(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)
- The Rams clinched an NFC Playoff berth with a 30-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.
- The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West title Sunday with a 36-10 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Hawai’i pulled out of the Hawai’i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues last Thursday just 24 hours before the game was scheduled to be played on Friday. Memphis, Hawai’i’s opponent, was already on the Island.
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 525 yards, a franchise record for passing yards in a single game, in a 41-21 win over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday.
- Clippers All-Star forward Paul George will be out at least 3 to 4 weeks after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The Clippers are currently 17-15, fifth in the Western Conference.
- The Lakers lost to the Brooklyn Nets 122-115 on Christmas Day, their fifth straight defeat, in the first game in the newly named Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are now 16-18 on the year.
- The Chargers lost to the Houston Texans 41-29 Sunday to drop to 8-7 on the year. The Chargers are tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for second place in the AFC West and are still in the hunt for an AFC Wild-Card berth.
- Washington Football Team defensive lineman Jonathan Allen threw a punch at fellow lineman Daron Payne on the sidelines during a 56-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
- Former USC/ NFL quarterback/ Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer turns 42 today.
- On this date in 1962 Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker won the Heisman Trophy.
After beating the Lakers, James Harden spent a little of his Sunday watching Artesia High retire his number 13 jersey in the Lakewood gym. Well deserved.