Each day that passes is another day closer to the day the Toronto Maple Leafs are eventually eliminated from playoff contention, and they get to sit in it while one of their biggest rivals owns their first round pick. The term 'must-win' has been used for about four games in a row now, and each time, the Leafs have found a way to blow it.
On Monday, NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell, sitting alongside hall of famers Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced a long-anticipated overhaul of the manner in which stock car racing's top series will determine its champion. There will still be a 26-race "regular season," and after that final event, the 16 top drivers in the points standings will still be separated from the rest to begin a ten-race postseason that will crown a champion.
It goes without saying that the 2025 season has been a disappointment for the Detroit Lions after being eliminated from playoff contention following a Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Following back-to-back NFC North division titles, and a franchise-best 15-win season in 2024, head coach Dan Campbell likened Detroit's current situation to hitting "rock bottom" after being viewed as early Super Bowl contenders to becoming a non-playoff team.
My focus has been for the last 18 years here and the last 41 years in coaching is to try to do the best job I can today and fight as hard as I can so the guys have the best chance to be successful today. And anything after today, I'm not thinking about because it's not given for us to think about.
Sitting out last year and the times before, you don't take getting to play this game for granted. You play every game to win. You play every game with a chance to go to the playoffs or play in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that's not always the case, and if it's not the case when we take the field or whenever it may be, I'm thankful for the opportunity to play this game. And I'm not going to ever pass it up.
I'm not sitting here saying don't laugh, you can't talk to a friend after a game or anything like that, but I do think there are some optics of, when you're cracking up, belly-laughing on the field after you just lost a huge game in that way to be eliminated from the playoffs, that's a look that doesn't go over well, whether it's with certain other players in the locker room, whether it's with ownership, whether it's with the fanbase.
Uncertainty regarding the quarterback class of 2026 will no doubt remain a talking point over the coming months. Fernando Mendoza strengthened his case to be QB1 in April's draft, although it remains to be seen if other top signal-callers like Dante Moore and will turn pro or elect to remain in school for one more season. Decisions on those fronts will be central storylines carrying significant implications for the teams near the top of the order which find themselves in need of a quarterback investment.
The narrative surrounding the New England Patriots' 2025 season will continue into their Week 13 matchup on Monday Night Football, as they welcome the 2-10 New York Giants to Gillette Stadium for what most believe will be a dominant showing by the home team in a very winnable game. That was also the expectation going against the Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson-less Bengals team this past weekend, only for the Patriots to sneak out with a win by just a field goal
It started with a bloop double from Cody Bellinger that hit off Ceddanne Rafaela's glove and fell to the ground. It wasn't as egregious as Jarren Duran's misplay the night prior, but it was also a catchable ball if he had taken a more strategic route. Unlike Giancarlo Stanton earlier in the game, Bellinger was running from the start and managed to hustle to second.
The bases were loaded in the fifth when Pete Alonso strode to the plate as the tying run. The man who saved the season last year was once again facing the possibility that this would be his last game in a Mets uniform, and there was a sort of steeliness to his gait - a lumbering presence that made it feel as if this deeply unmagical season might have some spark yet.
