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Chargers make Aaron Rodgers look like a 41-year-old QB in defense-driven win

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Chargers make Aaron Rodgers look like a 41-year-old QB in defense-driven win

An end to the shutdown?

Not for the Chargers.

Their defense smothered the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 25-10 victory Sunday night, and limited Aaron Rodgers to a cosmetic touchdown at the end, intercepting him twice and sacking him three times — once in the end zone for a safety.

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Sam Farmer breaks down what went right for the Chargers in a 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

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“This one was won by strong, tough men,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Physicality and heart. I like the games of strategy and preparation, but this was one that came down to toughness and guts.”

Aaron Rodgers has thrown more touchdown passes than anyone on “Sunday Night Football,” yet the Chargers made him look every bit of his 41 years. The Steelers moved the ball and scored on their final possession, when the outcome had already been decided, but before that were 0 for 9 on third down.

Put bluntly by Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin: “We stunk it up tonight.”

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The Chargers didn’t look especially crisp, either, and quarterback Justin Herbert took another beating behind an offensive line that has had 19 different combinations in 10 games. He was sacked five times — bringing his total to 11 in the past two games — and hit nine.

At one point in the second quarter, he was hit low from behind and lay on the turf for a moment before gingerly climbing to his feet. On the sideline, trainers taped both his ankles and he didn’t miss a snap.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert scrambles against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“Just got rolled up,” he explained. “A little bit of pain. But I thought we did a good job of talking about it on the sideline. I came off and felt like I was safe, comfortable to go back out there.”

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The Chargers started slow offensively but began to gather a little momentum in the second quarter when Cameron Dicker kicked his first of three field goals, and Ladd McConkey scored on a 15-yard touchdown reception with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.

Pittsburgh was as cold as a Western Pennsylvania winter, even when cheered on by a SoFi Stadium full of fans. It was a black-and-gold takeover.

“We didn’t run the ball super effectively in the first half,” Rodgers said. “I missed some throws, for sure. At times guys were open and I didn’t hit them; other times, we just weren’t getting open. Just couldn’t put it all together.”

For the Steelers, that was a big letdown from the week before, when they handed the Indianapolis Colts just their second loss. In that game, Pittsburgh forced six Colts turnovers. Sunday night, the Chargers won the turnover battle, 3-0.

Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree dances after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

Chargers linebacker Bud Dupree dances after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Not only did the Chargers hang onto the football, but they grabbed some team records along the way. Most notable Keenan Allen, who set a club record in the waning moments of the game with his 956th career reception. He eclipsed the mark of Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates, his former teammate.

Allen spoke with Harbaugh on the sideline and suggested the play, which the receiver said would essentially be a guaranteed reception. He began to sprint from left to right across the formation before the snap, then caught a perfectly timed shovel pass as he ran past Herbert, turning upfield and collecting seven yards.

“He’s one of those guys who’s always open,” Herbert said of Allen. “Even when he’s covered he’s open.”

Dicker kicked a 59-yard field goal, tying a club record that he already shared. Khalil Mack, who corralled Rodgers for the safety, became the second player in NFL history with at least 35 sacks for three different franchises. The late Hall of Famer Kevin Greene was the only other player to do that.

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The Chargers have won three in a row for the first time since their first three games. Their offensive line remains an issue, and the team surely will be working in the newly acquired tackle Trevor Penning for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

The special teams, which gave up a punt-return touchdown at Tennessee the week before, collected a muffed punt by Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter.

Harbaugh said the rumors of the demise of the Chargers offensive line and special teams were premature, praising both units. It’s clear, though, that Herbert’s protectors still have a long way to go.

As for the defense, however, that turned in a gem.

“The interior guys, the edge guys, everybody worked together,” linebacker Denzel Perryman said. “It was rush and cover, cover and rush. That’s how you get numbers like that.”

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If the Chargers can keep getting to quarterbacks — and do a better job of protecting theirs — they have potential to be a headache in all the right ways.

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Patriots handle AFC East rival Jets at home behind TreVeyon Henderson’s 3-touchdown night

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Patriots handle AFC East rival Jets at home behind TreVeyon Henderson’s 3-touchdown night

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The New England Patriots continue to roll, handling their AFC East rival New York Jets, 27-14, on “Thursday Night Football.”

New England extended its lengthy win streak to eight games, improving to 9-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Jets’ brief win streak, after starting the season 0-7, has come to a close.

Heading into this game, the Patriots were expected to dominate the Jets. While the scoreboard didn’t say so in the end, their rookie running back certainly provided the fireworks.

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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to pass during the first half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

TreVeyon Henderson, who had a breakout game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week with 147 rushing yards and two long touchdown runs, added three more touchdowns to his first-year stat line in this victory. 

He was the only Patriots player to find the end zone, starting with the team’s 13-play, 69-yard drive that ended with his entire offensive line pushing him over the goal line to tie the game at seven apiece.

On the Patriots’ next drive, Henderson rushed in from seven yards out to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead to end the first half.

PATRIOTS DRAW PRAISE WITH STORMY UNIFORM DEBUT AGAINST JETS

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New England started to pull away after quarterback Drake Maye, an MVP hopeful who had yet another great performance, put together chunk completions to set up an eventual touchdown pass to Henderson, who found himself wide open in the end zone.

Henderson finished the game with 62 rushing yards on 19 carries, while hauling in five catches for 31 yards.

Meanwhile, Justin Fields and the Jets’ offense struggled in yet another outing despite a great 14-play opening drive that ended with the quarterback rushing it in himself.

TreVeyon Henderson of the New England Patriots rushes for a touchdown in front of Isaiah Oliver #26 of the New York Jets during the first half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

Fields was coming off a rough game against the Cleveland Browns, though the Jets were able to win thanks to two special teams scores. He threw for only 54 yards with a 60.4 quarterback rating.

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Fields was 15-of-26 for 116 yards in this game with a touchdown pass on a broken play to John Metchie III that made it 21-14 in the third quarter. But there were more negative moments than positive for the Jets, including a fumble lost on a low snap in the fourth quarter while the Jets were down just a touchdown.

The Patriots were able to run the fourth-quarter clock out, and give the home crowd what they were hoping for in Mike Vrabel’s first year as a head coach — a winning season. 

There is still more work to do, but nine wins put the Patriots above .500.

TreVeyon Henderson of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 13, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

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Looking more into the box score, Maye was an efficient 25-of-34 for 281 yards with his one touchdown pass to Henderson. Stefon Diggs also led the way with nine catches for 105 yards, a game high, while Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry both caught four passes.

For the Jets, Metchie was the leading receiver with 45 yards on three grabs, while Breece Hall had 58 rushing yards on 14 carries. Fields had 67 yards on 11 runs.

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High school girls’ volleyball: Southern California regional results and pairings

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High school girls’ volleyball: Southern California regional results and pairings

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Quarterfinals

DIVISION I

#1 Harvard-Westlake d. #9 Long Beach Poly, 25-13, 21-25, 22-25, 25-11, 15-11

#12 Bishop Montgomery d. #4 West Ranch, 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-9

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#3 Santa Margarita d. #6 Coronado, 25-21, 25-20, 25-17

#2 Temecula Valley d. #10 Bakersfield Centennial, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23

DIVISION II

#1 Liberty d. #9 Arroyo Valley, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20

#12 La Canada d. #13 Ventura, 17-25, 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10

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#3 Cypress d. #6 Scripps Ranch, 20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 26-24, 15-13

#7 Carlsbad d. #15 Dana Hills, 25-14, 25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 15-13

DIVISION III

#1 Academy of Our Lady of Peace d. #8 Royal, 25-21, 25-11, 25-22

#4 Santa Fe Christian d. #5 Patrick Henry, 25-13, 25-7, 25-16

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#3 Mission Vista d. #6 Ontario Christian, 25-19, 19-25, 25-13, 21-25, 15-7

#2 Frontier d. #7 Chadwick, 25-20, 25-18, 35-23

DIVISION IV

#1 Nipomo d. #8 Grant, 24-26, 25-22, 27-25, 25-21

#12 Capistrano Valley Christian d. #13 West Valley, 25-13, 25-12, 25-22

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#3 Granada Hills d. #5 LA University, 25-23, 25-17, 25-22

#2 Mammoth d. #10 Rock Academy, 25-20, 25-12, 25-21

DIVISION V

#8 Panorama d. #1 East Valley, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12

#4 Elsinore d. #5 Artesia, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-19

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#11 Nogales d. #3 O’Farrell Charter, 3-2

#2 Morro Bay d. #10 South El Monte, 25-10, 25-21, 25-18

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SEMIFINALS

(Matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

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OPEN DIVISION

#5 Marymount at #1 Sierra Canyon

#3 Torrey Pines at #2 Mater Dei

DIVISION I

#12 Bishop Montgomery at #1 Harvard-Westlake

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#3 Santa Margarita at #2 Temecula Valley

DIVISION II

#12 La Canada at #1 Bakersfield Liberty

#7 Carlsbad at #3 Cypress

DIVISION III

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#4 Santa Fe Christian at #1 Academy of Our Lady of Peace

#3 Mission Vista at #2 Bakersfield Frontier

DIVISION IV

#12 Capistrano Valley Christian at #1 Nipomo

#3 Granada Hills at #2 Mammoth

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DIVISION V

#8 Panorama at #4 Elsinore

#11 Nogales at #2 Morro Bay

Note: Finals (all divisions) Nov. 18 at higher seeds.

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Ex-NFL star admonishes college football teams involved in raucous melee

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Ex-NFL star admonishes college football teams involved in raucous melee

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Former NFL star Cam Newton had a message for the Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman college football programs in the latest episode of his podcast after a brawl occurred among players from each team over the weekend.

The halftime melee resulted in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) handing out suspensions for 27 players, including three who were suspended for two games. Each program received thousands of dollars in fines as well.

Then-Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) walks on the field during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 28, 2021. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

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Newton said on “4th & 1” that Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were “set back” because of the fighting that occurred on the field.

“I despise the actions … I am extremely displeased with what took place. Why? It’s because make no mistake about it — I’ve spoken at length about equal opportunity,” Newton said. “We are sitting up here trying to get more access, more visibility, to amplify the platform of HBCUs. No matter if you in the MEAC, the SWAC, the SIAC, the OVC — or whatever conference you’re in — if you’re a representation of Blackness and Black culture, you should look at this and say to yourself, ‘This set us back.’”

Newton wondered what if the brawl took place on a major network that aired college football games and what the conversation would be around HBCU programs.

He added that, overall, the image was damaged as schools are trying to grow in terms of name, image and likeness deals and looking for sponsors.

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton watches a game between the Howard Bison and Florida A&M Rattlers in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 16, 2023. (Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports)

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NCAA PUTS MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL ON 3 YEARS OF PROBATION, VACATES 14 WINS

The former Carolina Panthers quarterback star also took issue with Grambling State head coach Mickey Joseph’s initial comments after the brawl. Joseph initially said the school wasn’t going to tolerate “disrespect” and they’re “going to meet disrespect with disrespect.”

Joseph apologized and backtracked from his comments, but it still didn’t sit well with Newton.

“I can forgive you for what you said, I can never forget what you said,” Newton said. “It’s almost like, what are you apologizing for? Are you apologizing because someone above you said, ‘That’s not a good look and you gotta apologize for that.’ Or, are you apologizing because that’s how you really feel?

“Anybody in the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, CIAA, OVC, I’m ticked off because it set us back, man. It set us back.”

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The SWAC admonished the schools and the players that took part in the fight.

“We’re extremely disappointed by the events that transpired during halftime of the Bethune-Cookman at Grambling State football game,” SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland said in a statement. “Acts of that nature have zero place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and intercollegiate athletics.

Detail view of a penalty flag during a football game on Nov. 7, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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“The Conference Office has and will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy for all acts deemed to be unsportsmanlike and contrary to the high standard of good sportsmanship we expect from all individuals associated with the athletics programs within our league.”

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