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🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS AND (RELUCTANTLY) THE ATLANTA FALCONS

It was removed from fairly for lengthy stretches, however the Vikings and Falcons each received wins final evening to maintain tempo of their respective playoff races.

The Vikings pulled away from the Bears, 30-12. Justin Jefferson received the social gathering began with an early landing catch from Sam Darnold and adopted the rating by shouting out Randy Moss, who’s battling most cancers. (Moss was additionally honored pregame.) Minnesota racked up 114 yards on the bottom, with each Aaron Jones and Cam Akers scoring, and the protection was unrelenting.

At 12-2 this season, Minnesota is within the thick of issues within the NFC North, only one recreation behind the Lions, in addition to for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Atlanta is simply on this part as a result of I imagine there is not any such factor as a nasty win. However that is as shut because it will get. Coming into on a four-game dropping streak, the Falcons barely held on, 15-9, in opposition to the Raiders. Kirk Cousins lastly threw a landing cross, however he struggled mightily outdoors of that. The Raiders, who’ve now misplaced 10 straight and are on third-string quarterback Desmond Ridder, really drove into Hail Mary vary, however two makes an attempt into the top zone fell incomplete. Bijan Robinson had 135 yards whole to hold an in any other case ugly offense.

Cousins simply would not seem like his former self. He appears like a 36-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles, which is strictly what he’s. He cannot transfer, he cannot drive the ball, and Atlanta’s offense cannot do something inventive in consequence. Atlanta stays a recreation again of Tampa Bay within the NFC South, however even Raheem Morris admitted the Falcons want higher quarterback play.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a superb morning for …

THE DETROIT LIONS

The hits saved coming for the Lions on Monday.

Montgomery is the bodily, between-the-tackle complement to Jahmyr Gibbs, McNeill not solely defends the run beautifully however generates penetration in opposition to the cross on the inside, and Davis is the highest man protection nook for a crew that performs the best price of man protection within the NFL.

All three are appreciable losses, however I am fearful the McNeill and Davis accidents may be straws that break the camel’s (lion’s?) again. In any case, you might practically construct a beginning lineup of Detroit’s injured defenders.

• DL: Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, John Cominsky, Marcus Davenport
• LB: Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez
• DB: Carlton Davis, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Ifeatu Melifonwu

There’s nonetheless numerous expertise and terrific teaching on this crew, and the tradition beneath Dan Campbell is second to none, however sooner or later, the X’s and O’s cannot cowl for the Jimmys and Joes, particularly at a Tremendous Bowl stage. The Lions have their work reduce out for them.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL playoff image: AFC groups practically set, NFC scrambled

Week 15 did so much to clear up the AFC playoff image. Listed here are the standings of the groups nonetheless alive:

1. Chiefs (13-1, clinched AFC West)
2. Payments (11-3, clinched AFC East)
3. Steelers (10-4, clinched playoff berth, lead AFC North)
4. Texans (9-5, clinched AFC South)
5. Ravens (9-5)
6. Broncos (9-5)
7. Chargers (8-6)
8. Colts (6-8)
9. Dolphins (6-8)
10. Bengals (6-8)

Neither the Colts, Dolphins nor Bengals have greater than a 7% likelihood to make the postseason, based on SportsLine. So, in all probability, the one factor up for grabs over the subsequent three weeks is seeding among the many high seven.

Not like the AFC, the NFC playoff image received tighter in Week 15.

1. Lions (12-2, clinched playoff berth, lead NFC North)
2. Eagles (12-2, clinched playoff berth, lead NFC East)
3. Rams (8-6, lead NFC West)
4. Buccaneers (8-6, lead NFC South)
5. Vikings (12-2, clinched playoff berth)
6. Packers (10-4)
7. Commanders (9-5)
8. Seahawks (8-6)
9. Falcons (7-7)
10. Cardinals (7-7)
11. 49ers (6-8)
12. Cowboys (6-8)
13. Saints (5-9)

These final three groups can in all probability be counted out, based on SportsLine projections, however the high 10 is a wild experience.

• Detroit leads Philadelphia for the No. 1 seed due to a superior convention document, however there is not any room for error.
• The NFC West is nip and tuck, with divisional video games in Week 17 (Cardinals-Rams) and Week 18 (49ers-Cardinals and Seahawks-Rams) looming giant.
• The Falcons stay determined for a Buccaneers slip-up; Atlanta would maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker if the groups end with similar information.
• The Commanders’ lead for the ultimate wild card spot has shrunk because the Buccaneers, Rams and Seahawks (earlier than Sunday evening) have surged.

Thrilling (and nervous) instances await!

🏈 Predicting Faculty Soccer Playoff upsets

With NFL Week 15 within the books, the primary spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff is up subsequent. Hosts Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are important favorites, however Shehan Jeyarajah ranked all 4 video games by way of upset probability, and his high candidate is …

• Jeyarajah: “(6) Penn State (-8.5) vs. (11) SMU — SMU has way more offensive playmakers heading into the matchup, headlined by quarterback Kevin Jennings (3,050 yards passing, 379 yards speeding 27 TDs). Working again Brashard Smith is a risk each as a runner and pass-catcher as a transformed receiver, whereas eight whole gamers on the roster posted at the very least 275 yards receiving. 5 gamers have at the very least 4 receiving touchdowns, and that does not even rely main receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. … The Nittany Lions want the sport to remain low-scoring and defense-first.”

A lot has been made concerning the CFP format, and modifications might be on the best way. Brandon Marcello has what’s subsequent, together with potential modifications in seeding, computerized bids and subject measurement.

🏈 Dave Clawson steps down at Wake Forest

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson stepped down from his position on Monday, a shock choice shortly into the Demon Deacons’ offseason. Clawson, 57, will stay with the college as a particular advisor to athletic director John Currie.

• In a press release, Clawson mentioned “After finishing my twenty fifth season as a head coach and Thirty sixth-straight in school soccer, the timing is true for me and my household to step away into this new position inside Wake Forest College.”
• Clawson’s Demon Deacons have been coming off their second consecutive 4-8 marketing campaign. Previous to that, Clawson led them to seven straight bowl appearances, a college document. That stretch included an ACC Championship Recreation look in 2021, the identical season he received ACC Coach of the Yr.
• General, Clawson finishes 67-69 (32-55) in Winston-Salem.

Of the seven FBS packages in North Carolina, 5 could have a brand new coach subsequent season. North Carolina (Mack Brown to Invoice Belichick) is essentially the most notable change, however Appalachian State, Charlotte and East Carolina even have recent faces in cost. The Demon Deacons should transfer rapidly, Shehan Jeyarajah writes.

📺 What we’re watching Tuesday

🏀 Seton Corridor vs. No. 5 LSU (W), 6 p.m. on FS1
🏀 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Florida (M), 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 25 Clemson at South Carolina (M), 7 p.m. on SEC Community
🏀 NBA Cup last: Bucks vs. Thunder, 8:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Iowa State vs. No. 4 UConn (W), 8:30 p.m. on FS1
🏈 Frisco Bowl: No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia, 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 20 Michigan (W), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2