Sports
No NFC South champ until Sunday after Bucs beat Panthers
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held off the Carolina Panthers 16-14 to snap a four-game losing streak, setting up a thrilling Sunday, when the NFC South winner will be decided by what happens between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has said he was not a Saints fan, but he told ESPN after Saturday’s game that “I am tomorrow!”
If the Saints defeat the Falcons on Sunday, the Bucs would secure the division at 8-9. It would mark the first time a team has won five straight division championships since conference realignment in 2002, and would tie the Bucs for third-most titles in league history for any division.
A Falcons victory would give Carolina (8-9) its first playoff berth since 2017 and first NFC South title since 2015.

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Biggest surprise: With wide receivers Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan occupying so much attention from the Panthers’ defense (zero targes in three quarters for Godwin) — plus the Panthers’ zone coverage and rainy conditions — Mayfield relied heavily on tight end Cade Otton, who hauled in seven of nine targets for 94 yards and an 18-yard touchdown. Otton’s 20-yard grab with 2:12 to go also helped seal the win. Otton hadn’t been targeted to that degree since Week 10 against the Patriots (12).
What to make of the quarterback performance: Otton’s score was Mayfield’s first touchdown pass on a ball thrown 15-plus yards downfield since the Bucs’ Week 6 win over the 49ers, illustrating just how much Tampa Bay has missed an aerial attack this season. Mayfield completed 12 of 17 passes for 146 passing yards and an interception, which occurred when he failed to account for Christian Rozeboom, who swooped in front of Egbuka on a post route at the Tampa Bay 39. That turnover set up a Tommy Tremble touchdown to cut Tampa’s lead to 10-7. Mayfield used his legs too, rushing for 31 yards, including an 11-yard scramble on a third-and-3. But far too many times, the Bucs had to settle for Chase McLaughlin field goals.
Turning point: With coach Todd Bowles calling a safety blitz, sending Antoine Winfield Jr. on fourth-and-8 with 3:10 to go in the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish (starting in place of Jamel Dean) surrendered a 40-yard reception to Tetairoa McMillan, whom Parrish tackled at the Tampa Bay 16. Then, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who took over for the injured Zyon McCollum, gave up an 8-yard touchdown on a corner route to trim the Bucs’ lead to 16-14. Up to that point, Parrish had allowed one catch to McMillan, and he intercepted a pass intended for McMillan just before halftime.
Stat to know: Heading into the game, the Bucs had surrendered 100 yards on the ground in four straight games for the first time since 2018.They were able to regain control of the line of scrimmage Saturday, surrendering only 19 rushing yards to the Panthers.
End of an era?: With 11:15 to go in the fourth quarter, 14-year veteran Lavonte David made what could be the last big play of his career. He recovered a Rico Dowdle fumble for the 21st recovery of his career, most among all active players. It was also his 35th career takeaway, joining Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher as the only players with 40-plus sacks and 35-plus takeaways since at least 1982. David’s six tackles tied him with Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the most in franchise history at 1,714. — Jenna Laine
Next game: TBD
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Stay tuned. Now, the Panthers have become huge Falcons fans.
An Atlanta victory over New Orleans on Sunday would help the Panthers forget how they bungled away Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay. They would win the NFC South and make the playoffs by virtue of the tiebreaker — a 3-1 record over the Bucs and Falcons.
If the banged-up Saints win, Carolina will spend the offseason haunted by its sloppy play at rain-soaked Raymond James Stadium.
There is plenty of blame for this loss, from coaching to another subpar game by quarterback Bryce Young (until the fourth quarter) to an ineffective running game that netted 19 yards.
The Panthers no longer control their destiny, and they have only themselves to blame.
Turning point: The Panthers were being dominated 10-0 and had 27 yards of offense early in the second quarter when Rozeboom intercepted a Mayfield pass. Young answered with a touchdown pass to Tremble that seemed to settle Carolina on both sides of the ball.
Controversial play: Young, under pressure in the third quarter, threw the ball to his right on first-and-10 from Tampa’s 34. Officials ruled it incomplete, and the play was whistled dead with Dowdle holding the ball. On the replay, it appeared it was a backward pass, but because the whistle was blown, Dowdle couldn’t advance the ball, and Carolina took a 7-yard loss. Ryan Fitzgerald then missed a 54-yard field goal.
Most surprising performance: With the Panthers at the Bucs’ 20 and trailing 16-7, Carolina coach Dave Canales called a flea-flicker on first down, but the play resulted in a fumble, which Tampa recovered. Instead of maintaining the drive and potentially making it a one-score game, the risky call left Carolina scuffling to catch up the rest of the game. — David Newton
Next game: TBD
Sports
Mike Trout crushes fifth Yankee Stadium HR in four games
NEW YORK — Mike Trout‘s latest homer against the New York Yankees put him in rare company, and going deep again made history at Yankee Stadium.
Trout homered for the fifth time during a four-game series Thursday, crushing a 446-foot drive in the seventh inning for the Los Angeles Angels in an 11-4 victory.
A three-time MVP, Trout joined Jimmie Foxx (1933), Darrell Evans (1985) and George Bell (1990) as the only players with five homers in a series against the Yankees, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
Trout homered twice Monday before going deep again in the following two games. In the series finale Thursday, Trout drove a 2-2 slider from reliever Angel Chivilli about halfway up the left-field bleachers to give the Angels a 7-4 lead. That shot made Trout the first player to hit five homers in a series in the Bronx.
“I heard that after the game,” Trout said. “It’s pretty surreal. All the great players that came through here, so it’s pretty cool.”
“Honestly, not surprising,” Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki said. “When you’re with Mike every day, there’s nothing that you believe that he can’t do.”
Trout also became the first visiting player to homer in four consecutive days at the current Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009.
Trout went 6-for-16 with five homers and nine RBIs in the series. He also has homered in his past five games at Yankee Stadium and drew an intentional walk in his next plate appearance before Jo Adell hit a grand slam.
“At this point it’s vintage Mike Trout,” Adell said. “When he’s healthy and feeling good, there’s nothing like it. It’s special. It’s one of a kind. So for all of us to experience it, it’s special.”
“He’s unbelievable,” Suzuki said. “He really is. It’s been an amazing week for him.”
Trout is hitting .246 with seven homers and 16 RBIs. He is 9-for-27 (.333) with five homers and 13 RBIs on the Angels’ road trip, which coincides with him making a mechanical tweak.
Trout’s career-high homer streak is seven games, achieved Sept. 4-12, 2022. He has homered in four straight games for the fourth time in his career.
Trout’s homer was part of a four-game series that featured four homers from Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge. Judge homered twice Monday, again Wednesday and went deep in the first inning in the series finale.
“He’s unreal,” designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton said after the Yankees lost for the seventh time in nine games. “Cool showing from him and Judgie all series. Obviously, you don’t want that against us, but you got to acknowledge the greatness.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time opposing players who owned multiple MVPs hit at least three homers in the same series.
“It was an impressive show by those two,” Suzuki said.
Sports
2026 NCAA gymnastics championships: Live updates from semifinals
FORT WORTH, Texas — The first semifinal session of the NCAA gymnastics championships included LSU, Florida, Georgia and Stanford — with Florida and LSU advancing to Saturday’s final (4 p.m. ET; ABC).
Next up, Oklahoma, UCLA, Arkansas and Minnesota will compete in Semifinal II, beginning at 9 pm ET (ESPN2). Once again, the top two teams will move on.
Individual event titles and an all-around winner will also be awarded today — but not until both semifinal sessions are complete.
Who will make it to the next round? Will an upset surprise us all? We’ll have you covered with all the action here.
Sports
N.J. governor: FIFA should pay extra train costs to MetLife for World Cup
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer in calling on FIFA to contribute toward World Cup transit security costs.
MetLife Stadium will host eight World Cup games, including the tournament final. The Athletic reported earlier this week that NJ Transit is considering charging $100 for train tickets to shuttle fans between New York Penn Station and the stadium. Standard fare is $12.90.
Parking will be restricted at the Meadowlands stadium complex compared to NFL games — making public transport one of the only options to attend World Cup matches, which get underway June 11.
“We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup,” Sherrill said on X. “And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion. I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come.
“FIFA should pay for the rides. But if they don’t — I’m not going to let New Jersey get taken for one.”
Speaking on WNYC on Wednesday, Sherrill said she would approve the fare increase if FIFA doesn’t step in.
“I will, if that’s what it takes, because I’m not putting this on the back of New Jerseyans,” she said.
On Wednesday, NJ Transit’s board of directors unanimously approved a resolution to set transport prices to “cover any and all costs” to transport fans and comply with Sherrill’s directive.
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri on Wednesday said he supported Sherrill’s plea to FIFA and confirmed that commuters would not pay extra costs, according to NJ.com.
“The governor said whatever the fare will be, it will not be cross subsidized by our regular commuters. I’d think every NJ Transit customer would stand behind that,” Kolluri told NJ.com. “It will cost us $48 million. We will charge FIFA fans for those tickets, and it will not be subsidized by our commuters.”
Schumer on Monday said FIFA should be helping pay for World Cup transit security costs.
“FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill,” Schumer wrote on X. “The least FIFA can do is ensure New York residents can go to the stadium without being gouged at the turnstile. I am demanding FIFA step up.”
We inherited an agreement where FIFA is providing $0 for transportation to the World Cup.
And while NJ TRANSIT is stuck with a $48 million bill to safely get fans to and from games, FIFA is making $11 billion.
I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years… pic.twitter.com/pugU8davkW
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) April 15, 2026
Earlier this month, New Jersey’s host travel committee released a detailed plan for transport and parking during the matches, outlining a park-and-ride plan with specific parking lots and shuttle buses that will run to and from the stadium.
“While rideshare and limited premium parking options will be available, the FIFA World Cup at NYNJ Stadium will be a public transportation first event, largely relying on NJ Transit rail and Host Committee bus shuttles,” Natalie Hamilton, a host committee spokesperson, told NJ.com.
“We are strongly encouraging all ticket holders to utilize expanded NJ Transit rail service and the Host Committee’s Stadium Shuttle.”
A FIFA spokesperson insisted the host city had previously agreed to provide free or at-cost transportation to fans at all matches.
“We are quite surprised by the NJ governor’s approach on fan transportation,” FIFA said in a statement Wednesday.
“The original FIFA World Cup 2026 host city agreements signed in 2018 required free transportation for fans to all matches. Recognizing the financial strain this placed on the host cities, back in 2023 FIFA adjusted the host agreement requirements across all host cities as follows: All match ticket holders and accredited individuals shall be able to access transport [public or additionally planned transport] at cost to allow travel to stadiums on match days.
“Moreover, FIFA has worked for years with host cities on their transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.
“The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of fans to North America along with the related economic impact. Many of these fans will travel to NYNJ to enjoy the eight matches scheduled, including the FIFA World Cup final.
“FIFA is not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium, including other major sports, global concert tours, etc, where organizers were required to pay for fan transportation.”
During the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, ticket holders enjoyed free transport on the city’s Metro system, funded by the country’s government.
UEFA bore the cost of ticket holders using German public transport in host cities on match days during Euro 2024.
Kansas City, where England’s training camp will be based, will offer free bus travel for fans from the airport close to the Fan Festival in the city center, and daily, weekly and tournament passes for unlimited regional travel costing $5.25 and $50, respectively.
Ticket holders will also be able to use a Stadium Direct service, which connects four park and ride locations as well as the Fan Festival to the Arrowhead Stadium for $15 per person, the host city committee said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) said that there will be no fare increases connected to the staging of World Cup matches in Philadelphia.
The spokesperson said most if not all of the added operating costs of running the services during the World Cup would be covered by a recently awarded federal grant.
Information from Press Association and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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