The Sportsletter - NFL Double: Extra Ice 🧊

BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 17, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Monday Night Football gave us a doubleheader to wrap up Week 15. One was a blowout, but the other came down to a hail mary. We’ll showcase the NFL Playoff Picture one last time before our holiday break.

College Football’s bowl season also ramps up tonight with another naming rights catastrophe — it’s the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl. Incredible. We’ll have more on the whacky bowl names tomorrow. Plus, the NBA Cup Finals are tonight in Vegas, and a surprise underdog just won the NCAA Division I men's soccer championship.

Letter Rip!

PICKS

The Week 15 Pick 'Em Champ

No bye weeks, a few upsets, and five players still managed to call a perfect week. Congrats to this week’s pick ‘em winner, Mike Jones! Mike was one of five with a perfect score, but the tiebreaker was in play again. These five are heading to the playoffs.

Week 15 Pick ‘Em Leaderboard

1. Mike Jones (15/15)

2. Chet Closson (15/15)

3. Matthew Ireton (15/15)

4. Rich Grove (15/15)

5. Padraic Downey (15/15)

There won't be another NFL Pick 'Em contest until the playoffs in January as the Sportsletter Team is off for the holidays beginning next week. Thanks to everyone who played this year!

NFL

MNF Double: Extra Ice 🧊

Photo: David Berding / Getty Images

From Vanilla Ice in Minnesota to a Hail Mary in Vegas, Monday Night Football’s Doubleheader Had a Little Bit of Everything

Last night's MNF two-pack was a lot to take in, and little to take away. The Vikings broke out the icy “Winter Warrior” uniforms (maybe the best jerseys in football) before celebrities helped usher in a “white-out” win over the Bears. Twins legend Joe Mauer sounded the Gjallarhorn (skol!) before Vanilla Ice performed at halftime. Minnesota also honored Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss before the game. It was recently reported that Moss was diagnosed with cancer over the weekend. Out in Vegas, it was a very different vibe between the Falcons and Raiders. Some abysmal football came down to a Hail Mary. Let's recap, then glimpse the playoff outlook.

Vikings def. Bears (30-12)

Despite all the hype around the Eagles and Lions atop the NFC, the Vikings have the same 12-2 record. Minnesota needed just three quarters to put the Bears to bed last night. QB Sam Darnold (231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), RB Aaron Jones (106 yards, 1 TD) and WR Justin Jefferson (73 yards, 1 TD) look like a legit Super Bowl threat. The Vikings (12-2) have won seven in a row, and the Bears (4-10) have lost eight straight.

Falcons def. Raiders (15-9)

Talk about a dud in the desert. The Falcons (L4) and Raiders (L10) both entered their MNF clash on losing streaks. Kirk Cousins hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass in four weeks, and even though he threw a TD in this one, he was just 11-of-17 for 112 yards. This game had as many turnovers (5) as offensive scoring plays (2 TDs, 3 FGs). Atlanta also had a safety, and Las Vegas failed to land a Hail Mary on the final play. The Falcons (7-7) are still alive in the playoff hunt, but the Raiders (2-12) might be looking at the No. 1 pick.

Updated NFL Playoff Picture 📸

*Clinched Playoffs (7 Teams)

AFC

1. *Chiefs (13-1) | West

2. *Bills (11-3) | East

3. *Steelers (10-4) | North

4. *Texans (9-5) | South

5. Ravens (9-5) | Wild Card

6. Broncos (9-5) | Wild Card

7. Chargers (8-6) | Wild Card

In the Hunt: 8. Colts (6-8), 9. Dolphins (6-8), 10. Bengals (6-8)

NFC

1. *Lions (12-2) | North

2. *Eagles (12-2) | East

3. Buccaneers (8-6) | South

4. Rams (8-6) | West

5. *Vikings (12-2) | Wild Card

6. Packers (10-4) | Wild Card

7. Commanders (9-5) | Wild Card

In the Hunt: 8. Seahawks (8-6), 9. Falcons (7-7), 10. Cardinals (7-7), 11. 49ers (6-8), 12. Cowboys (6-8)

Eliminated Teams

Projected NFL Draft Order (2025)

1. Raiders (2-12), 2. Giants (2-12), 3. Patriots (3-11), 4. Jaguars (3-11), 5. Panthers (3-11), 6. Titans (3-11), 7. Browns (3-11), 8. Jets (4-10), 9. Bears (4-10), 10. Saints (5-9)

NCAA

Vermont's Soccer Shocker ⚽️

Photo: Andy Mead / ISI Contributor / Getty Images

Unseeded Vermont Beats #13 Marshall in Golden Goal (2-1, OT) to Win Program’s 1st Division I NCAA Championship

Unranked. Underdogs. Unbelievable. College soccer doesn’t usually get a foothold in our mainstream sports feed, but the Vermont Catamounts just pulled off a miracle run through the NCAA men’s soccer tournament for the program’s first national championship. They rallied late from a 1-0 deficit to beat #13 Marshall (2-1, OT) thanks to an 80th-minute equalizer from Marcell Papp and an extra-time finish on a 1-v-1 from Max Kissel. Both players came off the bench in the second half.

Vermont’s Miracle Run: Not only were the Catamounts unranked in the NCAA’s 48-team tournament (only the top-16 are seeded), but they had to win six games, including four against top-16 opponents and three extra-time contests, to capture the ‘ship. Vermont’s road to glory included wins over #7 Hofstra (2-1), San Diego (1-0, OT), #2 Pittsburgh (2-0), #3 Denver (1-1, PKs) and #13 Marshall (2-1, OT). What a run. Congrats to the Catamounts!

Watch: Vermont Wins 1st NCAA Soccer Title

Rewind: North Carolina Women’s Soccer Won the Division I Title Last Week

NCAAB

College Hoops Polls 📊

Men’s AP Top-10

1. Tennessee (10-0) | —

2. Auburn (9-1) | —

3. Iowa State (9-1) | —

4. Kentucky (10-1) | ↑1

5. Duke (8-2) | ↓1

6. Alabama (8-2) | ↑1

7. Florida (10-0) | ↑2

8. Kansas (8-2) | ↑2

9. Marquette (9-2) | ↓3

10. Oregon (10-1) | ↑2

Men’s AP Poll (Top 25)

Women’s AP Top-10

1. UCLA (10-0) | —

2. South Carolina (10-1) | ↑1

3. Notre Dame (9-2) | ↑5

4. UConn (9-1) | ↓2

5. LSU (12-0) | ↓1

6. Texas (10-1) | —

7. USC (10-1) | ↓2

8. Maryland (10-0) | ↓1

9. Duke (9-2) | —

10. Oklahoma (9-1) | —

Women’s AP Poll (Top 25)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NBA

76ers def. Hornets (121-108)

Maxey (40 pts) & PG (33 pts) Combine for 73

Pistons def. Heat (125-124, OT)

Cade Cunningham (20-11-18) Carries DET

Nuggets def. Kings (130-129)

Jokic (20-14-13) & Sabonis (28-14-6) Go H2H

Clippers def. Jazz (144-107)

James Harden Drops 41 Points

🏒 NHL

Canucks def. Avalanche (3-1)

Kiefer Sherwood (3G) Nets Solo Hat Trick

Stars def. Capitals (3-1)

Roope Hintz (2G) Snaps Caps’ 4-Gm Win Streak

Panthers def. Oilers (6-5)

FLA Scores Twice in 30 Seconds to Take Lead

STORYLINES

🏈 10 Pivot Points Facing NFL Teams

How will the Chiefs handle their star QB’s recovery? Plus, what can the Lions do about their injuries? These ten storylines will shape the end of the NFL season. (Sports Illustrated)

⚾️ MLB Questions & Predictions

Mets owner Steve Cohen ignited the action early at the winter meetings. The hot stove has been burning since. Both the free-agent and trade markets are hot. (FOX Sports)

🏀 Welcome to NBA Trade Season

Mid-December is the unofficial beginning of the trade season in the NBA. Here are the players now eligible to be moved, and the most likely to get dealt. (CBS Sports)

NEWS 📰

🏈 RB David Montgomery Joins Lions’ Lengthy Injury List With MCL Sprain (ESPN)

⛳️ U.S. Ryder Cup Players to be Paid $500K by PGA of America in 2025 (NBC Sports)

⚾️ Orioles Sign Japanese Ace Tomoyuki Sugano to $13 Million Deal (B/R)

🏈 NFL Legend Michael Vick in Talks With Norfolk State About Coaching Job (CBS Sports)

🏀 Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich Releases Upbeat Statement on Return Amid Health-Related Absence (SI)

🏈 Florida State Head Coach Mike Norvell Gives Back $4.5 Million in Restructured Contract (B/R)

🏈 49ers Suspend LB De’Vondre Campbell for Rest of Season After He Refused to Play (Yahoo! Sports)