Sports

Joe Burrow, Derek Stingley Jr., Logan Cooke Named AFC Players of the Week for NFL Week 16

Published

9 months ago

December 24, 2025

NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., and Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke were named the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played during Week 16 (December 18, 20–22), the NFL announced.

OFFENSE: QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Burrow completed 25 of 32 passes (78.1 percent) for 309 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, posting a 146.5 passer rating in Cincinnati’s 45-21 road victory over Miami.

Burrow led the NFL in passer rating and ranked first in the AFC in touchdown passes for the week. He also became the third player in NFL history to reach at least 150 touchdown passes (152) and the fifth player ever to surpass 20,000 passing yards (20,269) within his first 75 career games.

The honor marks Burrow’s eighth career Player of the Week award and his first of the 2025 season, tying him with Boomer Esiason as the only Bengals players to earn eight or more weekly honors.

Burrow Player of the Week Awards:

2021: Weeks 4, 16
2022: Weeks 7, 13, 16
2023: Week 8
2024: Week 17
2025: Week 16

Since entering the NFL in 2020, Burrow has the fourth-most Player of the Week awards among quarterbacks, trailing only Josh Allen (16), Lamar Jackson (nine) and Patrick Mahomes (nine).

DEFENSE: CB DEREK STINGLEY JR., HOUSTON TEXANS

Stingley recorded two tackles, forced a fumble and returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in Houston’s 23-21 victory over Las Vegas. He was the only player in the NFL in Week 16 to record both a forced fumble and an interception.

This is Stingley’s third career Defensive Player of the Week award, making him the third Texans player to earn weekly honors this season, joining C.J. Stroud (Week 5) and Danielle Hunter (Week 10).

Stingley now owns the second-most Defensive Player of the Week awards in franchise history, trailing only J.J. Watt (seven).

Stingley Player of the Week Awards:

2023: Week 13
2024: Week 15
2025: Week 16

The former LSU standout also tied Patrick Peterson for the most Defensive Player of the Week honors (three) by an LSU cornerback.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P LOGAN COOKE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Cooke punted six times, placing four inside the 20, including two inside the 10 and one inside the 5, while averaging 52 yards per punt with a season-long 63-yard kick in Jacksonville’s 34-20 win at Denver.

The award is the first of Cooke’s career and the first earned by a Jaguars punter since Chris Hanson in Week 11 of 2002.

Cooke joins Boobie Dixon (Week 12, 2014) as the only former Mississippi State players to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

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Buccaneers Stunned by Browns 23-19 in Home Opener, Fall to 0-2

Published

7 hours ago

September 20, 2026

FNN SPORTS

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home opener ended in disappointment Sunday as the Cleveland Browns handed Tampa Bay a 23-19 loss, dropping the Buccaneers to 0-2 to start the season.

The Buccaneers had opportunities to take control but were hurt by penalties, missed tackles and an inability to consistently finish drives in the end zone. A weather delay late in the game added another challenge, but Tampa Bay players and coaches refused to use the conditions as an excuse.

Bowles: ‘Nobody Is Coming to Save Us’

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles pointed directly to Tampa Bay’s mistakes after the loss.

“Too many penalties, offensively. Too many missed tackles in the second half, defensively,” Bowles said. “Nobody is coming to save us. We have to fix ourselves and we have to fix it in a hurry.”

Bowles repeated that message when discussing the team’s 0-2 start, saying the Buccaneers have faced adversity before but now must respond quickly.

“We’ve dealt with adversity before. This is an adverse situation again,” Bowles said. “We’re 0-2 right now and we have to pull ourselves up by our boots, and we’ve got to win.”

Defensively, Bowles said missed tackles contributed to Cleveland’s success, including a touchdown by Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston after two Tampa Bay defenders collided and failed to make the tackle.

Mayfield Frustrated by Missed Opportunities

Quarterback Baker Mayfield said Tampa Bay’s inability to convert opportunities in the red zone proved costly. The Buccaneers settled for field goals instead of touchdowns and struggled with negative plays.

Mayfield said the frustration comes from knowing how close the offense is to producing better results.

“I’m frustrated because it’s close. You can feel it. You can see it,” Mayfield said. “We’re moving the ball at times, and then just shooting ourselves in the foot.”

He added that the Buccaneers must become more self-critical and stop repeating the same mistakes.

Asked how surprised he was to see Tampa Bay begin the season with consecutive losses, Mayfield did not hide his reaction.

“Pretty shocked,” Mayfield said. “But, that’s where we’re at, so [we have to] fight our way out.”

Late Weather Delay Adds to Dramatic Finish

The game was also disrupted by a late weather delay. Bowles said both teams faced the same circumstances and rejected the delay as an excuse for Tampa Bay’s performance.

“They were doing the same thing. That’s not an excuse,” Bowles said. “We were ready to play.”

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs was more critical of the timing. He said players worked to stay loose, warm and hydrated during the interruption.

“I thought it was ridiculous with two minutes left in the game to call a lightning delay from ten miles away,” Wirfs said. “But, I don’t make the rules.”

Buccaneers Say They Beat Themselves

Wide receiver Ted Hurst III said Cleveland did not do anything defensively that made Tampa Bay incapable of moving the football.

“I feel like nobody can stop our offense — it’s just self-evaluating, doing your job and doing it to the best of your ability,” Hurst said.

Asked directly whether it felt like the Buccaneers beat themselves, Hurst responded, “Yeah, I would say that.”

Linebacker Alex Anzalone offered a similarly direct assessment of the Buccaneers’ position after two games.

“We’re in a bit of a hole. We’ve gotta dig ourselves out of it,” Anzalone said. He said the process begins with Wednesday’s practice and correcting the mistakes that have contributed to Tampa Bay’s winless start.

Irving: ‘We Are Going to Get This Thing Fixed’

Running back Bucky Irving urged the Buccaneers to follow the NFL’s traditional 24-hour approach — evaluate the loss, learn from it and move forward.

Irving said he is not concerned about outside criticism and views the early struggles as adversity the team can learn from.

“Let’s just learn from this game and move on to the [Minnesota] Vikings,” Irving said. “We are going to get this thing fixed in no time.”

The Buccaneers now face an early-season test: correct the penalties, improve tackling, finish drives with touchdowns and find a way out of an 0-2 hole.

Central Florida News

Wake Forest All-American Macy Pate Earns Sponsor Invitation to 2026 ANNIKA LPGA Event

Published

5 days ago

September 15, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Wake Forest senior Macy Pate will make her LPGA Tour debut Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club after the Demon Deacons captured their fourth ANNIKA Intercollegiate team title.

BELLEAIR, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Wake Forest senior All-American Macy Pate will make her LPGA Tour competition debut this November after receiving a sponsor invitation to The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.

Pate will compete against an LPGA Tour field Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, following Wake Forest’s victory at the 2026 ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M.

The Demon Deacons won the collegiate tournament by 10 strokes, securing their first team victory of the 2026-27 season and fourth ANNIKA Intercollegiate championship.

As part of the victory, Wake Forest received the opportunity to select one player for a sponsor invitation into The ANNIKA. Head coach Kim Lewellen selected Pate after a unanimous vote by the team and coaches.

Pate tied for fifth at the collegiate event, finishing at 2-under par.

Pate Set for First LPGA Tour Start

“We are excited for the opportunity for Macy to play her first LPGA Tour event at The ANNIKA in November,” Lewellen said. “It was unanimous that Macy would take this honor. She has been a wonderful representative for Wake Forest golf and athletics.”

Tournament host and World Golf and LPGA Hall of Fame member Annika Sörenstam also welcomed Pate to the field.

“We are very excited to have Macy compete at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican,” Sörenstam said. “She is a leader at Wake Forest and one of the top-ranked college players in the country.”

Sörenstam added that seeing Pate make her LPGA Tour debut at The ANNIKA would make the opportunity particularly special.

Decorated Career at Wake Forest

Pate enters her fourth year at Wake Forest as a preseason All-American.

She earned her first collegiate victory during her junior season at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup and finished the season ranked No. 21 in the NCAA Scoreboard/Clippd Women’s Golf Rankings.

Pate is also a two-time Augusta National Women’s Amateur participant and three-time All-ACC selection.

Her success began well before college. Pate was named Carolinas Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and holds the North Carolina high school record for lowest round with a 57.

“I’m so incredibly excited for this opportunity,” Pate said. “Annika is one of my idols, and it has been my dream to compete on the LPGA Tour.”

The ANNIKA Returns to Tampa Bay

The ANNIKA is scheduled for Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club and will serve as the penultimate tournament on the 2026 LPGA Tour schedule.

The tournament will feature a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour outside the major championships. Tournament proceeds benefit the ANNIKA Foundation.

Pate continues a recent tradition of collegiate players earning sponsor invitations through the ANNIKA Intercollegiate. South Carolina’s Louise Rydqvist received invitations in 2023 and 2024, followed by Wake Forest’s Anne-Sterre den Dunnen in 2025.

Championship Pedigree at Pelican

The tournament has attracted some of women’s golf’s biggest names.

Linn Grant captured the 2025 title at 19-under par, winning by three strokes. Nelly Korda is a three-time tournament champion, winning in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Lilia Vu won in 2023, while Sei Young Kim captured the inaugural tournament in 2020.

Pate will now have an opportunity to test her game on the same stage as the world’s leading professional golfers — and do so for the first time at a tournament hosted by one of her idols.

For tournament and ticket information, visit The ANNIKA official website.

Central Florida News

Mario Andretti Headlines First 15 Drivers Named to Sebring’s Historic ‘Class of 75’

Published

5 days ago

September 15, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Mario Andretti prepares for the 1970 Twelve Hours of Sebring, where he helped deliver Ferrari an overall victory in one of the most memorable finishes in the endurance race’s history. Photo: Rainer Schlegelmilch

Sebring International Raceway begins honoring 75 of the event’s most successful drivers ahead of the historic 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20, 2027

SEBRING, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Racing legend Mario Andretti headlines the first group of drivers selected for Sebring International Raceway’s “Class of 75,” recognizing 75 of the most successful drivers in the history of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The recognition comes ahead of the 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20, 2027.

A 10-person panel of sports car racing experts debated and voted on the 75 drivers. The selections have been divided into five groups of 15, with additional names scheduled to be announced monthly through January.

The first Twelve Hours of Sebring was held March 15, 1952. Since then, the endurance race has been canceled only once, in 1974 amid the global energy crisis.

First 15 Drivers Named to ‘Class of 75’

The inaugural group includes Bob Akin, Mario Andretti, Joao Barbosa, Geoff Brabham, Derek Daly, Phil Hill, Bruce Jennings, Sascha Maassen, John Morton, Jim Pace, Hans Stuck, Nick Tandy, Richard Thompson, Fermin Velez and Andy Wallace.

Together, the drivers represent generations of Sebring history, from the race’s formative years to the modern IMSA era.

Andretti’s Place in Sebring History

Andretti made six starts at Sebring, earning three overall victories and one additional class win.

His overall victories came in 1967, 1970 and 1972. His 1970 triumph remains one of the race’s most celebrated finishes.

Andretti started that race from the pole in Ferrari’s No. 19 entry but retired the car with gearbox problems. Ferrari later moved him into the No. 21 Ferrari 512S for the closing stages.

Andretti ultimately defeated Peter Revson by 23.8 seconds, which at the time represented the closest finish in Sebring history.

Champions Across Generations

The Class of 75 also includes Phil Hill, a three-time overall Sebring winner who competed 13 times between 1953 and 1966. Hill won overall in 1958, 1959 and 1961 and added three class victories.

Hans Stuck also earned three overall victories, beginning with BMW’s landmark 1975 win. He returned to Victory Lane with Porsche in 1986 and 1988 and added two class victories during his Sebring career.

Geoff Brabham won overall in 1989 and 1991 during Nissan’s GTP era, while Derek Daly recorded two victories in three Sebring starts.

Fermin Velez captured consecutive overall victories in 1995 and 1996 driving a Ferrari 333SP, while Andy Wallace won back-to-back overall titles in 1992 and 1993 in the Toyota Eagle Mk III.

Tandy Represents Sebring’s Modern Era

Among the modern-era selections is Nick Tandy, who has accumulated one overall victory, three class wins and five podium finishes in 12 Sebring starts.

After class victories with Porsche in 2018, 2019 and 2020, Tandy joined Porsche Penske Motorsport’s prototype program.

His long-awaited overall Sebring victory came in 2025, when he teamed with Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor in a Porsche 963. The trio defeated the sister Penske entry by just 2.2 seconds.

Privateers and Sebring Mainstays Recognized

The selections extend beyond overall winners.

Bruce Jennings made 18 Sebring appearances and became one of the event’s notable privateer competitors. His 1962 debut produced a class victory and third-place overall finish.

Richard Thompson, known as the “Flying Dentist,” competed in the inaugural 1952 race. Thompson reportedly drove his MG-TD from Washington to Sebring, finished eighth and then drove the car home. He ultimately made 14 Sebring starts and earned two class victories.

Sascha Maassen recorded five Sebring victories, including four consecutive class wins from 2001 through 2004 with Alex Job Racing.

The group also recognizes the achievements of Bob Akin, Joao Barbosa, John Morton and Jim Pace, each of whom earned overall Sebring victories during their careers.

Four More Groups Coming

Sebring will unveil the remaining 60 members of its Class of 75 in four installments.

The next 15 drivers will be announced Oct. 13, followed by additional groups on Nov. 10, Dec. 15 and Jan. 12.

The complete list will ultimately recognize 75 drivers representing the history of America’s oldest major endurance race.

75th Twelve Hours of Sebring Tickets

Tickets, hospitality packages, car corral parking and reserved RV locations are currently in a renewal period through Sept. 16.

General admission tickets and parking passes are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 1. Highlands County resident tickets will also become available Oct. 1 with proof of residency and must be purchased in person at the raceway ticket office.

Fans can find ticket information and join waiting lists for hospitality, car corrals and trackside RV parking through Sebring International Raceway.

The 75th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is scheduled for March 20, 2027.