Vikings, Falcons win in Monday Night Football doubleheader

CNN
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The NFL’s Week 15 concluded with the league’s final Monday Night Football doubleheader of the season.

The playoff bottom of the Minnesota Vikings easily defeated the Chicago Bears 30-12 for their seventh win in a row. The Vikings clinched a playoff spot Sunday after the Seattle Seahawks’ 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Before Monday’s game, former Vikings receivers Chris Carter and Jake Reed showed support for their former teammate Randy Moss by holding up his #84 jersey during the coin toss at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The fans chanted, “Randy! Randy!”

Moss announced on Friday that he is being treated for cancer.

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson also honored the Pro Football Hall of Famer in the first quarter.

After a seven-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Sam Darnold to put the Vikings up 10-0, Jefferson celebrated, telling the camera, “We love you, Randy! This is for you.”

Moss submitted on X, “READ everyone! #letsmosscancer”

“I would definitely honor him on one of my touchdowns. It was just great to get it done in the first quarter and the first,” Jefferson said of the Moss tribute while wearing his jersey after the game.

“I definitely have to show him that love. Grateful for what he’s done for this game and what he’s done for me as a kid, just watching him and being a fan of him. I have always shown him love.”

The Vikings would go on to take a 13-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Minnesota added two one-yard touchdown runs, one by running back Aaron Jones in the third quarter and the other by running back Cam Akers in the fourth to extend the lead to 27–6.

Darnold was 24-40 for 231 yards with a touchdown and interception. Jefferson had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.

The Vikings improved to 12-2 and are in a three-way tie with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC. The Bears fell to 4-10.

Up next: Minnesota travels to the Emerald City to take on the Seahawks, while the Bears host the Lions on Sunday.

The Falcons end a four-game skid to remain in the playoff hunt

The Atlanta Falcons held on to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on Monday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Led by a stingy Falcons defense that didn’t allow a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, forced three turnovers and blocked two punts, Atlanta haunted former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder and handed the Raiders their 10th straight loss.

With the win, the Falcons improved to 7-7 on the season to remain in second place in the NFC South, behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6).

As things stand, the Falcons have a 37% chance of securing a playoff spot, according to NFL.com. Their best chance for a playoff spot would be through the division, as the odds of winning a wild-card spot are further out of reach.

“For us to go out there and find a way to win. I think the most important thing when you’re coming off a couple losses in a row. Especially the Falcons, you want your Falcons fans to feel good about it. You have to find a way to win and you gain confidence by winning and I think that’s what our guys did today, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said after the game.

Atlanta opened the scoring in the first quarter when Kirk Cousins ​​connected with receiver Drake London for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 7–0 lead.

In a predominantly defensive game, both teams struggled to get much going in the first half.

The Raiders opened the second half by forcing a turnover after Robert Spillane picked off Cousins. The Falcons quarterback has struggled of late, with turnovers being one of the main issues. Entering Monday night, Cousins ​​had thrown eight interceptions and zero touchdowns over the four games.

However, the Falcons’ defense stepped up on the ensuing possession, forcing the Raiders into a three-and-out and then blocking the punt attempt.

Las Vegas scored a touchdown with just under three minutes left to cut the deficit to 15-9, but the Raiders’ extra point attempt was blocked by the Falcons – the third blocked kick attempt of the night.

Just when the game appeared to be over, the Raiders began marching down the field on the final possession of the game.

In a game against the clock, Las Vegas had two shots to get into the end zone from the Falcons’ 35-yard line, but the second attempt was intercepted by Jessie Bates III as time expired.

Up next: Atlanta hosts the New York Giants, while the Raiders play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Las Vegas on Sunday.