

Maybe they’ll get it right this time. Finally. Then again, given the track record, maybe not.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

While it was a disappointing tournament for the host Americans, the 2026 world juniors have been a thrill ride for any hockey fan tuning in. Team USA was bounced in the quarterfinal by Finland – in overtime, no less – but the semifinals produced two beguiling games.

Sweden punched its ticket to the gold-medal game by besting archrival Finland in a shootout, while the Canadians and Czechs added another chapter to their burgeoning rivalry with a nasty back-and-forth game eventually won 6-4 by the Czechs.

It has been more than a decade since any country other than Canada, Finland or the U.S. has won gold at the world juniors and that streak now officially ends. With Sweden (2012) and Czechia (2001) both looking for a title after many years, the final game of the tournament promises to hold intrigue.

But what about the players themselves? There have been some fantastic individual performances in the tournament, so let’s take a look at some of the standouts.

Zayne Parekh, D, Canada

Loaned out by the Calgary Flames for the world juniors, Parekh has shown why Canada wanted him for the tournament. Despite being a defenseman, Parekh entered the bronze-medal game tied for the tourney lead in scoring with 11 points in six games.

Anton Frondell, C, Sweden

The Chicago Blackhawks first-rounder has been a monster for the Swedes and perhaps his most important goal to date came in the semifinal against Finland when he iced the contest with the winning shootout goal. Frondell’s shot is a weapon and it has been on full display.

Will Zellers, LW, USA

Though the Americans were much weaker than in previous years, Zellers was a very pleasant surprise. The University of North Dakota winger and Boston Bruins pick led the U.S. in scoring with eight points in five games while playing an electric style.

Tomas Galvas, D, Czechia

Now the highest-scoring defenseman in Czech world junior history, Galvas continues to add to his totals. Undrafted because of his small stature, he plays a similar game to Lane Hutson and could very well be selected in this summer’s draft. Why not take a chance, right?

Tomas Chrenko, C, Slovakia

Slovakia brought a young team to Minnesota and one of the best was 2026 draft prospect Chrenko, whose awesome shot propelled him up the scoring charts. His five goals in five games paced his team and he certainly helped his draft stock.

Gavin McKenna, LW, Canada

Heavily scrutinized thanks to his top-prospect status, McKenna nonetheless has been one of the top scorers at the world juniors with 10 points in six games. The potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft got in trouble in the Czech game due to some fiery behavior.

Michael Hage, C, Canada

Another top scorer in the tournament, Hage is a Montreal Canadiens first-rounder and a star at the University of Michigan. He made a ton of skilled plays for Canada and his chemistry with McKenna and Brady Martin (Nashville Predators) was something to see.

Jack Berglund, C, Sweden

The captain of the Swedes, Berglund is a two-way center and a Philadelphia Flyers prospect who has made an impact at both ends of the ice for his team. Should Sweden win gold, Berglund undoubtedly will be part of the winning formula.

Joona Saarelainen, C, Finland

A speedster with skill, Saarelainen is a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect who plays back home in Finland in the top pro league. He was very involved in Finland’s offense against Sweden and is one to watch in the bronze-medal game against Canada.

Viggo Bjorck, RW, Sweden

A first-round draft prospect for 2026, Bjorck is fast and skilled. He is clearly trusted by Sweden’s coaches too, as they sent him over the boards every other shift in overtime against Finland, where he had an amazing four breakaways. While he couldn’t convert, he’s a talent.

Verizon has just the ticket for sports fans: freebies to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl.

This fall, as FIFA initiated the ticket draw for matches at the World Cup, which begins June 11, 2026 in Mexico City and ends July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Verizon began giving away ‘thousands of free tickets to the games’ and hundreds of ‘Golden Tickets’ for pitchside viewing.

In Verizon’s third phase of its FIFA Ultimate Access promotion, from Wednesday, Jan. 7 to Sunday, Jan. 11, customers get a chance to get free tickets – including pairs of tickets to all group stage matches in every U.S. city.

Prefer U.S. football? Verizon will give customers a chance to win Super Bowl tickets, chances to meet players and a VIP on-field experience, plus travel and accommodations, as part of its Super Bowl LX sweepstakes, which runs Friday, Jan. 9, to Sunday, Jan. 18.

Only Verizon customers are eligible; the provider is using its sport connections – Verizon is the official telecommunication services sponsor for both events – to drive defections from the competition.

How to win FIFA World Cup tickets from Verizon

Connect to Verizon Access, the loyalty program that gives customers tickets to events and access to experiences, by going to the myAccess section of the My Verizon app or the Verizon Access portal on the web at 3 p.m. ET daily starting Wednesday, Jan. 7 to Sunday, Jan. 11. It’s there that Verizon will drop hundreds of FIFA tickets.

Have a specific game or venue want to win tickets for? You can choose from any group stage game. See the schedule here.

How to win Super Bowl LX tickets from Verizon

Go to myAccess section of the My Verizon app or the Verizon Access portal on the web to enter the Super Bowl LX experience sweepstakes starting Friday, Jan. 9, to Sunday, Jan. 18. Verizon customers can also attempt to claim pairs of game-day tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis from Friday, Jan. 9, to Sunday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. ET each day.

In an new commercial, actor Kevin Hart urges a sad sack football team to ‘tap that app’ for a chance to win tickets and possibly get an experience handing out towels to the winning team.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  mikegsnider  &  @mikegsnider.bsky.social  &  @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

The NFL doesn’t believe in cliffhangers for the season finale.

While most scripts call for that kind of tactic to keep viewers coming back, the NFL’s reality show certainly tries to provide answers. A season that began in early September featured 272 games over 18 weeks. In total, it took over 16,320 minutes to play the entire regular season.

Of course, it came down to the final minute of Game 272.

The Pittsburgh Steelers prevailed in the winner-take-all AFC North clash, defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 26-24. It was mostly a quiet contest until the final 15 minutes, when both sides began landing haymakers.

There were 27 points scored between the two teams, but it was the four that weren’t that promised to tell the story in the end.

It started with a missed extra point from Chris Boswell, his first of the season. That miss ensured that the Steelers would only hold a two-point edge with 55 seconds left. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens quickly responded, working the ball into field goal range.

In the end, it was rookie kicker Tyler Loop who missed the 44-yard kick wide right, ending Baltimore’s season in crushing.

There was speculation that this could have been Aaron Rodgers’ final game in the NFL, as retirement looms.

Turns out, he’ll have at least one more game in the black-and-gold when the Steelers host the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.

It was a finale filled with chaos, a fitting conclusion to the mayhem that reigned supreme all season long.

Here’s how the action unfolded on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 18.

Steelers vs. Ravens SNF takeaways: Week 18

The NFL is king: Only the NFL. In a world where sequels and remakes dominate television and movies, the NFL provides some of the best content that anyone could ever ask for. No other league can produce this level of drama every season, especially in the finale. There are so many games, so many twists and turns, yet it always comes down to the last one. With everything on the line, it came down to the final seconds of the final regular-season game. Take a bow.
Aaron Rodgers isn’t done yet: We knew it was win-and-in for both teams, but we’ll never know if it was lose-and-retire for Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP now gets a chance to play in the playoffs again. After a couple of rough seasons with the New York Jets, this one with the Steelers is bound to end in much better fashion. Time will tell if there’s another season, but the veteran still has more to say before closing this chapter.
Pittsburgh keeps finding a way: The Steelers offense isn’t pretty. The Steelers’ defense looked like it forgot how to play at times in Week 18. Rodgers had to use the Steelers’ final timeouts to deal with some bad helmet communication. Boswell missed his first extra point of the season. None of that mattered. They still found a way to win. Now they’ll have a chance to win their first playoff game since 2017.
Ravens enter offseason with more questions than answers: What does the future hold for John Harbaugh? Lamar Jackson? Questions were swirling before this game. Who knows what they’ll be like when the dust finally settles? Jackson’s contract remains a key talking point and Harbaugh’s inability to get Baltimore over the top will take on a new life this offseason. There appears to be one thing guaranteed for the Ravens – change is coming.
The Ravens invent new ways to lose: It’s the type of thing you often say about some of the league’s worst teams, but the Ravens are unique. There was Mark Andrews’ famous drop that ended last season. There was the 15-point fourth-quarter blown lead in Week 1. There was the Thanksgiving disaster against the Bengals. Then there was the Loop missed field goal to end the season. Baltimore is no stranger to losing games excruciatingly. Add Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season to the increasingly long list.

NFL playoff schedule: Wild-card games

Jan. 10

Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Jan. 11

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Jan. 12

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Who will the Steelers play in playoffs?

Pittsburgh will host the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. The Steelers earned the No. 4 seed and will play the highest-seeded wild-card team – the Texans. The matchup will be on Monday, Jan. 12, at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.

Are the Ravens eliminated from playoff contention?

Baltimore has been eliminated from playoff contention with its loss to the Steelers on Sunday night in Week 18.

Steelers vs. Ravens Week 18 highlights

Steelers vs. Ravens final score: Pittsburgh 26, Baltimore 24

Steelers defeat Ravens on Tyler Loop missed field goal

The Ravens charged down the field to get into field goal range, but the Ravens’ rookie kicker, Tyler Loop, pushed his 44-yard field goal attempt wide right. Pittsburgh wins the game and the AFC North title.

Aaron Rodgers stats vs. Ravens

31-of-47 (65.9% completion rate)
294 passing yards
1 passing touchdown
0 interceptions
90.2 passer rating

Lamar Jackson stats vs. Steelers

11-of-18 (61.1% completion rate)
238 passing yards
3 passing touchdowns
1 interception
121.5 passer rating
4 rushing attempts, 8 rushing yards

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Steelers back in front with 55 seconds left

Aaron Rodgers isn’t done yet. A vintage throw from the quarterback to a wide-open Calvin Austin III gives the Steelers the lead right back with 55 seconds to go. However, Boswell missed his first extra point all season and now the Ravens can win it with a field goal. They have all three timeouts and a big return from Keaton Mitchell set Baltimore up at around midfield.

Steelers 26, Ravens 24

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Baltimore retakes lead with Zay Flowers’ second TD of the game

Football fans are certainly familiar with Zay Flowers. The Steelers, however, must be just finding out who this guy is. For the second time in as many drives, the Ravens take the lead on a Flowers’ touchdown. He got behind the defense and Baltimore marched 73 yards in just 1:29.

Now the Steelers will look to respond with 2:20 to go. Again, they are out of timeouts.

Ravens 24, Steelers 20

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Kenneth Gainwell scores go-ahead TD with 3:49 to go

The Steelers had to answer and they did. Despite some helmet communication woes, Gainwell punched it into the end zone for the lead. Notably, Pittsburgh is out of timeouts now, adding another layer of intrigue to the final minutes of regulation.

Steelers 20, Ravens 17

Aaron Rodgers contract details, incentives

Rodgers signed a one-year deal with the Steelers, which has a base value of $13.65 million, according to Spotrac. He received a $10 million signing bonus and will have a cap hit of $14.15 million in 2025.

Rodgers’ contract can be worth up to $19.5 million in total value thanks to a $5.85 million incentive package tied to the deal. His incentives for the 2025 NFL season are as follows:

Playoff berth: $500,000
Wild card win: $600,000
Divisional win: $750,000
Conference championship: $1 million
Super Bowl win: $1.5 million
League MVP: $1.5 million

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Zay Flowers TD puts Baltimore back in front

Pittsburgh had two free runners coming for Lamar Jackson. It didn’t matter. The two-time MVP did two-time MVP things and escaped pressure to direct Flowers toward the end zone, where he beat Patrick Queen for the 50-yard touchdown. Baltimore leads by four with 8:42 to go in the regular season.

Ravens 17, Steelers 13

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Chris Boswell gives Pittsburgh the lead

Just like that, the home team snags the lead for the first time tonight. Boswell’s kick is good from 25 yards and now it’s Baltimore’s turn to come from behind.

Steelers 13, Ravens 10

Who are the Heyward brothers on Pittsburgh Steelers?

Steelers football is a family affair. Cameron and Connor Heyward are the latest brother duo to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron has been a mainstay on the defensive line for years, while Connor is part of a deep tight end room.

The Steelers have been no strangers to fielding rosters with brothers over the years. In the past, they had Nate and Nick Herbig, T.J. and Derek Watt, as well as Terrell and Trey Edmunds.

Lamar Jackson deflected pass intercepted by T.J. Watt

If you’re a believer in momentum shifts, then this game is about to change dramatically. Just a few plays after the Steelers tied the game, Jackson attempted a pass that was deflected by Cameron Heyward and eventually intercepted by Watt. It puts Pittsburgh in excellent field position and gives them a chance to take the lead.

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Connor Heyward ‘tush push’ TD ties the game

After failing to convert on fourth down earlier, the Steelers went right back to Heyward in a big spot in the third quarter. He gets the job done this time and scores the game-tying touchdown after back-to-back pushes from his brother, Cameron.

The Steelers couldn’t convert from the same distance to end the first half, but it’s a brand-new ball game halfway through the third after Boswell knocks through the extra point. The game is tied with 8:22 left in the third quarter.

Steelers 10, Ravens 10

Did Aaron Rodgers get married? Who is his wife? 

Rodgers was married during the 2025 offseason. Rodgers’ wife has not publicly appeared with him yet.

Before acknowledging his marriage, Rodgers last mentioned having a significant other during a December 2024 appearance on ’The Pat McAfee Show.’  During the appearance, Rodgers said her name was ‘Brittani,’ clarifying that she spelled it with an ‘I.’ 

Rodgers has not clarified whether she is the woman he married in 2025.

Kyle Hamilton injury update

Hamilton was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the third quarter from teammate Alohi Gilman. The safety remained down after the play and replays showed his head also hit the field as Hamilton fell to the ground.

He walked off the field under his own power.

Steelers vs. Ravens score at halftime: Baltimore 10, Pittsburgh 3

Steelers’ last playoff win

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in the division round. They have lost six playoff games in a row since that game and two of those losses came at home.

Steelers denied at the goal line before halftime

Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton was flagged for pass interference with just two seconds left in the opening half. That gave Pittsburgh the ball at the one-yard line. The Steelers went for the game-tying touchdown and instead go into halftime down seven after Kenneth Gainwell was stuffed behind the line on a toss play. It was a curious play design for the Steelers, since it seemed dead from the start. They’ll get the second half kickoff, but have plenty of work to do in the final 30 minutes. 

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Chris Boswell gets Pittsburgh on the board

Pittsburgh’s drive stalled after an off-target throw from Rodgers, but Boswell was able to convert from 57 yards to cut into the Baltimore lead.

Ravens 10, Steelers 3

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Tyler Loop extends Baltimore’s lead

The rookie kicker knocks it through from 40 yards to give his team a two-score lead early in the second quarter. This drive was set up by the Steelers’ inability to convert on fourth down around midfield. It’s an important upcoming drive for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense. Already down 10-0 and struggling on offense, this game can get away from them quickly.

Ravens 10, Steelers 0

Steelers vs. Ravens score at end of first quarter: Baltimore leads, looking to add

Just like that, 15 minutes have come and gone in Game 272. The Ravens have been the better team by far. They also have the edge on the scoreboard, taking a 7-0 lead into the second. A fourth-down stop by the Ravens’ defense set them up with great field position and they’ll continue the drive at the edge of the red zone when play resumes.

Ravens 7, Steelers 0

Where did Aaron Rodgers go to college?

Rodgers attended Butte Community College for a year in 2002 before playing two seasons at California from 2003-04.

Steelers punt on opening drive

Pittsburgh is still trying to find its footing without Metcalf on offense and that remained the case on the opening drive. It was a quick possession for the home team and Baltimore takes back over inside its own 15.

Why is DK Metcalf suspended?

In this winner-take-all showdown, there is a notable absence for the Steelers – DK Metcalf. The receiver is serving the second and final game of his suspension. The NFL issued the penalty to Metcalf for his involvement in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan in Week 16. He reached into the stands to strike the fan on the sideline and the league promptly suspended Metcalf for the remainder of the regular season.

Oldest NFL players in 2025

Philip Rivers turned 44 on Dec. 8 and is now the oldest active NFL player. Aaron Rodgers turned 42 on Dec. 6. There are 12 players aged 39 or older playing in the NFL in 2025:

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

Steelers vs. Ravens score update: Baltimore strikes first with Devontez Walker TD

It was an eventful opening drive for the visitors. They were called for a holding penalty on the opening kickoff, negating a nice return. They were called for an illegal blindside block on a 47-yard run by Derrick Henry – which was a bad call, according to NBC’s rules analyst, Terry McAulay.

None of that mattered. The Ravens still managed to find the end zone with a 38-yard passing touchdown from Lamar Jackson to Walker on fourth down.

Ravens 7, Steelers 0

What is the temperature in Pittsburgh?

The temperature at tonight’s kickoff was 28 degrees in Pittsburgh.

What TV channel is the Steelers vs. Ravens game?

TV channel: NBC

Week 18’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ game – the final regular season game of the year – between the Steelers and Ravens will be broadcast by NBC on Jan. 4. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (game analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the battle for the AFC North.

What time is the Ravens at Steelers game?

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Steelers vs. Ravens game will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Steelers vs. Ravens live stream

Live stream: Peacock

As with every iteration of ‘Sunday Night Football,’, NBC will simulcast its prime-time offering on Peacock, its proprietary streaming service. Cord-cutters can also watch the game on NFL+, the NFL’s own streaming service.

Catch ‘SNF’ with a Peacock subscription

Steelers vs. Ravems prediction, picks

Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Ravens, 24-17
Jarrett Bell: Steelers, 23-20
Nick Brinkerhoff: Steelers, 23-20
Chris Bumbaca: Ravens, 21-20
Nate Davis: Ravens, 23-20
Tyler Dragon: Ravens, 25-20

Steelers vs. Ravens odds, moneyline, O/U

Moneyline (ML): Ravens -190 (Bet $190 to win $100) | Steelers +160 (Bet $100 to win $160)
Against the spread (ATS): Ravens -3.5 (-105) | Steelers +3.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 41.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Is Lamar Jackson playing tonight vs. Steelers?

Lamar Jackson has had a full week of practice for the first time since November and will play in Sunday night’s AFC North title game in Pittsburgh. He missed Week 17 with a back contusion but is expected to be a full go tonight.

Is T.J. Watt playing tonight vs. Ravens?

The Steelers’ four-time All-Pro linebacker will be back on the field for Pittsburgh tonight against Baltimore. Watt has missed the last two weeks following surgery stemming from a partially collapsed lung on Dec. 10. That lung injury happened during a routine dry needling treatment at a team facility. He was subsequently hospitalized but has made a full recovery.

‘It’ll be great to have him back,’ Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said via the team. ‘What capacity we’ll find out really, not till Sunday. But it’ll be great to have him back… I would think that he’ll only strengthen our group and how we play and all those things.’

Steelers vs. Ravens weather report

The temperature is expected to be 28 degrees around kickoff in Pittsburgh. There is no snow in the forecast and wind gusts will max out at just 5 MPH.

Steelers inactives today vs. Ravens

WR Roman Wilson
RB Kaleb Johnson
CB Tre Flowers
OLB Jeremiah Moon
OL Jack Driscoll
QB Will Howard (emergency third QB)

Ravens inactives today vs. Steelers

WR Rashod Bateman (illness)
CB Keyon Martin
T Joseph Noteboom
DL Aeneas Peebles
WR Keith Kirkwood
CB Amani Oruwariye
QB Cooper Rush (emergency third QB)

Steelers schedule 2025

Ravens schedule 2025

AFC North standings

Week 18’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ game will determine the AFC North champion. The Steelers are entering the matchup with a one-game lead in the standings:

Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7 (3-2 AFC North)
Baltimore Ravens: 8-8 (3-2)
Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11 (3-3)
Cleveland Browns: 5-12 (2-4)

NFL playoff picture: AFC bracket

Denver Broncos (14-3, AFC West winners)*
New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners)*
Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
Buffalo Bills (12-5, wild card No. 2)*
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

NFL playoff picture: NFC bracket

Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*
Chicago Bears (11-6, NFC North winners)*
Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, NFC East winners)*
Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*
Los Angeles Rams (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)*
Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*

2026 NFL Draft order

Here’s a look at the latest draft order for the first round with strength of schedule information via Tankathon:

Las Vegas Raiders: 3-14 record; .538 strength of schedule
New York Jets: 3-14, .552 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 3-14; .571 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-14, .574 SOS
New York Giants: 4-13; .524 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 5-12, .486 SOS
Washington Commanders: 5-12; .507 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 6-11; .495 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 6-11; .516 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11; .521 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 7-10; .488 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 7-9-1; .438 SOS
Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 8-9; .495 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9, .529 SOS
Indianapolis Colts (pick belongs to Jets): 8-9; .538 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 8-8; .503 SOS
Detroit Lions: 9-8; .490 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 9-8; .514 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 8-9, .522 SOS
Green Bay Packers (pick belongs to Cowboys): 9-7-1; .483 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-7; .507 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6; .467 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6; .476 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 12-5, .470 SOS
Chicago Bears: 11-6; .458 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 12-5, .498 SOS
Houston Texans: 12-5; .524 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars (pick belongs to Browns): 13-4; .478 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 12-5, .528 SOS
New England Patriots: 14-3; .390 SOS
Denver Broncos: 14-3; .422 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 14-3; .497 SOS

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The playoff field for the 2025 NFL season is set, the wild and crazy 272nd and final game of the regular season between the Ravens and Steelers determining the field’s final entry − Pittsburgh, newly crowned champs of the AFC North, as it turns out.

One other division was determined Sunday − a day after the NFC South-winning Panthers lost in Tampa … before the Falcons backed them onto the throne. Seeding in both conferences was also finalized Sunday, including the Broncos wrapping up the top spot in the AFC.

Here’s where things stand with the regular season now complete:

AFC playoff picture

yz − 1. Denver Broncos (14-3), AFC West champions: Sunday’s win over the Chargers, who rested a lot of key players, gave the Broncos home-field advantage and a first-round bye in a season which brought Denver’s first division title in a decade − which was also the last time they won the Super Bowl. The common-games tiebreaker gives the Broncos the No. 1 seed instead of New England. Remaining schedule: Bye, TBD

y − 2. New England Patriots (14-3), AFC East champions: They have their first division title since 2019 even if they couldn’t quite get up to the conference’s top spot, as Tom Brady and Co. so frequently did. Their Week 1 loss to the Raiders cost them in the tiebreaker department. Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, Jan. 11 (8 p.m. ET)

y − 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4), AFC South champions: They won their ninth straight game with ease, capturing the division crown for the first time since 2022. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, Jan. 11 (1 p.m. ET)

y − 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), AFC North champions: In a wild finale, their kicker’s late-game letdown wasn’t nearly as bad as Baltimore’s. Aaron Rodgers and Co. forge ahead. Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, Jan. 12 (8 p.m. ET)

x − 5. Houston Texans (12-5), wild card No. 1: They’ve won 10 of 11, including nine in a row after Sunday’s narrow defeat of Indianapolis. But the Texans weren’t able to overtake similarly surging Jacksonville for the top spot in the AFC South. However Houston, which beat both the Chargers and Bills this season, locks into the fifth seed and a guaranteed wild-card matchup on the road against Pittsburgh. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, Jan. 12 (8 p.m. ET)

x − 6. Buffalo Bills (12-5), wild card No. 2: Their subs whacked the Jets and moved the Bills up to the sixth seed and a trip to Duval County. Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, Jan. 11 (1 p.m. ET)

x − 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6), wild card No. 3: They’ll be on the road as long as they’re postseason relevant. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, Jan. 11 (8 p.m. ET)

NFC playoff picture

yz − 1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3), NFC West champions: Huge win at Silicon Valley on Saturday night assured them of staying home in the Pacific Northwest − with a week off − unless they get back to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 60. Remaining schedule: Bye, TBD

y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-6), NFC North champions: They hung on to the second seed and the two home playoff games it could bring despite losing to Detroit. Next? A 2025 season trilogy matchup with Green Bay. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, Jan. 10 (8 p.m. ET)

y − 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), NFC East champions: They’re the first team to win this division in successive years since they last did it 21 years ago. Successive Super Bowl wins feels like a much longer shot. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, Jan. 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)

y − 4. Carolina Panthers (8-9), NFC South champions: Turns out Saturday’s loss at Tampa didn’t finish the Panthers. Atlanta saved them Sunday by beating New Orleans and creating a three-way tie atop the division. The Panthers’ 3-1 record against the Falcons and Bucs proved to be the determining tiebreaker. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, Jan. 10 (4:30 p.m. ET)

x − 5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5), wild card No. 1: They became the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot but lost the pathway to home-field advantage and a first-round bye after consecutive losses. But they got back on track against Arizona on Sunday, claiming the fifth seed − and a matchup with the NFC South champion Panthers − to wrap the regular season. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, Jan. 10 (4:30 p.m. ET)

x − 6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5), wild card No. 2: They could have stayed home for the next month as long as they kept winning. Alas, they lost Saturday and plummeted to the sixth seed Sunday − which means a trip to the City of Brotherly Love. Remaining schedule: at Eagles, Jan. 11 (4:30 p.m. ET)

x − 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1), wild card No. 3: Locked into the seventh seed a week ago, they won’t play another game at Lambeau Field this season. Remaining schedule: at Bears, Jan. 10 (8 p.m. ET)

NFL playoff schedule: Wild-card games

Jan. 10

Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Jan. 11

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Jan. 12

NFL playoff schedule: Divisional-round games

Jan. 17

TBD vs. TBD

TBD vs. TBD

Jan. 18

TBD vs. TBD

TBD vs. TBD

NFL playoff schedule: Conference championship games

Jan. 25

AFC championship game, TBD

NFC championship game, TBD

NFL playoff schedule: Super Bowl 60

Feb. 8

AFC champion vs. NFC champion, NBC

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

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

The 2026 Unrivaled season kicks off on Monday, Jan. 5, with more teams, competition and prize money.The Miami-based 3-on-3 league debuted in 2025 with 3 million viewers its opening weekend. Unrivaled highlighted some of the best players in the WNBA with game-winning shots, historic dunks and an intense 1-on-1 tournament.

The league’s co-founders, WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, came up with the idea as a way to keep players stateside during the offseason while improving skills and staying in shape. Unrivaled did more than get players ready for another WNBA season. It helped grow women’s basketball.

“With [Napheesa Collier] and [Breanna Stewart] being the founders, you just want to support the women who came before you, and they continue to pave the way,’ Unrivaled rookie and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers said. ‘The WNBA season isn’t quite as long, so the fans, the spectators — the people that are supporting us — don’t get to see us in the offseason, so to have that visibility, for people to continue to watch and support us in a different lens, in a different landscape, is really important.”

Here’s a preview for the 2026 Unrivaled season including a look back at 2025, a sneak peek at what lies ahead and team rosters:

Can you give me a refresh on Unrivaled’s debut season?

Here are some of the top storylines of 2025:

The Lunar Owls’ dominance: No team had a better regular season than the Lunar Owls. The club was loaded with talent including Napheesa Collier (25.7 points per game), Allisha Gray (19.2 ppg) and Skylar Diggins (17.9 ppg). Each finished in the top 10 in scoring, helping the Lunar Owls to the No. 1 playoff seed and a 13-1 record. DJ Sackmann also received Coach of the Year honors, and Collier won MVP. The Owls fell 73-70 to Vinyl in the semifinals, on a game-winning layup by Dearica Hamby.
Napheesa Collier winning the 1-on-1 tournament: Collier is one of the best 1-on-1 players in the WNBA. So, it wasn’t shocking to see her elite two-way skills transfer to Unrivaled. With a $200,000 individual cash prize (plus $10,000 for each of her Unrivaled teammates), Collier won the single-elimination competition while making light work of Katie Lou Samuelson, Rickea Jackson, Azurá Stevens, plus breakout tournament star Aaliyah Edwards, en route to the league’s first title.
Rose BC winning its first title: Rose had a rough start, opening the season with a 1-4 record. However, in month two, the club found its stride, thanks to heavy lifting from its top three players: Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray, and Brittney Sykes. Rose won all five of its February games, led by a surge from Gray, who averaged 24.2 points on 51% shooting, and Reese, who had four double-doubles (including the league’s first 20-20 game), during the stretch. Reese also led the team in blocked shots (0.6 per game) while anchoring the defense. Rose finished with an 8-6 overall record, second in the league standings, before winning its first title in March over Vinyl BC.

What about the 2025 Unrivaled end of season awards?

Here’s a look at the players who stood out in the first season of the 3-on-3 league:

MVP: Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier
Defensive Player of the Year: Rose forward Angel Reese
Coach of the Year: Lunar Owls head coach DJ Sackmann

First-team All-Unrivaled:

Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier (averaged a league-leading 25.7 points per game, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 61.3% shooting with seven double-doubles)
Rose guard Chelsea Gray (averaged a league-leading 5.4 assists per game, 21.4 points with league-best six winning shots)
Laces guard Kayla McBride (third in total scoring, averaged 22.2 points, second in made 3-pointers with 41)

Second-team All-Unrivaled:

Lunar Owls guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (averaged 17.9 points per game, second in assists per game with 4.8)
Vinyl guard Rhyne Howard (league-leading 46 3-pointers, fourth in points per game, averaged 20.5 points)
Rose forward Angel Reese (league-leading 12.2 rebounds per game, averaged 13.1 points, second in double-doubles with eight)

Can Rose BC win back-to-back Unrivaled titles?

Winning another championship could prove to be an uphill battle for Rose. The club is returning all but two starters this season. However, operating without one of them, Angel Reese, could prove challenging. Part of what made Rose’s championship run so impressive was the electric chemistry between Reese and Chelsea Gray. Their synergy and near-symmetrical rise in offensive production helped elevate Rose to one of the premier teams in the league.

Reese’s defensive presence became a catalyst for constant disruption, even against opponents that seemingly had more offensive weapons. Rose will have to lean on forwards Azurá Stevens and Shakira Austin to replace Reese’s production and defensive dominance. They’ll also need help from newcomer Sug Sutton to replace the 11.6 points per game from guard Brittney Sykes, who is now on the Laces.

“’We’re really excited about the two new faces we have with Rose [BC], and they bring really great things that we need,’ guard Lexie Hull said. ‘Moving forward, we’ll bring that energy and those relationships we made from last year, but this is a new year. Starting fresh, building together, getting to know each other off and on the court, I think that’s what we’re really going to focus on in the first few weeks … It’s exciting.”

What are the changes for Unrivaled Season 2?

After the league’s first season, Collier shared with USA TODAY’s For The Win that she and Stewart surpassed many of the goals they set for the league. They raised more money than projected to pay players, helped players hone skills, became culturally relevant and elevated personal brands. How does the league improve in 2026?

“We’re adding two new clubs. We’re adding more players. We’re adding [a] player development pool,’ Stewart said about the Unrivaled’s changes from Year 1 to Year 2. ‘We care about this game, and we care about really growing it and valuing our players. You see that with what we’re doing.’

Here’s a list of key changes Unrivaled made for Season Two:

Unrivaled expanded from six to eight teams, adding Hive BC and Breeze BC and a player development pool. The total number of player spots now stands at 54.
There will be a tour stop in Philadelphia, where Breeze, Phantom, Rose and Lunar Owls clubs will play two games each.
Players will compete in a $50,000 free throw challenge.
Back-to-back games have been eliminated by adding a fourth night of games. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be game days.
More than 75% of Unrivaled athletes are signed to multiyear deals or extensions. Many players are signed through 2028.

Which players could be primed for breakout seasons?

More than 20 new players have joined Unrivaled. Breeze forward Cameron Brink missed 2025 while recovering from an injury suffered during her WNBA rookie season. Phantom guard Kelsey Plum chose to forego the 2025 season to prioritize her health.Both should thrive in Unrivaled and need to be on the early list of breakout candidates. Brink won gold in the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, and Plum won an Olympic gold medal in 3×3 basketball during the 2020 Tokyo Games.

‘I have a special love for 3-on-3, especially, so it means a lot that I get to be back here,’ Brink said about playing in Unrivaled.

Brink also believes rookie Paige Bueckers could be poised for a huge season.’Her midrange game is really gonna tear people up, but also she’s actually a really great defender, which I think she doesn’t get enough credit for,’ Brink said of Bueckers. ‘She’s actually really solid on the defensive end.’

Here’s a list of other players who could have huge seasons:

Mist guard Veronica Burton: Three-time FIBA 3×3 Medalist
Hive guard Kelsey Mitchell: First in WNBA in made 3-pointers (111)
Lunar Owls guard Rachel Banham: Seventh in WNBA in made 3-pointers (86)

2026 Unrivaled club rosters

*Players making their Unrivaled debut

Breeze BC

Head coach: Noelle Quinn

*Paige Bueckers
Rickea Jackson
*Dominique Malonga
*Aari McDonald
Kate Martin
*Cameron Brink

(Cameron Brink was a member of the Lunar Owls last season, but did not play while recovering from an ACL injury. She is set to make her debut in 2026.)

Hive BC

Head coach: Rena Wakama

*Kelsey Mitchell
*Sonia Citron
*Ezi Magbegor
*Natisha Hiedeman
*Saniya Rivers
*Monique Billings

(Natisha Hiedeman was a member of Unrivaled last season as a relief player, but did not spend the entire season with one club.)

Laces BC

Head coach: Andrew Wade

Jackie Young
Brittney Sykes
Alyssa Thomas
Jordin Canada
*Maddy Siegrist
*Naz Hillmon

(Naz Hillmon was a member of Unrivaled last season as a relief player, but did not spend the entire season with one club.)

Lunar Owls BC

Head coach: DJ Sackmann

Skylar Diggins
Marina Mabrey
*Temi Fagbenle
*Rachel Banham
*Rebecca Allen
Aaliyah Edwards

(Temi Fagbenle replaces Napheesa Collier, who will miss the 2026 season following ankle surgery)

Mist BC

Head coach:  Zach O’Brien

Allisha Gray
Breanna Stewart
*Alanna Smith
*Veronica Burton
Arike Ogunbowale
*Li Yueru

Phantom BC

Head coach: Roneeka Hodges

*Kelsey Plum
Satou Sabally
Aliyah Boston
*Dana Evans
Natasha Cloud
*Kiki Iriafen

(Kelsey Plum was invited to play in Unrivaled last season, but later declined her invite, opting to return for her first full year in 2026.)

Rose BC

Head coach: Nola Henry

Chelsea Gray
Kahleah Copper
*Sug Sutton
Azurá Stevens
Lexie Hull
Shakira Austin

Vinyl BC

Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Courtney Williams
Rhyne Howard
Dearica Hamby
*Erica Wheeler
Rae Burrell
Brittney Griner

Developmental Pool

Makayla Timpson
 Hailey Van Lith
Aziaha James
Haley Jones
Emily Engstler
Laeticia Amihere

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks lead their respective conferences after the first fan voting returns for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game were announced.

Fans will carry significant weight throughout the voting process, counting for 50% of the overall voting results.  NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%) will make up the other half of the voting.

Dončić led all players with 1,249,518 votes as of Dec. 29. 

Dončić is followed by Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić (1,128,962), Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (1,031,455), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder (878,621) and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs (769,362) in the Western Conference, respectively.

Dončić’s teammates LeBron James (536,555) and Austin Reaves (405,379) are ninth and 10th, respectively, among Western Conference players. James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers is 12th with 215,301 votes. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard rounds out the top 20 with 85,325 votes.

Antetokounmpo leads the Eastern Conference with 1,192,296.  Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers (1,072,449), Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks (1,040,601), No. 4 Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons (1,000,171) and No. 5 Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers (851,155).

The next round of fan voting results will be released on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

What will NBA All-Star Game voting format be?

The league will introduce a new All-Star Game format this year with two teams consisting of American players and a third team made up of international players known as ‘the World Team.’

The teams play in a round-robin tournament that will feature four 12-minute games.

How to watch 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Inuit Dome (Inglewood, California)

TV: NBC

Stream: Peacock

The NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) from the Inuit Dome in Inglewood, California.