USA TODAY Sports has officially debuted a new video podcast that will be the cornerstone for coverage of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy.

The video podcast, or vodcast, called ‘Milan Magic’ is hosted by veteran USA TODAY Sports columnist Christine Brennan and Olympic gold medal champion figure skater Brian Boitano as they provide in-depth analysis through extensive coverage, behind-the-scenes reporting and exclusive interviews with athletes.

The duo couldn’t have been a more perfect match for the project.

Boitano is a three-time U.S. Olympian who won gold in men’s singles figure skating at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. He outmatched his Canadian rival Brian Orser by making Olympic history, becoming the first person to land eight triple jumps.

Brennan joined USA TODAY as a national sports columnist in 1997. She has covered every Olympic Games since 1984 – both summer and winter games. She’s authored eight books on sports and became a New York Times best-seller with ‘Inside Edge’ which dives into Olympic figure skating.

Their first episode includes an exclusive interview with American figure skating prodigy Ilia Malinin, who goes by ‘Quad God’ on social media.

Milan Magic, Episode One: Meet the ‘Quad God’

Malinin is a two-time World champion, three-time Grand Prix Final champion, seven-time Grand Prix gold medalist, four-time Challenger Series gold medalist, and three-time U.S. national champion.

He’s going into the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy with confidence. His sights aren’t set, necessarily, on just winning gold, but rather being in the best condition for the Olympics.

‘I’m really just looking forward to that,’ Malinin said in a USA TODAY Sports ‘Milan Magic’ podcast episode recorded on Dec. 12, 2025.

He added: ‘Especially coming back from that Grand Prix Final win with that seven-quad layout. Now is the time for me to give myself a little cool down so I can kind of regroup and refocus, spend the next few weeks coming up with a strategic plan to prepare myself to have the best condition I can for the Olympics.’

Malinin or the ‘Quad God’ is highly regarded as a favorite in competition, but he doesn’t let the chatter get to his head and inflate the ego.

Although the thought can be good for confidence, he said, instead, his focus continues to be on his preparation and his performance.

‘When I go to competitions, I don’t think about the medals,’ Malinin said. ‘I always think about the performance and think about what I have to do, what my job is as a skater. A lot of the times, I prepare myself very well so that I can go on the ice and deliver to the best of my ability. And of course, if you have a clean skate, I’m assumed that the medals can come with you, as well.’

You can listen to ‘Milan Magic’ on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube or on USA TODAY.

Steve Gardner contributed to this story.

The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2025 NFL playoffs as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl 60. They suffered a scare in the wild-card round of the playoffs, edging the Carolina Panthers in the final minute of a tight, 34-31 victory.

Early on, it seemed like the Rams would be able to cruise to victory. They built an early 14-0 lead in the first half and were moving the ball at will against the Panthers.

But at the end of the first half, Los Angeles was dealt what looked like it might be a fatal blow. Matthew Stafford appeared to bang his hand on D.J. Wonnum’s arm while trying to follow through on a pass. The 37-year-old quarterback immediately grabbed his throwing hand after taking the blow and doubled over in pain.

Stafford was able to remain in the game despite the apparent injury. He flashed a thumbs-up to Sean McVay on the sideline after the play and later told reporters he just ‘got a finger bent back’ during his postgame news conference.

‘They saw it on the TV on the sideline or whatever,’ Stafford said of his injury. ‘I didn’t obviously know exactly what had happened. It wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t great. I was obviously able to finish the game and throw it decent. Once the ball’s snapped, the adrenaline’s pretty good.’

Even so, Stafford wasn’t quite as effective in the immediate aftermath of hitting his hand. He endured uncharacteristic struggles with his accuracy during the third quarter of Saturday’s game before snapping out of it in the nick of time to save Los Angeles’ season.

Here’s what to know about Stafford’s performance against the Panthers.

Matthew Stafford stats vs. Panthers

Stafford ended up completing 24-of-42 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against the Panthers. That said, his outing felt very much like a performance in three acts, with two elite segments sandwiching a brutal, midgame lull that aligned perfectly with his hand injury.

Before injuring his hand, Stafford enjoyed a prolific start to Saturday’s game. He completed 10 of his first 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while generally keeping Los Angeles’ offenses on schedule.

After it, Stafford endured one of the worst stretches of his season. He went just 2-of-12 passing for 24 yards and an interception over the end of the first half and in the third quarter. He was every bit as off as those numbers suggest.

Stafford struggled to consistently deliver accurate passes to his receivers. He missed in a variety of ways, occasionally overthrowing his top targets but also underthrowing Davante Adams on his lone interception of the game.

Stafford’s spotty ball placement hamstrung the Rams’ passing game and allowed the Panthers to hang around a game many thought Los Angeles would win with ease.

But once the fourth quarter rolled around, Stafford looked a lot more like himself. He was able to see the field better and routinely got the ball to his receivers in rhythm. He completed 12-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a perfectly placed game-winning strike to Colby Parkinson.

What led to Stafford’s fourth-quarter resurgence? It simply seemed like he was able to adjust to the trouble his hand was giving him.

That helped Stafford pilot the Rams to a last-minute victory and keep the MVP candidate’s squad in the running for Super Bowl 60.

Move over Audi Crooks. Make room for Maggie Doogan.

The Richmond Spiders forward now owns the single-game scoring mark for the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season after pouring in 48 points in a triple-overtime 91-84 home victory over Davidson on Saturday.

Iowa State’s Crooks previously held that title by scoring 47 points in a win over Indiana.

Doogan, a 6-foot-2 forward from Broomall, Pennsylvania, shot 17-of-28 from the floor including 8-of-12 from 3. The reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year also grabbed 13 rebounds in the crucial win for Richmond. 

“I’ve never played a three-overtime game before. My body is kind of feeling it, not going to lie,” Doogan told the ESPN+ broadcast crew after the game. “This was an unbelievable team win. We wanted this one, for sure.”

Doogan really turned on her shot-making ability in the third period of overtime, sinking three straight shots — an eight-foot jumper and a pair of 3-pointers — to give Richmond an eight-point lead. Doogan had scored north of 30 points five previous times in her career, but had never topped 40.

“That’s just a testament to my team and how they’re able to get me the ball,” Doogan said. “I didn’t create much of my shot today. Everybody was finding ways to get me open.”

Doogan came into the matchup against Davidson — which was previously unbeaten in A-10 play and had won eight of its last 10 games — averaging 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 50.7% from the floor and 41.3% from behind the arc. She’s the only player in the country this season averaging at least 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game.

After finishing her postgame interview, Doogan was mobbed at midcourt by her teammates who sprayed and soaked her with water bottles.

“I just shot the ball and it went in, thank God. I don’t really know what else to say,” Doogan said. “It was a really good win. I got to figure out what I ate today to make sure I do that again.”

Doogan was invited to Team USA trials last summer ahead of the AmeriCup. If she keeps playing like this, she could earn an invite to the WNBA draft, too.

After capturing an at-large bid the NCAA Tournament last season, Richmond is again building a resume worthy of consideration. The victory over Davidson goes down as a Quad 2 win, the second of the season for coach Aaron Roussell’s Spiders. Richmond has the best NET ranking among A-10 teams at 48. Three of their four losses are to teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season — Texas, TCU and Fairfield — and the fourth is to fellow A-10 contender Rhode Island.

With Richmond, Davidson and Rhode Island all playing at a high level, it could be another season in which the A-10 is a multi-bid league. That would give Doogan the opportunity to create some more on-court magic in March Madness.

Jake Canter won the men’s slopestyle at the U.S. Grand Prix, securing his spot on the Olympic team.
Canter landed a rare 1980 backside twist to earn the top score in the competition.
Hunter Hess also qualified for the Olympic team with a second-place finish in the men’s freeski halfpipe.
New Zealander Finley Melville Ives won the freeski halfpipe, preventing an all-American podium.

ASPEN, CO – The screen showing the slopestyle competition cut to black for the biggest trick of the day.Jake Canter made sure it would live on replays for a long time.

The 22-year-old landed a 1980 backside twist — although spectators were momentarily left in the dark — and finished his second run clean Saturday in the men’s finals at the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix. The judges rewarded him with the top score of 85.16 to take home first and lock up his spot (one of four) on the men’s slopestyle/big air Olympic team.

Canter, of course, had no idea everybody near the finish line was left feeling like they relived the finale of “The Sopranos.”

“I remember landing it so clearly,” said Canter, who hadn’t tried the 1980 in two months. “It felt crazy.”He spent a lot of autumn trying to figure out the 1980 – an extra half-revolution (180 degrees) from the more common 1800, which he hit during his first run. Stepping it up in the second run landed him atop the podium.

Like many of his teammates, Canter has his own comeback story. A trampoline accident when he was 16 resulted in a traumatic brain injury. He spent weeks in a hospital, and after he awoke from a coma, he passed the time watching snowboarding videos.

A Colorado kid, Canter spent a lot of time at Aspen’s four mountains while growing up.

“I know these jumps and this mountain pretty well,” he said.

Canter received a call from U.S. ski and snowboard director of high performance Gillian Bower, who informed him he made the Olympic team.

“Just can’t believe this is happening … to be in this position I’m in, I’m so grateful, so thankful,” he said. “It really means the world. It’s everything I wanted.”

His first call will go to his mother, who now has to book some flights to Italy, Canter said.

Red Gerard, the 2018 slopestyle gold medalist, finished sixth. The final two spots will be determined after the final World Cup of the season in Laax, Switzerland.

On the women’s side, Jamie Anderson took a terrible fall seconds into her first run of finals. She did not take a second run, but organizers said she was OK.

Hunter Hess makes men’s freeski team

A teenager spoiled an all-American podium in the men’s freeski halfpipe finals.

Finley Melville Ives, 19, wowed the crowd – and the judges – with a first-run 95.0. Nobody could touch that in the second run, and the New Zealander took home first place.

Americans placed second through seventh, with Hunter Hess locking up his spot on the highly-competitive Olympic roster thanks to a second-place finish. Nick Goepper, already clinched to the team thanks to his win in Calgary last month, took third.

The competition unfortunately started on a scary note after American Aaron Blunck had a ski hit the top of the halfpipe. The resulting crash left Blunck injured in the middle of the halfpipe.

“It was tense. You can feel it,” Hess told USA TODAY Sports. “It was a bad vibe up there.”

The last few weeks have been more than stressful, Hess said, with opportunities to make the team dwindling.

“You’re trying to enjoy it, and you’re trying to enjoy it, but it’s a scary ordeal,” he said. “I’m happy I was able to do it and that all of the hard work paid off.”

And he certainly appreciates making this team. Being one of the four American men’s freeski entrants is an accomplishment in itself.

“Everyone crushes it, which makes you want to push it a little harder,” he said.

An outsider on the team bus might not think anybody takes it too seriously with the way everyone jokes with one another, Goepper said.

“When I witness these guys put their life on it, like days like today, it’s pretty cool,” he said. “A lot of respect is earned for sure.

“More than anything, I’m really proud of these guys.”

Goepper, 31, is trying to medal in a fourth consecutive Olympics. He has a bronze from Sochi 2014 and back-to-back silvers to his name.

“I think it’d be unprecedented to go four-for-four,” Goepper said. “I try not to think about it that much though.”

Goepper prefers focusing on things such as making his bed and completing his stretching program. His entire family is attending the Olympics and rented a house near the halfpipe in Livigno, Italy more than six months ago, well before he qualified for the Games.

“Now they can finally talk about it in front of me,” he said, “and it’s no big deal.”

Michigan men’s basketball rolled its way to No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, throttling some of the best teams in the country on its way to a 14-0 start.

That immaculate record is no longer unblemished.

Behind 26 points from John Blackwell and 22 points from Nick Boyd, Wisconsin went on the road and knocked off the previously unbeaten No. 1 Wolverines 91-88 on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

With the loss by coach Dusty May’s team, there are five remaining undefeated men’s teams at the Division I level — No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 11 Nebraska and, perhaps most surprisingly, Miami (Ohio).

Michigan led by as many as 14 points with 7:38 remaining in the first half, but that deficit was trimmed to one at halftime by a Badgers team that entered the day with a 10-5 record. Carried by 13 second-half points from Boyd, Wisconsin built a six-point lead early in the second half and held on for the win after Roddy Gayle Jr. missed a contested 3-pointer with two seconds remaining that would have tied the game.

Michigan made only one of its final nine shots.

The Badgers knocked down 15 of their 33 attempts from 3 (45.5%), including a 10-of-17 mark in the second half. Wisconsin had been 0-2 in road games and 0-5 in Quad 1 matchups heading into the day.

In their second season under May, and with a roster led by high-impact transfers Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., the Wolverines hadn’t just been beating opponents, but obliterating them. Of Michigan’s first 14 wins, 10 of them came by at least 25 points, a group of blowouts that included victories against Gonzaga, Auburn, San Diego State, Villanova and USC.

Elliot Cadeau had a team-high 19 points in a losing effort for the Wolverines, who will embark on a West Coast road trip next week with games at Washington and Oregon.

On the day where he earned his first All-Pro honor, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford battled through injury and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to secure a 34-31 victory over the host Carolina Panthers.

Stafford started the game hot before he appeared to hurt the index finger of his throwing hand in the second quarter. Carolina made the most of some Rams miscues in the first half to keep pace with the NFC West runners-up; Los Angeles held just a 17-14 lead at halftime.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter and Stafford threw his lone interception of the game to close the frame.

Carolina capitalized to take a 24-20 lead with a Chuba Hubbard touchdown on a short field. Los Angeles took the lead minutes later with a touchdown from Stafford to Kyren Williams.

The Rams looked set for a three-and-out on their next drive but Carolina’s Isaiah Simmons blocked the punt and gave the ball back to Hubbard, Bryce Young and company on a short field one again. Young found Jalen Coker to go ahead 31-27 with less than three minutes to go in the game.

But Stafford came through on the ensuing drive with a signature seven-play, 71-yard drive culminating in a pass to Colby Parkinson that the tight end took past the goal line for the game-winning score.

Stafford finished the game 24-for-42 passing for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Los Angeles now awaits the results of Bears-Packers and Eagles-49ers to determine who they will play in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

Here’s how it all happened:

Rams vs. Panthers takeaways

Rams survive un-special teams: Los Angeles’ five losses in 2025 were by a total of 17 points, a a pair of them featured mistakes on special teams: a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown against Philadelphia and a punt return touchdown allowed against Seattle. This time, the Rams pulled through despite a late blocked punt thanks to Stafford’s magic.
Carolina and the Young guns: The 8-9 Panthers were double-digit underdogs at home. After the first quarter, things looked grim for Carolina. Bryce Young shook off an early interception and the Rams’ pass rush to put together one of the best performances of his career. Carolina can enter the offseason confident with how things went, even in a loss.
LA reset: Stafford looked to have played through a finger injury. Depending on how things go for the rest of wild-card weekend, Los Angeles could be back in Seattle for a third matchup between the two teams. The Seahawks and their ferocious defense took the weekend off after getting the No. 1 seed. Stafford needs to rest that hand ahead of what could be a dogfight to reach the NFC champonship game.

Panthers-Rams score update: Colby Parkinson secures epic TD catch

Los Angeles needed just two minutes to drive 71 yards on seven plays. Matthew Stafford found tight end Colby Parkinson on the right sideline on first-and-10 from the Panthers’ 19-yard line and Parkinson made the twisting catch into the end zone. Harrison Mevis’ kick is good and the Rams take the lead again with 38 seconds left.

Rams 34, Panthers 31

Panthers-Rams score update: Jalen Coker puts Panthers ahead late

Carolina’s back on top after the blocked punt. Facing third-and-3 from the Rams’ 7-yard line, Bryce Young found Jalen Coker in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Ryan Fitzgerald knocked through the extra point to give the Panthers a critical four-point lead with 2:39 to go in the game.

Panthers 31, Rams 27

Panthers-Rams update: Isaiah Simmons makes huge play for Panthers

Carolina’s defense forced Los Angeles to punt late in the fourth quarter. But instead of getting the ball on their side of the 50, Panthers linebacker Isaiah Simmons blocked the punt to give the Panthers the ball at the Rams’ 30-yard line. They’re down three points with less than three minutes to go.

Panthers-Rams score update: Stafford finds Kyren Williams for score

Los Angeles answered the Panthers’ go-ahead touchdown with one of their own. Kyren Williams converted a critical fourth-and-1 in Carolina territory. Five plays later, he took a pass from Matthew Stafford in for a touchdown from 13 yards out. Harrison Mevis’ extra point is good and Los Angeles re-takes the lead with 8:47 to go in the fourth quarter.

Rams 27, Panthers 24

Panthers-Rams score update: Carolina takes lead

Carolina capitalized on Matthew Stafford’s interception and went 62 yards in just four plays to score the go-ahead touchdown. Chuba Hubbard notched his second touchdown of the game from three yards out and Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra point is good for the Panthers to take a four-point lead.

Panthers 24, Rams 20

Davante Adams clears concussion check

The Rams wide receiver took a massive helmet-to-helmet hit that left is tongue bloodied. He would undergo a concussion check and clear it, making his return to the field after.

Panthers-Rams score update: Rams pull ahead with field goal

Matthew Stafford couldn’t connect with Puka Nacua on third down from the Panthers’ 24-yard line. Rather than go for it, Los Angeles opted to take the go-ahead points. Harrison Mevis made a 42-yard field goal to put the Rams back ahead with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter. 

Rams 20, Panthers 17

Panthers-Rams score update: Carolina ties it up in third

The Panthers’ offense put together the longest drive of the game by going 59 yards on 13 plays in more than seven minutes of game time. Carolina couldn’t convert on 3rd and 7 from the Rams’ 32-yard line so the Panthers settled for a game-tying field goal attempt. Ryan Fitzgerald knocked it through from 46 yards out to tie the game with 7:29 left in the third quarter.

Rams 17, Panthers 17

Who is the Panthers’ backup QB?

Bryce Young is playing well in his playoff debut today after an early interception. If he goes down, the Panthers have three-time Pro Bowler Andy Dalton to take over in a pinch. 

Matthew Stafford stats today

The first-team All-Pro got off to a hot start to open the game before cooling off ahead of halftime. Here’s how things look at the break:

Completions: 10
Attempts: 17
Yards: 137
Yards per attempt: 8.1
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 0
Rating: 104.3

Panthers-Rams score update: Bryce Young does it himself

Carolina forced another turnover on downs against the Los Angeles offense to get a chance to score before halftime. The Panthers’ offense did just that by driving 81 yards in just five plays. Young dropped back on third-and-10 from the Rams’ 16-yard line and got loose for a rushing touchdown. The extra point is good and the Panthers cut the deficit with less than a minute until halftime.

Rams 17, Panthers 14

Panthers-Rams update: Muffed punt gives Rams the ball back

Matthew Stafford missed Davante Adams on third down and the Rams settled for a punt. On the return, rookie running back Trevor Etienne fumbled the ball and Los Angeles takes over in Carolina territory with just under three minutes left in the first half.

Rams 17, Panthers 7

Who is the Thiccer Kicker?

Rams kicker Harrison Mevis – aptly nicknamed the ‘Thiccer Kicker’ for his stout, 6-foot, 245-pound frame – is in his first season of NFL action after spending time in the UFL in 2025. He spent time with the Panthers in 2024 during the offseason.

What happened to Isaiah Simmons?

The former first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in late November. He’d signed with the Cardinals after getting cut by the Green Bay Packers during training camp. Simmons was moved to the Panthers’ active roster after an injury to linebacker Trevin Wallace.

Panthers vs Rams score update: Harrison Mevis lengthens Rams lead

The ‘Thiccer Kicker’ notched a 46-yard field goal to put the Rams up by 10 points with the second quarter nearing five minutes remaining. The Panthers defense held on a short third down to force the kick.

Rams 17, Panthers 7

Panthers vs Rams score update: Chuba Hubbard finds end zone as Carolina answers

Carolina will not be shut out on home turf today. The Panthers’ offense took more than three minutes off the game clock with a 65-yard scoring drive powered by a crucial catch by Jalen Coker. Chuba Hubbard ran it in from one yard out. Ryan Fitzgerald knocked through the extra point to make it a seven-point game.

Rams 14, Panthers 7

Puka Nacua stats today

Nacua is putting on a show early vs. the Panthers: He has one touchdown across five catches and is credited with a carry and a touchdown. That’s good for 64 yards combined with two touchdowns.

Panthers vs Rams score update: Nacua finds end zone again

The Rams’ offense put together another scoring drive with a seven-play, 48-yard march to the end zone culminating in a five-yard score by Puka Nacua. Stafford threw a screen behind the line of scrimmage to Nacua and it’s counted as a 5-yard rush for the Rams’ star wideout. Harrison Mevis’ kick is good and the Rams have a two-score lead early in the second quarter.

Rams 14, Panthers 0

Ikem Ekwonu injury update: Panthers LT ruled out with knee injury

Bad news for the Panthers OL: Ekwonu, who went down midway through the first with a knee injury, has been ruled out for the game.

LA Rams record

The Rams finished the 2025 season with a 12-5 record, good for third place in the NFC West.

Ikem Ekwonu injury update: Panthers LT leaves game with apparent knee injury

The Carolina Panthers’ left tackle was flagged for a holding penalty on a second-down sack while trying to slow down Rams edge rusher Josaiah Stewart. Ekwonu went down on the play and immediately grabbed for his knee. Yosh Nijman is in the game in his place.

Panthers-Rams score update: Puka Nacua snags touchdown to open scoring

Los Angeles’ defense held strong on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. The Rams offense needed just four plays to score as Matthew Stafford found his top target, Puka Nacua, in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown. Harrison Mevis’ extra point is good and the Rams take an early lead on the road of the wild-card playoff opener.

Rams 7, Panthers 0

Panthers head coach

The Panthers head coach is Dave Canales, the former offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Canales is in his second season as head coach of the Panthers, and put together an overall record of 13-21.

What TV channel is the Panthers vs. Rams game?

TV channel: Fox

Saturday’s wild-card round game – the first game of the NFL playoffs – between the Panthers and Rams will be broadcast by Fox on Jan. 10. Joe Davis (play-by-play), former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (game analyst) and Pam Oliver (sideline reporter) will be on the call for the postseason clash.

What time is the Rams at Panthers game?

Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Panthers vs. Rams game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Panthers vs. Rams live stream

Live stream: Fubo

Cord cutters can tune into the wild-card matchup with a subscription to Fubo, which also offers a free trial.

Watch NFL playoffs with Fubo (free trial)

Is Davante Adams playing today vs. Panthers?

Yes, Adams is officially active for Saturday’s game. He missed the final three games of the regular season after aggravating a hamstring injury in Week 15. The NFL’s leader in receiving touchdowns was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, setting him up for a return to action in the wild-card game.

Rams inactives today vs. Panthers

The Rams have announced their seven inactives for Saturday’s game against the Panthers. They are as follows:

QB Stetson Bennett IV (emergency QB)
OL Kevin Dotson
TE Terrance Ferguson
CB Derion Kendrick
CB Josh Wallace
WR Jordan Whittington
CB Darious Williams

Panthers inactives today vs. Rams

The Panthers have announced their five inactives for Saturday’s games. They are as follows:

LB Krys Barnes
DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
WR David Moore
DL LaBryan Ray
C Nick Samac

Panthers vs. Rams weather updates

The Panthers have shared several videos of their players warming up at Bank of America Stadium ahead of Saturday’s game. The clips show it isn’t yet raining but the skies are gray and wind is whipping in Charlotte.

Conditions at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte were benign in the early afternoon. ESPN’s Sarah Barshop reported it was ‘a beautiful afternoon’ but noted there was rain coming around kickoff.

Queen City News’ chief meteorologist Tara Lane shared an update about the weather for Saturday’s game at 1 p.m. ET. She noted rain will be ‘heavy at times’ around kickoff and that there will be ‘possible lightning’ before and during the game.

Below is a look at the radar, courtesy of Lane:

Panthers vs. Rams predictions, picks

Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Rams, 30-16
Jarrett Bell: Rams, 31-17
Nick Brinkerhoff: Rams, 28-20
Chris Bumbaca: Rams, 28-21
Nate Davis: Rams, 27-17
Tyler Dragon: Rams, 27-20

Panthers vs. Rams odds, moneyline, O/U

Against the spread (ATS): Rams -10.5 (-110) | Panthers +10.5 (-110)
Moneyline (ML): Rams -625 (Bet $625 to win $100) | Panthers +450 (Bet $100 to win $450)
Over/Under (O/U): 46.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Panthers schedule 2025

Rams schedule 2025

The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs despite getting a scare from the Carolina Panthers to kickstart the league’s wild-card weekend.

The Rams earned a 34-31 victory after a back-and-forth fourth quarter that saw four lead changes. Matthew Stafford rebounded from a mid-game lull – which was exacerbated by the 37-year-old quarterback hitting his throwing hand hard on D.J. Wonnum’s arm’s – to throw a game-winning 19-yard touchdown to tight end Colby Parkinson.

Stafford’s late-game heroics helped the Rams, who were double-digit favorites, avoid a second shocking loss to the Panthers and avenge a Week 13 loss at Carolina’s hands. Now, Sean McVay’s squad will get ready to play in the divisional round of the playoffs.

While the Rams are through to the divisional round, they will have to wait until the remainder of the NFC’s wild-card games wrap up to know their opponent. The NFL uses a dynamic bracket that re-seeds each round, so the No. 1 overall seed Seattle Seahawks will face the lowest-remaining seed on the NFC side of the bracket at the end of the wild-card round.

Here’s what to know about Los Angeles’ potential divisional-round opponents and the scenarios that could lead the Rams to face each team.

Who will Rams play next?

The Rams’ next opponent won’t be determined until the final two NFC wild-card games are played. However, Los Angeles is guaranteed to face one of the following teams in the divisional round after beating the Panthers:

Seattle Seahawks
Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers

Below is a look at the scenarios that would lead the Rams to face each potential opponent.

Seattle Seahawks

No. 2 Chicago Bears beat No. 7 Green Bay Packers AND
No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles beat No. 6 San Francisco 49ers

Chicago Bears

No. 2 Chicago Bears beat No. 7 Green Bay Packers AND
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers beat No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

No. 7 Green Bay Packers beat No. 2 Chicago Bears AND
No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles beat No. 6 San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers

No. 7 Green Bay Packers beat No. 2 Chicago Bears AND
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers beat No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

The only way the Rams can host a home game in the divisional round will be if they face the 49ers. Any other scenario would see Los Angeles hit the road despite its 12-5 regular-season record.

Updated NFL playoff bracket

AFC

No. 1 Denver Broncos (BYE)
No. 2 New England Patriots vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers
No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills
No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 5 Houston Texans

NFC

No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
No. 2 Chicago Bears vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (advanced to divisional round)

It’s beginning to look a lot like the NFL playoffs.

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are set to renew the NFL’s oldest rivalry in the wild-card round of the 2025playoffs, but the conditions will be far from favorable for either team. In fact, Soldier Field already looks like a snow globe ahead of the matchup under the lights.

Both teams will also have to battle Mother Nature in the contest, with cold weather and snow preparing to make an impact.

It will be a unique scene for Caleb Williams’ playoff debut and the Bears’ first home postseason contest since the 2018 season. While Chicago is hoping for some home cooking, it won’t be unfamiliar territory for Jordan Love and the Packers, who are used to playing on a frozen tundra of their own.

Here’s the latest weather update for the NFC wild-card matchup.

Bears vs. Packers weather updates

Snow is falling at Soldier Field ahead of the Bears-Packers matchup. It is beginning to accumulate on the field with an hour to go before kickoff.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is calling for snow showers throughout the night, with accumulations of around an inch.

Low temperatures are expected to be around 23 degrees with winds in the 15 to 20 mph range and gusts up to 35 mph.

Chicago weather forecast for Bears vs. Packers playoff game

Below is a full look at the details of Chicago’s forecast for Jan. 10:

Current temperature (7:30 p.m. ET): 32 degrees
Low temperature: 23 degrees
Chance of precipitation: 80%
Wind: 15 to 20 mph (gusts up to 35 mph)

The Ottawa Senators took the unusual step this week of denouncing internet rumors about goaltender Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence.

Captain Brady Tkachuk took it another step on Saturday, Jan. 10, in an expletive-filled media session in which he said, ‘It’s not true. It’s just a (expletive) story.’

General manager Steven Staios had put a statement on Jan. 8 about Ullmark, who went on leave on Dec. 28. It read in part:

“Linus is away from our team for personal reasons and he has the entire organization’s support. We asked that people respect his privacy, but clearly that request was not heard by the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet. We are disgusted that outside forces are attempting to disrupt our hockey club. This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that spread online.”

Tkachuk was asked about it on Saturday and said that it’s OK for people to critique the team’s on-ice performance but spreading rumors about players’ families is stepping over the line.

‘It’s embarrassing that it got to the point that it did and I can tell you for free that I’m not happy about it one bit,’ he said.

He added: ‘That’s just our society and life now that people can just say whatever they want and no repercussions and don’t really realize who it affects. It’s just crazy to bring up a crazy story like that and talk about people’s families and stuff like that. I honestly can’t really wrap my head around it.’

The Senators lost 8-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 8. Tkachuk said the players weren’t using the rumors as an excuse and said he feels for Ullmark.

‘Nobody knows what he’s going through, but the fact that he has to even deal with this, even have to think about it,’ Tkachuk said. ‘All we care about for him is getting what he needs. We said from Day 1 that he has our support, the whole organization’s support. Now that he has to deal with this, it’s mind blowing.’

There are 13 games remaining in the 2025 NFL season, six of them set to be played this weekend in what projects to be a postseason as wide open as any in recent memory.

It will begin Saturday, when the sub-.500 Carolina Panthers host − that ain’t right − the Los Angeles Rams, followed by the Green Bay Packers visiting the Chicago Bears in what will be only the third postseason meeting in a rivalry that’s run for more than 100 years.

Sunday, the Buffalo Bills will try to win their first road playoff game in more than three decades against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. The Philadelphia Eagles then begin their title defense in earnest at home against the San Francisco 49ers. The Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots will face off Sunday night.

The wild-card round wraps Monday night in Pittsburgh, where Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers could potentially play his final game against the Houston Texans.

How do USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts foresee the postseason openers shaking out? And, as a bonus, which teams do they think will reach and, ultimately, win Super Bowl 60? Scroll on:

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

Wild-card round picks, predictions, odds

Rams at Panthers
Packers at Bears
Bills at Jaguars
49ers at Eagles
Chargers at Patriots
Texans at Steelers