As the Bears game against the Cleveland Browns kicked off at noon at Soldier Field, the temperature in Chicago was 5 degrees with a wind chill of minus-7, making it one of the coldest games in the team’s history.

The official game-time temperature at Soldier Field was 8 degrees.

But the temperature did not seem to dampen the Bears’ excitement in what has so far been a surprising winning season, a pattern they upheld Sunday with a 31-3 victory.

“We love this. This is Bear weather,” second-year quarterback Caleb Williams told his teammates before kickoff in a video posted to the team’s account on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s where we’re meant to be, it’s where we’re going to be for the rest of the year.”

The temperature at kickoff was some 25 degrees below the normal average for this time of year in the area, according to National Weather Service data.

Still, Sunday’s game was no Ice Bowl, when the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys at 13 degrees below zero on Dec. 31, 1967 — the coldest NFL game ever.

But it was enough to keep many fans at home.  

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Last week, the cheapest tickets for the game were around $281, but prices dropped sharply after forecasts of plummeting temperatures began circulating online. Tickets were as low as $86 on Thursday, according to secondary ticket marketplace TickPick.

Gusts of 10-15 miles per hour and dangerous subzero windchills started late Saturday and carried into Sunday. Chills as low as -20 to -28 degrees were recorded in the area overnight, including DeKalb, Waukegan, West Chicago, Wheeling and Valparaiso in Indiana.

According to the weather service, bitter temperatures Sunday morning were the coldest the Chicago area has had this early in the season since the “infamously” cold and snowy winter of 2013-14. A low of -2 degrees was recorded at O’Hare International Airport earlier in the day. The city was similarly cold on Dec. 10, 2013, at -6 degrees.

In addition to early blasts of cold, the Chicago area has also already seen a lot of snow. The weather service has called this the snowiest start to winter in almost 50 years, since the 1978-79 season, which dropped a total of nearly 90 inches on the Chicago area.

adperez@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/bears-weather-subzero-cold/ 

Por DAVE SKRETTA

KANSAS CITY, Misuri, EE.UU. (AP) — Los Chargers de Los Ángeles eliminaron el domingo a los Chiefs de Kansas City de la contienda por los playoffs cuando Derwin James interceptó un pase de Gardner Minshew —quien acababa de reemplazar al lesionado Patrick Mahomes— en los segundos finales para asegurar una victoria de 16-13 sobre los campeones reinantes de la AFC.

Justin Herbert, jugando con una mano izquierda rota, lanzó para 210 yardas y un touchdown, y los Chargers (10-4) aseguraron temporadas consecutivas de diez victorias por primera vez desde 2006-07 al completar una rara barrida de temporada regular sobre Kansas City.

Mahomes intentaba remontar a los Chiefs en los segundos finales, completando una serie de pases para cruzar el medio campo antes de la advertencia de los dos minutos. Pero en la siguiente jugada, estaba corriendo hacia la línea lateral de Kansas City y lanzando el balón fuera cuando fue derribado por el liniero defensivo Da’Shawn Hand, dejando al dos veces MVP sujetándose la rodilla izquierda.

Mahomes fue llevado brevemente a la carpa de lesiones, luego ayudado al vestuario con una toalla sobre la cabeza. Fue limitado a 189 yardas sin touchdowns y una intercepción. Kansas City (6-8) logró solo 239 yardas como equipo.

Los Chargers vencieron a los Chiefs en su apertura en septiembre en Brasil, estableciendo la trayectoria de cada uno de los clubes para toda la temporada.

Mahomes terminaría el juego en el vestuario de Kansas City.

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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/mahomes-se-lesiona-y-chargers-eliminan-a-chiefs-de-playoffs-con-victoria-16-13/ 

Por ANDREW SELIGMAN

CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Williams lanzó dos pases de anotación y los Bears de Chicago vencieron 31-3 a Cleveland el domingo en uno de los juegos más fríos en la historia del Soldier Field, a pesar de que Myles Garrett de los Browns se acercó a una captura de igualar el récord de una sola temporada de la NFL.

Los Bears (10-4) se calentaron temprano en un día en que la temperatura al inicio del juego era de -13 grados celcius, anotando dos touchdowns en el primer cuarto y abriendo el juego con dos más en el tercero.

Fue justo el tipo de actuación que necesitaban después de una derrota en Green Bay que los hizo caer del primer lugar de la Conferencia Nacional al séptimo sitio la semana pasada, con una revancha contra sus rivales del Norte en casa la próxima semana.

Garrett tuvo 1,5 sacks y llegó a 21,5 en la temporada, lo que lo coloca a una captura del récord compartido por el miembro del Salón de la Fama de los Giants de Nueva York, Michael Strahan (2001), y T.J. Watt de Pittsburgh (2021). Alcanzó a Williams en el segundo cuarto en una tercera oportunidad en la yarda ocho de Cleveland, y él y Shelby Harris derribaron al quarterback al inicio del cuarto período. Garrett, cuatro veces All-Pro, tiene al menos una captura en ocho juegos consecutivos y ha acumulado 17,5 en ese período.

Williams se recuperó de una serie de actuaciones inestables, al completar 17 de 28 para 242 yardas. Acertó menos del 60% de sus pases en cada uno de los seis juegos anteriores.

D’Andre Swift corrió para 98 yardas y dos touchdowns. DJ Moore añadió 69 yardas por recepción y dos atrapadas de anotación, mientras que Rome Odunze se perdió su segundo juego consecutivo debido a una lesión en el pie.

Los Browns (3-11) han perdido tres seguidos y seis de siete.

Sanders completó 18 de 35 para 177 yardas y tres intercepciones. Fue capturado cinco veces en su cuarta titularidad.

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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/caleb-williams-lanza-dos-pases-de-anotacin-y-bears-aplastan-31-3-a-browns-browns-acaricia-rcord/ 

Por STEPHEN WHYNO

EAST RUTHERFORD, Nueva Jersey, EE.UU. (AP) — Jacory Croskey-Merritt corrió para un touchdown, su compañero novato Jaylin Lane devolvió un despeje 63 yardas hasta la zona de anotación y los Commanders de Washington pusieron fin a su racha de ocho derrotas consecutivas al vencer el domingo 29-21 a los igualmente desafortunados Giants de Nueva York.

Aunque fue el único partido de la NFL esta semana sin implicaciones de playoffs tuvo una influencia mucho mayor en la posición del draft. Los Giants (2-12) perdieron su octavo partido consecutivo, acercándose un paso más al primer puesto del draft, a un último lugar en la NFC Este y potencialmente a cambios en la oficina principal, mientras buscan un entrenador.

Nueva York no tenía las mismas expectativas que Washington (4-10), que venía de una improbable carrera hacia el juego de Campeonato de la NFC la campaña anterior, cuando Jayden Daniels ganó el Novato Ofensivo del Año de la AP.

Daniels no jugó el domingo después de agravar una lesión en el codo izquierdo, por lo que fue Marcus Mariota quien llevó a los Commanders a su primera victoria desde el 5 de octubre.

Mariota conectó con el receptor principal Terry McLaurin para un touchdown de 51 yardas al inicio del último cuarto. Ese fue uno de los solo diez pases que Mariota completó en 19 intentos para 211 yardas, con un balón suelto.

Eso, junto con un esfuerzo defensivo que incluyó a Von Miller capturando a Jaxson Dart para alcanzar 136 1/2 en su carrera y superar a Jared Allen para el 12do lugar en la lista de todos los tiempos, resultó ser suficiente.

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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/commanders-vencen-a-los-giants-29-21-y-rompen-racha-de-ocho-derrotas/ 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Los Angeles Chargers eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention when Derwin James picked off a pass by Gardner Minshew — who had just taken over for the injured Patrick Mahomes — in the closing seconds to preserve a 16-13 victory over the reigning AFC champions Sunday.

Justin Herbert, playing through a broken left hand, threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, and the Chargers (10-4) ensured consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2006-07 by completing a rare regular-season sweep of Kansas City.

Mahomes was trying to rally the Chiefs in the closing seconds, completing a series of passes to get across midfield by the two-minute warning. But on the next play, he was scrambling toward the Kansas City sideline and throwing the ball away when he was spun to the ground by defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand, leaving the two-time MVP clutching his left knee.

Mahomes was taken briefly to the blue injury tent, then helped to the locker room with a towel draped over his head.

Minshew took over and completed three straight passes, giving Chiefs fans hope on a day that began with a wind chill near zero and their playoff chances about the same. But with 20 seconds to go, Minshew unloaded a pass intended for Travis Kelce, and James — his longtime divisional foil — leaped to pick it off, allowing the Chargers to escape.

The Chiefs hadn’t missed the playoffs since 2014 in coach Andy Reid’s second season.

Mahomes was held to 189 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and the Chiefs (6-8) totaled only 239 yards.

The Chargers beat the Chiefs in the opener in September in Brazil, setting each team on its season-long trajectory.

The Chargers arrived for the rematch Sunday trying to extend the momentum built in last week’s win over the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and edge closer to a second straight playoff berth. The Chiefs welcomed their longtime rivals knowing a loss, coupled with the wrong results in three other games, would eliminate the AFC juggernaut completely.

The Chiefs played appropriately inspired for most of the first half.

They moved swiftly downfield with Mahomes darting in from 12 yards out for a touchdown on their opening drive. They added a field goal later in the first half, and another by Harrison Butker gave them a 13-3 lead 38 seconds before the break.

That’s when the Chargers started playing like a playoff-bound team. And the Chiefs like one that should be sitting at home.

Herbert completed three passes in five plays to cover 60 yards, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s first career touchdown catch got the Chargers within a field goal. Cameron Dicker knotted the game on their opening possession of the second half, then gave them the lead when he drilled a 49-yarder on a cold, windy day at Arrowhead Stadium with 2:40 to go in the third quarter.

The Chiefs tried to answer down the stretch, despite a rash of injuries that had left them with a patchwork offensive line.

But just like so often this season, a promising drive went haywire in the red zone. Tyquan Thornton’s spectacular catch was forgotten when Mahomes’ pass was picked off by Daiyan Henley on a jump ball thrown to Kareem Hunt at the goal line.

Mahomes would end the game in the Kansas City locker room, and the Chargers would end the Chiefs’ playoff hopes with one more interception in the final seconds.

Injuries

Chargers: WR Quentin Johnson (groin) was inactive. S R.J. Mickens left with a shoulder injury.

Chiefs: CB Trent McDuffie (knee) was inactive. Thornton (concussion protocol) and RT Jaylon Moore (knee) left and did not return.

Up next

Chargers: At Dallas Cowboys next Sunday.

Chiefs: At Tennessee Titans next Sunday.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/patrick-mahomes-injured-kansas-city-chiefs-playoffs/ 

Por KRISTIE RIEKEN

HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Stroud lanzó para 260 yardas y tres touchdowns, y los Texans de Houston tomaron una gran ventaja temprana para imponerse el domingo 40-20 sobre unos Cardinals de Arizona en declive.

Los Texans (9-5) han ganado seis partidos consecutivos por primera vez desde una racha de nueve victorias en 2018, mejorando así sus esperanzas de playoffs. Es la sexta derrota consecutiva para los Cardinals (3-11), cuya última victoria fue el 3 de noviembre contra los Cowboys.

Houston tuvo su anotación más rápida de la temporada cuando Stroud conectó con Nico Collins para un touchdown de 57 yardas en la segunda jugada del partido. Collins recibió el pase corto, esquivó a dos defensores que se lanzaron en torno a la yarda 40 y corrió sin ser tocado hasta la zona de anotación.

Los Cardinals perdieron el balón en el regreso del kickoff siguiente. Aunque los Texans lo recuperaron, no pudieron avanzar el balón y se conformaron con un gol de campo de 30 yardas que puso el marcador 10-0.

Woody Marks aumentó la ventaja a 17-0 cuando anotó en una carrera de una yarda con un centro directo más tarde en el primer cuarto.

Michael Wilson de Arizona tuvo una recepción de touchdown de 11 yardas con unos 11 minutos restantes, pero el pase de conversión de dos puntos falló, dejando a Houston arriba 33-20.

Los Texans ampliaron la ventaja cuando Stroud encontró a Collins nuevamente, esta vez en una recepción de cuatro yardas para definir el marcador. Collins tuvo tres recepciones para 85 yardas, alcanzando 1.001 yardas de recepción en su tercera temporada consecutiva de 1.000 yardas.

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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/texans-consiguen-su-sexta-victoria-consecutiva-al-superar-40-20-a-cardinals/ 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Australia’s leader on Sunday while nations expressed shock and sympathy over a mass shooting at a Jewish holiday event, saying he had warned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that “your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.”

Netanyahu during the war in Gaza has repeatedly sought to link widespread calls for a Palestinian state, and criticism of Israel’s military offensive in the territory following Hamas’ 2023 attack, to growing incidents of antisemitism worldwide.

Gunmen kill at least 16 people in attack on Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach

While others in Israel’s government on Sunday also urged Australia to do more against a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks, Netanyahu went further in attempting to link the attack in Sydney that killed at least 11 people, including an Israeli, to support for a Palestinian state.

Australia was among several countries formally recognizing a Palestinian state in September during the United Nations gathering of world leaders. According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, 159 countries have recognized Palestine. The vast majority of the international community believes that a two-state solution is the only way to end decades of conflict.

Netanyahu’s government has said the international push for a Palestinian state rewards Hamas.

Here are some global reactions to the Australia shooting:

Iran

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that “terrorism and the killing of people, wherever they occur, are unacceptable and must be condemned.” Australia in August cut off diplomatic relations with Iran and accused it of masterminding antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

United States

President Donald Trump called the shooting “a purely antisemitic attack,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “antisemitism has no place in this world.”

Britain

King Charles III said he was “appalled and saddened.” He also leads the Commonwealth, and the office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday said Herzog had reached out to the king in September warning of an “epidemic of antisemitism” in three Commonwealth countries: Britain, Canada and Australia.

Meanwhile, police in London said they would step up security at Jewish sites.

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the attack “has left me speechless” and added that “this is an attack on our shared values. We must stop this antisemitism, here in Germany and worldwide.”

United Nations

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was horrified and that “My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hannukah, a festival celebrating the miracle of peace and light vanquishing darkness.”

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “ghastly terrorist attack” and said that “we stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief.”

World Jewish Congress

The organization’s president, Ronald Lauder, said that “No community should ever fear ​coming together to celebrate its faith, traditions, or identity,” adding: “Make no mistake, this will not break us.”

Australia

“I’m surrounded by antisemitic graffiti constantly. I think for our community in the east (of Sydney), and as a Christian, I just want to declare I stand with the people of Israel,” Anglican pastor Matt Graham told Australian Broadcasting Corp. He said he had been conducting a service at the nearby Bondi Anglican Church when panicked people began entering to take shelter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/israels-netanyahu-australia-shooting/ 

NEW YORK — “Zootopia 2” regained the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with $26.3 million in its third weekend of release, according to studio estimates Sunday, as The Walt Disney Co. animated sequel became the year’s second film to gross $1 billion worldwide.

With “Avatar: Fire and Ash” arriving Friday, it was a relatively quiet weekend in theaters. There were no major new releases, leaving holdovers “Zootopia 2” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” to duke it out for the top spot.

The edge went to “Zootopia 2,” which has quickly amassed $1.14 billion in global ticket sales thanks significantly to its enormous success in China. There, it’s grossed $502.4 million, making “Zootopia 2” the biggest Hollywood hit in the country in years.

The only other 2025 Hollywood title to surpass $1 billion worldwide was Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” ($1.04 billion). The highest grossing movie of the year, though, is the Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2,” which collected nearly $2 billion just in China.

In its second weekend of release, the Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions sequel “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” collected $15.4 million, a brutal drop of 70% from its above-expectations debut. Still, with a domestic total of $95.5 million, the $36 million production is a big win for Blumhouse, adding another horror franchise to its portfolio.

The weekend’s most notable new release was James L. Brook’s “Ella McCay,” his first directed film in 15 years. “Ella McCay” earned a scant $2.1 million from 2,500 locations, making it one of the year’s worst wide releases.

But box-office expectations weren’t high coming in from “Ella McCay,” a comic drama about a 34-year-old woman (newcomer Emma Mackey) who becomes governor of her home state. Reviews (22% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) were poor, and the kind of award-winning comic dramas movies that Brooks (“Terms of Endearment,” “Broadcast News”) has long specialized in today seldom find large audiences in theaters. “Ella McCay,” featuring a supporting cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayo Edebiri and Woody Harrelson, cost $35 million to make.

With overall ticket sales on the year running close to even with last year’s disappointing grosses, according to Comscore data, Hollywood will be hoping the coming holiday corridor, traditionally the busiest moviegoing period of the year, ends 2025 on a high note. Movies on tap include “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” “Marty Supreme,” “Anaconda” and “Song Sung Blue.”

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “Zootopia 2,” $26.3 million.

2. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” $19.5 million.

3. “Wicked: For Good,” $8.6 million.

4. “Dhurandhar,” $3.5 million.

5. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” $2.4 million.

6. “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution,” $2.1 million.

7. “Ella McCay,” $ 2.1 million.

8. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000), $1.9 million.

9. “Eternity,” $1.8 million.

10. “Hamnet,” $1.5 million.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/14/zootopia-2-box-office-2/