📰 Table Of Contents
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
The Vikings beat the Seahawks 27-24 to keep pace with the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North and the number one seed in the conference.
The third-down defense played a huge part in the victory as the Vikes managed to hold Seattle to zero third-down conversions in the first half and two total conversions on ten tries over the course of the entire game.
Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold continued to play at an elite level, completing 22 of 35 pass attempts for 246 yards and three passing touchdowns. Coming into this matchup, Darnold had the fourth-best quarterback rating in the NFL (104.9). His rating at the end of the game wound up being 112.3.
Vikings wide receiver caught his sixth touchdown in the last six games to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead on the first series.
Though there were concerns about his availability to play, Geno Smith made the start for Seattle, throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns while completing passes to ten different players. His first TD pass, a 25-yard strike to wideout DK Metcalf, tied that game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
Minnesota wideout Justin Jefferson, who had a team-high 144 receiving yards, caught two touchdowns. That reception put the Vikings back on top 14-7.
With 24 seconds left in the first half, Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught an 18-yard TD to give the Seahawks a 17-14 halftime deficit.
After exchanging field goals, Smith threw his third TD pass of the day to put the Seahawks ahead 24-20 with under 4:30 remaining in the game. Minnesota retaliated with a 39-yard touchdown pass to take a 27-24 lead with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Seattle got the ball back with 55 seconds left and a chance to tie the game, but Geno Smith threw his second interception of the game, securing the win for the Vikes.
The Seahawks are now a game-and-a-half out of first place in the NFC West, meaning the Week 18 game against the Rams could be for the division if Seattle doesn’t bounce back with a win next week.
.@JJettas2 CLUTCH.#ProBowlVote
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/HFiWQZibHR
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2024
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills overcame an early 14-0 Patriots lead to win their 12th game of the season as they aim to steal the number one seed in the AFC away from the 14-1 Kansas City Chiefs.
New England rookie QB Drake Maye had a clean game, completing 61.1% of his passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked up 31 yards on the ground. He also orchestrated a 16-play, 91-yard touchdown drive to give the Pats a 14-0 advantage.
That’s when Buffalo decided to get serious, responding with a touchdown drive capped off by a 46-yard run from James Cook. That was Cook’s fourth touchdown run of 40 yards or more this year, a new single-season franchise record. Cook had been in a tie with O.J. Simpson, who had three 40+ yard TD runs in 1973, 1975, and 1976.
Cook also caught a four-yard touchdown from Josh Allen to tie the game 14-14. That marked Cook’s 16th scrimmage touchdown this year, the second most in a single season behind only O.J. Simpson, who recorded 23 total TDs in 1975.
A field goal later, and the Bills had a 17-14 lead.
Buffalo forced a Drake Maye fumble and returned the live ball three yards for a touchdown to go up 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
Maye would throw his second touchdown, but the Patriots’ onside kick attempt failed, and Buffalo eeked out the win.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Las Vegas Raiders
The Jacksonville Jaguars inched closer to securing the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after they fell to the 2-13 Las Vegas Raiders 19-14.
Vegas third-string quarterback Aidan O’Connell had a solid performance, throwing for 257 passing yards and leading the Raiders on four scoring drives to take a 19-14 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars had two chances to put together a game-winning drive, but both attempts came up short with the last drive dying out on a failed fourth down conversion on their own side of the field.
This win was Vegas’ first since September 29th.
With the defeat, the Jaguars tied the all-time record for most losses by seven points or less in a single season with nine on the year.
December dub!!!! #JAXvsLV pic.twitter.com/tOuafr5vO2
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 23, 2024
San Francisco 49ers @ Miami Dolphins
Miami kept its season alive with a 29-17 win thanks to a 5/5 kicking day by Jason Sanders.
Deebo Samuel hauled in an 18-yard pass for his second receiving touchdown of the season and his first TD catch since October 10th to go up 7-0.
Tyreek Hill countered with his fifth touchdown of the season to give Miami its first lead of the day at 13-7 in the second quarter. However, a Jake Moody field goal cut the lead to 13-10 at halftime.
In the second half, Miami hit a pair of field goals before San Fran clapped back with a Brock Purdy touchdown pass, making it 19-17.
Jason Sanders hit his fifth field goal of the game with 2:10 to go up 22-17, giving San Francisco the ball back with a chance to win the game.
They wouldn’t do anything with the possession, and Miami would score one more touchdown to secure the victory.
The Dolphins can still reach the postseason if they win their next two games, Denver loses out, the Chargers lose out, and the Colts lose one of their last two games.
