Minnesota

Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers Featured In Week 15 Prime Time

Published

1 year ago

December 12, 2024

Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers Featured In Week 15 Prime Time

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has had a lot to smile about recently. (AP Photo/Stacy … [+] Bengs)

Two of the NFL’s most competitive divisions — the NFC North and the NFC West — will be featured on prime time in Week 15.

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are attempting to catch Super Bowl favorite the Detroit Lions in the NFC North, which what has played out as the best division in the league.

Green Bay (9-4) visits AFC West leader the Seattle Seahawks (8-5) in the featured game Sunday night, and by then, the Seahawks may have a better feel for their postseason fate.

NFC West contenders the Los Angeles Rams (7-6) and San Francisco 49ers (6-7) will meet in the Bay Area on Thursday. Both they and the Arizona Cardinals (6-7) are alive for the division title, although Seattle took a major step forward by beating the Cardinals twice in the last three weeks.

Matthew Stafford led the Los Angeles Rams to their 44-42 victory over Buffalo last week. (Photo by … [+] Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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The Vikings (11-2) will play host to NFC North rival the Chicago Bears (4-9), who have seven games in a row and dismissed head coach Matt Eberflus two weeks ago, in one of two games Monday night.

NFC South contender the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) will meet the disheveled Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) also Monday. Both have quarterback issues.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Los Angeles Rams (7-6) at San Francisco 49ers (6-7)

How to watch: Prime VIdeo, 8:15 pm ET

Key matchup: Matt Stafford vs 49ers D

Early line: 49ers -3

Rams receiver Puka Nacua hurdled into the end zone in the victory over Buffalo. (AP Photo/Kyusung … [+] Gong)

The Rams had a statement victory the last time out, when Stafford threw 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills, a top Super Bowl contender. Puka Nacua, whose early-season absence was a factor in their slow start, made 12 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for a score.

Kyren Williams rushed for two touchdowns and the Rams dominated time of possession to beat the Bills, but they need to do something about a defense that was shredded by MVP Josh Allen, who was the first player in league history with three passing and three rushing touchdowns in the same game. The Rams rank 27th in total defense.

Isaac Guerendo ran away from the CHicago Bears last week. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The 49ers have spent the season staggered by a host of skill position injuries that have claimed their top two running backs and their top wide receiver, although they still rank fourth in the league in total offense thanks to Kyle Shanahan’s schemes. Now All-Pro tackle Trent Williams is out and No. 3 running back Isaac Guerendo is questionable for the Rams. Guerendo had 78 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears last week.

The Rams have arguably the easiest remaining schedule among AFC West contenders, with a road game at the New York Jets and home game against Arizona and Seattle.

Josh Jacobs has eight touchdowns in the last four games, including three against Detroit last week. … [+] (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

SUNDAY NIGHT

Green Bay Packers (9-4) at Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

How to watch: NBC/Peacock, 8:20 pm ET

Key matchup: Josh Jacobs vs Seattle D line

Early line: Packers -2 1/2

Green Bay is looking to recover from a 34-31 loss to Detroit that dropped it three games behind the Lions, a game that was decided by a field goal on the final play but was not as close statistically as the final score would indicate. The Lions had a 12-minute advantage in time of possession advantage and converted on four of five fourth-down attempts while completing a sweep of the season series.

Leonard Williams leads the Seattle Seahawks with seven sacks. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Halfback Jacobs continues to be a force near the goal line. He had three rushing touchdowns against the Lions, his second three-score game in three weeks, and has eight touchdowns in the last four games.

Seattle has won four in a row to take semblance of control in the division, and its defense has played a big part. Defensive end Leonard Williams has seven sacks, 4 1/2 in the last three weeks, and the Seahawks have eight takeaways during their winning streak and 11 in the last seven games. It helps that quarterback Geno Smith has curbed his tendency to make ill-advised throws.

Justin Jefferson (18) and Jordan Addison had two touchdown receptions apiece against Atlanta a week … [+] ago. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

MONDAY NIGHT

Chicago Bears (4-9) at Minnesota Vikings (11-2)

How to watch: ABC/ESPN+, 8 pm ET

Key matchup: Sam Darnold vs Bears D

Early line: Vikings -7

The quarterback matchup — Darnold vs. Caleb Williams — represents the season in microcosm for these two, who moving in completely opposite directions. Darnold, the starter only because 2024 first-round draft choice J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee in injury in preseason, torched Atlanta with 347 yards and five touchdown in a 42-21 victory last week. He has 11 touchdowns in the last for games. Darnold’s 108.1 passer rating is third behind Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff.

Wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison have combined for 1,878 yards and 14 touchdowns, seven apiece.

Caleb Williams has been sacked 36 times during Chicago’s seven-game losing streak. (AP Photo/Scot … [+] Tucker)

Williams, the No. 1 overall draftee, has been up-and-down in his first season as the Bears have fallen out of contention after a 4-2 start. He has seemed at times too timid with the ball — no interceptions but 36 sacks during the seven-game losing streak that began with an excruciating 18-15 Hail Mary loss in Washington on Oct. 27.

He had two 300-yard games in the first five and had a breakout four-score game in a 35-16 victory over Jacksonville in Week 6, but — like the team — has stalled somewhat since.

It has been a puzzling four weeks for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. (AP Photo/Abbie … [+] Parr)

MONDAY NIGHT

Atlanta Falcons (6-7) at Los Angeles Raiders (2-11)

How to watch: ESPN, 8:30 pm ET

Key matchup: Kirk Cousins vs Raiders D

Early line: Falcons -3 1/2

Atlanta quarterback Cousins has regressed during a four-game losing streak that has cost the Falcons control of the weak NFC South. Cousins had thrown eight interceptions and no touchdowns during the run, leading some to wonder if rookie No. 1 draftee Michael Penix might be seen sooner rather than later.

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was knocked out of the Raiders’ loss to Tampa Bay last week. (AP … [+] Photo/Jason Behnken)

The Falcons have scored 57 points in their last four games.

The Raiders returned to quarterback Aidan O’Connell in their 28-13 loss to Tampa Bay last week, but O’Connell was knocked out of the game in the third quarter. If O’Connell cannot go, Desmond Ridder would be in line for a revenge start against the Falcons, for whom he made 17 starts in 2022-23 before being traded to Arizona in the offseason. The Cardinals cut him in training camp.

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Minnesota

Over 840,000 Minnesotans Assist Aging Loved Ones, Shaping Their Daily Lives

Published

7 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Over 840,000 Minnesotans Assist Aging Loved Ones, Shaping Their Daily Lives

UNDATED (WJON News) — A new report says hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are caring for a loved one.

The AARP says its report indicates 840,000 Minnesotans are caregivers for adults, providing care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones.

They spend about 480 million hours of care each year, work that would be valued at $11.1 billion per year if it were paid in the marketplace, based on a value of about $23 per hour.

AARP says family caregivers are averaging about 27 hours each week.

More than half, 57 percent, are providing high-intensity care, meaning they spend more hours helping with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, as well as complex medical and nursing tasks like wound care and administering injections.

AARP says these numbers are why it advocated to help secure Paid Family Leave and Medical Leave in Minnesota, giving family caregivers the ability to be there for their loved ones without sacrificing their jobs.

AARP also helps families navigate caregiving challenges by connecting them to resources.

Thanks For The Memories In MN Adam, SKOL Vikings

With the Minnesota Vikings waiving Detroit Lakes-native, former Minnesota State Mankato Maverick, Adam Thielen today, it’s only natural to go back and revisit his time with the hometown team. Here are some pictures of Adam in purple from his two stints with the Vikings, and his stats during his time with the Vikings.

Gallery Credit: Getty Images

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Minnesota

Politics Friday: Mike Lindell ‘all in’ for Minnesota’s governor’s race with Trump backing or not

Published

19 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Politics Friday: Mike Lindell ‘all in’ for Minnesota’s governor’s race with Trump backing or not

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Minnesota

‘No King’s’ Flagship Protest Features Star-Studded Lineup Of Performers

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

‘No King’s’ Flagship Protest Features Star-Studded Lineup Of Performers

Millions of people around the country will take to the streets this Saturday in the latest round of “No Kings” protests that aim to denounce President Donald Trump’s subversion of the rule of law and attacks on democracy.

“Masked secret police terrorizing our communities. An illegal, catastrophic war putting us in danger and driving up our costs. Attacks on our freedom of speech, our civil rights, our freedom to vote. Costs pushing families to the brink. Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people – not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies,” the NoKings website states.

The flagship event in St. Paul is expected to draw over 80,000 people to the Minnesota capital, including Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda, legendary folk singer Joan Baez, rock icon Bruce Springsteen, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

It is one of 3,000 events planned nationwide, according to organizers.

“Our goal is to continue to build a peaceful and nonviolent movement that gets us to the place where we have a healthy, functioning democracy, and communities and state and country where we can all thrive,” Indivisible Twin Cities event organizer Rebecca Larson told Minnesota Public Radio.

Joan Baez (L) Bruce Springsteen (C) and Jane Fonda (R) are among the various celebrity performers and speakers expected to attend the “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, Minn., on March 28.

The rally comes in the wake of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, which drew widespread national attention and resulted in the deaths of Americans Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents.

Springsteen, who is scheduled to perform at Target Center in Minneapolis later this month, penned a protest song in honor of Good and Pretti titled “Streets of Minneapolis.” He also plans to perform at the rally on Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

“When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level. And I’m always in search of that,” Springsteen told the publication.

Saturday’s gatherings are the third such mass protests under the “No Kings” banner, the first of which was held last June as a counter-event to Trump’s military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which also fell on the president’s 79th birthday. The second “No Kings” protest occurred in October of last year.

Since then, a litany of events has captured the nation’s attention, including immigration crackdowns, government shutdowns, the fight over the release of the Epstein files and the ongoing war in Iran. “No Kings” organizers plan to hone in on Americans’ frustrations with these issues to increase turnout and attention for Saturday’s demonstrations.

“Now, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting, and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most,” the organization states on its website. “The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings – and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”

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