AP Sports SummaryBrief at 8:45 a.m. EST
Comeback king Vikings set NFL rally record in win vs. Colts
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings completed the biggest comeback in NFL history by erasing a 33-point deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts 39-36 in overtime. Greg Joseph's 40-yard field goal with three seconds left in OT gave the Vikings the victory and clinched the NFC North division for them in their typical dramatic fashion. The Vikings are 11-3. They're the third team in NFL history with 10 wins of eight points or fewer. The previous league record rally was Buffalo in the 1992 playoffs. The Bills trailed 35-3 and beat the Houston Oilers 41-38.
Bills clinch 4th straight playoff berth; beat Dolphins 32-29
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Tyler Bass hit a 25-yard field goal as time expired, and the Buffalo Bills clinched their fourth consecutive playoff berth on a snow-slick field in rallying to a a 32-29 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Bills overcame a 29-21 deficit by scoring on their final two drives. Josh Allen tied the game with a 5-yard pass to Dawson Knox and the quarterback then leaped over the line for a 2-point conversion to tie the game at 29 with 9:02 remaining. Buffalo has won five straight and improved to 11-3. The Dolphins lost their third in a row and dropped to 8-6.
Watson throws for TD, wins home debut as Browns down Ravens
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass in his home debut for Cleveland, leading the Browns to an ugly 13-3 win over the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who need injured star quarterback Lamar Jackson to get back quickly. Watson wasn't spectacular but did enough in his third game since being reinstated from an NFL suspension. Watson, who was banned for 11 games for alleged sexual misconduct, connected with Donovan Peoples-Jones on a 3-yard TD pass in the third quarter. The Ravens are hoping Jackson will be back next week after missing two games with a knee sprain.
Booker scores 58 points, leads Suns to huge comeback win
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored a season-high 58 points, using one of the best scoring efforts of his career to nearly single-handedly push the Phoenix Suns past the New Orleans Pelicans 118-114 on Saturday night. It's the second time this season Booker has topped 50 points — he scored 51 against Chicago on Nov. 30 in just three quarters. This effort was even more impressive because it brought the Suns back from a 24-point deficit in the second half. The three-time All-Star made 21 of 35 shots, including 6 of 12 3-pointers. He added five rebounds and five assists.
Messi seeks glory, Argentina meets France in World Cup final
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — It's now or never for Lionel Messi in the World Cup final between Argentina and France. The Argentina superstar's once-in-a-generation career will be defined to many by whether he leads his country to the World Cup title on Sunday. The 35-year-old Messi is looking to win soccer's biggest prize to secure his place alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona in the pantheon of the game's greatest ever players. Standing in his way is defending champion France and Kylian Mbappé. The striker is the player best positioned to take over from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's marquee name and is seeking to emulate Pelé by being a champion at his first two World Cups.
Live updates | Argentina plays France in World Cup final
LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Defending champion France faces Argentina in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Both teams are trying to win the biggest tournament in soccer for the third time. France won in 1998 and in 2018. Brazil in 1962 was the last team to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Argentina won the title in 1978 and 1986. The Argentines also lost in the final in 2014. Lionel Messi is thought to be playing in his final World Cup and could win the ultimate prize for the first time if Argentina wins.
Argentines wakes up dreaming of World Cup glory in Qatar
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentines woke up ready to watch the national team play for its third World Cup title amid a national feeling of unity and joy that is rare for a country that has been engulfed in an economic crisis for years and has one of the worst inflation rates in the world. Argentina will face France in the final in Qatar. Argentina fan Guillermo Ortiz says "the whole city is dressed with the flag." Argentina last reached the World Cup final in 2014 but lost to Germany. Everyone in the country agrees the sense of anticipation and excitement for this year's game is far higher than it ever was for that match in Brazil.
Shiffrin takes win No. 77 to move within 5 of Vonn's record
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has a women's World Cup super-G victory to top off her first speed race weekend of the season with career win No. 77. The result leaves the American skier five wins short of the women's record set by her former teammate Lindsey Vonn. Shiffrin finished sixth and fourth in two downhills over the past two days before excelling in the super-G format. She beat Elena Curtoni by 0.12 seconds. The Italian won Friday's downhill. Romane Miradoli was four-tenth behind in third. Sofia Goggia placed fifth. The Italian has been skiing with a broken hand for two days but won Saturday's downhill.
AP sources: Cubs, SS Dansby Swanson agree to 7-year deal
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Dansby Swanson have agreed to a $177 million, seven-year contract, adding the All-Star shortstop to the team's rebuilding project. The deal includes a full no-trade clause, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract was pending a physical. Swanson was part of a stellar group of free agent shortstops that also included Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts. He was the last one of the four to decide on a team.
Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to take 3rd place at World Cup
AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great's last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match. Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the seventh minute but Achraf Dari evened the score in the ninth. The World Cup final between defending champion France and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at Lusail Stadium.