data-mm-id=”_v7jj2t74q”>The Cleveland Browns are 10-4 and in pole position for the top wild card spot in the AFC. Yes, the very same Cleveland Browns who were the biggest disappointment of 2019 and generally one of the most cursed franchises in football. On this very site, there have been many times this season where we have doubted the Browns' legitimacy as playoff contenders. As recently as just last week, even. But with a 20-6 win over the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, the Browns seem very legit. It was not the win itself that changed things, but rather the way in which they won. Cleveland has one of the best ground games in the NFL, led by the two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Cleveland fans have dubbed them "Chunt" which is a little uncomfortable and I would like to take this moment to suggest we call the two "The Hubb" instead, but I digress. They were stifled by the Giants' defensive line in primetime last night, mustering only 71 yards and a touchdown between the two of them. The onus then fell on Baker Mayfield to win the game. Mayfield has faced more than his fair share of criticism since he was picked No. 1 overall back in 2018, but in recent weeks has shut everyone up and did so again last night. Mayfield threw for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a pretty good Giants secondary to give Cleveland another win, completing 27 of his 32 passing attempts. Those are excellent numbers and upon review he played even better than they suggest. He made a handful of perfect throws against tight coverage, and even his "mistakes" (like when he passed up a wide-open David Njoku for a very covered Jarvis Landry) worked out because Mayfield put the ball exactly where it needed to go. This all came against a Giants defense that suffocated Russell Wilson only two weeks prior. It was a downright impressive performance. And the Browns will need that version of Mayfield if they want to make any noise come postseason play. The Browns' run game is elite but injuries suffered across the offensive line have put a damper on its effectiveness in recent weeks. Ultimately, it'll come down to Mayfield to make winning plays. His recent stretch of games suggests he is more than capable; the former Heisman winner has thrown 10 touchdowns to only one pick in the last four weeks. But whether or not Mayfield is capable has never really been the question. His talent has been obvious since he took over for Tyrod Taylor during his rookie season. It's whether he can actually deliver that has been the big question and main talking point for many sports talk show segments. Right now, it's all coming together for Mayfield. He's progressing through his reads and avoiding any massive mistakes week-in and week-out. He's been excellent in the play-action game all year, averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt in 2020 on those plays. This is his moment. The Browns have a great team around him and the pieces to succeed. It's on Mayfield to deliver now, and if his play of late is any indication, he's as ready as he'll ever be to do just that.
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UEFA has removed the restrictions on the transfer spending and Champions League squad sizes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain after the two clubs met their Financial Fair Play (FFP) targets.
Both City and PSG competed in last season s Champions League with just 21 players instead of the usual 25 and also had their spending capped at £49million for breaches of FFP regulations.
In addition, the clubs agreed that their wage bill for the 2014-15 Champions League squad would not exceed that of the 2013-14 campaign, while fines of £16.3m a year were levied.
However, UEFA relaxed its regulations on Tuesday and the organisation s Club Financial Control Body has now decided that the remaining two years fines for City and PSG will not be imposed.
Ligue 1 clubs Ajaccio and Reims were knocked out of the Coupe de France as unlikely winners Rouen and Plabennec prevailed on Saturday.
Ajaccio, under the guidance of new manager Albert Emon for the first time, went down 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at third-tier Rouen in the last 64 of the competition.
Former Olympique Marseille boss Emon, who replaced the sacked Alex Dupont last month, watched his new team go a goal down when Zahir Zerdab opened the scoring for Rouen in the 63rd minute.
Wilfried Zahibo s 89th-minute equaliser forced the match into a goalless extra time before Rouen goalkeeper Theo Defourny saved three penalties in the shootout to thwart Ajaccio.
We have achieved something beautiful. I just tried to relax and luck was on my side, D…
Racing Club forward Lautaro Martinez has claimed Real Madrid have tabled an offer for him, but the 18-year-old believes his club are unlikely to let go of him unless his €8 million buyout clause is met.
The attacker is regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in Argentina and Martinez s potential has seemingly not gone unnoticed at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It is true that I received a rough draft of an offer from Real Madrid to play a year on loan, with an option to buy, Martinez told Marca.
But my buy-out clause was a bit high at €8 million. If they really want me, they ll have to pay that amount as Racing won t accept anything less.
I m constantly talking with the president of my club and I know that my coach is counting on me for the seaso…
Juventus great Gianluigi Buffon took to the field to play a Champions League match for a landmark 100th time in Wednesday s 1-1 draw against Lyon.
Two of those appearances came in finals, but ultimately the Italy legend fell short against AC Milan in 2003 and Barcelona in 2015.
However, Buffon remains a stalwart in Europe s premier competition and using Opta stats we look at some of the numbers behind his brilliant century of appearances.
100 – number of appearances in the Champions League, still some 60 shy of friend Iker Casillas who holds the record for a keeper.
94 – Buffon s tally of matches played for Juve in the Champions League, the most of any player for the Bianconeri.
42 – Of the 100 matches Buffon has played, he has ke…
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In what is a mouth-watering way to open this year s Premier League campaign, Tottenham will welcome Manchester City to North London on Sunday afternoon.
Tottenham
Starting with the hosts, while most of the headlines in the build-up to Sunday s opener might have been stollen by Harry Kane s potential move to The Sky Blues, the North London outfit are beginning a new adventure this season. With it confirmed over the summer that former Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo would be the man to replace Ryan Mason as the new permanent coach in their dugout, The Lilywhites have enjoyed an eye-catching pre-season run. Managing to pick up what was a real morale-boost last weekend as they secured a 1-0 victory against bitter rivals Arsenal, Spurs we…
Manchester City have submitted a planning application for the expansion of the Etihad Stadium, the club announced on Tuesday.
City s statement described the development of a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination .
The work centres around the Etihad s North Stand, which would be expanded to increase the stadium s capacity to over 60,000, City added.
A revamped fan zone, a new club shop, a club museum and a hotel also form part of the proposal.
We are delighted to announce a planning application has been submitted for an entertainment destination at the Etihad Stadium.
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
City estimate it will bring more than £300million investment into the area, with the work set to t…
Real Madrid captain Raul is looking for the goal that will take him level with the great Alfredo di Stefano as the club s all-time leading scorer when Real travel to Numancia on Saturday.
Raul scored his 306th goal last weekend and has the chance to equal di Stefano s mark and help Real cut Barcelona s lead at the top to 12 points.
At the moment maybe it is easier to win a tenth European Cup than the league when you consider that Barca s form is not dipping, explained Raul.
It s not impossible to overcome a deficit of 12 points, but if they (Barca) don t lose points it is not going to be possible to catch them.
While Raul has iconic status at Real, Dutch winger Roysten Drenthe is finding out how demanding the fans can be after being jeered when he cam…
David Beckham has left only a modest footprint on the North American football landscape in two ineffective seasons so far with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The Galaxy will be without the league s highest-paid player when they open their 2009 Major League Soccer campaign Sunday against DC United.
The MLS season kicked off Thursday in Seattle when the league s newest club, the Seattle Sounders, host the New York Red Bulls.
Beckham, who turns 34 in May, won t be available until half way through the season to the Galaxy who have failed to make the playoffs since his arrival in 2007.
Even when he has suited up for Los Angeles, Beckham has had little impact. He played just five games of an injury-filled first season and had five goals and 10 assists last season.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar made merry as Barcelona regained the winning habit in LaLiga with a 5-1 thrashing of Leganes.
Luis Enrique s men suffered a shock 2-1 home loss to Alaves last weekend and made a shaky start at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.
But their attacking stars, who started together for the first time this season in Wednesday s 7-0 Champions League demolition of Celtic, picked up from where they left off in midweek and combined for a goal apiece to establish a 3-0 lead and end the game as a contest before half-time.
Messi then netted his eighth of the season from the penalty spot and Rafinha added a picturebook fifth as Barca pulled level with Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of their bitter rivals travelling to Espanyol on…
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard fears Philippe Coutinho is destined to follow in the footsteps of Luis Suarez and leave Anfield for La Liga at some point in the future.
The Brazil international has developed into one of Liverpool s key men since joining them from Inter in January 2013 and Gerrard has urged the Reds to treasure the 23-year-old until he opts to move on.
Philippe is wonderfully gifted and I expect him to become Liverpool s leading player, Gerrard writes in his new autobiography that is being serialised in the Daily Mail.
Many Liverpool fans already regard him as our main man. He has just signed a new deal and he and his wife seem settled here.
But I also know that the Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid, will come looking for Ph…