Category: Sports

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Anyone who had tickets for an AFC Championship Game in Atlanta might want to get their money back.

As the Cincinnati Bengals walked back up the tunnel in Highmark Stadium following Sunday’s 27-10 win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs, several players stressed that any of the 50,000 people who snagged presale tickets for a potential game between the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs should seek a refund.

“There was not no stress about that at all, man,” Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said. “Just proving people wrong, the NFL doing stuff like that for the Bills to go to the Super Bowl. They trying to make it seem like we’re not ready. So we just came in here and proved it. That’s all.”

Cincinnati, the defending AFC champion, is headed on the road to face the Chiefs in the conference championship game for the second straight year. The Bengals secured their spot as one of the last four teams left in the playoffs with their most convincing postseason win in recent years.

Cincinnati led 14-0 early and maintained control throughout. The start was similar to the Week 17 game between the two teams, when the Bengals took a 7-3 lead in the first quarter and were driving down the field before Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. The game was eventually canceled, which led to the NFL creating a potential neutral-site game with Kansas City and Buffalo if both teams advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

But that first meeting gave Cincinnati confidence that it could thwart the league’s contingency plans.

“We knew what we were capable of,” Chase said. “I mean, look at the first game. We knew what we were capable of from the jump. We were just excited to play those guys.”

The Bengals held the Bills to a season-low 10 points. That was Cincinnati’s second-fewest points allowed in postseason franchise history.

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who was briefly subbed out of a drive after a hit but did not leave the game, was 25-of-42 passing for 265 yards, no touchdowns and an interception on the Bills’ final drive of the game.

“I don’t think you ever look at the scoreboard and see the Bills having 10 points, even in the first half,” Bengals safety Jessie Bates III said. “This is what we do.”

Cincinnati was also bolstered by another strong offensive start. Dating to Week 16 of the regular season, the Bengals have outscored opponents by a combined total of 39-0 in the first quarter.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow played a major role in that. He completed his first nine passes and finished the day by going 23-of-36 passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also broke Ken Anderson’s franchise record for most career postseason passing yards (1,321).

Bengals running back Joe Mixon tallied 20 carries for 105 yards, marking his highest yardage total in any of the team’s six postseason games over the past two seasons.

Burrow’s and Mixon’s numbers were indicative of how well the Bengals thought they played Sunday despite Cincinnati having three reserves starting on its offensive line.

“It was just one of their best games of the year, rushing [and] pass blocking,” Burrow said of the unit’s performance. “It might be our most complete game of the season as a team.”

The Bengals quarterback said the team didn’t use the presale tickets for the potential Kansas City-Buffalo game as motivation. But Burrow referenced in it his postgame TV interview, telling CBS that the league “better send those refunds.”

The Bengals’ 17-point win exceeded Cincinnati’s combined margin of victory — 13 — in three postseason wins in 2021.

Last season, the Bengals went on the road in the divisional round and knocked off the top-seeded Tennessee Titans. Bates, who said Sunday’s win was the biggest win over the past couple of seasons because it was the most recent one, pointed out the parallels between then and now.

“We go into Tennessee and we whooped their ass,” Bates told ESPN. “And we come here [to Buffalo] and we whooped their ass here.”

Dual-threat quarterbacks run the N.F.L., and Jones has not shown that he’s enough of a threat in the pocket. Against the Eagles, Jones was not able to scan the full field and be a dynamic passer, especially when it came to throwing in tight windows.

The Giants are now caught in a spot where they have a formula with Jones that works, but only in specific, low-ceiling ways. Jones is making only about $8.4 million against the salary cap, according to overthecap.com. A new Jones contract would likely either be a franchise tag (roughly $45 million) or a mid-tier deal similar to what Ryan Tannehill got with the Titans at around $30 million per year guaranteed. There may still be more to unlock with Jones, but the Giants would have a hefty price to pay in order to find out and an even steeper cost if they find out they’ve already hit their ceiling with him.

Around the N.F.L.

49ers 19, Cowboys 12: Both defensive fronts were on a mission, as neither team could muster much on the ground. In the end, the passing game decided the game, and Dak Prescott had the more difficult task trying to dismantle the 49ers’ secondary. His two interceptions in the first half gave San Francisco the edge, and the 49ers held on despite the rookie quarterback Brock Purdy’s shaky outing (19 of 29 passing for 214 yards and no touchdowns).

Bengals 27, Bills 10: In a physical matchup amid snowy conditions, Joe Burrow threw the Bengals to a comfy 14-0 lead through the first quarter before Cincinnati’s run game and defense took over. Despite rushing behind a backup-filled offensive line, Joe Mixon repeatedly plunged through the heart of the Bills’ defense for 105 yards and a touchdown. On the other end, the Bills couldn’t run the ball, nor could their receivers win battles up the sideline. Josh Allen (25 of 42, 265 yards with one interception) was left frantically throwing to covered receivers and carrying what little rushing attack the team could muster.

Eagles 38, Giants 7: It’s hardly surprising that the Eagles crushed the division-rival Giants after sweeping them in the regular season, which included a 48-22 beat down in Week 14. On the first drive of the game, Jalen Hurts delivered a 40-yard deep ball to DeVonta Smith, and Philadelphia was able to run its way to victory (268 rushing yards to the Giants’ 118). The Eagles got out to a 28-0 lead in the first half and never looked back.

Kansas City 27, Jaguars 20: After spraining his right ankle in the first quarter, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes nickel-and-dimed the Jaguars’ defense, almost exclusively targeting tight end Travis Kelce to do so. The fourth-seeded Jaguars put up a decent fight given the talent disparity, but ultimately they did not have the receiver talent to keep pace on the scoreboard.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With two great defenses in the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, it’s no surprise that Sunday’s NFC divisional round game was a low-scoring affair.

In the end, the Niners did just enough to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 19-12 win to advance in the playoffs.

The 49ers will travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, Fox).

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San Francisco 49ers

After a few below-standard showings over the past month, the 49ers’ defense heard all the whispers.

The same group that led the NFL in most major defensive categories all season had showed signs of fatigue, and better playoff opponents were poised to pounce, the skeptics said.

But on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, that 49ers’ defense offered a resounding reminder of exactly what it represents, shutting down Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott & Co. on the way to the Niners’ third conference title game in four seasons.

Linebacker Fred Warner and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir came up with interceptions as the 49ers finished plus-1 in turnover margin. San Francisco is now 15-0 this season when it wins or ties the turnover battle. Dallas finished with just 282 yards of offense on 4.7 yards per play and was 5-of-15 on third down.

The Niners, who have now won 12 games in a row in a season for the first time since 1984, advanced to face the Eagles with a Super Bowl bid on the line.

QB breakdown: The Dallas defense was easily the toughest test rookie quarterback Brock Purdy has faced since becoming the starter in Week 14 and it made his life difficult all day. When Purdy was pressured, the Niners struggled. When he had time to throw, he was solid.

But Purdy’s biggest number on the day was zero. As in the number of turnovers he had. That made the difference, as Purdy finished 19-of-29 for 214 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough.

Prior to this season, there had never been a rookie QB to throw for 200 yards and no interceptions in a playoff game. Purdy has done it in back-to-back games.

Pivotal play: Stuck in the mud for most of the day, the Niners’ offense needed a spark, any spark, to get going. It came with 5 minutes, 19 seconds left in the third quarter, when Purdy rolled to his left and saw tight end George Kittle darting down the middle of the field.

Purdy’s throw was on target but led Kittle a little too much. So, Kittle improvised, reaching out with his right hand and juggling it twice before hauling it in for a 29-yard gain. The Niners’ offense found traction on the ground soon after and scored the game-winning points on a 2-yard touchdown run by Christian McCaffrey eight plays later.

Describe the game in two words: Heavyweight fight. These were two of the three best teams in the NFC all season, and though both offenses were plenty explosive, the defenses were the consistently best units on both sides. That showed up on Sunday as they stood in the middle of the ring and exchanged blows for all 60 minutes before the Niners emerged with the victory.

Underrated statistic to know: McCaffrey’s fourth-quarter touchdown marked his eighth consecutive game with a touchdown, the longest streak of his career and longest for the 49ers since Terrell Owens scored a TD in nine straight games in 1998. — Nick Wagoner

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Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys’ season ends where it always ends, it seems: in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Cowboys’ loss to the 49ers was their seventh straight in the divisional round, which is the longest streak in the second round of the NFL playoffs.

Since winning Super Bowl XXX in 1995, the Cowboys have lost to the Carolina Panthers (1996), New York Giants (2007), Minnesota Vikings (2009), Green Bay Packers (2014, 2016), Los Angeles Rams (2018) and now the Niners.

What went wrong against San Francisco?

Prescott was intercepted twice in the first half (leading to two Niners field goals), Brett Maher missed another extra point (five in two playoff games), running back Tony Pollard was lost to a bad left ankle injury, and the defense wore down in the second half. As a result, the Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought is now at 27 years and counting, and they face a daunting offseason that sees them with limited salary-cap options, crucial free agent decisions and the potential loss of two coordinators to head-coaching jobs elsewhere.

QB breakdown: Prescott did not need to play perfectly to beat the Niners, but he had to stay away from mistakes. He didn’t. He became the first Cowboys quarterback with two interception in a playoff game since Troy Aikman in the 1998 wild-card round. The Cowboys are now 6-13 in the playoffs when their quarterback has multiple interceptions in a game. After finding receiver CeeDee Lamb just once in last season’s playoff meeting versus San Francisco (five targets), he almost exclusively went to Lamb on Sunday. Prescott’s second interception was a killer because it came at the San Francisco 18. It was just the second red zone pick of the season for Prescott. The other came in the overtime loss in Week 10 to the Packers.

Biggest hole in the game plan: It wasn’t so much a problem with the game plan as it was the loss of Pollard to a left ankle injury in the second quarter. Without Pollard, the Cowboys’ running game went nowhere. Without Pollard’s speed and elusiveness, the Cowboys could not do much of anything against a Niners run defense that did not allow an individual runner to top 70 yards during the season. Ezekiel Elliott had not averaged more than 4 yards per carry in a game since Week 14.

Troubling trend: It’s hard to blame the Cowboys’ defense for anything, but in the second half they allowed a 91-yard scoring drive with the score tied 9-9, and after the Cowboys cut the deficit to 16-12, they allowed a 64-yard field goal drive. In the first six drives of the game, they did not allow more than 46 yards and gave up three field goals. For a defense that feasted on quarterback pressures and takeaways, that unit had difficulty getting to Purdy in the second half, and Trevon Diggs dropped a potential interception on the 91-yard drive.

Underrated statistic to know: Per Elias Sports Bureau data, Maher is the only player in NFL history to have more than two unsuccessful extra point tries in a single postseason — he has missed five in the past two games, including one on Sunday. — Todd Archer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were hopeful immediately after advancing to next Sunday’s AFC Championship Game that his high ankle sprain would be healed to the point where he could not only play in the conference title game but be effective.

Mahomes said he planned to take as much treatment as would be helpful and do whatever else was necessary to get himself ready. He was thinking an extra day of rest — the Chiefs beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round Saturday — would make a difference.

But there’s no guarantee Mahomes will play, or play well if he does. There’s no guarantee backup Chad Henne will be as effective if he has to play as he was on his only possession against the Jaguars, when he led a 98-yard touchdown drive.

That means there’s a lot for the Chiefs to sort through. How to adjust their AFC Championship Game plan to accommodate a hobbled Mahomes? What’s the best way to use Henne if he has to play instead?

Here are some answers about the injury itself and how the Chiefs might manage it from ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell and Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher:

What exactly is a high ankle sprain, and how does it affect quarterbacks?

A high ankle sprain is also referred to as a syndesmosis sprain. It’s an injury to the tibiofibular ligaments that join the two lower leg bones — the tibia and fibula — that results in an injury to the roof of the ankle joint, hence the term “high ankle.” If the ligament injury is severe enough to result in a gapping or widening between the two leg bones, the injury is considered far more serious and surgery may be required.

There are several ways an athlete can suffer a high ankle sprain, but perhaps the most common is when the foot is forced into eversion (where the foot/toes are rotated outward relative to the lower leg) beyond its normal range. The torsion creates stress on both the inner ankle and the “high” ankle ligaments. The most severe form of injury can also result in a fracture.

Stability of the lower leg over the ankle is critical for all movement. Normally with each step, the shin bone (tibia) advances over the main ankle bone (talus) to propel the body forward. If the supportive ligaments are injured, there is instability and the athlete can’t place full weight on the ankle as a result. Rotational movements are even more compromised due to pain and instability. For a quarterback, this can present problems both when trying to drive power through the leg, when handing the ball off (requires rotation of the ankle) and any scrambling/pivoting/torsional movements. In essence, it can impact any type of quarterback, but for one who relies on mobility, it can significantly impact that element of his game. — Bell

Does it get worse in the days after the injury?

It can certainly feel worse. Adrenaline is a powerful thing and often helps propel athletes through a game, despite injury. After the game, when any taping and footwear has been removed, the swelling can increase and the pain can as well. Immediate steps are taken postgame by the athletic training staff to help mitigate those factors and aid in recovery. — Bell

Are there recent cases of quarterbacks having the same injury?

This injury is so common that no position is immune to it, whether it’s a player who plays in the trenches or a skill position player. Quarterbacks are no different. Just this year, Mac Jones suffered a significant high ankle sprain and was said to be considering surgery. He ultimately returned to play but appeared to struggle at times as a result of his ankle. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a high ankle sprain last year and had surgery in the offseason. He clearly returned to top form and has had no limitations this year. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered this injury in 2020, missed two weeks and returned only to aggravate the injury and miss the remainder of the season. — Bell

How concerned should the Chiefs be about Mahomes’ ankle issues?

It’s certainly not ideal to have this happen with only a week to recover between games, but it also is a matter of severity, which has not been reported. A mild sprain can resolve within a couple of weeks, whereas a moderate sprain can require more than a month to fully recover. A severe sprain may ultimately require surgery. The early positive news around Mahomes is encouraging, but it is too soon to project what he will or won’t be able to do in a week, including whether or not he’ll be able to play. Much will depend on how his ankle responds to treatment as the week progresses. He’ll no doubt be pushing to play but his functional performance as the game approaches will dictate the team’s decision. — Bell

What game adjustments could the Chiefs make to manage the injury?

Mahomes’ creativity and ability to make off-schedule throws are a large part of what makes him the player he is, but the Chiefs would likely make Mahomes a pocket passer, as they did in the second half against the Jaguars. He threw no passes from outside the pocket after returning to the game for the start of the second half. That’s only the second time this season Mahomes went for a half without making an outside the pocket throw. Mahomes threw more passes from outside the pocket (113) than any other quarterback during the regular season and was tied for second with seven touchdown passes.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Mahomes scrambled against Jacksonville at least 8 yards six times on his first 12 passes, before the injury. He scrambled just once on a pass attempt after the injury. So this is a dramatic change to the Chiefs’ offense, and it’s unclear how well Mahomes could make it work over the course of a full game. — Teicher

How much does the Chiefs’ offense change with a compromised Mahomes?

Mahomes’ running, or at least the threat of it, is no small part of the Chiefs’ offense. He was their second-leading rusher during the regular season with 358 yards. He also rushed for four touchdowns and 25 first downs. All of that goes away if he’s as limited in terms of mobility as he was in the second half against the Jaguars. Opponents have at times used a spy against Mahomes to take away his running threat. There’s no need to do that if he is hobbled.

That defender can be used in coverage or as an extra rusher, which brings up another point: Can Mahomes move well enough to avoid the rush? That would seem to be a baseline for the Chiefs in determining whether he could play in the AFC Championship Game. If he isn’t at least so mobile that he can protect himself, he shouldn’t and probably wouldn’t play. — Teicher

If Mahomes’ injury worsens, what would change with Chad Henne under center?

The passing game was mostly quick, short throws for the one drive in which Henne replaced Mahomes against Jacksonville. Henne threw for 23 yards on seven attempts, which is fewer than 3.3 yards per attempt. As a comparison, Mahomes was second in the league during the regular season at 8.1 yards, while the league average was 7.1 yards.

It’s a small sample size for Henne against the Jaguars, but it’s still a reasonable expectation for him in the AFC Championship Game, if he has to play. The Chiefs also were more balanced on Henne’s 12-play drive, running the ball on five of the plays. It’s always risky to predict that coach Andy Reid will call more running plays, but if ever the situation called for it, this would be the one. — Teicher

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin visited with his teammates in the locker room ahead of their divisional round matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The Bills tweeted video of Hamlin at Highmark Stadium alongside his family, including his mother, Nina, and brother, Damir. Hamlin did not come on to the field before the game and left the locker room to watch the contest from a suite.

Late in the second quarter, he was shown on the stadium videoboard as fans erupted with applause, and he made a heart sign with his hands in response while standing in a suite.

Damar Hamlin to Bills fans 🫶

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/XZh1HKCFNh

— ESPN (@espn) January 22, 2023

Buffalo ended up losing the game, 27-10.

Hamlin’s visit came almost three weeks after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during the first quarter of the Bills’ Week 17 game against the Bengals. Bills coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Hamlin had been at the facility “almost daily,” including Tuesday and Wednesday, but was not participating in team meetings and is taking it “one step, one baby step at a time.”

McDermott said Friday that the team and Hamlin were “just going at Damar’s cadence.”

“It’s what he needs and how we can help him and how our training staff can help serve him and we can serve him, and as anyone would do, we’re just trying to be there for him and walk at his pace, so to speak, play on words,” McDermott said. “But we’re just there for him and want the best for him right now. So it’s been good having him around when he’s been around there.”

Hamlin, 24, is continuing his recovery from the Jan. 2 cardiac arrest that led to the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals regular-season game. He stayed at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for almost a week before flying to Buffalo to spend about two days at Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute. He was discharged Jan. 11.

For a third straight game, the 3s on the 30-yard lines at Highmark Stadium were outlined in blue for Hamlin.

Hamlin was not in attendance for the Bills’ win over the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park to start the playoffs, but he was watching from home. He first visited the team at the practice facility Jan. 14, attending the team’s walk-through with family members.

“A few hugs here and there; everybody’s chomping at the bit to talk to him and don’t want to overload him with too much right now,” quarterback Josh Allen said Wednesday. “But it’s been good to see him, you know, the smile on his face, and guys love having him back in the building.”

Eddie Nketiah’s 90th-minute winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 win against Manchester United as Arsenal took a huge step towards winning the club’s first Premier League title since 2004.

– Premier League: Standings | Schedule | Statistics

In a pulsating game at the Emirates, both sides traded the lead before Lisandro Martinez‘s equaliser in the second half for United appeared to send the clash towards a draw. But Nketiah, who cancelled out Marcus Rashford‘s opener with a first-half header, claimed victory for Arsenal in the final minute to keep the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Here are some quick thoughts about Sunday’s standout Premier League fixture.

JUMP TO: Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

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Rapid reaction

1. Arsenal pass another huge test in their title charge

January was supposed to be the acid test of Arsenal’s surprise challenge for the Premier League title, but Mikel Arteta’s team keep on proving the doubters wrong with big results, and none will be more significant than this 3-2 win against Manchester United.

The Gunners were held by Newcastle at the start of the month, but won at Tottenham last week before avenging their only defeat of the season so far against United. And in beating United, Arsenal displayed the qualities of champions. They fought back from conceding an early goal, went on to take the lead and then scored a late winner after the visitors had made it 2-2 midway through the second half.

Arsenal have yet to play champions Manchester City this season, so the clash against a resurgent United was the biggest test of Arteta’s team. And they answered all the questions asked of them to beat Erik ten Hag’s side.

Arsenal are now at the halfway stage of the season and have amassed 50 points from 19 games. Even if they drop off from that incredible pace in the second half of the season, they will still finish the campaign with a huge points total; the pressure is on City to reel them in, but this Arsenal side is playing without fear and nerves.

Both may come, of course, but right now they are showing the same kind of carefree form that propelled Leicester to the title in 2016. And unless City can beat them in their first league meeting next month, it will become increasingly difficult to see how anyone can stop Arsenal from winning the title.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

2. Weghorst makes a difference, but United still lack attacking edge

Wout Weghorst is not the answer to Manchester United’s goal-scoring problems, but he is certainly giving Erik ten Hag’s team something different up front. The Netherlands international, on loan from Burnley until the end of the season, has been brought in to bolster United’s attacking options following Cristiano Ronaldo‘s mutually-agreed departure in November.

With Anthony Martial still sidelined with a hamstring injury, the 6-foot-6 Weghorst started his second successive game at the Emirates and, just as on his debut at Crystal Palace, he didn’t threaten the opposition goal. But Weghorst has made United more direct and given them the option to hit the ball long when needed. It would be wrong to suggest that he is merely a target man, though.

Weghorst is good with his feet and he linked played well with his attacking teammates and also drew players to mark him whenever the ball was in the air, freeing space for the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony. He also has a much greater work ethic than Martial and is prepared to endlessly press the opposition defence. But ultimately, he is limited in his ability to beat his marker and opponents know that they can keep Weghorst at bay fairly easily.

United have the lowest goal tally in the top six and right now, they’re being rescued by Rashford’s goals time and time again. That won’t continue forever, so they need to be more potent. Weghorst gives them another option, but he won’t score enough goals to make United serious title contenders.

3. Arsenal have a right-back problem

Mikel Arteta has worked wonders to turn Arsenal into title challengers, but his team still has flaws, and nowhere more than at right-back.

Ben White was awful in the first half and completely failed to make life difficult for Rashford. He was also outdone more than once by Bruno Fernandes as United repeatedly attacked down their left-hand side.

The former Brighton defender is primarily a centre-half, but he has operated at right-back throughout this season because Gabriel and William Saliba have been so impressive in the middle of the Arsenal defence. White is simply not equipped to play at right-back. He thinks like a centre-back and it means he often makes the wrong decisions.

Arteta substituted White at half-time — it may have been an injury, but there was no indication of that — and replaced him with Takehiro Tomiyasu, but the Japan defender was no better than his teammate and arguably even worse.

Obviously, being asked to defend against Rashford in this kind of form is tough for any player, but there are other great wide players in the Premier League and Arsenal will face them during the battle for the title.

To avoid their clear weakness being targeted, Arteta needs to find a solution — and fast.

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Best and worst performers

BEST

Eddie Nketiah, FW, Arsenal: He’s proving to be much more than merely a stand-in for the injured Gabriel Jesus. Great goal to equalise in the first-half and was in the right place at the right time to score the winner.

Lisandro Martinez, DF, Man United: Rejected a move to Arsenal to sign for United last summer and Erik ten Hag will be delighted with the Argentina defender’s performances. This was one of his best, with a goal too.

Bukayo Saka, FW, Arsenal: Scored an outstanding goal and then hit the post when trying to do the same again. United had no answer to the Arsenal winger.

WORST

Ben White, DF, Arsenal: The Arsenal right-back was turned inside and out by Rashford and lacked conviction in too many challenges. A real weak-link in the Gunners’ team.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, DF, Man United: Lost Nketiah at the far post for Arsenal’s equaliser and unreliable when he had possession. Like White with Arsenal, Wan Bissaka just wasn’t up to the job.

Antony, FW, Man United: Another game without any kind of positive impact by United’s £85 million summer signing. All left foot and not quick enough to go past his defender … what does he actually do?

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Highlights and notable moments

Rashford’s sparkling form must be noted, especially as he opened the scoring on Sunday with a brilliant, thundering effort from distance to beat Aaron Ramsdale.

“THAT IS A SMASHING GOAL FOR MANCHESTER UNITED!”#ARSMU | #MyPLMorning
📺 @nbc and @peacock pic.twitter.com/Aeae8s0ahI

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 22, 2023

However, after a brilliant back-and-forth game, up stepped Nketiah with the decisive moment in the 90th minute.

MADNESS!

Eddie Nketiah comes through in a MASSIVE way.

📺 @nbc and @peacock #ARSMU | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/NM1hhUvgF1

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 22, 2023

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After the match: What the players/managers said

“It was a great game with a lot of tempo and the audience is the big winner. Two top teams, but of course we are disappointed when you lose this game at a late stage. All the goals we conceded today are mistakes: it can’t happen. Even last week, we were so hard to beat in such situations. Today we were not. All three goals, we could have avoided.

“They are very good on the ball, but we are a good defending team. There were not a lot of open chances. We made mistakes which we cannot make. This game was decided by small details but also the decision making. That is hard to accept and we have to learn from it… I want to win. It is not good enough. We want to be the number one but not if we make mistakes. That is clear and what I told them.” — Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag speaking to BBC Sport

“Emotional, a lot of passion. It doesn’t get much better than that. The second half especially, the performance was incredible. We were composed and determined at the same time. We never panicked. We always believed that we could win it. We showed the right composure in the box a lot of times but the ball didn’t go in. Thankfully at the end it did.

“It’s great and we deserve where we are because of how we’re playing. But there are a lot of things that we can do much better.” — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports

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Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information research)

• Arsenal: Restores 5-point lead over Manchester City in Premier League standings; 63% chance to win Premier League per FiveThirtyEight’s Soccer Power Index

• Arsenal: 50 points through 19 PL games are the 5th most by a club at this stage of a Premier League season

• Arsenal: Extends PL unbeaten streak to 13 games (11-0-2 W-L-D), its longest Premier League unbeaten run since 14, from Aug.-Dec. 2018

• Eddie Nketiah: Seven goals in last seven appearances in all competitions after scoring two goals in his first 18 games this season

• Marcus Rashford: Nine goals in nine games in all competitions since the post-WC restart; that is more than he scored in 19 games pre-World Cup (8) for Manchester United this season; Rashford’s 9 post-restart goals in all competitions are the most among players in Europe’s top 5 leagues

• Bukayo Saka: Scored in 3 straight Premier League games vs. Man United, joins Arsenal legends Freddie Ljungberg (1998-2000) & Thierry Henry (2000-01) as the only Arsenal players to score in 3 straight PL apps vs Man United.

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Up next

Arsenal: It doesn’t get any easier for the Gunners after Sunday’s hard-fought win. First they face a trip to Manchester City on Friday for an FA Cup fourth-round clash, followed by struggling Everton away on Feb. 4 in the Premier League.

Manchester United: Thanks to United’s progress in the Carabao Cup, they face a busy fortnight of games in several competitions. After a Wednesday visit to Nottingham Forest (Carabao Cup semifinal, first leg), they host Reading (FA Cup, fourth round) on Jan. 28 before the return leg of their semifinal with Forest on Feb. 1. From there, just a couple of days’ rest before their next league clash, a home game vs. Crystal Palace, on Feb. 4. It’s exhausting to type, let alone play in.

But with a new university president and a reshuffled board of trustees, Manhattan envisions bigger things in basketball — as Iona did in hiring Pitino, and another league rival, St. Peter’s, did with its magical run to an N.C.A.A. tournament regional final last spring.

Masiello, whose contract ran through this season, was rebuffed when he sought an extension last year. He had not had a winning season since 2015, when the Jaspers advanced to the N.C.A.A. tournament for the second consecutive season.

“Look at the record,” said Marianne Reilly, the athletic director. “That’s all I’ll say.”

When Masiello was fired, he was not the only one who exited. Perez transferred to West Virginia, but the N.C.A.A. denied his request for a waiver to be eligible immediately. Also leaving were guard Omar Silverio, a transfer from Hofstra, who plans to play next season at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, according to his former youth coach, Cory Underwood, and forward Samba Diallo, a key reserve who remains at Manhattan working on a graduate degree.

Suddenly, a team with big dreams had been thrown into chaos.

Manhattan is 6-12, a record that includes a loss to Monmouth — the Hawks’ only win this season — and a 40-point shellacking at Providence, which was the Jaspers’ only scheduled television appearance this season. They are 4-5 in conference play and had won two in a row before the Iona loss and a 67-65 loss on Sunday at Rider. It was the Jaspers’ fifth loss by 3 or fewer points or in overtime.

Manhattan is a peculiar team. It is old, with nine seniors, but not necessarily experienced. And Stores, 31, a former captain who grew up in the Bronx, played on two N.C.A.A. tournament teams at Manhattan and then coached under Masiello, is the second-youngest head coach in Division I. Only Drew Valentine of Loyola Chicago is younger.

Whereas Pitino has the gravitas to throw his arms out to raise a grievance with the officials, Stores put his hands together when he spoke to a referee, as if he were asking for permission.

For much of Friday night, the Jaspers played messy basketball and seemed ill-equipped to hang with Iona, trailing early in the second half, 49-34. But James Jewell, a freshman wing from Louisville, Ky., who enrolled this semester and was playing in his fourth game, provided a spark with his tenacity.

If you went by the seedings, Sunday’s result was an upset. Rybakina is seeded 22nd, but that is misleading. She got no ranking points for winning Wimbledon because the tours stripped the tournament of points in retaliation for its decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players after the invasion of Ukraine.

Rybakina, born and raised in Russia before switching allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, was not affected by the ban, but without the 2,000 points normally allotted to the singles champion, she did not get a rankings boost for her victory.

With those points, she would be comfortably in the top 10 and would also have qualified for last year’s eight-player WTA Finals, where another mother lode of points was available.

Though she and her team appealed to the WTA to give her a wild card for the event based on her Wimbledon victory, the WTA did not grant the request.

“I think she deserved it,” Stefano Vukov, her coach, said on Sunday. “And people also don’t realize that players get big bonuses from their sponsors for finishing top five or top 10 that can add up to millions of dollars, so not getting the points from Wimbledon definitely cost her.”

Representing Kazakhstan makes it more challenging to market her globally than if she represented, say, a Grand Slam nation. For Vukov, that is a part of the reason she has received more Off Broadway court assignments than a typical first-time Wimbledon champion.

“Where you come from has a big impact on the respect you might get on tour,” he said. “Not to be prejudiced or negative about it, but it is what it is. The biggest markets we have are the U.S. and China. You might get more recognition if you are from the U.S. than maybe from Kazakhstan, which is totally understandable. In Kazakhstan, she gets huge recognition, but worldwide, internationally, it does affect things.”

South Carolina already has their 2024 quarterback in Dante Reno and now the Gamecocks know who will be protecting his blindside. Rivals250 offensive tackle Kam Pringle has announced his commitment to South Carolina and head coach Shane Beamer.

The Dorchester (S.C.) Woodland star explained to Rivals.com why he decided to choose the in-state program over Clemson, Florida, Georgia, N.C. State, and Tennessee.

“They’re maybe 40 minutes away from my front door,” Pringle said. “I can go in there and play early. My mom grew up a huge South Carolina fan and today is her birthday. I feel like coach Beamer, coach Teasley, coach Adkins and everybody have what it takes to develop me for the highest level.

“They’ve been so consistent with me,” he said. “I feel like every time I went up there it was completely natural. Everybody stayed the same each time from when they first started talking to me to today. They just always kept it real and stayed true.

“I think they’re doing a phenomenal job recruiting,” said Pringle. “I feel like they’re some of the best recruiting coaches in the country. They do a really good job and I feel like the best players in the state should come there. They do a really good job recruiting. I feel like Clemson did a good job recruiting me. They came after me hard but it doesn’t even compare to South Carolina. That just tells you how invested they are in the in-state kids and how invested they are to turn around the program. It was probably Florida in second for me and then Clemson.

“Dante (Reno) texts me everyday,” he said. “It’s been like that since the first day I met him. He was even hitting me up before we met. He’s just as good as one of the coaches.

“I can promise you that I’ll get Josiah Thompson, Blake Franks, and Mazeo Bennett to commit,” Pringle said. “That’s just the start with in-state guys. I’m also going to try to get Eddy Pierre-Louis from Florida. I’m going to try to flip Tavoy Feagin from Clemson too.”

With the addition of Pringle, the Gamecocks have addressed one of their top priorities for the 2024 recruiting cycle. He’s already one of the best offensive line prospects in the 2024 class and there is plenty of room for him to improve. Pringle has some elite athletic traits. He brings impressive mobility to the table for a player that last measured in at 6-foot-7, 328-pounds. Pringle slimmed down a bit this season so he is probably closer to 315-pounds right now. He is a very good run blocker, who can move defensive linemen off the line of scrimmage and land key blocks at the second and third levels of the defense. As a pass blocker, Pringle has shown flashes of dominance but consistency will be key as he progresses into his senior season and his college career.

Edwards, who is 6 feet 3 inches, has taken on a bigger leadership role while averaging close to a double-double with 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds. Against Butler, she had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

She said that the players had become somewhat “numb” to all the injuries in the program but that the healthy players felt “a bit of extra motivation for those who can’t play.”

It seems like everyone is pitching in. Lou Lopez Sénéchal, a Fairfield transfer from France, has averaged 16.7 points and made 47 3-pointers, and forward Dorka Juhasz, a graduate student from Hungary, has contributed 14.5 points and 11 rebounds a game.

The redshirt junior forward Aubrey Griffin, an Ossining, N.Y., native whose father, Adrian, is an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors and whose younger brother, A.J., is a rookie with the Atlanta Hawks, has put up 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Aubrey Griffin knows about injuries, having missed all of last season with a back problem.

“I wanted to come back and do everything I could possible to help my teammates, and the position we were in, I knew I could go out there and help them,” she said.

Anthony Bozzella, the Seton Hall coach whose team absorbed a 103-58 beating from Connecticut on Tuesday, and who faces Auriemma at least twice a year in league play, said Auriemma had elevated already talented players.

“I’ve always said this,” Bozzella said in a phone interview. “He’s not the best coach ever because he’s got the best players. He’s the best coach because he’s developed the best players. His players get better.”

What were the biggest moments from the first UFC pay-per-view of 2023? Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim offer up their final thoughts after the 15-fight card in Brazil.

Jamahal Hill walked out of the Octagon as the new UFC light heavyweight champion — and with his head held high, thanks to his opponent in Saturday’s main event of UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro.

It was an entirely different scene from what had unfolded minutes earlier. In the co-main event, Brandon Moreno had reclaimed the flyweight belt but had to then cover his head on his way to the dressing room, as the Mexican fighter was pelted by debris showered down upon him by “fans” at Jeunesse Arena. Moreno’s offense? He had dethroned Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo by third-round TKO following a doctor’s stoppage.

That classless display was unacceptable to the Brazilian fighter who was defeated in the main event. After taking a beating from American fighter Hill for five rounds, a bruised-up Glover Teixeira had two things to say to the crowd.

First, he announced his retirement at age 43, a little over a year after becoming the oldest first-time champion in UFC history. “It’s an honor to retire on the same night as ‘Shogun’ Rua,” he said.

Teixeira’s second message for the crowd was delivered in Portuguese: He said he was going to walk out of the cage with the new champ.

“You guys, I saw you were throwing popcorn and drinks at the last champion,” Teixeira said, his arm slung around Hill’s shoulders. “I want you to respect him. He’s going to walk back with me. He’s the champion.”

Pure class in a sport that desperately needs it. MMA will miss Teixeira.

But this was Hill’s night. He is now at the top of the heap among 205-pounders, and while his performance was masterful on this night, it’s fair to wonder whether he is the king or a placeholder. The title belt has been a hot potato of late.

Jiří Procházka vacated the championship in December because of a shoulder injury that forced him out of a scheduled defense against Teixeira. Then Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev tussled for the belt — and fought to a draw, leaving the top of the mountain unoccupied.

Now the 31-year-old Hill resides there. Will he settle in as a homeowner or is it a short-term rental? If he fights as he did on Saturday, Hill has a chance to stick around. But there’s a long line of qualified challengers waiting to move in on him. — Wagenheim

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The flyweight rivalry is finally over

There’s no controversy here. Brandon Moreno is the legitimate, undisputed UFC flyweight champion. The damage done to Deiveson Figueiredo, which ended up finishing the fight due to doctor’s stoppage, came from a Moreno left hook. Figueiredo might have left like it was a finger, but as soon as he watches the replay, he’ll see it was from a closed fist that just landed in a perfect — or not so perfect, for the Brazilian fighter — place on the eye.

After four fights, Moreno has proved himself the best flyweight fighter in the world. Some could argue there’s still a bit of unfinished business between him and Figueiredo, but Figueiredo said in his postfight interview that he is moving up to bantamweight. So this four-fight series is over, and it was a damn good tetralogy, the first of its kind in UFC history. The initial fight in 2020, a draw, was one of the best of that year. In the second bout, Moreno became the first-ever Mexican-born UFC champion. The trilogy, almost exactly one year ago, was razor close, but Figueiredo edged it out to get revenge. And now, Moreno has gone up 2-1-1 over his rival, someone Moreno will always be tied to as his career wears on.

There is more to come for Moreno, though. He is just 29 years old. It looked like he worked well with coach Sayif Saud, whom Moreno teamed up with after upheaval in his training camp following his coach James Krause getting suspended due to a betting scandal. Alexandre Pantoja is probably next in line, and he already owns two wins over Moreno.

The Figueiredo series will be a chapter in Moreno’s book, but it won’t be the only chapter. Moreno is now a two-time champion — the second ever in the division, after Figueiredo — and has a chance to continue to carve out a legacy in the 125-pound division.

Moreno also is primed to headline a big event in Mexico this year, if the UFC chooses to make that happen. It could be a tremendous year for Mexican MMA, with Alexa Grasso getting a UFC women’s flyweight title shot against Valentina Shevchenko, and Yair Rodriguez fighting for the interim featherweight belt next month against Josh Emmett. Moreno, though, is still the man leading the way for the sport south of the border. The UFC is set to open a Performance Institute in the country over the next two years or so, further cementing Mexico as an area in which the promotion sees growth potential. Moreno’s rise to stardom is one of the reasons, and that rise will only continue after Saturday. — Raimondi

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Who’s next for Figueiredo, new champs and more

Brett Okamoto highlights who the top stars from UFC 283 could face next after Saturday’s festivities.

Deiveson Figueiredo, bantamweight

Who should be next: Umar Nurmagomedov

I love the move to 135 pounds, and most of us saw it coming. Figueiredo is huge for 125. Now, he’ll be at a far more comfortable weight, and there’s a good chance his power will translate.

Bantamweight is already a loaded division, so adding Figueiredo puts it over the top in terms of great matchups. I like the Nurmagomedov idea right away. Many bantamweights don’t want to fight Nurmagomedov right now because he isn’t as well-known, but his skills are legit. If Figueiredo were to face him, it could legitimize him as a true bantamweight in one fight. At the same time, it also could be an opportunity to get Nurmagomedov in front of a lot of eyes with an opponent who is a former champ.

Wild card: Winner of Adrian Yanez vs. Rob Font on April 8

Especially if Yanez wins, the UFC will be looking to give him a big opportunity. He is an up-and-comer who would crack into the top 10 for the first time with a win. The same goes for Font, as he is a fun fighter who has competed with the best. Stylistically, either one would offer a dynamite fight.

I still like Nurmagomedov as the No. 1 option because it represents plenty of upside for both parties, but this is a close second.

Brandon Moreno, men’s flyweight champion

Who should be next: Alexandre Pantoja

Pantoja is the next man up, as the Brazilian fighter has won three in a row. He has never fought for the belt, but he has always been in the conversation. He is 9-3 in the UFC and holds several signature wins. One of those wins, by the way, is over Moreno from 2018. He also beat Moreno when the two were contestants on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016.

Wild card: Matheus Nicolau

If, for some reason, Pantoja were unavailable, Nicolau is a fun option. The 30-year-old is firing on all cylinders and competing with confidence. He is a marketable contender on a six-fight win streak. This also would be an entertaining fight stylistically, as both of these guys possess technical boxing skills.

Jamahal Hill, light heavyweight champion

Who should be next: Magomed Ankalaev

I’m not sure how popular this suggestion is going to be, but I was one of those who felt Ankalaev got somewhat robbed in his title fight against Jan Blachowicz. In my eyes, Ankalaev has a bit of a claim to the title, and I feel he deserves a shot. I also believe if this fight were made, Ankalaev would be favored to win going in.

Ankalaev is a dangerous fight for anyone, as is Hill. This is a fight that could end at any moment, and it’s one where some might doubt the new champ. Beating Ankalaev would be a great way for Hill to further assert himself as the man at 205.

Wild card: Jiří Procházka

The former champ is the one who deserves a shot the most, as he never lost his title. The only reason I have him as the wild card instead of the next opponent is that I don’t think he will be ready in the near future. Prochazka is doing everything he can to be ready as soon as possible, but the UFC isn’t going to wait. It’s already been seen that the company is moving this division forward.

I expect there to be at least one more title fight in his absence, but if Prochazka does arrive healthy ahead of schedule, this is his fight.

Gilbert Burns, welterweight

Who should be next: Jorge Masvidal

This is an easy, easy call. The UFC wants this fight, and it even looked into making it last year. Burns and Masvidal have gone back and forth on social media, and Masvidal offered, at one point, to fight Burns in March.

If it happens, this is a heck of a fan-friendly fight, and it makes perfect sense in the rankings. Burns is still hunting a title, despite going into Saturday’s fight on a 1-2 mini-skid. Masvidal has lost three in a row, but he has history with the current champ, Leon Edwards, and a win over Burns would be a massive boost for Masvidal’s title aspirations.

It’s a fight with a story, and stylistically it’s 10/10. I believe we’ll get this fight.

Wild card: Colby Covington

Covington has been quiet since he beat Masvidal in March. Covington remains in the title conversation, as well, but I believe he’ll need to take one more fight before he gets a shot. This one would make a lot of sense.

Belal Muhammad also would make sense for Covington, but if Masvidal isn’t available as an opponent for Burns, I could see the UFC turning its attention to this matchup. It would be well-received by fans — and Burns. He called Covington out after the fight.

Jessica Andrade, strawweight/flyweight

Who should be next: Carla Esparza

Consider: 216 … to 85. That was the strike differential from Andrade’s win over Lauren Murphy. Fights like this can happen when you’ve got a contender like Andrade who happens to be a 1B to the 1A champions of Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili. There is a pretty clear gap between Andrade and the other contenders, but she has come up short in big fights against Zhang, Shevchenko and Rose Namajunas.

Andrade vs. Esparza would be a fight similar to the one we saw on Saturday. Esparza is higher ranked, but Andrade would be a significant betting favorite. I think the UFC should go ahead and do this fight, in which a win would potentially set up Andrade with a title shot. Plus, these two have never fought.

Wild card: Manon Fiorot

Shevchenko’s next title fight is already being finalized against Alexa Grasso. Fiorot has a lot of momentum and a fun style. I wouldn’t be surprised if the UFC didn’t want this fight, as it might burn Fiorot as a potential title challenger against someone who already has lost to the current champ.

But if Andrade wants to fight at 125 pounds, this is the fight that makes sense, and it would be a super intriguing one.

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After 21 years, we say goodbye to Shogun

Raimondi: MMA is not a nostalgia sport. It could be because it hasn’t been around long as compared to the others. The UFC is attracting new fans every year, especially since the pandemic, after which the sport and the promotion have grown quite a bit. The UFC only occasionally caters to the fans who have been around a long time because it’s constantly chasing the new hype train and, of course, pay-per-view buys. It’s been like that since the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

And that’s fine. That’s business. The UFC is doing it pretty damn well.

But for anyone somewhat new to the sport, even someone who started watching within the past 10 years, if there’s one person you might want to go back and research, it’s Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Some of his accolades have been lost to time.

Rua is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and one of the best 205-pound fighters of all time. But to appreciate just how good Shogun was, you’ll have to go back to the aughts, to Pride. The man was an absolute menace, a buzz saw of punches, elbows, knees, and soccer kicks. He was violent — the man has more than one TKO via stomps — but not just violent. His striking out of Brazil’s famed Chute Boxe was ahead of his time. Cue up UFC Fight Pass and check out Rua’s work in the 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix, during which he beat Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alistair Overeem in the span of four months. He stopped Rampage with soccer kicks and Overeem with punches. Incredible.

Shogun fought his final bout on Saturday at the age of 41, a loss to Ihor Potieria. After 21 years in the sport, including 16 with the UFC, the Brazilian fighter isn’t the same guy he was. And in the UFC, he was very good, beating Lyoto Machida to win the light heavyweight title in 2010. But to better understand the sport and one of its innovators of violence, it’s best to fire up those grainy, standard-definition videos from Japan that might or might not be in letterbox format. That’s where you’ll get the truest sense of who Shogun was and what he meant to mixed martial arts.

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Bonfim brothers put the UFC on notice

Wagenheim: Pressure was on the Bonfim brothers in multiple ways at UFC 283. Gabriel, 25, and Ismael, 27, were each making a UFC debut, which in itself is a challenge that can be packed with nerves. Compound that with the fact that they were both doing it on the same fight card, which, even for training partners, is a circumstance fraught with extra emotions. So imagine how it was for these Brazilian siblings jointly going after this milestone on a fight card held in their homeland.

But they handled all of this like seasoned veterans, without losing any of the edge an athlete carries into an opportunity to step up. After Ismael controlled every second of his lightweight bout against Terrance McKinney — no easy first Octagon foe — and finished the fight sensationally with a flying knee knockout, Gabriel had a lot to live up to. For one thing, Gabriel walked into the cage with an undefeated record. And less than a minute after his welterweight bout with Mounir Lazzez began, Gabriel walked out with his perfect record still intact following an explosive submission win.

Their performances could not have gone any better for the duo. Whether they live up to the lofty goal Gabriel spoke of following his win — “The Bonfim brothers are here to become champions — one at lightweight, one at welterweight” — is a matter for another time. (But I’m not doubting them.) At this point, the MMA world stands in awe of these brothers and how they bashed down the Octagon door on a night to remember in Rio de Janeiro.

Former Arkansas and NFL running back Peyton Hillis has been discharged from the hospital two weeks after he reportedly rescued family members during a swimming accident, according to a social media post by his girlfriend.

Hillis’ girlfriend, Angela Cole, posted a photo Friday on Instagram of Hillis with the medical team that cared for him at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

“The amount of love and gratitude I have for the incredible team that took care of Peyton is indescribable,” she wrote. “You all worked like a perfected machine with each and every one of you so kind, attentive, calming and caring.”

Hillis had been hospitalized since he reportedly aided in a water rescue Jan. 4 off the coast of Pensacola that involved at least one family member.

According to Escambia County emergency services, four people — two adults and two children — were struggling in the water when a bystander helped them get out.

Paramedics arrived on the scene, and two adults went to the hospital, including one who was taken by helicopter. Officials would not identify who was involved.

According to Cole, Hillis was on a ventilator in intensive care before being taken off it last week.

Hillis played for four NFL teams, most notably the Cleveland Browns, with whom he ran for 1,177 yards in the 2010 season and 587 in 2011.

He finished his career in 2014 with the New York Giants and also played for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.