Enzo Maresca made the ideal halftime substitution that helped Manchester City beat Manchester UnitedManchester City entered halftime of yesterdays Manchester derby level nil-all with Manchester United. City were reduced to ten men when Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Despite the game state that confronted his team, Enzo Maresca believed that City could leave Old Trafford with all three points. He made a bold halftime substitution when he replaced Rayan Cherki with Iliman Ndiaye to begin the second half. Marescas substitution worked to perfection as Iliman Ndiaye played a key role in Manchester Citys famous 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.Enzo Marescas halftime substitution was a crucial factor in a famous Manchester win.With Manchester City down to ten men for the entirety of the second half, these conditions didnt suit the strengths of Rayan Cherki. Cherki is a magician in possession, however his work out of possession wasnt suited to what confronted Enzo Marescas side after halftime. Maresca decided to take off Cherki and bring on Iliman Ndiaye. It was a move that paid off handsomely for Manchester City as Ndiaye played a vital role in Citys triumph in yesterdays Manchester derby.Iliman Ndiaye immediately made an impact for City once he came o at halftime. He was a willing runner off the ball. Ndiaye tracked back defensively superbly well. As the statistics below show, the Senegalese international won back possession 9 times in the second half yesterday. In possession, Ndiaye was an outlet for his team. The ability of the Senegalese international to draw fouls gave the Manchester City players the opportunity to rest when required. Iliman Ndiaye was also an attacking threat. His combination play with Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland always kept Manchester United on their toes.Fittingly, Iliman Ndiaye played a key role in Erling Haalands match-winning goal. It was Ndiaye who won back possession from Manchester United in a dangerous position in the final third for Manchester City. He played the ball to Antoine Semenyo, who picked out Josko Gvardiol to supply the cross for Haaland to poke home at the back post. Ndiayes work rate created the goal and it was a reward that his industry and second half performance richly deserved.As Enzo Maresca explained after his teams derby win, he never stopped believing that City could win and the introduction of Ndiaye was crucial.Fortune favours the brave. Enzo Marescas decision to bring on Iliman Ndiaye was a bold move and one that ultimately paid full dividends. The Manchester City manager deserves full credit for his halftime substitution. He also deserves credit for maintaining belief that his team could beat Manchester United despite the fact that they were down to ten men.Speaking after the match, Enzo Maresca explained why he made the move to take off Rayan Cherki and bring on Iliman Ndiaye. He said that his team needed a different type of attacking threat then what Cherki offers. Also, Ndiayes ability to track back and win fouls was vital at Old Trafford. Maresca explained: Rayan Cherki is a top player, but [in the second-half with 10 men] we needed something different. We needed a player that can win fouls, counter-attack, and the idea with Ili [Ndiaye] on one side, Antoine [Semenyo] on the other, and Erling [Haaland], when we have chance to attack, we need to attack! We cannot just defend!Enzo Maresca made the ideal substitution at halftime of yesterdays Manchester derby. His decision to bring on Iliman Ndiaye for Rayan Cherki proved to be a masterstroke. Ndiaye had a profound impact on the second 45 minutes of Citys win over Manchester United. Ndiaye had his moment with the travelling City support after the final whistle. It was a fitting reward for his second half display as he fully vindicated Enzo Marescas bold halftime move.

Jaxson Dart | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe New York Giants pulled off the 28-20 upset of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Dallas has had the Giants number for years, but the John Harbaugh era starts off fantastically for New York, who out-gained 394yardsto 244 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday Night Football. The Giants played heavy old-school football, and Jaxson Dart was efficient passing the football.The Giants were 9 of 11 on third-down conversions and averaged 4.5 yards per carry; they ran the football well, and Jaxson Dart rose to the occasion multiple times to ensure the Giants earned the win. Here are the grades from the Giants Week 1 victory!QuarterbackJaxson Dart was DIALED in throughout the Week 1 matchup against Dallas. His two-minute drill was near flawless, as he led the Giants 55 yards downfield on six plays and found Malik Nabers for 13 yards on a third-and-nine. He then completed a pair of consecutive passes before finding Isaiah Likely for 15 yards and a touchdown, which gave the Giants a touchdown lead heading into halftime.Dart finished 23/29 for 230 yards with three passing touchdowns and 11 carries for 54 yards on the ground. Not only was he efficient, but he found solutions and worked through his progressions well. It was a very impressive performance by the second-year play caller.Grade: A+Running BackCam Skattebo was the lead back for the Giants, but Matt Nagy and Greg Roman did opt to go with a committee. We saw Devin Singletary early and Tyrone Tracy Jr., who fumbled the football on his second touch. Nevertheless, it was Skattebo who scored the Giants first touchdown of the season. Skattebo finished with 18 carries for 81 yards with one touchdown.Devin Singletary became a big part of the fourth-quarter offense with Skattebo taking a breather. Singletary touched the football on four consecutive plays, including his nine yard touchdown reception midway through the fourth quarter. Singletary finished with six carries for 16 yards with four catches for 22 yards.Grade: BWide ReceiverIt was excellent to see Malik Nabers healthy and dressed for the Giants. A couple plays were designed for him early. Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards on nine targets. Darnell Mooney had two catches for 27 yards and Malachi Fields had a pair of grabs for 25 yards. Those were the only three wide receivers to catch the ball, but the Giants receivers were blocking their backside off all game, which was a major plus for the overall offense.Grade: BTight EndIsaiah Likely is a difference-making tight end. He converted two third downs in the first half for the Giants. He took advantage of the blown coverage in the red zone for his first Giants touchdown. Likely was clutch for the Giants, finishing with weight catches for 78 yards with two touchdowns. He flashed strong hands and was reliable for the Giants, which helped earn John Harbaugh his first victory as the Giants head coach. Theo Johnson also finished with one catch for nine yards, and Chris Manhertz did Chris Manhertz type things throwing impactful blocks for the Giants offenseGrade: A+Offensive LineThe entire off-season was full of conversation of the physical nature that John Harbaugh is attempting to instill in the Giants, and that was demonstrated along with impressive play-calling/design by the Giants offensive line early against Dallas. New York took their opening possession and drove 80+ yards for a score, while running the football on eight of ten plays, including a 22 yard Jaxson Dart read-run to the outside.Francis Mauigoa proved to be an excellent addition to the Giants offensive line a line that dominated up front and rushed for 165 yards (4.5 YPC). The identity of John Harbaugh was felt, and the offensive line held up their end of the deal to ensure that the Giants could operate as they desired against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.Grade: ADefensive LineWe did not see DJ Reader or Shelby Harris in the preseason, but the Giants run defense was DIALED in early. Dallas averaged just 3.2-yards per carry, including Dak Prescotts scrambles, through their first three offensive drives; Javonte Williams had just eight carries for 20 yards through those first three drives. The Giants held Williams in check through the end of the first-half, and he finished with just 12 carries for 41 yards on the ground. Overall, the defensive line did enough against the run, although they werent overly impactful as pass rushers.Grade: B-EDGEThe Giants were getting early pressure on Dak Prescott, but the veteran evaded the pocket and picked up valuable yardage with his legs. Abdul Carters movement ability just JUMPS out at you when you watch him. Still, New York couldnt get home against Dak Prescott, and the Cowboys offensive line was able to keep New York away for much of the game. I will state, though, that Kayvon Thibodeauxs pressure against Prescott resulted in the Holland interceptions, which was vital to the victory.Grade: C+LinebackerTremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese are difference makers at linebacker. Edmunds play on the goal line against Dallas late in the third quarter showcased his ability to cover outside the numbers. Reese didnt POP in the game, but he had several plays where he executed his assignment well. I am excited to dive into his tape to give a more comprehensive view of his performance.Reese was fooled on the Javonte Williams receiving touchdown, which resulted in Brandon Aubrey missing the extra point. Watching the duo fly around was a welcome sight.Grade: BCornerbackThe Giants cornerbacks were tested that was not a surprise but on Dallas first scoring drive, Dru Phillips and Greg Newsome II both committed third down penalties that resulted in 57 yards for Dallas. The Giants cornerbacks MUST be more disciplined and locate the football when it is airborne. Also, Tae Banks had two missed tackles on the edge in the first half; he must become more reliable as a tackler. Banks lost his one-on-one in the end zone with CeeDee Lamb for Dallas first touchdown.Overall, though, the Giants cornerbacks held Lamb and George Pickens in check throughout the game. Both players were sloppy, and dropped passes. New York was undisciplined in coverage, which led to several defensive pass interference calls; but, to be fair, some were wildly ticky-tacky. Dru Phillips fell victim to three such calls.Both Banks and Newsome were injured in the fourth quarter, forcing Paulson Adebo and Colton Hood into the game. Both made plays against Pickens and Lamb, but the late personal foul penalty by Holland against Flournoy (going against Hood) gave the Cowboys extra life with the passing touchdown to Javonte Williams.Statistically, the Giants held up very well against arguably the best wide receiver duo in football, but DPI penalties dont show up in player stats. It could have been worse, but it wasnt excellent either for the Giants DBs.Grade: CSafetyJevon Holland made his presence known with less than a minute left in the first half. Kayvon Thibodeaux flushed Prescott out of the pocket, and the veteran quarterback heaved the ball in the air, where Holland closed distance to come away with the pick from a middle-of-the-field closed position. It was great recognition and awareness from Holland. I will have more takeaways once I review the film.Grade: B+Special TeamsThe Giants had one punt that went 46 yards, and Dominic Zvada made all of his extra points. The coverage teams were fine, and specials were not an issue against the Dallas Cowboys.Grade: B

Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesGiants news: Jaxson Dart leaves Malik Nabers smiling with gesture after Cowboys win appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers appear to be forming a strong bond as co-stars, delivering impressive performances in the New York Giants 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.Dart and Nabers have both started their sophomore campaigns in the NFL with the Giants. Both created shining moments as freshmen throughout the 2025 season, but injuries significantly limited their time on the field. Dart dealt with concussion protocol multiple times, while Nabers tore his ACL early into the season.Both players are fully healthy, having recovered as they look to play big roles in the Giants offense under head coach John Harbaugh. Safe to say they played well together against Dallas, celebrating the win once the game clock went down to zero. Dart went as far as to give the game ball to Nabers, getting a positive reaction from his receiver.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Great moment: Jaxson Dart gave the ball to Malik Nabers after taking the final kneel-down and Nabers smile said it all. This was Nabers first game in 350 days, returning from a torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/1HVWaA4k0Qhttps://t.co/9XK0FvQyFn Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2026How Jaxson Dart, Giants played against CowboysJaxson Dart and Malik Nabers anticipate a great partnership, giving the Giants a bright future after beating the Cowboys at home.New York didnt let up on offense, scoring a touchdown in all four quarters. Dallas mistakes, especially on the defensive side of the ball, paved the way for the hosts to coast to victory to the entertainment of their home crowd.Dart enjoyed an incredible performance in the season opener. He completed 23 out of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while racking up 11 rushes for 54 yards.Cam Skattebo had a strong night in the rushing attack. He recorded 18 rushes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Likely led the receiving corps with eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards. Meanwhile, Devin Singletary made four receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown.The Giants will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 as kickoff commences on Sept. 21 at 8:15 p.m. ET.Related: Giants Cam Skattebo highlights mentality with ruthless message after Cowboys winRelated: Giants Malik Nabers opens up on decision to give it a go for Cowboys clash

Oct 31, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer watches during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Intuit Dome. The Clippers spent the last two weeks fighting the biggest punishment in league history, and late Sunday night, Steve Ballmer ended the fight.In his first public comments since the NBA announced its penalties, the Clippers owner posted a statement saying the team will comply with everything handed down, a list that includes a one-year suspension for Ballmer himself, a $30 million fine that has already been paid, and the loss of five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033.A First Message to the FansThis was the message fans had been waiting for.Since the penalties came down, the organization had only pushed back, calling the process a heavily biased investigation while Ballmer's lawyer described it as a witch hunt.Sunday's statement went the other way, and it started with the people who fill the Intuit Dome."I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner," Ballmer wrote, adding that the whole mess left him with sincere regrets.The best part of the statement might have been its shortest line, where Ballmer wrote that team owners should support, not distract.After weeks of legal letters and denials, hearing the man at the top own it in his own words is what this fanbase needed, even if it came later than most would have liked.Echoes of the 2000 TimberwolvesThere is a road map for what happens next, and it runs through Minnesota.In 2000, the Timberwolves were caught in a secret deal with Joe Smith, and David Stern hit them with a $3.5 million fine while stripping five straight first-round picks from 2001 through 2005.Minnesota still won 47 games the following season, and once the franchise fell in line, the league softened and gave back the 2003 and 2005 picks.That history should give Los Angeles some hope, because Ballmer's choice to stop fighting and accept the punishment is the same posture that helped Minnesota recover two of its picks.What Comes Next in InglewoodThe team Ballmer steps away from went 42-40 last season, finished ninth in the West, and lost its play-in game to Golden State, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022 despite a furious second-half climb.Kawhi Leonard carried the roster through a rough year, averaging a career-high 27.9 points with 6.4 rebounds across 65 games, while midseason addition Darius Garland gave the offense life with 19.9 points and 6.4 assists per game in his 19 appearances with Los Angeles.The picks are gone and the suspension starts now, so the road back will be a long one no matter how this statement lands.Sunday night still showed an owner choosing his fans over his lawyers, though, and given how ugly the last two weeks got, most Clipper fans will take it.

Motorsport photoIt is almost exactly 10 years since Formula 1 first took to the streets of Baku in June 2016. Everyone was curious to see what Azerbaijan's GrandPrix debut would bring, and plenty had predicted a chaotic race littered with crashes on the street circuit. In the end, things turned out rather differently, and the European Grand Prix sent plenty of Formula 1 fans to sleep - and that was in the early afternoon.I still vividly remember that, in the Baku media centre - unconventionally housed not in the paddock itself but in the Hilton next door - quite a few of my fellow journalists weren't even watching Formula 1. They were watching Le Mans. At the most iconic of all 24-hour races, the leading Toyota broke down in the final minute, handing Porsche an utterly unexpected victory. Drama of historic proportions.Many have probably long since forgotten who won that inaugural race in Baku. It was Nico Rosberg - who would go on to become F1 world champion a few months later. And the man who, during yesterday afternoon's English-language Sky broadcast, said: "Carlos Sainz was the ambassador. So we need to criticise Carlos Sainz."Rosberg's criticism was aimed at the Madring, which on Sunday staged a grand prix debut every bit as soporific as Baku's. With one crucial difference: F1's first race in Azerbaijan may not have been particularly exciting from a sporting perspective. But at least it looked spectacular on television, with the iconic section through the old town and the dramatic backdrop of a city skyline whose wealth seems to carry the scent of oil and gas.The TV broadcast from Madrid occasionally treated us to drone or helicopter shots of what is unquestionably one of Europe's most beautiful cities. But whenever the circuit itself came into focus, it had all the charm of a "concrete channel", as Alexander Wurz observed in his role as pundit for Austrian broadcaster ORF.The chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers Association offered some gentle criticism of the Madring project when he said, among other things: "Am I in Australia now, am I in Valencia, am I here in Madrid, where am I? Or in Jeddah? These street circuits always look the same. That means I'm not representing my host city in such a cool way. There's quite a lot you could do here."Carlos Sainz, WilliamsCarlos Sainz, WilliamsThe big difference is that while F1 circuits in places such as Baku or Singapore were built right through the heart of the city, the Madring sits on Madrid's exhibition grounds. Probably because, in a European democracy, routing a Grand Prix through the middle of a historic city centre is a little more complicated and bureaucratic than it might be in an Asian autocracy.It doesn't help that the race itself hardly had anyone on the edge of their seat. The Madring combines the abrasive anti-charm of its Valencia predecessor with a layout that makes overtaking virtually impossible. Monaco for the poor, one might sneer.Hardly anyone, incidentally, had the courage to say so openly. It is remarkable how disciplined F1 team principals have become when it comes to avoiding bad-mouthing a new product. Before Liberty Media turned the series into a stock-market proposition, things might have been rather different.Still, blaming Sainz for all of this, as Rosberg did because of his role as an official ambassador, is unfair. Other people are responsible for the circuit design. And nor can Sainz do much about the fact that his home city's exhibition grounds possess, well, all the appeal of an exhibition centre.What he can be blamed for, however, is his PlayStation-like move at the start. Sainz got away brilliantly, picking off three rivals on the run towards Turn 1. Once there, he tried to dispatch the next two in the finest tradition of the enthusiastic amateur gamer - only to slide, right-front locked, into Yuki Tsunoda's VCARB instead. The gamers among us would probably have quit after a start like that and simply tried again. Tough luck when reality doesnt offer the same play.Sainz later talked down that lunge as a "small contact with Tsunoda that damaged my floor" will raise a smile from anyone who takes another look at his onboard footage.Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsFernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsHe did eventually receive a five second penalty later in the race, albeit for a different incident involving fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso. Alonso raged over the radio: "Yeah, he squeezed me into the wall, man. The start, he crashed into two people. Now squeezed me to the wall on breaking." And all Sainz could come up with in response to the borderline incident was: "I think he complained on the radio so he managed to get me a penalty like always."Ultimately, neither Spaniard played any meaningful role in their home grand prix. Sainz eventually retired because he saw little point in continuing to toil away with so little downforce. "Hopefully this is the last year here in Madrid that I'm fighting for P16 and from next year onwards, I can fight for something more," he said.That optimism is probably not shared by many. Sainz has just extended his Williams contract, and however hard he tries to sell that decision under the banner of believing in the project's long-term potential, the truth is this: had he received an offer from Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull, he would of course have taken it without batting an eyelid.Viewed with a touch of cynicism, Sainz's faith in Williams rests primarily on the fact that he didn't have any better options anyway. It's just not the sort of thing he could have inserted as his quote in the Williams press release announcing his contract extension.At 32, and with spells at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and most recently Ferrari behind him, the golden years of his Formula 1 career are probably already in the rear-view mirror. In an era in which young guns such as Kimi Antonelli are coming through, it is difficult to imagine a team principal with a winning car one day deciding to bring Sainz back in from the wilderness and give him another shot at becoming world champion.Written down like that, it sounds brutally harsh. But it does not necessarily mean that the Spaniard's career should be considered a failure.Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration Sainz has been racing in F1 since 2015, has won four grands prix and earned millions driving for legendary teams such as McLaren and Ferrari. In his first season at Toro Rosso, he was a match for a certain Max Verstappen, and over the years he built a reputation not merely for having a quick right foot, but also for possessing the intelligence and foresight of a successful businessman.But when it comes to winning a Formula 1 world championship, the sober assessment is that it probably isn't going to happen. Not because he occasionally has a Sunday blackout like the one in Madrid yesterday, but because the biggest teams no longer want him, and because this writer simply lacks the imagination to see how Williams is going to turn into a championship proposition over the next few years.In hindsight, perhaps joining Audi rather than Williams would have been the smarter move, given how desperately then-Sauber team principal Andreas Seidl wanted him. Audi may not be much further ahead as things stand in 2026. But the odds of making a breakthrough with a works team are probably a fraction better than they are with Williams.Sainz and his father, having somehow overlooked Lewis Hamilton in their calculations during the driver-market poker game, secretly hoped that a door might yet open at Red Bull or even Mercedes. But even back then, Toto Wolff preferred to take a chance on the relatively unknown quantity that was Antonelli rather than the experienced Sainz. And Verstappen ultimately stayed exactly where he was.In the end, it wasn't Audi but Williams - and quite possibly the beginning of the final chapter of Sainz's F1 career. He may well spend another few years scrapping around in the midfield. It seems rather less likely that there is much more than that still to come.Perhaps he would be well advised to put his talent to use somewhere it can be showcased to better effect. At an endurance classic such as Le Mans, for example, or in the "Green Hell" at the Nurburgring. There, at some point in the future, Sainz might even find himself competing against Verstappen and Antonelli again. At the very highest level - the kind befitting a driver of his calibre.Read Also:Who slept best last night: Lando NorrisCarlos Sainz accuses Fernando Alonso of provoking a penalty "like always"To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart celebrate on Sunday night. | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The New York Giants (1-0) won by eight points on Sunday night, beating the Dallas Cowboys, 28-20. In reality, though, the Giants put a beating on the Cowboys, dominating them physically. The crowd was electric. The Giants played the way head coach John Harbaugh envisioned. They took advantage of the good vibes and the preparation that came out of the summer. They mostly did what they wanted to do on offense. Defensively, they controlled one of the NFLs best offenses. How big was the victory for Harbaugh?Its funny, its number one. Its number one because its the one right now. My dad always says that. Hell say this in the car on the way home, hell say, John, youve never had a better win than that, Harbaugh said. He says it every time and Im going to tell you, I think this time it might be true. But this was really special because these guys, these players, these guys whove had belief from the beginning, who dont bat an eye, who just try to do the right thing every single day. Who try to be on point, and even when theyre not on point, theyre willing to bounce back and make it right. Maybe theres a mistake, maybe theres a false start, but we come back the next play and we find a way to make a play and erase the mistake and make it right and make it better. Buying into that kind of a mindset just in practice and then seeing it happen in the game, thats what as a coach you feel so good about.Lets get to the Kudos and Willies. Kudos to Giants fans I cannot remember the last time the atmosphere in MetLife Stadium was as raucous as it was on Sunday night. There were loud boos when the Cowboys came on the field before the game, ovations for Malik Nabers and Odell Beckham, some Lets go Giants chants, and a constant buzz.This was an awesome environment for the home team. It hinted at the possibilities of what things can be like if the Giants are actually good. It was more than I expected in all honesty, Harbaugh said. It was incredible. The stadium was unbelievable. It was everything that you would think, but it was more than I thought. It was really something. I want us to play well enough that we can create that atmosphere every single week here going forward throughout the season. Thats up to us. Thats our job as coaches and players to create a football team good enough to deserve that type of a stadium every time we play.John Harbaugh The Giants paid off Harbaughs strenuous training canp with an impressive victory. There were good vibes entering the game, wildly enthusiastic fans in the stands, and the Giants cashed in with a massive victory.A number of players credited the Giants tough training camp with how ready they were to play on Sunday night. Co-owner John Mara gave a game ball to Harbaugh after the victory.#Giants owner John Mara gave HC John Harbaugh a game ball after his first win with the organization.I was overconfident. I really was. And I was right! https://t.co/9XK0FvQyFnpic.twitter.com/OkX2rbqrrm Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 14, 2026Harbaugh celebrated by giving his parents a game ball.The Harbaughs celebrate the victory!John Harbaugh gave his father a game ball from Western Kentucky's 2002 championship pic.twitter.com/yjOnbPdjsO SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) September 14, 2026Isaiah Likely Likely caught eight passes in eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers are impressive. His contribution was even more impressive. All summer, we saw Dart lean on Likely in gotta have it situations. That carried through on Sunday night.Leading 28-20 and trying to close out the victory, Dart found Likely for first downs on third-and-9 and third-and-3 to allow the Giants an opportunity to run the clock out. Likely ended up catching four passes for first downs. In the red zone, Likely was the first option, catching two short TD passes.Malik Nabers God told Nabers to play against the Cowboys. He did. And, he played exceptionally well. Nabers ended up with six catches on nine targets for 69 yardsNo matter what the coverage is, no matter who they put on him, you have all the confidence in the world that hes going to make a play, quarterback Jaxson Dart said of Nabers.How did Nabers know he would be able to take a hit on Sunday night after not playing since tearing his ACL in Week 4 of last season? Harbaugh apparently tried to tackle him, thats how.Giants WR Malik Nabers tells me John Harbaugh tackled him during walk through Everybody was worried if I could tackle. Actually Coach Harbaugh tackled meMe: He tackled you himself?Yeah, he wanted to see if I could take a tackle.Me: Did you go down?Nah I pic.twitter.com/acHfshAc6e Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) September 14, 2026Recovering their own fumbles The Giants fumbled four times, and that could have dramatically changed the outcome of the game. Fortunately for them, the only one they lost was a Tyrone Tracy fumble in the red zone. They managed to get on top of the other three fumbles.Devin Singletary In training camp, Harbaugh said Singletary was one of the most consistent players he had been around. Singletary doesnt do anything spectacular, he simply contributes. He had just six carries for 16 yards on Sunday, but added four catches for 22 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown catch to put the Giants up by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter.Jaxson Dart The second-year quarterback was outstanding against the Cowboys. He completed 23 of 29 passes (79.3%), for 230 yards, and three touchdowns. He ran 11 times for 54 yards. He got down or out of bounds when he needed to. He made big throws when the Giants needed them. He played the way a franchise quarterback is supposed to play.Cam Skattebo The Giants human battering ram of a running back helped the Giants grind down the Cowboys by running 18 times for 81 yards, 4.5 yards per carry. The Giants ran for 165 yards total on 37 attempts, 4.5 per rush.Matt Nagy (and the offensive staff) Maybe the way the Giants offense performed on Sunday, always seeming to be a step ahead of the Dallas defense, will quiet those who arent sure about Nagys ability to coordinate the Giants offense.The Skattebo touchdown run was a beautifully-designed play where Skattebo had no Dallas defenders within 10 yards of him. One of the two Likely touchdowns was a gorgeous play where Likely seemed to appear out of thin air with everyone else going away from him. Giants wide receivers were running wide open all night. The Giants ran the ball when they wanted to, and how they wanted to. They passed the ball efficiently, and Dart had to make few tight-window throws.The Giants finished with 394 total yards, 150 more than the supposedly offensive superior Cowboys. They dominated Dallas physically, holding the ball for 36:40 compared to 23:20 for the Cowboys.Third-down offense Whether it was throwing the ball to Likely, running the tush push, Dart running the ball, Skattebo hammering into the line, it didnt matter. The Giants went an audacious nine of 11 on third-down conversions.Run defense The offense wasnt the only group dominating the Cowboys physically. The Giants allowed just 69 rushing yards on 18 carries, 3.8 yards per attempt. Who needs that Dexter guy?Jevon Holland Holland had a sliding interception that set up a Giants touchdown in the second quarter.Wet Willies to Tyrone Tracy After fumbling away a scoring opportunity in the red zone on just his second carry of the game in the second quarter, Tracy did not play again on offense. He was on the kickoff return team after Deonte Banks suffered cramping, but thats it.Veteran running back Najee Harris was inactive Sunday. I have to think Tracy and Harris will be changing places for the foreseeable future.Dru Phillips Phillips was called for three defensive pass interference penalties. Even though I believe a couple were questionable, they were called. You just cant commit that many DPIs, especiallu when they are spot fouls.Paulson Adebo Adebos first snap came on third-and-12 at the Giants 17-yard line after Deonte Banks had hobbled off the field. Adebo gave up an easy 15-yard completion to the 2-yard line. He also gave up a 10-yard completion to Jonathan Mingo that didnt seem competitive.Jon Runyan Jr. As much as fans complain about center John Michael Schmitz, and even though he just got a two-year, $22 million contract extension, Runyan might be the weak link on the offensive line. His 37.6 score in the preliminary Pro Football Focus grades was the worst on the offense. He gave up three pressures in 34 pass-blocking snaps.

[Getty Images]An athlete's Hyrox performance has sparked debate after completing a race in Beijing despite soiling herself midway through the event.Footage of the woman competing in the indoor fitness competition despite her soiled legs has gone viral, with some people raising concerns around hygiene and others saluting her resolve to push through. Some also criticised race organisers for letting her to continue.Hyrox said they launched a "major cleanup operation" after the event on Saturday, including by sanitising equipment and replacing sections of the carpet.The German fitness company acknowledged the "legitimate concerns" but urged people not to direct their frustration at the athlete herself.The company did not reveal the woman's identity, but it was revealed online and she subsequently received threats of violence."There is no place in our community for threats of violence or encouragement to harm an athlete," Hyrox said in a statement early on Monday."Any person identified as engaging in this behaviour whether through comments, direct messages or social media will be permanently banned from all Hyrox events," it said.Some participants in the same event had demanded an apology and a refund, arguing that they were forced to come into contact with contaminated equipment, Chinese media reported.In each Hyrox race, participants alternate between running a kilometre and doing fitness exercises, such as the sled push, burpee jumps, indoor rowing, and lunges while carrying a sandbag.The competition has exploded in popularity since it was founded in 2017 in Hamburg, Germany, and is now held across the world.Some have questioned why those officiating the competition in Beijing did not intervene when the athlete soiled herself, given that Hyrox penalises acts including spitting and littering."From a basic health and sanitation standpoint, the athlete should have been stopped immediately, and any contaminated areas should have been closed off and properly cleaned before other athletes were allowed through," Erica Dodge, a US-based nurse, wrote in a comment on Instagram.Joe Ho, who also took part in the Hyrox Beijing competition over the weekend, has criticised Hyrox's response to the issue and called on the organisation to "take responsibility when its own procedures fail"."If the organisation accepts that something went wrong, why not offer affected participants refunds, credits, or some meaningful form of compensation?" he wrote.Others in the fitness community have pointed out that this is not unheard of for endurance athletes.One comment on Facebook, whose author noted that marathoners have similar experiences, while another wrote: "They've trained too long and too hard to give up just like that."In 2005, British marathoner Paula Radcliffe famously stopped at the 22-mile mark during the London Marathon to relieve herself by the side of the road in full view of cameras and then went on to win the race.Earlier this year, Chinese marathoner Li Meizhen made headlines after crossing the finish line at the Hengshui Lake Marathon with menstrual blood on her legs.

Alexander Zverev has finally landed his first US Open title, six years after losing in the 2020 final [Getty Images]Alexander Zverev used his greater experience to beat home hope Ben Shelton in the US Open final and quiet a partisan crowd hoping to laud a rare American men's champion.German top seed Zverev lifted a heavy burden by winning his first major title at this year's French Open and has quickly added another with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory over Shelton in New York.At the start of the season, there were question marks over whether 29-year-old Zverev would ever win one of the sport's most prestigious prizes.Now he is celebrating becoming a multiple Grand Slam singles champion, having seen the path to glory partially cleared by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.Sinner and Alcaraz swept the board between them at the majors in 2024 and 2025 - and Zverev has taken full advantage against the rest of the field in their absences.Big-hitting Shelton, 23, has long been identified as a player who can win the biggest titles, but ultimately came up short in his first Grand Slam final against a rejuvenated Zverev.Eighth seed Shelton was aiming to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003, but losing serve in the first game of the match set the tone as Zverev controlled the opening two sets.The momentum shifted in the third set, however, as Shelton finally started applying serious pressure on Zverev's serve.Taking his third break opportunity provided encouragement to the 24,000 home fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but starting the fourth set with a poor service game allowed Zverev to reassert his authority and extinguish American dreams.Zverev did not initially know he had secured victory when Shelton hit a return long on championship point, only breaking out into a broad and slightly surprised smile after his team pointed out the score to him.Zverev turns US Open tears into triumphAll About US Open: Zverev claims second Grand Slam titleZverev uses Grand Slam-winning experience to see off SheltonZverev will stay as world number two following his US Open triumph but has closed the gap on Sinner at the top of the rankings [Getty Images]Going into the 2026 season, few people would have backed Zverev to win two Grand Slam tournaments, with the German having already lost three major finals in a career which looked in danger of not living up to expectation.But injuries to his biggest rivals - Alcaraz missing the French Open and Wimbledon, with Sinner ruled out of the US Open - opened the door for Zverev.A below-par Zverev scraped through the opening rounds at Flushing Meadows in a series of early-morning finishes, but he gradually improved over a fortnight where he did not play a top-20 opponent until Shelton.Zverev had not lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings and immediately capitalised on a nervy start by his opponent.Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game of the match, handing over the type of initiative that opponents often struggle to wrestle back from Zverev.Through the strength of his first serve, and his ability to unpick Shelton's weaker backhand in the baseline exchanges, Zverev rolled through the opening set and clinched it when Shelton hit another double fault on set point.Zverev continued to patiently draw mistakes from Shelton in the second set, but without being gifted a break when his only opportunity arrived in the fourth game.He instead showed why he has a strong tie-break record with another nerveless display and, unlike in the 2020 US Open final when he lost from a two-set lead, kept his composure in the pressure moments to secure a commanding victory.Addressing his team which is led by his father Alexander senior and brother Mischa, Zverev said: "We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now won two in the span of three months."I think God has seen how hard we have worked, how hard we have suffered and how much pain we went through."I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before."Positives for Shelton - but work still to doShelton will rise to a career-high fourth in the world when the latest ATP rankings come out on Monday [Getty Images]Despite the bitter disappointment of losing Sunday's showpiece, Shelton will take pride from his run to a first major final, as well as further belief he can win a Grand Slam title.Shelton came into the tournament with confidence after winning the Canadian Open last month, but also with a point to prove after an underwhelming season at the Grand Slams.A chastening first-round exit at Wimbledon against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen was described by Shelton as "one of the toughest losses" of his career, acting as a wake-up call going into the North American hard court swing.He has bounced back superbly to come close to ending America's 23-year wait for somebody to finally follow in Roddick's footsteps.Shelton did not have an easy route to the final, needing to overcome a series of big-hitting opponents which included three former top-10 players as well as seven-time major champion Alcaraz.Shelton had never beaten a top-three opponent until powering past Alcaraz - who was playing in his first tournament for almost five months - in an epic quarter-final which ended at 3:34am.However, he could not double that tally against world number two Zverev.Shelton's recent success has been a product of developing his defensive skills and improving his weaker backhand, but not being able to execute his damaging forehand in crucial moments against Zverev proved costly.It was a reminder of the work the American number one still has to do at the highest level against the very best opponents."I'm excited with the progress that I feel that I've made, but this one stings 100%," said Shelton."I made too many errors when I had the ball there on my strings."Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Alexander Zverev is the second German man to win the US Open in the Open era after Boris Becker [Getty Images]As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title.Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set.This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev's way.But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June.Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory.After firing down another unstoppable serve to win the match, Zverev returned to the baseline ready to start the next point - only to be told by his team the match was over."In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all," Zverev said."It's funny - tennis teachers always tell you to just play the next point and forget about the score."At that moment I forgot about the score and it helped me."As the realisation sunk in, the 29-year-old broke into a broad and slightly surprised smile before raising his arms above his head.It was a direct contrast to his defeat by Thiem in 2020, where a tearful Zverev said during the trophy presentation: "I wish one day I can bring the trophy home."Now, his wish has come true."We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we've won two in three months," said Zverev."2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before."Zverev's parents were not there for his previous final at Flushing Meadows, but his father and coach Alexander senior was on the sidelines this time.As well as paying tribute to his father, Zverev also thanked his mother for her support following his type 1 diabetes diagnosis as a child."When doctors tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'," Zverev said."My mother is the most important and strongest person I know."Zverev caps transformational year with US Open triumphAll About US Open: Zverev claims second Grand Slam title'He was in a trance-like state'World number two Zverev has enjoyed his best year on the Tour, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon alongside his French Open and US Open successes.He has been aided by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who swept the majors in the past two seasons, but a strengthened mentality and dedication to fitness has also helped."There is no-one as fit as Zverev, he is right up there," former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on BBC Radio 5 Live."You can argue about Alcaraz and Sinner, and Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal] when they were in their prime physically, but Zverev is right up there as one of the best athletes to play the sport."Zverev was taken to five sets in his first two matches, with both finishing in the early hours of the New York morning.He was two points from defeat in the first round, but rallied, played his way into form and did not drop a set from the third round until the final.Faced with a partisan crowd against Shelton, Zverev did not buckle. He kept his emotions deliberately in check and, even though he lost the third set, never loosened his grip on the match."I'm so admiring of his strength of character and the zen-like state he's been in since the very beginning of the match," said former British number one Annabel Croft. "The most extraordinary thing - and I don't think I've ever witnessed it - was that he didn't realise he had won."It was so bizarre, but it was like he was in a trance-like state while he was playing."Alexander Zverev is now a two-time Grand Slam champion [Getty Images]His serve - one of the best on the ATP Tour - was key against Shelton.He won 39 of 42 points behind his first serve in the first two sets and did not face a break point until the middle of the third.Shelton broke at the end of the third set to extend the match but the American made little impact in return games from then on, winning only four of 20 receiving points in set fourVictory means he will now have the world number one ranking in his sights - he trails Sinner by 1,810 points with two Masters 1000 events and the season-ending ATP Tour finals to come.But Zverev is a polarising figure in tennis.In October 2023, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros (392,000) for bodily harm against his ex-partner, with whom he shares a child.Zverev denied the claims and lodged an objection against the order. A trial in May 2024 was discontinued after a week and there was a separate settlement between Zverev and his ex-girlfriend.At the time, the court told BBC Sport: "The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence."Zverev was also accused in October 2020 of physical violence and controlling behaviour by another former girlfriend. He maintained his innocence from the start and there were no legal proceedings.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

PHILADELPHIA The reports stacked like cars piling up in Sunday traffic on Interstate 95 en route to Lincoln Financial Field. More than ever, the willingness of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to adapt as a signal-caller and detach from his comfort zone has been under the microscope.One dispatch chronicled Hurts' involvement in an underwhelming "four verts" play-call that resulted in Philadelphia's drama-infested 2025 campaign ending with an anticlimactic whimper during the wild-card round of the playoffs versus the San Francisco 49ers. That April 1 report from ESPN also detailed how, on a much larger scale, Hurts had resisted certain creative modifications that would have diversified the Eagles' offensive scheme.For much of last season, beleaguered play-caller Kevin Patullo bore the brunt of criticism regarding the shortcomings of a star-studded yet stuttering Eagles offense. But in the court of public opinion, Hurts wasn't absolved of blame.He rolled with the punches this offseason. This Sunday, in a 24-22 season-opening victory over the Washington Commanders, he finally got to throw his own haymakers with a new offensive coordinator in place, the makings of an explosive attack on display and a nascent narrative sprouting amid the honeymoon of that QB-OC marriage.Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over. He, first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and the unit altogether had to work some kinks out the same was true for Jayden Daniels and a similarly madeover Commanders offense now coordinated by their young former NFL backup QB-turned-OC, David Blough however, Philadelphia's play in the other two phases of the game allowed its offense to grow through its pains.There were stretches where Mannion's offense didn't look pretty. The run game was paltry far too often, actually, with the Commanders mounting 10 tackles for loss. That said, Hurts' three-touchdown performance, Barkley ripping off a 42-yard run (when he had only four runs of 20-plus yards all last season) and the rise of wideout Dontayvion Wicks are all reasons for optimism, particularly following a 2025 season that was full of head-scratching, mostly stale offense."I know how the media is and how Philly is and we like to overreact a little bit, but it's not a finished product," Barkley said. "We're going to keep working. We'll keep trusting Sean, we'll keep trusting the system. We'll find ways to just continue to get better."Besides, when it mattered most, the explosives popped, including a 22-yard Hurts scramble on third-and-18 that preceded a 43-yard catch-and-run touchdown by tight end Dallas Goedert in the fourth quarter. The Eagles emerged victorious from an NFC East battle that slogged at times but ultimately thrilled in the final frame, as defensive tackle Moro Ojomo stymied Washington's potential game-tying 2-point conversion attempt with 61 seconds left.It usually takes at least a few weeks for the identity of an overhauled offense to crystallize in the NFL. The proof of concept is in place for Mannion, though. Hurts illustrated the blueprint."I think it just says a lot about his ability to adapt," Eagles right guard Tyler Steen said afterward. "Whenever the challenge is presented to him, he always takes it full-on. I think he just showed that today."Operating in a Mannion system that pulls from the teachings of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 28-year-old dual threat QB auspiciously navigated a paradigm shift that deviates from several of his reported preferences.The 34-year-old Mannion has concocted an offense that leans on under-center play and pre-snap motion, plus pure-progression passing, which calls for the quarterback to move through a series of predetermined routes, where timing is integral, namely on throws over the middle. Hurts has been criticized for his perceived reluctance to target that zone in the past, and his ability to effectively function outside his wheelhouse has been questioned by some.Yet, against the Commanders in Week 1, he made an array of game-changing plays that countered his doubters. His 64-yard second-quarter dime to Wicks began with Hurts under center. And both of his scoring strikes to Goedert were over the middle."Down the middle touchdowns are f***ing awesome," Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata told Yahoo Sports in the locker room postgame. "People saying that J can't read or throw down the middle of the field boom, does that s***."Mannion won his first chess match: 'Sean did a hell of a job with going to those things that he seen'Mannion spent nine seasons in the league as a reserve quarterback after starring at Oregon State. A 2015 third-round draft pick, he appeared in 14 games during that near-decade span. What he lacked in playing time, he gained in knowledge, absorbing concepts from a bevy of today's NFL head coaches, like McVay, Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin Stefanski of the Atlanta Falcons and Klint Kubiak of the Las Vegas Raiders while he played for the Rams and then bopped between the Vikings and Seattle Seahawks from 2019-23.Mannion is a third-year NFL assistant, having previously studied under another head coach known for his offensive chops, Matt LaFleur, as a Green Bay Packers staffer the past two seasons.He's also Hurts' seventh play-caller in seven pro seasons. There had been five before him in the Nick Sirianni era alone. Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore were such big hits that they landed head-coaching jobs. Brian Johnson and Patullo didn't pan out. Sirianni himself actually commanded the offense for a chunk of his first go-around at the helm before he handed off play-calling duties to Steichen.Stability could go a long way for Hurts. That, of course, requires Mannion to do his part. Although he has a learning curve, too, he came out of his first regular-season game with a win, a milestone Hurts characterized at the podium as "a big-time deal."Chunk plays made the difference in a duel with another first-time NFL coordinator, Washington's Daronte Jones, who deployed Brian Flores' inspired disguises in Sunday's chess match."Those ones where we hit explosives, whether it was a pass, whether it was a Jalen scramble, whether it was a Saquon [Barkley] run, we ended up scoring on those drives," Sirianni said."So you can see how important that is to the flow of the game and scoring points."Hurts ignited the crowd with his deep shot to Wicks in the first half. It precipitated from a 13-personnel look. What a ball from Jalen Hurts, off play-action with a nice pocket. Dropped it over Mike Sainristil and into the hands of Dontayvion Wickspic.twitter.com/odHDY88Xiw Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) September 13, 2026The Eagles had three tight ends on the field, seemingly signaling the ground attack after Barkley gained 6 yards on a wide-zone run the play prior, a run scheme that Mannion ushered in this offseason as well. Hurts was once again under center, except this time he faked the handoff and unleashed a pretty spiral.He dropped a perfectly placed pass over Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil and into the hands of Wicks, the start of the former Packers receiver's 2-catch, 73-yard, 1-touchdown coming out party in South Philly."It's a really good feeling when the d-line is playing it one way and expecting outside zone and then we run play-action," Steen said. "It makes it easier for us to pass block because they're playing that run. So I think just continuing to build off each play and build off drives and the whole game itself, I think it's going to be big for us."Wicks' scoring grab came two drives after he took the top off the defense. Mannion picked a play that sent Wicks in motion, from right to left. Sainristil followed him, but Wicks had inside leverage and left him in the dust as he broke out toward the corner of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown that was made possible by a fadeaway toss from Hurts.The Eagles used a noticeably high volume of pre-snap motion Sunday a season removed from deploying it on the second-fewest snaps of any team in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Wicks explained that the movement can give offensive players like him, in addition to an OC such as Mannion, a "tell," often unveiling a defense's coverage.When asked if he could feel Mannion targeting mismatches throughout the game, Wicks said, "Yeah.""I mean, that's the biggest thing," he continued. "You see it, go at it. So I think Sean did a hell of a job with going to those things that he [saw], that he [saw] was going to come open."

Logan Webb (61) tosses a new ball as Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) rounds the bases on Manny Machado's (13) two-run home run in the second inning as the San Francisco Giants payed the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Franciisco, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Youve watched baseball long enough to know an inherent truth: stars cannot save you. This is not football, where having one of the best quarterbacks alive can gift you a .500 season as the starting point. Its certainly not basketball, where having one of best players is synonymous with having one of the best teams. You watched Barry Bonds break the single-season home record for a team that still missed the playoffs. You watched Tim Lincecum win a Cy Young on a team that finished 18 games below .500. And if you thinks this is just a San Francisco Giants thing, well, its not. The Los Angeles Angels employed Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for six straight seasons, and won exactly zero postseason games. While Ohtani has left and found greener pastures, Trout has put together one of the greatest careers in MLB history and, more than 17 years since the day he heard his name called at the draft, is still in desperate search of his first playoff win. Not a series win; a game. Nine measly innings. So yes. Stars very much cannot save you. But an absence of stars will kill you, swiftly and emphatically. This is a newts and salamanders situation: not all stars play for good teams, but all good teams have stars. Plural. The Giants entered the season with two stars, one on each side of the ball: Logan Webb and Rafael Devers. And while those two were far from the only reason that the season started as sideways as a 2004 Paul Giamatti film, you can at least draw something of a line connecting the teams record after six weeks (14-23) to Webbs ERA (5.06) and Devers OPS (.593). Those two eventually course-corrected to varying levels. Webb mixed enough good in with the bad to make his third-straight All-Star appearance, while Devers turned the calendar in a hurry and, since the start of May, has been third in both OPS and wRC+, behind only presumptive MVPs Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez. The Giants, of course, did no such course correcting, reminding us once again of todays lesson: stars cannot save you. We spent much of the summer watching Devers smash home run after home run and remembering that lesson. But occasionally that aforementioned corollary an absence of stars will kill you would rear its head. On Sunday, in a 6-4 loss that resulted in a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, the Giants were reminded of that corollary. It was a starless Sunday at Oracle Park, unless you were one of the fans sitting in the bleachers watching the first Sunday of the NFL season, instead. The Giants found themselves emphatically starless. Webb was pitching, yes, but just two starts removed from the worst outing of his career, and leaking oil in a big way. He didnt look himself. He didnt look the part of an ace or a star. And Devers? Shortly before the game began, the Giants announced that he had been placed on the 60-Day Injured List with a core muscle injury, ending his season. One star who, for now, is not a star. One star who, for now, is not healthy. Its a good recipe for a forgettable baseball loss. As if to hammer home this point, the Peacock broadcast displayed the Giants nine-player lineup next to the team they played for when the season began. Just two of the players (Jung Hoo Lee and Christian Koss) were on the Giants. Just one other (Brett Harris) was on a different teams MLB roster. Despite that, just two (Bryce Eldridge and Drew Gilbert) began the season for the Giants AAA affiliate. Two more (Shay Whitcomb and Andrew Knizner) were on different teams AAA affiliates. And finally, two more (Jonah Cox and the debuting Scott Bandura) had opened the season for San Franciscos AA team.Just for good measure, the Giants turned to three players off of their bench: one more (Osleivis Basabe) who started the year in AAA, and two more who began the season down in AA (Drew Cavanaugh and Turner Hill). When Webbs night was over, he was replaced by Matt Wilkinson, whose first appearance of the season was his AA debut. He handed things over to the third and final pitcher, Trent Harris, who began the season in AAA. A distinct lack of stars, especially when it became apparent that Webb was all too hittable on this night. He loaded the bases before recording an out, ceding back-to-back singles to open the game, and following them up with an uncompetitive double. An unproductive out was only temporary respite before Jackson Merrill smacked a two-run double. It was not just a first inning thing, as weve sometimes seen from Webb. A Samad Taylor leadoff single and steal put the Giants leader in trouble immediately to start the second, and Taylor would later score on a single by Fernando Tatis Jr., who would later score on a home run by Manny Machado. And with that, it was clear what kind of a night it would be. Webb would mostly settle in after that, but the damage was done. Hed give up just one more rally, when Ethan Salas cracked a triple (his first career hit) in the fourth inning, and scored on another Tatis single. If youre looking for a silver lining, Webbs strikeouts returned for this game, as he whiffed seven batters, while walking just one. But its hard to search too hard for a silver lining given the eight hits and six runs in five innings. Really, the silver lining came from what happened after Webb left: Wilkinson allowed just one hit in three shutout innings, while Harris pitched a perfect ninth.The offense, tasked with undoing a large early deficit without Devers, tried, but fell short. Knizner made it clear that there would be fight, when he blasted a two-run homer in the second inning to give the team life.View LinkBut an opportunity was squandered in the fourth, when Eldridge led off with a single and Cox followed with his greatest weapon: the bunt single. Bandura, in just his second career at-bat, struck out, before Whitcomb blooped a single to load the bases. The situational opportunities still haunt the Giants, though, as Knizner hit a fly ball that wasnt deep enough to score Eldridge, before the inning ended on a Harris fly ball. They would chip away an inning later, though. San Diego turned to a lefty reliever for the fifth inning, and Koss led off with a single and a stolen base, before Gilbert worked an impressive same-handed walk. A double steal put the Giants in position for a big inning, but they could only get one run out of it, after Lee had an unproductive out and Eldridge ground into an RBI fielders choice.View LinkThey chipped away an inning later, and this time it was in memory-making fashion: Bandura, who became the franchise record-setting 67th player to appear in a game for the Giants this year, led off the inning with a single, his first career hit, which he celebrated by taking second on an error. He would later score the first run of his career, when Koss brought him home with a clutch two-out single. View LinkBut just as the Giants have grown accustomed to poor situational hitting, theyve grown accustomed to bizarre plays on the field, and Koss had a new one for us: with Koss at first and Cavanaugh at second, Basabe ground into what figured to be an inning-ending out. Xander Bogaerts, however, tried to get the out the short way, and threw to second too late. Koss, not anticipating this, ran right through the bag; rather than an infield single, the Padres had Koss and then, after pivoting 90 degrees, Cavanaugh in an easy backyard pickle. Once the shenanigans arrive, you know the game is over. And it was. The Giants tried again in the eighth, when Bandura drew a leadoff walk and Hill worked a two-out walk. They tried again in the ninth, when Eldridge bopped a two-out single, and Cox worked 10 pitches out of Yuki Matsui. But on the 10th, he struck out swinging, and the game was over. All credit to the kids. Theyre fun. And theyre making memories. But its hard to win without stars.

Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesLions news: Key O-Lineman gets murky injury update from Dan Campbell after Week 1 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Detroit Lions opened the 2026 season with a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, but the win came with a concerning injury to starting left guard Christian Mahogany.Mahogany, 25, started on Sunday after entering training camp in competition with Ben Bartch for the left guard position. The third-year offensive lineman from Boston College was injured during Detroits second offensive possession while running downfield to block on a running back Jahmyr Gibbs run. Mahogany fell awkwardly and immediately grabbed at his left knee.He remained on the field for several minutes before walking off under his own power. After being evaluated on the sideline, he was taken to the locker room and initially listed as questionable to return with a knee injury. He was ultimately ruled out during the second half.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Following the game, head coach Dan Campbell provided a murky update on Mahogany, saying the Lions received some initial good news on the 25-year-old but that he is still not out of the woods yet, while indicating that the injury could be more of a hip ailment than a knee ailment.The timing is particularly important because Detroit faces the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 17, giving Mahogany only a short turnaround after Sundays injury.If Mahogany cannot play, Bartch would be the next option at left guard. Bartch replaced Mahogany against New Orleans and played the rest of the game. He had split first-team practice repetitions with Mahogany last week after missing part of training camp while recovering from Lisfranc surgery.Bartch also had a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that pushed the Lions back from inside the Saints 5-yard line. Detroit settled for a field goal on that possession before New Orleans rallied to tie the game.The Lions are already dealing with another offensive-line absence. Starting center Cade Mays is on injured reserve with a broken wrist and is expected to miss at least the first four games. Mays can become eligible to return for Detroits Oct. 11 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Juice Scruggs started at center against the Saints after moving from guard following Mays injury.Mahogany also missed six games last season after suffering a fractured fibula in the Lions Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Related: Why was Saints crucial strip-sack TD overturned? The rule sounds just as dumb as it lookedRelated: Lions Dan Campbell still not worried about defense despite letting Tyler Shough go off in Week 1