America's pro sports leagues sputtered back to life in 2020 with bubbles, comprehensive testing programs and a host of other changes that still seem unimaginable after the fact.

• The leagues succeeded because they have enormous wealth and were operating mostly in "salvage the season" mode.
• Now comes the hard part: Figuring out how to do it again — this time from an even worse financial position and amid a third coronavirus wave.

The state of play: If 2020 had been a normal year, the NBA and NHL would already be in the midst of their 2021 campaigns. Instead, they don't even know when they'll start.

• MLB, which nearly canceled its season in July as owners and players bickered over money, is likely headed for another brutal labor fight this winter.
• And don't forget about the many other leagues in this country that are hoping to have a season next year, all while trying to recover from lost revenue and adjust to new realities.

Coming up: This week, we'll examine how leagues are preparing for 2021. With infections hitting all-time highs across the U.S. and sold-out stadiums still a long way from becoming a reality, the uncertainty is palpable.

• Tuesday: NBA 2021
• Wednesday: NHL 2021
• Thursday: MLB 2021
• Friday: Mystery league (???)

Midway through the season, we have a decent idea of who the elite NFL teams are. But the next tier of contenders got murkier on Sunday as five, 5-win teams suffered upset losses, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.

Best games:

• Steelers 28, Ravens 24: The game of the week didn't disappoint, with two fourth-quarter lead changes and a would-be game-winning TD broken up as time expired. Pittsburgh (7-0) matches its best start in franchise history (1978) and has a two game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North.
• Broncos 31, Chargers 30: The Chargers blew yet another game after Drew Lock's game-winning TD as time expired. L.A. is the first team in NFL history to lose three straight games in which they led by 17, and they join the 2003 Falcons (of course) as the only teams to lose three such games in a season.
• Saints 26, Bears 23: What a rollercoaster! 13 unanswered for Chicago, 20 for New Orleans, then 10 for Chicago to force OT, where the Saints won on a late FG. ICYMI ... Here's why Bears WR Javon Wims just starting punching a guy.

Fantasy stars (full PPR scoring):

• QB: Patrick Mahomes, 36.6 (31/42, 416 yards, 5 TD); Russell Wilson, 28.7 (27/37, 261 yards, 4 TD)
• RB: Dalvin Cook, 48.6 (226 total yards, 4 total TD); Alvin Kamara, 25.3 (163 total yards, 9 catches)
• WR: D.K. Metcalf, 40.1 (12 catches, 161 yards, 2 TD); Davante Adams, 30.3 (7 catches, 53 yards, 3 TD)
• TE: Travis Kelce, 24.9 (8 catches, 109 yards, TD); Jared Cook, 16.1 (5 catches, 51 yards, TD)

By the numbers:

• 250+ TDs: Wilson (253) joins Dan Marino (266) and Peyton Manning (275) as the only QBs with 250+ pass TDs through their first nine seasons.
• 4 TDs: Cook is the first Viking with a 4 TD game since Ahmad Rashad in 1979. Fun fact: Both Cook's and Rashad's Vikings won 28-22 in their record-setting games — two of just nine games in NFL history with that exact score.
• 140 wins: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin won his 140th game, breaking a tie with Tony Dungy for the most by a Black NFL head coach.

More scores: Eagles 23, Cowboys 9; Bills 24, Patriots 21; Dolphins 28, Rams 17; Bengals 31, Titans 20; Raiders 16, Browns 6; Chiefs 35, Jets 9; Colts 41, Lions 21; Vikings 28, Packers 22; Seahawks 37, Niners 27

Go deeper: Week 8 winners and losers (The Ringer)

Reports of a European Super League have surfaced yet again, marking the latest development in a three-decade fight to wring the best competition — and the most money — out of the continent's best clubs, Jeff writes.

Why it matters: Such a league would become the most valuable soccer property aside from the World Cup, but its departure from Europe's promotion-relegation structure would fly in the face of a tradition most are unwilling to give up.

Details: Europe's wealthiest clubs have long sought a better way to monetize their global popularity. The Super League would pit them against each other on a regular basis, or at least a more regular basis than the Champions League offers.

• Arguments for: Money and competition, which are inextricably linked. A constant stream of elite clubs facing off would be catnip for fans, making it attractive to investors and broadcasters, too.
• Arguments against: What happens to the dozens of teams across Europe who fail to make the cut? How about the leagues, now stripped of their best teams? Plus, could part of the Champions League's allure be in its rarity?

The big picture: For this to occur, you'd realistically need three things — investors, more clubs publicly supporting the idea and FIFA's stamp of approval.

• Investors: There's no question that a Super League would make money, so attracting investors is by far the easiest piece of this puzzle. In fact, JPMorgan Chase has already been mentioned as a possible backer.
• Public support: Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United are rumored to be driving this idea, and Barcelona agreed to join, according to now-former president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. But unless more clubs start publicly backing the concept, it won't gain the momentum needed to make it a reality.
• FIFA's approval: This is the trickiest of the three, given how much power FIFA has over global soccer. Their sign-off isn't required, but going rogue without their support would be insane.

The bottom line: If a European Super League is ever going to happen, now might be the time, given the financial stress and chaos created by the pandemic. But the concept still faces hurdles that could make it infeasible regardless.

Go deeper: The lessons of the Pirate League (NYT)

Clemson remained No. 1 in this week's poll, but not by much.

• The Tigers received 33 first-place votes — 19 fewer than last week — after barely beating Boston College without star QB Trevor Lawrence, who will also miss Saturday's huge game against Notre Dame.
• Alabama, which handed Mike Leach his first shutout loss as a head coach with a 41-0 drubbing of Mississippi State, got the 29 other first-place votes.

Notes:

• Penn State fell out of the rankings for the first time since Oct. 16, 2016. Their 63 straight appearances had been the fourth-longest active streak behind Alabama (205), Ohio State (138) and Clemson (94).
• Liberty, in its third year in the FBS, entered the rankings for the first time. Hugh Freeze's Flames face their biggest test this week at Virginia Tech.
• Michigan fell 10 spots after losing 27-24 to Michigan State. The Wolverines were 21.5-point favorites, making this their largest upset loss since Appalachian State in 2007 (33-point favorites).
• UCF is averaging an absurd 652.5 yards per game. The NCAA record is 640.1 set by Mississippi Valley State in 1984 (with Jerry Rice), and the FBS record is 624.9 set by Houston in 1989 (with Heisman winner Andre Ware).
• The Hoosier State is 10-0. Indiana and Purdue are 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1972, Notre Dame is 6-0, and Ball State kicks off on Wednesday.

Coming up: The MAC is back on Wednesday, the Pac-12 is back on Saturday and this weekend's slate features four ranked-on-ranked matchups:

• Friday, 9:45pm ET: No. 9 BYU at No. 21 Boise State
• Saturday, 12pm: No. 23 Michigan at No. 13 Indiana
• Saturday, 3:30pm: No. 8 Florida at No. 5 Georgia
• Saturday, 7:30pm: No. 1 Clemson at No. 4 Notre Dame

Go deeper: The 19 most interesting stats from Week 9 (The Athletic)

The Astros sign-stealing scandal is one of the biggest black eyes in baseball history. And yet, a year after the story first broke, the fallout has been minimal.

1. Organization: The Astros were stripped of four draft picks and fined $5 million, which is the maximum allowable fine but obviously just a drop in the bucket for a franchise valued at $1.85 billion (pre-pandemic).

2. Players: No Astros players were disciplined because MLB commissioner Rob Manfred "couldn't determine with any degree of certainty who should be held accountable, or their relative degree of culpability."

• Manfred asserted that shame was punishment enough for the players, who didn't have to look fans in the eyes all season (until the playoffs, when Tim Kanter heckled them from a balcony).

3. Coaches/GM: Manager A.J. Hinch, bench coach Alex Cora and GM Jeff Luhnow were all suspended for the 2020 season. Where are they now?

• Hinch, who allowed the cheating to happen under his watch, was hired Friday as the Tigers' new manager.
• Cora, who was directly involved in developing the sign-stealing schemes, is a finalist to return as Red Sox manager after being let go in January.
• Luhnow still denies that he knew about anything, and said individuals who were involved are still working for the club.

My take: I dunno, man, seems a little light.

Thanks for choosing Axios Airlines. We'll be traveling to a new destination each morning this month. Sit back and enjoy the flight (while keeping your mask on, please).

Giphy

• Location: Port Royal Golf Course
• Coordinates: 32.2622° N, 64.8739° W

Welcome to sunny Bermuda, the tiny British territory 640 miles off the East Coast that spent the weekend hosting the PGA Tour's Bermuda Championship.

• 181 islands: The Main Island is where you're likely to visit, but it's just one of 181 that comprise Bermuda.
• Nine parishes: The tournament was held at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, the southernmost of Bermuda's nine parishes.

Pandemic response: Bermuda's economy is driven mostly by tourism, and its testing requirements for travelers have been among the strictest in the world.

• Protocols: A negative test is required before takeoff, and another upon arrival. Travelers are then tested on days four, seven and 14 of their stays.
• Numbers: There have been 199 recorded cases since the pandemic began, including nine deaths.

Bermuda Championship: Brian Gay (-15) edged out fellow American Wyndham Clark to win his fifth first PGA Tour event. Full leaderboard.

• 500 fans were permitted each day, making it the first PGA Tour event with spectators since March.

Where will we go tomorrow?

• 🏁 4 drivers: Chase Elliott won on Sunday to earn a spot in the Championship 4 race next weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The four drivers vying for the title: Elliott, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski.
• ⚾️ 3 bidders: At least three bidders have shown interest in buying the Orioles, who could be on the market for the first time in a generation, the Baltimore Sun reports. Current owner Peter Angelos, 91, is in continued poor health.

• 🏆 7th straight title: Mercedes secured a record-breaking seventh consecutive constructors' championship (i.e. best Formula One team) on Sunday. Ferrari held the previous record of six straight (1999–2004).
• 🏉 273 days: The 2020 Six Nations Championship — a rugby competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales — was interrupted by the pandemic. 273 days after it started, England finally won.
• 🥊 23 KOs: Gervonta Davis landed one of the year's best knockouts in an emphatic victory over Leo Santa Cruz. The 25-year-old (24-0, 23 KOs) was making his PPV headline debut and looks to be on the brink of superstardom.

86 years ago today, an MLB All-Star team led by Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, Jimmie Foxx and Lou Gehrig began a 12-city barnstorming baseball tour of Japan.

The backdrop: Ruth was still the most popular and famous athlete of his day, and the Japanese celebrated him during his visit.

• Within a few years, however, tensions between the countries mounted — culminating in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
• During WWII, Ruth became a symbol in Japan of American decadence, with Japanese soldiers yelling "To hell with Babe Ruth" during battle.

The big picture: The tour was a big factor in making professional baseball possible in Japan.

• In fact, the Japanese All-Stars were kept together and formed Japan's first professional baseball team two years later.
• That team still exists today as the Yomiuri Giants and has produced numerous MLB players, including 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui.

🎥 Go deeper: Foxx and his wife filmed the tour using eight millimeter black-and-white film. Enjoy.

To keep the Bermuda theme going this morning...

• Question: What state is this sign in?
• Hint: Eighth state to ratify the Constitution.

Answer at the bottom.

39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimović is the top-scorer in Serie A (seven goals in four matches) and has AC Milan sitting atop the standings. Incredible.

1. 🏈 Tre Walker, wow
2. 🏈 Herbert to Williams
3. ⚽️ Zlatan!
4. 🏈 Look ma, one hand
5. 🥊 Gervonta's KO
6. 🏈 Foles to Robinson
7. 🏈 Thompkins lays out
8. ⚽️ Hazard from distance
9. 🏈 Toney can't be tackled
10. 🏈 Grant to the house

Watch all 10.