Former Bears WR blasted by fans after his reaction to Chicago’s loss
Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. had a case of the schadenfreude on Sunday.
Jones, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, posted a laughing emoji on X following the Bears’ heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss in an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
Although Jones didn’t say exactly what he was laughing about, fans immediately recognized it as a shot at the Bears, who selected the former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
It did not take long before fans started exposing Jones’ forgettable stint with Chicago. If he was really mocking the Bears for their loss to Los Angeles, Jones did not consider what Chicago fans have on him — or he probably just did not care at all about the backlash.
Many brought up Jones’ “fumbilitis” during his time in the Windy City, while others tried to denigrate him and his career.
Try to be fumble-I mean humble.
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) January 19, 2026
Fumble is your middle name bro
— Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) January 19, 2026
Lmao how is being unemployed treating you
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) January 19, 2026
You couldn't even stay on the team with Eberflus running the show. You had no shot with Ben Johnson. You just exposed yourself as a classless hater.
— EasyE1111.eth (@RealEasyE1111) January 19, 2026
And you are a Walmart greeter
— Michael Bolling (@mikealexbolling) January 19, 2026
— Captain Caleb (@captaincaleb18) January 19, 2026
Jones played parts of three seasons with the Bears, and during that time, he had more fumbles (4) than rushing and receiving touchdowns combined (2).
Fans can say all they want about Jones, but at least his team is still in the running to win the Super Bowl after the Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, 41-6.
Mina Kimes responds to Cardi B’s clapback
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans have reached the end of the road of their journey in the NFL playoffs. They also made a bunch of sports personalities look bad, especially those who picked Houston to defeat Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
As it turned out, the Texans were no match for New England, which thumped Houston for a 28-16 victory on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Following the game, Cardi B, the girlfriend of New England star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, took her sweet time calling out Mina Kimes and the other ESPN’s NFL Live crew for picking Houston to thwart the Patriots.
Admitting that she’s lost the battle, Kimes simply acknowledged Cardi B’s clapback.
Getting dunked on by Cardi B….an honor and a privilege tbh https://t.co/yR7h8GGMzD
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 18, 2026
Cardi B must have already felt a win was coming for the Patriots before the first half even concluded, as Stroud struggled mightily in the pocket early on.
Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half, while the Patriots built an 11-point lead, thanks in part to Diggs’ touchdown catch with under three minutes left in the second quarter. The veteran wideout finished the contest with 40 receiving yards on 4 catches and 6 targets.
The Patriots will play for a ticket to the Super Bowl next Sunday, when New England faces off against the Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos in the AFC title game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.
You already know where Cardi B will be putting her “bands in the coupe” for that matchup.
Will Anderson Jr. reveals his message for CJ Stroud after their loss to the Patriots
The Houston Texans can only wish to have a redo of Sunday night’s AFC Divisional Round showdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
With quarterback CJ Stroud misfiring on his passes, the Texans dug themselves a hole that they ultimately couldn’t climb back out of, as they suffered a 28-16 loss to Drake Maye and company.
Stroud was an absolute wreck in the pocket against the Patriots, who intercepted him four times in the first half. He was also sacked three times for a loss of 19 yards, while compiling 212 passing yards and a touchdown on a highly inefficient 20-of-47 pass completions.
Despite Stroud’s brutal playoff outing, he drew the full support of defensive end Will Anderson Jr. following the contest.
“I told him, ‘I still think you’re the best quarterback in the league,’” Anderson told reporters, via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.
“‘Hands down, there’s nobody better than you.’ We’re behind him, we’re rallying behind him. Obviously, we didn’t have the outcome that we wanted, but that’s what we have the offseason for, to get better and to grow.”
Stroud can appreciate such words from one of the Texans’ most important players, but there is no denying that his disasterclass under center held Houston back from advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
With Stroud, the Texans have been to the postseason three years in a row, but have yet to survive past the divisional round.
Blues player gets cut by a skate after collision with Connor McDavid
The St. Louis Blues were crushed by the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday night, but their 5-0 loss to the reigning Western Conference champions was much less concerning than the scary injury suffered by veteran center Oskar Sundqvist.
Sundqvist was forced to exit the ice in the third quarter after getting cut by a skate during a collision with Oilers star forward Connor McDavid. The 31-year-old Swedish was in such pain that he had to be helped off the ice by forward Nathan Walker and defenseman Colton Parayko.
Here’s the play where Sundqvist suffered the injury:
Oskar Sundqvist leaves the game with an apparent cut after colliding with Connor McDavid. pic.twitter.com/T4wHdJDHYa
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2026
It could have been worse for Sundqvist, however. He can still consider himself lucky, as he reportedly did not suffer something much more serious.
“Luckily it did not touch his Achilles,” Blues head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters following his team’s 5-0 loss to Edmonton, via St. Louis’ official website.
“So it’s just going to be now, how long he’s out, it’s day-to-day… We know the cut was deep, I don’t know how long that takes until he’s back and has the flexibility in his ankle without hurting the cut.”
The Blues have yet to provide a certain timeline on when Sundqvist can be expected to return, but given the nature of his injury, he is very unlikely to play against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Tuesday.
So far in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, Sundqvist has 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points through 39 games.
Lakers slapped with a rule violation after Luka Doncic’s shenanigans on Austin Reaves
Luka Doncic’s bromance with Austin Reaves had a hilarious highlight (or lowlight) on Sunday.
Although Reaves has yet to see action on the court since the calendar flipped to 2026, he made a bit of an impact late in the contest against the visiting Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.
After Doncic committed a personal foul with 3:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, the ball was seen bouncing toward the Lakers’ bench. Reaves, who was not in uniform due to an injury, stood up to retrieve the ball. However, Doncic appeared to block Reaves’ path, leading to a delay of the game violation for the Lakers.
You can watch the clip of what happened here:
Luka was messing with Reaves and got a delay of game 😭 pic.twitter.com/0OJMCCQzex
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 19, 2026
Fortunately, it was just a minor violation that did not cost the Lakers the game. Los Angeles had the victory virtually in the bag at the time of the delay of the game call, as Doncic and company had a 16-point lead with just under four minutes left in regulation.
Returning from a one-game absence because of a groin issue, the Slovenian Doncic racked up 25 points on 8-for-23 shooting with 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in 34 minutes of action in the Lakers’ 110-93 win over the Raptors.
Fans crucify Jordan Poole for boneheaded move with his team down 12
New Orleans Pelicans fans want an apology from Jordan Poole for the tomfoolery he pulled in the final minutes of their game Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
The Pelicans trailed the Rockets 112-100 with just over four minutes left inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The Pels caught a break when Amen Thompson gave up a live-ball turnover, which led to Zion Williamson finding Poole on an outlet pass.
Poole had an uncontested layup if he wanted it, but instead opted to lob an alley-oop off the backboard. The ball ricocheted off the glass, and into the hands of Rockets center Aleperen Sengun.
Jordan Poole tries to throw lob off glass instead finishing the easy layup, while down 12 late in the 4th quarter.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 19, 2026
THIS GUY IS NOT SERIOUS LMAO pic.twitter.com/k9vEDVuVkZ
Fans were baffled by Poole’s decision, with several of them voicing their concerns on social media.
I would bench Jordan Poole for the rest of the season. Down 12 in the last minutes of a 4th quarter and he turns down an open layup for an off the glass lob that obviously doesn’t work.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) January 19, 2026
You can't do this down 12 in the 4th. If Zion cared about winning as much as Draymond, he'd mark out Jordan Poole just like Draymond did. https://t.co/ebHI7RvfJO
— Matt (@KingsofCardio) January 19, 2026
Jordan Poole 11 points in the 4th. And somehow it’s still overshadowed by him throwing it off the glass for a dunk down a dozen. Like what’s the thought process?
— YFxTwoFive (@nola_yf) January 19, 2026
Jordan Poole just attempted an off the backboard alley oop pass with an open layup down 12 in the fourth quarter when Pelicans were on a run…
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) January 19, 2026
Not needed at all.
The Pelicans were on a 10-3 run at that point and had momentum shifting their way before Poole’s ill-timed play. Poole may have been feeling extra confident after scoring New Orleans’ last six points. But the basketball gods struck him down for his show of hubris as his team still trailed by a dozen.
Poole scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. But his efforts weren’t enough as the Rockets held on for a 119-110 win over his Pelicans.
The game may have been different had Poole just made the simple play in transition.
Ben Johnson had great quote about Caleb Williams after Bears’ season came to an end
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had the highest praise for Caleb Williams after their fairytale season came to an end Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears quarterback came up clutch once again with the team’s season on the line in the closing seconds at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Williams had 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 14 with his team trailing 17-10.
Williams got flushed out of the pocket and backed up nearly 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage before uncorking a high-arcing pass to tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone, sending the game to overtime.
Even Johnson couldn’t believe what Williams had done. He called the play “ridiculous” during his postgame press conference and spoke candidly about what he saw from Williams in their first year together.
“There are some things that you just can’t coach. He’s got that about him. He’s got a knack. He’s clutch. He does so many good things. He’s an eraser. I have plenty of bad calls each and every week, and he helps make it right for me.
“I know he’s feeling it because we didn’t win, and had some turnovers. He’s feeling it. But … we’ll remember this feeling, and he’s going to be stronger for it.”
Williams’ pass ended up just extending the Bears’ season for just a few in-game minutes. The Bears QB threw an interception in the overtime period that allowed the Rams to kick a game-winning field goal.
Williams went 21/35 in the contest for 210 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 58 rushing yards on 6 carries, spreading out some perfectly timed scrambles that kept the Bears’ offense chugging along.
The Bears may not have gotten to the final four, but Williams has made a believer out of Johnson and the City of Chicago as a whole.
Matthew Stafford had classy interview after beating Bears
The Los Angeles Rams barely escaped with a win in their NFC Divisional Round playoff game with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday night, and Matthew Stafford had a classy interview after the game.
The Rams beat the Bears 20-17 in overtime on a 42-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis. Stafford went 20/42 for 258 yards playing through tough conditions. After the game, he was interviewed by the NFC “Sunday Night Football” crew and gave credit to everyone else, including
“We didn’t play our best on offense. Our defense dominated the game — it was unbelievable to watch. Hell of a play on fourth down by Caleb (Williams) to get his team to overtime. Just glad we got the ball back. Our defense got us back again — great pick,” Stafford said, before passing the attention to kicker Mevis.
Before heading to Seattle, @melissastark and @KayleeHartung speak with the stand out Rams. 🎤 pic.twitter.com/YuE7NdCMMJ
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 19, 2026
Stafford is a veteran and knows how to pass out the credit. He attributed the win to the Rams’ defense, made sure that Mevis got the recognition he deserved, and he even credited his counterpart, Caleb Williams. That was a classy response.
The Rams were able to win without Stafford at his best in Chicago. They’ll need him playing much better in the NFC Championship to beat the Seahawks in Seattle.
Troy Aikman has harsh words for CJ Stroud
Troy Aikman called CJ Stroud out on Sunday for letting his past dictate his present.
The Houston Texans quarterback dragged his team down in their divisional round matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Stroud went 20/47 and gave up four interceptions in the 28-16 loss that ended the Texans’ season.
Aikman did not hold back in his criticism of Stroud while in the booth for Sunday’s ESPN broadcast of the Texans-Patriots clash. The Dallas Cowboys legend claimed Stroud has been trying and failing to chase the immense success he enjoyed in his rookie season.
“C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years,” Aikman said. “He’s not been the same player. We’ve not seen the development from him. There’s a reason for that, and it has to be addressed.”
Troy Aikman: "C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years. He's not been the same player. We've not seen the development from him. There's a reason for that, and it has to be addressed." 🏈🎙️ #NFL #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nmAgXfxItQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 18, 2026
Aikman also noted that the departure of former Texans coach Bobby Slowik, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator for Stroud’s first season, may have factored into his decline.
Stroud burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie. He threw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns and 5 interceptions across 15 games, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy and even some MVP votes.
Stroud’s numbers have dropped across the board since then. He threw for 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 14 regular-season games in 2025. The Texans still finished with a 12-5 record and won their Wild Card game over the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. But Houston’s league-best defense deserves most of the credit for the team’s success this season.
After Sunday’s game, several fans revived the moment Stroud gave Caleb Williams some unsolicited advice during the latter’s rookie season. Perhaps Stroud needs to ask Williams for some tips, given how their respective 2025 seasons went in different directions.
Caleb Williams makes the most unbelievable TD throw on 4th down to force OT
Caleb Williams added to his growing legend Sunday with a ridiculous throw in the closing seconds of the Chicago Bears’ divisional round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears, trailing 17-10 with under 30 seconds left, had 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 14-yard line. Williams faced heavy pressure just moments after receiving the snap, leading to a frantic do-or-die moment inside Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
Williams had to drop back all the way to the 40-yard line as several pass rushers surrounded him. The Bears QB threw what appeared to be a desperation heave to the end zone before defenders could close in. What seemed like a Hail Mary turned out to be a pinpoint pass to tight end Cole Kmet for a touchdown.
NO WAY. CALEB WILLIAMS HEAVES IT ON 4TH DOWN.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
LARvsCHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/JJymsDhen2
Here are a few more angles of Williams’ season-extending play.
YOU CAN'T KILL THESE CHICAGO BEARS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
LARvsCHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/4lxGJ6iP3m
The Bears’ 2025 season has been littered with the most magical comebacks to help Chicago get to this point. Williams has been the head magician, making winning plays out of nothing. He pulled another rabbit out of his hat in the dying seconds of regulation time.
Unfortunately for Bears fans, that was the last of Williams’ pixie dust this season. Williams gave up an interception in overtime, allowing the Rams to win on a 42-yard field goal.
Nick Foles throws perfect shade at Patriots after Bo Nix suffers season-ending injury
Nick Foles had the perfect message for Denver Broncos fans still reeling from the Bo Nix injury news.
The Broncos quarterback fractured his ankle in the closing moments of his team’s divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills. Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted that Nix will have surgery to repair the broken ankle on Tuesday, ending his season two wins shy of a Super Bowl victory.
With the Broncos needing to rely on Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, Denver’s fan base got some encouraging words from the greatest backup QB in history.
“Note for the Broncos and their fans: I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery,” Foles wrote in a social media post.
“A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”
Foles famously stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz during the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 run to the Super Bowl. Wentz had been having an MVP-caliber season before suffering a torn ACL in a Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Foles took Wentz’s place and steered the ship all the way to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots, the same team the Broncos are set to face with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Many joked that 48-year-old Tom Brady could step in to replace Nix on short notice. Foles may be the better bet, given the circumstances.
CJ Stroud’s ironic message to Caleb Williams resurfaces after his disastrous game vs. Patriots
Fans are piling on CJ Stroud after he laid an egg on the playoff stage against the New England Patriots.
The Houston Texans quarterback threw four interceptions in his team’s 28-16 loss to the Patriots in their divisional round matchup at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Stroud went 20/47 for 212 yards with a touchdown and the quartet of picks
Stroud got thoroughly outplayed by his Patriots counterpart, Drake Maye. The Patriots’ second-year QB had a 16/27 passing clip for 179 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception. It’s no surprise Stroud got the meme treatment from fans after the game.
Several fans also reposted Stroud’s infamous quote to Caleb Williams. During Week 2 of last season, the Texans QB tried to give a then-rookie Williams some veteran advice despite the two being the same age. Stroud told Williams to “stop taking” big hits and that he would be a “hell of a player” in the NFL. Williams did not look at all interested in what Stroud had to say.
CJ Stroud ever since he told Caleb Williams to “stop taking those hits” pic.twitter.com/2jFPDtk6AZ
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) January 18, 2026
Since this photo:
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) January 18, 2026
CJ Stroud Caleb Williams
Pass yds 5,795 6,612
Rush yds 393 737
TDs 34 48
Ints 18 12 pic.twitter.com/CdqOuVgFxz
Caleb Williams to CJ Stroud after this game pic.twitter.com/o1eqnz00pH
— Dave Tepper Burner (@seniorzapo) January 18, 2026
CJ Stroud has been cursed ever since the day he big bro’d Caleb Williams.
— MontyPB (@MontyPB) January 18, 2026
It’s hilarious.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
With Williams seemingly surpassing Stroud on the NFL QB totem pole, many noted that Stroud’s message to Williams did not age well.
Stroud may have only had good intentions with his message to Williams, who had been struggling early in his rookie season. However, it’s ironic that the Bears’ QB has been the better passer since that moment, with Williams piling up signature performances for Chicago. Perhaps Stroud should ask Williams for some advice the next time he gets a chance.
Rams benefit from a missed call on Caleb Williams interception
The Los Angeles Rams managed to benefit from a missed call on the very first drive of Sunday’s playoff game.
In the first quarter of their divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., the Rams began on defense as the Bears were able to get the ball all the way to the fringe of the red zone. On a 4th-and-2 play from the Rams’ 21-yard line, Chicago QB Caleb Williams fired a pass towards the end zone that ended up getting intercepted by Los Angeles cornerback Cobie Durant.
Instant replay showed though that the referees missed what should have been a roughing-the-passer call against the Rams. Defensive end Kobie Turner smacked Williams in the helmet and head area right as Williams was letting go of the pass that was eventually intercepted.
Here is the video.
I mean seriously. In what world is this not Roughing the Passer on Caleb Williams? Oh yeah… in the world where they’re playing the Rams. pic.twitter.com/aGLVZExDsi
— Ben (@TheHurricaneBen) January 18, 2026
Though the rule itself is a controversial one, according to the letter of the law, that was a clear roughing violation by Turner. Per the NFL rulebook, it is a roughing foul if “an opponent forcibly hits the quarterback’s head or neck area with his helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder.”
The Rams would go on to score a touchdown on their ensuing drive on a four-yard run by Kyren Williams, but the Bears answered back in the second quarter with a three-yard TD pass from Williams to DJ Moore to tie the score at 7-7. That said, the Rams were on the receiving end of some bad missed calls towards the end of the regular season, so maybe this was just a nature’s way of evening things out.
Kayshon Boutte produces the catch of the playoffs with one-handed TD grab
Kayshon Boutte did his best OBJ impression during Sunday’s playoff game.
The New England Patriots wide receiver Boutte produced the catch of the postseason during his team’s divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans. In the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Boutte got the step on Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye fired the deep ball toward the end zone.
Boutte went at just about full-extension to haul in the ball and only needed one hand to do so. His momentum then carried him past the goal line for an absolutely breathtaking touchdown to give New England the 27-16 lead.
Here is the video.
KAYSHON BOUTTE HOW?!?!
— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2026
Incredible catch for the TD!
Texans-Patriots on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/ZtlVxmiwsE
There aren’t quite enough superlatives to describe a catch like that. On top of the one-handed acrobatics by Boutte, the circumstances (in the snow against a First Team All-Pro like Stingley to effectively ice the game in the fourth quarter) gave the catch a strong argument for one of the greatest playoff grabs of all-time.
Boutte, 23, is a former sixth-round draft pick out of LSU. As recently as a couple of years ago, he was best known for his alleged involvement in a gambling scandal. But Boutte has really taken off this season, leading all Patriots wide receiver with six touchdowns during the regular season and adding his seventh in emphatic fashion during Sunday’s playoff game.
Broncos sign a new quarterback after Bo Nix’s injury
The Denver Broncos are signing a new quarterback (who also happens to be their old one).
Denver has signed veteran QB Ben DiNucci to their practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Sunday. DiNucci, 29, is rejoining the Broncos after already spending time on their practice squad during the 2023 season.
The news comes with Denver’s staring quarterback Bo Nix having just been ruled out for the season in a shocker. While helping lead the Broncos to victory over the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s divisional playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., Nix suffered a broken bone in his right ankle on the second-to-last play of the game.
As a result, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is set to draw the start during next week’s AFC Championship Game against either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans. Former University of Texas standout Sam Ehlinger is the only other QB on the Denver roster, so it is indeed wise for them to add some more insurance at the position ahead of next week’s high-stakes playoff game.
DiNucci, a seventh-round draft pick in 2020 (No. 231 overall) has spent time over the years on various NFL rosters, including with the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, the New Orleans Saints, and the Atlanta Falcons in addition to the Broncos. He was on Atlanta’s preseason roster for one week back in August but ended up being waived and had gone unsigned ever since then.
The James Madison product DiNucci also had a brief stint with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023 and even led the league in passing yards that season. Though more of a meme at the NFL level than anything, DiNucci, who had been working as a college commentator for CBS Sports in recent months, is now officially back on an NFL roster.
CJ Stroud gets the memes for his horrific 4-INT half vs. Patriots
CJ Stroud was completely in over his head during Sunday’s divisional playoff game.
The Houston Texans quarterback Stroud produced one of the most nightmarish playoff halves of all-time against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Stroud fired not one, not two, not three, but four interceptions within the first 28 minutes of the contest.
He got picked off in the first quarter by Carlton Davis III, threw a pick-six to Marcus Jones in the second quarter, fired another interception to Craig Woodson on the very next drive of the second quarter, and then finally got picked by Davis again with two minutes remaining in the first half.
Stroud’s pick-six to Jones was particularly awful as he made an ill-advised decision while under heavy pressure to float a jump ball back towards the line of scrimmage.
MARCUS JONES PICK-6!
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
HOUvsNE on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/kHL1V0kHCn
Predictably, Stroud got torched online for his complete port-a-potty of a half. Here were some of the most savage memes at Stroud’s expense.
CJ Stroud right now pic.twitter.com/0Xb1VF51fG
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) January 18, 2026
CJ STROUD DROPS BACK TO PASS pic.twitter.com/lhcD7OdmJ8
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) January 18, 2026
“CJ, we have the best defense in the league…we need you to literally just hand it off every play and we win the game.”
— Tyler (@I_AM_WILDCAT) January 18, 2026
CJ Stroud – pic.twitter.com/X6PDClk1yq
C.J. Stroud trying to take care of the football: pic.twitter.com/skFl7mlfrr
— Monkey Tilt (@MonkeyTilt) January 18, 2026
CJ Stroud when he gets pressured pic.twitter.com/n6dcmudM6V
— Simpsons NFL (@TheSimpsonsNFL) January 18, 2026
While Houston’s defense still managed to keep the game within strking distance by forcing New England QB Drake Maye into an interception and multiple fumbles, Stroud clearly did not pull his weight during Sunday’s game. After a standout 2023 rookie season in which he was named a Pro Bowler, Stroud has seemingly gotten progressively worse ever since then and recently even admitted to losing a step in a bizarre moment.
Mets have interest in former Yankee in free agency
The New York Mets may not be done trying to make impact additions ahead of the new MLB season.
The Mets still have interest in outfielder Cody Bellinger, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The team has interest in a versatile center fielder who can also fill in at the corners, and Bellinger fits that bill.
One sticking point may be contract length. The Mets would prefer to sign Bellinger to a short-term deal, and it is not clear if Bellinger would be as interested in that.
Adding Bellinger would certainly look good for the Mets, partly because it would come at the expense of the New York Yankees. The Yankees wanted Bellinger back badly, but contract talks between the two sides have stalled and the team appears pessimistic about bringing him back. Considering Bellinger has been pushing for a 7-year contract, it stands to reason that a short-term deal might be of even less interest to Bellinger.
The Mets have already made one big addition this offseason but certainly do not want to be done. Bellinger hit .272 last season with 29 home runs, setting himself up for a significant payday. He has had a hard time finding the right contract length so far, as the 30-year-old definitely wants some long-term security in his next deal.
Ja Morant reveals whether he wants a trade
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has had his name come up regularly in trade rumors over the last several weeks, but he suggested Sunday that he was not the one who was instigating them.
Morant on Sunday indicated that he hopes to stay with Memphis, citing his loyalty. That is despite the fact that his name has regularly come up in trade speculation.
“Anybody in here knows me (knows) I’m a very loyal guy. I got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be,” Morant told reporters, alluding to the Grizzlies logo tattooed on his back.
Ja Morant’s answer when asked by @TheSteinLine on where he wants things to go from here
— James Plowright (@British_Buzz) January 18, 2026
“Anybody who in here knows me knows I’m a very loyal guy. I have a logo on my back (Grizzlies tattoo) so that should say exactly what I want” pic.twitter.com/YAkAsJ4mVf
Morant may want to stay with Memphis, but he has not necessarily shown it. Reports have suggested there is one team in particular Morant wants to go to, and he has looked quite unhappy in recent weeks. There has even been chatter about friction with teammates and coaches that only seems to be growing.
Morant returned to action on Sunday with 24 points and 13 assists in a win over the Orlando Magic. If that were the norm, the Grizzlies would likely have no problem with how things are going, but the team is 18-23 and Morant has appeared passive at times. He has only appeared in 19 games due to injuries, and is averaging 19 points per game on the year.
Braves infielder to miss start of MLB season after falling on ice
Atlanta Braves infielder Ha-Seong Kim is likely to miss the start of the MLB regular season due to a fluke accident.
The Braves announced Sunday that Kim underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger, and is likely to miss 4-5 months as a result. The team added that the injury happened when Kim “fell on ice while in Korea.”
Kim suffered the injury when he fell on ice while in Korea.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) January 18, 2026
This sounds like a fluke, albeit a frustrating one for the Braves. It is not great news for Kim either, considering he was limited to 48 games in 2025 by injuries.
The Braves added Kim off waivers late last season and signed him to a 1-year, $20 million deal for 2026. That contract was largely based on past production, as he was a Gold Glove winner who hit 17 home runs for the San Diego Padres in 2023. Atlanta had been banking on a full year of production from the infielder when they signed him.
There are definitely worse ways for a player to get hurt, but this sounds like a particularly painful one for Kim and the Braves. The fact that he will likely miss the start of the season as a result only makes matters worse.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be holding up the NBA trade market
The NBA trade deadline is just over two weeks away, but no significant moves appear close to being made. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo may be the reason why.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this week that some teams are holding off on making deals because they are not completely certain that Antetokounmpo will not be traded this season, and want to ensure they have a chance to acquire him if he is.
“When I talk to people in the league, they’re still holding, waiting to see,” Windhorst said. “The Bucks have just had two miserable performances. They are going the wrong direction. There are deals that are on hold because teams still aren’t 100 percent sure Giannis is going to be on the team the rest of the year.”
Windy:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 16, 2026
"There are deals that are on hold and talk progressions on hold because teams still aren't 100% sure whether Giannis is gonna be on the team the rest of the year" pic.twitter.com/QtYO9THpd9
The Bucks have been adamant that they want to try to buy and get Antetokounmpo some more help. Antetokounmpo himself has made it clear that he is not trying to push his way out of Milwaukee. None of that has convinced some teams, especially since the Bucks continue to flounder.
Milwaukee has lost three in a row, all against Western Conference contenders, and only one of the games was particularly close. Their play continues to prompt questions about whether they are even a playoff team, which is nowhere near where Antetokounmpo expects them to be. Entering Sunday, they are a miserable 17-24 and would not even be in the play-in tournament if it started today.
Any Antetokounmpo trade is probably more likely to happen after the season than during it. There have been plenty of rumors to suggest that the scenario has at least been considered, though, and it may keep some teams in a holding pattern for a while longer.
