12/31/24 – Hometown Broadcasting Sports – Tuesday
31 December 2024 Sports
TUESDAY SPORTS
For as well as the Packers (11-5) had been playing down the stretch, they left Minnesota with a rather murky outlook for the playoffs after stumbling into a 17-point deficit that proved too large for their late surge in the 27-25 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
“They continued to compete and battle, but you just can’t do that against good teams. The margins in this league, especially against a good football team, are razor thin,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I don’t think we were at our best, but that’s a credit to them in our slow start — and that’s me as much as anybody.”
The Packers gained 126 yards in the fourth quarter and still finished with a season-low 271 yards. The defense allowed 441 yards, which was also a season worst.
The most glaring set of numbers after this frustrating afternoon, though, was this: 0-5. That’s Green Bay’s record against the top three teams in the NFC: Minnesota, Detroit and Philadelphia. The games were close as four of those defeats — save for the 10-point loss to the Lions on Nov. 3 — came by a total of 12 points.
“It’s not about who we can and can’t beat. We can beat everybody. If we figure out how to finish, we’ll win games,” cornerback Keisean Nixon said.
But the Packers will more than likely be on the road the entire time they’re alive in the playoffs, so any path to the Super Bowl would undoubtedly trigger rematches with one, two or even all three teams from that daunting trio.
The Packers clearly aren’t overmatched by the Vikings, Lions or Eagles, but in games against those premier foes that significantly shrink the margins for error the Packers have shown a troubling pattern of not meeting the moment with too many ill-timed mistakes and not enough big-time plays.
Meanwhile, the Packers will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 5th in the final week of the NFL regular season.
It will be the second year in a row the Packers play the Bears on the final week of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. The Packers are off today.
In Monday Night Football, the Lions fought off the 49ers in San Francisco and held on for a 40-34 win and tie the 14-2 Vikings for the best record in the NFC.
The 49ers led 21-13 at the half before the Lions scored 18 third quarter points to take a 31-28 lead at the end of three quarters. Detroit then outscored San Francisco 9-6 in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
The Lions Jared Goff completed 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards and three touchdcowns to three different receivers and Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
The 49ers Brock Purdy was 27 of 35 for 37 yards, three touchdown and two interceptions. Ricky Piersall caught 8 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown and tight end George Kittle caught 8 passes for 112 yards. Purdy also injured his right elbow with two minutes left in the game and will undergo further testing.
The 49ers drop to 6-10.
In the NBA tonight, the Milwaukee Bucks are at Indiana to play the Pacers.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
In high school boys basketball Monday afternoon Xavier beat Ripon 93-60. The Hawks led 60-22 at the half. Logan Ramczyk paced Xavier with 21 points as cour Hawks were in double figures. Cole Hietpas followed with 20, Luke Oelhafen had 17 and Grant Neumann chipped in with 11.
Ripon was led by Balke Bradley and Adam Meenk, who each scored 17 points.
Xavier improved to 6-3 overall while Ripon dropped to 1-10. The Tigers host Waupun Thursday night at 7:15 in a game that will be heard on The Wave.
Winneconne 56 Waupaca 42
Campbellsport 69 Sheboygan Falls 62
Menasha 57 Manitowoc Lincoln 55
New London 73 Clintonville 39
Iola-Scandinavia 58 Westfield 44
Sevastopol 62 Valley Christian 34
Girls (Monday)
Waupun 31 Freedom 29
Winneconne 63 Waupaca 32
Reedsville 65 Campbellsport 44
Winnebago Lutheran 48 Randolph 40
New London 59 Clintonville 25
Cedarburg 56 Fond du Lac 48
Hortonville 96 West De Pere 81
Monona Grove 73 Neenah 70
Sheboygan Christian 66 Valley Christian 52
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