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NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Lions, Bills rolling, plus coaching hot seat check-in

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NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Lions, Bills rolling, plus coaching hot seat check-in

The NFL coaching carousel looks like it will do good business this offseason. Two head coaches already have been fired, and one of them somehow is not Doug Pederson (yet), and 10 or 11 more might before the start of the 2025 season, including a couple you may not believe

The Week 12 Power Rankings will check in on job security at all 32 franchises. How hot exactly is everyone’s seat? Cold? Room temperature? How about blazing hot, Matt Eberflus?

We’ve also shaken things up at the top, and the bully ball Detroit Lions and coach Dan Campbell are back on top and looking like they intend to stay there.

1. Detroit Lions (9-1)

Last week: 2

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Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 52-6

Seat temperature check: Cold

There’s no better marriage of coach and city than in Detroit where Dan Campbell has been a one-man city revitalization effort. The Lions are 23-7  (including playoffs) since the beginning of last season. They had 38 first downs and outgained the Jaguars by 475 yards Sunday. Detroit has beaten three teams by at least 38 points this season, and its point differential (plus-15.9 per game) is on pace to be second-highest in the NFL since at least 2000 behind only the 2007 Patriots, according to TruMedia. “If people got problems with what we’re doing or complaining about it, they can just come out here and play better football. That’s the only fix to this problem,” cornerback Carlton Davis said.

Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

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‘I’m just glad I’m on this side, man’: Lions dismantle Jaguars for yet another blowout win

Last week: 4

Sunday: Beat Kansas City 30-21

Seat temperature check: Cool

Sean McDermott is not going to be fully embraced in Buffalo until he at least gets the Bills to the Super Bowl, but ending the Chiefs’ perfect season is good for morale. McDermott, who is 82-43 since taking the job in 2017, has gone to only one conference title game, and Kansas City ended the Bills’ season there. Sunday established the Bills as a real contender this season, but they’re going to have to prove it again and probably against the same old foe.

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Up next: Bye

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Reassessing AFC contenders: Bills the best? How dangerous are the Steelers? Sando’s Pick Six

3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Lost 30-21 to Buffalo Bills

Seat temperature check: Gold

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That’s not a typo that should read cold. Andy Reid’s seat is a throne. The 66-year-old will leave Kansas City when he’s ready and not before. He’s under contract through the 2029 season, and that contract is worth $100 million, according to Sportico. Reid needs 62 more wins to pass Don Shula and become the NFL’s all-time winningest coach in the regular season. He would have to stay on a torrid pace to get there by the end of this contract, but he’s on a torrid pace now.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET


The T.J. Watt-led defense has the Steelers in the driver’s seat in the AFC North after Sunday’s win against the Ravens. (Barry Reeger / Imagn Images)

Last week: 6

Sunday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 18-16

Seat temperature check: Cold

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While the rest of the NFL world marvels at the fact that Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in 18 years in Pittsburgh, Steelers fans have been wondering when he’s going to have another big-time winning one. Maybe it’s this year. Pittsburgh is winning Tomlin’s way, too. The Steelers are second in scoring defense (16.2 ppg) and doing just enough on offense (14th in scoring, 23.3 ppg). On Sunday, they won for the second time this season without scoring a touchdown.

Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Steelers announce themselves as contenders with vintage defensive performance vs. Ravens

Last week: 5

Thursday: Beat Washington Commanders 26-18

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Seat temperature check: Room

Nick Sirianni is the only coach who is headed toward a double-digit win season and is still not completely secure in his job. Sirianni is now 42-19 in four years in Philadelphia. That makes him the second-winningest active coach in the league (68.9 percent) behind Jim Harbaugh. Don Shula won a lower percentage of games as a head coach than Sirianni has, but, if we’re being honest, we could see Sirianni doing something goofy enough before the end of the season that Philly’s front office makes a change.

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Last week: 7

Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 20-19

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Seat temperature check: Cold

It’s hard to figure out what the Packers’ ceiling is this season. Jordan Love is tied for the league lead with 11 interceptions, but he had Sunday’s highest yards per attempt (15.4). What’s much easier is assessing Matt LaFleur’s value. His 67.7 winning percentage is third best among active coaches and 12th all time among qualifying coaches. Packers fans might be antsy because he hasn’t been to a conference title game since 2020, but they need to appreciate what they have.

Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Last week: 8

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 23-13

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Seat temperature check: Cold

Is there one knock on Kevin O’Connell? Of the 10 head coaches hired in 2022, he’s the winningest and one of only two with a winning record. He moved to 28-16 Sunday. O’Connell survived Kirk Cousins’ season-ending injury last year. He’s thriving this year after J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury. He was smart enough and secure enough to hire Brian Flores as his defensive coordinator. Honestly, find a person who will say something bad about him.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

8. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

Last week: 3

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Sunday: Lost 18-16 to Pittsburgh Steelers

Seat temperature check: Cool

After 17 years and a Super Bowl title, it should be cold, but then a game like Sunday happens. John Harbaugh is the second-longest tenured NFL head coach, but he just fell to 15-21 in head-to-head matchups against the longest-tenured one (Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin). The Ravens are the most penalized team (92 for 763 yards), a total to which they contributed 12 flags for 80 yards against the Steelers.

Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

‘They’ve had our number’: Ravens again unable to overcome themselves in loss to Steelers

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9. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 34-27

Seat temperature check: Cold

If Jim Harbaugh can kill “Chargering,” what can’t he do? Sunday night’s shootout against Cincinnati was the kind this organization seems to always lose, but whatever magic Harbaugh brings to his teams carried them through. After the Bengals tied the game at 27-27 early in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati missed two field goals and had four pointless possessions. Los Angeles then marched for the game-winning touchdown. What else is it but magic? Harbaugh improved to 51-22-1 as an NFL coach, and his winning percentage (.696) puts him fifth all time and best among active coaches.

Up next: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

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10. Washington Commanders (7-4)

Last week: 9

Thursday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 26-18

Seat temperature check: Cool

Even after a two-game losing streak, almost everyone in Washington is still smiling. Jayden Daniels is the biggest reason for that, but Dan Quinn deserves credit, too. Quinn’s upbeat, high-octane style has been perfect for a Commanders organization that needed some good vibes. If there’s a concern, it’s that Daniels is 24th in EPA per dropback (minus-.08) in the last two weeks compared with second in the first nine weeks (.35). It could be a blip, but it could be defenses figured out the rookie and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

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Up next: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 17

Sunday: Beat Atlanta Falcons 38-6

Seat temperature check: Cold

Sean Payton completed a four-game sweep of the NFC South on Sunday. Why is that significant? It’s the division where Payton coached for the Saints for 15 years, winning 63.1 percent of his games. He’s now .500 with the Broncos and has Denver pointed toward the playoffs and rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the rookie of the year conversation. Payton is also top 20 all-time in regular-season wins among NFL head coaches (166).

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Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Bo Nix’s latest career day illustrates Broncos’ ceiling: ‘You’re trying to win MVP’

Last week: 13

Monday: Beat Dallas Cowboys 34-10

Seat temperature check: Cold

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DeMeco Ryans is 17-11 in Houston after trouncing the Cowboys on Monday night. Former Ryans teammate J.J. Watt appeared on the “ManningCast” broadcast and said he wasn’t surprised by Ryans’ success. “I knew he would be a great head coach. We all did when we were playing together,” Watt said. “I bought my house in Houston across the street from him because if it was a good enough spot for DeMeco to live in, it was good enough for me. DeMeco was the perfect person to take this city back to the place where they were proud of their football team.”

Up next: vs. Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 11

Sunday: Bye

Seat temperature check: Cool

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After a 2-4 start, Arizona has won four straight games, and Jonathan Gannon has the Cardinals as the most surprising division leader of the season. Gannon took over an organization that had had one winning season in the previous seven years. These Cardinals are in the top half of the league in scoring (23.8 ppg), scoring defense (22 ppg allowed) and point differential (18).

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET


Quarterback Geno Smith and the Seahawks saved their season on Sunday with an upset victory against the 49ers. (David Gonzales / Imagn Images)

14. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)

Last week: 19

Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 20-17

Seat temperature check: Cool

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Mike Macdonald hasn’t done much to improve Seattle’s defense yet. The Seahawks are 21st in the league in points allowed (23.8 per game), but this team still is playing hard for him. Seattle had lost five of six entering Sunday’s game and came from behind twice on the road against the 49ers. The Seahawks are tied for second in the NFC West and play division leader Arizona twice in the next three weeks.

Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

How Geno Smith and the Seahawks saved their season: ‘He gets that look in his eyes’

Last week: 18

Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 28-22

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Seat temperature check: Cold

Can we point out that Sean McVay is 20-24 since his Super Bowl win or will people yell at us? They might have a right to yell because McVay’s influence off the field is just as impressive as his record. Maybe more. At 38, he could leave the job today and still have had an outsized impact on the game. The Falcons’ Zac Robinson, The Bucs’ Liam Coen, the Packers’ Matt LaFleur, the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell and the Bengals’ Zac Taylor are among the current crop of play callers who worked for McVay in Los Angeles.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

16. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 20-17

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Seat temperature check: Room

Kyle Shanahan should be completely safe. Somehow he’s not. The 49ers are in the top half of the league in scoring (25 ppg) and scoring defense (22.2 ppg allowed), but something’s not clicking. San Francisco has advanced at least to the NFC Championship Game the last three years and has been to two Super Bowls under Shanahan, but fans are starting to get restless. Hopefully, ownership is not. There’s a better chance the 49ers get worse and not better if they make a coaching change.

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

17. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 38-6

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Seat temperature check: Cool

There’s no scenario in which Raheem Morris is not back for a second season in Atlanta next year, but the vibes aren’t nearly as good as they were a couple of weeks ago. Sunday’s loss was the Falcons’ third worst since 2010, and the defense, which is Morris’ side of the ball, looks helpless at the moment. Morris has Atlanta in the NFC South pole position, but his .386 winning percentage is the worst among qualifying active head coaches.

Up next: Bye

Last week: 16

Sunday: Bye

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Seat temperature check: Room

Todd Bowles has won two division titles in the last two years. He had the Buccaneers right back in the NFC South mix this season before receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were injured. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was a great hire. Still, Bowles has one double-digit win season in his seven seasons as a full-time head coach. His .423 career winning percentage is in Herm Edwards, Chan Gailey and Rich Kotite territory.

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET


Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson led the Colts to a much-needed win Sunday after reclaiming the starting job. (Robert Deutsch / Imagn Images)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Beat New York Jets 28-27

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Seat temperature check: Room

Shane Steichen’s handling of the quarterback situation did not instill confidence. Maybe that’s because he had to translate the thoughts of ownership and the front office, or maybe he’s just a second-year head coach not completely comfortable in the role yet. After declaring Joe Flacco his starter early last week, Steichen reversed course the next day and swapped to Anthony Richardson, who led a 70-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run inside the final minute Sunday. The win evened Steichen’s record at 14-14.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

After redemptive win, Colts QB Anthony Richardson lets emotion flow: This was a ‘blessing’

20. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)

Last week: 15

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Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers 34-27

Seat temperature check: Warm

It looks like the Bengals are about to miss the playoffs while having the NFL’s leader in touchdown passes (Joe Burrow, 27), leading receiver (Ja’Marr Chase, 1,056) and leader in sacks (Trey Hendrickson, 11.5). Zac Taylor is now 41-51-1, and there are signs of strain. “I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us,” Chase said Sunday night when asked why the Bengals can’t close out wins.

Up next: Bye

Last week: 20

Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 34-19

Seat temperature check: Cool

The Dolphins already are nearly five games behind Buffalo in the division race, but they still have a 28 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s projections. No one really wants to see Miami if it does make the playoffs because of its explosive ability. The Dolphins are top 10 in explosive play rate (12.1 percent) despite not having starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for half the season. Mike McDaniel is now 24-20 in three seasons. The only reason there’s any angst in Miami is how bad this team looked without Tagovailoa.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

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22. New England Patriots (3-8)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 28-20

Seat temperature check: Cool

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has saved rookie head coach Jerod Mayo. Maye hasn’t made the Patriots a winner, but he’s shown enough flashes that Mayo’s decision to slowly work him into the lineup seems like the right one. Maye’s EPA per dropback (.04) is 19th in the league, and he’s thrown nine touchdown passes in six starts. Mayo’s performance hasn’t been as good, but the quarterback is taking attention away from that. To Mayo’s credit, he’s not denying that.

Up next: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

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23. Chicago Bears (4-6)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 20-19

Seat temperature check: Actually on fire

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Changing offensive coordinators worked for a half, but beyond slight improvement from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, there was nothing to suggest Matt Eberflus is making a positive impact on the team. Cairo Santos’ 46-yard field goal on the final play of the game was blocked. The kick was attempted on second-and-8 after the Bears turned down the chance to run another play and get closer. Then Packers players said after the game they knew they could get a block in this game. That’s a bad look for an embattled coach, which Eberflus certainly is.

Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Greenberg: Bears blow rare chance to beat Green Bay. How many more will Matt Eberflus get?

24. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 35-14

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Seat temperature check: Already an interim

If we only remember interim head coach Darren Rizzi for the toilet-clogging story, he will have contributed to the game, but it could be that Rizzi hangs around a little longer. He’s 2-0 since taking over for Dennis Allen, and New Orleans has such a significant rebuild coming up that maybe a caretaker coach whom the players like is a good fit. Taysom Hill had 138 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards and 18 passing yards for Rizzi on Sunday.

Up next: Bye

25. New York Jets (3-8)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 28-27

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Seat temperature check: Already an interim

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich couldn’t turn around the Jets’ season, but we shouldn’t have expected any mortal to do that. Their offense has been bad all season (18.5 ppg, 26th in NFL). Their defense has been bad since Robert Saleh was fired (26.2 ppg allowed, 24th in NFL since Week 6). Now they are trying to figure out if their struggling 40-year-old quarterback is coming back and if their owner is going to take off again to be ambassador to the United Kingdom. Totally normal team.

Up next: Bye

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch

26. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)

Last week: 25

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Monday: Lost to Houston Texans 34-10

Seat temperature check: Who knows?

Jerry Jones might fire Mike McCarthy tomorrow. He might keep McCarthy for another 10 years. He might leave McCarthy a part of the team in his will. Honestly, who knows with Jones? He kept Jason Garrett for 10 years even though Garrett won only two playoff games. McCarthy won 12 games in each of the last three regular seasons, but Monday night was the Cowboys’ fifth straight loss.

Up next: at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. Carolina Panthers (3-7)

Last week: 27

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Sunday: Bye

Seat temperature check: Cool

Nobody’s really on solid ground when David Tepper is running the show. Counting interims, the Panthers owner has employed seven head coaches since buying the team in 2018, but Dave Canales has won two straight games and gotten slight improvement from Bryce Young. The bet here is that no matter Carolina’s finish, Tepper will opt for a tiny measure of stability and give Canales a chance with a new quarterback.

Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

28. New York Giants (2-8)

Last week: 29

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Sunday: Bye

Seat temperature check: Warm

Team owner John Mara said in late October that he had no plans to fire Brian Daboll during or after the season. Plans change sometimes. New York has lost five games in a row and 11 of its last 14 dating to last season. Since being named Coach of the Year after a 9-7-1 debut season, Daboll is 8-19. If he keeps his job, it’ll be by making the argument that he’s not the one who wanted to extend quarterback Daniel Jones and let running back Saquon Barkley walk out the door. Jones was sent to the bench on Monday.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)

Last week: 26

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Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 34-19

Seat temperature check: Hot

Antonio Pierce is 7-12 in two seasons after the Raiders got blown out by Miami on Sunday. They have bounced back and forth between quarterbacks all year long and never felt like a threat in the AFC West or anywhere else. Jakobi Meyers was Las Vegas’ leading rusher Sunday with one carry for 20 yards. At least there’s Brock Bowers, who had 13 catches for 126 yards against the Dolphins. With new minority owner Tom Brady in the building, it seems unlikely majority owner Mark Davis will stand pat with Pierce as head coach.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. Cleveland Browns (2-8)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Lost to New Orleans Saints 35-14

Seat temperature check: Room

Sunday’s game was tied entering the fourth quarter before the wheels came off for the Browns, and wheels coming off seems to be the theme of this season. For much of the season, the blame for all of the Browns’ issues fell on Deshaun Watson, but Watson’s out and this team still has lots of issues under Kevin Stefanski, who is 39-38 in five seasons as a head coach. Stefanski is one of those guys who will have another job a week after Cleveland fires him if he wants it, and a fresh start might be good for both sides.

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Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

31. Tennessee Titans (2-8)

Last week: 31

Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 23-13

Seat temperature check: Cool

Brian Callahan is not going to be fired after his first season, but the whole “Let’s move on from Mike Vrabel” thing feels like a mistake as Thanksgiving approaches. The more likely change in Tennessee is probably at quarterback, where Will Levis is 35th among qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per dropback (minus-.16). Callahan will get another shot with a quarterback of his choosing next year.

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Up next: at Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 52-6

Seat temperature check: Pile of ashes

If Matt Eberflus’ seat is on fire, then Pederson’s has already burned up completely, leaving only embers. Whenever Pederson is finally fired — and now’s probably the best time not only because the Jaguars have a bye week but because he’s a perfectly symmetrical 62-62-1 in the regular season in his career — Jacksonville will begin looking for its fifth full-time head coach since 2016.

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Up next: Bye

(Top photo of David Montgomery: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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US figure skating power couple makes history with record breaking seventh national championship

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US figure skating power couple makes history with record breaking seventh national championship

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U.S. figure skating stars Madison Chock and Evan Bates made history on Saturday with their record-setting seventh U.S. Figure Skating title in their final competition before the Milan Cortina Olympics.

The three-time reigning world champions, performing a flamenco-style dance to a version of the Rolling Stones hit “Paint It Black” from the dystopian sci-fi Western show “Westworld,” produced a season-best free skate and finished with 228.87 points.

“The feeling that we got from the audience today was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” Chock said.

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of United States perform during ISU World Figure Skating Championships – Boston, at TD Garden,  on March 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Jurij Kodrun – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)

They’ll be the heavy favorites to win gold next month in Italy.

“I felt so much love and joy,” Chock continued, “and I’m so grateful for this moment.”

U.S. Figure Skating will announce its selections on Sunday.

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik were second with 213.65 points and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko were third with 206.95, making those two pairs the likely choices to join Chock and Bates on the American squad for the upcoming Winter Games.

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The men’s medals also were to be decided on Saturday, though two-time world champion Ilia Malinin had built such a lead after his short program that the self-styled “Quad God” would have to stumble mightily to miss out on a fourth consecutive title.

The U.S. also has qualified the maximum of three men’s spots for the Winter Games, and competition is tight between second-place Tomoko Hiwatashi, fan favorite Jason Brown, Andrew Torgashev and Maxim Naumov to round out the nationals podium.

The last time Chock and Bates competed in the Olympics in 2022 in Beijing, they watched their gold initially go to an opponent who was later disqualified for doping violations.

Chock and Bates initially had to settle for team silver with their American teammates on the podium at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Team Russia and Kamila Valieva, who was 15 at the time, stood above them with their gold medals. 

It wasn’t until the end of January 2024, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found Valieva guilty of an anti-doping rule violation, when Chock, Bates and the U.S. were declared the rightful 2022 gold medalists. 

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UN URGES COUNTRIES TO HONOR TRUCE DURING WINTER OLYMPICS, NOT DENY VISAS TO ANY NATION’S ATHLETES

Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete in championship ice dance at the U.S. figure skating championships Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.  (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, during an anti-doping test at the Russian Figure Skating Championships in December 2021. She was suspended for four years and stripped of all competitive results since that date.

Chock and Bates spoke about what their message to Valieva would be today during an interview at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee media summit in October. 

“It’s hard to, I think, imagine what a 15-year-old has gone through and under that kind of situation,” Bates said. “And I know how stressful it is, being an elite athlete as an adult, as a 36-year-old. And I think that grace should be given to humans across the board. And we can never really know the full situation, at least from our point of view. … I genuinely don’t know what I would say to her.”

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Chock added, “I would just wish her well like as I would. I think life is short. And, at the end of the day, we’re all human just going through our own human experience together. And regardless of what someone has or hasn’t done and how it has affected you, I think it’s important to remember we’re humans as a collective, and we’re all here for this, our one moment on earth, at the same time. And I just wish people to have healthy, happy lives, full of people that love them.”

Chock and Bates had to wait more than two years after the initial Olympics to get their rightful gold medals, and they were finally presented with them during a ceremony at the Paris Olympics last summer.

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the USA perform in the Gala Exhibition during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Nagoya at IG Arena on December 07, 2025 in Nagoya, Japan.  (Atsushi Tomura – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images)

Chock, Bates and teammates Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou were given a specialized gold medal ceremony to receive the medals in front of more than 13,000 fans. 

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Chock and Bates became the first ice dancers to win three consecutive world championships in nearly three decades in March when they defeated Canadian rivals Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Eric Dailey Jr. and Trent Perry power UCLA to victory over Maryland

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Eric Dailey Jr. and Trent Perry power UCLA to victory over Maryland

Dave Roberts tossed T-shirts to fans. The students were back out in bunches. UCLA traded in its recent first-half troubles for a big lead.

It was sort of fun to be a Bruin again Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

On an evening the team honored Roberts, the Dodgers manager and former Bruins outfielder who triumphantly hoisted the World Series trophy over his head during a timeout as fans roared, it was possible to forget about UCLA’s troubles for a few hours.

The Bruins’ 67-55 victory over Maryland was a needed reprieve for a team aching over its defense, not to mention a two-game losing streak that was comfortably snapped despite the Terrapins grabbing one offensive rebound after another.

Maryland (7-9, 0-5) finished with an absurd 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 24 second-chance points, and it still wasn’t enough to make the final minutes a worry for UCLA (11-5, 3-2) after a 6-0 push put the game away.

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Forward Eric Dailey Jr. ensured that things didn’t go awry for the Bruins, nearly logging a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Trent Perry (16 points, six rebounds) hit a clutch corner three-pointer with a little less than six minutes left after Maryland had closed to within five points.

Maryland’s inability to make baskets — the Terrapins shot 30.3% overall and 18.2% from three-point range — was forced in part by some active defense, notably from UCLA’s Steven Jamerson II. The backup center had perhaps his best across-the-board showing as a Bruin, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 22 minutes.

UCLA guard Trent Perry, left, collides with Maryland guard Andre Mills while battling for a defensive rebound in the first half Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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His top highlight came on an offensive rebound he snagged while falling out of bounds and saved by flinging a pass to Perry for a three-pointer. UCLA would have won with even greater ease had it not made just 18 of 27 free throws (67%).

There were moments it was easy to forget the Bruins were playing without guard Skyy Clark (hamstring) and forward Brandon Williams (lower-leg injury). Both players are considered day to day, meaning they could return soon.

Maryland could relate to being shorthanded. The Terrapins were missing star center Pharrel Payne, who remained sidelined because of a knee injury. Forward Elijah Saunders led Maryland with 17 points.

It wasn’t nearly enough given the Bruins looked a bit more like the team they need to be.

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Falcons hire franchise legend Matt Ryan to major front office role

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Falcons hire franchise legend Matt Ryan to major front office role

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The Atlanta Falcons have added one of the team’s greatest players to its front office.

The Falcons announced on Saturday that former quarterback Matt Ryan, who spent the first 14 years of his 15-year NFL career with the team after being drafted third overall in 2008, will be president of football on Saturday. The 40-year-old Ryan, who holds team records for passing yards, touchdowns and wins, will assume the new role immediately.

Ryan will report directly to owner Arthur Blank and collaborate with president and CEO Greg Beadles to ensure the alignment of the business and football areas of the organization.

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Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) on the sideline before he is inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 3, 2024. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

“Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt’s leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise’s history,” Blank said in a statement.

“I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role. From his playing days to his time as an analyst at CBS, Matt has always been a student of the game, and he brings an astute understanding of today’s NFL, as well as unique knowledge of our organization and this market. I have full confidence and trust in Matt as we strive to deliver a championship caliber team for Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere.”

The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday after back-to-back 8-9 seasons. The Falcons had won their last four games, leading some to believe Morris might be afforded a third season, but Blank had other plans.

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CBS Sports broadcaster Matt Ryan before a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 16, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

The Falcons also fired general manager Terry Fontenot after five seasons on Sunday. Ryan will be fully involved in the team’s search for the Falcons’ next head coach and general manager.

“Arthur gave me the chance of a lifetime almost twenty years ago, and he’s done it again today,” Ryan said in a statement.

“While I appreciate the time I had with the Colts and with CBS, I’ve always been a Falcon. It feels great to be home. I could not be more excited, grateful, or humbled by this new opportunity. I began my career with a singular goal: to do right by the Blank family, the Falcons organization, the City of Atlanta, and especially our fans. My commitment to the success of this franchise has not changed. I’m beyond ready to help write a new chapter of excellence.”

Ryan has spent the last three seasons as a member of the CBS Sports team as an analyst.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Jan. 2, 2022. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)

“I want to thank the incredible team at CBS Sports. I loved my three years there and I am truly grateful for their support in pursuing this opportunity. The CBS Sports culture is amazing, and I have made teammates and friends for life,” Ryan said in a statement.

Ryan, who was drafted out of Boston College, played with the Falcons for 14 seasons and holds many franchise records, including passing yards (59,735), attempts (8,003), completions (5,242), passing touchdowns (367), passer rating (94.6), completion percentage (65.5) and 300-yard games (73).

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