Minnesota

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

Published

12 months 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

5 key takeaways from Minnesota’s loss to Stanford at the Acrisure Invitational

Published

10 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

5 key takeaways from Minnesota’s loss to Stanford at the Acrisure Invitational

Minnesota began its Acrisure Invitational journey with some great energy against Stanford, but an injury to starting point guard Chansey Willis Jr. was too much to overcome in a hard-fought 72-68 loss. Here’s what we learned.

Minnesota has been without North Dakota transfer BJ Omot and Maryland transfer Chance Stephens in every regular-season game, while starting big man Robert Vaihola missed his second straight game on Thursday with a knee injury. Things got even more scarce after two early fouls sent Willis to the bench, and he came out of the locker room with a boot on his right ankle.

The Gophers were already not a very deep team, so taking away four rotational players is a massive issue for Niko Medved and a rebuilding program.

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With Vaihola out for the second straight game due to a knee injury, Minnesota slid Grove into the starting lineup for the first time in his college career. Nehemiah Turner did not see the floor after starting last week’s loss to San Francisco, and it was an eight-man rotation.

The Gophers coughed up 14 turnovers on Thursday night, compared to only eight for Stanford. The biggest difference was that Minnesota’s turnovers resulted in 27 Cardinal points. It’s hard to point to any other stat as the largest factor in Thursday’s result.

Reynolds was the first player off the bench for Minnesota, and he provided some serious energy to begin Thursday night’s game. He had a career-high 16 points in last week’s loss to San Francisco, and it looked like he would remain at that level against Stanford, but he struggled in the second half with six points, six rebounds, four assists and six turnovers on the night.

Asuma generated all the headlines when he opted to stay with the Gophers through the coaching change, but Grove also returned after redshirting last season. The 6-foot-9 big man from Alexandria, Minnesota, got the biggest opportunity of his college career against Stanford. He finished with five points and one rebound in 19 minutes. Medved opted to roll with Durkin in the closing lineup.

The Gophers will face Santa Clara on Friday night in the consolation game of the Acrisure Invitational.

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Minnesota

Stanford Cardinal play the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Stanford Cardinal play the Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) vs. Stanford Cardinal (4-1)

Palm Desert, California; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cardinal -1.5; over/under is 142.5

BOTTOM LINE: Stanford takes on Minnesota at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The Cardinal have a 4-1 record in non-conference games. Stanford scores 83.8 points while outscoring opponents by 12.2 points per game.

The Golden Gophers have a 4-2 record against non-conference oppponents. Minnesota ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 11.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Jaylen Crocker-Johnson averaging 3.3.

Stanford averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 6.8 per game Minnesota gives up. Minnesota averages 74.2 points per game, 2.6 more than the 71.6 Stanford gives up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ebuka Okorie is shooting 52.1% and averaging 23.8 points for the Cardinal. Benny Gealer is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers.

Cade Tyson is scoring 21.8 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Golden Gophers. Crocker-Johnson is averaging 11.7 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Minnesota

Minnesota and Wisconsin’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will always matter

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota and Wisconsin’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will always matter

Minnesota hosts Wisconsin on Saturday in the 134th meeting between the longtime rivals. The Gophers enter the showdown at 6-5 and the Badgers are 4-7. A neutral observer might question the importance of this year’s game. No matter how much the sport of college football changes, the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe will always be one of the most important games on the calendar.

When P.J. Fleck was hired by the Gophers in 2017, they had lost 13 straight games to the Badgers. He’s now 4-4 against Minnesota’s biggest rival, and he’s aiming to do something that hasn’t been in the series since the 1980s. The last time Minnesota beat Wisconsin four times within a five-year stretch was 1986 to 1990. A win this Saturday would mark the Gophers’ most success in the rivalry since Barry Alvarez was hired by Wisconsin in 1990.

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The Gophers entered the Iowa game on October 25 with a 5-2 record. After getting blown out 41-3, they’ve lost three out of their last four games, and they’re limping into the final week of the season. If they add a loss to Wisconsin to their 2025 resume, it would be hard to view this season as a success.

Gophers’ 2025 (with a loss to Wisconsin)

You never want to put the cart before the horse, but this game feels huge for Minnesota. A loss would make it hard for even the most optimistic Gophers fan to put a positive spin on this season.

When the Badgers started their season 2-6, there were serious questions about head coach Luke Fickell’s future with the program. Wisconsin’s AD Chris McIntosh announced on Nov. 6 that the school would retain him for another season, and they’ve quietly turned around their season.

Over the last three weeks, Wisconsin has home wins over No. 23 Washington and No. 21 Illinois, and it played a relatively competitive first half against No. 2 Indiana. Fickell was tasked with the hardest schedule in the country, according to ESPN’s FPI, and his team has steadily improved throughout the season.

Someone who doesn’t follow college football closely, or doesn’t consider themselves a fan of Wisconsin or Minnesota, might question the importance of this game. A 6-5 team playing a 4-7 team, why does it matter?

A win for the Gophers would give Fleck and his staff something to hang their hat on. A season that has fallen a bit off the rails could be saved by their most success against their biggest rival in nearly 30 years. A loss would give Fickell a winning record against Minnesota and provide Wisconsin with some serious momentum heading into the offseason, despite a disastrous start to 2025.

There’s always a storyline or narrative that will make this game interesting. As corporate executives continue to try and change college football in the worst ways possible, I can only plead that rivalries remain a core tenet of this great sport.

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