<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-hilarious-response-justin-jefferson-taunting-penalty');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell’s hilarious response to Justin Jefferson taunting penalty');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-news-Kevin-OConnells-hilarious-response-to-Justin-Jefferson-taunting-penalty.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell’s hilarious response to Justin Jefferson taunting penalty</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T12:45:39-08:00">December 23rd, 12:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T13:34:03-08:00">December 23rd, 1:34pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-sam-darnold-makes-history-heroic-performance-seahawks">Vikings beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 27-24</a>. Justin Jefferson was dominant, hauling in 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. His first score put his team up 14-7 in the first half, and he hit his traditional Griddy touchdown dance. But he was looking at Devon Witherspoon when he danced, so he got a taunting penalty. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell responded to the Justin Jefferson <a href="https://twitter.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1871265941184729197" rel="noopener">Griddy penalty after the game</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“We gotta be smart about the direction at which we Griddy” 😂</p><p>Kevin O’Connell had a good sense of humor about Justin Jefferson getting a taunting penalty on a TD celebration </p><p>🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vikings</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jb0AUvu1RT">pic.twitter.com/Jb0AUvu1RT</a></p><p>— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1871265941184729197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“That was an interesting one,” O’Connell said when asked about the penalty. “I will defer to ‘they saw what they saw.’ We’ve gotta be smart about the direction at which we Griddy I guess. But I understand they’re trying to get the taunting penalty out of the game, which I’m all for.”</p><p>It was all laughs in O’Connell’s press conference not only because the Vikings won but because Will Reichard hit the extra point. Despite the one-point kick coming from 48 yards, the rookie made it 14-7. Jefferson has been doing this dance for years and has not been penalized for taunting. But looking at Witherspoon while Griddying was over the line.</p><p>The good news for the Vikings is the penalty did not matter and they still won. Jefferson now knows where the line is for their important upcoming games.</p><h2><b>The Vikings can steal the NFC North with two wins</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson-celebrates-touchdown.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Vikings had no expectations coming into this season but have 13 wins and a chance at the one seed. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-kevin-oconnell-coach-of-the-year-endorsement">Kevin O’Connell is in the running for the Coach of the Year</a> and Sam Darnold will get a massive contract for someone. While the quarterback controversy will be the storyline of the offseason, their fans should live in this moment.</p><p>The Vikings’ win total over/under before the season was 6.5. They crossed that in mid-November. Sam Darnold has been terrific at quarterback, Jefferson is having another fantastic season, and the defense is dominating. Now, they have two games in front of them that can lead to an improbable first-round bye and NFC North title.</p><p>The Lions lost a shootout to the Bills in Week 15. Their injured defense could not stop Josh Allen and it ended in their first loss since Week 2. In any other division, they could survive one loss to a good team with a playoff spot already clinched. But the Vikings and Lions are now tied and have a potential division title game upcoming.</p><p>The Vikings and Lions have to have the same result in Week 17 to force a division title game. The Vikings host the Packers and the Lions are on the road against the 49ers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell’s hilarious response to Justin Jefferson taunting penalty

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/packers-news-huge-vikings-showdown-flex-treatment');   ga('set', 'title', 'Huge Packers-Vikings showdown gets flex treatment');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Packers-news-Huge-Green-Bay-Vikings-showdown-gets-flex-treatment.jpg"></figure><h1>Huge Packers-Vikings showdown gets flex treatment</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T11:07:22-08:00">December 23rd, 11:07am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T11:07:22-08:00">December 23rd, 11:07am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A lot will be on the line in Week 17 when the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/packers-most-to-blame-for-week-4-loss-to-vikings">Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings face off</a> for the second time in the season. The NFL is acutely aware of the stakes in the matchup and has altered its Week 17 schedule to give the game more attention.</p><p>While the game was previously scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET, the league <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1871256017205346472" rel="noopener">flexed it</a> to instead join the late window at 4:25 p.m. ET, per Adam Schefter. They trade start times with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, who will move up to the 1 p.m. ET main slate.</p><p>The time change will give the marquee game more views, as it will be the only game with a 4:25 p.m. ET start time. While multiple West Coast-based games typically play during the 4 p.m. ET window, only two games will begin after that time in Week 17. Overall, fewer games will commence on Sunday due to the NFL opting to hold two games on Christmas Day earlier in the week.</p><p>The Vikings took the first meeting between the two teams with a 31-29 win in Week 4. Sam Darnold led Minnesota’s offensive charge with 275 passing yards and three touchdowns while former Packer Aaron Jones added 93 yards on the ground. Jordan Love tallied 389 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in a losing effort.</p><h2><b>Heavy playoff implications in Packers-Vikings Week 17 matchup</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson_4ded2a.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The matchup will have unprecedented playoff implications for both teams. The Vikings have already clinched a playoff spot but are still engaged in a neck-and-neck battle with the Detroit Lions for the No. 1 overall seed. The Packers, who will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/packers-cant-underestimate-saints-mnf-clash-playoff-chase">face the New Orleans Saints on Monday</a> night before shifting their focus to Minnesota, have yet to officially clinch a playoff spot despite their 10-4 record.</p><p>While the Week 17 meeting will present a key opportunity for both teams, the Vikings seem to have more on the line. Minnesota already has a loss to the Lions, forcing them to need two wins in the final two games to lock up the top seed. If they can secure a win over the Packers, their final Week 18 game against Detroit will be for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the conference.</p><p>Once Green Bay wraps up Week 16 on Monday night, the 2024 regular season will have only two games remaining. In December, postseason seeding became the priority for both teams, and the playoffs are soon to follow.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Huge Packers-Vikings showdown gets flex treatment

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-calls-out-curious-headset-failure');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings  Kevin O’Connell calls out ‘curious’ headset failure at crucial time');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-news-Kevin-OConnell-calls-out-curious-headset-failure-at-crucial-time.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings  Kevin O’Connell calls out ‘curious’ headset failure at crucial time</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T10:38:46-08:00">December 23rd, 10:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T10:38:46-08:00">December 23rd, 10:38am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a gritty win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, head coach Kevin O’Connell was at the center of the final minutes. His headset mysteriously stopped working, and quarterback Sam Darnold ran over to the sideline and asked for the call. Luckily for Minnesota, they secured a Justin Jefferson game-deciding touchdown. Not to mention, rookie quarterback <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-kevin-oconnell-coach-of-the-year-endorsement">JJ McCarthy dropped his Kevin O’Connell Coach of the Year endorsement</a>.</p><p>Following the game, O’Connell said via Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune his <a href="https://x.com/BenGoessling/status/1870993164724527283" rel="noopener">uncertainty about that particular play</a>. “I don’t particularly know what he called,” O’Connell said. “I just know that once I saw him have space and run like he did, I was relieved.”</p><p>O’Connell called it an “<a href="https://x.com/BenGoessling/status/1870993956529418672" rel="noopener">MVP performance</a>” by the sideline to get him a new battery pack on the drive. The heroics secured the 13th win of the season and a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-historic-win-over-seahawks-opens-no-1-playoff-seed-path">Vikings possible path to the No. 1 seed</a>. Regardless, they showed up when it mattered most, despite any unfortunate circumstances.</p><h2><b>Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell is having a Coach of the Year season.</b></h2><p>Minnesota is having an elite season, and they might not even be the best team in their division. The Detroit Lions are also 13-2, in addition to the Vikings. However, there’s not the star power with Minnesota that there is for Detroit. Aidan Hutchinson and Amon-Ra St. Brown highlight the 2023 Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. The Vikings don’t have a single All-Pro player on their roster besides Justin Jefferson.</p><p>Furthermore, the Vikings have the <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2024.htm" rel="noopener">ninth-best offense (26.4 points per game)</a> and the second-best defense per game (18.4 points allowed). On the contrary, the Lions have the best offense (32.9 points per game) and the sixth-best defense (19.9 points allowed per game).</p><p>Still, Minnesota has been dominant with O’Connell as the head coach. He’s had two 13+ win seasons in his three years with the Vikings. He revolutionized the offense with his style. As a result, all facets of the game have improved. Quarterback, receiving, and rushing production has increased exponentially.</p><p>While there are two more games left in the season, they can do several things. The Vikings could clinch the No. 1 seed; they could also win the division. With all that being said, a possible Coach of the Year trophy would look nice on O’Connell’s hardware shelf.</p><p>After missing out on the trophy the past two seasons, this might be the year. However, a Super Bowl ring would matter more to the 39-year-old head coach than individual accolades.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings  Kevin O’Connell calls out ‘curious’ headset failure at crucial time

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-sam-darnold-makes-history-heroic-performance-seahawks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ Sam Darnold makes history in heroic performance vs. Seahawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-news-Sam-Darnold-makes-history-in-heroic-performance-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings’ Sam Darnold makes history in heroic performance vs. Seahawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T09:57:26-08:00">December 23rd, 9:57am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T09:57:26-08:00">December 23rd, 9:57am</time><address><a href="https://medium.com/bingeable">Sonny Giuliano</a>Sonny Giuliano is an experienced sports writer for ClutchPoints who has been covering the NFL, NCAA Football, NBA, and NCAA Basketball for well over a decade. Originally from the small town of Elba, New York, Sonny received his degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After selecting <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/meet-jj-mccarthy-vikings-no-10-pick-2024-nfl-draft">JJ McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft</a>, had you told Minnesota Vikings fans that it would be Sam Darnold leading the team into the final weeks of the season, they would’ve likely assumed that something had gone terribly wrong.</p><p>In reality, losing McCarthy to a torn meniscus over the summer may have been something of a blessing in disguise, because it opened the door for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-compares-minnesota-lsu-championship">Vikings to become bonafide, can’t-deny-it-anymore Super Bowl contenders</a>, thanks in large part to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-sam-darnolds-nfl-mvp-odds-dominant-3-0-start">stunning MVP campaign from a journeyman quarterback</a> who had never once been considered an MVP candidate at any point during his less-than-stellar seven-year career.</p><p>On Sunday, Darnold turned in what was maybe his finest performance of the season, throwing for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns, one of which came with under four minutes to go to give Minnesota a 27-24 win that allowed the Vikings to keep pace with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. In the win, Darnold <a href="https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/minnesota-vikings-sam-darnold-chicago-bears-win-satisfied-usc-trojans-nfl-playoffs-nfc-north" rel="noopener">made all kinds of history</a> that only strengthens an improbable and unexpected MVP resume.</p><p>Per Kyron Samuels of Sports Illustrated, Sam Darnold joins Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) and Steve McNair (Baltimore Ravens) as the quarterback with the most wins in their first season with a new team. With two games remaining, Darnold could end up breaking that record. Additionally, after a nearly flawless performance against the Seahawks, Darnold now holds the NFL record for the most games (12) with a 100.0 or more passer rating in a player’s first season with a team.</p><p>After Sunday’s win, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell emphasized that the Vikings offense, “has become Sam’s offense,” (<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43119403/justin-jefferson-agrees-vikings-championship-caliber-likens-2019-lsu-tigers-title-team" rel="noopener">h/t</a> Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com). Earlier this month, All-Pro wide receiver <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-vikings-more-open-minded-sam-darnold-future">Justin Jefferson lauded Darnold’s ability to “take the top off of defenses,”</a> and allow for the “whole playbook” to be open. On Sunday, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-compares-minnesota-lsu-championship">Jefferson compared this Vikings team to the 2019 LSU Tigers squad</a> he was on that rampaged to a National Title.</p><p>Whether this run can continue deep into January, or potentially even February, remains to be seen. But if it does, Darnold will deserve all of the credit that will come his way.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ Sam Darnold makes history in heroic performance vs. Seahawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-fans-100-agree-camryn-bynum-take-camp-rock-celebration');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings fans will 100% agree with Camryn Bynum’s take after Camp Rock celebration');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fans-will-100-agree-with-Camryn-Bynums-take-after-Camp-Rock-celebration.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings fans will 100% agree with Camryn Bynum’s take after Camp Rock celebration</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T08:50:06-08:00">December 23rd, 8:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T08:50:27-08:00">December 23rd, 8:50am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-truth-bomb-justin-jefferson-game-winning-td">Minnesota Vikings can’t stop winning</a> — and blowing people away <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-camryn-bynum-viral-celebration-brings-raygun-reaction">with their on-field celebrations</a>. During their Week 16 road game at Lumen Field in Seattle against the Seattle Seahawks, Camryn Bynum and the Vikings showed off yet another hilarious celly after a big defensive play.</p><p>With just under a minute left in regulation, Vikings safety Theo Jackson sealed the win for Minnesota by intercepting Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith’s pass. That pick also prompted Bynum and company to go wild on the end zone with their latest celly, which was inspired by a dance from the Disney movie “Camp Rock.”</p><p>After the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Seahawks, Bynum shared the video of the Vikings’ celebration along with a caption that read: “BEST CELEBRATIONS IN THE LEAGUE 🎬🔥”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">BEST CELEBRATIONS IN THE LEAGUE 🎬🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProBowlVote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProBowlVote</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cambeezy_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cambeezy_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NoExcuses_23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NoExcuses_23</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/byronmurphy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@byronmurphy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/horribleharry99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@horribleharry99</a> <a href="https://t.co/4TqeuNALsx">https://t.co/4TqeuNALsx</a></p><p>— Camryn Bynum (@Cambeezy_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cambeezy_/status/1871020816340766756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Bynum also shared a video of the Vikings’ pregame rehearsal. They made sure they got the steps right in case they needed to celebrate in the Seahawks game. And as it turned out, the Vikings did need the celly, which can be considered as the cherry on top of another Minnesota victory — the team’s 13th of the season.</p><p>“’CAMP ROCK!!!!’ Behind the scenes 😂🎬🎬🎬 90’s babies this is for y’all! 😂🔥,” Bynum wrote.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“CAMP ROCK!!!!” Behind the scenes 😂🎬🎬🎬 90’s babies this is for y’all! 😂🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProBowlVote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProBowlVote</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cambeezy_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cambeezy_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NoExcuses_23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NoExcuses_23</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/byronmurphy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@byronmurphy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/horribleharry99?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@horribleharry99</a> Theo Jackson 🎬 <a href="https://t.co/W7NkAZlJtw">pic.twitter.com/W7NkAZlJtw</a></p><p>— Camryn Bynum (@Cambeezy_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cambeezy_/status/1871020526061367807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Vikings defense powering Minnesota</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Minnesota-Vikings-celebrate-after-an-interception-against-the-Seattle-Seahawks.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jackson’s interception was the second turnover forced by Minnesota in the game. The other one was by linebacker Dallas Turner in the second period.</p><p>Bynum’s claim that the Vikings are the best in the league when it comes to having on-field celebrations is hard to argue against. The 26-year-old Bynum has become some sort of a celebration maestro in the NFL. Of course, there can’t be celebrations from Bynum and the Vikings secondary without having success first.</p><p>The Vikings are leading the NFL with 22 defensive interceptions. No other team has more than 19. In addition, Minnesota has a total of 30 takeaways — second-most overall (just behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31).</p><p>The victory against the Seahawks extended the Vikings’ win streak to eight games and improved Minnesota’s overall record in the 2024 NFL regular season to 13-2. Minnesota is still battling the Detroit Lions for the top spot in the NFC North division and for the No. 1 seed in the conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings fans will 100% agree with Camryn Bynum’s take after Camp Rock celebration

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-compares-minnesota-lsu-championship');   ga('set', 'title', 'Justin Jefferson compares Vikings to LSU’s national championship team');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson-compares-Minnesota-to-LSUs-national-championship-team.jpg"></figure><h1>Justin Jefferson compares Vikings to LSU’s national championship team</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T08:32:45-08:00">December 23rd, 8:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T08:32:45-08:00">December 23rd, 8:32am</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings have slowly grown from one of the best stories in the NFL this season into a team that feels like it can truly compete for an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-historic-win-over-seahawks-opens-no-1-playoff-seed-path">Vikings improved to 13-2 on Sunday</a> with another nail biting win, this time over the Seattle Seahawks 27-24.</p><p>With this win, the path to a possible No. 1 seed and home field advantage in the NFC is very much within reach for Kevin O’Connell and company. If the Vikings are able to secure that, likely with wins over the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions over the final two weeks of the season, they would only have to win two games in Minnesota to reach the Super Bowl.</p><p>Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson has never won a Super Bowl himself, but he knows a thing or two about winning a championship. Jefferson was a key piece on the 2019 LSU team that won the CFP National Championship and is widely considered to be one of the best college football teams of all time. Jefferson thinks that this Vikings team <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43119403/justin-jefferson-agrees-vikings-championship-caliber-likens-2019-lsu-tigers-title-team" rel="noopener">can be like</a> that 2019 LSU team according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.</p><p>“Oh for sure,” Jefferson said, per Seifert. “Not just what we’re doing out there on the field, but the way we carry ourselves, the way we treat each other. … In 2019, when I won a championship at LSU, it was the same type of vibe. The team is just together, fighting for one another every single game. It definitely feels the same.”</p><h2><b>Vikings pushing for top seed with brutal closing schedule</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson_4ded2a.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It feels improbable that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-kevin-oconnell-coach-of-the-year-endorsement">Vikings have a chance to steal the No. 1 seed</a> in the NFC, but they’re just two wins away from a 15-2 regular season and the top seed in the NFC with Sam Darnold at quarterback.</p><p>The schedule-makers didn’t make it easy on them. The Vikings close the season with two of the best teams in the NFL, the 10-4 Packers and the 13-2 Lions. However, if they can come away with two wins, they will send the Packers and the Lions to the wild card round on the road and can have wild card weekend off.</p><p>Home field advantage would be a massive boost for the Vikings heading into the playoffs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-truth-bomb-justin-jefferson-game-winning-td">Kevin O’Connell and company are 7-2 at home</a> so far this season and will welcome Green Bay to Minnesota next week before heading to Detroit to close the season out. Sam Darnold is playing some of his best football right now, and Brian Flores’ defense can rattle any quarterback with the home crowd behind it.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/seahawks-most-blame-week-16-loss-vikings">Vikings will also be battle tested</a> heading into the playoffs after playing in one of the best divisions in the history of the NFL. The NFC North will likely enter the playoffs with three teams with at least 11, maybe 12, wins, and could possible have a pair of teams that are 14-3 or better. Those battles should prepare the Vikings for any incoming playoff fights.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Justin Jefferson compares Vikings to LSU’s national championship team

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-truth-bomb-justin-jefferson-game-winning-td');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell drops truth bomb on Justin Jefferson’s game-winning TD');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kevin-OConnell-drops-truth-bomb-on-Justin-Jeffersons-game-winning-TD.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell drops truth bomb on Justin Jefferson’s game-winning TD</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T08:06:24-08:00">December 23rd, 8:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T08:06:24-08:00">December 23rd, 8:06am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings keep on finding ways to win and continue their unbeaten streak. On Sunday, quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Justin Jefferson connected on an incredible touchdown that gave Minnesota the lead for good in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-vs-seahawks-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024">what turned out to be a 27-24 win against the Seattle Seahawks</a> at Lumen Field in Seattle.</p><p>Not really known for his mobility, Darnold used a little bit of his feet to find his target downfield. Jefferson, despite two Seahawks defenders converging on him, managed to secure Darnold’s toss for a 39-yard touchdown score that put Minnesota in front by two points before Will Reichard’s successful extra-point kick.</p><h2><b>Kevin O’Connell comments on Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson after wild win vs. Seahawks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Minnesota-Vikings-wide-receiver-Justin-Jefferson-18-celebrates-following-a-victory-.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>That play was just another example of why the Vikings have been so great on offense in the 2024 NFL season, <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/matthew-coller-the-haos-and-chemistry-of-the-vikings-game-winning-drive-01jfsxpvg43q" rel="noopener">as also pointed out</a> by Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell.</p><p>“I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments, especially we do a lot of things with Justin [Jefferson] and Sam [Darnold], seeing the coverage, and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage,” O’Connell said of Darnold and Jefferson after the game (h/t Matthew Coller of Sports Illustrated).</p><p>“I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff that they are able to execute it like they did which was maybe the play, absolutely the play of the game, maybe even considering just a moment and the circumstances of the season as well,” O’Connell added.</p><p>The fantastic sequence involving Darnold and Jefferson also added another highlight to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-sam-darnold-key-role-josh-mccown-played-breakout-campaign">quarterback’s resurgence in the NFL with the Vikings</a>. Many viewed Darnold as a transitional QB for Minnesota following Kirk Cousins’ departure but he’s certainly done enough to succeed people’s expectations of him when Minnesota inked the former USC Trojans signal-caller to a one-year, $10 million contract in March.</p><p>Darnold finished the Seahawks game with 246 passing yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions on 22-of-35 pass completions. Jefferson led the Vikings with 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions and 13 targets for the Vikings, who now sport a 13-2 record and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-historic-win-over-seahawks-opens-no-1-playoff-seed-path">remain in contention for the top seed in the NFC</a>.</p><p>The Vikings will take some rest before preparing for a Week 17 matchup against the Green Bay Packers at home.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell drops truth bomb on Justin Jefferson’s game-winning TD

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-kevin-oconnell-coach-of-the-year-endorsement');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ JJ McCarthy drops not-so-subtle Kevin O’Connell COY endorsement');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-news-JJ-McCarthy-drops-not-so-subtle-Kevin-OConnell-Coach-of-the-Year-endorsement.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings’ JJ McCarthy drops not-so-subtle Kevin O’Connell COY endorsement</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T07:13:17-08:00">December 23rd, 7:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T07:13:17-08:00">December 23rd, 7:13am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings beat the Seattle Seahawks 30-27 in Week 16. It marks Minnesota’s 13th win as they maintain their own destiny in the NFC one-seed race. They had low expectations coming into the season and they dropped even lower when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-jj-mccarthy-injury-update">JJ McCarthy suffered a knee injury</a>. The<a href="https://x.com/jjmccarthy09/status/1870986968496247252" rel="noopener"> rookie quarterback says that</a> Kevin O’Connell should be the Coach of the Year after this remarkable Vikings season.</p><p>“What’s the requirements for this Coach of The Year thing again? Asking for a friend,” McCarthy posted on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Kevin O’Connell has 34 wins in 50 games as the Vikings’ head coach. After a seven-win season last year, they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-atlanta-steals-kirk-cousins-away-from-vikings-4-year-contract">moved on from Kirk Cousins</a> and went the rookie route at quarterback. McCarthy is out for the entire season with a knee injury so Sam Darnold is the starter. The once-failed first-round pick has won all 13 games and O’Connell deserves a ton of credit.</p><p>The Vikings came <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2024/preseason_odds.htm" rel="noopener">into the season with a wins over/under</a> of 6.5. They cracked that total in November. Now, if they win out they will be the number-one seed in the NFC. While they have a quarterback controversy coming up this offseason, this season could be the one that finally ends in the Super Bowl for Minnesota.</p><h2><b>Kevin O’Connell deserves the Coach of the Year with the Vikings rolling</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kevin-OConnell-with-Minnesota-Vikings.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Vikings are not here without their coaching staff. O’Connell calls the offensive plays and gets everyone the ball, from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to TJ Hockenson and Aaron Jones. Brian Flores has their defense balling out, including the game-sealing interception of Geno Smith on Sunday.</p><p>O’Connell did not win the Coach of the Year award in his first season, finishing a distant sixth behind Brian Daboll. His Giants beat the Vikings in the playoffs, finishing off Minnesota’s fantastic season. They won every one-possession game they played that season until the playoffs.</p><p>Now, O’Connell should be the leader in the clubhouse for the Coach of the Year award. The award could be determined in Week 18, when the Vikings face Dan Campbell’s Lions possibly for the NFC North title. Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, and Sean McDermott will all stake their claims for the award as well.</p><p>The Vikings and Lions are both 13-2 through 16 weeks. Minnesota hosts the Green Bay Packers while the Lions travel to San Francisco in Week 17. Depending on those results, the final week could determine who gets the all-important bye in the NFC playoffs. If the Vikings win that game, there is no question who the Coach of the Year should be.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ JJ McCarthy drops not-so-subtle Kevin O’Connell COY endorsement

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/seahawks-news-tre-brown-striking-admission-justin-jeffersons-unreal-td-seahawks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tre Brown makes striking admission about Justin Jefferson’s unreal TD vs Seahawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Pharaoh-Brown-makes-striking-admission-about-Justin-Jeffersons-unreal-TD-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Tre Brown makes striking admission about Justin Jefferson’s unreal TD vs Seahawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T23:56:57-08:00">December 22nd, 11:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T00:00:54-08:00">December 23rd, 12:00am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In a game that underscored <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-historic-win-over-seahawks-opens-no-1-playoff-seed-path">the razor-thin margins of victory</a> in the NFL,<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/seahawks-news-geno-smith-brutally-honest-blame-struggles"> the Seattle Seahawks fell to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 in a nail-biting contest</a> that saw critical mistakes turn the tide. Cornerback Tre Brown, who found himself at the center of two pivotal moments, shared his thoughts after the game, <a href="https://x.com/BradyHenderson/status/1871009999021105268" rel="noopener">offering both accountability and respect</a> for his opponent.</p><p>Reflecting on an offsides penalty that extended a crucial Vikings drive, Brown admitted, “I looked over at the official to make sure I was lined up legally, as I usually do when pressing, but he really wasn’t giving me anything. It’s kind of hard to hear in there. Things happen. That’s what happened. Gotta get that fixed,” Brown told reporters via Brady Henderson on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>The penalty proved costly, leading to an unforgettable touchdown catch by Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson. Brown was in coverage on the play and had no shortage of praise for the Vikings’ star wide receiver. “That was a hell of a catch,” Brown said. “Late hands. It’s hard to see the ball right there. I wish I could have that play back. He’s one of the highest-paid, I respect him, but I feel like I could have made that play.”</p><h2><b>The Seahawks fall to the Vikings, as their playoff chances diminish</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson_701ed4.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jefferson’s late hands on the catch showcased his elite skill, adjusting his route and timing perfectly to snag Sam Darnold’s deep throw. The touchdown capped a quick two-play drive that flipped the game in the Vikings favor.</p><p>The Seahawks’ struggles weren’t limited to Brown’s penalty and the ensuing touchdown. Rookie defensive lineman Byron Murphy II also <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-playoff-hopes-take-a-dent-in-costly-loss-to-vikings/" rel="noopener">drew a critical facemask penalty</a> that negated a potential game-sealing sack. Head coach Mike Macdonald emphasized the impact of such mistakes. “We could have had a third-and-18 with two downs to go to try and seal it, and all of a sudden, two plays later, now we’re down three,” Macdonald said.</p><p>Despite a valiant effort by the Seahawks’ offense, including a late touchdown pass from Geno Smith to AJ Barner, the team’s playoff hopes took a major hit with the loss. Seattle’s fate is now out of its hands, with their postseason chances reduced to 24%, according to NFL projections.</p><p>The Vikings, meanwhile, capitalized on Seattle’s miscues and continued their playoff push. Jefferson’s game-winning catch cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most clutch performers. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised the connection between Darnold and Jefferson, noting, “Those guys were on the same page.”</p><p>For Brown and the Seahawks, the focus shifts to the remaining two games, where their slim playoff hopes hinge on winning out and a series of unlikely outcomes elsewhere in the league. As Macdonald put it, “We’re fighting for the right to stay alive, on a short week. What are you going to do?”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tre Brown makes striking admission about Justin Jefferson’s unreal TD vs Seahawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-vikings-historic-win-over-seahawks-opens-no-1-playoff-seed-path');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ historic win over Seahawks opens No. 1 playoff seed path');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Minnesotas-historic-win-over-Seahawks-opens-No.-1-playoff-seed-path.jpg"><figcaption>12/22/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings’ historic win over Seahawks opens No. 1 playoff seed path</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T18:09:27-08:00">December 22nd, 6:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T18:09:27-08:00">December 22nd, 6:09pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-defense-set-huge-stephon-gilmore-boost-week-16">Minnesota Vikings were an afterthought</a> at the start of the NFL season, and many observers looked at head coach Kevin O’Connell’s team as a likely last-place finisher in the NFC North. The situation has changed dramatically with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Vikings have reeled off eight straight victories and if they can earn wins in their final two games, they will win the NFC North and <a href="https://twitter.com/SeifertESPN/status/1870985755176366254">gain the No. 1 seed</a> in the NFC playoffs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vikings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vikings</a> survive in Seattle — and remain on a collision course with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lions</a> for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.  <a href="https://t.co/fi9qd8HZkr">pic.twitter.com/fi9qd8HZkr</a></p><p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1870985763133018167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Vikings moved closer to that goal when they emerged with a 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The win was just the 3rd for the Vikings in Seattle and they are 3-7 all-time in the Emerald City.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-sam-darnold-key-role-josh-mccown-played-breakout-campaign">The Vikings</a> have been chasing the Detroit Lions since the first half of the season. However, when the Lions lost their Week 15 home game to the Buffalo Bills, it allowed the Vikings to match Detroit’s record. Both teams are 13-2, and if both teams win in Week 17, it will set up a Week 18 winner-take-all game between the two NFC North rivals.</p><p>The Philadelphia Eagles have also been in the running for the top seed, but their 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders means they are one game behind both Detroit and Minnesota and would need quite a bit of assistance to gain the top seed.</p><h2><b>Vikings come through with 4th quarter rally vs. Seahawks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson-caught-the-game-winning-TD-pass-vs.-the-Seahawks.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Minnesota held a 20-17 lead over the Seahawks at the start of the fourth quarter. However, the Seahawks were able to take the lead with just 4:21 remaining when quarterback Geno Smith hit tight end A.J. Barner with a 4-yard touchdown pass. That play was the culmination of an 11-play, 83-yard drive.</p><p>The Vikings wasted no time regaining the lead. Quarterback Sam Darnold hit superstar wideout Justin Jefferson with a 39-yard touchdown pass with 3:51 remaining. Jefferson had beaten two Seahawks defenders along the sideline and Darnold delivered a perfect pass to the dynamic receiver.</p><p>Darnold continued his strong play in a very hostile and loud environment. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 246 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. Jefferson had another huge game as he caught 10 of 13 targets for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Fellow wideout Jordan Addison caught 5 passes for 35 yards. Running back Aaron Jones carried the ball 18 times and gained 67 yards and he also caught 3 passes for 26 yards.</p><p>The Vikings intercepted Smith twice, including the game-clinching pickoff by Theo Jackson on Seattle’s final possession of the game. Rookie linebacker Dallas Turner, normally a pass rusher, recorded the first interception of his career.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ historic win over Seahawks opens No. 1 playoff seed path

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/seahawks-news-geno-smith-kenneth-walker-vikings');   ga('set', 'title', 'Seahawks’ Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III set to play vs. Vikings');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Seahawks-news-Geno-Smith-Kenneth-Walker-III-set-to-play-vs-Vikings.jpg"></figure><h1>Seahawks’ Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III set to play vs. Vikings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T15:51:33-08:00">December 20th, 3:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T15:51:33-08:00">December 20th, 3:51pm</time><address><a>Dakota Zientek</a>Dakota Zientek graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 and has been writing about the NFL ever since. As a die-hard NFL fan, Dakota's fandom rides with the Chicago Bears through thick and thin -- regardless of how much pain it has caused his heart throughout the years. One day, he believes he will celebrate the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Maybe even... a few?</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With a banged-up offense heading into <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-vs-seahawks-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024">Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings</a>, the Seattle Seahawks got <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1870234162088595751" rel="noopener">positive news</a> in the form of injury updates surrounding Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker III, per Adam Schefter on X.</p><p>“Seahawks QB Geno Smith and RB Kenneth Walker III are off the injury report and good to go for Sunday’s game versus the Vikings,” Schefter wrote, giving Seahawks fans comfortability entering Sunday’s matchup.</p><p>Though both players were on the team’s injury report from Wednesday until Friday, Walker’s game-time status had more question marks than Smith’s.</p><p>Walker was nursing a calf injury that caused him to miss Wednesday’s practice entirely after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/seahawks-news-seattle-drops-kenneth-walker-iii-injury-update-packers-clash">being sidelined in Weeks 14 and 15</a>.</p><p>But, after back-to-back full practices from Walker on Thursday and Friday, he’s expected to play against the Vikings.</p><p>Smith, however, appears fully ready to go after leaving Week 15 early with a knee injury. But, with an entire week of full practice from Smith, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/seahawks-news-geno-smith-practice-update-knee-injury">he’s also expected to be a full-go on Sunday</a> against the Vikings.</p><h2><b>Seahawks’ offense missed Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III in Packers loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Walker-Smith.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The last time Smith and Walker shared the field was in Week 13 when the New York Jets defeated the Seahawks 26-21.</p><p>And while Zach Charbonnet stepped in wonderfully in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, the absence of Smith and Walker was wildly evident against the Packers.</p><p>Smith exited the game after going 15-for-19 with 149 yards and an interception. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/seahawks-news-sam-howell-replaces-injured-geno-smith-packers">once Howell entered the game</a>, the Seahawks’ offense saw a hard decline in production.</p><p>Against the Packers in Week 15, Howell completed just five passes for 24 yards, adding an interception and four sacks to his stat sheet.</p><p>After being the most-sacked quarterback in the league in 2023 (65 sacks), his first true appearance in 2024 showed a lot of the same from Howell.</p><p>And as the Seahawks lead the NFC West, their sites are set on getting one of the top four positions in the 2024 NFL Playoff Picture.</p><p>Finishing their regular season against the Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams, the health of both Smith and Walker will play a crucial factor in their playoff seeding.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Seahawks’ Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III set to play vs. Vikings

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-vikings-defense-set-huge-stephon-gilmore-boost-week-16');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings defense set for huge Stephon Gilmore boost in Week 16');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-news-Minnesota-defense-set-for-huge-Stephon-Gilmore-boost-in-Week-16.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings defense set for huge Stephon Gilmore boost in Week 16</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T15:05:46-08:00">December 20th, 3:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T15:05:46-08:00">December 20th, 3:05pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/minnesota-vikings-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-seahawks">Minnesota Vikings will head to Seattle</a> for a critical Week 16 matchup against the Seahawks, and they’ll have a key piece of their defense back in action. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-cb-stephon-gilmores-week-14-injury-status-gets-final-update">Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore is set to return after missing the last two games</a> with a hamstring injury.</p><p>“Vikings’ CB Stephon Gilmore, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, is off the injury report and set to make his return Sunday vs. Seattle,” via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Gilmore’s return <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1870191343869260145" rel="noopener">couldn’t come at a better time</a> for Minnesota. The Seahawks boast one of the league’s more potent passing attacks, averaging 240.4 passing yards per game—good for fifth in the NFL. Led by wide receivers D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett, Seattle’s aerial threat is the backbone of their offense, and Gilmore’s experience and skill will be essential to containing it.</p><h2><b>Stephon Gilmore is back for the Vikings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Stephon-Gilmore_2d1a2a.jpg"><figcaption>Steve Roberts-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The 33-year-old cornerback has been a critical asset for the Vikings since joining the team, providing leadership and stability to the secondary. At 6-foot-1, Gilmore’s size and physicality make him an ideal matchup for Metcalf, Seattle’s star receiver known for his strength and ability to dominate in one-on-one situations.</p><p>“It felt good to get back out there and move around,” Gilmore told the <i>Pioneer Press</i> earlier this week. “We were just trying to be smart about it.” He also credited his teammates and the Vikings’ training staff for their support during his recovery. “It sucks watching,” Gilmore admitted, “but we had to make sure we took the right steps.”</p><p>The Vikings will need Gilmore at full strength as they navigate a tough NFC playoff race. With the Seahawks’ offense relying heavily on their passing game, his return provides a significant boost for a defense that has been inconsistent at times this season. His presence should help take some pressure off Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin, who have shouldered the responsibility of covering top receivers in recent weeks.</p><p>Minnesota’s defense has excelled against the run for much of the season, but containing Seattle’s passing attack will be the key to securing a victory. With Fabian Moreau ruled out due to a hip injury, Gilmore’s return also provides much-needed depth in the secondary. The Vikings currently sit in the thick of the playoff hunt, and a win in Seattle would not only keep their postseason hopes alive but also solidify their standing in a competitive NFC. With Gilmore back on the field, the Vikings’ defense looks poised to make a strong push as the season reaches its critical final stretch.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings defense set for huge Stephon Gilmore boost in Week 16

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-former-giants-qb-daniel-jones-christmas-gesture-joining-vikings');   ga('set', 'title', 'Former Giants QB Daniel Jones’ classy Christmas gesture despite joining Vikings');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0067.jpeg"></figure><h1>Former Giants QB Daniel Jones’ classy Christmas gesture despite joining Vikings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T12:20:32-08:00">December 20th, 12:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T12:20:32-08:00">December 20th, 12:20pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-daniel-jones-breaks-silence-minnesota-signing">Daniel Jones may no longer be the quarterback for the New York Giants</a>, his recent actions show that he hasn’t forgotten the bonds he built during his time with the team. Despite being benched, released, and eventually signing with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, Jones <a href="https://x.com/JordanRaanan/status/1870188827916333196" rel="noopener">delivered a thoughtful holiday gesture</a> to his former teammates.</p><p>“Daniel Jones with a class move,” via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on X, formerly Twitter. “He may not be the Giants QB anymore but … he sent all the offensive linemen who were on the roster with him a limited edition bottle of Clase Azul. Jones was benched and released by the Giants last month. He’s on the Vikings practice squad.”</p><p>This classy act comes after a difficult year for Jones. The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-release-daniel-jones-after-turning-to-tommy-devito"> former first-round pick struggled with injuries and inconsistent play</a>, posting 2,070 passing yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Giants to a disappointing 2-8 start. His tenure with the team ended in November when he requested his release after being benched. Since his departure, the Giants have gone 0-4, highlighting the challenges of their season.</p><h2><b>Daniel Jones is still showing love to his fomented Giants teammates</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0066.jpeg"><figcaption>Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite the tumultuous ending in New York, Jones’s gesture exemplifies his leadership and respect for the teammates who battled alongside him. Offensive linemen often form a unique bond with their quarterback, as they are tasked with protecting him on every play. Jones’s decision to send limited-edition bottles of Clase Azul tequila to each lineman demonstrates his gratitude for their efforts, even during a challenging season.</p><p>Now with the Vikings, Jones is using his time on the practice squad to reset and prepare for the next phase of his career. He has the opportunity to work with Minnesota’s head coach Kevin O’Connell, known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, as he approaches free agency. While he isn’t currently on the field, Jones is part of a 12-2 team with championship aspirations, which could help him refine his game and attract interest from other NFL teams.</p><p>Jones’s holiday gesture underscores his character, showing that he values relationships and camaraderie even when facing personal and professional adversity. For teams considering signing him in the offseason, his generosity and leadership off the field could make him an appealing addition to their locker room.</p><p>As Jones looks to the future, his thoughtfulness serves as a reminder that even in a tough year, maintaining connections and expressing gratitude can leave a lasting impression. It’s a move that not only speaks to his character but also keeps him firmly in the minds of his former teammates and potential suitors alike.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Former Giants QB Daniel Jones’ classy Christmas gesture despite joining Vikings

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-sam-darnold-key-role-josh-mccown-played-breakout-campaign');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ Sam Darnold reveals key role Josh McCown has played in breakout campaign');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0Sam-Darnold-reveals-key-role-Josh-McCown-has-played-in-breakout-campaign0.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings’ Sam Darnold reveals key role Josh McCown has played in breakout campaign</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T08:39:10-08:00">December 20th, 8:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T08:39:10-08:00">December 20th, 8:39am</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>To the shock of many, quarterback Sam Darnold’s play has the Minnesota <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-nightmare-scenario-2024-nfl-playoff-seeding-matchups">Vikings poised to make a deep playoff run</a>. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-sam-darnold-drops-business-like-revelation-on-clinching-playoff-berth">Darnold’s breakout season</a> didn’t appear out of thin air.</p><p>Of course, he had to put in the work and prove he can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL. But Darnold didn’t do it alone, leaning on quarterbacks coach Josh McCown <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43064735/nfl-vikings-josh-mccown-sam-darnold-offensive-coordinator" rel="noopener">for trusted advice</a>, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.</p><p>“He’s been great,” Darnold said of McCown. “Just the way that – even when I first got here in OTAs – we’ve been able to learn the system together. And talk about gameplan and grow in it at the same time. It’s been a great journey so far.”</p><p>“He’s been a great coach to be able to lean on where situations aren’t necessarily going my way, and he’s also there when things are getting good, just to remind me of my fundamentals and what I’ve got to do to continue good quarterback play.”</p><p>McCown is in his year year as the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach after serving in the same role with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. His foray into coaching came after a 16-year NFL career on his own. It didn’t come with any Super Bowls or Pro Bowl appearances. But McCown is a respected mind and a newfound quarterback whisperer.</p><p>His tutelage has helped Sam Darnold reach once unthinkable career heights. Over 14 games, Darnold has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,530 yards, 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He ranks fifth in passing touchdowns and sixth in passing yards. Furthermore, if the regular season were to end after Week 16, Darnold has already set new career-highs across the board.</p><p>Alongside all of his counting stats, Darnold has the Vikings at 12-2. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot and are looking to take over the NFC North. All of that doesn’t happen without Sam Darnold finally realizing his first-round potential.</p><p>What happens after this season is still up in their air, the Vikings need to make a decision on their quarterback’s long-term future. However, it’s clear that Darnold-McCown connection has been a success. Perhaps Minnesota doesn’t want to mess up the mojo heading into 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ Sam Darnold reveals key role Josh McCown has played in breakout campaign

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-nightmare-scenario-2024-nfl-playoff-seeding-matchups');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings nightmare scenario for 2024 NFL Playoff seeding, matchups');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-nightmare-scenario-for-2024-NFL-Playoff-seeding-matchups.jpg"><figcaption>12/19/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings nightmare scenario for 2024 NFL Playoff seeding, matchups</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T17:50:35-08:00">December 19th, 5:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T17:50:35-08:00">December 19th, 5:50pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/minnesota-vikings-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-seahawks">Minnesota Vikings have been chasing</a> the Detroit Lions in the NFC North for the majority of the season. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s team got some excellent news in Week 15 when the Lions finally saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end when they dropped a 48-42 decision to the explosive Buffalo Bills.</p><p>While the Vikings are still technically in second place in the division, both teams have 12-2 records with three regular-season games to go. The final game of the regular season will see the Vikings go to Ford Field, and if the Vikings can beat the Lions on their home field and not lose their other two games, Minnesota will end up as the NFC North winner.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-vikings-kevin-oconnell-makes-pick-nfl-coach-year">The Vikings have won</a> seven games in a row after beating the Chicago Bears 30-12 Monday night. If they can stretch that winning streak to 10 games behind quarterback Sam Darnold and wideout Justin Jefferson, they have the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Both the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles could end up with 15-2 records, but Minnesota has the advantage in strength of schedule at this point, and that would deliver the edge on earning a bye and the NFC playoffs going through U.S. Bank Stadium.</p><p>That’s the ideal scenario. However, if they can’t take the division title away from the Lions, the best they could finish is with the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. All division winners take the top four seeds, so even if the Vikings had better records than multiple division winners, they would be forced to start the postseason on the road.</p><h2><b>Nightmare scenario No. 1, Vikings face Rams</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Vikings-defense-has-gotten-a-lift-from-Blake-Cashman.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If the Vikings finish second to the Lions in the NFC North, would likely play the division winner with the fourth-best record. Heading into Week 16, that opponent would be the Los Angeles Rams.</p><p>Both the Rams and the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 8-6 records, but the <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-playoff-picture-2024-updated-afc-and-nfc-standings-bracket-tiebreakers-for-week-15">Bucs would have the edge</a> on the Rams because they have a better record within the NFC.</p><p>The Vikings and Rams met in Week 8, and the Vikings suffered their second defeat of the season in that game. The Rams were desperate for a win at that point and they rallied for a 30-20 victory in Los Angeles. A matchup with the Rams would not necessarily be a problem for the Vikings, but it is a nightmare because the No. 1 seed is within their grasp.</p><p>Failing to get a first-round bye and going on the road to the West Coast to compete in the playoffs is troubling. However, linebacker Blake Cashman is capable of leading the team to a strong road performance in the postseason.</p><h2><b>Nightmare scenario No. 2, Vikings face Buccaneers</b></h2><p>If the Vikings fail to secure the No. 1 seed and finish second to the Lions, the Vikings could have a much tougher matchup if the Rams bypassed the Bucs and took the No. 3 seed.</p><p>That would leave the Bucs as the No. 4 seed, and Tampa Bay appears to be a tougher matchup than the Rams. The Bucs struggled in the middle part of the schedule as they dropped four consecutive games from Week 7 through 10.</p><p>However, since dropping a 23-20 decision to the San Francisco 49ers, the Bucs have won four straight games and  quarterback Baker Mayfield has gotten hot. It could be much harder to go to Tampa for a first-round playoff game against a quarterback who is on fire like Mayfield.</p><p>The Tampa Bay signal caller was on top of his game in Week 15 when he completed 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mayfield demonstrated his confidence and skill throughout the game, and beating him on his home field would be a major challenge for the Vikings.</p><h2><b>Nightmare scenario No. 3, Vikings fall to 3rd place</b></h2><p>The Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 4 and have a two-game lead over Green Bay. However, if the Vikings lose to the Packers in Week 16 and also drop their finale against the Lions, the Packers could bypass them.</p><p>The Vikings have a 3-1 NFC North record, but that division record would fall to 3-3 with losses to Green Bay and Detroit. The Packers have a 1-3 division record, but beating the Vikings and closing the season with a win over the Bears would improve that mark to 3-3.</p><p>If the Vikings fell to the No. 6 seed, they would seemingly have to face a tougher opponent than if they were the No. 5 seed. However, since the situation between the Rams and Buccaneers is still to be determined, they could face either opponent as the No. 6 seed.</p><h2><b>Anything but the No. 1 seed would be something of a nightmare for Vikings</b></h2><p>Now that they have made up the one-game deficit on the Lions, the Vikings control their destiny. They could conceivably fail to win the division and then go on a road winning streak in the playoffs, but that’s not likely.</p><p>They need to take advantage of their opportunity, secure the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. If they don’t do that, it will be something of a nightmare for the Vikings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings nightmare scenario for 2024 NFL Playoff seeding, matchups

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-vikings-kevin-oconnell-makes-pick-nfl-coach-year');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell makes his pick for NFL Coach of the Year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kevin-OConnell-and-Sam-Darnold-have-had-a-great-partnership-this-season.jpg"><figcaption>12/19/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell makes his pick for NFL Coach of the Year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T14:35:50-08:00">December 19th, 2:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T14:38:45-08:00">December 19th, 2:38pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/minnesota-vikings-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-seahawks">Minnesota Vikings have provided</a> one of the most surprising seasons in their history. Selected by many observers to finish in last place in the NFC North before the start of the season, the Vikings have played stellar football and head into the final three weeks of the regular season with a 12-2 record. They are tied with the Detroit Lions for first place and have an opportunity to not only win the division but also secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been something of a miracle worker for the Vikings and he is a legitimate candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.</p><p>O’Connell is largely thought of as a quarterback guru, and he has made that label stand out while working with Sam Darnold this season. Prior to this season, Darnold was viewed as an ordinary signal caller who had struggled in his previous six seasons. He has far exceeded anything he has done in the past and is a legitimate contender for a Pro Bowl nomination and he is likely to receive at least some votes for the Most Valuable Player Award.</p><p>O’Connell understands that his performance has upped his status in NFL coaching circles. However, he believes that Dan Campbell of the Lions <a href="https://youtu.be/zqAxhjXz9oY?t=344">is deserving</a> of strong consideration for coaching honors.</p><p>“If I can’t vote for myself I would probably say I think Dan Campbell coaching in our division,” O’Connell said on the Dan Patrick Show. “That team is always really well prepared, tough, they’ve truly taken on the persona of their head coach which I think is what means the most in this position having done it now for 3 years.”</p><h2><b>Vikings facing a challenging finish</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kevin-OConnell-and-Sam-Darnold-have-had-a-great-partnership-this-season-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Vikings have a seven-game winning streak as they prepare for their Week 16 game on the road with the Seattle Seahawks. Even if the Vikings can win that tough assignment, they close the regular season with a home game against the Green Bay Packers and a road game against the Detroit Lions. It will be a major challenge to come away with their winning streak intact.</p><p>Darnold’s numbers have been exceptional for the Vikings, as he has completed 288 of 426 passes for 3,530 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The quarterback has one of the best wide receiver duos in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-reps-randy-moss-after-win-over-bears">Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison</a> along with tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings versatility in the passing game along with the talent of running back Aaron Jones has given O’Connell a dynamic offense to command.</p><p>Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has continued to get solid play from Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, and this team’s balance will help O’Connell in his battle with Campbell for NFL coaching honors.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell makes his pick for NFL Coach of the Year

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/minnesota-vikings-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-seahawks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Minnesota Vikings bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Seahawks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Minnesota-Vikings-bold-predictions-for-Week-16-vs.-Seahawks.jpg"></figure><h1>Minnesota Vikings bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Seahawks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T18:52:59-08:00">December 18th, 6:52pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T18:52:59-08:00">December 18th, 6:52pm</time><address><a>Shane Shoemaker</a>Shane Shoemaker is an Associate Editor and Editorial writer for ClutchPoints, covering a wide range of sports and entertainment topics. Shane is a lifelong Tennessean yet refuses allegiance to any Tennessee-based teams. He's a graduate from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with a BA in Communications/Journalism. There's a good chance he'll never let you forget the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After three weeks of home games, the Minnesota Vikings hit the road <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-vs-seahawks-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024">in Week 16</a>, traveling to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks.</p><p>Though the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-sam-darnold-drops-business-like-revelation-on-clinching-playoff-berth">Vikings (12-2) have already clinched</a> a spot in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">NFC playoff picture</a>, the battle for the NFC North remains alive, as they aim to overtake the Detroit Lions. The Lions, who lost last week at home to the Buffalo Bills, are holding onto a slim lead in the division.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Seahawks (8-6) are in a different kind of fight. After sitting atop the NFC West just a week ago, Seattle dropped their first game in over a month, allowing the Los Angeles Rams to snatch the division lead. Seattle is desperate to get back on track and keep their playoff hopes alive.</p><p>Interestingly, the Vikings’ last loss came at the hands of the Rams back in Week 8, a game that took place on the road. Minnesota hopes to avoid a similar fate as they head west once again this week. With that, let’s dive into our Vikings bold predictions for their matchup against the Seahawks in Week 16.</p><h2><b>Sam Darnold throws for at least 215 yards, one touchdown, one interception</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Minnesota-Vikings-QB-Sam-Darnold.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It has been the Sam Darnold show for the Vikings this season. The 27-year-old quarterback has completely revitalized his career, earning MVP buzz and putting himself in line for potential contract extension discussions with Minnesota.</p><p>Only twice this season has Darnold failed to surpass 200 passing yards, as head coach Kevin O’Connell has consistently leaned on him to facilitate the offense. Against the Seahawks in Week 16, expect Darnold to continue being the centerpiece. Look for him to throw for at least 215 yards and one touchdown. However, it’s likely he’ll also throw an interception, as he has only gone without one in six games this season.</p><h2><b>The Vikings defense stifles Geno Smith, holding him to under 200 yards of offense and no touchdowns</b></h2><p>The Seahawks were fortunate that Geno Smith didn’t suffer a significant injury in last week’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-seahawks-must-panic-after-catastrophic-loss-to-packers">loss to the Green Bay Packers</a>. Smith was reportedly a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, so he’s expected to suit up against the Vikings in Week 16.</p><p>That said, Smith will face one of the toughest defenses in the league. Minnesota ranks near the top in quarterback pressure rate (26.3%) and sacks (42), per Pro Football Reference’s <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2024/opp.htm" rel="noopener">stats</a>. So, expecting an easier day for Smith isn’t realistic. Considering he’s still recovering and facing this relentless Vikings pass rush, Smith is likely to have his worst performance of the season, being held to under 200 total yards of offense and no touchdowns.</p><h2><b>Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison each score a touchdown</b></h2><p>In the past two weeks, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison have been lighting it up for the Vikings’ offense. The dynamic duo has combined for 401 yards and six touchdowns during that span. Interestingly, the only game where they both scored was the victory over the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 16 against the Seahawks, look for both Jefferson and Addison to find the end zone again.</p><h2><b>Vikings beat Seahawks on the road to make eight game winning streak</b></h2><p>This will be the Vikings’ toughest challenge since their narrow Week 13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, a 23-22 thriller. Not only are they facing a Seahawks team still fighting for an NFC playoff spot, but the added challenge of this being Minnesota’s longest road trip of the season raises some concerns.</p><p>However, with Geno Smith banged up and the Seahawks reeling from a tough loss to another NFC North opponent, the Vikings may have the edge. This game has all the makings of a tight contest, possibly decided by a field goal, but Minnesota should find a way to pull out a hard-fought win and return home victorious.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Minnesota Vikings bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Seahawks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-vs-seahawks-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024');   ga('set', 'title', 'Vikings vs. Seahawks predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vikings-vs.-Seahawks-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-NFL-Week-16-2024.jpg"></figure><h1>Vikings vs. Seahawks predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T14:19:35-08:00">December 18th, 2:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T15:43:03-08:00">December 19th, 3:43pm</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks as they look to continue their momentum as they push toward the Number 1 seed in the playoffs as they come into this Week 16 matchup. It is time to continue our NFL odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting" rel="noopener">series</a> with a Vikings-Seahawks prediction and pick.</p><figure><img src="https://a.impactradius-go.com/display-ad/3065-2113640"></figure><figure><img src="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/i/492408/2113640/3065"></figure><h2><b>Vikings-Seahawks Last Game – Matchup History</b></h2><p>The Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks last met on September 26, 2021, when the Vikings took a 30-17 victory at home. Kirk Cousins led the charge with 323 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Alexander Mattison added 112 rushing yards.</p><p>The win ended a seven-game losing streak for Minnesota against Seattle. Historically, the Seahawks hold a dominant edge in the rivalry, with an all-time record of 13-6, including a 12-6 mark in regular-season matchups and one playoff win in 2015. The Vikings will look to narrow this gap in Week 16.</p><p>Overall Series: 13-6 (Seattle Seahawks)</p><p><i><b>Here are the Vikings-Seahawks <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nfl" rel="noopener">NFL odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </b></i></p><h2><b>NFL Odds: Vikings-Seahawks Odds</b></h2><p>Minnesota Vikings: -3.5 (+100)</p><p>Moneyline: -168</p><p>Seattle Seahawks: -3.5 (-122)</p><p>Moneyline: +142</p><p>Over: 42.5 (-115)</p><p>Under: 42.5 (-105)</p><h2><b>How to Watch Vikings vs. Seahawks </b></h2><p>Time: 4:05 PM ET/1:05 PM PT</p><p>TV: FOX</p><p><i><b>*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?irad=356362&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Why The Vikings Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Minnesota Vikings are poised to extend their impressive seven-game winning streak as they face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16. The Vikings’ recent surge has been fueled by a potent combination of offensive firepower and defensive dominance.</p><p>Quarterback Sam Darnold has been a revelation, protecting the ball well and efficiently distributing it to playmakers like Justin Jefferson. The Vikings’ ground game has also found its rhythm, with Aaron Jones and Cam Akers providing a formidable one-two punch that will challenge Seattle’s defense.</p><p>Defensively, Minnesota has been relentless, ranking among the NFL’s top teams with more than 40 sacks this season. This pass rush, led by the likes of Jonathan Greenard, could wreak havoc against a potentially compromised Seahawks offensive line.</p><p>Seattle, on the other hand, enters this crucial matchup with significant question marks. The uncertainty surrounding Geno Smith’s knee injury looms large with the possibility of backup Sam Howell stepping in.</p><p>This instability at the quarterback position could prove disastrous against Minnesota’s aggressive defense. Moreover, the Seahawks have struggled at home this season, posting a disappointing 3-5 record at Lumen Field.</p><p>The Vikings, conversely, have demonstrated their road prowess throughout their winning streak. With playoff implications on the line and momentum firmly on their side, the Vikings are well-positioned to secure a victory in Seattle and further solidify their standing in the NFC North race.</p><h2><b>Why The Seahawks Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Seattle Seahawks are looking to rebound and defeat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16, leveraging their home-field advantage at Lumen Field, known for its deafening crowd noise. Despite a recent loss to the Packers, Seattle’s defense has been formidable, ranking 11th in defensive DVOA against a challenging schedule.</p><p>With Geno Smith likely to play, the Seahawks’ offense can capitalize on the Vikings’ defense, which has yet to face a top-12 offense since Week 7.</p><p>Seattle’s running game, led by Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker, offers another edge. Charbonnet and Walker have been efficient running the ball and can exploit Minnesota’s defense.</p><p>The Seahawks have historically performed well against elite teams late in the season, with home underdogs boasting a strong ATS record in similar scenarios. This combination of strategic advantages and historical trends positions Seattle to halt Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak.</p><h2><b>Final Vikings-Seahawks Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>Seattle’s home-field advantage at Lumen Field and their strong defensive DVOA (11th) make them formidable underdogs. Historically, the Seahawks have fared well against Minnesota at home, winning five straight in Seattle.</p><p>While Minnesota’s offense has faced weaker competition recently, Seattle’s defense has been tested against top offenses, giving them a chance to keep this game close. Expect a tight contest where the spread could go either way. However, the Seahawks have historically performed well as home underdogs, especially late in the season.</p><p>Seattle’s defense ranks 11th in DVOA despite facing a challenging schedule, which could test Minnesota’s offense that hasn’t faced a top-12 defense since Week 7. Having Geno Smith at the helm, albeit not at full strength, could provide a boost to Seattle’s offense.</p><p>While the Vikings are the stronger team on paper, Seattle’s home-field advantage at Lumen Field, known for its deafening crowd noise, could be a significant factor. The Seahawks’ 3-5 home record this season, however, suggests vulnerability.</p><p>Given Seattle’s offensive power and defensive prowess, coupled with Minnesota’s less-than-stellar record against top defenses, the Seahawks +3.5 appears to be the value play in this matchup.</p><p><b>Final Vikings-Seahawks Prediction &amp; Pick: Seattle Seahawks +3.5 (-122), Over 42.5 (-115)</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Vikings vs. Seahawks predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-jonathan-greenards-wife-wont-love-his-cheeky-comment-after-dominating-bears');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jonathan Greenard’s wife won’t love his cheeky comment after Vikings beat Bears');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jonathan-Greenards-wife-wont-love-his-cheeky-comment-after-dominating-Bears.jpg"></figure><h1>Jonathan Greenard’s wife won’t love his cheeky comment after Vikings beat Bears</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T09:01:03-08:00">December 17th, 9:01am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T09:01:03-08:00">December 17th, 9:01am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Minnesota Vikings</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Minnesota Vikings are having an incredible 2024 NFL season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-bills-win-shootout-seahawks-struggle">Minnesota is 12-2 heading into Week 16</a> after getting a huge <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bears-vs-vikings-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-15">win against Chicago on Monday Night Football</a>. Now the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">Vikings are right up there with with the top teams in the NFC</a> with 12 wins. Minnesota won on Monday thanks in large part to a strong defensive performance.</p><p>Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard <a href="https://x.com/SeifertESPN/status/1868888984828756008" rel="noopener">dropped a cheeky comment about one of his defensive plays</a>. The play tilted the game in favor of the Vikings in the first half.</p><p>“I tell everybody that a strip sack is the best feeling in the world. Sorry to my wife, by the way,” Greenard said after the game, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.</p><p>Greenard was then asked if he really meant that.</p><p>“100 percent,” Greenard replied. “She know.</p><p>Greenard is referring to his strip sack of Caleb Williams during the first quarter. The play dismantled a Bears drive and quickly led to a touchdown by the Vikings.</p><p>Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell praised his defensive unit during his postgame press conference.</p><p>“Our defense was phenomenal,” O’Connell said.</p><p>Minnesota shut out Chicago during the first half, entering halftime at 13-0. The Bears tried to mount of a comeback in the second half, but the Vikings answered them score for score.</p><p>Now Minnesota can set their sights on their next opponent.</p><h2><b>Vikings within striking distance of NFC North title, No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kevin-OConnell.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The final three games of the regular season will be hugely important for the Vikings.</p><p>Minnesota has the same record as the Lions and Eagles. They have a tough slog to finish the regulars season, but the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-vikings-must-considered-favorite-win-nfc-north-over-lions-packers"> Vikings legitimately have a chance to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC</a> and win the NFC North.</p><p>“Its going to be incredibly competitive down the stretch,” O’Connell said via ESPN. “We’re going to have to play well and continue to improve, chasing our best football.”</p><p>The Vikings have to play the Seahawks, Packers, and Lions to finish the regular season. Their Week 18 matchup with Detroit could be the game that decides the NFC North winner.</p><p>Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson believes in his team’s potential after Monday’s big win. He thinks the Vikings can achieve their wildest dreams this season.</p><p>“Just seeing us stacking the plays, stacking the good games together is really good to see,” Jefferson said. “Our potential is so high. Every game we’re expecting the offense to be the best on that field.”</p><p>There’s no telling how far the Vikings could go in the postseason. As long as they maintain their strong level of play, the sky is the limit.</p><p>Next up for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/schedule/upcoming">Vikings is a Week 16 matchup against the Seahawks</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jonathan Greenard’s wife won’t love his cheeky comment after Vikings beat Bears

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-reps-randy-moss-after-win-over-bears');   ga('set', 'title', 'Justin Jefferson reps Randy Moss after Vikings’ win over Bears');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson-reps-Randy-Moss-after-win-over-Bears.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Justin Jefferson reps Randy Moss after Vikings’ win over Bears</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T08:16:14-08:00">December 17th, 8:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T08:16:14-08:00">December 17th, 8:16am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bears</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-aaron-jones-fans-spider-man-celebration-milestone-touchdown">Minnesota Vikings extended their win streak to seven games</a> with a dominant performance over the Chicago Bears in their Week 15 Monday Night Football matchup. The Vikings’ 30-12 victory improved their record to 12-2, tying them with the Detroit Lions (12-2) for the top spot in the NFC North.</p><p>Justin Jefferson set the tone early for Minnesota, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter. After crossing the goal line, the star wide receiver <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vikings-news-justin-jefferson-3-word-message-randy-moss-touchdown-bears">directed his celebration toward Vikings legend Randy Moss</a>.</p><p>“We love you, Randy,” Jefferson said, screaming into the mic. “That’s for you.”</p><p>Jefferson’s tribute came in the wake of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-randy-moss-makes-cancer-admission">Moss announcing his cancer diagnosis on December 13</a>. Following the game, Jefferson spoke to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert while wearing a Randy Moss jersey, further honoring the Hall of Famer’s impact on his career.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Justin Jefferson still repping Randy Moss postgame. <a href="https://t.co/Hx9Bt8y9LG">pic.twitter.com/Hx9Bt8y9LG</a></p><p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1868880049375789391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“I’m grateful for what he has done for this game,” Jefferson <a href="https://x.com/SeifertESPN/status/1868914777973510177" rel="noopener">said</a>. “And what he has done for me as a kid. Just watching him and being a fan of him, I’ve always got to show love to him.”</p><p>Jefferson finished the night with seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, once again proving why he is one of the NFL’s top receivers.</p><h2><b>Justin Jefferson honors Randy Moss’ legacy amid ongoing cancer battle</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Justin-Jefferson-18-celebrates-his-touchdown-against-the-Chicago-Bears.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Rempel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Moss revealed his diagnosis after doctors discovered a cancerous mass in the bile duct between his pancreas and liver. Following that, he then underwent a six-hour surgery that included the removal of part of the small intestine, gallbladder, bile duct, and the head of the pancreas. Moss is now preparing to begin radiation and chemotherapy as part of his recovery.</p><p>The Vikings’ victory over the Bears further solidified their stronghold in the NFC North as they inch closer to the postseason. Minnesota’s offense, led by quarterback Sam Darnold and Jefferson, continues to deliver strong performances down the stretch. The defense also held the Bears to just two touchdowns, showcasing a well-rounded effort.</p><p>Minnesota will look to continue their momentum and honor Moss’ legacy as they prepare for a Week 16 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks (8-6). The game marks another critical test for the Vikings as they aim to secure the division title and strengthen their playoff position.</p><p>Jefferson’s tribute underscored the deep connection between past and present Vikings stars, reflecting the impact Moss has had not only on the franchise but on players who grew up idolizing him. As Moss continues his battle with cancer, Jefferson and the Vikings look to carry his legacy forward with their performances on the field.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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