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bookmaker deposit bonus Virtual Reality Content Creation Market : A $46.54 billion Industry Dominated by Koncept VR, Pixvana Inc., Blippar,Netflix fans have admitted to ‘crying buckets’ while watching a new Netflix film about the development of IVF, starring Bill Nighy, James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie. ‘Joy’ is a dramatisation of the real-life run up to the first IVF test tube baby being born in 1978, and it was released on Netflix on Friday (22 November). Thomasin McKenzie, known for Last Night in Soho and Jojo Rabbit, plays Jean Purdy - a nurse and embryologist who helped solve the challenge of infertility to create IVF. Read more: Netflix's new sci-fi series from Stranger Things showrunners adds huge new cast Actor James Norton, known best for his role in hit series Happy Valley, stars as scientist Robert Edwards and award-winning actor Bill Nighy plays surgeon Patrick Steptoe. The two joined forces with Jean and turned the pioneering concept of IVF into reality. Many people have taken to social media to share how much they loved the new film. One person wrote: “Just watched ‘Joy - the birth of IVF’ on Netflix and learnt the name and achievements of a woman I’ve never heard of before; #JeanPurdy. Her personal story brought tears to my eyes.” Another person said: “Spent a wintry afternoon watching Joy, the film about how IVF and the people who worked so hard to make sure it happened became the wonder of science that helps create families. And I flamin' cried... buckets.” One X user said: “It's a beautiful tribute to science, the scientists and most importantly the women who had the faith to entrust their dreams to a new technology. Warning - you will cry.” Someone wrote on Reddit: “My husband and I just finished the new Netflix movie Joy about IVF. Highly recommend! I cried the whole time my husband cried too. Such an amazing process.” Many parents of children conceived through IVF have expressed their appreciation for the new Netflix film, which shines a light on all the hard work that went on behind the scenes to develop the amazing medical phenomenon. Someone wrote: “The wife and I just sat and watched Joy on Netflix. As IVF parents, we were in absolute bits. Incredible people who did incredible things. Feel privileged to be a part of that club and seeing how the story began, and the people who blazed the trail, was just a beautiful thing”. Another person said: “I’m a test tube baby myself and just gave birth to my own daughter 10 weeks ago. Made me sob so much realising the work that went into IVF and how me and my daughter wouldn’t be here. It’s crazy how much they’ve done for the world.” Even the trailer reduced viewers to tears. One person wrote on X: “Haven’t even watched Joy on Netflix yet and sobbing at the 20 sec teaser trailer”. And another person agreed: "My husband and I just saw the trailer - we were bawling". Joy is streaming now on Netflix.

I am writing to express my support for an independent public inquiry of Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine disaster as a next step, following YG’s prudent decision to put the mine into receivership and oversee remediation efforts. I would like to share my recent experience that influences this preference in hopes that it is helpful. I draw some parallels from my time in leadership at Raven Recycling to the decisions before you. I led a very public-facing organization through a pandemic and a government-led regulatory process that would change the recycling landscape entirely, with insufficient human and financial resources and a backdrop of polarized public opinion about Raven’s operations. There was, and is an overwhelming lack of understanding of the recycling system both from the public and within the public service, making it near impossible to communicate the changes we were making and the reasons for them. The pandemic gutted our human resources, leaving us all wearing too many hats. We were working with crumbling and woefully insufficient infrastructure. Government was writing a regulation to please two entirely different perspectives and Raven was the only voice at the table speaking for the environment. I was new to the issue and not considered an authority. It was a job that required an intense focus on detail, which stripped away my ability to see beyond what was directly in front of me, and around my own biases at times. I think many of these dynamics are at play for YG in the case of the Eagle Gold Mine. During my time at Raven, we commissioned four independent reviews: an examination of Raven’s operating environment and of our social and environmental impacts, an analysis of a new business venture which Raven had made a major investment in, and an audit of our financial records, which was actually a demand made by government as a condition of considering our request for an increase in funding when the markets crashed and Raven no longer had the revenue from the sale of cardboard to keep the program going. We supplied raw data, access to our records and tours of our facility. We answered questions with fact-based information. It was not a comfortable process at times, but it was fair and unbiased. All four reviews alleviated pressure on me and my co-workers, helped us shape good policy and saved the organization money in the long run. We learned much and, while we didn’t love all of the conclusions that were drawn, or when past mistakes became transparent, the reviews helped us communicate more clearly with the public and other stakeholders. I believe they helped our stakeholders retain some trust in the organization and they helped me gain some credibility as a leader. We could not have gleaned such an unbiased perspective of our strengths and weaknesses without those independent reviews, and we could not have advocated for a more effective recycling system. I am concerned about the future of mining in the territory because mining affects so many people and systems, especially when it is unchecked and when it goes wrong. We are at a fragile point in governance and in the protection of what remains of biodiversity, food security and decent standards of living. Mining legislation, if done right, can alleviate so many economic and environmental pressures. I believe you have a much more critical issue in your hands than recycling and there is no time to waste. An independent public inquiry could help you. I wish for YG to use an independent public inquiry as the backbone for better legislation and policy. I feel it is time to take this step. With much respect for the difficult positions you have stepped up and into, and with hope for the integrity of the decisions you make in the near future, Heather Ashthorn Whitehorse

Formula 1 announced Monday that it has approved the entry of GM and Cadillac as a new team on the grid, bringing a storied American car maker into the pinnacle of motorsport . The announcement, which is part of an application initiated by racing team Andretti Global, shakes up the F1 world and could provide a boost to the fast-growing U.S. market with the arrival of the storied American car manufacturer. It comes two days after the Las Vegas Grand Prix . F1 said in a statement that it “reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac as the eleventh team to the Formula 1 grid in 2026.” The much-anticipated decision follows a year-long saga marked by drama and bitter tensions within F1 after Andretti Global applied to join the grid and gained the approval of the sport’s governing body FIA — only to get rejected by the Liberty Media-owned commercial side of F1, which questioned whether Andretti would bring sufficient value to the sport or be competitive. But the added promise from GM to become a “works” team — building both a car and a power unit — led to a breakthrough. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global,” — which now controls Andretti Global — “regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the eleventh team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process and will provide further updates in due course.” In a statement, GM said it will build its own power unit “by the end of the decade,” without specifying a year. “F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” GM President Mark Reuss said. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” Mario Andretti, a former F1 champion and the patriarch of the Andretti racing dynasty, will serve as a director on the team’s board. “My first love was Formula 1 and now — 70 years later — the F1 paddock is still my happy place. I’m absolutely thrilled with Cadillac, Formula 1, Mark Walter, and Dan Towriss,” Andretti said in a statement. “To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.” Last spring, Andretti paid a visit to Washington, D.C., at the invitation of lawmakers, and the story became political. Within a few months, the Justice Department began investigating Liberty Media for potential antitrust violations amid allegations that it shut out a U.S. team to protect the largely European teams from competition. That probe could fizzle as a result of this move. “If Andretti and GM have worked out a deal to get onto the Formula 1 grid, federal enforcers will probably be able to close their file and focus on other things,” said Daniel Francis, a professor at NYU School of Law and an antitrust expert. “Sometimes the best investigations are the ones that resolve themselves: consumers benefit and the enforcers can deploy their resources elsewhere.” Andretti's son, Michael Andretti, who helmed the team’s initial application to join F1, has been sidelined under the new effort, with investor Dan Towriss taking the reins of Andretti Global and overseeing it. It will be the first time since 2016 that F1 has had more than 10 teams on the grid. One of those existing teams, Haas F1, is owned by American Gene Haas with headquarters in North Carolina. But the team uses a Ferrari engine and is lesser known to American fans. There are two drivers per team, and the addition of the GM-Cadillac seats on the grid will be a welcome development for young drivers. Many have hit roadblocks trying to break into a sport, despite showcasing their talent, as older veterans are staying longer and those who bring sponsorship money gain a leg up. “From a young drivers point of view, I think they would definitely vote to have another team,” RB driver Liam Lawson, who is looking to secure his seat for next season, said in an interview. Some veteran drivers could also be interested in a seat. On Saturday, after the Las Vegas race, NBC News asked outgoing Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time race winner, whether he might be interested in a 2026 seat at Cadillac F1. “Yes. I might,” Bottas replied. The move sets up a clash of two American car giants, GM and Ford, in Formula 1. Ford is partnering with Red Bull to build the team’s power unit starting in 2026. As rumors about the potential deal circulated, it was the talk of the paddock at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Ford versus GM could be pretty sexy,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Sky Sports F1.OTTAWA — The Israeli expert leading a civilian commission into sexual violence by Hamas is calling for global bodies to recognize "a new crime against humanity" involving violence targeted at families. Cochav Elkayam-Levy said the world should take a stance against the destruction of families as a specific, identifiable weapon of war, aimed at terrorizing one's kin. She is proposing the crime be called "kinocide." In an interview, she also said Canadians can demand Hamas be brought to justice while also seeking accountability when Israeli troops commit sexual violence against Palestinians, without drawing a false equivalence. "We have to see Canada's leadership in addressing the lack of moral clarity of international institutions," Elkayam-Levy said in an interview during a visit to Ottawa last month. Elkayam-Levy is an international-law professor at Reichman University and a former Hebrew University researcher, who chairs Israel's Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes Against Women and Children. That non-governmental body originally set out to document patterns in sexualized violence by Hamas and its affiliates during the 2023 attack and against hostages it took into the Gaza Strip. The aim wasn't to come up with a tally of assaults, but to instead document systemic factors in how women were raped, tortured and mutilated. The idea was to have an understanding that could help victims and their descendants cope with intergenerational trauma, and to create an archive for researchers and prosecutors to use for possible investigations. Elkayam-Levy's team reviewed hours of footage featuring "very extreme forms of violence" from closed-circuit cameras and what militants themselves recorded. They started to notice six patterns of violence involving among the circumstances of more than 140 families. These include using victims' social media to broadcast that person being tortured to their friends and family, including hostages and those killed. Another involved murdering parents in front of their children or vice versa, while another is the destruction of family homes. "We started understanding that there is something here, a unique form of violence," she said. "The abuse of familial relations to intensify harm, to intensify suffering." Elkayam-Levy said she developed the term with the help of experts, including Canadians like former attorney general Irwin Cotler. The rules undergirding the International Criminal Court only mention families in procedural contexts, but not as a factor in war crimes, she noted. "It's a crime without a name," she said, arguing that impedes victims' healing. She said experts in past conflicts have agreed with her, saying kinocide should have been a factor in how the world understood and sought justice for atrocities on various continents, such as how Islamic State militants targeted Yazidi families from 2014 to 2017. "Justice begins with this recognition; healing begins with recognition," she said. Elkayam-Levy noted "gender-based violence" existed for centuries before the United Nations officially recognized the term in 1992. She's also taken aim at "the silence of many international organizations, and the lack of moral clarity," in calling out sexual violence by Hamas, which Ottawa deems a terrorist group. In particular, UN Women did not condemn Hamas' sexual violence until nearly two months after that attack, and Elkayam-Levy argued the institution has stayed largely silent, setting a bad precedent for upholding global norms. "They have fuelled denial of the sexual atrocities," she said, adding that a constant demand for physical evidence pervades social media "in a very antisemitic way." Israeli police have said forensic evidence was not preserved in the chaos of the attack, and people believed to be victims of sexual assault were often killed and immediately buried. Acts of sexual violence were not part of 43-minute video that Israel's foreign ministry has screened for journalists, including The Canadian Press, which was sourced from security footage and videos filmed by militants during their October 2023 attack. In March, a UN envoy said there are "reasonable grounds" to believe Hamas committed rape and "sexualized torture" during the attack, "including rape and gang rape," despite the group's denials. That same month, released hostage Amit Soussana went public about her captors groping her and forcing "a sexual act" that she asked not be specified. As part of its avowed feminist foreign policy, Canada funds initiatives abroad to prevent sexual violence and support victims. Yet the Conservatives have lambasted the Liberals for not condemning Hamas' sexual violence until five months after the attack. In March, Ottawa came under fire for pledging both $1 million for groups supporting Israeli victims of Hamas sexual violence and $1 million for Palestinian women facing "sexual and gender-based violence" from unspecified actors. Global Affairs did not say whether that referred to domestic abuse or sexual violence by Israeli officials, drawing a rebuke from a senior Israeli envoy. Human-rights groups have long accused Israeli officials of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainees in the West Bank. In July, those concerns escalated when Israeli soldiers were accused of perpetuating the filmed gang rape of a Palestinian prisoner from the Gaza Strip. Far-right Israeli cabinet ministers voiced support for mobs attempting to free soldiers under investigation. Elkayam-Levy said Canadians can call out the patterns of sexual violence by Hamas against Israelis, while still demanding the Israeli state investigate and prosecute its soldiers who undertake individuals acts of sexual violence. "The fact that (Western leaders) are trying to make the right political decision, instead of the right moral decision, is creating confusion, is creating moral blur — instead of making space for all victims to be heard for what they have endured," she said. To her, there is a "false parallel" being made between individual cases of sexual assault from soldiers who should be held to account, and a group using patterns of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Elkayam-Levy said people should uphold the principles of international law instead of what she deems to be weaponizing global institutions against Israel. She is aware that many have instead argued that Israel's military campaign has broken international law and undermined the systems meant to uphold human rights. Elkayam-Levy has been critical of the Israeli government, arguing before the war that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought anti-democratic reforms to the country's judiciary. She has been critical of his war cabinet for lacking any women, and has highlighted extensive media reports that female military personnel had detected Hamas was planning a large attack only to be dismissed by male leaders. She said the world needs to condemn Hamas' violence against families and try prosecuting those responsible. Otherwise, she fears combatants in other countries will take up its brutal tactics. Otherwise, "we are going to see an international system that will not last for long," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2024. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian PressMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is on a week-long visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany from November 24 to November 30 to attract investment to the state. On Monday, CM Yadav paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament Square Gardens in London, UK. "Today, we paid floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here. During the freedom movement, Gandhiji demonstrated a unique feat that the entire country is proud of. He defeated the world's most powerful empire through non-violence, which played a vital role in the country's independence. We remember him with great humility. I also pray that God enables the country and the state to progress on the path of non-violence shown by him," CM Yadav told ANI. He further emphasised Madhya Pradesh's potential to attract large-scale investment from across the country and the world. "MP has immense potential to attract investors, both nationally and globally, across various sectors including tourism, education, and healthcare. To ensure the state's development and create a robust system for public amenities, we need significant investment. For this, we must actively invite investors," CM Yadav said. He highlighted that following the success of the Regional Industry Conclaves in Madhya Pradesh, many investors, particularly from the UK and Germany, have shown interest in investing in the state. "After the success of our Regional Industry Conclaves, many investors from India and abroad, especially the UK and Germany, are keen to invest in our state. We are organising the Global Investors' Summit in Bhopal to provide an ideal platform for these investors. It is our responsibility to present our vision to them. From the UK, I will proceed to Germany to continue these efforts," he said. He also mentioned his intention to visit other countries, should time permit. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are consistently working to advance Madhya Pradesh. I am pleased to see our efforts yielding results," he added. According to a release by the MP government, during his visit, the Chief Minister will hold one-on-one discussions with industrialists and investors to secure investments in key sectors such as the automobile industry, electric vehicles, renewable energy, education, and food processing. The focus will be on forming partnerships with major industries and MSMEs in both countries, highlighting Madhya Pradesh's advantages as a cost-effective and efficient manufacturing hub. CM Yadav's UK visit will continue from November 24 to November 27, during which he will meet British MPs and business leaders. Efforts will also be made to expand the "Friends of MP" network. The visit includes interactive sessions, round-table meetings, and one-to-one discussions with prominent industrialists. Additionally, he will study the UK's expertise in urban redevelopment and technological innovation. From November 27 to November 30, CM Yadav will visit major industrial cities in Germany, including Munich and Stuttgart. He will tour leading facilities such as SFC Energy, Berlocher, and Lepp Group, and hold round-table meetings with key industrialists. He will also encourage NRIs to invest and reside in Madhya Pradesh. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world

We're 12 weeks into the 2024 NFL regular season, and it's a special week in the NFL—Thanksgiving week. By the time we hit next weekend, four games will already have been played—games that are rather the 2024 season in a nutshell. For the first time in a long time, Thanksgiving's biggest game involves the soaring Detroit Lions. The Green Bay Packers will try to hold pace with the Lions on Thanksgiving night against the resurgent Miami Dolphins. And on Black Friday, a Kansas City Chiefs team that has made close wins an art form will attempt to maintain the top seed in the AFC. Those Chiefs got a win over the lowly Panthers in Week 12—albeit just barely. The Lions kept rolling and have their best record in decades. The AFC South-leading Houston Texans were stunned at home by the Tennessee Titans. And the Philadelphia Eagles sent a message in Los Angeles that while the Lions may have the NFC's best record, they aren't necessarily the best team in the conference. After a Lambeau Field beatdown, the Packers are rolling, while the San Francisco 49ers are reeling. The Denver Broncos may well be a legitimate playoff team. And the Las Vegas Raiders—well, the Raiders just need a hug. Another wild week around the NFL has shaken the league's pecking order. But as is the case every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport , Kristopher Knox , Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski are here to make sense of it all—by ranking the NFL's team from No. 32 to No. 1. Last Week: 32 Week 12 Result: Bye Week By just about any objective measure, the 2024 season has been a disaster for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A team with aspirations of competing for an AFC South title has been arguably the worst squad in the league. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has missed time with a shoulder injury, but head coach Doug Pederson told reporters there's a chance the former first overall pick will be out there in Week 13. "I mean we'll see. We'll see how he does during the week of this bye and see where he's at," Pederson said. "I'm not going to commit right now obviously. We still have a ways away, but we'll see. We'll see how he does this week, and we have time, so we'll figure that out." As to the embattled head coach himself, Pederson told reporters that last week's debacle against the Detroit Lions was not indicative of who the 2024 Jaguars are. "That's not who we are. That's not who we stand for," he said. There's enough pride in that locker room, enough pride on the coaching staff, whether we win the game or not. How we perform, it's not who we are. It's not who we are. It's not how I coach. It's not how we prepare during the week. It's not how the players practice and what they put their bodies through. I don't think many people understand what these guys go through during the course of a week. These guys play—and this is across the league. This is not just us. This is everybody who puts on a uniform on game days." Analyst's Take The thing is coach, it really has been who the 2024 Jaguars are. The offense couldn't move the ball consistently even when Lawrence was out there. The defense is the only one in the league that has surrendered an average of over 400 yards per game. The Jaguars are most likely going to blow this team up in the offseason, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where Pederson is the coach of this team in 2025. -- Davenport Last Week: 30 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 30-7 Maybe Daniel Jones wasn't the problem in New York. Tommy DeVito's first start for the Giants was a disaster. DeVito failed to clear 200 passing yards in a lopsided loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It wasn't just DeVito, though—the reality was that no one for the Giants played especially well. "They did everything better than we did today," head coach Brian Daboll told reporters . "It wasn't good, wasn't good. From a variety of missed tackles, converting in the red zone, turning the ball back over in the red zone. Got a good week of practice, did a lot of work, and obviously, it didn't show. No excuses. They played well, and we didn't play well. You get down 23-0 [and it] changes the complexion of the game some. Had a good drive coming out of the half, turned the football over. Just not good enough, and that all starts with me." Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was even less diplomatic. "First, second quarter, I don't get the ball," Nabers ranted. "Start getting targets at the end. I mean, can't do nothing. Start getting the ball when it's 30-0. What do you want me to do?" Analyst's Take Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers knows the Giants have a problem beyond the quarterback position, but he doesn't know what it is other than a team that's played " soft ." The Giants can help themselves by starting quarterback Drew Lock over Tommy DeVito. This team needs someone to inject some energy into its play. -- Moton Last Week: 27 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Denver 29-19 Things have gone from bad to worse for the Las Vegas Raiders. It's not bad enough that the Raiders suffered yet another loss Sunday at home against the rival Broncos. Las Vegas also lost its starting quarterback...again. Gardner Minshew fractured his collarbone in the second half and will miss the rest of the season. Head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters the team hopes Aidan O'Connell will be ready to play when the Raiders face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday. "We're going to need somebody, right?" Pierce said. "We're running out of quarterbacks, too, now, so we'll see what happens (Monday). But obviously, it looks like (O'Connell is) getting better. He threw a little bit in practice this week. Obviously, we've got a short week—play on Friday, travel on Thursday—so we have to make that decision very quickly." If not, Desmond Ridder, who took over for Minshew on Sunday, said he'll be ready to go. "I've been here almost a month and how I feel comfortable with the offense, I'm ready to go," said Ridder. "So, whatever that situation may be, it's not up to me—it's up to the higher power. But I'm ready for any situation there may be." Frankly, after seven straight losses, at this point it probably doesn't matter. Analyst's Take Gardner Minshew will miss the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, so the Raiders must turn to Desmond Ridder or Aidan O'Connell for the remainder of the season. The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed believe O'Connell will reclaim the starting position after returning from injured reserve. In Week 7, O'Connell fractured his thumb, but he likely would've been starting at this point of the campaign if not for his injury. Before Minshew broke his collarbone, the Raiders benched him three times. Yet regardless of who starts under center for the Raiders, they're headed toward a four-win season at best. -- Moton Last Week: 28 Week 12 Result: Lost at Miami 34-15 Things just keep getting uglier and uglier for the New England Patriots. The Patriots had another miserable performance in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Pats had just 268 yards of offense, turned the ball over twice, converted just 3-of-14 third downs and fell behind 31-0 before finally getting on the scoreboard. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye tried to put a positive spin on a miserable effort while addressing the media . "I always say I hate losing more than I like to win," Maye said. "We got our butts whipped today, and it's only up from here. We've got a bright future and the right players in there for the Patriots." Head coach Jerod Mayo, on the other hand, had a curious response when asked about the mistakes, turnovers and penalties that plague the Patriots on a weekly basis. "Once those guys cross the white lines, there's nothing I can do for them," Mayo said. "There's nothing any coach can do for them. It's my job to continue to prepare not only them, but our coaches as well." Apparently, it's just Mayo's job to "prepare" the Patriots from Monday through Saturday. But once the game starts, his work is done. The loss ensures New England a third straight losing season for the first time in three decades. So, Mayo's work may well be done for good before long. Analyst's Take Drake Maye has shown glimpses of what he can become as a franchise quarterback, but he's not Clark Kent. Maye cannot transform into a football Superman to save the Patriots' lackluster offense with the flick of his wrist. Maye is exciting to watch because he can create something out of nothing, but at some point, he needs a reliable partner in the backfield or within the pass-catching group to help the offense generate points. -- Moton Last Week: 31 Week 12 Result: Won vs. Pittsburgh 24-19 The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the Cleveland Browns. But for at least a moment at least on Thursday night, the Browns woke up, shocking their most hated rivals in a driving snowstorm in Cleveland. There were multiple heroes in the Week 12 upset, whether it was Myles Garrett's three sacks or Nick Chubb's two scores on the ground. But it was the play of Jameis Winston under center that truly propelled Cleveland to victory. Winston threw a terrible interception against the Steelers, and turnovers have dogged the 30-year-old throughout his career. But as Jason Lloyd wrote for the Athletic , over the last month it can't be denied that Winston has provided a spark to an offense that had been truly awful. "In four starts since replacing Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Winston has guided the Browns to a pair of victories—over heavyweight division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh, no less," he said. "He already leads the team in passing yards and touchdowns, and his charismatic nature has provided some memorable sermons and lighthearted social media clips in what has otherwise been a dreary season and a miserable trudge to the finish line." Analyst's Take It can be argued that Cleveland winning games at this point in the season costs the Browns more than it helps them—too many victories could knock the team out of the running for an elite quarterback prospect. With that said, Winston has earned the right to start the rest of the season—and if the money's right, he makes sense as Cleveland's starter to open the 2025 season, as well. -- Davenport Last Week: 29 Week 12 Result: Won at Houston 32-27 There hasn't been much in the way of good news for the Tennessee Titans in 2024. But Sunday in Houston, the team played easily its best game of the year in stunning the AFC South-leading Texans. Will Levis outplayed C.J. Stroud, throwing for 278 yards and two scores with a passer rating over 120. Running back Tony Pollard eclipsed 100 rushing yards with a touchdown. And Tennessee's defense put the clamps on the Texans, allowing just 40 yards on the ground and less than 2.5 yards per carry. While addressing reporters after the game, Titans head coach Brian Callahan expressed pride in how his team fought despite its record. "The coolest thing about this game was just the way our team fought," Callahan said. "It was a back-and-forth game. Our guys did a good job of not flinching and keeping the blinders on. We've been in games like this before, and we haven't been able to make a play, but this week, we made a play." It has still been a disappointing season in Nashville. But for one week at least, it's smiles all around. Analyst's Take When a team operates with a new head coach and developing quarterback, the bar is simple: Does the group get better as the season progresses? In the case of the Titans, it seems they are, especially with Sunday's surprising victory over the Houston Texans. Aside from an inexplicable pick-six, Will Levis consistently found his targets while working behind a somewhat improving offensive front that battled throughout the afternoon. As a result, the lowly Titans beat the rival Texans and went 2-2 in the month of November. -- Sobleski Last Week: 26 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Kansas City 30-27 With the exception of the final score, Sunday's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs went about as well as the Carolina Panthers could have hoped. And frankly, an argument can be made that losses are more valuable to Carolina than wins right now. The question is becoming whether the Panthers want to use their high draft pick in 2025 on a quarterback. Because in addition to giving the two-time defending champions all they could handle, quarterback Bryce Young played reasonably well for a third straight game. While talking to the media after the game, Panthers head coach Dave Canales lauded his young quarterback. "Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities," Canales said. "And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today." Young, for his part, said he's just taking things one game at a time. "For me, I just want to focus on what I can control," Young said. "Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence." Analyst's Take Carolina's winning streak ended at two games, but this team should feel very good about where it is. Players are continuing to fight hard, which is a positive reflection on head coach Dave Canales. Bryce Young, meanwhile, is starting to play like the game-changer he was at Alabama. The season, overall, has been a disappointment. However, it's easy to forget just how bad this team was in 2023, and it's easy to overlook how much more hope they have now. -- Knox Last Week: 24 Week 12 Result: Bye Week Things were supposed to be different for the New York Jets in 2024. With Aaron Rodgers healthy, the Jets were supposed to shake off years of futility under center and be a factor in the AFC East. Instead, after 11 games, the Jets are actually a game worse than last year. And now, per Dianna Russini of the Athletic , it's looking increasingly likely that the Aaron Rodgers era in New York is going to look a lot like the Brett Favre era did—quick and ugly. "I'm told Johnson has lost confidence in Rodgers' ability to lead the team to their first playoff berth in 14 years, a drought that stands as the longest in the major North American professional sports leagues," Russini said. "There are some on the team who believe everyone is simply tiptoeing around the fact that Rodgers isn't the same player anymore. I'm told no decisions have been made yet, but it appears increasingly likely that the four-time MVP, who is banged up, could be placed on injured reserve or possibly benched over the next few weeks, signaling the end of his disastrous time with the Jets. Some around the league say they won't be surprised if Rodgers is cut in-season." Analyst's Take All the blame for the Jets' latest faceplant of a year can't be placed on Rodgers, but there's also no denying that Rodgers has looked his age most of the season. At this point, we should all know what will be happening next—after Rodgers is let go by the Jets, Rodgers will sign with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason and lead the team to the NFC title game in 2025—just to twist the knife. -- Davenport Last Week: 25 Week 12 Result: Won at Washington 34-26 How 'bout them Cowboys? It may have been a weird game that included everything from a missed extra point that would have tied things at the end to a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns, but the Cowboys are finally off the skid after downing the reeling Commanders in Washington. The win stopped a five-game skid for the Cowboys, and embattled head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that hopefully it will give the team some momentum headed into their Thanksgiving Day tilt with the New York Giants. "Oh, we needed it. It's been frustrating, no doubt," McCarthy said. "I think everybody in our circle has been very accountable for it. But I think you're getting a look at who we are. Just tremendous fight. They fought from the time that ball was kicked off at the beginning all the way down to the end. That's what this team is about. Hopefully, we can continue to get healthy. And we got to win this next one. That was a division game. That was a big win for us. We got another one right around the corner here. Nice to get some wins, get some momentum." Analyst's Take The Cowboys snapped a five-game losing streak, but they almost blew a late fourth-quarter lead last week. Commanders kicker Austin Seibert's missed extra-point attempt may have saved Dallas from a mindboggling loss. The Cowboys should celebrate last week's win, but this club still has much to correct going into its Thanksgiving game with the Giants. -- Moton Last Week: 23 Week 12 Result: Bye Week There hasn't been a bigger roller-coaster of a team in 2024 than the New Orleans Saints. The Saints opened the season with a pair of dominant wins. Then New Orleans plummeted through a seven-game skid that got head coach Dennis Allen fired. However, since Allen was let go, the Saints have peeled off two straight wins to at least hang around the fringes of the NFC South. Per Dianna Russini of the Athletic , the way the team has played since coming out of the bye has garnered Dennis Rizzi some real consideration to have the "interim" tag to be removed from his name. "After the organization parted ways with Dennis Allen," she said, "Rizzi was a natural choice for the interim role, especially considering he was a finalist for the head coaching job two years ago. While Sean Payton's positive influence remains within the organization, Rizzi has introduced his own approach, which has been well-received by players. He has focused on building strong relationships with team leaders and veterans, reorganizing the locker room to enhance player cohesion, and adjusting practice schedules to reduce injuries. He believes in a high volume of reps with less intensity during practices that players, including Derek Carr, have appreciated. He's also allowing players an extra hour of sleep, a simple yet effective adjustment. An assistant coach shared: 'Everything has a purpose with Rizzi.'" Analyst's Take After their disastrous seven-game skid, the postseason isn't likely in New Orleans. But that doesn't mean the team has nothing to play for next week at home against the Rams. Rizzi is coaching for his future with the team. Quarterback Derek Carr may well be playing for his future as the team's quarterback, and he won't be the only guy playing for a job next season. The Saints aren't making the postseason. But they have the talent to be a thorn in the sides of some teams down the stretch. -- Davenport Last Week: 22 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Minnesota 30-27 (OT) At 4-7, the postseason hopes for the Chicago Bears are just about toast. Sunday's loss to Minnesota in overtime was the team's fifth straight setback since a 4-2 start. But in some ways, Sunday's game was almost encouraging. The Bears may not be winning, but the play of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has improved—he torched the Vikings for 340 yards and two scores with a passer rating over 100. Williams told reporters after the loss that while the team didn't get the result they wanted, the offense has improved. "I think we've gotten better over these past couple games," Williams said. "I think today was a testament to that, being decisive, receivers and everybody, and things like that." Minnesota head coach Kevin O' Connell was impressed by what he saw from Williams. "I think the world of him," O'Connell said. "He just continues to get better and better. You can see it when he starts creating off schedule, and that change of direction and athleticism. We had him dead to rights a couple times and he gets out and makes huge plays." Analyst's Take Despite coming up short Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, encouraging signs can still be found for the Bears, particularly the play of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams finally appears to be getting comfortable and adjusting to the speed of the game. Over the last two contests, he really thrived when defenses attacked. The result? The playmaking quarterback everyone saw in college is finally fully emerging at the professional level. Williams is evading pressure and making outstanding throws that a select few can. Yes, the Bears have lost five in a row, but the whole point of this season was to ensure the organization finally had its franchise quarterback in place. It appears they do. -- Sobleski Last Week: 21 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Detroit 24-6 The Indianapolis Colts are stuck in the in-between. The Colts aren't a bad team...but they aren't an especially good one, either. The Indy defense had little answer for the juggernaut that is the Lions offense. The Colts offense struggled Sunday—the team was 0-for-2 in the red zone, and after throwing the ball well in Week 11, young quarterback Anthony Richardson came back to earth, completing just 11 of 28 passes. Despite another rough day throwing the ball, teammate DeForest Buckner still believes that Richardson has a bright future. "As a player, to go where you have never been and become the player that you want to be, you have to be willing to do things that you've never done and make certain sacrifices you've never made," Buckner told reporters . "At the end of the day, there's a price that needs to be paid. I feel like within this process the past two weeks, he's been able to really see that and that's what gives us so much confidence in him. Knowing that he's rooting in the process and he's developing as a pro." Still after losing four of five, it's fair to question how long the Colts can wait before they have to consider a Plan B under center. Because Richardson just hasn't been good as a passer in the NFL. Analyst's Take Anthony Richardson needs help. The sophomore quarterback needs to play better, of course. But multiple instances occurred during Sunday's contest against the Detroit Lions where others around the sophomore signal-caller let him down—Andrew Ogletree's drop of what would have been a walk-in touchdown being the most obvious example. Richardson may never become an efficient operator. But it's highly difficult to become anything when plays aren't being made by others or are called back because of penalties. -- Sobleski Last Week: 19 Week 12 Result: Bye Week It has been a miserable season for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Mind you, not from a statistical standpoint—Burrow is playing as well as any quarterback in the league. But the Bengals have played seven one-score games in 2024...and lost six. Per Oliver Connolly of The Guardian , a team this bad having a quarterback this good is enough to give someone a migraine. "Losing six close games with a quarterback playing this well is almost impressive," he said. "Burrow's numbers this season are bonkers. He has thrown for 3,028 yards, 27 touchdowns and has only four interceptions so far. He's on pace for the best rushing season of his career, scrambling around to make something happen. He tops the league in QBR and is third in the RBSDM composite, which measures the value of a play and how much the quarterback can be deemed responsible for the value. In a normal year, Burrow would top ballots for the league's most prestigious hardware. Instead, he's left scrapping for the final playoff spot in a lousy AFC wild-card race (NFL.com gives the Bengals a 12% chance of making the postseason). Most likely, the Bengals will be on the outside looking in by the time the postseason rolls around." Analyst's Take That the Bengals have just four wins with Burrow playing at such a high level is a shame, and assuming the Bengals do miss the playoffs Cincinnati faces some major questions in the offseason. Wide receiver Tee Higgins and edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson are both free agents after the 2024 season, and frankly, the future of head coach Zac Taylor in the Queen City may be uncertain. -- Davenport Last Week: 13 Week 12 Result: Lost at Green Bay 38-10 The San Francisco 49ers are in deep trouble. Injuries have ravaged the Niners all season long. And the team may have reached a breaking point. Without quarterback Brock Purdy and left tackle Trent Williams, the San Francisco offense struggled to get anything going. The defense played its worst game in recent memory on Sunday, and the 49ers got blasted to fall into last place in the NFC West. After the blowout, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't sugarcoat his team's performance while talking to reporters . "I thought we got out of our gaps a number of times," Shanahan said. "I thought we had way too many missed tackles. Just them being able to control that clock the first half was one of the worst ones I've been a part of as far as a half. (Then) To have those three turnovers, and all three led to touchdowns with 21 points. You top that with the penalties and stuff, that's how you get embarrassed like that." Analyst's Take The 49ers are cooked, and not just because of injuries. There's a serious lack of physicality on both sides of the ball, and San Francisco's defense has taken significant steps in the wrong direction under first-year coordinator Nick Sorensen. It should surprise no one if Kyle Shanahan fires his defensive coordinator for the second straight offseason. There was a time when the 49ers could be considered the bullies of the NFC. There is no longer any semblance of an intimidation factor with this team. -- Knox Last Week: 15 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Philadelphia 37-20 Sunday night's tilt with the soaring Eagles was the chance for the Los Angeles Rams to make a statement—to show they can hang with the NFC's best. Instead, the Rams looked like a .500 also-ran, allowing Saquon Barkley to surpass 250 rushing yards and getting absolutely dominated in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was under constant duress Sunday night, and he told reporters that the Rams just weren't good enough up front. "They rushed four the majority of the night, that's kind of what they do," Stafford said. "Didn't do anything that we didn't expect, just executed a little bit better than we did, stayed ahead of the chains a little better than we did... Just didn't do enough in the second half to keep it close." The Rams are just one game off the pace in the NFC West. But with games coming up against Buffalo and at San Francisco, this week's tilt with an up-and-down Saints team has the makings of a must-win matchup. Analyst's Take The Rams still have an outside chance of stealing the NFC West. Even if they do, I can't see them getting past the wild-card round. This team is a fun mix of veterans like Matthew Stafford and young, budding stars like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. However, it isn't a complete team, and that has shown against quality opponents like the Eagles. Los Angeles has holes in its defensive back seven that can't be fixed in-season. It has an offensive line that can't adequately protect Stafford for a full four quarters. Those are issues that will hurt the Rams in the postseason and could prevent them from even getting there. -- Knox Last Week: 20 Week 12 Result: Won vs. New England 34-15 This is the Dolphins team many expected before the season. Sunday in Miami, we saw a glimpse of the buzzsaw offense that dropped 70 points on the Broncos last year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 144 yards and a score. On a day the run game struggled, Miami outgained the Patriots by over 100 yards. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel talked up his quarterback while speaking to reporters after the game. "He's found a way to improve the way he plays the position throughout the game," McDaniel said. "The most monumental thing that you have to overcome as a quarterback is playing the position regardless of the ebbs and flows, so not changing how you play based upon positive or negative results and letting every play stand on its own." For his part, Tagovailoa was more concerned with Thursday's trip to face the 8-3 Green Bay Packers. "We're still below the .500 threshold, and it's a long way to where we want to get to," Tagovailoa said. "We'll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us." Analyst's Take Don't overlook Miami's defense in its midseason run. The Dolphins haven't surrendered 20 points in a game since Week 9. Miami faces a tougher test against the Packers on Thanksgiving, but its top-10 run and pass defense should be up for the challenge at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. We'll also find out if the Dolphins can hang with a playoff contender in below-freezing temperatures. -- Moton Last Week: 17 Week 12 Result: Bye Week The good news for the Atlanta Falcons is that the team entered its bye week in first place in the NFC South. The bad news is that the Falcons have also lost two straight, including a blowout defeat in Denver in Week 11. Those losses can be attributed at least in part to the struggles of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. As Nick Shook wrote for NFL.com , Cousins' lack of mobility after tearing his Achilles tendon last year is becoming an issue. "His immobility is becoming a bit of a glaring issue," he said. "Cousins still launched a few accurate throws downfield that were broken up by Denver's secondary, but he also threw a truly awful interception in the middle of the third quarter, piling onto what had already been an avalanche of negative outcomes for the Falcons on a generally no good, very bad offensive day. The Falcons need more balance and must stay on schedule to get back on track. It would be wise to figure it out quickly, especially with the Buccaneers lurking in the NFC South race." Analyst's Take Cousins was actually benched in that loss to the Broncos, but there has been nothing to indicate that was more than a temporary move in a game that was completely out of hand. But the Falcons have just about squandered their margin for error in the NFC South. Cousins needs to up his level of play when the Falcons host the Los Angeles Chargers next week, and it would be nice if the Falcons' invisible pass rush could get a little pressure on Justin Herbert -- Davenport Last Week: 18 Week 12 Result: Won at New York Giants 30-7 Coming out of the bye week, the Buccaneers needed a win as badly as any team in the NFL—with a wideout corps savaged by injuries, the Bucs had dropped five of six. The playoffs were getting farther and farther away with every defeat. However, star wide receiver Mike Evans was back for Sunday's blowout win over the New York Giants. He wasn't the biggest reason that Tampa rolled, but it didn't hurt matters, either. Tampa dominated every facet of the game. Baker Mayfield threw for nearly 300 yards, drawing praise from head coach Todd Bowles in the postgame press conference . "He did a heck of a job," Bowles said. "Baker just plays ball. He loves playing ball. He had some great scrambles. He bought some time. He made some runs. He played a heck of a ball game." Tampa gained 156 yards on the ground and averaged almost five yards per carry. The Buccaneers defense held New York under 250 yards. It was a dominant effort all around—one that gives the team momentum heading into games with the Panthers and Raiders that could get the Bucs back above .500. Analyst's Take The Buccaneers are one of the league's most balanced clubs, entering Week 12 with a top-10 passing and rushing offense. In Tampa Bay's win over the Giants, Baker Mayfield threw for 294 yards, and all three of its active running backs, Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, scored a touchdown. The Buccaneers' tailbacks accumulated 127 scrimmage yards. Despite its 5-6 record, Tampa Bay is a dangerous post-Thanksgiving team that can get hot down the stretch. -- Moton Last Week: 12 Week 12 Result: Lost at Seattle 16-6 Over the past several weeks, the Arizona Cardinals have been the NFC West's hottest team—winners of four straight. Coming out of the bye, the Redbirds had an opportunity to take a firm grasp on the division lead. Um...so much for that. The Arizona offense imploded against the Seattle Seahawks. The team ran for less than 50 yards. The Cardinals converted just 3 of 12 third-downs, and quarterback Kyler Murray threw a pick-six that accounted for one of Seattle's two touchdowns. Murray didn't mince words while addressing the media after the defeat. "Obviously, it's a hostile environment," Murray said. "We just didn't execute, did not execute at a high enough level to win that game." The loss isn't a killer—every team in the NFC West is either 6-5 or 5-6. But with a trip to Minnesota up next followed by a rematch with the Seahawks, Arizona needs to get the offense back on track in a hurry. Analyst's Take Just when I think Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing have Arizona headed in the right direction, we have games like Sunday's. The defense is improving but can't play consistently well. The offense looks great when things are clicking...and a lot like the bad Kliff Kingsbury years when they're not. At some point, in a tough game, the Cardinals must forge a better game plan than poking Kyler Murray with the football and telling him to do something. -- Knox Last Week: 16 Week 12 Result: Won vs. Arizona 16-6 Good luck figuring out the NFC West. All four teams in the division have been up and down this year. First place and last place are separated by a single game. And right now, the Seattle Seahawks are on top of the division. It was the Seattle defense that keyed Sunday's win, holding the Cardinals out of the end zone and allowing less than 300 yards of offense. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams led the way with six tackles and 2.5 sacks. He told reporters that after their recent struggles, the team is treating every contest like an elimination game. "We knew where we were in the division rankings, so ever since (the leaders) had that conversation, we've been treating it like playoffs," Williams said. "Since then, I just feel like our team is coming closer together. We're playing with great energy." However, wide receiver DK Metcalf chastised his offensive teammates for not performing similarly on their side of the ball. "We should have run away with that game early, but we put ourselves in bad positions to where we couldn't finish drives," Metcalf said. "The defense plays like that, week in and week out, we have no choice but to put points on the board and run away with every game." Analyst's Take Mike MacDonald continues to look like a solid coaching hire for the Seahawks. While Seattle's defense is far from perfect, it is aggressive and carries an energy that has been missing in recent seasons. It has also performed much better since the Week 10 bye. The offense still has weapons, and Seattle is beginning to look like a very balanced squad. I don't know if Seattle will win the volatile NFC West, but this is probably the one team from the division other teams won't want to see on the road in the wild-card round. -- Knox Last Week: 9 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Dallas 34-26 The Washington Commanders are in trouble. It's not just that the Commanders have lost three straight after a 7-2 start. It's how they lost and who they lost against. The Dallas Cowboys were double-digit underdogs, but the Commanders allowed 332 yards of offense to a struggling Cowboys team, turned the ball over three times, allowed a pair of kickoff-return scores and missed a late extra point that would have tied the game. As star wideout Terry McLaurin told reporters , the Commanders just flat-out didn't play well. "We just didn't play our best," McLaurin said. "We didn't play complementary football. When you're playing division games it's going to come down to the four quarters. We knew that going into the game. We didn't underestimate them at all, but it's just unfortunate when you can't help each other on offense, helping out on the defense." The Commanders now find themselves well off the pace in the NFC East. If there's a silver lining, it's that before Washington takes on the Eagles for the second time this season, the team gets a pair of winnable games sandwiched around a Week 14 bye. Analyst's Take Even in a loss, Jayden Daniels looked exceptional as the Commanders tried to make a comeback, but the team has hit a wall, losing three consecutive games. Between late September and late October, Washington's defense overachieved, and it regressed to the mean. Since Week 10, the Commanders have surrendered an average of 29.3 points per game. -- Moton Last Week: 14 Week 12 Result: Won at Las Vegas 29-19 The Denver Broncos are starting to believe. Sunday's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders wasn't as emphatic as their blowout of the Atlanta Falcons the week before. But Denver went on the road and defeated a divisional opponent to move to 7-5 on the season and remain in the AFC playoff hunt. After the victory, head coach Sean Payton told reporters the mentality of his team is changing. "A year ago, we don't win that game," Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "It wasn't our best, but it was good enough. We're on to the next one, so we have a lot to clean up, but it was good to handle these guys for a second time." Wide receiver Courtland Sutton agreed. "I think the tide is turning," Sutton said. "The Broncos are in a spot where we want to be back in the AFC West, and I think that's a really exciting spot to be in. Job's not finished." Now Denver has a pair of winnable games sandwiched around the bye week before what could be a critical trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers in Week 16. Analyst's Take Bo Nix is moving up the ladder of Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates. He's put together three consecutive qualities performances, throwing for eight touchdowns without an interception in that stretch. Last Sunday, Nix only completed 59.5 percent of his passes, but he threw for 273 yards and made no critical mistakes that hurt his team. Nix isn't a dazzling downfield passer, and his quarterback runs aren't eye-catching like Jayden Daniels' rush attempts, but he's one of the NFL's top offensive rookies heading into Week 13. -- Moton Last Week: 11 Week 12 Result: Lost vs. Tennessee 32-27 It just became a lot harder to trust the Houston Texans as a contender in the AFC. Taking on a two-win Titans team at home, the Texans were outplayed on both sides of the ball. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud continued to struggle, throwing two more picks. With six games to go, Stroud now has almost twice as many interceptions as all of last year. The second-year quarterback admitted to reporters that he has to play better if the Texans are going to make noise in the postseason. "It's no secret that I haven't been playing well... I've got to be harder on myself," he said. "I'm not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I've got to make better plays." Head coach DeMeco Ryans said that there was plenty of blame to go around. "Just a disappointing loss for us," Ryans said. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives." Analyst's Take C.J. Stroud set an impossible standard during his rookie season that he's struggling to maintain as a sophomore. A year ago, the discussion already centered on whether Stroud was worthy of being considered a top-five quarterback. This season, he's simply trying to remain efficient, which he's struggled to achieve. Over the past four games, Stroud has committed six turnovers. Unsurprisingly, the Texans are 1-3 during that stretch. Houston still holds a two-game lead in the AFC South, but its status is more of an indictment of the division than anything the Texans have done as of late. -- Sobleski Last Week: 10 Week 12 Result: vs. Baltimore ( Monday Night Football ) The Los Angeles Chargers will be updated after hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Last Week: 8 Week 12 Result: Won vs. San Francisco 38-10 They have been overshadowed by the Detroit Lions in the AFC North. But over their last seven games, the Green Bay Packers are 6-1 after blowing out an undermanned San Francisco 49ers team Sunday. The only loss over that span? A 10-point loss to the aforementioned Lions. The engine for Sunday's win was a 26-carry, 106-yard effort with three touchdowns from running back Josh Jacobs. After the monster performance, Jacobs told reporters that this is exactly why he joined the Packers—the opportunity to win football games. "I came here because I'd seen them winning," said Jacobs. "And I haven't won a lot in my career, and that was a big thing for me when I'm making a decision. But not only that, man, being around these guys and seeing how hungry they are, seeing how much of pros they are on a day-to-day basis and how much it means to them, man, it makes me want to play harder, it makes me want to give everything I have." Analyst's Take Green Bay may have found its formula for fixing Jordan Love's interception problem, and it involves a heavy dose of Josh Jacobs. To be fair, the Packers played a bad 49ers defense in Week 12 (that still feels weird to say), but a strong ground game and some opportunistic defense made short work of San Francisco. That's a formula that travels into December and January and one that gives Green Bay a chance to play in February. -- Knox Last Week: 6 Week 12 Result: at Los Angeles Chargers ( Monday Night Football ) The Baltimore Ravens will be updated after facing the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. Last Week: 5 Week 12 Result: Lost at Cleveland 24-19 The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to go with a bit of a two-headed approach at quarterback—at times during Thursday's loss to the lowly Browns, Justin Fields replaced Russell Wilson under center. After the game, Wilson told reporters that both signal-callers are more than willing to help the team in any way they can. "We all try to make plays," said Wilson. "Obviously, we have trust in Justin in what he can do and is capable of. I always want to be in there. That's the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin and the coaches. I don't know when it's going to happen. Whenever it does, all I want us to do is win. When Justin gets in there, I'm rooting for Justin to do great and make a big play. When I go back in, it's vice versa. We're always rooting for each other." It's understandable that the Steelers are looking for a spark offensively—the team has struggled in the red zone this season. But it's also fair to wonder if this plan is giving that Steelers offense more momentum or stifling it. Analyst's Take Musical quarterbacks isn't the reason the Steelers were stunned in Cleveland—edge-rusher T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh defense were uncharacteristically quiet against a Browns offense that has struggled big-time this season. Pittsburgh is still up a game on Baltimore in the loss column with a head-to-head win. But Pittsburgh's erratic offense could be a real issue against the AFC's best teams, and the Steelers have three straight games coming up in a few weeks against the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. -- Davenport Last Week: 7 Week 12 Result: Won at Chicago 30-27 (OT) The Sam Darnold reclamation tour moves on. It wasn't the prettiest of wins—the Vikings squandered a late lead and allowed Chicago to force overtime with an onside kick recovery. But after a three-and-out on the first drive of overtime, Darnold took the Vikings right down the field for a game-winning Parker Romo field goal. Darnold finished the game with 330 passing yards and two touchdowns, and after the victory head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters he has every confidence that Darnold can lead the Vikings to victory—no matter the opponent. "It was just the ability to overcome, and his trust in me and my trust in him," O'Connell said. "We were gonna do it via the pass on that drive for the most part, try to mix some runs in there if we could. But I think that when your best is required, I had no hesitation of trying to attack what I was seeing and trying to get our guys going to get down there and give Parker a chance. Football is a game where you've got to be able to respond. It's never gonna be perfect. This group is a special group, and it's a road win in the NFC North and I'm really proud of our team." After a two-game skid, the Vikings have rattled off four wins in a row. And the team has a manageable schedule ahead of games against the Packers and Lions that could have huge stakes in the NFC North. Analyst's Take The Vikings have a franchise quarterback. No, it's not J.J. McCarthy, whom the organization sank a top-10 pick into this past April. The reclamation project known as Sam Darnold has turned into something special. Darnold has reclaimed his career after playing for three different teams over the past four seasons. He's comfortable and it shows, particularly in crunch time. During Sunday's overtime victory over the Chicago Bears, Darnold completed 11-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter and overtime. He's now in line for a contract extension. McCarthy will just have to wait a while after his recovery from a knee injury before taking the reins. -- Sobleski Last Week: 4 Week 12 Result: Won at Los Angeles Rams 37-20 The Philadelphia Eagles are rolling, and running back Saquon Barkley may wind up being the single most impactful personnel move of the 2024 offseason. All Barkley did Sunday night against the Rams was pile up a franchise record 255 rushing yards, top 300 total yards and score twice while averaging almost 10 yards a carry. That's not a typo. Both of Barkley's touchdowns came on long runs, and after the win head coach Nick Sirianni applauded Barkley's ability to make a house call any time he carries the ball. "Saquon has that ability to hit home runs, and so sometimes that's how it goes," Sirianni said. "You get some short gain, short gain, short gain—boom, home run. Saquon is that type of player, and our offensive line did a good job of handling the variations of the front." Barkley told reporters that he's loving his first season with his new team. "To be honest, I'm not surprised," said Barkley. "I didn't know I would have this much success, (but) I'm thankful to be here. I'm thankful for the fresh start. A big reason why I wanted to come here (is) I felt like this is a spot where I could rewrite my story and show everyone the type of player that I feel like I can be and was meant to be, and it's working out right now." Analyst's Take I still think the Lions are the best team in the NFC, but I won't be shocked if the Eagles end up claiming the No. 1 seed. Thanks to a rebuilt secondary that has jelled under Vic Fangio, this team has no real weaknesses. The offense might not be quite as dynamic as Detroit's, but Saquon Barkley is dynamic enough that it doesn't often matter. This does not look like the same squad that lost to the Falcons and Buccaneers early in the season. Games against the Ravens and Steelers will provide challenges, but the rest of Philly's schedule is fairly favorable. A Lions-Eagles NFC title game might be inevitable. -- Knox Last Week: 3 Week 12 Result: Bye Week There's nothing better than hitting the bye week after a huge win. That's how things worked out for the Buffalo Bills, who knocked the Kansas City Chiefs from the ranks of the unbeaten. Quarterback Josh Allen is a legitimate MVP candidate at this point in the season. But Bills legend Buce Smith told TMZ Sports that individual accolades aren't as important as the ultimate goal—a trip to New Orleans in February for Super Bowl XLIX. "Josh has my [MVP] vote thus far," Smith said. "He needs to finish strong, but keep in mind, winning the MVP but not having an opportunity to play and win in a Super Bowl, I just look at that as, obviously a personal statistic is always great to have, but you want to have that opportunity to go to the Super Bowl and become the MVP in the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl. All of those things that make history, and I think this gives us a great shot. What took place [against the Chiefs] showed a lot of character about this team." Analyst's Take Perhaps the most impressive part about Allen's play this year is that he hasn't really had a true go-to receiver—yes, Buffalo traded for Amari Cooper, but he's still acclimating to his new home. Allen has spread the ball around, running back James Cook is playing well and Buffalo's defense is steadily improving. The Bills haven't lost since all the way back in Week 5, but the team faces a challenging three-game stretch post-bye—home against San Francisco, at the Rams and then a trip to Ford Field for a potential Super Bowl preview. -- Davenport Last Week: 2 Week 12 Result: Won at Carolina 30-27 Just about no one expected the Kansas City Chiefs to need a last-second field goal to squeak past the lowly Panthers in Carolina on Sunday—including the Panthers, probably. But that's what happened Sunday. The Panthers surprisingly gave Kansas City all it could handle before some patented Patrick Mahomes heroics saved the day. While addressing the media after the game, Mahomes said that while a 30-point win would have been great, making a habit of pulling out close games is a valuable learning experience. "You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I've always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment," Mahomes said. That would resonate a bit more if Sunday's scraper hadn't come against one of the worst teams in the league. Analyst's Take There still isn't a team I'd trust in a one-score game more than the Chiefs. Obviously, there isn't a quarterback anyone would trust more in the final two minutes of a one-score game than Patrick Mahomes. However, the fact that Kansas City keeps having to find ways to win late is concerning. More concerning is the fact that the Chiefs defense—which has been the team's strength all year—has struggled in two straight weeks. There's plenty for this team to clean up between now and the postseason. -- Knox Last Week: 1 Week 12 Result: Won at Indianapolis 24-6 The Detroit Lions are a juggernaut right now. At 10-1, the Lions are off to the franchise's best start since before World War II. The Lions had no problem with the overmatched Colts, out-gaining Indianapolis by over 120 yards, racking up more than twice as many first downs and converting nine of 15 first downs. The Lions also held the Colts out of the end zone, leading head coach Dan Campbell to tell reporters that he's happy with how well the Lions are playing in all phases of the game. "This is, whatever it is, 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown and the three last games in the second half we're not allowing it," Campbell said. "We talk about it all the time—limiting points, play physical style, shut down the run—we were able to do that. If you can win on the road, you're normally a pretty damn good team. And we can win on the road." The Lions are now at home for three straight, starting on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears. After that comes a game with the Packers that could offer the Lions a stranglehold on the NFC North and a potential Super Bowl preview against the Buffalo Bills. Analyst's Take The current version of the Lions is the best team in the franchise's history. It has existed since 1930. At 10-1, they are tied for the organization's best start ever, and it's pretty safe to say this group could easily dispatch the '34 version that held the same record. To understand just how long ago that really was, the previous 10-1 edition came during the franchise's first season in Detroit with Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his first term as President of the United States. The attack on Pearl Harbor was still seven years away from occurring. Dan Campbell's Lions aren't just good; they're historically good. -- SobleskiAs winter approaches, many people start to wonder just how cold the season will be. While modern weather forecasting can provide some insight, there are also age-old sayings and proverbs that have been passed down through generations to predict winter temperatures. One such saying is the "Three Ones of Winter" in Chinese agricultural proverbs, which provides clues about the upcoming winter weather based on certain signs in the month of December.

MicroStrategy continues its bitcoin buying spree for the 7th straight week as the crypto dips below $100,000Taylor Swift kicked off another dance party in Toronto as her headed into its final three shows in the city Thursday night. Since launching the trek back in March 2023 in Arizona, the Referring to herself as “the host” of the night’s festivities, Swift told the Toronto crowd the tour’s impending end was bittersweet. “Fun fact: this is actually the second to last weekend of the Eras Tour, which is crazy to think about,” she said. “In 2024, we have taken this tour all over the world. We went to Australia, Asia and spent the entire summer in Europe.” Swift said ending her run in Canada made sense because her fan base here is “the most loyal, passionate and kind.” “We’ll end the thing with a big, big group hug,” she said. “That’s what we’re doing. I’m so happy to see you tonight.” Swift said she kept adding dates to the Eras run because “it was the most fun tour I’ve ever done in my life.” “We just kept adding shows and adding shows,” she said. Swift has played multiple nights at Rogers Centre on past outings, but her six-night stand is unique. She’s the only artist to have ever played the venue that many times on the same tour. , both of which were written about Jonas after their 2008 breakup. With Swift now pals with Jonas’ ex Sophie Turner, fans weighed in on the “epic combo” on X. “ “Joe Jonas just felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck,” . After Jonas broke up with her, “ But the Jonas dig was short-lived. During the piano portion, As she has done for the last year-and-a-half, Swift played songs from all her studio albums, including her recent Grammy nominated . “I’ve been touring since I was 15 and we’ve made a lot of fun memories,” she said. “I’m so overjoyed to see your faces.” She called the night “a little adventure” that would span the last 18 years of music. “We’re going to be doing this one era at a time,” she said as 49,000 fans enthusiastically cheered. “You’re about to hear a lot of songs. There are lot of songs in this show.” Her fans hung on every word, identifying with Swift’s lyrics about getting older, breaking up, making up and going through this messy thing we call life. “These songs, I wrote about either something that happened to me in my life, a feeling I had at one point, or something that I completely invented in my imagination, and maybe that’s what you think about when you hear these songs out in the world,” she said. All that changes after the Eras Tour ends next month in Vancouver. Now when people hear these songs they’re going to think about one memorable night in Toronto or wherever they might have seen the show. “After tonight, when you hear these songs, you’re going to think about us and the memories we made here tonight at the Eras Tour,” she said. The show has no doubt became more polished as it has gone on. But during one lengthy ovation following , Swift soaked it all in. “We only get to do this show a few more times,” she said, overcome with emotion as she basked in the thunderous applause. “So once that’s over, I know there’s going to be some days when we’re really missing it ... I can promise you that on those days, we’re going to replay our memories of you just doing that.” Taylor Swift returns to the stage at Rogers Centre in Toronto tonight and tomorrow.

Brand's Latest Offering Is Among Top Three For Industry's Highly Coveted Honor - All-new compact sedan sets new standards for design, technology and roominess - K4 follows in the footsteps of Kia's NACTOY-winning EV9, EV6 and Telluride LOS ANGELES , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancing Kia's commitment to deliver sporty sedans with premium features, advanced technology and elevated performance, the all-new Kia K4 has been named one of three finalists for the 2025 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM. 1 Announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, this news follows back-to-back NACTOY wins over the past two years for the all-electric Kia EV6 and EV9 utility vehicles, respectively. And five years ago, the brand's popular Telluride SUV earned the same recognition as a NACTOY finalist before going on to win the prestigious award. NACTOY jurors vote on finalists after spending months driving dozens of new vehicles throughout the year. To be eligible, vehicles must be all-new or substantially new. The NACTOY awards will take place on January 10, 2025 at the Detroit Auto Show with winners in the Car, Truck and Utility categories. The K4 compact sedan delivers segment-above technology including up to 29 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), 2 a high level of refinement, and class-leading rear head room and leg room. 3 The available turbocharged engine and standard multi-link rear suspension on the GT-Line model yield an engaging and spirited behind-the-wheel experience. Exceeding expectations for connectivity and technology in its segment, the K4 brings standard wireless Apple CarPlay 4 and Android Auto 5 and an available multi-segment display cockpit with a combined nearly 30-inches of digital instrumentation. 6 Available amenities such as Digital Key 2.0, 7 Harman Kardon premium audio, 8 and a wide sunroof help define the K4's premium character. The K4 is available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. Kia America – about us Headquartered in Irvine, California , Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and WNBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles sold through a network of over 775 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com . To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert . *Certain 2025 EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV/PHEV), Sorento (excludes HEV/PHEV), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. 1 North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM is a trademark of North American Car and Truck of the Year Corporation. 2 Advanced driver assistance systems are not substitutes for safe driving and may not detect all objects around the vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution. 3 Class-leading 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom: Comparison based on publicly available data regarding 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom in 2024/2025 compact sedans as of November 2024 . Compact sedan class as defined by Kia segmentation. 4 Apple® and Apple CarPlay® are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple CarPlay® runs on your smartphone cellular data service. Normal data rates will apply. 5 Vehicle user interface is a product of Google and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play store and an Android compatible smartphone running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android, Android Auto, and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC or its affiliates. 6 Comprised of a 12.3" instrument display, 5" climate display, and 12.3" touchscreen infotainment display. Distracted driving can result in the loss of vehicle control. When operating a vehicle, never use a vehicle system that takes your focus away from safe vehicle operation. 7 Kia Digital Key requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription and a compatible smart device with an active data plan. Normal cellular service rates may apply when using a smart device. 8 Harman Kardon is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-k4-sedan-named-finalist-for-2025-north-american-car-of-the-year-nactoy-302313588.html SOURCE Kia AmericaFormula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season

In Northeast China, bathhouses have long been an integral part of the local culture. These establishments not only serve as places for relaxation and rejuvenation, but they also offer a glimpse into the unique bathing traditions of the region. Recently, however, a peculiar phenomenon has been observed at these bathhouses - the lobby is once again packed to the brim with suitcases and bags of all shapes and sizes. What could be driving this sudden influx of visitors and their belongings? Let's delve deeper into the world of Northeast China's lavish bathhouses to uncover the mystery.Defense fund established by supporters of suspected CEO killer Luigi Mangione nears $200K