Byron outduels

Blaney for victory

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — With a Championship 4 spot on the line, William Byron put the bumper to Ryan Blaney to win at Martinsville Speedway in the third-round finale of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Byron made his winning move with 43 laps remaining, seizing the bottom lane in Turn 1 and moving Blaney up the track by tagging him in the left rear. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led the rest of the way and fended off Blaney on a restart with 11 laps remaining. Starting from the pole position, Byron led a race-high 304 of 500 laps for his third victory this season.

Nick Mangold

dies at 41

(AP) — The New York Jets have announced the death of former center Nick Mangold at age 41.

Mangold died from complications of kidney disease on Saturday night, less than two weeks after he revealed on social media that he needed a kidney transplant and was seeking a donor.

Diagnosed with a genetic defect in 2006, Mangold had been on dialysis. Jets owner Woody Johnson described him as a legendary player and beloved teammate.

Mangold, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was enshrined in the Jets’ ring of honor in 2022. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Bears fall to

Ravens, 30-16

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Chicago Bears’ four-game winning streak is over, mainly because of their inability to tap into their usual formula for success against the Baltimore Ravens.

Chicago put together its longest victory run since 2018 by forcing turnovers, running effectively and playing solid defense in the fourth quarter. None of that happened on Sunday.

Throw in an inordinate amount of penalties — several of the pre-snap variety — and it’s no wonder the Bears’ exhilarating winning streak ended with a 30-16 defeat.

Chicago came in with an NFL-best plus-11 turnover differential and had forced at least three turnovers in each of the previous four weeks. Against Baltimore, the game’s lone giveaway was when the Bears’ Caleb Williams was picked off in the fourth quarter with Chicago trailing 16-13.

The Ravens cashed in on the mistake with a touchdown for a 10-point cushion with 8:13 remaining.