Deadspin | Panthers claim NFC South, crash playoffs with losing record again

Deadspin | Panthers claim NFC South, crash playoffs with losing record again

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Nov 30, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) looks to pass as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman (53) defends during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

For the first time in a decade, the Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions. For the first time in NFL history, the Panthers are the only franchise to make the postseason with a losing record twice.

Carolina learned its fate on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints, sparing the Panthers due to a three-way tiebreaker among 8-9 teams. The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday and Atlanta decided the division title among the three teams atop the NFC South, which went to Carolina by virtue of the best head-to-head record.

“The neighborhood is crazy. We were yelling from our couch, as a family,” Canales said of his experience Sunday as a Falcons’ fan. “Walked outside where we normally ride bikes and walk the dogs and there were just neighbors in the front yards. Really excited.”

One of 14 teams who have more football to play beyond the regular season, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Sunday night he hasn’t heard when Carolina might play next weekend. But he’ll have that information before the end of the night and begin plotting his first playoff plan as a head coach after turning around a franchise that went 5-12 last season and 2-15 in 2023 before he was hired.

“We will go right back to work,” Canales said.

The Panthers also made the playoffs with a losing record — 7-8-1 — in 2014. They followed that up with a 15-1 mark in 2015, their last division championship season.

Carolina has only reached the playoff once since then, following an 11-5, second-place finish in 2017.

But Canales said record is insignificant starting Monday, when every playoff team is on equal footing at 0-0. As division champions, the Panthers will host an NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers.

“The familiarity gives a level of confidence in terms of what we’re up against,” he said.

Carolina played the 49ers and Rams in consecutive weeks, losing at San Francisco (20-9) on Nov. 24 and beating the Rams (31-28) six days later.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Hunter Dobbins set for Cardinals debut vs. Pirates, Paul Skenes Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) throws in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Hunter Dobbins will go up against a formidable opposite number in his Cardinals debut on Thursday afternoon when St. Louis opposes the host Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander will face the Pirates’ ace, reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (4-1, 2.48 ERA). St. Louis has won the first three contests of the four-game series after holding on for a 5-4 victory on Thursday night, which ended with Nathan Church leaping at the left field wall to snare Nick Gonzales’ long drive with a runner on. Dobbins will be activated from the injured list to make a spot start with St. Louis in the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days. Dobbins has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis, where he went 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA in five starts. The Texas Tech product is set to make his first major league appearance since last July, when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox and tore his right ACL during a fielding play. That injury and an elbow strain limited him to 61 innings as a rookie in 2025. Dobbins will be trying to follow an outstanding start by Andre Pallante on Wednesday night, in which he allowed a run and five hits over six innings. Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 17 walks and 45 strikeouts in 13 games (11 starts) for the Red Sox last year. The Cardinals obtained Dobbins and two other pitching prospects when they traded Willson Contreras to Boston in December. Dobbins faced only two of Pittsburgh’s current players last season. Jake Mangum singled against him as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Ryan O’Hearn went 0-for-2 vs. Dobbins while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. Skenes, who has 30 strikeouts and a 0.72 WHIP in 29 innings, is coming off a 6-0 win over the host Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in which he took a perfect game into the seventh. Jake Bauers’ two-out groundball single broke up the quest for perfection. Skenes had to settle for seven innings of one-hit, scoring ball. He struck out a season-best seven, walked none and threw a season-high 93 pitches. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen from anyone, I think,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after the game. Opponents are hitting .141 against Skenes this season. He held foes to a .198 average while winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and a .199 average in his Cy Young campaign last season. “I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that he came up two years ago and he’s in his third season in the big leagues,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s continuing to get better, which is amazing considering what he’s already done in the game.” Even so, Skenes has yet to defeat St. Louis in his short career. Despite a 2.39 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings over six starts against the Cardinals, Skenes has a 0-4 record in those contests. St. Louis has only managed 27 hits with seven walks against him. Though his try for a game-winning walk-off home run was foiled by Church, Gonzales did extend his hitting streak to 10 games with a single earlier Wednesday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hunter #Dobbins #set #Cardinals #debut #Pirates #Paul #SkenesApr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) throws in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Hunter Dobbins will go up against a formidable opposite number in his Cardinals debut on Thursday afternoon when St. Louis opposes the host Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 26-year-old right-hander will face the Pirates’ ace, reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (4-1, 2.48 ERA).

St. Louis has won the first three contests of the four-game series after holding on for a 5-4 victory on Thursday night, which ended with Nathan Church leaping at the left field wall to snare Nick Gonzales’ long drive with a runner on.

Dobbins will be activated from the injured list to make a spot start with St. Louis in the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days. Dobbins has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis, where he went 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA in five starts.

The Texas Tech product is set to make his first major league appearance since last July, when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox and tore his right ACL during a fielding play. That injury and an elbow strain limited him to 61 innings as a rookie in 2025.

Dobbins will be trying to follow an outstanding start by Andre Pallante on Wednesday night, in which he allowed a run and five hits over six innings.

Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 17 walks and 45 strikeouts in 13 games (11 starts) for the Red Sox last year.

The Cardinals obtained Dobbins and two other pitching prospects when they traded Willson Contreras to Boston in December.


Dobbins faced only two of Pittsburgh’s current players last season. Jake Mangum singled against him as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Ryan O’Hearn went 0-for-2 vs. Dobbins while playing for the Baltimore Orioles.

Skenes, who has 30 strikeouts and a 0.72 WHIP in 29 innings, is coming off a 6-0 win over the host Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in which he took a perfect game into the seventh. Jake Bauers’ two-out groundball single broke up the quest for perfection.

Skenes had to settle for seven innings of one-hit, scoring ball. He struck out a season-best seven, walked none and threw a season-high 93 pitches.

“That’s the best I’ve ever seen from anyone, I think,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after the game.

Opponents are hitting .141 against Skenes this season. He held foes to a .198 average while winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and a .199 average in his Cy Young campaign last season.

“I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that he came up two years ago and he’s in his third season in the big leagues,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s continuing to get better, which is amazing considering what he’s already done in the game.”

Even so, Skenes has yet to defeat St. Louis in his short career. Despite a 2.39 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings over six starts against the Cardinals, Skenes has a 0-4 record in those contests. St. Louis has only managed 27 hits with seven walks against him.

Though his try for a game-winning walk-off home run was foiled by Church, Gonzales did extend his hitting streak to 10 games with a single earlier Wednesday night.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hunter #Dobbins #set #Cardinals #debut #Pirates #Paul #Skenes">Deadspin | Hunter Dobbins set for Cardinals debut vs. Pirates, Paul Skenes Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) throws in the outfield before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Hunter Dobbins will go up against a formidable opposite number in his Cardinals debut on Thursday afternoon when St. Louis opposes the host Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander will face the Pirates’ ace, reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (4-1, 2.48 ERA). St. Louis has won the first three contests of the four-game series after holding on for a 5-4 victory on Thursday night, which ended with Nathan Church leaping at the left field wall to snare Nick Gonzales’ long drive with a runner on. Dobbins will be activated from the injured list to make a spot start with St. Louis in the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days. Dobbins has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis, where he went 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA in five starts. The Texas Tech product is set to make his first major league appearance since last July, when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox and tore his right ACL during a fielding play. That injury and an elbow strain limited him to 61 innings as a rookie in 2025. Dobbins will be trying to follow an outstanding start by Andre Pallante on Wednesday night, in which he allowed a run and five hits over six innings. Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 17 walks and 45 strikeouts in 13 games (11 starts) for the Red Sox last year. The Cardinals obtained Dobbins and two other pitching prospects when they traded Willson Contreras to Boston in December. Dobbins faced only two of Pittsburgh’s current players last season. Jake Mangum singled against him as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Ryan O’Hearn went 0-for-2 vs. Dobbins while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. Skenes, who has 30 strikeouts and a 0.72 WHIP in 29 innings, is coming off a 6-0 win over the host Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in which he took a perfect game into the seventh. Jake Bauers’ two-out groundball single broke up the quest for perfection. Skenes had to settle for seven innings of one-hit, scoring ball. He struck out a season-best seven, walked none and threw a season-high 93 pitches. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen from anyone, I think,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after the game. Opponents are hitting .141 against Skenes this season. He held foes to a .198 average while winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and a .199 average in his Cy Young campaign last season. “I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that he came up two years ago and he’s in his third season in the big leagues,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s continuing to get better, which is amazing considering what he’s already done in the game.” Even so, Skenes has yet to defeat St. Louis in his short career. Despite a 2.39 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings over six starts against the Cardinals, Skenes has a 0-4 record in those contests. St. Louis has only managed 27 hits with seven walks against him. Though his try for a game-winning walk-off home run was foiled by Church, Gonzales did extend his hitting streak to 10 games with a single earlier Wednesday night. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hunter #Dobbins #set #Cardinals #debut #Pirates #Paul #Skenes

Deadspin | Howard tabs John Wall as president of basketball ops Jan 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Former Washington Wizards guard John Wall looks on before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Five-time NBA All-Star and former top overall draft pick John Wall is returning to the Washington. ESPN reported on Thursday that Wall has become the president of basketball operations at Howard, based in D.C. and a top-ranked HBCU program. Wall played the first nine seasons of his NBA career with Washington after being selected by the Wizards with the top overall pick of the 2010 draft out of Kentucky. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 573 career games (561 starts) with Washington. Wall, 35, served as Howard’s honorary captain for the team’s game against Norfolk State on Jan. 31. Per ESPN, he reportedly expressed to the school of having an interest in serving as president of basketball operations at the NBA level one day. Wall will work alongside Howard coach Kenny Blakeney and team general manager Daniel Marks in his new role. Wall, who did not play in 2019-20, was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2020, that saw Russell Westbrook sent to Washington. The Wizards sent Wall and a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Rockets for Westbrook and a lottery-protected first-round pick in the same 2023 draft. Wall played one season in Houston (2020-21), sat out the 2021-22 season with an injury and came back to compete in 34 games with the Clippers in 2022-23. He officially retired from the NBA on Aug. 19, 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Howard #tabs #John #Wall #president #basketball #opsJan 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Former Washington Wizards guard John Wall looks on before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Five-time NBA All-Star and former top overall draft pick John Wall is returning to the Washington.

ESPN reported on Thursday that Wall has become the president of basketball operations at Howard, based in D.C. and a top-ranked HBCU program.

Wall played the first nine seasons of his NBA career with Washington after being selected by the Wizards with the top overall pick of the 2010 draft out of Kentucky. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 573 career games (561 starts) with Washington.


Wall, 35, served as Howard’s honorary captain for the team’s game against Norfolk State on Jan. 31. Per ESPN, he reportedly expressed to the school of having an interest in serving as president of basketball operations at the NBA level one day.

Wall will work alongside Howard coach Kenny Blakeney and team general manager Daniel Marks in his new role.

Wall, who did not play in 2019-20, was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2020, that saw Russell Westbrook sent to Washington. The Wizards sent Wall and a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Rockets for Westbrook and a lottery-protected first-round pick in the same 2023 draft.

Wall played one season in Houston (2020-21), sat out the 2021-22 season with an injury and came back to compete in 34 games with the Clippers in 2022-23. He officially retired from the NBA on Aug. 19, 2025.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Howard #tabs #John #Wall #president #basketball #ops">Deadspin | Howard tabs John Wall as president of basketball ops Jan 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Former Washington Wizards guard John Wall looks on before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Five-time NBA All-Star and former top overall draft pick John Wall is returning to the Washington. ESPN reported on Thursday that Wall has become the president of basketball operations at Howard, based in D.C. and a top-ranked HBCU program. Wall played the first nine seasons of his NBA career with Washington after being selected by the Wizards with the top overall pick of the 2010 draft out of Kentucky. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 573 career games (561 starts) with Washington. Wall, 35, served as Howard’s honorary captain for the team’s game against Norfolk State on Jan. 31. Per ESPN, he reportedly expressed to the school of having an interest in serving as president of basketball operations at the NBA level one day. Wall will work alongside Howard coach Kenny Blakeney and team general manager Daniel Marks in his new role. Wall, who did not play in 2019-20, was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 2, 2020, that saw Russell Westbrook sent to Washington. The Wizards sent Wall and a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Rockets for Westbrook and a lottery-protected first-round pick in the same 2023 draft. Wall played one season in Houston (2020-21), sat out the 2021-22 season with an injury and came back to compete in 34 games with the Clippers in 2022-23. He officially retired from the NBA on Aug. 19, 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Howard #tabs #John #Wall #president #basketball #ops

Deadspin | Mets place OF Luis Robert Jr. on IL Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. could be facing an extended stint on the injured list with a lumbar spine disc herniation. The Mets placed Robert on the 10-day injured list on Thursday after an MRI exam revealed the extent of the issue that crept up Sunday. He missed the last three games and officially was moved to the injured list prior to Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals. Infielder Eric Wagaman was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him on the active roster. Robert, 28, is hitting .224 with a .656 OPS after a hot start to his first season in New York. The Mets acquired Robert from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade. Five of his 19 hits and five of his eight RBIs this season came in the opening series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The move is retroactive to April 27, meaning Robert could be activated as soon as May 6 if his injury responds quickly. Injuries have hit the Mets hard in the first month-plus of the regular season. They entered Thursday with an MLB-worst 10-20 record and were 3-16 in the past 19 games. Juan Soto (calf) returned from the IL on April 22 after missing 15 games, but Francisco Lindor (hamstring) was hurt in the same game on the bases and isn’t expected to be evaluated for at least two more weeks. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga landed on the IL on Tuesday with back inflammation and two other position players — Jorge Polanco and Jared Young — are also out with injuries. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #place #Luis #RobertApr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. could be facing an extended stint on the injured list with a lumbar spine disc herniation.

The Mets placed Robert on the 10-day injured list on Thursday after an MRI exam revealed the extent of the issue that crept up Sunday. He missed the last three games and officially was moved to the injured list prior to Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

Infielder Eric Wagaman was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him on the active roster.

Robert, 28, is hitting .224 with a .656 OPS after a hot start to his first season in New York. The Mets acquired Robert from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade.


Five of his 19 hits and five of his eight RBIs this season came in the opening series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The move is retroactive to April 27, meaning Robert could be activated as soon as May 6 if his injury responds quickly.

Injuries have hit the Mets hard in the first month-plus of the regular season. They entered Thursday with an MLB-worst 10-20 record and were 3-16 in the past 19 games.

Juan Soto (calf) returned from the IL on April 22 after missing 15 games, but Francisco Lindor (hamstring) was hurt in the same game on the bases and isn’t expected to be evaluated for at least two more weeks. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga landed on the IL on Tuesday with back inflammation and two other position players — Jorge Polanco and Jared Young — are also out with injuries.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #place #Luis #Robert">Deadspin | Mets place OF Luis Robert Jr. on IL Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. could be facing an extended stint on the injured list with a lumbar spine disc herniation. The Mets placed Robert on the 10-day injured list on Thursday after an MRI exam revealed the extent of the issue that crept up Sunday. He missed the last three games and officially was moved to the injured list prior to Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals. Infielder Eric Wagaman was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him on the active roster. Robert, 28, is hitting .224 with a .656 OPS after a hot start to his first season in New York. The Mets acquired Robert from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade. Five of his 19 hits and five of his eight RBIs this season came in the opening series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The move is retroactive to April 27, meaning Robert could be activated as soon as May 6 if his injury responds quickly. Injuries have hit the Mets hard in the first month-plus of the regular season. They entered Thursday with an MLB-worst 10-20 record and were 3-16 in the past 19 games. Juan Soto (calf) returned from the IL on April 22 after missing 15 games, but Francisco Lindor (hamstring) was hurt in the same game on the bases and isn’t expected to be evaluated for at least two more weeks. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga landed on the IL on Tuesday with back inflammation and two other position players — Jorge Polanco and Jared Young — are also out with injuries. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #place #Luis #Robert

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