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Sean McVay says tracking Rams in NFC playoff race is ‘not important to me at all’

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Sean McVay says tracking Rams in NFC playoff race is ‘not important to me at all’

Who’s No. 1?

Not the Rams. Not for now anyway.

Before last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, the Rams held the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

After their defeat, the Rams (9-3) are No. 2 heading into Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals (3-9) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The Chicago Bears (9-3) currently hold the top spot.

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How closely are Rams coach Sean McVay and his players tracking the race for the No. 1 seed — and home-field advantage for the playoffs?

“It’s not important to me at all,” McVay said.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford apparently feels the same.

“That’s the last thing on my mind at the moment,” he said.

Understandably so.

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The Panthers ended the Rams’ six-game winning streak and knocked the Rams from their perch atop the NFC.

The Rams are attempting to regain momentum and stay atop the NFC West.

“Last week serves as a phenomenal reminder of… you get all ahead of yourself, we won’t even be in the playoffs if we’re not careful,” McVay said.

Or, as receiver Davante Adams put it: “They were just singing our praises a week ago, and now, ‘We suck’ just because we go out and don’t win the game.”

Barring a complete collapse, the Rams appear on their way to the postseason. But the Seattle Seahawks (9-3) and the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) — also of the NFC West — are among the teams that remain in contention for the top seed.

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This is the time of year when playoff projections are omnipresent.

“I’m not naive to the fact that every time you flip on NFL Network or ESPN or you’re watching games… and it pops up,” McVay said. “Our guys see it, but I think they’re also smart enough and humble enough to know that none of it really matters. … It’s something that you’re aware of, but it doesn’t move the needle for us at all.”

In his first eight seasons with the Rams, McVay led them to the Super Bowl twice, and neither road included home games for every round.

In 2018, the Rams had a bye in the wild-card round, and then defeated the Dallas Cowboys at the Coliseum and the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome en route to Super Bowl LIII, where they lost to the New England Patriots.

In 2021, the Rams did not have a bye. They defeated the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa and the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium to advance to Super Bowl LVI. The Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium to win the title.

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After Sunday’s game, the Rams play host to the Detroit Lions and then play a “Thursday Night Football” game at Seattle. They travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons, and finish the season at home against the Cardinals.

“If you said, ‘would I be happier if we ended up being able to be in a position where that means we won more games that maybe gave you a chance to get an automatic bid to the Division Round?’ Yeah, of course,” McVay said.

The last two seasons, the Rams were eliminated from the playoffs on the road.

In 2023, the Lions beat them in a wild-card game at Ford Field. Last season, the Rams lost in the divisional round at Philadelphia to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles.

“I don’t think being on the road had anything to do with us coming up short in those games,” McVay said.

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If the Rams have clinched the No. 1 seed or a playoff spot before the finale against the Cardinals, McVay, as he did the past few seasons, might opt to rest most starters.

“We’re trained to do whatever is right in front of us and if that is to go play a game for this seed, all the marbles or whatever it is, we’ll go do it,” Stafford said. “If it’s to sit, rest and take care of yourself, you do that.

“We’re not anywhere near that conversation at the moment. We’re laser focused on Arizona and trying to get the result that we want.”

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Seth Jarvis scores overtime game-winner as Hurricanes storm back from 2-0 deficit to even Stanley Cup Final

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Seth Jarvis scores overtime game-winner as Hurricanes storm back from 2-0 deficit to even Stanley Cup Final

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The Carolina Hurricanes have evened up the Stanley Cup Final in thrilling fashion, coming back from down 2-0 to win in overtime, 4-3.

It was Seth Jarvis, who has been criticized for not having his usual production in the playoffs, hammering home a power-play one-timer to send the crowd into a frenzy as the Hurricanes salvaged a home game before heading on the road.  

This game looked like another chapter in Brett Howden’s surprising playoff run. The Golden Knights forward scored just 12 goals during the regular season, but his two-goal performance in this contest brought his postseason total to 13. He is in clear contention for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.

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Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes looks to pass during game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on June 2, 2026. (Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire)

His first goal of this game was from a nifty Mitch Marner floater down ice. It’s unknown if he was trying to find Howden on the other end, or just clearing his own zone, but it worked out as Howden settled the puck and was quick to snap a wrister past Frederik Anderson.

Then, just after a power play ended for Vegas, Ivan Barbashev, who scored in Game 1’s victory, found Howden streaking toward the offensive zone and put the puck right on his stick. Howden, riding high throughout these playoffs, made a tremendous move and deked out Anderson for his second goal of the game.

NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS BETTING GUIDE: WHY THE HURRICANES ARE THE PICK TO BEAT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Lenovo Center crowd was silenced, as Howden’s heroics gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. But the Stanley Cup Playoffs have a way of getting weird, and Game 2 was proof of that with a back-and-forth battle between these two teams.

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Midway through the third, the Hurricanes got the goal they needed from Logan Stankoven on a hard-fought battle behind the net for a puck, which he turned into a wraparound shot past Carter Hart. It got the crowd back into the contest, and Carolina used it to their advantage.

It was Mark Jankowski getting his first goal of the playoffs joining a rush similar to Marner’s flip down ice to Howden earlier in the game. Eric Robinson was trying to get the puck to William Cartier, and a pinball effect saw it land right in front of Jankowski, who fired it off the right post and into the net. Just like that — tie game in Carolina.

Mark Jankowski of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on June 4, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

With the game hanging in the balance, both teams pressed for the winner. Vegas was trying to grab a 2-0 series lead before returning home for Games 3 and 4, while Carolina was looking to protect home ice and avoid heading on the road down two games.

It looked as if Carolina was going to fulfill the comeback, as Jordan Staal tipped home a shot from Shayne Gostisbehere during a power play that came after the Golden Knights challenged a potential goal on a sprawling save by Anderson. It was a risky move by head coach John Tortorella, and it backfired with 4:35 left in the game as Carolina took the 3-2 lead.

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DESPITE POTENTIAL RATINGS NIGHTMARE FOR NHL, VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS PLENTY OF INTRIGUE

But Vegas found itself on the power play shortly thereafter. However, the ‘Canes played it perfectly, with the Golden Knights only getting one shot off before killing it and getting back to even strength. Vegas had no choice but to pull Hart from the net, allowing them the extra skater.

Then, Mark Stone, the Golden Knights’ captain, said not so fast, batting a puck past Anderson following a Marner shot to tie the game at three apiece with less than two minutes to play in the game. And upon video replay, it was Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin who accidentally hit the puck into Anderson, bouncing it off his shoulder and pushing it into the net.

Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights reacts after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of Game 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on June 4, 2026. (Jeff Bottari/NHLI)

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Overtime was needed as a result, and the first break in the extra period came after Tomas Hertl, the game-winning goal scorer in Game 1, was called for tripping, sending the Hurricanes to the power play once again.

Carolina made it hurt, and now Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas should be a fun one to watch as this series has gotten off to a high-octane start.

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High school baseball and softball: Regional scores and schedule

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High school baseball and softball: Regional scores and schedule

CIF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL REGIONALS

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Semifinals

DIVISION I

#8 San Diego Cathedral at #5 La Mirada, Friday at 4 p.m.

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#7 Huntington Beach 11, #3 Corona 3

DIVISION II

#4 Bakersfield Christian 5, #8 Arroyo Grande 0

#2 Newport Harbor 11, #3 Point Loma 6

DIVISION III

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#8 Kaiser 7, #4 Helix 4

#6 Westview at #2 Glendora, Friday at 4 p.m.

DIVISION IV

#8 South El Monte at #5 Francis Parker, Friday at 4 p.m.

#7 North Torrance 7, #3 Central Valley Christian 0

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DIVISION V

#5 LA Roosevelt at #1 Verdugo Hills (double forfeit)

#2 Coastal Academy 5, #3 Schurr 2

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)

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Finals

DIVISION I

#7 Huntington Beach vs. #8 San Diego Cathedral or #5 La Mirada

DIVISION II

#4 Bakersfield Christian at #2 Newport Harbor, 2 p.m.

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DIVISION III

#8 Kaiser at #6 Westview or #2 Glendora

DIVISION IV

#7 North Torrance vs. #5 Francis Parker or #8 South El Monte

DIVISION V

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#2 Coastal Academy wins by forfeit

CIF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOFTBALL REGIONALS

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Semifinals

DIVISION I

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#1 Chula Vista Mater Dei 7, #5 Point Loma 4

#2 La Habra 8, #6 St. Paul 7

DIVISION II

#1 Riverside Prep 4, #5 Redwood 3

#6 Garces Memorial at #2 Great Oak, Friday at 4 p.m.

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DIVISION III

#4 Hanford West 5, #8 Mission College Prep 4

#3 Grace at #2 Helix, Friday at 12 p.m.

DIVISION IV

#5 Grossmont at #1 San Diego Madison, Friday at 4 p.m.

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#2 Woodlake 13, #3 Irvine 0

DIVISION V

#1 Arroyo Valley 12, #5 La Jolla 8

#6 San Bernardino 18, #2 South East 2

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

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(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)

Finals

DIVISION I

#2 La Habra at #1 Chula Vista Mater Dei

DIVISION II

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#6 Garces Memorial or #2 Great Oak at #1 Riverside Prep

DIVISION III

#4 Hanford at #3 Grace or #2 Helix

DIVISION IV

#2 Woodlake vs. #1 Madison or #5 Grossmont

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DIVISION V

#6 San Bernardino at #1 Arroyo Valley

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NBA bans two fans for life after court invasion during Knicks-Spurs Game 1

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NBA bans two fans for life after court invasion during Knicks-Spurs Game 1

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The fan who ran onto the court during the New York Knicks’ 105-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center has been banned for life.

About midway through the fourth quarter, a fan ran onto the court looking for a selfie with Victor Wembanyama. A second fan was also banned for his involvement, the NBA said in a news release.

“The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas,” an NBA spokesman said in a news release. “A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.”

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A fan is detained by security after running onto the court during the fourth quarter of Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 3, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Spurs guard Dylan Harper had his pass deflected by Mikal Bridges when the fan raced onto the floor. The fan went straight to Wembanyama while the play was occurring, and the Spurs star was unsure how to act.

“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act.”

Security quickly raced out, enveloped the fan and whisked him off the floor.

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A fan is detained by security after running onto the court during the fourth quarter of Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 3, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Play was stopped for one minute, 29 seconds before the game resumed with a jump ball. The fan who entered the playing area was taken out of the court area through a baseline tunnel.

“I don’t think it was an event at all,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I thought security got him out of there. I think everybody moved on to the next play.”

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A fan runs onto the court and takes a photo with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter of Game One in the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 3, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

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The NBA hopes there are no further fan incidents for the remainder of the series. Game 2 between the Knicks and the Spurs is on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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