Tag: Schedule

Wisconsin basketball leads the nation in an important offensive statistic

Wisconsin basketball leads the nation in an important statistic

Wisconsin basketball improved to 10-3 on the 2024-25 season with a 76-53 win over Detroit Mercy on Sunday.

The Badgers are now off through the remainder of 2024. They return to the court on Jan. 3, 2025, for a home matchup against Iowa. When that date comes, one key statistic should continue to define the team’s success.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball entering 2025 Big Ten schedule

That statistic: free-throw shooting.

The Badgers’ high rate and efficiency from the free throw line partially led to their 10-3 start, a start that is highlighted by big wins over Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Wisconsin currently averages 22.7 free throw attempts and 19.3 makes per game. That is good for a percentage of 85.1% — the best rate in the country.

The Badgers are closely followed by UC Irvine (83.2%), UTSA (82.4%) and UW-Green Bay (81.9%).

That efficiency has driven the Badgers’ best performances. They made 41 of 47 free throws (87.2%) in a 103-88 win over then-No. 9 Arizona, then 25 of 27 (92.6%) in a 83-74 win over Butler. They are a full 4.5 percentage points clear of the second-best free-throw-shooting team in the Big Ten (Michigan State, 80.5%) and a full 8.8 points ahead of the third-best (USC, 76.3%).

Wisconsin’s leaders at the line are wing John Tonje (94-of-100, 94%), guard John Blackwell (41-of-51, 80%), guard Max Klesmit (39-of-45, 86.7%) and forward Nolan Winter (24-of-29, 82.8%). As seen, Tonje’s rate and unmatched conversion is the biggest driving force behind the area being a significant strength.

The Badgers have gaps to fill once Big Ten play heats up, highlighted by rebounding and interior production. Out-shooting an opponent from the free throw line can mitigate any disadvantages. In Wisconsin’s case, it’s a big reason the team already has 10 wins to start the season.

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Denver Broncos schedule: Do the Broncos have a game today?

After playing on Thursday, the Broncos don’t play again until Dec. 28.

After playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 16, the Denver Broncos do not have a game today (Sunday, Dec. 22). The Broncos will return to action against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Dec. 28 in Week 17.

Denver will play eight home games at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and nine games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the NFC gets a ninth home game.

The Broncos are led by head coach Sean Payton with rookie Bo Nix serving as their starting quarterback this fall.

View the team’s complete 2024 schedule below.

Denver Broncos 2024 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT) Broncos Tickets
1 9/8 CBS @ Seattle Seahawks 26-20 L
2 9/15 CBS  vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6 L
3 9/22 FOX @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7 W
4 9/29 CBS @ New York Jets 10-9 W
5 10/6 FOX vs. Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 W
6 10/13 CBS vs. Los Angeles Chargers 23-16 L
7 10/17 Amazon Prime Video @ New Orleans Saints 33-10 W
8 10/27 CBS vs. Carolina Panthers 28-14 W
9 11/3 CBS @ Baltimore Ravens 41-10 L
10 11/10 CBS @ Kansas City Chiefs 16-14 L
11 11/17 FOX vs. Atlanta Falcons 38-6 W
12 11/24 CBS @ Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 W
13 12/2 ESPN vs. Cleveland Browns 41-32 W
14 12/8 BYE
15 12/15 CBS vs. Indianapolis Colts 31-13 W
16 12/19 Prime @ Los Angeles Chargers 34-27 L
17 12/28 NFL Network @ Cincinnati Bengals 2:30 PM Tickets
18 1/4 or 1/5 TBD vs. Kansas City Chiefs TBD Tickets

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Now entering his second season on the job, Payton will aim to snap the club’s eight-year playoff drought this fall.

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Which teams should Saints fans be rooting for during the Week 16?

Which teams should Saints fans be rooting for during the Week 16? Here’s our game-by-game rooting guide before Monday Night Football:

The New Orleans Saints are now 5-9 on the season and the hopes of securing a playoff berth have become very slim. Although there’s still a chance, the path has become difficult, needing a lot of help from a couple of division rivals in order to punch their ticket.

With that said, many will be focused on offseason preparation and where the team could or might be picking in the round one in April. At the moment sitting with the tenth pick, there’s the potential for the team to move even higher, depending on how the next three weeks shake out.

Whichever way you may want it to go, either choice is understandable. For this exact reason, we’ve chosen to continue our breakdown of what teams you should be rooting for in Week 16 depending on the direction you would like to see the Saints go in. Here’s our rundown:

Path to the playoffs

The Saints path to the postseason has now narrowed down to one highly unlikely scenario, that would crown them champions of the NFC South for the first time in three seasons. Their path to attaining a Wild Card position has diminished which means that these three divisional games are the ones to keep an eye on this weekend and into Monday Night:

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons:

The Atlanta Falcons simply must lose this weekend to keep the Saints chances alive. A win against the Giants this week would effectively eliminate the Saints regardless of what happens with Atlanta in the next few weeks. With that said, rookie Michael Penix Jr. is set to start this weekend which means anything could happen being that this is his first opportunity on the big stage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers must lose against the Dallas Cowboys or the same would result in this case. A win by Tampa in Dallas would eliminate the Saints from contention giving them at nine wins on the year, a number the Saints cannot reach.

Improving upon draft stock

With such slim playoff hopes at this point in the season, the outlook on where the Saints will be picking in round one of the draft, becomes a more intriguing conversation. There are currently nine teams ahead of the Saints in the draft order but only seven of those teams can improve their stock. Here are a list of those teams, their opponents this week and the most optimal outcomes:

Carolina defeats Arizona

The Panthers are two games back (3-11) from where the Saints stand in the division, meaning that with three games to go they could potentially jump them at seasons end. A win against Arizona and a Saints loss brings them one step closer to that.

Cleveland defeats Cincinnati 

The same goes here for Cleveland as they sit at 3-11, but have an uphill battle going against some of the leagues most explosive offenses in the next three weeks in Cincinnati, Miami and Baltimore. Hard to see them assisting the Saints with this stretch of games.

Jacksonville defeats Las Vegas

Jacksonville, another 3-11 team but has a much lighter schedule going forward, playing teams with a combined record of 11-31 in their last three matchups. Beating Las Vegas sets them up well for a late season run.

Tennessee defeats Indianapolis

Tennessee (3-11) has their entire division ahead of them going forward with games against Indy, Jacksonville and Houston. The Titans have lost their last three matchups against the Colts, all in which were one possession games. Some added motivation for them potentially this late in the year.

New England defeats Buffalo

The Patriots (3-11) have little chance to help the Saints this week and going forward, meeting the Bills (11-3) twice in three weeks and playing the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) in between. But you never know, division games can get a little weird.

Chicago defeats Detroit

Maybe the toughest one on the list here so far. The Bears are sitting at 4-10 in the NFC North just one game behind the Saints but happen to be facing the leaders’ of their division as well as the leaders’ of their conference in the Detroit Lions (12-2). Defeating the Lions is the tallest task but they’re in for one heck of a stretch, taking on Seattle (8-6) and Green Bay (10-4) in the coming weeks.

New York defeats Los Angeles

The Jets are also just one game back from the Saints but also face the tough task of playing a couple of the leagues hottest teams. The team will see Los Angeles, Buffalo and Miami to finish out the year. Although the team has emphatically underperformed, they do have the talent to stay competitive against these opponents.

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Derek Carr has millions of motivations to return to the field

Between guarantees for injury written into his contract and a chance at revenge against his old team, Derek Carr has millions of motivations to return to the field:

Spencer Rattler will start against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, but the New Orleans Saints have continued to keep the door open for Derek Carr to return at some point. With the season and hopes of a playoff berth almost over, why would Carr return to the field?

Outside of simply being a competitor, Carr has simple motivation to play again this season. Next week, New Orleans plays the Las Vegas Raiders. Getting a chance to beat his former team is an opportunity he’s been waiting for since leaving the Raiders.

The organization’s decision to move on from him infamously made Carr’s wife cry. If there is any chance to play, Carr likely won’t give up hope until that game has passed.

That’s why Carr could want to keep the door open, but what about the Saints side? Technically, the Saints still have a shot at making the playoffs. It’s a slim shot and could be over this week, but keeping the door open displays a desire for competitiveness isn’t gone. Nobody wants to go in the tank, at least not inside the building.

Carr’s injury guarantees may be a factor, too. If he plays again this season and suffers another injury, serious enough that he couldn’t pass a physical in March, the Saints would be on the hook for another $30 million that otherwise wouldn’t cash out unless they choose to pay it.

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Chiefs schedule: Will Kansas City play today in Week 16?

Are the #Chiefs playing today? Here’s a look at Kansas City’s schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Kansas City Chiefs be on the field today in Week 16 of the NFL schedule?

On Saturday, December 21, the Chiefs (13-1) are set to host the Houston Texans (9-5) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City is on a four-game winning streak after defeating the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Chiefs will look to build on their conference-leading record to protect a slim two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the No. 1 playoff seed.

Any mistakes now could cause Kansas City to lose momentum heading into the last two weeks of the regular season.

Houston has a formidable defense that is known for its ability to pressure passers, so Patrick Mahomes will need to keep his guard up as he battles through an ankle injury.

The Texans have had no problem defeating weaker teams, but today’s matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions will be the toughest test of their 2024 campaign.

Kickoff is set to take place at 12:00 p.m. CST, and the action will be broadcast on NBC.

Chiefs 2024 schedule

  • Week 13: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (W, 19-17)
  • Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (W, 19-17)
  • Week 15: at Cleveland Browns (W, 21-7)
  • Week 16: vs. Houston Texans (9-5)
  • Week 17: at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
  • Week 18: at Denver Broncos (9-6)

Denver Broncos schedule: How many games are left this season?

The Broncos have three games remaining this season.

The Denver Broncos are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a Thursday Night Football showdown in Week 16. After that, the Broncos will have two more games remaining in the regular season.

Denver will play eight home games at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and nine games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the NFC gets a ninth home game.

The Broncos are led by head coach Sean Payton with rookie Bo Nix serving as their starting quarterback this fall.

View the team’s complete 2024 schedule below.

Denver Broncos 2024 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT) Broncos Tickets
1 9/8 CBS @ Seattle Seahawks 26-20 L
2 9/15 CBS  vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6 L
3 9/22 FOX @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7 W
4 9/29 CBS @ New York Jets 10-9 W
5 10/6 FOX vs. Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 W
6 10/13 CBS vs. Los Angeles Chargers 23-16 L
7 10/17 Amazon Prime Video @ New Orleans Saints 33-10 W
8 10/27 CBS vs. Carolina Panthers 28-14 W
9 11/3 CBS @ Baltimore Ravens 41-10 L
10 11/10 CBS @ Kansas City Chiefs 16-14 L
11 11/17 FOX vs. Atlanta Falcons 38-6 W
12 11/24 CBS @ Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 W
13 12/2 ESPN vs. Cleveland Browns 41-32 W
14 12/8 BYE
15 12/15 CBS vs. Indianapolis Colts 31-13 W
16 12/19 Prime @ Los Angeles Chargers 6:15 PM Tickets
17 12/28 NFL Network @ Cincinnati Bengals 2:30 PM Tickets
18 1/4 or 1/5 TBD vs. Kansas City Chiefs TBD Tickets

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Now entering his second season on the job, Payton will aim to snap the club’s eight-year playoff drought this fall.

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Joe Buck, Troy Aikman on the call for Saints Week 16 matchup in Green Bay

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters will be on the call for the Saints’ Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers:

The New Orleans Saints are back in a primetime slot for the first time in a little while, and this time they will take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 at Lambeau Field. With this, they are on Monday Night Football, which will be covered by the ESPN crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters.

Buck and Aikman are a pairing that fans may recognize as one of the more unfavorable announcing crews of the options available, as Buck has been perceived to have a general lack of emotion in his commentary at some points, and Aikman has a few different criticisms from different points of view. Ultimately in recent games, they have been better, however, and it seems the quality of their broadcasts has improved lately which is a great sign.

In a game that could be slow-moving to start off due to strong defenses and weather conditions, this could be a perfect point of emphasis for the crew of Buck, Aikman, and Salters to use to their advantage, as they can analyze the play and schemes of each team as they work through the opening parts of the matchup. Aikman’s analysis from the point of view of a former player always provides some level of quality content, and Buck has strong analysis as well at many points. Pairing them up with Salters is a good choice, as she has immense experience as well and knowledge of the game.

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Kendre Miller’s long road back from injury has led to a big opportunity

Kendre Miller has a big opportunity in front of him. His long road recovering from injuries has led to a chance to assert himself:

Heading into this past New Orleans Saints offseason, one of the more exciting talking points was the potential emergence of second-year running back Kendre Miller. He’s had to take a long road to get here, but he has a big opportunity through the last three weeks of the 2024 season after an injury to Alvin Kamara.

After an injury-plagued rookie year, Miller caught the attention of many in the 2023 regular season finale. In the first start of his career with  Kamara sidelined due to another injury, Miller delivered a promising performance against the rivaled Atlanta Falcons. In a 48-17 blowout win, Miller rushed for 73 yards on the ground on 13 carries (5.6 yards per carry) to go along with an acrobatic touchdown, the first of his young career.

With hopes high for Miller, many were looking forward to seeing what the offense could potentially be with he and Kamara sharing the backfield in Klint Kubiak’s zone-blocking run scheme.

But unfortunately, the now second-year pro was unable to catch a break. Miller would suffer a hamstring injury on the very first day of training camp, resulting in him being placed on injured reserve for the next three months or so.

Finally at full strength, Miller would be activated off of IR and return to play against Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos. In what was a catastrophe of a game, many got to see that spark again from Week 18 of last season. In his six carries Miller rushed for 36 yards (6 yards per carry) including a 16-yard pick up. It was noticed quickly the burst, the elusiveness and contact balance was all still there post-injury.

In the coming weeks though, Miller would be hit with adversity once again. Now-former Saints head coach Dennis Allen would place Miller on IR for the second time, sidelining him for the next four weeks. It was reported there was a “lack of trust” in Miller’s ability to stay healthy which led to this decision. During this time, Miller was in fact healthy and ready to play despite being placed on IR, which only added more frustration to a player that is waiting to prove himself yet again.

After the firing of Dennis Allen and the elevation of now interim head coach Darren Rizzi, Miller and Rizzi had a positive conversation, giving the green light on his return when eligible. Miller was asked about this and replied with, “I’m ready to get out there and bark a little bit.” This would be indicative of him being out of the “doghouse.” Miller was ready to go.

Miller would get his first opportunity in over a month against the New York Giants in MetLife Stadium and was quick to deliver. Miller would score his first touchdown on a 9-yard outside run in which he and his teammates carried Giants defenders into the end zone. This marked his first touchdown of the season. He would follow this performance up with an exceptional game against the Washington Commanders (9 carries for 46 yards, 5.1 per carry) where he and rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler led a late second-half comeback down 17-0 but falling just short of victory after a failed two-point attempt.

With Kamara’s status in question, Miller has an opportunity to cement himself as the team’s No. 2 back going into the offseason. After much uncertainty due to injury, Miller gets his chance to showcase his abilities and even audition as the teams answer at the position once Kamara decides to hang it up. Now is the time for Kendre Miller to prove that there he’s the guy for the job and that the team can allocate their resources elsewhere.

The lights will be bright for the young buck on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. Expect him to embrace it.

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NFL announces date for Chargers vs. Patriots Week 17 game

The Chargers will have nine days to rest before their next game after they face the Broncos.

The Week 17 game between the Chargers and Patriots will be played next Saturday, Dec. 28, at 10:00 am PT, the NFL announced Tuesday.

The league announced a tripleheader featuring matchups between the Broncos and Bengals, along with the Cardinals and Rams.

The game will be televised on NFL Network. Chris Rose, Ross Tucker and Steve Wyche will be on the call from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

The last time the Chargers and Patriots met was in 2023, and Los Angeles won, 6-0. New England leads the overall series, 27-16-2.

Report: Derek Carr ‘very unlikely’ to return from hand injury this season

Report: Derek Carr is ‘very unlikely’ to return from hand injury in time to play again this season

Derek Carr didn’t receive good news on his fractured hand in a recent checkup. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the New Orleans Saints quarterback is “at least a few weeks away from being able to withstand contact” after breaking his non-throwing hand in two places.

With just three weeks left in the Saints’ 2024 season, there’s a strong possibility that Carr won’t be able to get the green light to return in time to play again this year. After traveling to face the Green Bay Packers (Dec. 23) next week, the Saints will return home for a matchup with Carr’s old Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 29) team before closing out their season on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jan. 5).

That sentiment was echoed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, who added that while “there was no surgery, it’s not a minor injury.” Carr’s ability to grip a football and execute his responsibilities from one snap to the next is in question, and it’s too risky to put him on the field until he’s healed up.

So expect rookie backup Spencer Rattler to start next Monday night against the Packers. Rattler outplayed Jake Haener (who got the initial start) on Sunday and should get the nod this week.

As for Carr; we may have already seen him throw a pass in a Saints uniform for the last time. His 2025 salary cap hit doesn’t match his production and the Saints have a few options worth exploring if their next head coach doesn’t intend to build around him. We’ll just have to wait and see how things develop in the weeks and months ahead.

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