DANY JRNL

December brings 2025 to a close, and the holiday season is in full swing.

The month is filled with holidays, celebrations, festivals, and more, including thewinter solstice,Hanukkah, Christmas, and more.

Christmas, Dec. 25, is also a federal holiday, so banks, government offices, and the U.S. stock market will be closed in observance.

More:Christmas trees are in trouble. Help is on the way.

Are there any federal holidays in December?

Yes. There is one federal holiday in December:

• Christmas Day - Thursday, Dec. 25

In total, 2025 has 11 federal holidays, according to theOffice of Personnel Management. The next and first federal holiday of 2026 will be New Year's Day on Thursday, Jan. 1.

When is Christmas 2025?

Christmas Day falls on Dec. 25. In 2025, Christmas will fall on a Thursday.

When is the full moon in December 2025, and other celestial events?

December'sSuper Moon/Cold Moonwill peak on Thursday, Dec. 4, according toDate and Time. The moon will be anew moonon Saturday, Dec. 20, followed by the shortest day of the year, thewinter solstice on Sunday, Dec. 21.

The following meteor showers will also peak in the month, according to theAmerican Meteor Shower:

• Geminids - Peaks from Saturday, Dec. 13, to Sunday, Dec. 14.

• Ursids - Peaks from Sunday, Dec. 21, to Monday, Dec. 22.

The Quadrantids meteor shower is also set to begin on Sunday, Dec. 28, but won't peak until Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.

What religious holidays are in December?

More:When is the first night of Hanukkah 2025? When does it end?

The following are some of the holidays and traditional celebrations throughout December, according toDiversity Resources:

• St. Nicholas Day - Saturday, Dec. 6

• Bodhi Day - Monday, Dec. 8

• Hanukkah - Begins on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 14 and ends on Monday, Dec. 22

• Yule - Sunday, Dec. 21, and ends on Monday, Dec. 22

• Kwanzaa - Begins on Friday, Dec. 26 and ends on Thursday, Jan. 1

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:A look at December calendar for religious, federal holiday schedule

Three children ages 8, 9 and 14 and a 21-year-old were killed Saturday when gunfire broke out at a banquet hall in Stockton where at least 100 people were gathered, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. Detectives believe the gunfire continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters.

Eleven people were also wounded, with at least one in critical condition, he said. No one was in custody by Sunday evening, and the sheriff urged anyone with information to contact his office with tips, cellphone video or witness accounts.

"This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behavior, when people will just walk in and kill children," Withrow said. "And so if you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know. If not, you just become complacent and think this is acceptable behavior."

Sheriff's spokesperson Heather Brent said earlier that investigators believe it was a "targeted incident." Officials did not elaborate on why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted. She said investigators would welcome any information, "even rumors."

Roscoe Brown said the party was in honor of his brother's granddaughter, who turned 2 and was uninjured. Brown, who works for the city of Stockton's Office of Violence Prevention, was in Arizona when he learned about the shooting and drove straight to the scene. He said a niece and nephew of his were shot, and he knows several other victims. He didn't have information about their conditions.

"Who would come and do that to some kids, you know?" Brown told The Associated Press following a vigil organized by faith leaders to honor the dead and pray for the wounded. "You can't shoot up a party. That's senseless. A kid's party, at that."

Emmanuel Lopez told theLos Angeles Timeshis brother, 21-year-old Susano Archuleta, was shot in the neck and died at the scene. Lopez said his 9-year-old daughter was shot in the head but survived. He didn't share details about what led up to the shooting.

Stockton is a city of 320,000 residents about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east of San Francisco. With 54 homicides in 2024, Stockton's homicide rate was significantly higher than the state average. As of October, there had been 34 this year, according to city data.

Hours after the shooting, the Stockton Police Department arrested five people, including a juvenile, on weapons and gang-related charges. There was no indication that the arrests were connected to the killings at the banquet hall, the sheriff said.

Mayor Christina Fugazi told reporters that the 8-year-old victim attended a local school and had a parent who worked for the Stockton Unified School District. The mayor said counselors would be available this week at city schools.

She expressed anguish over the loss of victims so young.

"They should be writing their Christmas lists right now. Their parents should be out shopping for them for Christmas. And to think that their lives are over. I can't even begin to imagine what these families are going through. Breaks my heart," Fugazi said on Sunday.

Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.

Republicans who control the House chamber have said there's no doubt that redistricting will pass that chamber. But the fate of any proposal to emerge remains uncertain in the Senate. Republicans also control that chamber but members of the caucus have resisted pressure to redistrict for months.

Senate leadership recently backed off from previous intent not to meet at all, agreeing to convene next Monday. But it's still unclear if enough senators will back a new map.

No official map or legislation had been made public by late Friday.

Republicans hold seven of Indiana's existing nine U.S. House seats.Trumpand other Republicans want to make the map 9-0 in the GOP's favor, aiming to give the party two extra seats in the 2026 elections that will determine control the U.S. House. Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to overcome the Republicans' current margin.

Indiana lawmakers have been under mountingpressure from the White Houseto redistrict like Republicans in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina have. To offset the GOP gains, Democrats in California and Virginia have moved to do the same.

But some Indiana Republicans have been far more resistant. Republicans in the state Senate rebelled against Republican Gov. Mike Braun in November and said they would not attend aspecial sessionhe ordered on redistricting.

The chamber's top Republican, President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, at the time said the Senate did not have the votes. A spokesperson for Bray's office did not respond Friday when asked if that is still the case.

Meanwhile, Trump attacked Indiana senators on social media, particularly Bray. He swore to endorse primary opponents of defecting senators. A spree of threats and swatting attempts were made against lawmakers who either said they do not support redistricting or have not taken a stance. At least one lawmaker in favor of redistricting and Braun were also threatened.

Last week, the House announced plans to convene in Indianapolis on Monday.

"All legislative business will be considered beginning next week, including redrawing the state's congressional map," House Speaker Todd Huston said in a statement Tuesday.

The Indiana Senate, where a number of lawmakers objected to leadership's refusal to hold a vote, then said members would reconvene Dec. 8.

"The issue of redrawing Indiana's congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state," Bray said in a statement Tuesday. He said the Senate will finally decide the matter this month.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.

One year ago at this time, the Vikings were coming off a white-knuckled 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears in overtime. They celebrated the resiliency of Sam Darnold, who had thrown for 330 yards and two touchdowns and led Minnesota to an impressive game-winning drive in the extra frame. Suddenly, Minnesota was heading into December 9-2 and with four of their final six games at home. Destiny was seemingly unfurling before the franchise, with both the playoffs and NFC North crown within reach. And inside it all, Darnold was presenting himself as a viable long-term starting quarterback option resting in the hands of head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

For all intents and purposes, it seemed like a hard situation to screw up. But the NFL can be cruel that way. Sometimes when everything and everyone is looking up, the floor is just waiting to fall out beneath it all. And that may be the best way to describe the Vikings one year later.

No floor — just the falling.

[Get more Vikings news: Minnesota team feed]

To a low on Sunday that hasn't been seen inside the franchise since 2007. That's the last time the Vikings had been shut out in a game, losing to the Green Bay Packers 34-0. On Sunday, the zero on the Minnesota side of the ledger felt much worse — via a26-0 loss to the Super Bowl-contending Seattle Seahawks, stewarded by a quarterback who has helped spark a renaissance in the franchise: Sam Darnold.

This one didn't just hurt in Minnesota. It radiated agony. So much so, superstar wideout Justin Jefferson left afterward without speaking to reporters for the first time in his six-year NFL career. This after embracing Darnold in a hug at midfield after the loss and sharing a few words.

Former teammates Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson share a moment postgame 🫶pic.twitter.com/ynLmywDX1X

— NFL (@NFL)December 1, 2025

Jefferson's 2024 running mate in Minnesota hadn't exactly had a banner day, with Darnold throwing for only 148 yards on 14-of-26 passing and no touchdowns. But Darnold's former favorite Vikings wideout had done almost nothing, with Jefferson catching two passes for 4 yards, both career single-game lows.

For the Vikings, it felt like a concrete stamp of three realities that aren't going away.

First, letting Darnold depart Minnesota in free agency in favor of sliding every bet onto J.J. McCarthy appears to have been a massive mistake, one that is potentially franchise-changing — although it's hard to see the entire horizon at this stage. What we do know is that Darnold is capable of being a winning quarterback when he's surrounded with a running game and a defense. And while he's still capable of an occasional single-game implosion, he's grown past the fears of a full-scale rollback into the single-read-and-then-panic quarterback of yesteryear. At worst, he is finding his place as a high-end game manager along the lines of the Detroit Lions' Jared Goff. At best? Time will tell what that looks like. But at the very least, he's proven to be worth the risk.

The second reality: The Vikings have no choice but to plug McCarthy back into the starting lineup once he clears concussion protocol. Rookie backup Max Brosmer was absolutely not ready to play in an NFL game. From the four sacks to the four interceptions, including an atrocious no-look hook shot into the air while being sacked, which resulted in an 85-yard touchdown return by Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, Brosmer looked consistently overwhelmed. At the very least, McCarthy was a roller coaster withsomehighs between a lot of lows. Brosmer imploding merely underscores that the Vikings are going to have to go through the wood-chipper the rest of the season and see if McCarthy can show any semblance of progress.

And the final reality: Minnesota is going to have to take the route of the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 and either sign or trade for a veteran backup who can compete for the starting job heading into training camp in 2026. Candidates with some youth and track records as a starter could be the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray, San Francisco 49ers' Mac Jones, Las Vegas Raiders' Kenny Pickett or Philadelphia Eagles' Sam Howell. The "flier" category of young players with tools but no real sustained résumé of previous opportunities could include the Los Angeles Chargers' Trey Lance, or Green Bay Packers' Malik Willis. And the recently highly-drafted-but-out-of-favor crowd that includes the Colts' Anthony Richardson and Tennessee Titans' Will Levis.

Yes, that's a hefty batch of bruised fruit in the clearance aisle. But that's where the Vikings once found Darnold, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers netted Baker Mayfield and the Colts plucked Daniel Jones. You can even throw in serviceable seasons of Geno Smith with the Seattle Seahawks from 2022 to 2024. As O'Connell has spoken of himself, you can find quarterbacks who were placed on the scrap heap too early. And surely, he's got to think long and hard about his own words on the subject before he turns away from McCarthy. But in terms of opening up a real competition in 2026, there aren't going to be a wealth of great options.

That is, barring some kind of unbelievable turn of fortune — like hitting the lottery and finding some kind of miraculously answered prayer of peeling Matthew Stafford off the Los Angeles Rams. If O'Connell has ever had a fever dream, that's the one. Of course, it would entail the Rams absolutely falling head over heels in love with a quarterback in the 2026 draft and then convincing Stafford to swap Los Angeles and Sean McVay for Minneapolis and O'Connell for the last chapter of his career. It's hard to believe that scenario ever happening, but who could have seen Tom Brady wrapping his NFL symphony as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

That this is the conversation one season after going 14-3 says a lot about the quarterback mistake in Minneapolis. It's an error that has devolved into Justin Jefferson leaving in silence as one year of a very real Super Bowl window is being slammed shut. Now the Vikings head into December at 4-8, with five games left and one monstrous quarterback problem dragging them down.

The floor is gone. All that's left is the falling.

The ESPN reporter, who spent nearly all of Saturday and Sunday at theOle Missfootball facility,got a 3-minute interviewwith Kiffin before the former Rebels coach boarded a private jet set for Baton Rouge totake his next chapter as LSU football coach.

Kiffin reiterated his desire to coach Ole Miss in the upcomingCollege Football Playoff, but Mississippi athletic director Keith Carter decided against it andpromoted defensive coordinator Pete Goldingto head coach in Kiffin's place.

"It was really difficult. This has been a really special place. Six years here," Kiffin told Smith. "I know there are a lot of feelings and emotions around right now. I hope when they settle down that there's an appreciation about what we were able to do here and having the best run that's ever been done in the history of the school.  Brought some exciting times. I'm so appreciative of the people of Oxford and the relationships that I developed here… Just prayed a lot. Made a family decision and hopefully get a chance to go impact a whole new set of people."

Lane Kiffin says CFP decision came down to Ole Miss AD Keith Carter 'has to live here'

Kiffin told Smith he wasn't part of Sunday's meeting between Carter and the school's chancellor, at Carter's request.

"I totally respect Keith's decision… He asked me not to come to the meeting, which I totally understand," Kiffin said. "I don't know that I necessarily agree, we're trying to find a way to make this work and coach the team and give the team the best chance to win... He's got a job to do, and like he said, he has to live here. So maybe all the national people understand why he should let me be able to coach, but he has to live here, and it's a little different when you're the AD, so totally respect that. And Keith has been amazing to us over the six years."

Lane Kiffin said mentors helped push him to LSU

"My heart was here (Oxford), but I talked to some mentors, coach (Pete) Carroll, coach (Nick) Saban, you know, and especially when coach Carroll said, 'Your dad would tell you to go. Take the  shot. Take the shot. You've accomplished a lot here.' I always felt I always hated how we gave one year to Tennessee and then left. I really hated that feeling of that. Even though it was exciting, but I think we gave a lot to this program and to this city, and some of the most historic wins in this stadium they've ever had and best regular season in the history of the school, so I feel proud of that part. But it just became time, you know, talked to God and he told me it's time to take a new step. It's a new chapter."

YOU CAN WATCH FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

My interview with@Lane_Kiffinprior to his departure from Oxford to Baton Rouge.•Why he chose LSU over Ole Miss•Why he wasn't in Sunday's Ole Miss team meeting•His response to not coaching Ole Miss in the playoff•Why this took so long•Peter Carroll's important msgpic.twitter.com/GfBkE7fnHU

— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN)December 1, 2025

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What Lane Kiffin told Marty Smith before boarding private jet for LSU

The international governing body for track and field announced the winners Sunday at ceremony in Monaco, with McLaughlin-Levrone also winning the women's track award and pole vault world-record holder Duplantis winning the men's field events award.

McLaughlin-Levrone has been undefeated for two years in both the400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles, an event where she's on a 24-race winning streak.

She won the 400 at the world champions in Tokyo, breaking a 42-year-old championship record and setting the second-fastest time ever. That made her the first athlete to win world titles at both the 400 and 400-meter hurdles.

"The culmination of the season in Tokyo was a really special moment," McLaughlin-Levrone said. "I'm so thankful for everyone who supported, watched, voted and who was there throughout this whole process.

"For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible. I want to continue pushing boundaries in 2026."

Duplantis set four world pole vault records, each by 1-centimeter increments, and was unbeaten in 16 competitions in 2025, including world titles.

"I hope to keep pushing it. I hope to keep irritating everyone who has to vote for me for years to come!" Duplantis said. "It's really important for me to win this for the field eventers. It's very special, I'm going to really cherish this one."

AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

Robin Marchant/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

NEED TO KNOW

• John Slattery recalled "briefly" crossing paths with his Mad Men costar Colin Hanks while speaking with PEOPLE about their movie Nuremberg

• Hanks starred in three episodes of the Jon Hamm-led television series as Father Gill

• Slattery didn't appear in any scenes with Hanks in the show, but he told PEOPLE that they crossed paths on set

John Slattery is looking back on hisMad Mendays.

The actor, 63, recalled "briefly" crossing paths with hisMad Mencostar Colin Hanks while speaking with PEOPLE about their movieNuremberg.

The 2025 drama reunites Slattery with Hanks, 48, who starred in three episodes of theJon Hamm-led television series as Father Gill in season 2.

David Benthal/BFA.com

Slattery played Roger Sterling inMad Menfor all seven seasons from 2007 to 2015, and also directed three episodes. The actor didn't interact with Hanks in the series, but he told PEOPLE that they crossed paths on set.

"We did [meet] briefly back then," Slattery said. "I didn't have anything to do with him story-wise on the show, but we had met and chatted."

Everett Collection

The actor then noted that Hanks is a "great guy" and they spent "a lot" of time together while filmingNuremberg.

The movie, directed by James Vanderbilt, follows U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) as he is assigned to analyze the mental state of Adolf Hitler's second-in-command, Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), and other Nazi officials in the aftermath of the Holocaust.

Slattery plays U.S. Colonel Andrus, who ultimately brings in Hanks' Gustave Gilbert, a psychologist, to offer a second opinion on Kelley's work.

The drama movie, based on the nonfiction bookThe Nazi and the Psychiatristby Jack El-Hai, also starsMichael Shannon,Leo WoodallandRichard E. Grant.

Slattery said he was initially drawn to the movie by its starry cast, and then read Vanderbilt's script and the nonfiction book that the real-life Burton C. Andrus wrote.

"It's a great story to be involved with and had great people to work with. [Vanderbilt] had the money to produce it with some size and some scale, which doesn't happen a lot," he said. "They don't make movies like this anymore at this price point."

Scott Garfield/Sony Pictures Classics

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When it came to bonding with his costars, Slattery said, "It was a great group of people. We all got along well. Michael Shannon is a very funny guy. I've known Rami [Malek] for a while. We had a good time. It was grave during the day and it was heavy, but it was easy to let off steam after."

Slattery shared that the cast "all lived in the same hotel" and would hang out after shooting. "I think we felt like the material was good and it was worth everybody's time. So we had a really good time," he told PEOPLE.

Read the original article onPeople

The NFL previously announced that Puerto Rican music starBad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, produced by DPS with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers.

More from Variety

• Sara Bareilles on Her New Duet With Brandi Carlile, 'Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,' Theme Song for 'Come See Me in the Good Light': 'This Film Is Medicinal - It's Easy to Want to Amplify It'

• CMA Awards' Performance Lineup Adds Kenny Chesney, Brandi Carlile, Miranda Lambert, Red Clay Strays and More

• What Was Brandi Carlile Reciting on 'SNL'? How Thomas Jefferson's Proclamation About Separating 'Church & State' Made It Into a Blazing Rock Song

The Super Bowl pregame entertainment will spotlight powerful American Sign Language (ASL) performances. Renowned Deaf music artist Fred Beam will perform the National Anthem and "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and Deaf music performer Julian Ortiz will deliver "America the Beautiful."

In a historic first, the signed rendition of the Apple Music Halftime Show will feature a multilingual signing program incorporating Puerto Rican Sign Language, led by Deaf Puerto Rican performer Celimar Rivera Cosme.

All signed performances for the Super Bowl pregame and the Apple Music Halftime Show are collaborations with Alexis Kashar of Love Sign and Howard Rosenblum of Deaf Equality.

"Super Bowl Sunday is the world's biggest entertainment stage, and we're proud to spotlight artists who embody the very best of music and culture," said Jon Barker, senior vice president of global event production for the NFL. "Beyond the game itself, the Super Bowl is a global celebration. These artists bring a distinct voice to the moment, helping set the tone for a day that will captivate fans around the world."

"Charlie, Brandi, and Coco are generational talents, and we are honored to have them – alongside our extraordinary deaf performers – on Super Bowl LX's world stage," stated Desiree Perez, CEO, Roc Nation. "This moment embodies the very best of culture, live performance, and our country, perfectly kicking off game day."

Carlile will perform "America the Beautiful." Carlile is an Oscar nominee, an 11-time Grammy-winner and 2-time Emmy-winner whose latest solo album is "Returning To Myself." It follows her collaboration with Elton John, "Who Believes in Angels?," which recently earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer Charlie Puth will perform the National Anthem. His performance comes ahead of the release of his highly anticipated fourth studio album, "Whatever's Clever!", set for March 6, 2026.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" will be performed by Grammy-winning R&B star Coco Jones. A multifaceted entertainer and actress, Jones currently stars in Peacock's "Bel-Air."

Best of Variety

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• Oscar Predictions: 'Sinners' Surges, 'No Other Choice' Climbs and 'Wicked: For Good' Isn't Dead, No Matter What Social Media Claims

• What's Coming to Netflix in December 2025

Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

CBS/Courtesy Everett

Patricia Heatoncould tell you some stories about the lateDoris Roberts.

Roberts played Heaton's overbearing mother-in-law onEverybody Loves Raymondfor nine seasons, from 1995 to 2006, and her presence was definitely missed at the recent reunion of the surviving cast members to mark the show's 30th anniversary.

"Doris could drink everybody under the table," Heaton recalled with a laugh. "Champagne, that was her drink."

CreatorPhil Rosenthalhas acknowledged that the character of Marie Barone, which Roberts played, was loosely based on his own mom, while Frank Barone, portrayed by the latePeter Boyle, was inspired byRay Romano's real-life dad.

"No one came close to Doris Roberts. No one," Rosenthal said. "She was what was in my head and in my life. And was so beyond even. My real mother used to say, 'You know, it is a little exaggerated.' But you never saw that with Doris, because she was always spot on. She was always a hundred percent believable. Peter too."

Romano, who played Roberts' onscreen son, noted said Roberts "never stopped working" and was "taking acting classes until she was 90."

Heaton added that Roberts used hiatuses for projects such as directing plays.

In addition toRaymond, Roberts — who started working in the '50s — had appeared on TV shows includingMary Hartman, Mary Hartman;Soap;Angie;St. Elsewhere; andRemington Steele. Her list of credits also included movies such asDickie Roberts: Former Child Star;Grandma's Boy; and, in 1989,National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in which she proved that she could play an annoying mother-in-law. The perennial favorite features her as Frances, the mother of Beverly D'Angelo's Ellen Griswold. Her character's son-in-law is Chevy Chase's Clark.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Roberts earned four Emmys for her work as a supporting actress onEverybody Loves Raymond— in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005.

She was 90 years old when she died in 2016.

Heaton paid tribute to her costar then, too.

"Truly the end of an era,"Heaton wroteon social media. "My wonderful TV mother-in-law andELRnemesis Doris Roberts was a consummate professional from whom I learned so much. She was funny and tough and loved life, living it to the fullest. Nothing gave her greater joy that her three wonderful grandchildren, of whom she was so proud. It truly was a privilege Doris. I love you and miss you."

TheEverybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunionis streaming on Paramount+.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

Four Texas firefighters were injured early Sunday when an 18-wheeler slammed into their fire engine as they were blocking traffic to a freeway entrance following a car crash, authorities said.

The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. in north Houston, according to the Houston Fire Department.

The injured firefighters were taken by ambulance to a hospital, officials said.

"We are asking for prayers for our four injured firefighters," Patrick M. "Marty" Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, said in asocial media post.

The fire crew had responded to a traffic accident on the Eastex Freeway and was blocking the entrance to the freeway at Northpark Drive with a Houston Fire Department pumper engine when they were hit by the big rig, authorities said.

The firefighters suffered "injuries of varying severities," according to a statement from the fire department. "All are expected to fully recover."

8 firefighters hurt, 2 critically, in fire truck rollover crash while returning from California wildfire

Three of the injured firefighters remained hospitalized on Sunday afternoon, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what injuries the driver of the big rig sustained.

4 dead, 10 wounded in shooting at California banquet hall: Sheriff's office

The crash remains under investigation.

"Blocking traffic on the freeway is one of the most dangerous tasks we do," Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said in a statement on social media. "We're extremely grateful that every member of Engine 104 is expected to recover, and we ask drivers to slow down and move over when they see emergency crews working."

U.S. Central Command said it and Syrian forces identified and destroyed the storage facilities across the Rif Damashq province during multiple airstrikes and ground detonations that were conducted from November 24 to November 27.

"The combined operation destroyed over 130 mortars and rockets, multiple assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank mines, and materials for building improvised explosive devices," CENTCOM said in a statement.

Islamic State, the militant group that once imposed hardline Islamist rule over millions of people in Syria and Iraq, was largely crushed by a U.S.-led coalition several years ago, but has managed to rebuild and regroup.

Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said on Sunday the operation "ensures gains made against ISIS are lasting."

U.S.President Donald Trumpvowedto do everything he could to make Syria successful after November 10 talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who until recently was sanctioned by Washington as a foreign terrorist.

Syriacarried out nationwide pre-emptive operationstargeting Islamic State cells in the days before the talks in Washington, the Syrian government said at the time.

One of Sharaa's chief aims in the meeting with Trump was to push for full removal of the toughest U.S. sanctions against the country.

During the meeting, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a 180-day extension of its suspension of enforcement of the so-called Caesar sanctions, but only the U.S. Congress can lift them entirely.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Ted Hesson; Editing by Diane Craft and Chris Reese)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:US military says it destroyed ISIS weapons caches in Syria

Emerging from their holiday food comas and shuffling toward the nation's airports and highways, some Americans may discover the biggest holiday indigestion has nothing to do with pie. A potent storm is muscling into the journey home, threatening to upend post-turkey travel.

For anyone who postponed their return holiday travel to Monday or Tuesday, thinking that would make things easier, Mother Nature may have other plans.

A storm that moved through the Rockies on Friday morphed into a full-blown, cross-country storm, placing around 49 million people in the North under winter weather alerts over the weekend.

The storm is opening the door for anew, colder rushof frigid Arctic air that will send temperatures plummeting for millions right before the calendar flips to December.

Some air passengers are facing travel woes, with more than 700 US flights canceled and more than 9,400 flights delayed as of Sunday afternoon,according to FlightAware.

Those cancellations follow the more than 1,900 US flights canceled Saturday, mostly due to winter weather in the Midwest.

Many of the disruptions are in the Windy City, which has seen steady snow. More than 280 flights to and from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were canceled as of Sunday afternoon and more than 1,300 flights were delayed, according toFlightAware. Amid a recorded 8.4 inches of snow Saturday – a new maximum snowfall record for November – the airport saw more than 1,100 flight cancellations.

As delays persisted in Chicago through midday Sunday, they increased in New York City and Boston due to a combination of low ceilings, high winds and overall holiday traveler volume.

Iowa's Des Moines International Airportresumed operationsSunday afternoon after closing when a Delta Connection flight, operated by Endeavor Air, arriving from Detroit, slid off the runway amid icy conditions on the ground Saturday night.

The flight carrying two pilots, two flight attendants and 54 passengers "left the paved surface while transitioning from the runway to the taxiway," Delta Air Lines said in a statement, confirming there were no injuries and all passengers were offered compensation.

Pre-holiday weather already proved deadly in Minnesota. A 69-year-old man was killed after being crushed by a snow-covered tree Wednesday morning amid strong winds in Alden Township, around 180 miles northeast of Minneapolis,CNN affiliate WCCOreported, citing the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.

This post-Turkey Day storm could unleash similar dangers.

Tracking the storm

The storm pushed into the Pacific Northwest on Thursday night and moved through the Rockies on Friday.

The center of the storm moved out of the Plains early Saturday morning and strengthened throughout the day as it spread eastward through the Midwest, bringing snow, rain and even some icy mix over much of the nation's midsection.

Rain will fall on the southern side of the storm, but snow is in the forecast on the north side, which took aim at Nebraska and Kansas and northward through the Midwest. Some areas caught near the transition between mostly snow and mostly rain will deal with an icy mix for a time. Winds will also increase as the storm strengthens.

Areas east of the Mississippi River will have to deal with the storm on Sunday — snow for the Great Lakes and rain stretching through the South — while the country's midsection gets blasted by Arctic air on its backside.

The storm will move away from the East Coast late Sunday.

The wintry side

Widespread accumulating snow will stretch from the Rockies to Appalachia to close out November, and will be the first storm so far this season to accomplish the feat.

Early Saturday afternoon, Iowa State Patrol had already seen the number of vehicle crashes starting to grow and rescued close to 200 people from ditches across the state, Sgt. Alex Dinkla told CNN. "Road conditions are absolutely deteriorating very quickly," he said, noting state Department of Transportation snowplows were having a tough time keeping roads cleared.

"So if you don't have to travel, please don't, and stay home or stay with friends if you can. But if you do have to travel, we want you to take it easy," Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi told CNN's Omar Jimenez on Saturday. "Move slowly and know that it's going to take us a day or two to even clean up from the storm."

In Indiana, a pileup involving 35 cars and 10 semitrucks shut down Interstate 70, an important east–west thoroughfare, for five hours near Terre Haute on Saturday afternoon, according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames.

"There were 11 people transported off the interstate by ambulance," Ames said in an email to CNN. "No major injuries only complaint of pain."

The rainy side

Rain could also disrupt holiday travel south of the snowy areas. Rain and a few thunderstorms could produce localized flash flooding in parts of the South.

Portions of the Southeast will see rain showers Sunday from this system before it finally moves offshore late Sunday night.

This rain is less likely to cause flash flooding issues, but could cause slow-going travel for anyone driving in the area.

Early Monday, a new system will begin to take shape and strengthen over the Ark-La-Tex region, bringing more rain and snow to areas hit over the weekend. It will also bring snow to areas in the Ohio River and Tennessee Valley that didn't see any snow this weekend.

As this new system moves east, it will spread snow into the Northeast and New England. There could also be significant icing in the Appalachians – a tricky forecast that will be fine-tuned in the days to come.

Des Moines, St. Louis and Chicago are just a few of the places forecast to pick up additional snow Monday. Heavy rain is also expected for much of the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions.

There is a level 1 out of 4 risk of excessive rainfall Monday, including in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta.

Winter air is coming

The new round of significant temperature drops started Saturday in the Rockies and Plains as Arctic air plunges into the US behind the storm. High temperatures in the teens and low 20s are likely as far south as Nebraska.

Temperatures will sink to downright frigid levels overnight into early Sunday morning. Low temperatures will be in the single digits in much of the north-central US and dip below freezing all the way into northern Texas.

Sunday's high temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees colder than typical for much of the central US. Some parts of the Midwest could end up with highs stuck well below freezing, closer to 30 degrees colder than normal.

The cold air will expand east with overnight low temperatures at or below freezing expected in most of the Lower 48. Parts of Montana, the Dakotas and the Upper Midwest could wake up to temperatures several degrees below zero on Monday.

December marks the start of meteorological winter — which runs through February — and it will certainly feel like it well into the first week of the season. Monday and Tuesday will remain quite frigid for millions of people before temperatures start to shift back closer to normal midweek.

The upcoming Arctic blast could be a preview of more cold to come deeper into December from a disruption of thepolar vortex.

CNN Meteorologists Allison Chinchar and Gene Norman and CNN's Jennifer Feldman and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference's seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Here's where things stand withWeek 13underway:

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

NFC playoff picture

1.Chicago Bears(9-3), NFC North leaders:With back-to-back victories over winning adversaries − in conjunction with the Rams' stunning loss Sunday − theBearshave now rocketed to the top of the conference. Chicago's 6-2 record in NFC games sends LA (4-3) down a spot.Remaining schedule: atPackers, vs.Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs.Lions

2.Los Angeles Rams(9-3), NFC West leaders:Carolina snapped their NFC-high six-game winning streak in rainy Charlotte, a loss that dropped LA out of the conference's top spot.Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, vs. Lions, atSeahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

3.Philadelphia Eagles(8-4), NFC East leaders:Two losses in a row not only mean a lot more scrutiny but − beware − a team that could fall into the Cowboys' clutches in the division if it's not careful.Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Raiders, atCommanders, atBills, vs. Commanders

4.Tampa Bay Buccaneers(7-5), NFC South leaders:They narrowly beat Arizona to narrowly maintain their half-game lead over Carolina in the division.Remaining schedule: vs.Saints, vs. Falcons, atPanthers, atDolphins, vs. Panthers

5.Seattle Seahawks(9-3), wild card No. 1:All three of the 'Hawks' losses are against NFC opponents, including two in the division − defeats that won't serve them well in the tiebreaker department. Seattle's Week 11 loss to the Rams meant they couldn't move up Sunday ... but they are otherwise tied for first place in the NFC West.Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

6.Green Bay Packers(8-3-1), wild card No. 2:They merely maintained their standing (for now) with their Thanksgiving win at Detroit, but a loss would have dropped them from the field entirely. A thin margin for the Pack to be sure ... yet they remain just a half-game off the NFC North lead, too.Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, atBroncos, at Bears, vs.Ravens, atVikings

7.San Francisco 49ers(9-4), wild card No. 3:They now have a 1½-game lead on their wild-card pursuers after Sunday's win, but are only a half-game behind the Rams for the NFC West lead.Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

8.Detroit Lions(7-5), in the hunt:Getting swept by the Packers further entrenches Detroit, which could have moved into a wild-card slot with a Turkey Day win, on the outside of the field. Huge game this Thursday night with Dallas.Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears

9.Dallas Cowboys(6-5-1), in the hunt:Three wins in a row further fuels playoff aspirations in Big D. Week 14's game in Detroit looms as massive − and potentially must-win − for the Cowboys and Lions.Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Commanders, atGiants

10.Carolina Panthers(7-6), in the hunt:A shocking upset of the Rams on Sunday reaffirms the Panthers as an outfit to be reckoned with, though they didn't gain any ground in the wild-card or divisional races (on a day when they could have gone into first place had Tampa Bay lost).Remaining schedule: BYE, at Saints, vs.Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers

AFC playoff picture

1.New England Patriots(10-2), AFC East leaders:Week 12's narrow defeat of theBengalsgave the Pats the league's best record, moving them past Denver and into the conference's top spot. Good chance they hold onto it when they hit their off week.Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

2.Denver Broncos(9-2), AFC West leaders:Being idle during Week 12 cost them first place in the conference, but you can bet the break was welcome − especially for a team that will need to be close to fully charged for a brutal four-game stretch at the end of its regular season. They can move back into the top spot, for the time being anyway, with a win Sunday night.Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs.Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

3.Jacksonville Jaguars(8-4),AFC South leaders:Their win in Nashville coupled with Indy's loss moves the Jags into first place by virtue of the common-games played tiebreaker, which they own by a one-win advantage. Slide back later, and victories over the Chiefs and Chargers could serve them well when it's time to sort out tiebreakers.Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans

4.Baltimore Ravens(6-6),AFC North leaders:A sloppy performance against the Bengalsbriefly cost them first place in the divisionanda slot in the projected playoff field − but Pittsburgh's loss Sunday conferred it back, the Ravens currently with one additional win over the Steelers in the common-games played tiebreaker.Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots, at Packers, at Steelers

5.Los Angeles Chargers(8-4), wild card No. 1:They looked fairly fresh while taking out the Raiders in their return from the bye. The Bolts' 7-2 record in AFC games currently renders them the top-seeded wild card.Remaining schedule: vs.Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs.Texans, at Broncos

6.Indianapolis Colts(8-4),wild card No. 2:They've dropped three of their past four to fall off the conference pace ... and have now ceded first place in the AFC South to Jacksonville after Sunday's loss to Houston. And though they beat the Chargers in Week 7, the three-way tiebreaker (conference record) currently takes precedence, and the Colts are 6-3 in those contest. And the schedule doesn't let up the rest of the way out.Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans

7.Buffalo Bills(8-4), wild card No. 3:They got back into the win column at Pittsburgh, thus hanging on to the AFC's final projected wild-card spot. A 5-3 record in conference games leaves Buffalo behind the Chargers and Colts in the wild-card seeding.Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

8.Houston Texans(7-5), in the hunt:They've won five of six, including four in a row. If they want to win the AFC South for a third straight year, the Texans likely need to sweep the Colts − and they took their first step toward that with Sunday's win at Indy − while continuing their surge.Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

9.Pittsburgh Steelers(6-6),in the hunt:They're virtually tied with the Ravens ... but won't be after next weekend's trip to Baltimore. A 5-3 record in AFC games does slot the Steelers ahead of K.C. (3-4) for now.Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

10.Kansas City Chiefs(6-6), in the hunt:Not only will they almost certainly not win the AFC West for the first time since 2015, they could well miss the postseason for the first time since 2014 − Andy Reid's second year in K.C. And don't forget they've lost to the Broncos, Chargers, Bills and Jags, who are all ahead of them.Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, vs. Chargers, at Titans, vs. Broncos, at Raiders

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025

▶New York Giants

▶Arizona Cardinals

▶New Orleans Saints

▶Tennessee Titans

▶Las Vegas Raiders

All NFL news on and off the field.Sign upfor USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL playoff picture Week 13: Bears No. 1 NFC seed; Steelers plummet

What we're learning in Week 13 is that there are no reliable teams this season.

On Thursday and Friday, all four favorites lost and all the losers were exposed in various ways. TheDetroit Lions,Kansas City Chiefs,Baltimore RavensandPhiladelphia Eagles lostand none looked close to being Super Bowl contenders. It didn't matter because the Rams were rock solid.

And then Sunday happened.

The Rams, who were getting a historic run of mistake-free football from Matthew Stafford, lost 31-28 to a Carolina Panthers team that looked absolutely terrible six days earlier in a Monday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Stafford threw two interceptions,including a pick 6, and lost a crucial fumble late in the third quarter with his team trailing. Stafford hadn't thrown an interception since Week 3. Stafford had thrown 28 straight touchdowns without an interception, an NFL record, before even he looked vulnerable.

Stafford's turnovers weren't the only issue. The defense let down too. Bryce Young hit a huge go-ahead 43-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, and that was a key turning point. Young had 206 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Everything that worked for the Rams last week against the Buccaneers vanished Sunday.

The Rams are still a good team. We're just seeing that every team this season is prone to a bad loss. There is no historically great team this season. One has to win a Super Bowl, however, even if the eventual champions won't exactly be the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Maybe it's the Rams. Perhaps it's someone like the Eagles, who figure out their issues, or the Denver Broncos, who keep flying under the radar. The key to the postseason might be who avoids playing their worst game for a month, because every team this season has shown they're capable of bad performances. Even the Rams.

Here are the rest of the NFL's winners and losers from Sunday's action of Week 13:

WINNERS

Bills' defense:Buffalo hasn't had a great season on defense. The Bills were 17th in points allowed and 13th in yards allowed heading into Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's decent but not at a championship level.

The Bills might not be back to a championship level yet, but their defense came up big against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh was stuck on 90 yards through three quarters of a26-7 loss to the Bills.The Buffalo defense scored as many touchdowns as Pittsburgh's offense, as a huge sack by Joey Bosa on Aaron Rodgers led to a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Thatchanged the entire game, and 249 rushing yards by the Bills helped get the win.

Buffalo is 8-4 and has shown glimpses of being a dangerous postseason team. But until the defense makes a big improvement, it will be tough to go on a long playoff run. Maybe Sunday was a sign of a turnaround.

Robert Saleh:The San Francisco 49ers' defense has few stars on the field this season. They do have a star calling the defense.

Saleh, San Francisco's defensive coordinator, is getting the most out of a unit that lost stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner due to injuries. A young defense is getting better as the season goes along, and that's a testament to Saleh's coaching. The49ers held Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns downin a 26-8 win with some terrible weather. It was a good follow-up to a strong performance in Week 12, when the 49ers shut down the Panthers (who looked pretty good against the Rams on Sunday).

Saleh didn't succeed as a head coach of the New York Jets, but poor ownership makes that a difficult situation. Teams might not hold his record in New York against him, especially as they see him maximizing a 49ers defense for a team that is in good shape to make the playoffs despite numerous injuries on both sides of the ball.

Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving:The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been surviving in spite of injuries. It's starting to look better for them on that front.

Mayfield left last week's game with a left shoulder injury and there was a lot of doubt if he would play this weekend. He played and had another strong outing in a20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He had 194 yards and a touchdown. He found an old reliable target in Chris Godwin Jr., who led the Bucs with 78 receiving yards and is another Tampa Bay star rounding into form after dealing with injuries.

Even more promising was the return of Irving. The second-year back played for the first time since Week 4, having missed almost three months with foot and shoulder injuries, and he looked sharp. Irving scored a touchdown and generally looked like his old self. Irving had 81 yards from scrimmage, which was reasonable considering he was returning after a long layoff. He gives the Buccaneers another playmaker down the stretch.

Tampa Bay has a very easy schedule the rest of the season and should win the NFC South. If the Bucs keep getting healthy, they could be dangerous in the postseason too.

Dolphins defense:After seven weeks, the Dolphins' defense looked like perhaps the worst in the NFL. Miami was allowing 29.3 points per game and hadn't allowed fewer than 21 in a game. The Dolphins were 1-6.

Then, suddenly, it changed. The Dolphins' defense faced a bad New Orleans Saints team and it started pouring rain in the second half, but it was still another strong defensive performance in a21-17 win. New Orleans rallied to score a late touchdown, but when the Saints went for the 2-point conversion and the tie, the Dolphins came up with a huge play as Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Tyler Shough and returned it for 2 points.

Then after the Saints got a rare onside kick and Miami's defense was forced to get back on the field, the Dolphins got a quick stop that culminated with a fourth-down stuff on a Tyler Shough quarterback sneak.

The Dolphins have won four of five, perhaps saving head coach Mike McDaniel's job in the process. They probably have saved defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver's job, too.

Since that awful start on defense, the Dolphins allowed 10, 28, 13 and 13 points in their four games heading into Week 13. The 28-point game was the only loss in that stretch, to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins have turned it around despite dealing pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles before the trade deadline. It's an impressive transformation, and it came out of nowhere.

LOSERS

Pete Carroll:As the season goes on, it gets harder to make a case for Carroll to get a second season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last week there was a big shakeup, as Carroll fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Nothing got better. Ashton Jeanty was quiet again, Geno Smith had another mediocre day and even though Brock Bowers was great with two touchdown catches (including a fantastic one for his second score), the Los AngelesChargers beat the Raiders soundly, 31-14. The Raiders had 156 yards of offense.

Once a coach starts firing coordinators, it's a sign he's in trouble. You have only so many coordinators to blame your problems on. The Raiders have fired their offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator over the past few weeks. With the Raiders at 2-10, and having lost 10 of their last 11, Carroll's future will be a big topic of discussion over the next few weeks.

Max Brosmer's moment of infamy:We knew the most likely outcome for Brosmer, an undrafted rookie making his first NFL start, was he would struggle against a tough Seattle Seahawks defense.

He just had to avoid a blooper that would be replayed a million times. Nope.

Brosmer had one of the most embarrassing plays of the season in theMinnesota Vikings' loss on Sunday. On a fourth down, Brosmer was stumbling down when he tossed away the ball, without looking, praying for a positive result. Instead, his pass went right to Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who went 85 yards for a pick 6.

That might have been OK if Brosmer had otherwise played well in place of J.J. McCarthy. He didn't. He looked very much like an undrafted rookie making his first start against one of the NFL's best defenses. Brosmer had 126 yards and threw four interceptions. His passer rating was 32.8. The Vikings were shut out for the first time since 2007. The Seahawks didn't play particularly well against the Vikings' defense, but Jones' pick 6 was really all they needed.

Nothing is saving the Vikings this season. And now they're embarrassing themselves.

Indianapolis Colts' hold on AFC South:A few weeks ago, there was chatter that the Colts were the best team in football. They might not even end up winning their division.

The Colts took a damaging loss Sunday. The Houston Texans continued their hot streak, with their defense making several big plays and their offense doing enough tobeat the Colts 20-16. The Texans failed to convert a tush push on third and fourth downs late in the game, giving the Colts a chance. Daniel Jones got the Colts into Texans territory but the drive stalled and Jones' fourth-down pass was knocked down to give Houston a huge stop.

Jones' fractured fibula was reported this past week, and that has to be a reason the Colts' offense has taken a step back. Indianapolis has lost three of four and the only win was an overtime victory over a bad Atlanta Falcons team in Berlin.

The Colts are now 8-4. TheJaguars are also 8-4 after they beat the Titans on Sundayand the Texans are back in the race at 7-5. A dream start to the season is evaporating quickly.

Tennessee Titans and their coaching search:The bad part about the Titans firing head coach Brian Callahan so early in the season is it allowed the top candidates in the 2026 head-coaching cycle ample opportunity to watch Tennessee play.

The job is beyond a fixer-upper. The Titans are a horrible team, and aside from having Cam Ward (which might not be the draw we think it is) and an inside track at the top overall pick in next year's NFL Draft, there's not a lot to sell any candidate with multiple options. The Titans were uncompetitive at home in a25-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans are 1-11. An incredibly lucky win over the Arizona Cardinals has saved them from weeks of talk of the 0-17 possibility and being one of the worst teams ever.

Ward is a conundrum. The top overall pick of this year's draft has some impressive highlights but the body of work is not great. The Titans have scored 14 or fewer points seven times this season. You can blame the infrastructure around Ward for his struggles, but it's hard to deny he has struggled. He had just 141 yards on 38 attempts Sunday. The new head coach would have to buy into turning Ward into a franchise quarterback, which is possible but he doesn't have the post-rookie promise of someone like Caleb Williams a year ago.

The Titans will hire a decent candidate. It's one of 32 jobs and the franchise does have Ward and likely the top pick. But it needs to be built from the ground up, and that's a scary proposition for a candidate with other offers.

Raheem Morris:It's the time of year in which coaches have to worry about what will happen after the season. Another bad loss for the Atlanta Falcons won't look good on Morris.

The Falcons were facing a New York Jets team that was 2-9 coming in and using Tyrod Taylor at quarterback after benching the ineffective Justin Fields. The Falcons blew a late 24-17 lead, allowing the Jets to tie it and then drive for a game-winning field goal as time expired.

TheFalcons lost 27-24 and are now 4-8 this season. They've been a big disappointment. Even worse, their first-round draft pick in 2026 was traded to the Los Angeles Rams during this year's draft.

Morris might pay the price for the poor record. Atlanta went 8-9 last season, Morris' first full season leading the team, and this season has been even worse. A young Falcons team hasn't made progress. Over the rest of the season the Falcons will have to ask themselves if they're seeing enough to justify running it back with Morris for another season.

After the49ers' 26-8 win over the Cleveland Brownson Sunday,Brownsdefensive tackle Shelby Harris alleged that Jennings crossed a line with his remarks while defensive tackle Maliek Collins was injured. Collins left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

"He says some things that you should not say to a man, ever," Harris, who did not elaborate on the nature of Jennngs' comments, told reporters after the game. "But I don't respect it because you say that (and) then run behind your O-line. That's some real soft (expletive), and I want that known.

"I see why they punched your (groin). I'm surprised nobody punched him in the jaw yet."

Collins' remark referenced Carolina Panthers safety Tre'von Moehrig punching Jennings in the groin area toward the end of the49ers' win on Nov. 24. Moehrig, who was suspended for one game for the incident, said the receiver was "talking crazy" during the game.

"He had a lot to say that was demeaning and disparaging toward some of our players," Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said of Jennings. "I was just trying to separate everybody. I tried to go up and ask what the problem was, and he started coming at me. Some guys just roll like that. I don't feel like that belongs in the game, but if that works for them, then hey, more power to them."

Jennings hauled in a fourth-quarter touchdown to extend the 49ers' lead and help put the game out of reach.

Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Browns call out 49ers' Jauan Jennings after Maliek Collins injury