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Some consider Jon Jones MMA’s GOAT, but his legacy continues to be tainted by issues away from the Octagon.
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Nick Kyrgios Is Coming for Tennis
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MELBOURNE, Australia — Nick Kyrgios is finally home.
He is in Australia, with his people and in the place he longs for during all those homesick months living out of a suitcase on the professional tennis road.
For months, he soaked up the sun and trained in Sydney. But he also squeezed in a bit of time, though never enough for his liking, on the black couch in his childhood home in Canberra, Australia’s quiet, rural capital, telling his mother how safe he feels while she drinks tea a few feet away in the kitchen. He could sleep in his old room, where his cherished collection of colorful basketball shoes lines the shelves. That is next to the room with hundreds of his trophies and plaques and dozens of his smashed rackets. His pet macaw is in an aviary out back. Mornings bring brisk, 12-kilometer walks with his father, his golden retriever King and his miniature Dachshund Quincy, up nearby Mount Majura.
He hit balls, and lifted weights, goofed around with and gave endless swag to the children at the tennis center in Lyneham where he got his start. Like many in Australia — and lots of other places these days — they worship their local folk hero, no matter how boorish and aggressive he can be in the heat of competition, or when a live microphone appears at his chin. Or maybe that’s why they do.
Now though, everything is suddenly different.
Last year, Kyrgios evolved from a temperamental talent with so much unrealized potential into the kind of transcendent showman that this supposedly genteel sport offers up every so often — the gifted bad boy who drives the tennis establishment mad but enthralls crowds in the late stages of the most important championships.
Whether the tennis establishment likes it or not, no one in the sport fills a stadium like Kyrgios these days. Even his doubles matches have become raucous, packed affairs. And as the Australian Open gets underway, Kyrgios is among the favorites to challenge the nine-time champion Novak Djokovic for his home slam, which may be the ultimate double-edged sword. That level of pressure and expectation has been kryptonite for Kyrgios before, his self-destructive psyche exploding at a crucial moment, producing his unique brand of irresistible tennis theater.
“It’s going to be a hard couple weeks, regardless of whether I win or lose, emotionally, mentally,” Kyrgios said in a pre-Christmas interview from his parents’ home. “I’m one of the players that has a scope lens on him all the time. Big target on my back.”
With all his recent success and notoriety, so much suddenly appears to be riding on Kyrgios. The game’s leaders see him as the rare player who can reach a new and younger audience. Fans raise their beers and bump chests as Kyrgios wins points with his signature trick shots through the legs and behind the back. They wear basketball jerseys when they watch him and when they play, just as he does, and they turn his matches, even the doubles contests, into something like a rowdy night at a U.F.C. bout.
“He brings something different,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, a former pro who is now the chairman of the A.T.P. Tour, which is the men’s professional circuit.
Ken Solomon, chairman and chief executive of the Tennis Channel, the sport’s leading media partner, called Kyrgios “ground zero” in efforts to attract fans who have never touched a racket and perhaps never will. On Friday, Netflix released “Break Point,” its documentary series on pro tennis that the sport hopes will do for it what “Drive to Survive” did for Formula 1. The premiere episode focused almost exclusively on Kyrgios, who took a signature victory lap on Twitter.
Tennis Australia announced last week that Kyrgios would play Djokovic in a charity exhibition Friday evening. Tickets sold out in 58 minutes.
Three hours before the match, he hobnobbed with the top clients of a luxury hotel chain during a promotional table tennis game. Before the event started, he sat alone in a quiet hallway, feeling the pressure of what lay ahead. Moments later, holding a racket in a packed rooftop bar, the bright eyes and big smile of the star entertainer emerged.
Leaning on Kyrgios as a pitchman for the game also carries plenty of risk. What makes him so irresistible, that at any time he might produce another can’t-miss moment on the court, has at times made him a walking grenade. And he’s the one with a finger on the pin.
There is also the allegation of domestic violence.
In early February, Kyrgios is due in court in Canberra to face a charge of common assault stemming from an altercation with an ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, in December 2021. Kyrgios has declined to discuss the matter since it became public during his run to the Wimbledon final in July.
Common assault is the least serious assault charge in Australia, but it implies that the victim experienced immediate, unlawful violence, or the threat of it, though not bodily injury. Kyrgios’s lawyers have said they will mount a defense focused on mental illness, citing his history of depression and substance abuse, struggles Kyrgios has said will always be with him but that he now has under control. If the court accepts this defense and dismisses the case, it could then decide to impose a treatment plan. The maximum penalty for common assault is two years’ imprisonment.
The incident occurred during the first weeks of Kyrgios’s relationship with his now constant companion, Costeen Hatzi, whom he met online. He had also just recommitted himself fully to tennis after years of ambivalence and mental turmoil. The sport had brought riches and fame but also loneliness, with its endless travel and solitary battles on the court, which tortured his psyche.
The withering criticism and racist attacks he endured when he lost matches he was expected to win, or broke rackets and berated tennis officials, triggered memories of those years before a growth spurt at 17 turned him into a strapping, 6-foot-4 elite athlete. As an overweight boy with dark skin and modest means in an overwhelmingly white country where everyone seemed to have more, he was mocked and bullied, despite his talent for tennis, or maybe because of it.
Goran Ivanisevic, the Wimbledon champion who coaches Djokovic, has called Kyrgios a “tennis genius.” Kyrgios’s father, Giorgos, first noticed that skill when Kyrgios was a toddler hitting a ball hanging on a string from a metal pole. He never missed. Soon Kyrgios was learning the sport on dilapidated courts near his parents’ home in Canberra. His father, a house painter from Greece, would hit a bucket of balls with him after work.
“Still wears the same overalls he walked off the boat in,” Kyrgios said of his father, who still paints houses. “He must have been exhausted.”
His mother, Norlaila, who is from Malaysia and worked as a software engineer for health care organizations, would drive for hours to get him and his brother to tournaments. They stayed at backpacker hostels and tried to stretch $20 to cover dinner for him and his siblings at cheap Indian restaurants in the countryside.
His parents knew next to nothing about tennis. Tennis Australia and the tennis authority for his provincial region worked to fill in the gaps, and Kyrgios notched his breakthrough win at 19, when he upset Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014.
It nearly ruined him. After that win and all the expectations it produced, Kyrgios thought he had to solve every problem on his own. When he couldn’t, he lashed out, at tennis officials, the media and the people around him.
Then, last fall, after a year in which he flirted with quitting but also showed flickers of his magical game, Kyrgios began to realize he didn’t have to do it all alone. He could talk about his fears and insecurities and the fragility of his mind to the people closest to him, and they could help.
“Knowing that I am not alone anymore and I can kind of open up and talk to people, now that’s a big one for me,” he said. “It’s OK to, you know, feel like having to cry some days.”
He also decided he was tired of letting himself and others down. Before last year’s Australian Open, he embarked on the kind of solid six-week training block he had not done in years. He played with top opponents for 90 minutes each day and hit the weight room. He spent two hours several times a week playing full-court basketball, his true love, with top Australian players to hone his conditioning.
Asked for a scouting report on his hoops game, he put it like this:
“Loves shooting mid-rangers.” “Can shoot a three-ball pretty good.” “Play like a wing.” “In the corner.” “Come off picks.” “Pretty versatile.” “Can guard a big.” “Pretty physical.” “Like Tobias Harris in his prime.”
He also ate better, and he focused on getting more rest instead of more drinks.
By the end of January, with Thanasi Kokkinakis, his countryman and childhood friend, he had won the doubles title for his first Grand Slam championship. Then he mostly stuck to the healthier living through Wimbledon, where he once had to be dragged from a pub at 4 a.m. on the morning of a match. Not this time, though his sublime tennis did come with multiple confrontations with chair umpires and a tense verbal-sparring match with Stefanos Tsitsipas, during which Tsitsipas tried to hit Kyrgios with a ball.
He fell to Djokovic in the final in four sets, but he remained disciplined through the U.S. Open. There, he obliterated the top seed and defending champion, Daniil Medvedev, in the fourth round before suffering an upset loss to Karen Khachanov of Russia in the quarterfinals. Exhausted from the season and from playing mostly at night so broadcasters could maximize the television audience, he caught the first flight home and played just one more singles tournament.
Kyrgios will play Roman Safiullin, an unheralded Russian, in the first round Tuesday.
What happens now?
Tennis, like few other sports, is an M.R.I. of the soul. Kyrgios knows he will never pursue the game with the clinical efficiency and emotional discipline that Nadal and Djokovic have showcased for so long. He is going to throw and break rackets. It’s a manifestation of how much he cares, he said, and for him to thrive, tennis has to be about who he is, someone who plays with emotion, instinct and improvisation, like a jazz solo rather than a symphony.
If he can do that, maybe he can find peace on the court, even when the pressure brings the stress of a near-explosion that keeps his mother, too worried about what will happen, from being able to watch.
“Not many people can say that they have become a Slam threat, they are going to have the support of the nation, well, the support of some of the nation behind him,” he said. “Just got to try to enjoy it.”
For Kyrgios, that has always been the toughest task of all.
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Matthew Futterman
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Chargers blow 27-point lead, Jaguars advance in AFC playoffs
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Michael DiRocco
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Lindsey Thiry
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Lindsey Thiry
ESPN
- Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
- Previously covered the Falcons
- Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite building a 27-0 first-half lead, the Los Angeles Chargers saw their postseason disintegrate in the second half as the Jacksonville Jaguars stormed back for a 31-30 victory Saturday night.
It was the third-largest comeback in playoff history. The Jaguars now advance to the AFC divisional round after their first playoff win since 2017.
Jacksonville Jaguars
There are plenty of ways to describe the Jaguars’ performance in their wild-card win over the Chargers at TIAA Bank Field, but ridiculous pretty much covers it.
What other way to describe Trevor Lawrence throwing four interceptions in the first half — including three in the first quarter — and then the Jaguars rallying from a 27-0 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Riley Patterson‘s last-second 36-yard field goal?
Nothing summed up just how poorly the Jaguars played in the first half more than a punt bouncing off Chris Claybrooks‘ helmet that the Chargers recovered and turned into a field goal and a 27-0 lead with five minutes remaining. Indeed, nothing went right for the Jaguars in the first 30 minutes.
That was Jacksonville’s fifth turnover of the half, and it seemingly put the team into too big of a hole to overcome, though the Jaguars made a surge in the second half to cut the Chargers’ lead to two points with 5:25 to play.
The last time a team turned the ball over five times in the first half of a playoff game was in the 1999 divisional playoffs — the Miami Dolphins did it against the Jaguars on this same field. The Jaguars won that game 62-7 and sent Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino into retirement.
The Chargers, meanwhile, rolled up 180 yards and Justin Herbert completed 15 of 24 passes for 139 yards in the first half. They got a short field on two of Lawrence’s four interceptions, and the Jaguars managed to pressure Herbert on only four of his dropbacks.
Now the Jaguars, who have won seven games in a row, will await the outcome of the Sunday games to find out if they’re headed to Kansas City.
QB breakdown: Lawrence played the worst half of football of his NFL or college career in the first half. His first pass was intercepted and he would go on to throw three more in the half, which made him the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw four interceptions in the first half of a playoff game (Gary Danielson and Craig Morton were the others). Lawrence became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw three interceptions in the first quarter of a playoff game, and at points in the first half had passer ratings of 0.0 and 0.6.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Jaguars should have been able to attack the Chargers’ defense on the perimeter in the run game with running back Travis Etienne Jr., who averaged an NFL-best 8.3 yards per carry outside the tackles; Los Angeles allowed 9.3 yards per carry on such runs, ranking last in the league. But that went out the window with the big deficit, though the Jaguars did try to run the ball between the tackles occasionally in the second half while going to the hurry-up offense.
Los Angeles Chargers
Ahead of the Chargers’ first playoff appearance in four years, questions swirled about the job security of second-year coach Brandon Staley.
Those questions likely won’t be disappearing after a total meltdown against the Jaguars.
L.A. got off to a promising start, with cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. grabbing three of four interceptions Lawrence threw in the first half and running back Austin Ekeler converting two of those takeaways into touchdowns, quickly silencing an amped-up TIAA Bank Field crowd and enabling the Chargers to take a 27-7 lead into halftime.
But, behind Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson, the fourth-seeded Jaguars adjusted coming out of the break and went on a 24-3 scoring run, sending the fifth-seeded Bolts into the offseason, where many questions — about Staley, 10th-year general manager Tom Telesco and the direction of the franchise — await.
Two halves: The Chargers went on a 27-0 run in the first half, powered by five turnovers — including four interceptions and the recovery of a muffed punt. But the Jaguars responded with a run of their own, scoring a touchdown to close out the first half and then adding 24 more points for a historic comeback.
QB breakdown: After warmups, the 24-year-old Herbert jogged off the field and pumped his fist toward screaming Chargers fans, giving every indication he was ready to make his first NFL postseason start. Herbert, without star wide receiver Mike Williams, who was ruled out Friday because of a small nonsurgical fracture in his back, played a nearly flawless first half. He led five scoring drives to convert each takeaway.
In the second half, Herbert — without Williams and then also DeAndre Carter, who left the game because of an ankle injury — was unable to develop a consistent rhythm.
He finished 25-of-43 for 273 yards and one touchdown.
Stat that matters: The Chargers held a lead on every offensive play in the second half and lost.
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Brock Purdy, 49ers find rhythm in second half as Seahawks falter
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After a tight first half, the San Francisco 49ers scored 25 unanswered points to open the second half, pulling away to a 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. The NFC wild-card win was the 11th in a row for the 49ers, who will face an opponent to be determined in next weekend’s divisional round.
San Francisco 49ers
As the lowest-drafted rookie quarterback to start a playoff game, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy appeared to show some understandable nerves for the first time in his young career.
Purdy started Saturday’s wild-card matchup against Seattle with some missed throws and late reads on plays he’s made look routine over the past month. But, once again, Purdy didn’t flinch when faced with adversity.
With Purdy settling in and his playmakers gaining plenty of yards after the catch, the Niners rolled into next week’s NFC divisional round. They’ll host the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys or Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium.
Whatever was affecting Purdy early vanished with a quick stop in the locker room at halftime. He was nearly perfect in the final two quarters, going 9-of-11 for 185 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
Purdy finished 18-of-30 for 332 yards with four total touchdowns. In the process, he became the third rookie quarterback to throw for three scores in a playoff game and threw for multiple touchdowns in a game for the seventh consecutive time, tying him with Justin Herbert for the longest streak by a rookie quarterback since 1950.
The biggest question facing these Niners as the postseason began was how Purdy would react when the lights burn brightest. Just as he has with every test thrown his way so far, Purdy passed with flying colors.
Pivotal play: The Seahawks trailed by only six with 2 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third quarter and had the ball at San Francisco’s 19-yard line, threatening to take back the lead.
But when Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith dropped back to throw, he got immediate pressure from Niners defensive lineman Charles Omenihu off the right side. As Smith stepped up, Omenihu swiped the ball away.
An alert Nick Bosa pounced on the fumble for the game’s first takeaway, and the Niners promptly drove for a touchdown that essentially put the game away.
The takeaway not only swung points in San Francisco’s favor, but the 49ers also did not have any giveaways. The Niners are now 14-0 this season in games in which they commit one or zero turnovers.
Eye-popping NextGen stat: For the first time this season, Niners running back Christian McCaffrey did not get a touch on the first drive of a game. But he made his first attempt count on the second possession, racing 68 yards off the left side for the third-longest rush of his career.
On the run, McCaffrey hit a top speed of 20.8 mph, his fastest speed as a ball carrier since Week 8 of 2019.
— Wagoner
Seattle Seahawks
So much for the Seahawks getting Purdy to buckle under the pressure of his first playoff start. So much for the inclement weather that might have been an equalizer for Seattle by slowing down the 49ers and their run-after-the-catch playmakers. And so much for that silly notion that it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.
The 49ers made it look easy in the second half as they turned a one-point halftime deficit into a blowout victory in which they showed — again — the big gap that exists between them and the Seahawks. San Francisco has outscored Seattle 89-43 in three games this season.
As ugly as it got for the Seahawks over the final two quarters, perspective is important. They weren’t supposed to be at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, hanging tough with the No. 2 seed in the NFC and even carrying a 17-16 lead into halftime over a team that had won 10 straight games. They weren’t even supposed to be in the playoffs in the first place after trading quarterback Russell Wilson, cutting linebacker Bobby Wagner and committing to playing a bunch of young players on both sides of the ball.
The arrow is pointing up for the Seahawks, even with Smith unsigned beyond this season and a defense that needs a lot of work up front. They’ve got a promising young core and a boatload of 2023 draft capital, including the fifth overall pick via the Wilson trade. But the 49ers just sent them into the offseason with another reminder that the Seahawks will need to take a big step forward before they can catch back up to the new bully on the NFC West block.
Troubling trend: Most of the Seahawks’ defensive issues this season stemmed from their overmatched front seven, but their tackling was poor at all three levels. That was a big reason they ranked 31st during the regular season in yards allowed after the catch per reception. That made for a tough matchup against a 49ers offense that has led the NFL in YAC for the past six seasons, and it went about as poorly for Seattle as you’d expect. Deebo Samuel‘s 74-yard, game-sealing touchdown catch was the most glaring example of Seattle’s bad tackling. The 49ers finished the game with 181 yards after the catch, their third most in a game this season.
QB breakdown: Smith delivered the type of up-and-down performance that typified his play over the closing stretch of the regular season. He threw a thing-of-beauty deep ball to DK Metcalf in the second quarter for a 50-yard touchdown that gave Seattle a lead. He completed 71.4% of his passes, right around his franchise-record season average. But he committed another costly turnover via a lost fumble that ruined a potential third-quarter scoring drive. He threw an interception in the fourth quarter, but Seattle was in desperation mode by then. Smith finished 25-of-35 for 253 yards and two touchdown passes, both to Metcalf.
Pivotal play: Late in the third quarter, the Seahawks were driving for what might have been the go-ahead touchdown or at least a field goal to cut the 49ers’ lead to three points. But their 12-play drive ended when Smith was stripped while trying to step up in the pocket on third down. The 49ers then took a 14-point lead on their next possession. Seattle’s pass protection had held up well against an excellent San Francisco front four until the strip-sack of Smith. It was only the 49ers’ fifth pressure of the game on 22 Seattle dropbacks (23%), according to ESPN Stats & Information research. They pressured the Seahawks on 38% of their dropbacks in the regular season.
— Henderson
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Brock Purdy stars as San Francisco 49ers beat Seattle Seahawks 41-23 to advance to divisional round of NFL playoffs
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The NFL playoffs and continue on Sky Sports on Sunday with a triple-header of Super Wild Card Weekend action – starting with Dolphins @ Bills, followed by Giants @ Vikings and Ravens @ Bengals; watch live on Sky Sports NFL from 6pm, Sunday
Last Updated: 15/01/23 3:07am
Brock Purdy threw for three touchdowns and ran in another as he starred on his first career playoff start, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks to start Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday.
Story of the Game
The 49ers – the NFC’s No 2 seed and riding a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs – trailed by a point at half-time as a stubborn Seattle outfit led 17-16 at the break. But a stirring second half showing by San Francisco, in which they scored 22 points in the space of 12 minutes at one point, secured their passage through to the divisional round.
The 49ers will now host the Minnesota Vikings next weekend, should they beat the New York Giants in their wild card clash on Sunday. If the Giants win, it will instead be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Dallas Cowboys who travel to San Francisco.
A look at San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s best plays from his stunning NFL playoff debut A look at San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s best plays from his stunning NFL playoff debut
Purdy, who was taken with the very last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, completed 18 of 30 passes for 332 yards, the rookie QB overcoming some early jitters to put in a hugely accomplished display.
Christian McCaffrey rushed 15 times for 119 yards and had a touchdown grab to see San Francisco into an early 10-0 lead, while Deebo Samuel had six receptions for 133 yards and a blistering 74-yard catch and run for a score as the Niners streaked clear of the Seahawks in the second half.
San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga said his team’s performance was ignited after tempers flared when Johnathan Abram appeared to twist Deebo Samuel’s ankle. San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga said his team’s performance was ignited after tempers flared when Johnathan Abram appeared to twist Deebo Samuel’s ankle.
Seattle QB Geno Smith was 25-of-35 passing for 253 yards with two touchdowns, both to DK Metcalf – one a 50-yard stunner to see the Seahawks into the lead for the first time. But he also had an interception late in the second half, while he lost a fumble in the third quarter which is the point at which the game turned.
Metcalf had 10 catches for 136 yards and those two TDs, while rookie running back Kenneth Walker also found the end zone, in the second quarter, as he earned 63 yards on 15 carries.
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER Seahawks 0-3 49ers Robbie Gould 34-yard field goal Seahawks 0-10 49ers Brock Purdy three-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey (extra point) SECOND QUARTER Seahawks 7-10 49ers Kenneth Walker seven-yard TD run (extra point) Seahawks 7-13 49ers Robbie Gould 33-yard field goal Seahawks 14-13 49ers Geno Smith 50-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf (extra point) Seahawks 14-16 49ers Robbie Gould 46-yard field goal Seahawks 17-16 49ers Jason Myers 56-yard field goal THIRD QUARTER Seahawks 17-23 49ers Brock Purdy one-yard TD run (extra point) FOURTH QUARTER Seahawks 17-31 49ers Brock Purdy seven-yard TD pass to Elijah Mitchell (two-point conversion) Seahawks 17-38 49ers Brock Purdy 74-yard TD pass to Deebo Samuel (extra point) Seahawks 17-41 49ers Robbie Gould 31-yard field goal Seahawks 23-41 49ers Geno Smith three-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf (failed two-point conversion) Trailing 17-16 to start the second half, the 49ers immediately drove 75 yards down the field in 13 plays, with Purdy scoring on a one-yard plunge. And they wouldn’t look back from there.
With the Seahawks driving deep into 49ers territory, Smith was sacked by Charles Omenihu for a seven-yard loss, with the ball squirting loose and being recovered by Nick Bosa at the 30-yard line.
The San Francisco 49ers’ defense finally proves too much for the Seattle Seahawks as their pressure forces Geno Smith to fumble which is recovered by Nick Bosa. The San Francisco 49ers’ defense finally proves too much for the Seattle Seahawks as their pressure forces Geno Smith to fumble which is recovered by Nick Bosa.
San Francisco then stretched ahead by two scores off the back of the turnover as Purdy escaped the rush and threw a seven-yard TD to running back Elijah Mitchell, with a two-point conversion to George Kittle following.
Just over three minutes later, Samuel turned on the turbo jets to take his TD 74 yards all the way to the house and effectively end the game.
San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel turns on the turbo jets on this sensational 74-yard catch and run for a touchdown! San Francisco 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel turns on the turbo jets on this sensational 74-yard catch and run for a touchdown!
Robbie Gould, who kicked four field goals in the contest, fired one through the uprights from 31 yards after Smith was picked off immediately after Samuel’s score.
Seattle and Metcalf would at least find the end zone once more for a consolation TD with just under two minutes remaining but then the Niners ran out the rest of the clock to book their spot in the divisional round and knock out their great NFC West divisional rivals.
Stats leaders
Seahawks
- Passing: Geno Smith, 25/35, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Kenneth Walker, 15 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: DK Metcalf, 10 catches, 136 yards, 2 TDs
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a perfect 50-yard pass into the hands of DK Metcalf for a superb touchdown! Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a perfect 50-yard pass into the hands of DK Metcalf for a superb touchdown!
49ers
- Passing: Brock Purdy, 18/30, 332 yards, 3 TDs
- Rushing: Christian McCaffrey, 15 carries, 119 yards (& 1 receiving TD)
- Receiving: Deebo Samuel, six catches, 133 yards, 1 TD
What they said… ‘Purdy looked like Frank Tarkenton’
49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy: “We came out and had some momentum and Seattle did a good job tracking back.
“It’s playoff football; everyone is going to play their best from here on out. When our offense and defense are doing their thing, we’re hard to beat.
“We’ve got a goal of winning the whole thing. We’re in a tournament, so anything can happen. I’ve got such a great team, O-line, receivers, defense, across the whole board. It’s not a one-man show, I’m very blessed.”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praises his team-mates after his team’s dominant win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the playoffs. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy praises his team-mates after his team’s dominant win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the playoffs.
Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll: “We chased him all over the place and he [Purdy] looked like [former Minnesota Vikings QB] Fran Tarkenton out there.
“Down 10-0 on the road with the fans going nuts, we did a great job to bounce right back. We were in it right to the end of the third quarter.”
What’s next?
The NFL playoffs continue on Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL, with a Super Wild Card Weekend triple-header.
The Buffalo Bills first host the Miami Dolphins (kick-off, 6pm), before the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants do battle at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (kick-off, 9.30pm). The evening wraps up with the Baltimore Ravens’ visit to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football (kick-off, 1.15am).
The wild card round then concludes on Monday night as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am early on Tuesday morning.
Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!
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Geno Smith finds DK Metcalf for 50-yard TD, Seahawks take first-half lead
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — DK Metcalf gets more than his share of double teams thanks to his blazing speed and big-play ability. But when Metcalf got a one-on-one in the second quarter Saturday thanks to a San Francisco 49ers blitz, he and Geno Smith took advantage.
THAT’S A LEAD! WHAT A THROW AND ROUTE!
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/iqvzRwc9us
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 14, 2023
Smith delivered a deep dime down the left sideline, Metcalf separated late against cornerback Charvarius Ward and hauled it in for a 50-yard touchdown. It gave the Seattle Seahawks — 10-point underdogs in their wild-card matchup — a 14-13 lead. The teams traded field goals to close out the first half, with the Seahawks taking a 17-16 lead into halftime.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, that was Metcalf’s third career touchdown reception of at least 50 yards in the playoffs, tying Randy Moss for the second-most in postseason history. John Stallworth has four.
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Man Utd target Ajax’s Jurrien Timber | Could Eden Hazard join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr? – Paper Talk
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All the top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…
THE SUN ON SUNDAY
Erik ten Hag has given his Manchester United scouts a dozen names from the Netherlands that he wants them to look at, with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber remaining one of his key targets.
Angry Manchester City players, including Jack Grealish, and staff members confronted referee Stuart Attwell in the tunnel over Bruno Fernandes’ controversial derby equaliser at Old Trafford.
Bournemouth are preparing a £50,000-a-week offer to try and tempt forward Antoine Semenyo to join the club from Bristol City this month.
Blackburn Rovers are keen to sign young Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt to give their promotion push a boost.
West Ham have joined the list of clubs interested in Dundee United starlet Rory McLeod, who has already made seven senior appearances at the tender age of 16.
Two Saudi clubs could go head to head in a bid to sign Lionel Messi, with Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad potentially willing to go to an eye-watering £306m per year for the World Cup winner.
THE ATHLETIC
Arnaut Danjuma has arrived back in the UK to speak to potential Premier League loan clubs after Villarreal gave him permission to seek a January move.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Chelsea, Inter Milan and Arsenal appear set to miss out on a January deal for Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah, who is unlikely to leave the Spanish club until the summer at the earliest.
Eden Hazard has reportedly held talks with Al-Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia about joining Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi club.
Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is set to follow Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris into international football retirement after 14 years playing largely as his backup.
Josef Martinez, the most successful striker in Atlanta United’s short history, is set to leave the MLS club for rivals Inter Miami on a one-year deal.
A company which handles investments for athletics great Usain Bolt is under investigation amid reports that Bolt might have been defrauded out of millions of pounds.
SUNDAY EXPRESS
Arsenal have been left licking their wounds with Mykhaylo Mudryk now set to join rivals Chelsea, and could return to summer targets Yeremy Pino and Moussa Diaby of Villarreal and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
Supporters of the National League’s bottom side Scunthorpe United caused a brief break in play by invading the pitch during their 2-0 home defeat by Woking in protest against current owner Peter Swann, who is looking to sell the club.
SUNDAY MIRROR
Everton defender Yerry Mina argued with fans in the street outside Goodison Park following Saturday’s defeat by Southampton while supporters also blocked in Anthony Gordon’s car.
Liverpool could be tempted to renew their interest in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves with his contract having entered its final 18 months.
Noni Madueke could be the next player to join Chelsea’s new-look squad with PSV already seeking a replacement for their £40m rated winger.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Owen Farrell is set to be named as Steve Borthwick’s England captain for the Six Nations now fears of suspension have been put to bed. Courtney Lawes is also set to be named in the squad when it is confirmed on Monday but Henry Slade’s participation is in doubt after he was sent off on Saturday while playing for the Exeter Chiefs.
Leicester Tigers are likely to add Danny Wilson to their backroom staff for the remainder of the season, with the former Glasgow Warriors head coach joining Harlequins in the summer.
Spain has emerged as favourite to host the 2031 Ryder Cup with PGA Catalunya at the head of the queue which also includes the London Club and projects in Luton and Bolton.
SUNDAY MAIL
Celtic target Cho Gue-sung wants to delay his departure from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors until the summer because of concerns about his own physical fitness.
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The Spurs Return to the Alamodome for a Record-Breaking Anniversary Party
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“And then someone said, ‘Well, maybe we can play a game there,’” said Heverling, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the AT&T Center, where the Spurs now play their home games. “And then someone else said, ‘Does anyone know what the largest attendance is for an N.B.A. game?’”
The answer was 62,046 for a game on March 27, 1998, when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls faced the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome. One caveat: The 2010 N.B.A. All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium, a retractable-roof colossus in Arlington, Texas, now known as AT&T Stadium, drew an announced crowd of 108,713. But the attendance record for a regular-season game seemed possible to Spurs officials.
“I’m convinced there’s no other community in the country that would show up like San Antonio has shown up for this team,” said Becky Kimbro, the team’s senior vice president for brand engagement.
Still, any fears that Kimbro might have had about fans’ showing up were eased in early September, when the Spurs sold nearly 25,000 tickets on the day they were made available to the general public. In recent weeks, the team unleashed a final advertising blitz by flooding the airwaves and social media. (Props to anyone from San Antonio who somehow avoided hearing about the game.)
“We pulled pretty much every lever in the marketing handbook,” Kimbro said.
On Thursday, Golden State practiced at the Alamodome to get used to the environment. Coach Steve Kerr, who used to play for the Spurs there, said it was a bit “draftier” than a normal arena. At least two of his players, however, were familiar with its unusual atmosphere. DiVincenzo and Jordan Poole faced each other at the Alamodome in the 2018 N.C.A.A. men’s championship game. DiVincenzo scored 31 points to lead Villanova past Michigan (and Poole) in front of 67,831 fans.
“It put me on the radar,” DiVincenzo said.
One of the oddest parts of that experience, he said, was running out from the locker room to take the court — because it took forever. The court might as well have been in a different city.
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Scott Cacciola
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Georginio Rutter: Leeds break transfer record to sign Hoffenheim forward for £35.5m
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Leeds have broken their transfer record to sign forward Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim for £35.5m.
The deal comes after negotiations between the two clubs earlier this week, with the move for the France U21 international surpassing the club’s previous transfer record fee of £27m paid for Rodrigo from Valencia in August 2020.
Rutter, 20, has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Elland Road, with his deal running until the summer of 2028.
Rutter scored twice in 17 games in all competitions for Hoffenheim this season and has an overall record of 11 goals in 64 appearances for the Bundesliga side.
He is the second signing of the January window for Leeds, after they brought in Austrian defender Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg for a fee in the region of £11m.
Rutter is ineligible to play in Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay with Cardiff City but will be introduced to the crowd ahead of kick-off at Elland Road.
He could make his Leeds debut in the Premier League fixture at home to Brentford on Sunday January 22, live on Sky Sports.
Jesse Marsch’s side sit 14th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone, following Friday night’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will be on the move this winter? The January transfer window opened on Sunday January 1, 2023 and closes at 11pm on Tuesday January 31, 2023.
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
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Spurs set attendance record with 68K vs. Dubs
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SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs hosted the largest crowd ever for an NBA regular-season game in their return to the Alamodome, with 68,323 on hand for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors
The Spurs returned to their former home to celebrate their 50th anniversary season.
Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson announced the official attendance at the close of the third quarter. Robinson said, “Spurs fans have again set the standard for the league.”
Fans began chanting “Go Spurs, go! Go Spurs, go!” after the announcement.
It shattered the previous record of 62,046 who gathered to watch Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome on March 27, 1998.
“It was awesome,” Warriors star Stephen Curry said of the atmosphere. “… It was cool to see them recognize their 50-year history and all of the great moments that have gone into this organization, the successes and championships they’ve had and the greats that were in the building. It was awesome to experience and it just takes 64,000 to bring our best road performance of the year.”
The Warriors, coming off a loss to the short-handed Suns, bounced back with a 144-113 win to spoil the night for the Spurs. Curry had 15 points in 23 minutes in his second game back from an extended absence due to a shoulder injury.
“Obviously, I hate to lose. But with the turnout, how can you be mad?” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “The Spurs fan base surpassed anything we could imagine. That made tonight special.”
Other Spurs luminaries aside from Robinson were in attendance as Becky Hammon and Tony Parker were seen sitting together courtside while Manu Ginobili was in a suite. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who won two championships with the Spurs as a player, said he got emotional during a video tribute for him before the game.
“They played the video and introduced me, and to get an ovation from 68,000 fans gives you chills,” Kerr said. “This was a really special night … Feeling the way I did, I know how fortunate I was to be a part of the Spurs.”
San Antonio now plays its home games at the AT&T Center but returned to the Alamodome as part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration.
While the Spurs (13-29) are having one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the chance to play at the Alamodome gave fans a chance to relive a former era for the team.
“The fans enjoyed themselves, even though we were getting our ass kicked,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They seemed to be having a hell of a time, so there must have been a lot of beer sales out there.”
The franchise started at the HemisFair Arena in 1973, but the Alamodome is where the franchise took its first steps to becoming one of the most respected NBA franchises.
The Spurs played in the Alamodome from 1993 to 2002 before moving 3.1 miles south to the AT&T Center.
San Antonio won its first NBA championship in 1999 while playing in the Alamodome and held its championship celebration in the downtown facility.
“Having my son here with me sharing a past and present memory will be cherished by both of us for years,” said Spurs fan Eric Hernandez, who previously attended games at the Alamodome.
The Alamodome also hosted the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, where Jordan was booed for winning MVP over former San Antonio resident Shaquille O’Neal.
“It’s crazy,” said Taro Kotani, a Spurs fan visiting from Japan. “The amount of people here. I’ve never been inside the Dome, so just imagining what it was like here during ’96 All-Star Game and ’99 Finals is so nostalgic. I wasn’t there but this brings back lots of memories.”
Kotani planned his annual trip to San Antonio around Friday’s game because he wanted to be a part of history.
The Associated Press and ESPN’s Kendra Andrews contributed to this story.
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In the 49ers’ offense, sharing truly means caring (and winning)
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As they sat in a meeting the night before they took on the Las Vegas Raiders, a handful of San Francisco 49ers were sitting in the back of the room as the coaching staff ran through their opening plays.
As coach Kyle Shanahan walked his offense through one of the plays, he began ticking off quarterback Brock Purdy‘s reads. First, it was running back Christian McCaffrey on a choice route. If McCaffrey wasn’t open, Purdy was supposed to look to tight end George Kittle running a similar route on the other side. As Shanahan rattled off the options, receiver Brandon Aiyuk couldn’t help but turn to receivers coach Leonard Hankerson and wideout Deebo Samuel and shake his head.
“I said, ‘Ain’t nobody going to be able to stop us,’” Aiyuk said. “It’s really on us. We’ve got too many dudes. I feel bad for anybody who has got to game plan against us.”
In theory, Aiyuk’s observation about the skill-position talent the Niners have has never been more true than it will be on Saturday when they open the NFC playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks (4:30 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Fox). That’s because, for only the fourth time since acquiring McCaffrey on Oct. 20, the Niners should have their full arsenal of offensive weapons available with Samuel and running back Elijah Mitchell back at full strength after knocking off some rust last week.
On paper, it’s one of the most dangerous collections of skill talent in the league. That’s evident in the fact that the Niners finished in the top five of the NFL in offensive efficiency, expected points added and yards per play. The 49ers are one of nine teams with four players (Kittle, Aiyuk, McCaffrey, Samuel) to post 750-plus scrimmage yards (no team had five) and one of three teams (along with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles) to have at least three players — Kittle, Aiyuk and McCaffrey — to post 750-plus scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in a season. Those three are also the first 49ers trio since 1998 to score at least eight touchdowns in a season.
When the Niners acquired McCaffrey, many outside observers wondered how they were going to make it work with only one football to go around. For those inside the San Francisco locker room, though, no such doubts materialized.
“I think the ultimate goal is to win,” McCaffrey said. “And this team, when you look at the roster, there’s guys all over the place who are elite and the best at what they do. So, you’ve got to kill your ego. It ain’t about one person. It’s about the team and winning, and when you have guys who are doing their job all the time whether the ball comes their way or not, it makes football fun. It makes winning fun. We don’t care about fantasy football, we don’t care about statistics, we want to win, and you can really feel that in the locker room.”
In late November, the Niners gave the NFL a glimpse of their firepower when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 38-10 in Mexico City. That night, McCaffrey and Samuel posted 106 and 94 scrimmage yards, respectively, while Aiyuk and Kittle scored two touchdowns apiece. It was a nearly ideal performance in which everybody got to eat but it also made the Niners realize that not every game would be that way.
On the plane ride home, a few of the Niners’ key skill position players discussed that very thing, recognizing that individual sacrifices were necessary to make room for the much larger team goal.
“For sure there’s a lot of mouths to feed,” Aiyuk said. “When you’ve got great players, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a great player that didn’t want to get the football. But one of our conversations on the plane that we had was just understanding what the mission is now. When you have a team like that, the mission isn’t individual. That’s a losing team, everybody for themselves type of thing … There’s a much bigger picture and everybody understands that.”
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the Niners’ acquisition of McCaffrey jumpstarted a 10-game winning streak that sewed up an NFC West title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. And while San Francisco’s collective willingness to set aside personal statistical goals for the team has done wonders for their record, the onus still falls on coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff to recognize the opportunities that talent is creating for other players and put them in the best position to succeed.
With Samuel and Mitchell back and all of those options at his disposal, Shanahan said he doesn’t want to stray from what he’s always done, but he does want to try to make sure everyone is involved and engaged.
“Just keep doing it the same way we’ve done it when they have been in or when they haven’t been in,” Shanahan said. “We balance it out, we spread it around, we see how it ends up at the end of the game, but you never go in saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to just get this guy the ball this much or that guy.’ You have a game plan and we have opportunities to spread it around a lot, and then you just see how the game unfolds. You see how they’re defending people and that usually takes care of itself.”
Multiple Niners have said they can feel a bit more open space since McCaffrey arrived, as defenses work to try to slow him down. In addition, the Niners are seeing roughly 6% more man coverage from opponents since Purdy became the starter in Week 13.
During their 10-game win streak, the Niners averaged 30.5 points per game and 373.1 yards per game. At those rates over the course of the season, the 49ers would have finished first in scoring and fifth in yards. If those numbers continue, there should be enough production for everybody to remain happy. But that’s sure to be the case so long as the 49ers continue to ring up numbers in the only stat they truly care about: the win column.
“I think everybody has the same mindset that all we want to do is win a Super Bowl,” Kittle said. “If Christian is getting 20 carries and we’re not throwing the ball very much, hey, that’s awesome. As long as we’re winning. The good news is we have really good players at every position, so whoever is making those plays for us, they’re going to make plays for us to win.”
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Rivals.com – Strong armed Florida 2025 QB Austin Simmons a top two-sport talent
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Rivals.com – Strong armed Florida 2025 QB Austin Simmons a top two-sport talent
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Silviniaco Conti Chase: Pic D’Orhy powers to Kempton Grade Two victory for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden
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Pic D’Orhy stamped his class on the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton to give Paul Nicholls a third win in the Grade Two in four years and set up a potential clash with Shishkin next time out.
Fresh from success in the Peterborough Chase, Pic D’Orhy (6/4 favourite) looked the one to beat and so it proved, as bar one mistake before the turn into the home straight he never looked in any danger.
Harry Cobden, enjoying a dream run for his boss in recent weeks with big wins on Bravemansgame, Hermes Allen and Tahmuras, oozed confidence throughout.
Coral cut the winner into 14/1 from 25s for the Ryanair Chase and on this form he would seem well worth his place in the field.
Paint The Dream attempted to keep tabs on him, but by the second-last had cried enough and was eventually beaten for second by Clondaw Castle.
Angels Breath, having his first run for Sam Thomas and first outing for three years, understandably ran keen before eventually being pulled up.
“I walked the course this morning and was just a bit worried about the ground, but he liked it,” said Cobden. “He missed the fourth-last but aside from that was very assured.
“He’s improved and is a smart horse, but I think he’s a few pounds off being a Grade One (horse).
“I don’t think the Ryanair Chase will be his thing and there are good races at Aintree and the other festivals.
“Before that, I think Ascot over two-miles-five (Ascot Chase next month) would suit him. He should be able to make the best use of his jumping around there.”
Dream day for Skelton team as West Balboa lands Lanzarote
West Balboa just pipped Red Risk in a thrilling finish to the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle – capping a memorable afternoon for trainer Dan Skelton and providing Bridget Andrews with one of the most valuable winners of her career.
Skelton had stayed closer to home at Warwick where he was on hand to witness a Grade Two double courtesy of Galia Des Liteaux and Grey Dawning, both ridden by his brother, Harry.
It was Harry’s wife Andrews who was on board West Balboa, and the pair cruised into contention as one by one the field thinned out.
Still in it was Charles Byrnes’ ante-post favourite Green Glory, Up For Parol and Red Risk, ridden by 7lb conditional Freddie Gingell.
West Balboa (12/1) held a slight advantage on the run to the final flight but met it all wrong, seemingly handing the initiative to Red Risk, as Up For Parol weakened.
To the mare’s credit, though, she battled back gamely and while a photograph was needed to separate the pair, there was a short head in it.
Image:
Dan Skelton enjoyed four winners across three cards on Saturday
Arclight strolled to an easy victory in the Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle.
A winner on her hurdling debut at Doncaster, she was sent off the 8/15 favourite facing just three rivals.
Her task was then made even easier when Regally Blonde, the second choice of punters, was a very early casualty.
Nico de Boinville decided to keep things simple on Nicky Henderson’s filly, who was rated 76 on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott, and the result was never in doubt as she strolled to a 43-length win.
The Henderson and De Boinville partnership combined for a double on the day as 5/4 favourite Quick Draw ran out an easy winner of the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase.
Only four also went to post for the Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Hurdle which saw the Jonjo O’Neill team prevail with Collectors Item.
For much of the race Harry Cobden looked sure to win on Paul Nicholls’ odds-on Makin’yourmindup but a mistake at the last saw him lose momentum and Collectors Item (11/10) stayed on well to win by two lengths.
The Evan Williams-trained Annsam made every yard of the running in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase.
A fair sixth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, Adam Wedge took no prisoners from the front and quickly worked up a sizeable advantage which he was not to relinquish.
The 7/2 chance beat Smarty Wild by 17 lengths.
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Fair or not, Prescott judged by SB-winning standard set by Cowboys legends Staubach, Aikman
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FRISCO, Texas — The Dak Prescott story is at a crossroads.
Not so much because of what he will write, but for how the Dallas Cowboys quarterback will be perceived.
Prescott will be making his fourth playoff appearance when the Cowboys face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) in the wild-card round. He has won one playoff game, in the 2018 wild-card round against the Seattle Seahawks.
Fairly or unfairly, Cowboys quarterbacks are judged by what Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman did in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively, when the Hall of Famers combined for five Super Bowl championships. The accomplishments of very Cowboys quarterback since, despite statistical success (or in Danny White’s case, making it to three straight NFC Championship Games), have just not been good enough.
Unless Prescott pulls off a playoff run over the next month that ends the Cowboys’ 26-year Super Bowl drought, he will have to fight through the unending question of whether he can ever deliver.
Prescott isn’t running from the pressure to do what Staubach and Aikman did.
“I’ve got to say I want to. I want to win the championships and win the titles and everything that they did, and all the games, put this team in that position,” Prescott said. “But I can’t say that that’s at the forefront of my mind, as I’m thinking about what those guys have done, what the great quarterbacks here have done before me. I don’t have any tell on what they did then. It’s about focusing on the now and knowing what I can do, what I’m capable of doing and the opportunity this team has in front of them.”
Tony Romo, Prescott’s predecessor, found himself in the same position. He put up gaudy statistics in becoming the franchise’s all-time leading passer. But he could never get past the divisional round of the playoffs.
He had gone from unknown regular-season savior in 2006 (losing in the wild-card round) to losing a divisional-round playoff game at home as the NFC’s top seed in 2007. In the 2009 playoffs, he won his first postseason game, only for the Cowboys to get wiped out in the divisional round.
In 2014, his eighth season as the full-time starter, Romo made his fourth playoff appearance, coming off his best season. He had the Cowboys in position to beat the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round only to have it ripped away when Dez Bryant’s catch at the goal line was overturned by replay.
He would start only four more games as his body kept breaking down. A twice-broken collarbone in 2015 and recurring back issues — as well as Prescott’s Rookie of the Year performance — ended Romo’s career after the 2016 season.
Prescott, 29, is younger than Romo was then (34), but he also has physical scars. He suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle in 2020. He missed five games this season because of surgery to repair a fractured right thumb. He missed a game last season because of a calf strain. He also had offseason surgery on his left shoulder.
Staubach was 29, like Prescott now, when he won Super Bowl VI against the Baltimore Colts. But it was just his third season with the Cowboys after a five-year commitment to the Navy. Aikman was 29 when he won his third championship, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. He won his first Super Bowl in his fourth season as the Cowboys’ starter.
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Relive the moments leading to Cowboys vs. Bucs wild-card showdown
Relive the Cowboys-Buccaneers Week 1 matchup and the moments that led to their wild-card rematch.
Prescott has started the past seven seasons.
Since 1980, only three quarterbacks have made it to their first Super Bowl with their original team after a longer run as the every-game starter than Prescott has had as the Cowboys’ starter. Ken Anderson was in his 10th season with Cincinnati Bengals when they made Super Bowl XVI. The Indianapolis Colts‘ Peyton Manning (Super Bowl XLI) and Atlanta Falcons‘ Matt Ryan (Super Bowl LI) were in their ninth seasons as the starters for their respective teams.
Prescott’s playoff appearances have been mixed.
He got off to a slow start in the 2016 divisional round against the Packers, only to finish 24-of-38 for 302 yards and three touchdowns and lead a late comeback to tie the game before Aaron Rodgers’ end-of-game wizardry ended the Cowboys’ season.
For his lone postseason win, in the 2018 wild-card round, his numbers weren’t great (22-of-33 for 226 yards, one touchdown, one interception), but he put the game away with a memorable 16-yard run on third-and-14, flipping near the goal line. On the next play, he gave the Cowboys a 24-14 lead over the Seahawks on a 1-yard score with 2:08 to play.
But the next week, the Cowboys were run over — literally — by the Los Angeles Rams (273 rushing yards) in the divisional round.
And then there was last season’s 23-17 loss in the wild-card round to the San Francisco 49ers at AT&T Stadium. The lasting image is Prescott’s quarterback keeper in the final seconds, after which the Cowboys could not spike the ball in time to try one last play.
That loss is still motivation.
“Damn right. Damn right,” Prescott said. “Then, obviously, after a game like last week [26-6 road loss to the Washington Commanders], it helps remind you how precious these moments are. You don’t get these opportunities, you don’t get a lot of opportunities to play this game in general, but to be in the playoffs, have the team that we have and knowing we’ve got to make sure it counts now.”
Prescott enters the 2022 playoffs tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 15, despite starting only 12 regular-season games. He has had at least one pass intercepted in seven straight games, the longest streak by a Cowboys quarterback since 2004. He has had three interceptions returned for touchdowns in the past four games.
Yet the belief in Prescott within the organization is as high as ever.
“I don’t know if it’s really affected his confidence at all,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “When you put all the work in, when you leave nothing up to doubt, then there is no reason for you to lose confidence. You’ve built that through continuous repetitions, through continuous hard work. So, I mean, he’s put the work in. I know he’s ready.”
Said offensive tackle Tyron Smith: “Expect him to be great like he always is. He does everything he can to prepare himself.”
Said receiver Michael Gallup: “[He’s] literally the same guy every day. First one in the locker room, last one to leave. That’s just what he does. That’s how his brain is wired. … He’s ready to go. It’s just how he is. Never lose faith in [No.] 4.”
Prescott hasn’t lost faith, either.
“I’ve just got to go win the game, do everything I can and leave no doubt in my preparation to make sure I’m putting this team in the best chance to do that,” Prescott said. “And understanding, I’ve said it myself, right, we’re all judged off of wins and wins in the playoffs. These matter. I know that.
“Not that it’s pressure, but you’ve got to love playing in these moments. You’ve got to love being in games like this. If you don’t, this league, this sport, this isn’t the place for you. So for me, it’s about embracing the moment. Staying within myself. It’s not time to do anything new, create anything new. Trust my teammates, trust how I prepared throughout and go out there and stay within the moment.”
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Rivals.com – West Spotlight: Toughest rankings questions
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The final rankings update for the 2023 class is set to be released later this month and there is a lot to finalize before then. Final postseason performances as well as in-person evaluations at the Under Armour Next All-America Game, All-American Bowl, and the upcoming Polynesian Bowl will weigh heavily into this last update to the rankings.
Dozens of prospects from the West region were active during the all-star season and those results will have an effect on the rankings. Here are the five toughest rankings questions we’ll be facing in the West region.
Is Zachariah Branch the No. 1 receiver?
Over the last couple rankings cycles, we have flip-flopped Ohio State signees Brandon Inniss and Carnell Tate as the two-best receivers in the class but after the Under Armour Game, there might be a new No. 1 in our midst.
USC signee Zachariah Branch was not only unstoppable during the week of practice but he was fantastic in the game as well both at receiver and on special teams. His level of dynamic ability and playmaking mentality is so rare and after being focused on the Buckeyes signees, it could be the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman standout who demands top billing at the position.
It’s going to be a tough call. Inniss has been so good for so long and while he doesn’t have the highlight-reel skills of Branch, there might not be a better or more reliable pure receiver in 2023. He catches everything, gets open against everyone and he has for years. Whether Branch ends up No. 1 or not will be up for debate but he’s definitely left a big impression late in the recruiting cycle.
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Any more five-stars in the West?
Roderick Robinson California has traditionally been one of the top-three states nationally to produce top talent and while there are five-stars in the surrounding states as well to bolster the numbers a little bit, the tally is still lacking in that one state.
Florida has nine five-stars currently in the 2023 class; Texas has six. And California has only three in quarterbacks Nico Iamaleava and Malachi Nelson and defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei.
Could there be others? Oregon wide receiver signee Jurrion Dickey is the first prospect outside five-star status and he was fantastic this past summer especially at the OT7 event in Las Vegas. Then there’s Georgia running back signee Roderick Robinson, who ran for 2,378 yards and 37 touchdowns in an incredible senior season. There are others to consider as well but getting to five-star status is also a big challenge.
*****
What to do with five-star quarterbacks?
Nico Iamaleava (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com) This has been a question that has vexed us throughout this recruiting cycle as five-star quarterbacks Nico Iamaleava and Malachi Nelson continue to prove they’re two of the best in the class. But in which order?
Nelson did not play in the Under Armour Game following postseason surgery but he had another phenomenal season especially connecting with fellow USC signee Makai Lemon, one of the best receivers in the country.
Iamaleava was also terrific – transcendent at times – for his Downey (Calif.) Warren team as he threw a beautiful deep ball and showed dynamic ability that maybe no other elite quarterback has in this class. He is expected to throw at the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii next week and that could put any further discussion to rest.
A Tennessee signee, Iamaleava has the edge right now but there’s one final rankings release ahead as both five-star quarterbacks have been terrific this season.
*****
Are changes coming to the Utah rankings?
Spencer Fano (Nick Lucero/Rivals.com) Utah is one of those states where it’s tough to get accurate rankings sometimes because there are a ton of talented linemen there but through camps and 7-on-7 season it’s difficult to see a lot of them travel the country to some of the best events.
That’s why national all-star games are so important and many of the state’s top players made big impressions over the last few weeks.
Utah signee Hunter Clegg was at the Rose Bowl when he was contacted about playing in the All-American Bowl so on the family’s drive back home, Clegg stopped off at the Las Vegas airport to fly to San Antonio. It was there where the four-star who’s ranked as the second-best player in the state shined and made a serious push for the No. 1 player in Utah.
Four-star offensive lineman Spencer Fano, also a signee at Utah, had an impressive week in San Antonio as well and current No. 1 Tausili Akana is a special prospect with incredibly long arms but he the Texas signee could be pushed for others who had better weeks at the all-star events.
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Adam Gorney, National Recruiting Director
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Amid unprecedented obstacles, can the Bills take the next step to reach the Super Bowl?
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane was coming off three straight days spent at the hospital with Damar Hamlin as the safety continued his recovery.
At the end of an emotional week for Beane, he sat down with the media via Zoom.
The Bills had reached half of the goals they set out for themselves before the season: make the playoffs, win the division, get home-field advantage and win the Super Bowl. But a new priority arose that trumped those: the health of Hamlin after he suffered cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the “Monday Night Football” game in Week 17.
When Beane was asked about the adversity his team had experienced, his feelings were hard to fight back.
“I probably get emotional if I talk too much about it, but I’m so proud of our organization, our team, just so many people the way we’ve dealt with so much this year. Definitely not the way you draw it up,” Beane said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen the rest of season on the field, I really don’t. This is a group of winners, and I will forever remember this team, this season, the moments of it. I’m still hopefully optimistic that we can make a run. But I don’t know if there’s ever a team I’ll be more proud of than this.”
The Bills have faced all sorts of obstacles along the way, ranging from the very serious — including Hamlin’s injury and a deadly historic blizzard in western New York — to a season-ending ACL injury for star linebacker Von Miller.
Despite those, they Bills notched 13 wins for the fourth time (2020, 1991 and 1990) in team history, won the AFC East for the third season in a row and earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs — all while not having yet played a complete game.
Buffalo is getting healthy at the right time, too — starting safety Micah Hyde could be returning soon from a neck injury that has forced him to miss most of the season — which leads to the question: As the Bills enter the postseason for the fourth time in coach Sean McDermott’s five seasons leading the team, could this be the year they break through and reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 postseason?
The team still has plenty of question marks that need to be sorted out, but some things are working in the Bills’ favor.
While the No. 1 seed fell out of reach after playing just 16 games (their game against the Cincinnati Bengals was canceled following Hamlin’s life-threatening injury), Buffalo no longer has to worry about going to another team’s stadium if they get to the AFC Championship Game. If the Chiefs and Bills both make it, the game will be played at a neutral site — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — and in any other scenario with the Bills in that game, they are hosting.
The Bills can boast having one of the NFL’s most well-rounded teams. The offense ranks No. 2 in points per game (28.44), efficiency (67.92) and QBR (71.0). The defense ranks No. 2 in points allowed per game (17.88) and is tied for fourth in takeaways (27). They also led the league in special teams EPA (39.78).
The team has been in five playoff games over the past two postseasons, so nothing at this point is new to it.
“It might be a little bit more attention to detail, but again, this is the standard that we set for ourself and Coach McDermott sets for ourself with ‘playoff caliber,’ and now that we’re here it’s ‘championship caliber,’” quarterback Josh Allen said. “There is always going to be that little ‘up’ in effort or attention to detail. … We’re playing for each other; we love each other, and we know we’ve got a job to do.”
The Bills have already beaten three of the other six AFC playoff teams, although they split the season series with their opponent Sunday, the Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS). That experience should help the Bills in their preparation.
“We just have history,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “It’s just the history that comes with it. And sorry to keep that answer so simple, but it’s just the history, like, if you go on a date with somebody three times, you should know that she or he, whoever you’re with, likes a lemon drop or a Shirley Temple.”
Along with Hyde, the Bills could get back wide receiver Jamison Crowder. Both had their 21-day practice windows open Wednesday while remaining on injured reserve after each spent months recovering from injury.
Crowder and Hyde will not play against the Dolphins, but their eventual return should give the Bills a boost. Hyde would presumably return to the starting lineup — a position Hamlin filled with Hyde out — and team up again with Jordan Poyer. Hyde and Poyer have started 79 games together — by far the most of any safety pair over the past six seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Hyde said the decision on his return from a neck injury is in his doctor’s hands. He originally thought following surgery he would not return until next season.
“It’s given me a different perspective on this game,” Hyde said. “I’m grateful. I’m very, very grateful to be in the position I am now and to see my teammates throughout this whole season, all the things that we have been through, you name it — the weather, the injuries, D-Ham’s situation — just seeing my boys, my teammates go out there and continue to fight. … I have to make it, I have to give it a go.”
Adding Crowder to the wide receiver corps would also benefit an offense that has struggled with drops this season — finishing the regular season with a league-leading 34 — and needs more consistency at the slot position. Crowder’s absence was part of the reason the team brought back wide receiver Cole Beasley to the practice squad and this week to the active roster. Crowder’s return would create a surplus of receivers in the playoffs, which would be a good problem for the Bills to have.
The Bills’ outside cornerbacks have been a concern. They’ll be challenged against the likes of wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill when they face the Dolphins.
While cornerback Tre’Davious White is back on the field, he is still working his way back from the torn left ACL he suffered on Thanksgiving in 2021. He is coming off his best game of the season against the Patriots last week, per McDermott, including his first interception in over a year, but teams have been testing him at a high level with a 20.4% target rate, highest among Bills outside corners who have played significant snaps.
“The confidence that I and we have and Tre has never waned at all,” McDermott said. “I mean, there’s a process that you go through when you come back off of an injury like that. And he looks to be really rounding [into] form as we get through towards the back half of the season.”
The other lingering issue is who starts opposite White. Lately it has been a rotation of 2020 seventh-round pick Dane Jackson and 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam, but Christian Benford, a sixth-round pick this season, has the potential to also be back in the mix after spending time on injured reserve. He was inactive last week. McDermott has said it would be ideal to have a set No. 2 corner, but whoever gets the call needs to step up.
Elam, who’s back in the rotation after playing sparingly from Weeks 10 to 14 because of an ankle injury suffered in Week 9 and then was a healthy scratch against the Patriots in Week 13, is earning back his spot in the rotation partially due to freeing himself some mentally.
“Not trying to be perfect has definitely made me just play a lot faster, allowed me to trust my keys and just play,” Elam said. “I wouldn’t say pressure, just putting too much like expectation on myself, like I just, now I’m just playing.”
Deep passes specifically have been a problem for the Bills defense, which allowed a 41.8% completion rate on passes of 20 or more air yards (24th) and six touchdowns on such throws (tied for 21st). Hyde’s potential return could help there.
Another problem the Bills have struggled with is turnovers. Buffalo finished the season ranked 30th in turnovers (26) with six of those committed by Allen in the red zone, the most by any player since DeShone Kizer in 2017 (eight). Protecting the ball within the opponent’s 20-yard line has been an issue for Allen in a way it was not earlier in his career. The quarterback threw five red zone interceptions in the regular season, the most in the NFL, including one against the New England Patriots in Week 18.
In the first four years of Allen’s career, including playoffs, he threw only two interceptions on 311 red zone attempts.
“Decision-making, I think, is No. 1,” Allen said earlier this season on reducing the turnovers. “Trusting the game plan, trusting the guys around me and not trying to do too much, and getting back to playing smarter football.”
Last postseason, Allen went on a perfect run, throwing nine touchdowns to zero interceptions. Limiting the mistakes will go a long way toward getting past tougher opponents.
“You find a balance between knowing what works, what got you to where you are, but also understanding that mistakes might be heightened,” center Mitch Morse said of the postseason. “The stakes are very high, the highest in the sport, but not letting that make you too rigid. Still having your personality, still having the fluidity of a conversation or practice and not being uptight because that’s when you play outside of yourself.”
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‘Inches away from a slam dunk ace’ | Tommy Fleetwood comes close to hole-in-one
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Tommy Fleetwood was inches away from dropping his tee shot at the fourth straight into the hole at the Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi.
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Brooklyn’s Lifeguard Factory Is Open Again
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By the first scrimmage at Bushwick, there were seven swimmers, and then 12 by the first meet. Though the season was a losing one, Ms. Taylor finally fielded two dozen mostly competitive swimmers.
“We’re fast learners around here,” said Kyara Rosello, 17, a junior who was a standout in the 100-yard freestyle. Standing on the pool deck recently, she pulled over Jeniffer Montachana, 16, who recently immigrated from Ecuador. Jennifer has yet to learn English, but she had picked up enough swimming technique within weeks to become one of the team’s starting backstrokers. For the six girls on her team who spoke no English, she relied on other students to translate into Spanish.
If the girls wanted to compete further, Ms. Taylor told them of a local swim team whose fee started at $1,000, but none of the girls could afford it.
It was not easy to get students interested in the new swim team.
“Some of our own students didn’t even know we had pool here,” said Jorge Sandoval, the principal at one of the Bushwick campus schools, the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering.
So Mr. Carbajal used a financial incentive. He guaranteed nonswimmers that he could have them swimming well enough to pass the city’s preliminary lifeguard test, offered every winter. That could mean spending summers in the sun making at least $16 an hour, he said, and also helping with the city’s notorious lifeguard shortage.
He persuaded more than a dozen boys to join — 80 percent of them nonswimmers, he said. Mr. Carbajal had to buy some of them bathing suits with his own money.
So far the team has won four meets and lost two. It has a slightly ragtag quality, but it is improving quickly. Though it is currently in the least competitive of Brooklyn’s three boys divisions, Mr. Carbajal vowed that the Tigers would finish first and eventually get a chance to challenge perennial swimming powerhouses at elite public high schools like Brooklyn Tech.
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Corey Kilgannon
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