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DEAR ABBY: Six months ago, I began seeing a man I like very much but don't want to be intimate with. We are in our "young" 70s, and both of us were widowed two years ago after 50-year marriages. We agreed early on that neither of us will remarry. We are affectionate, and he'll occasionally kiss my cheek, nape of my neck or forehead. We hug. That's as much as I want. I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings, but I'm worried he may want more intimacy, which I am not willing to give. What advice do you have for me? -- LIMITED IN INDIANA DEAR LIMITED: Because you are sure you don't want an intimate relationship with this man and are being given signals that he may want more from you, talk frankly with him about it. You are both mature people, and it's the only fair way to handle a situation like this. You may find, to your relief, that you are misreading his intentions. If you aren't, he needs to know he's barking up the wrong tree. DEAR ABBY: My father dated someone for several years. She broke up with him around five years ago. She's a pleasant person, so we stay in touch via Christmas cards. Recently, she texted me that she was sending me a box of mementos, including pictures from their relationship. I was away on business, so I didn't have a chance to respond. The shoebox arrived this morning, and I just received a text from her asking if I had received it. Honestly, I feel this was inappropriate because the relationship was between my father and her. I believe she should have sent the items to him instead. How should I respond? -- ONLY THE SON IN NEW JERSEY DEAR ONLY THE SON: Respond by telling the woman the box arrived. She may have sent it to you because she wanted no more direct contact with your father. Call your dad, tell him his ex-girlfriend sent the mementos to you, ask if he wants them or would prefer you dispose of them and then follow his guidance. DEAR ABBY: I have been happily single for most of my life, and I treasure the friendship and company of my other women friends. My question concerns a situation that happens frequently when one of them starts dating or marries. They seem to feel I should enjoy the company of BOTH of them together from then on. My response has been to refuse any invitations, but it feels rude and impolite. I would appreciate your advice, and thank you! -- SINGLE LADY IN THE MIDWEST DEAR SINGLE LADY: Running away isn't the answer. Instead of cutting off these women without explanation when they become involved in a romantic relationship, it would make more sense to point out to them that women (and men) communicate differently when members of the opposite sex are present. It's the truth. Couples don't have to be joined at the hip 100% of the time, and, in fact, it's healthier for their relationship when they sometimes socialize as individuals.By Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) - Israelis and Palestinians are signaling new efforts to forge a ceasefire deal, even a limited one, for the first time in a year that would pause the fighting in Gaza and return to Israel some of the hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave. Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call on Wednesday there was now a chance for a new deal that would allow the return of all the hostages, including U.S. citizens, Katz's office said. A Western diplomat in the region, however, said a deal was taking shape, but it would likely be limited in scope, involving the release of only a handful of hostages and a short pause in hostilities. Such a truce and release would be only the second since the start of the war in October 2023. The guarded optimism emerges as U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan heads to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and then to Egypt and Qatar, co-mediators with the U.S. on a deal. Separately, President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that militants of the Palestinian Hamas group release the hostages held in Gaza before he takes over from Biden on Jan. 20. Otherwise, Trump has said, there will be “hell to pay.” Trump's designated hostage envoy Adam Boehler has said he too is involved, having spoken already to Biden and to Netanyahu. Israel says 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza. Seven are believed to be U.S. citizens. Citing Trump's threat of "hell to pay," Boehler told Israel's Channel 13 news last week: "I would appeal to those people that have taken hostages: Make your best deal now. Make it now because every day that passes, it is going to get harder and harder and more Hamas lives will be lost." Although Biden and Trump are working separately, their efforts overlap and both stand to gain from a deal. A U.S. official said Trump's public statements about the need for a swift ceasefire “have not been harmful.” The official said the priority is to get the hostages home, whether it is at the end of the Biden term or the start of the Trump term. Steve Witkoff, Trump's designated Middle East envoy, met separately in late November with Netanyahu and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said a source briefed on the talks. TIMING IS APT FOR NETANYAHU The timing for a deal may never have been better politically for Netanyahu. The prime minister told reporters on Monday that Hamas' increasing isolation following the collapse of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad's rule opened the door to a possible hostage deal even if it was too early to claim success. Israel's military chief and the head of the Shin Bet internal security service were in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss post-war Gaza border crossings and administration, according to three Israeli security sources. The public optimism of Israeli leaders over the past week has matched the general tone in internal discussions behind closed doors, according to an Israeli official. For Netanyahu, concessions would be far easier now with Israel having reestablished its reputation as the most powerful Middle East force and its Iran-backed enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria now posing less of a threat. Netanyahu's once-fragile coalition has been strengthened by the addition of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his more centrist faction. Netanyahu, having achieved a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, can complete the picture with the return of the hostages in a deal with Hamas. Over the past year, some of the far-right ministers in his cabinet had voiced objections, even threatening to bring down the government, should the war in Gaza end. But with Israel's enemies weakened, and his coalition strengthened, Netanyahu is far less vulnerable politically. Saar said on Monday that Israel was now more optimistic about a possible hostage deal amid reports Hamas had asked other Gaza factions to help it compile a list of Israeli and foreign hostages in their custody, whether dead or alive. A Palestinian official close to the talks and familiar with the positions of all the parties involved described what he called "a fever of negotiations" with ideas emerging on all sides, including among mediators in Egypt and Qatar. Trump's involvement had given the talks a boost, even if the sides have yet to present lists of Palestinian prisoners and hostages to be exchanged or to complete plans for a temporary or phased truce, the Palestinian official said. He said Hamas was willing to show some flexibility should there be guarantees Israel would not resume the fighting. It is unclear how the sides can bridge the largest gap that has persisted through numerous rounds of failed negotiations; Hamas demands an end to the war, while Israel says the war will not end before Hamas no longer rules Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Jordan and Turkey on Wednesday for talks on Syria, the State Department said. Israel is not in his official itinerary but there is always a possibility he might add the stop. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Andrew Mills and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Howard Goller; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingDarcy Ungaro is an authorised financial adviser and the host of the NZ Everyday Investor podcast. OPINION Wise investing isn’t just about growing a pot of money, it’s about solving tomorrow’s needs, at today’s price. It’s about anticipating your future and making some tough choices now to avoid higher costs later. First-time home buyers often buy “first homes”, for example. These are the affordable options that feel safer as a first step. What would happen if they considered the school zones for their future family, though? Avoiding the first rung of the property ladder means they won’t have to pay inflated prices for the property they could have purchased today.

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(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament.Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's recently released 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition is on sale at Amazon. The unique box set comes with the 2023 asymmetric multiplayer game and the 4K Blu-ray edition of the 1974 horror masterpiece. The commemorative collection also includes a cool steelbook case and a pack of trading cards featuring characters from the game. Released in October for $100, you can now get the Xbox Series X version for $72.89 , and the PS5 edition is $87. Xbox Series X -- $72.89 ( $100 ) PS5 -- $87 ( $100 ) The steelbook case features exclusive artwork by renowned artist Gary Pullin, who is known for illustrating a substantial number of posters, covers, and other promotional materials for iconic horror films. The collectible trading cards have a fittingly classic look. The set also comes with 13 DLC add-ons for the game, including two additional playable characters. Our Texas Chain Saw Massacre review gave the 2023 game an impressive 9/10, praising it for its intricate map design and rewarding gameplay that pushes you to experiment with your play style. "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre plays, looks, and sounds like its team holds the source material in the highest regard," wrote critic Mark Delaney. "Faithfully transposing the film's signature terror into a modern multiplayer game is a feat on both ends. As one of the year's scariest and best-designed experiences, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has reset the bar for multiplayer horror games." While this is a cool collection for fans of the game and the original movie, if you're only looking to own the movie, you can instead pick up The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 4K Steelbook for $33 (down from $55) at Amazon. This is essentially the same version of the film bundled in with the 50th Anniversary Collection, though the steelbook isn't as cool. However, the 40th Anniversary Black Maria Limited Edition is pretty darn cool, as the 4K and 1080p discs are housed in a replica of the Black Maria semi-truck from the movie. Remarkably, it's still in stock, and Amazon has discounted this five-disc set to $67 (was $100).AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office has launched investigations into 15 tech companies over safety practices in compliance with the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). Some of the companies the attorney general's office said it is targeting include Character.AI, a personalized AI software, as well as Reddit, Instagram, Discord and a number of others. “Technology companies are on notice that my office is vigorously enforcing Texas’s strong data privacy laws," Paxton said. "These investigations are a critical step toward ensuring that social media and AI companies comply with our laws designed to protect children from exploitation and harm." The investigations follow an October lawsuit filed by Paxton against TikTok , alleging that the social media giant operated in violation requirements enabled by the SCOPE Act. What is the SCOPE Act? Passed during the most recent legislative session, the SCOPE Act went into effect on Sept. 1 , 2024. It requires digital service providers – such as companies that own websites, apps and software – to protect people under the age of 18 from "harmful content and data collection practices." The law primarily applies to digital services that provide an online platform for social interaction between users that allow users to create a public or semi-public profile to use the service, and allow them to create or post content that can be viewed by other users of the service. This includes digital services such as message boards, chat rooms, video channels or a main feed that presents users content created and posted by other users.

Elon Musk Agrees That People Want To See Jeffrey Epstein FilesDodgers proposed blockbuster swaps No. 23 MLB prospect for Garrett Crochet | Sporting NewsThe Atlanta Falcons drafting of Michael Penix Jr. just six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract doesn't seem like that much of a head-scratcher anymore. Penix, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, was supposed to serve as Cousins' understudy for a year or two, a plan that was scuttled when Cousins quickly lost the zip and accuracy on his passes and his grip on the starting job. It was hard to argue with making the change after Cousins had nine picks and one touchdown pass in his last five starts — but it was a daring move nonetheless with the Falcons trailing first-place Tampa Bay by a single game with three weeks left. Penix made the move pay off with a solid first NFL start in the Falcons' 34-7 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday that bolstered Atlanta's playoff hopes , and the Falcons (8-7) moved back into first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers' loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would’ve been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender for Penix’s lone interception. “He went out and played almost flawless football,” coach Raheem Morris said. Cousins will almost certainly be looking for his fourth team in 2025. If the Falcons cut ties as expected, they'll have paid Cousins $90 million for 14 games. Cousins' career earnings are about $321 million and his record is 84-77-2, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs and 7-7 this season. In the spirit of expedited judgments, let's take a gander at how other quarterbacks have fared with their new teams in 2024. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed the biggest bargain of the season in Wilson, whom they signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.21 million, leaving his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the hook for the remaining $37.79 million of his 2024 salary. Wilson's calf injury in camp forced the Steelers to start Justin Fields, who went 4-2 before Mike Tomlin made the risky switch to Wilson, who's gone 6-3 with 15 TD throws and four interceptions. With the Steelers (10-5) playoff-bound, Wilson will make his first postseason appearance since 2020. The only question is whether it'll be at home as AFC North champ or on the road as a wild-card. They're tied with the Ravens atop the division but currently own the tiebreaker. This was expected to be a rebuilding year in Minnesota after the Vikings lost Cousins in free agency. They signed Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018, to a $10 million, one-year contract and drafted national champion J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener and has undergone two surgeries, opening the way for Darnold's breakthrough season. Darnold brought a 21-35 career record with him to Minneapolis and all he's done is go 13-2 while setting career highs with 32 touchdown passes, 3,776 passing yards and a 67.2% completion percentage. The Vikings are tied with the Lions atop the packed NFC North and the division crown could come down to Minnesota's season finale at Detroit on Jan. 5. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract and he beat out incumbent Aidan O'Connell for the starting gig. But he only went 2-7 and sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in a Week 12 loss to the Broncos, opening the door for O'Connell (1-4) to return. The Raiders' 19-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday snapped a 10-game skid but might have taken them out of the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes. They are 3-12, a game behind the Giants (2-13), who jettisoned QB Daniel Jones less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract and have gone with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito instead. The Chicago Bears had high hopes after drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but it might turn out that the second QB taken — Washington's Jayden Daniels — is better than the first as was the case last year when C.J. Stroud outperformed Carolina's Bryce Young. Williams has a terrific TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5, but the Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine in a row. Their last win came way back on Oct. 13 against Jacksonville. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has led the Washington Commanders (10-5) to the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2020. His bolstered his Rookie of the Year credentials with a five-TD performance Sunday in leading the Commanders to a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the year, Daniels has 22 TD throws and eight interceptions. The former Auburn and Oregon star hasn't looked much like a rookie after starting an NCAA QB record 61 times in college. The Broncos (9-6) could snap an eight-year playoff drought with a win Sunday at Cincinnati thanks to Nix's steady play , Sean Payton's exhaustive guidance and Denver's traditionally stingy defense. Nix was drafted 12th overall after the Broncos released Wilson despite a a whopping $85 million dead money charge on top of the $37.79 million they're paying Wilson to play for Pittsburgh this year. With 22 TDs and 11 interceptions, Nix has almost matched Russell's win total (11-19) in his two seasons in Denver. AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report. Behind the Call analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL during the season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Electro Mart holds 'Partners’ Conference of Bangladesh'We're 12 weeks into the 2024 NFL regular season, and it's a special week in the NFL—Thanksgiving week. By the time we hit next weekend, four games will already have been played—games that are rather the 2024 season in a nutshell. For the first time in a long time, Thanksgiving's biggest game involves the soaring Detroit Lions. The Green Bay Packers will try to hold pace with the Lions on Thanksgiving night against the resurgent Miami Dolphins. And on Black Friday, a Kansas City Chiefs team that has made close wins an art form will attempt to maintain the top seed in the AFC. Those Chiefs got a win over the lowly Panthers in Week 12—albeit just barely. The Lions kept rolling and have their best record in decades. The AFC South-leading Houston Texans were stunned at home by the Tennessee Titans. And the Philadelphia Eagles sent a message in Los Angeles that while the Lions may have the NFC's best record, they aren't necessarily the best team in the conference. After a Lambeau Field beatdown, the Packers are rolling, while the San Francisco 49ers are reeling. The Denver Broncos may well be a legitimate playoff team. And the Las Vegas Raiders—well, the Raiders just need a hug. Another wild week around the NFL has shaken the league's pecking order. But as is the case every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport , Kristopher Knox , Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski are here to make sense of it all—by ranking the NFL's team from No. 32 to No. 1. Last Week: 32 Week 12 Result: Bye Week By just about any objective measure, the 2024 season has been a disaster for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A team with aspirations of competing for an AFC South title has been arguably the worst squad in the league. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has missed time with a shoulder injury, but head coach Doug Pederson told reporters there's a chance the former first overall pick will be out there in Week 13. "I mean we'll see. We'll see how he does during the week of this bye and see where he's at," Pederson said. "I'm not going to commit right now obviously. We still have a ways away, but we'll see. We'll see how he does this week, and we have time, so we'll figure that out." As to the embattled head coach himself, Pederson told reporters that last week's debacle against the Detroit Lions was not indicative of who the 2024 Jaguars are. "That's not who we are. That's not who we stand for," he said. There's enough pride in that locker room, enough pride on the coaching staff, whether we win the game or not. How we perform, it's not who we are. It's not who we are. It's not how I coach. It's not how we prepare during the week. It's not how the players practice and what they put their bodies through. I don't think many people understand what these guys go through during the course of a week. These guys play—and this is across the league. This is not just us. This is everybody who puts on a uniform on game days." Analyst's Take The thing is coach, it really has been who the 2024 Jaguars are. The offense couldn't move the ball consistently even when Lawrence was out there. The defense is the only one in the league that has surrendered an average of over 400 yards per game. The Jaguars are most likely going to blow this team up in the offseason, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where Pederson is the coach of this team in 2025. -- Davenport Last Week: 30 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 30-7 Maybe Daniel Jones wasn't the problem in New York. Tommy DeVito's first start for the Giants was a disaster. DeVito failed to clear 200 passing yards in a lopsided loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It wasn't just DeVito, though—the reality was that no one for the Giants played especially well. "They did everything better than we did today," head coach Brian Daboll told reporters . "It wasn't good, wasn't good. From a variety of missed tackles, converting in the red zone, turning the ball back over in the red zone. Got a good week of practice, did a lot of work, and obviously, it didn't show. No excuses. They played well, and we didn't play well. You get down 23-0 [and it] changes the complexion of the game some. Had a good drive coming out of the half, turned the football over. Just not good enough, and that all starts with me." Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was even less diplomatic. "First, second quarter, I don't get the ball," Nabers ranted. "Start getting targets at the end. I mean, can't do nothing. Start getting the ball when it's 30-0. What do you want me to do?" Analyst's Take Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers knows the Giants have a problem beyond the quarterback position, but he doesn't know what it is other than a team that's played " soft ." The Giants can help themselves by starting quarterback Drew Lock over Tommy DeVito. This team needs someone to inject some energy into its play. -- Moton Last Week: 27 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Denver 29-19 Things have gone from bad to worse for the Las Vegas Raiders. It's not bad enough that the Raiders suffered yet another loss Sunday at home against the rival Broncos. Las Vegas also lost its starting quarterback...again. Gardner Minshew fractured his collarbone in the second half and will miss the rest of the season. Head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters the team hopes Aidan O'Connell will be ready to play when the Raiders face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday. "We're going to need somebody, right?" Pierce said. "We're running out of quarterbacks, too, now, so we'll see what happens (Monday). But obviously, it looks like (O'Connell is) getting better. He threw a little bit in practice this week. Obviously, we've got a short week—play on Friday, travel on Thursday—so we have to make that decision very quickly." If not, Desmond Ridder, who took over for Minshew on Sunday, said he'll be ready to go. "I've been here almost a month and how I feel comfortable with the offense, I'm ready to go," said Ridder. "So, whatever that situation may be, it's not up to me—it's up to the higher power. But I'm ready for any situation there may be." Frankly, after seven straight losses, at this point it probably doesn't matter. Analyst's Take Gardner Minshew will miss the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, so the Raiders must turn to Desmond Ridder or Aidan O'Connell for the remainder of the season. The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed believe O'Connell will reclaim the starting position after returning from injured reserve. In Week 7, O'Connell fractured his thumb, but he likely would've been starting at this point of the campaign if not for his injury. Before Minshew broke his collarbone, the Raiders benched him three times. Yet regardless of who starts under center for the Raiders, they're headed toward a four-win season at best. -- Moton Last Week: 28 Week 12 Result: Lost at Miami 34-15 Things just keep getting uglier and uglier for the New England Patriots. The Patriots had another miserable performance in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Pats had just 268 yards of offense, turned the ball over twice, converted just 3-of-14 third downs and fell behind 31-0 before finally getting on the scoreboard. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye tried to put a positive spin on a miserable effort while addressing the media . "I always say I hate losing more than I like to win," Maye said. "We got our butts whipped today, and it's only up from here. We've got a bright future and the right players in there for the Patriots." Head coach Jerod Mayo, on the other hand, had a curious response when asked about the mistakes, turnovers and penalties that plague the Patriots on a weekly basis. "Once those guys cross the white lines, there's nothing I can do for them," Mayo said. "There's nothing any coach can do for them. It's my job to continue to prepare not only them, but our coaches as well." Apparently, it's just Mayo's job to "prepare" the Patriots from Monday through Saturday. But once the game starts, his work is done. The loss ensures New England a third straight losing season for the first time in three decades. So, Mayo's work may well be done for good before long. Analyst's Take Drake Maye has shown glimpses of what he can become as a franchise quarterback, but he's not Clark Kent. Maye cannot transform into a football Superman to save the Patriots' lackluster offense with the flick of his wrist. Maye is exciting to watch because he can create something out of nothing, but at some point, he needs a reliable partner in the backfield or within the pass-catching group to help the offense generate points. -- Moton Last Week: 31 Week 12 Result: Won vs. Pittsburgh 24-19 The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the Cleveland Browns. But for at least a moment at least on Thursday night, the Browns woke up, shocking their most hated rivals in a driving snowstorm in Cleveland. There were multiple heroes in the Week 12 upset, whether it was Myles Garrett's three sacks or Nick Chubb's two scores on the ground. But it was the play of Jameis Winston under center that truly propelled Cleveland to victory. Winston threw a terrible interception against the Steelers, and turnovers have dogged the 30-year-old throughout his career. But as Jason Lloyd wrote for the Athletic , over the last month it can't be denied that Winston has provided a spark to an offense that had been truly awful. "In four starts since replacing Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Winston has guided the Browns to a pair of victories—over heavyweight division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh, no less," he said. "He already leads the team in passing yards and touchdowns, and his charismatic nature has provided some memorable sermons and lighthearted social media clips in what has otherwise been a dreary season and a miserable trudge to the finish line." Analyst's Take It can be argued that Cleveland winning games at this point in the season costs the Browns more than it helps them—too many victories could knock the team out of the running for an elite quarterback prospect. With that said, Winston has earned the right to start the rest of the season—and if the money's right, he makes sense as Cleveland's starter to open the 2025 season, as well. -- Davenport Last Week: 29 Week 12 Result: Won at Houston 32-27 There hasn't been much in the way of good news for the Tennessee Titans in 2024. But Sunday in Houston, the team played easily its best game of the year in stunning the AFC South-leading Texans. Will Levis outplayed C.J. Stroud, throwing for 278 yards and two scores with a passer rating over 120. Running back Tony Pollard eclipsed 100 rushing yards with a touchdown. And Tennessee's defense put the clamps on the Texans, allowing just 40 yards on the ground and less than 2.5 yards per carry. While addressing reporters after the game, Titans head coach Brian Callahan expressed pride in how his team fought despite its record. "The coolest thing about this game was just the way our team fought," Callahan said. "It was a back-and-forth game. Our guys did a good job of not flinching and keeping the blinders on. We've been in games like this before, and we haven't been able to make a play, but this week, we made a play." It has still been a disappointing season in Nashville. But for one week at least, it's smiles all around. Analyst's Take When a team operates with a new head coach and developing quarterback, the bar is simple: Does the group get better as the season progresses? In the case of the Titans, it seems they are, especially with Sunday's surprising victory over the Houston Texans. Aside from an inexplicable pick-six, Will Levis consistently found his targets while working behind a somewhat improving offensive front that battled throughout the afternoon. As a result, the lowly Titans beat the rival Texans and went 2-2 in the month of November. -- Sobleski Last Week: 26 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Kansas City 30-27 With the exception of the final score, Sunday's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs went about as well as the Carolina Panthers could have hoped. And frankly, an argument can be made that losses are more valuable to Carolina than wins right now. The question is becoming whether the Panthers want to use their high draft pick in 2025 on a quarterback. Because in addition to giving the two-time defending champions all they could handle, quarterback Bryce Young played reasonably well for a third straight game. While talking to the media after the game, Panthers head coach Dave Canales lauded his young quarterback. "Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities," Canales said. "And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today." Young, for his part, said he's just taking things one game at a time. "For me, I just want to focus on what I can control," Young said. "Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence." Analyst's Take Carolina's winning streak ended at two games, but this team should feel very good about where it is. Players are continuing to fight hard, which is a positive reflection on head coach Dave Canales. Bryce Young, meanwhile, is starting to play like the game-changer he was at Alabama. The season, overall, has been a disappointment. However, it's easy to forget just how bad this team was in 2023, and it's easy to overlook how much more hope they have now. -- Knox Last Week: 24 Week 12 Result: Bye Week Things were supposed to be different for the New York Jets in 2024. With Aaron Rodgers healthy, the Jets were supposed to shake off years of futility under center and be a factor in the AFC East. Instead, after 11 games, the Jets are actually a game worse than last year. And now, per Dianna Russini of the Athletic , it's looking increasingly likely that the Aaron Rodgers era in New York is going to look a lot like the Brett Favre era did—quick and ugly. "I'm told Johnson has lost confidence in Rodgers' ability to lead the team to their first playoff berth in 14 years, a drought that stands as the longest in the major North American professional sports leagues," Russini said. "There are some on the team who believe everyone is simply tiptoeing around the fact that Rodgers isn't the same player anymore. I'm told no decisions have been made yet, but it appears increasingly likely that the four-time MVP, who is banged up, could be placed on injured reserve or possibly benched over the next few weeks, signaling the end of his disastrous time with the Jets. Some around the league say they won't be surprised if Rodgers is cut in-season." Analyst's Take All the blame for the Jets' latest faceplant of a year can't be placed on Rodgers, but there's also no denying that Rodgers has looked his age most of the season. At this point, we should all know what will be happening next—after Rodgers is let go by the Jets, Rodgers will sign with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason and lead the team to the NFC title game in 2025—just to twist the knife. -- Davenport Last Week: 25 Week 12 Result: Won at Washington 34-26 How 'bout them Cowboys? It may have been a weird game that included everything from a missed extra point that would have tied things at the end to a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns, but the Cowboys are finally off the skid after downing the reeling Commanders in Washington. The win stopped a five-game skid for the Cowboys, and embattled head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that hopefully it will give the team some momentum headed into their Thanksgiving Day tilt with the New York Giants. "Oh, we needed it. It's been frustrating, no doubt," McCarthy said. "I think everybody in our circle has been very accountable for it. But I think you're getting a look at who we are. Just tremendous fight. They fought from the time that ball was kicked off at the beginning all the way down to the end. That's what this team is about. Hopefully, we can continue to get healthy. And we got to win this next one. That was a division game. That was a big win for us. We got another one right around the corner here. Nice to get some wins, get some momentum." Analyst's Take The Cowboys snapped a five-game losing streak, but they almost blew a late fourth-quarter lead last week. Commanders kicker Austin Seibert's missed extra-point attempt may have saved Dallas from a mindboggling loss. The Cowboys should celebrate last week's win, but this club still has much to correct going into its Thanksgiving game with the Giants. -- Moton Last Week: 23 Week 12 Result: Bye Week There hasn't been a bigger roller-coaster of a team in 2024 than the New Orleans Saints. The Saints opened the season with a pair of dominant wins. Then New Orleans plummeted through a seven-game skid that got head coach Dennis Allen fired. However, since Allen was let go, the Saints have peeled off two straight wins to at least hang around the fringes of the NFC South. Per Dianna Russini of the Athletic , the way the team has played since coming out of the bye has garnered Dennis Rizzi some real consideration to have the "interim" tag to be removed from his name. "After the organization parted ways with Dennis Allen," she said, "Rizzi was a natural choice for the interim role, especially considering he was a finalist for the head coaching job two years ago. While Sean Payton's positive influence remains within the organization, Rizzi has introduced his own approach, which has been well-received by players. He has focused on building strong relationships with team leaders and veterans, reorganizing the locker room to enhance player cohesion, and adjusting practice schedules to reduce injuries. He believes in a high volume of reps with less intensity during practices that players, including Derek Carr, have appreciated. He's also allowing players an extra hour of sleep, a simple yet effective adjustment. An assistant coach shared: 'Everything has a purpose with Rizzi.'" Analyst's Take After their disastrous seven-game skid, the postseason isn't likely in New Orleans. But that doesn't mean the team has nothing to play for next week at home against the Rams. Rizzi is coaching for his future with the team. Quarterback Derek Carr may well be playing for his future as the team's quarterback, and he won't be the only guy playing for a job next season. The Saints aren't making the postseason. But they have the talent to be a thorn in the sides of some teams down the stretch. -- Davenport Last Week: 22 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Minnesota 30-27 (OT) At 4-7, the postseason hopes for the Chicago Bears are just about toast. Sunday's loss to Minnesota in overtime was the team's fifth straight setback since a 4-2 start. But in some ways, Sunday's game was almost encouraging. The Bears may not be winning, but the play of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has improved—he torched the Vikings for 340 yards and two scores with a passer rating over 100. Williams told reporters after the loss that while the team didn't get the result they wanted, the offense has improved. "I think we've gotten better over these past couple games," Williams said. "I think today was a testament to that, being decisive, receivers and everybody, and things like that." Minnesota head coach Kevin O' Connell was impressed by what he saw from Williams. "I think the world of him," O'Connell said. "He just continues to get better and better. You can see it when he starts creating off schedule, and that change of direction and athleticism. We had him dead to rights a couple times and he gets out and makes huge plays." Analyst's Take Despite coming up short Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, encouraging signs can still be found for the Bears, particularly the play of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams finally appears to be getting comfortable and adjusting to the speed of the game. Over the last two contests, he really thrived when defenses attacked. The result? The playmaking quarterback everyone saw in college is finally fully emerging at the professional level. Williams is evading pressure and making outstanding throws that a select few can. Yes, the Bears have lost five in a row, but the whole point of this season was to ensure the organization finally had its franchise quarterback in place. It appears they do. -- Sobleski Last Week: 21 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Detroit 24-6 The Indianapolis Colts are stuck in the in-between. The Colts aren't a bad team...but they aren't an especially good one, either. The Indy defense had little answer for the juggernaut that is the Lions offense. The Colts offense struggled Sunday—the team was 0-for-2 in the red zone, and after throwing the ball well in Week 11, young quarterback Anthony Richardson came back to earth, completing just 11 of 28 passes. Despite another rough day throwing the ball, teammate DeForest Buckner still believes that Richardson has a bright future. "As a player, to go where you have never been and become the player that you want to be, you have to be willing to do things that you've never done and make certain sacrifices you've never made," Buckner told reporters . "At the end of the day, there's a price that needs to be paid. I feel like within this process the past two weeks, he's been able to really see that and that's what gives us so much confidence in him. Knowing that he's rooting in the process and he's developing as a pro." Still after losing four of five, it's fair to question how long the Colts can wait before they have to consider a Plan B under center. Because Richardson just hasn't been good as a passer in the NFL. Analyst's Take Anthony Richardson needs help. The sophomore quarterback needs to play better, of course. But multiple instances occurred during Sunday's contest against the Detroit Lions where others around the sophomore signal-caller let him down—Andrew Ogletree's drop of what would have been a walk-in touchdown being the most obvious example. Richardson may never become an efficient operator. But it's highly difficult to become anything when plays aren't being made by others or are called back because of penalties. -- Sobleski Last Week: 19 Week 12 Result: Bye Week It has been a miserable season for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Mind you, not from a statistical standpoint—Burrow is playing as well as any quarterback in the league. But the Bengals have played seven one-score games in 2024...and lost six. Per Oliver Connolly of The Guardian , a team this bad having a quarterback this good is enough to give someone a migraine. "Losing six close games with a quarterback playing this well is almost impressive," he said. "Burrow's numbers this season are bonkers. He has thrown for 3,028 yards, 27 touchdowns and has only four interceptions so far. He's on pace for the best rushing season of his career, scrambling around to make something happen. He tops the league in QBR and is third in the RBSDM composite, which measures the value of a play and how much the quarterback can be deemed responsible for the value. In a normal year, Burrow would top ballots for the league's most prestigious hardware. Instead, he's left scrapping for the final playoff spot in a lousy AFC wild-card race (NFL.com gives the Bengals a 12% chance of making the postseason). Most likely, the Bengals will be on the outside looking in by the time the postseason rolls around." Analyst's Take That the Bengals have just four wins with Burrow playing at such a high level is a shame, and assuming the Bengals do miss the playoffs Cincinnati faces some major questions in the offseason. Wide receiver Tee Higgins and edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson are both free agents after the 2024 season, and frankly, the future of head coach Zac Taylor in the Queen City may be uncertain. -- Davenport Last Week: 13 Week 12 Result: Lost at Green Bay 38-10 The San Francisco 49ers are in deep trouble. Injuries have ravaged the Niners all season long. And the team may have reached a breaking point. Without quarterback Brock Purdy and left tackle Trent Williams, the San Francisco offense struggled to get anything going. The defense played its worst game in recent memory on Sunday, and the 49ers got blasted to fall into last place in the NFC West. After the blowout, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't sugarcoat his team's performance while talking to reporters . "I thought we got out of our gaps a number of times," Shanahan said. "I thought we had way too many missed tackles. Just them being able to control that clock the first half was one of the worst ones I've been a part of as far as a half. (Then) To have those three turnovers, and all three led to touchdowns with 21 points. You top that with the penalties and stuff, that's how you get embarrassed like that." Analyst's Take The 49ers are cooked, and not just because of injuries. There's a serious lack of physicality on both sides of the ball, and San Francisco's defense has taken significant steps in the wrong direction under first-year coordinator Nick Sorensen. It should surprise no one if Kyle Shanahan fires his defensive coordinator for the second straight offseason. There was a time when the 49ers could be considered the bullies of the NFC. There is no longer any semblance of an intimidation factor with this team. -- Knox Last Week: 15 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Philadelphia 37-20 Sunday night's tilt with the soaring Eagles was the chance for the Los Angeles Rams to make a statement—to show they can hang with the NFC's best. Instead, the Rams looked like a .500 also-ran, allowing Saquon Barkley to surpass 250 rushing yards and getting absolutely dominated in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was under constant duress Sunday night, and he told reporters that the Rams just weren't good enough up front. "They rushed four the majority of the night, that's kind of what they do," Stafford said. "Didn't do anything that we didn't expect, just executed a little bit better than we did, stayed ahead of the chains a little better than we did... Just didn't do enough in the second half to keep it close." The Rams are just one game off the pace in the NFC West. But with games coming up against Buffalo and at San Francisco, this week's tilt with an up-and-down Saints team has the makings of a must-win matchup. Analyst's Take The Rams still have an outside chance of stealing the NFC West. Even if they do, I can't see them getting past the wild-card round. This team is a fun mix of veterans like Matthew Stafford and young, budding stars like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. However, it isn't a complete team, and that has shown against quality opponents like the Eagles. Los Angeles has holes in its defensive back seven that can't be fixed in-season. It has an offensive line that can't adequately protect Stafford for a full four quarters. Those are issues that will hurt the Rams in the postseason and could prevent them from even getting there. -- Knox Last Week: 20 Week 12 Result: Won vs. New England 34-15 This is the Dolphins team many expected before the season. Sunday in Miami, we saw a glimpse of the buzzsaw offense that dropped 70 points on the Broncos last year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 144 yards and a score. On a day the run game struggled, Miami outgained the Patriots by over 100 yards. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel talked up his quarterback while speaking to reporters after the game. "He's found a way to improve the way he plays the position throughout the game," McDaniel said. "The most monumental thing that you have to overcome as a quarterback is playing the position regardless of the ebbs and flows, so not changing how you play based upon positive or negative results and letting every play stand on its own." For his part, Tagovailoa was more concerned with Thursday's trip to face the 8-3 Green Bay Packers. "We're still below the .500 threshold, and it's a long way to where we want to get to," Tagovailoa said. "We'll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us." Analyst's Take Don't overlook Miami's defense in its midseason run. The Dolphins haven't surrendered 20 points in a game since Week 9. Miami faces a tougher test against the Packers on Thanksgiving, but its top-10 run and pass defense should be up for the challenge at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. We'll also find out if the Dolphins can hang with a playoff contender in below-freezing temperatures. -- Moton Last Week: 17 Week 12 Result: Bye Week The good news for the Atlanta Falcons is that the team entered its bye week in first place in the NFC South. The bad news is that the Falcons have also lost two straight, including a blowout defeat in Denver in Week 11. Those losses can be attributed at least in part to the struggles of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. As Nick Shook wrote for NFL.com , Cousins' lack of mobility after tearing his Achilles tendon last year is becoming an issue. "His immobility is becoming a bit of a glaring issue," he said. "Cousins still launched a few accurate throws downfield that were broken up by Denver's secondary, but he also threw a truly awful interception in the middle of the third quarter, piling onto what had already been an avalanche of negative outcomes for the Falcons on a generally no good, very bad offensive day. The Falcons need more balance and must stay on schedule to get back on track. It would be wise to figure it out quickly, especially with the Buccaneers lurking in the NFC South race." Analyst's Take Cousins was actually benched in that loss to the Broncos, but there has been nothing to indicate that was more than a temporary move in a game that was completely out of hand. But the Falcons have just about squandered their margin for error in the NFC South. Cousins needs to up his level of play when the Falcons host the Los Angeles Chargers next week, and it would be nice if the Falcons' invisible pass rush could get a little pressure on Justin Herbert -- Davenport Last Week: 18 Week 12 Result: Won at New York Giants 30-7 Coming out of the bye week, the Buccaneers needed a win as badly as any team in the NFL—with a wideout corps savaged by injuries, the Bucs had dropped five of six. The playoffs were getting farther and farther away with every defeat. However, star wide receiver Mike Evans was back for Sunday's blowout win over the New York Giants. He wasn't the biggest reason that Tampa rolled, but it didn't hurt matters, either. Tampa dominated every facet of the game. Baker Mayfield threw for nearly 300 yards, drawing praise from head coach Todd Bowles in the postgame press conference . "He did a heck of a job," Bowles said. "Baker just plays ball. He loves playing ball. He had some great scrambles. He bought some time. He made some runs. He played a heck of a ball game." Tampa gained 156 yards on the ground and averaged almost five yards per carry. The Buccaneers defense held New York under 250 yards. It was a dominant effort all around—one that gives the team momentum heading into games with the Panthers and Raiders that could get the Bucs back above .500. Analyst's Take The Buccaneers are one of the league's most balanced clubs, entering Week 12 with a top-10 passing and rushing offense. In Tampa Bay's win over the Giants, Baker Mayfield threw for 294 yards, and all three of its active running backs, Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, scored a touchdown. The Buccaneers' tailbacks accumulated 127 scrimmage yards. Despite its 5-6 record, Tampa Bay is a dangerous post-Thanksgiving team that can get hot down the stretch. -- Moton Last Week: 12 Week 12 Result: Lost at Seattle 16-6 Over the past several weeks, the Arizona Cardinals have been the NFC West's hottest team—winners of four straight. Coming out of the bye, the Redbirds had an opportunity to take a firm grasp on the division lead. Um...so much for that. The Arizona offense imploded against the Seattle Seahawks. The team ran for less than 50 yards. The Cardinals converted just 3 of 12 third-downs, and quarterback Kyler Murray threw a pick-six that accounted for one of Seattle's two touchdowns. Murray didn't mince words while addressing the media after the defeat. "Obviously, it's a hostile environment," Murray said. "We just didn't execute, did not execute at a high enough level to win that game." The loss isn't a killer—every team in the NFC West is either 6-5 or 5-6. But with a trip to Minnesota up next followed by a rematch with the Seahawks, Arizona needs to get the offense back on track in a hurry. Analyst's Take Just when I think Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing have Arizona headed in the right direction, we have games like Sunday's. The defense is improving but can't play consistently well. The offense looks great when things are clicking...and a lot like the bad Kliff Kingsbury years when they're not. At some point, in a tough game, the Cardinals must forge a better game plan than poking Kyler Murray with the football and telling him to do something. -- Knox Last Week: 16 Week 12 Result: Won vs. Arizona 16-6 Good luck figuring out the NFC West. All four teams in the division have been up and down this year. First place and last place are separated by a single game. And right now, the Seattle Seahawks are on top of the division. It was the Seattle defense that keyed Sunday's win, holding the Cardinals out of the end zone and allowing less than 300 yards of offense. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams led the way with six tackles and 2.5 sacks. He told reporters that after their recent struggles, the team is treating every contest like an elimination game. "We knew where we were in the division rankings, so ever since (the leaders) had that conversation, we've been treating it like playoffs," Williams said. "Since then, I just feel like our team is coming closer together. We're playing with great energy." However, wide receiver DK Metcalf chastised his offensive teammates for not performing similarly on their side of the ball. "We should have run away with that game early, but we put ourselves in bad positions to where we couldn't finish drives," Metcalf said. "The defense plays like that, week in and week out, we have no choice but to put points on the board and run away with every game." Analyst's Take Mike MacDonald continues to look like a solid coaching hire for the Seahawks. While Seattle's defense is far from perfect, it is aggressive and carries an energy that has been missing in recent seasons. It has also performed much better since the Week 10 bye. The offense still has weapons, and Seattle is beginning to look like a very balanced squad. I don't know if Seattle will win the volatile NFC West, but this is probably the one team from the division other teams won't want to see on the road in the wild-card round. -- Knox Last Week: 9 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Dallas 34-26 The Washington Commanders are in trouble. It's not just that the Commanders have lost three straight after a 7-2 start. It's how they lost and who they lost against. The Dallas Cowboys were double-digit underdogs, but the Commanders allowed 332 yards of offense to a struggling Cowboys team, turned the ball over three times, allowed a pair of kickoff-return scores and missed a late extra point that would have tied the game. As star wideout Terry McLaurin told reporters , the Commanders just flat-out didn't play well. "We just didn't play our best," McLaurin said. "We didn't play complementary football. When you're playing division games it's going to come down to the four quarters. We knew that going into the game. We didn't underestimate them at all, but it's just unfortunate when you can't help each other on offense, helping out on the defense." The Commanders now find themselves well off the pace in the NFC East. If there's a silver lining, it's that before Washington takes on the Eagles for the second time this season, the team gets a pair of winnable games sandwiched around a Week 14 bye. Analyst's Take Even in a loss, Jayden Daniels looked exceptional as the Commanders tried to make a comeback, but the team has hit a wall, losing three consecutive games. Between late September and late October, Washington's defense overachieved, and it regressed to the mean. Since Week 10, the Commanders have surrendered an average of 29.3 points per game. -- Moton Last Week: 14 Week 12 Result: Won at Las Vegas 29-19 The Denver Broncos are starting to believe. Sunday's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders wasn't as emphatic as their blowout of the Atlanta Falcons the week before. But Denver went on the road and defeated a divisional opponent to move to 7-5 on the season and remain in the AFC playoff hunt. After the victory, head coach Sean Payton told reporters the mentality of his team is changing. "A year ago, we don't win that game," Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "It wasn't our best, but it was good enough. We're on to the next one, so we have a lot to clean up, but it was good to handle these guys for a second time." Wide receiver Courtland Sutton agreed. "I think the tide is turning," Sutton said. "The Broncos are in a spot where we want to be back in the AFC West, and I think that's a really exciting spot to be in. Job's not finished." Now Denver has a pair of winnable games sandwiched around the bye week before what could be a critical trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers in Week 16. Analyst's Take Bo Nix is moving up the ladder of Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates. He's put together three consecutive qualities performances, throwing for eight touchdowns without an interception in that stretch. Last Sunday, Nix only completed 59.5 percent of his passes, but he threw for 273 yards and made no critical mistakes that hurt his team. Nix isn't a dazzling downfield passer, and his quarterback runs aren't eye-catching like Jayden Daniels' rush attempts, but he's one of the NFL's top offensive rookies heading into Week 13. -- Moton Last Week: 11 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Tennessee 32-27 It just became a lot harder to trust the Houston Texans as a contender in the AFC. Taking on a two-win Titans team at home, the Texans were outplayed on both sides of the ball. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud continued to struggle, throwing two more picks. With six games to go, Stroud now has almost twice as many interceptions as all of last year. The second-year quarterback admitted to reporters that he has to play better if the Texans are going to make noise in the postseason. "It's no secret that I haven't been playing well... I've got to be harder on myself," he said. "I'm not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I've got to make better plays." Head coach DeMeco Ryans said that there was plenty of blame to go around. "Just a disappointing loss for us," Ryans said. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives." Analyst's Take C.J. Stroud set an impossible standard during his rookie season that he's struggling to maintain as a sophomore. A year ago, the discussion already centered on whether Stroud was worthy of being considered a top-five quarterback. This season, he's simply trying to remain efficient, which he's struggled to achieve. Over the past four games, Stroud has committed six turnovers. Unsurprisingly, the Texans are 1-3 during that stretch. Houston still holds a two-game lead in the AFC South, but its status is more of an indictment of the division than anything the Texans have done as of late. -- Sobleski Last Week: 10 Week 12 Result: vs. Baltimore ( Monday Night Football ) The Los Angeles Chargers will be updated after hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Last Week: 8 Week 12 Result: Won vs. San Francisco 38-10 They have been overshadowed by the Detroit Lions in the AFC North. But over their last seven games, the Green Bay Packers are 6-1 after blowing out an undermanned San Francisco 49ers team Sunday. The only loss over that span? A 10-point loss to the aforementioned Lions. The engine for Sunday's win was a 26-carry, 106-yard effort with three touchdowns from running back Josh Jacobs. After the monster performance, Jacobs told reporters that this is exactly why he joined the Packers—the opportunity to win football games. "I came here because I'd seen them winning," said Jacobs. "And I haven't won a lot in my career, and that was a big thing for me when I'm making a decision. But not only that, man, being around these guys and seeing how hungry they are, seeing how much of pros they are on a day-to-day basis and how much it means to them, man, it makes me want to play harder, it makes me want to give everything I have." Analyst's Take Green Bay may have found its formula for fixing Jordan Love's interception problem, and it involves a heavy dose of Josh Jacobs. To be fair, the Packers played a bad 49ers defense in Week 12 (that still feels weird to say), but a strong ground game and some opportunistic defense made short work of San Francisco. That's a formula that travels into December and January and one that gives Green Bay a chance to play in February. -- Knox Last Week: 6 Week 12 Result: at Los Angeles Chargers ( Monday Night Football ) The Baltimore Ravens will be updated after facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. Last Week: 5 Week 12 Result: Lost at Cleveland 24-19 The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to go with a bit of a two-headed approach at quarterback—at times during Thursday's loss to the lowly Browns, Justin Fields replaced Russell Wilson under center. After the game, Wilson told reporters that both signal-callers are more than willing to help the team in any way they can. "We all try to make plays," said Wilson. "Obviously, we have trust in Justin in what he can do and is capable of. I always want to be in there. That's the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin and the coaches. I don't know when it's going to happen. Whenever it does, all I want us to do is win. When Justin gets in there, I'm rooting for Justin to do great and make a big play. When I go back in, it's vice versa. We're always rooting for each other." It's understandable that the Steelers are looking for a spark offensively—the team has struggled in the red zone this season. But it's also fair to wonder if this plan is giving that Steelers offense more momentum or stifling it. Analyst's Take Musical quarterbacks isn't the reason the Steelers were stunned in Cleveland—edge-rusher T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh defense were uncharacteristically quiet against a Browns offense that has struggled big-time this season. Pittsburgh is still up a game on Baltimore in the loss column with a head-to-head win. But Pittsburgh's erratic offense could be a real issue against the AFC's best teams, and the Steelers have three straight games coming up in a few weeks against the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. -- Davenport Last Week: 7 Week 12 Result: Won at Chicago 30-27 (OT) The Sam Darnold reclamation tour moves on. It wasn't the prettiest of wins—the Vikings squandered a late lead and allowed Chicago to force overtime with an onside kick recovery. But after a three-and-out on the first drive of overtime, Darnold took the Vikings right down the field for a game-winning Parker Romo field goal. Darnold finished the game with 330 passing yards and two touchdowns, and after the victory head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters he has every confidence that Darnold can lead the Vikings to victory—no matter the opponent. "It was just the ability to overcome, and his trust in me and my trust in him," O'Connell said. "We were gonna do it via the pass on that drive for the most part, try to mix some runs in there if we could. But I think that when your best is required, I had no hesitation of trying to attack what I was seeing and trying to get our guys going to get down there and give Parker a chance. Football is a game where you've got to be able to respond. It's never gonna be perfect. This group is a special group, and it's a road win in the NFC North and I'm really proud of our team." After a two-game skid, the Vikings have rattled off four wins in a row. And the team has a manageable schedule ahead of games against the Packers and Lions that could have huge stakes in the NFC North. Analyst's Take The Vikings have a franchise quarterback. No, it's not J.J. McCarthy, whom the organization sank a top-10 pick into this past April. The reclamation project known as Sam Darnold has turned into something special. Darnold has reclaimed his career after playing for three different teams over the past four seasons. He's comfortable and it shows, particularly in crunch time. During Sunday's overtime victory over the Chicago Bears, Darnold completed 11-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter and overtime. He's now in line for a contract extension. McCarthy will just have to wait a while after his recovery from a knee injury before taking the reins. -- Sobleski Last Week: 4 Week 12 Result: Won at Los Angeles Rams 37-20 The Philadelphia Eagles are rolling, and running back Saquon Barkley may wind up being the single most impactful personnel move of the 2024 offseason. All Barkley did Sunday night against the Rams was pile up a franchise record 255 rushing yards, top 300 total yards and score twice while averaging almost 10 yards a carry. That's not a typo. Both of Barkley's touchdowns came on long runs, and after the win head coach Nick Sirianni applauded Barkley's ability to make a house call any time he carries the ball. "Saquon has that ability to hit home runs, and so sometimes that's how it goes," Sirianni said. "You get some short gain, short gain, short gain—boom, home run. Saquon is that type of player, and our offensive line did a good job of handling the variations of the front." Barkley told reporters that he's loving his first season with his new team. "To be honest, I'm not surprised," said Barkley. "I didn't know I would have this much success, (but) I'm thankful to be here. I'm thankful for the fresh start. A big reason why I wanted to come here (is) I felt like this is a spot where I could rewrite my story and show everyone the type of player that I feel like I can be and was meant to be, and it's working out right now." Analyst's Take I still think the Lions are the best team in the NFC, but I won't be shocked if the Eagles end up claiming the No. 1 seed. Thanks to a rebuilt secondary that has jelled under Vic Fangio, this team has no real weaknesses. The offense might not be quite as dynamic as Detroit's, but Saquon Barkley is dynamic enough that it doesn't often matter. This does not look like the same squad that lost to the Falcons and Buccaneers early in the season. Games against the Ravens and Steelers will provide challenges, but the rest of Philly's schedule is fairly favorable. A Lions-Eagles NFC title game might be inevitable. -- Knox Last Week: 3 Week 12 Result: Bye Week There's nothing better than hitting the bye week after a huge win. That's how things worked out for the Buffalo Bills, who knocked the Kansas City Chiefs from the ranks of the unbeaten. Quarterback Josh Allen is a legitimate MVP candidate at this point in the season. But Bills legend Buce Smith told TMZ Sports that individual accolades aren't as important as the ultimate goal—a trip to New Orleans in February for Super Bowl XLIX. "Josh has my [MVP] vote thus far," Smith said. "He needs to finish strong, but keep in mind, winning the MVP but not having an opportunity to play and win in a Super Bowl, I just look at that as, obviously a personal statistic is always great to have, but you want to have that opportunity to go to the Super Bowl and become the MVP in the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl. All of those things that make history, and I think this gives us a great shot. What took place [against the Chiefs] showed a lot of character about this team." Analyst's Take Perhaps the most impressive part about Allen's play this year is that he hasn't really had a true go-to receiver—yes, Buffalo traded for Amari Cooper, but he's still acclimating to his new home. Allen has spread the ball around, running back James Cook is playing well and Buffalo's defense is steadily improving. The Bills haven't lost since all the way back in Week 5, but the team faces a challenging three-game stretch post-bye—home against San Francisco, at the Rams and then a trip to Ford Field for a potential Super Bowl preview. -- Davenport Last Week: 2 Week 12 Result: Won at Carolina 30-27 Just about no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs to need a last-second field goal to squeak past the lowly Panthers in Carolina on Sunday—including the Panthers, probably. But that's what happened Sunday. The Panthers surprisingly gave Kansas City all it could handle before some patented Patrick Mahomes heroics saved the day. While addressing the media after the game, Mahomes said that while a 30-point win would have been great, making a habit of pulling out close games is a valuable learning experience. "You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I've always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment," Mahomes said. That would resonate a bit more if Sunday's scraper hadn't come against one of the worst teams in the league. Analyst's Take There still isn't a team I'd trust in a one-score game more than the Chiefs. Obviously, there isn't a quarterback anyone would trust more in the final two minutes of a one-score game than Patrick Mahomes. However, the fact that Kansas City keeps having to find ways to win late is concerning. More concerning is the fact that the Chiefs defense—which has been the team's strength all year—has struggled in two straight weeks. There's plenty for this team to clean up between now and the postseason. -- Knox Last Week: 1 Week 12 Result: Won at Indianapolis 24-6 The Detroit Lions are a juggernaut right now. At 10-1, the Lions are off to the franchise's best start since before World War II. The Lions had no problem with the overmatched Colts, out-gaining Indianapolis by over 120 yards, racking up more than twice as many first downs and converting nine of 15 first downs. The Lions also held the Colts out of the end zone, leading head coach Dan Campbell to tell reporters that he's happy with how well the Lions are playing in all phases of the game. "This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it," Campbell said. "We talk about it all the time—limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run—we were able to do that. If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team. And we can win on the road." The Lions are now at home for three straight, starting on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears. After that comes a game with the Packers that could offer the Lions a stranglehold on the NFC North and a potential Super Bowl preview against the Buffalo Bills. Analyst's Take The current version of the Lions is the best team in the franchise's history. It has existed since 1930. At 10-1, they are tied for the organization's best start ever, and it's pretty safe to say this group could easily dispatch the '34 version that held the same record. To understand just how long ago that really was, the previous 10-1 edition came during the franchise's first season in Detroit with Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his first term as President of the United States. The attack on Pearl Harbor was still seven years away from occurring. Dan Campbell's Lions aren't just good; they're historically good. -- Sobleski

Alexander: Is diminished USC-UCLA game another reminder of what we’ve lost?

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingThe Memphis Grizzlies face the Chicago Bulls in a regular season game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 (11/23/24) at United Center in Chicago. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV . You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV , which is offering half off your first month. Here’s what you need to know: What : NBA regular season Who : Grizzlies vs. Bulls When : Saturday, Nov. 23 (11/23/24) Time : 8 p.m. ET Where : United Center TV : NBA TV Live stream : DirecTV Stream (free trial), fuboTV (free trial) *** Here’s an NBA story via the Associated Press: MILWAUKEE (AP) — Doc Rivers got emotional Wednesday when speaking about Bob Love, the former Chicago Bulls star forward and three-time All-Star who died Monday at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. Love, who spent 11 years in the NBA, forged a special bond with Rivers when the Milwaukee Bucks coach was a teenager growing up in Chicago. “He was a big guy in my life,” Rivers said before the Bucks game against the Bulls in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, his voice breaking. “Really an impressive guy. People remember Bob from basketball and I really don’t. He was a great basketball player but I met him when I was young, in high school.” Rivers said he first encountered Love at a park in Chicago and took note of Love’s severe stuttering problem. “I remember him talking to me and really struggling,” Rivers said. “I thought how courageous that was. That an NBA player would speak to a bunch of kids at a park. It was just so impressive to me.” A relationship between Rivers and Love took root. “For whatever reason, Bob took a liking to me,” Rivers said. “He would give me his shoes. Just a powerful guy. A tough guy. I think he epitomized Chicago in a lot of ways with his toughness and how we grew up.” Rivers said other young Chicago basketball players at that time, including Mark Aguirre and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, also took a liking to Love. “Bob was our guy and I think we all took that toughness from him,” Rivers said. He noted that Love, who was an All-Star for three straight seasons from 1970-73 and averaged a team-high and career-best 25.8 points during the 1971-72 season, struggled after his basketball career but was able to overcome one of his biggest challenges after he left the game. “He conquered the hardest thing that he could conquer and that was his stuttering problem,” Rivers said. Rivers, getting emotional again, said he wanted Love, whose No. 10 jersey hangs in the rafters at the United Center, to be remembered, and not just for what he accomplished on the court. “I think we should take note of guys like that because I thought he meant so much to kids,” Rivers said. “He epitomized not only toughness as a player but just with the stuff he went through in life.” (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Life is an investment game - Darcy UngaroNone