47º

WEATHER ALERT

JUSTIN JEFFERSON

AP sources: Star Vikings RB Cook absent after father's death

(AP Photo/Butch Dill)MINNEAPOLIS – Running back Dalvin Cook is not practicing with the Minnesota Vikings this week, due to the death of his father. Cook has a younger brother, James Cook, who is a running back for Georgia. He was picked for a second straight Pro Bowl, with 1,557 rushing yards, 361 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns in 14 games. Cook’s absence will clinch a second consecutive rushing title for Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who has a 220-yard lead on Cook. Cook has a slim lead on Henry atop the NFL with 1,918 total yards.

A bonus for NFL fans in Week 16: 4 straight days of games

They do have a sack in an NFL-record 71 straight games and have sacked Philip Rivers 15 times during seven games while he played for the Chargers. Rivers has had two or more TD passes in five straight games. He had career bests of 10 catches for 163 yards last week, and Ridley's seven 100-yard games lead the NFL. The 19 straight seasons without losing both games to a divisional opponent is an NFL record. The Jaguars have allowed at least 24 points in each of those 13 games, an NFL record.

Vikings outlast error-prone Jags 27-24 on Bailey's OT kick

Minnesota Vikings place kicker Dan Bailey (5) celebrates with teammates after kicking a 23-yard field goal during overtime in an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Cowboys, Panthers and Jaguars (1-11), who lost their 11th straight game, are a combined 8-27. Chase McLaughlin even had a chance to win it with a 62-yard field goal at the end of the fourth quarter that fell short. FOUR FIGURESJefferson joined Pro Football Hall of Fame member Randy Moss (1998) as the only rookies in Vikings history to reach 1,000 receiving yards. Vikings: CB Jeff Gladney (calf) and TE Brandon Dillon (ankle) each left the game.

NFL postpones Titans-Steelers Week 4 game after positive Covid-19 tests

The National Football League postponed Sunday's Tennessee Titans-Pittsburgh Steelers game due to eight positive Covid-19 cases. It's the first NFL game to be postponed due to the coronavirus. The NFL said Tuesday the Titans returned positive tests from three players and five other team personnel. In a statement posted on Twitter, the Vikings said they haven't received any positive tests,, but the team did close its practice site. Major League Baseball faced several similar incidents during its shortened regular season this year, with games postponed after players and staff tested positive for Covid-19.

cnbc.com

After talk of collaboration, conferences go their own way

For typical Saturday football games, that means Wednesday would be the soonest athletes would be tested. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)Plans for the 2020 college football season if it is played should start coming into focus this week. That still needs to be worked out and other models are still being considered, including one with eight conference games and one nonconference. GROUP OF FIVEIt is not entirely fair to lump the American Athletic Conference, Mountain West, Mid-American Conference, Conference USA and Sun Belt together, but the fact is all are at the mercy of the Power Five in some way. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

NCAA football oversight asks board for time on fall sports

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson (2) is tackled by Clemson during the first half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. The NCAA's latest guidance for playing college sports during the COVID-19 pandemic recommends testing players once a week within 72 hours of competition. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)The NCAA football oversight committee is asking the associations Board of Governors to avoid making a decision later this week on whether to conduct fall championships as college sports tries to find a path to play through the pandemic. The board could decide to call off NCAA championship events in fall sports such as soccer, womens volleyball and lower-division football. The NCAA has no authority to postpone or cancel specific seasons, a decision that would be up to individual schools or their conferences.

Coach O: National champ LSU ready to win more titles

LSU fans celebrate at Varsity Theatre, in Baton Rouge, La., after LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 in the NCAA College Football Playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)NEW ORLEANS, LA – LSU coach Ed Orgeron is already thinking about what comes next for his national champions. Biltenikoff Award winner Ja'Marr Chase, who finished with a College Football Playoff record eight receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns, is just a sophomore. For now, Orgeron wants his coaches, players and fans to celebrate LSU's first national championship in 12 years. “But it's a recruiting weekend this weekend, we'll start recruiting and get on to next year.”___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Burrow throws 5 TDs, No. 1 LSU beats Mississippi 58-37

Burrow threw for a career-best 489 yards and five touchdowns as top-ranked Tigers built a big lead and held off Mississippi 58-37 on Saturday night. “It wasn't pretty, but we did it after a big win last week,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. We're 10-0 and I'm very proud of that.”Burrow completed 17 consecutive passes at one point to set a school record and passed Rohan Davey’s single-season school record for yards passing set in 2001. Chase tied the school record with his 12th touchdown catch of the season. THE TAKEAWAYLSU: The Tigers set the tone with the early touchdown barrage and eliminated the thought of a road upset.