Dozens killed in Haiti's capital as armed men break away from gang coalition in bid for power

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Dozens of people inHaiti'scapital have been killed in a clash between a powerful gang coalition and a group of armed men that apparently broke away from it, with 10 children among the victims, a local human rights group said Tuesday.

Among those killed was Dèdè, one of the highest ranking gang members that operates in the Bel-Air slum of Port-au-Prince. He was beheaded, while powerful gang leader Kempes Sanon, a former police officer, was injured, according to the Committee for Peace and Development.

It wasn't immediately clear how seriously Sanon was injured, although many worry the attack that began in recent days will unleash even more violence in a cityalready 90% controlled by gangs.

Sanon has been dethroned while receiving treatment for his injuries by two men who go by the names of Jamesly and Ti Gason, according to the human rights group.

The ongoing attack is unusual because a large number of gangs banded together in September 2023 and announced the formation of Viv Ansanm, or "Live Together," a coalition that led to a drop in violence since armed groups agreed to no longer fight each other.

Before the attack, Sanon and his gang were part of the Viv Ansanm coalition, which the U.S.has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

So far, the human rights group has counted at least 49 people killed, burned and mutilated since Monday. Among those are 19 gang members, 10 children recruited by gangs and a man in his 60s who was struck by a stray bullet.

Nineteen women whose partners were gang members also were executed by the Krache Dife gang as they sought medical attention for the men at a clinic, the group said.

Krache Dife, which means "Spit Fire," is believed to still be an ally of Sanon and a member of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition.

The number of people killed is expected to rise since the attack is ongoing and no authorities or human rights groups have been able to access the area.

In a recent report, the United Nations noted that Sanon, the injured gang leader, "has played a significant role in consolidating gang power in Port-au-Prince, particularly through his involvement in the Viv Ansanm alliance, which has launched coordinated attacks to expand gang-controlled territories."

"Sanon also maintains a network of individuals within governmental institutions, including security agencies, which enables him to evade arrest and facilitate his criminal activities," the U.N. report stated.

Hundreds of civilians are sheltering in place as the attack continues, with concern growing about their ability to obtain food and other basic goods.

Hunger already was surging in Haiti's slums and beyond before the attack, with more than half of the country's nearly 12 million peopleexperiencing crisis levels of hungeror worse.

The attack also is expected to further destabilize Haitias it prepares for general electionsnext year, with the country's transitional government supposed to step down in early February.

Follow AP's Latin America coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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Dozens killed in Haiti's capital as armed men break away from gang coalition in bid for power

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Dozens of people inHaiti'scapital have been killed in a clash between a powerful gang co...

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy improvises mid-flight to get his message out on a whirlwind European trip

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no time to hold a traditional news conference during awhirlwind, 36-hour tripacross Europe this week, so he improvised.

For the first time since Russia'sfull-scale invasionof his country, Zelenskyy — who usually takes reporters' questions in person while trotting the globe — communicated with the news media via group chat. While flying between London and Brussels, he answered a long list of questions from Ukrainian and international reporters, relaying audio clips on WhatsApp.

His chosen mode of communication was, if not unprecedented, at the very least extremely rare for a world leader.

The low drone of the aircraft blended with his hoarse, tired-sounding voice, yet his message cut through clearly: Amid uncertain negotiations to end the war,Ukraine, he said, cannot surrender land.

"Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories," he said in a crackling message late Monday. "According to the law, we don't have such a right … and to be frank, we don't have a moral right either."

Shifting diplomatic terrain

With the outlook for negotiations changing by the day, Zelenskyy's team set out on a jam-packedscheduleto shore up support in Europe.

Zelenskyy met the leaders of Britain, Germany and France in London, and the heads of NATO and the European Union in Brussels, before traveling on to Rome for talks with the Italian prime minister and Pope Leo XIV.

A key issue being discussed is whether Ukraine should cede Russian‑occupied territory in return for security guarantees, but the talks have been complicated byuncertainty about the Trump administration's commitmentto European security.

The stakes of staying seen

Since the start of the war, Zelenskyy has shown a desire to communicate in real-time in whatever way is necessary.

When Kyiv came under siege shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy tried to reassure the public through what appeared to be a cellphone video with three top officials — perhaps his best-known address.

"We are all here," he said at the time. "Our soldiers are here, the citizens of our country are all here protecting our independence, and we are going to continue to do so."

Since then, Zelenskyy has made frequent communication a strategic priority in a sleep-defying cycle of video messages, remote speeches to Western parliaments and conferences, late-night posts and high-security public appearances.

Monday night's WhatsApp exchange wound down as his plane landed in Brussels, just before he was whisked into his next round of meetings.

He asked reporters: "How did you like this format? If it works for you, then when we have the opportunity, we'll share our thoughts and decisions this way again."

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy improvises mid-flight to get his message out on a whirlwind European trip

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no time to hold a traditional news conference during awh...

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Michigan fire chief ordered men to check if firefighter wore bra, suit claims

LANSING — The city of Lansing in Michigan and its fire chief are being sued in part over what a lawsuit claims was his directive this summer that two male employees check to ensure that a female employee was wearing a bra while on duty.

The lawsuit, filed on Nov. 20 in Ingham County Circuit Court by Cecilia Major, includes three claims of violations of the state's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act for disparate treatment, retaliation and a hostile work environment. It names the city and Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant as defendants.

"This case comes down to the male Fire Chief dictating what is worn under a woman's clothing, when it has no bearing on Ms. Major's ability to do her job as a first responder whose priority is keeping her community safe," Hannah Fielstra, Major's Detroit-based attorney, said in a statement.

"While an employer can require certain clothing, including undergarments, there must be a nondiscriminatory reason for doing so. We allege Ms. Major was singled out and called into meetings to discuss her undergarments in front of other City employees, including male supervisors. Then, two of those male supervisors were ordered by the Chief to check daily to ensure Ms. Major was wearing a bra. This has been humiliating and demeaning for my client and harkens back to a 50s-era outlook on women, something no woman, or man, should have to endure today in the workplace."

Sturdivant and Scott Bean, a spokesperson for Mayor Andy Schor, declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

From Aug. 27 to Nov. 11, Sturdivant was on leave from the city, which officials have declined to explain. On Nov. 3, Schor told the State Journal he had no concerns about Sturdivant's ability to return from leave and lead the department going forward.

Sturdivant's leave also coincided with atwo-month internal investigation into how a music video was filmedat Lansing Fire Station 1 downtown. The female singer, who goes by the name P.B. Yanna, can be seen in the video wearing revealing clothing in several scenes.

A summary of that investigation, which the city provided to the State Journal, said LFD leadership approved the video on Aug. 31 — days after Sturdivant's leave began — but the approval came "without the knowledge or support of other departments of the municipal government." Schor has since signed an executive order restricting the use of city buildings and property for commercial filming.

The investigative summary does not identify who in LFD leadership approved the video, but says the department's "senior leadership did not adequately foster a climate that could have encouraged dissent and critical analysis of the proposed event."

MORE:Lax oversight of Lansing city credit cards has persisted for years, records show

Lawsuit details meetings with LFD leadership, Sturdivant

On June 17, Assistant Chief Carrie Edwards-Clemmons summoned Major, a female paramedic-firefighter employed by the city since 2021, for a meeting. According to the lawsuit, Edwards-Clemmons told Major that Sturdivant had ordered her to call the meeting to determine why Major "was not wearing a bra at all times while at work."

Prior to the meeting Major had not been told of issues with her not wearing a bra. During the meeting, she raised several concerns to Edwards-Clemmons about the nature of the meeting, including that she was being singled out or targeted and asked about any complaints that had been filed, according to the lawsuit. She also asked about the department providing "high-impact bras as part of their uniforms" and adding "feminine hygiene stations to the women's restrooms." Edwards-Clemmons "did not have direct responses" to those issues, the lawsuit claims.

Days after the meeting, Major, who is the only woman assigned to her firehouse, emailed Edwards-Clemmons to get the names and email addresses for human resources representatives "so that she could convey her concerns with the meeting," according to the lawsuit.

Edwards-Clemmons responded two days later, according to the lawsuit, but did not provide the names or contact information for city human resources employees. Instead, Edwards-Clemmons said that Sturdivant had directed her to inform Major that everything should be directed to his office, "effectively discouraging (Major) from going to human resources with her concerns," according to the lawsuit.

Around this time, Sturdivant had "expressed his frustration" with Major's actions and that the issue hadn't been resolved during the initial meeting. He also made the comment that the battalion chief for Major's firehouse "could not 'control his people,'" according to the lawsuit.

MORE:Schor bans private filming on city property after fire station music video

Sturdivant gave direct orders, lawsuit says

On June 24, Sturdivant called a meeting with Major, Edwards-Clemmons and two others — an LFD battalion chief and captain — who are both men, according to the lawsuit. Major had a union representative attend the meeting with her.

"Defendant Sturdivant started the meeting directly stating that the purpose of the meeting was that Ms. Major had not been wearing a bra and directly asked Ms. Major if she was wearing a bra," according to the lawsuit. He said it was "improper" for her not to wear a bra, which the lawsuit claims is not mandated by city policy.

When Major asked Sturdivant if wearing a bra was mandatory, he said the policy is up to his interpretation and that under his authority it was improper not to wear a bra. According to the lawsuit, Sturdivant added that he had received complaints, but "refused to tell (Major) what the complaints involved and told her they were none of her business."

The meeting ended with Sturdivant issuing two direct orders. The first was that Major was required to wear a bra while on duty. The second, according to the lawsuit, was that the two male employees who were present for the meeting were "to check to ensure that" Major was wearing a bra while on duty.

After the meeting, Major reported her concerns to the city. The lawsuit claims that the city found that the relevant policies and interpretations of them needed to be updated, but did not investigate Major's discrimination claims.

On July 1, Major filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She filed her lawsuit against the city on Nov. 20, and neither the city nor Sturdivant have filed responses.

Contact reporter Matt Mencarini atmjmencarini@lsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal:Lansing fire chief sued over order to female firefighter to wear bra

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Michigan fire chief ordered men to check if firefighter wore bra, suit claims

LANSING — The city of Lansing in Michigan and its fire chief are being sued in part over what a lawsuit claims was his di...

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Weight-loss drugs fill a treatment gap for women with hormone disorder PCOS, doctors say

By Bhanvi Satija and Robin Respaut

LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are increasingly turning to blockbuster weight-loss drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to manage the hormonal disorder's symptoms, according to an exclusive analysis of U.S. patient records and interviews with obesity specialists and gynecologists.

U.S. prescriptions for these GLP-1 drugs among women with PCOS ​have risen more than sevenfold since 2021, a review of 120 million patient records by health data firm Truveta shows. The analysis covered semaglutide and tirzepatide, the main ingredients in Novo's ‌Wegovy and Lilly's Zepbound, respectively.

"We're seeing that patients with PCOS are becoming a slightly larger proportion of the overall population of people who have a GLP-1 prescription," said Karen Gilbert Farrar, senior research analyst at Truveta.

PCOS affects up to 13% of women of ‌reproductive age globally and can lead to rapid weight gain, insulin resistance and infertility. Specialists interviewed by Reuters say their patients have shown improvement when using GLP-1 treatments, though it is unclear whether any benefit is due to the weight loss or a more direct action.

This year, 17.6% of women with a PCOS diagnosis had a GLP-1 prescription, up from 2.4% in 2021, Truveta found. The share of GLP-1 prescriptions going to PCOS patients rose from 4.6% in 2021 to 5.7% in 2025. The review only included prescriptions through conventional healthcare systems and not telehealth apps or compounding pharmacies.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH

Lilly and Novo are testing their weight-loss drugs for a wide ⁠array of conditions, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and substance abuse, but not PCOS.

Novo ‌did not comment on whether it would consider doing so, while Lilly said it regularly assesses potential new uses for its drugs and will disclose any trial plans when appropriate.

Doctors say the lack of GLP-1 clinical trials for PCOS is a missed opportunity to address women's health needs and better understand the condition in ‍the estimated 30% of patients who aren't obese or overweight. PCOS patients are generally prescribed older medicines such as metformin for insulin regulation, orlistat for weight loss and birth control pills for menstrual cycle control.

"It's hard to get a large pharmaceutical company to want to have an indication for normal-weight PCOS when the vast majority of PCOS has weight issues," said Angela Fitch, a Massachusetts-based obesity specialist.

Tai Adaya, a 35-year-old New York-based business owner, has been taking the lowest ​dose of Zepbound for at least six months after failing to get relief on metformin. Within three months, her periods became regular.

"It is frustrating to hear that this patient population is not a priority," ‌Adaya said. "It does feel like another instance where women's health is being deprioritized."

Early studies and doctors say GLP-1s appear to ease PCOS symptoms by reducing weight and insulin resistance. Some doctors have seen higher pregnancy rates among patients whose cycles stabilize, and have to caution against unintended pregnancies.

"PCOS causes weight gain and aspects of the disease get better with weight loss. Why not use it?" said Ilana Ramer-Bass, who heads the weight-loss program at Mount Sinai Morningside in New York.

There is a "tight interplay" between PCOS and obesity, but the exact relationship is unclear, Ramer-Bass said. She and two other endocrinologists estimate about a third of their female patients with obesity also have PCOS.

INSULIN RESISTANCE CONNECTION?

Research shows that women with a family history of type 2 diabetes are more at risk of developing PCOS. Some studies point to high insulin levels triggering excess ⁠testosterone production in ovaries, interfering with fertility. Insulin resistance leads to weight gain, especially around the abdomen, and additional fat ​worsens resistance, creating a vicious cycle.

"It's this chicken versus egg phenomenon in that there's insulin resistance that causes or worsens PCOS. ​Or is it the PCOS itself that is generating the insulin resistance?" said Judy Korner, endocrinologist at Columbia Medical Center.

At least a dozen research papers published between 2018 and 2025, some on Novo's older drug Saxenda, also sold as Victoza, show GLP-1 medicines may improve menstrual regularity and insulin resistance in PCOS patients.

A 100-patient clinical trial testing ‍semaglutide but not sponsored by Novo, is underway, along ⁠with at least six other GLP-1 PCOS studies, according to a U.S. government database.

Korner and three other doctors said symptom improvement is likely tied to weight loss, though GLP-1s may also lower testosterone. Recent studies in mice suggest GLP-1s could act directly on ovarian tissue. Doctors say more research is needed, especially for women with "lean PCOS," who are not overweight or obese.

Adaya, who belongs ⁠to this subgroup, said she lost about 15 to 20 pounds (6.8-9.0 kg) in the first few months on Zepbound. She pays out of pocket for the drug since insurers do not cover off-label use, but would join a trial if available.

"I wish that ‌every young woman diagnosed with PCOS, instead of metformin or diet, had this presented as an option. I do think it can save a lot of years," she said.

(Reporting ‌by Bhanvi Satija in London and Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Bill Berkrot)

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Weight-loss drugs fill a treatment gap for women with hormone disorder PCOS, doctors say

By Bhanvi Satija and Robin Respaut LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are increasing...

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Zelenskyy meets with Pope as Ukraine prepares to send updated peace proposals to U.S.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyymet withPope Leo XIVin Rome on Tuesday, as Ukraine said it was preparing to send updated proposals to the U.S. for ending thewar with Russia.

Less than 24 hours afterhe reiterated that Ukraine would not cede land to Russia, Zelenskyy met with the pontiff before holding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a day after he met with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany in London.

The Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica was the setting for an iconic photo of Zelenskyy sitting face-to-face with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of thefuneral for Leo's predecessor Pope Francisin April.

Some interpreted as a sign that relations between the two leaders were warming, two months after Zelenskyy'sdisastrous visit to the White Housewhich saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastise him and tell him he wasn't grateful enough to the U.S.

But seven months on and peace still appears like a distant prospect after Zelenskyy made it clear on Monday that Ukraine would not cede any land to Russia.

"Are we considering giving up any territory? We have no legal right — under Ukrainian law, under our constitution, under international law — and honestly, we have no moral right, either," Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp conversation with journalists.

His Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has said he wants Ukraine to cede control of the entirety of its eastern Donbas region, which is made up of the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, whether diplomatically or by force.

In defiance of international law, the Kremlin proclaimed the biggest annexation of territory in postwar Europe in September 2022, when heillegally declared the annexation of the Donbas— which his forces still do not control fully after almost four years of war — along with the regionsZaporizhzhiaandKherson.

Trump originally approved a 28-point peace planto end the war that included Ukraine's ceding its territory, among other demands seen as favoring Russia.

But Zelenskyy said Monday that negotiations led by the United States had whittled the original 28 points to 20 and that while he believed in Trump's commitment to ending the war, he did not trust Russia.

"The general mood of the Americans is to find a compromise" on the land issue, he said, but none has been found yet. "Of course, Russia insists that we give up territory. We, of course, do not want to give up anything — that is exactly what we are fighting for," he added.

While he acknowledged that Trump wanted to end the war, Zelenskyy said his American counterpart had "his own vision," although Ukrainians see "the details and nuances more deeply."

Although Trump suggested that Moscow was "fine" with the most up-to-date version of the deal on Sunday, a day later the Kremlin said it has not yet been briefed on the most recent round of negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the weekend.

After his meeting in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said he had not received a clear answer about what its allies, including the United States, would be prepared to do in the event of a new Russian aggression.

But a French official told NBC News Monday that the meetings between Europeans, Americans and Ukrainians should help strengthen convergence in the coming days.

In parallel, work will be deepened to provide Ukraine with robust security guarantees and prepare measures for Ukraine's reconstruction, the French official said.

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Zelenskyy meets with Pope as Ukraine prepares to send updated peace proposals to U.S.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyymet withPope Leo XIVin Rome on Tuesday, as Ukraine said it was preparing to send updated proposals to the U.S....

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NFL power rankings Week 15: How far do Eagles tumble after latest loss?

NFLpower rankings enteringWeek 15of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Los Angeles Rams (1):They're holding steady at No. 1 − Sunday's 45-point outburst, a season high, indicative that their Week 13 stumble in Charlotte was a fluke. Matthew Stafford continues to play like the MVP favorite, whether or not he's actually the league's best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if LA is able to stave off Stafford's former club, the formidable Lions.

2. New England Patriots (2):They're holding steady at No. 2 − though theylost their grip on the AFC's No. 1 seedduring their bye week. Drake Maye continues to play like the MVP runner-up, whether or not he's actually the league's second-best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if New England is able to complete a season sweep of the Bills and wrap up its first AFC East crown since 2019.

3.Seattle Seahawks(3):They're holding steady at No. 3 − thanks in large part to a defense that's surrendered just nine points (and nary a TD) in its past eight quarters. Win their next two games at home (Colts, Rams), and the 'Hawks take possession of the NFC's No. 1 seed.

4.Green Bay Packers(4):They're holding steady at No. 4 − thanks in large part to a 4-0 record in the NFC North, the only one above .500 in what's arguably the league's toughest division. And memo to Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur is now 12-1 against Chicago since taking the Pack job in 2019 ... and, to be quite frank with you, he'd definitely enjoy beating you twice a year.

5.Denver Broncos(5):They're holding steady at No. 5 − but it could be tough to stay there, and on top of the AFC, given the only opponent among their final four not projected to reach the playoffs … is Kansas City.

6.Houston Texans(6):They're holding steady at No. 6 − and on the verge of a sixth straight win with Arizona headed to Houston on Sunday. And if QB C.J. Stroud and the offense can pick up the pace just a bit, this team poses a legit Lombardi threat.

7.Buffalo Bills(7):They're holding steady at No. 7 − and QB Josh Allen, who might be the league's best quarterback at this point and perhaps the most dangerous and experienced one on the AFC side of the playoff bracket, is looking like a man who could finally be on a fruitful Super Bowl mission.

8. Detroit Lions (12):It's amazing how many good players coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have amassed here − and a shame so many of them are sidelined. But Jahmyr Gibbs, who needs to be recognized as the league's premier running back at this point, fortunately remains in the lineup fora team still capable of offensively overwhelming its competition.

9.Jacksonville Jaguars(9):They're holding steady at No. 9 − and now firmly atop the AFC South with fifth-year QB Trevor Lawrence playing his most efficient football of the season heading into the stretch drive.

10.San Francisco 49ers(10):They're holding steady at No. 10 − and evenmoved up a spot in the wild-card standingsduring their much-needed bye week. The Niners are also just a game off the NFC West lead but only have one more divisional game (Seattle) while the Seahawks and Rams seem to face a tougher final month.

11.Chicago Bears(8):It's been a fantastic ride in Year 1 with Johnson. Yet it also feels like the bottom could fall out at any point following a weekend when theBears dropped from the NFC's first seed to its seventh. Chicago's final three games are against Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit.

12. Los Angeles Chargers (19):So many of their key players have been hit with injuries. But when you're led by tough guys like QB Justin Herbert and OLB Khalil Mack, who have shrugged off their own physical setbacks, and now have rookie RB Omarion Hampton back in the fold, then you're a team wired well to deal with late-season (and postseason) adversity.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (11):If a team goes as its quarterback goes?Jalen Hurts doubled his season turnover totalfrom five to 10 on Monday night, becoming the first player since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to commit two giveaways on a single play. After going to two Super Bowls in three seasons, it's sure starting to feel like Philly will now experiencetwo cheesesteak meltdowns in three seasons.

Since 1978, No player had committed two turnovers in one play before Jalen Hurts 😬(h/t Elias Sports Bureau)pic.twitter.com/0tBaJ6Wm9g

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)December 9, 2025

14.Carolina Panthers(17):Quite the bye week. Not only did they move into a first-place tie atop the NFC South, they now control their destiny. Simply Sweep the Bucs in Weeks 16 and 18, and the Panthers win the division for the first time since they went to Super Bowl 50 … which, coincidentally, was in Santa Clara, also the site of Super Bowl 60 this season.

15. Dallas Cowboys (14):Three of their final four opponents are below .500. And if the Eagles continue to lose, that divisional window of opportunity could still open wide for "America's Team."

16. Kansas City Chiefs (15):The last time they lost seven games? How about 2014 … which was also the last time they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Even if this dynasty wins out, it will still need significant help to reach Week 19.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (21):Before we "shut the hell up for a week," dare we say the Steelers got a vintage Aaron Rodgers performance in Sunday's win at Baltimore − both on the field and at the podium?

The legendary Aaron Rodgers ROASTED the Steelers reporters at his press conference.Q: "What does it mean to get a win like this after the week that you guys have had?"Rodgers: "It means maybe you guys will shut the hell up for a week."😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/3a2dqXjgaB

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman)December 9, 2025

18. Cincinnati Bengals (20):Who would have thought DE Trey Hendrickson would be shut down before QB Joe Burrow? Whatever. Score 40 points a week, and they'll be fine. Maybe.

19. Baltimore Ravens (16):QB Lamar Jackson hasn't rushed for more than 50 yards since Week 1. With a 5-5 record this season, he's also in jeopardy of winning 50% or fewer of his starts in a season for the first time in his eight-year career.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18):We'll always admire QB Baker Mayfield's toughness. But injuries (his and the Bucs' at large) have caught up to this team, Mayfield passing for fewer than 200 yards in each of his past four games − all but one a loss.

21.Miami Dolphins(24):Like Mayfield, QB Tua Tagovailoa has passed for fewer than 200 yards in each of his past four games − all of them ... wins. Quite the Floridian dichotomy.

22. Indianapolis Colts (13):When you're considering a 44-year-old quarterbackwho hasn't played in five years, then the writing is pretty much on the wall.

23. Arizona Cardinals (22):If Trey McBride catches five more balls Sunday, he'll set the record for most consecutive five-reception games (16) by a tight end. Gotta look for silver linings where you can find them in the desert.

Trey McBride ties Travis Kelce for the longest streak of games with 5+ receptions by a TE in NFL history (15) 👏@AZCardinals|#BirdGangpic.twitter.com/HToKrT2vUs

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus)December 8, 2025

24. Minnesota Vikings (28):QB J.J. McCarthy, a first-rounder a year ago, just had the best game of his career. Good vibes for 2026?

25. Washington Commanders (25):QB Jayden Daniels, a first-rounder a year ago, just had the worst game of his career. Bad vibes for 2026?

26. New Orleans Saints (29):Arch Manning? Whatevs. Tyler Shough is the first rookie quarterback to win multiples games for this franchise since ... Arch's grandpa, Archie Manning, in 1971. And though he's started just five times, Shough's two wins this season are tied for the most in his draft class.

27. New York Jets (26):Of their 26 touchdowns this season, four − a full 15% − have come on special teams. Not. Sustainable. But trust the process.

28. Cleveland Browns (23):Rookie QB Shedeur Sanderswill start the rest of the way− and is already fomenting quite a dilemma for a team that once seemed certain tospend one of its 2026 first-round picks on another passer.

29.New York Giants(30):They're not scheduled to play a team with a winning record the rest of the way … which won't make it easy to secure that No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.

30. Atlanta Falcons (27):They definitely won't secure the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft … becausethe Rams own it, and this ain't the NBA.

31. Las Vegas Raiders (31):If the season ended today,theywould own the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft − and a team with such a glaring need at quarterback sure could useIndiana's Fernando Mendoza.

32. Tennessee Titans (32):The team that made last year's No. 1 pick could really accelerate its rebuild if it also lands atop the '26 draft … assuming struggling rookie QB Cam Ward takes a quantum leap as a sophomore.

All NFL news on and off the field.Sign upfor USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL power rankings Week 15: Eagles, Bears drop despite close losses

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NFL power rankings Week 15: How far do Eagles tumble after latest loss?

NFLpower rankings enteringWeek 15of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses): 1. Los Angeles Rams (1):They...

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Four lasting lessons from CFP committee's bracket choices and rankings

If you skipped all of theCollege Football Playoffrankings shows except the final one, you probably saw a pecking order that seemed within reason.

If you'd been following along with the weekly rankings along the way, well, you could be forgiven for feeling confused, outraged or hoodwinked.

This selection committee acted deceitfully.

It pulled a bait and switchon Notre Dame, it acted as ifAlabama's win againstAuburnwas a great "feather in the cap," andit pretended as if some games never happened.

Did we learn anything? For one, the CFP committee specializes in chicanery.

Here are four more lessons:

1. Conference championship results won't bump a team from CFP bracket

The committee had a way out of the Notre Dame or Miami dilemma. It could have selected both and dumped Alabama after the Crimson Tide tumbled rump over teakettle ina pitiful loss to Georgia. The committee resisted. It ignored the SEC Championship game result and didn't budge Alabama an inch after its woeful performance.

In doing so, the committee cemented an unwritten rule: A team that's in the CFP bracket entering December and loses in the conference championship cannot be bumped by an at-large qualifier. In other words, the conference title game becomes a free swing if you're in the bracket entering that weekend.

This meshes with the precedent the committee set last season. SMU was in the bracket entering the ACC Championship game, where it lost to Clemson. The Mustangs dropped in the seedings after that result but retained their bid as the last team in.

The committee went a step further this year, not even altering Alabama's seeding, despite a 21-point loss.

In the four-team playoff era, a loss in a conference championship game could eliminate a team from the bracket. After the bracket grew to 12 teams, the committee has adopted the stance no conference runner-up should be punished to the extent it loses a bid it otherwise would have received, if conference title games did not exist.

Unlike Alabama, Brigham Young dropped in the rankings after its loss in the Big 12 title game, but the Cougars weren't in the bracket entering the weekend. They needed to win to nab a bid.

Alabama was safe, no matter what happened in Atlanta.

The committee's machinations amount to a bending over backward to preserve conference title games.

Lesson 1:If the committee wants a conference runner-up in the bracket, it's willing to pretend a conference championship game never happened.

2. Initial rankings are an untrustworthy carnival, all for ESPN

The committee consistently valued Notre Dame more than Miami when the rankings were just ESPN programming. In the initial rankings on Nov. 4, the committee put the Irish at No. 10 and the Hurricanes at No. 18.

The first several batches of rankings are nothing more than a TV show. The committee can and will reverse course on Selection Sunday.

Since the initial rankings, the Irish and Hurricanes each blew out four opponents that ranged in quality from bad to mediocre. Notre Dame dropped in the rankings, while Miami moved up eight spots.

What gives?

When the rankings stopped being a carnival for ESPN's benefit and became an exercise to choose the playoff qualifiers, the committee picked Miami and booted Notre Dame, based on the Hurricanes' head-to-head victory.

The committee reached a justifiable destination, but it charted a cruel and unnecessary course to reach the point of Miami being ahead of Notre Dame. The Hurricanes always should have been ahead of the Irish — or, at least, never eight spots behind them.

"We're just really frustrated that we had the rug pulled out from underneath us," Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said on the "Dan Patrick Show."

Totally understand the frustration, even if I disagree with theIrish's response to opt out of a bowl game.

Lesson 2:The first several rankings amount to a dog and pony show performed purely for ESPN's benefit. The penultimate rankings offer some substance. Any rankings before that are meaningless.

3. Record still matters — a lot

Indiana, the lone undefeated team, earned the No. 1 seed. Nobody would argue with that.

Then come six one-loss teams.

Next come two-loss Oklahoma and Miami, with three-loss Alabama in between. The committee treated Alabama as a two-loss team, because it decided conference title game losses don't count for teams already in the bracket.

Strength of schedule can offer a boost among teams with equal records (although it didn't help Texas A&M), but the committee is not swayed by metrics as much as it is by record.

Just like last season, the committee had a chance to select a 9-3 SEC team, Texas, with a lofty strength of schedule, but it didn't. Texas had a better resume than any of the SEC's three-loss teams from 2024, but the Longhorns weren't even among the first two teams left out of the bracket.

Texas and Georgia are the only teams with three wins against teams in the top 15. One of Texas' losses came against Ohio State, now 12-1.

The Longhorns have a pristine strength of schedule, but they lost to a bad Florida team, and Georgia thumped them. Despite those Florida and Georgia losses, if Texas had swapped Boston College into Ohio State's spot on its schedule, I think it would be safely in the field at 10-2.

Texas owns a head-to-head win against playoff qualifier Oklahoma. The committee can justify selecting the Sooners (10-2) based on record. It couldn't justify that choice if the Longhorns were 10-2.

Lesson 3:Pains me to say it, but schedule nonconference cupcakes. The juice of a marquee nonconference win is not worth the risk of a loss. Texas A&M beat Notre Dame, but it's positioned at the bottom of one-loss teams. Texas lost a close game to Ohio State, amassed fancy metrics, and finished a few spots short of a bid. Yummy cupcakes build playoff records.

4. Playoff committee still doesn't love BYU or the Big 12

BYU owns a top-25 strength of schedule, per ESPN metrics. Its only two losses came against Texas Tech, seeded fourth in the bracket.

It amassed the most wins, 11, among Power Four teams left out of the field. For the second straight season, the committee stiff-armed BYU and stuck the Big 12 with just a single bid.

It's hard to argue that outcome, if basing an evaluation of BYU on its showings against the Red Raiders. The Cougars were blown out twice, but Texas Tech profiles as a national championship contender.

BYU has more wins and a stronger SOS than either Miami or Notre Dame, but it's ranked behind them. Clearly, the Cougars' only path to playoff qualification required beating Texas Tech at least once. They didn't, and the committee was not swayed by BYU's win total, making it an outlier to Lesson No. 3.

Lesson 4:The Big 12 needs the bracket to expand to 16 teams, as much or more as any conference needs playoff expansion.

Blake Toppmeyeris the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:CFP committee's bracket choices, rankings offer four lasting lessons

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Four lasting lessons from CFP committee's bracket choices and rankings

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