Entering Week 18, the NFL had already set a record with 32 walk-off wins. Sunday saw three more, all of which happened in overtime and clinched playoff spots for the victors, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes.

• Raiders 35, Chargers 32 (OT): One of the craziest games ever. After flirting with a chaotic tie that would have seen both teams make the playoffs, Vegas won on a walk-off FG, eliminating L.A.
• Steelers 16, Ravens 13 (OT): Pittsburgh also hit a walk-off FG, giving Big Ben one more shot at a playoff run thanks to the Colts' choke job and Raiders-Chargers avoiding a tie.
• 49ers 27, Rams 24 (OT): San Francisco won seven of its final nine games — capped by Sunday's 17-point comeback and walk-off interception — to beat out the Saints for the NFC's last unclaimed spot.

Playoff matchups: The Titans (AFC) and Packers (NFC) earned byes, while 12 other teams will play in next weekend's Wild Card round.

• AFC: No. 2 Chiefs vs. No. 7 Steelers; No. 3 Bills vs. No. 6 Patriots; No. 4 Bengals vs. No. 5 Raiders
• NFC: No. 2 Buccaneers vs. No. 7 Eagles; No. 3 Cowboys vs. No. 6 49ers; No. 4 Rams vs. No. 5 Cardinals

More NFL:

• Sack lunch: T.J. Watt tied Michael Strahan's NFL record of 22.5 sacks with this takedown. Reminder: He only played 13 full games.
• On the clock: Despite beating the Colts, the Jaguars secured the No. 1 pick thanks to the Lions beating the Packers. That's what you call a win-win.
• Stud rookie WRs: Jaylen Waddle (104 receptions) passed Anquan Boldin for most by a rookie, while Ja'Marr Chase (1,455 yards) extended his rookie record over Justin Jefferson.
• "Manningcast" curse: All seven active players who joined the "Manningcast" this season lost their next game.
• Historic slide: The Broncos have missed six straight postseasons since winning Super Bowl 50, the longest post-title playoff drought ever. On Sunday, they fired head coach Vic Fangio.

Go deeper: Ranking the 14 playoff teams (CBS Sports)

U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe earned an Olympic spot on Sunday — then gave it to her teammate.

Catch up quick: On Friday at the U.S. speedskating trials, Erin Jackson slipped in the 500-meter qualifying race and finished third behind first-place Bowe and second-place Kimi Goetz.

• Only the top two qualify, meaning a slip had cost Jackson a shot at a medal in Beijing as the No. 1-ranked skater in the event. Then Bowe did something wonderful: she gave up her spot to Jackson.
• Bowe and Jackson are longtime friends, and Bowe had already qualified for Team USA in the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter events.

What she's saying:

"I woke up and I was just giving it some thought and I didn't want to have this moment without Erin out there. So I called her late this morning and just told her that I wanted to officially give her her spot."

"This is bigger than just me. This is the Olympic Games. This is about Team USA, and it's about giving everybody an opportunity to showcase what they have. [Erin has] earned the right to be there, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store in Beijing."

The bottom line: Sometimes, sports are about winning. Other times, they're about more than that. An epic game like Raiders-Chargers makes me appreciate sports. Moments like this make me love them.

Alabama and Georgia will play for a championship tonight — five weeks after their SEC title game matchup, and four years after their national title game thriller.

State of play: The Bulldogs are slight favorites to win their first championship in 41 years, but they've lost seven straight to the Crimson Tide, who have won a casual six national titles in 14 years.

Game info:

• Kickoff: 8pm ET
• Lines: UGA -2.5 | O/U: 52.5
• Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• How to watch: ESPN (Main telecast), ESPN2 (Film room with Jimbo Fisher), ESPNU (Command Center), ESPNews (AT&T 5G Skycast) and more.

The intrigue: The QB matchup is fascinating. On one side is Bryce Young, a former five-star recruit and Heisman winner. On the other side is Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on who uses a flip phone.

By the numbers:

• 25-1: Nick Saban boasts a 25-1 record against his former assistants, including a 4-0 record against Kirby Smart.
• 9.64: Georgia has allowed just 9.64 points per game this season, by far the best mark in the nation (Clemson is second at 14.85).
• 61%: The crowd is projected to be 61% Georgia fans, per Vivid Seats. And the top two cities for people traveling to Indy this weekend are Atlanta and Athens, per Airbnb.

Notes:

• Top prospects: This game features 17 of Todd McShay's top 100 prospects, including Alabama OT Evan Neal (3), Alabama WR Jameson Williams (6), Georgia LB Nakobe Dean (8), Georgia DE Travon Walker (14) and Georgia DT Jordan Davis (26).
• Fun fact (for Georgia fans): Since 2008, six teams have squared off in bowl games after meeting in the regular season. The teams that won the first meeting all lost the second meeting.
• Fun rewind (for Alabama fans): It's hard to forget what happened the last time these teams met on this stage. Tua to DeVonta ... Bama wins in overtime.

Go deeper: Full preview (ESPN+)

⛳️ Wild scores: Cameron Smith (-34), Jon Rahm (-33) and Matt Jones (-32) recorded the three lowest scores in PGA Tour history at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, with Smith emerging victorious in Hawaii.

⚾️ Historic hire: Minor league hitting coach Rachel Balkovec will manage the Tampa Tarpons (Yankees' low-A affiliate) this season, making her the first female skipper in affiliate professional baseball.

🏀 Bird's back: Sue Bird will return for her 19th WNBA season, giving her a chance to extend some records, including most games (549) and most assists (3,048).

👟 Good read: Can the Cal Ripken of running continue his streak? (Eric Wills, GQ)

"Over the course of five Olympics, New Zealand's Nick Willis became a track and field legend. Now, at 38, he's trying to complete an unprecedented feat: breaking the four-minute mile for the 20th straight year."

New York launched mobile sports betting on Saturday, with four online sportsbooks beginning operations and another five awaiting final approval, Jeff writes.

The big picture: Now that New Yorkers can bet from their couch — rather than travel to New Jersey — many believe the Empire State will eventually contend with New Jersey and Nevada for most money wagered by state (currently 17th).

State(s) of play: 30 states plus Washington, D.C., have live, legal sports betting markets, but only 18 (plus D.C.) allow mobile betting, per Forbes.

• In-person and mobile (15 plus D.C.): Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, Wyoming
• In-person only (12): Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin
• Mobile only (3): New Hampshire (in-person will launch soon), Tennessee, Virginia
• Legal, not yet operational (3): Florida, Nebraska, Ohio

What to watch: It's no coincidence this launch came just before the NFL playoffs and CFP Championship. The next month will almost certainly break the record for money wagered on sports nationwide.

SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson returned to the court on Sunday after a 941-day absence, scoring 17 points in the Warriors' 96-82 win over the Cavaliers. You love to see it! Missed him so much.

• 🎥 Watch: Highlights (YouTube)

FRISCO, Texas — North Dakota State beat Montana State, 38-10, on Saturday to win its ninth FCS national championship in 11 seasons.

• Wild stat: The Bison have never lost when making the trip from Fargo to Frisco for the FCS title game, going 9-0 since 2011.

NASHVILLE — Nathan Chen won his sixth U.S. figure skating championship on Sunday, cementing himself as the favorite in Beijing.

• Plus: Timothy LeDuc will become the first out non-binary Winter Olympian after qualifying with skating partner Ashley Cain-Gribble.

YAOUNDÈ, Cameroon — The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on Sunday, with Cameroon beating Burkina Faso, 2-1, and Cape Verde holding off Ethiopia, 1-0.

• Go deeper: Africa Cup of Nations preview (ESPN)

BEIJING — Locals play hockey on the frozen river near Beijing National Stadium, which will host the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in 25 days.

• 🎥 Watch: Beijing seals off Olympic bubble (YouTube)

NAZARÈ, Portugal — Big wave surfers are a different breed, man.

• 🎥 Watch: How big waves are formed in Nazaré (YouTube)

40 years ago today, the 49ers beat the Cowboys, 28-27, in the NFC Championship game after tight end Dwight Clark made "The Catch" with 56 seconds left to play.

• GOAT sighting: A four-year-old boy from Northern California named Tom Brady happened to be at Candlestick Park that day.
• End of an era: Vin Scully was in the booth, and because the game had such an iconic ending he decided to make it the last football game he ever called.

Rest in peace: Clark passed away in 2018 at the age of 61 after battling ALS. This story, about his final gathering with old teammates and others he loved, is well worth the read. Friendship is everything.

Nick Saban is one of four active FBS head coaches with at least one national championship.

• Question: Name the other three.
• Hint: One is still at the school where they won.

Answer at the bottom.

1. 🏀 Ja Morant!!!!!
2. 🏈 Jalen Ramsey, how?
3. ⚽️ You're a wizard, Harry
4. ⚾️ We have a baseball highlight!
5. 🏀 LaMelo being LaMelo
6. 🏀 High school buzzer-beater
7. ⚽️ Rocket from midfield
8. 🏈 Look ma, one hand
9. 🏒 Slick glove save
10. 🏀 What a finish

Watch all 10.