Netflix streamed NFL games on Christmas Day, but many users complained about streaming issues like buffering and poor picture quality. Viewers also criticized Netflix's production choices during the games. Despite the issues, a large audience watched the games, setting streaming records.
Key Facts
Netflix streamed two NFL games on Christmas Day.
Users reported buffering, poor picture quality, and trouble with streaming devices.
There were issues with audio and difficulties using captions.
Viewers also disliked Netflix's production choices during the games.
Netflix signed a multi-season deal to stream NFL Christmas games.
Despite problems, the games reached about 65 million viewers in the U.S.
These viewership numbers set streaming records for regular-season NFL games.
The Toronto Blue Jays have strengthened their pitching options by signing two new players, raising questions about the future of Max Scherzer with the team. There is speculation that Scherzer, a seasoned pitcher, might join the San Francisco Giants due to his connection with their manager and the team's need for experienced pitchers.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to long-term deals for their pitching rotation.
The Blue Jays have several options for starting pitchers, including Shane Bieber and Kevin Gausman.
Max Scherzer, an experienced pitcher, might not be re-signed by the Blue Jays.
There is a possibility Scherzer could join the San Francisco Giants, as he has a personal connection with their manager, Tony Vitello.
Scherzer had a 5.19 regular-season ERA but performed well in the postseason for the Blue Jays.
Scherzer is an 18-year veteran, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and future Hall of Famer.
The New York Mets are planning to use their top young players, known as prospects, in their Major League roster by 2026. Key players, like Carson Benge and Nolan McLean, are expected to have significant roles in the team's future. The Mets have been active in trading and signing players but still need to fill some gaps with their prospects.
Key Facts
The Mets traded Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to other teams.
They signed new players, including Jorge Polanco and Devin Williams.
The Mets have four top prospects in Major League Baseball's Top 100 list.
Carson Benge is a top hitting prospect showing promise in minor leagues.
Nolan McLean debuted in 2025 with a strong pitching record.
The Mets aim to integrate their minor league players into the Major Leagues by 2026.
The potential use of prospects could help the Mets return to the postseason.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki, a famous Japanese golfer, passed away at 78 due to colon cancer. He was celebrated for his achievements in golf, winning the most titles on the Japan Golf Tour and reaching a high world ranking during his career.
Key Facts
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki died at age 78 from colon cancer.
He was recognized as Japan’s greatest male golfer.
Ozaki won 94 titles on the Japan Golf Tour, the most in its history.
He achieved 113 wins worldwide, the most by any Japanese player.
In 1996, he reached No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
His best result in major championships was tied for sixth at the 1989 U.S. Open.
He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Ozaki helped increase interest in golf in Japan with his style and charisma.
The New York Mets have met with free agent pitcher Framber Valdez, who has played for the Houston Astros since 2018. Valdez, known for his consistent performance, is in discussions with various teams despite a controversial incident that occurred during a game this past season. The Mets, in need of starting pitchers, might sign Valdez despite concerns about his character.
Key Facts
The Mets are interested in signing Framber Valdez, a top free agent pitcher.
Valdez has played for the Houston Astros since 2018 and is a two-time All-Star.
Other teams like the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles have also shown interest in Valdez.
Valdez had a strong performance in the 2022 season with a 3.23 ERA over 154 games.
A September incident, where Valdez accidentally hit his catcher with a pitch, raised character concerns about him.
Valdez is sharing a video to reassure teams of his positive character.
Despite character concerns, Valdez's talent makes him a valuable addition to teams needing pitchers.
The New Mexico Lobos will play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. This is the first time these two college football teams are competing against each other. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for Friday, December 26, 2025, at 4:30 PM ET.
You can watch it on TV channels ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
You can also stream it live on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Key players for New Mexico are defensive ends Keyshawn James-Newby and Brett Karhu.
James-Newby leads in sacks with 8.0 and has 13 tackles for a loss.
Minnesota's quarterback Drake Lindsey threw for 2,235 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
This is the first time New Mexico and Minnesota are playing against each other in football.
The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in a close finish. This victory involved a tight race against last year's winner Banbridge and the favorite Gaelic Warrior.
Key Facts
The Jukebox Man had only one previous race in 2025, which he won.
The race ended with a photo-finish among The Jukebox Man, Banbridge, and Gaelic Warrior.
Ben Jones rode The Jukebox Man, who had 7-1 odds.
The prize for the victory was £142,375.
Harry Redknapp expressed great excitement and described the win as a dream.
Joint-favorite Jango Baie nearly caught up with the leading trio at the end.
Redknapp, 78, felt disbelief and joy after the win.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson addressed remarks made by quarterback Caleb Williams about a "fragile" relationship between them earlier in the season. Johnson stated that such relationships sometimes take time to develop and that he supports Williams and the team. Despite a less than ideal start to the season, the Bears have improved and are aiming for the NFL playoffs.
Key Facts
Ben Johnson is the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Caleb Williams described his relationship with Johnson earlier in the season as "fragile."
Johnson responded by saying it takes time for relationships to develop.
Williams realized Johnson is committed to the team and winning.
The Bears had a poor start to the season with losses against the Vikings and Lions.
The team's performance improved as Williams and Johnson developed better communication.
The Bears are now in contention for a playoff spot this season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his players for staying disciplined during the Christmas break. He mentioned that players were weighed before their match against Nottingham Forest to ensure fitness. Guardiola also discussed potential transfers and ongoing injuries within the team.
Key Facts
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, praised his players for staying in shape during the Christmas break.
Players were weighed to check their fitness before the match against Nottingham Forest.
Erling Haaland shared a weight update on social media, confirming his fitness.
Guardiola previously disciplined players for not meeting weight targets, indicating the importance of fitness in the team.
Manchester City could become the Premier League leaders if they win against Nottingham Forest.
The team is also advancing in other competitions, such as the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Manchester City is interested in signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the January transfer window.
Key players, John Stones and Jeremy Doku, are out with injuries, but midfielder Rodri is improving and may play soon.
The college football transfer portal is set to open on January 2nd, and many top college quarterbacks are expected to enter. Notable quarterbacks considering transferring have been listed, including their career stats.
Key Facts
The college football transfer portal will open on January 2, 2026.
Fernando Mendoza, a previous transfer, became a Heisman winner at Indiana.
The transfer portal allows college football players to switch schools.
Notable quarterbacks entering the portal include Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby, and Aidan Chiles.
Career stats for these players include thousands of passing yards and multiple touchdowns across several seasons.
Schools in the Power Four conferences are especially interested in acquiring top quarterback talent through the portal.
Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen is set to play against the Philadelphia Eagles after being listed with a foot injury earlier in the week. The Bills are vying for better playoff positioning in the AFC, and this game is crucial for their seeding. Several Bills players are ruled out due to injuries, but Allen's full participation is a positive sign for the team.
Key Facts
Josh Allen was previously listed with a right-foot injury but is now ready to play this week.
The Bills face the Philadelphia Eagles in a key game impacting playoff seeding.
Buffalo has a record of 11-4 and is competing for higher playoff positioning.
The team recently won against the Cleveland Browns with a score of 23-20.
Key defensive players for the Bills, including Jordan Phillips and DaQuan Jones, are ruled out.
Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox are listed as questionable for the upcoming game.
Josh Allen has achieved 3,406 passing yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
The Bills can potentially improve their playoff seeding based on their performance and other teams’ results.
The University of Michigan is set to hire Kyle Whittingham as their new head football coach after firing Sherrone Moore. Whittingham, who recently stepped down from his long-term position at Utah, is viewed by some as a short-term solution due to his age.
Key Facts
The University of Michigan is finalizing a deal with Kyle Whittingham to be their new head football coach.
Michigan recently fired their former head coach, Sherrone Moore, earlier in December.
Whittingham has been Utah's head coach for 21 years and announced his departure after the Las Vegas Bowl.
ESPN analyst Kevin Clark discussed the hire, noting Whittingham as not a long-term solution but perhaps beneficial in the short term.
Clark describes Whittingham as an improvement over Moore, highlighting his strong coaching record.
Whittingham is 66 years old, which some see as a potential limitation for long-term planning.
He is credited with providing "instant credibility" due to his past success in a tough conference.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are close to securing their division in the NFL. They can win the AFC North either by defeating the Cleveland Browns or if the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers praised rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders ahead of their upcoming game.
Key Facts
The Pittsburgh Steelers need one more win to secure the AFC North title.
They can also secure the title if the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers will play against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Shedeur Sanders is the rookie quarterback for the Browns, having replaced Dillon Gabriel.
Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers' quarterback, expressed support for Shedeur Sanders and has followed his career.
Rodgers joined Pittsburgh on a one-year deal and suggested this could be his last season in the NFL.
Rodgers will face Shedeur, who is the son of former NFL player Deion Sanders, in an upcoming game.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, marking their third loss in a row. Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed strong criticism of the team's performance, which former NBA player Kendrick Perkins also criticized. The Lakers have struggled with defense and have not effectively supported key player Luka Doncic's style of play.
Key Facts
The Lakers lost their third consecutive game on Christmas Day to the Houston Rockets.
The team has a current season record of 19 wins and 10 losses.
Coach JJ Redick was visibly upset, criticizing the team's lack of professionalism.
Kendrick Perkins, an ESPN pundit, criticized Redick for not taking responsibility for losses.
The Lakers have consistently struggled defensively, especially against teams with young, athletic players.
Luka Doncic, noted as a top player, does not have enough complementary support from the current roster.
The Lakers started the season strong with a 15-4 record but have won only 4 of their last 10 games.
Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios will face off in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition tennis match in Dubai. The match will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday, with unique rules to accommodate the competition between the top female and a former male tennis player.
Key Facts
Aryna Sabalenka is the women's world number one tennis player.
Nick Kyrgios is a former Wimbledon finalist from Australia.
The match will occur at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Sunday at 7.45 pm local time.
This exhibition match is inspired by the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
Rules for the match include players having only one serve, and Sabalenka’s side of the court will be 9 percent smaller.
The game will be a best-of-three-sets contest, with a 10-point tiebreaker if needed.
Sabalenka expressed excitement to represent women's tennis, while Kyrgios is confident about winning.
The Indianapolis Colts face a challenging situation with key players injured as they try to make the playoffs. DeForest Buckner, a leading defensive player, needs neck surgery and will miss the rest of the season. The Colts need to win their final two games and rely on other teams losing to have a chance at the playoffs.
Key Facts
The Colts currently have an 8-7 record and are third in the AFC South.
The team's quarterback, Daniel Jones, is out for the season with an Achilles injury.
All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner has played only three games due to a calf injury.
DeForest Buckner, a key defensive player, needs neck surgery and will not play again this season.
Buckner was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and later traded to the Colts.
The Colts need to win their final two games to finish with a 10-7 record for a playoff chance.
Indianapolis must also depend on other teams losing if they are to secure a wild-card spot.
Manchester United will play against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2025. Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, is injured and will not play. Newcastle has also faced several injuries but managed a draw against Chelsea recently.
Key Facts
The match between Manchester United and Newcastle United is set for December 26, 2025.
The game will take place at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United's captain, is out due to an injury.
Newcastle also has many injured players but managed a draw against Chelsea last week.
Newcastle won five of their last six matches against Manchester United.
Manchester United has only won two of their last eight matches, dropping them to seventh in the league.
The game will be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Regional restrictions may apply for viewing the match online.
Caesars Sportsbook is offering a promotion where new users can get a bet match up to $250 when they sign up using the promo code NEWSWK250BM. This allows users to place bets on sports like the NBA, NHL, and college football, among others. Additional betting boosts are available for various sports events during the weekend.
Key Facts
Caesars Sportsbook offers a promo for new users using code NEWSWK250BM.
Users receive a 100% match on their first bet, up to $250.
The bet match applies to NBA, NHL, college football, and other sports.
The promo is available through account sign-up on computers or mobile devices.
Users must deposit at least $10 using various payment methods to qualify.
Additional betting boosts are available for specific sports events over the weekend.
The original bet does not need to win for users to receive the bonus.
LSU Tigers' head coach Lane Kiffin is expected to use the college football transfer portal to find a new quarterback for the 2026 season. Kiffin is reportedly interested in DJ Lagway from Florida and Sam Leavitt from Arizona State. Leavitt is seen as a potential fit due to his previous success with Kiffin's coaching style.
Key Facts
The college football transfer portal allows players to move between teams, similar to free agency in professional sports.
Lane Kiffin is the head coach for the LSU Tigers football team.
Kiffin is looking for a quarterback to lead LSU in the 2026 season.
DJ Lagway, a former five-star recruit from Florida, is one potential candidate.
Sam Leavitt from Arizona State is another quarterback Kiffin is considering.
Leavitt missed much of the 2025 season due to injuries but has been successful in the past.
The decision could impact the LSU Tigers' chances in the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2026.
The article covers a betting preview for the NFL Week 17 game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers. It includes the current betting odds, team performance, and key players' recent performances. The preview discusses the strengths of both teams, focusing on their defense and recent winning streaks.
Key Facts
The game between the Texans and Chargers is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.
The betting odds are close, with the Chargers slightly favored at -1.5, and the Texans at +1.5.
The Texans are on a seven-game winning streak, with their defense ranked high in several categories.
The Chargers can win their division if they beat the Texans and the Broncos in their final games.
Justin Herbert, the Chargers' quarterback, has faced significant pressure in recent games but continues to lead his team to victories.
The article suggests the game will be competitive, possibly decided by a small margin like a field goal.
The betting preview favors the Texans at +1.5 and suggests the first-half under for total points may offer value.
