MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bijan Robinson ran for 143 yards, Parker Romo made five field goals without a miss in his Falcons debut and Atlanta beat the Minnesota Vikings 22-6. The Falcons sacked J.J. McCarthy six times and forced three turnovers on Sunday night. Tyler Allgeier added 13 carries for 67 yards with a late touchdown run. The Falcons rushed 38 times for 219 yards to keep the pressure off quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and keep the crowd from being a major factor. McCarthy struggled in his second career start after rallying the Vikings past Chicago in his debut.
(Milwaukee, WI) — The day after they qualified for the postseason, the Brewers dropped a 3-2 game to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards scored all three runs in the second inning Sunday. Milwaukee scored its runs on solo homers by Caleb Durbin and Danny Jansen. Starter Jose Quintana took the loss. The Brewers became the first team to make the postseason Saturday. They’re off today (Monday), then will welcome the Los Angeles Angels to American Family Field for a series starting Tuesday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — James McCann homered and drove in four runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Sunday to remain two games back in the chase for the NL’s third wild-card spot. The New York Mets hold the final wild-card spot, with San Francisco 1 1/2 games back. Alek Thomas had two hits, stole a base and scored two runs for the Diamondbacks. Nabil Crismatt (3-0) gave up just two unearned runs while walking none and striking out four over five innings to pick up the victory. Kyle Backhus retired Matt Wallner on a fly out with the bases loaded for the final out and his second save of the season. Wallner and Mickey Gasper hit solo homers for Minnesota. Bailey Ober (5-8) was the loser.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series. Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds. Natisha Hiedeman made two 3-pointers and scored 18 for the Lynx, while Kayla McBride added 17. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Williams pitched in with 11 points and four steals. Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini both scored 14 to lead Golden State
(Tuscaloosa, AL) — The Badgers’ return trip to respectability took a step back Saturday in a 38-14 loss at Alabama. The Crimson Tide dominated the line of scrimmage, rolling to 454 yards of total offense. The Bama lead was 21-0 at half, and the game was never in question. Vinny Anthony the Second returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score early in the third period, and a 41-yard pass from Danny O’Neil to Jayden Ballot accounted for all the Badgers’ points. Wisconsin opens Big Ten Conference play next week at home when the Maryland Terrapins visit.
(Green Bay, WI) — The trade for Micah Parsons sent run-stuffer Kenny Clark to Dallas, but it appears the Packers had a replacement already on the roster. Twenty-seven-year-old Devonte Wyatt has stepped in nicely. In two games, Wyatt has five total tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections, five quarterback hits, and 11 pressures. So far, Green Bay is giving up 48-point-5 yards rushing per game. Parsons’ arrival has taken so much attention from the opponents that it has opened up things for players like Wyatt.
(Riga, LV) — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has led his native country, Greece, to a bronze medal in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Antetokounmpo scored 30 points in the 92-89 win over Finland. He had 17 rebounds and six assists. The 6-foot-11 All-NBA performer put the game out of reach by connecting on two free throws with four seconds left. Germany won the gold.