A franchise-record 15 regular season wins was washed down 8-mile road for the Detroit Lions. 

In a disastrous 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, the Lions watched their best regular season in franchise history go to waste. 

Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdowns in a flawless performance by Washington’s dazzling rookie, and the Commanders reached the NFC championship game for the first time since winning the Super Bowl 33 years ago.

"It’s a surreal moment," Daniels said.

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The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Super Bowl favorite Lions (15-3) and overcame doubts as they did all season with a rookie quarterback, new coach and general manager.

"I always believed that we could achieve more than people give us credit for," Daniels said.

Detroit, the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time, doomed its chances by turning it over five times.

"If you turn the ball over five times against that team, it is going to be hard to win," Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

Washington rookie Mike Sainristil had two interceptions, including one on a trick play with receiver Jameson Williams throwing into coverage off a reverse in the fourth quarter. And Quan Martin returned a pick 40 yards for a touchdown.

Jared Goff threw three picks and lost a fumble, turning it over three times in the ill-fated first half.

Daniels finished with 299 yards passing and 51 yards rushing, and — just as important — didn’t turn the ball over.

He became the second rookie quarterback to knock off a top-seeded team, joining Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore past Tennessee on Jan. 10, 2009.

"Nothing surprises me with him," said receiver Terry McLaurin, who turned a short pass from Daniels into a 58-yard touchdown.

First-year coach Dan Quinn led Washington to its first playoff win in 19 years last week. The Commanders rallied past Tampa Bay for their sixth comeback win and fifth straight on the final play from scrimmage in regulation or overtime.

The Commanders, who converted 3 of 4 fourth downs, didn’t let Detroit keep it that close.

"Give them credit," Campbell said. "They earned that game, and we didn’t."

Washington outscored Detroit 28-14 in the second quarter — the highest-scoring quarter in NFL playoff history — to take a 31-21 lead at halftime.

Daniels had 242 yards passing in the first half, setting a rookie record one week after becoming the first rookie to lead his team in yards rushing and passing in a playoff win.

The former LSU star, who was the No. 2 pick overall, was 22 of 31, including the long TD on the screen to McLaurin and a 5-yard throw for a score to Zach Ertz in the second quarter.

Brian Robinson ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

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Goff finished 23 of 40 for 313 yards with a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta that gave the Lions their last lead midway through the second quarter.

Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.

Goff fumbled in a collapsing pocket on third-and-1 from the Commanders 17 late in the first quarter and Washington took advantage.

Daniels converted a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 9 to extend a drive capped by Robinson’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Three snaps after Daniels’ TD throw to McLaurin, Goff overthrew his intended target and Martin intercepted it and took it to the end zone, putting the Commanders ahead 24-14. Goff took a hit from linebacker Frankie Luvu on the interception return and was evaluated for a concussion.

With backup Teddy Bridgewater under center, Williams scored on a 61-yard reverse.

Detroit’s defense, though, could not stop the Commanders all night. Washington set a season high in points.

The Lions had a chance to cut into the deficit in the final minute of the first half, but Goff’s pass over the deep middle was picked off by Sainristil in the end zone.

Detroit started the second half strong, forcing Washington to punt for the first time and going 76 yards on 11 plays on the ensuing drive, capped by Gibbs’ 8-yard run for his second touchdown to make it 31-28.

The Lions, though, weren’t stingy for long on defense.

Washington had a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive — extended by Detroit having 12 men on the field when facing fourth-and-2 from its 5 — and Robinson’s second short touchdown run restored the Commanders’ 10-point lead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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President Biden's recent declaration that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is now "the law of the land" has prompted mockery in his final days in office. Biden isn't even safe from insults from Vice President-elect JD Vance. 

Vance responded to Biden's declaration in a post on X, joking that Biden should put the late disgraced MLB icon Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

"Hey Joe if we’re doing fake s--- on the way out can you declare Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame?" Vance wrote. "See you in two days!"

Rose, who died back in September, was banned from MLB for life for illegally betting on games. 

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Rose was banned in 1989 after an investigation concluded that he not only gambled on MLB games, but went so far as to wager on games involving the Cincinnati Reds when he was managing the team. 

Rose signed an agreement with Commissioner Bart Giamatti declaring him permanently ineligible for baseball but allowing him to petition for reinstatement and avoid a formal declaration that he bet on baseball. Multiple appeals by Rose for reinstatement over the last few decades have failed.

As a player, Rose won three World Series titles, two with the Reds and one with the Philllies, while making 17 All-Star games and winning NL MVP in 1973. He famously still holds the record for most hits in MLB history with 4,256. 

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Yet, his betting scandal has made him one of the most controversial holdouts of the baseball Hall of Fame since his retirement. His absence from the Hall of Fame is one of the sport's most fiercely debated controversies. 

So Vance had no reservations about referencing Rose's famed Hall of Fame controversy to mock the outgoing president. 

Citing the American Bar Association in the statement, Biden argued that the ERA has "cleared all necessary hurdles to formally be added to the Constitution." Biden added that he agreed with "the ABA and with leading constitutional scholars that the Equal Rights Amendment has become part of our Constitution." However, despite Biden’s argument, the National Archives disagreed.

In a post on X calling the ERA the "law of the land," implying that it is already part of the Constitution, which is not the case. Social media users were quick to point this out, with some calling the president a "dictator."

The ERA, a proposed amendment to the constitution that would guarantee "equal rights under the law" to all Americans regardless of sex. Its latest iteration was a rapid response by New York Democrats to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022.

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The Chicago Bears relieved Matt Eberflus of his head coaching duties in November, just one day after he received considerable blame for mismanaging the clock in a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. 

Eberflus' nearly three-year tenure in the Windy City was marred by a flurry of last-second losses and ended with a six-game losing streak. Thomas Brown became interim head coach.

The Bears are now searching for the franchise's next head coach and have already interviewed several candidates, keeping in line with general manager Ryan Poles' previous vow to cast a wide net during the search. 

But, according to a new report from ESPN, one of the ways the team explored filling its head coaching vacancy involved the acquisition of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin via a trade.

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The Bears recently contacted the Steelers to inquire about potentially gaining permission to speak to and possibly execute a trade for the Super Bowl-winning coach, according to the report. The Steelers rejected the request, sources told ESPN.

Conversations are not believed to have reached Tomlin, who recently responded to questions about potential trade offers from other teams with a simple message: "Save your time." Tomlin's contract reportedly includes a no-trade clause.

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The Steelers finished the regular season with a 10-7 record, which maintained Tomlin's distinction of never having a record below .500. However, the team ended its season on a four-game losing streak. 

Pittsburgh then got knocked out of the playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round. It has now been eight years since the Steelers have won a playoff game.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is believed to be one of the most sought after candidates this hiring cycle. Earlier this week, the Bears announced they interviewed Johnson. 

They also interviewed Arthur Smith, Brian Flores, Mike McCarthy, former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and several others.

Despite ending the season with a 5-12 record, Chicago's roster does have talent at key positions. The Bears' next head coach will be tasked with developing quarterback Caleb Williams, the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The coaching staff will also have the opportunity to work with wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. 

Elsewhere, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is a two-time Pro Bowler, and Jaylon Johnson is a talented cornerback.

While the New England Patriots filled their head coaching vacancy in short order by hiring Mike Vrabel, the Bears, Jets, Saints, Jaguars and Raiders continue their respective searches.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are just two wins away from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. And their entourage of celebrity fans got a big-ticket addition Saturday.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 177 yards and a touchdown in a 23-12 win over the Houston Texans in the divisional round to advance to the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season.

Mahomes took the field just days after welcoming his third child, daughter Golden Raye, who was born Jan. 12. 

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Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdwon with girlfriend Taylor Swift watching alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark. 

The Chiefs are the fourth team in NFL history to follow back-to-back Super Bowl wins by advancing to a conference title game, and the three previous teams lost. The Chiefs will try to change that trend at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend against the Bills or Ravens, who play Sunday in Buffalo for a shot at dethroning the defending champs.

TRAVIS KELCE SHARES TAYLOR SWIFT'S THOUGHTS ON CHIEFS STAR'S POSSIBLE RETIREMENT

Mahomes improved 16-3 in the playoffs, tying Joe Montana for the second-most wins in NFL playoff history behind Tom Brady. Mahomes is 7-0 in the divisional round and helped Andy Reid become the fourth NFL coach with 300 career wins.

The Texans (11-8) still have never won in six divisional games. They have lost to Kansas City twice.

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 245 yards but was sacked eight times. Joe Mixon, who had been questionable to play with an ankle injury, caught a couple of passes while running for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Texans kicker Kai’imi Fairbairn missed a 55-yard field goal attempt and an extra-point try and had another field goal attempt blocked with 1:46 left, which would have kept Houston’s comeback hopes alive by making it a one-possession game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Caitlin Clark's surprise appearance alongside Taylor Swift at the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff game excited many fans Saturday, but some dreaded the sight. 

The initial sight of Clark and Swift in a suite together after the pop star previously extended an invitation to Clark months ago provided a joyful dose of fan service for some. 

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However, many fans have lamented the constant broadcast shots of Swift during Chiefs games dating back to last season, when the pop star first started showing up to support Travis Kelce. But now with Clark there too, it's double trouble for some. 

In her recent Time magazine Athlete of The Year Interview, Clark said, "As a White person, there is privilege."

The comment provoked backlash against the WNBA phenom. And some fans who tuned in Saturday expressed their displeasure, taking issue with Swift's past endorsement of Kamala Harris and other Democrats. 

USC'S JUJU WATKINS OPENS UP ON CAITLIN CLARK'S WHITE PRIVILEGE COMMENTS AND EMBRACING CONTROVERSIAL NEW FANS

Clark, a lifelong Chiefs fan, said in her interview with Time that Swift and Kelce extended an invitation to Clark when she attended a Swift Eras Tour concert at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in early November. 

Clark was also recently pictured next to Swift on the cover of Time magazine's Inspiring Women special edition issue at the end of October.

Clark has said she is a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan. She congratulated Swift after the pop star went public with her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce in September 2023. 

"Taylor Swift welcome to the good side," Clark wrote Sept. 24, 2023, in a post on X with the hashtag "Chiefs Kingdom."

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Former Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun was evacuated from his home in California for the majority of the last six weeks due to the Los Angeles wildfires. 

Braun, 41, talked about his appreciation for firefighters as they continue to try and keep people and buildings safe.

"Firefighters and first responders are truly heroes," Braun told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "I don’t think that we get an opportunity to thank them often enough. But those guys have put their lives on the line. They’ve worked night and day. I know a number of firefighters who literally didn’t sleep for 72 hours.

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"These guys are out there doing everything in their power to save as many people and structures as possible. Incredibly grateful for everything that they’ve done for the community, and today is an opportunity to try to say thank you to as many of them as possible."

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Braun, along with World Series champion Mike Moustakas, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Brewers star Christian Yelich and Mike Attanasio from the Brewers' ownership created California Strong to help communities affected by the disaster.

California Strong is a program of the YMCA dedicated to providing support to all Californians after disasters.

Yelich spoke about the California community continuing to support each other in times of need.

"The community seems to step up every time there’s people in need. I remember the Woolsey Fire was about seven years ago now, which seems to have flown by, but it’s a long recovery process. You know, it’s not something that takes a day, a week, even a year," Yelich told Fox News Digital.

AARON RODGERS CONDEMNS LA WILDFIRE ARSONISTS: 'THAT’S THE S---TY PART ABOUT ALL THIS'

"It’s a multiyear process, and just to help people get back on their feet here at the beginning, hopefully be able to stay with them throughout the process and get back to normal whenever that may be."

Moustakas talked about how California Strong originated from Braun, Yelich, Goff and Attanasio just checking in with each other during tough times.

"It started out with us checking in on each other and then quickly transformed into us trying to use our platforms to help those in need. And that’s one of the greatest things about what we were able to do in baseball was use the platform in a way for good," Moustakas told Fox News Digital.

"We were very fortunate enough to have this YMCA partner with us, and it just kind of took off from there. And we’re here today supporting a ton of families with a great community. We’re very excited to help these people out."

Braun talked about how long and arduous the rebuilding process will be for people and how California Strong wants to help those people. 

"We live in this community. We grew up in this community. We can relate to the people and what they’re going through and dealing with. Similar to Mike (Moustaktas), I have three young children, and so I always view these situations through the lens of other parents. It’s difficult. It’s traumatizing. It is a long and daunting process for a lot of people to think about where to even begin to rebuild their lives. And, so, for us, the goal of California Strong was to support people after natural disasters and tragedies," Braun said.

"That’s what we’ve tried to do over the last seven years. That’s what today is all about. And the goal is to be able to support people both in the near term, immediately today and then longer term as they go through what ends up being a very long and challenging process to rebuild their lives."

California Strong is working with Proactive Sports to help get Californians back on their feet. 

"Proactive Sports has been partnered with California Strong since the inception," Proactive Sports owner Emily Capretta told Fox News Digital. "We hosted an event for those impacted by the Woolsey Fire and the Borderline shooting, unfortunately, that we experienced in our community in 2018. 

"And a really smart, strong group of women we mobilized to do a community thanksgiving, and that kind of started the beginning of California Strong,

"This particular event, the night those that were being displaced and losing their homes, I texted that original group of women that they wanted to do this again with me. And then I also texted Ryan Braun, and I said, ‘It’s time to mobilize. We need to be the first action point for those impacted."

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The NFL playoffs bring emotions out of everyone.

Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones started crying as gospel vocalist Lanell Lightfoot sang the national anthem before their playoff game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. 

It was not the first time Jones had cried during the national anthem. Prior to the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers last season, Jones also became tearful during the national anthem.

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The Chiefs are taking on the Texans in the AFC divisional round after the Texans took down the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.

This is the second time the Chiefs and Texans have played in the last month. They met in Week 16. 

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That game was also in Kansas City, where the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-19.

Jones had two tackles in the win. 

Jones was named a Pro Bowler and to the first-team All-Pro team. 

It was the third straight season he was named an All-Pro.

Jones had five sacks, 37 tackles, 20 quarterback hits and a forced fumble in 15 games this season. 

He missed the last two games of the regular season due to a calf injury but is ready to go for the playoffs after the Chiefs got a bye in the wild-card round for being the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Jones has already made his presence felt, recording a sack on C.J. Stroud in the first quarter. 

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NFL divisional round action got off to a hot start on a chilly late afternoon in Kansas City. But the heat was mostly on the Houston Texans sideline as tempers flared in the early moments of the high-stakes game against the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl-champion Chiefs.

Television cameras showed Texans defensive back Kris Boyd nearly shoving Houston special teams coach Frank Ross to the ground moments after the playoff game's opening kick.

The Texans kicked the ball to the Chiefs to start the game. Chiefs returner Nikko Remigio fielded the kick and quickly broke through some of the would-be Texans tacklers. 

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Remigio soon hit the open field and raced toward the end zone. But, Boyd eventually caught up to him and stripped the ball loose.

CHIEFS' TRAVIS KELCE SENDS EMOTIONAL PLAYOFF MESSAGE TO FANS AMID RETIREMENT TALK

He then ran toward the Texans sideline and celebrated the fumble by ripping off his helmet and sending it skittering toward the bench. However, there was one noticeable problem — the Chiefs had actually recovered the fumble.

Boyd proceeded to shove Ross on the sideline.

The 28-year-old cornerback was ultimately flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off his helmet.

The Texans advanced to Saturday's divisional round game after upsetting the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round last week.  

Houston entered Saturday's game against the Chiefs as considerable underdogs but entered the locker room at halftime trailing by just seven points. The third quarter ended with Kansas City leading 13-12.

The winner of the game at Arrowhead Stadium will await the outcome of Sunday's other AFC divisional matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Caitlin Clark has finally taken Taylor Swift up on an offer to watch a Kansas City Chiefs game together. 

Clark was seen in the same suite as Swift at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs' divisional round playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday. 

It is the first time that Clark and Swift have been seen at a game together, after Clark claims she was invited by Swift to join in earlier this season. 

Clark, a lifelong Chiefs fan, said in her interview for Time Magazine Athlete of The Year interview that Swift and Travis Kelce extended the invitation to Clark when she went to watch Swift' Eras Tour concert at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in early November. 

Clark said she'e see three of Swift's Eras Tour concerts, including two straight nights when Swift was in Indianapolis in November. While she was there, Clark said fans tossed her so many friendship bracelets that when she put them all on, it cut off her blood circulation. 

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"I had a ton, all the way up the arm. I had to take them off. My circulation was getting cut off," Clark said at the Women's Leadership Summit in November. "Everyone was just chucking their bracelets at me." 

At that summit, Clark also revealed that Swift is her favorite musical artist. 

Kelce said during an episode on his podcast, "New Heights," that he met Clark at one of those concerts. He later invited Clark on the podcast herself for a wide-ranging interview. 

Clark was also recently pictured next to Swift on the cover of Time Magazine's recent Inspiring Women special edition issue at the end of October. Clark and Swift were the only two figures on the top row, and Clark was the most highly placed athlete above veteran sports icons Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe. 

USC'S JUJU WATKINS OPENS UP ON CAITLIN CLARK'S WHITE PRIVILEGE COMMENTS AND EMBRACING CONTROVERSIAL NEW FANS

The reemergence of a previous social media post by Clark while she was in college has also brought the fan bases of her closer figures together. 

"Taylor Swift welcome to the good side," Clark wrote Sept. 24, 2023, in a post on X right after Swift went public with her relationship with Kelce in September 2023. 

An influx of interest in Clark by Swift fans occurred after a controversial podcast episode that was conducted by Clark's arch-rival Angel Reese in October. 

Reese, who has played emotional, high-stakes games against Clark dating back to college and has made off-the-court comments about Clark's fans, hosted Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole, who is a promotional model, media personality, on-air host and entertainment journalist on Instagram.

During the appearance, Nicole claimed she has received hate for the relationship ever since Kelce began to date Swift instead of her. 

That interview ignited a widely debated controversy on social media, with some defending Nicole and sympathizing with her for the alleged hate she received. However, others, and many who openly identify as Swift fans, criticized Nicole and Reese for the interview. 

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Many of those same Swift fans declared themselves fans of Clark in response to Reese's interview. Clark and Reese have one of the hottest rivalries in women's sports at the moment, as their respective fan bases have been passionately opposed to each other for over a year.

Clark has also been linked to Swift's political beliefs. 

Earlier in Clark's rookie season, she liked Swift's Instagram post that announced the singer's endorsement of Kamala Harris on Sept. 10. 

However, Clark did not endorse a candidate herself when asked about liking Swift's endorsement of Harris. Clark instead responded with a message about the importance of telling people to vote. 

"I think, for myself, I have this amazing platform," she told reporters at an Indiana Fever team press conference on Sept. 11. "So, I think the biggest thing would be is to encourage people to register to vote. I think this is the second time I could vote in an election. That’s the biggest thing I can do with the platform that I have – the same thing Taylor did. 

"And I think, continue to educate yourself on the candidates that we have, policies that they’re supporting. I think that’s the biggest thing you can do. And that’s what I would recommend to every single person that has the opportunity in our country."

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A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. 

"Thinking about transgender female athletes — meaning athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female — do you think they should or should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports?" the survey asked. 

Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. 

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Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. 

Among 1,022 Republicans, that number was 94%. 

The 81 independents who were interviewed represented the group with the most reluctance to say transgender athletes shouldn't be allowed to compete. Just 64% said they were against it, while 26% refused to answer. Just 3% of the Democrats and 1% of the Republicans refused to answer.

The country saw a notable shift in awareness and opposition to the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports in 2024, when a number of stories sparked national attention and controversy. The issue became a key campaign issue in November's election for President-elect Trump and other Republicans. 

A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America (CWA) legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them. 

And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."

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Nearly 70% of Americans say biological men should not be permitted to compete in women's sports, according to a Gallup poll last year.

In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents whether transgender athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex. In that survey, 65% answered that it should never or rarely be allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult transgender female athletes competing in women’s sports, 69% opposed it.

With Trump about to return to office Monday, Republicans are pushing a bill that will address the issue in Congress. 

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act passed in the House of Representatives Tuesday and even had support from two Democrats. 

That bill will advance to the Republican-controlled Senate, and, if it passes there, Trump will get to sign it into law early in his term. 

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Taylor Swift has reportedly gifted Brittany Mahomes a hand-made baby blanket to celebrate the birth of Mahomes' newborn daughter, Golden Raye, according to Page Six.

"Taylor’s aunt knitted her a baby blanket when she was a child, so it’s always had a special meaning for her and something she wanted to do for her friends," a source told the outlet. "It’s become a tradition for Taylor, something she loves doing and something that can’t be bought. It comes from the heart."

Brittany and her husband, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, welcomed their new baby on Jan. 12. It is their third child, and their first since Swift came into their lives when the pop star began dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. 

Back in September, when Brittany was in the earlier stages of her pregnancy, she faced a barrage of online attacks from Swift fans. 

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These attacks were in response to the pregnant mother simply giving a like to an Instagram post on Donald Trump's account. Screenshots of Brittany's like on a post that laid out Trump's 2024 policy platform circulated across social media, often by Swift fan accounts. Many of those fans, who share Swift's political beliefs as a Democrat, then flooded Brittany's pages with insults and attacks. 

Brittany even had to address the controversy multiple times in social media posts and a podcast interview, defending herself. 

In one post on Aug. 23, Brittany wrote, "I mean honestly, To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep-rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood. There's no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well." In another post on Aug. 26, she wrote, "Contrary to the tone of the world today … you can disagree with someone, and still love them. You can have differing views, and still be kind. Read that again!"

In an episode of the "Whoop" podcast on Aug. 28, she said she has leaned on her three-time Super Bowl-winning husband to get her through the recent public scrutiny. 

"Having him to help me get through it has helped a lot, because he is very good at managing those things and blocking people out and doing all that type of stuff," she said. "Having him beside me and kind of guiding me, coaching me through it has helped a ton. I think that’s kind of gotten to where we are at now.

The apparent political differences between Swift and Mahomes became more pronounced when they were seen sitting in separate suites at the Chiefs' home opener against the Ravens on Sept. 5. 

Then on Sept. 10, Swift announced her endorsement for Kamala Harris. In a Fox News interview the next day, Trump declared that he liked Brittany "much better" than Swift in response, having already acknowledged the support from the then-pregnant mother on social media. 

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But Trump stoked the political divide between Mahomes and Swift even further when he sent a post that read, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" on his Truth Social account. 

However, Swift didn't keep her difference from Mahomes, even after Trump's aggressive messaging. They were later seen in the same suite during a Chiefs game against the Saints on Oct. 7, and Brittany showed off a picture of Swift rubbing her pregnant belly. Patrick also said in an October interview on "The Drive" podcast that he and Brittany often let their three-year-old daughter, Sterling Skye, bake with Swift.

Patrick's mother Randi Mahomes also endorsed Trump days before the election.

Data suggests that Swift's endorsement of Harris did not sway voters in a meaningful way in the recent election. 

According to AP VoteCast, 44% of women ages 18 through 44 voted for Trump, while 48% of women 45 and older supported the former president, now president-elect. 

In a New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena College poll, which was conducted starting one day after Swift endorsed the Harris-Walz campaign, nearly 2,500 likely voters nationwide revealed that 44% have a favorable opinion of Swift, compared to 34% who have an unfavorable view.

The same poll found that 47% view Trump favorably, compared to 51% who don’t. The poll shows that 70% of Democrats have a favorable view of Swift, compared to 41% of independents and just 23% of Republicans. A total of 60% of Republicans indicated that they had an unfavorable view of Swift, while only 11% of Democrats felt the same way.

A September poll found that Trump has higher favorability numbers among likely voters, compared to Swift. 

Now, as Trump is set to return to office on Monday, Swift appears as cozy as ever with her Trump-supporting friend.

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Coveted Japanese-born pitcher Roki Sasaki is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the 23-year-old announced he had signed a minor league contract with the organization.

Roki's arrival in Los Angeles cements the city and the baseball franchise as the preferred MLB destination for the top players in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Sasaki is the latest pitching sensation to pick the reigning World Series champions. The team lured pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.

In the hours since Sasaki made his decision public, baseball players across the big leagues have shared their reactions to the move. However, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb's apparent reaction to the news is one that stood out.

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The All-Star right-hander took to X on Friday and posted a GIF from "Space Jam." The post featured a clip of Monstars team along with the caption, "Time to play a little basketball." 

In the film, the Monstars were made up of a group who stole the talents of NBA players to effectively become a powerful super team.

WHO IS RŌKI SASAKI? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE JAPANESE PITCHING SENSATION BOUND FOR MLB

The live-action and animated sports film was released in 1996 and starred Michael Jordan and several other NBA stars.

The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in Dec. 2023. While his recovery from an injury prevented him from taking the pitching mound in 2024, Ohtani hit a career-best 54 home runs en route to earning his third MVP award.

If Ohtani retakes the pitching mound at some point in 2025, he would be part of arguably the deepest and most formidable pitching rotation in the major leagues. The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already features Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw. Gonsolin and May did not throw a pitch in MLB last season due to injury, and hey will likely have to be eased back into the rotation.

 Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with LA earlier this offseason.

LA lured first baseman Freddie Freeman away from the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Freeman had already won one National League MVP award and a World Series title with Atlanta before he signed with the Dodgers. LA's lineup also includes 2019 American League MVP Mookie Betts and a host of other star hitters.

Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA over his four seasons playing at the highest level of baseball in Japan. His fastball routinely reaches 100 mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.

He played alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 

A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and his representing agency in December during baseball's winter meetings. By January, Sasaski narrowed down his choices to the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres — ultimately picking Los Angeles.

Webb's Giants also had a busy offseason, acquiring star shortstop Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander in free agency. San Francisco competes in the NL West and missed the playoffs last season. The Giants will have to contend with what is projected to be one of the best divisions in the MLB in 2025.

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Patrick Mahomes will take the field for the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday for the first time as a father of three children. 

Mahomes and his wife Brittany welcomed their newest daughter, Golden Raye, on Jan. 12. The quarterback was fortunate enough to have earned a bye week for the weekend of Golden Raye's arrival, but returned to practice just days later. 

Now he is set to face the Houston Texans in the divisional round playoff game. He bears the historic pressure of trying to lead his team to a third straight Super Bowl – something no team has ever done – alongside the personal pressure of fathering another newborn girl. 

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As the only active quarterback with a realistic shot to contend with Tom Brady in all-time legacy discussion, Mahomes faces a much higher-stakes task than Brady did when he took the field as a father of three for the first time. 

Brady welcomed his third child, daughter Vivian Lake, on Dec. 5, 2012 – weeks before any do-or-die playoff action. 

But the stakes were still pretty high. And like Mahomes, Brady's first game after having his third child also came against the Houston Texans. 

Brady and the New England Patriots welcomed a Texans team that led the AFC at the time with an 11-1 record into Gilette Stadium for a Monday Night Football showdown. Brady had the Patriots at a 9-3 record, as they looked to chase Houston down for the top spot. 

And Brady didn't miss a beat. 

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The former Patriots quarterback had a signature game, throwing for 296 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, as New England dominated 42-14. Brady even had a whopping six rushing yards on one carry, which was a good night on the ground for him by his standards in those days. 

After the game, Brady relished the win as the perfect ending to the week, as he informed reporters that his then-wife, Giselle Bundchen, was doing well after the birth. 

"She is doing very well," Brady told reporters of Bundchen after the game. "It's been a great week, a great way to end it."

Mahomes has a high bar to live up to. But if he does pull off a similar performance to the one Brady did in 2012, his performance may be even more amplified in how it is recognized. 

With a divisional round victory, Mahomes and the Chiefs will be just two wins away from taking home their unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title. The spotlight will be even brighter on Mahomes and his wife on Saturday than it was on Brady in 2012, as Taylor Swift is set to attend, possibly alongside Brittany. 

And like Brady's 2012 game, Saturday may be the last time Mahomes ever plays football right after having a child. 

"I’m good with three for right now," he told reporters on Tuesday when asked whether he would have another child. "We’ll see down the line, maybe, but my goal was always three, so we’ve had three, and we’ll stick there for a while and see if we need to come back and get another one later on."

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For the first time in 730 days, DePaul beat a Big East opponent.

The Blue Demons’s 73-68 victory over Georgetown on Friday snapped a 39-game regular-season Big East losing streak. 

Prior to beating Georgetown, DePaul’s last Big East win was over No. 8 Xavier on Jan. 18, 2023. 

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Not only was DePaul’s win over Georgetown a Big East win, but it was their first road win since Dec. 3, 2022. 

Three players scored in double digits for DePaul, with guard CJ Gunn leading the way with 17 points on five-of-nine shooting while adding five rebounds.

DePaul took a 39-28 halftime lead, with Layden Blocker scoring all of his 14 points in the first half, including scoring DePaul’s final six points of the half. 

Malik Mack and Drew Fielder led the scoring for Georgetown in the loss.

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Mack had 19 points, six assists and two steals, while Fielder also had 19 points with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Caleb Williams scored ten points with six rebounds while Curtis Williams Jr. also scored ten points in the loss for Georgetown.

The win for DePaul snapped a five-game losing streak. 

DePaul’s Big Ten conference losing streak was tied for the fourth-longest losing streak in conference play in the AP poll era, according to ESPN research.

The longest conference losing streak ever belongs to Colgate, which was a 47-game  losing streak that spanned from 1984-1987. 

With the win, DePaul improved to 10-9 (1-7 in Big East play) and will look to continue their winning ways when they play Creighton on Tuesday, at 9 p.m. ET. 

The Hoyas fall to 12-6 (3-4 in Big East play) with the loss and will look to turn things around when they host Villanova on Monday at 6 p.m. ET. 

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Former Chicago Cubs star Sammy Sosa is being elected to the team’s Hall of Fame, alongside former first baseman Derek Lee. 

The step towards reconciliation between Sosa and the Cubs began when Sosa released a statement in December.

"There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games. I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize," Sosa said in a statement through Aurora Global Consulting.

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After that statement, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the team is "ready to move forward together" and invited Sosa to the Cubs' annual fan convention.

Sosa attending the convention was the first time he had been with the Cubs in any official capacity since he last played for the team in 2004.

Sosa said that the apology in his statement from December was not about using performance-enhancing drugs.

"No. I'm referring, for example, look, 21 years out. I had the fans that loved me very much. I had to apologize to them, because, I mean, normally, they see me play so many years."

When Sosa was announced at the convention, he received a large ovation and ran onto the stage with an American Flag. 

JAPANESE PHENOM PITCHER ROKI SASAKI PICKS DODGERS

"People grow up," Sosa said via ESPN. "That's what happened to me. To give that statement out, it was the right time for me. The response right away was incredible. Now, the door is open, I have to continue to contribute (to the organization)."

"I think that today was a perfect day."

Sosa played 13 seasons with the Cubs and is the franchise record-holder with 545 home runs. 

Sosa finished his big league career with a .273 batting average and 609 homers — currently ninth on the career list. He also had 1,667 RBIs and 234 stolen bases in 18 seasons from 1989 to 2007.

Because a lot of Sosa's success has been clouded by questions about performance-enhancing drug use throughout his career, he did not make the Hall of Fame on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. 

Sosa’s next chance for Hall of Fame consideration will be if he makes the ballot for the contemporary player committee. 

Sosa and Lee will be recognized in the team’s Hall of Fame at a game this summer. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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There are a lot of ways college football fans could describe Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

He was a Heisman Trophy runner-up, Maxwell Award winner, Doak Walker Award winner and a unanimous All-American selection. But ahead of the NFL Draft, fans can also describe him as an underwear model.

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Jeanty teamed up with SAXX last month to promote the men’s underwear line, which is said to be a comfortable undergarment for every part of the male body. He told Fox News Digital that he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would be modeling underwear.

"I didn’t think so, but, you know, things just have a way of happening, and that’s just kind of how it did," he explained. "You know, good-looking guy, great running back, they want you to model some great underwear, so it just happened. I’m glad it did. It made kind of step outside my box."

Jeanty said it was Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby who selected him to become a part of the SAXX brand, and he said the partnership itself made sense to him.

BILL BELICHICK'S GIRLFRIEND SEEMINGLY SHUTS DOWN RUMORS COACH WILL LEAVE NORTH CAROLINA FOR NFL

"Just being a game-changing player on the field, you got to have some game-changing underwear to rock," he said. "I thought it was a perfect collab. Design, the comfortability, all that type of stuff, it’s been great partnering with them."

Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final season with Boise State, nearly eclipsing Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.

Boise State won the Mountain West Conference title and earned a bye into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The Broncos lost to Penn State.

Jeanty declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month. He’s expected to be the top running back taken.

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The Sun Belt fined the Marshall Thundering Herd $100,000 for opting out of the Independence Bowl in December.

Louisiana Tech replaced Marshall in their game against Army, and they lost 27-6 to Army.

"While the conference acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall, as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner, the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN," the Sun Belt said in a statement. 

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Despite the fine, Marshall athletic director Christian Spears said he stood by the decision to opt out of the game. 

"In good conscience, we could not put out 41 student-athletes out on to that field. And again, we are always going to prioritize the health and safety of our student athletes," Spears said. "But that doesn’t take away the fact that a sincere and formal apology is due."

BILL BELICHICK'S GIRLFRIEND SEEMINGLY SHUTS DOWN RUMORS COACH WILL LEAVE NORTH CAROLINA FOR NFL

Marshall went 10-3 in the regular season, including winning their last seven games to win the Sun Belt championship. 

Instead of going on to play Army in the bowl game, head coach Charles Huff left Marshall as he was far apart on a contract extension with the school.

Huff then left Marshall to take the head coaching job at Southern Miss. More than 25 players jumped into the transfer portal over his departure, which caused Marshall to withdraw from the game.

Marshall hired NC State’s offensive coordinator, Tony Gibson, to be their new head coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley took another shot at the city of San Francisco as he made clear he had no intentions of going to the NBA All-Star Game.

Barkley spoke on TNT’s "Inside the NBA" about the All-Star candidacy of the Detroit Pistons' young star Cade Cunningham. With the Golden State Warriors set to host the game at the Oracle Arena in San Francisco, Barkley said Cunningham will be there, but he won’t.

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"He’s going to make the All-Star Team," Barkley said. "I’m not going. I’m not going to that rat-infested place out in San Francisco."

Barkley responded to one of his colleagues calling San Francisco "beautiful."

"San Francisco is not a beautiful city. Rats. Cats. Y’all are not gonna make me like San Francisco. No. Nope, nope, nope"

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It’s not the first time Barkley had criticized the city. Last year, he ripped San Francisco during the NBA’s alternative broadcast of the All-Star Game, which took place in Indianapolis.

Barkley asked Miller which he would choose: playing in the cold in Indianapolis – where Miller spent his entire 18-year NBA career – or "being around a bunch of homeless crooks in San Francisco."

Warriors star Draymond Green called Barkley "crazy" and said that Barkley was not "welcome" in the city. WNBA star Candace Parker said "we love San Francisco," but Barkley offered a retort.

"No we don’t," he said. "… You can’t even walk around down there."

Green was emphatic with his pushback.

"Yes you can walk around," he said.

Barkley clapped back saying, "Yeah, with a bulletproof vest."

New San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has vowed to make San Francisco’s streets safe again, build "enough housing to turn around our affordability crisis" and tackle "our drug and behavioral health crisis."

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish football fan Shane Gillis offered a prayer for his team to defeat Ohio State in the national championship on Monday night.

The comedian appeared in an Under Armour advertisement praying to God to let his team win their first national title since 1988. 

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The Fighting Irish are in the national title game itself for the first time since 2012 but the NCAA’s punishment over using ineligible players forced the team to vacate wins that season.

"Hey, God. It’s me Shane. I know I haven’t been here in a while but I have a pretty big prayer for you," he said in the ad. "Notre Dame is in the national championship on Monday. I know you know, because you’ve been with us the whole time – couple weeks ago, that field goal. I know you have a lot going on, so that was pretty chill you took time to help us with that.

BILL BELICHICK'S GIRLFRIEND SEEMINGLY SHUTS DOWN RUMORS COACH WILL LEAVE NORTH CAROLINA FOR NFL

"I should also say I hath not bet on any of these games … Alright, I have, I hath bet. But going forward, if Notre Dame wins, thou will not bet on games … for a month. Couple weeks. I’m probably going to bet on Sunday.

"Come on, God. I know you can help us. Trucking dudes. Pick sixes everywhere. Maybe a couple Fumblerooskis! Just please let Notre Dame win a national championship."

Gillis was at Notre Dame’s win over Indiana in the College Football Playoff first round.

He ribbed former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, who apparently got legitimately angry with Gillis over the jabs about SEC schools paying players.

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Ryan Clark, a one-time Super Bowl champion and current ESPN NFL analyst, ripped  the New England Patriots for how they complied with the Rooney Rule during their head-coaching search.

The NFL’s Rooney Rule, which was created by the NFL’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee in 2003, requires each team with a head-coaching vacancy to interview at least two or more diverse candidates for the job. The rule expanded in 2022 to include interviews for women as part of the "minority candidate definition."

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The Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their next coach about a week after firing Jerod Mayo. The team interviewed Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich to comply with the Rooney Rule – all done before the playoffs were over.

"I think this kind of puts a light on the Rooney Rule, which, to me, the New England Patriots made a mockery of," Clark said Thursday on "Inside the NFL." "To interview Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich, two coaches who aren’t even in football right now, just to fulfill a quota. 

"The Rooney Rule was put in place so some of these minority coaches could get opportunities to get in front of some of the executives and some of these owners, that truly were looking to give the job to the best person. Now, I want to make it clear – I believe we have moved to a point where organizations will hire the best person they feel for the job. But let’s not make coaches, who have worked their entire lives for this opportunity, be the token interview.

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"I think a better solution is for teams who want to skip the Rooney Rule, like the New England Patriots probably would have, because they wanted Mike Vrabel, allow them to hire someone on the lower level that reports directly to the head coach, reports to directly to the offensive coordinator, so they could get some of that tutelage that allows their resumes and their careers to build.

"Let’s stop with the bull-crap interviews just to say we did what the Rooney Rule was supposed to do. When it was implemented initially, I believe it worked. It has now run its course and become something that is a joke to NFL and NFL coaches, and more importantly, to the people it was supposed to help."

Vrabel has a long history with the Patriots, having won three Super Bowl titles with the team during his playing career.

He started his coaching career with the Tennessee Titans in 2018. He was 54-45 with the Titans and led them to three playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship appearance.

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