Week 16 of the NFL season wraps up Monday night with the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts after a thrilling end to Sunday's game in Detroit.

San Francisco

The NFL season is approaching its final two weeks, with playoff implications dominating the league. The Detroit Lions' recent loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, due to a late-game penalty, has significantly reduced their playoff chances, while the Steelers move closer to clinching their division. The upcoming game between the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts could see the Jaguars, Bills, and Chargers secure playoff spots if the Colts lose.

The playoff picture is notably different this year, with the absence of the Chiefs, Joe Burrow, and possibly Lamar Jackson, allowing new stars to emerge. Meanwhile, teams like the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders are positioned to compete for the number one draft pick in their upcoming matchup. In college football, Miami's upset over Texas A&M sets up a quarterfinal clash with Ohio State, while other top teams prepare for New Year's bowl games.

Looking ahead to final two weeks of NFL season

Week 16 of the NFL season wraps up tonight with the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts after a thrilling end to Sunday's game in Detroit. With just eight seconds left on the clock, the Detroit Lions were trying to close out a late comeback win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but a chaotic final play along the goal line ended with an offensive penalty costing Detroit the win and putting a major dent in their hopes to make the playoffs. Here to break this down for us is Charlotte Carroll, staff writer for The Athletic. Charlotte, how much was at stake during yesterday's game between the Lions and Steelers? Yeah, a lot of playoff hopes on the line. Thanks so much for having me on and that's kind of the story of the last two weeks of the NFL season. It's all about the playoffs and one win, one loss can cost you and those final seconds are the end all be all. Lions are basically, they have to win out and the Packers have to lose out in order to make the playoffs, while the Steelers just are much closer to clinching the AFC North with a win and then a Ravens loss. So with just two weeks left of the NFL season, what are the major storylines you're watching? Playoffs. It's all about the postseason. Tonight's game against the Colts and 49ers is a big part of that. Three teams could clinch a playoff spot. If the Colts lose, you're looking at a Jags playoff clincher, a Bills playoff and a Chargers playoff clinching if the Colts lose tonight. How different does this whole lineup look like without the Chiefs in the mix? No, it's wide open. It's really exciting and I mean, it's disappointing for Kansas City fans for the first time to not have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey in the mix. You don't have Joe Burrow in the playoffs as well. The possibility of Lamar Jackson also missing out is strong. So you have new stars like Drake May and the Jaguars and Liam Cohen leading the charge, Trevor Lawrence. It's a very exciting and different time in the NFL. And you cover the New York Giants. They've had a pretty rough year, but there are still some major implications in their final two games. What are they vying for? Yes. This week, 17 matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders is a bad for the number one pick. You got to make it exciting however you can. And the winner of this game is actually probably going to be the loser who can secure the number one pick with a better chance. Huh? Charlotte Carroll. Thanks so much. Thanks so much for having me on. Turning to college football, the playoff quarterfinals are set on Saturday, Miami upset Texas A&M and will take on Ohio State on New Year's Eve. The winner of that game will play the winner of Ole Miss versus Georgia who will meet on New Year's Day. The other quarterfinal matchups on New Year's Day feature Oregon against Texas Tech and top seeded Indiana led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will take on Alabama who defeated Oklahoma Friday night.

On Monday, President Trump announced a new class of Navy battleships he's calling the "Golden Fleet." The president said two vessels will be built in the short term, with plans to expand to up to 25.

Washington

Trump unveils plans for new fleet of advanced Navy battleships

China's foreign ministry on Monday (December 22) said the United States' seizure of another country's ships was a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. intercepted a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

Beijing

China says U.S. ship seizures ‘serious violation' of international law

U.S. President Donald Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Sunday as his special envoy to Greenland, drawing renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Washington's interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island.

Nuuk

Trump appoints special envoy to Greenland, stirs backlash

A Russian general was killed by an explosive device underneath his car in Moscow, according to Russian investigators, who say Ukraine's intelligence services may have orchestrated the attack. Ukraine has not commented.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russian general killed in car explosion

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, officials told Reuters on Sunday (December 21), in what would be the third operation in less than two weeks if successful.

Caracas

U.S. pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

At least 15 documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were initially made public have been pulled from the Justice Department website. The agency says it will keep reviewing and redacting materials to "protect victims."

Epstein files pulled down to 'protect victims'

Nine people have died and at least ten others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

Bekkersdal

At least nine people killed in South Africa pub shooting

U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said.

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A court in Pakistan has convicted and sentenced the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison after finding them guilty of retaining and selling state gifts, including jewelry given by Saudi Arabia in 2021.

Islamabad

Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan convicted to 17 years in prison

The U.S. seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on Saturday. It's the second time in two weeks that U.S. forces have carried out such an action. This comes after President Donald Trump announced a block of "sanctioned oil vessels" entering and exiting Venezuela.

Oil tanker seized off Venezuela, second in two weeks

The Justice Department released more documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Saturday after failing to meet Friday's deadline to release all the documents, as required by the law signed by President Trump last month. The Justice Department said the delay was, in part, to ensure that victims' information was protected.

Justice Department releases more Epstein documents Saturday

The U.S. Department of Justice released thousands of documents, photos and files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. But some Democrats are criticizing the partial release because the department had a deadline to release all of the files by end of Friday.

'Partial' release of Epstein files faces criticism

The United States military “hit the ISIS [ISIL] thugs in Syria”, President Donald Trump has said, a week after two US soldiers and an interpreter were killed in Syria’s Palmyra city. Trump said he “ordered a massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week”.

Damascus

Trump says U.S has launched large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria

Ukraine said its drones hit a vessel from Russia's shadow fleet – the first such strike in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Russia's shadow fleet transports sanctioned Russia oil by frequently changing flags and concealing ownership.

Ukraine strikes Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean sea

The U.S. Justice Department has released thousands of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including photos featuring people like former President Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger. However, survivors are concerned with how much information was redacted from the files.

Thousands of new Epstein files, photos released

The U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday (December 19) in retaliation for an attack on American personnel, U.S. officials said.

U.S. hits ISIS in Syria with large retaliatory strikes

The man suspected of carrying out an attack in Taiwan with a smoke grenade and knife acted alone, police said on Saturday of the incident that killed at least four, including the attacker. This edit contains graphic images.

Taipei City

Taipei attacker acted alone, police say after three killed

The suspect in the Dec. 13 mass shooting on the campus of Brown University was found dead by suicide in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, authorities said. He has been identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown grad student.

Providence

How a Reddit post led police to the suspected university shooter

Seven people were killed, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his wife and children, in a plane crash in North Carolina. Investigators hope to find clues about why it happened on the cockpit voice recorder. Cristian Benavides has the latest.

Plane crash kills NASCAR driver, family

President Trump announced new agreements on Friday with nine pharmaceutical companies aimed at making certain prescription drugs cheaper. CBS News reporter Karen Hua has the details.

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The U.S. Justice Department released a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, bowing to pressure from lawmakers who forced their disclosure with a new law.

Washington County

Justice Department releases new tranche of Epstein files

The Justice Department has released a new batch of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more.

Combing through newly released Epstein files

TikTok has signed a deal to sell its U.S. operations to a group of investors in America, a source familiar with the deal tells CBS News.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted to the European Union's massive $108 billion loan to fund Ukraine's war against Russia.

Kyiv

European Union loans Ukraine billions as Putin boasts about war

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues to take a heavy toll on civilians, particularly in frontline areas such as Zaporizhzhia, where fighting and shelling persist.

Putin accuses Kyiv of rejecting peaceful settlement

The man believed to be responsible for carrying out the Brown University shooting and killing an MIT professor was found dead in a storage unit in New Hampshire on Thursday, officials said.

Salem

Suspect in Brown and MIT shootings found dead

Australia will launch a national gun buyback program in the aftermath of a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia announces gun buyback program after Bondi Beach shooting

TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, signed binding agreements with American investors to allow the U.S. arm of the business to continue operating.

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Under a law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, the Justice Department has until Friday to release its files on the Jeffrey Epstein case. House Democrats released more photos from the estate of the convicted sex offender. Scott MacFarlane reports.

House Democrats release more Epstein photos ahead of DOJ deadline

The European Commission announced it will delay the signing of the Mercosur trade agreement until the new year after Meloni asked for more time. No date has been set. Backers hope deal won't be further derailed.

Breakdown