NFL:
In the NFL, New England topped Tennessee 33-16, Washington won against Buffalo 35-25, and the undefeated Carolina Panthers bested the Giants 38-35. Meanwhile on Saturday the Jets beat Dallas 19-16.
The Cardinals clinched the NFC West title by earning their team-record 12th victory of the season, crushing Philadelphia 40-17. David Johnson torched the Eagles for 187 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and Deone Bucannon returned the first of Sam Bradford's two interceptions 39 yards for a TD. The outcome, coupled with Washington's 35-25 win against Buffalo, leaves the Skins one game ahead of the Eagles in the NFC East.
On Monday Night Football, Detroit will see New Orleans at 8:30 p.m.
NBA:
In the NBA, Minnesota bested Brooklyn 100-85, Miami defeated Portland 116-109, Cleveland beat Philadelphia 108-86, MIlwuakee topped Phoenix 101-95, Atlanta trumped Orlando 103-100, Sacramento beat Toronto 104-94, and New Orleans beat Denver 130-125.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd is taking an indefinite leave to have hip surgery. General manager John Hammond says assistant coach Joe Prunty will run the team in Kidd's absence. Prunty served as an assistant during Kidd's one year coaching the Brooklyn Nets and has been with Kidd in Milwaukee the past two seasons.
NHL:
In the NHL, Washington topped the Rangers 7-3, Boston edged New Jersey 2-1 in a shootout, Florida edged Vancouver in shootout 5-4, Tampa Bay beat Ottawa 5-2, Detroit doubled up Calgary 4-2, and it was Chicago over San Jose in overtime 4-3.
NCAA:
In college men's basketball, Number 25 UConn beat UMass-Lowell 88-79 yesterday. Rodney Purvis scored 28 points. The Huskies were playing without injured 7-foot center Amida Brimah. They relied on their guards in the victory. Daniel Hamilton had 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Sterling Gibbs scored 15 points and Omar Calhoun had 14.
Monmouth held off a Rutgers rally for a 73-67 victory yesterday. Justin Robinson scored 14 points. Deon Jones had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks, who defeated Rutgers for the first time after dropping the first nine meetings. Collin Stewart had 11 points, while Chris Brady added nine points and 10 rebounds.
NJIT held off a second-half surge by St. John's to win 83-74 yesterday. Damon Lynn scored 32 points with five 3-pointers. Chris Jenkins scored a career-high 19 points with five 3-pointers, Tim Coleman added 10 with 11 rebounds, and Ky Howard had 10 points with nine assists for the Highlanders.
FIFA:
FIFA's ethics committee has banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years years from all soccer-related activities. Platini's bid to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in a Feb. 26 election is now likely ended.
Sepp Blatter says he will appeal the 8-year ban to Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke FIFA Code of Ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts. Platini broke rules on conflict of interest and loyalty.
Both denied wrongdoing in 2011 when Platini took $2 million of FIFA money approved by Blatter as uncontracted salary for work as a presidential adviser from 1999-2002. Blatter and Platini previously said they would appeal against any sanctions.
Olympics:
The head of Toyota Motor Corp. has stepped down as vice president of the organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The committee announced the resignation of Akio Toyoda on Monday. He is expected to be replaced by the president of Panasonic, Kazuhiro Tsuga.
A Tokyo Olympic official told reporters that Toyoda may have been concerned about serving on both committees, since the organizers are seeking support from the business community.
Toyoda said in a statement that he decided to reorganize his roles to intensify his efforts to encourage business support for the 2020 Games. He said he is "looking forward to forging even closer ties between the organizing committee and Japan's business community."
Toyota Motor is a major sponsor of the Olympics.
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