In the upcoming NFL Divisional Round games, eight teams continue to compete for a spot in Super Bowl 60. Discussions among experts highlight key matchups, with focus on teams like the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. The games are set to happen over the weekend, determining who will advance further in the playoffs.
Key Facts
The NFL Divisional Round features four games leading up to Super Bowl 60.
The games involve the top eight remaining teams in the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills play against Denver Broncos on Saturday, January 17.
San Francisco 49ers face Seattle Seahawks on the same day.
On Sunday, January 18, Houston Texans will play against New England Patriots.
Los Angeles Rams will compete against Chicago Bears.
Expert opinions differ on the outcome of these games, with some favoring the Broncos due to their strong defense and recent bye week advantage.
The games will decide which teams progress to the next stage and get closer to winning the Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles are facing some off-season drama, with quarterback Jalen Hurts receiving criticism after the 2025 season. A report discussing the team's offensive issues and Hurts' role in them has sparked reactions from fans defending their quarterback. Despite the criticism, Hurts remains popular among fans, who seem more frustrated with the report's narrative than with Hurts himself.
Key Facts
The Eagles are dealing with team changes, including parting ways with their offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo.
A report by Mike Silver delves into the Eagles' offensive struggles and Jalen Hurts' performance in 2025.
The report has generated a lot of social media discussion and fan reactions.
Some Eagles fans defend Hurts, noting his previous successes, including winning Super Bowl MVP.
Eagles’ management is reportedly cautious about criticizing Hurts, aiming to avoid tension with their franchise player.
Fans express mixed feelings, with strong support for Hurts despite criticism in media narratives.
The Eagles won the NFL Super Bowl recently, with Jalen Hurts playing a key role in the victory.
Real Madrid will play against Levante in a La Liga soccer match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Saturday, January 17, 2025. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+, and fans can watch the action live. Real Madrid is aiming to recover from a recent loss, while Levante is dealing with challenges and trying to avoid relegation.
Key Facts
The match is on Saturday, January 17, 2025, at 8:00 AM ET.
You can watch the match live on ESPN+.
Real Madrid recently lost a Copa del Rey match against Albacete but remains a strong team in La Liga.
Levante is currently in the relegation zone due to defensive struggles this season.
Real Madrid has a strong historical record against Levante, winning most past matchups.
Real Madrid players like Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham are key to their attacking strength.
DraftKings odds favor Real Madrid heavily to win this match.
Cody Bellinger, a free agent outfielder with the Yankees, is still being considered by the New York Mets. The Yankees are hesitant to offer a long-term contract, while the Mets are interested in signing Bellinger despite already acquiring Bo Bichette. The Mets have the resources to make a competitive offer for Bellinger.
Key Facts
Cody Bellinger is a free agent currently with the Yankees.
The Yankees are only offering Bellinger a five-year contract, while he wants a longer deal.
The Mets recently signed Bo Bichette but still need another outfielder.
The Mets have financial resources and are interested in Bellinger.
The Yankees must act quickly to compete with the Mets' interest in Bellinger.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has significant financial resources to potentially outbid the Yankees.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is preparing to face his sixth different Manchester United manager in an upcoming match. Michael Carrick is the interim head coach for Manchester United following the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Guardiola has maintained long-term success at Manchester City by consistently achieving positive results.
Key Facts
This will be the 198th match between Manchester City and Manchester United, known as the Manchester derby.
Michael Carrick is the new interim head coach of Manchester United after Ruben Amorim was sacked.
Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City's manager since 2016 and has overseen five Manchester United managers during his time.
Manchester United has been through several managerial changes in the past decade, including Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester City is currently close to the top of the Premier League and is competing in multiple competitions.
Last season was a rare instance where Manchester City did not win a major trophy.
Manchester United is 17 points behind the current league leaders, Arsenal, and a top-five finish is a primary goal.
Manchester City's playing style, known for high ball possession, continues to be successful under Guardiola.
Manchester United will face Manchester City in a Premier League match on Saturday. Michael Carrick will debut as Manchester United's interim coach. The game will be available to watch on USA Network and FuboTV.
Key Facts
The match is set for Saturday, January 17, 2025, at 7:30 AM EDT.
Michael Carrick is the interim coach for Manchester United.
Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, has drawn their last three Premier League matches.
Manchester City is six points behind league leader Arsenal.
Manchester City is facing several player injuries, including John Stones and Ruben Dias.
The game can be watched in the U.S. on USA Network and in Canada on Fubo Sports Network.
The New England Patriots and Houston Texans are set to face off in the AFC Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. The Patriots are slightly favored to win the game, with both teams having strong defensive performances in their previous matches. The game will be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with the Patriots' chances of winning assessed at 63% according to betting markets.
Key Facts
The game between the Texans and the Patriots is part of the 2025 NFL Playoffs' Divisional Round.
The Patriots have a 14-3 season record, while the Texans have a 12-5 record.
Both teams relied on strong defensive plays to win their Wild Card matches.
The spread for the game is set at Patriots -3, giving New England a slight home advantage according to betting odds.
The Patriots' probability of winning is 63%, with American odds set at -170.
The Texans' probability of winning is 39%, with American odds set at +156.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN/ABC on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET.
A key challenge for the Patriots is handling sacks, as their quarterback Drake Maye was sacked 47 times during the regular season.
Dan Armstrong signed with the Queen of the South football club as a teenager hoping to become a professional player. Despite not succeeding as a footballer, he later transitioned into a management role and is now the chief executive of the club. Armstrong has been instrumental in developing community programs and managing various club activities.
Key Facts
Dan Armstrong joined Queen of the South as a 16-year-old goalkeeper.
At 28, he is now the chief executive of Queen of the South, a club in Scottish League 1.
Armstrong is originally from Accrington and initially hoped to have a career as a professional footballer.
Injuries during his playing days led him to get involved in community projects.
The club offered him a role as a community coach after releasing him as a player.
He formed the Queen and South Community Trust, engaging locals in various initiatives.
Armstrong became the commercial manager and completed a Masters in business.
A couple of years ago, when the board decided to step down, he was promoted to chief executive.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers will not play in the upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a groin injury. The Lakers, who have been dealing with several injuries and defensive struggles, are hopeful to have Doncic back for the game against the Toronto Raptors.
Key Facts
Luka Doncic has a groin injury and will miss the next Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers have faced challenges with injuries, particularly affecting Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Austin Reaves is currently out with a calf strain and may not return until after the All-Star Game.
The Lakers have been struggling with their defense and are ranked in the bottom five in terms of net rating.
They often win close games but have lost some games by large margins, like a recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
The team hopes to improve their performance and get key players back to compete effectively.
A new event in San Francisco aims to set a record for the largest attendance at a boxing match. It will take place at the Civic Center Plaza, with the event streamed online. The organization behind it, iVisit Boxing, plans to announce more boxing events soon.
Key Facts
San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza will host the boxing event.
This event aims to beat the current largest attendance record of 135,132.
The record was set in 1941 at a boxing match in Milwaukee.
The event will be available to watch on YouTube on July 11.
There is no confirmed agreement for a fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder at this event.
iVisit Boxing plans to hold 24 boxing events over the next year.
The organization will unveil the event schedule at a news conference in Las Vegas.
The Boston Red Sox are considering a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers involving outfielder Jarren Duran. The proposed trade aims to address both teams' needs, with the Dodgers gaining a strong outfield lineup and the Red Sox strengthening their bullpen and farm system.
Key Facts
The Red Sox have more outfielders than they need, especially since Roman Anthony is set to play left field.
Jarren Duran, a five-year veteran and 2024 All-Star, might be traded despite Red Sox management stating it's unlikely.
Analyst Jordan Leandre suggested the Red Sox trade Duran to the Dodgers, where he would join Kyle Tucker.
The Dodgers recently acquired Kyle Tucker, a four-time All-Star, through a deal paying him $60 million a year.
In the trade proposal, the Red Sox would receive Justin Wrobleski, a 25-year-old pitcher, and Mike Sirota, a top Dodgers prospect.
Wrobleski performed well in the 2025 postseason with a low barrel rate and strong bullpen stats.
The Red Sox need to fill a gap in their bullpen with only one left-hander, closer Aroldis Chapman, currently available.
Jackson Ferris, another player in the proposed deal, is a 22-year-old pitcher expected to reach the major leagues by 2026.
The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly reached an agreement to re-sign their catcher, J.T. Realmuto, on a three-year contract worth $45 million. This decision comes after the team was unable to sign other top free agents like Bo Bichette. Realmuto has been with the Phillies for seven seasons and continues to be regarded as one of the best catchers in baseball.
Key Facts
J.T. Realmuto is reportedly re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The new contract is for three years and worth $45 million.
Realmuto has played for the Phillies for seven seasons since they traded for him from the Miami Marlins.
The Phillies decided to focus on re-signing Realmuto after failing to sign Bo Bichette.
Realmuto hit .257 with 12 home runs last season and is known for good defense.
His new contract has a lower annual value than his previous five-year, $115 million deal.
If they hadn't re-signed Realmuto, the Phillies would have needed alternatives like Rafael Marchán or Garrett Stubbs.
The Los Angeles Kings will play against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night at crypto.com Arena. The Ducks recently ended a nine-game losing streak, while the Kings are trying to overcome a series of home losses. The game will be shown on the FanDuel Sports Network and can be streamed live through Fubo.
Key Facts
The Kings have lost their last three home games.
The Ducks broke a nine-game losing streak by defeating the Dallas Stars 3-1.
The game is scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10:30 PM ET.
The TV channel for the game is FanDuel Sports Network West.
Live streaming is available on Fubo, where new users can try it for free.
In their previous two encounters this season, each team won a game at home.
Key players such as Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson might miss the match due to day-to-day status.
The Kings' Kevin Fiala leads his team with 17 goals this season.
The New York Giants and John Harbaugh have not yet finalized a deal for him to become their head coach. Discussions are ongoing, focusing on organizational structure rather than salary issues. There is an expectation that the deal will be completed soon.
Key Facts
John Harbaugh, former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, is in talks to coach the New York Giants.
Baltimore let Harbaugh go after 18 seasons following a loss that kept them out of the playoffs.
Reports suggest a potential five-year contract worth $100 million with the Giants.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport said negotiations are focusing on organizational roles rather than money.
Both Harbaugh and the Giants would benefit from the deal.
A deal announcement is expected soon, possibly by the weekend.
Other teams, including the Tennessee Titans, are interested in hiring Harbaugh.
The Giants' decision is affecting other NFL coaching jobs and decisions around the league.
Ole Miss football star Princewill Umanmielen wants to enter the transfer portal to find a new team, but Ole Miss is trying to stop him. This disagreement comes after Umanmielen had signed a new contract with Ole Miss, which the school is using to argue he should stay.
Key Facts
Princewill Umanmielen, a key player for Ole Miss, wants to leave and join the transfer portal.
Ole Miss is attempting to prevent his departure, citing a contract Umanmielen signed.
The transfer portal allows college athletes to switch schools and play for different teams.
The portal has a deadline, after which players can't enter until it reopens.
Previously, Umanmielen played for Nebraska before joining Ole Miss.
Other players, like Washington QB Demond Williams, have faced similar contract-related issues.
Ole Miss considers Umanmielen's potential exit a significant setback for their football program's future plans.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to play against the Houston Rockets in an NBA game on Friday, January 16, 2026. The Timberwolves recently won against the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Rockets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Key Facts
The Timberwolves have won six of their last seven games.
The Rockets have lost four of their last five games.
The game will be on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 9:30 PM ET.
You can watch it on Space City Home Network, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes.
The Timberwolves will play without Anthony Edwards (foot injury) and Rudy Gobert (suspension).
Julius Randle and Bones Hyland were key players in the Timberwolves' recent victory over the Bucks.
Kevin Durant led scoring for Houston with 19 points in their last game.
The game is available to live stream on Fubo, a service offering a free trial.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is involved in a busy period for the college football transfer portal. Some accuse him of trying to influence players from his former team, Ole Miss, to transfer last minute. Kiffin's cryptic social media post has sparked speculation about potential player moves.
Key Facts
Lane Kiffin is the head coach of the LSU Tigers football team.
The transfer portal is a system where college athletes can change schools and play for different teams.
Kiffin has been active in acquiring players from other schools and has signed three quarterbacks.
Some Ole Miss fans accuse Kiffin of influencing his former players to transfer during the portal's last hours.
Kiffin made a vague post on social media, leading many to speculate about potential transfers.
A top performer from Ole Miss may be considering entering the transfer portal.
Despite player departures, Ole Miss still has strong recruiting classes.
Crystal Palace's manager, Oliver Glasner, and captain, Marc Guehi, are both leaving the club. Manchester City has agreed to sign Guehi for £20 million, and Glasner announced he will leave at the end of the season. These decisions are significant for the club as both figures played key roles in recent successes.
Key Facts
Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace's captain, will join Manchester City for £20 million.
Oliver Glasner, the club's manager, will leave at the end of the season.
Glasner informed Palace's chairman of his decision back in October.
The news of Glasner leaving was widely speculated in English football circles.
Palace recently won their first major honor, the FA Cup, with Glasner as manager and Guehi as captain.
Glasner expressed dissatisfaction with the club's lack of recruitment during the transfer window.
The club signed only a few players, leading to some frustration for Glasner.
The departures are happening as the team prepares to play European football for the first time.
Mike Tomlin announced he would step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons. Tomlin's wife, Kiya Tomlin, shared a series of messages expressing her pride in his achievements and impact. There is speculation about Tomlin's future, including a possible career as a television analyst.
Key Facts
Mike Tomlin announced his resignation as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach after 19 seasons.
He led the team to a Super Bowl win in his second season and made several playoff appearances.
Tomlin never had a losing regular-season record during his time as head coach.
His wife, Kiya Tomlin, shared messages on social media expressing pride in his achievements.
Kiya Tomlin highlighted her husband's influence on young players and his legacy.
She also mentioned their gratitude towards the Pittsburgh community for their support.
There is speculation that Tomlin might become a television analyst, like former Steelers coach Bill Cowher.
Manchester City has signed two new players, Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, in the January transfer window. They hope these additions will help them overcome a six-point gap behind Arsenal in the Premier League. City has spent around £414 million on 14 new players since January 2025, overhauling their squad after a disappointing season.
Key Facts
Manchester City signed Antoine Semenyo and plans to add Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
Guehi is expected to join Manchester City for £20 million, pending finalization of the deal.
The team is dealing with injuries in central defense and has drawn its last three league games.
Since January 2025, City has spent approximately £414 million on 14 new player signings.
City sold key players like Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish to lower the squad's age and wage bill.
Manchester City reported revenues of £694 million, the third highest in their history.
The club has made a profit of £144 million over the last three years.
City's strong financial position allows flexibility under profit and sustainability rules.
