Brock Purdy and the 49ers are no longer unbeaten. They'll visit the Vikings next

The following is a lengthy but not exhaustive list of things that a team cannot do and expect to win a postseason game.

When you average a goal a game throughout your minor-league career, scoring only one in your first four NHL games can seem like a drought.

PHOENIX — Rob Thomson blew Game 3 when he brought in rookie Orion Kerkering. Craig Kimbrel took the 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series when he gave up a walk-off single, but his boss, Rob Thomson, had lost the game about an hour earlier.

NEW YORK — Year 1 of the new-look Liberty had its ups and downs.

Before the Vikings' next opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, fell to a slightly blemished 5-1 record after Sunday's 19-17 loss at Cleveland, pregame trash talk escalated into a shoving match.

Any. Given. Sunday. It's not just the title of the most realistic football movie ever made. It's a cliche that rings true for the NFL, as evidenced by last week's double 5-0 takedown of the then-undefeated 49ers and Eagles by big underdogs in the Browns and Jets. The Giants, the biggest unde…

PHOENIX — Craig Kimbrel turned and looked, if only for a split second.

CHICAGO — Patrick Williams is still overthinking it.

If the Mariners front office had added more offensive pieces to the roster last offseason, maybe the Mariners would not have needed to trade Paul Sewald this summer.

The Aces claimed two titles Wednesday night in New York City.

LOS ANGELES — Chip Kelly is known for sticking with young players through mistakes.

NEW YORK — The Giants say guard Shane Lemieux suffered a torn biceps during practice Wednesday and has been placed on injured reserve.

Jerry Jeudy decided to clear the air Thursday.

LOS ANGELES — Rams starting cornerback Derion Kendrick, who faces two misdemeanor gun charges, participated in a walk-through Thursday but did not practice as the Rams continued preparations for a game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For Games of Friday, October 20

For Games of Friday, October 20

As news of the NCAA investigation into the allegations of No. 2 Michigan’s partaking in illegal sign-stealing efforts continues to grow, Pat Narduzzi prepares Pitt football for its 3:30 p.m. Saturday ACC contest with Wake Forest at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised a fourth year option on wing player Trey Murphy and a third-year option on guard Dyson Daniels. The moves secure both former first-round draft choices through the 2024-25 season. Murphy was selected 17th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and has appeared in 141 games with 66 starts during his first two NBA seasons. He is a 40% shooter from 3-point range and is expected to be one of New Orleans’ premier scorers off the bench after he returns from minor meniscus surgery on his left knee. Daniels was selected eighth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He appeared in 59 games with 11 starts for New Orleans last season.

Twenty-six seconds into the second half of last week’s preseason game against the 76ers, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla made a surprisingly quick substitution. After the first play, he sent Lamar Stevens to the scorer’s table to take out Dalano Banton.

Calgary Flames prospect Topi Ronni informed his Finnish Elite League team that he is under investigation for a rape allegation that occurred two years ago in his native Finland. Tappara Tampere announced on its website that Ronni is stepping away from team activities after receiving a court summons. The 19-year-old Ronni was a minor at the time of the alleged rape. Details of the alleged rape are unknown because the case documents are sealed, and a court hearing date has not been scheduled. Ronni was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft by Calgary. The Flames said they became aware of a potential legal issue involving Ronni after the draft.

The New York Giants' offense has not scored a touchdown in more than three games. The drought stands at 205 minutes heading into Sunday's game against the visiting Washington Commanders. It's a big reason the Giants have a 1-5 record. They have scored 71 points, the fewest in the NFL. There was reason for optimism last week in a 14-9 loss to the Bills. The offense reached the red zone five times with Saquon Barkley returning to the lineup. But starting quarterback Daniel Jones probably won't play this weekend because of a neck injury. Tyrod Taylor would start for him.

Matt Ryan paid a visit to his old workplace Sunday. He and his family were received warmly. It’s not every former employee whose return is trumpeted on a 62,000-square-foot halo video board. Some things have been lost in the work-from-home era.

Ali Krieger will have to wait a bit longer to retire, and that’s a good thing. The two-time Women’s World Cup winner for the United States has made the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs with her club team, Gotham. They’ll play the North Carolina Courage on Sunday in the opening round. The 39-year-old Krieger announced before the season that this would be her last. Gotham feted her with a farewell ceremony following the team’s 2-2 draw with the Kansas City Current that helped clinch a playoff spot.

The Green Bay Packers visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday in a matchup of teams with quarterbacks who have cooled off considerably after hot starts. Jordan Love threw six touchdown passes in his first two starts but has thrown six interceptions in his last three. Wilson's numbers rivaled those of Patrick Mahomes through the first month of the season, but he's coming off his worst game as a Bronco. He was held under 100 yards passing by the Kansas City Chiefs last week and he's been sacked eight times and has three turnovers in his last two games.

The Tar Heels gave the Hurricanes fits during Miami’s 41-31 loss last weekend as UM struggled to adjust to UNC’s up-tempo offense.

Tulane coach Willie Fritz is about to make Green Wave history regardless of whether his team wins or loses this weekend. Fritz is set to coach his 95th game for Tulane when the 23rd-ranked Green Wave host North Texas on Saturday. That will eclipse the old record of 94 shared by Chris Scelfo and Clark Shaughnessy. Winning has a lot to do with why Fritz is now in his eighth season coaching at Tulane. The Green Wave have won 17 of 20 games and are trying to repeat as American Athletic Conference champions. North Texas coach Eric Morris says Fritz is now “setting a standard that everybody’s kind of working towards in this conference."

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden has skipped practice for the second straight day. The Sixers say the disgruntled player is away because of a personal matter. Coach Nick Nurse says it is unlikely Harden will play in Friday's preseason finale. Harden has yet to play in the preseason. He did attend training camp and continued to practice with the 76ers in the wake of his offseason trade demand. Harden said last week his fractured relationship with team president Daryl Morey could not be repaired and said over the summer that he could not play for the 76ers.

The New York Jets’ 20-14 win over Philadelphia last Sunday was perhaps the biggest win in Robert Saleh’s three seasons as coach. It lifted the Jets to 3-3 going into their bye this week. It’s an unlikely mark after Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon four plays into his debut on Sept. 11. Saleh’s consistent approach has been a major reason. Perhaps the biggest. Rodgers says Saleh holds all the players accountable and tight end Tyler Conklin says the coach lives by his words.

Be prepared for a heavy dose of backup quarterbacks when the Chicago Bears host the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bears were working under the assumption that rookie Tyson Bagent would start after Justin Fields exited their loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a dislocated right thumb. The Raiders weren't quite as sure who would be taking snaps for them. Jimmy Garoppolo is out after injuring his back in last week's win over New England. That means veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell will start. Bagent went undrafted last spring after a record-setting career at Division II Shepherd University in West Virginia. He took over for Fields last week.

MIAMI — The question for the Miami Heat now is whether Jimmy Butler can put some teeth into the team’s preseason.

Tennessee coach Kellie Harper was among the millions watching Angel Reese and LSU claim the national title. It was a high note both for the Southeastern Conference, which also had South Carolina in the Final Four, and women’s college basketball. A record 9.9 million viewers watched LSU beat Iowa in the national championship game. Harper couldn’t help yelling at the TV, “Yes, SEC!” All that would be hard to top, though Kim Mulkey’s Tigers enter the season at No. 1 with Reese back, along with two of the nation’s top transfers.

Backup quarterbacks figure to be in the spotlight when Chicago hosts Las Vegas. The Bears were planning to give undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent his first start with Justin Fields nursing a dislocated right thumb. Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo is out after injuring his back in a win over New England. That means Las Vegas will turn to 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill should be the NFL’s MVP.

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek will headline the new-look United Cup mixed team event in Perth and Sydney from Dec. 29 to Jan. 7 as one of the key warm-up tournaments for the Australian Open. Team Poland will be led by world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz. They are the top seed for the 2024 edition after the entries from the top 16 countries were released by Tennis Australia. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari will lead No.2-seeded Greece. The defending champion United States featuring Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz are seeded third. No. 4 seed France will be led by Caroline Garcia and Adrian Mannarino.

The University of Michigan is applying for liquor licenses to potentially sell alcohol at Michigan Stadium, Crisler Center and Yost Ice Arena. The school’s board approved the action Thursday. Michigan plans to sell alcohol at basketball and hockey games this season and to decide at a later date whether to have booze for sale at football games. Michigan State University began selling alcohol this season and will have it for sale Saturday night when it hosts the second-ranked Wolverines. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation last summer that would allow liquor licenses to be issued to sporting venues at public universities.