Pierce's 20 lead Presbyterian past Youngstown State 67-42
Swifties live-streaming Eras Tour concerts say they’re part of a ‘community’Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the go-ahead touchdown , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” What's working The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. What needs help The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Stock up Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Stock down Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. Injury report The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. Key number 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. Up next The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLShort Interest in WaFd, Inc (NASDAQ:WAFD) Expands By 26.8%
Argentine senator detained in Paraguay with US$200,000
The New York Times, citing American officials, has reported that Ukraine is reducing its use of long-range ATACMS missiles, primarily due to dwindling stockpiles. Kyiv reportedly has fewer than 50 of the missiles provided by the US. This challenge is compounded by political shifts in Washington that could affect future military support for Ukraine. Source: The New York Times Details: The report notes that when the US decided to provide ATACMS missiles in spring, about 500 units were transferred from Pentagon stockpiles. Initially, Ukraine was restricted from using these missiles to strike Russian territory, instead targeting temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea. However, in mid-November, US President Joe Biden justified granting permission for Kyiv to use these missiles for strikes deep within Russian territory. By then, Ukraine reportedly had only "tens of the missiles" left, approximately 50. The New York Times cited two US officials as saying that possibilities for securing additional missiles are nearly exhausted. Existing stockpiles were already allocated to regions such as the Middle East and Asia. Meanwhile, the UK, which also allowed Ukraine to use its Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory following Biden’s decision, recently admitted its own supplies of these missiles are critically low. The situation is unlikely to change under Donald Trump, who in a recent Time interview disagreed "very vehemently" with Ukraine’s use of ATACMS on Russian territory. Trump criticised the Biden administration’s decision to provide the missiles, calling it "foolish". The Kremlin later commented that Trump’s stance "fully aligns" with Moscow’s views. The New York Times, referencing data from Russia's Ministry of Defence and military bloggers, reported that after receiving permission from the US and UK, Ukraine conducted at least six missile strikes, using no fewer than 31 ATACMS and 14 Storm Shadow missiles. While the Ukrainian military has not commented on their use, neither the US nor Ukraine officials have disputed the given numbers. The article also highlights remarks from officials and analysts describing Ukrainian Storm Shadow strike on 20 November against a Russian command bunker near the district of Maryino in Kursk Oblast as one of the most effective attacks. The following day, Russia launched its new hypersonic ballistic Oreshnik missile, targeting the city of Dnipro in Ukraine. General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, held a phone call with General Charles Brown, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on 27 November, to discuss concerns about escalation. Quote: "After that 27 November call, Ukraine didn’t fire ATACMS or Storm Shadows for two weeks. Russia also launched few missile or drone attacks into Ukraine, although Russia’s president [sic], Vladimir V. Putin, threatened to launch the Оreshnik at the centre of Кyiv if Ukraine didn’t stop using ATACMS in Russia." More details: Despite public threats, Putin has been cautious in responding to Ukrainian operations, the US officials said. They believe Moscow is unlikely to retaliate directly against the US for long-range missile strikes to avoid dragging Washington into the conflict. Analysts suggest Ukraine has slowed its use of the missiles due to their limited stock and the priority targeting of high-value objectives. Mykola Bielieskov, a military analyst at Ukraine’s government-run National Institute for Strategic Studies, explained: "We decided to wait and find high-value capability, and that’s natural. Don’t expect quick returns, because we need to preserve this capability and spend it judiciously and very wisely". Background: Support UP or become our patron !