The New England Patriots named Jerod Mayo their successor to Bill Belichick after parting with the coaching legend following the 2023 NFL season.

Mayo lasted just one season as New England’s head coach before being ousted.

Just hours after the Patriots won their final game of the 2024 NFL season to improve to 4-13, the team announced that it had fired Mayo after just one season. Patriots owner Robert Kraft referred to firing Mayo as ‘one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made’ in a statement announcing the news.

‘I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community,’ Kraft wrote. ‘When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions. Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.’

Kraft went on to thank Mayo and said that he believed the move ‘was the best option at this time.’

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

As such, the Patriots will be searching for a new head coach for the second time in as many years after enjoying 24 years of stability with Belichick.

Who will the Patriots look to interview as they try to replace Mayo? There are a few options with ties to New England and a handful of top-tier offensive minds to consider for the role.

Who will replace Jerod Mayo? 6 Patriots replacements

Mike Vrabel, former Tennessee Titans head coach

Vrabel seems like the obvious replacement option for Mayo. That may seem strange given that Vrabel and Mayo share many similarities as defensive-minded head coaches that spent plenty of years playing for the Patriots before their coaching careers.

The difference between Vrabel and Mayo is Vrabel is a proven head coach. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that there were concerns about Mayo’s ‘ability to tactically manage the staff, and build a program;’ the same issues would not exist with Vrabel, who built a reputation for getting the most out of his players with the Tennessee Titans, especially on defense.

Vrabel posted a 54-45 record over his six seasons with the Titans and helped guide a Ryan Tannehill-led squad to the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021. The 49-year-old should be able to instill a hard-nosed mentality in New England and give the organization the direction and vision Mayo’s team was lacking.

Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator

Flores is another head coaching candidate who has ties to the Patriots. He spent 11 years in New England as a defensive assistant before being hired as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach and posting a 24-25 record over three seasons in that role.

Flores’ record may not look overly impressive, but like Vrabel, Flores’ rosters in Miami were lacking in high-end talent. He did a good job coaching up his teams and making them competitive and his blitz-heavy defensive scheme has been among the peskiest in the NFL in recent seasons.

The concern with Flores is that his offenses in Miami tended to struggle, and Tua Tagovailoa didn’t enjoy a great relationship with him. The Patriots won’t want the same thing to happen with Drake Maye, so Flores would need to convince the Kraft family of his plans on offense to become a top candidate for the job.

Pete Carroll, former Seattle Seahawks head coach

Carroll coached the Patriots for three years before the Belichick era began. Could New England go back to Carroll as it transitions away from Belichick and Mayo? It shouldn’t be ruled out, as Kraft thought highly of his former coach and called firing him a difficult decision.

‘A lot of things were going on that made it difficult for him to stay, some of which were out of his control,’ Kraft said, per the Los Angeles Times. ‘And it began with following a legend (Bill Parcells).’

This time, Carroll would benefit from Mayo taking on the challenge of following in a legend’s footsteps. Carroll would be a proven NFL head coach at this time too, as he has a 170-120-1 career record, including a 27-21 mark during his three years with the Patriots. He would provide the team with a fresh perspective and a system that has been proven to work both on and off the field.

So long as Carroll doesn’t harbor any resentment about his firing, a return could be possible. But as always with defensive-minded coaches, his choice of offensive coordinator would be critical in evaluating his fit in New England.

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Would the Patriots opening be intriguing enough to lure Johnson out of Detroit? It’s possible. New England has its franchise quarterback in Maye and while the rest of its roster is less than impressive, the team has over $130 million in cap space and a top-four pick to revamp things during the offseason.

Johnson is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL and has led the Lions to top-five offenses in yards and points per game in each of his first three seasons as offensive coordinator. The 38-year-old has helped turn Jared Goff from a quarterback on the verge of being benched into a Pro Bowl-level talent; he may similarly develop Maye into a star quarterback.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

Brady is another up-and-coming offensive-minded coach. The 35-year-old would be the NFL’s youngest coach, but he has already built one of the most impressive resumes among coaching hopefuls.

Brady worked under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints, coached Joe Burrow and a record-breaking LSU offense to a national championship and has spent the last two seasons turning Josh Allen into a more efficient and productive quarterback. Both Burrow and Allen have blossomed into MVP-caliber talents under Brady’s tutelage, so the Patriots could envision him doing the same thing with Maye.

Stealing Brady from the Bills would add some additional benefits in considering the young offensive coordinator. Besides, there’s just something about the idea of bringing another Brady to New England that should intrigue Patriots fans.

Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys head coach

If the Patriots just want a stable, proven, veteran coach to guide them in the post-Belichick and Mayo days, McCarthy could draw some consideration. The Cowboys coach may not stick around in Dallas even if Jerry Jones and Co. want him back as his contract is set to expire on Jan. 14.

McCarthy may not have as much upside as the likes of Johnson or Brady. However, he has a career record of 174-112-2 in his career and led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl 45 win. He has led the Cowboys to 12-5 regular-season records in each of the three seasons Dak Prescott hasn’t suffered a season-ending injury, so he could raise the floor of the Patriots, especially if he can help Maye take some steps forward.

McCarthy’s 6-9 playoff record since Super Bowl 45 will likely bring skeptics about if New England considers him. Even so, the veteran coach has the experience needed to smooth over the Patriots’ transition away from Belichick, so don’t discount him as an option.

On what was suppose to be a milestone day for Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers turned into a scary one for the Huskies’ women’s basketball star.

The 2021 national player of the year played in her 100th game for UConn when the Huskies faced Villanova on Sunday. Things were going well for No. 8 UConn against the Wildcats with a 26-point lead late in the third quarter, but the mood shifted when Bueckers tried to grab a loose ball and Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe dove for it. Bueckers’ leg got caught under Bascoe and the Huskies guard awkwardly went down on the court.

Bueckers held onto her knee and was in visible pain before she limped to the locker room. She later came back to the bench with ice on her knee but didn’t return in the 83-52 UConn victory.

Geno Auriemma update on Paige Bueckers

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma was asked about Bueckers postgame on the SNY broadcast. He said she is ‘pretty good’ after getting into a ‘weird situation.’

‘She’ll be fine. She looks good. I’m optimistic, let’s put it that way. I feel good,’ Auriemma said.

Auriemma, the NCAA all-time wins leader, later compared Bueckers’ injury to one teammate Azzi Fudd suffered, presumably in 2022 when she missed a month of action after a similar injury.

‘Like when it was with Azzi, it’s not the worst thing that we could imagine. So that’s great news, considering how awkward it was,’ Auriemma said.

Paige Bueckers’ injury history

So far, the news seems to be good for Bueckers, considering the unfortunate injuries she has suffered during her college career. After missing a significant amount of time in her sophomore season, she missed the entire 2022-23 season after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the offseason.

Bueckers is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

In typical NFC South fashion, the division title came down to the final moments of the regular season.

And in the end, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last standing.

The Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-19 despite a sluggish first half to win the division for the fourth consecutive season.

Tampa Bay trailed 16-6 at halftime but quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with receiver Jalen McMillan, who made a spectacular catch in the end zone with 10:09 to play for a go-ahead, 32-yard touchdown. Rookie running back Bucky Irving provided some breathing room with an 11-yard touchdown rush on the first play out of the two-minute warning.

The Buccaneers capped the win off by getting Mike Evans a 9-yard gain to put him over 1,000 yards for the season, tying him with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons (11).

All things Buccaneers: Latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The Falcons needed a Buccaneers loss and to win their own contest against the Carolina Panthers, which went to overtime as the Tampa Bay game finished. With no path to the playoffs once the Buccaneers’ result was finalized, the Falcons fell to the Panthers 44-38.

Atlanta, before making the change from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr. late in the season, defeated the Buccaneers in a pair of one-score contests in October to hold the tiebreaker for the division title. That didn’t end up mattering, however, as the Falcons faltered down the stretch, including in a Week 17 overtime loss against the Washington Commanders that returned Tampa Bay to the top of the division standings.

Evans came into the day with a simple task ahead of him. Collect five catches for 85 yards to cash in on a $3 million contract incentive bonus.

Those five catches and 85 yards would also put him in the same boat as Jerry Rice, tying him for the most consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards receiving at 11. While things weren’t looking great for Tampa Bay in the regular season’s final week, cooler heads prevailed as the Bucs clinched a playoff spot.

As is always the case in Week 18, victory formation is put on hold until the bonuses are met. With Evans needing just five yards with 36 seconds left and Tampa Bay up by eight, the Bucs lined up to run another play. Baker Mayfield hit Evans for a nine-yard pass, which would stand as the final play of the game as Tampa Bay celebrated.

Evans etched his name into the history books and will go for the record next year, having gone over 1,000 yards in every season he’s played thus far. He’ll also do it with an extra $3 million in his bank account.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The Buccaneers, who officially clinched the NFC South with a win over the Saints, can now turn their attention to the postseason. They’ll now watch in the late window to see how the seeding will shake out. The bottom line is that Tampa Bay will host a game at their place next weekend.

Hopefully, Evans will buy his teammates some good food to celebrate tonight.

Mike Evans stats today

9 receptions
89 receiving yards
14 targets

The United States will try to make history and avenge its only loss at the 2025 world junior hockey championship when it faces Finland in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Ottawa.

The defending champion Americans lost 4-3 in overtime to Finland in the third game of the preliminary round. They have been perfect since then, beating Canada, Switzerland (quarterfinals) and Czechia (semifinals) to reach the championship game. Finland has won five games in a row.

With one more win, the USA will become back-to-back champions for the first time in its history at the tournament. The Americans, who brought back 10 players and coach David Carle from last year’s team, had never before reached the final in the year after winning it all.

Czechia defeated Sweden 3-2 in a 14-round shootout to win the bronze medal for the second year in a row. It was the longest shootout in tournament history.

Follow along for the medal round of the world junior hockey championship:

Midway point of second period

USA starts to get some more chances. Petteri Rimpinen loses his goalie stick, but Finland is able to clear.

USA-Finland score: Finns take two-goal lead

Two U.S. players collide, which creates space for Finland’s Emil Pieniniemi to skate into the right faceoff circle and rip a shot to Trey Augustine’s blocker side at 4:52 of the second. This is the USA’s first two-goal deficit of the tournament.

Second period underway

Finland leads 2-1.

End of first period: Finland 2, USA 1

Finland comes out with the lead after controlling play for most of the period. Its once-struggling power play connects again. The USA doesn’t get much of a sustained attack and is outshot 13-8. A positive: The Boston College line connects after being shut out in the teams’ meeting in the preliminary round.

USA-Finland score: Finns retake lead

Tuomas Uronen beats Trey Augustine from the right faceoff circle at 13:03 for a 2-1 lead less than a minute after the USA tied the game. He had scored the overtime winner against the USA in the preliminary round.

USA-Finland score: James Hagens ties game

USA had been outplayed for much of the game, but captain Ryan Leonard takes a shot and James Hagens finesses the rebound over a diving Petteri Rimpinen. Score is 1-1.

USA-Finland score: Finns score on power play

Jesse Kiiskinen scores from between the faceoff circles for a 1-0 lead. He has a goal in six consecutive games. Finland scored the first goal against the USA in the preliminary round, too.

Finland goes on power play

Max Plante is called for hooking. Finland scored two power-play goals against Sweden in the semifinals.

Five minutes in

Finland getting the better chances so far.

Game underway

Winner gets gold. Loser gets silver.

USA vs. Finland goalies

USA’s Trey Augustine vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen

When is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game?

The United States and Finland will play for gold at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, though the game start might be delayed because of the length of the bronze medal game.

How to watch USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game

Both games will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

How to stream USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game

Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.

Which USA players are back from last year’s gold medal team?

Goalies: Trey Augustine, Michigan State; Sam Hillebrandt, Barrie Colts

Defensemen: Zeev Buium, Denver University; Drew Fortescue, Boston College, Aram Minnetian, Boston College

Forwards: Ryan Leonard, Boston College; Oliver Moore, University of Minnesota; Danny Nelson, Notre Dame; Gabe Perreault, Boston College; Carey Terrance, Erie Otters

USA’s projected lines

What is the U.S. record vs. Finland at the world juniors?

The USA has 16 wins and 19 losses at the world juniors vs. Finland. They also tied once. One of those losses was Finland’s 4-3 overtime win this year in the preliminary round.

Czechia wins bronze medal in shootout vs. Sweden

Otto Stenberg and Eduard Sale go again in the 14th round. Sale scores on a backhander to give Czechia the bronze and three consecutive medals at the world junior hockey championship. Sweden finishes out of a medal a year after winning silver.

Round 13

Sweden’s Otto Stenberg and Czechia’s Eduard Sale score. Still tied.

Heading to round 11

Sweden shooting first.

Tied after eight rounds

Jakub Stancl hits the post.

Tied after five rounds

Sweden now shooting first.

Shootout tied 1-1 after two rounds

Czechia’s Jakub Stancl and Sweden’s Axel Sandin-Pellika score in the second round.

Bronze medal game going to a shootout

It’s five rounds in international hockey before sudden death. Sweden elects to go second.

Two minutes left in overtime

Czechia’s Eduard Sale has a couple good chances, but Marcus Gidlof stops him.

End of third period: Sweden 2, Czechia 2

Sweden will go to overtime for the second game in a row. Not much action in the third period. They’ll play 10 minutes of 3-on-3 overtime, then a shootout, if necessary.

Nice save by Michael Hrabal

Sweden picking up play. Czechia goalie Michael Hrabal gets his glove on a deflection.

Midway through the third period

When Sweden was trailing Finland on Saturday, it played a dominant third period. With the score tied in this game, both sides are playing a tight defensive game. Not many chances out there. Still 2-2.

Third period underway

Score tied 2-2.

Where is the 2026 world junior hockey championship?

It will be held in Minneapolis-Saint Paul from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. The ceremonial passing of the puck took place in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon.

End of second period: Sweden 2, Czechia 2

Pretty evenly played period. Czechia’s Eduard Sale scores after a turnover and Sweden’s Felix Unger Sorum sets up David Edstrom for a second goal. Shots are 11-10 Sweden in the period.

Sweden-Czechia score: David Edstrom ties it up

David Edstrom scores his second goal of the game with a deflection for a 2-2 tie with 4:20 left in the second period. Felix Unger Sorum gets his second assist of the game.

Sweden-Czechia score: Czechs capitalize on turnover

Linus Eriksson’s pass goes right on the stick of Czechia’s Miroslav Holinka. He finds Eduard Sale alone in front and he roofs a backhander for his sixth goal of the tournament. 2-1 Czechia.

Second period underway

Score is 1-1.

End of first period: Sweden 1, Czechia 1

Czechia scores on its first shot, then Sweden controls play, thanks to three power plays. A Czechia deflection goes just wide in the last seconds. Shots are 9-5 Sweden.

Sweden-Czechia score: Sweden ties it up

Czechia’s Jiri Felcman is in the penalty box for charging. David Edstrom scores on a rebound to tie the game 1-1. Axel Sandin-Pellika gets the secondary assist for his 10th point of the tournament.

Sweden goes on power play

Sweden has the second-best power play in the tournament. They generate two shots, but Czechia kills the penalty.

Sweden-Czechia score: Czechs score on power play

Jakub Stancl remains hot with his seventh goal of the tournament. The Czechs pass the puck around well on the power play and Stancl scores on a one-timer at 3:47 for a 1-0 lead. A Swedish defender got his stick on the puck but it snuck through to Stancl.

Sweden vs. Czechia underway for bronze medal

Michael Hrabal is back in net for Czechia but Marcus Gidlof is starting for Sweden. He has played one game in the tournament, beating Kazakhstan. Melker Thelin had played in Saturday’s semifinal loss to Finland.

Today’s world juniors hockey games

All times p.m. ET

Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30

United States vs. Finland, 7:30

USA vs. Finland players to watch

United States: The Boston College line of Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault and James Hagens has combined for 25 points. Leonard has a team-best five goals. Perreault and Boston University’s Cole Hutson have a team-best nine points. Hagens (eight points) is considered the top prospect in the 2025 NHL draft.

Finland: Draft-eligible goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every minute and has a 2.12 goals-against average. Forward Jesse Kiiskinen has a five-game goal streak. Forward Konsta Helenius has seven assists.

Medal games feature familiar opponents

This year’s medal games are a rematch of the 2024 semifinals. The USA beat Finland 3-2 and Sweden beat Czechia 5-2 last year.

How many gold medals has the USA won at the world juniors?

The USA has won six goal medals: 2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2024.

How many gold medals has Finland won at the world juniors?

Finland has won five gold medals: 1987, 1998, 2014, 2016 and 2019.

How many total medals has the USA won at the world juniors?

The USA has won 15 medals: six gold, two silver and seven bronze.

How many total medals has Finland won at the world juniors?

Finland has won 17 medals: five gold, five silver and seven bronze.

Sweden vs. Czechia players to watch

Sweden: Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika has nine points. Forward Otto Stenberg scored twice against Finland.

Czechia: Forward Jakub Stancl has a tournament-best six goals.

Sweden vs. Czechia lines

World juniors schedule

Dec. 26

Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

Dec. 31

Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)

Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia 4, Canada 3

Jan. 4

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
United States 4, Czechia 1

Jan. 5

Bronze-medal game: Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN
Gold-medal game: USA vs. Finland, 7:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Thanks to a loss in their Saturday season finale, the Cleveland Browns entered Sunday in position for the No. 1 overall pick. That could change with three other teams in contention for the top pick.

Follow along here for updates to the 2025 NFL draft order as Sunday’s results come in:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Who has the No. 1 pick?

After the early slate, the Tennessee Titans have clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

The last time the Titans had the No. 1 overall pick as a franchise was in 1978 when they drafted Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell as the Houston Oilers. They had the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 but traded that selection to the Los Angeles Rams.

2025 NFL draft order

Here’s the projected 2025 NFL draft order as Week 18’s results come in, according to Tankathon.com:

Tennessee Titans: 3-14 record; .521 strength of schedule (SOS)
Cleveland Browns: 3-14; .539 SOS
New York Giants: 3-14; .554 SOS
New England Patriots: 4-13; .468 SOS
Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-13; .479 SOS
New York Jets: 4-12; .498 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-12; .541 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 5-12; .500 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 5-12; .507 SOS
Chicago Bears: 5-12; .554 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10; .565 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 7-10; .523 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 7-9; .538 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 8-9; .454 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 8-9; .516 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 8-8; .415 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8; .475 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 9-7; .502 SOS
Denver Broncos: 9-7; .502 SOS
Houston Texans: 10-7; .482 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7; .502 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-7; .502 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 10-6; .504 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 11-6; .536 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6; .468 SOS
Washington Commanders: 12-5; .434 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 12-5; .530 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 14-3; .455 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 13-4; .466 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 14-2; .470 SOS
Detroit Lions: 14-2; .519 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1; .486 SOS

2025 NFL draft top prospects

Below is a look at the consensus top 40 prospects in the 2025 NFL draft as of mid-December:

Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon

The 2024 regular season has delivered terrific matchups time and time again, but none may be more exciting than the Week 18 primetime showdown between NFC North rivals.

 The Detroit Lions (14-2) are hosting the Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Ford Field. These divisional foes are tied for first place in the NFC North, and the winner tonight will claim the division crown. 

More importantly, the winner of tonight’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ clash will be the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and the loser will enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. The victor will claim the highly coveted bye through the wild card round, and the loser will travel to the playoffs next weekend.

These teams met in October when the Lions defeated the Vikings in a back-and-forth 31-29 matchup. Detroit has won four straight against Minnesota; however, each side looks quite different from the first meeting in Week 7.

The Lions are without David ‘Knuckles’ Montgomery in the backfield, forcing Jared Goff to be the focal point of the offense. Detroit’s defense has suffered a litany of injuries and has allowed at least 31 points in three of its last four.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Meanwhile, Minnesota is remarkably healthy heading into the final game of the regular season and is riding a nine-game win streak. Justin Jefferson will look to put his stamp on this one. He has amassed 597 yards on 34 receptions in his last three games in Detroit.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 18 ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Lions and Vikings below.

Lions vs. Vikings start time 

Date: Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET 

The Lions and Vikings game will wrap up Sunday Week 18 with ‘Sunday Night Football’ at 8:20 p.m. ET. This will be the last game of the 2024 NFL regular season. 

Lions vs. Vikings TV channel 

Cable TV: NBC 

Lions vs. Vikings predictions, picks 

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 18 ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup between the Vikings and Lions will shape up: 

Lorenzo Reyes: Lions 33, Vikings 28 
Richard Morin: Vikings 28, Lions 26 
Jordan Mendoza: Lions 34, Vikings 31 

Lions vs. Vikings live stream

Livestream: Peacock; Fubo

‘Sunday Night Football’ will stream on NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. Football fans can also watch the final ‘SNF’ game with a subscription to Fubo.

Watch’Sunday Night Football’with a Peacock subscription

Vikings inactives vs. Lions

QB Brett Rypien (emergency third QB)
CB Fabian Moreau
LB Calvin Munson
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
C Dan Feeney
OT Walter Rouse
LB Pat Jones II

Lions inactives vs. Vikings

RB David Montgomery
QB Teddy Bridgewater (emergency third QB)
OL Giovanni Manu
OL Kayode Awosika
OL Colby Sorsdal
DL Jonah Williams
DL Brodric Martin

Lions vs. Vikings odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Lions are favorites to defeat the Vikings, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Lions (-3) 
Moneyline: Lions (-155); Vikings (+130) 
Over/under: 56.5

When do the NFL playoffs start 2025? 

Start date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 

The format remains unchanged from previous years, with wild-card weekend getting things started Jan. 11. Sunday will feature a tripleheader before the round wraps up on Monday, Jan. 13. 

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

The Lions are among four NFL teams that have never appeared in a Super Bowl. The Lions, however, were a powerhouse team before the advent of the Super Bowl, winning four NFL championships, including three in the 1950s.

The Vikings have made four Super Bowl appearances, but have yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota’s last Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl XI during the 1976 season.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz   

Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox.   

Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now!  

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

BEREA, Ohio — The changes have begun for the Cleveland Browns after their dismal 3-14 season.

The Browns have fired both offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson after just one season on the job. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the previously-reported firings in his day-after-the-season press conference.

‘Just bottom line, I want to go in a different direction,’ Stefanski said Sunday. ‘We need to improve, as everybody knows, on the offensive side of the ball. That’s what we plan to do.’

Stefanski, when asked about any other changes to the offensive staff, said, ‘I don’t anticipate any major changes.’ He also said he would be open to also hiring a separate quarterbacks coach but he ‘need to work through all of that.’

The Browns concluded their season Saturday night with a 35-10 loss at the Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland can secure the No. 1 overall pick with wins today by the New England Patriots (vs. Buffalo Bills) and Tennessee Titans (vs. Houston Texans).

All things Browns: Latest Cleveland Browns news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The fact the Browns finished their season a day before the non-AFC North teams meant they couldn’t reach out to get permission to make contact with possible candidates. While Stefanski should have an idea of coaches he’ll want to talk to, he also doesn’t have a specific type.

‘Yeah, it’s early,’ Stefanski said. ‘So need to work through all of that. I think we’ll talk to a bunch of different guys and get some different perspectives, but there’s a lot of work to be done there.’

Both Dorsey and Dickerson were part of a massive offensive staff shakeup by head coach Kevin Stefanski following the Browns’ 11-6 playoff season a year ago. The former replaced Alex Van Pelt, now with the Patriots, who was fired shortly after the season, while Dickerson replace Bill Callahan, who left to serve as the offensive line coach under his son, Brian, in Tennessee.

The Browns offense was at the center of the team’s woes throughout the season. They finished the season averaging 15.2 points per game, which is currently last in the NFL, while only scoring more than 18 points in a game three times.

The scoring output was a by-product of an offense that, entering Sunday, was 28th in total yards per game (300.8), 31st in yards per play (4.57), 28th in rushing yards (94.6), 20th in passing yards (206.2), 30th in interception rate (3.48%) and 17th in first downs (17.8). Many of those statistics actually went up for a stretch when quarterback Jameis Winston replaced the injured Deshaun Watson in Week 8 against the Ravens, but another factor played a big role in the offense’s struggles.

The Browns, as a team, threw 22 interceptions, including two by Bailey Zappe on Saturday, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Zappe was the fourth starting quarterback for the team, but all of them seemed to have the same issues with ball security.

Winston, in seven starts, threw 12 interceptions. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, in two starts and seven total appearances, threw six, while Watson had three in seven starts before his Achilles tear.

It was Watson’s injury which led to a shift in philosophy on gameday from Stefanski, who turned play-calling duties over to Dorsey. At the time, the Browns offense ranked 32nd in total yards (253.9) and third-down conversion rate (23.7%), 30th in passing offense (159.6), 29th in points per game (15.6) and tied for 28th in rush offense (94.3).

Dorsey had been hired in part because it was believed he could help bring something to the offensive philosophy that would help unlock the full potential of Watson, whom the Browns gave a fully-guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract to in 2022 after acquiring him from the Texans. The new coordinator, himself a former quarterback, had worked previously with Cam Newton in Carolina and Josh Allen in Buffalo and was there when they had MVP or near-MVP seasons.

That work never seemed to show up on the field. At the time of his season-ending injury in Week 7, Watson was 26th in passer rating (79) and touchdown percentage (2.3%), 25th in passing yards (1,148), tied for 25th in touchdown passes (five), 29th in yards per attempt (5.31) and was sacked 33 times.

Winston did elevate the passing offense significantly. However, his propensity for turning the football over – including eight interceptions in his final three starts – prevented the Browns from coming close to maximizing any growth seen in production.

Dickerson had been one of the individuals also interviewed for the offensive coordinator’s position when Van Pelt, along with multiple other offensive assistants, were let go in the week following the AFC wild card loss in Houston. When Callahan left to join in son with the Titans, the move was made to hire the former Seattle Seahawks assistant who had worked under Callahan with the New York Jets in both 2008 and 2011.

By the end of the season, former Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel, a coaching and personnel consultant for the team, was almost like a de facto offensive line coach in trying to assistant with that group. Assistant line coach Roy Istvan also was very hands on with the coaching as well.

The move from Callahan, considered one of the elite line coaches in the game, to Dickerson was compounded by a litany of injuries along the offensive line throughout training camp and well into the season. The Browns ended up starting eight different offensive line combinations, including seven in the first eight games.

Left guard Joel Bitonio was the lone Browns offensive lineman to not miss a game this season. The other four spots dealt with a constant churn over the first half of the season that only created more issues for Dickerson.

Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., an impending free agent, only played five games due to knee injuries, while promising tackle Dawand Jones had his second season in a row ended early due to an injury, this time a broken ankle in Week 11. Right tackle Jack Conklin missed the first five games while returning from last season’s knee injury, followed by a hamstring issue, but played well once back in the lineup.

Right guard Wyatt Teller also missed time due to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve and forced third-round pick Zak Zinter to play much sooner than was hoped. Center Nick Harris suffered a broken ankle two plays into his only start in Week 6 at Philadelphia.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

The redshirt freshman Georgia football quarterback is reportedly set to enter the transfer portal for the second consecutive season. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the move on Sunday, a couple of days after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the College Football Playoff in a quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame.

Rashada transferred to Georgia from Arizona State, where he played his true freshman season. In 2023, he appeared in four games with the Sun Devils, completing 44 of 82 passes (53.7%) for 485 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. Rashada’s father, Harlen, played collegiately for the Sun Devils from 1992-94.

Arizona State added Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt this past offseason and reached the CFP quarterfinal, following Rashada’s departure to Georgia.

When he signs with his next school, it will be the fourth program Rashada has joined since graduating as part of the 2023 recruiting class. He initially committed to Miami on June 26, 2022, over Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. He flipped his commitment to the Gators on Nov. 11, 2022, after signing a four-year, $13.85 million contract with the Gator Collective, the defunct NIL collective for Gators athletics.

Rashada eventually requested and received a release from Florida on Jan. 20, 2023, after his reported NIL deal went unpaid. He then sued Gators head coach Billy Napier over the NIL matter, and the case is currently being litigated in court.

Rashada did not appear in a game for the Bulldogs in 2024. He served as the third-string QB behind Gunner Stockton and backup Ryan Puglisi in the CFP quarterfinal following the season-ending injury to Carson Beck in the SEC championship game.

According to 247 Sports Composite Rankings, Rashada was the No. 81 overall in the 2023 recruiting class, the No. 7 quarterback and the No. 6 overall player in California. He attended Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California and held 32 reported scholarship offers.