Sports
Rams' Jared Verse primed for playoffs in City of Brotherly Love: 'I hate Eagles fans'
Jared Verse spent three years of high school in Pennsylvania.
So the Rams rookie edge rusher knows all about the Philadelphia Eagles, his team’s opponent Sunday in an NFC divisional-round playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Was Verse an Eagles fan?
“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse told The Times on Thursday. “They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”
Verse repeated the phrase multiple times. And the front-runner for NFL rookie defensive player of the year did so with passion evident in his pass rushing.
“When I see that green and white I hate it. I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”
— Rams linebacker Jared Verse, on how he hates the Philadelphia Eagles
Verse noted that when the Rams played the Eagles in November at SoFi Stadium, Eagles fans in attendance gave him an earful of obscenities that he could make out despite wearing headphones.
“I didn’t even do nothing to ‘em,” he said, “It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans.”
The Eagles’ uniform colors also are apparently triggering.
“When I see that green and white I hate it,” he said. “I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”
Verse, however, added he would be disciplined Sunday, stay on his assignments and contribute to a Rams defense that must control running back Saquon Barkley if coach Sean McVay’s team is to avenge its 37-20 defeat to the Eagles and advance to the NFC championship game.
In November, Barkley amassed 302 total yards against the Rams, including 255 yards rushing, and scored on runs of 72 and 70 yards. The Rams were out of position to make tackles and also missed Barkley multiple times.
Verse acknowledged his role in the debacle. Several times, he said, opportunities to limit Barkley to a short gain went awry and resulted in long runs because he tried to do too much.
“I just didn’t take advantage of them,” he said. “I left my feet.”
In the seven games since, Verse said he has improved in that regard.
In last Monday’s 27-9 wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse showed how fleet he was on his feet.
The Rams’ Jared Verse dives into the end zone for a score after returning a fumble 57 yards against the Vikings during their NFC wild-card playoff game.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
The former high school sprinter scooped a fumble by quarterback Sam Darnold and dashed 57 yards for a touchdown. NFL’s Next Gen Stats clocked Verse at 19.88 mph
“I’ve been trying to show coach McVay that I can play wide receiver or running back — whatever he needs me to do,” Verse said.
Verse, the 19th player chosen in the 2024 draft, said whenever he recovered a fumble in college an opposing player tackled him before he could run.
Against the Vikings, Verse had a clear path to the end zone.
“I was like, if I got five yards, then nobody is catching me, I’m like gone,” he said. “So once I got my five in, like it’s over with. So I was just trying to see how fast I could get.”
Verse is one of the top players for a young Rams defensive front that is excelling in the post-Aaron Donald era. Against the Vikings, the Rams tied an NFL postseason record with nine sacks.
Verse has 4½ sacks and was among the league leaders this season in quarterback pressures.
On Sunday, he once again goes up against an Eagles line that features two-time All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata.
In the first game between the teams, Verse created a viral moment when he ran over the 6-8, 366-pound Mailata.
“I remember when I got flat-backed,” Mailata told Philadelphia reporters this week. “It was a good rush by him.
“The guy plays with a high motor. I think he plays well, he plays hard. He’s got some great moves. … To be fair, I got a couple on him too. Good on good.”
Verse continues to bull rush and remains exceptionally quick at the snap, Johnson said.
“He plays hard, really has come along in the run game too,” Johnson told Philadelphia reporters. “He’s just one of those players that’s obviously really talented. The more experience he gets, the better he’s going to become.”
Verse, the only Rams player selected to the Pro Bowl Games, is expected to be among the postseason award finalists in New Orleans during Super Bowl week.
But he aims to be playing in the big game.
“I’ve never been focused on the results of anything,” he said when asked about awards talk. “If I do what I’m supposed to do, everything else will come with it.
“This year, I might be in the conversation of winning that prestigious award — and I’m happy to be in that conversation.
“Next year, it’s trying to be in a bigger conversation. But that comes with work.”
Progress toward that goal continues Sunday when Verse plays against the Eagles — and in front of their fans — in their home stadium.
“I’m going to go crazy,” he said, adding that he would play within his role. “It’s going to be something.”
Etc.
The Rams designated inside linebacker Troy Reeder and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison to return to practice from injured reserve. … Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) and defensive lineman Bobby Brown III (shoulder) did not practice and tight end Tyler Higbee (chest) was limited. McVay said he expected that all would play Sunday.
Sports
Rams withstand Caleb Williams’ heroic touchdown to stun Bears in overtime, move on to NFC title game
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The Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears gave it all they had in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday night and they delivered an epic matchup that NFL fans will remember for a while.
Rams rookie kicker Harrison Mevis nailed the game-winning field goal to send Los Angeles home happy, 20-17. The Rams will meet the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams punched the go-ahead score into the end zone and the defense stymied the Chicago Bears at the goal line in what appeared to be the last stand.
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker reacts after collecting a sack against Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Williams’ 5-yard touchdown run ended a 14-play, 91-yard drive with 8:50 left in the game. It was Williams’ second touchdown of the game and it was exactly what Los Angeles needed to win the game as scoring was extremely difficult to come by in the second half.
The Bears failing to get into the end zone after a 12-play, 61-yard drive was the closest Chicago got in the second half. The Bears punted three times and Caleb Williams threw a crucial interception in the third quarter on their previous second-half drives.
But Williams had one trick up his sleeve.
With their backs against the wall, the Bears star mustered up the last bit of magic he could. He took the snap on 4th-and-4 from the Rams’ 14-yard line. He felt the pressure and ran about 25 yards backward before he decided to fire the ball into the end zone with three Rams defenders in his face.
Somehow, Williams found tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone for the touchdown. Kmet broke free from Rams cornerback Cobie Durant and secured the catch. Cairo Santos hit the game-tying extra point and the game was sent into overtime.
BEARS’ NATIONAL ANTHEM SINGER SENDS NFL FANS INTO FRENZY WITH PERFORMANCE BEFORE PLAYOFF GAME
Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson (90) sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Williams made a similar play in the NFC Wild Card Round matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The play saved their season – as did the one on Sunday night.
In the overtime period, Williams put the game on his shoulder. He made a long run on third down to keep the drive alive early in the series. On 4th-and-1, the Bears didn’t flinch and went for a first down. Again, Williams’ number was called and he got the yardage needed to extend the drive. Just when it appeared that the Bears had everything going their way, Williams threw his third pick of the night to Kam Curl.
Matthew Stafford then locked in and led the Rams on the game-winning drive that ended with the Mevis field goal.
Stafford was 20-of-42 with 258 passing yards. He was sacked four times. Williams led the Rams with 87 rushing yards on 21 carries. Colby Parkinson had three catches for 56 yards.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates his touchdown run with center Coleman Shelton (65) during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Williams was 23-of-42 with 257 passing yards, two touchdown passes and three picks. D’Andre Swift had 76 rushing yards on 19 carries. Bears tight end Colston Loveland led the team with four catches for 56 yards.
The Rams are back in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 2021 season. In that year, Los Angeles topped the San Francisco 49ers and then defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
It will be the third conference title game appearance in the Sean McVay era. The Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints in the controversial NFC Championship in the 2018 season. But Los Angeles lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, right, looks to pass as teammate guard Steve Avila, center, blocks Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Los Angeles will take on the Seahawks for the right to play in Super Bowl LX. The winner will either face the Denver Broncos or New England Patriots.
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Sports
Deandre Ayton has big night as Lakers run past the Raptors
The Lakers were as whole as they have been in a while Sunday, giving Coach JJ Redick more weapons at his disposal at a time when their schedule has picked up the pace.
They got Luka Doncic (left groin soreness), center Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness) and backup center Jaxson Hayes (left hamstring tendinopathy) back in the fold for Sunday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena. Only Austin Reaves (left calf strain) remained sidelined.
More so, it was a back-to-back game that even LeBron James played in a night after the Lakers lost in Portland.
Simply put, the Lakers are a sound basketball team when healthy and they are really good when Doncic, James and Ayton all score at least 20 points in a game like they did in a 110-93 victory in which they held the Raptors to a season-low in points.
The Lakers entered the game having lost five of their last six games and had surrendered over 130 points in their last two losses.
“This is a very tough time of year for everybody in the NBA right now,” said Redick after his team improved to 25-16 at the halfway mark of their 82-game schedule. “…There are a number of teams that have rotation players, starter-level players, all-star level players like us that are out of the lineup or in and out of the lineup.
“It can make an already difficult stretch of the season even more difficult, and the guys have done a great job of just getting through the stretch fighting. And really, we’re starting to get healthy and hopefully we get AR (Austin Reaves) back soon.”
Ayton was on top of his game, producing a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He also was 10 for 10 from the field and five for six from the free-throw line.
And the big 7-foot center made history in the process. He became just the third player in Lakers history to shoot 100% from the field on 10 attempts with at least 10 rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 10, 1981).
Ayton also became the first player in the NBA this season to record a 20-point game on perfect shooting with at least 10 field-goal attempts and he was the 34th player in league history to accomplish the feat.
“I definitely give it up to my teammates,” Ayton said. “They find me in the easiest spots ever and I got some easy ones tonight, for sure.”
Doncic registered 25 points and seven assists and James had 24 points and seven assists.
Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score 10 points for a Lakers team that entered the game having lost five of their last six games.
Doncic and Ayton made their presence felt in the first half.
Despite picking up three fouls in the half and getting hit with a technical foul in the first quarter, Doncic had 18 points and five assists in the first 24 minutes. His three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Lakers a 55-54 lead.
Ayton was active from the start, running the court, catching lob passes and scoring in the post, which allowed him to finish the first half with 12 points on six-for-six shooting and seven rebounds.
The Lakers will begin what’s known as the “Grammys Trip” on Tuesday, an eight-game affair that will have them on the road for about two and a half weeks.
They will start at Denver and go to the Clippers, Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, the Knicks and the Nets.
This trip will come off the Lakers playing five games in seven days, of which there were two sets of back-to-back games.
“We finished five games in eight nights and started five games in seven nights, and tonight’s the culmination of that,” Redick said before Sunday’s game. “So it’s been a difficult stretch, particularly with injuries and certain games.”
The plan for the game against the Raptors was to play 10 players, Redick said, a change from the usual nine-man rotation.
All 10 of the players Redick played when the game mattered the most and all of them played a role in keeping the team fresh and energized.
Something the Lakers will need going forward.
“Again, I’m not blaming anything, but this in-season tournament cup with that break has just created a very imbalanced cadence of games,” said Redick, referring to the NBA Cup tournament. “And outside of All-Star break, I think our next two-day break between games is like the end of March, or something like that. So, you kind of have no choice but to prioritize the rest and recovery.”
Sports
Miami’s Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete
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Carson Beck is one win away from being a college national champion, and he didn’t even have to juggle classes to get this far.
Beck has led the Miami Hurricanes all the way to the College Football Playoff title game after transferring to the South Florida school. Beck, by his own admission, has not had many distractions off the field.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes scores a touchdown against the Ole Miss Rebels during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan 8, 2026, in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
When asked if he attended class earlier in the week ahead of Monday night’s title game, he laughed off the question.
“No class. I graduated two years ago,” Beck said.
Beck, who attended Georgia before transferring, added that he is “working toward other degrees now that I’ve gotten to Miami, but these programs take a little longer than just a year to finish.”
“Obviously, I’m not enrolling again next semester. I’ll be done after this season,” Beck continued.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes smiles after leading his team to victory over the Ole Miss Rebels in the College Football Playoff Semifinal on Jan. 8, 2026. (David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GOVERNORS BRAUN, DESANTIS PLACE ‘FRIENDLY WAGER’ FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN MIAMI AND INDIANA
That response turned heads on social media.
“College football is dead,” wrote one user.
“Bro turned ‘College Athlete’ into a full time career,” added another.
“Playing college football but not attending class for two years is crazy,” said one more.
Beck doubled down on his commitment to the football program.
“I live in the facility. That’s about it. If I’m not at the facility, I’m at home, and I just kind of bounce back and forth. It’s been that way for about the past month,” Beck added.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck aims a pass during the Florida game, Sept. 20, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Beck’s touchdown with 18 seconds left last week propelled the 10th-seeded Hurricanes to a 31-27 win over No. 6 Ole Miss. They will try to stop No. 1 Indiana from a 16-0 season on Monday night as underdogs, but they will be playing in their home stadium.
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