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Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur’s handshake got even icier after Wild Card game

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Temperatures stayed frigid as Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur met briefly after Saturday’s Wild Card game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

The contest’s finish was fittingly wild. The Bears came back from down 18 points at halftime to win 31-27.

But before all that, Johnson looked stressed out of his mind whenever the Amazon Prime broadcast showed the Bears coach on the sidelines in the first half. Fans even roasted Johnson for making some questionable decisions that put Chicago in a huge hole early.

The first-half turmoil only made the postgame celebration sweeter for Johnson, who was fired up once the clock hit zero.

Johnson, however, pushed back the adrenaline for a brief moment as he met LaFleur in the middle of Soldier Field. The two somehow managed to top their last icy handshake with an even colder one on a sub-zero Saturday night in Chicago.

Here’s another angle in slow motion that shows just how brief the two head coaches touched hands.

There was little love lost between the two after their Wild Card clash. The animosity between the two was palpable during the handshake.

In January, Johnson turned heads when he claimed that he “enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” as a reason for taking a Bears job that kept him in the NFC North. LaFleur was reportedly caught off guard by Johnson’s comments, as the two are not said to be close friends.

LaFleur could have been the one with bragging rights over Johnson for the rest of the year had it not been for Packers kicker Brandon McManus’ second-half meltdown.

Caleb Williams had great quote after leading Bears to stunning comeback win over Packers

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was ready for the moment Saturday, both on the football field and in front of the camera.

The playoff lights looked too bright for Williams in the first half of the Bears’ Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Bears could only muster a field goal at the break, trailing 21-3 after a first half that saw Chicago turn the ball over on its last three possessions. Williams looked visibly frustrated early, going 8/17 for 78 yards with an interception.

The second half was a different story. Williams led the Bears to scoring drives on five of its six possessions after halftime, including three straight touchdowns to cap off a stunning 31-27 comeback victory.

“We understand that it’s 60 minutes of football,” Williams said during his postgame interview. “We understand and know who we are. We understand what this means to the city. We understand what this means to the organization. We also understand what it means to us. You keep going, you keep going, you keep fighting, and when the clock hits zero, you’ll look up and see who wins.

“Right before I walked out, I told the offensive line, I told the other quarterbacks, ‘We’re going to protect our den today.’ This is the den, the fans helped us.”

Williams finished with a 24/48 passing clip for 361 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also rushed for 20 yards on 4 carries.

The comeback from down 18 points was the largest in Bears postseason history. The wild result also gave the team its first playoff win in 15 years.

Chicago sports fans had quite the Saturday night as the Bears’ come-from-behind win came within an hour of the Chicago Cubs making a splashy signing in free agency.

Brandon McManus gets the cruel meme treatment after costing Packers the game

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Tyler Loop is no longer the most hated kicker in America right now.

The Chicago Bears pulled off an absolute stunner on Saturday night, coming back to defeat the division rival Green Bay Packers by a final score of 31-27 in their NFC Wild Card playoff game. Despite trailing 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 to start the fourth quarter, the Bears produced four scores in the final frame and secured the shocking come-from-behind victory at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.

But the comeback by the Bears would not have been possible if not for a complete meltdown by Packers kicker Brandon McManus. The former Super Bowl champion McManus missed three kicks over the course of the game, leaving seven total points on the board.

McManus first missed a 55-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. Then in the fourth quarter, McManus pulled an extra point wide left that should have given Green Bay a 28-16 lead. Finally, McManus went wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt with 2:56 left in the game and the Packers leading 27-24.

The Bears then scored a go-ahead TD on their next possession, and Green Bay (trailing by four points instead of by three as a result of McManus’ missed XP) had to go for a touchdown on the final drive of the game and ultimately failed to get it.

McManus heard it deafeningly loud over social media as a result of his three missed kicks effectively costing the Packers their season.

Now 34 years old, McManus was the starting kicker when the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. But he had an extremely uneven 2025 campaign for the Packers, missing six total field goals and one extra point during the regular season (including one of the worst misses we had ever seen).

McManus got to add three more missed kicks to that tally on Saturday when the lightest were shining brightest. As a result of McManus’ total implosion, the Bears were able to secure their biggest playoff comeback in franchise history as well as their first playoff victory at all since the 2010 season.

Report: LaMelo Ball has issues with Hornets coach Charles Lee

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LaMelo Ball may quickly be going down the Ja Morant route of discontent.

The Charlotte Hornets star Ball has some issues with head coach Charles Lee, according to a claim this week by ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins. During an episode of the “Road Trippin’” podcast, Perkins said that Ball and Lee do not see eye-to-eye and even claimed that Ball recently had a profane outburst over a decision that was made by Lee.

“The Hornets is gonna have to make a decision — it’s either trade LaMelo or fire the coach,” said Perkins. “Those two guys don’t see eye-to-eye. I’m telling you straight up, this is a fact. The energy is not good. The coach, he feels as if LaMelo is not his guy.

“My sources tell me that LaMelo, after a [recent] game, he yelled in the hallway, and I quote, ‘F–k this motherf–ker,” Perkins added. “The coach! They’re not on the same page. Period. One gotta go, either the coach or LaMelo.”

Lee, the former NBA champion assistant for the Boston Celtics, is now in his second season as head coach of the Hornets. As for the former All-Star Ball, he is in his sixth season with Charlotte and has had three different head coaches already (James Borrego, Steve Clifford, and Lee).

Still only 24 years old, Ball’s numbers are down slightly this season (20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game). He was also brought off the bench by Lee during a recent game against the Indiana Pacers (while still on a minutes restriction after coming back from another ankle injury).

After Charlotte’s horrific 19-63 finish last season, Lee publicly challenged Ball to get better. Ball has even had to respond to rumors this season about him supposedly being unhappy with the Hornets, so it makes sense that he might not exactly have the best working relationship with his second-year head coach Lee.

Bears commit huge blunder after Packers fumble in their own territory

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The Chicago Bears wasted a golden opportunity to get back in Saturday’s Wild Card clash against the Green Bay Packers.

The Bears, down 21-6 late in the third quarter, were desperate for a big play to reenergize the crowd at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The home team looked like they were about to get it after eligible offensive tackle Darian Kinnard fumbled off his leg and kicked the ball to an empty patch of grass near Green Bay’s 30-yard line.

However, disaster struck for the as defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. dove for the ball and had it squirt out of his hands.

What was supposed to be a Bears recovery just outside the red zone ended up going back to the Packers.

Dexter Sr. let his instincts kick in on the quick dive to the ball. But he was actually ahead of the next closest Packers defender by several yards. The Bears tackle could have scooped it up cleanly without having to hurl his 325-pound frame onto the ground.

However, that’s easier said than done when you’re in a mad dash for a loose football during a playoff game.

Alex Bregman signing with a top NL contender on a massive deal

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While the Chicago Bears were busy playing a Wild Card playoff game on Saturday night, the Chicago Cubs were making some power moves of their own.

Free agent third baseman Alex Bregman has agreed to sign with the Cubs in free agency, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Saturday. Bregman is joining Chicago on a massive five-year, $175 million contract.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds that Bregman’s deal comes with no opt-outs but does have a no-trade clause.

The 31-year-old Bregman, a three-time MLB All-Star, spent last season with the Boston Red Sox. He hit .273 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs over 114 games but opted out of his contract with Boston to test free agency for a second consecutive offseason.

Also a two-time World Series champion and a one-time Gold Glover with the Houston Astros, Bregman was widely expected to return to the Red Sox as a free agent this winter. As such, the Cubs have pulled off a real coup here in stealing away the prized righty hitter.

Chicago won 92 games last season but lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. While they will likely be losing free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker this offseason (possibly to this other MLB contender), the Cubs are opening up their checkbook for Bregman, who is now under contract with them through the 2030 season.

Bears coach Ben Johnson gets roasted for bizarre decision vs. Packers

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson may have been a little too confident in his team’s offense Saturday against the Green Bay Packers.

The Bears trailed the Packers 14-3 with just over five minutes left in the first half of their Wild Card clash at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Johnson may have been feeling the pressure of the moment as his team faced 4th-and-4 at their own 32.

Johnson took the gamble of going for it and lost big time. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams bobbled the snap and had his pass deflected by linebacker Edgerrin Cooper for a turnover on downs.

The Packers capitalized on the excellent field position with a touchdown to Romeo Doubs, extending Green Bay’s lead to 21-3 before the end of the half.

Fans piled on Johnson for making such a bold decision that ended up backfiring spectacularly. The memes were flowing on social media at Johnson’s expense.

Many joked that he suddenly turned into his former colleague, Dan Campbell, who’s known for aggressively going for it on fourth downs.

The Bears fittingly turned it over on downs again on their next possession with less than a minute remaining in the half. The second one was at least defensive with Chicago in Green Bay territory.

Johnson’s Bears entered halftime trailing 21-3.

Dennis Schroder gets suspended by the NBA for trying to hit Luka Doncic

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Dennis Schroder is in trouble for an incident that occurred nearly two full weeks ago.

The NBA announced on Saturday that the Sacramento Kings guard Schroder has been suspended for three games without pay. Schroder is being suspended for an episode that occurred after a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 28.

According to the NBA’s release, Schroder confronted and attempted to strike another player after the Kings’ 125-101 loss to the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The incident is said to have taken place nearly 40 minutes after the final buzzer of the game.

Veteran NBA writer Chris Haynes soon shared the identity of the other player involved. Haynes reports that it was Lakers star Luka Doncic whom Schroder attempted to hit in a hallway after the game.

Schroder, who is averaging 13.0 points and 5.7 assists per game this season, is in his first year with the Kings. The 32-year-old used to play for the Lakers from 2020-21 and again from 2022-23. But he was never teammates there with Doncic, who came to L.A. in a Feb. 2025 trade.

It is worth noting as well that Schroder, a native of Germany, has also clashed on the court with Doncic, a native of Slovenia, in international play. As for the Dec. 28 game in question though, the two players did indeed get heated with each other over the course of the contest (and apparently again in the hallways afterwards as well).

Dave Canales shares tough news after playoff loss to Rams

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The Carolina Panthers can start planning for their vacation after suffering a 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC Wild Card Round matchup at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday.

However, at least one Panther will have to worry about his health first.

Following the Panthers’ season-ending loss, Carolina head coach Dave Canales provided an update on left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who went down with an injury in the first quarter of the Rams game.

“Ickey’s got a knee injury,” Canales told reporters, via Anthony Rizzuti of the Panthers Wire. 

“We’ll give you more of an update. They gotta do all the MRIs and all that stuff. But I think it’s a significant injury, and something that we’ll have to go into the offseason with.”

Ekwonu was carted off the field after going down with an apparent lower-body injury while trying to block on a passing play.

The 25-year-old Ekwonu was among the top performers on the Panthers’ offensive line in the 2025 season. Pro Football Focus gave the North Carolina State product an overall grade of 69.8 and a 70.4 rating in run blocking.

Ekwonu’s injury also puts his future with the Panthers in question, as he doesn’t have a contract beyond the 2026 NFL season.

Carolina, which selected Ekwonu sixth overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, picked up its $17.56 million option on him for the 2026 campaign.

Jason Kidd ejected after beefing with Scott Foster

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Jason Kidd got tossed from Saturday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls after feuding with a familiar foe.

The Mavs head coach got into it with Scott Foster in the first quarter of the interconference clash at United Center in Chicago, Ill. Kidd was upset over a defensive goaltending call that went against Dallas.

Foster hit Kidd with two technical fouls in quick succession to eject the veteran coach.

It’s understandable why Kidd was upset. Replays showed that Mavericks wing Max Christie pinned Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu’s layup on the backboard before it touched glass.

Perhaps Kidd was still frustrated from the news that All-Star big man Anthony Davis suffered yet another long-term injury. Davis could be out of the lineup for multiple months as he recovers from ligament damage in his left hand.

It’s also possible Kidd has some leftover animosity with Foster from his time as a player. Foster has not exactly had the most sterling reputation among players in his three decades blowing the whistle for the NBA.

Wild scuffle between Packers and Bears breaks out before playoff game

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The NFC Wild Card Round showdown between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears was widely expected to be a heated one, given what is on the line and their storied rivalry.

Fans did not even have to wait for the game to start before seeing the Packers and the Bears get into it.

Just before the start of the contest at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., some Packers and Bears players appeared to have a heated moment in the middle of the field.

Here’s a video showing game officials trying to separate players from both sides and pacify the situation.

The Packers and the Bears are bound by history and tradition to dislike each other. As fierce NFC North rivals, hating the other team is a mere standard for Green Bay and Chicago, and it clearly showed during that scuffle.

Fortunately, no one seemed to get hurt during the dust-up, as both teams need all hands on deck in this all-important clash.

The Packers and the Bears split their series in the regular season, with the home team winning each time, and Chicago is looking to keep that trend going.

In the last meeting between these teams, Chicago defeated the Packers on an unforgettable 46-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver DJ Moore in overtime.

Panthers’ season ends on brutal dropped pass vs. Rams

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The Carolina Panthers’ season came down to a dropped pass in the closing seconds of Saturday’s Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Panthers got the ball at their own 28, trailing 34-31 with 32 seconds left on the clock at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Quarterback Bryce Young threw three incompletions to open the potential game-winning drive, leaving his team with one final play to keep their hopes alive.

Facing 4th-and-10 with the game on the line, Young found an open Jimmy Horn Jr. near midfield for what would have been about a 20-yard gain. The rookie wide receiver dropped the pass, giving the Rams possession and the victory.

FOX announcer Greg Olsen chastised Horn for not “going to the ground” to try to haul in the catch, making the play much more difficult than it had to be.

Despite the loss, the Panthers were much closer to winning Saturday’s contest than any non-Carolina fans ever imagined.

The home team led 31-27 past the two-minute warning, with Matthew Stafford needing to put on his Superman cape down the stretch to prevent the upset. But that doesn’t make Carolina’s rough final series hurt any less for Panthers supporters.

Audio catches Donovan Mitchell’s exchange with Rudy Gobert

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Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert had a moment on the court during Saturday’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

During a break in the game, the two former Utah Jazz teammates caught up with each other, with Mitchell wondering about Gobert’s shot selection.

You can watch the entire heartwarming moment here.

Gobert isn’t really known for his scoring as much as for his defensive prowess, but the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is also averaging double digits in scoring for his career while shooting at an incredibly high clip.

Mitchell surely knows what Gobert is capable of on the court. They played together for several seasons for the Jazz until Utah decided to break the duo apart in 2022. The Jazz traded Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2022 and then sent Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in September of the same year.

As for the game, Mitchell and the Cavs topped the Timberwolves in a high-scoring affair, 146-134. Mitchell led the way for Cleveland with 28 points on 9-for-21 shooting from the field with 8 assists and 3 rebounds, while Gobert only produced 8 points on 4-for-6 shooting in addition to his 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists.

The Cavs improved to 22-18 and will host Mitchell’s former team, the Jazz, on Monday.

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, saw their four-game winning streak end, as they drop to 25-14. Up next for Minnesota is a date with the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

Matthew Stafford slammed by angry fans after Rams’ announcement

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The Carolina Panthers are proving to be a tough challenge for Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams during Saturday’s NFC Wild Card showdown at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., and LA fans are clearly anxious and angry.

Despite the Rams’ midgame announcement that Stafford had passed Kurt Warner on the franchise’s all-time list for most postseason passing yards, many fans were clearly not in the mood to celebrate, with the Panthers still breathing down LA’s neck.

The 37-year-old Stafford was among the best players in the league during the regular season, but he’s clearly having trouble orchestrating the Rams’ attack against a resurgent Panthers side.

Stafford struggling against the Panthers this season isn’t new. Back in Week 13, Stafford threw 2 touchdowns but had 2 interceptions in a 31-28 loss to Carolina.

Los Angeles built a 14-point lead in the first half of the playoff game versus the Panthers, but entered halftime with just a three-point cushion, as the Rams suddenly struggled to find their offense. After the Panthers scored a touchdown to trim Los Angeles’ lead down to seven, the Rams’ next three possessions ended in a field goal and a couple of punts, while Carolina found the end zone again just before halftime.

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger pursuit hits major snag

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The New York Yankees have made it a major priority to re-sign outfielder Cody Bellinger, but their chances of doing so appear to be declining.

The Yankees have hit an “impasse” with Bellinger in contract talks, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. As such, the team is now operating under the impression that Bellinger will sign elsewhere.

Reports have indicated that the Yankees are offering Bellinger a 5-year deal worth roughly $30 million per year. Bellinger, however, is holding out for a 7-year contract that the Yankees are so far unwilling to offer.

Bellinger’s calculus is likely that this might be his last big chance at a huge free agency payday. The 30-year-old would, by accepting a five-year deal, next hit the open market at age 35, at which point he would be fairly unlikely to get a lucrative long-term deal.

Losing out on Bellinger would be a big setback for the Yankees, who essentially made retaining him their top offseason priority. Olney suggests that the Yankees could look at alternatives like Kyle Tucker, or may inquire on possible trades to address the possible loss of Bellinger.

Bellinger and the Yankees appeared to have a good thing going in 2025. He hit .272 with 29 home runs, and demonstrated his versatility by playing four different defensive positions for the team. The output will be difficult to replace, as will the positional flexibility, if Bellinger really does wind up going elsewhere.

Brady Tkachuk did not hold back on dirty Senators rumors

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Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk had heard enough.

The Senators’ captain broke his silence on the wild rumor circulating on social media following the team’s late-December announcement that goalie Linus Ullmark was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. 

Ottawa did not reveal the exact nature of why Ullmark was stepping away from the team, and the team did not have to. However, that did not stop people on the internet from spreading a wild, unfounded rumor behind Ullmark’s absence.

It even came to a point where the Senators had to release a statement addressing the “completely fabricated and false stories that are spreading around social media.”

On Saturday, Tkachuk did his part to shut down the rumors surrounding his teammate.

“I don’t think anybody’s pretty happy about a narrative being spread like that,” Tkachuk told reporters following Saturday’s practice, via the “Coming In Hot” podcast. 

“It’s OK for people to critique our on-ice performance, but when it gets into family, it’s pretty f–king b——t.”

Tkachuk further emphasized his point.

“It’s embarrassing that it got to the point that it did. I can tell you for free I’m not happy about it one bit.”

Hopefully, Tkachuk and the Senators have done enough to stop the rumors from spreading and others from believing them.

Such distractions are certainly not helping Ottawa stay focused on its on-ice goals, especially with the Senators riding a three-game losing streak heading into a huge Saturday matchup against the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.

Puka Nacua had the most inexplicable drop on potential TD

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The Los Angeles Rams are making a bunch of little mistakes to keep the Carolina Panthers in the game during Saturday’s NFC Wild Card contest.

The Rams held a 17-14 lead at halftime of Saturday’s game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Saturday, but could have easily been up by more than that. On 3rd and 10 with 19 seconds left in the half, Matthew Stafford launched a perfect throw to Puka Nacua, one of his most sure-handed receivers who was already having an explosive day.

Nacua simply failed to make the catch on a ball that almost certainly would have ended in a touchdown.

The drop made no sense from any angle.

Nacua’s drop was even more confusing in the context of the rest of his first half. He caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, and also picked up a second score on a 5-yard rush. He might get hung up on not getting that third score, though.

Nacua has become known for his circus catches and his ability to reel in just about anything, even if it does not necessarily count. That just makes it more bizarre that he would drop such an easy one.

Popular NBA referee Bill Kennedy is facing long injury absence

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The NBA will be without one of its longest-tenured referees for a good portion of the season.

Bill Kennedy suffered a hamstring strain during Friday night’s game in Orlando, according to Chris B. Haynes of Amazon Prime. The league is hopeful that he will be able to return before the end of the season.

Kennedy has become hugely popular among many NBA fans, in part because of the distinctive way he announces the outcome of coach challenges. His injury looked quite severe Friday night, and he actually wound up leaving the court in a wheelchair.

From a practical standpoint, the NBA will not love that one of their most experienced and respected referees appears set to miss weeks, if not months. That is a void they will have to fill.

The 60-year-old Kennedy is in his 26th career season as an NBA referee. He has worked over 1,400 games over the years, including over 130 playoff games.

NFL fans were furious over ridiculous All-Pro snub

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The NFL announced its All-Pro teams for the 2025 season on Saturday, sparking the usual arguments about who deserved the nod. In the eyes of many NFL fans, however, there was one particularly glaring omission.

Denver Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto was not selected to the first- or second-team All-Pro teams despite having 14 sacks on the season. In a strange quirk of the math, Bonitto actually received more first-team votes than all three of the second-team selections, but finished behind Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson by a single point.

It was not just Broncos fans who were fuming over Bonitto’s exclusion. General NFL fans were just as baffled.

Bonitto himself responded to the snub with a shrug emoji and a crying emoji.

Bonitto certainly got recognition from plenty of voters, but other edge rushers were evidently named on more ballots. Nobody could blame him for feeling a bit slighted after an outstanding season.

The good news for Bonitto is the Broncos made the playoffs. If he wants to make a statement about the voting, he will have his chance starting in the AFC Divisional round.

Cam Newton got Panthers fans so hyped before Wild Card game

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Cam Newton was finally welcomed back to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, and the atmosphere for it was absolutely electric.

Newton was on hand to pound the ceremonial pregame drum for the team’s NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams in Charlotte, N.C. on Saturday. Aside from his brief return as a player in 2021, he had been somewhat kept at arm’s length by the organization even after his playing career ended.

Naturally, Newton got an enormous roar from the crowd, and even did his signature Superman celebration as he emerged from the tunnel.

There had definitely been some tension between Newton and the Panthers since 2021. At one point, he even suggested the organization had been intentionally ignoring him and not honoring his contributions. That does not seem to be the case anymore, as Newton attended enthusiastically at the team’s invitation for this game.

Newton remains the last Carolina quarterback to win a playoff game with the organization. The team’s victory in the NFC Championship game in 2015 remains their most recent postseason victory. Newton was clearly hoping to share some of the magic with Bryce Young and the current team.

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