NFL:
Super Bowl 50 is set. The Denver Broncos have reached the title game for the second time in three years, and the eighth time in franchise history. They will take on the Carolina Panthers, who will make their second Super Bowl appearance and first in 12 years.
The Broncos captured the AFC championship game as Peyton Manning threw a pair of TD passes to Owen Daniels while in the first half of a 20-18 win over the New England Patriots. Manning completed 17 of his 32 passes for 176 yards and no interceptions.
The NFC Championship game was a total blowout as Cam Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others in the Panthers' 49-15 laugher against Arizona. Newton was 19 of 28 for 335 yards through the air, including an 86-yard scoring pass to Corey Brown in the first quarter. Newton's five-yard TD toss to Devin Funchess in the fourth quarter iced the victory.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin and New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson are the three finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The winner will be announced during NFL Honors, a two-hour prime-time special airing nationally on CBS on Feb. 6, the night before the Super Bowl.
A $55,000 donation will be made in the winner's name to a charity of his choice, and the two runners-up will receive an $11,000 donation. The other 29 team finalists received a $5,000 donation. The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, sports writer Peter King, Connie Payton — widow of Walter Payton — and former players Anthony Munoz and LaDainian Tomlinson and last year's winner, Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.
NBA:
In the NBA, Boston topped Philadelphia 112-92, Brooklyn won against Oklahoma City 116-106, Toronto bested the Clippers 112-94, and it was Houston over Dallas 115-104.
NHL:
In the NHL, Ottawa shut out the Rangers 3-0, Carolina topped Calgary 5-2, Chicago blanked St. Louis 2-0, and it was Los Angeles over San Jose in overtime 3-2. The Pittsburgh at Washington game was postponed due to inclement weather.
NCAA:
In men’s college basketball, Siena rolled past Canisius 99-78, Monmouth defeated Marist 83-72, and Fairfield led from the opening minute in beating Iona 98-91.
Tennis:
Seventh seed Angelique Kerber and No. 14 Victoria Azarenka have advanced to the Australian Open women's quarterfinals.
Kerber opened Monday's stadium court schedule with a 6-4, 6-0 rout of fellow German Annika Beck. Azarenka had no trouble with Barbora Strycova, winning 6-2, 6-4. Gael Monfils scored a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 win over Andrei Kuznetsov to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 11 trips to the Australian Open.
Milos Raonic beat French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The hard-serving Canadian came into the fourth-rounder winless in four matches against Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion.
Golf:
Jason Dufner parred the second playoff hole to win the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, Calif. Dufner took advantage of David Lingmerth's shot off the rocks that bounced into the water. The two played extra golf after finishing regulation at 25-under. Dufner closed with a 2-under 70 on the PGA West's TPC Stadium Course. Lingmerth forced a playoff with a 5-under 65. Phil Mickelson shot a 68 to tie for third at 21 under in his first start since the Presidents Cup in October.
Rickie Fowler finished on top of a star-studded field at the Abu Dhabi Championship. Fowler shot a final-round 3-under 69 to finish 16 under par, one shot in front of Thomas Pieters. Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson tied for third, two shots off the pace. Jordan Spieth was fifth, five back.
Skiing:
Lindsey Vonn has won another super-G Alpine race in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy. It's her 11th in Cortina, breaking the resort record. Vonn took the lead in the overall standings from Lara Gut, who finished fifth. Vonn leads her Swiss rival by 45 points. Vonn also eclipsed Annemarie Moser-Proell's mark of 36 career wins in skiing's marquee event.
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