AP Sports SummaryBrief at 9:19 a.m. EST

Packers defeat Rams 24-12 to keep playoff hopes alive

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A.J. Dillon ran for two scores, Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Aaron Jones and the Green Bay Packers kept their playoff hopes afloat with a 24-12 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Dillon put Green Bay ahead for good with an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and also scored from 1 yard out in the third period. He left midway through the second half to be evaluated for a concussion. Rodgers went 22 of 30 for 229 yards with a touchdown and interception to win his ninth straight “Monday Night Football” start.

Report: Sapporo ‘reviewing’ bid promotion for 2030 Olympics

TOKYO (AP) — Sapporo officials and the Japanese Olympic Committee are “reviewing” their bid to land the 2030 Winter Games. Japanese news agency Kyodo had few details in its brief report. The Sapporo bid has been battered by a corruption scandal surrounding the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sapporo had been considered the favorite for 2030 with Salt Lake City seen as the leader to land 2034. The International Olympic Committee announced this month that it might delay announcing a 2030 venue until 2024. It has been expected to make that announcement next year. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan-Cortina.

Messi, Mbappe give Qatar the perfect World Cup ending

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — When it comes to soccer, money can buy the world. It can pay for the World Cup. And the world’s best players. And it can bundle them all up into a perfect package and present it to a global audience of millions. The power of money was on show in all its glory as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties to become world champions for the third time and end Lionel Messi’s pursuit of the one major trophy that had eluded him in his storied career. Not a bad return on Qatar’s estimated $200 billion investment.

Column: Tiger has shots and a limp to keep everyone guessing

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It took just two days at the PNC Championship for Tiger Woods to show he can still hit all the shots. He just can’t walk to them at the moment. A few shots stood out to him. One was a 3-iron into the 18th green on Saturday. Another was the drive he hit some 15 yards past Justin Thomas. That prompted Woods to leave a note for Thomas in the fairway to remind him the old guy can still play. It was enough to raise the possibility of Woods doing something special after he recovers from plantar fasciitis.

Analysis: Fitting that Dirk will be celebrated on Christmas

Dirk Nowitzki is about to get his statue from the Dallas Mavericks. It’s fitting that the unveiling is on Christmas Day. December 25 is always a huge day on the NBA calendar. This is the 15th year in a row that the league has played five games on the holiday. And it’s also become a showcase day for international players. Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic and Cameroon’s Joel Embiid will all be highlighted this year. But Nowitzki preceded them all and helped pave the way for these international success stories.

Orlov scores in OT, Caps hand Red Wings 6th straight loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nic Dowd scored twice in 11 seconds, Dmitry Orlov had the overtime winner and the Washington Capitals won their second in a row by beating the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 with Alex Ovechkin still waiting for his next major milestone. Ovechkin, for a third consecutive game, was unable to score his 801st goal and tie Gordie Howe for second on the NHL career list. He remained stuck on 800 with Howe’s sons Mark and Marty in attendance. Even without a goal from Ovechkin, the Capitals will take the victory on Orlov’s goal with 21.3 seconds left in 3-on-3 overtime. The Red Wings have lost six in a row.

Tom Browning, who pitched perfect game for Reds, dies at 62

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tom Browning, an All-Star pitcher who threw the only perfect game in Cincinnati Reds history and helped them win the 1990 World Series title, has died. He was 62. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office announced Browning’s death on Twitter, saying he died Monday at his home in Union, Kentucky. No cause was given. The Sheriff’s Office said foul play is not suspected. The Reds issued a statement mourning Browning after being in contact with a member of his family, team spokesman Rob Butcher said. Known as a colorful character, Browning retired all 27 batters he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium on Sept. 16, 1988. He also won Game 3 of the 1990 World Series in Oakland.

Light week for Top 25 headlined by Virginia-Miami in ACC

There are just 26 games involving ranked teams in the AP men’s basketball poll over the next week. Several schools in the rankings won’t play at all, and there is just one matching between two teams in this week’s poll. That happens Tuesday night in the ACC, when sixth-ranked Virginia heads to No. 22 Miami. All five unbeatens left in men’s Division I hoops will be in action with No. 1 Purdue playing New Orleans, No. 2 UConn facing Georgetown and No. 15 Mississippi State taking on Drake, along with unranked unbeatens Utah State and New Mexico in action.

Purdue holds top spot in AP poll as UConn climbs to No. 2

Purdue maintained its grasp on No. 1 in the AP men’s college basketball poll on Monday, receiving 40 of the 60 first-place votes from a national media panel after knocking off Davidson in its only game last week. That allowed the Boilermakers to hold the top spot for a second consecutive week. But after then-No. 2 Virginia lost to Houston, UConn leaped into second place and scooped up the remaining 20 first-place votes. The Huskies were unranked in the preseason. rest of the top five were Houston, Kansas and Arizona. Marquette entered the poll at No. 23 and Arizona State at No. 25.

AP source: Eagles QB Hurts suffers sprained right shoulder

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A person with knowledge of the matter says Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a sprained right shoulder and his status for Philadelphia’s game at Dallas is uncertain. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the injury. Hurts has led the Eagles to a 13-1 mark and the best record in the NFL. The 24-year-old has morphed into a serious NFL MVP candidate in his second season as a starter.