12/30/24 – Hometown Broadcasting Sports – Monday
30 December 2024 Sports
MONDAY SPORTS
Sam Darnold added another exploit to his career-altering season, passing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings hung on to beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25 on Sunday for their ninth consecutive victory that put them one win from the NFC’s top seed for the playoffs.
Darnold hit Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison and Cam Akers for scores to raise his passing touchdown total to 35, the fourth-most in NFL history by a player in his debut season with a team.
The Vikings (14-2) set up a final-week showdown in Detroit for both the NFC North title and the first-round-bye-plus-home-field-advantage package that comes with the best record in the conference.
Jordan Love’s only touchdown pass for the Packers (11-5) came with 2:18 left, a 3-yard toss to Malik Heath that trimmed their deficit to two points and reignited the “Go Pack Go!” chants from the green-clad fans mixed in among the purple in another classic edition of this divisional rivalry.
Despite another fierce climb out of a gaping hole against Minnesota this season, following a 31-29 loss in Green Bay on Sept. 29 that started with a 28-0 deficit, the Packers fell to a troubling 0-5 against the top three teams in the NFC. They were swept by the Lions, too, and lost the opener in Brazil to the Eagles.
Darnold ran bootlegs for completions that gave the Vikings two vital first downs, a crisp one to fullback C.J. Ham and a low toss on third-and-2 that Akers snagged before it hit the turf to force the Packers to use their final timeout.
Darnold went 33 for 43 with one interception as the Vikings ran 70 plays for 441 yards, their second-highest total of the season.
Packers: WR Christian Watson (knee) was inactive. LB Quay Walker (ankle) missed his second straight game and CB Jaire Alexander (knee) was sidelined for the sixth consecutive game and the ninth time this season. … Two backups, FS Zayne Anderson and DE Brenton Cox, entered the concussion protocol during the game and did not return.
The Packers host Chicago at noon Sunday to finish the regular season next weekend, while the Vikings visit Detroit.
In Sunday Night Football the Commanders hung on at home to beat the Falcons, 30-24.
In Monday Night Football the Lions are at the 49ers.
Aaron Rodgers is still stuck on 499 career touchdown passes. Rodgers was pulled from the Bills game Sunday after the Jets were down 40-0. Buffalo won the game 40-14.
IN THE NBA: the Bucks lost Saturday to the Bulls in Chicago 116-111. Milwaukee is at Indiana Tuesday night to play the Pacers.
Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The group includes five players in their first year of eligibility, nine who were finalists last year and receiver Steve Smith Sr., who made it this far for the first time in his fourth year of eligibility.
The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl.
Five others also are under consideration for enshrinement, with Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer finalists in the seniors category, Mike Holmgren in the coaches category and Ralph Hay as a contributor. Between one and three of those nominees will also get inducted into the Hall.
The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, lost to the Greensboro Swarm 111-105 Saturday.
Stephen Thompson Jr. powered the Herd with 22 points while Milwaukee Bucks assignment Chris Livingston followed with 21 points. Henry Ellenson added a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The top scorers for the Greensboro Swarm were Reggie Perry with 27 points and Nick Smith Jr. with 22 points.
The Herd will head to Maine next to take on the Celtics on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m. CST.
Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78.
“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.
In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.
“A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Berson.
Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.
“A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Berson.
Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.
He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime.
But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004.
He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
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