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Broncos four downs: Buy or sell? After cathartic win over Chiefs, just enjoy this one for now.

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

Initial thoughts from Broncos’ 24-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 at Empower Field at Mile High:Staying grounded: It was talked about ad nauseum all offseason. This was was supposed to be an offense grounded in the run game — until suddenly it wasn’t. And that’s mostly been because Sean Payton, the play-caller, hasn’t been stubborn enough to stick with it. Now that Javonte Williams appears to be at or near 100% after last season’s torn ACL, Payton has no choice. This offense is at its best when Williams carries the rock — often — with intermittent cameos from Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. It’s what he did in Denver’s first drive of the game (seven touches, 32 yards, one TD), and it’s what helped the Broncos grind away at the clock in the second half. More of that, please.Jeudy’s revenge: The last time these two teams met, receiver Jerry Jeudy submitted a three-catch, 14-yard stink bomb after Steve Smith Sr. called hi...

Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Kansas City Chiefs: Javonte Williams carries the load

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

Here are the heroes and zeros from the Denver Broncos’ 24-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.HeroesJavonte Williams: It’s been two seasons but Denver’s starting running back finally found the end zone. In the first quarter, quarterback Russell Wilson faked to his right before turning left and throwing a short pass to Williams, who powered past the goal line for a 4-yard touchdown catch. It was his first touchdown since December of 2021. Williams was a bright spot on offense for the second straight week. He rushed for 85 yards on 27 carries while catching three passes for 13 receiving yards.Ja’Quan McMillian: The Broncos cornerback was active from the start. During Kansas City’s first drive of the game, he stopped running back Isiah Pacheco for a loss of four yards. With 10:09 to go in the second, he leaped in front of tight end Travis Kelce for an interception in the middle of the field. He even forced the Chiefs to settle for a field goal, tackling running back J...

Nikola Jokic picks apart Chet Holmgren, Nuggets spoil Thunder’s home opener with clinical defense

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY — Armed with another compelling rookie whose debut was a year in the making, the Thunder had extra reason to be inspired Sunday for the 2023-24 home opener.All it took was two possessions for Chet Holmgren to receive a humbling jolt and for a booming crowd to lose its edge.Nikola Jokic easily scored twice over the 7-foot-1 Holmgren in the post to start the game, and that was enough to foreshadow the rest: a 128-95 Nuggets rout guided by Jokic’s 28 points and 14 rebounds, aided by Michael Porter Jr.’s 20-point, nine-rebound contribution and punctuated by clinical defense.“We know that we have to be a team that can travel, beat the best teams in the NBA on the road, and to do that you have to bring the defense,” coach Michael Malone said. “I felt our defense tonight was outstanding across the board. … The other thing I’m proud of is, winning a championship, the one thing you worry about is thinking we can just show up this year a...

How it Happened: Broncos beat Chiefs for the first time since Peyton Manning era

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

For the second time in 18 days, the Broncos will play the Chiefs. Can Denver pull off the upset and snap their long-running losing streak to its AFC West rivals? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.Live updatesFINAL | Broncos 24, Chiefs 9On the back of their run game and stout defense, the Broncos defeated the Chiefs, 24-9, on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.It’s the first time Denver has beat Kansas City since 2015 — the season they won Super Bowl 50. Full story coming soon.More Broncos coverageHeroes and Zeros from Broncos’ 24-9 win over Kansas City Chiefs.Broncos report card: Vance Joseph’s defense dominates as Denver puts Kansas City’s 16-game rivalry win streak on snow.Broncos four downs: Buy or sell? After cathartic win over Chiefs, just enjoy this one for now.Fourth-quarter updatesTurnaround (5:26 p.m.): The Broncos went from allowing 70 points to the Miami Dolphins to holding Pat Maho...

Firefighters battling several brush fires in high winds

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

As the first Santa Ana wind event of the season has descended upon Southern California, bringing with it incredibly high wind gusts of 60 miles per hour, with isolated gusts as high as 70 miles per hour, firefighters are battling several vegetation fires, two in the San Fernando Valley and another in L.A.’s Harbor region.  In West Hills, firefighters were battling an approximately 5-acre vegetation blaze in 20 mile per hour winds in the 8900 block of Moorcroft Avenue, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a news release. As of 3:42 p.m., authorities said no structures were threatened and that firefighters from Ventura and L.A. counties were both sending crews to assist.  Smoke seen billowing from a brush fire in West Hills on Oct. 29, 2023. (Citizen)In Wilmington, an approximately half-acre brush fire broke out at around 3:15 p.m. on the northbound 110 Freeway at Anaheim Street. Authorities said the blaze was burning at a slow rate of speed and now structures w...

Live updates | Israel intensifies Gaza strikes, hospital damaged by nearby bombs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

The Israeli military intensified airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, including near its largest hospital, and another hospital was damaged by bombardment close by. Thousands of people desperate for food and basic items broke into aid warehouses in the besieged enclave. Internet and phone connectivity were restored for many people after Israel knocked out most communications in the territory late Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday a “second stage” in the 3-week-old war and said Israel is determined to bring back 229 hostages taken by the militant group during its deadly Oct. 7 incursion. Four of the hostages have been released.The Palestinian death toll passed 8,000, most of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids, and on Sunday, a Jewish settler fatally shot a Palestinian man harvesting olives near the city of Nablus.More than 1,400 p...

San Jose Sharks’ offense continues to sputter as losing streak continues

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

The San Jose Sharks were 20 minutes away from their first victory of the season on Sunday.But unless they expect their goalies to be perfect, it’s going to be hard to earn a win by scoring just once a game.The Sharks led by one going into the third period but allowed goals by Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson in the final 18 minutes in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, extending San Jose’s season-long losing streak to nine games.On a scramble beside the Sharks’ goal, Wilson chipped a puck over goalie Mackenzie Blackwood which went off defenseman Kyle Burroughs into the net with 4:45 left in regulation time for a 2-1 Capitals lead.Evgeny Kuznetsov then added an empty net goal for the Capitals with 58 seconds left.Luke Kunin scored the Sharks’ only goal and Blackwood finished with 39 saves.The Sharks (0-8-1) have now scored just nine goals in nine games.On Washington’s tying goal at the 2:18 mark of the third period, Mike Hoffman tried to glove down a head-manning pass inside the...

Instant analysis of 49ers’ third straight loss, a 31-17 stinker vs. Bengals

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

SANTA CLARA – A swift three-game losing streak escorts the 49ers into their bye week, with plenty of issues to resolve after Sunday’s 31-17 home defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.It was their first loss at Levi’s Stadium in 12 games, dating back to Oct. 23, 2022, and they now sit second in the NFC West behind Seattle (5-2).Three turnovers by Brock Purdy played an obvious factor, especially interceptions on back-to-back throws that put a comeback in serious doubt, even with 13 minutes remaining.But the 49ers’ defense also was far too generous, from yielding 19 consecutive completions to Joe Burrow before halftime, to multiple missed tackles, to allowing a fourth and final Bengals touchdown with 2:54 remaining.These 49ers (5-3) aren’t the same high-scoring machine that shredded the Dallas Cowboys 42-10 in their previous appearance in Santa Clara. This marked their third straight game scoring 17 points, and, as noted, it’s their third straight loss.After falling at Cleveland (19-1...

49ers’ Studs and Duds: Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is giving the Niners no chance to win

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

SANTA CLARA — We weren’t hallucinating: The 49ers really did start this season 5-0.They really did look unbeatable in the process.My, how things have changed in a few short weeksThe Niners will head into their bye week and the second half of the schedule carrying a three-game losing streak and nothing but bad vibes, sitting second in the NFC West.Here are the studs and duds from the Niners’ 31-17 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. (You can probably skip the first part.)STUDSRelated ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers RB McCaffrey scores touchdown in NFL record-tying 17th straight game San Francisco 49ers | 49ers-Bengals pregame: Who will block Brock Purdy’s blind side? San Francisco 49ers | Bengals coach Zac Taylor built his team with 49ers in mind San Francisco 49ers | By the numbers: Breaking down the touchdown streak of 49ers star Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ Brock Purdy cleared...

No. 9 Tennessee holds on to beat No. 4 Michigan St 89-88 in charity game for Maui Strong Fund

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:14 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Dalton Knecht had 28 points and Jordan Gainey scored his 20th and final point on a free throw with 1.9 seconds left, helping No. 9 Tennessee hold on to beat No. 4 Michigan State 89-88 on Sunday in an exhibition game to raise funds and awareness for the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund.“It was the right thing to do,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. “And, it was the right opportunity that the NCAA allowed us to do something like that.”A.J. Hoggard made a game-tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds left to pull the Spartans into a tie, helping them rally from double-digit deficits in each half. Gainey drew a foul on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws for the win.Top-ranked Kansas traveled to play No. 25 Illinois, where coach Bill Self returned for the first time since leaving to lead the Jayhawks, later in the day in another charity game benefiting the same organization that is assisting in relief efforts for the deadliest U.S. wildfire...