NFL results: The Vikings are the top Packers, the Dolphins beat the Browns and both clubs keep their playoff dreams alive
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NFL results: The Vikings are the top Packers, the Dolphins beat the Browns and both clubs keep their playoff dreams alive

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

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

Similar to their Week 4 matchup, the Green Bay Packers fell two points behind in their late clash against the Minnesota Vikings, this time with a 27-25 loss on Sunday afternoon. Sam Darnold was brilliant, rushing for 377 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Minnesota will now face Detroit in Week 18, with the winner clinching the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the NFC, regardless of the outcome of Monday night’s Lions-49ers matchup.

In Cleveland, the Miami Dolphins stayed alive with a 20-3 win over the Browns and had a chance at an AFC wild card spot. Snoop Huntley started in place of Tua Tagovailoa, who is dealing with a hip injury, and scored both a rushing and passing touchdown in the win. Miami has battled injuries at quarterback all season to have a shot at the postseason. Miami needs to finish Week 18 with a win at the Jets and get some help to reach the No. 7 seed in the AFC and a first-round appointment with the Bills.

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  • Cam Akers makes a great catch on a 3rd-and-2 to close things out

    The Packers were SO close to getting a stop. Green Bay is 0-5 against the top three teams in the NFC, while it is 11-0 against the rest of the NFL.

  • The Dolphins stay alive in the playoff chase with a 20-3 win in Cleveland

  • With just over two minutes left, Malik Heath caught the TD pass

    Green Bay is somehow still in the 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 few first downs to close the deal after leading 27-10 with seven minutes to play.

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

    A penalty put Minnesota back deep into its own net, resulting in Green Bay starting the drive near its own 40-yard line and trailing by nine yards with just under five minutes to play.

  • The Packers hang on with Emmanuel Wilson TD and 2-point conversion

    It’s 27-18 after a quality Green Bay drive that ends with a TD run by Wilson. 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.

  • Minnesota’s defense gets its chance now

    Jordan Love swarmed for a third down sack with less than 14 minutes to play. The Minnesota D was just as good as the offense, holding the Packers to just 137 total yards to this point in the game.

  • Sam Darnold is on fire for Green Bay and has three touchdown passes today

    Aside from Carrington Valentine’s interception, Darnold was 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 it looks like Minnesota is on a crash course with Detroit for a massive showdown for the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in Week 18.

  • Josh Jacobs takes the pick and the Packers cut it to two points

    With a touchdown for Josh Jacobs after that two-yard TD run, it’s seven games in a row and the score is 20-10 with five minutes left in the third quarter. The Packers are at it again.

  • The Packers choose Darnold and still have some time

    Carrington Valentine is a big opportunity for the Packers, who will have one of their best scoring opportunities of the day after this pick as they start deep in Minnesota territory.

  • Darnold finds Jordan Addison for the second TD pass of the game

    The Vikings cook. 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 and is now three points ahead.

  • Tyler Huntley extends Miami’s lead

    This 13-yard run was the game’s first touchdown and put Miami ahead by 10 early in the third quarter. After this game, he has 20 rushing yards in the game and was very efficient through the air – 17 of 20 for 189 yards.

  • Will Reichard ends the first half with a field goal after an adventurous last play

    After Green Bay called an “Ice the Kicker” timeout, Reichard missed from 55 yards with zeros on the clock. One problem was that Green Bay was flagged for offside. Reichard then knocked through a 50-yard attempt while Matt LaFleur took a second timeout — which he was able to do because of the penalty — before the Vikings kicker finally made the 50-yard kick that went into the score and ended the score Halftime with a 13:3 lead.

  • The Vikings take a 10-3 lead

    Minnesota got into a score-to-go situation but couldn’t score a touchdown, and Will Reichard missed his second field goal of the game to give the Vikings a touchdown advantage.

  • The Dolphins end the first half with a field goal and take the lead

    A low-scoring game in Cleveland nears halftime, with Miami defending its 6-3 lead. Snoop Huntley was efficient for Miami in place of Tua Tagovailoa, going 13 of 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.Tyreek Hill had five catches in the first half on Sunday against the Browns.

    Tyreek Hill had five catches in the first half on Sunday against the Browns. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

  • The Vikings are on the move after the Packers failed on 4th down

    The Vikings then followed it up with a big run from Cam Akers that gave them the first score and goal.

  • Packers fail to convert on 4th down deep in Vikings territory

    Matt LaFleur opts for it and comes up short on a 4th-and-2 instead of going for another Brandon McManus field goal attempt. Midway through the second quarter, the score remains 7-3, Vikings.

  • Sam Darnold hits Jalen Nailor for six

    With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison getting most of the attention, it’s time for a No. 3 receiver to step up. Nailor has filled that role all season, and now he has six touchdown catches this season after that rainbow from Darnold gave Minnesota a 7-3 lead.

  • Aaron Jones cooks early for Minnesota

  • The Packers take a 3-0 lead

    After Reichard’s miss, Green Bay marched into the red zone, but had to settle for a Brandon McManus field goal late in the first quarter.

  • Dustin Hopkins puts Cleveland on the field with a field goal

    Points seem to be hard to come by in Cleveland as the Browns finally get a few points with a 25-yard field goal with just under 11 minutes left in the first half to make the score 3-3.

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