Fiji feeling the love as everyone's favorite Rugby World Cup underdog; makes 2 changes for Georgia

More than 70 million fans will attend Major League Baseball games for the first time in six years, a post-pandemic rebound for a sport that instituted its biggest on-field changes in decades. A pitch clock to speed play, limits on defensive shifts to increase offense, new social spaces at ballparks and technology innovations to speed entry have factored into a 9.2% rise in average attendance to 29,176. Expanding the playoffs to 12 teams, which began last year, led to more than half the teams remaining in mathematical contention.

The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos have a chance for a reprieve when they meet in a matchup between reeling and winless teams. The question is: Who is more tired of losing? The Bears have lost 13 straight dating to last season. They’re coming off a 41-10 beating by Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs that capped a chaotic week. Quarterback Justin Fields turned some heads with comments about his “robotic” play. Defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned. The Bears then fell behind 41-0 at Kansas City. Denver got crushed 70-20 at Miami. It was the franchise’s second-worst blowout of the Super Bowl era.

It might take all 162 games of the long Major League Baseball season to decide the playoff races in both the National League and American League.The epicenter of the wild-card chase is in Arizona this weekend. Thanks to some fortuitous interleague scheduling, the AL’s Houston Astros travel to face the NL’s Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game set crucial to the races in both leagues. The Astros are fighting for their postseason lives after a September swoon sent them tumbling back to the pack. They're the defending postseason champs. The Diamondbacks are trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2017. Other big series this weekend include Rangers-Mariners, Rays-Blue Jays and Cubs-Brewers.

LAS VEGAS — Three days before the biggest fight of his life, Jermell Charlo, normally a braggadocious, high-energy personality in the public eye, was measured.

The Chicago Bears are winless and have only one sack on the season even after rebuilding their defensive front line in the offseason. Coach Matt Eberflus sees them close to a breakthrough in their pass rush. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has their only sack a season after they had an NFL-low 20. Facing the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson on Sunday, the Bears defense will have Eberflus calling defensive signals again, after the resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams.

Bills coach Sean McDermott joked that he put the call out to see if sprinter Usain Bolt might be free to help Buffalo's defense prepare to face the Miami Dolphins' speedy offense. The world record holder was apparently unavailable, leaving McDermott to lean on practice squad receiver Andy Isabella to simulate Tyreek Hill and company during practice. Sunday's game could turn into a track meet between AFC East rivals. The Dolphins are 3-0, and coming off a 70-20 win over Denver. The three-time defending division champion Bills are 2-1 and outscored their last two opponents by a combined 75-13.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans host the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they'll look to build on last week's big win at Jacksonville. The Steelers, led by NFL sack leader T.J. Watt, will try to improve to 3-1 and win their fourth straight in the series. Stroud, the second overall pick in the draft, ranks fifth in the NFL and first among rookies with 906 yards passing.

SEATTLE — The Mariners have long been keenly aware that the Houston Astros stand as the reigning beacon of strength in the AL West until they knock that distinction aside. And on Wednesday, the Mariners had another in a succession of chances to do just that — or at least to open the door wid…

MIAMI — Most everybody loses in the weird, protracted drama that was Damian Lillard’s monthslong maneuvering to get out of Portland.

The NBA had at least one more blockbuster trade to complete before the 2023 season began. Golden State wasn’t directly involved, but the big swap will surely impact the team this year and beyond.

The Arizona Diamondbacks delayed clinching an NL wild card berth, losing to the White Sox 3-1 on as Andrew Vaughn and Yoán Moncada homered for Chicago. Arizona (84-75) is in position for the second NL wild card and its first postseason appearance since 2017. The Diamondbacks entered two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs and Miami, who were tied for the third and final spot. Arizona would have clinched Thursday with both a win and a Cubs loss at Atlanta. Each team had three hits, and Arizona went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

BRANDON, Fla. — The Lightning will open the season without star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is expected to miss the first two months after having back surgery.

Virginia visits Boston College on Saturday in a matchup of struggling ACC teams. Both teams are looking for their first conference win and a chance to collect a victory against a beatable opponent. Five of Virginia’s next seven opponents are unbeaten through four games.

The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos are winless and reeling. But at least one of them figures to get a reprieve when they meet on Sunday. Both are seeking their first win and trying to shake off brutal losses. The Bears got throttled by Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 41-10. Things were even worse for Denver. The Broncos gave up 726 yards in a 70-20 blowout at Miami that was the franchise’s second-worst loss of the Super Bowl era. Denver lost 51-0 to the Raiders in 1967.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There was a time during the preseason when speculation was rampant the Arizona Cardinals were tanking the season under rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins clinched their spot in next week's wild-card playoff round on Thursday, but there was no champagne, no celebration. That's because, while their playoff entry was already assured, the mathematical possibility remained that Minnesota could claim a bye into the divisiona…

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi arrived just before the start in black attire, fashionably fitting for the tone of the night. He then went to a front-line suite with his family and watched Inter Miami’s game Wednesday night just like the thousands of fans wearing his pink jersey.

Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter and the Colorado State safety whose late hit landed him in the hospital showed there are no hard feelings by going bowling.  Hunter and defensive back Henry Blackburn went to a bowling alley in Boulder on Wednesday to roll a few frames. Hunter was running a deep route in the first quarter of a game on Sept. 16 when he was hit by Blackburn shortly after the ball sailed over his head. Hunter returned to the game but later left to go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lacerated liver. Hunter missed last weekend's 42-6 loss at Oregon.

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) - Results from Greek football:

Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars can jump-start their lackluster offense overseas. After scoring nine and 17 points in consecutive home losses to Kansas City and Houston, respectively, the Jaguars headed across the pond for back-to-back games in London. Jacksonville will be the home team when it plays Atlanta at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The following week, the Jaguars move across town and play as the visitor against Buffalo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Falcons-Jaguars matchup is the first of five NFL international games in 2023 and the first of three in London. The Jags can only hope they fare better than they did the last two weeks on their home field.

DETROIT — They had to wait a few extra hours, thanks to a persistent rain storm that caused the game to be suspended after four innings Wednesday night, but Miguel Cabrera’s latest milestone hit, four innings of pure dominance by Tarik Skubal and the Tigers’ 8-0 win over the Kansas City Roya…

DALLAS — In the past six months, we’ve heard little from Kyrie Irving publicly, and nothing whatsoever on why he decided to re-sign with the Mavericks barely one hour after his free agency window opened in July.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are providing a case study on the value of NFL running backs. Najee Harris and Jalen Warren have split the workload almost 50/50 through the first three games of the season. The Steelers say that Harris will continue to be the featured back as the season wears on, though Warren has won raves for his willingness to serve as a blocker in pass protection. The Steelers take a 2-1 record into a visit to Houston in Week 4.

Rookie Ryan Noda hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics held on for a 2-1 win against the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins. Noda’s 16th homer helped Oakland hold on after Minnesota had tied the game in the sixth. It was just the third win in the past 14 games for the Athletics, who avoided being swept and temporarily eluded their 111th loss, which would be the most in the majors since Detroit lost 114 games in 2019. Lucas Erceg (4-4) won in relief of Luis Medina,

The best women's hockey players in the world aren't the only ones in the sport excited about the new pro league launching in January. Many of the biggest stars across the NHL are eager to see the Professional Women's Hockey League and hope it thrives. NHL officials are assisting the PWHL on scheduling and other startup logistics to try to assist with the short timeline before the first season. The helping hand comes even as the PWHL and its six teams have private ownership in the form of Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter.

PHILADELPHIA — The Damian Lillard domino finally toppled Wednesday, when the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a stunning move to acquire the superstar guard less than a week before training camp opens.

The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in a series where the home team has won each of the past four games. The Chargers held on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 28-24 last week to get their first win of the season. The Raiders lost 23-18 to the Pittsburgh Steelers and could be without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who is in concussion protocol.

Milwaukee Brewers rookie center fielder Garrett Mitchell returned to the lineup after a quicker-than-anticipated recovery from an early-season shoulder injury. The 24-year-old hurt his left shoulder while sliding into third base in the 10th inning of a 6-5, 11-inning victory at Seattle on April 18. He underwent surgery in May to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Mitchell was batting .259 with a .307 on-base percentage, .466 slugging percentage, three homers, six RBIs and one steal in 16 games before the injury. Infielder/outfielder Brian Anderson was designated for assignment.

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will clear the concussion protocol and be ready to play Sunday against Los Angeles. The Rams are still trying to figure out what to do with a potentially short-handed offensive line. Both teams face plenty of questions heading into Week 4. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has struggled in what has been a one-dimensional offense over the past two weeks, both losses. Richardson hasn't finished either of his two starts and sat out last week. But the Colts have won two straight and lead the AFC South.