That starts with winning the NFC North, and the Packers’ schedule for 2019 around their division rivals in the NFC North won’t be easy. Green Bay will face the NFC East and AFC West as part of its third-place schedule for 2019. MORE: When to expect NFL schedule release The Packers have not missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons since before Brett Favre was their starting quarterback. With Rodgers, the Packers are always a threat to make the playoffs, and their projected win total (nine) suggests it is possible....

The Line: Packers -12, Total: 49 Line movement: The Packers opened between 10 and 10.5-point favorites, but by Friday, the line was in the 11.5 to 12 range. The total opened 50.5 at William Hill before dropping to 49. It’s been as low as 48.5 at other bet shops. For updated spreads and totals from around Las Vegas, visit our live odds page . Trends that matter: Green Bay is 2-5 ATS away this year…....

Green Bay led 14-3 at one point in the first half and held a 24-20 edge with eight minutes remaining in regulation, but Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Ed Dickson, and the Packers couldn’t move the ball on their final possession, opting to punt on fourth-and-2 before never getting the ball back. Seattle (5-5) improved to .500 with the victory and fortified its playoff position....

The Huskies announced Thursday that Paige Bueckers, the reigning national player of the year, will return to the lineup Friday against St. John’s in a Big East showdown. Already one of the top teams in the country, UConn (20-5, 14-1 Big East) will be getting Bueckers back for the penultimate game of its regular season and just a week from the start of the Big East Tournament. The NCAA women’s basketball tournament begins March 18....

The team is obviously pumped about it; check Twitter for more. They're using the #PaintedClassic hashtag, naturally. Now, the ball is back in the NHL's court. A suggestion: Get Capitals winger Tom Wilson to paint the ice for next year's Winter Classic.

Both sides were eliminated by Mexico in the Gold Cup’s knockout stages, with Miguel Herrera’s men recipients of dubious penalty decisions in each fixture. MORE: Photos from Gold Cup semifinals | Saturday: U.S. vs. Panama | Sunday: Mexico-Jamaica Panama’s football federation (FEPAFUT) president Pedro Chaluja claimed he had the support of CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit — who is occupying the role in the interim, after predecessor Jeffrey Webb left the position in May when he was arrested and indicted in the U....

The video of veteran Panama defender Felipe Baloy insulting a reporter after a 4-0 loss to the United States and a heated news conference conversation between coach Hernan “Bolillo” Gomez and a different journalist made headlines throughout the region Friday. Panama 8/13 to beat Costa Rica The anger is there, though, because Panama is feeling the pressure. Four years ago Panama was in this same spot, looking like it was headed for the playoff....

For most of his career, the former Jets and current Panthers receiver had been known as “Robby Anderson.” But many noticed during the offseason that the Panthers’ official website had changed the spelling of Anderson’s first name to “Robbie.” So, which one was correct? Anderson revealed Friday at a news conference that “Robbie” was his now preferred spelling. He explained why. Anderson also said that his return to “Robbie” was keyed by an offseason number change....

The Panthers coach, who guided the franchise to the NFC championship last season and has taken the team to the playoffs three straight years, is by all accounts happy in Carolina. And there’s been no whisper of discontent from team owner Jerry Richardson about his job security. But the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Rivera is “a name to watch” in the Rams’ coaching search. MORE: Best candidates for Rams...

There’s a lot to unpack with this story: Yes, Ben McAdoo, the flame-out Giants head coach once ridiculed for wearing an ill-fitting suit, is the Panthers’ new offensive coordinator. Yes, Ben McAdoo anointed Sam Darnold starting quarterback for the 2022 season. Yes, Ben McAdoo promptly walked that back. This all happened in the span of one media availability on Tuesday afternoon, when McAdoo discussed all things Panthers offense in the week leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft....

The biggest matchup of the day? Drew Brees vs. Josh Norman, a guaranteed chess match that will play out with Saints wide receivers playing the part of pawns. But other storylines infuse the NFC South narrative. Cam Newton continues to twist the traditional mold of an MVP candidate. Luke Kuechly has his own Defensive Player of the Year bona fides. And Carolina is not yet in the clear in clinching a No....

The 19-year-old was outstanding in his professional debut with the Magic, posting 27 points (11-of-18 shooting), nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 35 minutes against the Pistons. Orlando wasn’t able to close out Wednesday night’s contest with a win, ultimately falling by a final score of 113-109, but the franchise must be thrilled with what it saw out of this year’s No. 1 overall pick. Banchero’s stats show that he didn’t just have the best debut among the players in his class — he had one of the best debut performances in recent memory....

“It’s the Jesus truck,” Rev. Terry Billings told The Birmingham News. “If you want to get your picture with the truck, first you have to hear my story.” The “Heaven Bound Mud Bogger,” as he calls it, definitely gets looks: Painted blood drips from the tailgate, with the slogan, “Covered in mud but washed in blood.” There’ a cross painted on the side and the 52-inch tractor tires have “Heaven Bound” stamped on the rims....

The superstar Chicago winger, who helped bring the city three Stanley Cups, has one year left on his monster contract with a $10.5 million cap hit. With the Blackhawks clearly tanking in the upcoming season, it makes sense that Kane would not want to be a part of the rebuild and Chicago would like to gain valuable assets for the future instead of letting him walk for nothing next summer....

The Kansas City signal-caller, fresh off a miraculous Super Bowl run and a year removed from being named NFL MVP, has agreed to a 10-year contract extension with the club. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The pact reportedly is worth a maximum of $503 million, which would make this the richest contract in North American sports history in terms of overall dollars. Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426 million extension with MLB’s Los Angeles Angels had led the list....

Just over a year ago, the Chiefs locked up superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a 12-year contract extension, keeping him in Kansas City as long as most fountains in town. To that end, the cash will be flowing like water to Mahomes: With a face-value contract of just over a half-billion dollars, Mahomes is going to be stupid, filthy rich for the foreseeable future, and with for good reason: Just over four years as a starter for the Chiefs, Mahomes is a Super Bowl champ, an MVP and one of the most deadly and prolific passers in all the NFL....

When Mahomes left Thursday’s game against the Broncos with a reported dislocation of his right patella (kneecap), many people said it was the work of the infamous Madden Curse. So what, exactly, is the curse? Basically, it’s the belief that the player featured on the game’s cover will, at some point, encounter a serious injury. To see a list of past NFL players who have fallen “victim” (and there are several) — click here....

Jacoby Brissett tore a ligament in his thumb in Thursday night’s shutout of the Houston Texans and might need surgery to fix the issue, WEEI reported Friday afternoon. FANTASY: Week 3 QB rankings Brissett impressed in his first NFL start, which occurred because of the shoulder injury suffered by Jimmy Garoppolo on Sunday. Garoppolo, of course, was only starting because Tom Brady is serving a four-game suspension in the wake of the Deflategate scandal....

With Brady now in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers, the Patriots got their first taste of quarterback issues in nearly two decades. They now are looking to solve the problem the team has at that position and get back on track in 2021. Of course, it’s worth noting that the Patriots were hard-hit by COVID-related opt-outs last year, so getting some of those players back, including Dont’a Hightower, will be huge for the team....

Thompkins, who suffered a concussion in last week's divisional playoff game against Indianapolis, was listed as inactive for the title game. Dobson, who left the Colts game in the third quarter with an injured foot, will play. Both players were listed as questionable Friday, and both were limited in practice all week. Punter Ryan Allen also was questionable after being limited in practice after hurting his shoulder on the bad snap play against Indianapolis, but he will punt for the Patriots on Sunday....