NFL

The New York Giants squandered the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on Christmas Eve, falling to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 at U.S. Bank Stadium to drop to 8-6-1 on the season.

The Giants had numerous opportunities to win Saturday's game, but a combination of drops and questionable decisions led to a disappointing afternoon for New York.

Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 30-of-42 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown in the loss, but an interception and a blocked punt in the fourth quarter ultimately cost them the game.

While the Giants went on to tie the game at 24 late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings won on a 61-yard field goal.

Following the loss, NFL Twitter mocked the Giants for failing to secure a playoff berth:

Earlier this season, fans were confident that the Giants would make the playoffs, but now the team's postseason hopes remain uncertain in a tight NFC race that has several teams on the bubble.

The Giants haven't made the postseason since 2016. If they make it this campaign, they could end up seeing the Vikings again.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson could return from his knee injury next week, but it could come down to the team's playoff standing, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Ravens want to test him in "football-related movements" before clearing him to return, but Rapoport noted "a decision also could depend on where things stand in the playoff picture."

At 9-5, Baltimore is currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC. It could clinch a playoff berth in some scenarios in Week 16. The team might be more cautious with Jackson if it is already guaranteed to make the postseason and the AFC North is out of reach.

Conversely, a loss Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons could push the Ravens to use Jackson sooner.

The 2019 MVP sprained the PCL in his knee in a Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos and was later categorized as week-to-week by head coach John Harbaugh, who would not rule him out for the season. Jackson went on to miss Weeks 14 and 15, while Tyler Huntley started in his place.

Any injury to Jackson is cause for concern, especially for a Ravens squad that has relied on him heavily this year. The 25-year-old has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 12 games. He has also rushed for 764 yards and three scores.

Baltimore is 1-1 in Jackson's absence this season, although Huntley has thrown zero touchdown passes in two starts and has only one rushing score.

The 24-year-old Utah product also started four games for Baltimore in 2021 and appeared in seven games overall. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards and three touchdowns against four interceptions, in addition to rushing for 294 yards and two scores.

A Texas judge has ordered Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to take a paternity test in a case brought by 26-year-old Alexandra Davis, who says Jones is her father, per Jake Bleiberg of the Associated Press.

Jones has denied the allegation, and his lawyers plan to appeal the decision.

Davis' mother, Cynthia Davis, allegedly agreed to a financial settlement in 1998 that said Jones would support them financially if they didn't say publicly that Jones was the father. Alexandra Davis, who was born in 1996, filed a lawsuit in March claiming she wasn't bound to the agreement made by her mother.

In April, she dropped the lawsuit and planned to pursue a paternity test.

"Alexandra has just decided that she wants to go ahead and proceed with parentage and DNA testing," Jay Gray, one of Davis' lawyers, told the Associated Press. "She wants to remove any doubts that Jerry's her father."

On Thursday, a judge granted the motion to have Jones undergo testing.

The 80-year-old has been married since 1963 and has three children with his wife, Gene.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is "uncertain" for his team's Week 17 game against the New Orleans Saints, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Hurts suffered a shoulder injury during Philadelphia's Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears, which will force him to miss the team's highly anticipated Christmas Eve showdown with the rival Dallas Cowboys.

The SC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder could cause him to miss more time, depending on his recovery and the team's position in the standings.

While the Eagles were firmly in control of the NFC East at the time of the setback, it was still disappointing for Hurts on an individual level since he was at the forefront of the MVP discussion.

He has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 3,472 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions to go with 747 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Philadelphia will turn toward Gardner Minshew II under center while Hurts is out. While he can't replicate the dual-threat impact the starter has on the field, he is a solid backup with starting experience. Minshew went 7-13 as a starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and 2020 and also started two games for the 2021 Eagles.

The Eagles also have a number of offensive weapons in A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Miles Sanders to help Minshew move the ball.

The 13-1 squad just needs to win one of its last three games to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

UWM Holdings Corporation Chairman and CEO Mat Ishbia is "no longer pursuing" a purchase of the Washington Commanders.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post relayed the news Friday from a spokesperson representing Ishbia, who recently agreed to buy controlling interest in the Phoenix Suns and Mercury for $4 billion.

Ishbia told the Post's Maske and Nicki Jhabvala in early November that he was "interested in exploring this opportunity [to buy the Commanders] further in the very near future."

That was after team owners Dan and Tanya Snyder announced Nov. 2 that they retained the services of Bank of America to "consider potential transactions" for the franchise.

Per the Post, Ishbia was among the bidders for ownership of the Denver Broncos, but a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton ended up buying the team.

Ishbia's purchase of the Suns and Mercury marks the most expensive sale of an NBA team all-time, breaking Joe Tsai's previous record of $3.3 billion for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

As far as the Commanders go, the Post reported this month that "a full sale is the most likely outcome."

The team is worth an estimated $5.6 billion, but bids have come in "well north" of $7 billion, per Michael Ozanian of Forbes. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also expected to make a bid for the team.

The NFL suspended New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin for violating the league's gambling policy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini. Schefter added the suspension was for at least one year.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that there's no confirmation Austin bet on NFL games and that he might have wagered on other sporting events, which is also prohibited.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston shared a statement from Austin's lawyer, Bill Deni, who said his client "[wagered] from a legal mobile account on table games and non-NFL professional sports." Austin is appealing the punishment:

This is the second notable suspension within the last year for a gambling-related offense. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was banned through at least the 2022 season after he bet on games during the 2021 campaign.

Austin joined New York's staff in 2021 after the team hired Robert Saleh as head coach. He and Saleh had worked together in 2019 when Austin was an offensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

As receivers coach, the 38-year-old has been tasked with helping to develop a group that includes 2021 second-round draft pick Elijah Moore and 2022 first-rounder Garrett Wilson.

Moore's future with the team has remained murky after he requested a trade in October. Wilson, on the other hand, looks like a long-term piece of the passing game and is leading the team in the three major receiving categories (71 receptions, 996 yards and four touchdowns).

Before entering the coaching ranks, Austin spent 10 seasons in the NFL as a player. In 129 appearances, he caught 361 passes for 5,273 yards and 37 touchdowns, and he was named a Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys in 2009 and 2010.

The 4-10 Los Angeles Rams are playing out the string on the rest of the 2022 campaign, which means star defensive tackle Aaron Donald likely won't take the field again until 2023.

Head coach Sean McVay told reporters Donald will "probably not" be cleared to return for the final three games of this season.

There was some speculation that Donald would retire after helping the Rams win the Super Bowl last season, but he and the team reworked his deal and made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Yet this season hasn't gone according to plan for him or the team, which is eliminated from postseason contention.

The nine-time Pro Bowler has appeared in 11 games and has a career-worst five sacks. The second-lowest mark of his career is eight, which he posted during the 2016 campaign. What's more, his streak of five straight seasons with double-digit sack totals will come to an end.

There is still no questioning Donald's place as one of the best players in the game with a resume that includes seven All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He also still showed enough to be named to the Pro Bowl this season, although he may not participate in the activities if he is still dealing with the ankle injury.

It seemed as if the Rams may compete for a playoff spot following a 3-3 start, but they proceeded to lose six straight to drop out of contention. Donald isn't the only notable player dealing with injury concerns, as Matthew Stafford has been limited to nine games and Cooper Kupp hasn't played since Week 10.

Los Angeles finishes with contests against the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.

Former New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns linebacker Willie McGinest apologized for the incident in a West Hollywood, California, lounge that led to his arrest.

He posted the following message in an Instagram post:

"First and foremost, I want to offer my deepest apology for my lapse in judgment and behavior on December 9 at a restaurant in West Hollywood. To my family, community, friends, and youth I mentor, please know I feel horrible for my actions and take full responsibility.

"To my colleagues at the NFL Network and those I work closely with as an advisor to professional and community-based organizations, please know I am embarrassed and regret what occurred.

"Most of all, I am disappointed in myself, as I know this is an isolated incident and is not reflective of my faith, role as a father, life's body of work, or the role model I've worked hard to become. It is personally devastating that decades of community service, youth engagement, mentoring, and professional development would become an afterthought in a single moment that should have never happened.

"This incident has prompted me to deep self-reflection—mind, soul, and spirit. I know that violence is never the answer to such situations, no matter how intense the provocation. Rest assured, I will take whatever steps necessary to restore the public trust, mend damaged relationships, and ensure this never happens again."

Notably, McGinest's former teammate Tom Brady was among those who commented on the apology, leaving a red heart emoji.

TMZ Sports shared a video of the incident on Monday in which McGinest approached another man and exchanged words with him before striking him in the face. Others also got involved in the altercation, and McGinest can be seen hitting the man on the head with a bottle as well.

He was arrested on Monday on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon and released on $30,000 bond.

While he is best known for his time as a linebacker, McGinest currently works in the media as an analyst for NFL Network. However, the network has removed him from the air following his arrest.

"We are aware of the incident and the video, which is disturbing," an NFL Network spokesperson told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "Willie McGinest will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter."

McGinest played in the NFL from 1994 through 2008 for the Patriots and Browns. He won three Super Bowls during his 12 seasons with New England.

Rather than test free agency this offseason, Jack Conklin has agreed to a new contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Conklin's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter his client will receive a four-year, $60 million extension with $31 million fully guaranteed from the Browns.

Conklin began his career with the Tennessee Titans after being drafted No. 8 overall in 2016. The Michigan State alum made an instant impact as a rookie when he made 16 starts and earned a spot on the All-Pro First Team.

After injuries limited Conklin to nine games in 2018, the Titans declined to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. He played all 16 games in 2019 and was able to cash in as a free agent.

Conklin signed with the Browns in 2020. His contract was for three years, $42 million ($30 million guaranteed) and included two void years to spread out the cap hits.

Adding Conklin to the offensive line turned out to be an excellent move for Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry. He made the All-Pro First Team at right tackle in 2020.

An torn patellar tendon limited Conklin to seven games last season, but he's bounced back in 2022. The 28-year-old ranks fourth among offensive tackles in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking efficiency metric entering Week 16.

The Browns held Conklin out for their first two games this season as he recovered from surgery to repair the patellar tendon. He has started all 12 games since making his season debut in Week 3.

The extension is fairly team-friendly for the Browns. The $60 million in total value and $31 million fully guaranteed ranks sixth among right tackles.

Cleveland is still alive in the AFC playoff race with a 6-8 record, but it needs to win each of its final three games and get a lot of help from other teams still vying for postseason positioning.