Two-thirds of the way through the NFL season, teams are averaging just 21.9 points per game — the lowest mark since 2017 and second-lowest since 2009, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.

By the numbers: Scoring reached an all-time high of 24.8 points per game two years ago at the peak of the modern passing revolution, but defenses have started to adjust and stand their ground.

• Secondaries are clamping down on deep coverage to combat big plays that can score points in a hurry. To wit, teams' 1.39 receiving TDs per game this season are the fewest since 2009.
• Red zone scoring percentage is at its lowest since 2017, with one league source attributing the decline to defenses stifling the run-pass option.

Between the lines: Numerous linchpins of recent high-octane offenses have struggled this season.

• Tom Brady's Bucs, Aaron Rodgers' Packers and Matt Stafford's Rams are averaging a combined 29.7 fewer points per game than last season.
• That's to say nothing of Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson's disastrous debuts in Indianapolis and Denver.

The PGA Tour is enlisting one of House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's closest friends and confidants to help it beat back a new competitor that's in business with Donald Trump, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The fight between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is about politics as much as business or sports, Axios' Jonathan Swan and Lachlan Markay report.

• Saudi-backed LIV Golf has established Republican bona fides by virtue of its relationship with Trump, whose courses have hosted multiple LIV tournaments.
• With Republicans set to assume the majority in January, the PGA Tour is bringing on its own GOP muscle — Jeff Miller, principal of lobbying firm Miller Strategies and a close McCarthy ally.
• If McCarthy is the next House speaker, Miller could become, as Politico speculated before the midterms, the "most powerful unelected man in DC."

Between the lines: Miller's charge will be to promote the PGA Tour and its interests in Washington, including "shining a light on the competition," a source familiar with Miller's hiring told Axios.

• That could entail amplifying criticism among lawmakers, the press and the public over LIV's ties to the Saudi government.
• A PGA Tour spokesperson declined to comment on the hire. Miller also declined to comment.

Context: LIV has poached top golfers from the PGA Tour since it launched last year. But it also has drawn intense scrutiny over its backing from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

• Critics call LIV a "sportswashing" operation designed to boost the Kingdom's image amid human rights scandals.
• One prominent Republican, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, has called for a federal investigation into the league.
• The PGA Tour, meanwhile, is the subject of a Justice Department antitrust probe.

The last word: "This is a sports fight that is really a political one, and Jeff’s hiring is a very important weapon in the fight," the source said.

Argentina and Poland survived the "Group of Drama" on Wednesday, while Australia shocked the world.

• Group C: Poland lost to Argentina, 2-0, but still advanced on goal differential after Mexico surrendered a late goal to Saudi Arabia in a 2-1 win. It's the first time since 1978 that Mexico hasn't advanced. Coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino resigned after the match.
• Group D: Defending champion France lost 1-0 to Tunisia but had already clinched. Meanwhile, Australia — one of the last teams to qualify for Qatar after winning playoffs against U.A.E. and Peru — advanced for the second time ever after beating Denmark 1-0.

State of play: 10 teams have clinched spots in the knockout stage: Brazil (No. 1 FIFA ranking), No. 3 Argentina, No. 4 France, No. 5 England, No. 8 Netherlands, No. 9 Portugal, No. 16 USA, No. 18 Senegal, No. 26 Poland, No. 38 Australia.

Go deeper: Wait, is that Australia waltzing into the knockout stage? (WashPost)

🏀 Booker goes off: Devin Booker scored 51 points in just three quarters as the Suns cruised past the Bulls, 132-113. Booker now has four career 25-point quarters — only Steph Curry has more over the past 25 seasons.

⚾️ Judge offer: The Yankees are reportedly offering Aaron Judge a deal worth roughly $300M over eight years, per ESPN ($). That's $37.5M annually, which would top Mike Trout ($35.5M) as the highest in MLB.

🏀 40 games: The 2023 WNBA season will feature a record 40 regular-season games per team. That's up from 36 last season and 32 in 2021.

🏒 Second stroke: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is out indefinitely after suffering the second stroke of his NHL career.

🏀 Nine straight Ls: The Spurs have lost nine straight games for the first time since 1989, seven years before Gregg Popovich became head coach.

Lightning forward Pat Maroon was mocked by Bruins broadcaster Jack Edwards for his weight during Tuesday's game, Jeff writes.

His response: Rather than take offense, Maroon — who's listed at 238 pounds and nicknamed "Big Rig" — took action.

• He donated $2,000 in Edwards' name to Tampa Bay Thrives, a nonprofit that helps those struggling with mental health and substance use issues.
• He said he was doing so "in support of those struggling with mental health, bullying and body image."

The bottom line: That's how you turn unprovoked lemons into charitable lemonade.

North Carolina lost its third straight game on Wednesday.

• Wednesday: Indiana 77, UNC 65
• Sunday: Alabama 103, UNC 101 (4OT)
• Friday: Iowa State 70, UNC 65

Why it matters: UNC is just the third preseason No. 1 team to lose three straight, joining 2019-20 Michigan State, 2004-05 Kansas and 1988-89 Duke.

BOSTON — Prince William and Kate Middleton sat courtside in Boston on Wednesday during their first visit to the U.S. in eight years.

• 🔥 Red hot C's: The first-place Celtics (18-4) beat the Heat, 134-121, for their 14th win in their last 15 games.

TORONTO — Mitch Marner tied a Maple Leafs record with a point in his 18th consecutive game on Wednesday. It was Toronto's fifth straight victory to cap an 11-4 month.

• 🍁 Go deeper: Leafs have a November to remember (Toronto Sun)

NEW ORLEANS — Not sure this is the best defensive strategy, but you can't blame the Raptors for being in awe of Zion Williamson (33-10-5), who led the Pelicans to a 126-108 win.

• 🎥 Watch: Zion’s double-clutch dunk in traffic (Twitter)

Three women will make history during today's Germany-Costa Rica game (2pm ET, FS1), becoming the first all-woman team to officiate a men's World Cup match.

• The women: France's Stéphanie Frappart (main official), Brazil's Neuza Back and Mexico's Karen Díaz.
• The other games: Canada vs. Morocco (10am, FS1); Croatia vs. Belgium (10am, Fox); Japan vs. Spain (2pm, Fox)

More to watch:

• 🏈 NFL: Bills at Patriots (8:15pm, Prime) … Just the second Prime game this season to feature two teams with winning records.
• 🏀 NCAAM: Oklahoma State at No. 8 UConn (6:30pm, FS1); No. 7 Creighton at No. 2 Texas (7pm, ESPN); Seton Hall at No. 9 Kansas (9pm, ESPN); No. 21 UCLA at Stanford (10:30pm, ESPN2)
• 🏀 NCAAW: No. 6 UNC at No. 5 Indiana (6pm, BTN); No. 20 Maryland at No. 7 Notre Dame (6:30pm, ESPN2); No. 12 NC State at No. 10 Iowa (8:30pm, ESPN2)
• 🏀 NBA: Mavericks at Pistons (7pm, NBA); Trail Blazers at Lakers (10:30pm, NBA)
• 🏒 NHL: Capitals at Kraken (10pm, ESPN+) … Seattle looks to extend its franchise-best six-game winning streak.
• ⛳️ Golf: PGA Tour Hero World Challenge (1:30pm, Golf); European Tour Australian Open (8pm, Golf)

Three of the six countries with multiple World Cup titles — Argentina, Brazil and France — have advanced to the knockout stage in Qatar.

• Question: Who are the other three countries with multiple titles?
• Hint: Two won this century.

Answer at the bottom.

It costs $288 for a family to attend the average NBA game (four cheapest tickets, lot parking, two beers, two sodas, four hot dogs), per analysis from Bookies.com.