| | | | | | | Presented By SiriusXM | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Dec 19, 2022 | | 👋 Good morning! I'm still recovering, mentally and emotionally, from one of the best sports weekends of the year. Today's word count: 1,938 words (7 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: ⚽️ It doesn't get better than that |  | | | Photo: Marvin Ibo Guengoer/GES Sportfoto/Getty Images | | | | Sometimes, sports are so good they feel scripted. Other times, they're so spectacular that a script can be immediately ruled out: Nobody could have possibly come up with that. Driving the news: Lionel Messi (two goals) and Argentina beat Kylian Mbappé (three goals) and France on Sunday in the greatest World Cup Final ever. The match ended 3-3 and Argentina won 4-2 in a shootout. Why it matters: The victory gives Argentina three World Cup titles, trailing only Brazil (5), Germany (4) and Italy (4), and cements Messi's status as the greatest soccer player to ever live. - The pressure of an entire nation has been on Messi's shoulders ever since he made his World Cup debut in 2006 at age 18. 16 years later, he has delivered the ultimate prize to his soccer-obsessed nation.
- "I wanted to close my career with this," said the 35-year-old. "I can no longer ask for anything else. Thank God, he gave me everything."
Game recap: This game didn't appear destined for greatness, with Argentina dominating the first 75 minutes. But France needed just 90 seconds to turn a one-sided affair into an instant classic. Fans watch the final match in Buenos Aires. Photo: Getty Images By the numbers: 1,003 games. 793 goals. Seven Ballon d'Or awards. One World Cup title. Messi's masterpiece is complete. - He is the first man to score in the Group Stage, Round of 16, Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final in a single World Cup. He's also the first to win two Golden Balls (best player).
- His final World Cup match saw him set the all-time record for appearances (26), minutes played (2,314), and combined goals and assists (20).
What's next: This was Messi's last World Cup, but he says he intends to continue playing for Argentina a while longer. ❤️ What a scene ... Messi being carried around the stadium while Argentina fans chant his name. "It is such a huge pleasure for us to coach him. ... Everything that he transmits to his teammates is something I have never seen before — a player, a person who gives so much to his teammates." — Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni |     | | | | | | 2. 🏈 The NFL does it again |  | | | Greg Joseph celebrates with teammates after kicking the OT game-winner. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images | | | | The NFL's Saturday and Sunday slate featured the biggest comeback ever, the wildest ending imaginable, three overtime games and two 17-point comebacks. Overall, just an insanely good weekend of football. By the numbers: 12 of 15 games this week were decided by one score, and all 15 games were decided by 11 points or fewer. Both marks are tied for the most in a single week in NFL history. Highlights: - Minneapolis Miracle II: The Vikings turned a 33-0 halftime deficit into a 39-36 (OT) win over the Colts — the biggest comeback in NFL history. NFL teams are now 1,548-2-1 when leading by 30+ points.
- Absolute insanity: The Raiders beat the Patriots after a lateral play went horribly wrong, leading to a pick six with no time left on the clock. This ending has to be seen to be believed.
- Postseason-bound: The Bills clinched their fourth straight playoff berth on Saturday night amid snow globe-like conditions in Buffalo. The Cowboys also clinched thanks to the Giants win.
- Seventh straight crown: The Chiefs squeaked past the Texans in OT to clinch their seventh consecutive AFC West title. I believe the term for that is "dynasty."
- 17-point comebacks: The Jaguars erased a 27-10 deficit to stun the Cowboys, and the Bengals came back from a 17-0 hole to beat the Bucs.
- Dicker the kicker: Rookie Cameron Dicker kicked his third game-winning field goal of the season. Two have come with the Chargers (Week 9 and Sunday) and one came with the Eagles (Week 5).
- 26-year curse: The Panthers haven't beat the Steelers since 1996. They had a chance to end the curse on Sunday but lost at home, 24-16.
- They finally did it: The Giants beat the Commanders on "Sunday Night Football" to snap an 11-game losing streak in primetime games.
Scoreboard: Favorites have won 10 of 15 games this week entering tonight's Rams-Packers finale. - Favorite won (10): Vikings 39, Colts 36 (OT) | Raiders 30, Patriots 24 | Chiefs 30, Texans 24 (OT) | Broncos 24, Cardinals 15 | Bills 32, Dolphins 29 | 49ers 21, Seahawks 13 | Chargers 17, Titans 14 | Bengals 34, Bucs 23 | Saints 21, Falcons 18 | Eagles 25, Bears 20
- Underdog won (5): Jaguars 40, Cowboys 34 (OT) | Steelers 24, Panthers 16 | Lions 20, Jets 17 | Browns 13, Ravens 3 | Giants 20, Commanders 12
🍿 Go deeper: Best plays from Week 15 (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 3. ⚾️ Moneyball: $3.5B and counting |  Data: Spotrac; Table: Axios Visuals This time last year, MLB teams and players were nearly three weeks into what would become the league's longest-ever lockout. Now, those same teams have set a record for offseason spending, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. By the numbers: Entering Sunday, 28 teams had signed 69 free agents to $3.53 billion in guaranteed major league contracts, per Spotrac, already surpassing the record of $3.31 billion set last offseason. - Top spenders: 81% of all money has been spent by just eight teams: Yankees ($573.5 million), Giants ($463.2 million), Mets ($461.7 million), Phillies ($387 million), Padres ($326 million), Cubs ($265.3 million), Rangers ($229.7 million), Red Sox ($141.5 million).
- Non-spenders: The Marlins and Brewers are the only two teams that have yet to sign anyone to a major league contract.
The intrigue: Nearly one-third of all free agent money ($1.11 billion) has gone to four star shortstops. - Carlos Correa, Giants: 13 years, $350 million
- Trea Turner, Phillies: 11 years, $300 million
- Xander Bogaerts, Padres: 11 years, $280 million
- Dansby Swanson, Cubs: 7 years, $177 million
What to watch: All the biggest names are off the board, but there's still plenty of talent available. Our top 10 remaining free agents: - Position players: Brandon Belt (1B), Trey Mancini (1B/OF), Andrew McCutchen (OF/DH), Gary Sánchez (C)
- Starters: Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Kluber, Michael Wacha
- Relievers: Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Taylor Rogers
| | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Stream NBA Radio on SiriusXM | | |  | | | | With NBA Radio on SiriusXM Streaming, hear live coverage of the regular season, playoffs and the NBA finals. What's in it for you: SiriusXM NBA Radio delivers expert analysis and real-time NBA news that true basketball fans need. See Offer Details. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Nikola Jokić on Sunday; Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. Photos: Justin Tafoya/Getty Images; Dick Raphael/Getty Images | | | | 🏀 40-25-10: Nikola Jokić recorded the first 40-25-10 game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, going off for 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday to lead the Nuggets past the Hornets, 119-115. What a player. 🏈 329 yards: Frank Gore Jr., son of the former NFL star, ran for an NCAA bowl-record 329 yards to lead Southern Miss past Rice, 38-24, in Saturday's LendingTree Bowl. ⛳️ 16th time's the charm: Vijay Singh, 59, and his son Qass, 32, finally won the PNC Championship in their 16th try, beating John Daly and his son by two shots. Tiger and Charlie Woods finished tied for eighth. 🏀 Book goes off: Devin Booker exploded for 58 points on Saturday to help the Suns erase a 24-point deficit and beat the Pelicans, 118-114. Booker is just 26 years old and already has five career 50-point games. 🏈 Battle for Dakota: North Dakota State and South Dakota State will meet in the FCS championship game after knocking off Incarnate Word and Montana State, respectively. | | | | | | | | 5. 🇺🇸 New bill may dash cadet's NFL dreams |  | | | Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios | | | | Army's Andre Carter II is a top NFL prospect, but a new bill could jeopardize his and other cadets' future professional careers, Jeff writes. Driving the news: An amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act — passed by the Senate last week and expected to be signed by President Biden — would prohibit service academy cadets from "obtain[ing] employment, including as a professional athlete, until after completing [their] service obligation." - For Army graduates, that obligation comprises five years of active duty and three in the reserves, though they can apply for an alternative service option after two years, per ESPN.
- This is the reversal of a rule pushed through by former President Trump in 2019 that allowed athletes at Army, Navy and Air Force to apply for a waiver to delay their service requirement.
The intrigue: Carter, a 6-foot-7 linebacker, is currently Mel Kiper's No. 22 prospect. Army hasn't had a player drafted in the first round since 1946. What they're saying: "It's not fair to him," Army coach Jeff Monken told ESPN. "It's not that he doesn't want to serve. He wants to pursue the NFL and play, and then serve. I'm 100% against it." The other side: Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the former U.S. Marine who introduced the amendment, explained why he pushed for this change: "When a midshipman or a cadet opts to put off their service obligation to pursue a career as a professional athlete ... it means they removed an opportunity from an individual who is committed to carrying out their service obligation immediately following graduation." What to watch: Gallagher is seeking a legislative fix that would grandfather current athletes into the old rule, so there's still a chance Carter could hear his name called at next spring's draft. - If that happens, Carter would join the four Army grads currently in the NFL: Chiefs LB Cole Christiansen, Eagles OT Brett Toth, Steelers S Elijah Riley and Seahawks LB Jon Rhattigan.
- If the change isn't made, there's still a blueprint for success: Roger Staubach graduated from Navy in 1965 and served four years before beginning his Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys.
| | | | | | | | 6. 🇺🇸 Photos across America | | Photo: Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — What a Saturday night in upstate New York. Bills players used their hands to wipe snow aside and clear a path for Tyler Bass to kick the game-winner as time expired. Photo: C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images OMAHA, Neb. — Texas, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA women's volleyball tournament, dominated Louisville on Saturday to win the program's third national title. Photo: Brian Fluharty/Getty Images BOSTON — The Cardinals won at Fenway Park on Saturday. But it wasn't St. Louis — it was Louisville. | | | | | | | | 7. 🌎 Photos around the world | | Photo: Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom/Getty Images ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — Mikaela Shiffrin won a World Cup super-G event on Sunday to claim her 77th career victory and move within five of Lindsey Vonn's all-time women's record. Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images DOHA, Qatar — Luka Modrić celebrates with his daughter after Croatia's 2-1 win over Morocco in Saturday's third-place game. Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover being escorted off the field. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images MELBOURNE, Australia — A soccer match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory ended prematurely on Saturday after Victory fans rushed onto the field and attacked the opposing goalkeeper. | | | | | | | | 8. 📺 Watchlist: USA vs. Canada |  | | | Team USA during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images | | | | USA women's hockey takes on Canada tonight (10pm ET, NHL) in Game 5 of the 2022-23 Rivalry Series. - Where it stands: The U.S. leads the best-of-seven series, 3-1, entering tonight's game at Crypto.com Arena.
- Fun fact: These two teams have combined to win every world and Olympic title in women's hockey history.
More to watch: | | | | | | | | 9. 🏈 NFL trivia |  | | | Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images | | | | The Chiefs are the third team in NFL history to win seven straight division titles. - Question: Name the other two.
- Hint: One streak began in 1973, one began in 2009.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🍿 Top plays: Weekend edition |  | | | Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images | | | | 25 must-see plays. Probably the best list we've ever compiled. Watch all 25. | | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Get 4 months free of SiriusXM | | |  | | | | Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including NBA Radio, expertly curated ad-free music, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get four months free, and you can cancel anytime. See Offer Details. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Is this heaven?" Baker Trivia answer: Rams (seven straight NFC West titles from 1973-79) and Patriots (11 straight AFC East titles from 2009-19) 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. |  | | Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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