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From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy last week before Christmas!
Still have some folks on your shopping list? Why not forward them this newsletter — not not biased, but it’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Pass it along, then unwrap today’s news.
— Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who, after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July, plans to return to the court at next month’s Brisbane International. Mothers are truly unstoppable.
NFL
🏈 Need to know: Week 15
The GIST: Week 15 was as dramatic as ever, filled with coaching outbursts, Taylor Swift f-bombs, and epic, tear-inducing send offs as the end of the regular season inches closer.
Three teams clinch a playoff berth: The Dallas Cowboys locked in their third straight playoff berth before even taking a snap yesterday, advancing after the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers both lost their respective games earlier in the day. And Cowboys quarterback (QB) Dak Prescott should thank them, because the previous MVP favorite and his ’Boys were utterly dominated 31–10 by the resurgent Buffalo Bills.
- Joining Dallas in the postseason are the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. Like the Cowboys, the Eagles clinched their spot through another team’s defeat yesterday, while the Ravens did it the old-fashioned way: beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 23–7 on Sunday Night Football.
The Carolina Panthers pull off second W of the season: As mentioned, the super-struggling Panthers were narrowly victorious yesterday, defeating the Falcons 9–7 to knock Atlanta out of the top spot in the lowly NFC South. Must be those all-black uniforms.
Four more squads eliminated: The Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, and NY Jets were all eliminated from playoff contention yesterday. That makes it unlucky number 13 straight years missing the postseason for the Jets — the longest streak in North American professional sports.
QB questions linger ahead of Monday Night Football: Both the Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks could be without their QB1s tonight: Philly’s Jalen Hurts is sick and listed as questionable, while Seattle’s Geno Smith is battling a groin injury. Stay tuned.
🇨 🇦 Team Canada stays alive in the Rivalry Series
Captain Marie-Philip Poulin is her. The star forward scored the shootout game-winner to give Team Canada their first Rivalry Series win over Team USA on Saturday. The red and white are still down 3-1 in the seven-game series, but will look to repeat history when the series resumes in February.
🍁 Toronto Maple Leaf Max Domi dominates in Saturday’s win
The center stepped up and tallied three points in Saturday’s 7–0 throttling of the Pittsburgh Penguins, making dad and former Leaf Tie Domi very proud. Can the Buds finish the homestand on a high note? Tune in for tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET tilt against the NY Rangers.
🥅 Vancouver Canuck Brock Boeser ties for league lead with 23 goals
The Canucks scored three unanswered second period goals in yesterday's 4–3 win over the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. Right winger Brock Boeser added to his league-leading tally in the process, and will look to light the lamp once again when they visit the Nashville Predators tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET.
🛫 The Winnipeg Jets are soaring in the Central Division
With six wins in their last seven games (including Saturday’s 6–2 win over divisional foe Colorado Avalanche), the Jets have zoomed near the top of the tight Central Division.
- See if the boys can jet to another dub when they host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
🥌 Ottawa’s Rachel Homan won her record-extending 14th Grand Slam of Curling women’s championship at yesterday’s WFG Masters, her fourth title of the season. And that’s on mom strength.
⛷️ Freestyle skiing king Mikaël Kingsbury collected another medal this weekend — a bronze in Saturday’s dual moguls event — bringing his season total to four. Un-brrr-lievable.
🏀 With trade rumors swirling around The Six, the Toronto Raptors need to take care of business when they host the not-so-good Charlotte Hornets tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
⛳ Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, posted their fourth top-10 PNC Championship finish over the weekend, with the Team Langer duo of “the ageless one” Bernhard and his son, Jason, from Germany, finishing first overall. All in the family.
Peep our squad’s MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
💪 How to re-find workout motivation
With a cute new outfit. Late December is the most wonderful overwhelming time of the year, but treating yourself to a new pair of Under Armour’s incredibly soft and supportive Meridian Leggings is a no-brainer.*
📺 What to relive
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team is now streaming on Netflix, where you can re-watch the red, white, and blue’s emotional journey.
🏈 What to shop
Playbook Products. Score a memorable gift for your sports-loving friend or family member featuring greatest plays from your fave teams on coasters, shirts, and more.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Silky smooth.Take Your Pick
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
As you read, the Eagles and Seahawks may be without their respective QB1s for tonight’s 8:15 p.m. ET Monday Night Football tilt, so anything can happen, especially after a wild Week 15. Cast your vote below as to who you think will win tonight’s all-bird battle.
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Annie Chan. Ops by Marga Sison and Annie Chan. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alexis Allison, and Dee Lab. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.