NFL scores: Vikings top Packers, Dolphins beat Browns as both clubs keep their playoff dreams alive

Posted by Admin December 30, 2024 NFL

Sam Darnold and the Vikings held on to beat the Packers on Sunday afternoon. (AP/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Much like their Week 4 encounter, the Green Bay Packers’ late rally against the Minnesota Vikings came up short by two points, this time in a 27-25 loss on Sunday afternoon. Sam Darnold was brilliant, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Minnesota will now take on Detroit in Week 18 with the winner taking the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the NFC — regardless of the the outcome of the Lions-49ers matchup on Monday night.

In Cleveland, the Miami Dolphins stayed alive for a shot at an AFC wild card berth with a 20-3 win over the Browns. Snoop Huntley started in place of Tua Tagovailoa, who’s dealing with a hip injury, and had both a rushing and passing touchdown in the victory. Miami has fought through injuries at quarterback all season to still have a shot at the postseason. Miami needs to close with a win at the Jets in Week 18 and get some help to wind up with the No. 7 seed in the AFC and a first round date with the Bills.

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Mon, December 30, 2024 at 1:24 AM GMT+1

Cam Akers seals it with tremendous catch on a 3rd and 2

The Packers were THIS close to getting a stop. Green Bay will fall to 0-5 against the top three teams in the NFC while being 11-0 against the rest of the NFL.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 1:19 AM GMT+1

Dolphins stay alive in playoff chase with 20-3 win in Cleveland
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 1:16 AM GMT+1

Malik Heath catches TD pass with just over two minutes to go

Green Bay is somehow still in this game, and with 2:18 left, the Packers are down 27-25. Minnesota has 417 yards of offense, but will need to hold on and get a couple of first downs to close the deal, after being up 27-10 with seven minutes left on the clock.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 1:09 AM GMT+1

Packers force a quick punt, and start with good field position

A penalty dropped Minnesota back, deep in its own end, resulting in Green Bay starting the drive near their own 40 yard yard line, down by nine with just under 5 minutes to go.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 1:07 AM GMT+1

Packers stay in it with Emmanuel Wilson TD and 2-point conversion

It’s 27-18 after a quality Green Bay drive that ends in a Wilson TD run. It was the Packers’ best drive of the day. With just over six minutes left in the game — and two timeouts — Green Bay is still in it.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 12:45 AM GMT+1

Minnesota’s defense is getting its licks in now

Jordan Love swarmed under for a 3rd down sack with under 14 minutes to go in the game. The Minnesota D has been every bit as god as the offense, holding the Packers to just 137 total yards to this point in the game.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 12:34 AM GMT+1

Sam Darnold is torching Green Bay, and now has three touchdown passes today

The interception to Carrington Valentine aside, Darnold has been in complete control of the game. 29-of-36 for 312 yards and three touchdowns after this catch and run by Cam Akers. It’s 27-10 and looks like Minnesota is on a crash course with Detroit for a massive, winner-take-all showdown for the NFC North and No. 1 seed in Week 18.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 12:25 AM GMT+1

Josh Jacobs cashes in the pick, and the Packers cut it to two scores

Make it seven-straight games with a touchdown for Josh Jacobs after this two-yard TD run, and it’s 20-10 with five minutes left in the third quarter. The Packers are back in it.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 12:21 AM GMT+1

Packers pick Darnold, have some life late

Carrington Valentine comes up huge for the Packers, who have one of their best scoring chances of the day after that pick, starting deep in Minnesota territory.
Mon, December 30, 2024 at 12:11 AM GMT+1

Darnold finds Jordan Addison for second TD pass of the game

The Vikings are cooking. It’s 20-3 — and 20 straight points for Minnesota — after Addison’s 9th touchdown catch of the season. Minnesota is in control in the third quarter, now up three scores.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:56 PM GMT+1

Tyler Huntley pads Miami’s lead

This 13-yard run was the first touchdown of the game and put Miami up by 10 early in the third quarter. He’s got 20 rushing yards in the game after this one, and has been very efficient through the air — 17-of-20 for 189 yards.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:51 PM GMT+1

Will Reichard closes first half with a field goal after an adventure final play

After Green Bay took an “ice the kicker” timeout, Reichard missed from 55 yards with zeros on the clock. One problem Green Bay was flagged for offsides. Reichard then knocked through a 50-yard attempt, through a chorus of whistles, as Matt LaFleur called a second timeout — something he was able to do because of the penalty — before the Vikings kicker finally made the 50-yard kick that went into the books and ended the half with a 13-3 lead.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:35 PM GMT+1

Vikings take 10-3 lead

Minnesota got into a goal-to-go situation, but was unable to come up with a TD, and Will Reichard knocked through his second field goal of the game to give the Vikings a one touchdown advantage.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:34 PM GMT+1

Dolphins close first half with field goal to take lead

A low-scoring game in Cleveland is at the half with Miami holding on to a 6-3 lead. Snoop Huntley has been efficient for Miami, in place of Tua Tagovailoa, going 13-for-16 for 143 yards in the first half. Tyreek Hill had five catches for 69 yards. Miami needs a win to stay alive in the AFC wild card chase.

Tyreek Hill had five catches in the first half on Sunday against the Browns. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:30 PM GMT+1

Vikings on the move after Packers’ failed 4th down

The Vikings followed this up with a big run by Cam Akers to get it to a first and goal.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:25 PM GMT+1

Packers fail to convert 4th down deep in Vikings territory

Matt LaFleur chooses to go for it and comes up short on a 4th and 2, rather than going for another Brandon McManus field goal attempt. Score remains 7-3, Vikings, midway through the second quarter.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:11 PM GMT+1

Sam Darnold hits Jalen Nailor for six

When Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison get the bulk of the attention, it’s time for a No. 3 receiver to step up. Nailor has been filling that role all season, and now he’s got six touchdown catches on the season after this rainbow from Darnold to give Minnesota a 7-3 lead.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:08 PM GMT+1

Aaron Jones cooking early for Minnesota
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 11:00 PM GMT+1

Packers take 3-0 lead

After the Reichard miss, Green Bay marched it down into the red zone, but had to settle for a Brandon McManus field goal, late in the first quarter.
Sun, December 29, 2024 at 10:56 PM GMT+1

Dustin Hopkins gets Cleveland on the board with a field goal

Points look like they might be hard to come by in Cleveland, with the Browns finally getting some points to make it 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half.