SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold connected with a well-covered Justin Jefferson with 3:51 left for his third TD pass of the game, and the Minnesota Vikings outlasted Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 to keep pace with Detroit for the top spot in the NFC. Jefferson finished with 10 catches for 148 yards and two TDs as the Vikings won their eighth straight. If they can beat Green Bay and Detroit to close out the season, they will earn the top seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye. The Seahawks have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak and fell one game behind the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — All Josh Jacobs needed was a change of scenery to regain his status as one of the NFL’s top running backs. Jacobs has bounced back in a big way with the Green Bay Packers after enduring the worst season of his career last year in Las Vegas. Jacobs has recaptured the form he showed while earning All-Pro honors and becoming the NFL rushing leader with the Raiders in 2022. Jacobs never had a doubt he’d produce for his new team. Jacobs has rushed for 1,147 yards and entered this week’s action ranked third in the league.
Tonight Jacobs and the Packers host the New Orleans Saints. Pregame at 5pm. Kickoff at 7:15pm on 96.1FM.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nolan Winter posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Wisconsin rolled to a 76-53 win over Detroit Mercy to close out its nonconference schedule. The Badgers (10-3) will be idle over the holidays before returning to the Big Ten Conference schedule when Iowa visits Madison January 3.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 shootout win over the New York Sirens. It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul.