The article discusses a unique playoff pattern involving Sean McVay, the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. In every playoff game since McVay became coach, the Rams have faced a new opponent. As the Rams prepare to play the Chicago Bears, this streak could continue or end if they advance to the next round.
Key Facts
Sean McVay became the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams nine years ago.
Under McVay, the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021.
Every playoff game the Rams have played with McVay has been against a team they have never faced before in the postseason.
The Rams have faced 15 different opponents in the playoffs during McVay's tenure.
The upcoming game against the Chicago Bears will be the first time McVay faces them in the playoffs.
If the Rams win, they will face either the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks, marking McVay's first repeat playoff opponent.
Xavi Alonso stepped down as the manager of Real Madrid after seven months in charge. Alvaro Arbeloa, the former coach of Real Madrid's reserve team, is the new manager. Alonso's short tenure was affected by poor results, including key losses and disagreements with players.
Key Facts
Xavi Alonso left his position as Real Madrid's manager "by mutual consent."
Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Alonso as the new manager.
Alonso was only in charge for seven months despite having a three-year contract.
Real Madrid lost a major match to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The team experienced a poor run in La Liga and other competitions.
Alonso had disputes with star player Vinicius Junior, worsening the situation.
Alonso joined Real Madrid with a strong track record from managing Bayer Leverkusen.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested in Tampa, Florida, for trespassing at a hotel and casino. The Vikings acknowledged the incident but are still gathering information. This arrest adds to Addison’s previous legal issues, including a DUI in Los Angeles and a reckless driving citation in Minnesota.
Key Facts
Jordan Addison plays as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
He was arrested in Tampa, Florida, early on January 12 for trespassing at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Police booked him at 7:33 a.m., and he was released after posting a $500 bond that afternoon.
He is charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for trespassing.
Addison has faced other legal issues, including a DUI in July 2024 and a reckless driving citation in July 2023.
He initially played college football in Pittsburgh before transferring to the University of Southern California.
Manchester United has appointed Michael Carrick as their interim head coach until the end of the season. Carrick, a former Manchester United player and Middlesbrough manager, takes over from Ruben Amorim. His first match will be against Manchester City.
Key Facts
Michael Carrick agreed to be the interim head coach for Manchester United.
Carrick replaces Ruben Amorim, who was recently dismissed.
Carrick will lead his first match against Manchester City, a top team in the league.
Manchester United is currently seventh in the Premier League standings.
The team has been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions.
Carrick previously played for Manchester United, winning five Premier League titles.
He has managerial experience from Middlesbrough, where he improved their standings.
Carrick previously served as a caretaker manager for Manchester United in 2021.
The Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as strong contenders to sign free-agent infielder Bo Bichette. The team has met with Bichette and may offer a long-term contract to secure his services. Phillies' aggressive approach and connections, like the hiring of Don Mattingly, strengthen their pursuit.
Key Facts
The Phillies are now viewed as serious contenders to sign Bo Bichette.
They have already had a meeting with Bichette.
Phillies president Dave Dombrowski is known for successfully acquiring targeted star players.
The Phillies might offer a long-term contract of six, seven, or eight years.
Other teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees are also interested in Bichette.
Hiring Don Mattingly, who has a good relationship with Bichette, may give the Phillies an advantage.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to play their T20 World Cup matches in India because of security worries. They made this decision even though the International Cricket Council (ICC) asked them to reconsider since the tournament schedule is already set. Bangladesh wants the ICC to move their matches to another country.
Key Facts
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cited security concerns for not playing T20 World Cup matches in India.
The T20 World Cup is planned to take place from February 7 to March 8 and is organized by India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh was set to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
The BCB asked the ICC to move their matches outside of India.
ICC has already announced the tournament schedule and asked Bangladesh to reconsider its decision.
The decision follows tensions due in part to the Bangladesh fast bowler's removal from an Indian Premier League team.
Earlier, Bangladesh stopped broadcasting the IPL because of the situation.
Discussions between the BCB and the ICC will continue to find a solution.
The New York Mets are considering trading for Lars Nootbaar, an outfielder from the St. Louis Cardinals, to fill an outfield gap left by Brandon Nimmo's departure. The proposed trade involves sending Mets infield prospect Ronny Mauricio to the Cardinals. This move is suggested as part of the Mets' efforts to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
Key Facts
The Mets traded away outfielder Brandon Nimmo and want to fill the gap in their outfield.
Lars Nootbaar is a 28-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.
The proposed trade would send Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio to the Cardinals in exchange for Nootbaar.
Ronny Mauricio is a top infield prospect who hasn't played much in the major leagues yet.
Lars Nootbaar has been in the major leagues for five years and has shown promise as an outfielder.
Nootbaar is contracted to stay with a team through the 2027 season, offering several years of team control.
The Cardinals are undergoing a rebuilding phase, making the trade appealing for them.
The Mets are also considering other outfielders like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger this offseason.
Marseille will play against Bayeux in a Coupe de France match on January 13, 2025. Marseille is a strong team from France's top football league and will face Bayeux, a team from a much lower league. The match will be broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and streamed on Fubo.
Key Facts
The match between Bayeux and Marseille is part of the Coupe de France tournament.
This game will take place on Tuesday, January 13, 2025, at 3:00 PM EDT.
Bayeux is a sixth-tier team, meaning they play in a lower-level league in France.
Marseille is a top-tier team in France known for being very strong in competitions.
The game will air on FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes, with streaming available on Fubo.
Bayeux beat a third-tier team, Caen, earlier in the competition.
Fubo offers a free trial for streaming live TV, including sports channels.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his knee during a game and had surgery to fix it. He is currently recovering and hopes to return to playing next season. Key team officials believe he may heal faster than the usual recovery time.
Key Facts
Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, got injured in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mahomes tore his ACL, a major knee ligament, ending his season.
His team, the Chiefs, finished the season with a 6-11 record and did not make the playoffs.
Mahomes had surgery on his knee the day after his injury.
Rick Burkholder, a top official in sports medicine for the Chiefs, thinks Mahomes might recover faster than the typical nine months.
Coach Andy Reid says Mahomes is working hard on his recovery.
A photo shared by Mahomes' wife shows him with a brace on his injured leg.
The New York Yankees are considering trades to strengthen their team for the upcoming season. They are focusing on acquiring players MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals and Nico Hoerner from the Chicago Cubs. The trades aim to fill gaps in the Yankees' pitching rotation and improve their infield positions.
Key Facts
The Yankees are seeking to improve their roster before the season starts.
Key players Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt will be absent at the beginning of the season.
The team is looking to add a starting pitcher to cover for these absences.
MacKenzie Gore, a pitcher from the Nationals, is a potential trade target.
Gore was an All-Star last season and is controlled by his team through 2027.
Nico Hoerner, an infielder from the Cubs, is another trade target.
Hoerner has won two Gold Gloves and was a finalist for the Silver Slugger award.
The Cubs may trade Hoerner since they have recently acquired Alex Bregman.
The San Francisco Giants are actively trying to strengthen their team by acquiring a new second baseman for the upcoming season. They are interested in Nico Hoerner from the Chicago Cubs and Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals. Both players had strong performances last year and could help improve the Giants' infield.
Key Facts
The Giants want to improve their second base position for the upcoming season.
They are seeking Nico Hoerner from the Chicago Cubs and Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 2025, the Giants' second basemen had poor performance, with a low batting average.
Nico Hoerner had a standout season in 2025, with a .297 batting average and excellent fielding.
Brendan Donovan also had a strong 2025 season, making his first All-Star Game with a .287 batting average.
Donovan is versatile, able to play multiple positions on the field.
Acquiring either player could help the Giants compete more strongly against rivals like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reece Prescod, a former British sprinter, has joined the Enhanced Games, an event where some athletes can use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. Although he participates, Prescod states he will not take any banned substances. The event has received criticism for potentially harming athletes and undermining fair competition.
Key Facts
Reece Prescod is a former Great Britain sprinter with a personal best of 9.93 seconds in the 100m.
He is participating in the Enhanced Games, set to happen in Las Vegas, where substances banned in regular sports are allowed.
Prescod has confirmed he will not use performance-enhancing drugs at the event.
The Enhanced Games allow drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), unlike lists by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
UK Athletics and WADA have criticized the event as risky for athlete health and fair play.
Prescod asserts that preparation and technique are his priorities over drug use.
The Enhanced Games include athletes like former British swimmer Ben Proud.
Prescod retired due to lack of support and now sees the Games as a way to return to sprinting.
Former England cricketer Stuart Broad says the current England cricket team does not have a drinking problem, even though there have been recent incidents involving alcohol. He emphasized the importance of team support in preventing such situations and questioned the need for a strict midnight curfew.
Key Facts
Stuart Broad, a retired England cricketer, says England's cricket team does not have a drinking culture problem.
England captain Harry Brook was fined for an incident with a bouncer in New Zealand.
Some players were seen drinking during a break in the Ashes series in Noosa.
Broad mentioned that having strong team support can prevent players from getting into trouble.
There are talks about imposing a midnight curfew for players, but Broad thinks it might be too strict.
Broad highlighted that most players like Zak Crawley and Joe Root do not engage in heavy drinking or partying.
England's cricket team has an upcoming tour in Sri Lanka, followed by a T20 World Cup campaign.
The Michigan Wolverines football team, under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, aims to win national championships and is strengthening its roster. They are looking to add a backup quarterback for star player Bryce Underwood due to recent departures. Former LSU quarterback Colin Hurley, a four-star recruit, is a candidate for this position.
Key Facts
Kyle Whittingham became Michigan's head coach in December after Sherrone Moore was dismissed.
The team's goal is to compete for national championships.
Michigan has added players using the transfer portal, focusing on strengthening their lineup.
Bryce Underwood is Michigan's current star quarterback.
Michigan lost backup quarterback Davis Warren and recruit Jadyn Davis, creating a need for another quarterback.
Colin Hurley, originally committed to LSU, is considering transferring to Michigan.
Hurley was a four-star prospect from the Class of 2024.
If Hurley joins, he will likely compete for the backup position with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and others.
The Los Angeles Chargers have fired Greg Roman, their offensive coordinator, following a playoff loss to the New England Patriots. This decision comes after the team scored only 15 points in two playoff games under Roman. Offensive line coach Mike Devlin was also let go.
Key Facts
The Los Angeles Chargers lost to the New England Patriots in the playoffs.
The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after the loss.
Greg Roman worked with the Chargers for two seasons.
The Chargers also fired offensive line coach Mike Devlin.
In two playoff games with Roman as the offensive coordinator, the Chargers scored a total of 15 points.
The team's head coach, Jim Harbaugh, hinted at possible changes after the playoff loss.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to make the playoffs for the 14th year in a row by 2026, according to ESPN projections. They have a 95.3% chance of reaching the postseason and a 22.2% chance of winning the championship three times in a row. The team has strengthened its lineup by signing new players but needs to address the issue of having an older roster.
Key Facts
ESPN projects the Dodgers have a 95.3% chance of making the 2026 playoffs.
The Dodgers have a 22.2% chance to win three consecutive championships by 2026.
Recently, the team signed Edwin Diaz, an All-Star closer, to a three-year contract.
L.A.'s current pitching staff ranks as the best, and its offense ranks second.
The team’s position players are the oldest in Major League Baseball.
The Dodgers are considering bringing in younger players like Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim.
Signing free agent Kyle Tucker could help them add youth and athleticism.
Fans from Senegal and the Ivory Coast face challenges attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. due to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump's administration. The travel restrictions affect several countries, but exceptions exist for players and team officials. Fans hope the situation changes before the tournament starts.
Key Facts
The U.S., along with Canada and Mexico, is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Senegal and Ivory Coast fans face entry restrictions to the U.S. due to a travel ban by the Trump administration.
The travel ban cites "screening and vetting deficiencies" as the reason for restrictions.
Exceptions to the ban include players, team officials, and their immediate family members.
Fans from other countries on the travel ban list, like Iran and Haiti, also face entry barriers.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae remains hopeful that fans will be allowed in by the World Cup start.
Senegal's first World Cup game is scheduled against France in New Jersey.
Supporters are waiting to see if conditions change permitting their attendance at the matches.
UK Sport aims for Team GB to win up to eight medals at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy. The current record for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics is five medals. UK Sport also expects to win between two to five medals at the Winter Paralympics in March.
Key Facts
Team GB is targeting four to eight medals at the Winter Olympics in February.
The current record for Winter Olympic medals for Team GB is five, set in Sochi 2014 and matched in Pyeongchang.
UK Sport wants to win two to five medals at the Winter Paralympics in March.
The Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22.
The Winter Paralympics will be held from March 6 to March 15.
UK Sport has invested over £32.5 million from the National Lottery and government funds in winter sports.
Key athletes include Matt Weston, snowboarder Mia Brookes, and freestyle skiers Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin.
Menna Fitzpatrick, a decorated Paralympian, is recovering from a knee injury as she aims to compete.
The Florida Gators football team hired Jon Sumrall as their new head coach after Billy Napier was fired during the 2025 season. Urban Meyer, a former Florida coach, praised Sumrall as one of the best coaching hires this year. Meyer noted that Sumrall's teams are known for their toughness and competitive spirit.
Key Facts
The Florida Gators hired Jon Sumrall as their head coach.
The team fired their previous coach, Billy Napier, after starting the season 3-4.
Urban Meyer, who won championships with Florida in 2006 and 2008, praised Sumrall.
Meyer ranked Sumrall as the second-best coaching hire of the year.
Meyer highlighted Sumrall's strong winning record and coaching style.
Sumrall mentioned that Meyer helped in recruiting him to Florida.
Matt Ryan, the former NFL quarterback, now serves as the team president of the Atlanta Falcons. In his new role, Ryan discussed focusing on hiring the right people for the team while also making a light-hearted comment about not returning to play like Philip Rivers. Ryan's responsibilities include making key team decisions, such as hiring a new general manager and head coach after recent firings.
Key Facts
Matt Ryan is the new president of the Atlanta Falcons.
Ryan is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Falcons and Colts.
Philip Rivers, another former quarterback, recently returned to the NFL for the Colts but did not lead them to the postseason.
Ryan joked about not returning to play, unlike Rivers.
The Falcons recently finished the season with a 7-9 record.
The team fired its general manager and head coach after the season ended.
Ryan's job includes hiring new staff and making decisions on player trades and drafts.
