Coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams secured a playoff spot for the third consecutive season following a 41-34 victory over the Detroit Lions at home on Sunday, Dec 14.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford led the way for the Rams, completing 24 of 38 passes for 368 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Stafford continues to prove himself as a true contender for the MVP award. Running back Kyren Williams contributed to the Rams’ offensive performance with 78 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams will turn their attention quickly to their upcoming Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Both teams will enter the ‘Thursday Night Football’ game with identical 11-3 records. The winner will take sole possession of the NFC West and the top seed in the conference.

The Rams currently hold the top seed over Seattle based on head-to-head win percentage.

Who could the Rams play?

The Rams would have a first-round bye as the top seed in the NFC bracket and await the winner of a wild-card matchup.

Rams’ remaining schedule

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 18 at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT)

Week 18: vs. Arizona Cardinals, date and time TBD

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his left knee late in the fourth quarter of his team’s Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The injury occurred as Mahomes was tackled from behind by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. Mahomes immediately reached for his left knee after being rolled up from behind and remained down on the sideline as he received treatment from Kansas City’s medical staff.

Mahomes was eventually helped to his feet and hobbled over to the bench. He was taken to the blue medical tent for further treatment before being seen hobbling into the locker room with two Chiefs staffers holding him up by the shoulders.

Mahomes was replaced by veteran backup Gardner Minshew. The 29-year-old completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards in place of Mahomes but threw an interception to Derwin James with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation.

The pick sealed a 16-13 loss for the Chiefs and eliminated them from postseason contention.

Patrick Mahomes injury update

Kansas City’s announcement came after Andy Reid told reporters during his postgame news conference that Mahomes would have an MRI on his injured left knee by Monday. The 67-year-old sounded pessimistic when discussing the star quarterback’s injury.

‘It didn’t look good,’ Reid said when asked about Mahomes’ injury. ‘We’ll just see where it goes.’

Mahomes did not speak to the media after the game while receiving medical treatment. He did, however, address the torn ACL in a social media post a couple of hours after the game ended.

‘Don’t know why this had to happen,’ Mahomes wrote. ‘And not going to lie it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.’

The Chiefs did not immediately provide an update about Mahomes’ status after he exited the game. Just two minutes remained in the fourth quarter when he left the field, and he did not return to action.

Chiefs QB depth chart

The Chiefs have just three quarterbacks in their organization, including Mahomes. They are as follows:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Gardner Minshew
3. Chris Oladokun (practice squad)

Minshew is expected to start in place of Mahomes for the rest of the season. Minshew has a career record of 17-29 in 46 career starts and has completed 63.3% of his career passes for 68 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.

This story will be updated.

AI-assisted summary
• The Buffalo Bills defeated the New England Patriots 35-31, keeping their AFC East title hopes alive.
• Buffalo overcame a 24-7 halftime deficit by scoring five consecutive touchdowns in the second half.
• Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback victory.
• Running back James Cook contributed 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Bills.

FOXBOROUGH, MA – The Buffalo Bills are a second-half team. 

Contextualize it through any filter, and the statement holds up. A game. A season. Watch out for those Bills in the second half – they’re comin’.

It’s when quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, shows why he’s the best player in the world. Since 2020, the Bills are 23-4 in December and January to finish out the regular season.

If the AFC East power dynamics have truly shifted, it did not officially occur Sunday, when the Bills spoiled the New England Patriots’ chance to win the division for the first time in six seasons with a 35-31 victory to prolong their own chance of turning five straight AFC East titles into six.  

The Bills entered Week 15 with a plus-95 point-differential in the second half, which was highest in the NFL. Buffalo overcame a 21-0 deficit in the first half, a 24-7 hole at halftime. It was 24-21 by the end of the third quarter. What started as a performance with three straight punts turned into five straight touchdown drives. 

‘Obviously, we want to start faster and we don’t want to continue to put ourselves in the holes we’re finding ourselves in, but being able to dig ourselves out and be battle tested coming down the stretch here,’ Allen said. ‘But yeah, would love to find ways earlier on in the game to get things going so we don’t have to put ourselves in that situation.’

Since the Patriots remained in first place, Allen pushed back on the notion the Bills are the ‘standard-bearer’ of the division.

‘Obviously, the last five-ish years we’ve found sustained success, but never been able to punch our ticket to the Super Bowl,’ Allen said. ‘At the end of the goal, that’s every team’s dream. Our goal is not just to win AFC Easts. You’ve got to get into the playoffs to give yourself a chance to win a Super Bowl. So, that’s what we’re trying to do.’

The weather was fitting for a potentially deciding game in the AFC East, with snow flurries falling around the greater Boston area for hours before kickoff and continuing throughout the game. Even more apropos was the back-and-forth game – the fourth quarter had three lead changes – that left the AFC playoff picture opaque.

It helps having No. 17 on your sideline.

“They have a good feel for when they are and when they’re not playing the way we need to play,’ head coach Sean McDermott said. ‘And I saw Josh as I was kind of bringing everybody up, and he looked at me. I just knew he was seeing it like I was. The entire team was on the same vibe.”

Winning close one-score games matters for teams that have designs on victories with more importance than a December contest on the road (if that’s what you want to boil this one down to), tight end Dawson Knox said. 

“No one in here blinked,” Knox said.

Coaches and players talk about riding the ups and downs of a game, a week, a season. The Bills don’t bother. No team can score 21 points in one drive. 

“It’s like such a chill vibe no matter what the score is,” wide receiver Khalil Shakir said.

The ‘vibe’ can be difficult to explain, Shakir said, but it is palpable on the sidelines.

“The fight in this team is unreal and unbelievable,” he said. “We play for one another. We play for our families.

“It’s a great feeling to know you’re not out of it.” 

Allen finished 19-for-28 for 193 yards and two passing touchdowns, both to Knox. 

‘I think it’s the love each man in that locker room has for each other, the willingness to put their body on the line in order to not let their teammates down. I think that’s the driving force,’ Allen said. ‘It’s the relationships in that room. And whether we are playing really good, whether we’re playing really bad, this team – we’re going to stick together, continue to fight and continue to try to find ways to win football games.’

He ran around like a madman. He limped. He puked. It was the quintessential ‘JA17’ experience. As Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said, ‘that’s why they pay him $60 million.’

‘I’m giving you a dissertation on a league MVP,’ Vrabel said. ‘Just watch all the games and know that it’s the same as it was last week.’

Allen showed his pinpoint accuracy as a thrower of the football by putting a pass into Khalil Shakir’s breadbasket for 37 yards. A holding call took back Allen’s third-down touchdown dash. No matter to No. 17, though. On third-and-goal from the 15-yard line, Allen stepped up and fired like a shortstop turning a double play to Knox in the back of the end zone for six points and the Bills’ first lead of the game. 

All Knox could do was chuckle in disbelief.

“That throw, man, it was on me in a second,” he explained. “It was like a 90-mile-an-hour fastball and he put it in the perfect place where the defender couldn’t get it. Just another thing that makes him the best player in the world.” 

Running back James Cook ran tough for 107 yards on 22 carries and a pair of touchdowns. No receiver had more than five catches for 65 yards (Shakir led Buffalo in both categories).

‘That is his superpower, that is who Josh Allen is,’ Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez said. ‘We talked about it all week. It is just props to them.’

And then there were four.

No. 1 seeds Pitt and Kentucky and No. 3 seeds Texas A&M and Wisconsin advanced to the NCAA women’s volleyball Final Four which will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Pitt will play Texas A&M in the national semifinals after its five-set upset of Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky will play Wisconsin, which shocked Texas on Sunday night.

Texas A&M (27-4) dominated at the net and outblocked the Nebraska 30-16. Kyndal Stowers has 25 kills and 16 digs, Logan Lednicky 24 kills and Emily Hellmuth 13 kills. Ifenna Cos-okpalla had three solo blocks and five block assists.

Nebraska was the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and suffered its first defeat of the season.

The Badgers avenged an earlier loss to the Longhorns, who swept them on Aug. 31, to advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.

The Final Four semifinal matches will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.

SCORE: Wisconsin 3, Texas 1

Set 4 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 19

The Badgers advance to the Final Four for the third time since 2020. Wisconsin (24-4) is a No. 3 seed and the lowest ranked team to make to the semifinals at No. 10 in the country.

Texas, a one seed, was ranked No. 3 in the nation and sees its season end.

Set 4: Wisconsin first to 15

Can the Badgers close this out and punch their ticket to the Final Four? They have been to Final Four six times and won their lone national title in 2021.

Wisconsin is hitting .318 in the fourth set.

Set 3 final: Texas 25, Wisconsin 19

Cari Spears now leads Texas with nine kills. The Longhorns are using a balanced attack and hit .400 in the third set to get back in the match.

Set 3: Texas first to 15

Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears have eight kills each as the Longhorns are fighting back. Texas is hitting .429 in the third set.

Set 2 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 21

The Badgers hitting percentage is .315 compared to .246 by the Longhorns. Mimi Colyer got her 10th kill to seal the set. Charlie Fuerbringer has 32 assists in leading the Wisconsin offense.

Set 2: Wisconsin first 15

Wisconsin is enjoying a balanced offensive attack. Mimi Colyer has nine kills, Carter Booth seven and Grace Egan and Una Vajagic six apiece.

Torrey Stafford has six kills, three blocks and two digs to lead Texas.

Set 1 final: Wisconsin 25, Texas 22

The Badgers went on a 7-0 run before the Longhorns fought back with a 5-0 run on their own. It wasn’t enough as Wisconsin prevailed led by six kills from Mimi Colyer.

Matthew McConaughey cheering for the Longhorn women

We are underway in Austin

The Badgers and Longhorns are set to faceoff for a Final Four bid.

Wisconsin volleyball lineup

Texas volleyball lineup

SCORE: Texas A&M 3, Nebraska 2

Set 5 final: Texas A&M 15, Nebraska 13

The Aggies have pulled off the biggest upset of the season, knocking the No. 1 overall seeded Huskers out of the NCAA tournament. Kyndal Stowers had 24 kills for Texas A&M. The Aggies had 30 blocks to 16 by the Huskers.

Set 5: Texas A&M first to eight points

The teams are switching sides. The Aggies are up 8-6.

Set 4 final: Nebraska 37, Texas A&M 35

It took 10 set points but the Huskers have forced a fifth set. Harper Murray has career high in kills with 24 as the Huskers have forced a fifth set. There were 22 ties in the match.

Set 4: Texas A&M first to 15

The Aggies are 10 points from the biggest upset of the season. Texas A&M has 20 blocks compared to six from Nebraska.

Set 3: Nebraska 25, Texas A&M 20

The Huskers stayed alive and found some momentum by winning the third set. Harper Murray has 16 kills and Rebekah Allick seven kills. Nebraska hit .462 as a team in the set.

Set 3: Nebraska first to 15

The Huskers are being carried by Harper Murray, who has 14 kills.

Set 2 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22

Nebraska is struggling and could be eliminated after going 33-0 to start the season. The Huskers hit .211 in the second set.

The Aggies middle blockers are dominating. Kyndal Stowers has 10 kills and is hitting .474 and Emily Hellmuth eight kills for the Aggies.

Set 2: Texas A&M first to 15

The Aggies are smelling the biggest upset of the volleyball season. They have Nebraska back on their heels. Texas A&M is hitting .333 for the set and Nebraska .222.

Set 1 final: Texas A&M 25, Nebraska 22

Nebraska dropped its eighth set of the season and first since Nov. 14 against UCLA. Kyndal Stowers has six kills and Emily Hellmuth five kills for the Aggies.

Set 1: Nebraska first to 15

Nebraska was the first to 15 but the Aggies have fought back with a 10-0 run.

We are underway in Lincoln

Nebraska is looking for its 18th bid to the Final Four and first under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Texas A&M is looking for its first.

Nebraska starting lineup

Texas A&M arrivals

How to watch NCAA volleyball tournament

• Streaming: ESPN+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament will air across the ESPN and ABC family of networks. Games can be streamed on ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

NCAA volleyball Final Four

All times eastern

• Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18
  • No. 1 Pitt vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m.
  • No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 9 p.m.
• National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC

NCAA volleyball regional final: Times, TV

All times Eastern

Saturday, Dec. 13

• No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 3 Creighton 0
• No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 3 Purdue 1

Sunday, Dec. 14

• No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 1 Nebraska 2
• No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 1 Texas 1

When is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?

• Dates: Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21
• The two semifinal matches in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN. The national championship game is Sunday, Dec. 21 on ABC.

Round of 16 volleyball results

Thursday, Dec. 11

• No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 2 Arizona State 1
• No. 1 Kentucky 3, Cal Poly 0
• No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, No. 4 Minnesota 0
• No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 2 SMU 1

Friday, Dec. 12

• No. 1 Texas 3, No. 4 Indiana 0 
• No. 3 Wisconsin 3, No. 2 Stanford 1 
• No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 2 Louisville 2
• No. 1 Nebraska 3, No. 4 Kansas 0

NCAA volleyball second-round results

Lexington bracket

• No. 1 Kentucky 3, No. 8 UCLA 1 (30-28, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17)
• No. 3 Creighton 3, No. 6 Northern Iowa 1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21)
• No. 2 Arizona State 3, Utah State 1 (25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15)
• Cal Poly 3, No. 4 USC 2 (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7)

Austin bracket

• No. 4 Indiana 3, No. 5 Colorado 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23)
• No. 3 Wisconsin 3, North Carolina 0 (25-14, 25-21, 27-25)
• No. 1 Texas 1, No. 8 Penn State 0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19)
• No. 2 Stanford 3, Arizona 1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20)

Pittsburgh bracket

• No. 3 Purdue 3, No. 6 Baylor 1 (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20)
• No. 1 Pittsburgh 3, Michigan 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18)
• No. 2 SMU 3, Florida 0 (25-11, 25-21, 26-24)
• No. 4 Minnesota 3, No. 5 Iowa State 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14)

Lincoln bracket

• No. 4 Kansas 3, No. 5 Miami 1 (25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25)
• No. 2 Louisville 3, Marquette 2 (21-25, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12)
• No. 1 Nebraska 3, Kansas State 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-16)
• No. 3 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 TCU 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 29-27)

NCAA volleyball first-round results

Lexington bracket

• No. 1 Kentucky 3, Wofford 0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-12)
• No. 8 UCLA 3, Georgia Tech 2 (24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18, 15-10)
• Cal Poly 3, No. 5 BYU 2 (25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10)
• No. 4 USC 3, Princeton 0, (25-19, 25-12, 25-13)
• No. 3 Creighton 3, Northern Colorado 2 (12-25, 25-23,25-23,17-25, 8-15)
• No. 6 Northern Iowa 3, Utah 2 (15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10)
• Utah State 3, No. 7 Tennessee 2 (25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 15-11)
• No. 2 Arizona State 3, Coppin State 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12)

Austin bracket

• No. 1 Texas 3, Florida A&M 0 (25-11, 25- 8, 25-14)
• No. 8 Penn State 3, South Florida 1 (25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19)
• No. 5 Colorado 3, American 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-16)
• No. 4 Indiana 3, Toledo 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-17)
• No. 3 Wisconsin 3, Eastern Illinois 0 (25-11, 25-6, 25-19)
• North Carolina 3, No. 6 UTEP 1 (24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21)
• Arizona 3, No. 7 South Dakota State 1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15)
• No. 2 Stanford 3, Utah Valley 1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14)

Pittsburgh bracket

• No. 1 Pitt 3, UMBC 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13)
• Michigan 3, No. 8 Xavier 0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23)
• No. 5 Iowa State 3, St. Thomas-Minnesota 2 (21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8)
• No. 4 Minnesota 3, Fairfield 0 (25-12, 25-7, 25-13)
• No. 3 Purdue 3, Wright State 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19)
• No. 6 Baylor 3, Arkansas State 2 (23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10)
• Florida 3, No. 7 Rice 0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-19)
• No. 2 SMU 3, Central Arkansas 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-13)

Lincoln bracket

• No. 1 Nebraska 3, Long Island 0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-17)
• Kansas State 3, San Diego 2 (21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12)
• No. 5 Miami 3, Tulsa 1 (25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20)
• No. 4 Kansas 3, High Point 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
• No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Campbell 0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-13)
• No. 6 TCU 3, Stephen F. Austin 0 (25-8, 26-24, 25-20)
• Marquette 3, Western Kentucky 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16)
• No. 2 Louisville 3, Loyola (Illinois) 0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-12)

NCAA volleyball tournament champions

Penn State is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, having defeated Louisville in four sets last year in the national title game. It was the Nittany Lions’ eighth volleyball championship since 1999.

Here’s a look at the past 10 NCAA volleyball champions:

• 2024: Penn State
• 2023: Texas
• 2022: Texas
• 2021: Wisconsin
• 2020: Kentucky
• 2019: Stanford
• 2018: Stanford
• 2017: Nebraska
• 2016: Stanford
• 2015: Nebraska

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INGLEWOOD, CA — The Los Angeles Rams’ pass offense has been clicking this season. But their big-time red zone threat went down with an injury Sunday.

Star wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions.

Adams was injured as he attempted to track a deep pass thrown by Matthew Stafford on third-and-3 with 12:42 on the clock in the fourth quarter. Adams stayed down on the turf for a few moments before he was helped off the field by the Rams’ medical staff. He was able to walk off the field and into the locker room under his own power.

The Rams deemed Adams questionable to return, but he never checked back into the game.

Adams produced four catches for 71 yards at the time of his injury. The veteran wideout leads the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns this season. He was questionable going into Week 15 due to a nagging hamstring injury.

The 12-year receiver entered Week 15 with 56 catches, 718 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.

Will Davante Adams play Week 16?

The Rams travel to Seattle on Thursday night for an NFC West showdown versus the Seattle Seahawks. Rams coach Sean McVay gave a pessimistic outlook for Adams’ availability against Seattle.

‘He was optimistic. He knows his body really well,’ McVay said of Adams. ‘We’ll see what that means. I can’t imagine that’s good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn’t rule him out quite yet. But it didn’t look good.’

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

Philip Rivers made his return to the NFL after five years away, but he could not lead the Indianapolis Colts to a win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks earned an 18-16 victory over the Colts in a defensive battle.

Rivers largely comported himself well during the field-goal fest. He threw his first touchdown in five years in the first half and demonstrated a calm presence in the pocket. He didn’t show much in the way of arm strength, averaging just 4.4 yards per attempt, but helped keep the Colts offense moving with the quick game throughout the contest.

The Colts’ loss marks their fourth consecutive and makes a playoff run seem all the more unlikely. Nonetheless, Rivers will make the team interesting and will look to show he can improve and shake off more rust when the Colts face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.

USA TODAY Sports tracked Rivers’ return to the NFL today vs. the Seahawks. Below are his stats and highlights from the game, along with an analysis of his performance and more.

Philip Rivers stats today

Here’s how Rivers performed in his first game in 1,800 days, a loss to the Seahawks:

• Passing: 18/27 (66.7%)
• Passing yards: 120
• Passing touchdowns: 1
• Interceptions: 1
• Passer rating: 73.1
• Carries: 1
• Rushing yards: -5
• Rushing TDs: 0
• Sacks: 1 (2 yards)

Philip Rivers throws interception to put bow on loss to Seahawks

The Colts got the ball back with 11 seconds left to get the ball into field goal range. Rivers was forced to try to push the ball downfield in an effort to get near field goal range.

Rivers pass was intercepted by Coby Bryant, sealing an 18-16 Seahawks win in a low-scoring Week 15 battle.

Jason Myers answers Blake Grupe with 56-yard kick of his own

The Seahawks took the lead back after quickly working their way into field goal range. Myers nailed a 56-yarder to make it 18-16 Seahawks and give Philip Rivers and the Colts next to no time to mount one last comeback effort.

Blake Grupe nails career-long 60-yard field goal to give Colts lead

With 47 seconds left, the Colts are now leading 16-15. Grupe made a 60-yard field goal, the longest of his career in his first game with the Colts, to give Indianapolis the advantage.

Philip Rivers had the critical play to keep the Colts’ drive alive and to get them near field goal range. He hit Alec Pierce for a 16-yard gain on a third-and-7 from Indianapolis’ own 35-yard line.

Rivers is now 18 of 26 passing for 120 yards and a touchdown during Sunday’s game.

Seahawks take lead with field goal

Philip Rivers is going to need to lead the Colts to a comeback win. The Seahawks were able to get a field goal to go ahead 15-13, so the Colts will have just under two and a half minutes to mount a game-winning drive.

Colts forced to punt after Seahawks snuff out screen pass

Rivers faded back to pass on a third-and-5 and threw a dump-off screen to Ameer Abdullah. The Seahawks saw the play coming, quickly containing the veteran running back and tackling him for a 3-yard loss.

The Colts were just outside of field goal range and opted to punt and try to pin the Seahawks deep. Seattle will get the ball back at its own 6-yard line, trailing by one.

Colts lead cut to one to start fourth quarter

The Colts’ defense has been excellent against the Seahawks, holding them without a touchdown thus far in Week 15. However, Seattle has managed to whittle down Indianapolis’ 10-point lead with three field goals, making it 13-12 early in the fourth quarter.

Rivers and Co. will be charged with not only protecting that lead, but also building upon it. They are set to get the ball back with 13:24 remaining in regulation.

Colts go three-and-out on first drive of second half

The Seahawks got a field goal on their first drive after halftime, so Rivers and the Colts offense tried to answer that. However, the 44-year-old veteran couldn’t connect with Josh Downs on a downfield pass, who was breaking open but saw the ball fall to the turf a few feet away from him.

The Colts had to punt after the incompletion. The Seahawks will be backed up at their own 7-yard line to start their next drive. Indianapolis leads 13-9.

Philip Rivers high school team celebrates coach’s TD

Rivers has been coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School for the last five years since his retirement. His team is watching his outing against the Seahawks and were elated once they saw him throw his first touchdown.

Philip Rivers stats at halftime

Rivers’ first half with the Colts couldn’t have gone much better. The 44-year-old veteran wasn’t explosive through the air, but made enough plays in the short-to-intermediate game to keep Indianapolis’ offense moving.

Rivers has completed 10 of 16 passes for 81 yards and threw a touchdown to Josh Downs. He has only been sacked once, thanks to a great showing by his offensive line, and the Colts are leading 13-6 under his leadership.

The Colts also held the ball for nearly two thirds of the first half. If they can continue to grind the clock, that will only stand to benefit Rivers and Jonathan Taylor as they look to win and stay in a competitive AFC playoff picture.

Philip Rivers find Josh Downs for first TD in five years

Rivers has methodically marched the Colts down the field in the first half. He led a couple of field goal drives but finally got his team into the end-zone on a third-down pass in the red-zone.

Rivers found Downs breaking open across the middle of the field and hit the slot-man in stride to allow him to waltz into the end-zone with ease.

Rivers has now thrown 422 touchdowns in his career and has the Colts leading 13-3 with little time remaining in the first half.

Philip Rivers sacked for first time

Many wondered exactly how Rivers would move in his return to action. The 44-year-old didn’t exactly look nimble after falling down in the backfield in the second quarter. However, Rivers was able to get back up and scramble forward to turn what might have been a massive loss into a loss of just two yards.

Still, Shane Steichen will be hoping Rivers won’t have to move around often against a top-notch Seattle pass rush.

Colts get on board first with a field goal

Rivers hasn’t had to do too much just yet, but helped the Colts to get into field goal range on the team’s second drive. Blake Grupe was able to make the 42-yarder to give Indianapolis an early lead.

Rivers went 3 of 8 passing for 31 yards over his first couple of drives. He will look to improve as he builds more chemistry with his receivers and shakes off five years of rust.

Philip Rivers’ first completion goes to Michael Pittman Jr.

Rivers’ first pass of the day fell incomplete, but he was quickly able to bounce back from that. He managed to get the ball to Michael Pittman Jr. for a 12-yard gain, marking his first NFL completion in 1,800 days.

Philip Rivers takes field first in Colts-Seahawks game

The Colts got the ball first to open the Colts vs. Seahawks game in Week 15. The 44-year-old took the field as Indianapolis’ starter, as expected, and will look to quickly show he has something left in the tank.

How to watch Philip Rivers today: Colts at Seahawks

• TV channel: CBS

The Colts-Seahawks Week 15 matchup will air on CBS in select markets.

What time do the Colts play today?

• Start time: 4:25 p.m. ET

The Colts and Seahawks are among several games in the late-afternoon window.

Colts at Seahawks live stream

• Live stream:Fubo | NFL+

Cord-cutters have a few options to watch Philip Rivers play today. Fubo carries CBS, Fox, ABC, ESPN and the NFL Networks, and also offers a free trial.

NFL+ and Fubo will also carry the game.

Watch NFL action all season with Fubo (free trial)

Philip Rivers stats

Here are Rivers’ career stats as he suits up today:

• Games: 244 (240 starts)
• Record: 134-106 (.558 win percentage)
• Completion rate: 5,277-of-8,134 (64.9%)
• Passing yards: 63,440
• Touchdowns: 421
• Interceptions: 209
• Passer rating: 95.2

Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs for a helmet-to-helmet hit on wide receiver Tyquan Thornton.

Jefferson collided with Thornton after a 21-yard completion down the middle early in the fourth quarter. Thornton remained down on the field after the hit, with several of his teammates igniting a skirmish in response to the hit.

Jefferson was issued an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and disqualified from the remainder of the contest.

After his ejection, Jefferson held up both of his middle fingers before exiting.

Jefferson apologized for the gesture after the Chargers’ 16-13 win but said he had no ill will when making the tackle.

‘I’m classier than that. I was just caught up in the moment,’ Jefferson told reporters. ‘Emotions get high. I won’t sit here and act like I’m a perfect man. I messed up and I did that. I have kids at home and there’s kids out there watching the game too, so I apologize.’

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh came to Jefferson’s defense regarding the hit.

‘I saw a football play,’ Harbaugh said. ‘That’s what I saw.’

Jefferson had five tackles before exiting the game.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia was stretchered off the field after suffering a neck injury in his team’s Week 15 game against the Houston Texans.

Baccellia’s injury occurred after he returned a kickoff late in the first half. It wasn’t immediately clear how the XX-year-old receiver was injured, as the Texans swarmed him as he tried to get the ball to the 30-yard line.

Baccellia remained down after the hit, however, and Cardinals medical staff tended to him on the field. They examined him, removed the facemask from his helmet and was eventually stretchered off the field after being loaded onto a backboard.

The crowd on hand at NRG Stadium – home of the Texans – cheered on Baccellia as he left the field. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he exited, according to multiple reporters who were at Sunday’s game.

The Cardinals quickly ruled Baccellia out for the remainder of Sunday’s game because of a neck injury. The team announced Baccellia ‘was alert and had full movement of all his extremities’ and that he is being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Baccellia returned two kicks and logged 53 return yards before exiting Sunday’s game. He did not receive a target as a receiver.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)

The NFC playoff picture is beginning to focus. Will the Dallas Cowboys be a part of it?

They have an opportunity to take another step into the playoff picture when the Cowboys defend home turf against the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 15 ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).

Dallas’ best chance to make the 2025 NFL playoffs will be through the NFC East, where the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of a bit of a tailspin, as they entered Week 15 losers of their last three games. That gives the Cowboys an opportunity to pick up some ground as the season nears its boiling point. 

Dallas, though, will have to stack every win possible as the final four weeks of the NFL’s regular season arrive, starting with one over J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings on Sunday. McCarthy is coming off his best performance as a pro, tossing three touchdowns in a win over Washington.

Minnesota is clinging to its playoff life, but would need a ton of help to make it to the dance. First and foremost, they’ll need to keep stacking wins if they want to stay in the hunt. That means a win on Sunday night would keep their hopes alive for one more week.

USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, highlights and more from the ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Cowboys and Vikings below.

What TV channel is the Cowboys vs Vikings game on?

• TV channel: NBC

NBC is the broadcast home of ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing updates from the sidelines.

What time is the Cowboys game on tonight?

• Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET | 7:20 p.m. CT

The Cowboys and Vikings are scheduled for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, the customary start time for ‘SNF.’ The Vikings travel to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the tilt.

Cowboys vs Vikings stream

• Live stream: Peacock

NBC’s proprietary streaming service, Peacock, will carry the matchup.

Watch Cowboys vs. Vikings on Peacock

Cowboys vs Vikings picks, predictions

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts feel this week’s game will go (hint: it’s a clean sweep for Dallas):

• Jarrett Bell: Cowboys, 30-23
• Nick Brinkerhoff: Cowboys, 30-23
• Chris Bumbaca: Cowboys, 26-23
• Nate Davis: Cowboys, 27-23
• Tyler Dragon: Cowboys, 28-20
• Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Cowboys, 23-20

Cowboys vs Vikings odds, moneyline, O/U

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 9:11 a.m.

• Moneyline (ML): Dallas -275 (Bet $275 to win $100) | Minnesota +225 (Bet $100 to win $225)
• Against the spread (ATS): Dallas -5.5 (-110) | Minnesota +5.5 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 48 (O: -105 | U: -115)

NFC East standings

The Cowboys enter tonight’s game in second place in the NFC East.

• Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
• Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
• Washington Commanders (4-10)
• New York Giants (2-12)

Cowboys inactives vs. Vikings

TBA

Vikings inactives vs. Cowboys

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Cowboys playoff picture

The Cowboys enter Week 15 with an estimated 7% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With a win on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ those odds would improve to 10% and a loss would drop those chances down to just 1%.

Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out by the Atlanta Hawks for the next two weeks, according to the team.

The Hawks center has been dealing with an illness and is expected to undergo further evaluations. Porzingis has missed seven of the past nine games.

The Hawks (14-12) are hosting the Philadelphia 76ers (14-10) Sunday, Dec. 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta in a battle of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls.

Porzingis was previously diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome last season while playing with the Boston Celtics. He missed significant time with Boston as a result of the POTS.

The condition “causes a number of symptoms when you transition from lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue,’ according to the Cleveland Clinic.