NFL:
The New England Patriots clinched a first-round playoff bye with a 17-16 victory over the New York Jets yesterday.
The New York Giants beat the St. Louis Rams 37-27 yesterday. Odell Beckham Jr. caught two touchdown passes and rolled up 148 yards receiving against a defense that hadn't allowed a TD in three straight games. Oakland bested Buffalo 26-24.
Meanwhile the Dallas Cowboys are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 after Tony Romo threw four of the Cowboys' five touchdown passes in a 42-7 laugher against Indianapolis. The Packers wrapped up an NFC playoff berth as Green Bay had a 20-3 win over Tampa Bay. Detroit has also clinched an NFC playoff berth after defeating Chicago 20-14.
Both Seattle and Arizona have NFC playoff spots after Seattle beat Arizona 35-6.
A pre-trial hearing on jury issues is scheduled Monday for former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez, whose murder trial is slated to start next month.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Jury selection is scheduled to start Jan. 9.
Hernandez also has pleaded not guilty to the fatal shootings of two men in 2012 after an encounter at a Boston nightclub.
NBA:
In the NBA, Toronto beat New York 118-108, Miami bested Boston 100-84, Brooklyn won against Detroit 110-105, Sacramento defeated the Lakers 108-101, Philadelphia topped Orlando 96-88, Phoenix trumped Washington 104-92, Cleveland beat Memphis 105-91, Indiana bested Minnesota 100-96, and it was New Orleans over Oklahoma City 101-99.
NHL:
Over on the ice, the Rangers blanked Carolina 1-0, Boston edged Buffalo in overtime 4-3, Dallas beat Edmonton in a shootout 6-5, Colorado skated past Detroit 2-1 in a shootout 2-1, Chicago shut out Toronto 4-0, and it was Philadelphia over Winnipeg 4-3.
NCAA:
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has been cleared of the sexual assault allegations he faced at a student code of conduct hearing this month. A former student made the allegations against Winston two years ago. Documents say a former Florida Supreme Court judge found the evidence was "insufficient to satisfy the burden of proof."
Skiing:
American Lindsey Vonn's bid for a record-equaling 62nd World Cup win will have to wait a little while longer.
The four-time World Cup winner crashed out of the super-G race after entering a gate slightly too wide, as Elisabeth Goergl beat Olympic champion Anna Fenninger by .05 seconds to lead an Austrian 1-2.
Vonn did not injure her surgically repaired right knee. She was .01 ahead of Georgl's time on the first split.
Olympic champ Ted Ligety had to settle for second in the World Cup giant slalom. He finished 1.45 seconds behind Austria's Marcel Hischer.
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