It was another wild weekend across the sports landscape, including NFL intrigue on and off the field, a thrilling conclusion to the Australian Open, and a stunning setback for the United States in World Cup qualifying.
Want to hit the highlights of all the top stories? Check out the debut episode of The Sporting News 7, a podcast that brings you the seven biggest sports stories in 7 minutes at 7 a.m. ET every weekday.
Building on the award-winning journalism of The Sporting News, you’ll get all you need to know in one handy, bite-sized podcast hosted by Demetria Obilor.
The Sporting News 7 is a unique take on the day’s biggest talking points in sports, and you can find it on Spotify , Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Here are the seven stories you'll hear about on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022:
- Bengals stun the Chiefs : Joe Burrow and the Bengals are headed to the Super Bowl after digging out of an 18-point hole and beating Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in overtime.
- Rams rally past 49ers : A fourth-quarter comeback earned Matthew Stafford his first shot at a Super Bowl title as the Rams snapped their run of losses against the 49ers.
- Will Tom Brady retire? : After a Saturday afternoon report of Brady's retirement roiled the sports world, the QB – and his father – insisted no decision has been made. So where do things stand?
- More NFL coaching hires : It looks like Jim Harbaugh might indeed be headed back to the NFL ranks in Miami, while Josh McDaniels appears poised for a second chance as an NFL head coach.
- NBA heats up out west : The Suns became the first team to reach 40 wins, and Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets had no trouble handling the defending champion Bucks.
- World Cup worries for USA : A 2-0 loss to Canada on Sunday raised plenty of questions for U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter and his side, and answers weren't necessarily forthcoming.
- Nadal takes historic title : Rafael Nadal fought back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final, claiming a record 21st Grand Slam title
