Texans at Patriots (-2½)

Houston eliminated Pittsburgh by scoring two defensive touchdowns on Aaron Rodgers turnovers. The 42-year-old quarterback looked so feeble, overaged and overmatched that it’s likely his last game in Pittsburgh … before joining the Vikings.
Pick: Patriots by 7

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is pressured by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Rams at Bears (+3½)

Bears coach Ben Johnson made headlines after their wild-card victory over Green Bay by continuing his one-way trolling of Packers coach Matt LaFleur. Johnson might be the most obnoxious clown to come out of Chicago since Jussie Smollett.
Pick: Rams by 3

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, left, talks with head coach Dan Campbell during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Saturday, July 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

49ers at Seahawks (-7½)

San Francisco dethroned Philadelphia last week despite its slew of injuries, including the ruptured Achilles of star tight end George Kittle. It appears the only hope for the depleted Niners is the not insignificant possibility that Sam Darnold chokes again.
Pick: Seahawks by 3

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 30: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball while being hit by Dallas Turner #15 of the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a game at Lumen Field on November 30, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Bills at Broncos (-1½)

This is a rematch of last year’s wild-card playoff that Buffalo won by 24 points. While much has changed since that game, what hasn’t changed is Josh Allen’s significant superiority to Bo Nix.
Pick: Bills by 3

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets up after collecting a first down near the Jacksonville Jaguars end zone later in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Record

Last week
4-2 straight up
3-3 vs. spread

Season
167-110-1 straight up (.603)
133-145 vs. spread (.478)

All-time (2003-26)
3986-2211-15 straight up (.643)
3044-3024-145 vs spread (.502)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

Related Articles

The Loop NFL Picks: Wild Card weekend

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 18

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 17: Last-minute moves

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 17

The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 16: Last-minute moves

Invasive zebra mussel larvae have been confirmed in Tanners Lake in Landfall.

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that a recent DNR analysis of water samples from the lake showed 12 zebra mussel larvae, called veligers.

“While the DNR has not found adult zebra mussels in Tanners Lake, the presence of veligers suggests reproducing zebra mussel populations,” officials said.

Tanners Lake will now be listed as “infested with zebra mussels,” officials said.

State law requires boaters, anglers and waterfront property owners to take a variety of actions to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, regardless of whether a lake has an infestation, according to the DNR.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they believe they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species not already known to be in the water body.

Zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors and damage water-intake pipes.

More information is available at dnr.state.mn.us/ais.

Related Articles

Hugo man sentenced to probation for groping teen at pool

ICE arrest of Cottage Grove food shelf volunteer has community on edge

Federal prison for alleged sovereign citizen found with ‘cricket bombs’ after east-metro arrest

Woodbury mayor confirms ICE detention center rumor, says it’s now ruled out

Woodbury man says ICE detained him after he followed and recorded

Kids ‘n Kinship provides friendships and positive role models to children and youth ages 5-16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult. Here’s one of the youth waiting for a mentor:

First name: Emmett

Age: 15

Interests: He enjoys art, especially drawing. He also likes swimming and is into soccer. His favorite food to eat is tamales! He fills the rest of his time reconnecting with friends online and playing games together.

Personality/Characteristics: Emmett is a quiet and soft-spoken teenager, but opens up once he connects. He describes himself as kind, carefree and quiet. He is bilingual and is from a Spanish-speaking home.

Goals/dreams: He would like a mentor who is compassionate and enjoys animals. He’s moved several times, so many of his friends are not in the area. He is looking for a stable and consistent adult to connect and spend time with. If he could have three wishes he would have LOTS of money, travel to Tokyo, and have super powers (any kind would do). When he grows up he wants to be in animation. A mentor with an artistic strength or who works in graphic design is a bonus but not required.

For more information: Emmett is waiting for a mentor through Kids n’ Kinship in Dakota County. To learn more about this youth mentoring program and the 39+ youth waiting for a mentor, sign up for an Information Session, visit www.kidsnkinship.org or email programs@kidsnkinship.org. For more information about mentoring in the Twin Cities outside of Dakota County, contact MENTOR MN at mentor@mentormn.org or fill out a brief form at www.mentoring.org/take-action/become-a-mentor/#search.

Related Articles

Champlin mother charged with killing toddler after Lakeville father granted custody

Apple Valley man spared prison in Mounds View shooting case

Burnsville man charged with attacking 74-year-old woman on park trail faces new Lakeville indecent exposure charge

Inver Grove Heights special ed teacher held by ICE for nearly 12 hours

Allegiant, Sun Country say merger will boost affordable travel options

It’s that time of year when the cold and snow and gloom have even the most die-hard Minnesotans considering getting out of town for a long weekend. For the suddenly-vulnerable Minnesota Wild, a little getaway might be the best course of action, after a homestand they would just as soon forget.

Practically everything went wrong for Minnesota on Thursday, as the Winnipeg Jets won 6-2 for their seventh consecutive victory in the Wild’s home rink.

After surviving, and thriving, on their longest road trip in franchise history, the Wild returned to Grand Casino Arena and posted a 0-2-1 record in a trio of home games.

“We are a top-five team in the league and we have a three-game homestand after having an exceptional road trip to start the new year and we didn’t perform well for our fans. One out of six points that’s disappointing, I think that’s the most disappointing part,” Wild defenseman Jake Middleton said. “We’ve faced adversity the whole season thus far and we haven’t hit the panic button yet, which is kudos to us as a team. It sucks that it happened at home, but you are going to go through ups and downs throughout the year and we’re going through that right now.”

They head out on the road for their next three, visiting Buffalo, Toronto and Montreal – not exactly havens from the snow and cold of Minnesota.

But for a Wild team that is doing uncharacteristically negative things, like taking penalties that prove costly, perhaps a little more time away may be beneficial. One of the NHL’s least-penalized teams this season, Minnesota put the Jets on the power play seven times, and Winnipeg scored on four of them. Although when given a chance to share his feelings about the guys in the stripes, at least one veteran didn’t bite.

“I’ve got nothing to say about them,” said Wild top-line winger Mats Zuccarello. “You know, they’re doing their job and trying to do the best they can and obviously we can’t blame it on them.”

The Wild are not fully healthy, with two veteran defensemen and second line center Joel Eriksson Ek missing. And it would be understandable if there’s a sense of fighting through the next 10 games before February’s three-week Olympic break.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes watches their game against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

For coach John Hynes the venue matters less than the trends, and right now they are of some concern.

“You can talk about home and road, to me it’s much more of a short-term focus. I’m not necessarily looking at the homestand. It’s three different games played here and we didn’t get the results that we want,” he said. “But I also think there’s some things you have to extract from this as we go on the road to be able to play. Like I said, it’s disappointing. No one feels it more than the players I think, like, they care.”

Just how much they care was underscored by one of the seven penalties. When Quinn Hughes was thwarted on a second period breakaway, and tripped over Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck on the play, forward Nico Sturm made his frustrations clear from the bench, landing in the box with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Winnipeg scored on the ensuing man advantage to go up 5-1, drawing a rain of boos from the audience.

Sturm offered a postgame mea culpa.

“By that point in the game, kind of frustration got the better of us,” Sturm said. “Obviously I apologized for the penalty, or the words that I said to ref. I respect the refs in this league as well. So, I apologize for that. I was just frustrated.”

It sounds like the words of a team that is still on very, very solid playoff footing despite the mini swoon – but they could maybe use a few days out of town.

Related Articles

Jonas Brodin injury means David Spacek’s NHL debut for Wild

In Hastings this year, Hockey Day Minnesota is a week-long event

Devils in the details, as Wild suffer Monday misfire

Marathon road trip helps Quinn Hughes adjust to life with Wild

Youth hockey reunion with Wild produces Ben Jones’ first goal