New Zealand are crossing their fingers they can put together a healthy XI for the final Test in Sydney after illness struck the camp, forcing Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls to sit out training for the second day running.

Mitchell Santner, whose position in the side was under scrutiny after two poor outings, has also come down with the bug, leaving the potential that New Zealand's resources will be stretched very thin as they aim to avoid a whitewash. Jeet Raval, who was dropped after the Perth Test, is the one spare batsman in the squad.

ALSO READ: Preview - New Zealand seek pick-me-up in hazy Sydney

Should Williamson be unavailable - and it would take a very severe illness to sideline him - Tom Latham would be the likely replacement as captain, although last year, when Williamson was ruled out of the Christchurch Test against Bangladesh that was subsequently cancelled following the terror attack , it was Tim Southee who would have led the side.

Latham took on the official duties at a reception with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday and also did the pre-match press conference.

"[Kane] is obviously a great leader amongst this group and he's passionate about this group, so I'm sure if there's any chance of him playing, even if it is a small chance, he'll certainly be playing," Latham said. "It's gone around the team a little bit which obviously isn't ideal but fingers crossed, they're resting up today and hopefully they'll wake up and be good to go.

"If we lost those guys it would be disappointing but we've got a squad of 15 who are passionate about this team, and whatever side we do play has the backing of the whole group that it's the right team for the job.

England's preparations for the first Test against South Africa last week were severely impacted by illness which swept through the majority of the squad in the first few weeks of the tour and continued to strike players while the Test was in progress.

ALSO READ: Somerville's SCG journey - tears in the car park to Test cricket

It leaves New Zealand's planning up in the air although if everyone is available for selection there is the potential for two changes to the bowling attack with Matt Henry replacing the injured Trent Boult and Will Somerville coming in for Santner. While the surface is expected to turn, it is thought unlikely they will field two spinners, particularly after the workloads Southee and Neil Wagner have had during the first two Tests.

The series has been a chastening experience for New Zealand after they arrived with the hope of competing with Australia having risen to No. 2 in the Test rankings. They failed to cross 200 in the first three innings before Tom Blundell's defiant century in Melbourne, in his first Test as an opener, provided belated resistance.

"We haven't played our best brand of cricket and I know the guys are excited about getting out there over the next five days and trying to put a good performance on the board," Latham said. "Yes, the series is lost but it's the Test Championship and points are up for grabs. We'll be doing our best to put a good performance out there."

Tim Paine was expecting Williamson to be standing with him for the toss and was focused on Australia not letting up in their intensity after a dominant Test season which has seen them win all four matches, including two against Pakistan, so far by huge margins. In the Ashes series last year, Australia produced a poor performance at The Oval after they had retained the urn with a match to spare but Paine was confident his team had learned from the experience.

"I wouldn't say we took our foot off the pedal [at The Oval], but we've certainly learned how to handle that experience of having the emotional high of the win then switching back on really quickly," he said. "We spoke this morning about making sure that we turn up tomorrow with the same energy and focus that we turned up at the Gabba. All I've asked tomorrow is we turn up expecting New Zealand to come out hard and expecting it to be another fight for five days. We feel if we can match them in that area that eventually we'll be able to wear them down."

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts has said that the health of players, officials and the public will not be put in jeopardy when it comes to the potential of the Sydney Test being halted by smoke from the bushfires burning throughout New South Wales.

Officials are braced for the potential of play being suspended - the forecast for Saturday looks the most problematic - with the ultimate decision resting with the umpires and match referee who will assess the visibility in the middle although Cricket Australia medical staff will be involved in discussions and regularly monitoring the air quality.

ICC guidelines state that consideration should be given to suspending play when the air quality index (AQI) reaches 300 - the marker for a hazardous reading - a number that has been hit in Sydney during the summer, although different bodies use different levels with the Australian Institute of Sport having 150 for high-intensity exercise and the state government 200. On Thursday afternoon, the AQI at Randwick - the closest monitoring station to the SCG - was in the high 70s which is in the moderate level.

In November a T20I between India and Bangladesh in Delhi was put into doubt due to poor air quality although the game eventually went ahead.

Before Christmas, a BBL match in Canberra between the Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers was abandoned when thick smoke drifted back across the ground with the umpires calling play off due to visibility issues although the air quality would also have been a problem. Earlier in December, a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG was completed in extremely hazy conditions which led to a number of players questioning the decision to play on.

"We won't be putting the players' health at risk, we won't be putting the health of match officials, our own people or fans at risk so that's something we will be monitoring consistently during the five days," Roberts said. "It's a day-by-day proposition as those people effected by bushfires know better than I.

"It is complex, like many things in life and sport we work with experts and good judgement will be required. We are as confident as we can be, this is quite a unique situation, that we have the right expertise around us, good judgement will be exercised and the safety of everyone at this great ground will be put first."

While the players can be removed from the middle if conditions become unsuitable, spectators would have to decide themselves how to deal with the situation.

Australia captain Tim Paine was content to leave any decisions around the smoke in the hands of medical staff and said that the bushfire crisis sweeping Australia put a sporting occasion into perspective.

"We're lucky in the Australian set-up that we've got world-class doctors and people that are put in place to make those decisions. We're just focusing on what we can control, which is going out and playing and we'll be doing that until we're told otherwise," he said. "I've been given a rough guide, but basically when it goes smoky we're coming off. I think our doc is having a pretty big say in reading the levels of air quality so it's all set, we know the number, if it happens it happens and unfortunately that's life.

"At times for us it's important to look outside the bubble that we live in as international cricketers. The events that are going on around the country at the moment are a real eye-opener for us. We speak about one of things being humble and showing some humility so as I've said before our thoughts certainly go out to the people that have been affected by it. It's got worse again overnight and the firefighters have been the real heroes of this summer."

Players from both sides will wear black armbands in memory of those who have lost their lives and pay tribute to the emergency services and personnel fighting fires ahead of play on Friday including a minute's applause. The ODI series between the two teams which takes place in March will raise money for the Australian Red Cross to support those affected by the fires.

And so here we are 256 games later. We know who the 12 teams are in the 2019 NFL playoffs. We also know Super Bowl LIV will be held in Miami. What we don't know is the inside scoop on what makes each playoff team so good from the people who know best.

So ESPN's NFL Nation reporters asked a number of players, coaches and team personnel for their anonymous thoughts on each contender. ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) also provides such chances for every playoff-bound team to make the Super Bowl.

AFC:
1. Ravens | 2. Chiefs
3. Patriots | 4. Texans
5. Bills | 6. Titans

NFC:
1. 49ers | 2. Packers
3. Saints | 4. Eagles
5. Seahawks | 6. Vikings

AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens (14-2)

First game: vs. lowest remaining seed in divisional round (8:15 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, CBS) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 35.5%

What's more important: stopping quarterback Lamar Jackson as a runner or passer?

"That's why he's the MVP, because you can't really pick. If you're able to take him out of the run game, or if you get the ball out of his hands in the run game, they've still got good schematics and good running backs that can make you pay if you're out of your gaps. But then he can throw the ball down the field and they utilize their tight ends very well, and they're dangerous. It's hard to stop him because even in the pass game, he's still a runner. So it's pick your poison."

Given that Baltimore leads the NFL in blitzing, how can an offense take advantage of that?

"Going up-tempo can limit their ability to get certain calls in and make them shy away from blitzing as much, especially if you're successful with it and moving it. Also, you've got to get the ball out quick toward to the perimeter of the blitz side, and make their secondary guys tackle in space, which they struggle to do."

Who is the Ravens' second-best offensive playmaker: tight end Mark Andrews, wide receiver Marquise Brown or running back Mark Ingram?

"It's Mark Andrews, but it's also just a combination of all the tight ends [Andrews, Nick Boyle, Hayden Hurst] just the way they use them. It's a three-headed monster in terms of their run-blocking, pass-catching. You get so hyped up to play the run, and then it's play-action pass. And Mark does a good job of catching the ball when it's in his area. He's got good speed, he runs good routes, and he obviously has a connection with Lamar."

2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

First game: vs. highest remaining seed in divisional round (3:05 p.m. ET, Jan. 12, CBS) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 22.1%

Is the defense better equipped than last year to help the Chiefs get to the Super Bowl?

"They are if Frank Clark plays. He can't be one sack, no sack, one sack, no sack, no sack in the playoffs. He's got to be there for them. But [defensive coordinator Steve] Spagnuolo has made a difference, I think. Their numbers haven't been great all the time, but he's been better doing a little more in coverage using the safeties to bracket the better receivers they see and being a little more one-gap up front so the guys can play downhill.

"[Former defensive coordinator Bob] Sutton left his corners on their own a lot, and people made them pay if those guys just weren't good enough to do it. Teams with a speed guy might be able to create some things because then [Spagnuolo] is going to have to leave one of those safeties deep.

"That run D is a problem, and anybody who isn't trailing them by two touchdowns in the first quarter could pound away at them, I think. But your own defense has to keep you in it because they're far different on defense when they don't have the lead.''

In what way or ways is quarterback Patrick Mahomes a better player than in 2018?

"I don't know if you can say the dude's better. He threw for 50 [touchdowns] last year, but he's way better at getting the ball to other guys. Tyreek Hill makes it all go because he's the guy you're scared can beat man [coverage], double teams, whatever, he just runs by it. He's the fastest player in the league, maybe ever.

"But you look at Mahomes now, he'll throw it to Demarcus Robinson or whoever. We saw one play before we played them, and he hits [wide receiver Byron] Pringle for a big first down. He'll move it around, but if he sees you can't check Travis Kelce or Tyreek, he'll just keep putting it there over and over, too.

"The only thing we saw was when his ankle wasn't right; people could play more man against him because he didn't move around, extend plays; he stayed in the pocket and that worked for defenses in those games. But when he's healthy, he extends plays better, and that makes man hard because you got to have somebody who can hang with Tyreek and Kelce, and not many defenses have that. Maybe nobody.

"Plus if you play a lot of man, [Chiefs coach Andy] Reid will just run all those slants, jets, and leave the middle of the field for him to run if he wants to. I think [Mahomes] is just better at all that, knowing where the holes are and reacting before the snap.''

Who is the Chiefs' defender most vulnerable to attack from opposing offenses, regardless of scheme?

"We looked at that Packers game [a 31-24 Green Bay win Oct. 27 in which running back Aaron Jones had 159 yards and two touchdowns receiving], and you get their linebackers in coverage, you can make some plays, especially Anthony Hitchens and [No.] 56 [Ben Niemann].

"They know that, so they try to keep you doing it too much, and if Clark and [Chris] Jones get it going up front, it's harder to find it, but if you can keep the safeties out of there, you can get your running backs loose. Running backs and tight ends on the wheel, that's a play that can work.''

3. New England Patriots (12-4)

First game: vs. Titans in wild-card round (8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, CBS) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 4.9%

What's the best way to approach the Patriots' defense: running the ball or passing?

"You want to try to run the ball. The problem is it's hard to. In the passing game, it's having an answer for their pressures. I mean, it's hard, man -- the 'zero' pressures. You want to try to maintain balance if you can, to stay ahead of the sticks. That's the one thing that happens to a lot of teams against them; it's hard to stay third-and-short."

What makes Julian Edelman such a tough cover, and is he a Hall of Fame receiver?

"What makes him a tough cover is he has a great understanding of coverages, what routes are good versus certain coverages and how to beat those coverages. He can play the game in his mind a little bit, where he knows exactly how he should run the routes. Plus, he makes a lot of things look the same, so you're not really sure which way he's going a lot of times. He has a large library of option routes where he and Tom are on the same page. ... Hall of Famer? I don't even know his numbers. I don't know. To be determined."

How much of a decline are you seeing from Tom Brady?

"I don't know if it's a decline. I think it's just he has different people around him with different skill sets. He's lost a few guys this year. He's trying to find the right chemistry, and they're trying to find the right way to run their offense with the group they have. It takes an entire season. I mean, the same thing happened last year. They kind of switched up at the end and started doing all that two-back stuff leading into the playoffs. It worked toward the end. They went after it and they finished it.

On Brady's low numbers: "I know, but I don't think they're throwing it like they had been in the past. There's no Gronk. Josh Gordon was pretty good for them. I just think they have some different personnel and they're trying to get some chemistry."

4. Houston Texans (10-6)

First game: vs. Bills in wild-card round (4:35 p.m. ET, Saturday, ABC/ESPN) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 1.1%

If J.J. Watt is less than 100%, who do you worry about most on the Texans' defense?

"Linebacker [Zach Cunningham]. That dude can fly. He's in on every play. He can cover. He can come down, he can hit. I'd probably say him. Don't get hit by him. And if you're running the ball, don't run the ball by him. Just don't let him take over a game."

Where has quarterback Deshaun Watson improved the most in his third year?

"He's just done such a great job it's really hard just to pinpoint one thing. He always had the ability to extend plays and stuff like that. I always felt like he was pretty accurate. He probably has a better grasp of the offense. You're seeing him making more checks and things like that. Not easy to fool. I guess the bland answer would say film room, but I don't want to say that because it sounds like he didn't watch film before. His overall understanding of the game [is better]. I still can't just say film room. I feel bad saying that."

Outside of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who do you worry about stopping on the Texans' offense?

"Carlos Hyde. Will Fuller is going to run nothing but streaks. Third down you know he's going to Hops, so, yeah, Carlos. You've got to stop the run. You've got to make a picket wall, things like that, to take away his cutback lanes. And when you get him, you've got to wrap up and roll. He's a thumper. He's a big back that takes hits."

5. Buffalo Bills (10-6)

First game: at Texans in wild-card round (4:35 p.m. ET, Saturday, ABC/ESPN) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 0.2%

Do you think quarterback Josh Allen can help the Bills advance in the playoffs on passing ability alone?

"Allen has played better this year. He definitely has a big arm. When we played them, I remember knowing that we had to play the deep ball longer than most quarterbacks. The question for me with him is consistency. When he's on, he can lead that team and he can carry the load offensively. If they get that version of him, I think Buffalo can win a playoff game. But when he's off -- especially with his accuracy -- then they aren't a very good team."

Is Buffalo's offense good enough to win games if its defense doesn't play well?

"In previous years, it used to all be about their defense. Their defense has been cold for years. But now they are more balanced. Twenty-six [RB Devin Singletary] has helped their offense get more punch. They run a lot of hurry-up with him. With him, Allen and Frank Gore, their run game is tough. Defense is still the best part of their team, but offense can score enough points in the playoffs. It depends on who they get. I don't think they can beat Baltimore or Kansas City."

How does cornerback Tre'Davious White elevate the Bills' pass defense?

"He's real good, man. He gets clutch picks. His instincts are on point. He takes that defense to the next level because you can trust him to lock down his side. He's sort of new in the best corner convo because he's young, but he deserves to be there. I hope he or Stephon Gilmore get DPOY [Defensive Player of Year] because they deserve it."

6. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

First game: at Patriots in wild-card round (8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, CBS) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 0.5%

What's the biggest difference between Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill?

"Tannehill is a better passer. Playing against Mariota, you know he's not going to take shots down the field. He doesn't want the ballgame in his hands. It's like he's scared to have it in his hands. With Tannehill, his mindset is different. He trusts himself to run the ball, and he'll fling it. They run a lot of play-action passes off their running ability. Once the ball is in Tannehill's hands, he can beat you with his feet, and he's always a threat to throw it, whether he's in the pocket or when he breaks outside the pocket. That's what makes them so dangerous. We played them with Mariota, and in the first game they were so one-dimensional. We knew they were going to give the ball to Derrick Henry. We knew Mariota was not going to beat us over the top. That was easier to defend. That wasn't the case in the second game when Tannehill started."

What do the Titans do in the red zone that causes problems for defenses?

"One of the best parts of being a good red zone offense is being able to run the ball. The Titans have that luxury with Henry. The field shrinks. If you're able to run it, it makes it a lot easier on the quarterback. And then when you get in there and you have to throw, Tannehill can throw in the tight window. The Titans are a good play-action team with Henry and Tannehill. They're even more dangerous with their tight ends because Tannehill can make that throw in a tight window down the seam. Another key with Tannehill is he can also tuck it and run it, which means they basically have two running backs. It makes it harder because you have a couple more things to worry about."

Who's the one player you have to worry about on defense?

"Jurrell Casey [defensive lineman]. There's only so much a scheme can do for a player like that. He's going to make his plays. You do too much of the scheme like double- or chip-blocking and you're going to leave other people too open with too many opportunities to make plays. They have a good front line, great linebackers and great secondary. But I think everything comes down to Casey. The games we contained him are the games we moved the ball and played well. Games he had his way with us are the games we didn't move the ball. You have to take the head off the monster, and Casey is the head of that defense. He's like LeBron [James]. LeBron will shoot the lights out one night, other nights LeBron can have 15 assists. Sometimes you can over scheme on Casey. They'll make you pay whether you double-team Casey or you risk going one-on-one against him."

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

First game: vs. lowest remaining seed in divisional round (4:35 p.m. ET, Jan. 11, NBC) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 18.7%

Is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo the weakest link on the 49ers?

"Is he the weakest link? I'm laughing. No, he's not the weakest link." Another player said, "The running game is really good, they got good running backs. Not that Garoppolo is bad, but that's how good they are."

Which pass-rusher scares you the most out of Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner and why?

"As a pass-rusher, he's [Bosa] athletic, he's long, he has good counter moves. But I don't think their D-line is as good as everyone thinks they are." Another player said, "I'm seeing him [Bosa] make a lot more huge plays and that sort of thing."

How much of an impact does tight end George Kittle have on the game, and does he scare you more as a pass-catcher or a blocker?

"They wouldn't have the record that they have now without him." Another player said Kittle is a better blocker than receiver. "I think a lot of tight ends can catch the ball, but the fact that he can run block makes him a scary guy to go against."

Is Richard Sherman still an elite cornerback or is he on a downward trajectory?

"He's in the Pro Bowl, isn't he?" But another player said Sherman making the Pro Bowl didn't matter. "Maybe not elite, but he's still a really good corner, but, you know, Father Time is undefeated."

2. Green Bay Packers (12-4)

First game: vs. highest remaining seed in divisional round (Jan. 12, 6:40 p.m. ET, Fox) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 6.1%

Has coach Matt LaFleur gotten more out of quarterback Aaron Rodgers than the previous regime?

"Listen, man, Aaron Rodgers is great with any coach. He was great with [Mike] McCarthy, and he's great with the new guy. That's Aaron Rodgers, man."

But an NFC coach raved about the job LaFleur has done with Rodgers, especially given the circumstances.

"I give a lot of credit to LaFleur. That's a different dynamic than what a lot of first-year coaches have. You have a guy that's seen every defense in the book, he's made every throw in the book, so here you are now as a first-year head coach. That's never easy. I think that's a credit to Matt and his personal relationship. And to Aaron."

Who do you have to stop first: running back Aaron Jones or wide receiver Davante Adams?

The consensus is Jones. One NFC defensive coach called Jones "one hell of a running back." The coach continued: "He's good when they hand the ball off to him, he's good in space when they throw it to him, he's a good protector. They have him split out a lot in empty formations. He becomes a matchup issue for you defensively, so you have to have guys that can cover on him. He runs routes like a receiver out there and catches balls like a receiver. He's having a great year."

Were linebackers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith the best offseason acquisitions in free agency?

"Those guys are beasts. I mean, I can't say they're the best players signed in free agency, but they have big sack numbers, both of them. You have to be aware of where they are at."

One rival coach marveled at the size of the two Packers standout defenders.

"The size is such an issue," the coach said. "They're both like 6-4, 6-5, 280 pounds and they move them around and play them on different sides. That's a challenge."

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

First game: vs. Vikings in wild-card round (1:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 6.6%

How does wide receiver Michael Thomas keep producing when teams know he's the one receiver they have to stop?

"He's an elite receiver. They've got a good offensive scheme over there with him and Drew Brees. Just changing up his location, whether it's on the backside, at the 1 or just in the slot. ... Of course, he has strong hands. That's what makes him an elite receiver because of his catch radius and he's going to go up and attack the football. He's just crafty.''

Said another player: "You've got Alvin Kamara, Ted Ginn Jr., so they've got other receivers to take the pressure off him. But you know the ball is going to him. He's just tough to stop, like Julio Jones, Mike Evans, any other receiver in our division.''

And don't forget about Brees and his impact on Thomas.

"He works tremendously hard in the offseason. Seeing how he's grown, it's not really a surprise to me. What separates him is consistency. You look at his drop percentage, yardage, all of that. Very few guys you can see that in this league on a week-to-week basis. It's one good game every three games. This game is consistency. That tandem in Brees and Thomas, it's hard to stop. You can't ignore the Brees factor. That's a walking Hall of Famer. Having a quarterback like that and talent like that as a receiver, it's always hard for defenses to catch up.''

Has the Saints' defense come full circle from weakness to strength, and what makes them so good?

"Their personnel didn't change much outside of adding some of their linebackers the last two years. But they're a lot more consistent. Every time we play them, it's a lot of work cut out for us on the line. It's a solid group. High-motor guys. From the outside looking in, I do know they're more consistent up front. There's a lot of high-motor guys in Cam Jordan and guys like that.''

And they've taken advantage of their draft picks.

"Yeah, they drafted well. They drafted guys in the secondary the last few years that have been really good. They've got some linebackers they've picked up in free agency with A.J. Klein and Demario Davis. Kiko Alonso has been really good. And if you look up front, they drafted the guy [Marcus Davenport] from San Antonio and then Cameron Jordan. Cam is one of the more underappreciated guys in the league. They've got a really good team now, and that's really helped them.''

What is Brees' greatest weakness?

"I would say throwing the deep ball. He doesn't do that much. Most teams, I see a film, when they have a receiver and he goes 9 right to the field, they're going to sit on the route. You play a little more aggressive to the field. Of course, he can make every other throw so he really doesn't have a weakness.''

Another player disagrees with Brees not being able to throw the deep ball.

"When he throws the deep ball, it's money. He's thrown a few deep balls on us the last few years, and the ball always hits exactly where it's intended. People want to pick him apart for different reasons, but if he wants to throw the deep ball, he can still do it.''

4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

First game: vs. Seahawks in wild-card round (4:40 p.m. ET, Sunday, NBC) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 1.2%

Has quarterback Carson Wentz digressed after two season-ending injuries?

"No. I wouldn't say that. Of course being away from the game can hurt a little bit, but he's the toughest quarterback in the NFL. He's like a linebacker playing quarterback, except he can actually play quarterback. He's just a force. He plays the game to win. When you're competing against him, you can tell. He's not going to go down easily [on a sack]. He's going to fight you. He's going to break it. He likes to spin. He likes to duck. ... I feel it's a team sport. One year you can be rolling and have more help around you, the next year you could be down because of certain situations. But I feel his future is still bright, and he's still an elite quarterback and has the chance to be one of the greats."

With wide receiver DeSean Jackson out, which offensive weapon poses the biggest threat?

"Besides Carson, Miles Sanders. He's pretty young, but you can tell. But it's Zach Ertz. He's an animal. Watching him play you can't do anything but respect him. He's nasty in the run game, and usually when guys try to play like that, they can't go out and catch the ball. But he's become a guy that can really do it all. So if I was to talk about anybody on their team to watch, it's Ertz. I give him credit. He's the man."

Who is the one player on defense opposing offenses are targeting the most?

"Ronald Darby. Not disciplined. Poor tackler. Really [Jalen] Mills or Darby. Not [Malcolm] Jenkins. Rather get either of them in coverage. Jenkins is getting old, but he still got it. We got Darby a couple times. He's the most targeted now. They're [attacking] him now."

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)

First game: at Eagles in wild-card round (4:40 p.m. ET, Sunday, NBC) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 0.8%

Who do you think is a better running quarterback: Russell Wilson or Lamar Jackson?

"Lamar is really elusive compared to Russell. Russell scrambles to throw, Lamar scrambles to run. That's what, I feel like, makes Lamar a better running [quarterback] -- I don't think Russell actually wants to run, but if the opportunity presents itself, then he'll run."

Another player said Jackson can make you look ridiculous trying to tackle him.

"Lamar got wiggle. He's elusive. He'll make you look stupid in the open field. Russell uses the option whenever he needs it. If he feels pressured enough to run, he'll do it, and if he sees the opportunity where it's a quick first down, he's going to take it. But, ultimately, he's going to throw that thing first. Lamar takes his normal reads, and then I mean, he believes in his legs."

Do you think Tyler Lockett is an elite receiver?

"Yes. I had to grow on him. I didn't really like him at first as a receiver. But he just kept making plays, kept making big plays, kept getting past people. With his size, it surprised me, him being on the outside with big cornerbacks and still being able to run past them and still make plays."

Another player said Lockett is great after the catch.

"His ability to separate and track the ball over his shoulder. He makes big plays, explosive, runs after the catch, knows how to get open when Russell Wilson scrambles, making himself a target for Russell when he is on the run."

What makes Bobby Wagner as good as he is?

"His recognition of plays, his understanding where things are going -- knowing how to cancel a gap, but also be able to play back in the other gaps. He is able to play both sides of the field, but also is great in the box. He uses his hands really well to get off blocks, then understands concepts. If you understand the game as well as he does, and have the physical gifts and traits that he does, it's a great combination."

6. Minnesota Vikings (9-7)

First game: at Saints in wild-card round (1:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox) | Tickets

Chances to win Super Bowl: 2.3%

Who has more to do with quarterback Kirk Cousins' success: Gary Kubiak or Dalvin Cook?

"I'd say Cook. When you're able to run the football the way they are running the football right now, I think it makes a big difference. It makes things a lot easier on the quarterback. Those defensive backs are starting to creep up a little more there. They are more run-conscious when those runs are popping out, so I would say, yeah, it's a big deal.

"When you're putting in a new offense or a new defense, it's going to take time. Everyone was trying to hang the man [Cousins] out there after three or four games, but that's hard to judge a guy on. So I think as [Cousins] got in his rhythm and started getting in the flow of how the coach is calling the plays, I think he's playing better."

Is Minnesota's secondary the weak link in the defense?

"With the talent they have up front, I think you could say weaker. They are not bad by any means, but definitely they revolve around their front seven to get the job done. Or just put pressure on helping defensive backs. They are just getting to the quarterback and rushing throws, just not giving the quarterback time to throw the ball."

Another player said they're not the "Minnesota of old the last couple years."

"Their front seven is really, really good. I think they are very strong through the middle, so I would say outside is where I guess they are having the most problems."

Who's the tougher matchup: Danielle Hunter or Everson Griffen?

"Everybody kind of has their preference on if they prefer on blocking a guy that's longer or more of a power guy. They are both really complete players. But Hunter has a little more length to him and is really explosive. Everson Griffen is, too, but you get a little more power with him. So it's more of a matchup thing. ... If you had to put them, I think it's 1A and 1B. I don't know which one I would rather face. I don't know, man. I would rather face neither of them. They are both tough."

TULSA, Okla. – Clauson-Marshall Racing confirmed a five-driver lineup for the upcoming Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals on Wednesday, with two brand-new faces dotting the roster.

Leading the charge for CMR will be reigning NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series champion Tyler Courtney, who will attempt the Chili Bowl for the ninth time in his career.

The Indianapolis native will drive the No. 7bc Stanton-SR11x-powered Spike, with sponsorship from NOS Energy Drink, which backed him throughout his USAC national midget championship run this past year.

Courtney has made the Saturday A-main in each of the last three Chili Bowls, with a best finish of sixth, earned in both 2017 and again last year.

Joining Courtney as part of the CMR quintet will be a pair of NASCAR stars, both of whom return to the team after racing a month ago at the Gateway Dirt Nationals.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Newman, who will pilot the No. 6n Stanton-SR11x-powered Spike, will carry backing from Aggressive Hydraulics and Coca-Cola as he embarks on his Chili Bowl debut.

On Newman’s open-wheel resume are the 1993 UMARA All-American Midget Series championship, the 1999 USAC Silver Crown Series championship and a runner-up finish in the 1999 USAC National Midget Series points, the latter in a year where he won all three USAC national rookie awards simultaneously.

Meanwhile, JTG-Daugherty pilot Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will return to the seat of the No. 17jr NOS Energy Drink-backed, Stanton-SR11x-powered Spike for his 14th Chili Bowl attempt, all in the last 16 years.

Stenhouse has made the championship feature six times, including three of the last four years, with his best finish of ninth coming in 2012.

Since returning to the Chili Bowl in 2014, Stenhouse has been aboard a Bryan Clauson Inc. or Clauson-Marshall Racing-prepared entry every year.

Cole Bodine comes back to Clauson-Marshall Racing for his third Chili Bowl appearance, fresh off making the Saturday A-main for the first time in his career with CMR last January.

Bodine will step into the seat of the No. 39 Driven2SaveLives-sponsored Spike-Stanton-SR11x vacated by Zeb Wise, who has moved over to Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports for this year’s Chili Bowl.

The Rossville, Ind., pilot started and finished 19th with CMR in the 2019 edition of the Chili Bowl. He’ll race full time in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series in 2020 alongside Courtney.

Rounding out the five-man lineup, New Zealand’s Jeremy Webb will race with CMR thanks to the Tony Elliott Foundation Scholarship, which is annually presented to a worthy driver looking to move up the racing ladder who might not otherwise have the opportunity to compete at the Chili Bowl.

Webb will drive the No. 17c Tony Elliott Foundation Spike-Stanton-SR11x, joining fellow teammate Newman as a rookie at the Chili Bowl Nationals. It’s his first time joining the team in any capacity.

The Kiwi is a competitor with both the New Zealand TQ Midget Championship and the United Truck Parts Int’l Midget Series. He most recently earned a victory at Huntly Int’l Speedway on Dec. 21.

Practice for the 34th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals kicks off Jan. 13 inside the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla.

SPEED SPORT’s Chili Bowl coverage is presented by MyRacePass, the official timing and scoring app of the 2020 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. Fans can download the MyRacePass app on their phones to follow all the action during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. For more information on MyRacePass, visit www.myracepass.com and use the hashtag #GetTheApp on Twitter!

January 2: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers in Melbourne

Our XI: Josh Philippe, Aaron Finch, Daniel Hughes, Shaun Marsh, Moises Henriques, Beau Webster, Tom Curran, Kane Richardson, Lloyd Pope, Cameron Boyce, Jackson Bird

NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant updates)

Captain: Aaron Finch

The Renegades, the defending champions, are winless so far this season, but captain Finch has been among their bright lights. For your XI's captaincy, it's a toss-up between Finch and Shaun Marsh, but the former gets our nod thanks to his long-standing consistency at the Docklands Stadium, where he is the highest run-getter over the past four seasons. Finch is also coming off successive fifties.

Vice-captain: Tom Curran

Curran has barely had an off-day this season, and in addition to being the tournament's fourth-highest wicket-taker, he has been contributing with some quick lower-order runs too. The last time he played at this ground, he produced a match-winning all-round performance of 3 for 18 and a 15-ball 23. He could be an option for the captaincy too.

Hot picks

Kane Richardson

Another stellar individual performer for the Renegades, Richardson is at No. 3 on the wicket charts, and has gone at just 6.19 runs per over. Your banker with the ball.

Shaun Marsh

Marsh has got off to a good start in his first season with Renegades, racking up 150 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 127.11. Along with Finch, he has carried their batting so far, and as someone who plays spin and pace equally well, is a dependable batting option to have in your XI.

Moises Henriques

Henriques has been a bit up and down, but with 114 runs from five innings, he is Sixers' highest run-getter so far and their most consistent option with the bat. He's not got to a fifty yet, and is due a big score.

Value picks

Cameron Boyce: The wristspinner has come good on home turf in recent times, with eight wickets from the Renegades' last six home games at an economy rate of 6.77. Still comes cheap in the fantasy market, and could be among the wickets against the Sixers' right-hand-heavy batting order.

Beau Webster: Webster has been striking big for the Renegades so far, with 131 runs at a rate of 156. He has only been dismissed once from four digs, and could be the one to turn your day around with some quick runs.

Points to note

• Wristspinners have been effective at Docklands Stadium, with 26 wickets at an economy of 6.17 since BBL 2016-17. Worth picking both sides' premier leggies - Boyce and the Sixers' Lloyd Pope.

• While it hasn't exactly been a high-scoring ground - the average first-innings score over the past five games is 148 - these two sides made 180-plus the last time they faced off here, in the BBL 08 semi-final. Neither line-up has been too good with the bat so far, so go with a strong bowling attack for potential differential points.

Jason Holder has been rested from West Indies' squad for the first two ODIs against Ireland, to be played in Barbados on January 7 and 9. This is the only change from the most recent ODI squad that completed a tour of India last month, with its strength dropping from 15 to 14.

"The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year," chief selector Roger Harper said in a statement. "With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white ball formats."

The lack of major changes in the squad reflects West Indies' gains from their India tour. They lost both the ODI and T20I series against India by 2-1 margins, but pushed the hosts hard, with a number of the younger players showing promise for the future. Before that, the team played a full series against Afghanistan in India, completing a 3-0 ODI sweep and winning the solitary Test but losing 2-1 in the T20Is.

"The Afghanistan and Indian series told me that the team is making very positive strides," Harper said. "Winning the ODIs against Afghanistan, our first ODI series win for five years, followed by the very competitive performance in against India is testament to that. The team demonstrated a determination to compete and gave it every effort.

"Against India the batting was consistent and while the bowling had its moments, it is clear that we have to improve our 'death' bowling. However, the fact that the team played in such an organised and competitive manner consistently augurs well going forward.

"This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players. Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win."

The ODI series against Ireland, which concludes with the third match in Grenada on January 12, will be followed by three T20Is in Grenada (January 15) and St Kitts (January 18 and 19).

West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (capt), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh

Big Picture

For so long a match given focus and attention through its association with the McGrath Foundation and breast cancer research, this year's SCG Test is being played against the literal backdrop of a mighty bushfire storm ravaging Australia's south-east. There will be times when that backdrop will become very much the foreground, via the smoke haze that has enveloped Sydney at regular intervals over the past two months, forcing a Big Bash League match in Canberra to be abandoned and very nearly doing likewise for a recent SCG Sheffield Shield match.

While the Australian coach Justin Langer has publicly pined for rain - some of which is forecast to hit Sydney early next week - and offspinner Nathan Lyon has said that he will be happy to play through smoke relative to the trials faced by firefighters this summer, New Zealand are simply looking for some sort of turnaround to their on-field fortunes after a pair of heavy defeats under lights in Perth and during the day in front of an enormous Boxing Day Test crowd in Melbourne.

There will likely be changes for the visitors, not least the inclusion of the former New South Wales off spinner Will Somerville, while illness has forced both Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls to miss the lead-up to the SCG Test. Williamson had spoken frankly about the need for his team to find ways and means to deal with the sustained pressure placed on them by Australia's pace bowlers in particular. The counter-punching hundred by makeshift opener Tom Blundell at the MCG provided some clue as to the way forward, although this is far easier said than done.

Tim Paine's men, meanwhile, have the carrot of an unbeaten Test match summer within their reach, and also another 40 points to eat into India's runaway lead at the top of the World Test Championship table. Their next five-day match is not until June and a scheduled series in Bangladesh, the major reason for the inclusion of the wrist spinner Mitchell Swepson in the squad.

Form guide

Australia WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand LLDWW

In the spotlight

For all the talk about New Zealand's hold over Steven Smith in Perth and Melbourne, specifically Neil Wagner's ability to defeat the No. 4 batsman with his sustained diet of short-pitched bowling, he has still formed one half of the most important partnerships of the series so far. A stand worth 132 with Marnus Labuschagne in Perth and then similar unions with Labuschagne, Matthew Wade and Travis Head in Melbourne gave Australia the first innings footholds they needed to reach 400 and therefore dictate terms from there. So in Sydney there will be a fascinating battle in terms of New Zealand's efforts to dismiss Smith more quickly, while he looks to raise his scoring rate.

Even if Kane Williamson rises from his sickbed to play at the SCG, Tom Latham will still be critical to New Zealand's chances of putting together a substantial first innings for the first time this series. Scores of 0, 18, 50 and 8 do not sound like much, but there have been moments in each innings since the first where Latham has looked capable of fighting his way through the new ball bursts of the Australian pacemen and thus being a bulwark for the innings. Latham may be helped now by the addition of a more proactive opening partner in Tom Blundell, and in turn the rest of the batting order would breathe easier from some sort of head start.

Team news

Mitchell Swepson has been widely discussed as a potential inclusion for Australia, ahead of the tour to Bangladesh later this year, but he would have to displace either one of their in-form quicks or, more outlandishly, one of the top six.

Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Matthew Wade, 7 Tim Paine (capt & wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Nathan Lyon

Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls missed both training days ahead of the Test due to flu-like illness symptoms, with Tom Latham set to captain in Williamson's stead if he is ruled out. Matt Henry is a strong chance to play, and Will Somerville, the former NSW spin bowler, looks likely to come into the side also.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Tom Blundell, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Will Somerville, 11 Neil Wagner

Pitch and conditions

The old adage about "in England you don't look down, you look up" for prevailing conditions will have a strange echo in Sydney this week, with the likelihood of smoke haze enveloping the SCG, particularly on the Saturday, due to the unprecedented rolling thunder of bushfires across the south-east of Australia this summer. Some rain is also forecast for the final two days of the game The pitch can be expected to take some spin.

Stats and Trivia

• New Zealand last played a Test at the SCG in November 1985, as part of the last summer in which the ground hosted two Tests within the same traditional summer window. It has since hosted Tests in October, between Australia and Zimbabwe in 2003 and between Australia and a World XI in 2005. Australia won the November 1985 match by four wickets.

• New Zealand's only previous visit had been for a draw in January 1974, however the visitors were extremely unlucky. Day two of the match was lost entirely to rain, and after setting Australia 456 to win and claiming two wickets on the fourth evening, New Zealand were deprived of the chance to push for victory by another washout on the final day.

• David Warner needs 23 runs to surpass Greg Chappell (7110) on Australia's all-time run-makers list.

NEW YORK -- Carmelo Anthony said last month that his No. 15 jersey should be retired by the Denver Nuggets.

So what about his No. 7 here at Madison Square Garden?

After scoring a season-high 26 points for the Portland Trail Blazers in a 117-93 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Anthony admitted he thought about it during the game -- just his second back at MSG since he was traded away by the Knicks over two years ago.

"I don't know," Anthony said with a smile. "You gotta ask them."

Then he added with a laugh, "I did glance up at the rafters today during the national anthem. You know, they say in life you've got to envision, so I was envisioning seeing Anthony hanging up there."

If it was up to the fans in attendance for the first game here of 2020, there's little doubt how they would vote.

To say Anthony's return was slightly different than Kristaps Porzingis coming back to New York in mid-November is an understatement. Unlike that night, which saw Porzingis booed lustily throughout his first game back at MSG since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks last February, Anthony was celebrated like a conquering hero.

Not only was was Anthony not booed, he was celebrated. He was given a rousing ovation after he was introduced last during player introductions. And then, as the game played out, he was cheered every time he touched the ball -- and cheered even louder when he scored.

"The love was definitely felt tonight," Anthony said. "From the fans that were here, just the city as a whole, just being back.

"I think that feeling is kind of hard to explain. But for me to kind of get that ovation, I think I've always had the love from the city like that. But to be back in this building where I spent so many years, that love felt extremely good tonight."

While Anthony managed to turn back the clock with a performance like he had many times during his peak days as a player for the Knicks, finishing with 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting.

"I just wanted to come in and be out there and, at the end of the day, just play basketball," Anthony said. "Of course being back on that court is special."

But Anthony's heroics were not enough to prevent Portland from falling into a five-game losing streak -- with the game fully slipping away from the Trail Blazers while he sat on the bench.

After Anthony hit back-to-back buckets to force a timeout from interim Knicks coach Mike Miller with the score tied at 65 with 6:08 remaining in the third quarter, Anthony checked out with the Blazers trailing 77-70 with 2:30 left in the quarter.

By the time he checked back in with 9:55 remaining in the fourth, the Knicks' lead had expanded to 12, and Portland would never come close to getting the win.

"We just got outplayed," said Blazers star Damian Lillard, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but shot just 5-for-20 from the field. "Everything they wanted to do, they did it.

"They made shots, they got stops, they got foul calls. Whatever they wanted to do, they did it."

That was especially true for Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, who tied a franchise record by making all 11 field goal attempts he took during the game, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds off the bench as he slammed home several eye-popping, rim-rattling dunks throughout the night to help the Knicks, who opened the season 7-24, win their third straight game.

"Tremendous effort," Miller said. "I probably can't come up with the right words for how we pleased we are watching how that game flowed, and how guys played, and how we stayed together.

"We had so many people contribute in so many different ways. That was fun to watch."

Still, the game's result played second-fiddle to Anthony coming back to MSG -- something that, as he sat out for more than a year between being let go early last season by the Houston Rockets and being signed by Portland, seemed like it may never happen again.

Though, as he has said repeatedly since coming back, Anthony himself didn't view it that way.

"Like I've always said, I've believed in myself," he said. "I always knew what the narrative was. People paint their own narrative. People love stories. People want to talk.

"At the end of the day, I've done what I had to do as far as preparing myself mentally with that time off and coming back and believing in myself. I keep saying that, but doing what I have to do, staying strong through that time.

"I don't think people understand how difficult it was, how hard it was, and the fight that I had within myself to able to be at this point today talking to y'all."

What wasn't difficult for Anthony was talking with the media postgame. A smile was ever-present on his face, and he was clearly enjoying getting a chance to be back at MSG for one more night.

It also was an opportunity, beyond the comment about thinking about what it would look like for his jersey to be retired, for him to assess, with the benefit of a couple of years having passed since the trade that sent him away from the Knicks, what his six-plus years with the franchise was like.

When he was asked that postgame, Anthony paused for a moment before answering.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "I would say that for the most part I've enjoyed it.

"I think being in the city makes a specific type of person, not a basketball player, a specific type of person. For me to embrace that and want that and take that challenge on, I think that's why I got the love that I got from this city."

Don Larsen, who pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, died Wednesday at the age of 90, his representative, Andrew Levy, tweeted Wednesday night.

Levy said the former pitcher died of esophageal cancer in Hayden, Idaho.

Larsen was a journeyman pitcher, playing for seven teams over a 14-year career while posting a lifetime 81-91 record, but on Oct. 8, 1956, while with the New York Yankees, he was as good as any pitcher has ever been.

In Game 5 of the World Series, Larsen pitched to 27 Brooklyn Dodgers batters, retiring pinch hitter Dale Mitchell on a called third strike and then bracing for catcher Yogi Berra's leap into his arms. The Yankees went on to win that series in seven games.

The Yankees tweeted about Larsen's death Wednesday night:

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Don Larsen, who remained a welcome & familiar face at our annual Old-Timers' Day celebrations. The Yankees organization extends its deepest condolences to Don's family and friends during this difficult time. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/OgOdofzSTS

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 2, 2020

Larsen was born on Aug. 7, 1929, and grew up in San Diego. He made his major league debut with the St. Louis Browns in 1953. He later joined the Yankees in 1955 as part of a 17-player trade.

Larsen had his best years with the Yankees, including a career-best 11 victories in 1956. But no one would have predicted his remarkable performance in the World Series that year. He had lost Game 2 of that series, lasting only 1⅔ innings in a 13-8 loss, but his unprecedented feat in Game 5 earned him the World Series MVP honor.

Larsen continued playing until 1967 but never again had that kind of success.

Larsen was connected to the two other perfect games in Yankees history, though.

He and David Wells, who threw a perfect game at Yankee Stadium in 1998, both attended Point Loma High School in San Diego.

And Larsen was in attendance when David Cone threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos in 1999. Larsen was there as a special guest on Yogi Berra Day, throwing a ceremonial pitch to his former catcher.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

KIRKWOOD, N.Y. – BD Motorsports Media LLC has reached an agreement with the promoters of New York’s Five Mile Point Speedway to bring the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds to the venue.

The event, scheduled for May 3, will be known as the 70th Anniversary Special and feature the Short Track Super Series and Crate 602 Sportsman. It is the first time since 2013 that BD Motorsports Media LLC has promoted an event at the facility.

The STSS Modifieds wukk compete in a $7,000-to-win, 51-lap main event. The 51-lap distance reflects the first year of operation at the speedway: 1951.

The Crate 602 Sportsman ($1,500 to win) and four-cylinders will complete the tripleheader program.

For the STSS modifieds, the event marks two of the Halmar International North Region. The Crate 602 Sportsman program will open the STSS North Region title fight.

“Five Mile Point Speedway is celebrating a milestone season in 2020,” Brett Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC. “We are looking forward to being part of the 70th anniversary celebration.”

Prior to the formation of the Short Track Super Series in ’14, BD Motorsports Media LLC promoted events at Five Mile Point from 2009 to 2013.

The most recent event – on Oct. 12, 2013 – was won by Craig Hanson. Prior Five Mile Point winners include Danny Tyler (2012), Duane Howard (2011), Justin Holland (2010) and Kevin Hirthler (2009).