Kirk Herbstreit deletes X post after getting called out by Navy
Kirk Herbstreit found himself in hot water this week over an inaccurate post about the lack of college football action over the weekend.
Herbstreit promoted his “Nonstop” podcast on Monday by posting a clip from the show accompanied by the caption “Saturday not having college football threw us for a loop.” The since-deleted post drew backlash on X, and even a community note pointing out the fact that several games were played that day.
You can delete the tweet @KirkHerbstreit but screenshots are forever pic.twitter.com/B5sliGfode
— JewkboxHero – BE47SZN (@LanceJewkes) December 16, 2025
In addition to the annual Army-Navy game, both the Cricket Celebration Bowl and the Bucked Up LA Bowl were played on Saturday. The Navy football X account wasted no time in roasting Herbstreit for his comment in light of that.
https://t.co/X8sMYwVEx9 pic.twitter.com/Urzos77Osg
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) December 15, 2025
Herbstreit was quick to delete his post after that.
Obviously, Herbstreit was alluding to the fact that there was a much lighter diet of college football on Saturday than normal. By painting with such a broad brush, however, there was no way he was not going to invite a backlash.
In the past, Herbstreit has indicated that he does not even run his own X account. He might want to have a word with whoever does after that post.
Nick Saban purchases a stake in an NHL team
Nick Saban is officially a professional sports owner.
Saban has purchased a minority stake in the NHL’s Nashville Predators, the team announced Tuesday. Saban is making the purchase along with Joe Agresti, his business partner.
Smashville just got that much better 👏
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025
Nick Saban and partner Joe Agresti have joined the #Preds ownership group via Dream Sports Ventures LLC with a minority stake in the franchise!
📝 » https://t.co/6Y5EK0I6qA pic.twitter.com/1FXqW4O5tx
“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said in a statement. “Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.”
This is Saban’s first venture into professional sports ownership. The expectation certainly might have been that he would invest in an NFL team, but the cost of investing in an NHL franchise is much lower. It also lessens the risk of him running into a conflict of interest, which is something he has had to deal with lately.
The Predators are one of the NHL’s rare southern success stories. Though they have missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, they developed into one of the sport’s more successful franchises of the 2010s, and even made the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017.
Mike McDaniel has scathing assessment of Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa may have finally worn out his welcome with the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel delivered a scathing verdict on Tagovailoa’s performance during Monday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The coach said in no uncertain terms that Tagovailoa had not been good enough, and a quarterback change might be in the offing because of that.
“The quarterback play last night was not good enough. So for me, everything is on the table,” McDaniel said, via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.
Coaches usually do not openly discuss the possibility of a quarterback change unless they are actually planning to do it. This would be a pretty strong indication that Tagovailoa may lose his job, at least for the remainder of the season.
Tagovailoa was 22/28 for 253 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Monday’s 28-15 loss. Those numbers are inflated a bit, as most of his production came during garbage time after the Dolphins had fallen behind 28-3.
This is not even the first time this season Tagovailoa’s starting job has been under threat. With the team eliminated from playoff contention, it is reasonable to think that he might just sit out the rest of the season. Whether the Dolphins could actually move on from him in the offseason is another question entirely.
Patrick Mahomes may have extremely ambitious target for his return
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery on his torn ACL and LCL on Monday, and seems to be targeting a very ambitious goal for his return to action.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Mahomes is determined to try to be back for the start of the 2026 season. Schefter cited the speed with which Mahomes underwent surgery as evidence to back this thought.
“I don’t remember the last time I remember hearing about a player tearing his ACL on Sunday and having surgery on Monday,” Schefter said. “That was extreme, that was immediate, and that sent a message to me that Patrick Mahomes already is locked in on getting back for opening day 2026.”
Patrick Mahomes appears to be hellbent on being back in time for Opening Day 2026.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2025
A look at the chance of that and the NFL’s biggest storylines with @tyschmit:
🎧 https://t.co/rqCwGVoROQ pic.twitter.com/L5CFGHfizJ
Schefter noted that the typical recovery timeline for an injury like this is roughly nine months, which would be around the start of next season. He added that Mahomes is “built different” and said he would be surprised if the quarterback did not meet his target.
Mahomes made it clear after suffering the injury that he plans to attack his rehab. That is not a surprise. There is a difference between playing and playing effectively, though, and it can take time for players to get back to full speed after such a severe injury.
Mahomes suffered the injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (video here). Getting back for the season opener in 2026 will be difficult, but not impossible.
Chris Paul disagreed with Clippers about his role
New details have emerged regarding the events that led the Los Angeles Clippers to part ways with Chris Paul.
There was no single incident that soured the relationship between Paul and the Clippers, but Paul’s role and leadership style appear to have been the subject of a misunderstanding. The Clippers brought Paul in to play a minor reserve role, but effectively to act as an extension of the coaching staff for his final NBA season, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Paul was willing to accept that role, but when he fulfilled what he saw as the duties of the role, the Clippers balked. The organization did not approve of his more confrontational style, and accused him of undermining the coaching staff when he made suggestions to teammates about training methods.
The situation was complicated further when Paul became a leader on the second unit, and consistently bested the starters during preseason. He wound up playing 19 minutes per game in the preseason, and coach Ty Lue handed him a larger role than previously anticipated.
“I think that’s where Ty went wrong, because that really empowered Chris and changed the expectations,” a source told Shelburne.
Ultimately, Paul’s leadership style did not fit a more reserved Clippers locker room. Previous reports about Paul having been perceived to be undermining the coaching staff also resurface in the story.
The Clippers seemingly gave Paul a bigger role than anticipated, which empowered him. They either did not think he would lead the way he did, or simply changed their mind on him after seeing it in action. That spelled the end of his time with Los Angeles in shocking fashion.
Michigan interim head coach reveals players’ reaction to Sherrone Moore scandal
Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi spoke out about the players’ reaction to Sherrone Moore’s firing and the ensuing scandal.
Poggi admitted that players are struggling to come to terms with what has happened in the week since Moore was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Poggi added that the situation is something the staff is trying to work through with the players.
“It has been a tumultuous time,” Poggi said. “At first disbelief, then anger, and really what we’re in right now is the phase of the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed. And we’re trying to work through that.”
"The kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed and we're trying to work through that."
— Brandon Green🍀 (@BGreenReports) December 16, 2025
Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi talked at the Cheez-It bowl availability about how the program is trying to move forward after the firing of Sherrone Moore pic.twitter.com/aAUmLcnqMs
It would be one thing if Moore had simply been fired abruptly, as he was last Wednesday. The incident, however, spiraled into a criminal case that has led to Moore being charged with a felony.
It also does not help that Michigan’s season is not actually over. The Wolverines will face Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 31, and one can imagine it will definitely be a challenge to keep the team focused for that game.
Poggi, a former associate coach under Jim Harbaugh, has been serving in the same role under Moore since the start of the current season. He also has head coaching experience from his stint at Charlotte, so he at least has something to fall back on, though nothing can really prepare anyone for this sort of tumult.
Victor Wembanyama pumps brakes on Spurs-Thunder rivalry
The San Antonio Spurs are gearing up for Tuesday night’s championship showdown against the New York Knicks in the finale of the 2025 NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Spurs are a surprise team in the NBA’s in-season tournament title game. Many expected the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder to represent the Western Conference, but they were upset in the semifinal round by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. San Antonio edged OKC at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, 111-109, with Wembanyama returning from a 12-game absence due to a calf injury.
But just because the Spurs became the second team this season to beat Oklahoma City doesn’t mean San Antonio should be viewed as a chief Thunder rival — at least from Wembanyama’s perspective.
“I think we’re not quite there yet, but it’s a good sign that people see that it’s possible because it’s not like we’re the second seed right now,” Wembanyama said, via Clemente Almanza of the OKC Thunder Wire.
“I don’t think anybody right now can claim to have a rivalry with them in the league. They’re in their own tier.”
Still, it’s hard to deny that the Spurs are a team on the rise. With Wembanyama as the franchise’s cornerstone and other promising young players in the fold, San Antonio could soon become a major contender in the Western Conference and a serious threat to OKC.
If anything, the thrilling first encounter between the Spurs and the Thunder in the 2025-26 NBA season adds flavor to their next meeting, which will be on Dec. 23 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Aaron Rodgers makes NFL history at age 42
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers got a little vintage on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback got into a zone and led the way for a Pittsburgh 28-15 win over Tua Tagovailoa and company. Rodgers, who turned 42 years old on Dec. 2, went 23-of-27 for 224 passing yards and 2 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. He was sacked three times for a loss of 23 yards, but what truly stood out in his performance was his incredible efficiency. It was as though he was back with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers’ accuracy made him the oldest signal-caller ever in the history of the NFL to connect on at least 85% of his throws in a game, according to OptaSTATS.
Aaron Rodgers of the @steelers is the oldest starting QB in NFL history to complete 85% of his passes in a game. pic.twitter.com/o3yQouQYOT
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 16, 2025
Despite his age, Rodgers can still deliver a gem, and the Dolphins were the latest to feel the wrath of a throwback performance from the 10-time Pro Bowler. Over his last two starts, Rodgers has passed for 508 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception.
The Steelers need Rodgers to sustain that form, as they look to lock up the top spot in the AFC North with three games left on the schedule.
Through 15 weeks in the 2025 season, the Steelers own the best record in the division at 8-6, while the Baltimore Ravens are behind them with a 7-7 slate.
Igor Shesterkin had violent outburst after Rangers loss
The New York Rangers can’t seem to figure things out at home. On Monday, the Rangers suffered yet another loss in the Big Apple, as they absorbed a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the visiting Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
Rangers star netminder Igor Shesterkin did not hide his frustration over the contest’s outcome.
As he was making his way out of the ice, the Russian goalie violently slammed his stick into the wall, while teammate and Rangers center Sam Carrick was close behind.
Igor Shesterkin just DESTROYED his stick while heading off the ice after the Rangers 14th home loss of the season 😳 pic.twitter.com/nOnoatQhrf
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 16, 2025
Shesterkin’s outburst sums up the kind of night the Rangers had on the ice.
After a scoreless first period, the Ducks got on the board, thanks to a power play goal by Jackson LaCombe. But Matthew Robertson leveled the score at 1-1 with a goal several minutes later.
It all went downhill from there for the Rangers. In the third period, the Ducks scored not one, not two, but three goals, while New York came up empty on offense.
The lack of scoring support for Shesterkin was glaring, especially when considering that the Rangers failed to light the lamp in any of their four opportunities on the man advantage.
The loss dropped the Rangers to 16-14-4 overall and 4-9-3 in home games, so far in the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
Shesterkin allowed 3 goals on 25 shots faced for an updated season record of 13-11-3 to go with a 2.55 goals against average and a .908 save percentage.
Ernie Clement reveals risky offseason activity
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement just had his best season in the big leagues, and he may have another sport to thank for it.
In an appearance on “The Hobby Never Sleeps” podcast, Clement opened up about one of his favorite offseason activities.
“I think, honestly, my best workout that I do is playing hockey in the offseason,” the 29-year-old Clement said.
Having played for three seasons already with Toronto, Clement may have fallen more in love with the sport of hockey, given the city he represents. Canada will always be a hockey-first country, and Clement seems to share the same passion, to some extent.
Asked whether playing hockey has ever become a concern for the Blue Jays organization, Clement said that his contract doesn’t really stop him from lacing it up.
“There’s nothing in the contract about it,” Clement continued.
“It’s obviously a concern for them because if I get hurt, that would not be good for anyone. But with how I play out there, I treat it like a workout, and I’m not going digging into corners and being an idiot out there, but I’ve been doing it for the last few years, and it’s really helped me get ready for sprin,g and it’s a big reason why I’ve stayed healthy throughout the baseball season.”
During the 2025 MLB season, Clement slashed .277/.313/.398 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 157 games. He also posted a career-best bWAR of 4.3. Clement then became one of the Blue Jays’ top performers in the playoffs, where he even set a new single-postseason MLB record with a total of 30 hits, while batting .411/.416/.562.
Jordan Phillips goes off on Patriots fans after win
The Buffalo Bills pulled off a statement 35-31 win over the New England Patriots in a Week 15 showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
After the game, Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips tried to score another victory of his own against some New England fans.
As he made his way to the tunnel, the 33-year-old Phillips showed he could match the rowdy fans word for word.
“Go suck a fat d–k. 21-0 and you guys got your a– beat? Shut the f–k up,” Phillips could be heard saying.
You can watch the wild exchange here
Regardless of what the fans said to Phillips, the Bills had the last laugh.
As mentioned by Phillips, the Patriots had a 21-point lead in the contest, but New England squandered it all in the second half, where the Bills outscored the home team, 28-7.
The Bills were powered by the big performance of quarterback Josh Allen, who went 19-of-28 for 193 passing yards and 3 touchdowns against 0 interceptions.
Running back James Cook stepped up as well, as he gashed the Patriots on the ground for 107 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries to go with a TD reception. Meanwhile, tight end Dawson Knox caught Allen’s two other touchdown tosses
Phillips was unable to finish the game after injuring his ankle in the first half, but at least some Pats fans will never forget that he was there.
LeBron James practicing golf on the sideline feels like the end
It’s fair to say that Los Angeles superstar forward LeBron James is on the back nine of his legendary NBA career.
At some point, Father Time is going to win against the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and force him out of the league.
But James surely will have plenty of other endeavors to keep him busy once his playing days are over.
He’s even getting his golf game ready — while still in the NBA.
On Sunday’s game between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., the future Basketball Hall of Famer was seen testing his golf swing during a break in the contest. James’ swing can’t be mistaken for Rory McIlroy’s, but the passion is clearly there for the 21-time NBA All-Star.
Here’s the video of James, perhaps imagining himself as a certain someone in a red shirt and black pants on a Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club.
LeBron practicing his golf swing DURING the Suns game
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) December 15, 2025
It’s really almost over 😭 pic.twitter.com/jE0Z5tNXN7
It will not be long before James gets all the time in the world to play golf. While he’s still playing better than many other younger players in the league, he is about to turn 41 years old on Dec. 30.
As for the game itself, the Lakers took down the Suns, 116-114, with James scoring 26 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the field to go with 4 assists and 3 rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Ime Udoka went nuclear on referees after controversial ending of Rockets-Nuggets game
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka will likely be expecting a hefty fine in his mailbox soon.
Udoka did not hold back on his frustrations Monday after his Rockets lost to the Denver Nuggets in a 128-125 overtime affair at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. The Rockets coach lambasted the officiating in the contest, directly attacking the referees who made the said calls.
“The most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time,” Udoka said during his postgame press conference. “Two have no business being out there, and the crew chief was acting star-struck. You’re seeing all kind of inconsistent calls, and I’m sure we should’ve gotten more [technical fouls].”
23-year veteran Zach Zarba served as the crew chief, while Jamahl Ralls and Natalie Sago rounded out the three-man officiating crew.
The Rockets were on the wrong end of a few controversial calls down the stretch of Monday’s primetime affair. Houston swingman Amen Thompson got called for a costly foul before a Denver inbound as the Rockets led by 1 with 2.3 seconds left. Jamal Murray converted the game-tying free throw that eventually sent the game to overtime.
This was the “foul” on Amen Thompson that led to overtime, where Houston lost to Denver
— SleeperRockets (@SleeperRockets) December 16, 2025
The Rockets didn’t play well in overtime, but they should have won in regulation…pic.twitter.com/kCUkGM9GlF
Thompson was again penalized for a foul in overtime on what looked like a clean strip of Murray near the halfcourt line. Udoka could only watch in disbelief.
I’m simply tired of sports. One of the worst calls of all time. Nuggets and Rockets. Thompson clearly strips Murray and gets whistled. I’m just done with sports man. pic.twitter.com/B0RlbbfHFL
— Cokeville (@CokeVille313) December 16, 2025
Alperen Sengun had a monster outing for the Rockets, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in what was his best Nikola Jokic impression. But Sengun badly missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of overtime.
NBA makes a ruling on controversial LeBron James-Dillon Brooks play
The NBA has officially chimed in on the LeBron James-Dillon Brooks controversy from Sunday’s game.
James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against Brooks and the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. on Sunday. It was a back-and-forth affair during which Phoenix battled back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter and even briefly took the lead before the Lakers regained the upper hand and won by a 116-114 final score.
One particular moment in the final moments of the game drew scrutiny online. The Suns swingman Brooks made a go-ahead three-pointer over the Lakers star James with 12.2 seconds remaining and was knocked to the ground by James’ contest. Brooks was irate that no foul was called against James on the play and proceeded to take out his frustration by running up to James and bumping him.
The former All-Defensive selection Brooks was called for a technical foul on the play (which meant an automatic ejection since he had already picked one up earlier in the game). Here is the video.
Dillon Brooks has been ejected.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 15, 2025
pic.twitter.com/EPZgaeVTUY
On Monday, the NBA rendered its verdict on the last two-minute (L2M) report for the game. The league ruled that it was a correct no-call (CNC) by the officials because James had contested to the side and Brooks had effectively initiated the contact by extending his leg towards James.
Last Two-Minute report on LeBron James non-call on Dillon Brooks 3 to give Suns a 114-113 lead in 116-114 loss to Lakers.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 15, 2025
CNC (Correct Non Call).
Explanation: James (LAL) contests to the side of Brooks (PHX) and would avoid making contact if not for Brooks extending his left… pic.twitter.com/IvicQoSolf
Instead of one free throw for Brooks (if a foul had been called on the play), it was the Lakers who instead got one free throw because of Brooks’ technical foul. James went on to miss that free throw but eventually made two others to give his team the win after being fouled in the act of shooting by Phoenix’s Devin Booker on the next possession.
Brooks and James got extremely heated with each other throughout Sunday’s game and were seen exchanging trash talk multiple times. That makes perfect sense too given their negative history with one another, which was even on display during their previous meeting in Los Angeles earlier this month.
Cooper Flagg records wild feat never done in NBA history
Cooper Flagg made history Monday with a feat that may not be matched for a very long time.
The Dallas Mavericks star went off in a losing effort against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The rookie phenom erupted for 42 points on 13/27 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the 140-133 loss.
Flagg may not have led his team to victory, but he did secure himself a unique piece of NBA history in the contest. The Mavericks swingman became the first 18-year-old ever to score 40 points in a single NBA game.
Cooper Flagg is the first 18 year old in NBA history to score 40 points in a game pic.twitter.com/ZnmGrWvDAr
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 16, 2025
Flagg’s 42-point night surpassed LeBron James’ 37-point outing as a rookie on December 13, 2003. The Duke alum also joined James, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers to ever record at least 40 points and 5 assists in a single game.
Cooper Flagg is the fourth teenager in NBA history to record 40 points and 5 assists in a game, joining Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James 🤩
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) December 16, 2025
Flagg is the first to do it at 18 years old 😎 pic.twitter.com/WNBRIuzfDG
One element that aided Flagg was his decision to reclassify to an earlier draft class. Few prospects in today’s high-scoring NBA arrive in the league before turning 19. On the other hand, one could see that as a testament to Flagg’s advanced skill level at such a young age, which had him ready for the league a year earlier.
Flagg has come a long way from the early-season struggles that had some worried about his ability to handle the NBA game. He turns 19 on December 21.
Aaron Rodgers caught on hot mic roasting Dolphins player for talking trash down 21-3
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers brought some heat to a frigid matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Flags flew against the home team in the closing seconds of the third quarter as Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth got penalized for an illegal shift. Some Dolphins players started jawing at Rodgers while the referees were sorting things out
The Steelers QB had the perfect message in response.
“You still talking s–t? You’re down 21-3?” Rodgers was heard shouting back.
Aaron Rodgers talking trash! 🤣 #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/wxPQxzMofL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 16, 2025
Rodgers did more than just bark during the contest. He showed off his bite against the Dolphins in a surgical performance, recording a 23/27 passing clip for 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-15 victory.
The score would have looking even more lopsided had Pittsburgh not ceded two garbage-time touchdowns to Miami with the game already out of reach. The win improved the Steelers’ record to 8-6, keeping them a full game ahead of the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens in the race for the AFC North crown.
44-year-old Philip Rivers made middle-aged folks everywhere proud on Sunday when he proved he could get off the couch and play at an NFL level. 42-year-old Rodgers showed the world that people their age can dish out some healthy trash talk as well.
Dak Prescott has sobering message after Cowboys fall out of playoff race
Dak Prescott put the Dallas Cowboys’ situation into perspective as the team’s playoff hopes went up in smoke.
The Cowboys quarterback spoke to reporters late Sunday following his team’s rough loss to the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. While Dallas has yet to be mathematically eliminated from the postseason, the 34-26 defeat makes it virtually impossible to sneak in.
Prescott admitted that he was “surprised” that the team was in this situation after seemingly turning the corner following the November trade deadline.
“Especially after the bye week and the trades got [us] rolling like we did for those few weeks, and then watch the confidence just skyrocket,” Prescott said, via Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins.
“[We] stopped teams scoring at will, coming back from 21 points [against the Philadelphia Eagles]. Just a lot of good wins there to be in this position. Just reminds you that every play matters. It’s a hard game. Those guys get paid, too. They practice throughout the week and prepare no different than we do. It’s tough. I’m definitely surprised, hurt, pissed off, frustrated, but all I can do is get better tomorrow.”
The Cowboys revamped their roster at the 2025 trade deadline, headlined by the deal that brought in Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
Dallas went on a season-best three-game winning streak following the moves that got the team to a respectable 6-5-1 record with five games left on the calendar. But that momentum was derailed by back-to-back losses to Vikings and Detroit Lions, pushing the Cowboys to the brink of elimination.
For the Cowboys to make the playoffs, they would need to win all three of their remaining games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants. While that’s still within the realm of possibility, it would have to happen with the Philadelphia Eagles also losing out the rest of the season. The odds of that happening are pegged at under 1%.
The news that Dallas has reportedly damaged its relationship with one of its All-Pro players won’t help their cause, either.
Severity of Davante Adams’ injury has been revealed
The Los Angeles Rams got a bittersweet update on star wide receiver Davante Adams.
Adams exited early from the Rams’ Week 15 contest against the Detroit Lions after hurting his hamstring on a downfield route in the fourth quarter. Adams was able to walk off the field under his own power, but did so with a noticeable limp.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said after the game that the injury “did not look good,” but did not completely rule him out for the Rams’ upcoming Thursday night clash against the Seattle Seahawks. The latest update on Adams all but confirms that he won’t be suiting up for the marquee matchup.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Adams’ hamstring injury is considered “week-to-week” and is “almost certainly” out for the Seahawks game. Rapoport also notes that the injury is “simply an aggravation” of Adams’ lingering hamstring issue and not a new injury.
#Rams WR Davante Adams, who left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, is considered week-to-week, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2025
That almost certainly knock him out for TNF, but it is simply an aggravation of what he was previously dealing with, not a new injury. pic.twitter.com/W1RT91jhkv
The Rams and Seahawks are currently tied atop the NFC standings with identical 11-3 records heading into their Week 16 face-off. Losing Adams for that game and potentially more would be a serious blow for Los Angeles’ chances of getting the first-round bye.
Adams is one-half of the best wide receiver duo in the league this season. Through 14 games, the All-Pro wideout ranks second on the Rams in catches (60) and receiving yards (789) behind Puka Nacua and leads the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns.
Titans star’s home burglarized while team was playing on the road
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons’ home could not defend his home from burglars over the weekend as his team was in California for a road game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The burglary occurred after 7 p.m. local time at Simmons’ home in Nashville, Tenn. The Metro Nashville Police Department is working in tandem with the Titans to recover the stolen items, and no residents when the crime was committed, according to a statement released by the team.
There were reportedly “at least six suspects” who smashed a window to create an entry point into Simmons’ home. The total value of the items stolen remains unclear.
Simmons shared a clip on Instagram of the CCTV footage capturing the suspects break into the home.
“What if any of my family members was in my house??” Simmons captioned the post. “All that materialistic s–t you can have but this is crazy!”
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons posted video to his Instagram story that appears to show two people breaking into his home while the #Titans were on the road playing the 49ers yesterday.
— Lauren Walsh (@lauwalsh10) December 15, 2025
Simmons wrote in part: “What if any of my family members was in my house?”@WSMV pic.twitter.com/2vN0heESgV
Simmons shared additional details on social media. He revealed that they only “hit one room,” his master bedroom, which made him believe that the operation was properly “planned out.” The culprits also left behind the hammer they used to smash the window glass.
Titan star Jeffery Simmons returned from San Francisco to find that his house had been broken into.
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) December 15, 2025
Looks like the criminals left behind their hammer… a nice professional touch. The Titans are aware of the break-in and are still gathering information. pic.twitter.com/yeyhvdmWKC
Simmons had a rollercoaster of a weekend, with his house being robbed on the same day he had one of the most memorable games of his NFL career.
The three-time Pro Bowler caught his second-ever touchdown pass on a trick play in the Titans’ 37-24 loss to the 49ers. He also recorded a strip sack and forced fumble in the defeat.
Nikola Jovic leaves game in an arm brace after taking ugly fall
Nikola Jovic took one of the nastiest spills of the season during Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
The Miami Heat forward Jovic went up for a dunk attempt in transition in the first quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. After receiving the pass from Heat teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jovic skied high to try to posterize Toronto’s Collin Murray-Broyles.
But Jovic was upended in the air by Murray-Broyles and crashed hard to the floor. He appeared to hurt both his right arm and his tailbone and was writhing around in agony on the hardwood.
Nikola Jovic went for the poster and took a hard fall… pic.twitter.com/zYTICVtqVj
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 16, 2025
Jovic was able to walk off the floor with the assistance of team staffers but needed his right arm stabilized in a large brace as he walked off. While Murray-Broyles was called for a common shooting foul on the play, Jovic was unable to shoot his ensuing free throws and was replaced in the game by Keshad Johnson.
Nikola Jovic gets up with a brace on his right arm Prayers for NIKO https://t.co/PDCVh21mhB pic.twitter.com/SOw0ECwYzn
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 16, 2025
The 22-year-old Jovic, a righty shooter, is in his fourth NBA season. Jovic’s numbers have dipped as he has been in and out of the rotation, and he is averaging just 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game as a result.
Jovic, whom the Heat were absurdly high on in the past, was making his return on Monday after missing the last four games for Miami due to a hip injury. But he ended up having to exit again before even one full quarter of action after taking one of the ugliest falls of the year.
