New York Jets 23, Oakland Raiders 20 – The Jets clinch a wild-card spot, while Oakland gets next year's first draft pick by virtue of having this season's worst record in the NFL (2–14).
Kansas City Chiefs 35, Jacksonville Jaguars 30 – Larry Johnson rushes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. The win, combined with the Broncos' loss to the 49ers later that day, gives the Chiefs a playoff spot.
Baltimore Ravens 19, Buffalo Bills 7 – The Ravens' win gives them second seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.
San Francisco 49ers 26, Denver Broncos 23 (OT) – The Broncos, needing only a tie to secure a wild-card berth, blow an early 13–0 lead, fail to score on three trips inside the Niners 5 in regulation, and eventually lose the game and a playoff berth on a Joe Nedney field goal.
Green Bay Packers 26, Chicago Bears 7 – In what many analysts speculate will be Brett Favre's last game, he throws for 285 yards and a TD to help lead the Pack to a rout of the Bears, who had little to play for as they had already clinched home field throughout the NFC playoffs. Bears QB Rex Grossman goes 2-for-12 with three interceptions, two returned for TDs, in the first half, and is pulled in favor of Brian Griese.
NFL Week 17: New York Giants 34, Washington Redskins 28: In what he says will be his last regular-season game, Tiki Barber rushes for a team-record 234 yards and scores three touchdowns. The Giants clinch the last playoff spot in the NFC.
Golf: Tiger Woods and his wife Elin announce that they are expecting their first child in the summer of 2007. He will skip the first three official events of the 2007 PGA Tour season to spend time with her. (ESPN)
England second innings: 161 all out (65.5 overs). Australia win the match by an innings and 99 runs, stretching their lead in the five-match series to 4–0. Shane Warne, in his final Test at the MCG, is named Man of the Match for his bowling figures of 5–39 and 2–46, and his 40 not out with the bat in the first innings. His final dismissal, of Steve Harmison, puts him on 999 total Test and ODI wickets, trailing only Muttiah Muralitharan. (BBC)
Baltimore Ravens 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 7. The Ravens take a 1-game lead over the Colts for the number-two spot in the AFC, thus rendering the Steelers unable to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Denver Broncos 24, Cincinnati Bengals 23. The Broncos move a step close to a wild-card spot when the Bengals botch an extra-point attempt with 37 seconds remaining.
Allen Iverson made his debut with the Denver Nuggets, not starting the game but entering with less than four minutes in the first quarter, contributing 22 points and 10 assists, but the Sacramento Kings spoiled his party, winning 101–96.
NFL Week 16 Thursday Night Game: Green Bay Packers 9, Minnesota Vikings 7. In a game that saw neither team score an offensive touchdown, Brett Favre, in what could be his last home game, rallies the Packers to a game-winning field goal by Dave Rayner with 1:34 left.
The League Two team shocks the Premiership squad in The Valley, and will meet another Premier League squad in the two-legged semi-finals.
18 December 2006 (Monday)
Athletics: India's Santhi Soundarajan fails a gender test taken during the 2006 Asian Games and was stripped of her silver medal in the women's 800 meters. (BBC)
England second innings: 350 all out (122.2 overs) Australia wins the match by 206 runs, and regain the Ashes at the earliest possible opportunity, leading the five-match series by 3–0. (BBC), (BBC Scorecard)
India wins its first-ever Test in South Africa, defeating South Africa by 123 runs. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is named Player of the Match for his bowling effort (5/40 & 3/59). India leads the three-Test series 1–0. (Scorecard)
NBA: In the second highest scoring game this season, Gilbert Arenas sets a franchise record of 60 points as the Washington Wizards defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime, 147–141. The previous record was set by Earl Monroe, when the team was known as the Baltimore Bullets on 13 February 1968 with 56 points against the Lakers, in overtime. Kobe Bryant scored 48 points for the Lakers in the loss to Washington.
England second innings: 265 for 5 (96.0 overs) Australia still have the advantage, but England held them off all day, however losing two wickets in the last few overs.(BBC), (BBC Scorecard)
Tennessee Titans 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 17. The Titans gain only 98 yards and hold the ball for barely 15 minutes but return two interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills 21, Miami Dolphins 0. For the second straight week, the Bills beat a divisional rival, and in the process, eliminate the Dolphins from post-season contention with the season sweep.
Chicago Bears 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31 (OT). Despite blowing a 21-point lead, the Bears clinch the number-one seed in the NFC playoffs thanks to Robbie Gould's 25-yard field goal with 3:37 left in the extra period.
Philadelphia Eagles 36, New York Giants 22. Trent Cole, whose personal foul cost the Eagles their Week Two loss to the Giants, seals the game with an interception return for a touchdown as they take sole possession of second place in the NFC East.
St. Louis Rams 20, Oakland Raiders 0. The Raiders are shut out for the third time this season as they commit five turnovers and Steven Jackson capitalizes for two rushing touchdowns.
Australia second innings: 527 for 5 (declared, 112.0 overs)
England second innings: 19 for 1 (6.0 overs) Australia lead by 537 runs. England will need a record score (or unexpected bad weather) to save the series.(BBC), (BBC Scorecard)
Cycling: Theo Bos sets a new world record at the 200 metres sprint distance in track cycling. His time of 9.722 seconds was 0.120 faster than Canadian Curt Harnett cycled in 1995. Harnett's record was set in Bogotá, Colombia at a high-altitude track, while Bos' record was set on a low-altitude track in Moscow during a 2007 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics meeting.
Australia second innings: 119 for 1 (36.0 overs) Australia lead by 148 runs.(BBC), (BBC Scorecard)
Golf
2006 Lexus Cup – Asia and the International teams are tied 3 – 3 after day one.
14 December 2006 (Thursday)
Alpine skiing: Only one day after Andreas Schifferer announced his retirement from international skiing competitions his fellow countryman Werner Franz does the same. Franz who faced many longterm injuries won one European Cup and two World Cup meetings during his career.
Australia leads the series, 2–0. England must at least draw this test to keep the Ashes from returning to Australia. Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.
Australia first innings: 244 all out (71.0 overs). Monty Panesar took 5 Australian wickets for 92 runs off 24 overs.
2006–07 UEFA Cup, Matchday 5: (Teams who are qualified for the Round of 32 after Matchday 5 are in bold, teams that have already qualified before Matchday 5 are in italics.)
San Francisco 49ers 24, Seattle Seahawks 14. After going almost the entire first half without a third down conversion, the 49ers spoil the Seahawks' second bid to clinch the NFC West and sweep the season series. Alex Smith throws for two touchdowns, and ran for a third in the win.
Ronnie O'Sullivan surprises opponent Stephen Hendry, the audience, referees and many others watching the live broadcasting of his match as he concedes the match at a 4–1 score. Henry was awarded the remaining frames and won the match by 9–1. Only several hours later O'Sullivan gave the reason for his decision. He said "Today I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have continued."
2006–07 UEFA Cup, Matchday 5: (Teams who are qualified for the Round of 32 after Matchday 5 are in bold, teams that have already qualified before Matchday 5 are in italics.)
Alexandre Pato gave the Brazilian team an early lead, but Flávio Amado equalised after 54 minutes. Luiz Adriano's goal 18 minutes before time was the final clinching goal.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially announces their interest in hosting the FIFA World Cup 2014. President Ricardo Teixeira said Brazil will host the World Cup for the first time in 64 years. FIFA members already announced that the World Cup will be most likely held in South America. All other CONMEBOL members support Brazil in hosting the event.
Bears return specialist Devin Hester sets a new NFL single-season record with his fifth (94 yards on a kickoff in the first quarter) and sixth (96 yards on a fourth quarter kickoff) kick returns for a touchdown. The two kickoff returns for touchdowns tie the NFL single-game record for the sixth time, last done by Chad Morton with the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills on 8 September 2002. (NFL.com)
NBA: Commissioner David Stern announces that the league's widely criticized new microfiber composite ball will be replaced by the league's old leather ball, effective 1 January 2007. (ESPN)
General news: West Ham United fires manager Alan Pardew due to weak performances in the league. Last weekend "The Hammers" were beaten 4–0 by Bolton Wanderers and dropped down to the 18th position.
Jacksonville Jaguars 44, Indianapolis Colts 17. Maurice Jones-Drew (166 yards rushing) and Fred Taylor (131 yards) expose the Colts' utter inability to defend the run. Jones-Drew has two rushing TDs and returns a punt for a third. The Jaguars' 375 rushing yards are a team single-game record, with the previous record of 246 being broken before halftime, while a third Jag, Alvin Pearman (77 yards), joined Jones-Drew and Taylor outrushing the whole Colts team (34 yards total).
Arizona Cardinals 27, Seattle Seahawks 21. Thanks to three Seahawks fumbles resulting in 14 Cardinal points, the visitors failed to clinch the NFC West title.
Team America wins six out of nine matches over the last two session versus Team Europe to overcome their trailing score of 9–6 to a 12–12 final standings. This draw means Team America, who were the 2005 Mosconi Cup winners will keep the cup for another year.
Alena Popchanka sets a new European record as her time of 1:54.25 is 0.28 faster than the previous record held by British Melanie Marshall.
Antje Buschschulte loses her European record at the 200m backstroke to French Esther Baron who finishes 0.15 seconds before the previous record in a new time of 2:04.08 to claim the gold.
Yury Prilukov trashes his own European record at the 1500m freestyle by more than seven seconds, bringing the time down from 14:23.92 to 14:16.13 in Helsinki. Prilukov's record is now six seconds away from the 14:10.10 World record set by Grant Hackett.
Laure Manaudou swims a new World record at the 400m freestyle. The old record, which was also hers was swum in 3:56.79, while 3:56.09 is the new best time.
NFL Week 14 Thursday night game: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cleveland Browns 7. Willie Parker broke the Steelers' all-time record for most yards rushing in a game by a running back with 223 yards on 32 carries. By comparison, the Browns had a total of 18 yards on 11 carries as a team.
NBA: In a game that tied for the fourth-highest combined scoring game in league history, the Phoenix Suns defeated the New Jersey Nets in double overtime, 161–157. Steve Nash led all scorers with 42 points for the Suns, while the Nets' Jason Kidd had his 89th triple double (38 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds) in a losing effort, tying him with Wilt Chamberlain for third place on the all-time list.
Tragedy struck the Asian Games when South Korean equestrian athlete Kim Hyung-chil died after falling off his horse during the cross country competition which took place in the rain. The accident occurred at jump number eight during the cross-country stage of the three-day eventing competition. After the horse rolled over him, he was taken to the hospital, with his death later confirmed by the organizing committee. Kim won a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan on the same horse.
The UEFA gives Feyenoord Rotterdam a fine of €125,000, because of the crowd trouble that occurred during their match versus AS Nancy on 30 November. Feyenoord also has to pay to repair the Stade Marcel Picot and will play two home matches without any supporters if something similar happens within the next three years.
The German relay team, Helge Meeuw, Johannes Neumann, Thomas Rupprath and Jens Schreiber beats the World Record at the 4x50m Medley relay. The time of 1:34.06 was 0.40 faster than the old record, which was also swum by a German team.
Arkady Vyatchanin swims a new European record at the 200m backstroke. The Russian became the first European to swim under 1:50.00, finishing 0.02 underneath the time. The previous European record was 1:50.43 held by Markus Rogan.
Otylia Jędrzejczak beats Annika Mehlhorn's European record of 2:05.77 to 2:04.94, becoming the first European to swim under 2:05.00 at the 200m butterfly. Mehlhorn herself only finished in fifth position.
Deep Fritz wins the confrontation with World Champion Vladimir Kramnik 4–2 in Bonn, Germany. Kramnik tried to tie the result 3–3 in the last game, but the computer won it within 47 moves.
The Ashes 2006–07: Australia wins the Second Test in Adelaide, defeating England by six wickets. The match was dominated by high scores in the first two innings – England scoring 6/551 declared (Collingwood 206, Pietersen 158), Australia responding with 513 all out (Ponting 142, Clarke 124, Hoggard 7/109). England collapsed on the final day, dismissed for 129, leaving Australia 168 runs to win with just over two hours play remaining. The home side's victory came three overs before the close of play. Australia leads the series 2–0, with three Tests to play. (Scorecard)
New York Jets 38, Green Bay Packers 10. Three drives of 70-plus yards for touchdowns in the second quarter propelled the Jets to victory over the Packers.
Dallas Cowboys 23, New York Giants 20. Newly signed placekicker Martin Gramatica kicks three field goals, including the game-winning 46-yarder with one second left as the Cowboys improve to 8–4 in the NFC East.
Haile Gebrselassie wins the marathon of Fukuoka in 2.06.52, finishing about a minute above his personal record. Gebrselassie ran away from 2005 winner Dmitri Baranovski and two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib after 38 kilometres.
In the final day's reverse singles matches, David Nalbandian equalled for the Argentinians by winning his match versus Nikolay Davydenko 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4, but Marat Safin was too strong for José Acasuso in the decisive match: 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Men (56 kg) Li Zheng ; Hoang Anh Tuan ; Lee Jong Hoon
Women (48 kg) Wang Mingjuan ; Pensiri Laosirikul ; Thongyim Bunphithak
Women (53 kg) Li Ping ; Junpim Kuntatean ; Yu Wei Li
Athletics:
Nathan Deakes sets a new World Record on the 50 km road walking in Geelong. He was 16 seconds faster than Robert Korzeniowski's record, resulting in a 3:35.47 finish time. At 40 km Deakes was two and a half minutes faster than Korzeniowski, but lost most of it in the final kilometres.
At the Division IIISalem University Invitational consolation game in Salem, West Virginia, Lincoln University beats Ohio State-Marion, 201–78. The 123-point margin of victory by the Lions is the largest in NCAA history; Lincoln's Sami Wylie sets an all-division record with 21 three-pointers in 24 minutes played, also setting a school record with 69 points. In addition, the Lions set records for most points in a half (104 in the second half), most field goal attempts and made in a game (141 and 79 respectively). ESPN
After sitting out seven months with a wrist injury, highly touted freshman Greg Oden makes his debut for Ohio State, racking up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes as the Buckeyes waltz to a 78–58 home win over Valparaiso. (ESPN)
(15) West Virginia 41, (13) Rutgers 39 (3 OT): A failed two-point-conversion attempt in triple overtime ends the Scarlet Knights' Cinderella campaign for a Big East title and sends Louisville to the BCS.
Leisel Jones wins the Swimming World Female Swimmer of the Year award for the second consecutive time, while Michael Phelps wins the male award for the third time in a four-year period.
The two-year suspension of Karen Kronemeyer [nl] who was tested positive on using benzylpiperazine is reduced to one year. While appealing the suspension she convinced the jury that she did not use the doping substance on purpose. The jury however still believes Kronemeyer should have paid more attention and reduced the suspension with 50%. Kronemeyer's suspension started in February 2006 and will be able to compete again in February 2007.
Australia vs. 
England, in Melbourne.
India wins its first-ever Test in South Africa, defeating 
South Africa by 123 runs. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is named Player of the Match for his bowling effort (5/40 & 3/59). India leads the three-Test series 1–0. (Scorecard)
Sri Lanka defeats 
New Zealand by 217 runs to draw the two-Test series 1–1. Sri Lanka's Chamara Silva (61 and 152 not out) is named Player of the Match. Other top performers included Kumar Sangakkara (156 not out in the First Innings), Lasith Malinga (5/68 and 2/62), Muttiah Muralitharan (4/31 and 6/87) and Daniel Vettori (3/53 and 7/130). (Scorecard)
Mo Farah, 
Juan Carlos de la Ossa, 
Mustafa Mohamed (second placed Fernando Silva from Portugal was disqualified because of doping with erythropoietin)
Tetyana Holovchenko, 
Mariya Konovalova, 
Olivera Jevtić
Salvador Duran, (3) 
Nico Hülkenberg, (3) 
Nicolas Lapierre
3–2 
, and Malaysia 
advance to the medal round.
; 
, and South Korea 
, Salamat Utarbayev 
; 
advance to the gold medal game while Iran 
advance to the bronze medal game.
; 
and Jamal Ali Mohammad and Nayef Eqab Al Abadla 
; 
; 
; 
; 
Argentina
12–25, 22–25, 17–25 
Brazil
25–22, 23–25, 23–25, 23–25 
Bulgaria
West Indies by 199 runs in the Third Test at Karachi to claim the three-Test series 2–0. Pakistani batsmen Mohammad Yousuf breaks a 30-year-old Test cricket record of most runs in a calendar year, eclipsing Sir Viv Richards' 1,710 runs made in 1976. Yousuf now has 1,788 runs in 2006. (Scorecard) (Cricinfo article)