The Buckeyes lost 74-72 to Northwestern on Sunday, dropping to 2-5 in Big Ten play. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern coach Chris Collins was trying to pay Ohio State a compliment.

After beating the Buckeyes on Sunday, Collins said it was especially impressive because Ohio State had been playing its best basketball coming into the day.

That wasn't really true, but nice gesture.

"I wouldn't say we were playing our best basketball," Buckeyes forward Jae'Sean Tate said. "We've been playing better, but not our best. Eleven turnovers in the first half against Nebraska. There's been times that we have played very well, but for the whole 40 minutes? Absolutely not."

Then a familiar refrain ...

"If we can get that for the whole 40, we're gonna be tough to beat."

Ohio State didn't have "that", however you want to define it -- heady play, big shots, energy, effort -- again for a full game on Sunday. Just spurts, and spurts weren't enough. The day ended with a 74-72 loss to the Wildcats, Northwestern's first win in Columbus since Collins was a toddler chasing his dad, Doug, and Dr. J around the Philadelphia 76ers locker room.

Feb. 24, 1977 -- that was the last time Ohio State lost to Northwestern in Columbus. Forty years is a long time, and that number sticks out only because it had to end some time. Some will use that as another sign that the Buckeyes are trending down. Were they supposed to beat Northwestern forever? No.

But this is a much-improved Northwestern team that is now 5-2 in Big Ten play with four wins on the road. That's impressive. And another reminder to Ohio State that it is on par talent-wise with a large chunk of the league, and inconsistent performances aren't going to cut it.

"We have to represent Ohio State. We can't play for ourselves. We have to play for the university, we have to play for each other," center Trevor Thompson said. "That's why a lot of times that happens, because we're thinking about ourselves and we're not playing for the team. We're not playing for the university, and all the players and all the championships and all the wins that came before us.

"We have to play selfless, we have to lose ourselves in the game. When we compete and we play hard, good things happen, and that's shown. It has to be consistent. It can't be choosing one day not to do it, one day to do it. It has be consistent, every single day."

Thompson went on a bit of a mini-rant, seemingly frustrated with what's been a problem for this program stretching beyond just this season. To his credit, Thompson appeared to be a part of the problem at times last year, and he's seemed to turn it around in a big way. He finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds on Sunday.

The Buckeyes could have used him more. He was a problem for Northwestern, and somehow finished with just six shot attempts.

"We were trying to go to him," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "That was the focal point of timeouts, we had to get the ball inside. Our post feeding wasn't as sharp as it needed to be."

Thompson and Tate, both juniors, seemed a bit fed up with the lack of energy and focus that permeated throughout a game that started a stretch of three of four at home for the Buckeyes. On a two-game winning streak, Ohio State (12-8, 2-5 Big Ten) had a real chance to get back to .500 or better in league play.

Again they squandered chances to win a game late. The same could be said for losses to Virginia, Florida Atlantic, Illinois and Purdue. The Buckeyes still seem to be in the mode of going into a hole in the first of Big Ten games -- it was down eight points to Northwestern on Sunday.

They've also have found ways to climb out of those holes in the last three games, two of those wins. But that's no way to live. Ohio State was playing some flawed basketball coming into Sunday, and found ways to out-work Michigan State and steal a win at Nebraska. Those were far from complete efforts.

Tate and Thompson seemed to know that.

Other players maybe didn't, or at least didn't play Sunday with the sense of urgency needed for any team trying to climb out of the Big Ten's basement.

Senior Marc Loving finished with two made field goals and two turnovers, one crucial giveaway late in the second half that gave Northwestern a 63-58 lead with three minutes left. It continued a troubling trend for Loving: Ten times this season, and six times in seven conference games, his number of turnovers has been equal to or greater than his number of made field goals.

"Marc, I don't know, was a little bit off today," Matta said. "We couldn't shake him out of it. We sat him there in the second half and made a little bit of a run, but we need him to play better."

Ohio State, especially with Keita Bates-Diop out for the season, is constructed in such a way that it can't afford any of its starters having an off day to that effect. Loving, Kam Williams and JaQuan Lyle combined to go 9-for-27 from the field, 4-for-12 from 3-point range, and turn the ball over seven times.

That's no recipe for success in this Big Ten.

Northwestern used to be a team the Buckeyes could beat up on, almost a guaranteed win. Those kind of teams are becoming a rarity. So Ohio State needs to change.

"One of the guys said they have to look themselves in the mirror," Matta said, "and we have to realize who we are and what we have to do every day in practice and in games."

Get live updates from the game in this post and chat with fans.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 6:40 p.m. in the AFC Championship. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers faced off in the NFC Championship earlier Sunday.

The winners of both games will meet in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 in Houston.

Get live updates from the game in this post. Also, you can join in the discussion in the comment section during the game, where you can chat with other fans and see Tweets about the game.

Quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons dominated the Green Bay Packers, 44-21, on Sunday to earn the franchise's second Super Bowl appearance.

ATLANTA -- Matt Ryan and Julio Jones teamed up for a dominant playoff performance Sunday, and the Atlanta Falcons ignored all those ghosts from the last half-century.

Now, they're headed to the Super Bowl.

Ryan threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns in another MVP-worthy showing, while Jones shook off a lingering toe injury to haul in nine catches for 180 yards and two scores, leading the Falcons to a 44-21 blowout of the storied Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game.

Atlanta (13-5) will face either New England or Pittsburgh in the Feb. 5 Super Bowl in Houston. It will be only the second appearance in the Falcons' 51-year history, the first coming 18 years ago with a team known as the "Dirty Birds."

They have never won an NFL championship.

If Ryan and the league's highest-scoring offense keep playing like this, the AFC winner will sure have its hands full in the Lone Star State. The Falcons led 24-0 at halftime against the Packers (12-6), perhaps the league's hottest team, and essentially put the game away on their second offensive snap of the second half, a play that showed every one of Jones' remarkable skills .

He blazed down the middle of the field, shook off LaDarius Gunter's attempt to grab him on a cut toward the sideline, hauled in the pass from Ryan, broke Gunter's diving attempt at tackle, and defiantly knocked away Damarious Randall's with a brutal stiff-arm on the way to a 73-yard touchdown.

In the final game at the Georgia Dome, Ryan sparked more delirious chants of "MVP! MVP! MVP!" as he carved up an injury plagued Packers secondary that simply had no way of stopping a team that averaged nearly 34 points a game during the regular season and romped to a 36-20 victory against Seattle's Legion of Boom in the divisional round.

For good measure, Ryan also ran for a touchdown.
.

.@NFL players react to the @AtlantaFalcons' DOMINANT #NFCChampionship win.#GBvsATL https://t.co/gOG6ph89yb

-- FOX Sports (@FOXSports) January 22, 2017

Driving 80 yards in 13 plays, the Falcons converted three times on third down, the last of them when Ryan scrambled away from pressure and flipped a shovel pass to Mohamed Sanu for a 2-yard score.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers came right back, moving quickly down the field in what had all the makings of a back-and-forth shootout. Top receiver Jordy Nelson hauled in a 27-yard pass after missing the victory at Dallas with a rib injury.

But, on third-and-4 at the Atlanta 23, the Falcons hurried Rodgers into an incomplete pass. Mason Crosby, who hit two field goals longer that 50 yards in the closing minutes against the Cowboys, pushed a 41-yard attempt right of the upright to snap a playoff-record streak of 23 straight field goals.

The Falcons drove down the field again, settling for Matt Bryant's 28-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead. Then, with Green Bay poised to make a game of it, Atlanta's much-maligned defense -- one of the lowest ranked in the NFL -- came through a momentum-swinging play. Fullback Aaron Ripkowski was breaking tackles and rumbling toward the end zone when Jalen Collins stripped the ball from behind and fell on it just across the goal line for a touchback.

On the ensuing possession, Ryan hooked up with Jones three times for 56 yards. Ryan finished it off with some surprisingly nimble running skills, faking out one defender with a pump fake before diving into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown run. It was Matty Ice's first rushing touchdown since Week 1 of the 2012 season and sparked an uncharacteristic outburst from the normally even-tempered quarterback.

Ryan gave the ball a thunderous spike and let out a scream that made it clear he wanted this game more than anything in his career. The guy who had a 1-4 record in the playoffs over his first eight seasons has finally earned his spot on the biggest stage of them all.

DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE

Atlanta's defense, an afterthought to the guys on the other side of the line, kept the Packers out of the end zone until the game was essentially locked up.

Rodgers finished 27 of 45 for 287 yards and three TDs, but he was threw an interception, was sacked twice and faced a relentless Falcons rush much of the game, especially when Packers were forced to throw on almost every down.

The Falcons finished with a 493-367 edge in total yards.

DOME FINALE

What a send-off for the Georgia Dome, the Falcons' home since 1992, which will be torn down and replaced next season by $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

With the home team comfortably ahead, the raucous crowd of more than 71,000 basically partied through the whole second half, bouncing along to rap music that turned the stadium with the big top-like roof into the world's largest dance club.

The intensity of the celebration was understandable, given the Falcons' largely forgettable history and the heartache doled out by all of Atlanta's pro sports teams. The Braves, way back in 1995, are still the city's only team to capture a big league championship.

Now, the Falcons are one win away from adding another title to that barren trophy case.

Hue Jackson said he won't hold it against Deshaun Watson that he's skipping the Senior Bowl and a chance to be coached by the Browns, who have the No. 1 pick in the draft. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Hue Jackson vowed that he won't hold it against Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson that he's skipping the Senior Bowl and a chance to be coached by the Browns' staff all week.

"There are going to be other guys that are not participating either, so I won't hold it against him,'' Jackson, who will coach the South team, told cleveland.com. "I don't think that's the right thing to do. He's still a draftable player, there's still a process we have to go through to evaluate him and see if he can fit here with the Cleveland Browns.''

Jackson, who would've had Watson on the South team, said understands the national championship MVP's decision.  The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 12 overall pick in the draft and are looking hard at the top quarterback prospects, including Watson, Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer.

Of the three juniors, only Watson was eligible for the Senior Bowl because he graduated in 2 1/2 years, with a degree in communications.

"I get it,'' Jackson said. "I understand where he is and I'm sure he understood what we wanted to accomplish. Again, he's got to do what's best for him. You only get drafted one time, and I respect that."

Jackson admitted he was disappointed when he first learned last week that Watson declined the invitation from Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.

"Obviously we wish he were here,'' said Jackson, who arrived in Mobile, Ala., on Sunday for three days of practices beginning Tuesday and the game on Saturday. "It would've been a great chance to have an opportunity to evaluate him doing the things we do in meetings and on the practice field. But that's not going to happen, so we'll have to find a different way of evaluating him.''

Jackson said Watson's choice doesn't reflect poorly on him.

"I think he's a high-character guy,'' Jackson said. "I think he's made of the right stuff. I don't think there's anything malicious about his decision. I just think he's like a lot of guys who have made this decision to do what's best for them.''

He said Watson may have felt he showed enough in his 34 starts, including the Fiesta Bowl victory over Ohio State and the last-second clutch 35-31 victory over Alabama in the national championship game.
 
"I think it's that,'' he said. "I think he had a lot of other prior responsibilities too because I don't think he had made a decision (until last week).''

Savage, the former Browns general manager, was less understanding of Watson's decision. In addition to missing out on a chance to work with the Browns staff for the week, he also skipped an opportunity for an up-close and personal look by the Bears, who will coach the North team. They own the No. 3 pick.

"I certainly think it would have helped him," Savage told the The Opening kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile on Thursday. "Their last memory of Deshaun Watson is gonna be a last-second touchdown pass against Alabama to win the national championship. As great of a moment and curtain-call, signature play it will be for Deshaun Watson for as long as he lives, the reality is that he had an opportunity to work here for a week with a team that has the first and 12th draft pick. The other team had the third pick."

Savage noted that Watson could've improved his draft stock by participating in the game. Some analysts have him as a top-10 prospect, while others have him as a second-rounder. Some worry that he's a system quarterback and that his skills might not translate well to the NFL.  

"The difference is with other top-flight players that had passed up the Senior Bowl, often times they've been solidified in the top five or top 10 with really not much else to prove,'' he said. "If you go online and see where Deshaun Watson is rated, as someone put it, the opinions are all over the map.

"So, with that said, I thought this was a huge opportunity for him to squelch some of those doubts and prove he could play outside the umbrella of the Clemson program. He certainly has command of that system, but can he adapt and adjust and play in a new system with different players around him?''

Deshaun Watson, candidate for the Browns at No. 1: NFL Draft Profile

The Senior Bowl worked with Clemson and the NFL to pave the way for Watson to be eligible to participate. Last season, Carson Wentz cemented his status as a top-five quarterback with an impressive showing during Senior Bowl week. Ultimately he went No. 2 to the Eagles, who traded up from No. 8 with the Browns.

"It's a missed opportunity," Savage said. "I respect his decision. It is his decision. First of all, he put himself in the spot where he could actually play in the Senior Bowl as a true junior because he's already graduated. Give him a lot of credit for that. I respect the choice he made. Not sure it is the wisest choice."

Former Indians infielder Andy Marte and Kansas City right-hander Yordano Ventura died in separate car accidents on Sunday morning in the Dominican Republic.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians players, along with the rest of the MLB, continued to remember and honor Andy Marte and Yordano Ventura and their families Sunday. Marte, a former Indians infielder and Ventura, one of the best young pitchers in the big leagues, were killed Sunday morning in separate car accidents in their native Dominican Republic.

Marte, 33, played with the Indians from 2006 through 2010 after being acquired from the Red Sox prior to the 2006 season. He spent the last two years playing in Korea.

Ventura, 25, helped pitch the Royals to the World Series in 2014 an 2015. In parts four seasons, Ventura went 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA in 94 games, including 93 starts. He averaged 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Commissioner Rob Manfred released this statement on Sunday, "Today is a very sad day for our entire game and particularly for the many loyal fans in the Dominican Republic, the home of both Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte.

"Yordano was a key figure in the Royals recent success. His electric talent on the mound helped lead the Royals to two American League pennants and a World Series championship in 2015. Andy was a respected member of six organizations who played seven Major League seasons, including six for the Cleveland Indians from 2006-2010. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, teammates, friends and fans of both players."

Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Association, said in a statement, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Andy Marte and Yordano Ventura. It's never easy to lose a member of our fraternity, and there are no words to describe the feeling of losing two young men in the prime of their lives. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families, friends, teammates and fans throughout the United States and Latin America."

Andy Marte dies in car accident

Here's what Indians first baseman-DH Carlos Santana Tweeted about his fellow countrymen Marte and Ventura.

RIP. Can't believe it. May God bless their souls. And strength and blessings to their families. pic.twitter.com/wjlnT0cPxx

-- Carlos Santana MLB[?][?] (@TheRealSlamtana) January 22, 2017

Santana was Marte's teammate in 2010 and he regularly faced Ventura in the AL Central.

Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco was a teammate of Marte's from 2009 through 2010.

A very sad day in baseball. My condolences to both of the families!!!!! pic.twitter.com/75rOcoyQSp

-- Carlos Carrasco (@Cookie_Carrasco) January 22, 2017

Indians catcher, like Santana, faced Ventura many times over the last few years.

Thoughts and prayers to the families of Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte. R.I.P.

-- Yan Gomes (@Yan_AGomes) January 22, 2017

Former Indians outfielder David Dellucci was a teammate of Marte in Cleveland from 2007 through 2009.

Sad to learn that my former @Indians teammate Andy Marte was killed in a car accident this morning. RIP[?] keep his family in your prayers

-- David Dellucci (@DavidDellucci) January 22, 2017

The Royals released this statement following Yordano's death.

Official statement from the Kansas City Royals pic.twitter.com/hryGkIlmeB

-- Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) January 22, 2017

A spokesman for the highway patrol in the Dominican Republic told the Associated Press that Marte's car hit a house on the roadside between San Francisco de Macoris and Pimentel, which is about 95 miles north of Santo Domingo.

Ventura was killed on a highway leading to the town of Juan Adrien.

Following Ventura's death fans started arriving at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City to leave flowers, caps and mementos in honor of the young pitcher.

Thank you fans for paying tribute to Ace tonight. #RIPAce #RoyalsFamily pic.twitter.com/K8LjpZ8Afy

-- Kansas City Royals (@Royals) January 23, 2017

The regular seasons have been hard on the Cavs. Watch video

NEW ORLEANS -- The defending NBA champs have lost four of their last six games.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue brought his team to New Orleans for another one Monday, where he'll have to determine whether or not to sit LeBron James, who logged 45 minutes in an overtime loss to the Spurs Saturday.

The Cavs have proven to not be able to win without James on the court. He's averaging 37.3 per game, and somehow Lue has to begin to pare down those minutes while keeping the team on top of the East, or at least close.

It shouldn't be that difficult with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on the team, but they're 4-18 without James since the start of the 2014 season.

They forgot the play, so Lue drew it for us

Even if James plays against the Pelicans, it's been a hard stretch for the Cavs. For a simple comparison, the Warriors haven't lost consecutive regular-season games since April 5-7, 2015.

No wonder Lue, who has now coached a full season of games (83, actually), says it "feels like six years" that he's been the Cavs' coach.

There is no panic in Cleveland -- far from it. The Cavs maintain a three-game lead over the Raptors in the East. They're still incorporating Kyle Korver into the system, don't have a true backup point guard, and J.R. Smith's return is a ways off.

Hey, Joe

Virtually every player, coach, and general manager the Cavs count on to win has earned the benefit of the doubt. When Lue took over the Cavs on Jan. 23 of last season, they were 30-11 and lost their first game to the Bulls.

Cleveland went 27-14 in the second half, good enough for first in the East but far from perfect and far from free of controversy. It wasn't until the playoffs that this team galvanized under Lue, winning its first 10 and 12 of 14 before gutting out a seven-game-series victory over the Warriors in the Finals.

Actually, the regular seasons have never been easy since James' return. Don't forget, the Cavs were 19-20 in Year 1 before turning it around.

So the Cavs get the full benefit of the doubt here in this general malaise they've slipped into the last two weeks. Recent history tells us general manager David Griffin will solidify the roster, Lue will coach brilliantly late in games during the playoffs, and either if neither happens, James and Irving and Love are here. Defending champs is a moniker that's earned.

But the Cavs are undoubtedly in a rut right now, the kind of rut they haven't been in since Nov. 25-Dec. 5 of 2015, the last time they lost four of six.

That losing skid was under David Blatt.

Now, it's Lue's turn.

The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons will play in Super Bowl LI.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Atlanta Falcons will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 in Houston. 

In the NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon, the Falcons dominated the Green Bay Packers, 44-21, at Georgia Dome. The Falcons led, 24-0, at halftime.

The Packers had won eight in a row.

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones overwhelmed Green Bay's defense. MVP candidate Ryan threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a score. Jones caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

Where former Browns with notable performances are concerned, Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan called another great game and center Alex Mack was rock-solid.

The Falcons reached the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history. They are 0-1.

In the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night, the Patriots dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 36-17, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

New England quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Chris Hogan proved too much for  Pittsburgh's defense to handle. Brady threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns. Hogan, carbon-copying Jones, caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots reached the Super Bowl for the ninth time in franchise history. They are 4-4; Brady, 4-2.

Quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots back to Super Bowl with 36-17 rout Sunday of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Tom Brady redemption tour is headed to the Super Bowl.

After beginning the 2016 season suspended for four games for his role in the "Deflategate" scandal, the New England quarterback relentlessly carried the Patriots to an unprecedented ninth appearance in the title game, and his seventh. Brady threw for a franchise playoff-best 384 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-17 rout of the helpless Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in New England's seventh consecutive AFC championship game.

The Patriots are early 3-point favorites heading to face Atlanta in two weeks in Houston, seeking their fifth NFL title with Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick as coach. Belichick's seventh appearance in a Super Bowl will be a record for a head coach.

NFC Championship: Falcons heading to Super Bowl after dominating Packers, 44-21

Brady was banned by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when New England (16-2) went 3-1 to open the schedule.

"This is my motivation right here, all these fellas in front of me, these guys," Brady said, pointing to his teammates and ignoring mentions of "Deflategate." ''The boys showed up to play today."

Since his return in Week 5, the only defeat came at home to Seattle, and Brady, 39, had one of the best seasons of a Hall of Fame-caliber career. He punctuated that in dreary weather similar to the 2014 conference title game that precipitated the deflated footballs investigation by flattening Pittsburgh's secondary.

Chris Hogan was his main weapon. The previously unheralded receiver found open spaces everywhere on the field against a leaky secondary. Hogan caught nine balls for 180 yards and two scores.

Top wideout Julian Edelman added eight receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown as Brady tied Joe Montana's playoff record with nine three-TD passing performances. Brady also had his 11th 300-yard postseason game, extending his NFL record, completing 32 of 42 throws.

Pittsburgh (13-6) lost star running back Le'Veon Bell late in the first quarter to a groin injury. It didn't seem to matter much in a record 16th conference title match for the Steelers, who made mistakes in every facet of the game. The franchise that has won the most Super Bowls, six, and the most postseason games, 36, never seemed likely to challenge in the misty rain.

Hogan's second touchdown came on a flea-flicker and he easily beat safety Mike Mitchell to the corner of the end zone. At that point, Hogan had seven catches for 117 yards and the first multi-touchdown game of his four-year career.

Chris Hogan scored his second touchdown of the day on a 34-yard flea flicker from Tom Brady (video)

His first score made it 10-0 and came after Brady could have taken a nap before throwing, a common occurrence against a nonexistent pass rush. Hogan was all alone in the back of the end zone for the 16-yard score.

Pittsburgh had drawn to 10-6 on DeAngelo Williams' 5-yard run to cap an 84-yard drive. Veteran Williams is a nice security blanket in the backfield, though he's no Bell these days.

Still, he contributed on a 70-yard drive toward the end of the second quarter that appeared to be capped by Jesse James' TD reception. But video review showed James down at the 1, and the Steelers couldn't get into the end zone, Chris Boswell connecting for a 23-yard field goal.

The Steelers never threatened to get back into it. LeGarrette Blount punctuated the romp with a bruising 18-yard run on which he carried nearly the entire Pittsburgh defense with him. He then scored from the 1.

Pittsburgh Steelers steamrolled in AFC Championship game by Patriots, 36-17

By the end, the crowd was chanting "Where is Roger?" and celebrating yet another Super Bowl trip for the Patriots.

BIG LEG:

Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal to open the scoring set a franchise record with 27, surpassing Adam Vinatieri's 26. Gostkowski is fourth all-time. He made a 47-yarder in the third quarter, a 26-yarder in the fourth, but he missed an extra point.

Boswell, who set an NFL mark with six field goals in the Steelers' 18-16 win at Kansas City last week, missed an extra point wide left and made a 23-yard kick.

INJURIES:

Steelers: Bell's early departure left him with 20 yards on six carries and no receptions.

Patriots: DB Nate Ebner left with a head injury.

UP NEXT:

After winning the AFC East with the conference's top record, New England defeated the Texans 34-16 and the Steelers to reach the Super Bowl. They will take on Atlanta, which beat Green Bay 44-21 for the NFC crown. Super Bowl 51 will be in Houston on Feb. 5; New England won the 2002 and 2005 Super Bowls after beating Pittsburgh for the AFC championship.

Here's where to watch, listen and stream the Cleveland Cavaliers' game vs. the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 43 of the 2016 NBA season Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Here's how to watch, listen and stream the action online.

What: Cleveland Cavaliers (30-12 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (17-27).
Where: Smoothie King Center.
When: 8 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Ohio; WUAB.
Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM La Mega.
Online: Fox Sports Go.

San Antonio notable: In their first meeting of the season, Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield each scored a team-high 20 points for New Orleans. Davis also added 16 rebounds and three blocks. Jrue Holiday recorded 11 points and 13 assists.

Cleveland notable: Kevin Love posted his team-leading 25th double-double of the season (10th-most in NBA) on Saturday against San Antonio with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. He also notched a double-double in the first meeting against New Orleans (12 PTS, 11 REBS).

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs.

Was the Cavs' title in 2016 a flash in the pan, or will there be more championship parades in the city's near future?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Perhaps we're being greedy.

After all, Cleveland waited 52 years for a championship parade for one of its three major professional teams. And now the city is expected to make that sort of festivity a regular occurrence?

In the latest episode of (The Unnamed) cleveland.com Sports Podcast, Doug Lesmerises, Zack Meisel and Bud Shaw debated the championship prospects of the three major franchises in town: the Cavaliers (who ended the drought last June), the Indians (who fell one win short of turning it into a championship flood of sorts) and the Browns (who, uh, had a bunch of success before the advent of the Super Bowl).

We limited our focus to the next five years, a time in which the Cavs boast a roster that includes LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Indians have a potent lineup and more-than-capable pitching staff in tow and the Browns have an overflow of draft picks and cap space.

Now, we want to hear your thoughts. How many titles will the three teams capture over the next five years? Listen to our discussion and subscribe to our podcast. We release new episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Then, participate in the polls below and share your thoughts in the comments section. Was the Cavs' title in 2016 a flash in the pan, or will there be more championship parades in the city's near future?

We'll discuss the results in an upcoming podcast.

Cleveland.com sports columnists Doug Lesmerises and Bud Shaw make a list of the guards they think are better than the Cavs' Kyrie Irving. Hint: it's not a long list. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are All-Stars again. That's nothing new. But it's the first time two Cavaliers will start in an All-Star game.

If you're still looking for a sign that Irving has arrived, there you have it. Just know you're behind the curve a little.

This is Irving's fourth All-Star game, his second as a starter. He was All-Star MVP in 2014.

You may remember he hit a pretty big basket in Game 7 of the NBA Finals that got him some well-deserved recognition and might some day get him a statue outside the Q.

How good is Irving? Where would you rank him among NBA guards?

We kicked around that topic as part of our video debate series, Prepare for List Off.

For context, the premise was to name three guards better than Kyrie Irving. Cleveland.com sports columnist Doug Lesmerises got close, and by that I mean he didn't quite fulfill his assignment.

 I named three I think are better than Irving, though I reached that number by taking into account the attributes of a traditional point guard.

I never got around to saying it -- that happens often in debates with Doug -- but I'd want the ball in Irving's hands at the end of game over any other guard in the league.

Why? Because I don't think there's anyone quite as good at shaking a defender and getting a good shot.

Hear us out and come back and tell us what you think.

Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown underwent a back prodcedure recently and will not be permitted to attend the Senior Bowl this week. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns top personnel executive Sashi Brown won't attend the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this week because he underwent back surgery and is not permitted to travel per doctor's orders.

He should be cleared to travel in the coming weeks, meaning he'll be able to attend pro days, private workouts and the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in late February.

Browns Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Berry will attend the Senior Bowl, along with the rest of the scouting staff. Hue Jackson and the coaching staff will also be in Mobile all week coaching the South team.

Brown, who took over after the 2015 season as Executive Vice President of Football operations, has final say over the roster, including the draft.

The Browns, who went 1-15, have the first overall pick in the draft and the No. 12 overall pick from the trade with the Eagles that enabled Philadelphia to draft quarterback Carson Wentz at No. 2. They also have five picks in the top 65 and are hoping to find some good prospects at the Senior Bowl this week.

The Browns are disappointed that Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson declined an invitation to attend the Senior Bowl, but coach Hue Jackson told cleveland.com he won't hold it against the national championship MVP.

"Obviously we wish he were here,'' said Jackson, who arrived in Mobile on Sunday for three days of practices beginning Tuesday and the game on Saturday. "It would've been a great chance to have an opportunity to evaluate him doing the things we do in meetings and on the practice field, but that's not going to happen, so we'll have to find a different way of evaluating him. He's made a choice not to be involved and he's making the decision that's best for him.''

Hue Jackson vows he won't hold it against the Deshaun Watson that he's skipping the Senior Bowl

With Watson skipping the event, Jackson will coach three quarterbacks: Tennessee's Josh Dobbs, Tiffin's Antonio Pipkin and Cal's Davis Webb.

"We've got some guys,'' he said. "Anybody's who's here, it's a great opportunity for our organization to evaluate them. We're looking for football players everywhere so I think it's a tremendous opportunity for our organization to get a firsthand look on these players moreso than most people will because we're going to get an opportunity to coach them.''

Jackson and Brown spent a lot of time together at their first Senior Bowl last year, scouting players such as quarterback Cody Kessler, whom they picked in the third round.

In honor of his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, here are 21 things to know about No. 21 -- former Cleveland Indians player and manager Mike Hargrove.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer and Top 100 player Mike Hargrove will be honored Thursday night with a lifetime achievement award at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission's annual banquet.

Here is a list of 21 notable items about No. 21:

1. Native of Perryton, Texas.

2. Mike, or Michael, is his middle name. Full name is Dudley Michael Hargrove.

3. 25th-round pick of Texas Rangers in 1972.

4. Played in a combined 1,666 MLB games over 12 seasons with three teams (Rangers, Padres, Indians).

5. Made MLB debut on April 7, 1974, as pinch-hitter for Rangers against Oakland Athletics. Finished 1-for-2 with single, both ABs coming against Rollie Fingers. (For Athletics, Reggie Jackson was 3-for-5 with two three-run homers and seven RBI.)

6. Entered game late at first base for Rangers manager Billy Martin on June 4, 1974, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Went 0-for-1 with one walk in Rangers' forfeit victory on infamous Ten-Cent Beer Night.

7. 1974 AL Rookie of the Year.

8. 1975 AL All-Star.

9. No. 1 in American League in walks twice (97 in 1976; 107 in 1978).

10. Acquired by Indians from Padres for Paul Dade on June 14, 1979.

11. First baseman and No. 3 batter in Tribe righty Lenny Barker's perfect game over Danny Ainge and the Blue Jays on May 15, 1981, at Municipal Stadium. Went 1-for-4 with one run.

12. No. 1 in American League, No. 2 in MLB, with .424 on-base percentage in 1981. Mike Schmidt topped MLB at .435.

13. Finished career with .290 batting average, .396 on-base percentage, 965 walks and 550 strikeouts.

14. Given a truly awesome nickname as a player, "The Human Rain Delay,'' for his lengthy pre-pitch routine.

15. Managed three MLB teams (Indians, Orioles, Mariners) to a combined record of 1,188-1,173. Went 721-591 with Indians, 1991-99.

16. Managed Indians to 100-44 record in regular season and trip to World Series in 1995.

17. Dismissed as Indians manager after 1999 season ended in division-series loss to Red Sox. Gone despite having led Indians to five consecutive AL Central titles/postseasons and two World Series (1995, 1997).

18. Managed Albert Belle with two MLB franchises (Indians, 1991-96; Orioles, 2000). Grover did not earn AL manager of the year in any of those seasons.

19. Won final eight games as an MLB manager. Mariners were riding the streak, June 23-July 1, 2007,when Hargrove resigned on July 1.

20. Don't call him "Coach.'' Mike, Grover, Skip, even Ray. Just not Coach.

21. Married to middle-school crush, Sharon, who annually ranks among the kindest, nicest, most genuine people on the planet.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have stumbled to a 5-5 record so far in January and the main issue is their defense. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There has been a lot of talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers needing a backup point guard, and they do.

But the lack of a backup point guard is not why they are 5-5 in January.

They have had to deal with some minor injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, while also trying to get comfortable with newcomer Kyle Korver and adapt to playing without injured J.R. Smith.

But a real problem for the Cavaliers is their defense.

In fact, the Cavs have been a mediocre defensive team most of the season, ranking No. 16.

And they are playing LeBron James too many minutes, something that could come back to bite them later in the season, or in the playoffs.

We talk about it in this video.

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza announced it is opening a restaurant on Dressler Road near Belden Village Mall in Canton this spring. A store in Mentor at Creekside Commons is also in the works. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Slowly, but surely, LeBron James' pizza chain is inching towards his home base in Northeast Ohio.

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza announced it is opening a restaurant on Dressler Road near Belden Village Mall in Canton this spring.

"Blaze Pizza offers a high-quality, quick, affordable lunch and dinner option that's perfect for individuals and families on the go," said Rodney Walker of franchise holder Blaze Midwest, Inc. in a press release. "We are particularly excited to open up in this growing shopping area so close to Kent and Stark universities, as our concept is perfect for shoppers and students looking for a quick but delicious pizza option."

The restaurant is one of the fastest growing chains in the country, but the Canton location will be the first in Northeast Ohio. A store in Mentor at Creekside Commons is also in the works.

Blaze Pizza features the familiar assembly line setup, similar to Chipotle, where diners go down the line, creating their own pizzas, which are then plopped into a huge stone-hearth oven for three minutes.

James, the NBA superstar who also has a hit game show (NBC's "The Wall") currently on TV, was one of Blaze's original investors in 2012. According to ESPN, he owns about 10 percent of the company along with franchise rights in Chicago and Miami.

The Browns have signed linebacker Jamie Collins to a new, blockbuster 4-year contract that makes him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - One down, one to go.

The Browns set out this offseason to extend their two biggest impending free agents, and they wrapped up one for four years, $50 million Monday in 2015 Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins. $26 million of that is guaranteed.

The other is receiver Terrelle Pryor, whom Browns Executive Vice President Sashi Brown said he'd also like to wrap up, preferably without using the franchise tag. Currently, the Browns don't appear close to signing Pryor.

Collins' blockbuster -- with an average of $12.5 million a year -- deal makes him the fourth highest paid linebacker in the NFL. The top three are Denver's Von Miller ($19,083,333), Kansas City's Justin Houston ($16,833,333) and Green Bay's Clay Matthews ($13.2 million).

He's averaging more than Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly,  who makes $12.36 million.

A source told cleveland.com that the Browns had to pay Collins (6-3, 250) more than his market value -- which was estimated to be about $10 million a year -- to get him to stay.

"We're going to be aggressive about acquiring talent, and when we had the opportunity to trade for Jamie back in October, it was done with the intent of him becoming a long-term part of our defense," Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown said in a release. "Jamie has shown throughout his NFL career that he is a very talented player with a rare skill set that allows him to impact games in a number of ways.

"He's a versatile, smart, competitive and physical football player who has experienced winning at the highest level. Jamie was great to have in our building this season, and we look forward to him being a Cleveland Brown for a number of years to come. We are counting on him to be a big part of us becoming a winning team."
Jackson, who said last month it would be coup for the Browns to extend Collins, was thrilled. In addition to everything else, it's the perfect housewarming present for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

"It's no secret how I feel about Jamie Collins," Jackson said in the release.  "He's an outstanding football player and a guy we think can be part of the foundation of a tremendous defense. I was excited when we were able to trade for him last season, and now, I'm even more excited knowing that he's going to be part of our future. We all know we have a lot of work to do to get our team where we feel it needs to be. Jamie wants to be a part of that.

"He wants to help build this team for success. He was outstanding in our locker room last year because he's seen what success in the NFL looks like and our players respect the way he carries himself. We are all looking forward to him being a part of the success we plan to earn through our hard work and preparation."

Gregg Williams: 5 things we learned about his 'aggressive, attacking, physical' defense

Collins, who would've been playing in the Super Bowl in February 5th if the Browns hadn't acquired him in a trade with New England for a third-round compensatory pick, made it clear in December that he'd stay if the money were right, and that he felt comfortable here.

 "I want to thank the Cleveland Browns organization for giving me this opportunity," Collins said. "From the day I walked in the door, I felt welcomed by my new teammates and everyone in this organization. The past is the past as far as last season's record, but today is a new day. I'm only looking forward. I know we have a lot of work to do, and with Coach Hue leading us and the front office bringing in talent, I feel like we are going to get there and I feel good about continuing my career here."

 Will he be worth the money? The Patriots didn't think so, which is why they traded him.

But Collins, 27, stepped right in and started all eight games for the Browns at outside linebacker, finishing third on the team with 69 tackles, including 48 solo. He had three games with double-digit stops, and played every snap in six of his eight starts with the Browns. All told, he had 112 tackles in his 14 starts, including six in New England. He also finished the season with three sacks, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Used primarily as coverage linebacker in New England, Collins rushed more here and was used in multiple ways. He doesn't have the same level of talent around him here that did in New England, but the Browns plan to upgrade in the offseason, through free agency, the draft and trades.

They have the No. 1 and No. 12 overall picks in the draft, and many experts believe they'll draft Texas A&M pass-rusher Myles Garrett No. 1 overall. They'll have more than $100,000 million in cap space, and more than 12 draft picks, including five in the top 65. What's more, new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams promises to "accentuate the strengths and hide the weaknesses'' of his new players, meaning Collins might have a few Pro Bowl-caliber players around him next season.

Cornerback Joe Haden was all for wrapping up Collins long-term and having another Pro Bowler on D.

"You can tell if a guy's got it, if he doesn't,'' said Haden. "You can tell if he understands, you can tell if he plays the way that you can be able to be effective in the league, using your hands, being very, very physical, dominant, understanding stuff. And he does all of that. You could tell when he came out there he's one of the best players on our defense as soon as he steps out on the field."

 Originally a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2013  out of Southern Miss, Collins has started 49 of his 58 games. He has totaled 354 career tackles, 12.5 sacks, five interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and one blocked extra point.

 He led the Patriots in tackles in 2014 and 2015 and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2015. He was also named to the Associated Press All-Pro second team. He led New England in tackles and played every defensive snap during the team's win in Super Bowl XLIX.

NASCAR announces dramatic changes to its format for the upcoming season, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 next month.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR is dramatically changing its format for the upcoming season, cutting every race into stages that reward points in hopes of making every lap matter and keeping fans interested.

The overhaul announced Monday assigns three stages to every race. The top 10 drivers at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be awarded points on a 10-through-1 scale. The third portion of the race will be for the overall victory, and although traditional point scoring will be applied for that stage, the win will be worth 40 points. The rest of the field will be scored on a 35 to 2 scale, and positions 36th to 40 will only receive 1 point.

All bonus points accumulated through the 26-race regular season can be used in the 10-race playoff, which will no longer be called "The Chase."

"There are no off weeks, every race matters, not only that, every lap of every race matters," said Denny Hamlin, one of the many drivers who participated in the panel that created this new format.

NASCAR spent nearly seven months working with a wide range of industry stakeholders to come up with the changes. Heavily involved were the television networks, retired drivers Jeff Gordon and Jeff, Burton, current drivers from the driver council and team and track executives. Monster Energy, which signed last month as the title sponsor for NASCAR's top series, was only informed of the shakeup in the last few weeks.

"If we created motorsports today, this is exactly how we would have done it," said 2012 champion Brad Keselowski. "Just wait until you see it on the race track. It's the best racing you'll ever see in your life."

The new format begins with the Feb. 26 season-opening Daytona 500.

NASCAR was energized by the changes, particularly the stages that will allow for a commercial break that doesn't occur during green-flag racing. Segment winners will be interviewed during the breaks, and NASCAR likes that it creates a pause that gives fans a chance to reset.

"As a driver, I'm happy to be rewarded for how I performed and not how I finished," said Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Race distances will not change under the format, which will apply to all three national series. Had NASCAR run the system this past season, Jimmie Johnson still would have won the title, but Martin Truex Jr. would have advanced one more round through the playoffs based on his two victories in the first round.

Among other changes:

-- There will be no bonus points for leading a lap or for leading the most laps.

-- The number of laps in each of the first two segments will be the same in a race, and the end of the second stage will be approximately at the halfway point of the race.

-- Drivers will now earn bonus points that will be called playoff points and carry with them through the 10-race playoffs. Drivers will earn five playoff points for every race win and one playoff point for every segment win.

-- The playoffs will remain divided into three three-race rounds with four drivers eliminated after each round to set up four finalists for the season finale, where the four finalists will not be eligible to earn segment victories.

-- The exhibition duels during Speedweeks at Daytona next month will now be worth 10 points to the two race winners.

"Since NASCAR started, there has always been change," said Hall of Famer Richard Petty. "This new format just adapts to the current and next generation of fans. It's something to help create more excitement during the races. You have to put on a good race, a good show where people want to watch at home and enjoy coming to the track. Having two additional winning moments is a good step in that direction to keep the drivers competitive and fans excited throughout the race and season."

Mike Joy, FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer, said the change brought racing more in line with other sports like football (quarters), baseball (innings) and hockey (periods).

"The idea of trying to get the viewer in front of a TV set for 500 miles of straight competition has proven difficult in this century," Fox said. "People are consuming sports differently than ever before, and every sport is discussing evolving to suit the target audience. This race-stage format provides a better alternative than shortening races, because fans will still get their money's worth with just as much competition as previously."

Get the latest updates and analysis from the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 43 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday in Game 43 of the 2016 NBA regular season.

Follow along in the comments section as Joe Vardon brings you observations and analysis throughout the game.

Make sure to follow Vardon on Twitter.

Game 43: Cavs (30-12) vs. Pelicans (17-27)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. at Smoothie King Center.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio, WUAB; WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM (ESP).

Cavs probable starting lineup: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Kyrie Iriving.

Pelicans probable starting lineup: DJrue Holiday, Buddy Hield, Solomon Hill, Dante Cunningham, Anthony Davis.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here

Help us improve your Cavs gameday experience on Cleveland.com!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE A SHORT SURVEY.

Lorain, Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Cornerstone Christian are among The Associated Press state-ranked boys basketball teams in their respective divisions.

The Cleveland Browns made Jamie Collins the fourth-highest paid linebacker in the NFL. It's a positive step for a franchise that has had so much negative news.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- They overpaid!

Just wait for that charge to come after the Cleveland Browns gave a four-year, $50 million deal ($26 million guaranteed) to free agent linebacker Jamie Collins.

The 1-15 Browns are the NFL's worst franchise. They have been near the bottom of the league for years and years and years.

To convince a B-plus type linebacker to stay in Cleveland, you have to pay him like an A-student.

You are asking him to stay with a team that has yet to prove it has a clue how to win.

This is exactly what the Browns had to do. They have to stop allowing good players to leave.

The money? It's a lot, the fourth-highest contract of any linebacker in the NFL.

New England didn't think Collins was worth $10 million a year. That's why he was traded -- his price was too high.

And New England is so strong, the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl without Collins, who was a Pro Bowl pick in 2015.

But the Browns are not the Patriots. They are 1-15. And they are more than $100 million under the salary cap!

The 27-year-old Collins is a good bet to be productive in the next few seasons. It's also a sign to other players that the Browns are willing to pay -- and Collins was willing to stay rather than test free agency in March.

A good guess is this contract won't look quite as large by the end of the open free agency period. Someone, somewhere will receive a deal that causes even more eyes to pop.

That's how it is every year.

RECRUITING COLLINS

When the Browns traded for Collins, vice president Sashi Brown picked up the linebacker at the airport. It was a way of letting Collins know he mattered to his new team.

We'll never know if the Browns would have been able to sign Collins without making the mid-season trade. They will send a future third-rounder to the Patriots for Collins.

But the trade helped them keep Collins. It allowed Collins to get to know coach Hue Jackson and the people in the front office.

The trade also gave the Browns a chance to evaluate Collins as a player and a person. How will he handle losing? Is he coachable?

Jackson connected with Collins and built a solid relationship during the final eight games when the linebacker was with the Browns.

SOMETHING POSITIVE

The Browns had a few things to sell.

They are a team with a new and proven defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams. He has a history of putting players in the right spots to excel.

They are a team with a pile of high draft picks in the next few years, but it's also a team that has to prove it can use them wisely.

They are a team that was willing to pay Collins big money and set him up to be a key part of the defense.

All of that helped keep Collins with the Browns -- and away from the Wild West of the free agent market.

Collins lives in Mississippi. He drove to Alabama to visit Jackson, Williams and the other Browns coaches Monday at the Senior Bowl.

I know, the Browns "overpaid."

But I also know this: If the Browns had failed to sign Collins, what would everyone be saying about the franchise?