Monday Sports – Lions take top seed in the NFC Playoffs and NFC North championship

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NFL – National Football League – Week 18
Yesterday
Detroit Lions 31 Minnesota Vikings 9
Chicago Bears 24, Green Bay Packers 22
Indianapolis Colts 26, Jacksonville Jaguars 23 – OT

Lions 31, Vikings 9 – Lions beat Vikings 31-9, win NFC North and No. 1 seed, dropping division rivals to No. 5
Jahmyr Gibbs was the game-breaking player the Detroit Lions needed to get their high-powered offense in gear — and give them a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Gibbs scored three of his franchise-record tying four touchdowns in the second half, and the Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 to win their second straight NFC North title and earn home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The Lions and Vikings could meet again in two weeks. Detroit will have a much-needed bye for its banged-up team during the first week of the playoffs while Minnesota plays at the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams next Monday night. Gibbs had 23 carries for 139 yards with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards and another score.  Detroit desperately hopes history repeats itself. The Lions are seeking their first Super Bowl appearance and hoping to end an NFL championship drought that dates to 1957. They are a No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history. Gibbs had 23 carries for 139 yards with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards and another score. Darnold was 18 of 41, a season-low 44% completion rate, and connected with Jefferson just three times on nine targets for 54 yards. Lions LB Alex Anzalone returned to the Lions lineup and led the team with 7 tackles.

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) kicks a field goal against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Bears 24, Packers 22 – Bears rally for 24-22 win in Green Bay as Packers lose Love and Watson to injuries
Caleb Williams gained a shot of confidence and Cairo Santos earned a measure of redemption. The Chicago Bears finished a disappointing season on a high note, while the Green Bay Packers limped into the playoffs with plenty of questions. Williams drove Chicago to Santos’ 51-yard field goal as time expired in a 24-22 victory over the Packers, who lost quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson to injuries on Sunday. The Bears (5-12) beat the Packers for the first time since 2018 and ended an 11-game losing streak in this rivalry. They had dropped 10 straight overall — a slump that included the firing of coach Matt Eberflus the day after Thanksgiving — to match a franchise record for consecutive losses within a single season. Santos bounced back after he had a 46-yard field goal blocked by Karl Brooks on the final play of a 20-19 loss to the Packers on Nov. 17.

Colts 26, Jaguars 23 – OT – Jonathan Taylor and Joe Flacco lead Colts to 26-23 overtime win over Jaguars
Jonathan Taylor ran for 177 yards, including 33 yards on six consecutive carries in overtime to set up Matt Gay’s go-ahead 38-yard field goal, and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-23. Taylor closed the season by matching a career-best streak with four straight 100-yard games. He also ran for a touchdown Sunday to reach six scores during that span. Joe Flacco was 23 of 40 for 263 yards, including a 40-yard TD pass to Alec Pierce, in his 105th career victory — perhaps the last of the 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP’s 17-year career. Indy finished at 8-9 while Jacksonville fell to 4-13.

Other Scores
Los Angl

Wild Card Playoffs
Saturday
Los Angles Chargers at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 8:00 p.m

Sunday
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m.
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:00 p.m.

Monday
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, 8:00 p.m.

NFL – Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo to finish his lone season at 4-13
The New England Patriots have fired coach Jerod Mayo after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Kraft called it “one of the hardest decisions” he’s had to make. A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

NFL – Colts owner Irsay says he’s retaining GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay intends to bring back longtime general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen for another season. Irsay made the announcement in a letter to fans. Indy struggled late in the season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year, leading to speculation that both men could lose their jobs. The Colts finished 8-9. Fans chanted “Fire Ballard” during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 26-23 overtime victory over AFC South foe Jacksonville. Irsay says he understands fans were clamoring for changes but he believes Ballard and Steichen give the Colts the best chance of being successful next season.

NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Sunday
(3) Notre Dame 76, (17) North Carolina 66

ND 86, UNC 66 – Hidalgo, Miles lead No. 3 Notre Dame past No. 17 North Carolina 76-66 in ACC
Hannah Hidalgo scored 18 of her 24 points before halftime while No. 3 Notre Dame knocked down 13 3-pointers to beat No. 17 North Carolina 76-66 on Sunday. Hidalgo joined with her fellow past Associated Press All-American backcourtmate Olivia Miles in helping the Fighting Irish win their seventh straight game. Hidalgo and Miles each made five 3s. Miles had 19 points. Maria Gakdeng had 16 points to lead the Tar Heels. Lexi Donarski added 13 for UNC. Notre Dame finished with a 40-28 rebounding advantage. That led to 20 second-chance points for the Irish.

NCAAWB –Ivey grateful for team’s approach in win after son’s NBA injury
Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey said she was grateful for the lift her third-ranked team gave her in Sunday’s win at No. 17 North Carolina. That came after an emotional week that included her son suffering a serious leg injury during an NBA game. Ivey is the mother of Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey. He was hurt in a game Wednesday night and needed to have surgery. She said her players “ignited me as a person, and a mother” in the 76-66 road win against the Tar Heels. She says her team “really kept my spirits up.”

NHL – National Hockey League
Yesterday
New York Rangers 6, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Rangers 6, Blackhawks 2 – Filip Chytil scores 2 as the Rangers beat the Blackhawks 6-2
Filip Chytil scored twice, Jonny Brodzinski, Will Borgan, Reilly Smith and Vincent Trochek added goals, and the New York Rangers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2. The Rangers won for the second time in three games and are 2-5 over their last seven games. The Blackhawks lost for the sixth time in seven starts. The Blackhawks took an early lead on Tyler Bertuzzi’s 14th goal of the season, set up by Connor Bedard. Chicago’s Wyatt Kaiser scored his first NHL goal late in the second period.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Portland Trailblazers at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Tonight
Boys Basketball
Gobles at Hartford, 7:00 p.m.
Fennville at Holton, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Vicksburg, 7:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Constantine, 7:00 p.m.
Sturgis at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m.

Girls Basketball
Benton Harbor at St. Joseph, 7:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m.
Vicksburg at Portage Northern, 7:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Constantine, 5:30 p.m.