NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong could be jailed and cycling could be dropped from the Olympics as a result of the disgraced American athlete’s reported admission that he had used performance-enhancing drugs during his racing career.

USA Today and other media said on Monday that Armstrong confessed to the doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey to be aired later this week. The talk show host confirmed the reports on Tuesday in an appearance on the “CBS This Morning” show.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – In a country driven by the mantra ‘bigger is always better’, it was fitting that Giants dominated America’s professional championships in 2012.

Two of the four major leagues were won by teams with the supersized moniker, with the New York Giants capturing the National Football League’s Super Bowl and the San Francisco Giants landing Major League Baseball’s World Series.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – These are uncertain times in Laker Land. One of the National Basketball Association’s glamour teams is struggling and no-one is sure why, or how to fix it.

The Los Angeles Lakers, a team packed with superstars and a history steeped with success, are off to their worst start to a season in nearly two decades.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The race is on for the National Football League (NFL) playoffs. The pressure is building by the day with teams knowing one mistake could cost them a chance to be a contender for the Super Bowl.

With just three weeks left in the regular season only four teams, the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos, the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons, are assured of spots in the postseason.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Tom Watson was named on Thursday as the United States captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, a move the Americans hope will end their run of losses in the biennial match against Europe.

Watson succeeded Davis Love III as the American captain for the next edition of the biennial golf match between the U.S. and Europe and received an instant stamp of approval from Tiger Woods.

By Julian Linden

(Reuters) – The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys both came back from the brink of defeat to win their National Football League games on Sunday and stay in contention for the playoffs as the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers flexed their muscles.

On a roller-coaster Week 14, full of drama and upsets, the Redskins beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-28 in overtime despite losing star rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III to a knee sprain in the final quarter.

By Julian Linden

(Reuters) – The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys both came back from the brink of defeat to win their National Football League games on Sunday and stay in contention for the playoffs.

On a roller-coaster Week 14, full of drama and upsets, the Redskins beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-28 in overtime despite losing star rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III to a knee injury in the final quarter.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens will get another opportunity on Sunday to secure National Football League (NFL) playoff berths after squandering their first chances to qualify last weekend.

Both teams are coming off agonizing defeats that put their postseason celebrations on hold but get another crack if they win this weekend and other results go their way.

By Julian Linden

(Reuters) – Battling their grief as much as their opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs scored a rare win in the National Football League on Sunday, just 24 hours after one of the darkest days in American sport.

For most teams, it was business as usual in the toughest league in the world. The NFL is no place for the faint-hearted and on most days, the only thing that matters is the win-loss column.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) – The Patriots were in a festive mood following a Thanksgiving Day battering of the New York Jets on Thursday with quarterback Tom Brady devouring a turkey drumstick during an interview after New England’s emphatic victory.

Brady could be forgiven for enjoying a rich post-game meal after he and his team mates had already helped themselves to an NFL feast, piling on seven touchdowns, including five in the second quarter, in a lop-sided 49-19 victory at Metlife Stadium.