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The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a pretty successful season so far as they sit on top of the AFC North at 8-3 and third in the AFC playoff standings. Coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers are looking to bounce back against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. New additions on offense this year, like Russell Wilson and Justin Fields , have helped the team score more points and open up the playbook for Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith . The second half of the season is bringing something different for the team as they'll be featured in HBO's in-season Hard Knocks . During this past June, the Steelers announced they were one of the teams that were going to be a part of the in-season Hard Knocks this year on Max, HBO's streaming service. However, this year is different as before Hard Knocks would follow and highlight just one team, but now the show is following each team in the AFC North. This season is titled Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens, Browns, and Bengals will also have cameras filming each practice and game to showcase a behind the scenes look of each of their seasons. All three other teams have been featured in the show, but this will be Pittsburgh's debut. Filming for the show began in early November, according to ESPN Steelers writer Brooke Pryor. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked during his weekly press conference about how filming has been and if it's been a distraction for the players. “To me, it’s something to conquer, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. "We have to deal with it better than the other three teams. That’s how I view a lot of things that come across my plate. Particularly when others have to deal with it." Tomlin knows that all the other AFC North teams are dealing with the filming, the Steelers just have to handle it better than the rest. This season of Hard Knocks will be interesting, especially for Steelers fans, as the second half of their schedule consists of all six matchups versus the AFC North. Usually, Pittsburgh's AFC North matchups are spread throughout the season, but six out of their eight games after the bye week was AFC North teams. The Steelers are currently on a four-game stint of AFC North games and they are 1-1 so far, with a road game against the Bengals and a home rematch against the Browns coming up. With Hard Knocks debuting December 2, it'll be interesting to see the behind the scenes from each of the four teams. A lot of storylines have happened with all the AFC North teams and fans will get an inside look, something that usually doesn't happen. Tomlin reiterated that their agenda remains the same each week, but he's pushing to handle the cameras the best. "I’m less concerned about the inconvenience of it and more concerned about are we positioning ourselves to perform under those conditions better than those that we compete against," Tomlin said. "It’s something that everyone in the AFC North has to deal with, so it’s our agenda to do so better than the other three teams.” When Hard Knocks was announced, some players like Cam Heyward didn't like the decision to include the Steelers in the show. He openly stated a camera crew for a show didn't need to be in the locker room and that they may have to tone some stuff said in the locker room because viewers would take it the wrong way. The Steelers organization is known to be old school, so it'll be an interesting watch to see how the Steelers players and Tomlin act in the show, even with Tomlin assuring that it hasn't been a problem. Steelers Have Many Great Storylines For Hard Knocks On top of adding Fields and Wilson to the team, there are a lot more storylines that Steeler Nation and NFL fans will be intrigued by. One of the main storylines fan can look forward to is seeing Patrick Queen go against his former team the Ravens. The Steelers played their first matchup against the Ravens at home in Week 11, winning 18-16. Queen had a tremendous game , having 10 total tackles and also recovering a fumble that he forced. The Steelers will travel to Baltimore in Week 16 for their next matchup. A surprising trade that happened just before filming took place for Hard Knocks was former Steelers wide receiving Diontae Johnson getting traded from the Carolina Panthers to the Ravens. It was an interesting move, but so far Johnson hasn't done much for the Ravens and only got targeted twice with zero catches against the Steelers in Week 11. Are you excited to see Hard Knocks ? This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

Autodesk appoints Janesh Moorjani as chief financial officer

PopSpot: A creative interactive spaceQuestion: What albums should every guitarist listen to and why? Greg Koch - Guest Picker Recorded in 1964, this album has been essential listening for generations of guitarists. Going from the gut, I would say B.B. King’s would be something every guitar player should listen to as it is the well from where every other electric blues guitar player drank from—whether they know it or not. is another one, but is really the essence of what electric blues is all about. Another worthy choice is this live album from 1966 which features an incredible take on Willie Nelson’s “Night Life.” I would say playing slide in open tunings. I have been playing mostly standard tuning for the simple convenience of it, but nothing is quite as filthy as playing slide in open G or open E. I’ve been bringing out two guitars specifically for those two tunings and it’s been a lot of fun. Bret Boyer - Reader of the Month Recorded in a single take in 1971, Spence’s vocal style complemented his folky, angular guitar approach. If you’ve never listened to the Bahamian guitarist Joseph Spence, you are in for a treat. Joseph is such a unique guitar player and singer, and his music is the purest expression of joy I’ve heard on an album. Start with it’s a great reminder to have fun and be yourself. Hub Hildenbrand’s music is very personal and unlike anything I’ve heard on guitar. Check out the album . He even bows his 1953 archtop on two tracks. Hub draws deeply from non-Western music, with a strong influence from the oud tradition in his playing. His music is quiet, deeply reflective, and searching. Nick Millevoi - Senior Editor Steve Reich’s “Electric Counterpoint,” the original version performed by Pat Metheny. It shows that since the guitar is capable of anything, you might as well use it to do exactly what you want to do and have some fun. And for experimentalists, it’s a great reminder that there’s so much you can do using nice, tonal chords. The EHX Attack Decay has been delivering loads of inspiration lately. After buying one earlier this year, it hasn’t left my board. The premise is simple—create swells with controls for attack and decay speeds—which leaves so much to be discovered. Ted Drozdowski - Editorial Director Son House’s , because it’s a reminder that music is something elemental. It comes from the soil and is more deeply embedded in us than our own DNA. House’s performances are Heaven and Hell, doubt and surety, love and death. It’s that raw, true, and beautifully imperfect—poetry that breathes. Prog rock, thanks to recently experiencing the BEAT Tour and David Gilmour live in the same week. That reminded me of how sublime prog can be when it functions on an empathetic level first. My bedrock for prog remains . The picture associated with this month’s Dojo is one of my all-time favorites. Taken in 1916, it marks the collision of two diverging cultural epochs. Mountain Chief, the head of the Piegan Blackfeet Tribe, sings into a powered solely by spring-loaded tension outside the Smithsonian. Across from him sits whom I consider the patron saint of American —the great Frances Densmore. You can feel the scope and weight of the ancient culture of the American West, and the presence of the then-ongoing women’s suffrage movement, which was three years from succeeding at getting the 19th Amendment passed by Congress. That would later happen on June 4, 1919—the initiative towards granting all women of this country the right to vote. (All American citizens, including Black women, were not granted suffrage until 1965.) Densmore traversed the entire breadth of the country, hauling her gramophone wax cylinder recorders into remote tribal lands, capturing songs by the Seminole in southern Florida, the Yuma in California, the Chippewa in Wisconsin, Quinailet songs in Northern Washington, and, of course, Mountain Chief outside the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Author of more than 20 books and 200 articles, she carefully preserved the rich cultural diversity of Native Americans with over 2,500 field recordings. Why am I writing about this? Firstly, to pay homage! Secondly, because it serves as a great reminder to seek and cultivate sound the studio as well. We live in a time of great technological power and convenience. Every week a new sample pack, plugin, pedal, or software instrument hits the market. For all the joy that these offerings bring, they deprive us of the joy of creating our own instruments from scratch. This month, I’m advocating for you to make some field recordings of your own—nature, urban, indoor, outdoor, specific locations, animals, or anything that piques your interest! Bring the material back to the studio and make music with it! I’ll show you how to make your own sample libraries to use in your music. Tighten up your belts, a multipart Dojo is now open. What do you need to get started? Quite simply, you just need any device that is capable of recording. This can range from your cell phone to a dedicated r. The real question is: Do you want to use mics housed in handheld units or have more robust mic pres with the ability to power larger live/studio microphones using XLR connectors found with the larger units? Let’s look at three scenarios. The Cellular Approach The absolute easiest way to get started is with your cell phone. Take advantage of a voice-memo recording app, or use an app that records multitrack audio like GarageBand on iOS. Phone recordings tend to sound very compressed and slightly lo-fi—which might be exactly what you want. However, the method can also introduce unwanted noise artifacts like low-end rumble (from handling the phone) and phasing (moving the mic while recording). I recommend using a tripod to hold your phone still while recording. You might also want to consider using an external mic and some software to edit your sample recordings on the phone. I like using a Koala Sampler ($4.99) on iOS devices. Upgrade Me The next step up is to use a portable recorder. These have much better mic pres, and offer true stereo recording with pivoting mic heads. This can give you the added benefit of controlling the width of your stereo image when recording or helping isolate two sound sources that are apart from each other. You sacrifice the ability to easily edit your recordings. You simply import them into your computer and edit the recording(s) from there. Pro-Level Quality I would recommend this scenario if you want to record multiple sources at once. These devices also have SMPTE time code, 60+ dB of gain, phantom power (+48 volts), advanced routing, and a 32-bit/192 kHz sampling rate, so you’ll never have a distorted recording even when the meter gets unexpectedly pegged into the red from a loud sound source. I recommend the Zoom F8n Pro ($1099). Now you can use your microphones! Best Practices Try to safely record as close to the sound source as you can to minimize ambient noise and really scrub through your recordings to find little snippets and sound “nuggets” that can make great material for creating your own instrument and sample library—which we’ll explore next month! Namaste. There’s a visceral feeling that goes along with really cranking the gain. Whether you’re using a clean amp or an already dirty setup, adding more gain can inspire you to play in an entirely different way. Below are a handful of pedals that can take you from classic crunch to death metal doom—and beyond. The Viking king of shred guitar has distilled his high-octane tone into a simple, two-knob overdrive. Designed for going into an already dirty amp, this stomp offers clarity, harmonics, and more. Few pedals captured the sound of Swedish death metal like the HM-2. The go-to setting is simple—all knobs maxed out. Flip over to the custom mode for more tonal range, higher gain, and thicker low end. Voiced with an aggressive, heavy tone with a tight low end, this pedal offers +/- 14 dB of bass, a powerful noise gate, and an LED to let you know when the gate is on. Aimed to capture the sound of Mike Soldano’s flagship tube amp, the SLO uses the same cascading gain stages as the 100-watt head. It also has a side-mounted deep switch to add low-end punch. We chat with Molly about Sister Rosetta’s “immediately impressive” playing, which blends jazz, gospel, chromaticism, and blues into an early rock ‘n’ roll style that was not only way ahead of its time but was also truly rockin’. In the early ’60s, some of the British guitarists who would shape the direction of our instrument for decades to come all found themselves at a concert by . What they heard from Tharpe and what made her performances so special—her sound, her energy—must have resonated. Back at home in the U.S., she was a captivating presence, wowing audiences going back to her early days in church through performing the first stadium rock ‘n’ roll concert—which was also one of her weddings—and beyond. Her guitar playing was incendiary, energetic, and a force to be reckoned with. On this episode of , we’re joined by guitarist , who in addition to being a fantastic guitarist, educator, bandleader, and performing with , is a bit of a Sister Rosetta scholar. We chat with Molly about Sister Rosetta’s “immediately impressive” playing, which blends jazz, gospel, chromaticism, and blues into an early rock ‘n’ roll style that was not only way ahead of its time but was also truly rockin’. I love to learn, and I don’t enjoy history kicking my ass. In other words, if my instrument-making predecessors— , , Christian Martin, John Heiss, Antonio de Torres, G.B. Guadagnini, and Antonio Stradivari, to name a few—made an instrument that took my breath away when I played it, and it sounded better than what I had made, I wanted to know not just what they had done, but what they understood that I didn’t understand yet. And because it was clear to me that these masters understood some things that I didn’t, I would go down rabbit holes. I am not a violin maker, but I’ve had my hands on some of Guadagnini’s and Stradivari’s instruments. While these instruments sounded wildly different, they had an unusual quality: the harder you plucked them the louder they got. That was enough to push me further down the rabbit hole of physics in instrument making. What made them special is a combination of deep understanding and an ability to tune the instrument and its vibrating surfaces so that it produced an extraordinary sound, full of harmonics and very little compression. It was the beginning of a document we live by at called . My art is electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers, and speaker cabinets. So, I study bridge materials and designs, wood species and drying, tuning pegs, truss rods, pickups, finishes, neck shapes, inlays, electronics, Fender/Marshall/ amp theories, schematics, parts, and overall aesthetics. I can’t tell you how much better I feel when I come to an understanding about what these masters knew, in combination with what we can manufacture in our facilities today. One of my favorite popular beliefs is, “The reason Stradivari violins sound good is because of the sheep’s uric acid they soaked the wood in.” (I, too, have believed that to be true.) The truth is, it’s never just one thing: it’s a combination of complicated things. The problem I have is that I never hear anyone say the reason Stradivari violins sound good is because he really knew what he was doing. You don’t become a master of your craft by happenstance; you stay deeply curious and have an insatiable will to learn, apply what you learn, and progress. What’s interesting to me is, if a master passes away, everything they believed on the day they finished an instrument in that instrument. These acoustic and electric guitars, violins, drums, amplifiers, speaker cabinets—they will all talk to you if you listen. They will you what their maker believed the day they were made. In my world, you have to be a detective. I love that process. I’ve had a chance to speak to the master himself. Leo , who was not a direct teacher of mine but did teach me through his instruments, used to come by our booth at NAMM to pay his respects to the “new guitar maker.” I thought that was beautiful. I also got a chance to talk to Forrest White, who was Leo’s production manager, right before he passed away. What he wanted to know was, “How’d I do?” I said, “Forrest, you did great.” They wanted to know their careers and contributions were appreciated and would continue. In my experience, great teachers throw a piece of meat over the fence to see if the dog will bite it. They don’t want to teach someone who doesn’t really want to learn and won’t continue their legacy and/or the art they were involved in. While I have learned so much from the masters who were gone before my time, I have also found that the best teaching is done one-on-one. Along my journey from high school bedroom to the world’s stages, I enrolled scores of teachers to help me. I didn’t enroll them. I tackled them. I went after their knowledge and experience, which I needed for my own knowledge base to do this jack-of-all-trades job called guitar making and to lead a company without going out of business. I’ve spent most of my career going down rabbit holes. Whether it’s wood, pickups, designs, metals, finishes, etc., I pay attention to all of it. Mostly, I’m looking backward to see how to go forward. Recently, we’ve been going more and more forward, and I can’t tell you how good that feels. For me, being a detective and learning is lifesaving for the company’s products and my own well-being. Sometimes it takes a few days to come to what I believe. The majority of the time it’s 12 months. Occasionally, I’ll study something for a decade before I make up my mind in a strong way, and someone will then challenge that with another point of view. I’ll change my mind again, but mostly the decade decisions stick. I believe the lesson I’m hitting is “be very curious!” Find teachers. Stay a student. Become a teacher. Go down all the rabbit holes.

I'm A Celeb star fumes 'not up for a trial this time of night' as camp thrown into chaos

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Steven Clay scored 15 points as Morehead State beat Alice Lloyd 94-63 on Saturday. Clay shot 6 for 12, including 3 for 8 from beyond the arc for the Eagles (7-6). Kenny White Jr. scored 14 points, finishing 7 of 9 from the floor. Jerone Morton, Tayler Brelsford and George Marshall all scored 13 points. Jared Strickland finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles. Landon Napier added 10 points for Alice Lloyd. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Jonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?

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Sergel nearing Tk 1,000cr annual sales--Saturday Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England Patriots (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game, the Chargers have yet to give up more than 20 points in a road game this season. That's been accomplished only by five teams in league history, most recently the 2010 Chicago Bears and 2001 Philadelphia Eagles. Turnovers have been a challenge for New England. The Patriots have lost five straight games while breaking in rookie quarterback Drake Maye (14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). Maye has thrown a touchdown pass in seven straight games to tie Jim Plunkett (1971) for the longest streak by a rookie in franchise history. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes, just behind the rookie record set by Dak Prescott (67.8) of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He also has a pick in seven consecutive games. Chargers QB Justin Herbert has only three interceptions -- 18 touchdowns -- this season, but two of them came in the past two games. New England is 12-2 all-time as the home team in this matchup. Denver Broncos (9-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network Everything is at stake for the Broncos as the finish line to a surprising season approaches. Denver lost the inside track to the wild-card berth to the Chargers last week. But the franchise can still land a playoff berth and 10-win season for the first time since 2015, when Peyton Manning piloted the Super Bowl 50 champions. Denver leads the NFL with 51 sacks and rookie QB Bo Nix has six games with two or more TD passes and no interceptions this season. That's an impressive feat but Bengals QB Joe Burrow is setting the bar far higher. He leads the NFL with 4,229 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes. He's the fourth player with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino). Burrow's consistency is to be commended. He's the first player ever to record 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, a streak he can stretch to eight on Saturday. WR Ja'Marr Chase leads the NFL with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns, giving him 45 in his career. Only Randy Moss (53) and Jerry Rice (49) had more in their first four NFL seasons. Arizona Cardinals (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6), 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network Beat the Cardinals and the Rams can celebrate a sixth season with double-digit wins under Sean McVay. But to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons, Los Angeles has to wait for Week 18 and a matchup with the Seahawks. The Rams are cooking defensively, a credit to the production of their young front seven. WR Puka Nacua leads the NFL with 57 receptions since Week 10, with five-plus receptions and 50-plus receiving yards in each of his seven games during the span. The Cardinals lost in OT at Carolina last week to take themselves out of the mix for the postseason. It was Arizona's third loss in a row on the road, and the Rams beat the Cardinals 26-9 in Los Angeles last season. The Rams have won eight of 10 games since their bye week, when they were 1-4. Kyren Williams has provided support for quarterback Matthew Stafford during the Rams' 4-0 run in December. Williams, a Pro Bowl selection last season, has a career-high 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 303 carries following his 122-yard game against the Jets last week. --Sunday New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, CBS The Bills are hoping to get wide receiver Amari Cooper going. Acquired from the Cleveland Browns in October, Cooper has 17 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown in seven games with Buffalo. He had just one catch for 10 yards last week against the Patriots. Buffalo needs a win to finish 8-0 at home -- the Chiefs are also undefeated at home -- for the third time in franchise history (1988, 1990). Bills QB Josh Allen has 75 career regular-season wins, tied with Russell Wilson for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history. There are big numbers on the line for the Jets, but none of them relate to the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has 499 regular-season TD passes. He's one away from joining the 500 Club of Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). Manning (244 games) is the only player to reach 500 in fewer than 250 career games; Rodgers is playing No. 247 on Sunday. The Jets are 1-5 over their past six games and lost the first matchup between these teams 23-20 in Week 6. Carolina Panthers (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS Carolina put up 36 points and took down the Cardinals last week. The Panthers are playing inspired ball and would be thrilled to continue in the spoiler role by bumping Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers out of the top spot in the NFC South. Mayfield, who started for Carolina to open the 2022 season, found his Pro Bowl form under current Panthers coach Dave Canales, Tampa's offensive coordinator last season. Mayfield has five games with at least 300 passing yards and multiple TD passes this season. That's the bar Panthers QB Bryce Young aspires to, but he's content letting RB Chuba Hubbard carry the offense when necessary. Hubbard has career highs in yards from scrimmage (1,366), rushing yards (1,195) and rushing TDs (10) in 2024. The Buccaneers are trying to bounce back from a costly loss at Dallas. Down two late in the fourth quarter, Buccaneers RB Rachaad White lost a fumble that ended the potential game-winning drive. Mayfield is adamant he wants WR Mike Evans to get to 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season. Evans needs 182 yards and has owned Carolina with an average of 140.5 yards in his past four home games against the Panthers. Dallas Cowboys (7-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, FOX RB Saquon Barkley could carry the load this week with QB concerns for the Eagles. Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) were both hurt in the 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders last Sunday. That's only part of what's different since Dallas was whipped 34-6 by the Eagles on Nov. 10. Even with the Cowboys working their way back toward .500, Dallas subtracted another peak playmaker in WR CeeDee Lamb. Second in the NFL with 101 receptions, Lamb is on the shelf for the rest of the season right alongside QB Dak Prescott. The Eagles are primed to lean on their constant threat in Barkley, who leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,114) and rushing (1,838). With Lamb out, life becomes more difficult for QB Cooper Rush at the controls of the Cowboys' offense. Rush has guided Dallas to wins in four of the last five games, throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception. The Eagles' defense had five takeaways at Washington last week but has a minus-10 turnover margin (28 turnovers, 18 takeaways) while the Cowboys are tied for fifth in the NFL at plus-10 (26 takeaways, 16 turnovers). Indianapolis Colts (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13), 1 p.m. ET, FOX Indianapolis is mathematically alive in the playoff hunt but trails the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos by two games with two contests left. The Chargers and Broncos both have games on Saturday. If both nine-win clubs win, the Colts will be eliminated and miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Colts QB Anthony Richardson might be held out if there's no spoils on the line for Indy, as he's battling foot and back injuries. A heavier workload suits Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 218 yards and three scores on 29 carries during last weekend's 38-30 home win over the Tennessee Titans. New York is in danger of losing an 11th consecutive game behind an offense putting up only 14.3 points per game this season. The Giants are starting Drew Lock at quarterback for the fourth time in the past five games. Lock underwent an MRI on his passing shoulder Monday but no damage was found. He hurt it during Sunday's 34-7 road loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Lock is 0-3 as a starter this season and has completed just 52.7 percent of his passes. He has one touchdown and four interceptions in 129 attempts. Tennessee Titans (3-12) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, CBS For the second time in 21 days, the Titans and Jaguars square off with a spot in the AFC South cellar -- and near the top of the NFL draft order -- hanging in the balance. It could be argued that the loser will come out ahead in the long run. After all, that team would enhance its chances to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mason Rudolph, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday's 38-30 loss at Indianapolis, gets the start over Will Levis for the Titans this week. Rudolph also threw three interceptions, adding to the team's NFL-high total of 32 turnovers. The Titans' offensive line has permitted 47 sacks this season -- 40 with Levis at the helm. Levis also has thrown 12 interceptions and lost two fumbles, while Rudolph has thrown eight picks and lost a fumble. When the teams met on Dec. 8 in Nashville, Jacksonville notched a 10-6 win, holding Tennessee to 272 total yards and limiting Levis to 168 yards passing. It's the Jaguars' only road win of the season. Jacksonville is coming off a 19-14 loss last week in Las Vegas, another three-win team. The defeat moved Jacksonville up to the projected No. 3 overall pick, one spot ahead of the Titans. The Jaguars could be without as many as six usual starters on offense this week. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) at New Orleans Saints (5-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX Las Vegas hired Antonio Pierce as head coach after the team had an encouraging 5-4 record during his stint as interim head coach last season. Still, the disappointing 2024 season leaves Pierce's future in question. New Orleans is 3-3 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who was promoted when Dennis Allen was fired after a seven-game losing streak this season. The Raiders are expected to start second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who has shared that role with Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder. Rizzi earned victories in his first two games in charge and three of the first four, but the team had by far its worst performance under him in a 34-0 road loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who is in his second season in New Orleans, is trying to return from an injury to his left (non-throwing) hand. Rookie fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler, who is 0-4 as a starter and played poorly against the Packers, is more likely to start Sunday. Las Vegas ended a 10-game losing streak by beating the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 last week. Miami Dolphins (7-8) at Cleveland Browns (3-12), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Saturday's NFL slate could determine whether the Dolphins are playing for more than pride. Miami hopes to have a chance at the playoffs, while the only thing Cleveland can do is find a rare winning feeling in a disappointing season. Expected to contend for a second straight playoff berth, the Browns instead have an outside chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. A third starting quarterback of the year, second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson, gets the call with Jameis Winston (shoulder) ailing and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. In a 24-6 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Thompson-Robinson finished 20 of 34 for 157 yards while tossing two interceptions and absorbing five sacks. Thompson-Robinson, who was limited in practice on Thursday because of a quad issue, wants to do a better job avoiding those outcomes. The Dolphins' defense could help in that matter as they entered the weekend 26th in sacks (31) and tied for 22nd in interceptions (eight). Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he won't rest players even if the Chargers and Broncos push Miami out of the playoffs on Saturday. Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (13-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX There is still a lot on the line for the Vikings and Packers, who are behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North but competing for playoff position. Free agent signee Sam Darnold is the first quarterback to win 13-plus games in his first season with a team since Dak Prescott with the Cowboys in 2016 and first non-rookie since Peyton Manning with the Broncos in 2012. He's had immense production from former Packers RB Aaron Jones and All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson (92 receptions for 1,387 yards, 10 TDs). Head coach Kevin O'Connell has 13 wins in two of his first three years with the Vikings -- only current Packers coach Matt LaFleur and former 49ers coach George Seifert have done that. Green Bay also has a playoff spot clinched for the fifth time in six seasons under LaFleur. Powered by Jones' replacement Josh Jacobs (career-high 13 rushing TDs) and QB Jordan Love, the Packers fell short of a furious comeback in the Week 4 meeting. Love had 389 yards and four TDs but was intercepted three times. He also had four total TDs in last season's win at Minnesota on New Year's Eve. Atlanta Falcons (8-7) at Washington Commanders (10-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC A matchup of top-10 draft picks headlines the "Sunday Night Football" showdown in Week 17. With only one career start under his belt, Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, attempts to boost Atlanta's playoff chances against Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick. The Commanders are hunting their first playoff berth since 2020. Washington could have a playoff spot wrapped up if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. If Tampa Bay wins, Washington can clinch with a win over Atlanta. Atlanta is searching for its third straight victory while Washington has won three in a row and could get to 11 wins for the first time since 1991. Penix won his debut start at home last week, completing 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 202 yards with an interception and led the Falcons to four scoring drives in a 34-7 home win against the Giants. Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining, to lead Washington to an upset win over the visiting Eagles. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 81. Daniels has rushed for a team-high 737 yards along with six touchdowns. Washington entered Week 17 third in rushing (152.7 yards per game) and 16th in passing (220.9 yards per game). --Field Level Media

NFL Christmas games on Netflix set streaming recordsEagles look to clinch NFC East title while Cowboys hope to play spoiler

Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today ?‍? pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.The so-called “roaring 20s” environment may be in for a return as central banks look to reduce interest rates further into 2025. Undoubtedly, it’s tough to tell how quickly the Bank of Canada will trim rates from here, given the tariff threats that could easily take a further bite out of the loonie. In any case, a slower rate-cut schedule or pause of sorts seems likelier, in my opinion, as the U.S. Federal Reserve (or the Fed) looks to catch up with rate reductions of their own. Either way, Fed chairman Jerome Powell made it loud and clear that the Fed is in no rush to cut rates and further reductions could be “gradual.” Indeed, it’s tough to tell whether the Fed will cut more times than the Bank of Canada next year, given the unique slate of risks. Either way, I do think that the Canadian and U.S. economies can fare well, even if the rate cuts come in just a tad more infrequently. Black Friday and Boxing Day of 2024 could be solid. With consumers fresh off spending on Black Friday 2024, questions linger as to where retail sales head from here. Indeed, there have been notable signs that the consumer is still willing to spend if there’s a good deal to be had. And though only time will tell how they react after Black Friday and Boxing Day, I do think that the years of inflation and tough times could be conducive to higher consumer spending at some point down the road. Of course, there are always risks that could present themselves, causing consumers to put their wallets away and delay big purchases for a while longer. Either way, I think the e-commerce firms are looking pretty enticing at current valuation multiples. Though I have no idea if a “roaring 20s” environment will kick off again, I must say I’m a fan of the longer-term trajectory as the e-commerce firms move past what can only be described as a rough patch. Also, it’s really hard to tell what stocks are set to soar over a near-term timeframe, given all the unknowns and potential pitfalls we may not see today. So, if you’re going to bet on an e-commerce stock, do be ready for bumps in the road, which may include a new year sell-off of sorts, as you look to for the long haul. In short, the following name, I believe, appears timely going into the new year. However, I view them as best held for at least four years. Shopify ( ) stock has been riding higher in recent weeks, thanks in part to an incredible quarterly earnings result which, I believe, is not just a one-off. Going into 2025, I think Shopify could have even more surprisingly good results, especially if digital retail picks up traction. Recently, Scotia Capital analysts said that Shopify was one of the names that could see even more Black Friday upside. I couldn’t agree more. If digital retail is coming back in a big way, it will be tough to stop SHOP stock in its tracks. As always, buying after melt-ups in a stock accompanies a high degree of risk. However, if you’re in it for the long run, SHOP stock still seems worth nibbling into, especially as some analysts, like Kevin Krishnaratne, look for the name to “move higher to close out the year.”

Wayne Rooney has encouraged I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! viewers to vote for his wife to do a Bushtucker Trial as he feels she would want to “put herself to the test”. The former England footballer, 39, said he was “proud” of how Coleen was doing in the Australian jungle in a post on social media on Saturday. Advertisement The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons – Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great ❤️ Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. If you can download the #ImACeleb app and let’s get voting! 🗳️🕷️🐍 pic.twitter.com/f1VEihHVzy — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) November 23, 2024 Advertisement “Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great”, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a collage of photos of her on the show. “Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. Advertisement “If you can download the #ImACeleb and let’s get voting!” During the first task of the series, BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough chose to partner up with TV personality Coleen as he hailed her as “Wagatha Christie”. Rooney, 38, was given the nickname when she accused Rebekah Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking her private information to The Sun in a viral post on social media. In July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post was “substantially true”. Advertisement During Vardy’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, she became the third celebrity to leave, saying the series helped her become more tolerant. Earlier this week, Liverpool-born Coleen told her fellow campmate that going to court over her feud with Vardy was her “worst nightmare” as she felt she was “putting on a show for the whole world”. However, she said she was not scared about making the viral post which kicked off the dispute, saying: “I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.” Later in the episode, Rooney became emotional over the loss of her sister Rosie, after boxing star Barry McGuigan spoke about the death of his daughter. Advertisement I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV1 and ITVX.Ashland to host Christmas Night on Dec. 6The recent shutdown of the 3G network that caused a nightmare for consumers should serve as a lesson for future service upgrades, writes Paul Budde . THE GLOBAL TRANSITION away from 3G networks marks a pivotal moment in telecommunications, as resources are reallocated to support advanced 4G and 5G technologies. This is not the first time this has happened after the previous generation of 2G was also phased out. A big difference now is that more people are connected to the 3G service and also the critical importance of mobile telephony has significantly grown. While this shift is again essential for modern connectivity, the current process – with more people connected – has revealed significant challenges, as seen in Australia’s recent shutdown but also in similar transitions in other parts of the world. These experiences highlight both the opportunities and pitfalls of moving to a more connected future. In Australia, the 3G shutdown has been anything but seamless. Announced as early as 2019, the process gained momentum in 2024 with phased shutdowns by Telstra , Optus and Vodafone . However, the transition left many consumers unprepared, particularly those with 4G and 5G devices – often bought overseas, often over the internet – that lacked Voice over Long-Term Evolution ( VoLTE ) capability — an essential technology for connection to the 000 network. Australia’s 3G shutdown: Why your 4G/5G phone is now blocked The ill-planned shutdown of Australia's 3G network not only happened with little notice, but has caused a technological nightmare for consumers. For these users, 3G was still critical for making such calls. When the network was finally decommissioned, 258,000 4G devices (less than 1 per cent of all mobile phones) were left unable to perform basic functions. The Australian Communications and Media Authority ( ACMA ) attempted to address this by mandating carriers to block devices that could not make emergency calls over 4G. Telecom companies also handed out new handsets to some of these customers. While all well-intentioned, this approach still resulted in abrupt service blackouts for many users. The consumer impact of the shutdown was compounded by short notice and mixed messaging. Some users received conflicting information about whether their devices were compatible, while others learned of the shutdown only days before it took effect. The public consultation process for regulatory changes was rushed, lasting just two weeks instead of the usual four to five. This left many feeling that their concerns were overlooked. Critics also pointed out that telecommunications companies prioritised profits over preparedness, leaving consumers to bear the brunt of the disruptions. Internationally, the story has played out differently in countries that have already phased out 3G or are planning to do so. While similar issues arose, these were mitigated by extensive consumer outreach programs. Countries have adopted several strategies to maintain service for 3G handsets during network shutdowns. Many, such as the UK and Germany, have chosen to keep their 2G networks active, ensuring basic voice and SMS services remain available for older devices and emergency access. In places like France and Canada, extended timelines for the 3G shutdown provide users with more time to transition to newer devices, reducing immediate disruptions. Device upgrade programs have been a key approach, with countries like the U.S. and Singapore offering subsidies, trade-ins, and free VoLTE-capable phones to ease the financial burden on consumers. In some regions, minimal 3G infrastructure has been retained solely for emergency communications, as seen in Japan. Support for vulnerable populations has also been prioritised, with initiatives like personalised assistance and home visits in New Zealand helping to ensure no one is left disconnected. 5G could be a game changer — or simply a 4G upgrade While advocates of 5G believe it will revolutionise computing and telecommunications, it can be argued that it will only offer a step up from current 4G. Network sharing has played a role in India, where dual-SIM options and shared infrastructure allow users to continue accessing 2G or 3G services alongside upgraded 4G/5G capabilities. Hybrid solutions, such as software updates in China, enable limited compatibility of 3G devices with modern networks. These approaches collectively focus on maintaining accessibility, safeguarding public safety and minimising consumer disruption during the transition to advanced technologies. Australia’s experience highlights the critical need for a much better strategy. There were already many examples and solutions available to them from overseas, but they reacted rather late, creating lots of confusion. It is very clear that consumers must receive consistent and timely information to prepare adequately over a longer period of time (France allows for five years). Support mechanisms, such as device upgrade programs and technical assistance, are equally vital in easing the transition. Regulatory oversight also plays a crucial role in ensuring that carriers prioritise public interests over corporate convenience, especially when public safety and accessibility are at stake. It appears that the regulators in Australia were insufficiently aware of the potential problems. Looking ahead, the 3G shutdown serves as a cautionary tale for the next shutdowns when eventually 4G and 5G will be phased out — 6G is on the agenda for release around 2030. While the shift to 4G and 5G is necessary to meet the demands of modern connectivity, it must be better managed in a way that balances technological progress with consumer protection. By learning from its own as well as global successes and failures, future network upgrades can be executed more smoothly, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of accessibility, safety, or public trust. As the world moves toward a more connected future, these lessons are more important than ever. Paul Budde is an Independent Australia columnist and managing director of Paul Budde Consulting , an independent telecommunications research and consultancy organisation. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PaulBudde . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. Related Articles Australia’s 3G shutdown: Why your 4G/5G phone is now blocked BUSINESS CONSUMERS TECHNOLOGY 3G SHUTDOWN 3G 4G 5G mobile networks Telstra Optus Vodafone VoLTE Australian Communications and Media Authority Share Article