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.
Micah Parsons shares first message since tearing his ACL
Micah Parsons is speaking out after his calamitous injury.
The Green Bay Packers star defensive end Parsons posted his first message to social media on Monday after tearing his left ACL the day before. Parsons emphasized on X that he was “not defeated” and indicated that his faith would carry him through his recovery.
“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons wrote. “This injury is my greatest test—a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it.
“I’m deeply grateful to the Packers organization and my teammates for their unwavering support, love, and belief in me during this season,” added Parsons. “I trust His timing, His plan, and His purpose. I will rise again.”
I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated. This injury is my greatest test—a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it. I’m deeply grateful to the Packers… pic.twitter.com/KZy6TZKJfs
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 15, 2025
Parsons also went on to post an image of a one-eyed lion along with the caption, “September!”
September ! pic.twitter.com/bU6XPNOG6L
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 15, 2025
The four-time NFL Pro Bowler Parsons, a blockbuster trade acquisition by the Packers from the Dallas Cowboys in August, suffered the ACL tear in a 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos at Empower Field in Denver, Colo. on Sunday. While attempting to rush Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, Parsons took a bad step into the turf and planted awkwardly on his knee (see the video here).
Parsons finishes up his first season in Green Bay with totals of 12.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, and two forced fumbles through 14 total games. While the 2026 season begins in less than nine months and Parsons relies a lot on his burst and explosiveness at the line of scrimmage, he at least appears to have both youth (at 26 years old) and determination on his side.
Zac Taylor had 4-word explanation for why Bengals won’t shut down Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 season has been one to forget. They moved to 4-10 after a 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sunday.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow did not throw a touchdown pass and had 2 interceptions in the loss in yet another frustrating day for Cincinnati.
On Monday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor revealed that Burrow will start for the rest of the year, even with the team out of the playoff hunt. Taylor gave the reason in four words.
“We want to win,” Taylor said.
Zac Taylor said Joe Burrow will continue to play despite the Bengals being eliminated from playoff contention, explaining simply: “We want to win.”#Bengals pic.twitter.com/AimCB0fh86
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) December 15, 2025
Burrow has played just five games this season after having turf toe surgery following Week 2. In his absence, it was a combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco starting at quarterback. Flacco was acquired via a trade with the Cleveland Browns after Burrow’s injury.
However, the Bengals have won just once in the last seven games. Burrow even raised some eyebrows when he expressed frustration with the Bengals organization, causing some to wonder what the future holds for him.
For now, Taylor is rolling with Burrow as the starter for the final three games, which come against the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Browns.
Yankees revealed to be on the no-trade list of 3-time All-Star
The New York Yankees are catching a stray this week from a potential trade target.
Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star infielder Ketel Marte has the Yankees on his no-trade list, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday. Rosenthal notes that Marte has five total teams on his list — the Yankees, the Athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the San Francisco Giants, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Notably, the Athletics, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals all missed the playoffs last season. The Yankees are the only team on Marte’s list that is expected to be a World Series contender in 2026.
Marte, 32, is a three-time All-Star who is the longest-tenured player on the Dbacks, having been there ever since 2017. But he reportedly caused certain clubhouse issues in Arizona last season, including controversially taking an unpaid leave of absence in the middle of the year. As a result, Marte is now a trade candidate for the Dbacks.
Speaking in purely baseball terms, Marte carries a lot of value right now. He is a switch-hitter who batted .283 last season with 28 home runs and 72 RBIs through a modest 126 games. Marte, also a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, remains under contract through 2030 as well (with a player option for 2031).
As for the Yankees, their current middle infield duo of Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is flawed (especially defensively), and there have even been rumors recently that they could trade away one of those guys. But if the Yankees want to upgrade in that part of the field this offseason, they will have to look elsewhere besides Marte.
Commanders make final decision on QB Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down quarterback Jayden Daniel for the remainder of the season. This was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network on Monday, just a day after the Commanders’ 29-21 win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Daniels has played in just seven games this season. He returned on December 7 against the Minnesota Vikings after missing a month due to an elbow injury, but he reaggravated it in the 31-0 loss to the Vikings.
Daniels missed two games at the start of the season after suffering a knee sprain, and then he missed another game with a hamstring issue.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn added it was “part medical, part team” regarding the decision to shut down Daniels, per JP Finlay of NBC Sports.
Daniels was selected 2nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy in his final year with the LSU Tigers.
He was then named the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading the Commanders to a Wild Card spot and even a win over the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Marcus Mariota has been starting in Daniels’ place, and he went 10-of-19 for 211 yards with a score in the win over the Giants in Week 15.
The Commanders have a 4-10 record and are out of the playoff picture, so now, Daniels will try to recover to be able to return for the 2026 season.
Andy Reid shares a notable update on Patrick Mahomes after his ACL tear
The Kansas City Chiefs are at least getting a small silver lining with the Patrick Mahomes situation.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters on Monday a day after the Kansas City star quarterback Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL during a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Reid shared the notable update that Mahomes’ MRI scan revealed that the three-time Super Bowl MVP did not suffer any major damage to other ligaments. Additionally, Reid noted that Mahomes is expected to undergo surgery later this week after getting a second opinion on his knee.
“He’ll attack it, just like he does everything else,” Reid said of Mahomes’ recovery, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor. “There have been some pretty good quarterbacks who have had the same injury, and they’ve done pretty well after they came back.
“He’ll get after it, and he’s got good people here to rehab him,” added Reid of Mahomes. “He’ll be right on top of all of that. As long as the surgery goes well, as expected, then I would expect a fairly quick recovery for him, just because of those factors.”
The 30-year-old superstar Mahomes suffered the devastating ACL tear on the final drive of the fourth quarter in the Chiefs’ 16-13 loss to the division rival Chargers at Geha Field in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday. Mahomes made a throw on the move as he was pursued by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, and his knee buckled as he planted into the turf (see the video here).
With the 2026 NFL season set to begin in less than nine months, Mahomes will be facing a real uphill climb to get back on the field in time. However, the six-time Pro Bowler shared a message just hours after his injury indicating how determined he is to attack his rehab.
Doc Rivers has honest message after Bucks’ latest blowout loss
Doc Rivers was not happy after the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Brooklyn Nets 127-82 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sunday.
It was just the 7th win of the year for the Nets. The Bucks scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Rivers’ team shot 39% from the field and 22% from 3-point land.
After the game, the Bucks head coach did not hold back on this ugly performance.
“That was disappointing, probably one of the more disappointing games I’ve ever been involved in with the way we performed and competed,” Rivers said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “And we wanted to blame everybody but ourselves. We’re blaming the refs. We’re looking at each other. No one wanted to play hard. We got a lot of soul-searching to do.”
The Bucks are still without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the future remains bleak as his name has been involved in trade rumors.
The Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics 116-101 on Thursday night, but it was a much different game against the Nets.
Gary Trent Jr. led the Bucks in scoring with 20 points on 7-of-14 from the field. The Nets saw nine players finish in double figures in scoring.
The Bucks dropped to 11-16 on the season and have a few days off before facing the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell was not happy with JJ McCarthy
JJ McCarthy’s “Griddy” dance may have been popular with some fans, but it clearly did not go over well with his coach.
Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell had some harsh words for McCarthy after his team’s 34-26 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex. The coach made it clear that he could have done without the celebration his quarterback let loose as McCarthy made his way into the end zone (video here).
“The finish, I would not classify as special,” O’Connell said, via Devon Henderson of The Athletic. “It was entertaining. I guess we are in the entertainment business, but I would’ve preferred him to show that 40 time that he likes to talk about, having never run a 40 coming out (of college), which was unique, to say the least. But as a guy who once ran a fast 40 and couldn’t throw it very well, I can probably understand why quarterbacks are choosing to do that these days.”
McCarthy’s dance did not cost the Vikings points, nor did it come particularly close to doing so. O’Connell clearly does not want it to become a habit, though.
It was not that long ago that O’Connell was openly questioning if he was handling McCarthy the right way. He would probably rather be criticizing his quarterback for this as opposed to McCarthy’s actual performance.
Philip Rivers’ high school players had the best reaction to his TD
Though he came out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts, Philip Rivers technically remains the head coach at an Alabama high school. His players subsequently had a rare opportunity Sunday to watch their current coach throw an NFL touchdown pass.
Rivers has been the coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala. since his initial retirement from the NFL. Naturally, when his current players became aware that he would start for the Colts on Sunday, they decided to throw a watch party.
Noah Moss, a running back on the team, shared video of the reaction when Rivers threw his first NFL touchdown pass since the 2020 season.
St. Michael football team watch party erupted when Coach Rivers threw his first TD back in the league. pic.twitter.com/VHXZrvIv4a
— Noah Moss (@NoahMoss2026) December 14, 2025
There aren’t many high school football players that can say they watched their coach throw an NFL touchdown. They were almost as fired up as Rivers himself was.
Ultimately, Rivers’ efforts were not enough to win the game, as the Seattle Seahawks beat them 18-16. Rivers threw for 120 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on 18-of-27 completions. The 44-year-old certainly looked his age at times, though he did keep the Colts in the game.
Mike Vrabel called out refs after Patriots’ loss
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had some complaints about the officiating during his team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Vrabel felt that inconsistent officiating was an issue in the Patriots’ 35-31 loss to Buffalo at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. In his weekly appearance on WEEI, the Patriots coach came armed with stats that he argued meant the Bills got a favorable whistle during the game.
“I’ll say this: the Bills lead the NFL in offensive holds, and I’ll leave it at that. That would be hard for me to understand, how a team that is coming into the game leading, and that’s how they play, didn’t have one yesterday. So that’s hard for me to understand,” Vrabel said.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on officiating in the game vs. the Bills, via @TheGregHillShow:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 15, 2025
“They do have a difficult job. The consistency — sometimes I struggle with it. I’ll say this: the Bills lead the NFL in offensive holds, and I’ll leave it at that. That would be hard for me… pic.twitter.com/7IMSIDTJyu
Thad Brown of WROC, who also co-hosts the team’s pregame show, pointed out that Vrabel’s stat is not nearly as bad as it sounds. The Bills as a team actually average less than one offensive holding call per game.
There’s a lot wrong with what Vrabel says here. But I’ll just offer this.
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) December 15, 2025
He says #Bills lead NFL in O-Holding. Sounds like a huge thing.
They have 28 holds. Thats only 2/game.
Only 11 are on OL. Less than 1/game.
Torrence got a hold.
Sounds like refs pretty much did their job https://t.co/KR24B6A1br
Vrabel obviously wants to make sure his team gets calls in the future, so there is a bit of gamesmanship involved here. Still, this risks coming off like sour grapes, especially since his team blew a 21-point lead twice.
The Patriots remain in excellent position and are only one game behind the Denver Broncos for the top seed in the AFC. On the other hand, they will now have to hold off the Bills for the AFC East crown, which got more difficult after Sunday’s defeat.
There is a new favorite for the Michigan job
A new favorite has emerged for the Michigan head coach job in online betting odds.
The Wolverines are looking for a new head coach after firing Sherrone Moore last week. Washington Huskies coach Jedd Fisch is the new favorite to land the job, according to odds from BetOnline.ag. Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham is also among the favorites.
Here is a list of the coaches and their odds to land the job:
Jedd Fisch 4/7
Kenny Dillingham 2/1
Kalen DeBoer 7/1
Biff Poggi 7/1
Jesse Minter 14/1
Jon Gruden 20/1
Tommy Rees 25/1
Jeff Brohm 33/1
Marcus Freeman 33/1
PJ Fleck 33/1
Fisch has some history with Michigan, having spent two years as Jim Harbaugh’s passing game coordinator in 2015 and 2016. The 49-year-old has directed turnarounds at both Arizona and Washington.
Dillingham has put together two impressive seasons at Arizona State, but he grew up in Phoenix and might be tough to tempt away. He did not sound all that interested in the job when asked about it over the weekend.
DeBoer was the opening favorite, but his odds fell after he sought to quiet the speculation over the weekend. Gruden is also not thought to be a candidate despite appearing on the list.
The Wolverines are seeking a replacement for Moore, who was in his second season on the job. He was fired for cause for having a relationship with a staff member. Moore has since been charged with a felony for his actions since his firing.
Kristaps Porzingis sidelined by another mystery illness
For the second time in a year, Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with some sort of unexplained illness that will cause him to miss time.
Porzingis is set to miss the next two weeks with an illness and will undergo further evaluation, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The Atlanta Hawks forward has already missed seven of the team’s last eight games due to the issue.
Atlanta Hawks C/F Kristaps Porzingis (illness) will miss the next two weeks and undergo further evaluations, sources tell ESPN. Both sides are prioritizing the long term of the season for Porzingis, who has missed seven of the last eight games.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 14, 2025
While it is not known if this illness is related to the one that sidelined him for much of the second half of last season, Porzingis indicated a week and a half ago that he did not believe it was.
KP, to @ATLjohnson18, on if the illness was a recurrence:
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) December 6, 2025
"No, I wouldn't say it's the same thing. I just wasn't feeling too good, honestly. Just not being 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 healthy, you know? But I wouldn't say it's the same stuff from last season, so that's good.
"I think I kind… https://t.co/ShoKvvuzGj
This marks a strange turn of events for Porzingis. He was limited for much of the second half of last season due to what was later diagnosed as POTS. However, the issues appeared to be behind him, and he fully took part in EuroBasket with Latvia during the summer.
Porzingis has only played in 13 games for the Hawks this season. The 30-year-old is averaging 19.2 points per game during those appearances, and the team is only 6-7 with him in the lineup.
Dylan Raiola makes major decision about his future
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has made his long-awaited decision regarding his future.
Raiola will enter the transfer portal, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. The Nebraska quarterback will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Sources: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He’s a true sophomore who has two years of eligibility remaining. He threw for 18 touchdowns, 2000 yards and completed 72.4% of his passes this year. pic.twitter.com/Frt7QgFN57
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 15, 2025
This was a scenario the Cornhuskers had been afraid of. Though Raiola is well-compensated at Nebraska, moving to a bigger school with a larger platform could help his draft stock in a way staying put likely could not. While he has two years of eligibility remaining, a good season could ensure that Raiola enters the NFL Draft next year.
The writing seemed to be on the wall for this move in recent weeks. Raiola’s brother chose to decommit from Nebraska, while his uncle lost his job on the team’s coaching staff.
Raiola, the son of former Nebraska offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, was the top recruit in his class and was seen as a coup for Nebraska when he decided to go there. He threw for exactly 2,000 yards in 2025 with 18 touchdowns while completing 72.4 percent of his passes. His season was cut short when he suffered a broken fibula in a Week 10 game against USC.
Virtually any top team with a need at quarterback figures to pursue Raiola in the transfer portal. Based on how much he was making at Nebraska, he will not be cheap.
