🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Was anybody actually the “winner” from watching or taking part in in final night time’s sport? Nicely, I suppose somebody was. The Seahawks beat the Bears, 6-3, on the ultimate “Thursday Night time Soccer” contest of the season, and it was possibly even worse than the ugly scoreline.

• This was the lowest-scoring sport of the season, the second touchdown-less sport of the season and the primary 6-3 sport since 2011.
• Seattle’s protection sacked Caleb Williams seven instances, and Riq Woolen picked off a fourth-down soar ball to finish the sport.
• Clearly, it would not matter who’s teaching. The Bears can’t handle the clock. They burned two timeouts, confirmed little sense of urgency and finally got here up woefully quick on their ultimate drive.
• It was barely higher for the Seahawks, and solely as a result of they received. Jason Myers kicked two subject objectives. Seattle stays alive for the playoffs, although that would change by weekend’s finish. If not, the Seahawks and Rams may meet a winner-takes-the-NFC-West sport in Week 18.

Lengthy story quick, not less than the Seahawks’ season continues to be alive. The Bears’ hasn’t been for some time, and this was, in some way, a brand new low. Is that this franchise cursed? I do not know, however watching final night time made me really feel cursed.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such morning for …

EVERYONE WHO WATCHED THE SEAHAWKS-BEARS GAME

🤮 (Hey, generally all you really want a strong emoji.)

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL Week 17 picks, previews: Packers-Vikings showdown leads method

Two NFC North groups are going to be very unfortunate to be heading on the highway in Wild Card weekend, and the Vikings have the chance to not be one in all them. Minnesota (13-2) hosts Inexperienced Bay (11-4) this weekend with the possibility to arrange a possible winner-takes-NFC-North-and-No.-1-seed showdown with the Lions in Week 18.

However getting previous the Packers can be no simple activity. Inexperienced Bay has been completely rolling behind Josh Jacobs lately, and a spotty protection earlier within the season has very a lot improved. The Packers cannot win the division, however they’ll doubtlessly solidify their standing because the No. 6 seed and threaten the No. 5 seed (presently Minnesota) with a win. John Breech says …

• Breech: “If the Packers can keep away from a gradual begin, then they’ll completely win this sport, particularly as a result of Jordan Love can be going up in opposition to a Vikings protection that is surrendering 248.7 yards per sport via the air … With the Packers coming off a brief week after taking part in on Monday in Week 16 AND being pressured to the highway for this sport, I feel I’ve to roll with Minnesota. The decide: Vikings 30-27 over Packers“

Keep in mind, there are three Saturday NFL video games, and that features the Bengals hoping to maintain their season alive in opposition to the Broncos. Pete Prisco says …

• Prisco: “Search for Joe Burrow and firm to have a giant day on offense, however the Broncos will get theirs as properly. This needs to be enjoyable, however the Bengals will win it late. Decide: Bengals 31, Broncos 27“

Listed here are our consultants’ picks and finest bets:

Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Tyler Sullivan | Jordan Dajani

The CBS Sports activities HQ AM publication (31-13 this season) likes …

• Bengals over Broncos
• Dolphins over Browns
• Buccaneers over Panthers

🏀 Miami coach Jim Larrañaga steps down

Add Jim Larrañaga to the listing of legendary ACC coaches who’ve stepped down. Miami‘s coach resigned, efficient instantly, Thursday amid the Hurricanes’ 4-8 begin, their worst in over 30 years.

• Larrañaga, 75, guided the Hurricanes to their first Closing 4 in 2023, however the crew went simply 15-17 final season, and completed with 10 straight losses. This yr’s 4-8 begin contains an time beyond regulation loss to Mount St. Mary’s final week, the crew’s most up-to-date sport.
• As a part of a press release, Larrañaga stated, “I owe it to our student-athletes, our workers and the College of Miami to make this transfer now when my coronary heart is just now not within the sport …”
• Larrañaga is the winningest coach in Miami historical past, with a 274-174 profession report in 13-plus seasons. He started his Division I head-coaching profession in 1986 at Bowling Inexperienced. In 1997, he moved to George Mason, and his most memorable achievement was a Closing 4 run with the Eleventh-seeded Patriots in 2006. It included wins over Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and UConn. He’s that program’s all-time wins chief, too.
• He (doubtless) ends his profession with 717 Division I wins and 744 wins total.

In a press convention, Larrañaga expressed frustration with the NIL panorama and stated that was a consider his resolution. He stated he was “exhausted” and cited a scarcity of transparency as a serious concern.

That is been a standard thread. Virginia coach Tony Bennett retired simply earlier than this season started, and Duke‘s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina‘s Roy Williams and Syracuse‘s Jim Boeheim have retired previously 4 years as properly.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

Friday

🏈 Armed Forces Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Navy, midday on ESPN
🏈 Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Blackhawks at Sabres, 7 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Pacers at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 Vacation Bowl: No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State, 8 p.m. on Fox
🏒 Avalanche at Utah Hockey Membership, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Warriors at Clippers, 10 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 Las Vegas Bowl: USC vs. Texas A&M, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday

🏈 Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. North Carolina, 11 a.m. on ESPN
🏈 Pinstripe Bowl: Boston School vs. Nebraska, midday on ABC
🏈 Chargers at Patriots, 1 p.m. on NFL Community
🏀 No. 16 Ole Miss at Memphis (M), 2 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 New Mexico Bowl: Louisiana vs. TCU, 2:15 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Warmth at Hawks, 3 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 Pop-Tarts Bowl: No. 18 Iowa State vs. No. 13 Miami, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 22 UCLA vs. No. 14 Gonzaga (M), 4 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Broncos at Bengals, 4:30 p.m. on NFL Community
🏈 Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Colorado State, 4:30 p.m. on The CW Community
🏈 Army Bowl: East Carolina vs. NC State, 5:45 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Thunder at Hornets, 6 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Utah at No. 20 San Diego State (M), 6 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Alamo Bowl: No. 17 BYU vs. No 23 Colorado, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 Cardinals at Rams, 8 p.m. on NFL Community
🏀 Suns at Warriors, 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. No. 22 Military, 9:15 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday

🏀 Virginia at No. 3 Notre Dame (W), midday on ACC Community
🏈 Jets at Payments, 1 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Panthers at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Cowboys at Eagles, 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 No. 17 North Carolina at Miami (W), 4 p.m. on ACC Community
🏈 Packers at Vikings, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Falcons at Commanders, 8:20 p.m. on NBC
🏀 No. 23 Michigan at No. 4 USC (W), 10 p.m. on BTN