NFL:
On Monday Night Football, the Carolina Panthers are the lone unbeaten team in the NFC after Graham Gano's second field goal of overtime completed a 29-26 triumph over Indianapolis. The Panthers blew a 17-point lead in the final 7:04 of regulation and allowed the Colts to hit the first field goal of OT before improving to 7-0. Cam Newton threw for 248 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the Panthers' 11th straight regular-season win since last December.
The New York Giants are going to push Jason Pierre-Paul more in practice this week. There's a chance the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end will play for the first time since losing a finger in a July 4th fireworks accident. Coach Tom Coughlin says Pierre Paul's stamina and his ability to play with a swollen right hand that lost an index finger will be tested in practice.
Bills coach Rex Ryan expects quarterback Tyrod Taylor to start against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after missing two games with a sprained left knee. Backup EJ Manuel has struggled while filling in, and committed three turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns against Jacksonville.
The New York Jets will have someone lined up at quarterback by the time they play the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday. Todd Bowles just isn't sure who right now. Ryan Fitzpatrick has at least one torn ligament in his left thumb and Geno Smith is dealing with a badly bruised left shoulder, leaving the Jets' quarterback situation in disarray.
The chances of New England and Denver both being 10-0 when they meet later this month: Not such a longshot. The odds of getting tickets for a historic matchup like that: Start saving now. The Broncos and Patriots are each 7-0. When they play the Sunday night after Thanksgiving, there's a decent chance they'll be putting dueling "Perfect 10s" on the line in an unprecedented NFL matchup.
Elsewhere:
— Steelers All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell is done for the season. He injured his right knee Sunday against Cincinnati and the Steelers have placed him on injured reserve. Bell rushed for 556 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries this season, and he also had 24 receptions for 136 yards.
— The Niners also are changing quarterbacks. A person with knowledge of the decision says Colin Kaepernick has been told he won't start Sunday after failing to engineer a touchdown drive for the second straight game. Kaepernick will be replaced by backup Blaine Gabbert.
NBA:
LeBron James and Tim Duncan set records during Monday's NBA action. James became the youngest player to score 25,000 points as he provided 22, along with 11 assists and nine rebounds in Cleveland's 107-100 triumph over Philadelphia. The San Antonio Spurs were 94-84 winners at New York as Duncan scored 16 points in his 954th victory with one team, breaking John Stockton's win record while at Utah. Milwaukee won against Brooklyn 103-96, Houston beat Oklahoma City 110-105, Portland defeated Minnesota 106-101, Golden State crushed Memphis 119-69, and it was the Clippers over Phoenix 102-96.
NHL:
In the NHL, Toronto beat Dallas 4-1, Chicago doubled up Los Angeles 4-2, and it was Vancouver over Philadelphia 4-1.
MLB:
Fans of the Kansas City Royals are still celebrating their team's win over the Mets in the World Series. A parade in Kansas City is slated for Tuesday to celebrate the second World Series championship in franchise history.
And then the offseason begins and, oddly enough, the opening series of the 2016 season has the same two teams playing in Kansas City.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is mourning the Mets' heartbreaking loss. De Blasio is a Boston Red Sox fan but cheered loudly for the Mets during the postseason.
The World Series' Game 5 had its highest television rating since 2009. The Royals' 7-2 win over the Mets in 12 innings Sunday night to win their first championship since 1985 averaged a 10.0 rating and 17 share and 17.2 million viewers on Fox. The network says it was the highest-rated Game 5 since the Yankees-Phillies World Series six years ago.
Meanwhile Alan Cockrell has been promoted to hitting coach of the New York Yankees. He replaces Jeff Pentland, who was let go after one season. Cockrell was assistant hitting coach last season, when Pentland replaced Kevin Long. New York says Marcus Thames will take over from Cockrell as assistant hitting coach.
Don Mattingly says he has a four-year deal, but he plans to stay at least 10. The Miami Marlins have introduced Mattingly as their new manager, the team's seventh since June 2010. Mattingly was hired last week, but the announcement was delayed until after the World Series. He became available when he and the Dodgers parted ways last month. Mattingly went 446-363 with the Dodgers and won the NL West the past three years, but the team was just 8-11 in the postseason and did not reach the World Series. He goes from a franchise that led the majors with a $290 million payroll last season to a club that ranked last at $64.9.Mattingly becomes owner Jeffrey Loria's first high-profile managerial hire since Ozzie Guillen four years ago. Guillen was fired after one troubled season, and his four-year contract just came off the books.
MLS:
Jason Kreis' tenure as coach of Major League Soccer's New York City FC has ended after the team's first season. Kreis coached Real Salt Lake to the 2009 MLS Cup title and left after losing the 2013 championship game to join NYCFC, which started play this year. The team went 10-17-7 for 37 points — in a three-way tie for the second-fewest points above only Chicago.
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