Good Morning! Here’s what happened in the world of sports on Monday, December 9th.

NFL

What a wacky game on Monday Night Football! Bengals superstar Ja’Marr Chase had 177 yards receiving and two touchdowns (including the game-winner), Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle ran for 131 yards on just 18 carries, and Bengals running back Chase Brown had 123 all-purpose yards and a receiving touchdown. And yet this game will be remembered mostly for this unusual blocked-punt first down with two minutes remaining that allowed Cincinnati to win 27-10:

NHL

Three hockey games last night, and two of them went to shootouts!

• The Detroit Red Wings beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5, with Dylan Larkin scoring the winner in the extra, extra frame.

• Montreal beat Anaheim 3-2, thanks to Patrick Laine. The Canadiens winger scored a goal and passed out an assist in regulation, before slotting home the winning goal in the shootout.

• And the Chicago Blackhawks upset the New York Rangers 2-1. Interim head coach Anders Sorenson recorded his first win.

NBA

Just one game in the Association last night, and the winners were the New York Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 15 rebounds, leading NY to a 113-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

SOCCER

North Carolina women’s soccer won their 23rd national title (first since 2012), beating Wake Forest 1-0 last night in the championship game. You know I would have preferred the opportunity to write about the opposite result, but when you see a fantastic goal like this one, there’s no choice but to recognize it as something special. Congrats to both ACC teams on fantastic seasons:

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

The Winter Meetings have begin in Dallas, and we’ve already been swarmed by intriguing MLB rumors. So far, the leading headlines concern two superstars who might be switching teams. St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak stated “It is my intention to try” when asked if he would be trading Nolan Arenado. Meanwhile, the Houston Astros are mulling offers for outfielder Kyle Tucker.

But if you want a trade that’s already taken place, look to the National Hockey League. The Colorado Avalanche are continuing to reshuffle their goalies, acquiring Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. Colorado added goalie Scott Wedgewood in a trade about 10 days ago. NHL goalies don’t normally grow on trees, but the Avalanche wood like you to believe otherwise.

Corner/wide receiver Travis Hunter, running back Ashton Jeanty, quarterback Dillon Gabriel, and quarterback Cam Ward have been named this year’s Heisman finalists as the best players in college football. Seven of the last eight Heisman winners have been quarterbacks– the favorites to win this season, however, are Jeanty and Hunter.

Bill Belichick has confirmed his interest in taking over the UNC football program. “It would be an NFL program at a college level,” he said on the Pat McAfee show.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck may be injured for the Bulldogs first playoff game. The Sugar Bowl is scheduled for January 1st. In other college quarterback news, Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke and Duke QB Maalik Murphy are both transferring. They join a crowded transfer portal already filling up with talented and experienced college passers.

TODAY’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

NCAA BASKETBALL:

• (14) Michigan vs Arkansas, 9 PM on ESPN

• (20) Wisconsin @ Illinois, 9 PM on Peacock

THE NBA CUP: Quarterfinal action begins tonight!

• Magic @ Bucks, 7 PM on TNT

• Mavericks @ Thunder, 9:30 PM on TNT

In case you missed it, enjoy some highlights from the Simpsons-NFL crossover…