Sports
Bengals grapple with another 0-2 start, face Commanders on MNF
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 2 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. The Chiefs took a 26-25 win with a go-ahead field goal as time expired. CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals will try to snap out of yet another early-season slump when they host the Washington Commanders on “Monday Night Football.”
For the third straight year, the Bengals (0-2) have started the season by dropping their first two games.
In 2022, they rebounded to win 14 of their next 16 games (including 10 straight) before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC Championship, keeping them from appearing in a second straight Super Bowl.
Last week, the Bengals were on the verge of a road upset before defensive pass interference was called on rookie safety Daijahn Anthony on fourth-and-16 from the Kansas City 35. Four plays later, Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Chiefs to a 26-25 win.
“I wouldn’t say I’m frustrated right now,” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said. “I was frustrated on Sunday. That was a tough loss, but we’ve just got to go out and get a win. We’ve got to focus on getting better every day through our practice, and go out and execute when we have to execute on Monday. The rest will take care of itself.”
Burrow has completed 67.7 percent of his passes and has been sacked six times but has yet to throw an interception.
Burrow could get another passing weapon back for the game as Tee Higgins returned to practice Thursday after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury. The Bengals have been hit hard with injuries on the defensive line, losing starters B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins to hamstring injuries last Sunday.
The Bengals have won six straight home prime-time games, including wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.
Monday will also be a festive night in Cincinnati as Tim Krumrie, a nose tackle on the 1988 Super Bowl team, and the team’s all-time leading rusher Corey Dillon will be inducted into the club’s Ring of Honor at halftime.
The Commanders (1-1) enter Week 3 on a winning note after edging their NFC East rival New York Giants 21-18 on a last-second field goal, giving Dan Quinn his first win as head coach of the Commanders.
Washington’s offense is led by rookie quarterback and second overall draft pick Jayden Daniels, who is leading all rookies after two games with 132 rushing yards. Running bck Bucky Irving of Tampa Bay is next with 84. Daniels also leads all rookie quarterbacks in passing yardage with 410 yards through two games.
Daniels, in his first two career starts, has completed 40 of 53 pass attempts (75.5 percent) with a 97.2 passer rating.
“He’s a dynamic player. I really like his throwing motion,” said Burrow, who, like Daniels, won a Heisman Trophy while playing at LSU. “Seems like he can spin it and understands his fundamentals. I think he’s got a bright future. Obviously, he’s really fast and quick and dynamic. But I’m not sure he gets enough credit for the passer that he is.”
“It’s big for the whole state of Louisiana to see both of us go up against each other,” Daniels said.
Quinn has instilled a more aggressive defensive approach, bringing over his style and several players from his time as defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys.
“They’re a really good football team,” defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said of the Bengals. “When you have a quarterback like Joe Burrow and receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and the players that they have, it’s always going to be exciting to go against them.”
The two teams have never met on “Monday Night Football.”
–Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media
Sports
Denny Hamlin tops Dover All-Star grid after late qualifying charge
May 2, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) is interviewed after the qualifying session for the 2026 Wurth 400 Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images DOVER, Del. – Denny Hamlin has claimed pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race (1 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) in a late qualifying session effort, unseating owner-driver Brad Keselowski in the final minutes of Saturday’s unique three-lap bid to set the field at Dover Motor Speedway.
The next to last driver to qualify, Hamlin spun his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on the warm-up lap just as he took to the one-mile high-banked track but recovered and excelled when it mattered — taking the lead starting position by .149-second over Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford.
“Quite eventful for sure,” Hamlin conceded of his lap, insisting he’d never really been remarkably fast in this style of qualifying format.
“I just spun out. I don’t know. I didn’t think I was being that aggressive but spun out. At that point, just tried to minimize the damage. … That wasn’t ideal, but then I just committed to run the lap as hard as I could, and it was still good enough.”
“It’s risk versus reward and certainly challenges the driver. … But definitely a team effort.”
Zane Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford team won Saturday’s $100,000 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge, establishing themselves best on the speed chart early in the session and their work ultimately proving unbeatable. Although Smith’s overall speed places him 25th on the starting grid, the Pit Stop Challenge win earned the team first pit stall selection Sunday – something that could be the difference in advancing Smith into the 200-lap finale.
The pole position was based on a three-lap run that also included the timed pit stop on the second lap. Late in the session, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson seemed to have bettered Keselowski’s early work, but Larson received penalties for being too fast on pit road and not blending properly back onto The Monster Mile’s high banks – the time penalty ultimately costing the three-time All-Star race winner a front row spot. And Hamlin topped both drivers in the end.
Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain and Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron rounded out the five fastest cars. Defending All-Star Race winner, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell was sixth fastest.
Several perennial favorites struggled during the unique qualifying format with pit road miscues and/or time penalties, including rookie Connor Zilisch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez along with former series champs Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, who had slow stops.
This marks the first time the series has held its annual $1 million to-win, All-Star Race at the concrete Dover Motor Speedway. It will include two 75-lap segments and then a 200-lap finale to settle the big check.
There are 19 drivers currently in the 200-lap final segment and trophy-determining portion of the event – including NASCAR Cup Series championship leader Tyler Reddick and fellow 2026 race winners Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar. Joining them are 2025 race winners Hamlin, Shane Van Gisbergen, Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Byron, Larson, Elliott, Austin Dillon, Chastain, Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace and Bell.
Kyle Busch, who won Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover, also has an automatic spot on the grid as a former All-Star race winner — as does Keselowski as a former series champion.
The first two segments of Sunday’s event are 75-laps followed by the 200-lap finale which includes the 19 drivers locked in, plus the six best performing drivers from the opening segments and the “Fan Vote” winner.
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – NASCAR All-Star Race
Dover Motor Speedway
Dover, Del.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 98.812 mph.
2. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 98.682 mph.
3. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 98.289 mph.
4. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 98.261 mph.
5. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 98.194 mph.
6. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 98.084 mph.
7. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 97.962 mph.
8. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 97.868 mph.
9. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 97.815 mph.
10. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 97.799 mph.
11. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 97.386 mph.
12. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 97.379 mph.
13. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 97.218 mph.
14. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 97.084 mph.
15. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 96.999 mph.
16. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 96.737 mph.
17. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 96.404 mph.
18. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 96.054 mph.
19. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 95.899 mph.
20. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 94.444 mph.
21. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 94.349 mph.
22. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 93.923 mph.
23. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 93.185 mph.
24. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 91.867 mph.
25. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 90.532 mph.
26. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 88.938 mph.
27. (88) Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 87.709 mph.
28. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 84.942 mph.
29. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 83.581 mph.
30. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 83.422 mph.
31. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 80.981 mph.
32. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 77.170 mph.
33. (7) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
34. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
35. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 0.000 mph.
36. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.
— Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Inter Miami hosts Timbers seeking first win at Nu Stadium
May 13, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Inter Miami CF forward German Berterame (19) high fives midfielder Lionel Messi (10) after scoring a goal against FC Cincinnati in the second half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will try again to win their first match in their new stadium when they welcome the Portland Timbers, coached by former Herons manager Phil Neville.
Miami (7-2-4, 25 points) has failed to win its previous four matches at Nu Stadium, the permanent venue that opened in April. Incredibly, that included a 4-3 defeat to Orlando City on May 2 after the Herons raced to a three-goal lead.
But interim manager Guillermo Hoyos’ side has been exceptional away, winning five straight on the road. He particularly admired the passion shown by Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and other stars in Wednesday night’s 5-3 win at Cincinnati, in which Miami rallied with three late goals.
“Just think about it, they have the World Cup coming up very soon,” Hoyos said. “There are players who have the World Cup on their minds and nothing else, yet the way they run, play and commit themselves is incredible.”
Messi scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season, and his 60th and 61st for the club since his arrival in July of 2023.
That tally began just months after Neville was dismissed as Miami’s second permanent manager after two-plus seasons. He helped Miami to a then-club-best 12th-place finish in the 2022 Supporters’ Shield standings but suffered a first-round playoff defeat that year and a bad start the following spring.
He’s now in his third season with Portland (4-6-2, 14 points), a team that may be coming together following a slow start.
Kevin Kelsy has scored three times in Portland’s last two matches, a 6-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City on May 9 and a 2-2 draw at CF Montreal on Wednesday. And in April, the Timbers pulled off impressive wins against LAFC and San Diego.
Now, they face Miami for the first time since Messi’s arrival. Neville likens it to his time as a Premier League player for Everton visiting his former club, Manchester United, for the first time.
“The first time back at Old Trafford, I literally just went to the stadium with blinkers on my eyes and tried to perform to the best of my ability for my club and fight for my club,” he said. “And then after the game I hugged and kissed and celebrated some incredible friendships.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images Chelsea is set to hire Xabi Alonso as their next head coach, according to multiple reports.
He is finalizing a four-year contract and was the club’s top target, per The Athletic.
Alonso was hired as the head coach of Real Madrid in 2025, but both sides mutually agreed to part ways in January. His overall record with the club was 24-6-4.
Liam Rosenior was Chelsea’s previous head coach. He was hired in January, but he was fired in April after a scoreless, five-game losing streak. Calum McFarlane has been serving as the club’s interim manager.
Chelsea lost in the FA Cup final on Saturday 1-0 to Manchester City. They hold a Premier League record of 13-13-10 with 49 points.
–Field Level Media
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Denny Hamlin tops Dover All-Star grid after late qualifying charge
