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The Boston Celtics have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season. Without Jayson Tatum, their best player, the Celtics are the second-best team in the Eastern Conference standings. Jaylen Brown has stepped up to be the top option on the team.Derrick White has also played some of the best basketball of his career. Right now, the Celtics have the second-best offense in the NBA on the strength of how well Brown and White have played. White has only played in Boston for five seasons now.White is originally from Colorado, and there is a pretty big football game happening next weekend in Denver. When asked who is going to win the AFC Championship game, Celtics fans might not be pleased with White’s answer. GettyBoston Celtics guard Derrick White dribbles the ball. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) Derrick White Picks Broncos over PatriotsWhen asked who would win the AFC Championship between the Patriots and the Broncos, White decided to go with his hometown team.“I like the Broncos, alright. I like the Broncos. I don’t know how they’re gonna win, but they’re gonna win. It’s in Denver. New England has struggled in Denver in the past. It’ll be a good game, though.”When asked about Jarrett Stidham, who will have to start the game for an injured Bo Nix, White didn’t sound quite as confident.“But Jarrett Stidham, I’ve been watching highlights. I’m being positive with it right now, so it should be a good game.”White is confident that his favorite NFL team will somehow pull the upset, despite not having their starting quarterback available. White is familiar with being the underdog, which is something Boston has been all season long. He’s hoping the Broncos can play like the Celtics.White is well aware that Celtics fans won’t be pleased with him rooting for the Broncos, since most of them are Patriots fans also. He doesn’t care, though. All he cares about is the Broncos possibly winning the AFC title so they can play for a Super Bowl. GettyBoston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown celebrates. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The Celtics Might not be the Best Team in BostonIf the Patriots end up winning the game next weekend, the Celtics will no longer have the claim of being the best team in the Boston area. Playing for a Super Bowl will be better than anything the Celtics are able to do this season, short of playing for an NBA title.Adding Tatum back to the lineup might give them a shot to compete for a championship since he is the best player on the roster. Having Tatum would make the Celtics a much more dangerous team in the playoffs. He still doesn’t have a definitive timeline for his return, however.White would be happy to watch the Broncos win the AFC Championship and play for the Super Bowl. Celtics fans might be mad with him for a couple of weeks if that scenario were to occur. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Celtics Guard Goes Against Boston Fans with NFL Prediction appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Houston Texans’ season came to an end on Sunday, suffering a demoralizing 28-16 loss at the hands of the New England Patriots.Quarterback C.J. Stroud had arguably the worst outing of his professional career, completing 20 of 47 pass attempts for 212 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.Despite the performance, Stroud’s Texans teammates didn’t blame him for the loss and uplifted their quarterback, encouraging him after a playoff run that saw the former No. 2 overall pick turn the ball over seven times in two games.Houston’s star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. even believes Stroud is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league.“And I’m gonna be 100% honest, it’s so much bigger than football. It’s so much bigger than what everybody has to say, especially for C.J. When he’s good on his faith, he knows what he’s looking for. He knows who he is, and he’s got it, man,” Anderson said via ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. #Texans DE Will Anderson said he told CJ Stroud “I still think you’re the best quarterback in the league hands down.” pic.twitter.com/7qIrgoTNSA — DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) January 19, 2026 “So I got him, he’s gonna be good. We’re watching behind him, and I told him, man, I still think you’re the best sports athlete in the nation. Hands down, there’s nobody better than you.”C.J. Stroud Reflects on Brutal Playoff PerformanceDespite his teammates standing up for him, Stroud still shouldered the blame for the way the Houston Texans‘ season ended on Sunday.“I look back, and I just feel like I let people down. I’m…not not happy with that, and you know, it hurts, and I’m not naive to it. I didn’t play my best this year, but I’m gonna respond. I’m gonna, you know, keep my chest up, my chin up high, and I’m gonna just keep battling for it,” a defeated Stroud told reporters. "I look back and I feel like I let people down. … It hurts." –C.J. Stroud after the loss to the Patriots pic.twitter.com/oUVVmnRhbV — ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2026 “But yeah, I think, even today…just our team doing great, you know, our defense getting stops…and I just being careless with the football. I gotta, you know, get that fixed and something that I know I can, so I’m gonna get that done.”Stroud’s performance will go down in the history books as one of the worst playoff outings in recent memory.His -.047 EPA/play is the fourth-worst since 2023. Worst playoff performances by EPA/play since 2023:Aaron Rodgers (2025 WC): -0.72Justin Herbert (2024 WC): -0.64Sam Darnold (2024 WC): -0.60C.J. Stroud (2025 Div): -0.47Brock Purdy (2025 Div): -0.40 — Jacob Kaye (@JacobKaye_) January 19, 2026 Stroud will have future opportunities to rectify his mistakes in the future, and it will be interesting to see if this embarrassment lights a fire under him to improve his game.Azeez Al-Shaair Backs up C.J. StroudAnderson wasn’t the only member of the Houston Texans’ vaunted defense to defend Stroud after the playoff loss.Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair defended his quarterback for the outing, relating to him after being blamed for Houston’s divisional playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.“Last year it was me…and so I know exactly what it feels like to feel like you let the team down. I remember sitting in the locker room in Kansas City, literally saying that to the whole team. I couldn’t look nobody in the face,” Al Shaair said via KHOU Jason Bristol.“But at the end of the day, you know, I told C.J. already, it’s just the work. I just put the work in. Don’t forget the feeling, because let it fuel you to where you want to go moving forward for this next season.”We’ll see if Houston’s star linebackers’ words ring true for Stroud in 2026. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Will Anderson Sends Message to C.J. Stroud After Playoff Meltdown appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed a new NASCAR Cup Series sponsorship agreement with Zep for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The deal expands Zep’s involvement in the series after a smaller program in 2025. Joe Gibbs Racing announced the partnership on January 19, 2026, in Huntersville, North Carolina.The agreement includes two races as a primary sponsor and full-season associate branding across three Cup Series entries. Drivers involved in the program include Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell. The partnership adds another national brand to JGR’s lineup as the team prepares for the upcoming season. 🚨 NEWS 🚨 JGR and @zep_usa team up! Zep will be featured on @tygibbs’ No. 54 Toyota at Kansas (April 19) and @chasebriscoe’s No. 19 at New Hampshire (August 23). Zep will have associate placement on the Nos. 19 and 54 Toyotas in addition to @cbellracing’s No. 20 throughout… pic.twitter.com/mFmzPr6qmc — Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) January 19, 2026Zep Secures Two Primary NASCAR Sponsorship Races in 2026Zep, a leader in cleaning solutions, will feature as the primary sponsor for two key NASCAR Cup Series events with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2026. Zep’s NASCAR program includes primary sponsorship roles at Kansas Speedway on April 19 with Ty Gibbs and at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on August 23 with Chase Briscoe.These races grant Zep full paint scheme placement and maximum race-week exposure, solidifying their commitment to NASCAR sponsorship. The move marks Zep’s transition from Front Row Motorsports in 2025 to a larger NASCAR sponsorship role with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2026.Full-Season Associate Deal Expands Brand ExposureBeyond the two primary events, Zep’s sponsorship includes an associate sponsorship role for the entire 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Zep’s brand will appear consistently on three Joe Gibbs Racing entries. The No. 54 driven by Ty Gibbs, the No. 19 driven by Chase Briscoe, and the No. 20 driven by Christopher Bell. This expanded sponsorship provides Zep with year-round exposure across a premier motorsports platform.Greg Heyer, Executive Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing at Zep, commented on the NASCAR sponsorship in a statement to TobyChristie.com.“Zep is excited and grateful to be partnering with JGR this coming season. We both have a legacy of winning products that perform, and a focus on customer satisfaction and innovation. We know that this JGR partnership will further our growth strategy focused on brand awareness, product adoption, and building a stronger, loyal customer base in all areas where we provide cleaning solutions.”Joe Gibbs Racing has recorded more than 200 NASCAR Cup Series wins and multiple championships. The team continues to strengthen its NASCAR sponsorship lineup with national brands like Zep.JGR Drivers Address Zep’s SponsorshipChase Briscoe previously worked with Zep during the 2024 season at Stewart-Haas Racing. He expressed excitement about the renewed NASCAR sponsorship. “It is great to be reunited with Zep over at JGR. I have a great relationship with those guys, and they have always been supportive of my career, so I’m excited to have them on the car this year.”Ty Gibbs, who carried Zep as a primary sponsor at Kansas and as an associate sponsor throughout the season, also welcomed the NASCAR sponsorship. “Having Zep on the car at Kansas and throughout the year will be really cool. I’m looking forward to them joining JGR and getting to know the team there.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Zep NASCAR Cup Series Sponsorship for 2026 appeared first on Heavy Sports.

There’s little debate the top need for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason remains at quarterback. But pundits have predicted a weak incoming quarterback class, and the Steelers don’t select until No. 21 overall.Therefore, the team will likely have to settle for other immediate offensive improvements.It’s also not as though the Steelers don’t have other offensive areas where they need to be better. The team had just one pass-catcher with more than 486 receiving yards during 2025.With that in mind, Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness projected the Steelers to select Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion. McGuinness made that prediction in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft released Monday.“It’s an offseason of change for the Steelers, with head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down after the team’s wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans. Big questions remain at the quarterback position, but answers are unlikely to come in the first round of the draft,” wrote McGuinness.“Pittsburgh’s other big problem on offense was wide receiver depth. Concepcion earned a 78.2 PFF receiving grade against man coverage in 2025 and would pair nicely with DK Metcalf.”In one season with Texas A&M, Concepcion posted 61 catches for 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch.Concepcion also returned 25 punts for 456 yards and two scores. He registered 18.2 yards per punt return on his way to All-American honors as an all-purpose player.Over two campaigns with NC State to begin his college career, Concepcion had 124 receptions, 1,299 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 25 contests.Steelers Projected to Pair D.K. Metcalf With KC ConcepcionThe Steelers assembled some of the best skilled position talent in the league from 2014-18. But since the departures of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, the team has struggled to replenish its offense with top talent.In 2025, running back Kenneth Gainwell led the team with 73 catches. With 486 receiving yards, Gainwell and tight end Pat Freiermuth were ranked second for the Steelers in the category behind D.K. Metcalf.Calvin Austin III was second among Steelers receivers in yards with 372.For a short period last offseason, it appeared the Steelers would have both Metcalf and George Pickens as outside receiving threats. But last May, the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick.General manager Omar Khan could use that selection to find more receiving talent to replace Pickens. Or, he could take a big swing with Concepcion.It’s obviously very early in the NFL draft process. But in the early going, draft experts seem to consider Concepcion a fringe top-5 receiver in the 2026 class.On December 1, PFF’s Trevor Sikkema ranked Concepcion as the class’s No. 5 wideout. Sikkema also placed the Texas A&M star at No. 35 on his overall big board.When’s the Last Time the Steelers Selected a WR in the First Round of the NFL Draft?The Steelers have a long recent tradition of drafting wide receivers on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. A lot of those wideouts developed into stars and/or great complimentary players.But if the Steelers selected Concepcion in the first round, the franchise would be breaking a 20-year drought of no wideouts picked on Day 1 of the draft.The last time the Steelers picked a receiver in the first round was when they traded up for Santonio Holmes in 2006. Pittsburgh moved up from No. 32 to 25 overall to select the future Super Bowl MVP.The Steelers chose wide receiver Chase Claypool with their first available selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Steelers didn’t have a first-round pick that year.The 2026 NFL Draft will be a big event for Pittsburgh. Not only will it mark the first draft class for the Steelers’ new head coach, the city will host the event for the first time since 1947.The first-round will take place on Thursday, April 23. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe…

The New York Knicks have lost three games in a row, and while the mid-season struggles appear to be catching up with the NBA Cup champions, all three of those losses came without Jalen Brunson, but the latest injury update on the star could signal some good news.According to the injury report offered up by the Knicks, Brunson, as well as Josh Hart, are both listed as questionable for New York’s upcoming MLK Day contest against the Dallas Mavericks.Before the team’s latest loss to the Phoenix Suns, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that Brunson is day-to-day, according to team insider Ian Begley. Brown also said the team was going to be cautious with Hart, but the questionable tag for both could mean good news, considering neither played on Saturday. Mike Brown was asked tonight if there was concern about Jalen Brunson's ankle sprain. "No. He’s day to day." On Josh Hart, Brown said, "He’s just a little sore so we’re just going to be cautious especially this time of year." Hart is out with right ankle soreness. — Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 17, 2026 Jalen Brunson Injury UpdateBrunson was injured early on in New York’s recent contest against the Sacramento Kings. While there were initially major concerns about his ankle, James L. Edwards of The Athletic quieted some of those worries after reporting that the star guard did not leave the arena with either a walking boot or crutches. Brown has since made it clear that he didn’t expect Brunson to miss major time, but since he’s been gone, it’s clearly taken a toll on the team, as they’ve now lost three games in a row, first the game in which Brunson went out, then to the Golden State Warriors, and most recently to the Suns.In that span, the Knicks’ offense has taken a sharp turn, as they’ve drastically missed Brunson’s 28.2 points per game. While they were previously thought to be top title contenders in the East, Brunson’s absence has shed a big light on major issues around the team, and players have made that clear. But for now, the star being listed as questionable is a good sign for the 25-17 Knicks. They’ve lost eight of their last ten games, but getting back their main scorer could help stop some of the bleeding before the All-Star break. If he can’t return against Dallas on Monday, he’ll have the chance to get back on the court on Wednesday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets.Josh Hart Injury Update Before Mavericks GameLike Brunson, Hart is currently listed as questionable against the Mavericks, currently dealing with an ankle injury of his own. Hart has already missed a decent chunk of the season with several health concerns, and like his teammate and podcast partner, the team has missed his rebounding and defensive versatility.However, as Brown mentioned, New York is taking a cautious approach with Hart and his recovery and playing time. On the season, he is putting up 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 31 games, while being compared to Draymond Green in a ‘do it all’ type role for the Knicks.In what is also good news for the team, there is a massive injury report for the Mavericks ahead of their upcoming contest. Dallas has eight players listed as out, including Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and obviously, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively. Cooper Flagg is listed as questionable. Mavericks Get Major Injury Update On Cooper Flagg Regardless of whether the Knicks can get Brunson and/or Hart back or not, the contest against the Mavericks should be a bounce-back game to put them back on track. Brown, as well as some of the players, have made it clear that they aren’t happy with the team’s recent form, so a win is needed as much as ever as the trade deadline and All-Star break approach. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Knicks Get Jalen Brunson Injury Update Ahead Of Mavericks Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.