Hockey is the ultimate team sport, and just because a team has the greatest player in the world doesn’t guarantee it will win a championship. Of course, if a team has two of the top players in the world, it can come awfully close, as the Edmonton Oilers showed last season in getting to one win short of a Stanley …

The Chargers defense kept rookie Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) on the run. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press) The Chargers ended a two-game losing streak and vanquished their Mile High demons with a 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos. It was the Chargers’ first win in Denver since 2018, the year Derwin James Jr. was drafted in the first round. …

Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia looks ahead to Michigan football’s road contest against Illinois in a top-25 matchup on Saturday in Champaign, Illinois, on the heels of its first bye week of the season. Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards scores a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Husky Stadium on Oct. 5, 2024 in …

Rams coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford need to produce more points to support a young, growing defense. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) During his first 15 NFL seasons, Matthew Stafford’s teams experienced scheduled off weeks at various junctures. Three times they arrived as early as Week 5; once as late as Week 10. With the Rams 1-4 …

Though it didn’t nearly match the chaos of the previous week, Week 7 of the 2024 college football season gave fans across the country some memorable games. Oregon knocked off Ohio State 32-31 at home in a thrilling matchup of top-three teams and newly minted Big Ten counterparts. Top-ranked Texas rolled past Oklahoma 34-3 in an unusually lopsided result by …

Steelers fans took over the Raiders’ home stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, with so many of them in attendance that it often sounded like a Steelers home game. Mike Tomlin appreciated that. In his comments immediately after the Steelers beat the Raiders, Tomlin opened by talking about how much it meant to the team to hear and see the …

As a college football fan, the initial inclination is to recoil at the very idea of our beloved sport getting into bed with a private equity firm and selling its soul for a massive influx of new cash to help fund the expensive impending revenue sharing with athletes. The No. 1 objection you always hear is this: “If a private …

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh shared some more information about the health issue that sent him to the locker room during the first half of Sunday’s win over the Broncos. Harbaugh told the CBS broadcast team that he experienced a heart arrhythmia, but felt well enough to return to the sideline. “It’s called atrial flutter,” Harbaugh said after the game, …

The Texas Tech football team returns to action on Saturday by hosting Baylor (3 p.m., ESPN2) and tickets are still available as the Red Raiders try to become bowl-eligible much earlier than normal. Texas Tech is 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play. The next victory ensures the Red Raiders a spot in the postseason. Want to …

There hasn’t been much to write home about in Sunday’s matchup between the Bengals and Giants, but aside from one play, New York’s defense has contained Cincinnati’s high-powered offense. The Bengals have a 7-0 lead at halftime. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow ran for a 47-yard touchdown on the team’s opening drive, converting a third-and-18 on the play. But after that, …

Alabama football had Tennessee’s number during the Nick Saban era. The Crimson Tide lost once to the Volunteers in the Saban era, falling to Tennessee in Knoxville 52-49 during the 2022 season, amounting to 16 wins in 17 seasons. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer’s history with the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Here …

It took until midway through the third quarter, but the Giants have put points on the board and tied Sunday night’s matchup with the Bengals. Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy powered his way into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, making the score 7-7. It was the first touchdown of Tracy’s career. The Giants needed 16 plays to go …

Week 7 of the high school football season saw some strong performances by area teams and players. Who had the best performance? Vote for the top athlete of the week. Voting will be open all week online. LAST WEEK’S WINNER: Caden VanHuis, Holland Christian. More: High school football 2024 coverage – everything you need Here is a little more about …

Romeo Doubs missed last week’s game while serving a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. On Sunday, the Packers receiver caught three passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. “I was able to get back to my regular self, you know?” Doubs said after the Packers’ 34-13 win, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “Despite what was going on, …

The nationally ranked Illinois Fighting Illini continue Big Ten Conference college football season at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 against the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Coach Bret Bielema and the No. 21 Illini are coming off a 50-49 overtime victory against Purdue. Illinois, picked to finish 15th in the Big Ten by the …