Every week this NFL season, we will break down the highs and lows—and everything in between—from the most recent slate of pro football. This week, a prime-time game finally delivered the drama, the Panthers pulled off a massive upset to shake up the NFC playoff race, the Texans surged past the Colts, Max Brosmer had a very unfortunate NFL debut, and more. Welcome to Winners and Losers.
Winners: Bryce Young and Dave Canales
Double-digit underdogs are now 2-14 in 2025, and the winners in both of those games have been the Panthers, who knocked off the Rams on Sunday in one of the biggest upsets of the season Carolina was outgained and gave up 7.4 yards per play to Matthew Stafford’s Rams, but won the turnover battle 3-0 and controlled the clock with over 35 minutes of possession. Head coach Dave Canales’s strategy was to shorten the game and essentially turn the contest into a series of dice rolls. It worked. The Rams got only three drives in the second half. They went three-and-out on their opening possession of the third quarter, scored a touchdown on their second, and their third ended with a Stafford sack-fumble just before the two-minute warning. The Panthers killed the clock and ran off with a 31-28 win.
The turnovers won Carolina the game, but with Los Angeles scoring on almost every other drive—the Panthers forced only one punt all game—the Panthers’ offense also played a big role in the outcome. Bryce Young’s clutch play ended up making the difference. He was unproductive and inefficient on early downs, but saved his best for high-leverage situations on third and fourth downs.
Bryce Young, Week 13 vs. Los Angeles (TruMedia)
Young threw two of his three touchdowns on fourth down, including the game-winner to Tetairoa McMillan on fourth-and-2. Carolina’s offensive line held up admirably against L.A.’s havoc-wreaking pass rush, and Young took advantage of the extra time in the pocket. On the game-winner, he got through his full progression without finding an open receiver, but McMillan broke open late in the play and Young lofted it up and over the defender in a trail position.
Earlier in the game, Young hit Jalen Coker deep down the right sideline for his other fourth-down touchdown, and also found Coker over the middle for the third-down conversion that clinched the game. On the latter play, the window was wide open thanks to a botched coverage, but Young delivered an accurate throw with good timing.
Young didn’t really push the ball downfield outside of those three plays on a wet and windy day in Charlotte. Canales preferred a schemed-up approach in the passing game with screens and quick passes to the flat.
Canales cooked up Young’s first touchdown with a swing screen to Chuba Hubbard.
No matter how this season ends for Young, who is playing to get his fifth-year option picked up, Canales has earned himself another season in Carolina. He hasn’t turned Young into a star, but he’s helped the former no. 1 pick get to the point where he can turn in this kind of performance every so often. Most impressively, Canales has gotten a mediocre Panthers roster to 7-6 and within a game of the Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South, with Tampa Bay coming to Charlotte in three weeks. It’s been seven years since this team has had something to play for so late in the season. That ought to be good for a few Coach of the Year votes on its own.
A division title may be in the realistic range of outcomes, but it’s still not the most likely outcome. The truth is, this Panthers team isn’t nearly as good as its record—or Sunday’s result against one of the league’s best teams—implies. They’ve been outscored by 50 points this season. Only nine teams have a worse point differential, per TruMedia. They also rank in the bottom 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The win over the Rams was impressive, but this is the same Panthers team that got throttled by the 49ers last Monday night and is just three weeks removed from a double-digit home loss to a dreadful Saints team. None of that will matter if Carolina finishes strong in its last four after next week’s bye.
The Panthers may have to go 3-1 to have a shot at making the playoffs. They’ll likely be underdogs in each of their last three games, but Canales and Young seem to be at their best when expectations are low.
Winner: The Bears
The Bears didn’t play Sunday but may have been the day’s biggest winner. They entered Thanksgiving week just hoping to keep up in the NFC playoff race. But they won a tough road game against the Eagles on Friday to move to 9-3, and by late Sunday afternoon, the Bears were leading the entire conference thanks to Carolina’s win over the Rams. Chicago has the edge over Los Angeles (also 9-3) right now because of a better conference record, while the Rams have a head-to-head win over 9-3 Seattle.
With no head-to-head matchups between the Rams and Bears, homefield advantage in the NFC could come down to conference record, where the Rams have to make up some ground after letting the Panthers game slip away.
With five in-conference games remaining, the Rams have time, but they can’t afford to blow any more opportunities like they did on Sunday. I’d still back Los Angeles as the favorites in the NFC even after the loss to Carolina. It’s not a result that should alter our perception of this team. Stafford’s three turnovers cost the team the win, but outside of those three bad plays, the offense was as productive as it had been all season. Even when including the turnovers, it was still an impressive performance for Sean McVay’s team. It was a 98th-percentile game by success rate, 96th percentile by yards per play, 88th percentile by points per drive, and 74th percentile in expected points added per play, according to TruMedia. The Rams averaged over 7 yards per carry on the ground, and their 71.4 percent success rate was tied for the highest mark in a game this season. Stafford averaged 8.7 yards per attempt. The Rams are going to be just fine.
But Los Angeles did give its chief rivals for the top seed a wider margin for error going forward. The Bears are going to need it with a difficult schedule to close out the regular season. They’ll play the Packers twice in the next three weeks and finish with games against two playoff contenders in San Francisco and Detroit. The Week 15 Browns game might be the only game in which Chicago is favored. Only four teams have a tougher strength of schedule over the final month of the season, which explains why the Bears currently have just a 7 percent chance of earning home-field advantage, per The Athletic’s Playoff Predictor.
Probability of winning the NFC (The Athletic)
Ben Johnson’s team has the inside track to the no. 1 seed in the NFC, but it will need its “good” to get “better” and better to get “best” if it’s going to hang on.
Winner: Sunday Night Football Viewers
It has been nearly two months since we’ve seen a competitive game on the NFL’s flagship broadcast. The last Sunday Night Football game decided by fewer than eight points was way back in Week 6. The drought is over, thanks to the Broncos and Commanders, who gave us a wild overtime affair that came down to a failed two-point try. Denver’s Nik Bonitto swatted Marcus Mariota’s throw out of the air and secured his team’s 10th win of the season.
The game was entertaining, but it wasn’t well played on either side. Denver QB Bo Nix treated the national audience to the signature Bo Nix Experience. There were a handful of highlights, including this incredible touchdown throw to Courtland Sutton:
But every time Cris Collinsworth started to question the un-Bo-lievers, Nix would turn around and prove the haters right. A beer league softball player could have picked Nix off here:
Bobby Wagner barely budged and Nix hit him right between the numbers for the interception.
Nix played a relatively clean game outside of that brutal mistake. There were some wayward passes to open receivers, but he took only one sack (though it was a costly one on a third down late in the fourth quarter) and protected the football. That was enough for Denver’s defense, which had turned in another solid effort before Mariota nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback while fighting his own inner bozo. Mariota nearly cost Washington a chance for a game-tying field goal when he kept this QB draw RPO and was nearly brought down inbounds with just 12 seconds remaining—and the Commanders out of timeouts. Mariota’s miracle escape from what looked like a sure sack led to a defensive pass interference call on Talanoa Hufanga, which wiped out a game-ending interception.
But Mariota came up clutch in overtime with a third-and-14 conversion on a long pass to Deebo Samuel after he had a long touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin wiped out by a 50-50 holding call.
Mariota eventually found McLaurin for a touchdown a few plays later, but couldn’t connect on the ensuing two-point try for the win. (It’s worth noting that RB Jeremy McNichols was wide open, if only Mariota had been able to loft the pass over Bonitto to him.) Mariota’s first touchdown of the game came on one of the best catches of the season, as Treylon Burks pulled off a convincing Odell Beckham Jr. impersonation on this one-handed snag in the back corner of the end zone.
Washington put up a good fight in a losing effort and gave us a nightcap worth watching. With a rising Texans team taking on the desperate Chiefs next Sunday, we may not have to wait too long for the next one.
Winner: The Dramatic AFC South
The NFL’s least interesting division for the last, I don’t know, 15 years, is now demanding our attention. On Sunday, the Texans went into Indianapolis and beat the Colts 20-16 and the Jaguars snuffed out a Titans team that’s already planning its offseason vacations. Those results created a logjam at the top of the standings, and with five weeks left, the AFC South is the league’s most competitive division.
The Jaguars are in first place, the Colts have the division’s best point differential, but the Texans have to be considered the favorites here, right? Just based on past winning experience alone? The Colts and Jaguars are not to be trusted. They have quarterbacks with terrifying turnover tendencies, play-calling head coaches with dicey moments at the end of games, and defenses with a ceiling of “fine.” The Texans, meanwhile, have the division’s best quarterback, the best coach, and an elite defense. I’m not in the business of giving betting advice, but the Texans are +350 to win the division. That should be getting hammered. Houston has the easiest schedule down the stretch, per Tankathon, and the Jags and Colts still have two games against one another while the Texans’ last remaining divisional game is at home against Indy.
I think I’m ready to give up on the Colts after these last two weeks. It’s hard to get the thought of Shane Steichen going into a shell against Kansas City out of my head. Then we found out last week that Daniel Jones is playing with a freaking leg fracture. And now cornerback Sauce Gardner, the team’s big trade-deadline acquisition, will be out at least a few weeks after leaving Sunday’s loss with a calf injury.
Against Houston, Indianapolis needed to get more out of Jonathan Taylor, who ran for 85 yards on 21 attempts and didn’t have a single run go for more than 15 yards. He’s had only four such runs over the last month of games and just one in the last two weeks, per TruMedia. He had 15 over the first 10 games of the season.
Houston still has its issues—the run game is horrible and the offensive line is leaky—but the offense should get a major boost with C.J. Stroud returning from a concussion and putting an end to the nonsensical QB controversy talk. Davis Mills strung together a few wins against bad teams, but Stroud has been the better quarterback by both the numbers and eye test.
Stroud vs. Mills, 2025 season (TruMedia)
Stroud has quietly been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league after a slow start to the season. He ranks fifth in EPA per dropback since Week 4, per TruMedia. He falls to 13th in success rate and yards per dropback, so Stroud is still seeking consistency in the passing game but he’s throwing the ball well. After knocking off the rust against the Colts with a bad pick early in the second quarter, Stroud averaged 0.33 EPA and 7.3 yards per dropback. His postgame assessment of the performance was spot on.
The Texans still can’t run worth a damn, but Stroud and Nico Collins give the offense a fighting chance, and the defense can take care of the rest.
Loser: Mike Tomlin
Sunday’s game could not have gotten off to a more Steelers-ish start. That’s not a compliment. Buffalo and Pittsburgh played 30 minutes of sloppy-ass football; the Steelers defense forced two turnovers, and used the short field off one of those Bills’ mistakes to score the half’s only touchdown. When the Steelers do pull off an upset, that’s the general blueprint; they muck up the game and wait for the other team to make game-losing miscues. Buffalo made their mistakes early, with Josh Allen throwing a pick, which slammed the brakes on a promising opening drive. A fumble by running back James Cook gave Pittsburgh’s offense the short field it needed to find the end zone.
The Steelers came out of the second quarter with a 7-3 lead on the scoreboard and a 2-0 advantage in the turnover battle. It all fell apart in about five minutes of game time in the third quarter. Aaron Rodgers got decked from behind, coughed up the ball, and watched Bills cornerback Christian Benford return it for six. Rodgers ambled back to the sideline with a bloody nose and an injured left hand that kept him out of the game long enough for Mason Rudolph to throw a duck directly to Benford’s chest. Pittsburgh’s lead and the turnover advantage were gone, and that was that. An Allen touchdown pass gave the Bills a 16-7 lead that felt insurmountable even with Rodgers dragging himself back onto the field, even as he bled through the bandage on the bridge of his nose. By late in the game, a constant stream of boos had evolved into a “Fire Tomlin” chant.
I’ll give Rodgers credit for gritting it out in the second half, but he did not want to be there. You can see the apathy in his Next Gen Stats passing map.
Rodgers completed just 48 percent of his passes despite a low average depth of target (4.4 yards) and pressure rate (23 percent). He lost an average of 0.46 EPA per dropback and 83 percent of his yardage came after the catch. Rodgers called it a “boo-worthy performance” so at least he’s self-aware.
The defense also deserved some boos in the second half. The Bills were missing their two starting offensive tackles and had a center battling through an elbow injury and they still bullied the Steelers in the trenches. Cook ran for 144 yards on 32 carries, and Allen went for 38 yards on his four designed rushes—including Allen’s record-breaking touchdown run late in the game. A bummed out T.J. Watt said after the game that he’d never seen an opponent run the same play over and over without fail.
The play was good old-fashioned “Duo,” a downhill run concept consisting of double teams across the blocking front. Per Pro Football Focus, the Bills ran Duo 19 times and had a success rate of 57.9 percent. Only two teams have had more attempts of one run concept in a single game this season. Buffalo had the highest success rate of any of the top-10 games, so Watt wasn’t exaggerating.
The loss dropped the Steelers out of first place in the AFC North, and they’ve got the Ravens in Baltimore next week in what could be the beginning of the end for Rodgers and Tomlin in Pittsburgh if the fans get their way. The Steelers opened up as 6.5-point dogs in that division contest. Their 41-year-old quarterback is (literally) battered and bruised.
Even the defense, which has been the bedrock of the Tomlin model the past few years, is getting punked on a regular basis. The vibes are horrendous right now and could get a lot worse over the last month.
Winner: J.J. McCarthy’s Reputation
McCarthy missed Sunday’s game in Seattle because of a concussion, and was on the sideline in street clothes with a clipboard in his hands as he watched Max Brosmer’s sacrificial NFL debut. The undrafted rookie backup threw four interceptions in what was statistically the worst game of the season for any quarterback by total EPA, per TruMedia. It was the third worst on a per dropback basis. Only Jake Browning’s Week 3 game for Cincinnati in Minnesota and Tua Tagovailoa’s depressing Week 7 clunker for Miami in Cleveland were worse. But neither of those games had a play as laughably inept as Brosmer’s falling, underhanded interception that was returned for a touchdown.
What the hell was Brosmer thinking?! How did he envision that play ending? I get that it was fourth down, so even a desperate heave is more preferable to a sack, but he threw directly into the teeth of the coverage, with a clear path for the defender to race to the end zone. Look, McCarthy has stunk it up, but he’s never done something that egregiously bad. At least not yet.
That we’re using an undrafted rookie as a measuring stick for a top-10 pick in his second year tells you everything you need to know about how McCarthy’s season is going, but Brosmer’s exceptional stinker does shed a more positive light on McCarthy’s recent performances. The Vikings’ offensive situation may not be as nurturing as it appears on paper. Brosmer was bad all on his own but also had three of his passes dropped and was pressured on 33 percent of his dropbacks. He didn’t get any support from the run game, either. Aaron Jones didn’t have a single successful run on Sunday. His backup, Jordan Mason, had just two. Not many quarterbacks would have succeeded in that sort of environment against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Perhaps McCarthy would have performed even worse than Brosmer did in Seattle. That we didn’t get a chance to find out is enough to make McCarthy a winner. It was certainly the most enjoyable Sunday he’s had since returning from a high ankle sprain in early November. After all, it was the first time he went a week without throwing an interception since his return.
Loser: QB Sneaks
Has the QB sneak been figured out? Eh, probably not, but it sure felt like it in Week 13. Only 10 of the 16 sneaks teams ran this week went for a first down, per TruMedia. That’s a 62.5 percent success rate, the fifth lowest of any week in the past five seasons. The three fumbles on sneaks were the most in a single week over the same span. Even the league’s best practitioners of the play had trouble. Jalen Hurts had the ball ripped from him in a tush push scrum in Philadelphia’s 24-15 loss to Chicago on Friday.
The Colts now have to run their sneaks with rookie tight end Tyler Warren in order to protect Jones, who had been a perfect 12-for-12 on sneaks before his leg injury. Warren fumbled away his first sneak attempt of the season on Sunday against the Texans. Another rookie tight end, Cleveland’s Harold Fannin, also fumbled on a sneak attempt in the Browns’ 26-8 loss to the 49ers. Texans tight end Cade Stover was stuffed on back-to-back sneak attempts on third and fourth down. And Saints QB Tyler Shough ran into a brick wall in the final minute of Saints-Dolphins, sealing a 21-17 win for Miami.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks captivated the NFL world on Sunday night as he made an incredible one-handed touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos.
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota led the team down the field on a drive that was about to cross the 5-minute mark. On the 10th play, he threw a lob pass to Burks in the corner of the end zone.
Burks got his right hand up and caught the football over Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
Burks came down with the ball for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Commanders took a 14-13 lead with the score.
NFL fans’ jaws dropped after watching the play. Burks’ catch was quickly compared to the grab former New York Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. made against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.
It was those types of plays that Burks was expected to be making routinely when the Tennessee Titans selected him in the first round of the draft in 2022.
He was selected No. 18 overall out of Arkansas but his time with the Titans didn’t go to plan.
He only scored one touchdown in 27 games.
Burks’ appearance with the Commanders on Sunday was only his third game with Washington. He had four catches for 72 yards with the team coming into the matchup.
The touchdown was Burks’ second of his career. Plays like that will help him make a case to stay on the roster.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke a bone in his non-throwing hand in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and threw for 151 yards on Sunday – 94 yards less than his season average.
But the Chargers still beat the Raiders 31-14 as running back Kimani Vidal ran for 126 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries and caught an 11-yard pass.
The former Troy standout scored on a 59-yard run 57 seconds into the second half as Los Angeles took a 21-7 lead.
“Huge day for Kimani,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Just so many guys stepped up. I mean, we really wanted to win, and the guys went out and played great. Kimani Vidal gave us a huge spark. That was, I think, one of the great runs, and he did that all game. He was really good in protection as well.”
The touchdown was the longest run of Vidal’s NFL career, and he reached a career single-game high for rushing yards, too. On Oct. 12, Vidal had run for 124 yards on 18 carries in a 29-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Vidal was among the 29 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
One other former state players was involved in the Las Vegas-Los Angeles game:
Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
More stories on the NFL
Alabama NFL roundup: Dallas Turner fills up stat sheet for Vikings
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s ‘competitive greatness’ makes the difference for Miami
In the other Sunday games:
Carolina Panthers 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
Mike Jackson (Spain Park) started at cornerback for the Panthers. Jackson made one tackle and intercepted one pass. Jackson picked off a short pass by quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown as Carolina took a 14-7 lead with 1:10 left in the first quarter. The sixth interception of Jackson’s career was his third of the 2025 season and produced his first pick-six. But it was not Jackson’s first NFL touchdown. On Sept. 18, 2022, Jackson picked up a blocked field-goal attempt and ran 86 yards for a touchdown in the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Panthers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) made one tackle.
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) made three tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Browns safety Christopher Edmonds (Samford) made one tackle on special teams.
Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at defensive end for the 49ers. Huff made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
Quinshon Judkins (Pike Road) started at running back for the Browns. Judkins ran for 91 yards on 23 carries and caught three passes for 18 yards.
Forty-Niners cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (South Alabama) made one tackle on special teams and recovered one fumble. Luter recovered a muffed punt at the Cleveland 18-yard line with 13:27 remaining to set up a touchdown that gave San Francisco a 23-8 lead.
Forty-Niners defensive back Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive. A quadricep injury kept Wright out of the lineup.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Colts running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) did not record any stats.
Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) started at center for the Texans.
Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Collins had five receptions for 98 yards and a 7-yard touchdown run. On the third rushing attempt of his NFL career, Collins scored on an end-around with 12:38 to play to break a 13-13 tie.
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.
Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) started at left guard for the Texans.
Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) started at cornerback for the Texans. Lassiter made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope) dressed for the game but did not play.
Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) had a 37-yard kickoff return.
Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) is on reserve/physically unable to perform and not eligible to play.
Colts safety Trey Washington (Hewitt-Trussville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Dolphins offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible play.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen) did not record any stats.
Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had two receptions for 25 yards.
Jets wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (Jackson, South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Quincy Williams (Wenonah) started at linebacker for the Jets. Williams made eight tackles and broke up two passes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy) started at wide receiver for the Buccaneers. Johnson had a 5-yard reception.
Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Titans offensive tackle Chandler Brewer (Florence) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made three tackles and recorded two sacks. Hines-Allen has 5.5 sacks in the past five games.
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) came in to kneel down three times to finish the final 1:49 of the game.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) did not record any stats. Jacksonville elevated Silmon-Craig from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Titans guard Clay Webb (Oxford, Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seattle Seahawks 26, Minnesota Vikings 0
Seahawks safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones (Saraland) did not record any stats in his first game for Seattle. The Seahawks elevated Jones from their practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seahawks nose tackle Bubba Thomas (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) dressed for the game but did not play. Grable came off injured reserve on Saturday and was eligible to play for the first time this season on Sunday.
Steelers defensive tackle Brodric Martin-Rhodes (Northridge, North Alabama) did not record any stats.
Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 40.3 yards on four punts. Waitman had a 35-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 18-yard line, a 51-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 23 (moved back to the 13 by a holding penalty), a 26-yard punt downed at the Buffalo 20 and a 49-yard punt for a fair catch at the Buffalo 17.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) did not record any stats.
Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) ran for 20 yards on four carries.
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made six tackles on defense, broke up one pass and had one tackle on special teams.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.
The 2025 season is the 12th that Mark Inabinett has covered players with Alabama football roots in the NFL. Inabinett’s byline appeared in a newspaper for the first time in 1976. The intervening years have…

Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner filled up the stat sheet during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Turner made five tackles, recorded two sacks, registered three quarterback hits, broke up one pass and forced two fumbles.
Turner’s effort did not keep the Vikings from losing, however, as Seattle scored a 26-0 victory by spoiling rookie quarterback Max Brosmer’s first NFL start with four interceptions.
Turner entered Sunday without a forced fumble in his 28 NFL games.
On Turner’s first sack of Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks recovered the football at their 46-yard line for an 8-yard loss with 13:24 left in the second quarter. Seattle finished that series with a field goal for the game’s first points.
On the Seahawks’ next possession, Darnold fumbled again when sacked by Turner, and this time, Minnesota recovered the football at the Seattle 13-yard line. But the Vikings squandered the opportunity when Brosmer threw an interception on fourth-and-1 that linebacker Ernest Jones returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Turner had 4.5 sacks in his first 25 NFL games. He has four sacks in his past three games.
“I mean, it was just playing fast,” Turner said. “Just the more familiar that we get with the defense, just the deeper we get into the season, you know, just the faster we jell together, the faster we play. And I feel like that was just what happened today.”
Turner was among the 38 former Alabama players who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Eight other former Alabama players were involved in the Minnesota-Seattle game:
Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Vikings. Allen made six tackles.
Josh Jobe started at cornerback for the Seahawks. Jobe made two tackles and broke up one pass.
Ryan Kelly started at center for the Vikings. Kelly left the game with a hip injury.
Seahawks offensive tackle Amari Kight (Thompson) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jalen Milroe was designated as the Seahawks’ emergency third quarterback. Milroe could play only if Sam Darnold and Drew Lock could not.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts did not record any stats.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) did not attempt any kicks.
More stories on the NFL
State NFL roundup: Former Troy star breaks loose for Chargers
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s ‘competitive greatness’ makes the difference for Miami
In the other Sunday games:
Carolina Panthers 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) made one tackle.
A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 15-of-20 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and ran five times for 23 yards. Young threw touchdown passes of 35 yards to running back Chuba Hubbard as Carolina tied the score at 7-7 with 7:38 left in the first quarter, 33 yards to wide receiver Jalen Coker as the Panthers took a 24-21 lead with 8:48 left in the third quarter and 43 yards to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as Carolina went ahead 31-28 with 6:34 remaining. The final two TD passes came on fourth-down throws.
RELATED: BRYCE YOUNG’S 2 FOURTH-DOWN TOUCHDOWN THROWS FUEL UPSET OF RAMS
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond had an 18-yard reception and a 9-yard run.
Browns running back Jerome Ford had three receptions for 17 yards.
Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had three receptions for 26 yards.
Forty-Niners quarterback Mac Jones handled the offense to finish the game for San Francisco. He had a 3-yard run and a kneel-down that lost 1 yard on the game’s final two snaps.
Forty-Niners running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) ran for 26 yards on eight carries.
Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Browns.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made four tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris made one tackle on special teams.
Colts defensive tackle Tim Smith is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Henry To’oTo’o started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick made seven tackles, recorded one sack and forced one fumble. Fitzpatrick also scored two points when he intercepted a 2-point conversion pass and returned it to the other end zone. By denying New Orleans’ opportunity to tie the game at 19-19, Fitzpatrick gave Miami a four-point lead with 1:17 to play. Because of the defensive 2-pointer, the Saints had to try to score a touchdown after they recovered an onside kick at their 45-yard line.
RELATED: MINKAH FITZPATRICK’S ‘COMPETITIVE GREATNESS’ MAKES THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE DOLPHINS
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and intercepted one pass. After Miami recovered a New Orleans fumble at the Saints 37-yard line in the second quarter, McKinstry picked off a pass by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the goal line on the next snap. McKinstry has three interceptions this season after not having any as a rookie in 2024.
Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 12-of-23 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran four times for 4 yards.
Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had three receptions for 40 yards.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison made one tackle.
Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams did not record any stats.
John Metchie III started at wide receiver for the Jets. Metchie had four receptions for 19 yards and a rushing attempt that lost 2 yards.
Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville) started at safety for the Jets. Moore led New York with 10 tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. The rookie reached a career high for tackles in the game.
Jets running back Keilan Robinson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks did not record any stats. Tampa Bay elevated Banks from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell made one tackle.
Dalvin Tomlinson started at nose tackle for the Cardinals. Tomlinson did not record any stats.
Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Titans cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal) was designated as a game-day inactive. An Achilles tendon injury kept Armour-Davis out of the lineup.
J.C. Latham started at right offensive tackle for the Titans.
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Los Angeles Chargers 31, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Chargers.
Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Da’Shawn Hand started at defensive tackle for the Chargers. Hand shared a sack, the seventh of his career.
Chargers running back Najee Harris is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Chargers punter JK Scott averaged 57.5 yards on two punts. Scott had a 57-yard punt for a touchback and a 58-yard punt returned 2 yards to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was designated as a game-day inactive.
Tyrell Shavers started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers did not record any stats.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Commanders wide receiver Trey Amos is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Commanders wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho was designated as a game-day inactive.
Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Broncos outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin) made one tackle for loss.
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made four tackles and broke up one pass as he returned from a three-game absence because of a pectoral injury.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.
The 2025 season is the 12th that Mark Inabinett has covered players with Alabama football roots in the NFL. Inabinett’s byline appeared in a newspaper for the first time in 1976. The intervening years have…

Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford had thrown 28 passes and been hit by the Carolina Panthers once on Sunday when he dropped back from the Rams 22-yard line facing a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
That’s when Stafford got hit for the second time, and this time, Panthers defensive end Derrick Brown knocked the football out of the veteran quarterback’s hands. Carolina recovered and ran out the clock on a 31-28 victory.
“It kind of developed,” Brown said of his strip-sack. “Coming around, (defensive end Tershawn Wharton) getting high, forcing the quarterback to step up in the pocket. Coming around, seeing (outside linebacker) D.J. (Wonnum) take the inside move and then watching everything go down. Just came around and seeing him standing there and try to go get it.”
The Rams entered the game with the NFC’s best record at 9-2 and had won six games in a row. The Panthers were 6-6 and coming off a 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
“Nobody gave us a shot all week, right?” Brown said. “So, I mean, everybody within this locker room, it’s been that way since we were one and three and everybody was like, ‘Here we go again.’ And for us to be able to sit in here and be able to have that resilience just to come to work every single day and put our best foot forward and go out here and try to win these games. I mean, that’s what it’s been from Day 1 when we showed up at OTAs. Many people didn’t see the vision, but we knew if we just keep working, we’ll have opportunities.”
With the score tied 7-7 in the first quarter, Brown tipped a pass by Stafford with Los Angeles at the Carolina 8-yard line, and safety Nick Scott intercepted the football in the end zone. Stafford hadn’t been intercepted since Sept. 21.
“There’s a resilience and depth of character with Derrick where he’s not concerned with what’s happening on the other side of the ball,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “And when the offense might be struggling for a series or two, you’re going to get the same Derrick Brown regardless whatever the score is. We’re up or down, you’re going to get the same Derrick Brown.
“And that’s what I love to point to for the whole group. Like guys, let’s just continue to do our job well. Let’s continue to empty the tank every time you’re out there on the field, whether it’s in practice or the games, and that’s what continues to show up for Derrick.”
Brown was among the 16 former Auburn players who got on the field on the 13th Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
Two other former Auburn players were involved in the Los Angeles-Carolina game:
Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was designated as a game-day inactive.
Rams cornerback Roger McCreary (Williamson) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
More stories on the NFL
Alabama NFL roundup: Dallas Turner fills up stat sheet for Vikings
State NFL roundup: Former Troy star breaks loose for Chargers
Broncos QB Bo Nix after overtime victory: ‘Pressure is a privilege’
In the other Sunday games:
San Francisco 49ers 26, Cleveland Browns 8
Browns linebacker Eugene Asante is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns tight end Sal Cannella is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts.
Miami Dolphins 21, New Orleans Saints 17
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) did not record any stats.
New York Jets 27, Atlanta Falcons 24
Jets defensive tackle Byron Cowart is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jamien Sherwood started at linebacker for the Jets. Sherwood made four tackles and broke up one pass.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Arizona Cardinals 17
Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made three tackles and broke up one pass.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe did not record any stats.
Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Tennessee Titans 3
Titans linebacker Dorian Mausi did not record any stats.
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars offensive tackle Kilian Zierer is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Seattle Seahawks 26, Minnesota Vikings 0
Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall made one tackle.
Vikings linebacker Austin Keys made one tackle on special teams.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) made two tackles on special teams.
Los Angeles Chargers 31, Las Vegas Raiders 14
Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made two extra points.
Chargers long snapper Josh Harris handled the snaps for four extra points, two punts and one field goal.
Raiders wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Chargers wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith was designated as a game-day inactive.
Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues made one tackle.
Buffalo Bills 26, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Steelers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Denver Broncos 27, Washington Commanders 26 (OT)
Commanders quarterback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville) made six tackles and broke up one pass.
Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Commanders. Jones made six tackles.
Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 29-of-45 passes for 321 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran twice for 16 yards. Nix had an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton as Denver took a 13-7 lead with 23 seconds left in the first half.
RELATED: BRONCOS QB BO NIX AFTER OVERTIME VICTORY: ‘PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE’
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 13 started on Thursday, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 31-24, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 and the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 32-14, and continued on Friday, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15.
Week 13 concludes on Monday, when the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ESPN will televise the game.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have the best record in the NFL, haven’t lost in two months and have only a matchup with one of the league’s worst teams standing between a 10th consecutive win and their bye week.
But that doesn’t mean the Patriots (10-2) are taking anything for granted heading into Monday night’s game with the New York Giants (2-10).
Part of the reason is that New England will enter the game with two starters missing on an offensive line that has been of the league’s durable this season. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell left last week’s win over Cincinnati with a knee injury that has since landed him on injured reserve. Left guard Jared Wilson will also be out this week with an ankle injury.
The group of Campbell, Wilson, center Garrett Bradbury, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses have started 11 of the first 12 games this season. The lone deviation from that quintet had been in Week 4 when Ben Brown started in place of Wilson, who was inactive with ankle and knee injuries.

Mikaela Shiffrin added another milestone to her legendary career with her victory at Copper Mountain, continuing her dominance on snow. After the win, she revealed her obsession with the feeling of skiing from start to finish. But there’s one more thing that thrills her just as much, and that’s cheering for her favorite NFL team – the Denver Broncos.
Shiffrin cemented her GOAT status by winning her 104th FIS Ski World Cup. That’s also her 12th win on her home turf, Colorado. But to celebrate her win in the Copper Mountain women’s slalom, she tuned in to watch the battle between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders on November 30. Shiffrin shared a picture of the celebration on her Instagram Story, with a half-eaten burger in her hand, and the television showing the live stream of the Broncos’ match.
In the caption, she wrote, “Burgers & @broncos to celebrate a biggg day 🥰.”
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The celebration didn’t just stay in the realm of Instagram. As the Broncos secured a win over the Commanders with a score of 27-26, Shiffrin ensured to bring the celebration to X. She reposted a celebratory post by the Denver Broncos, showcasing a photo of Jahdae Barron being lifted. And the caption had a similar tone to that of the IG Story.
Shiffrin, on the X repost, quoted, “Let’s gooooo!! Perfect way to spend a Sunday night… @Broncos W + @SNFonNBC + a 🍔 at home with the fam.🥰”
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Copper Mountain welcomed Shiffrin with the kind of electric atmosphere reserved only for hometown heroes. Fans lined the finish zone, waving flags and cheering long before she even stepped into the starting gate. Despite the jet lag and travel fatigue, she posted the fastest times in both runs and secured a ticket to the Olympics. And that came because of the support from her home crowd.
Weighing in on that win, Mikaela Shiffrin stated, “(A fourth Olympics) is pretty incredible. When you’re at the top of sport, some of these things, they become like an expectation. The world just expects it. `How excited are you to go to the Olympics?’ Technically, I haven’t qualified yet. But when I can say I’ve qualified, that’s a huge step, and we have to celebrate those moments.”
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And to express her gratitude as a Coloradan, she stood up to support the Denver Broncos through social media. Of course, this isn’t the first time Shiffrin has expressed her support for the NFL team. She previously cheered them for clinching an NFL playoff spot earlier in January. And her support of her home teams extends beyond the NFL.
How does Mikaela Shiffrin support teams from Denver?
To show her support for her home teams, Shiffrin took a dive into the world of the National Women’s Soccer League as well. In May 2025, she became a co-owner of the Denver NWSL team, as they’re set to debut in 2026. Needless to say, the Olympic alpine skiing champion was pretty thrilled with her new role.
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“I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home. The sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and—most notably—the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today.”
She continued. “To be part of it, and to help bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado, is not only an incredible investment opportunity—but it is both an honor and a joy. Shout out to the city of Denver—I’m so excited to support the home team!”
Additionally, her support shone through when she decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with the Denver Nuggets. Yes, Mikaela Shiffrin took her mother, Eileen, to a game between the Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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And as her support for Denver’s teams continues to shine, Shiffrin’s Copper Mountain victory felt like the perfect homecoming. Celebrating with family, cheering on the Broncos, and embracing her Colorado roots, she blended triumph with hometown pride, closing a milestone weekend with the spirit that defines her.

FOXBOROUGH – Kayshon Boutte was riding high.
Days after catching a go-ahead touchdown to help lift the Patriots over the Titans the receiver was back at his Massachusetts home doing what he loves — playing with his 3-year-old son, Kylan.
The father-son combo kicked the soccer ball together and then ran around the backyard with their dog, a 100-pound, 1-year-old Cane Corso named Bella.
The receiver was exhausted and recovering from his second straight road game, but in this moment, his enjoyment of being a dad exceeded his need for sleep
“You just gotta learn how to balance life outside of football,” Boutte said. “It can be tiring, but I mean, it’s all worth it.”
Boutte’s football journey hasn’t been easy, but the 23-year-old is finally on the right path and in a place he always knew he would be: as a sure-handed, capable receiver in the NFL.
After signing with LSU out of high school, that looked like a given. He was projected to be the next in the line of great Tigers receivers.
A broken ankle during his sophomore year at LSU led to two surgeries and a long recovery. The setback cost him in performance, draft status, money, and reputation.
An elite prep sprinter, Boutte didn’t have the same burst in 2022 after a coaching change at LSU, a disappointing season led him to declare for the NFL draft after his junior season.
The wide receiver fell to the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
“I wasn’t gonna sit there and beat myself up about it,” Boutte said. “The only way to get through it was work.”
Boutte never stopped believing.
In his third season with the Patriots, he looks like the player who sparked such high expectations early on. Those who know him say Boutte’s resurgence in New England shouldn’t be a surprise.
“I always knew I could get back to where I was,” Boutte said. “I just think everybody stopped believing for a second. I feel like now, everybody’s back on the train. It’s kind of how it goes. But I don’t really buy into too much of the noise. Just be me at the end of the day.”
A natural talent
Boutte was bored, so naturally, he went outside to play with Ali.
The black lab seemed giant to Boutte, who was 5 years old. To entertain himself, Boutte chased the family dog around his family’s property.
But when Ali chased him, Boutte realized how athletic he was. As years passed, it got harder and harder for the black lab to catch him.
“You know how they always say, you run faster when you’re in fear?” Boutte said. “It was just that thought of a dog chasing me and then just running away from it. I think you really reach your full speed by doing that. And I think that’s when I started getting into the track and running the football.”
Growing up in New Iberia in Southern Louisiana, Boutte started playing football when he was 5. He was a standout on the track and a legend in youth football. By middle school, he was getting recruited to other high schools, but opted to stay and play in his hometown for Westgate.
“Every time he touched the ball, he was scoring. He just had exceptional speed,” said Westgate coach Ryan Antoine, who first saw Boutte when he was in sixth grade. ”You could tell he was just a natural athlete. He was just different.”
The year before Boutte arrived, Westgate was 0-10. He went to high school as a running back, where the team showcased his elite speed. Even before his first game, Boutte made a list of goals. He wanted:
To earn a football scholarship to LSU
Win a Louisiana state championship in track.
He crossed one of those off as a freshman, winning the 400-meter state title. He also added a state championship in the 60-meter dash to his resume. Boutte also set Westgate High School records in the 100 meters (10.97), 200 meters (21.25), and 100-meter hurdles (15.47).
Moving to receiver as a sophomore helped him achieve the other. It took him two seasons to achieve one dream, signing with LSU.
“I’ve never had a kid that wants to compete like Kayshon,” Antoine said. “It could be shooting the basketball, it could be walking outside, it could be getting first to lunch. Kayshon is going to compete, and he’s not going to stop until he’s the best at it.”
Boutte returned too early
When he arrived on campus, Boutte had high expectations.
At LSU, wide receiver coach Mickey Joseph had a type. He only wanted to recruit athletes whom he thought could be first-round picks. That’s why he successfully recruited Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall.
After Jefferson, Chase, and Marshall’s time in Baton Rouge was over, Joseph had a plan to restock LSU’s receiver room. It started with Boutte (class of 2020), Malik Nabers (2021), and Brian Thomas (2021).
“(Boutte is) one of them. He’s at the top of the charts, talent-wise,” Joseph said. “I didn’t deal with you if I didn’t think that you were going to be a high draft pick one day… He ran into some injuries, but I always thought he was first-round talent.”
The above-mentioned receivers all went in the first round except Marshall, a second-round pick. Boutte’s downfall came from the ankle injury and new coach Brian Kelly’s staff, who didn’t know him.
In 2020, when Chase and Marshall opted out of the COVID season, Boutte became the Tigers’ top option. He caught nine passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the first game of his sophomore year.
A year later, his world came crashing down. On Oct. 9, he suffered his broken ankle. Eight days later, LSU coach Ed Orgeron was fired. The chain of events was catastrophic.
Boutte needed multiple ankle surgeries and still has two steel plates and six screws inside his leg. The recovery was brutal. After graduating from crutches, Boutte made his way around the LSU campus on a motor scooter. As the depression set in, so did embarrassment.
This once-promising receiver fell off his scooter one of the first times he was making his way around campus.
“I was a little hurt at first,” Boutte said. “Depressed, just trying to figure out how to get through everything, not being able to walk. Now crutches. Now, scooter, falling off the scooter, trying to get used to the change.”
The next season, Brian Kelly took over at LSU. Despite the surgeries and Boutte’s diminished speed, the program cleared him for offseason activities in June after holding him out in the spring.
Joseph knew it was wrong.
“They brought him back too early. That’s not knowing the kids. If you know, Kayshon, he’s gonna tell you, ‘I’m good, coach, I’m ready to go,’” Joseph said. “But as a coach, you gotta know the kid and say, ‘Ah, he’s not good. He’s not moving right.’ But if you didn’t recruit him, you don’t know the way he moved in high school. You don’t know how he moved when he first got (LSU).
“When they were talking about playing him, I said, ‘This is too early. He’s gonna end up damaging the ankle again.’”
It was difficult for Joseph to watch Boutte play in his final season at LSU. He shuddered when he saw him run at the NFL Combine.
As a senior in high school, Boutte ran a 4.37 40-yard dash. At the Combine, Boutte ran a 4.50, and his draft stock plummeted.
Newfound maturity
Boutte was 20 years old when the Patriots drafted him. Three years later, he’s still one of the youngest players on the roster. After having success early, he needed to mature.
In 2024, he was arrested for underage gambling and fraud charges after placing bets on sporting events while at LSU. Charges were dropped when Boutte completed a gambling awareness program, and due to him not placing bets against himself or the team.
As a rookie, he caught two passes for 19 yards and was buried on the depth chart by Bill Belichick after failing to get his feet in bounds on a fourth-quarter pass in his first NFL game.
In his second NFL season, Boutte became openly frustrated with his lack of targets, revealing that he “demanded” to see more passes in a game against Houston.
Even from afar, Antoine could see Boutte’s frustration.
“It pissed me off. Kayshon is near and dear to me,” Antoine said. “I know how great of a person the kid is, and so people saw something that’s in a totally different light.”
Joseph was worried too. He visited Boutte during a game in Miami during his rookie season. He got the sense that the receiver wasn’t gelling with Belichick and gave him a pep talk. Joseph told him to keep his head up and not to do anything that would make him look bad with the Patriots staff.
“It looked like Belichick really didn’t care for him too much,” Joseph said. “I think (Mike) Vrabel runs a different ship. I think it’s a better culture, better atmosphere. And it fits him.”
The low points have made this season sweeter for Boutte and those who have always been in his corner. After realizing he needed to grow up, that’s happened, on the field and at home.
His maturation has been one of the biggest storylines of the Patriots’ 2025 season.
This year, he looks like that five-star recruit. Before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 9, Boutte was on pace to surpass the 900-yard receiving mark this season. He was second in the NFL in yards per reception (18.7) and tied for eighth in touchdown catches. The receiver returned to action last week in Cincinnati.
“I’ve watched so many people turn their backs on him. I’ve watched so many people forget about who this kid truly is,” Antoine said. “And now he’s humbled, and now he’s hungry, and now he’s back to the Kayshon I always knew.”
Part of his growth came at home. The newfound maturity that’s come from fatherhood has led to better results with the Patriots.
Four days after he played soccer with his son, Boutte was an in-game captain for the Patriots’ matchup with the Browns. The receiver finished with 75 yards and a touchdown that day. He’s proud of who he’s become.
“You mature as life goes on. As much as you go through is as much as you’re gonna grow, honestly,” Boutte said. “I think just part of what I went through shaped me and who I am today.”

CLEVELAND, Ohio – I don’t know how Kevin Stefanski watches this every week.
I’m talking about the Browns’ special teams – HIS special teams.
“I’m responsible for all of it,” said the Browns head coach. “I’m involved in all of it. We’ll get it coached up.”
Stefanski was talking about a massive special teams failure … again. This time, after Sunday’s 26-8 loss to San Francisco.
There was Skyy Moore’s 66-yard punt return. That put the ball on the Cleveland 16-yard line, setting up a 49ers TD.
I watched Moore running right through the Browns coverage unit and I wanted to scream, “They should be embarrassed!”
There is no screaming – or cheering – in the press box. But there’s a lot of moaning after debacles like that.
Moore’s run was the THIRD punt return of at least 60 yards allowed by the Browns this season. That’s three in 12 games.
Want to turn that frown upside down? This one didn’t go for a touchdown. The other two did: 74 yards (the Jets) and 65 yards (the Lions).
The Browns also have allowed a 99-yard kickoff TD return.
In the last two seasons, the Browns have coughed up five touchdowns on punt or kickoff returns – the most in the NFL.
It’s beyond embarrassing
The Browns had two other special teams disasters Sunday.
Rookie Gage Larvadain muffed a punt that San Francisco recovered on the Cleveland 18-yard line. That led to a 49ers TD.
Larvadain also fumbled another punt, which the Browns recovered.
The strangest special teams play of the game was when Cleveland’s Malachi Corley caught a kickoff headed out of bounds on the 5-yard line. He was tip-toeing the sidelines as he made the catch.
If Corley had simply let the ball land out of bounds (as it was destined to do), the Browns would have had the ball on their own 40-yard line. That’s the rule and Corley should have known it.
Instead, he caught the ball … stepped out of bounds and the Browns had the ball on their own 5-yard line.
Stefanski says things like, “We’ll get that fixed.” He takes responsibility, but nothing changes.
The Bubba Ventrone Era
In 2023, the Browns decided to move on from special teams coach Mike Priefer. They were so impressed with Bubba Ventrone, they gave him the title of Assistant Head Coach to leave the Colts as special teams coordinator and take the same job with the Browns.
The Browns were convinced Ventrone would raise their special teams to a higher level. He had been a terrific special teams player for New England and the Browns.
But since he came here, the Browns special teams have gone from mediocre to self-destructive.
After the Browns gave up TDs on a punt and kickoff in their 27-20 loss to the Jets on Nov. 9, Stefanski said this about Ventrone:
“I have a ton of faith in Bubba. I have a ton of faith in our special teams. We have to be better – that’s the case. There are ways that we can try to be better. We’ll continue to coach our guys hard. We’ll continue to give them the techniques to use. But I trust our guys, I trust that we’ll get back to work.”
None of this is to question the effort of Ventrone or the other coaches who work with special teams. But the NFL is a bottom-line business, and the Browns special teams are near the bottom in ranking in several important areas.
It’s incomprehensible that Ventrone would come back in 2026, even if Stefanski remains as head coach. I wondered if someone else on the staff right now should have a chance to take over the unit.
Former John Carroll defensive coordinator Kyle Hoke joined the Browns as assistant special teams coach in 2025. Hoke had been a safeties coach for several Division I college teams. Is he an option? Is there someone else on the staff?
The best Browns special teams coach that I observed was Brad Seely. He is 69 and retired after the 2020 season. But I would bring him in as a consultant. Or at least send him some videos. Ventrone played for Seely in Cleveland and New England for four seasons.
Are the Browns going to endure this same ineptitude on special teams for the rest of the season without trying something (or someone) else?
That’s a question the front office should ask Stefanski.

The Dallas Cowboys returned to practice on Sunday afternoon as the team begins to ramp up its preparations for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Detroit Lions to kick off Week 14 of the NFL season.
When the team returned to practice, it received some great news in the secondary. All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs took the field and opened his 21-day window as he returns from IR.
Diggs was placed on injured reserve on October 25, just one day before the Cowboys faced the Denver Broncos in Week 8, due to a concussion suffered in a mystery accident at his home and knee soreness.
MORE: 3x Super Bowl winner says Cowboys remind him of another championship team
There is no official date for Diggs’ return to game action, but he is hoping to be active against Detroit.
Amid his pending return to the field, Diggs spoke to the media and opened up about his injury recovery. Diggs says he feels

Instagram/@moediamonds
Former NFL star Le’Veon Bell just turned his entire life story into drip — honoring his journey from college football to the pros and beyond with a custom chain … loaded with emerald, ruby, and diamond-encrusted logos for every chapter of his career!
TMZ Sports has learned … the three-time Pro Bowl running back linked up with his longtime jeweler, Moe Diamonds, in Miami to cop a new piece.
We’re told Bell, 33, decided on only two team logos for the chain — Michigan State University, where he played from 2010 to 2012, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He also included a Killer B — a reference to Bell, Antonio Brown andBen Roethlisberger during their time together on the Steelers.
It also highlights his post-NFL career … like the boxing gloves that salute his run in the ring. Bell has had several exhibition fights, including his knockout win against NFL legend Adrian Peterson. He also had three professional fights, and his latest win was against Tristan Hamm in 2024.
The microphone represents his music career as Bell — who goes by the rap name

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears travel to meet the Philadelphia Eagles in a Black Friday game in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season.
The Bears (8-3) are coming off another close victory, this one 31-28 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, behind second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and rookie head coach Ben Johnson. The Eagles (8-3)
The Bears and Eagles kick off at 2 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime. What you need to know about the game, including streaming info, odds, predictions and more:
Black Friday Football stream: Bears vs. Eagles on Amazon Prime
What channel is Bears vs. Eagles on today?
TV Channel: None
Livestream:Amazon Prime
The Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles will stream on Amazon Prime in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season. Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) call the game from the booth at Lincoln Financial Field, while Kaylee Kartung is on the sidelines.
Bears game today: When does the Bears game start?
Date: Friday, Nov. 28
Start time: 2 p.m. CT
The Bears vs. Eagles game starts at 2 p.m. CT from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stream Bears vs. Eagles on Black Friday Football on Amazon Prime
Bears vs. Eagles predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 25:
Spread:Eagles by 7
Over/under:44.5
Moneyline:Bears +255; Eagles -315
2025 Chicago Bears schedule
Complete 2025 NFL TV schedule: Every game, full channel lineup

PHILADELPHIA − It might be difficult for the Eagles to duplicate their passing success against the Chicago Bears from their game against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 23.
That’s because once again, the wind will be a big factor in the Nov. 28 Black Friday game at Lincoln Financial Field.
And that goes for field goals as well. That’s something Eagles kicker Jake Elliott is preparing for, much like the Nov. 16 game against the Lions when Elliott hit three field goals, including a 49-yarder, in a swirling wind during the Eagles’ 16-9 win.
Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the CBS Sports family. We get a Turkey Day tripleheader on Thursday, as the Detroit Lions host Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, and Joe Burrow makes his return to the field against the Baltimore Ravens.
Elsewhere around the NFL, Shedeur Sanders will make his second NFL start against Robert Saleh’s defense as the San Francisco 49ers come to town, the Buffalo Bills look to get back on track against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots host the New York Giants on

Erin and Lee Hanson founded the company that makes the Guardian Caps worn by many high school, college football and NFL players.
Lee and Erin Hanson, co-founders of Guardian Sports, hold Guardian Caps with Georgia Tech and UGA logos as they pose for a photo at Guardian Sports’ headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
In homes across the U.S. this holiday season, a familiar sound will likely be heard beneath the din of pots and pans — the crack of football helmets colliding.
A day of gratitude, Thanksgiving and the days surrounding the holiday are intertwined with watching football. One metro Atlanta couple has worked to make a game known for hard hits safer.
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Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller prepares for a defensive snap against Florida in an NCAA football game at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. Miller became the first Georgia player to wear a Guardian Cap in a game during the win over Florida. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Exterior of Hanson Group, which is a material science company that provided the expertise to develop the cap for Guardian Sports, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Erin Hanson, co-founder of Guardian Sports, holds a lacrosse ball as she shows the warehouse at Guardian Sports’s headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Falcons defense get ready to practice during training camp at the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch on Friday, July 26, 2024. The players are all wearing Guardian Caps. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
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Welcome to the Friday Five!
Each week during the NFL regular season, I’ll drop five Patriots-related thoughts on Friday to recap the week that was in Foxboro and look ahead to kickoff.
Ready, set, football.
1. Run, Drake, run?
There’s an old saying among offensive coaches.
If you can’t block ’em, read ’em.
Meaning, if your offensive line can’t block an edge defender or defensive tackle well enough, don’t. Leave him deliberately unblocked on an option run, where the quarterback can either hand the ball off or keep himself based on his read of the defender. If the defender pursues the running back at the snap, the quarterback keeps the ball and runs the other way. If he freezes, the quarterbacks hands the ball off and let his running back burrow behind a double-team working the other side of the defense.
Down two starting offensive linemen for the foreseeable future, calling more option runs with Drake Maye could help the Patriots in two ways.
No. 1: It might jumpstart a suddenly stalled run game that averaged 3.5 yards per carry last weekend versus a Bengals defense that had allowed more than 250 rushing yards in two of his last three games. The Patriots currently rank fifth-worst in the league by rushing DVOA.
No. 2: Option runs could heat up a suddenly cold red-zone offense that’s slipped to 20th in the league in touchdown percentage (55%) and has converted 44% of drives into touchdowns the last three weeks. In Cincinnati, the Pats were stuffed six times at the 1-yard line, including a few times on traditional handoffs.
Maye’s legs might also offset protection issues in the passing game, though offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have more levers to pull there. McDaniels can call short passes, misdirection plays or keep a running back or tight end in to block. Or both. The Patriots can go no-huddle to tire out the defense or dial up screens.
For now, it sounds like Mike Vrabel would prefer the Patriots not involve Maye as a runner, no matter how their rush offense is struggling.
“We’ve had some of those (option) plays, and we’ve called some of those plays. And so, you kind of want to be careful,” Vrabel said Wednesday. “Guys are going in concussion protocol left and right. Again, we’ll be willing to do anything to win a football game, but I think being smart is probably the biggest thing.”
But with five games left and a potential first-round bye at stake, if another battle comes down to the 1-yard line, might the Patriots be tempted by the reward of Maye running, risk be damned?
2. Pro Bowl Patriots
The NFL opened voting for the Pro Bowl on Thursday. So who in New England will make it?
Maye, for starters. He’s a lock.
None of the Patriots’ running backs warrant serious consideration. Stefon Diggs deserves a hard look, with 61 catches for 679 yards and three touchdowns this year.
How about Hunter Henry? Henry is second in the AFC in receptions and touchdown catches among tight ends.
Defensively, nickelback Marcus Jones should be a no-brainer. He might make the Pro Bowl as a returner, but he’s one of four defenders in the NFL with 50-plus tackles, three interceptions and a sack this season. Jones took one of those picks back to the house last Sunday.
The bet here is Maye, Diggs and Jones get the call. Shutdown cornerback Christian Gonzalez has not dominated like he did last year, and still doesn’t have an interception. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales can argue a strong case, but falls short in the name-recognition department, which makes Chargers veteran Cameron Dicker and Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn more likely selections in a fan vote.
Special teams ace Brenden Schooler could also make the cut, but he’s tied for 16th in special teams tackles through Week 12.
2. Vederian Lowe, better, stronger
The last time you saw Vederian Lowe playing left tackle for the Patriots, he had a torn labrum.
Lowe revealed Wednesday he tore his labrum in October 2024 during a win over the Jets and continued to play through the injury, which contributed to some of his worst games of the season.
The 26-year-old is now back in the starting lineup due to another injury, Will Campbell’s hurt knee, and feeling much stronger heading into his first start of the season; especially in his shoulder.
“If I had days rehabbing where I could pick and choose if I want to go upper or lower (body), I was going upper,” Lowe said Wednesday. “You know, getting the shoulder stronger, I wanted to come back better than how it was before. So that’s kind of the mindset I’ve been on, trying to get the shoulder as strong as I can, get it back, even stronger than I had it before.”
Lowe’s recovery extended into the summer, when he did not practice right away. He nonetheless made the team as one of the Patriots’ top offensive tackles behind Campbell and veteran right tackle Morgan Moses. Lowe may replace Campbell for the rest of the season, with the rookie going on injured reserve Wednesday in a move that will at least cost him the next four gmaes.
4. Barmore’s strange season
Let’s start with a reminder.
Sacks are not a perfect metric for pass-rushing impact. Every defender wants sacks, but the best pass-rushers don’t necessarily lead the NFL in sacks every year. They do, however, rank among the league leaders in pressures and pressure rate.
That said, while Christian Barmore ranks seventh among defensive tackles this season in total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, does that match the eye test?
No. Barmore has just one sack and six QB hits this season over a dozen games; numbers that more closely resemble his stat line from a year ago when he was limited to four games due to two bouts of blood clot-related symptoms. He’s logged a QB hit in just one of his last seven games. So what gives?
Hard to say. It would be unfair to allege Barmore is underachieving in light of his health situation, though the 26-year-old has often maintained he feels good. The Patriots have done well managing his workload to keep him available.
Perhaps the best way to describe Barmore’s lack of traditional rush is soft pressure. Not because he’s not there, but quarterbacks don’t feel him the way you would expect an $84 million defensive tackle to be felt. Basically, he’s in the neighborhood, just not knocking down the door.
5. Vrabel low on Thanksgiving
In a light moment at the end of his Wednesday press conference, Vrabel revealed Thanksgiving is not among his favorite holidays.
“Christmas is No. 1,” Vrabel said. “Fourth of July is a close second. (I’m a) big firework guy. And then it’s a toss-up: St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween.”
Still, Vrabel said he was plenty thankful.
“My family. I think that having them here this week is going to be good, going to be nice,” he said. “And then I would say the opportunity to coach this team. I think the players, the coaches, the staff. That’s what I’m thankful for. Got some good friends that have helped along the years.”

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Nov. 28, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 69 degrees (1905)
Low temperature: Zero degrees (1887)
Precipitation: 1.56 inches (1968)
Snowfall: 3.4 inches (1940)
1895: A Duryea “motocycle” won the first organized automobile race in the United States. The 55-mile route started in Chicago’s Jackson Park — amid snow and slush — and ended in Evanston. Of the seven competitors, only two crossed the finish line. The other five, according to the Tribune, “were lost — wandering aimlessly about the streets of Chicago or lying wrecked in some gutter along the way.”
The runner-up claimed the winner pushed his machine up a hill to reach the finish line. The unnamed winner — who crossed the finish line in 10 hours, 17 minutes — denied the claim. “No records, but various parts of the mechanism, were broken,” the Tribune reported.
The judges didn’t stay to watch the last competitor cross the finish line at 2 a.m. the next day — just two reporters witnessed it.
The NFL’s oldest rivalry continued at Soldier Field. A look back at the teams that started it all in 1920.
1920: The NFL’s oldest rivalry began. The Chicago Bears, then known as the Decatur Staleys, faced the Racine Cardinals — named after Racine Avenue where their home venue was Normal Park and not for the city in Wisconsin — for the first time. Paddy Driscoll kicked the deciding extra point in the Cardinals’ win and kept the Bears in poor field position all afternoon with his precision punts.
1929: The Cardinals had reason to offer thanks this Thanksgiving Day. They had coaxed future Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers, the former Stanford star, back into pro ball as a player-coach. And Nevers scored all of the Cards’ points in a 40-6 Comiskey Park thrashing of the archrival crosstown Bears. Gaining much of his yardage behind the blocking of tackle Duke Slater, later a judge in Chicago, and guard Walt Kiesling, later also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Nevers scored an NFL record of six TDs, which has since been tied. He also kicked four PATs for a 40-point total that still stands as the league one-game record.
1943: After a six-year absence from the game, 34-year-old Bronko Nagurski was brought back for the 1943 season and played tackle, but in the final game, with the Bears losing by 10 to the Cardinals and needing a win to clinch their division, they moved Nagurski to his old position of fullback and the rest is legend. In the fourth quarter alone, Nagurski carried 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown as the Bears rallied to win 35-24.
1964: The selection of Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1965 NFL draft remains the only time a team has selected two future Hall of Fame players in the first round of one draft.
The Bears acquired the No. 3 pick from the Steelers and used it on Butkus, a Chicagoan and a wildly popular choice whose name remains synonymous with Bears folklore. Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
“I hate to make a decision — you see, I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Butkus said. “Chicago’s my home and all things being equal, I probably would prefer to play with the Bears, but there are other things to be considered.”
Days later, Butkus signed with the Bears.
“I didn’t really like Denver’s approach. There’s more to it than just money and that’s all Denver wanted to talk about,” he said. “The only thing really on my mind right now is that I want to get back and get caught up with my schooling. I’ve been missing out too much.” (Butkus was a physical education major.)
‘When I get through with Chicago, they’ll be loving me.’ Looking back at first words from the Bears’ top draft picks.
Sayers, who was drafted fourth, also had doubt about signing with the Bears. He was also picked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the rival AFL.
“I’m happy to be a Bear,” Sayers told reporters after signing a contract with Halas. “I just got back from New York, where I was invited over to (Kansas City team owner Lamar) Hunt’s hotel. When millionaires start opening the door for me, I get suspicious.”
Neither Hall of Famer expressed jealousy or animosity toward the other.
“I met him early on in the All-Star games before we even got to the Bears,” Butkus said. “And I like to think we are good friends ever since. So there was never any animosity between offense and defense.”
In his autobiography, Sayers said of Butkus: “We remain great friends and have so many shared memories.”
The Rolling Stones in Chicago: A timeline of the band’s 55-year fascination with the city’s blues
1965: The Rolling Stones played their third Chicago concert at the Arie Crown Theater in less than 13 months, this time with the band’s first No. 1 U.S. hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” closing the show.
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Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Thanksgiving never, ever disappoints.
The holiday typically entails good food, good company and most importantly, good NFL action. And let’s just say, it delivered and more.
Here is a recap of the three games from Thursday.
Burrow returns in Bengals win
Isn’t football better when Joe Burrow is healthy and playing?
The 28-year-old returned from a nine-week absence following a turf toe injury to lead the Cincinnati Bengals to a 32-14 win over their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in Maryland.
Burrow threw 24-of-46 for 261 yards and two second-half touchdowns to snap Baltimore’s five-game winning streak.
But it was the Cincy defense that really came to play against the prolific Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore offense.
The Ravens – a team once considered among the preseason Super Bowl favorites – lost three fumbles in the first half and turned the ball over five times to fall to a disappointing 6-6 on the season.
The Bengals improved to 4-8 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive – the NFL Playoff Picture currently has Cincinnati sitting on a 2% chance to make the postseason.
“It’s no secret that every game from here on out is a must win,” Burrow told the NBC broadcast after the game. “Especially in the division. So, it was great to get this one, coming off a short week. This is a fun little moment with all these guys.”
Burrow also commended everyone in his life including family and medical staff for getting him back on the field.
The road doesn’t get much easier for the Bengals as they head to Buffalo to face reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Bills while the Ravens look to bounce back against another divisional opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cowboys quell Mahomes’ magic
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes came into Thursday’s game with something to prove.
The 30-year-old has only played the Dallas Cowboys once in his nine-year career and never in his home state of Texas so the Thanksgiving showdown meant a little bit more.
However, it was Dallas that outlasted the “Mahomes magic” in a 31-28 win at AT&T Stadium to spoil his homecoming.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw 27-of-39 for 320 yards, two touchdowns and a pick to help the five-time Super Bowl champs win their third straight game to improve to 6-5-1 on the season.
Dallas has beaten the last two Super Bowl champions in recent weeks – the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles – an achievement which led Prescott highlighted postgame.
“On top of where we put ourselves right before these games and just the place that we’re in, having to get these wins against two elite teams,” Prescott said.
“I mean, two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. Last year’s last year, but you’re talking about two organizations that obviously know how to win and we just beat them both in two great games.”
Mahomes, who played college ball at Texas Tech, had an outstanding game, throwing 23-of-34 for 261 yards and four touchdowns in the loss.
Dallas now heads to Detroit to play the Lions next Thursday while the Chiefs host the Houston Texans on December 7.
For the Love of the game
It hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for 27-year-old Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers, but the fifth-year quarterback saved his best game for Turkey Day.
Love matched his career-high with four passing touchdowns to go with 234 yards through the air to lead the Packers to a 31-24 win over division rivals the Detroit Lions.
The Pack, who improved to 8-3-1 on the season, have swept both games against Detroit this season to own a tiebreaker and currently sit in second place in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears.
It was the third loss in five games for the Lions, who sit outside the NFC playoff picture with a 7-5 record. Quarterback Jared Goff was 20-of-26 for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Green Bay hosts the Bears on December 7 while the Lions welcome the Cowboys to Ford Field next week.
Football fans don’t have to wait long as the NFL plays on Black Friday with the Eagles facing Chicago at 3 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.

The turkey has been carved, family football games in the backyard have been won, and the NFL has ripped through a wild Thanksgiving slate. Coming into Thursday, the league’s triple-header was described as monumental, and for good reason. This wasn’t your typical holiday slate with one game standing above the rest, as every game carried with it a massive weight in terms of the playoff picture.
We began the day with the Packers heading into the Motor City and taking down the Lions, while wrapping things up with the Bengals upsetting the Ravens in Baltimore. Sandwiched in between those two divisional matchups was the Chiefs and Cowboys squaring off in what was essentially a do-or-die contest for each of their playoff hopes, and Dallas coming away victorious.
NFL Thanksgiving grades for Week 13: Cowboys ace test against Chiefs, Bengals earn ‘A’ for shocking win
John Breech
Naturally, there are plenty of storylines that’ll come out of this trio of games from the holiday. But which storylines should we take a face value and which should we shrug off as nothing more than an overreaction? Thankfully, we’re here to help slice through those storylines and determine just that.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are dashed
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
The Lions are probably feeling dejected coming out of Thanksgiving, and for good reason. Their chances of winning the NFC North likely went up in smoke with their loss to the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. That completed the season sweep for the Packers, and dropped the Lions to a mere 1-3 record within the division. While that creates a near-impossible hill to climb for the NFC North crown, all is not lost in terms of the Lions getting into the playoffs. They are on the outside looking in on the playoff picture at the moment and have zero margin for error, but there’s still a path for them to get in at this current snapshot. If they take care of business over the next two weeks against the Cowboys and the Rams (no small task), they could play themselves back in the picture with some outside help.
Chiefs need to win out
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Things are getting pretty bleak for the Chiefs, who are now 6-6 on the season after a loss to the Cowboys. Not only does that dig them into a deeper hole in the AFC West race, but Kansas City’s playoff hopes are remarkably dwindling. At the moment, they are the No. 9 seed in the conference. With the main Week 13 slate still on deck, teams like the Houston Texans (6-5), Buffalo Bills (7-4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) could all push further ahead of them with wins on Sunday. Speaking of the Bills and Jaguars, Kansas City would need to finish the year at least one game above them as they each own the head-to-head tiebreaker. The same could be said for the Texans by the end of Week 14 after they visit the Chiefs at Arrowhead. If the Chiefs lose that game or any other contest over their final five games, it’ll likely be curtains for their playoff hopes.
Cowboys are going to make the playoffs
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
The Dallas Cowboys are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Jerry Jones’ club is riding a three-game winning streak, and the previous two wins include both clubs that were in the Super Bowl a season ago. While that has Dallas rightfully flying first class on cloud nine, these wins don’t necessarily indicate that they are a shoo-in for the playoffs. At 6-5-1, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done. If we strictly look at the wild card race, the Cowboys need to catch the likes of the Packers (8-3-1), 49ers (8-4), or Seahawks (8-3). Green Bay already won its Week 13 game, while San Francisco and Seattle are both favored to win their matchups on Sunday, potentially pushing them to nine wins on the year. That creates quite the gap for Dallas. Is it impossible? No, but not a lock as it may feel in this moment.
Packers are the real team to beat in the NFC North
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Thursday’s win over the Lions didn’t move the Packers into first place in the NFC North, but it may as well have. Being able to go into Detroit and pull out a win in that environment further showed that Green Bay is the team to beat in this division, even if they are momentarily looking up at the Chicago Bears. The Packers completed the season sweep of the Lions and have both of their contests against the Bears still left on the docket, giving them an opportunity to leap atop the NFC North by season’s end. Already, Green Bay is 3-0 in the division and is the more talented club when firing on all cylinders. Yes, they sometimes play down to their competition, but as the stakes rise as we head down the final few weeks of the regular season, I think their play will level up as well.
Bengals will make playoffs with Joe Burrow back
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Cincinnati is now 3-0 when Joe Burrow starts for them this season. The club was certainly happy to welcome him back under center on Thanksgiving as he helped pave the way to a pivotal win over the Ravens in Baltimore. Seeing No. 9 slinging it for two touchdowns has the Bengals dreaming of making the playoffs, but that’s no guarantee. Even if they end the regular season on fire as they did a year ago, they could, in a similar fashion, still miss out on the postseason. This victory pushes the Bengals to a 4-8 record on the season. With teams like the Bills and Jaguars coming into Week 13 at 7-4, there’s a hefty gap for them to notch a wild-card spot. Their best path would be to win the AFC North, where they now own a 3-1 record. That could prove valuable in tiebreaker scenarios, but it also involves both the Steelers and Ravens cratering. It’s possible one of those teams falls by the wayside, but Cincinnati would also have to win out. Even with their defense playing well on Thursday night, that side of the ball is still at risk of costing them key games and dashing their playoff hopes.
Lamar Jackson is in a slump
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Lamar Jackson isn’t right. Even as the Ravens were on their five-game winning streak heading into Thanksgiving, the offense didn’t exactly look right, and Jackson, in particular, seemed out of sync. He hadn’t thrown a touchdown in the two games entering Week 13, and not only did he fail the find the end zone again, but he also tallied three giveaways (one interception and two fumbles). In all, Jackson has five turnovers over his last three games with zero total touchdowns. Regardless of whether it’s health-related or not, if Jackson isn’t able to turn the tide soon, it could put the Ravens’ playoff hopes at risk.

The Minnesota Vikings still aren’t revealing whether J.J. McCarthy will be cleared in time for their Week 13 game against the Seattle Seahawks. The second-year quarterback is still working through concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain.
Signs are not promising, though. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on November 26 that McCarthy is not likely to suit up after being placed in the protocol.
While the focus this week is on McCarthy’s health, the NFL national media isn’t stopping there, discussing the player’s future as a quarterback for the Vikings. On the November 26 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show,” former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on McCarthy after watching the film on the young quarterback.
“I think the first thing is that sometimes you run into what I call natural throwers: the kind of players who can just pick up a football and let it fly. Guys like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes fit that mold,” Warner said. “Then there are others who aren’t naturally gifted in that way; they’ve put in the work and become effective, but it doesn’t come as effortlessly.
“That’s where I think J.J. falls. I don’t see him as a natural, more fluid thrower. Because of that, you notice quite a few accuracy issues in his passes. At Michigan, everything came out as a fastball, and it was hit or miss. That’s an area he still needs to develop. He’s got to get better at.”
Kurt Warner Talks Mental Aspect of QB for J.J. McCarthy
After discussing the physical aspects of McCarthy’s game, Warner touched on the mental side of the position, including decision-making. The former Arizona Cardinals signal caller noted that this a significant area of concern for him regarding the Vikings youngster.
“What I’m seeing a lot of times on tape is I believe J.J.’s hanging on routes way too long,” Warner added. “By the time he gets back to these other routes, he can’t see it. He doesn’t have time to verify it, or he’s late on those particular routes.
“And so my question becomes: is J.J. slow at processing things? Is he taking too long to see and determine whether he wants No. 1 or No. 2 before he gets to No. 3? Or is the system dictating him—you have to see one, see if one comes open, hang here until it gets to the top of the route before you can move on to the next one? And is that causing him to go through things slowly?”
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Yet to Be Ruled Out
As for this week against the Seahawks, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t ruling out McCarthy just yet after speaking with the media on November 26.
“He’s cleared enough of the protocol to at least participate in a limited capacity [on November 26]; that’s part of the next phases of it,” O’Connell told reporters. “He’s in the protocol, and as that goes and as the medical process plays out, I think as far as the zero hour, I don’t necessarily know if we’re looking at it like that. But you do want to take into account what his preparation been like, what has the practice week been like with what he’s able to do, while also knowing that ultimately this is not talking about a hand or an ankle or anything like that.
“We’re talking about his head, and it’s obviously something that, as a former player and just thinking about it from that context, we want to, for sure, make sure we defer to the medical team, but then also what we feel is best. We’re still not in place to declare anything yet, just listening to where it’s at right now and where it could get to. But we’re obviously going to be smart, both for what’s best for our team and what’s best, most importantly, for J.J.”

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their sixth game of the year on Thanksgiving Day, falling to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 31-28, and the Week 13 defeat came with a warning.
“The Cowboys with an impressive win, while the Chiefs… head into run the table territory,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport stated after the game, and he wasn’t the only one who made it clear that KC no longer has any room for error.
“Bigger than their sixth one-score loss on the national stage, where so many things went wrong, is the harsh reality and truth of where the Chiefs now stand. In their loss, any margin for error down the stretch is gone,” KC Star beat reporter Pete Sweeney agreed.
Meanwhile, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero noted that the Chiefs are “on the ropes at 6-6,” and opposing fans all over social media celebrated the fact that Kansas City is likely one loss away from elimination.
Chiefs’ Andy Reid Says Mentality Doesn’t Change With Backs Up Against the Wall
Following loss number six, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked about running the table and whether or not that changes KC’s mentality. Per Reid, it does not.
“Yeah, you know, we go in every week thinking that [we cannot lose another game],” Reid responded. “In this business, you stress to get your game plan down, and then practice it, and then go out and do it. So, there [are] no days off on that. It’s competition, and you’re giving it your all, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from the guys now.”
Similarly, quarterback Patrick Mahomes echoed Reid and those who put the Chiefs on notice after the game, acknowledging: “You’ve got to win every game now and hope that’s enough.”
Needless to say, the Chiefs put themselves in quite a pickle heading into December.
Looking at the KC’s Remaining Schedule After Week 13 Loss to Cowboys
It may feel like all is lost for the Chiefs after a crushing Thanksgiving Day defeat, but the reality is that it’s not, at least not yet.
Kansas City has five regular season games remaining in its 2025-26 campaign. They are:
At home against the Houston Texans.
At home against the Los Angeles Chargers.
On the road facing the Tennessee Titans.
At home against the Denver Broncos.
On the road facing the Las Vegas Raiders.
Two of those games are very winnable, and they are the two road games, which is a good sign. The Chiefs are typically hard to beat at Arrowhead Stadium, so if they can take care of business at home and win against two bottom-feeder opponents on the road, they’ll finish at a record of 11-6.
Now, that’s easier said than done, but it’s by no means out of the realm of possibility.
Going one step further, KC can also help itself by beating the Texans and Chargers, who are both currently ahead of them in the AFC wildcard race. So, those were going to be must-win matchups, no matter what happened in Dallas.
The biggest remaining challenge is likely Week 17 against the 9-2 Broncos, but the Chiefs will be hungry for revenge. Kansas City may be one loss away from elimination, but until they’re dead and buried, it’s foolish to write them off.

In case you forgot, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry is going to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
Henry took the Ravens’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Cincinnati Bengals as an opportunity to remind us he’s really that guy with a vintage, 28-yard touchdown run in the first half that put him in some elite company.
“King Henry just scored his 116th career touchdown,” the NFL wrote on its official X account after Henry’s touchdown run. “He joins LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players in NFL history with 10+ rush TDs in 8+ consecutive seasons.”
Henry wasn’t done there. He also passed Cleveland Browns running back and NFL legend Jim Brown to move up to No. 11 on the NFL’s career rushing list with 33 rushing yards in the first half.
There’s a good chance Henry could pass Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett (12,739 yards) and move into the NFL’s Top 10 career rushers by the end of the regular season.
Frustration Mounts With Ravens Offense
In an interesting, frustrating twist, after rushing for 33 yards on 5 carries in the first quarter and averaging 6.6 yards per carry, Henry didn’t see a single carry in the second quarter as the Ravens went into halftime trailing 12-7.
The Ravens turned the ball over 3 times in the first half. That was fumbles by quarterback Lamar Jackson and a fumble by tight end Isaiah Likely as he ran into the end zone for what looked like a touchdown.
Frustrations with the Ravens’ offense play calling boiled over on social media — mainly from degenerate gamblers who wanted to all point out how bad the Bengals defense is.
“Not betting related, but Cincinnati has the 2nd worst rush defense in the league and Derrick Henry sees 0 touches in the second quarter after scoring a TD in the first,” Profits Plus wrote on its official X account.
“Honestly the no mention of Derrick Henry (on NBC) not playing at all after that opening drive especially from sports analysts makes this very strange,” X user Frank Dallas wrote. “The worst rush defense, 5 carries 33 yards a td, and not a single snap yet.”
“Son if you don’t believe the NFL isn’t rigged please look me in my face and explain why Derrick Henry hasn’t touched the ball after a 30 yard (expletive) touchdown?” X user Gamer God wrote. “I (swear to God) I’ll never watch this (expletive) again in my life.”
Making Henry’s Case for Hall of Fame
While common sense tells us Henry should be in the Hall of Fame one day, the Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor tells a different story.
The HOFm uses a combination of “AV, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships, and various stat milestones,” to determine a player’s Hall of Fame potential and has Henry pretty low on its list — an average NFL running back in the Pro Football Hall of Fame sports an HOFm score of 107.0. Henry currently has a score of 59.17 with 6 games left in his 10th season.
Of the 23 Hall of Famer running backs ahead of Henry on the HOFm list, Henry has more carer rushing yards than 12 of them and more career rushing touchdowns (115) than 20 of them.

Outside of Super Bowl Sunday, Thanksgiving is arguably the day most synonymous with football, and the NFL made sure to schedule three mouthwatering matchups. The Thanksgiving NFL schedule begins with the Detroit Lions (7-4) hosing the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) in an NFC North battle at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) hosting the Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) at 4:30 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+, before the Baltmore Ravens (6-5) host the Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) at 8:20 p.m. ET. All three games are sure to garner ample online sports betting interest. The highest over/under on Thanksgiving is 52.5 points in Chiefs vs. Cowboys.
There are dozens of betting options if you’re wondering how to bet on the NFL on Thanksgiving. Here’s a closer look at available sportsbook promos on some of the top NFL betting sites, as well as the best betting apps that are available for the Thanksgiving NFL schedule, with instructions on how to claim each offer and where to bet NFL.
Where to bet on the NFL on Thanksgiving
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The DraftKings promo code, bet365 bonus code and FanDuel promo code all offer bonus bets after new users place a wager of $5 or more. The bet365 bonus code CBSSPORTS offers new users $150 in bonus bets with the placement of a $5+ bet, whether the bet wins or loses. At DraftKings and FanDuel, you need to win your first bet to receive the bonus. FanDuel offers new users $150 in bonus bets if their first bet of at least $5 wins. DraftKings offers $200 in bonus bets with a winning wager of at least $5, but with the latest DraftKings promo code, new users will receive three months of NBA League Pass free, on top of the $200 in bonus bets.
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Thanksgiving NFL betting preview
Packers vs. Lions betting preview, picks
Lions (-2.5) vs. Packers
Even with significantly stronger all-around seasons for the Lions the past few years, Thanksgiving has still been a tough day for the franchise despite playing at home annually. The Lions have lost seven of their last eight Thanksgiving games; however, Detroit did defeat Chicago, 23-20, on Thanksgiving last season. The Lions are coming off a 34-27 overtime victory over the Giants to improve to 7-4 overall and 4-1 at home this season. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns and added 11 receptions for 45 yards and a score last week, as a nearly unstoppable weapon out of the backfield. He’s averaging 113 rushing yards at home this season, and the model projects Gibbs to be a significant reason the Lions win and cover on Thanksgiving. The model projects the Lions to cover the spread in 52% of simulations.
Chiefs vs. Cowboys betting preview, picks
Chiefs (-3) vs. Cowboys
The Chiefs missing the playoffs flashed before the eyes of nearly everyone in America when seeing Kansas City trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter last week and on the verge of falling to below .500 after 12 weeks. But rather unsurprisingly, given how dominant the Chiefs have been in recent seasons, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid didn’t allow that to become a reality, completing the comeback and forcing overtime in an eventual 23-20 win over the Colts, who entered last week as one of only three teams in the AFC with two losses. Every game remains crucial to the Chiefs, who at 6-5 are far from certain to make the postseason, and they’ll take on the 5-5-1 Cowboys. Dallas’ defense has performed better since its trade deadline acquisitions, but overall, the Cowboys still rank 31st in scoring defense at 28.5 ppg allowed this season. With a national audience in what is likely to be the most-viewed regular-season game of the NFL season, the model expects the Chiefs to put on a show, projecting Kansas City to cover the spread in 54% of simulations.
Bengals vs. Ravens betting preview, picks
Ravens (-7) vs. Bengals
Even if Joe Burrow (toe) can take the field for the first time since Week 2, the main reason for the Bengals’ 3-8 record this season remains unaffected. Cincinnati has the worst scoring defense in the NFL, allowing 32.7 ppg on an NFL-worst 415.8 yards per contest. The Bengals are 18th in scoring this season at 22.5 ppg, which is just below the NFL average. The Bengals averaged 27.2 ppg in Joe Flacco’s six starts, which would rank seventh over the course of the whole season, and they still went 1-5 due to the abysmal Cincinnati defense. With a matchup against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers ahead, the model does not project this to go well for the Bengals’ defense, and it will be difficult for whoever Cincinnati’s QB1 is to keep pace with what the ‘D’ allows. The model projects the Ravens to cover in 54% of simulations.
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Depending on the resulting prognosis following the testing and treatment, this could be the second extended absence of Simmons’ rookie campaign. Earlier in the year, Simmons sat out the four-game stretch before the Chiefs’ bye week as he dealt with a mysterious personal issue. Disappearing after the first five starts of his career, Simmons finally returned in Week 11 to take his starting job back.
In his first absence, swing tackle Jaylon Moore filled in at left tackle for Kansas City. It’s a role Moore is extremely familiar with after filling in several games for San Francisco 49ers star left tackle Trent Williams over the course of his rookie contract, and the Chiefs paid Moore handsomely to come in and do more of the same.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs could be dealing with injuries to multiple tackles. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was also hurt in Thursday’s game, leaving the contest with an elbow injury and getting ruled out shortly after. There’s been much less information about Taylor’s status since the game ended, so any further inference would only be speculation, but any absence Taylor may be faced with could take things from bad to worse for a team fighting to stay above .500 and in the playoff race.
If Taylor is forced to miss game time and Moore is already subbing in for Simmons, Wanya Morris is the next man up on the depth chart. Morris started 11 games for the Chiefs at left tackle last year, but his struggles at the position were part of what prompted Kansas City to use their Day 1 pick on Simmons this year.

Eminem enjoyed the support of his family when he made a surprise appearance at an NFL Thanksgiving game.
The rapper, 53, joined The White Stripes’ Jack White on stage for a halftime performance as the Detroit Lions faced off against the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, November 27.
Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade McClintock, 29, took to Instagram to share a sweet clip of herself holding her 8-month-old son Elliot while they watched the unannounced performance from the stands.
In the cute clip, Hailie is seen holding Elliot, whom she shares with her husband Evan McClintock, as they face towards the football field with a sea of Detroit supporters dressed in blue pack the stadium around them. Elliot is wearing noise-reducing headphones in the post as he supports his grandfather from the crowd.
“Happy thanksgiving 💕” the “Just a Little Shady” podcaster captioned the post.
Hailie also shared a family photo via her Instagram Story, sharing a snap of herself, her husband and their baby posing for the holiday. Baby Elliot’s face was obscured in both posts.
During the halftime performance at the football game, rocker White, 50, introduced Eminem to the stage and performed “That’s How I’m Feeling.” The pair stepped things up a notch with a joint performance of “Hello Operator” before moving on to a remix of the rapper’s hit track “‘Til I Collapse.”
Hailie Jade and Evan welcomed Elliot in March and honored her dad by giving the newborn the middle name Marshall. (Eminem’s real name is Marshall Mathers III.)
With the help of her dad, Hailie Jade announced she was pregnant in October 2024 in one of Eminem’s music videos for his song “Temporary.”
At the end of the video, Hailie Jade is seen gifting Eminem a Detroit Lions jersey that read “Grandpa” on the back.
The music clip also featured snippets of Hailie and Evan’s wedding. The couple, who had been together for eight years before walking down the aisle, tied the knot in May 2024.
“Waking up a wife this week,” Hailie wrote on Instagram at the time, sharing photos from the nuptials. “We couldn’t have asked for a better, more beautiful weekend celebration. So so many happy tears were shed, laughs & smiles were had, & so much love was felt. Evan and I are feeling so grateful for all of the family & friends that traveled to support us and be a part of this new chapter of our lives as husband & wife.”
As well as featuring her pregnancy reveal, “Temporary” is an emotional song for Hailie. The track is written as a message from Eminem to his daughter, encouraging her to move on and be happy when he eventually dies in the future.
Speaking on her podcast, “Just a Little Shady” in August 2024, Hailie admitted that watching the music videos and listening to the lyrics for some of Eminem’s songs, including “Temporary” make her emotional.
“I watched it in entirety and I don’t think I can do it again. I definitely cry every time I hear it at all,” she said at the time. “Between that and ‘Temporary’… I audibly sobbed I think for both songs but especially ‘Temporary.’”
Eminem shares Hailie with ex-wife Kimberly Anne Scott. He is also the father to daughters Alaina, 32, and Stevie, 23.

The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the biggest stories in the NFL over the past few weeks as they went from 1-5 to the top of the AFC North going into Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. But as their ugly, turnover-filled 32-14 loss showed, this is a team that still has a lot of flaws and concerns and should not be just expecting to cruise to a division title.
Ravens have been winning ugly, and it finally caught up to them
Even though the Ravens were piling up wins over the past few weeks, putting together a five-game winning streak, there was not anything overly impressive about the way they were doing it, even with the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The offense has, at times, looked broken, while Jackson himself has struggled since returning from his early season injury.
They were not only struggling to look like a cohesive unit and put up big point totals, they were struggling and winning ugly against teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. Had they been playing against better teams — and especially better quarterbacks — a couple of those games could have very easily been losses.
On Thursday, they had to play against a better quarterback — Joe Burrow — and they got absolutely cooked in a game that was not even as close as the 18-point deficit showed.
Baltimore was not just beaten, it was humiliated. The Ravens offense turned the ball over five times against one of the worst defenses in the modern NFL era, while the Ravens defense had no answer for Burrow in his return to the lineup.
The biggest concern for the Ravens, however, might just be the simple fact that Jackson does not look like himself, or anything even close to it.
He has not thrown a touchdown pass in three consecutive games and has turned the football over five times during that stretch. If you go back over his past four games, he has just one touchdown pass, three interceptions and three fumbles, while also completing less than 58% of his passes. His production in the running game has also disappeared with just 84 yards rushing over that stretch of games.
That is not good enough for what the Ravens need. He is clearly not 100% healthy, and it is significantly hurting Baltimore’s offense.
As the Ravens started to win games there was a belief, just based on their schedule, that they would be the heavy favorites to win the AFC North. But they were consistently flying close to the sun in their recent games, and when you do that you are eventually going to get burned.
That finally happened on Thursday.
Their remaining schedule is also suddenly looking a lot tougher as they still have to face Burrow and the Bengals one more time, the Pittsburgh Steelers team they are chasing in the division two times, and non-divisional games against the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers.
Outside of the Bengals, all of those games are against teams with winning records.
If they want to win enough games to win the division, they are going to have to play significantly better than they have been. The competition is about to get a lot tougher, and their recent performances are not going to be good enough.

The Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Baltimore Ravens with a 32-14 win in quarterback Joe Burrow’s return.
Here are four takeaways from the final game of a thrilling NFL Thanksgiving Day tripleheader.
Joe Burrow helps Cincinnati keep slim playoff hopes alive
For the first time since suffering a turf toe injury in Week 2, Burrow made his return and made some spectacular throws in the process.
This dime to tight end Tanner Hudson, who came down with the one-handed grab, was Burrow’s first of the night.
Overall, Burrow went 24-of-46 for 261 yards and two TDs and did not look like he missed a beat while he was sidelined. Not only that, at 4-8, the Bengals should not be counted out of the playoff race after the win.
Although NFL.com only gives them a 2% chance of making the postseason, the Bengals face the Ravens (6-6) again in Week 15, while the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) deal with injury concerns to QB Aaron Rodgers. While unlikely, there is a path to Cincinnati winning the AFC North depending on how everything plays out over the final month of the regular season.
Miscues doom Baltimore in sloppy performance
Turnovers were a theme for the Ravens following the opening-drive TD run from Derrick Henry. Three of their next five drives in the first half ended with a fumble, two of which were from quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Two of the more costly giveaways came with the end zone in sight. Tight end Isaiah Likely was inches from extending Baltimore’s lead when Bengals safety Jordan Battle punched the ball loose prior to him crossing the goal line.
Baltimore had five turnovers total and Jackson, who was only 17-of-32 for 246 yards and one interception, had three of them. The Ravens had won all four of their games since Jackson made his return from a hamstring injury in Week 9, but the turnovers must be cleaned up if they are going to put together another run with a challenging schedule ahead.
Bengals defense has another encouraging showing
It is no secret that Cincinnati’s defense has been horrendous all season, allowing the most points (32.7 PPG) and yards (415.8 YPG) entering Week 13. However, the last two weeks offer some optimism.
The Bengals got a pick-six off New England Patriots QB Drake Maye before forcing the five turnovers against the Ravens. Thursday night also marked the first time the Bengals have allowed fewer than 20 points since a Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Derrick Henry joins exclusive company with latest TD
Henry capped Baltimore’s opening drive with a 28-yard rushing TD, giving him 116 TDs in his career. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson as the only players in league history with 10 or more rushing scores in at least eight consecutive seasons.

CINCINNATI — After missing two months due to injury, Joe Burrow finally made his return to the field on Thursday night and he stole the show in Baltimore. The Bengals quarterback threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a shocking 32-14 win over the Ravens.
It was such a dominant win that the rest of the Bengals’ season just got very interesting.
At 4-8, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are on life support, but if anyone can save the team it’s Burrow. The Bengals quarterback has now gone almost a full year without losing a game. Since Week 14 of the 2024 season, the Bengals have gone 8-0 with Burrow as their starter, including Thursday’s win over the Ravens.
If that run can continue, Cincinnati could end up pulling off one of the most improbable playoff berths in NFL history. With just five games left to play in the season, Burrow fully realizes that there’s no margin for error going forward.

Joe Burrow is back in action with the Cincinnati Bengals after missing nine games due to a turf toe injury.
The quarterback, 28, returned to the football field at M&T Bank Stadium in Maryland for the Bengals’ Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, November 27.
The Bengals ultimately beat the Ravens in the Thanksgiving game, winning 32-14 as the football star made his long-awaited return.
Burrow was sidelined after a week 2 turf toe injury — which occurred during the Bengals’ September 14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars — that required surgery.
According to Cleveland Clinic, turf toe is “an injury in [the] big toe joint when ligaments, tendons and soft tissues in the joint stretch or tear.” It is a common problem for football players and other athletes who frequently sprint or jump while playing sports. Turf toe can be treated with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain medicine, but severe forms of the injury can necessitate surgery.
Amid the Bengals’ 3-8 record for the 2025-2026 NFL season, head coach Zac Taylor teased Burrow’s return on Monday, November 24. That same day, Burrow confirmed the news in an Instagram Story post of a mirror selfie he first shared via Snapchat in 2014 to celebrate LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after a four-year stint with the Miami Heat. In the photo, the Cavaliers fan wore a fitted No. 23 jersey from his childhood, adding the caption, “He’s back.”
Earlier this month, Burrow hinted at his plans to play in the Thanksgiving game, which he described as “meaningful.”
He also noted that he struggled to watch from the sideline as his teammates lost games, calling the experience “lonely.” (The Bengals held a 1-8 record in Burrow’s absence.)
“You try to do what you can and just grind by yourself in the weight room and in the training room when trying to get right,” he told reporters in a November 10 press conference. “There’s not much more you can do. You’re not out there with the guys, you’re not at practice, so return from injury is pretty lonely.”
Meanwhile, Taylor, 42, assured fans that Burrow was “in good shape” and “ready to go” leading into Thursday’s game.
“He’s worked really hard to get himself back,” Taylor told the media of Burrow on Sunday, November 23. “He’s a football player. He wants to play football. We want to win football games, so that will lead into that decision.”
Taylor noted that Joe Flacco would serve as Burrow’s backup quarterback when he returned to the field.
“There’s a balance there of obviously him coming off of injury,” he said. “You want to be very mindful of that. And a lot of that will be up to him as he feels his pocket movement and his play style. Those are decisions that he’s gonna have to feel out as he goes forward. Sure, I’d love to say let’s be productive and not put him in an environment where that’s gonna happen. You get out there on the football field and that’s the way it’s gonna take shape. … It’s the NFL. You can’t go out there with kid gloves on and say we’re never gonna let this happen. Some things are gonna happen naturally. It’ll be in his hands to take care of it if he’s out there.”

The Dallas Cowboys kept their long-shot playoff hopes alive with Sunday’s comeback victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
After Thursday’s Thanksgiving win over the Kansas City Chiefs, they got an even bigger bump.
The Cowboys went from a 14% chance up to a 24% chance to make the playoffs as a wild card team with their 31-28 win over KC, according to the NFL playoff simulator by The Athletic, which has been adapted from The New York Times’ simulator.
With one of the toughest games on their schedule ahead in Detroit, the Cowboys have little margin for error. Dallas trails four teams for the conference’s three wild card spots. Dallas has only a 3% chance of catching the Eagles in the division, according to the simulator.
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Here’s a look at the NFC playoff picture and the Cowboys’ remaining schedule:
Division leaders
1. LA Rams, NFC West (9-2)
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2. Philadelphia Eagles, NFC East (8-3)
3. Chicago Bears, NFC North (8-3)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFC South (6-5)
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Wild card teams
5. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
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6. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
7. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
In the hunt
8. Detroit Lions (7-5)
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9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
10. Carolina Panthers (6-6)
Cowboys’ remaining schedule
Thursday, Dec. 4: at Detroit Lions (7-4)
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Sunday, Dec. 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)
Sunday, Dec. 21: vs. LA Chargers (7-4)
Thursday, Dec. 25: at Washington Commanders (3-8)
Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3/4: at NY Giants (2-10)
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Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins is pushing back on the NFL after receiving a five-figure punishment for a controversial hit.
Now on the New England Patriots, Hollins was fined for what the league called unnecessary roughness in last week’s win over the New York Jets. The play itself drew some pushback from fans, and now has an official appeal from Hollins himself.
Mack Hollins Will Appeal His Punishment
As Karen Guregian of MassLive.com noted, Hollins was fined $20,278 for what appeared to be an innocuous play. After making an eight-yard reception in the second quarter with the Patriots leading 14-7, Hollins appeared to slightly lower his head as he braced for contact.
“Jets cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Isaiah Oliver were in on the tackle of Hollins, who had four catches for 64 yards in the game,” Guregian noted.
Reporter Mike Reiss noted that Hollins plans to appeal the fine.
The NFL deemed that Hollins lowered his helmet to initiate contact, which has been a point of emphasis from the league. Running backs Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles and Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers have both been fined for lowering the helmet this season.
The rule has been in place since 2018, though it is rarely flagged for a penalty during games. League chairman Rich McKay explained at the time that the NFL wanted to get in line with the NCAA’s rule against targeting while also preventing injuries like the severe spinal injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier.
“It just seems that players at every level are getting more comfortable playing with their helmets as a weapon rather than a protective device,” McKay said. “Therefore, we need a rule that is broad and puts that in context, and that’s what we think this does.”
Bills Miss Mack Hollins
The Bills have struggled to get consistent production out of their wide receiving corps this season, missing the steady contributions of Hollins — especially in the red zone. Though he only had 31 receptions for 378 yards, Hollins led the team with five touchdown receptions.
The Bills have been forced to do some late-season retooling of their wide receiver room, first picking up veteran Mecole Hardman in free agency, but losing him to injured reserve after just one week. The team this week signed Brandin Cooks after his release by the New Orleans Saints, parting ways with veteran Elijah Moore to make room for him on the roster.
Cooks said he was excited for the chance to play with quarterback Josh Allen.
“The opportunity to be able to play with Josh is, I mean, you can’t pass up the opportunity,” Cooks told reporters on Wednesday, via ESPN.
Cooks said the Bills have gained a strong reputation among players across the NFL, saying he is grateful to join the team.
“[Allen’s] a special player,” Cooks said. “All you do is hear about this organization from afar being a special place and how they treat players and it’s all about ball. So, I’m thankful to be here for sure.”
It’s not clear yet what role Cooks could play in this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which will have major playoff implications. The Bills fell to the No. 7 spot in the AFC, holding onto the final playoff spot.