AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:48 p.m. EST

By The Associated Press

Rams overwhelm Vikings 27-9 in wild-card playoff game moved to Arizona because of LA wildfires

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams overwhelmed the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold an NFL playoff record-tying nine times to win 27-9 Monday night. The NFC wild-card game was moved out of Southern California because of devastating wildfires. Rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams, who looked comfortable in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium from the first snap. LA drove for a touchdown on the opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The game was played in Glendale, Arizona, nearly 400 miles east of the Rams’ home stadium.

Sam Darnold’s career-best season ends with a thud as he takes 9 sacks in playoff loss

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Darnold’s renaissance pushed Minnesota to one of the NFL’s best records, offering the hope of a deep playoff run. A disappointing night in the desert rammed Darnold and the Vikings right out of the postseason. Darnold was ineffective for most of of his first playoff start, losing two turnovers while being sacked nine times in the Vikings’ 27-9 loss the Los Angeles Rams. Steady for most of his turnaround season, Darnold finished 25 of 39 passing for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception. One of the sacks caused a fumble that Jared Verse returned 57 yards for a touchdown.

Mike McCarthy won’t return as the Cowboys’ coach. Deion Sanders could be a candidate to replace him

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Mike McCarthy will not return as the team’s coach. Jones said Monday that the organization and McCarthy mutually agreed to part ways. McCarthy’s contract expired following a 7-10 season. The Cowboys haven’t been past the NFC divisional round since their 1995 Super Bowl season. A person with knowledge of the conversation says Jones has spoken about the job with University of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who played on the Cowboys’ last Super Bowl-winning team. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no formal interview has been arranged.

Lakers, Clippers return to their home courts after days of fire devastation across Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Lakers and the Clippers both went back to work Monday night in Los Angeles’ first two NBA games since catastrophic wildfires killed at least 24 people and destroyed significant sections of their hometown. The Lakers hosted the San Antonio Spurs in their downtown arena, while the Clippers hosted the Miami Heat in their brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood about 10 miles south of downtown. Lakers coach JJ Redick and his family lost their home in the Pacific Palisades in the fires Tuesday. He was grateful to get back on the court with his players.

A.J. Brown’s sideline read skyrockets to No. 1 hottest seller on Amazon

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown could launch a book club of his own after a little sideline reading skyrocketed self-help author Jim Murphy overnight to the hottest seller on Amazon. The Eagles wide receiver passed on the playbook and checked out an inspirational title — Brown casually ignored the action in Philadelphia’s playoff game and flipped through the pages of Murphy’s book, “Inner Excellence.” The little-known book by the mental skills coach was listed No. 1 on Amazon’s best sellers list as of Monday morning. It jumped to the top spot after previously being ranked 523,497th. It had yet to crack the top 100 for sales in 2025, however.

Texas man charged with stalking WNBA and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark

A 55-year-old Texas man has been charged with felony stalking Indiana Fever star and WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark. Marion County prosecutors wrote in a court filing Saturday that Michael Thomas Lewis is accused of repeated and continued harassment of the 22-year-old Clark. Authorities say Clark posted numerous messages — some sexually threatening — on Clark’s X account. Prosecutors wrote in the filing Clark felt terrorized, frightened, intimidated and threatened as a result. The FBI learned the X account belonged to Lewis and that the messages were sent from IP addresses at an Indianapolis hotel and downtown public library. Jail records show Lewis is due in court on Tuesday.

Taylor Fritz eases into the second round at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Taylor Fritz took less than two hours to clinch his first-round match at the Australian Open against fellow American Jenson Brooksby. It was a big turnaround from their only previous Grand Slam meeting: Brooksby won that at the 2021 U.S. Open. Now Fritz is a U.S. Open runner-up and seeded fourth in the season’s first major. Brooksby was playing on a protected ranking after two years off the pro tour. No. 8 Emma Navarro needed 3 hours and 20 minutes and rallied from 5-3 down in the third set to beat fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the women’s first round.

Philadelphia mayor announces new plan to keep 76ers arena in South Philadelphia, pursue WNBA team

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal to move downtown. The stunning news comes as a relief to critics of the plan to put a $1.3 billion arena between City Hall and Chinatown. Mayor Cherelle Parker on Monday calls it “a curveball,” but also “a win, win, win, win for Philadelphia.” But some critics and city council members sat they feel betrayed after two years of fraught negotiations. Sixers owners say they will also work with Comcast and the city to pursue a WNBA team.

Roki Sasaki won’t sign with New York Yankees, Texas Rangers or San Francisco Giants

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants have been informed Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki won’t be signing with them. Giants general manager Zack Minasian announced during a news conference to introduce Justin Verlander that San Francisco no longer was in contention. Sasaki’s decision to eliminate the Yankees and Rangers was disclosed to The Associated Press by people familiar with the negotiations. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the favorites to sign the 23-year-old right-hander, with the Toronto Blue Jays another possibility.

New Patriots coach Mike Vrabel says he knew in ‘my soul that this is the place I wanted to be’

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — When Mike Vrabel began his post-NFL playing career as an assistant coach at Ohio State in 2011, he had thoughts of one day returning to the New England Patriots. He also knew that if that was ever going to happen, he first needed to leave Foxborough. He did that. And now he’s back to where he’s had his most success on the football field — this time charged with returning it to the championship glory he first experienced as a player. Vrabel was introduced as New England’s 16th head coach on Monday, the first step in team owner Robert Kraft’s latest attempt to make good on his promise to restore the six-time Super Bowl champion Patriots to contender status.