Mike Tirico will miss NBC’s Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears due to an undisclosed health issue, marking his first absence since becoming the regular play-by‑play voice in 2022. Tirico announced the news on social media, prompting fans to send prayers. NBC Sports has tapped Noah Eagle to fill the booth, joining analyst Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Melissa Stark. The game airs live from Soldier Field, and Eagle was already on site after covering Notre Dame’s upset of Miami the night before.
Claxton is set to make his Bulls debut, and his impact will be felt up and down Chicago's lineup.
Luis Robert Jr.'s 2023 breakout season—38 HR, 20 SB, .264/.315/.542 line and 5.0 fWAR—made his remaining $27.5 M contract look like a bargain. But injuries and a steep decline (‑15% wRC+, .223/.300/.660 in 2024‑25) left him worth just 1.3 fWAR, prompting the White Sox to trade him to the Mets and later the Orioles, who bought out his $20 M 2026 option. In 230 plate appearances for New York and Baltimore, Robert posted .221/.300/.407 with 11 HR, a career‑best 10.4% walk rate but still below league average. MLB Trade Rumors rank him No. 43 free agent, projecting a one‑year, $14 M deal, with the Padres, Reds and Royals as possible suitors. The piece questions how long teams will pay for his upside given a $20.6 M per WAR cost versus healthier five‑tool peers like Byron Buxton.
NBC Sports announces that lead NFL play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico will miss Sunday Night Football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers‑Chicago Bears matchup due to an undisclosed health issue. Noah Eagle steps in alongside analyst Cris Collinsworth, bringing his college football, Netflix NFL, NBA, and Olympic credentials to the broadcast. Tirico says he expects to return for next week’s Steelers‑Bengals game in Cincinnati, marking the second recent health‑related absence after a 2025 Kentucky Derby allergic reaction.
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 9-2 on Saturday at Lenovo Center, scoring four goals in the first period and never trailing.
The Chicago Blackhawks, reeling from a 4-13-1 start to the 2026-27 season, are now active trade participants, according to Elliotte Friedman. General manager Kyle Davidson is reportedly willing to part with a package that includes Florida’s first‑round pick, Edmonton’s first‑round pick, multiple second‑rounders, Chicago’s own first‑rounder, and players such as Jordan Greenway and Teuvo Teravainen. Both Greenway ($4 M UFA) and Teravainen ($5.4 M UFA) are pending free agents, and the Hawks’ depth centers—including Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell and Ryan Greene—are also on the table. With a six‑game losing streak and just one win in ten, Chicago hopes these assets can bring proven NHL talent to lift the club.
The Blackhawks' 9-2 loss to Carolina marked their fourth seven-goal defeat of the Connor Bedard era. Here's a look back at Chicago's worst blowout losses.
Texas will play five night games in the Cactus League, and individual tickets at Surprise Stadium go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The Sixers may have Joel Embiid back as a probable for Sunday’s rematch with the Bulls, while Chicago eyes Nic Claxton’s season debut amid a left hamstring strain. Both teams are shorthanded in the frontcourt: Philadelphia also lists Adem Bona (cervical spine) and Dominick Barlow (lower‑back) as out, and the Bulls have Zach Collins and Dailyn Swain ruled out, with Jalen Smith probable and Tobe Awaka questionable. The Bulls, now 1‑7 and on a six‑game skid, look to use a rest advantage, but the potential showdown between Embiid and Claxton could dictate the game’s interior battle. The matchup follows Philadelphia’s 126‑107 win over Chicago a week earlier.
With the Titans on a bye in Week 9, fans shift their focus to the draft lottery. Tennessee sits at No. 2 for the 2027 NFL Draft, but a win by 0‑7 Los Angeles Chargers over Houston could vault the Titans to the top slot. The only other one‑win team, Miami, faces Detroit, and a Dolphins upset would also affect the order. Several two‑win clubs—including Indianapolis, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans and Washington—are also on the watch list, though the Texans are excluded. A tie by the Commanders would drop them behind Tennessee, while the Bears are a team to root against as the Titans own the 28th first‑round pick via the Jeffery Simmons trade.
Chicago’s top prospect Josiah Hartshorn may debut in the majors by mid‑2027. The 19‑year‑old sixth‑round pick posted a .284/.407/.518 slash line with 23 homers and 112 RBIs across Single‑A, High‑A and Double‑A, earning a minor‑league Gold Glove at first base and flawless defense in the outfield. As a switch‑hitter who powers right‑handed pitching, Hartshorn offers flexibility at first base, right field or center field, potentially slotting into a platoon with Michael Busch or filling corners vacated by Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ. Analysts say a 20‑year‑old debut is plausible, echoing early starts by Jackson Chourio and Ethan Salas.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are two teams looking to make moves. The Penguins want to get younger and the Blackhawks want to get better.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are two teams looking to make moves. The Penguins want to get younger and the Blackhawks want to get better.
Sunday night at Soldier Field brings first place math and a desperate Tampa Bay team. Three bold predictions for the Bears, from Burden's big night to Odunze's long awaited touchdown.
JoeBucsFan.com previews Sunday Night Football as the Buccaneers, sitting at 3-5, travel to Chicago to face the 6-2 Bears. The article examines the Buccaneers' defense and overall performance, featuring insights from Zyon McCollum's recent Unbuttoned interview. Fans get a clear look at what the matchup could reveal about Tampa Bay’s standing in the NFC South.
Former NBA forward Barry Clemens, who played for the Knicks, Bulls, SuperSonics, Cavaliers and Trail Blazers, dies at 83 on Oct. 26, 2026. A 1965 draft pick from Ohio Wesleyan, Clemens posted a career‑high 9.3 points in 1967‑68 and averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds over 11 seasons. The Cavaliers highlighted his 143 games with the team and his 2009 Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame induction. Beyond basketball, he was celebrated for his generosity, love of reading and lifelong sports passion. A memorial service is set for Nov. 24 in Cleveland.
The Chicago Blackhawks endure a disastrous week, dropping six straight games and being outscored 23-8, highlighted by a 9-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Injuries to Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram compound the woes as the team sits last in most offensive and defensive categories, with a league‑worst –37 goal differential. Coach Jeff Blashill faces mounting criticism, though he downplays job‑security concerns, citing trust with players and management. A first‑ever players‑only meeting follows the Carolina debacle, and General Manager Kyle Davidson is rumored to be active on the trade market as the Hawks confront a brutal schedule against multiple recent Stanley Cup champions.
Heading into the 2027 season, the Chicago Bears have forged a promising 1‑2 WR tandem after trading DJ Moore. sophomore Luther Burden III (42 catches, 547 yards, 3 TDs) provides explosive early‑half production – highlighted by a 130‑yard first half against New England – while second‑year Rome Odunze (28 catches, 468 yards) balances the attack with steady second‑half impact and a perfect record catching all of quarterback Williams’s third‑down touchdowns. With the Bears set to face Tampa Bay on Sunday night, the Burden‑Odunze combo, backed by contributions from Colston Lovell and Kalif Raymond, may finally give Chicago a true WR1.
Windy City Gridiron opens its exclusive Week 9 NFL Sunday thread for members, inviting discussion of today’s games—including a dedicated Bears vs. Buccaneers thread around 7:15 p.m. The post also links to a new Jeffery Simmons #Bears shirt from BreakingT. All comments are rated WCG‑MA.
A deep-dive into a July 9, 1985 Wrigley Field game reveals Ryne Sandberg’s rare feat of back‑to‑back two‑run homers, giving the Cubs a 4‑0 lead in the third before they finish 7‑3 over the Padres. The post uses enhanced photos to identify batter Garry Templeton, details Steve Trout’s seven strong innings, and notes Billy Hatcher’s solid performance. It also reflects on the era’s fan fashion and the team’s mid‑season standing—43‑38 and five‑and‑a‑half games back in the NL East—before injuries derailed their surge. The article blends baseball sleuthing with nostalgic observations of 1980s bleacher crowds.
Bowen Byram has missed over four weeks of the Chicago Blackhawks' season despite his October 13 appearance in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh. Agent Darren Ferris says Byram is awaiting a specialist appointment, explaining the lingering "upper-body injury" label. Coach Jeff Blashill dismissed concussion concerns, though Byram previously dealt with head issues in Colorado. The 25‑year‑old defenseman, signed to a six‑year, $75 million deal, has logged just one assist and a –7 rating in six games as Chicago endures a six‑game losing streak, highlighted by a 9‑2 loss to Carolina.
Emeka Egbuka is cleared to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, despite a lingering foot issue. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms he is officially active after limited practice and final medical clearance. The second‑year wideout has 28 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns in six games this season, providing QB Baker Mayfield with a key intermediate option. With the Bears' secondary dealing injuries, Egbuka could exploit soft zone spots with quick slants and route versatility.
In a witty recount of the White Sox’s AL Wild Card win over the Astros, the author shares the lengths fans go to protect a lucky streak—sitting motionless, wearing the same jersey, and repeating snack rituals. The piece blends personal anecdotes (Erick Fedde, Kyle Teel, Andrew Benintendi’s key hits) with research on sports superstitions, citing studies from 2018, 2021 and 2006 that link rituals to fans’ emotional control and athletes’ heightened rituals in high‑stakes games. By highlighting similar habits across baseball, football, hockey and basketball, the article illustrates why superstition persists despite lacking causal power.
The San Antonio Spurs explode in the third quarter to rout the Portland Trail Blazers 125-103 on Nov. 7, 2026. After trailing by 42 points early, the Spurs swing into a 45-27 third‑quarter surge, expanding a 15‑point halftime lead to 33. Victor Wembanyama leads the way with 29 points, seven rebounds and a 58% three‑point clip over his last two games, while also dominating the paint with dunks. Devin Vassell adds 15 points and strong defense, and Stephon Castle contributes 14 points, seven boards and a highlight alley‑oop dunk. The Spurs hit 17 threes versus Portland’s nine and improve to 2‑0 on the road before facing the Suns, Bulls, Warriors and Jazz next week.
After getting roasted on national television and then losing in spectacular fashion against the Carolina Hurricanes, there have to be changes during this break.