When you’re winning, everything feels great as you head back to the locker room after the game. 

But, for Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, every win to finish off the regular season could mean a contract extension. And a warm embrace with owner Jerry Jones has football fans wondering if that’s on the horizon. 

McCarthy and Jones were spotted giving each other a big hug after the Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-24, on "Sunday Night Football."

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There were big smiles as they embraced, but Jones also seemed to get serious when talking with McCarthy, though the microphones couldn’t pick up what he was saying. From the looks of things, it was one of those good, serious conversations as the Cowboys moved to 7-8 on the year. 

Now, the reality of this season is the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention, which isn’t something Jones or anyone in the organization expected to see by the end of Week 17. 

However, McCarthy has rejuvenated what was once a team deflated at 3-7 after losing to the Houston Texans on Nov. 18.

COWBOYS MAKE CLUTCH DEFENSIVE PLAYS TO STYMIE BUCS, PULL OFF WIN

Dallas has won four of its last five games, doing so without franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, whose hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 3 required surgery to repair, ending his 2024 campaign prematurely. 

Jones has loved what he’s seen from his owner’s box in recent weeks.

"Those guys came out and played as though they were fighting in the championship game to go to the Super Bowl," Jones said after the win, per Yahoo Sports. "I can’t tell you how proud I am of them and the coaching staff. It really shows me something."

During his media availability, McCarthy spoke about that locker room he was just in, and how he feels his group is still playing like it’s the last play of the season, even if playoffs are not in the picture. 

"I just think that shows you who they are," McCarthy explained. "I think everybody says the coach is always talking highly of the locker room – well, this is what I’m talking about. When I talk about, ‘It’s a great locker room,’ this is the definition of it. This is what a great locker room looks like."

Quite the turnaround for McCarthy, who appeared to be all but out the door as the Cowboys kept moving closer to a top draft pick rather than a playoff spot. But despite the tribulations of 2024, McCarthy has gotten the stamp of approval from Prescott and others regarding a contract extension. 

Jones himself even commented on McCarthy’s contract status recently, saying near Thanksgiving that he didn’t feel extending him would be "crazy at all." After all, McCarthy has gone 12-5 in each of the last three seasons before this one, which could still be a year above .500. 

Two more weeks remain on McCarthy’s current deal, and if Dallas finishes strong against the NFC East’s two likely playoff teams – the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders – perhaps he will continue to lead "America’s Team" into the future. 

As the saying goes, end the year on a high note. McCarthy has his 'Boys playing accordingly.

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San Jose State women’s volleyball star Brooke Slusser warned the NCAA after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the organization over transgender inclusion in women’s sports.

Paxton filed the lawsuit on Sunday, accusing the organization of deceptive marketing practices for allowing transgender women to compete against biological females. Paxton said in a news release the NCAA violated the Texas Trade Practices Act "which exists to protect consumers from businesses attempting to mislead or trick them into purchasing goods or services that are not as advertised."

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Slusser, who was a part of a lawsuit against her own school and the NCAA for allowing a transgender woman on the Spartans’ roster this season, posted about Paxton’s suit.

"Hey NCAA, just in case you haven’t realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!" Slusser wrote on X.

Slusser and other plaintiffs had asked a judge to grant an injunction to prohibit Blaire Fleming from competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball tournament last month, but they were denied.

SJSU RESPONDS TO VOLLEYBALL PLAYER MASS EXODUS AFTER TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL ROCKED PROGRAM

San Jose State made it to the finals of the tournament but lost to Colorado State.

Paxton accused the NCAA of "engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as ‘women’s’ competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females."

"The NCAA is intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and well-being of women by deceptively changing women’s competitions into co-ed competitions," Paxton said in a statement. "When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women – not biological males pretending to be something they are not. Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports."

Paxton said he was seeking a court to grant a permanent injunction to prohibit the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports in Texas or "involving Texas teams, or alternatively requiring the NCAA to stop marketing events as ‘women’s’ when in fact they are mixed sex competitions," the news release said.

The NCAA released a statement to Fox News Digital later Sunday.

"College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships," the organization said.

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reflected on the team’s close loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and how the team stays focused on the final two games of the regular season.

Rodgers had 256 passing yards and a touchdown pass as the Jets fell to the Rams, 19-9. He was asked about how the team will keep a positive mindset with the season nearing its end and New York out of contention for the playoffs.

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"I think we’re kinda past the ‘keeping it positive’ thing," Rodgers said, via SNY. "I think it’s just about perspective. Perspective informs your truth and your truth makes your reality. 

"So, the reality of the situation is what it is, but your perspective is what you can change every single day. So, what you’re focusing on is the most important thing now. It’s not to change the reality of the situation – being 4-11, out of the playoffs, going into an unknown offseason."

Rodgers then spoke about what the next two weeks will mean in terms of building for the future of the organization.

SAM DARNOLD'S REMARKABLE TD PASS TO JUSTIN JEFFERSON HELPS VIKINGS EDGE SEAHAWKS

"You gotta figure out what it means to be a professional," he said. "That's an important part of building culture. The last two weeks we can really see who's on board moving forward and who is ready to get out. It’s just part of the game. I’ve been on a couple of teams who were out of it, and it’s interesting to watch the practice habits, the preparation habits. 

"Hopefully, we’ll do the right thing, and it means a lot because everybody’s watching, and it’s a who-you-know business. There will be interesting conversations in the next couple of weeks, but just focus on the relationships we have with each other and try to finish this thing out like a pro."

The Jets underwent dramatic changes during the season, from the dismissal of their head coach and general manager to a major trade for Davante Adams.

The team could see more changes as Garrett Wilson has been noncommittal about his future with the team.

New York is 4-11 on the year.

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The Dallas Cowboys threw a wrench into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division title hopes on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered the most.

Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks. In the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to final some last-minute gusto, saw running back Rachaad White get stripped by DaRon Bland.

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The two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas solidify a 26-24 win.

Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.

Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdown passes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

SAM DARNOLD'S REMARKABLE TD PASS TO JUSTIN JEFFERSON HELPS VIKINGS EDGE SEAHAWKS

Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.

The Cowboys were only held to three points in the second half but did enough to crush Tampa Bay’s hopes when it mattered the most.

Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game started but they were determined enough to make it more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.

The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay twice this season.

With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints left on the schedule.

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In January, Nick Saban sent shock waves through the college football landscape when he announced he would step away from the sidelines. Shortly after the legendary coach retired, Saban officially joined ESPN. 

While Saban works primarily as an analyst for the network's long-running and popular pregame program, "College GameDay," he also contributes to NFL Draft coverage and makes appearances on other ESPN shows and platforms. The last segment of an episode of "College GameDay" typically features a celebrity guest who offers their picks for some of the upcoming games.

On Friday, comedian Shane Gillis was tapped as the guest picker. But at one point during his appearance, one of the funnyman's jokes seemed to irritate Saban.

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During a discussion about the state of college football, Gillis cited the relatively new "parity" that exists in the sport. But during his remarks, Gillis also seemed to assert that either Saban or perhaps the Alabama football program as a whole orchestrated or turned a blind eye if players received improper payments.

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"This feels different, it feels like we can win it," Gillis said. "There’s a parity, now that everybody can pay their players, Notre Dame has a shot. It’s not just the SEC, it’s not Coach Saban." The seven-time national championship winning coach was not present when Gillis made the comments.

However, fellow ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee eventually reminded Gillis about what he said.

"You called him a cheater earlier," McAfee noted.

While Gillis said he made the comments in jest, Saban appeared to take offense to the suggestion that players were inappropriately compensated under his watch. 

"I was just joking around," Gillis said. "I don’t think the SEC paid players. Ever. I’m joking. Is this not a fun show?"

Gillis eventually turned his attention to Saban's attire, particularly the retired coach's hat.

"Ol' Alabama Jones is being serious," Gillis joked in an apparent reference to the hat that has become synonymous with the fictional character Indiana Jones.

Saban then offered a straightforward response to Gillis' joke concerning how he ran the Alabama program during his 17-year run.

"I do believe in integrity. I always tried to run the program that way so players had a better chance to be successful in life," Saban said. "We make more money in the NFL than any other school, 61 players in the league. That was how we cheated. We developed players."

Saban won six national titles during his storied tenure in Tuscaloosa. Before taking the head coaching job at Alabama, Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship Game after the 2003 regular season.

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Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud took a shot at Elon Musk and other billionaires in posts on social media on Sunday after the passage of a stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown.

Musk and President-elect Donald Trump led the conservative rebellion against the initial plan to avert a partial shutdown, a bipartisan deal that came from negotiations between the top two Democrats and Republicans in both congressional chambers.

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That bill, 1,547 pages, would have extended current government funding levels until March 14. However, GOP hardliners were angered by what they saw as unrelated measures attached to the bill, like a pay raise for congressional lawmakers, health care policy provisions and legislation aimed at revitalizing RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. 

It was scrapped as Trump and Musk threatened to force out of office any lawmaker who did not support pairing a CR with action on the debt limit.

It caused a huge controversy in the political arena hours before the House eventually passed the bill.

Cloud weighed in days later.

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"So when y’all gone tell Elon to go back to Africa?" Cloud wrote on X.

"Im so glad ALL these billionaires have no idea how the 3 branches of government work….or how a bill gets passed into law. Shoutout to the 38 Republicans who shot the bill down in the House while being threatened & blackmailed."

All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, except Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who voted "present."

Cloud has been outspoken about the U.S. in the past. After Trump won the election, she took a swipe at women who voted for the Republican candidate.

"The privilege of celebrating rn is exactly what’s wrong with us as people," she added. "I am truly worried about my fundamental human rights.

"Racism, misogyny, and hatred of women are so deeply rooted into everything that is America. Until we fix the roots…it will never grow."

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was able to do enough to help the team eke out a victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, 27-24.

It was a game both teams needed to win to keep pace in their respective division title races. Minnesota needed to match the Detroit Lions after they won earlier in the day and Seattle needed to win to match the Los Angeles Rams after they also won earlier in the day.

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It was the Vikings’ game.

Seahawks veteran quarterback Geno Smith found A.J. Barner for a 4-yard touchdown pass to take the lead with 4:21 left. It was an 11-play drive that lasted more than six minutes.

Darnold responded. In just four plays, Darnold somehow found Justin Jefferson with two Seahawks defenders around him and snuck the ball through the tightest of windows. Jefferson caught it and ran into the end zone for a touchdown.

The 39-yard touchdown pass put the Vikings back up three points.

BENGALS FAN WINS ENTIRE STADIUM FREE PIZZA AS CINCINNATI KEEPS PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE WITH WIN OVER BROWNS

Seattle had a chance to tie the game. Jason Myers received an opportunity to give Seattle three points late with a 60-yard field goal try. But he was just a few yards short of making it and the Seahawks lost.

Darnold was 22-of-35 with 246 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Jefferson had two of those three touchdown passes and Jordan Addison had the other. Jefferson finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and Addison had five catches for 35 yards.

Smith was as remarkable as he could be. He finished 31-of-43 passing for 314 yards and three touchdown passes. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf had the other touchdown passes.

Minnesota improved to 13-2 on the season. Seattle fell to 8-7.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson had one last parting gift for Washington Commanders fans at Northwest Stadium on Sunday: two middle fingers.

Gardner-Johnson received a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second half and was kicked out of the game. He appeared to get into a scuffle with Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown and was pushed in the helmet. Gardner-Johnson still received the penalty.

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He responded to the incident on X.

"Respectfully got kicked out for nothing, I play with passion and fire!! Guys was chirping all day what u expect !!" he wrote.

The safety had three interceptions, a forced fumble and 57 total tackles for the Eagles this season coming into the game against the Commanders. 

He added another interception to his total against Washington.

MICHAEL PENIX JR PICKS UP FIRST CAREER VICTORY AS STARTER AS FALCONS TROUNCE GIANTS

Losing Gardner-Johnson may have been as detrimental to the Eagles’ defense as losing Jalen Hurts was to the offense. Philadelphia led by 10 points when Gardner-Johnson was ejected and scored another three when they got the ball back after a fumble.

Jayden Daniels threw three of his five touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. The Commanders scored 22 points in the final frame and stunned the Eagles, 36-33.

"We didn't do enough," Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said. "We left a lot of plays out there, including myself."

The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One Cincinnati Bengals left Sunday’s game a hero. 

A fan wearing an Evan McPherson jersey won everyone in Paycor Stadium a free pizza after kicking a 40-yard field goal. 

The man, who hasn’t been identified, was taking part in the Bengals’ "Slice the Uprights" field goal challenge that gives fans the chance to win free pizza. A successful attempt from the 10-yard line gives the kicker free pizza for a year, and a successful attempt from the 30-yard line gives the entire stadium a free slice. 

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But fans on Sunday had more than just pizza to celebrate about. 

Joe Burrow went 23-of-30 for 252 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Cleveland Browns, 24-6, and keep their playoff hopes alive. Ja'Marr Chase had six catches for 97 yards and one touchdown to bring his total yardage to 1,510 this season, breaking the franchise record of 1,455 he set in 2021.

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Kicker Cade York, who took the place of an injured McPherson this month, also set a record with his second-quarter 59-yard field goal. He tied the franchise record McPherson set in 2022. 

The Bengals improved to 7-8 and move on to host the Denver Broncos next. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The New York Rangers recalled hard-hitting defenseman Matt Rempe back to the main roster on Friday and three days later he finds himself suspended for eight games.

Rempe elbowed and boarded Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen during New York’s 3-1 win on Friday night. He was given a game misconduct for the play.

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The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced he was suspended for eight games for the play. He was also fined $80,000. The league said Rempe was considered to be a repeat offender. He has only played in 22 career regular-season games and he’s been ejected four times.

Rempe spent a majority of the season playing in the American Hockey League for the Rangers’ affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He started the season with New York but didn’t last long with the team. He was recalled briefly in November before being sent down again.

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Friday night’s win was Rempe’s first game with the Rangers since Nov. 25. He had three goals, two assists and 22 penalty minutes in 18 games with Hartford.

He became extremely popular among Rangers fans late last season and into the postseason because of his hard-nosed style of play. He was ejected twice and received a four-game suspension for an elbow to the head of New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in March.

The 2020 sixth-round pick has no points and 24 penalty minutes in five games for New York.

The Rangers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, 3-1. The team is 16-16-1 this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Sunday and accused the collegiate organization of deceptive marketing practices for including transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Paxton said in a news release the NCAA violated the Texas Trade Practices Act "which exists to protect consumers from businesses attempting to mislead or trick them into purchasing goods or services that are not as advertised."

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He accused the NCAA of "engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as ‘women’s’ competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females."

"The NCAA is intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women by deceptively changing women’s competitions into co-ed competitions," Paxton said in a statement. "When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women—not biological males pretending to be something they are not. Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports."

FATHER OF FEMALE RUNNER FORCED TO COMPETE WITH TRANS ATHLETE SHARES FURY OF SITUATION: 'CAN'T EVEN DIGEST IT'

Paxton said he was seeking a court to grant a permanent injunction to prohibit the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports in Texas or "involving Texas teams, or alternatively requiring the NCAA to stop marketing events as "women’s" when in fact they are mixed sex competitions," the news release said.

The NCAA released a statement to Fox News Digital later Sunday.

"College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships," the organization said.

NCAA President Charlie Baker was grilled over transgender participation in sports while he was on Capitol Hill last week. He was also asked about it during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

When McAfee asked Baker how the parents of daughters should feel about trans athletes in women's sports and the NCAA's record on it, Baker downplayed the impact.

"There are 510,000 college athletes playing in the NCAA, there are less than 10 transgender athletes, so it's a small community to begin with," Baker said.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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The Washington Commanders never lost hope and were able to dig out from five turnovers to turn around and stun the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 36-33.

Jayden Daniels had five touchdown passes in the game, three of which came in the fourth quarter. The Commanders were down 27-14 as the final quarter started. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus to inch the team closer.

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The Commanders forced the Eagles to punt on their next drive. Daniels then found Zaccheaus for a 49-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. For another six minutes, Washington was in control but back-to-back field goals from Eagles kicker Jake Elliott gave Philadelphia a lead with under two minutes to go.

Daniels then led Washington down the field on nine plays and found wide receiver Jamison Crowder with enough space in the end zone to make the go-ahead grab with six seconds left in the game. The Commanders took the three-point lead and they won the game.

Daniels was 24-of-39 with 258 passing yards. Along with his five touchdown passes, he also threw two interceptions.

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Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. had two fumbles lost and wide receiver Dyami Brown had one, contributing to the large turnover number.

But Washington ultimately benefited from Philadelphia losing quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first quarter due to a concussion. Kenny Pickett subbed in for him and had 143 passing yards, a touchdown pass, an interception and three sacks.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns. But the Eagles’ offense looked a bit anemic after scoring 21 points in the first quarter.

A.J. Brown led the team with eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Washington improved to 10-5. It’s their first 10-win season since 2012. The Eagles fell to 12-3.

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Welcome to the NFL, Michael Penix Jr.

The rookie quarterback was thrust into the Atlanta Falcons’ starting role earlier this week as Kirk Cousins’ struggles became too much for the team to bear. Penix got his first start against the New York Giants and picked up a win even as he battled through some rookie troubles.

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Penix was 18-of-27 with 207 passing yards and one interception, but he wasn’t sacked. 

Atlanta defeated New York, 34-7.

The Falcons got on the board with a field goal following an eight-play, 36-yard drive in the second quarter. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III returned a Drew Lock interception for a touchdown to take the lead. Atlanta didn’t look back from there.

Penix’s 19-yard pass to Darnell Mooney helped setup Bijan Robinson for the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Falcons took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

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Robinson scored again in the third quarter. He finished with 94 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Mooney led the way with five catches for 82 yards.

It was the Falcons’ second straight win. They defeated the Las Vegas Raiders last week following a four-game losing streak. The Falcons are now 8-7 on the season.

For the Giants, the lowly season continued. 

Lock was 22-of-39 with 210 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. But the lethargic offense was only able to have one drive out of 11 turn into points.

The defense didn’t help matters either. The Falcons had nine drives and 22 first downs. New York only had 14 first downs on 11 drives.

It was a good win to get for the rookie quarterback who will need to establish confidence fast if the Falcons are to win the NFC South and make the playoffs this season.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders with a concussion after appearing to hit his head on the ground in the first quarter. 

Hurts was scrambling on second-and-20 when he was tackled by Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of his 13-yard run. The contact forced Hurts’ head to bounce off the ground. 

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He was evaluated on the sideline before entering the medical tent. Hurts was then taken to the locker room and officially ruled out with a concussion. 

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was traded to the Eagles in March, replaced Hurts and completed the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Brown. 

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Hurts completed just one pass for 11 yards and ran for 41 before exiting Sunday’s contest. 

The Eagles entered the second half with a 21-14 lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Charlie Woods, the son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, had his own iconic golf moment at the PNC Championship on Sunday when he made his first ever hole-in-one. 

Charlie, 15, delivered the first ace of his young career on the par-3 fourth hole at the Ritz-Carlton Club Orlando during the final round of the tournament, which the father and son duo entered the day leading. 

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After teeing off, Charlie walked away seemingly satisfied with his shot. That was until the crowds began cheering, signaling that he had nailed a hole-in-one. 

"That went in?" he asked in disbelief. 

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Woods, also in disbelief, embraced his son with a big hug as he shouted, "Yeah!" 

This weekend marks the fifth straight year Woods and his son are playing the 36-hole tournament. It is also Woods’ first tournament since having his sixth lower back surgery in September. 

They continue to share the lead through the front nine on Sunday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth with their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, but head coach John Harbaugh had an important message to share before he addressed the team’s success on the field. 

Speaking to reporters after the 34-17 victory, Harbaugh began with something he said was "important" to him and many people around the world. And that was to acknowledge the spirit of Christmas.

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"I read this to the team in our postgame prayer and it's this – this is Mary. Mary, the mother of God, said this when she was with Elizabeth. She said this, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.’ So, I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, happy holiday season, and rejoice," he said. 

"Rejoice. Rejoice in life. Rejoice in your circumstances. Rejoice in the tough games. Rejoice in the losses. Rejoice in the wins like we’re blessed to do today as a football team, and just rejoice in the people that you love, the people that are close to you. Rejoice. We aren’t here on this Earth to worry about every little thing and spar with one another. We’re here to rejoice in one another and with one another and love one another. Let’s try to remember that this week. This is a big football week – it’s also a big life week. It’s a big spiritual week."  

The Ravens will return on a short week to play the Houston Texans on Christmas Day.

RAVENS TAKE DOWN STEELERS TO KEEP AFC NORTH RACE OPEN

The game comes after a big win over division rival Pittsburgh in what could’ve meant the Steelers clinching the division title with a win. Instead, the Steelers and Ravens are now deadlocked. 

"I feel like we've been busting our behind all season long, had ups and downs throughout this whole season, but to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that's great," quarterback Lamar Jackson said. "That means we're moving in the right direction."

Jackson improved to 2-4 against the Steelers as a starter and recorded his NFL-leading 37th touchdown. 

The Steelers will also play Christmas day against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was distraught after witnessing teammate and friend Tank Dell suffer a gruesome leg injury during the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon. 

The injury, which is expected to be season-ending, had a visible impact on the team and Stroud. 

The second-year quarterback was brought to tears and had to be consoled by his other teammates. 

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When asked after the game how he was able to recover from the heartbreaking scene, Stroud spoke about his faith. 

"All you can do is really pray. At the end of the day, God still gets the glory. Always, no matter what happens to me, I always know that I’m even up here because of the grace of Jesus and the grace of who He is in my life and Tank’s life. For anything how it goes, left or right or up or down, I always have to praise my Lord and Savior."

"It’s not easy to move on and just keep playing, but I tried to do as best as I could," he continued.

TEXANS' TANK DELL SUSTAINS GRUESOME LEG INJURY, LEAVING TEAMMATES IN TEARS

The Texans gathered around Dell and prayed before he was taken off the field in a covered medical cart. Stroud revealed what they prayed for.  

"Jesus," he said simply. "Just finding him in this moment – it’s not easy to. He’s the Prince of Peace so I just prayed His peace over Tank’s head and his mental, his physical. We serve a miraculous God and I believe in healing and I pray that the Lord can heal him." 

Saturday’s injury marks what will likely be the second season-ending injury for Dell. His rookie campaign was cut short when he fractured a fibula in a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos last season. 

Dell was injured while hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass at the start of the second half. He was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where the team said he would remain overnight. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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You may not like Dan Campbell's coaching style, but he has his Detroit Lions completely bought in.

Campbell is certainly a risk-taker, which bit him in last year's NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Lions went for it on a couple of late fourth downs, but did not convert. San Fran took full advantage to head back to the Super Bowl.

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Even this year, Campbell is doing the same old. It's seldom talked about when it works, but when it doesn't, it's a never-ending conversation.

But despite what you might think about Campbell's coaching, Lions lineman Josh Paschal says the team has zero issue with it.

"Honestly, we all love it. We love playing for him. When people think that somebody's not doing something great, I just feel like if you change it up, then you’re going out of your identity," Paschal said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "What I love about him so much is he sticks to his identity, he knows who he is as a coach, as a man, and it’s not gonna change."

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE'LL 'MAKE SURE' TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL

One thing that's for certain about Campbell, though, is he is a leader, and the Lions would run through a wall for him.

"I promise you, it would be a Monday at 8 a.m. hearing a speech, and you are ready to rumble right there," Paschal joked. "If anybody needs to get motivated, just a regular 9-5 type of person and get motivated for a workout, wake up in the morning and watch one of his speeches."

The Lions sit at 12-2 atop the NFC North, so it's hard to do much complaining about Campbell, who has turned the organization around completely. 

This may just be the best Lions team of all time, as their offense is one of the best in the league. But they do face a challenge with their second outdoor game of the season in a frigid Chicago on Sunday.

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The Cleveland Browns have three games remaining before they officially bring another disappointing season to a close.

Star pass rusher Myles Garrett appears open to continuing his career in Cleveland, albeit his time with the franchise could come to an abrupt end if the front office decides that taking a rebuilding approach is what's best for the team.

The Browns enter Week 16 with just three wins and are in last place in the AFC North division. Cleveland had to deal with uneven play from quarterback Deshaun Watson before he sustained a season-ending injury in October. The lack of production from the quarterback position appeared to directly impact the Browns' hopes of having a winning season.

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The ruptured right Achilles marked the second consecutive year that Watson's season was cut short due to injury. The three-time Pro Bowler injured his shoulder last season in a Week 10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

RAVENS TAKE DOWN STEELERS TO KEEP AFC NORTH RACE OPEN

The Browns enter Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals knowing they will not make it to the playoffs. Being out of contention for the postseason is not something Garrett is particularly thrilled about. The defensive lineman also made it clear that he was not interested in being part of a rebuild at this point in his career.

"Well, for me, I mean first of all I want to win. I want the Browns to be able to put me and us in position to win," Garrett told reporters. "I'm not trying to rebuild. I'm trying to win right now. I want that to be apparent, when the season's over and we have those discussions, I want them to be able to illuminate that for me, illustrate that for me, so that can be something that I can see in the near future. Because that's all we want to do."

Garrett was also asked if he would consider playing for another NFL franchise if the Browns' approach in the near future does not align with his.

"I mean, it's a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown," he said. "I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it's two, three, four years out, I want to be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January."

Garrett does have two more seasons remaining on his contract with the Browns, but he could decide to seek a trade at some point during or before the 2026 season. Garrett was the top pick of the 2017 NFL Draft and has gone up to rack up an impressive 99.5 sacks so far during his standout career.

If the Browns want to improve their odds of winning in 2025 and beyond, the team's decision makers will have to find a solution at the quarterback position.

After Sunday's matchup with the Bengals, the Browns close out the regular season with games against the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

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The status of Patrick Mahomes' ankle was widely discussed leading up to Saturday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.

While there was some doubt during the week whether the star quarterback would play against the Texans, he was able to fully get through the Chiefs' practice Thursday. 

Mahomes was cleared to play and finished Saturday's 27-19 victory over Houston with 260 passing yards.

But the three-time Super Bowl winner turned some heads when he managed to stay on his feet after nearly being tripped and sprinted into the end zone for the first score of the game.

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Mahomes was sidelined in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs' Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz stepped in for Mahomes and finished the 21-7 win over the Browns with 20 passing yards.

DEION SANDERS SAYS HE'LL 'MAKE SURE' TRAVIS HUNTER PLAYS OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN NFL

Mahomes' 15-yard scramble Saturday marked the longest rushing touchdown of his career. Moments after Mahomes crossed the goal line, broadcaster Noah Eagle wondered, "What bum ankle?"

This was not the first time Mahomes dealt with an ankle injury. 

During the 2022 NFL postseason, Mahomes sustained what appeared to be a high ankle sprain in a divisional round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The win over the Texans improved the Chiefs' record to 14-1. Kansas City had already clinched a playoff berth after winning the AFC West a ninth straight year.

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