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CLEVELAND — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston’s performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world’s largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team’s ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski’s job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson’s future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he’s even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It’s also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson’s backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland’s full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What’s not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he’s made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn’t: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He’s the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” WHAT’S WORKING Winston has done something else Watson couldn’t: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski’s system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. WHAT NEEDS HELP The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb’s go-ahead TD run. STOCK UP RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh’s edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. STOCK DOWN Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. INJURIES WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. KEY NUMBERS 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. WHAT’S NEXT An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos Dec. 2.MARKET REPORT: Miners rally as China vows to boost economy
Football enthusiasts have questioned the omission of Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, from the final shortlist of the prestigious CAF Women’s Awards 2024, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Confederation of African Football unveiled the list on Wednesday night and despite having several Nigerians vying for honour in six categories, some fans were not pleased with the omission of the Atletico Madrid forward who has been impressive for both club and country. Last season, the high-flying forward finished the league season with 10 goals and four assists in 30 games and has hit the ground running this campaign scoring five goals and providing two assists from eight games. Reacting to the 24-year-old’s surprise omission on the CAF X handle, Fortunatus Stephen said, “Why is Nigeria’s Ajibade missing from the list?” Another X user, Janet added, “I can’t believe that CAF overlooked Ajibade for this award despite her impressive season with Falcons and Atletico Madrid.” Stephen James wrote, “This must be the joke of the century. Not having Ajibade on this list is proof that jokes write themselves. All the best.” Meanwhile, some of the fans backed goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to win the award. “Chiamaka Nnadozie is the best among the best,” Akanni Oluomo wrote. Prolific Suzy and Egbowon Oluwaseun responded to the tweet with the goalkeeper’s name and the flag of Nigeria. Janet added, “Nnadozie for the win, she deserves it and congratulations to her in advance unless CAF decides to cheat her.” However, in the Best Goalkeeper category, most football enthusiasts, both Nigerians and other countries, believed that without any doubt the Paris FC shot-stopper would claim the honour. Related News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Edo Queens celebrate Ijamilusi over sterling Falcons debut Ajibade poised for Atletico, Liga F awards Debbi Love said, “Chiamaka Nnadozie will replace Asisat Oshoala as regards the dominance of this category. She will likely dominate the CAF Goalkeeper of The Year for seven consecutive years unless there is a major injury.” Bolarinwa added, “All the way for Chiamaka.” Rajee wrote, “No long talk, just give it to Chiamaka.” In the Player of the Year category, the 23-year-old faces competition from Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga (both from Malawi), Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy and Zambia’s Barbra Banda For the Goalkeeper accolade, she competes against Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco), and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Adding to Nigeria’s strong representation, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, a rising star from Rivers Angels, has been shortlisted for Young Player of the Year, joining four other promising talents from Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. The Super Falcons are among the contenders for Women’s National Team of the Year, competing with Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, and Cameroon U-20. Falconets coach Chris Danjuma has also been recognized with a nomination for Women’s Coach of the Year, highlighting his contributions to Nigeria’s U-20 team. On the club front, Edo Queens, reigning Nigerian Women League champions, have earned a spot on the shortlist for Women’s Club of the Year. The winners will be determined by votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, and football stakeholders. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.
(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 8 AUTO RACING 7:55 a.m. ESPN — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ESPNU — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (F1 Kids) COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon BTN — Maryland at Purdue FS1 — Oklahoma St. at Seton Hall SECN — Richmond at Auburn 12:30 p.m. ESPNU — Vanderbilt vs. TCU, Fort Worth, Texas 1 p.m. ESPN2 — Kansas at Missouri 3 p.m. ESPN2 — Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech, Fort Worth, Texas 4 p.m. ESPNU — Arkansas St. at Memphis 5 p.m. ESPN — UConn at Texas 6 p.m. ACCN — Duke at Louisville BTN — UCLA at Oregon COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Notre Dame at Syracuse 2 p.m. ACCN — SMU at Florida St. BTN — Minnesota at Nebraska SECN — Tennessee St. at Mississippi 4 p.m. ACCN — Virginia Tech at Duke BTN — Illinois at Ohio St. SECN — Kansas St. at Texas A&M 7 p.m. ESPN2 — South Carolina at TCU COLLEGE FOOTBALL Noon ESPN — College Football Playoff Selection Show COLLEGE WATER POLO (MEN’S) 6 p.m. ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Stanford, Calif. FIGURE SKATING 4:30 p.m. NBC — ISU: The Final 2024, Grenoble, France GOLF 4 a.m. GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge, Final Round, Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa 11:30 a.m. GOLF — PGA Tour: The Hero World Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club, Nassau, Bahamas 1:30 p.m. NBC — PGA Tour: The Hero World Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club, Nassau, Bahamas HORSE RACING Noon FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 2 p.m. NBATV — Westchester at Raptors 905 NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: Jacksonville at Tennessee, N.Y. Jets at Miami, Cleveland at Pittsburgh, Las Vegas at Tampa Bay FOX — Regional Coverage: Atlanta at Minnesota, New Orleans at N.Y. Giants, Carolina at Philadelphia 4:05 p.m. CBS — Seattle at Arizona 4:25 p.m. FOX — Regional Coverage: Buffalo at L.A. Rams, Chicago at San Francisco 8:20 p.m. NBC — L.A. Chargers at Kansas City PEACOCK — L.A. Chargers at Kansas City NHL HOCKEY 1 p.m. NHLN — Seattle at N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. NHLN — Colorado at New Jersey SOCCER (MEN’S) 9 a.m. USA — Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion at Leicester City 11:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Noon CBSSN — Serie A: Como at Venezia SWIMMING Noon NBC — U.S. Open: Championships, Greensboro, N.C. (Taped) TENNIS 9:30 a.m. TENNIS — Ultimate Tennis Showdown The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .