NFL

The NFL whittled its playoff field from 12 teams to eight in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, setting up its divisional round of games next weekend.

Winners on Sunday: The Dallas Cowboys (despite an officiating flap) and the Indianapolis Colts. Winners on Saturday: The Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore travels to the New England Patriots on Saturday and Carolina visits the Seattle Seahawks. Sunday’s matchups: The Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos. The Cowboys last played a playoff game at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field in 1967.

In Dallas’ home win over the Detroit Lions, officials called a key pass interference penalty, walked off the yardage, then decided not to call the penalty at all. The Lions were, of course, enraged but powerless to challenge the ruling.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin, 43, will serve as an advisor for the rest of the season due to health concerns. He has a non-life threatening condition called arterial dissection. He had previously been diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm. … No. 10 Utah already had a reputation for playing outstanding defense and the Utes proved it against UCLA, beating the Bruins 71-39 on Sunday. UCLA has dropped five in a row.

TELEVISION

 
Popular ESPN host Stuart Scott lost a long battle with cancer. He was 49. Scott was known for his catchphrases, such as Boo-Yah (excitement over a great play) and “cooler than the other side of the pillow,” which he worked into every broadcast.

NBA

The New York Knicks, who have lost 11 games in a row, are considering shutting down standout Carmelo Anthony (knee) for the rest of the season. The Knicks are 5-21, which still has them a game ahead of the incredibly bad Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division. The Sixers are 4-28, winless at home (0-14) and losers of their last five.

BASEBALL

The Hall of Fame class for 2015 will be announced on Tuesday. It looks like another good year for pitchers, with Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz topping the ballots. Johnson won 303 games. Gary Sheffied, who hit 509 home runs, is also a strong candidate.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .