COLUMBUS, Ind. – Zeb Wise and Holley Hollan will compete on a part-time basis for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports in NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series competition next year.

Wise will hit a handful of USAC midget events on the schedule with Kunz that don’t conflict with his recently announced deal to compete on the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions tour.

The Angola, Ind., teenager has tentative plans to run a partial Indiana Midget Week schedule, defend his title at the Driven2SaveLives BC39 at The Dirt Track at IMS and also race various events in November on the west coast.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Hollan will take on a similar part-time USAC Midget role with Kunz to coincide with plans to compete in a stock car this year.

The exact midget schedule for the Broken Arrow, Okla., native is yet to be determined.

Hollan competed as a rookie with the USAC National Midget Series in 2018. She finished 16th in points, fourth best among all rookies, with two heat race wins and a top finish of 11th in March at the Shamrock Classic inside the Southern Illinois Center.

Wise, who recently turned 17 years old, became USAC’s youngest ever national series winner at the age of 15 in 2018 during Pennsylvania Midget Week at Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.

Racing out of the Clauson/Marshall Racing stable, Wise finished fifth in the final USAC National Midget Series standings, with three wins at Action Track USA, Linda’s Speedway and his memorable triumph in the BC39 at The Dirt Track at IMS.

Wise’s capability to step in the car and perform, even on a part-time basis, has Kunz elated to bring him into the fold for the team which has captured 10 previous USAC National Midget owner titles and the second-most wins in USAC National Midget history with 109.

“I’m really excited to have Zeb, because he went toe-to-toe with Kyle (Larson) there a few times and came out on top,” Kunz recalled. “I’ve been watching him for the last couple of years and he’s come a long way. He’s definitely one of the major players in midget racing right now and with him coming to our team, I’m just really looking forward to it.”

Wise and Hollan join previously announced full-time KKM teammates Daison Pursley and Buddy Kofoid on the 2020 NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series trail.

TULSA, Okla. – Combining the efforts of Andee Beierle Racing and Chili Bowl owner champion Wilke-Pak, Cale Conley will pilot the Boost Oxygen/Leader Paper Co. No. 11 during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire.

“We’ve been watching Cale throughout the summer we feel he brings a combination of open-wheel experience and the deep desire to excel in his racing career,” commented Andee Beierle.

Normally a driver herself, Beierle has taken a step back from the seat and settled into the role of an owner as she continues to work on her degree in Chemical Engineering as well as working into Medical School. Getting to work with Greg Wilke is one that she hopes to grow in the coming years.

“I am hoping the relationship develops into a multi-car operation,” said Beierle.

Bringing in the backing of Boost Oxygen to help support the 2005 race-winning team, the portable purified oxygen mixture will be available for sale in the event’s Tradeshow as well as the Wilke pit area.

“We are very excited to be engaged with Andee Beierle Motorsports. Athletes of all types, youth to professional and in all sports (including motorsports), implement Boost Oxygen for maximizing their performance, recovery, and results with our 95% pure supplemental oxygen. The use of purified oxygen isn’t new, but it hasn’t always been available to the everyday athlete; and if you had access, the tanks are heavy and difficult to get around. We have solved both of these challenges,” said Boost Oxygen CEO and Co-Founder, Rob Neuner.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Ernie Els has finished second to Tiger Woods more than any other player, and he never looked more spectacular doing it than as captain in the Presidents Cup.

''OK, you got me,'' Els said to him with a wry grin during the closing ceremony at Royal Melbourne.

Was it really a surprise?

Sure, the Americans were the first team to rally from a deficit on the final day to win the Presidents Cup, and it was their first in any cup since a four-point comeback in the Ryder Cup at Brookline in 1999. Some context is required. They've won the Ryder Cup only twice since then, and they hardly ever lose the Presidents Cup.

Even with a 10-8 lead going into singles, Els and his International team were playing against a stacked deck, as usual.

It wasn't as bad as the time Els trailed Woods by 10 shots going into the final round at Pebble Beach in the U.S. Open. Still, it didn't seem like a fair fight.

The Internationals had only two players among the top 20 in the world ranking. Woods' team had 10 players from the top 20, and that didn't even include the injured Brooks Koepka at No. 1 in the world. Two of the four wild-card selections for the Americans, including Woods, won majors this year. In the singles session, the outcome felt inevitable.

Els was gracious in defeat, and also gutted.

He had fashioned 12 players representing nine flags into a team with identity and purpose. The logo he created for the International team was a combination of shields and badges culled from history that spoke to unity and loyalty, friendship, strength and fight. And they had a chance, which is more than they've had some years.

''If you compare our team on paper with other teams in other sport, you would have laughed us out of the building,'' Els said. ''But we gave it a hell of a go and we came mightily close to winning and upsetting one of the greatest golf teams of all time.''

But they didn't.

And it won't get any easier the next time. Or the time after that.

This is about more than world rankings and experience, about which team looks better on paper. Because if it were, then how to explain the Ryder Cup? Europe is strong now. It wasn't always. It still has an 11-8-1 lead over the United States dating to 1979, the start of the modern era.

But while the Ryder Cup is billed as a contest between the flags of two continents, it's really between two tours.

The European Tour picks the venue (it usually goes to the highest bidder these days). It has full control of all operations. Paris last year felt like a home game - the course, not just the crowd - just as Hazeltine was for the Americans.

The Presidents Cup is a match between two teams, one owner.

The PGA Tour selects the site. The PGA Tour picks the captains, though not without heavy input from all the key people on the International side.

That magnificent logo Els created for the International team? He said it required PGA Tour approval. The support staff for the International team are PGA Tour employees, even if they hail from countries outside the U.S.

The money - the Presidents Cup sells extremely well - stays with one organization every time.

That's not why the Americans win, and Els wasn't suggesting that. They win because they play better golf and hole more putts. There is a comfort level at the Presidents Cup they don't experience in the Ryder Cup.

''I know it's a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, OK?'' Els said. ''But to really be able to do what you need to do, you need to be almost a separate ... you need to be away from the PGA Tour.''

Nothing personal. He paused to pat the back of Mark Williams, who played professionally in Australia and now works as a media official for the PGA Tour. Last week, he was assigned to the International team and fit right in.

''I love these guys. They work for the tour and all that,'' Els said. ''But to make our own rules, to get our own choices, to do our own thing, it's hard to explain. But we need to be separate. ... The Ryder Cup works because the Europeans do their own thing and the U.S. do their own thing. It's two groups that clash. We're trying to do it under one umbrella.''

The next Presidents Cup will be at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, a home game for the U.S. team. And then? A group from Thailand was at Royal Melbourne last week expressing interest. The best bet is a return to Royal Montreal. Another one in Asia or the first one in a Latin America country is possible after that.

It would help if the Internationals would win. Keeping it close only does so much. If they ever do, that might only remind Els of the one problem that can't be solved.

Where would the International team display the trophy?

Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has said that Arsenal forward Mesut Ozil should not have spoken out to denounce human rights in China.

Ozil criticised China's treatment of its Muslim Uighur minority via Twitter on Friday, leading to Chinese Central Television (CCTV) removing Arsenal's Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday from their TV schedule.

While saying the situation is "complicated" because they are both Muslim, Toure disagreed with Ozil over whether athletes should use their platforms to discuss political issues.

"Footballers have to stay with football and politicians to politics because you cannot be involved with this kind of things because it's going to attract a lot of problems and a lot of things," Toure told The Associated Press.

"As a Muslim it is complicated and it is his choice. He's been doing his comments but I think he was wrong to say that."

Toure, a former Ivory Coast international, has just completed five months playing at Chinese second-tier club Qingdao Huanghai.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came out in support of Ozil on Tuesday via social media.

Arsenal, who have been commercially active in China in recent years and even opened a restaurant in Shanghai in 2018, quickly distanced themselves from Ozil's comments.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

PITTSBURGH -- Devlin "Duck" Hodges, who threw four interceptions during the Steelers' loss to the Buffalo Bills, will remain Pittsburgh's starting quarterback for another week, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.

Tomlin said he looks forward to giving the undrafted rookie an opportunity to rebound from his worst start.

"I think it's reasonable to expect growth from young players as they get exposure," Tomlin said. "Sometimes that exposure can be negative exposure, like his experience in the last game, but exposure nonetheless is a tool for growth.

"Particularly at the quarterback position, I think it's reasonable to expect him to learn from those negative experiences from last Sunday night and apply it to this next opportunity and really, hopefully not make those same mistakes twice."

Hodges, who will face the New York Jets on Sunday, completed just 23 of 38 passes for 202 yards against the Bills. He threw one touchdown pass but was sacked four times. His four interceptions all came on passes that traveled more than 10 yards downfield -- making him and teammate Mason Rudolph the only players with four picks on deep passes in a game this season.

Rudolph, whose four interceptions came on the road against the Cleveland Browns, was given the opportunity to rebound against Cincinnati Bengals the following week.

Hodges will receive the same opportunity, Tomlin said.

"All of these guys are here playing at this level because of their ability to respond and overcome adversity," Tomlin said. "Mason didn't take care of the ball very well at Cleveland the first time. I gave him an opportunity the subsequent week based on those reasons. I think it's very reasonable in our business, working with the type of competitors that we work with, that you give them an opportunity to respond to adversity and answer the bell and deliver for their football team."

After an ineffective first half in which he threw an end zone interception against the Bengals, Rudolph was pulled after the first series of the third quarter. Tomlin wouldn't say if Hodges' leash would be similar.

"I don't anticipate or plan for failure," Tomlin said. "So I anticipate [Hodges] doing great. I anticipate him responding to the challenge. I anticipate him doing a great job of moving our offense and taking care of the ball. I hadn't pondered the possibilities of that, and I won't. I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it."

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson essentially ended the NFL Most Valuable Player debate last week, when he put up another five touchdown passes and broke Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback.

The more intriguing question involving Jackson is whether the football world is witnessing something historically greater.

“If he gets to 35 to 40 touchdown passes and what he’s done running the ball, Lamar has to be in the conversation of the best season by a quarterback,” said former NFL MVP Kurt Warner, an analyst for the NFL Network. “With a lot of things Lamar does, it is hard to gauge right now because it’s so new and unique. Maybe 10 to 15 years down the road, we’ll have a better feel where it stands. But with how special he is running and throwing the ball, it’s pretty ridiculous.”

Running the ball like Barry Sanders and tossing touchdown passes like Tom Brady, Jackson has brought shock and awe with how he has run up the score on some of the best teams by breaking ankles on open-field scrambles and breaking defenses with those sidearm throws. He is playing the quarterback position unlike anyone before him, leading the NFL with 33 touchdown passes while becoming the second quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards.

The past four decades, the top seasons, based on QB rating, have been produced by Joe Montana in 1989 (3,521 yards passing, 26 TDs, 112.4 rating), Steve Young in 1994 (3,969 yards passing, 35 TDs, 112.8 rating, 293 yards rushing), Tom Brady in 2007 (4,806 yards, 50 TDs, 117.2 rating), Peyton Manning in 2013 (5,477 yards, 55 TDs and 115.1 rating) and Patrick Mahomes (5,097 yards, 50 TDs and 113.8 rating).

Jackson separates himself by being highly rated as a passer (his 112.8 rating is second in the NFL this season) and a top-10 rusher. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to rack up 2,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. Jackson can also become the first to finish with 1,000 yards rushing and a 100 passer rating.

“He’s the perfect weapon right now,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said.

There is no argument about which quarterback has mesmerized the sports landscape. Jackson is quarterbacking the NFL’s best team and highest-scoring offense. He is the front-runner for NFL MVP and the runaway No. 1 vote-getter in Pro Bowl fan voting.

On social media, Brady is playfully challenging Jackson to a race, and Magic Johnson is congratulating Jackson for breaking Vick’s mark, comparing the Ravens to the Lakers. Following games, the center of the Ravens' field looks like a mall autograph event. Opposing players line up to get Ravens No. 8 jerseys signed by Jackson.

“The guy is a freak of nature,” Jets linebacker James Burgess said. “One of a kind.”

Jackson is poised to become the first quarterback since 1940 to be the leading rusher on the team that finishes the regular season with the best record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He can also become the only quarterback to lead the NFL in touchdown passes and finish in the top 10 in rushing yards, per Elias.

Through Week 15, Jackson has thrown three more touchdown passes than anyone else in the NFL and ranks eighth in rushing, with 1,103 yards.

“I’ve never been with anybody like him,” Ravens wide receiver Seth Roberts said.

Jackson tops the NFL with three games with five touchdown passes this season. He has recorded four 100-yard rushing games. He is the first NFL player with multiple games of five touchdown passes and at least 50 yards rushing, according to Elias. Jackson accomplished this all-time feat in a four-game span this season.

“He is so rare, and I hear people say he’s opening the door for other teams, and they’ll look for athletic quarterbacks,” Warner said. “I don’t ever think we’re going to see another Lamar Jackson. How many times can we say a player transcended the way the game is played? He has.”

The NFL Power Rankings are relevant for this season (or, to be more accurate, this week in this season), but we're at the point where it's cool to look ahead to the future. We're not talking Week 16 or 17 future, but start of a whole new decade future.

So we've asked our NFL Nation reporters to come up with no-frills descriptors of each team's offseason look. From wholesale rebuilds (Jacksonville and Miami) to creative money management (New Orleans and Houston), we break down each team's offseason goals. Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.

Previous rankings: 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Preseason

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-2)

Week 15 ranking: 1

Offseason in two words: Bolster defense

After the Ravens devoted much of their resources to the offense over the past couple of offseasons, it's time to help the onetime top-ranked defense. The priority has to be addressing the pass rush, which means bringing in an edge rusher as well as possibly re-signing Matthew Judon. Baltimore also has to figure out the plan at cornerback, where Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith are scheduled to become free agents. With Lamar Jackson and his supporting cast intact, the Ravens can focus on a defense that lost C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs, Eric Weddle and Za'Darius Smith this past offseason. -- Jamison Hensley

2. New Orleans Saints (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 3

Offseason in two words: Money matters

The Saints have one of the NFL's deepest rosters, but how long can they keep it that way? Their offseason will be defined by several tough financial decisions. QB Drew Brees won't leave as a free agent -- but backup QB Teddy Bridgewater might if the right opportunity comes along. G Andrus Peat, CB Eli Apple, S Vonn Bell, DT David Onyemata, LB A.J. Klein and WR Ted Ginn Jr. are among several other notable free agents. And the biggest decision of all might come if RB Alvin Kamara decides to hold out heading into his fourth season. -- Mike Triplett

3. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 2

Offseason in two words: Difficult decisions

The 49ers have harvested their share of top young players, which is good for their futures but also means things are about to get more difficult when it comes to keeping them around. Defensive end Arik Armstead, safety Jimmie Ward and receiver Emmanuel Sanders are all set to become unrestricted free agents, and the Niners also need to sign defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and tight end George Kittle to contract extensions as they enter the final season of their rookie deals. Juggling all of that and maintaining flexibility figures to make for some tough choices this offseason. -- Nick Wagoner

4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)

Week 15 ranking: 4

Offseason in two words: Contenders again

The Chiefs will take the look of being Super Bowl contenders into 2020 regardless of how this season finishes. That's not to say they won't have roster work to do. They will have to address a number of positions, including cornerback, running back and the interior of their offensive line. But they should be among the favorites to win the AFC again next season. -- Adam Teicher

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 6

Offseason in two words: Up front

That's where the most significant changes could come. Just look at how many of their offensive and defensive linemen are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents: Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed, Ziggy Ansah, Al Woods, Quinton Jefferson, Germain Ifedi, Mike Iupati and George Fant. Justin Britt is under contract for another season but might be a cap casualty. Of that group, Clowney might be the least replaceable and potentially the hardest to re-sign, given that the Seahawks agreed not to franchise him -- meaning they won't have the tag as a last resort, nor will they have the negotiation leverage that the tag can create. -- Brady Henderson

6. New England Patriots (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 5

Offseason in two words: Tom Brady

For the first time in his 20-year career, Brady will be an unrestricted free agent, and the Patriots can't assign the franchise tag to him. So there is intrigue as to how it will all unfold. Will Brady retire? Re-sign in New England? Play elsewhere? Even Brady has said he doesn't know the answer, and he has approached the season by saying everything is a bonus at this point. -- Mike Reiss

7. Green Bay Packers (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 7

Offseason in two words: Help Aaron

Aaron Rodgers is succeeding with only two legitimate playmakers: Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. General manager Brian Gutekunst focused on the defense last offseason -- and rightly so -- but now he has to turn to the other side. If he doesn't sign a productive free-agent wide receiver -- and that seems unlikely after the Packers' spending spree last offseason -- he will have to dedicate draft resources to the pass-catching positions (both WR and TE). The Packers haven't picked a wideout in the first round of the draft since Javon Walker in 2002. That might have to change. -- Rob Demovsky

8. Minnesota Vikings (10-4)

Week 15 ranking: 8

Offseason in two words: Cap decisions

The NFL informed teams last week that the salary cap will be between $196.8 and $201.2 million in 2020. That's good news for a team with tight finances (ESPN's Roster Management System currently projects the Vikings at $4.8 million over the cap) and a handful of contract decisions to make this offseason. Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook are in line for extensions. Minnesota has two cornerbacks -- Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander -- who need to be paid or allowed to go on the open market. Decisions on the likes of Everson Griffen, Riley Reiff and Xavier Rhodes also are on the horizon once the season ends. -- Courtney Cronin

9. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

Week 15 ranking: 10

Offseason in two words: More playmakers

Buffalo reached the double-digit win plateau in 2019 largely on the strength of an elite defense that often carried a sputtering offense. The goal this offseason must be to continue to surround Josh Allen with a full arsenal of offensive weapons -- and build an offense that can provide this defense more of a lead to play with. The Bills have a full complement of draft picks and an estimated $90 million in salary-cap space; even after they take care of in-house players such as Tre'Davious White, Matt Milano, Dion Dawkins and Jordan Poyer, they'll still have plenty of resources at their disposal. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

10. Houston Texans (9-5)

Week 15 ranking: 11

Offseason in two words: Big contracts

The Texans should sign quarterback Deshaun Watson and left tackle Laremy Tunsil to contract extensions this offseason, and both should at least be close to becoming the highest-paid players at their positions. Houston has quite a few expiring contracts -- including nose tackle D.J. Reader -- so it will have a lot of holes to fill. Given their lack of draft capital and preference to hand out one-year free-agent contracts, expect Bill O'Brien and the Texans to get creative in free agency. -- Sarah Barshop

11. Tennessee Titans (8-6)

Week 15 ranking: 12

Offseason in two words: Muddy waters

The Titans must navigate a difficult offseason that starts with deciding what to do at QB. Ryan Tannehill appears to be the guy for them, but for how long and at what price? If they decide to take a QB in the draft, they'll need to move up to get a plug-and-play prospect. Then there's Derrick Henry. He has run his way into a higher contract tier, and if he leaves, the fans will riot. Titans GM Jon Robinson has to retool on the fly, which will be tough considering they have upward of 20 contracts expiring after the season. -- Turron Davenport

12. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

Week 15 ranking: 9

Offseason in two words: Too long

Barring a miracle, the end of the Rams' season will coincide with their regular-season finale against the Cardinals on Dec. 29, marking the first time in Sean McVay's three campaigns that the Rams will not make the playoffs. The long break will sharply contrast with their most recent offseason, following their appearance in Super Bowl LIII. Since that jarring loss to the Patriots in February, the Rams have appeared a fraction of their former selves, so there's no question that a long offseason will provide plenty of time to seek answers and find solutions to their offensive and defensive woes. -- Lindsey Thiry

13. Dallas Cowboys (7-7)

Week 15 ranking: 15

Offseason in two words: High anxiety

There could be a lot of change for the Cowboys, starting at head coach with Jason Garrett. Not even a playoff appearance would earn him a contract extension from Jerry Jones. While the Cowboys want to keep Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper and could have a way to keep both on the franchise and transition tags, the goal is to sign them to long-term deals, which is not a lock. They have 25 players who could be unrestricted free agents. A majority of the coaching staff is in the final year of contracts, as well. There is much work ahead. -- Todd Archer

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

Week 15 ranking: 13

Offseason in two words: Offensive weapons

The Steelers have the defense to make them a contender, but the offense needs to catch up. With Ben Roethlisberger eyeing a return from this year's season-ending elbow injury, the Steelers' future hinges on which weapons surround Big Ben. Will they take another stab at adding veteran free agents? Or will they build the offense through the draft? Those are the questions they face this offseason. -- Brooke Pryor

15. Chicago Bears (7-7)

Week 15 ranking: 14

Offseason in two words: Rinse, repeat

The Bears perpetually underwhelm. Every so often, they have a good year and raise hopes across the city. And then, seemingly without fail, the Bears don't live up to those expectations. The upcoming offseason is likely to have the same vibe. Many will expect the Bears to make the playoffs since the roster is talented. Fans will look past the obvious faults and cling to the belief that the Bears are just one or two lucky breaks away from being a Super Bowl contender. Then 2020 probably will end like most years for the Bears: without a trip to the postseason. -- Jeff Dickerson

16. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)

Week 15 ranking: 17

Offseason in two words: Youth movement

The Eagles entered the season with the third-oldest roster in the NFL, which included eight original starters who were at least 30 years old. That has come back to bite them in the areas of health and team speed. Philadelphia is projected to have 10 draft picks in April, and it will be looking to craft a younger, more explosive team for 2020. -- Tim McManus

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

Week 15 ranking: 21

Offseason in two words: Building blocks

That's what Bruce Arians called the Bucs' four-game win streak, believing that while the Bucs can't make the postseason this year, these victories can go a long way toward overhauling a losing culture. He said of his players, "They don't accept losing anymore." -- Jenna Laine

18. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

Week 15 ranking: 16

Offseason in two words: Offensive help

This isn't directed at the offensive line or running back. The Colts have one of the top lines in the NFL, and Marlon Mack is on the brink of cracking 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career. The need for help is at wide receiver and tight end. T.Y. Hilton has not only missed six games this season thanks to injuries, he'll also turn 31 next season. The Colts have struggled finding a No. 2 wideout, partially because of injuries and poor play. The Colts likely won't re-sign tight end Eric Ebron, so they need to add another pass-catcher at that position to go with Jack Doyle. -- Mike Wells

19. Oakland Raiders (6-8)

Week 15 ranking: 18

Offseason in two words: The Meadows

Oh, you didn't know "Las Vegas" means "The Meadows" in Spanish? Indeed, the Raiders' long, strange move to southern Nevada since winning the right to relocate in 2017 will be on the forefront of the franchise this offseason -- even if the Raiders still plan to do their offseason program in Alameda and training camp in Napa back in California. But shy of any construction delays, the Las Vegas Raiders will debut in 2020. It's the end of an era for Oakland but the beginning of another for Sin City. -- Paul Gutierrez

20. Cleveland Browns (6-8)

Week 15 ranking: 19

Offseason in two words: Self-contemplation

The Browns had the talent on paper to be a playoff team. But at 6-8, they're already all but out of the playoff picture with two weeks to go. Cleveland has to figure out why this season turned into such a disappointment, which will require some serious self-evaluation. Talent is not the issue, which leaves culture, leadership and coaching as the only explanations for why this team underachieved. The Browns have a window to become a playoff team down the line, but a course correction is required. -- Jake Trotter

21. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 20

Offseason in two words: Quarterback uncertainty

Heading into the offseason after head coach Anthony Lynn's first losing record, the Chargers have major questions to answer at quarterback for the first time in more than a decade. Philip Rivers, 38, had an up-and-down season, and he is in the final year of his contract. Rivers would like to return in 2020, but does the front office want him back? Or are the Chargers ready to move on and either select a quarterback early in the draft or sign someone else in free agency? What happens at quarterback will be the top storyline for the Chargers this offseason. -- Eric D. Williams

22. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 24

Offseason in two words: Cap hell

The Falcons are expected to enter 2020 about $8 million over the cap, with the top four salaries of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Jake Matthews and Grady Jarrett accounting for almost $86 million. The high-dollar contracts will prove costly when it comes to free agency, and fixing needs in terms of a pass-rusher or offensive line help. We'll see which moves the Falcons make -- and who is in charge to make them -- in order to create some cap relief. -- Vaughn McClure

23. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 22

Offseason in two words: Cultural metamorphosis

The Panthers will have a new coaching staff and management structure when owner David Tepper finishes tearing down the old system and putting his own people in place. What that means for key players such as quarterback Cam Newton remains unclear. What is clear is that Tepper is tired of the culture that has produced, in his words, long-term mediocrity and wants to implement a more progressive, analytical-thinking approach that allows Carolina to win consistently, like the team he watched while growing up in Pittsburgh. -- David Newton

24. Denver Broncos (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 23

Offseason in two words: Be smart

The Broncos have three consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1970 to 1972, so to say the franchise's faithful are at a football DEFCON 1 is an understatement. But with plenty of expected salary-cap space (perhaps $60 million before any adjustments) and likely 12 picks in the draft if they get their expected compensatory picks, the Broncos need to avoid impulsive, rash decisions. They have a quality core of young players -- Courtland Sutton, Phillip Lindsay, Noah Fant, Bradley Chubb and Dalton Risner, among others -- and a potential long-term starter at quarterback in Drew Lock, and Von Miller has plenty of quality football left in him. -- Jeff Legwold

25. Arizona Cardinals (4-9-1)

Week 15 ranking: 26

Offseason in two words: Roster rebuild

The Cardinals have seen glimpses of how good Kliff Kingsbury's offensive scheme can be, but there are roster limitations holding it back. The Cardinals need to address holes this offseason if they want to have their first winning season since 2015, most notably on the offensive line and at wide receiver and running back. But the rebuild goes beyond the offense. Arizona also has significant holes on defense, most notably the defensive line. The Cardinals also could use help at linebacker and cornerback. How general manager Steve Keim handles it should dictate whether he continues as the Cardinals' GM in 2021. -- Josh Weinfuss

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 28

Offseason in two words: Complete rebuild

It seems strange to say considering the Jaguars were in the AFC title game two seasons ago, but the roster has significantly regressed. They never adequately replaced six defensive starters/key reserves from 2017, and interior defensive line and linebacker are two of the roster's weakest spots. They haven't figured out tight end, and the wide receivers other than DJ Chark need an upgrade. It would be nice to find a complementary back to Leonard Fournette, too. And what are they doing with the very expensive Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew II? Regardless of who is drafting and coaching in 2020, this roster needs a major overhaul. -- Mike DiRocco

27. New York Jets (5-9)

Week 15 ranking: 27

Offseason in two words: Think big

We're talking about the big fellas -- offensive linemen. The Jets, who haven't drafted a lineman in the first round since 2006 (D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold), must overhaul their line in the offseason. They need a left tackle, two guards and quite possibly a center. They can buy one or two in free agency (guard Brandon Scherff?), then look for a franchise left tackle in the draft. Quarterback Sam Darnold's future depends on it. -- Rich Cimini

28. Detroit Lions (3-10-1)

Week 15 ranking: 25

Offseason in two words: Total uncertainty

Will Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia be the Lions' general manager and head coach on Jan. 1? At this point, it seems like a real question. And what the franchise does with its two biggest decision-makers will determine the course that the club takes for 2020 (and potentially beyond). If Quinn and Patricia remain, fixing the team's defense and finding another pass-rusher should be priorities. If they are gone, there will be questions on what happens next at every level of the organization -- so much remains to be seen. -- Michael Rothstein

29. New York Giants (3-11)

Week 15 ranking: 31

Offseason in two words: Defensive playmakers

The Giants need them desperately. Anywhere. At any position, regardless of who the coach and/or general manager is. Only three teams had less money against the salary cap going toward their defense in 2019. That needs to change. The Giants need to find defensive playmakers at the top of the draft and in free agency (where they will have money to spend) after using most of their premium assets on offense in recent years. -- Jordan Raanan

30. Washington Redskins (3-11)

Week 15 ranking: 30

Offseason in two words: More change

The Redskins first need to decide the fate of team president Bruce Allen, which will determine their next direction. They also must hire a new, permanent coach -- the seventh in Dan Snyder's 20 years as team owner. If they move on from Allen, there could be several front-office changes. With that change comes roster overhauls. The Redskins have a lot of young talent, but not all will fit into the new regime. The Redskins conned themselves last offseason into thinking they were closer than they truly were; they can't do that again. They're in the start of a rebuild and must proceed accordingly. -- John Keim

31. Miami Dolphins (3-11)

Week 15 ranking: 29

Offseason in two words: Selling hope

Once the offseason arrives, the Dolphins will put a painful 2019 season behind them and sell the hope of a new beginning, with a large roster turnover expected. The Dolphins have three first-round picks, a projected 14 total draft selections and an estimated $100 million in cap space -- resources that general manager Chris Grier promises they will be aggressive with, starting this offseason. A quarterback of the future is likely to arrive in Miami this spring, as well, setting up the ultimate offseason of selling hope. Only time will tell if the hope is worth buying. -- Cameron Wolfe

32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-13)

Week 15 ranking: 32

Offseason in two words: Quarterback decisions

With one more loss, Cincinnati will cement the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft and will have the opportunity to take Heisman winner Joe Burrow. The other big quarterback decision involves Andy Dalton's future. Dalton's current contract expires in 2020, and the veteran could be moved in the offseason in a trade that could benefit both sides. -- Ben Baby

THE MOST ICONIC jump shot of the year was recorded as an unassisted, 37-foot, 3-point field goal. But the Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard knows his series-ending shot that sent the Oklahoma City Thunder home in the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs was far from a one-off instance of self-creation.

That cold-blooded stunner was years in the making, helping accelerate one of the biggest trends in the NBA: the rapid rise of the deep 3. Along with Stephen Curry, James Harden, Luka Doncic and Trae Young, Lillard is among a small group of long-range specialists who are quickly changing the way we think about acceptable shots in pro hoops.

"That's not by accident," Lillard told ESPN. "Guys are spending time doing it and getting comfortable and confident with that shot."

The seminal moment in the deep-3 movement happened back in February 2016, when Curry calmly pulled up from a seemingly unreasonable distance and drained this unforgettable bucket in OKC.

Curry's dagger was one of the most influential shots in a decade defined by 3-point shooting. In his back-to-back MVP campaigns, Curry single-handedly changed the perception of appropriate shooting distances. Before Steph's breakout, pulling up a yard beyond the arc would get a player benched and mocked, with a starring role on Shaqtin' A Fool. But just a few years later, these long-rangers are exploding in popularity.

There's no formal definition for deep 3s, but let's label them as non-heave attempts that occur at least 3 feet beyond the 3-point arc. The numbers behind these jumpers from 26.75 feet or farther are startling.

Go to an NBA game in 2019 and you're more than twice as likely to see a 27-foot jumper than a 16-footer. In 2013-14, those numbers were complete opposites: Midrangers were more than twice as popular as deep balls. When Curry hit that shot in OKC back in 2016, NBA shooters averaged 3.2 deep 3s per game, per NBA tracking data. Four seasons later, the tactic has increased by 275% -- all the way up to 8.8 shots per contest league-wide.

Here's how one superstar embraced the movement, and why it's taking over the league.

WHEN PAUL GEORGE labeled Lillard's historic pull-up a bad shot, he probably didn't realize just how much Lillard practiced those exact kinds of long-range looks with his trainer, Phil Beckner.

Like a lot of NBA makeovers, Lillard's deep-3 project stemmed from disappointment. Following a nightmarish playoff sweep by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018, Lillard was motivated to expand his range. The Pelicans stifled Lillard with traps, and he needed new ways to get his own shot against aggressive opponents. If Lillard could shoot from farther out, he wouldn't always have to overcome double-teams and blitzes to get looks from downtown.

"We worked on deep ones in so many different ways," Lillard said.

He spent hours working during the 2018 offseason, putting himself through intense drills that would eventually make game situations feel easier.

"Shooting it off the bounce, shooting them without jumping, shooting them with no momentum, shooting them from a deep squat and raise up and shoot it," he said. "You know, just uncomfortable positions but still trying to shoot an accurate shot."

It started with Beckner taping down a makeshift 4-point line in a Vegas gym, about 4 feet beyond the NBA's actual 3-point stripe. Then the two went to work engineering the NBA's most dangerous long-range system.

As ESPN's Malika Andrews wrote last year, NBA teams are increasingly taping down alternative markings on their practice courts. None of these markings are more popular than the 4-point line, which multiple teams use to encourage spacing habits.

Beckner, who has been training with Lillard since Lillard's days at Weber State, saw an opportunity to use it in a different way. He wanted Lillard to be able to shoot and play from distance with confidence. But he also didn't want Lillard's range to get too wild. Left to his own devices, Lillard would drift farther and farther back during his shooting workouts. With the new line taped on the floor, Beckner could calibrate the exact shot distances Lillard was mastering.

"It was his way of showing, 'Hey, this is what a good deep 3 is to me,'" Lillard said.

To build consistency so far away from the rim, the duo turned to The Celtic 50, a tried and true shooting exercise. Beckner learned it from Kevin Eastman, a longtime NBA assistant who spent much of his career working for Doc Rivers.

Here's how it works: You have to make 10 shots from five different spots around the 3-point arc, keeping track of how many attempts it takes you at each spot. So the best score you can get is a 50, with no misses at all. At a 50% shooting clip with 20 attempts from each spot, you'd score a 100. Like in golf, lower scorers are better.

Generally, the best shooters at any level of basketball can sometimes log a 60. Beckner recalls first getting Lillard doing the drill in college, behind the shorter line. He was stunned watching Lillard drop a 51 -- two different times. Just a single miss on Lillard's entire run. As Lillard racked up consecutive makes, Beckner did his best to act normal and avoid a jinx.

The two extended the challenge to the NBA line when Lillard joined the Blazers, and Lillard stills scores 60 or better 95% of the time, according to Beckner. His record is 52. And Lillard is closing in on that record from the 4-point line.

Standing 28 feet from the basket, Lillard spent the summer of 2018 routinely missing fewer than 10 shots in The Celtic 50. His best score: 54. That's a 93% conversion rate. The dude is a special shooter.

View this post on Instagram

Dame Lillard Career 3s.

A post shared by Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) on Dec 16, 2019 at 6:54pm PST

By the end of the 2018 offseason, Beckner realized conventional wisdom about shot distances in the NBA no longer applied to Lillard. The very notion of good shots and bad shots was different for him. As long as Lillard could maintain his shooting form from deep distances, his efficiency would be just fine.

Beckner distilled the idea into a four-word mantra: "Tight body, tight ball."

According to Lillard, the hardest part about preserving good shooting form from deep range isn't about the arms or legs.

"If you keep your core tight and your body strong, then the ball flies out stronger," he said. "If your body is weak, you come up not as strong and the ball will waver when you're that far out."

The deeper the shot, the harder it gets to keep the ball straight.

"The ball can go left or right," Lillard said. "You can air-ball. It's far out, so there's more room for error."

Lillard now routinely sinks 80% or more of his deep 3s in practice. By the time the 2019 playoffs rolled around, those bold attempts were paying huge dividends. And a move like this?

Damian Lillard turns 29 today.

Months ago, he hit one of the wildest playoff buzzer-beaters ? pic.twitter.com/dnGADxANJi

— ESPN (@espn) July 15, 2019

There's a reason Dame made it look so easy.

HALFWAY THROUGH a game against the Philadelphia 76ers last month, Lillard casually unleashed his now-routine move.

He dribbled the ball up the court with the Blazers leading by eight. Ben Simmons was waiting for him just outside the 3-point line. But Lillard would never get there. Instead, he rose up for a 33-foot jump shot.

I mean, just look at this:

It was a meaningful possession in a meaningful game, and he pulled up from Corvallis with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. Tight body, tight ball. Bucket.

That's the longest non-heave triple of the season so far. It's no surprise that Lillard owns it -- since his workouts in the 2018 offseason, nobody in the NBA has made more deep 3s than he has. But he's not alone in deep space. The league is suddenly full of players who are able to hit jump shots from way downtown, including two of the brightest young stars in the game.

Trae Young and Luka Doncic lead the league in deep-3 activity this season, according to Second Spectrum data. Doncic is 20 years old and launching 6.2 deep 3s per game. Young is 21 and shooting 6.3.

To help put those numbers in context: In 2013-14, Lillard led the league by taking 1.4 per game. These young bucks are launching long triples at rates that are massively dwarfing the pioneers of just a few years ago.

And this phenomenon extends beyond just superstar shooters. More and more players are launching more and more deep 3s. Just six years after only three NBA players averaged at least one long 3 per game, there are now 44 players crossing that threshold.

The whole league is getting more comfortable in the deep end, including coaches. Lillard has seen that firsthand with Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts.

"Earlier in my career, [Stotts] wasn't a big fan of it," Lillard said. "He didn't have the confidence in it that I had."

But over time, that changed.

"He sees how often I work on it, and how detailed it is when I shoot them off the dribble or off the catch -- dipping, holding, no-jump, stuff like that," Lillard said. "And in games, he sees that it's going in at a higher clip year after year. So it's got to the point now where he accepts it."

In Milwaukee, Mike Budenholzer stations his stretch-5, Brook Lopez, 4 to 6 feet beyond the arc. Mike D'Antoni has been positioning his spot-up shooters back there for years in Houston. They've realized the efficiency behind these audacious looks.

This season, an average 27-footer has yielded 1.05 points per shot, while an average 16-footer nets a pathetic 0.80 points per attempt, according to Second Spectrum tracking data. Of the 12 players who have tried at least 50 deep 3s in 2019-20, seven are shooting 36% or better, and four are shooting over 40%. Davis Bertans leads all shooters by making 46% from out there.

Across the board, NBA players have shown serious progress with their long-distance accuracy in a relatively short amount of time:

Just consider this: Over the course of his career, Michael Jordan made 32.7% of his 3s overall. So an average deep 3 this season (at 32.5%) has been nearly as good of a shot as a 3-ball from the GOAT.

And even if these numbers regress a bit in a larger sample, think about everything these triples set up. Defenses have to scramble farther away from the basket. The already-spaced floor gets stretched out even more. On-ball stoppers press up more aggressively, opening up clean driving lanes. The best shot-creators can miss more than half of their 30-footers and still come out on top.

The shooting skills of NBA players have exploded. Sharpshooters such as Curry and Lillard captured the hearts and minds of young players around the globe. Now some of those prospects are becoming lottery picks. LaMelo Ball was 14 when Curry broke Twitter with his launch in OKC. Trae Young was a high school junior 20 miles away in Norman, Oklahoma.

Just as a young Kobe Bryant wanted to be like Mike, the prodigies of today seek to shoot like Curry and Lillard. That means one thing for the future of the NBA: more deep-range splashes.

HOUSTON -- Reliever Joe Smith and the Houston Astros have agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract.

The 35-year-old Smith spent the last two seasons with the Astros and is 6-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 84 appearances for Houston. Smith missed the beginning of last season recovering from Achilles tendon surgery before returning in July and posting a 1.80 ERA in 28 regular-season appearances.

Smith didn't allow a run in eight of his 10 postseason appearances in 2019 and finished the playoffs with a 3.12 ERA.

The right-hander has a 2.98 ERA in 782 career appearances. He gets $4 million in each season under the deal announced Monday.

He was coming off a $15 million, two-year deal with the Astros.