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Giants vs. Colts: 3 causes for concern in Week 17

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Giants vs. Colts: 3 causes for concern in Week 17


The New York Giants host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and will head into their final two games of the season as the lone team in the NFL with just two wins.

With their loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, the Giants’ current losing streak of 10 games is the longest in the NFL and the longest franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Colts are coming off a win against the Tennessee Titans keeping their slim postseason hopes alive.

The Giants opened as 7.5-point home underdogs earlier this week, and they will host their final home game of the season on Sunday.

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Here are three causes for concern for the Giants ahead of Week 17.

Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The hot hand

The Giants have struggled against the run all season long (although they’ve been better in recent weeks). They will now have to go up against a running back in Jonathan Taylor who put up 200-plus yards and three touchdowns last week.

The Colts ran 50 times in Week 16 and had just 11 passing attempts on the day. If Indy has their rushing game working again early on, expect them to keep going to it if the Giants can’t stop them.

Photo credit: Phil NY Giants Fan

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MetLife Stadium woes

The Giants are in danger of becoming the first team in NFL history to lose nine home games in one season. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, they are doing it as they celebrate the franchise’s 100th season.

In the last few home games, fans have funded banners to fly over MetLife stadium in protest. It certainly doesn’t help when fans cheered a few short weeks ago as the Giants’ attempt at a game-tying field goal was blocked against the Saints.

The Giants have been really bad at home this year and those struggles are likely to continue in Week 17.

Luke Johnson-Imagn Images

The injury report

One of the few players on the Giants who has something to play for personally is Malik Nabers. He and many other notable names appeared on the injury report on Wednesday. The Giants are so beat up on both sides of the ball that they can not afford more injuries.

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Indianapolis, IN

5, including juvenile, charged for trafficking guns between Indianapolis and Chicago

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5, including juvenile, charged for trafficking guns between Indianapolis and Chicago


CHICAGO (WISH) — Five people, including a juvenile, were charged for trafficking firearms and machine gun conversion devices between Indianapolis and Chicago, Illinois.

The five offenders were charged Saturday as part of a firearms trafficking investigation by the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The investigation was a partnership between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago Field Division, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

The offenders were investigated for their involvement in a firearms trafficking organization responsible for the trafficking of multiple firearms and machine gun conversion devices between Indianapolis and Chicago. During the investigation, 20 firearms and three machine gun conversion devices were recovered.

A 19-year-old male was charged with:

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  • One felony count of Gunrunning 11-20 Firearms.
  • One felony count of Gunrunning.
  • One felony count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Machine Gun/Auto Weapon/Veh.
  • One felony count of Unlawful Sale of a Firearm by a Felon.

An 18-year-old male was charged with:

  • One felony count of Gunrunning 11-20 Firearms.
  • One felony count of Gunrunning.
  • One felony count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Machine Gun/Auto Weapon/Veh.

A 23-year-old male was charged with:

  • One felony count of Gunrunning 11-20 Firearms.
  • One felony count of Gunrunning.
  • One felony count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Machine Gun/Auto Weapon/Veh.
  • One felony count of IVC – Aggravated Feeling with Damage>$300 Property.

An 18-year-old male was charged with:

  • One felony count of Gunrunning 11-20 Firearms.
  • One felony count of Gunrunning.
  • One felony count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Machine Gun/Auto Weapon/Veh.

A 17-year-old male was charged with:

  • One felony count of Gunrunning 11-20 Firearms.
  • One felony count of Gunrunning.
  • Two felony counts of Selling Firearm/No Valid FOID.
Three machine gun conversion devices and 20 firearms recovered during the investigation. (Provided Photo/Chicago Police Department)



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How Caitlin Clark has changed Indianapolis forever, told by locals

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How Caitlin Clark has changed Indianapolis forever, told by locals


A day after Caitlin Clark’s dazzling performance against the New York Liberty, there was a much quieter energy around Indianapolis.

Fevered fans wearing her No 22 on their backs were long gone, the store at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was closed and, just steps away from the arena, the Pier 48 bar was virtually empty. 

But, as the bar’s manager Annika explained, Clark’s impact on the city has been anything but fleeting.

‘We know people that have changed their whole lives and moved up here just to witness this whole thing,’ she said, before explaining how one female fan had come to the Midwest from Florida.  

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‘She moved across the nation. And she loves it here. She’s kind of fallen in love with Indianapolis a little bit as well.’

There are plenty of charms to the city, namely the scenic White River Park in downtown, but Clark, 23, has certainly become part of the area’s appeal since being drafted into the WNBA 14 months ago.

Caitlin Clark is seen signing autographs for Indiana Fever fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Clark has taken the WNBA and sports world by storm since being drafted by Indiana last year

Clark has taken the WNBA and sports world by storm since being drafted by Indiana last year

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It's led to a surge in popularity for the Indiana Fever, whose schedule is painted across a wall

It’s led to a surge in popularity for the Indiana Fever, whose schedule is painted across a wall

Even during a week in which the Indiana Pacers (who share the same owner as Clark’s team, the Indiana Fever) hosted two NBA Finals games, there were constant reminders of Clark’s impact.

The flags of the sibling franchises were consistently brandished side-by-side in bar windows – even in the window of a Taco Bell on one occasion. The Fever’s schedule is painted across a building adjacent to Gainbridge. Construction on the Fever’s $78million practice facility is ongoing just steps away.

And when Clark – who has missed more games this season than in her entire four years at Iowa – torched the Liberty to the tune of 32 points, one reporter had even made the long trip from Hong Kong to watch her play. 

By that journalist’s own telling, there were several other fans who had made the trip from Asia, while plenty others had trekked to Indianapolis from out of town too.

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One father named Nate told the Daily Mail how he and his family – including his tween, basketball-playing daughter – had arrived at midnight the night before from North Carolina.

Another group said they had come from Iowa City, where Clark rose to fame in college, while a man in his early-20s named Jake said he had arrived from southern Indiana.

Another group of two older couples, also from Iowa, said they spent around $150 per ticket to see her play. And the owner of a different local bar, O’Reilly’s, said he had previously served patrons from Vermont, New Mexico and even Canada.

There is no one archetype to the supporters who have flocked (or continue to flock) to Indianapolis, but their Fever fandom almost always coincides with this new era of Clark.

‘It really is almost like having a brand new team here, with all apologies to the previous 15-plus seasons,’ said Joel, the owner of O’Reilly’s.

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The longtime Indiana resident has witnessed no shortage of local athletic successes. Reggie Miller and Paul George previously led the Pacers to deep NBA playoff runs, and the Colts were one of the NFL’s best teams in the 2000s. The Fever even won a title in 2012.

The Fever and Pacers' flags are routinely flown side-by-side in the windows of bars

The Fever and Pacers’ flags are routinely flown side-by-side in the windows of bars

This, though, feels ‘very different,’ he said.

‘We’ve had a lot of great athletes in Indianapolis, Peyton Manning era was certainly much like that, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever was just a few blocks away.

‘It’s very exciting, we’ve seen Caitlin jog by here. So Indianapolis is – it’s kind of a community thing. You’ll see an Indy 500 racecar driver out shopping at Target. It’s exciting to have her that close. It really is.’ 

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Fever fans have created a unique sort of environment to revel in that thrill, which is something novel for many of them.

Those who stop by one of the nearby bars before a game often prefer to stay awhile, enjoying a meal with their drinks before departing to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of Gainbridge. In terms of the regular season, Pier 48 bar manager Annika claimed that Fever games draw (at least) an equal bar crowd as Pacers contests, while Joel from O’Reilly’s said he’s had to turn people away from his establishment in the last couple of years.

‘The Fever crowd will show up earlier and leave earlier, so you can play your introductions, festivities at the stadium,’ he said. ‘[They] will take in the entire atmosphere.’ 

During the Daily Mail’s visit to Gainbridge, the arena had a decidedly family-friendly feel for the host’s 3pm matchup against the defending champions. And the young girls present in the crowd certainly will have enjoyed Taylor Swift’s ’22’ blaring from the speakers after Clark’s makes from the field.

But there were plenty of adults in the crowd too, and ultimately, it seems there’s something for everyone in this Clark phenomenon.

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Nate was familiar with women’s hoops from his sister playing college basketball, but explained how Clark’s rise was inspiring for his daughter. 

Fans travel from all over the USA and even worldwide to get a glimpse of Clark in Indiana

Fans travel from all over the USA and even worldwide to get a glimpse of Clark in Indiana

Clark, seen signing autographs in Seattle, is also a massive draw on the road

Clark, seen signing autographs in Seattle, is also a massive draw on the road

She's been a bit up-and-down since returning from her quad injury earlier this month

She’s been a bit up-and-down since returning from her quad injury earlier this month

‘There’s more for you. Put the work in, maybe one day,’ he said, when asked about the message the reigning Rookie of the Year sends.

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Clark’s passing-heavy style (she set the WNBA assist record last year) is a draw as well.

‘She plays true basketball. She’s a playmaker,’ Jake said. 

‘She tries to look out for other people and then try and do her own thing too. But she knows when she should be a little bit selfish and start scoring, but then she tries to look out for her teammates as well.’

For others, she represents a local kid who came good.

‘In our world, she’s just a normal kid that grew up next door,’ says one of the aforementioned fans from Iowa. ‘But in other worlds, she was privileged. And we don’t see that. I don’t see that.’ 

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Later that afternoon, Clark wagged her tongue after a blistering stretch of three-straight three-pointers, and later got called for a technical foul for berating the refs.

It’s not quite the ‘humble’ star that Nate had described earlier in the day, while pundits would criticize her for ‘flopping’ the following week against the Connecticut Sun. At other times, she’s become a sort of unwitting avatar for racial debate within the sport.

Clark is – to put it mildly – polarizing, but her impact has been undeniable. It’s no coincidence that WNBA ratings briefly nosedived during her five-game absence with a quad injury, and her two games missed with a groin issue afterwards surely wouldn’t have helped the league either. 

Clark is seen smiling while warming up against the Seattle Storm on June 24

Clark is seen smiling while warming up against the Seattle Storm on June 24 

Whether she’s on or off the court, Clark’s influence on the league and the city of Indianapolis is undeniably enormous. Some fans will even ask bar manager Annika if Clark has been to Pier 48; apparently, others in the Fever organization have.

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There will surely be an even greater focus on the Fever and Clark now following the Pacers’ devastating Finals loss to the Thunder.

And if the basketball-crazed state does ‘deserve’ its recent hoops success, as Fever coach Stephanie White said, well its residents are surely embracing Clark with open arms.

‘The basketball in Indianapolis right now is going pretty crazy,’ Annika said. ‘And I feel really grateful to be working right across the street.’



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All Hope May Not Be Lost with Colts’ Anthony Richardson

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All Hope May Not Be Lost with Colts’ Anthony Richardson


The Indianapolis Colts have successfully boosted their roster after a solid free agency, and a successful first-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft with rookie tight end Tyler Warren. But even the best and most talented NFL teams can improve their roster.

Unfortunately for the Colts, they’re area of improvement needs to be a quarterback. Mixed with this, there is massive uncertainty about what will happen when either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones starts for the offense.

This is especially true if Richardson starts.

Fox Sports hits this subject, discussing what could go right for Richardson in his third NFL season. Henry McKenna believes this would look like Richardson completing at least 65 percent or more of his passes.

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“It wasn’t good enough, especially not at 6.9 yards per attempt. So if he’s going to retain the starting job, he’s going to need to distribute the football to highly talented pass-catchers Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and rookie tight end Tyler Warren. This offense just needs a competent guy at the helm.”

The Colts have built a solid group of offensive weapons over the last few seasons, but it won’t matter at all if the quarterback situation doesn’t get fixed, and quickly. While there’s a huge pile of negatives and criticism following Richardson heading into training camp, there’s also reason to believe in the young former Florida Gator.

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McKenna saying Richardson needs to complete 65 percent or more of his passes is a tall ask. Last year, not only was Richardson abysmal with 47.7 percent, which was a huge 11.8 percent drop off from his rookie year.

By the math, this means Richardson needs to climb (at least) 17.3 percent to hit the mark McKenna says is when it can be considered ‘going right’ for Richardson.

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Colts QB Anthony Richardson (white jersey) throws a pass to his teammate.

Dec 22, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) passes to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA Today Network via Imagn Images / Grace Hollars/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

The Colts desperately want Richardson to work out. This isn’t just because they invested a fourth-overall selection in him, but the other reasons why also stick out. First and foremost, they want him to be the solution to their long-time quarterback issue. Second, Indianapolis tied Richardson to the franchise the same year they hired Shane Steichen.

This wasn’t by coincidence, as Steichen vouched for Richardson and wanted his skills to pair with his offensive scheme. Third and final, Indy knows what the team could accomplish if Richardson can stay healthy and elevate to a true starter-level talent, or beyond.

Richardson possesses incredible levels of potential, but people are sick of hearing that word to describe the Colts’ young talent. At this point, fans want playoffs, and so do the Irsay sisters. Without that this year, the front office, players, and coaching staff may look different heading into 2026.

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