Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda has died at the age of 93, the team announced.

He suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at his home Thursday night and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Lasorda was hospitalized on Nov. 8 with heart issues and didn't return home until Tuesday.

He managed the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, winning two World Series titles, four National League pennants and eight division crowns. He was named NL Manager of the Year twice and won 1,599 career games.

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— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 8, 2021

Lasorda was born on Sept. 22, 1927, and he grew up in the blue-collar city of Norristown, Pennsylvania, located just outside of Philadelphia. In 1945, at the age of 18, the left-handed pitcher got his big break by signing with the hometown Phillies organization.

"I did not have a lot of ability, but I'll guarantee you one thing, when I stood on that hill of thrills, I didn't believe that there was any man alive who could hit me," Lasorda said in 1997. "And if they did hit me, which they did, I thought it was an accident."

Lasorda's baseball career was interrupted in 1946 and 1947 because of military service with the U.S. Army. Lasorda returned in 1948 and didn't miss a beat; on May 31 that year, he struck out 25 batters in Schenectady's 15-inning win over Amsterdam and singled in the deciding run. After that season, Lasorda was selected by the Brooklyn Dodgers in the minor league draft, beginning a longtime relationship with the franchise.

Lasorda reached the majors with the Dodgers in 1954 and 1955. He also pitched for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956, but he never played in the big leagues again after that season. He retired from pitching in 1960.

With his playing career finished, Lasorda remained with the Dodgers. He was a scout for the team until becoming a minor league manager from 1965 to 1972. Seventy-five players Lasorda managed in the minors went on to play in the big leagues.

In 1973, Lasorda was the third-base coach for the Dodgers under Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston. When Alston retired in 1976, Lasorda was named his replacement.

Lasorda quickly found success in Los Angeles. In 1977 and 1978, he led the Dodgers to the National League title, but lost to the Yankees in the World Series both seasons. In 1981, Lasorda finally got his first World Series title as the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in six games. The Dodgers also won the World Series in 1988 under Lasorda. He was in attendance for the team's Game 6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in October that sealed the Dodgers' first World Series championship since Lasorda's 1988 team.

After 20 seasons, Lasorda retired as Dodgers manager in 1996 because of health concerns. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997 by the veterans committee, but Lasorda remained active in the sport. He served various roles with the Dodgers and he was manager of the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 over favored Cuba. Lasorda was also the official ambassador of the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

"His passion, success, charisma and sense of humor turned him into an international celebrity, a stature that he used to grow our sport," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Friday. "Tommy welcomed Dodger players from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere - making baseball a stronger, more diverse and better game."

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who was the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years, fondly remembered Lasorda's energy and effort.

"There are two things about Tommy I will always remember," Scully said in a statement. "The first is his boundless enthusiasm. Tommy would get up in the morning full of beans and maintain that as long as he was with anybody else.

"The other was his determination. He was a fellow with limited ability and he pushed himself to be a very good Triple-A pitcher. He never quite had that something extra that makes a major leaguer, but it wasn't because he didn't try. Those are some of the things: his competitive spirit, his determination, and above all, this boundless energy and self-belief. His heart was bigger than his talent and there were no foul lines for his enthusiasm."

A distant relative of Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza, and the godfather to Piazza's brother Tommy, Lasorda was instrumental in influencing the Dodgers to select Piazza in the 62nd round in the 1988 draft. Piazza went on to become a 12-time All-Star with a .308 career batting average, one of nine NL Rookies of the Year to play for the Dodgers under Lasorda. Piazza finished with 427 home runs, including a record 396 as a catcher.

In 2009, Lasorda had his portrait hung in the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. Lasorda's No. 2 was retired by the Dodgers in 1997 and the main street that leads to the entrance of the Dodgers complex in Vero Beach, Florida, was renamed Tommy Lasorda Lane that year.

"Fifty years from now, we're still going to know Tommy Lasorda as a great ambassador to baseball," said former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, who spent 14 of his 18 seasons playing under Lasorda. "And I think that's going to be the number one thing on his résumé."

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame nominating committee has announced Ted Halibrand, one of motorsports most influential safety and performance innovators, and Sam Hornish Jr., the 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, have been added to the 14-person ballot for the 2021 class of the IMS Hall of Fame.

Ballots for the 2021 class have been mailed to the IMS Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which is comprised of nearly 150 distinguished media and racing officials.

The 2021 class of inductees will be determined by the Selection Committee’s vote, and new members of the Hall will be announced this spring.

The inductees will be honored and formally added to the Hall at the annual IMS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Special Recognition Dinner presented by Firestone on May 27. Due to cancellation of the ceremony in 2020, the 2020 inductees – Janet Guthrie and Dale Earnhardt – also will be honored at the 2021 event.

Halibrand was a prolific producer of racing equipment and a key advocate for motorsports safety. Born in 1916 in Paterson, N.J., Halibrand became enamored with the local racing scene during the Great Depression, then moved to Southern California just before World War II for an engineering job with Douglas Aircraft and worked on midget cars at local dirt racetracks in his spare time.

By working on airplanes during the war, Halibrand learned about the weight-saving benefits of magnesium. He used the metal to cast racing wheels, and in 1947 formed the Halibrand Engineering Company. The term “mag wheels” quickly became synonymous with high performance in the racing and muscle car communities.

Lee Wallard won the 1951 Indianapolis 500 using Halibrand mags, beginning a 14-year streak in which every winning car used Halibrand-produced components. Bill Vukovich used Halibrand disc brakes in his 1953 Indianapolis 500 win, marking the first major race victory worldwide for a car using disc brakes.

Halibrand’s list of notable customers grew exponentially in the 1960s, including the likes of Carroll Shelby, Mickey Thompson and the Ford Motor Company’s Le Mans GT40 program.

As the rear-engine revolution took hold in United States Auto Club Championship racing, Halibrand produced a chassis in 1964, the Shrike, that was built almost entirely out of magnesium. Lloyd Ruby won the 1964 Phoenix 200 with a Shrike, marking the first victory for an American-built rear-engine car in USAC competition.

Halibrand served on USAC’s safety committee from its creation in 1956, was named chairman in 1968 and maintained that vital role until his death from a heart attack in June 1991. He is widely recognized as one of the key figures in the evolution of racing safety, from the mid-century era of frequent driver fatalities or serious injuries to a safer sport at the end of his life.

Hornish, a native of Defiance, Ohio, was one of the dominant drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series during the early 2000s, having worked his way up the open-wheel racing ladder of karts, U.S. F2000 and Toyota Atlantic competition.

He debuted in IndyCar with the small PDM Racing team in 2000 and quickly impressed the paddock with two top-10 finishes in eight races.

Hornish joined Panther Racing for the 2001 season, a combination that secured back-to-back IndyCar Series championships in 2001-2002, earning a total of eight wins and 20 podium finishes over the two seasons. Hornish’s talent was further displayed in winning several of the closest races in IndyCar history, including the series’ closest finish ever in 2002 at Chicagoland Speedway: a margin of victory of .0024 of a second, or roughly 3 inches, over Al Unser Jr.

Hornish moved to Team Penske in 2004, saying he felt the team gave him the best opportunity to win the Indianapolis 500. He achieved that goal with Penske in 2006 in one of the most dramatic finishes in the Indianapolis 500 history, becoming the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 with a last-lap pass.

After winning the pole for the 2006 race and dominating the speed charts during practice, Hornish’s opportunity for victory appeared to be dashed when he was assessed a drive-through penalty after a pit infraction on lap 150. To make matters worse, Hornish didn’t serve the penalty until lap 163 of the 200-lap race due to an extended caution period.

After a daring but unsuccessful passing attempt for the lead on lap 198, Hornish was a full second behind the leader, rookie Marco Andretti, with one lap to go. But Hornish rallied  and passed Andretti 500 feet from the finish line, winning by .0635 of a second.

Hornish won his third IndyCar championship in 2006 and moved to NASCAR after the 2007 season, finishing his IndyCar career with 19 victories in 116 starts. His career-best finish in NASCAR Cup Series competition was fourth, and he drove in the Brickyard 400 five times.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Riverhead Raceway officials have announced that the fifth annual Islip 300 featuring tour-type modifieds will take place on Nov. 13.

In their first work session of the year on Thursday morning, the Riverhead Town Board heard a request presented by track co-owner Tom Gatz to draft a resolution to the existing town code allowing for the Islip 300 to be run Nov. 13.

A resolution was dratfed and approved by the board along with two rain dates for the Islip 300 if needed on Nov. 14 or Nov. 20. In 2020 the Town of Riverhead, understanding the plight of the track that was forced to start it’s race season three months late on Aug. 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drafted and approved a resolution permitting the track to operate through the month of October and into the first weeks of November.

“We want to express out appreciation to the Town of Riverhead and the board members for not only approving the Nov. 13, 2021 date for us but also working with us last season” Gatz noted. “These are indeed trying times and their willingness to work with us has been fantastic.”

Heading into the upcoming season, Eddie and Connie Partridge and Gatz are entering their sixth season as owners and operators of Riverhead Raceway. As for the remainder of the race schedule Gatz offered indicated it would be released early next week. The track will remain part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece became the first repeat winner Islip 300 when he won the 2020 edition of the race.

Aside from the date announcement for the Islip 300, the track is scheduled to host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on three occasions. The series will visit the track on May 15, June 19 and Sept. 18.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said goalkeeper Sergio Romero and defender Marcos Rojo are free to leave the club this month.

The United boss has said the Argentinian pair, who have not played this season, will not have their contracts extended beyond the summer and are both looking for moves away from Old Trafford.

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"Both of them have contracts until the summer and they're not going to be extended," Solskjaer said. "We're looking for them to find clubs.

"Marcos has been given time to go home, so he's still in Argentina. Sergio has been back home as well to see his family but he's back now. They're professionals and they're working hard."

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Solskjaer confirmed that winger Facundo Pellistri has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the chance to make his senior debut against Watford in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Odion Ighalo, who is likely to leave the club when his loan expires at the end of the month, could face his former club.

"Odion, it's special for him against Watford and he will be involved, he's in the squad," Solskjaer said. "He's been training really well.

"It's difficult for him to be out of the squad as many times because he did really well up until the summer. This season he's not had as many opportunities but he has not let himself down as a professional and a human being."

United begin their FA Cup campaign against Watford after reaching the semifinals last season. Solskjaer's team are well-placed in the Premier League and could go top of the table with victory at Burnley on Tuesday but the Norwegian said he will not throw away the chance to win the FA Cup.

"We enter this competition wanting to win," Solskjaer said. "There are a few players that had a few knocks and there will be a few changes but we'll still field a team I'm confident in."

United Arab Emirates 270 for 4 (Rizwan 109, Usman 102*, Campher 2-31) beat Ireland 269 for 5 (Stirling 131, Balbirnie 53, Mustafa 2-43) by six wickets

Paul Stirling's 10th ODI hundred was not good enough for Ireland in Abu Dhabi, as hosts United Arab Emirates chased down the 270-run target to win the first ODI of the four-match series by six wickets.

The protagonists in UAE's victory were Chundangapoyil Rizwan and Muhammad Usman, who scored their maiden ODI centuries. They came together in the 13th over with UAE struggling at 51 for 3, after which they put on a 184-run stand for the fourth wicket. By the time the partnership was broken in the 46th over, UAE were only 35 runs away from victory, which they eventually completed with one over to spare.

The chase had begun with Ireland quick Barry McCarthy (2-60) removing UAE openers Zafar Farid (15) and Vrittya Aravind (14) after which Curtis Campher (2-31) found Alishan Sharafu's outside edge, giving Ireland the early advantage in the second innings. Rizwan - still under 10 ODIs old - and the experienced Usman swung things UAE's way, batting together for nearly 33 overs. Rizwan struck nine fours and a six in his 136-ball 109 while Usman's unbeaten 102 came in 107 balls in an innings that had seven fours and three sixes.

When Player-of-the-Match Rizwan fell to Campher in the 46th over courtesy a diving catch from Harry Tector, UAE still needed 35 in 26 balls. But a quickfire unbeaten 10-ball 18 from Waheed Ahmed helped Usman navigate through a tricky final few overs and seal victory.

Ireland, who won the toss and chose to bat, had made 269 for 5 on the back of opener Stirling's third-highest ODI tally of 131 not out. His innings of nine fours and four sixes held up one end as he batted 148 deliveries. Ireland had begun with a 39-run opening stand between Stirling and Kevin O'Brien (23). After that, the captain Andy Balbirnie struck a 61-ball 53 in a 102-run partnership with Stirling for the second wicket.

A brief middle-order wobble, however, then saw Ireland go from 141 for 1 to 159 for 4 courtesy a double-wicket blow from Rohan Mustafa. Mustafa then caught Campher for 24 in the 44th over, but a 15-ball cameo of 21 from Gareth Delany and three sixes in the death overs from Stirling took them to 269 with five wickets in the bag.

Akila Dananjaya has been cleared to bowl in international cricket after an ICC "expert panel" concluded that the flex in his elbow is now within the permitted limit, following remedial work on his bowling action.

Dananjaya had suffered a 12-month suspension from international cricket after his action was found to be illegal on two separate occasions within the space of a year. That suspension period ended in August last 2020, but Dananjaya was still required to show the ICC that his action had been remodelled to comply with the maximum limit of 15 degrees of elbow flexion. As travel to an ICC-accredited biomechanics lab was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions, Dananjaya was cleared by a panel that viewed footage of his new action. Sri Lanka Cricket had provided the footage.

Although still suspended from internationals at the time, Dananjaya did play in the Lanka Premier League late last year, bowling largely his googly and legbreak, while avoiding the stock offbreak that was understood to have been the delivery that ran afoul of the flexion limit. His returns in that tournament had been modest, however. He claimed only two wickets and conceded runs at 10.56 an over,

Prior to his suspensions, Dananjaya had been Sri Lanka's leading spinner in the limited-overs formats, and was also beginning to be utilised increasingly in Tests. The suspension was a substantial setback for his career, and if he is to return to international level, he must now compete for places with the likes of left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

If Ben Roethlisberger says it's OK to say it, then go ahead and call these NFL playoffs the year of the "old guys."

And Big Ben isn't even the oldest.

The NFL's five oldest starting quarterbacks are all still playing, while some of the future stars, such as Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson, are at home watching.

This postseason, which begins Saturday with wild-card weekend, marks the first time five quarterbacks age 37 or older will start in the same playoffs in NFL history. That's Tom Brady (43), Drew Brees (41), Philip Rivers (39), Roethlisberger (38) and Aaron Rodgers (37).

"All the old guys," Roethlisberger said this week. "I know you didn't want to use those words. I'll say it for you. It's cool. It's fun to be a part of it with them. If we were sitting at home and people were talking about the old guys that are still playing, why aren't you a part of it, then you would be disappointed. To be a part of it, to be in this tournament as coach [Mike Tomlin] calls it, it's an honor and a pleasure to be able to do it. I am hoping that it's not one and done. We are going to give it everything we have so I can be the last old man standing."

The five "old guys" have made a combined 107 playoff starts, but this is the first time all five have been in the playoffs in the same year.

One of those five has led the NFL in touchdown passes in 10 of the past 14 seasons, with Rodgers doing it this year (48). All five are in the top eight in all-time touchdown passes. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, not even four of the top 10 all-time leaders have ever started in the same postseason.

They have combined to win 10 of the past 20 Super Bowls, although other than Brady none have made it to the Super Bowl since Rodgers and Roethlisberger faced each other 10 years ago.

Here's a look at the "old guy" quarterbacks' greatest playoff moments, their paths to get here and what a Super Bowl would mean for each.

Greatest playoff moment

Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seasons: 21
Playoff record: 30-11, six Super Bowl wins in nine appearances

It's hard to choose just one, but Brady's comeback from being down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons at halftime to win 34-28 in Super Bowl LI takes the cake. The runner-up has to be his 37-31 overtime win over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game following the 2018 season. -- Jenna Laine

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Seasons: 20
Playoff record: 8-8, one Super Bowl win in one appearance

Brees' run to Super Bowl MVP in 2009 was masterful: Eight touchdown passes and zero interceptions in three postseason games. And he capped it with a go-ahead TD drive for the ages in the fourth quarter of New Orleans' 31-17 victory over the Colts. Brees completed all eight of his pass attempts to eight different receivers, including the TD to Jeremy Shockey and 2-point conversion to Lance Moore. -- Mike Triplett

Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts
Seasons: 17
Playoff record: 5-6

Rivers earns a lot of respect for playing in the 2007 AFC Championship Game with a torn ACL, but it's beating Peyton Manning and the Colts in a 2008 wild-card playoff matchup that tops the list. The 8-8 Chargers weren't supposed to have a chance in that game. The Colts were the hottest team in the league at the time, and Manning had just won his third MVP award. It was the second straight year the Chargers sent the Colts home early from the playoffs. -- Mike Wells

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Seasons: 16
Playoff record: 10-8, one Super Bowl win in one appearance

The easy answer is Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers was the MVP in the Packers' 31-25 win over the Steelers, and his fourth-quarter throw to Greg Jennings for 31 yards was one of the most important in his career. But the Packers don't get to that Super Bowl if not for the way Rodgers played against the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round. He completed 31 of 36 passes for three touchdowns in a road upset of the top seed. -- Rob Demovsky

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Seasons: 17
Playoff record: 13-8, two Super Bowl wins in three appearances

Roethlisberger has a great offensive AND defensive moment in his career. Seriously. The winning drive against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 capped with his touchdown throw to Santonio Holmes will live forever in the hearts of Steelers fans. But Roethlisberger's tackle of Nick Harper in the divisional round of the 2005 playoffs was equally impressive. Harper recovered Jerome Bettis' fumble in the final minutes of the divisional round against the Colts, but Roethlisberger's tackle saved the Steelers' playoff fate. -- Brooke Pryor

How they got here

Brady: The Bucs got swept by the Saints, and lost by three points to the Los Angeles Rams and Chiefs, with their signature win coming in Week 6 against the Packers. It took winning their final four games to reach the playoffs and clinch the No. 5 seed, but it will be the first time Brady has ever been a wild card on the road in the postseason. -- Laine

Brees: Brees and the Saints got off to a shaky 1-2 start. Then he missed four games in November and December because of a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs. But he bounced back in each case despite playing only 10 total quarters with leading receiver Michael Thomas. And New Orleans won its fourth straight NFC South title, thanks to one of the most talented and well-rounded rosters in the NFL. -- Triplett

Rivers: You would think 11 victories and an additional playoff spot added would have easily earned the Colts a place in the playoffs. Nope. They had to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 and get help from other teams to clinch just their second playoff spot since 2014. To add to the absurdness of the 2020 season, the Colts would have won the AFC South had the Houston Texans beaten the Tennessee Titans in Week 17. -- Wells

Rodgers: He went from scuffling along in coach Matt LaFleur's new offense in 2019 to owning it in 2020. Rodgers not only fully embraced the new system, he mastered it in Year 2. The likely NFL MVP led the league in touchdown passes (48) while throwing just five interceptions -- all without the addition of any significant players at the receiver spot. -- Demovsky

Roethlisberger: The Steelers have been most successful when Roethlisberger runs the no-huddle offense. But in a late-season, three-game skid, the offense got away from that and Roethlisberger often looked like the worst version of himself with off-target throws and tentativeness in the pocket as he anticipated contact. In the second half of the Week 16 Colts win, Roethlisberger looked like the quarterback who helped his team to an 11-0 start. He stretched the field with passes of 39 and 34 yards and threw for more than 200 yards in the second half. -- Pryor

How he's different at this age

Brady: Brady is defying his age in a system that asks him to take more deep shots than he ever has in his career. His 34 completions of 20-plus air yards were more than any other QB in the league this year and were a career high for him. His completion percentage on those throws was nearly identical to Mahomes'. -- Laine

Brees: Brees' arm strength and lack of downfield throws have been heavily scrutinized in recent years, and he no longer throws for 5,000 yards every season. But he has made up for any shortcomings in those areas by becoming even more efficient. Brees has posted the best passer rating, completion percentage and interception numbers of his career over the past four seasons. -- Triplett

Rivers: Rivers doesn't have the same arm strength as he did when he was younger, but he played some of the smartest football of his career this season. He went into Week 16 looking like he might finish with single-digit interceptions in a season for just the third time in his career. Rivers ended the regular season with 11 interceptions, down from 20 in 2019. He also had the third-highest completion percentage (68%) of his career. One thing that hasn't changed is Rivers' availability. He has started 240 straight games. -- Wells

Rodgers: To say Rodgers is more intelligent now would be like suggesting Einstein got smarter after developing the theory of relatively. But Rodgers has become more willing to accept the check-downs instead of holding the ball and waiting for something to develop down the field. That has put him more in rhythm with the offense. -- Demovsky

Roethlisberger: The 2020 Roethlisberger hasn't been the gunslinger he was known to be earlier in his career. Instead, Roethlisberger spent most of the season throwing short slants and underneath passes, putting the burden on his offensive weapons to make the plays. But when he runs the no-huddle offense, Roethlisberger is quick to remind folks that his reconstructed elbow is perfectly capable of rifling the ball downfield with deep throws to players such as Chase Claypool and James Washington. Roethlisberger has never been a particularly mobile quarterback, but he has been even more stationary this season with his arthritic knees. -- Pryor

What a Super Bowl would mean

Brady: The Bucs are a longshot, especially if it means getting past the Saints, who swept the Bucs in the regular season with a 38-3 pummeling in Week 10. It will also depend on their defense, which has been inconsistent and prone to giving up explosive pass plays. Still, you can never count Brady out because of his track record. -- Laine

Brees: This could be Brees' last chance to get back to the Super Bowl and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats. Once again, the Saints are among the NFL's top contenders after three straight years of devastating playoff exits. They are as deep and well-rounded as any team in the playoffs, with a top-four defense and a top-six rushing offense. -- Triplett

Rivers: The road to reaching the Super Bowl in the AFC will go through Buffalo and then Kansas City, the top two teams in the conference. That's going to be tough to accomplish for Rivers and the Colts. Rivers is in the top five in NFL history in touchdowns and passing yards, but he has yet to play in a Super Bowl. His teams have reached the conference championship game only twice in his career. -- Wells

Rodgers: Brett Favre never won a second Super Bowl, but at least he got to a second. His appearances came in back-to-back seasons. Rodgers might tie Favre for MVPs, but surpassing him in Super Bowl titles could move him past Favre in the eyes of those who rank Packers quarterbacks, if he hasn't already. -- Demovsky

Roethlisberger: The Steelers have a 10% chance to make it to Tampa Bay, according to ESPN's FPI. While it's a longshot, it's not out of the question -- and this team will go as far as Roethlisberger takes it. He has three Super Bowl appearances and two wins, but he hasn't been back in 10 years. Going out with one in the twilight of a storied career would further cement his Hall of Fame resume. He would become just the fifth QB to win three Super Bowl titles, joining Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Troy Aikman. -- Pryor

What's next

Brady: He is under contract with the Bucs for one more season and has given no indication that he wants to retire now, especially with the way he has played the past four weeks. This Brady-led offense can be scary with a full offseason to truly collaborate with coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and develop better chemistry with receivers, and if Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown return. -- Laine

Brees: Brees has not announced whether he will retire after 20 seasons, although there has been heavy speculation inside and outside the building that he will. Either way, the Saints will have a hard time keeping the entire core of this team together after this season because of severe salary-cap constraints. So this playoff run definitely has a "Last Dance" feel to it. -- Triplett

Rivers: Free agency or coaching high school football in Alabama. Rivers hasn't decided whether he wants to play an 18th season. If he chooses to play, his performance in the playoffs likely will play a significant factor in whether the Colts want to re-sign him for the 2021 season. Rivers, who will be 40 in November, will become the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School once he retires. -- Wells

Rodgers: There's no way the Packers could move on from Rodgers after a season like this, right? Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round pick, probably wouldn't be ready to play next season anyway, but the way Rodgers has played should convince the Packers that the time to move on from Rodgers won't come soon. -- Demovsky

Roethlisberger: He is under contract through 2021 and carries a $41.2 million cap hit. It's his intention to return next season, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, but Roethlisberger also said that if he's not playing up to his standard, he won't hesitate to "hang it up." Roethlisberger has been adamant that he doesn't want to be a detriment to his team, and his performance in the postseason could dictate his 2021 decision. -- Pryor

The opening weekend of the NFL playoffs has arrived, with six games on the wild-card round slate. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the keys to every game, a bold prediction for each matchup and final score picks.

Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a stat to know for each game, and the Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game projection. ESPN Chalk's Dave Bearman hands out helpful nuggets as well. It's all here to help get you ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.

Jump to a matchup:
IND-BUF | LAR-SEA | TB-WSH
BAL-TEN | CHI-NO | CLE-PIT

Byes: Chiefs, Packers

No. 7 Colts at No. 2 Bills

Saturday, 1:05 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 73.9 | Spread: BUF -6.5 (51)

What to watch for: The Bills are in the playoffs for the third time in four years after a 17-year postseason drought, but they haven't won a playoff game since the 1995 season. This Buffalo team is scorching hot, however, outscoring opponents 229-110 since Week 12. Can a Colts defense that ranked in the top 10 this season in both points and yards allowed slow down quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills' offense? -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Bold prediction: Colts quarterback Philip Rivers will have a season low in pass attempts, meaning 20 or fewer. One of the keys of slowing down Buffalo's offense is by keeping Allen & Co. on the sideline for as long as possible. And the best way to do that is by running the ball as much as possible. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor closed out the regular season by rushing for 741 yards -- including 253 in Week 17 -- over his final six games. The Colts will lean on him even more against the Bills. Rivers' current season low in pass attempts is 21, which he had against the Jets in Week 3. -- Mike Wells

Stat to know: The Bills have dropped back to pass on 64% of their first-down plays this season, the highest first-down passing rate by a winning team over the past 20 seasons. That's up from 53% last season. Buffalo's 2,493 passing yards on first down is the NFL's most this season.

Injuries: Colts | Bills

Matt Bowen's game key: The Colts' linebackers have to close the middle of the field for Allen. How? By using Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke to sink under the deep in-breakers and force Allen to throw the ball underneath. Read more.

Betting nugget: The Bills covered six of eight home games this season, tied for the second-best cover rate at home and a vast improvement over their 6-10 mark at home against the spread (ATS) over the previous two seasons. Read more.

Wells' pick: Bills 30, Colts 20
Louis-Jacques' pick: Bills 31, Colts 17
FPI prediction: BUF, 67.5% (by an average of 6.0 points)

Matchup must-reads: Why Colts coach Reich stuck with quarterback Rivers ... For Bills' 1995 team, playoff surge evokes memories of last time franchise ruled AFC East ... Colts need consistency to go with "us vs. the world" mentality ... Fans attending Bills' playoff game taking COVID-19 tests ... How did Allen make us all look so dumb? Inside his unbelievable rise

No. 6 Rams at No. 3 Seahawks

Saturday, 4:40 p.m. ET | Fox
Matchup rating: 79.7 | Spread: SEA -3.5 (42.5)

What to watch for: Injuries could play a big role in this one. Rams coach Sean McVay has been tight-lipped about whether quarterback Jared Goff and his surgically repaired thumb will start Saturday. Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, meanwhile, said unequivocally that he'll be on the field for his first career playoff game. Adams' status had been in question because of a shoulder injury. Will either or both of them suit up, and how will their injuries play a part? -- Brady Henderson

Bold prediction: Rams No. 2 quarterback John Wolford will break the Rams' two-game streak without an offensive touchdown. Yes, Wolford. McVay won't declare a starter before kickoff, but expect Goff to give it a try. But with Goff less than two weeks removed from thumb surgery, Wolford could very well need to step in at some point. -- Lindsey Thiry

Stat to know: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had six passing touchdowns of 30-plus air yards this season, tied with Patrick Mahomes for the most in the NFL. However, he went 2-of-16 (13%) with zero TDs and an interception on those throws over the last eight games of the season. And he went 1-of-6 on those throws against the Rams, who allowed an NFL-low completion percentage on deep balls this season (14.8%).

Injuries: Rams | Seahawks

Matt Bowen's game key: The Seahawks have transitioned back to their old-school offensive identity over the second half of the season with a more run-heavy approach and play-action throws for Wilson. Why? This passing game looks disjointed, and Seattle has to get back to more rhythm concepts that allow him to get the ball out with speed. Read more.

Betting nugget: The Seahawks were 4-6 ATS this season when favored by more than a field goal, and the Rams are 3-1 ATS when getting at least 3.5 points during the McVay era. Read more.

Thiry's pick: Seahawks 20, Rams 17
Henderson's pick: Seahawks 21, Rams 18
FPI prediction: SEA, 59.1% (by an average of 3.0 points)

Matchup must-reads: "The McVay of defense": Former Division III coordinator Staley latest Rams coaching wunderkind ... Diving in: Swimming among ways Seahawks' Metcalf, Wilson have bonded ... Rams coach McVay "not gonna make an announcement" on starting QB ... Adams' availability a key to Seahawks avoiding another early exit

No. 5 Buccaneers at No. 4 Washington

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET | NBC
Matchup rating: 71.0 | Spread: TB -8.5 (44.5)

What to watch for: Can Washington pressure Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady? Sacks don't tell the whole story, but Brady is 26-7 in his playoff career when sacked two times or fewer and 4-4 when sacked three or more times. Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been excellent with in-game adjustments and adding in wrinkles; he'll need to add some here to cause some hesitation and allow the front four to get home. It'll also be interesting to see if Washington's offense can produce enough. In quarterback Alex Smith's six starts this season, Washington has scored more than 23 points once. Will that be enough? -- John Keim

Bold prediction: The Buccaneers' offense will put up three touchdowns on a Washington defense that hasn't surrendered that many since Week 10 against the Lions. Brady might not be the difference-maker against this pass rush, though. Rather, it will be a healthy Ronald Jones, who was denied 1,000 rushing yards to cap his season after missing two games because of a finger injury and time on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Washington's run defense is closer to average, giving up 112.8 yards per game (15th in the league). -- Jenna Laine

Stat to know: Washington ranked 31st in offensive efficiency this season at 36.1 (scaled 0-100). That is the fourth worst by a playoff team in the past 15 seasons. But surprisingly, all three teams with lower rates won their first playoff game that season (2010 Seahawks, 2016 Texans and 2011 Broncos).

Injuries: Buccaneers | Washington

Matt Bowen's game key: Given the lack of a consistent vertical element in the Washington passing game, I expect Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to heat up the pocket. Multiple fronts, second-level pressure, zero blitzes -- dial it up against Smith or backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Read more.

Betting nugget: Unders were 6-2 in Washington home games this season, and Tampa Bay has covered five of seven games this season when the under comes through. Read more.

Laine's pick: Buccaneers 24, Washington 21
Keim's pick: Buccaneers 28, Washington 21
FPI prediction: TB, 73.6% (by an average of 8.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bucs' Evans to be game-time call vs. Washington ... Washington DE Young: I'm not sorry for "I want Tom" Brady comments ... "He coaches you hard": How Bucs' Arians builds relationships with his QBs ... How Rivera's cancer battle, return of Smith galvanized Washington ... Washington coach Rivera mulls rotating QBs in wild-card playoff game

No. 5 Ravens at No. 4 Titans

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC
Matchup rating: 84.5 | Spread: BAL -3 (54.5)

What to watch for: Titans running back Derrick Henry has been a thorn in the Ravens' side. Henry rushed for 195 yards in the divisional-round playoff game last season and 133 yards -- including a 29-yard touchdown run in overtime to seal the victory -- against them this season. Baltimore will be focused on keeping Henry in check, so keep an eye on how Tennessee offensive coordinator Arthur Smith counters. -- Turron Davenport

Bold prediction: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will throw four touchdown passes. He has totaled three in two career playoff games combined (both losses), but the Titans gave up 36 touchdowns through the air this season, which is tied for the most ever by a playoff team. -- Jamison Hensley

Stat to know: According to research by the Elias Sports Bureau, the Ravens' 1,337 rushing yards over their past five games is the most by any team in a five-game span since the Super Bowl era began in 1966. They had 3,071 rushing yards this season, the fourth most in a season in NFL history, one year after setting an NFL record with 3,296. But none of top five teams in single-season rushing yards won a playoff game that season.

Injuries: Ravens | Titans

Matt Bowen's game key: We know that Henry is going to get his touches Sunday. But if a team wants to beat Tennessee, it has to take away the big-play ability of the play-action passing game with quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Watch out for outside-zone looks with wide receiver A.J. Brown running the in-breakers. Read more.

Betting nugget: The Titans have failed to cover consecutive games when the over/under is 50-plus after opening the season 6-2 ATS in such spots. Read more.

Hensley's pick: Ravens 31, Titans 23
Davenport's pick: Titans 28, Ravens 24
FPI prediction: BAL, 62.7% (by an average of 4.3 points)

Matchup must-reads: Remember the Titans? Ravens not thinking about past in playoff rematch ... How Titans' Henry can withstand a heavy workload to keep delivering ... Jackson's titanic hurdle: Capturing that elusive playoff win for the Ravens ... Titans have had Jackson's number, but can this defense stop him? ... How to watch Ravens-Titans wild-card MegaCast

No. 7 Bears at No. 2 Saints

Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 65.2 | Spread: NO -9.5 (47.5)

What to watch for: The Saints could potentially get both wide receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara back in the lineup as they look to finally peak at the right time after three consecutive years of painful playoff exits. And this could be quarterback Drew Brees' last chance to get back to a second Super Bowl, since he might retire after this season. Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky, meanwhile, might need an impressive playoff performance to extend his career in Chicago as he heads toward free agency. -- Mike Triplett

Bold prediction: Saints playmakers Kamara and Thomas will return to score three combined touchdowns. So much focus is on Trubisky and the Bears' flighty offense, but Chicago's defense has worn down in recent weeks. The Bears' pass rush has been virtually nonexistent at times, even with Khalil Mack. Further complicating matters is the left elbow injury suffered last week by the Bears' best all-around defender, linebacker Roquan Smith. Chicago's defense appears to be in real trouble again. -- Jeff Dickerson

Stat to know: Bears running back David Montgomery has scored a rushing touchdown in five straight games, the longest streak by a Bear since 1990 (Neal Anderson had five). The Bears' offense as a whole scored 31.2 points per game over the final five weeks of the season, tied with the Saints for sixth in the NFL.

Injuries: Bears | Saints

Matt Bowen's game key: New Orleans needs to look for Kamara as a passing-game option when he is flexed from the formation in empty sets. Clear out the boundary and create that space for Kamara to run the choice/option route on a high-percentage throw for Brees. Read more.

Betting nugget: The most recent time the Bears covered in a game in which they were a 7.5-plus-point underdog was November 2017 ... against the Saints. Read more.

Dickerson's pick: Saints 30, Bears 21
Triplett's pick: Saints 26, Bears 19
FPI prediction: NO, 78.9% (by an average of 10.6 points)

Matchup must-reads: Bears, Trubisky enter postseason with "nothing to lose" attitude ... "Last Dance?" Why it's vital for Brees, Saints to win now ... Source: Kamara joins remotely for Bears prep

No. 6 Browns at No. 3 Steelers

Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET | NBC
Matchup rating: 61.4 | Spread: PIT -5.5 (47.5)

What to watch for: Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick calls Cleveland running back Nick Chubb one of the "most complete" backs in the league. Once one of the best run defenses in the NFL, the Steelers have been more porous in recent weeks with injuries mounting. Linebacker Robert Spillane is back, though, and will be key in slowing Chubb. -- Brooke Pryor

Bold prediction: Despite being short-handed because of COVID-19, the Browns will hang tough. But for a second consecutive week, Pittsburgh-Cleveland will come down to a 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Only this time, it will be the Browns who come up short. -- Jake Trotter

Stat to know: Only Aaron Rodgers has a higher QBR on play-action this season than Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (93). But nobody defends against it better than Pittsburgh. Mayfield's yards per attempt dips from 9.5 on play-action to 6.5 without it, and his completion percentage falls from 68% to 61%, so how the Browns' run fakes work against the Steelers will go a long way in determining whether they can get their first playoff victory since Jan. 1, 1995.

Injuries: Browns | Steelers

Matt Bowen's game key: What will the Browns change with a new playcaller on Sunday night (coach Kevin Stefanski will miss the game with COVID-19)? I want to see them stay on script. That means two- and three-tight end sets, gap and zone runs with Chubb and Kareem Hunt and defined throws for Mayfield off play-action. Read more.

Betting nugget: The Steelers have covered in four of the past five meetings with the Browns (three straight) after Cleveland had covered in four of five prior matchups. Read more.

Trotter's pick: Steelers 28, Browns 26
Pryor's pick: Steelers 21, Browns 17
FPI prediction: PIT, 67.9% (by an average of 6.1 points)

Matchup must-reads: Flip phones, "Friends" and LeBron's debut: It's been 18 years since the Browns made playoffs ... Roethlisberger guides Steelers' young players through playoff "whirlwind" ... It's been 25 years since the Browns broke Cleveland's heart and left for Baltimore ... NFL's oldest quarterbacks share playoff stage for first time ... Only family, friends allowed to attend Steelers' playoff game vs. Browns

World Rugby has committed to improving female representation within the organisation and is considering removing the tier system for international teams.

As part of a governance review, it will next look at the classification of unions and possible new competitions.

Only certain countries can achieve 'tier one' classification currently.

Those that form part of the Six Nations or Sanzaar are considered part of rugby's top tier, with 2019 World Cup quarter-finalists Japan, for example, excluded.

It is thought scrapping the tier terminology would lead to increased funding and increased World Rugby voting rights for current tier two unions.

After Fiji Rugby Union chairman Francis Kean stood down from the World Rugby council amid accusations of homophobia and discrimination in 2020, a 'fit and proper person test' will also be introduced for all council members.

Player representation on all committee structures was included among the recommendations too.

Outcomes of the review, led by British Olympic Association chairman Sir Hugh Robertson, were announced on Thursday but it is not yet known when they will come into force.

Sir Hugh said: "These actions will strengthen diversity and inclusion and, for the first time, introduce an independent ethics structure.

"These were all proposals which received widespread support across the global game."

INDIANAPOLIS – Landon Simon has partnered with Ryan Hall Racing to field a four-car midget team during the upcoming Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on Jan. 11-16.

“I’ve known Ryan for a couple of years. Our relationship started out business and quickly became a friendship. I built Ryan the first RHR Midget for last year’s Chili Bowl and it led to partnering up for some races throughout 2020,” said Simon.

Simon will spearhead the four-car operation aboard the No. 79S with sponsorship from Express Car Wash of Texas and True North Collective Michigan. The team will also include team owner Hall aboard the No. 79, Keith Martin in the No. 79M and Kyle Simon in the No. 79K.

Additional sponsors of the team include The Hayloft, Lucas Oil, Dave and Busters Tulsa, B&K Windows, Keizer Wheels and Simpson Race Products.

“No matter what the role, Ryan, Keith, Kyle, and I have been successful and have had a lot of fun racing together. I think this Chili Bowl team is a dream come true for everyone involved,” added Simon.