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Broncos’ Ja’Quan McMillian picks Patrick Mahomes for first career interception: “He’s starting to play confident”

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

On the afternoon Denver finally put its historic losing streak to Kansas City to bed, the team got a major lift from an undersized under-the-radar defender.That’s nickel Ja’Quan McMillian, who picked off Patrick Mahomes and logged a pair of tackles for loss in the Broncos’ 24-9 win Sunday.“He’s starting to play confident,” safety Justin Simmons said. “Any time you can go out there and play confident, you play faster and things slow down for you. He’s getting into a rhythm and a flow in his preparation and his film study throughout the week. He’s been asking questions and I just think he does such a good job of feeling what the offense is trying to give him and how they’re trying to set it up.”McMillian went undrafted in 2022 out of East Carolina but hung around Denver’s practice squad most of the year and then made a Week 18 start against the Los Angeles Chargers.He started this year as a special teamer and reserve defensive back, but took over the starting nickel spot after the tea...

Say goodbye to ‘Brocktober’: Purdy turnovers costly for 49ers against Bengals

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

SANTA CLARA — It wasn’t so long ago when October looked like it would be “Brocktober,” with the 49ers riding the wave of their unlikely second-year quarterback to an 8-0 record heading into the bye week, casting an eye toward the playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII.It seems like a lifetime ago after three consecutive losses, with Brock Purdy throwing two bad interceptions that helped account for the final margin Sunday in a demoralizing 31-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium.That’s five interceptions over the last three games after throwing none over the first five. There was almost a sixth — wiped out by penalty — in the final minutes, and then Purdy lost the ball anyway on a sack-fumble as Cincinnati was celebrating after improving its record to 4-3.Purdy became a national story in part because of good judgment, the ability to straddle the line between risk and reward and above all staying away from turnovers.“Even wh...

Chris Paul’s bench unit carries, Steph Curry ices Warriors road win vs. Rockets

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

HOUSTON — In Chris Paul’s first career game off the bench, it was primarily his second unit that fueled the Warriors’ 106-95 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night in Houston. Steph Curry put to rest a Rockets’ fourth-quarter rally with four straight 3-pointers late to ice the win.The Warriors trailed by three when Steph Curry went to the bench midway through the first quarter. By the time he returned four-plus minutes into the second quarter, Paul and the second unit had given the Warriors a 39-26 lead, and they took a 10-point advantage into the half. The bench unit outscored Houston’s reserves 41-21 in the game. Curry finished with 24 points on 6-of-14 from 3, including 14 points in the fourth quarter.Klay Thompson still carried the scoring, particularly in the first half, scoring 19 points on 5-of-10 from 3 (7-12 from the field). Gary Payton II had 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Jonathan Kuminga had nine points and Paul had six poi...

The San Jose Sharks keep losing. Here’s why they feel there’s better days just ahead

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

The San Jose Sharks lost their ninth straight game to open the season Sunday. But to coach David Quinn and a few of his players, this one felt a little bit different.Welcoming center Mikael Granlund back to the lineup after a seven-game absence, the Sharks hung into the puck longer, improved their forecheck and breakouts, and created a few more scoring chances – at least more than they had earlier on their road trip and during their season-opening homestand.The result, though, remained the same, as the Sharks allowed third-period goals to Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson before they gave up an empty-netter to Evgeny Kuznetsov in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.Mackenzie Blackwood was terrific in net as he made 39 saves. But as had been the case in seven of the Sharks’ first eight games, their goalie needed to be perfect for them to earn their first win of the season.With the one goal, a first-period marker by Luke Kunin, the Sharks (0-8-1) became the ninth team in NHL history, and ...

Kurtenbach: Coaching, QB failures have 49ers sliding down NFL pecking order

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

SANTA CLARA — There was a point this season when the 49ers looked unbeatable. Now, it’s hard to remember how they ever won a game.Humbling comes easy in the NFL. It arrived fast for the 49ers.After starting the season with five straight wins — four of them blowouts — the 49ers will head into their bye week with a three-game losing streak, a second-place standing in the NFC West, and plenty of bad vibes.And after Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Bengals, fans should be worried that the 49ers’ best football is behind them this season.Not only is this team falling apart physically, but the Niners also have serious problems at the top of the football operation.The two core tenets of winning in the NFL are solid coaching and prudent quarterback play.If your team has both, you will consistently be one of the NFL’s better teams.But the last three weeks — all losses — the 49ers have lacked both.And there’s no guarantee the solid coaching or quarterback play returns after the bye week, eithe...

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler reaches trio of milestones with early touchdown vs. Bears

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Austin Ekeler reached a trio of milestones when he scored the Los Angeles Chargers’ first touchdown in Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.The seventh-year pro became the first running back in the Super Bowl era to reach 30 TD catches with the same team when he took Justin Herbert’s screen pass 39 yards down the left sideline midway through the first quarter to put Los Angeles up 7-0.At 28 years, 165 days, Ekeler is the youngest running back since at least 1960 with 30 TD catches. He also became the seventh player in NFL history to have 30 touchdowns rushing and 30 receiving, joining Brian Westbrook, Marshall Faulk, James Brooks, John David Crow, Frank Gifford and Lenny Moore.All this came on the 400th reception of Ekeler’s career. He also has a league-leading 40 scrimmage touchdowns since 2021. ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Gus Edwards runs for 3 touchdowns, Ravens’ defense keys 31-24 win over Cardinals

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

Baltimore Ravens safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (45) celebrates an interception by cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP/Ross D. Franklin) Baltimore Ravens safety DeAndre Houston-Carson (45) celebrates an interception by cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP/Ross D. Franklin) GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Baltimore gave up a touchdown right out of the gate and two more in the fourth quarter.In between, the Ravens’ opportunistic defen...

Bratt scores twice as Devils edge Wild 4-3

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jesper Bratt scored twice and added an assist, Vitek Vanecek made 31 saves, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Sunday.Erik Haula and Tyler Toffoli also scored to help the Devils get their fifth win in eight games. Luke Hughes had two assists.Pat Maroon, Ryan Hartman and Jake Middleton scored for Minnesota, which has lost three straight. Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 26 saves.Haula sent a high shot past Fleury to snap a 2-2 tie at 6:54 of the middle period for his fifth goal this season and third in two games. Haula also scored twice in Friday’s 5-4 home win over Buffalo.Bratt got his sixth of the season on the power play with 3:21 remaining in the second to give New Jersey a two-goal lead. He increased his season total to 14 points and gave the Devils a league-best 14 power-play goals.“We’ve been talking about really dialing in, trying to get that first goal,” Bratt said. ”Our speed was good today and we supported each other well....

Geno Smith throws late TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks top Browns 24-20

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Jamal Adams used his head to give Geno Smith the chance at some late heroics that helped vault the Seattle Seahawks into first place in the NFC West.Adams forced an interception that deflected off his helmet with 1:57 remaining. Five plays later, Smith threw a quick screen to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 9-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left, lifting the Seahawks to a 24-20 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Seattle (5-2) blew an early 14-point lead, but made enough plays in the fourth quarter for its fifth win in six games. The Seahawks moved a half-game ahead of division rival San Francisco, although that matters little in Week 8.“We’re in pretty good shape. That’s good. And we’re still growing,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. After struggling for long stretches against the best defense in the NFL, Smith was sensational on Seattle’s final drive. He connected on 4 of 5 passes, the last of which was a quick screen to Smith-Njigba. The rookie firs...

Vuelve a entrar en vigor orden mordaza contra Trump en caso federal de interferencia electoral

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:28:19 GMT

Una orden mordaza contra el expresidente Donald Trump en el caso de interferencia federal en las elecciones volvió a estar en vigor el domingo después de que la jueza puso fin a su pausa.La jueza de distrito estadounidense Tanya Chutkan había concedido al equipo de defensa de Trump una suspensión administrativa, lo que significa que la orden mordaza estaba en suspenso mientras la defensa presentaba una apelación.Pero el domingo, Chutkan firmó una opinión que levantó su suspensión del 20 de octubre, esencialmente volviendo a poner en vigor la orden que prohíbe a Trump hacer declaraciones sobre posibles testigos o comentarios despectivos sobre los fiscales. Juez ordena que Ivanka Trump debe testificar en juicio de fraude civil contra su padre Ratifican multa de $10,000 a Trump por comentario sobre juicio civil El equipo del fiscal especial federal Jack Smith solicitó la orden de silencio para “proteger la integridad del juicio...