Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Some sad news to share. For the last five months, our focus has been on getting the Morning Blitz out the door every morning to our community. We are incredibly proud of the community we've built, and we hope the Morning Blitz has made your mornings a little bit better.

This isn’t goodbye, but this will be our final letter until further notice. We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure the future of the Morning Blitz meets the demands of our readers. Please bear with us as we take some time to revamp and revitalize the product. We will be back in touch with updates and announcements as they become available.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

On a lighter note, we have a great weekend ahead!

WTF Stat: This isn’t so much a "WTF stat" as it is a petition for my favorite player growing up, Kenny Lofton. Mr. Lofton deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I just saw him talking about it on MLB Network. Lofton is hurt because he got a late start (called up when he was 24) and he wasn’t a power hitter. He started late in the MLB because he was busy being a standout athlete, helping the University of Arizona reach the Final Four in basketball. He is one of only two players to have participated in both a college basketball Final Four (1988) and an MLB World Series.

Once he got called up, his number speak for themselves. Lofton ranks 10th all-time in WAR for center fielders, and 18 players with a lower WAR have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame. While he didn’t have the same hype as someone like Ichiro, Lofton posted comparable stats:

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He was a player who got on base, stole bases, and played stellar defense at one of the most important positions on the diamond. Unfortunately, he played during an era where hitting home runs and taking steroids seemed to matter more. If you’re not going to vote for Barry Bonds, then at least reward the players like Lofton who were unfairly hurt by that era.

⚾️ Bob Uecker, the beloved broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers, has passed away at 90. Known as "Mr. Baseball," Uecker became a legendary figure in baseball despite a brief playing career. He was most famous for his colorful personality, humor, and distinctive broadcasting style, which made him a fan favorite in Milwaukee and beyond. Uecker spent decades as the voice of the Brewers, starting in 1971, and won the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Obligatory clip:

🏈 Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon is listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an ankle injury. He missed practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. Mixon has dealt with ankle issues earlier in the season, missing three games after an injury in Week 2. If he can't play, backup RB Dameon Pierce will take on a larger role.

🏌️ The PGA Tour is relocating the 2025 Genesis Invitational due to devastating wildfires in California. Originally set for February 13-16 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, the event will now be played at an alternate site, with the new location to be announced soon. Possible venues include La Quinta Country Club, Torrey Pines, TPC Scottsdale, and Shadow Creek Golf Course.

Monday Night - National Championship Game - #7 Notre Dame vs. #8 Ohio State

Monday 7:30 PM (ESPN)

Spread: OSU -8

O/U: 45.5

How Notre Dame Wins: Will Howard. Penn State was the better all-around team in the Orange Bowl, but it was Drew Allar’s folly that doomed the Nittany Lions and lifted the Irish. If the Irish can stick around, Will Howard has the tendency to crumble/disappear in key moments. He was the reason Texas had a shot in the waning moments of the Cotton Bowl. This does put extra pressure on the Notre Dame running game to keep Ohio State off the field. Additionally, the Irish front seven has to stop the Buckeye ground attack and force Will Howard to make the key plays.

How Ohio State Wins: TreyVeon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Both of these dudes are destined for the NFL next year and are the best tandem in the country. At any moment either Henderson or Judkins can make a house call as we saw in the Cotton Bowl. Texas showed a blueprint for how to stop superstar freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, but the Buckeyes still have future NFL receiver Emeka Egbuka to pick up the slack. Ohio State doesn’t want this game to be close for reasons mentioned in “How Notre Dame Wins,” so look for them to come out firing like they did against Tennessee and Oregon.

The Pick: Ohio State -8 - I wish the championship game would be more evenly matched and maybe it will be. I think this game will be akin to Georgia vs. TCU. The ND run was fun and this match-up proves the playoff was necessary, but Ohio State has too much fire power and ND got too banged up throughout the playoffs.

NFL Divisional Round

Houston at Kansas City - Saturday 4:30 PM (ESPN)

The View: In the immortal words of Michael Keaton, “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts.” The Texans are going to win this game. You know why? The Chiefs aren’t that good and they’re coming off a three week lay off. Momentum matters. Nobody gave the Texans a chance against the Chargers and they made mincemeat of them. I still have my doubts about the offense led by CJ Stroud, but he does have the tendency to rise to the big moments. Unless after three weeks, Hopkins and Kelce found the fountain of youth, the Chiefs offense is going to sputter. I do think the Texans can win this game…or at least keep it close.

Pick: Texans +8

Washington at Detroit - Saturday 8:00 PM (FOX)

The View: How much fun are the Commanders? QB Jayden Daniels is an absolute DAWG. Dan Quinn has done a heck of a coaching job (maybe let go too soon Atlanta?). However, this is where the road ends. Even with all the injuries, Dan Campbell, Aaron Glenn, and Ben Johnson have this team clicking on all cylinders. RB David Montgomery is back to complete the backfield tandem with Jamyr Gibbs, which should allow Johnson to pull all the strings he wants on offense. QB Jared Goff may not even have to throw more than 15 passes. Detroit will win this going away.

Pick: Fighting Dan Campbells -9.5

LA Rams at Philadelphia - Sunday 3:00 PM (NBC)

The View: The Eagles won, but it was ugly. Outside of Saquon being Saquon, the Eagles offense couldn’t get anything going and benefitted from the Packers losing every decent offensive weapon to injury. On the other hand, the Rams look to be peaking at the right time. That defense looked ferocious against the Vikings (Darnold may require years of therapy). Rookie DE Jared Verse is poised to be a superstar and the secondary is fast and mean. Real mean. Unlike the Packers, the Rams are healthy. Their hopes of an upset lies on the shoulder of QB Matthew Stafford because the Eagles do not give up a lot of yards on the ground. I don’t love the vibes of the Eagles and I put money on the Rams winning the Super Bowl. Plus, teams tend to rally around a tragedy (see: New Orleans after Katrina). Rams win.

The Pick: Rams +6.5

Baltimore at Buffalo - 6:30 PM (CBS)

The View: Both of these teams barely broke a sweat in the Wild Card round. Just when people started to think that RB Derrick Henry was running out of gas… Yeah, that was wrong. Baltimore ran all over Pittsburgh. That was the theme when these two teams met earlier in the season. Henry rushed for 199 yards and the Ravens defense shut down

. However, that was early in the season and it was in Baltimore. The Bills only have one loss at home this season. It’s hard to pick against the Jackson/Henry duo, but I’m going to.

Pick: Bills ML

NBA Top Games

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Thunder 134, Cavaliers 114: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a dominant 134-114 victory over the Cavaliers, scoring 40 points and dishing out eight assists in just three quarters. The win, which handed the Cavaliers their worst loss of the season, tied both teams at 34-6 records.

Kings 132, Rockets 127: DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points and Malik Monk added 28 points with nine assists to lead the Kings to a 132-127 win. The Kings improved to 21-20 with their eighth win in nine games.

Pacers 111, Pistons 100: Myles Turner scored 28 points, including 8-of-11 from 3-point range, and Pascal Siakam added 26 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 111-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Tyrese Haliburton contributed 17 points and 8 assists as the Pacers won their seventh game in eight.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

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Capitals 1, Senators 0: Alex Ovechkin scored in overtime to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 victory, marking his 874th career goal. The goal broke a league record as Ovechkin became the first player to score against 179 different goaltenders, surpassing Jaromir Jagr's record of 178.

Maple Leafs 4, Devils 3: William Nylander scored his second goal of the game at 1:10 of overtime to give the Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory. Auston Matthews also scored twice for Toronto, while Mitch Marner and Jake McCabe each added two assists.

Oilers 6, Avalanche 3: Evan Bouchard scored a go-ahead goal with 6:55 left in the third period to lift the Oilers to a 4-3 victory. The Oilers, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, overcame a three-goal deficit, extending their winning streak to four games and eight wins in their last nine. Connor McDavid contributed a goal and an assist, while Viktor Arvidsson and Brett Kulak also scored.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1988, The Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns if the AFC Championship game, 38-33 in “The Fumble” game. Browns' Earnest Byner fumbled the ball at Denver 3-yard line with 1:12 remaining, which ended up costing the Browns a trip to the Super Bowl.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Who was the first NFL QB to throw for more than 4,000 yards?

A) Joe Namath - Namath was the first to accomplish the feat in 1967. No other would eclipse 4,000 yards until Dan Fouts did it in 1979. Things have changed as six players passed for over 4,000 yards this year.

Morning Blitzers,

Hope everyone’s having a great week. Let’s get right into the Blitz!

WTF Stat: Interesting roster loophole to help teams stack more pitchers on their roster this coming MLB season:

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🏀 The Phoenix Suns acquired center Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Josh Okogie and three second-round draft picks. Richards, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds this season, has been more productive as a starter, with 11.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The Suns, who have struggled at center, hope Richards can address their frontcourt issues. Meanwhile, the Hornets gain draft capital and Okogie, a defensive wing with a team-friendly contract.

⚽️ Neymar, the Brazilian football superstar currently with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, is in early talks with three MLS teams, including Chicago Fire FC, about a potential move. However, Inter Miami is not pursuing Neymar due to MLS roster restrictions, according to their new manager, Javier Mascherano. Despite this, Neymar has hopes of reuniting with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in South Florida if he moves to MLS.

🏈 The Baltimore Ravens claimed WR Diontae Johnson off waivers after he was released by the Houston Texans. Johnson had previously been waived by the Ravens earlier in the season. The move could result in a compensatory draft pick for Baltimore, depending on the contract Johnson signs in free agency. He will officially join the Ravens on February 10, after the Super Bowl. The Texans attention turns to their playoff game against the Chiefs this Saturday.

Midseason NBA Awards

MVP

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City - Leader of the 33-6 Thunder team, second in PPG (31.4), third in steals (2.0 per game), plus adds 6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. He is also one of the best defenders in the NBA.

Runner Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee

Defensive Player of the Year

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio - Wembanyama is likely to win in a landslide. He’s averaging 3.9 blocks per game (1.5 more than the next player on the list), 10.7 RPG, and 1.1 steals per game.

Runner Up: Evan Mobley, Cleveland

Rookie of the Year

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Jaylen Wells, Memphis - The second-round pick from Washington State has already played significant minutes (26 per game) for the third-place Grizzlies. He’s averaging 11.7 PPG on 44% shooting. His fellow rookie teammate, Zach Edey, may also split the votes with him.

Runner Up: Stephon Castle, San Antonio

Sixth Man of the Year

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Payton Pritchard, Boston - Pritchard is shooting 46% from 3-point range, ranks 17th in the NBA in plus/minus, and is averaging 17.2 PPG in only 29 minutes per game.

Runner Up: De'Andre Hunter

Coach of the Year

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Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland - The Cavaliers had a talented team coming into the year, they went 48-34 last season. But Atkinson, in his first year, has taken pretty much the exact same roster and led them to am NBA-best 34-5 record.

Runner Up: Ime Udoka, Houston

Top NBA Scores

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(this didn’t count and Victor Wembanyama had 8 blocks in the first half!)

• Knicks 125, 76ers 119: Jalen Brunson scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Knicks defeat the 76ers 125-119. Josh Hart recorded his 11th career triple-double with 10 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists. Mikal Bridges contributed 23 points, and OG Anunoby added 17. Despite trailing by as many as 16 points, the 76ers tied the game in the final seconds of regulation but fell short in overtime.

• Raptors 110, Celtics 97: RJ Barrett led the Toronto Raptors to victory, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The win snapped Toronto's 10-game losing streak against Boston. Jakob Poeltl added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Scottie Barnes contributed 18 points. The Celtics have now lost three of their last five games.

• Rockets 128, Nuggets 108: Jalen Green scored 34 points, and Alperen Sengun contributed 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Houston Rockets to a 128-108 victory over the short-handed Denver Nuggets. Green, who made six 3-pointers, continued his strong scoring run, averaging 32 points over the past six games. The Rockets won their fifth straight game and improved to 10-3 in their last 13 games, solidifying their position as the No. 2 team in the Western Conference.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Scores

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• Sabres 4, Hurricanes 2: Ryan McLeod scored a hat trick, leading the Sabres to a 4-2 victory. McLeod's three goals included a quick opener just 43 seconds into the game and a late goal with six seconds left in the second period to make it 3-0. Dylan Cozens also scored for Buffalo, and Jason Zucker added two assists.

• Oilers 5, Wild 3: Connor McDavid scored twice and added an assist, while Vasily Podkolzin netted the game-winning goal in the third period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also contributed a goal and assist. The Wild, missing several key players including Kirill Kaprizov, have lost three of their last four games.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here. Just two games last night.

On this day in 1988, Bill Bidwill, the owner of the (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals, announced that the team would move to Phoenix, Arizona. They would be known as the Phoenix Cardinals until they changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals in 1994.

St. Louis had both a baseball and football team called the Cardinals from 1960 to 1987.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which player leads the NBA in steals this year and averages an incredible 3.1 steals a game?

B) Dyson Daniels - Having a really impressive season so far, his 3.1 steals a game would put him 8th all-time for an NBA season. All the top steal seasons also occurred in the 80s and 90s likely because the the game was a lot more condensed. So it makes Daniels statistics stand out even more.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Happy hump day! Good news for Lions fans: RB David Montgomery was a full participant after missing the last three games. He and RB Jahmyr Gibbs (aka Sonic and Knuckles) combined for 2,187 yards rushing this season and now get to face off against the Commanders, who allowed the third most rushing yards this season. Anyway, let’s get into the Blitz!

WTF Stat: Josh Hart is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He currently sits 4th in plus/minus in the NBA with +397. His stat line is modest; he is averaging 14.3 ppg, 9.4 RPG (despite being 6'4"), and 5.5 assists. But he’s leading the league in Loose Balls Recovered, a stat that measures hustle. Love this type of player.

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🏀 Caleb Grill scored 22 points, including two clutch free throws with five seconds remaining, as Missouri stunned No. 5 Florida 83-82, ending the Gators’ 16-game home winning streak. Mark Mitchell added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Anthony Robinson II contributed 12 points for Missouri, who secured their first road win against a top-five team since 2012.

🏈 After the Pittsburgh Steelers' fifth consecutive one-and-done playoff appearance, head coach Mike Tomlin addressed speculation about his future during a season-ending news conference. He dismissed any potential trade inquiries, telling teams to "save your time" as he has no intention of leaving the Steelers. Tomlin, who signed a three-year extension last offseason, acknowledged the fans' frustrations and shared in their disappointment, emphasizing that he takes responsibility for the team's struggles but remains confident in his ability to lead.

• 🔥Take: Tomlin’s been able to make the Steelers a playoff team the last five years with a combination of Ben Roethlisberger (when he was old and mostly injured), Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson. I would say that’s pretty impressive coaching. He’s done this while competing against two of the best QBs in the NFL within his division. Give him just a top-15 QB, and the Steelers will be back to winning playoff games. I’m not even sure why this is a story. Firing him would be a massive mistake.

⛳️ Tiger Woods made his debut in the TGL (Technology Golf League), leading the Jupiter Links team alongside Kevin Kisner and Max Homa against the Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala. Despite Woods' team's efforts, they were defeated 12-1 in the 15-hole, made-for-TV match. The match included both alternate shot and singles play, with Woods only taking 20 shots over the two-hour event. This was probably the highlight of the event:

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🏀 Jimmy Butler, suspended by the Miami Heat for seven games on January 3rd, may return to play for the team after his suspension ends on Friday (if he is not traded beforehand). Despite tensions between Butler and the Heat—stemming from the team’s decision not to extend his contract during the offseason—Butler is reportedly prepared to rejoin the team if not dealt.

Free Forum Wednesdays

Free Forum Wednesdays are back! We'll be writing more outside-the-box, fun content – hope you enjoy!

5’11” Men Do Not Exist

I was paid one of the nicest compliments a man can receive a few days ago. I was asked if I was 6 feet tall. This made my whole year, and it happened on December 31st—so that tells you something.

Now, on a good day I come in at 5’10”, however, I can see how someone would think that I am taller, since I have amazing posture and I wear 2 inch shoe-lifts… I mean, what? Every inch counts, especially when you’re lacking in all departments where inches count.

Have you ever met someone who openly says they're 5'11"? No? Of course not, because you live in the real world. Height has its own scale. Every guy secretly lies about this; it's something we all know but just don’t talk about.

Here is roughly how the scale works:

A few key things to note: you really need to be above 5'10.5" or else you're liable to get called out. No one will really call you out for any height below 6 feet, but getting too greedy around the 6-foot mark can backfire. Nothing is worse than being told, "You're not 6 feet tall" in a group setting. You either have to immediately fight that person or go rev the engine of your American muscle car you purchased to help you overcompensate. I know this game all too well, I have a 2011 Nissan Sentra that roars like a lion. 

If you are in the 6-foot range, first off congrats, must be nice looking down on us from your ivory tower regular standing position. But no one wants to be just 6-foot-flat, so you round up an inch, and say you’re 6’1″. After that I believe people are actually somewhat accurate. Unless you get into the super tall range and you want to pull a Kevin Durant (this is a real quote):

Surely, there are people out there who are honest enough to admit that they're 5'11"? This is true, but these brave souls are not mere men; nay, they are gods among us. They've reached such an echelon that no measuring stick can contain them. Their confidence and inner beauty are immeasurable. If you're one of these honest 5'11" kings, know that you are truly special.

Three of the most talented, attractive, debonair actors out there, the Ocean 5-foot-11 crew themselves: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Brad Pitt

Who else is 5’11” you ask? How about the only man that could top the three actors above: Vin Diesel. It’s about family.

And lastly, the man, the myth, the legend, Russell “The Muscle” Wilson.  (When he was on the Seahawks he was 5’11”, now tells people that he’s 6-feet).

Top NBA Games

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Cavaliers 127, Pacers 117: The Cleveland Cavaliers ended the Indiana Pacers' six-game winning streak last night with a 127-117 victory. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 35 points, supported by Darius Garland's 24 points and Evan Mobley’s 22 points and 13 rebounds. The Pacers, missing All-Star Tyrese Haliburton due to a groin strain.

Bucks 130, Kings 115: Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his 50th career triple-double, leading the Bucks to a 130-115 victory and snapping the Kings' seven-game win streak. Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, his fifth triple-double of the season. Damian Lillard added 24 points, Brook Lopez had 21.

Nuggets 118, Mavericks 99: Jamal Murray scored a season-high 45 points, with 32 coming in the first half, leading the Nuggets to a 118-99 victory. Murray shot 18 of 26 from the floor and added six assists and two steals. Kyrie Irving returned for Dallas after missing five games but struggled with 11 points on 4-for-18 shooting.

Full scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Stars 4, Maple Leafs 1: Logan Stankoven led the Dallas Stars to a 4-1 victory, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Matt Duchene contributed with a goal and two assists, while Mavrik Bourque also found the net.

Avalanche 3, Rangers 2: Devon Toews scored in overtime to give the Colorado Avalanche a 3-2 win. Artturi Lehkonen tied the game late in regulation, and Toews sealed the victory with a one-timer off a Nathan MacKinnon pass. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves for Colorado, including a key stop on a breakaway during overtime.

Panthers 2, Devils 1: Anton Lundell scored the shootout winner, and Spencer Knight made 26 saves as the Panthers defeated the Devils 2-1. The game, which ended New Jersey’s six-game home winning streak, saw Aleksander Barkov and Paul Cotter trade goals in the shootout before Lundell sealed the victory in the third round.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1997, Chicago Bulls' forward Dennis Rodman kicks camera man Eugene Amos in the groin. He ultimately paid Amos a $200,000 settlement, and the league suspended Rodman for 11 games without pay. Which begs the question would you be kicked in the groin by Rodman (6-foot-7, 210 lbs) for $200k?

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which NFL player has the most playoff sacks in their career?

D) Willie McGinest - This was a tough one. McGinest was a menace in the playoffs. He also holds the record for most sacks in a playoff game (against the Jaguars in 2006.)

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Did you know that January is observed as Human Achievement Month, a time to reflect on humanity's accomplishments and innovations? There have been so many great achievements: the printing press, electricity, computers, and whoever made it so oranges don’t have seeds. All incredible accomplishments. A whole month to celebrate/take credit for the achievements of others? Count me in. Now, let’s get into the Blitz!

WTF Stat: Tough night for QB Sam Darnold:

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🏈 The Los Angeles Rams dismantled the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in last night’s Wild Card playoff game. QB Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes, and rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score to help the Rams build a commanding 24-3 lead by halftime. The Vikings struggled throughout, with QB Sam Darnold being sacked a playoff-record nine times (losing 82 yards). The Rams' defense was relentless, and Stafford led the offense efficiently, completing his first 10 passes, including a touchdown to Davis Allen.

• 🔥 Take: Tough spot for the 14-3 Vikings, they now head into the offseason with a lot of questions. The biggest one of all: Do they re-sign QB Sam Darnold? They also have a lot of key veterans who will become free agents as well:

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🏈 Mike McCarthy will not return as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, as announced by team owner Jerry Jones. McCarthy’s contract expired, and after a week of discussions, it was mutually decided to part ways. McCarthy had a 49-35 record over five seasons with the Cowboys but struggled in the playoffs, winning only one game and suffering two early exits.

•  🔥 Take: It’s an interesting move to part ways with your coach this late in the process, with five other teams already looking for coaches. Mike Vrabel is already off the market, the other top candidates (Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Brian Flores, Drew Petzing) have already interviewed for other teams. But Jerry Jones has always marched to his own beat. There are reports that he is in talks with Deion Sanders, which would be awesome for the NFL.

⚾️ Roki Sasaki, the star Japanese right-hander, is set to sign with one of three MLB teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, or Toronto Blue Jays. The 23-year-old pitcher, known for his 100-mph fastball and split-fingered fastball, was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in December. Sasaki's signing window closes on January 23, and he is expected to make his decision soon. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Giants, and Rangers are no longer in contention.

• 🔥 Take: The Blue Jays? Really? My assumption is that it's actually down to the Dodgers and Padres, and if Sasaki has any guts, he'll go with the Padres. Don’t live in the shadow of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, make your own name! Really though, the Dodgers are already stacked; they can’t get another top player. they can’t get another top player. Here is him effortlessly throwing 100 MPH+ multiple times.

Top NBA Games

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Rockets 120, Grizzlies 118: Jalen Green scored 42 points, matching his career high, and helped the Houston Rockets rally for a 120-118 win. The Grizzlies led by 12 points in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets surged with a 16-2 run to take the lead. Green's layup put Houston ahead late, and Amen Thompson sealed the win with two free throws.

Pistons 124, Knicks 119: Cade Cunningham scored 36 points, and Malik Beasley added 22, including two clutch 3-pointers in the final 40 seconds. This win marked Detroit's second consecutive victory over the Knicks, after losing 16 straight meetings. The Pistons, now 21-19, have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Spurs 126, Lakers 102:  Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while Harrison Barnes scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter. The Lakers, in their first game back after two postponed matches due to nearby wildfires, were led by Anthony Davis with 30 points and 13 rebounds, and LeBron James, who added 18 points and 8 assists.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Flyers 4, Panthers 3: Noah Cates scored twice, including a power-play goal and a breakaway, to lead the Flyers to a 4-3 comeback win. The Flyers trailed twice but rallied in the third period, with Garnet Hathaway and Morgan Frost also scoring.

Flames 5, Blackhawks 2: Jakob Pelletier scored twice and added an assist, leading the Calgary Flames to a 5-2 win. Mikael Backlund, Yegor Sharangovich, and Jake Bean also scored for Calgary, which extended its winning streak to three games.

Oilers 1, Kings 0: Connor McDavid scored the only goal of the game, and Stuart Skinner recorded his sixth career shutout, stopping 31 shots. Darcy Kuemper made 29 saves for the Kings, who have lost two straight following a five-game winning streak. The victory also marked McDavid's 1,040th career point, tying him with Steve Yzerman for third in NHL history for points by age 28.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1979, John McEnroe win his first ATP Master Grand Prix Tennis Title, defeating Arthur Ashe.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Emmitt Smith leads all RBs in career playoff rushing yards, who is second?

B) Franco Harris - Harris rushed for 1,556 yards only 30 behind Emmitt Smith. Here is the top 10 on that list with Derrick Henry looking like a guy who could be at the top of this list if he keeps running the way he is running:

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

We made it through the first full week of the New Year, congrats! Our reward is a full weekend of playoff action with some NBA and NHL sprinkled in. So put your feet up and enjoy, you deserve it. Let’s Blitz!

WTF Stat: Here are Penn States receiving stats from last night:

Notice anything odd? Penn State WRs didn’t catch one ball all night.

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🏈  Notre Dame advances to the National Championship after a thrilling 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, thanks to a late interception and a field goal as time expired. With 33 seconds remaining, Notre Dame’s Christian Gray intercepted a pass from Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, setting up a 41-yard game-winning field goal by Mitch Jeter. The game, which featured three ties and three lead changes, saw Notre Dame come back from a 10-0 deficit. QB Riley Leonard, who was briefly checked for a concussion, led the Irish with 223 passing yards and a key 54-yard touchdown (which included making two DBs fall over). RB Jeremiyah Love had only 45 yards on the night but had probably the best 2-yard TD run ever. Notre Dame will now face the winner of the Texas-Ohio State semifinal on January 20.

🏈 The Las Vegas Raiders have fired general manager Tom Telesco after just one season. This follows the team's decision to dismiss head coach Antonio Pierce two days earlier. Telesco, who was hired in January 2024, had a challenging season with the Raiders, who finished 4-13, largely due to an unsettled quarterback situation and significant injuries.

🏈 Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has entered the NCAA transfer portal, reversing his earlier decision to declare for the NFL draft. Beck is reportedly considering Miami as the likely destination, but he plans to evaluate all potential options to find the best situation.

🏈 The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out Pro Bowl WR Zay Flowers for their wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a knee injury sustained during the regular-season finale. Flowers led the team with 74 catches for 1,059 yards.

🏈 The NFL has moved the Monday wild-card playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to the ongoing wildfires in Southern California.

Thursday Night Playoffs - Cotton Bowl - Texas vs. Ohio State

#5 Texas vs. #8 Ohio State - Friday 7:30 PM (ESPN)

Preview: It’s clear that Ohio State stopped messing around. After losing to Michigan, the Buckeyes have been on a tear. They barely broke a sweat against Tennessee (frauds) and followed it up with a dominant performance against the No. 1 seeded Oregon Ducks. It’s like they remembered that they have the most talented team in the country. Meanwhile, Texas should have lost to Arizona State. Whether they took the foot off the gas pedal after launching out to an early lead or not, the Sun Devils lost that game, Texas didn’t win it. Ohio State has all the momentum going into this game against a Texas team that struggles at times on offense.

Key Matchup: Ohio State’s D-Line vs. Texas’ O-Line - The Longhorns like to run the football to set up the pass. QB Quinn Ewers clearly isn’t the guy we all thought he was before the season. If the Buckeyes defensive line can keep the Longhorns in passing situations on 2nd and 3rd and long situations it will be a long day for Texas. However, if Texas can control the game with the run and keep Ohio State’s offense off the field, this game will be close.

The Pick: Ohio State -6 - too much focused talent for the Buckeyes. They hit the ground running and throwing. WR Jeremiah Smith becomes a national heartthrob for the next three years.

NFL Wild Card Weekend

LA Chargers (11-6) at Houston (10-7) - Saturday 4:30 PM (CBS)

The View: The Texans had an interesting season this year. Interesting in the fact that they only had one quality win all season long. They played six of the playoff teams this year and only beat Buffalo. On the flipside, you can almost say the same thing about the Chargers. The only playoff team they beat were the Broncos…twice. The difference is, the Chargers actually hung with quality teams while the Texans looked like a deer in headlights. It comes down to who would you rather have? Herbert or Stroud? I’m thinking Herbert.

Pick: Chargers -3

Pittsburgh (10-7) at Baltimore (12-5) - Saturday 8:00 PM (Prime(UGH))

The View: Ok, hear me out. The spread on this game is bananas. 9.5 points for a division game? That’s a little much. The Steelers beat the Ravens at home on November 17, but then lost by 17 at Baltimore. So maybe Vegas is leaning more towards the December 21st game, but still, this is an AFC North slugfest in the playoffs. Let’s add in the fact that QB Lamar Jackson just hasn’t been very good in the playoffs. He’s 2-4. That doesn’t inspire confidence. I think the Ravens win, but the Steelers cover.

Pick: Steelers +9.5

Denver (10-7) at Buffalo (13-4) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: The Broncos are one of the best stories in the NFL. No one. NO ONE saw these dudes making the playoffs with QB Bo Nix at the helm. Yet here they are. Unfortunately for them, they have to travel to Buffalo to tangle with the 13-4 Buffalo Bills. Buffalo resting starters and losing to the Pats…not the vibes you want going into the playoffs, but the Bills are just better than the Broncos. Better QB, better skill players, better coaching, defense is probably a push, but regardless, QB Josh Allen is not losing at home against Denver. They put the upstarts in their place and move on.

Pick: Bills -8

Green Bay (11-6) at Philadelphia (14-3) - Sunday 4:30 PM (FOX)

The View: A rematch of the Brazil game! The Eagles won that game and then went on to have a better season. Unlike last year, the Eagles didn’t crumble down the stretch, and vibes are solid in the City of Brotherly love going into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Green Bay played their starters against the Bears to avoid playing the Eagles and what happened? QB Jordan Love hurt his elbow and they lost. You know what we call that in the business? Sucks to suck. A hampered Jordan Love against the Eagles is no bueno and the Eagles win going away.

Pick: Eagles -4.5

Washington (12-5) at Tampa Bay (10-7) - Sunday 8:00 PM (NBC)

The View: Truly fascinating that the Bucs are favored in this game. I mean…why? The Commanders enter the game with a better record and Tampa almost played their way out of a playoff spot. Trust me, I love QB Baker Magic, but the Commanders have won their last five games. QB Jayden Daniels has been a revelation and the Tampa Bay defense is bad. The Commanders will find a way to win this game.

Pick: Commanders +3

NBA Top Games

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Warriors 107, Pistons 104: Buddy Hield scored 19 points to help the Golden State Warriors secure a 107-104 victory. The Warriors had a commanding 18-point lead at one point, but Detroit came storming back, but it wasn’t enough as Malik Beasley missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Warriors won despite a rough shooting night from Stephen Curry, who went 5-of-21 overall and missed 12 of 14 3-pointers.

Rockets 119, Grizzlies 115: Alperen Sengun scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a 119-115 win. The victory extended Houston’s winning streak to three games and helped them maintain second place in the Western Conference, 1.5 games ahead of Memphis.

Timberwolves 104, Magic 89: Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards contributed 21 points and seven assists. Naz Reid added 16 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

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Hurricanes 6, Maples Leafs 3: Jordan Staal scored a hat trick, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 victory. Eric Robinson, Jackson Blake, and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes, and Pyotr Kochetkov made 30 saves for his first home win since December 17.

Avalanche 6, Wild 1: The Avalanche cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Wild, powered by strong performances from Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Logan O'Connor, who each registered a goal and an assist. Colorado extended its strong recent form, improving to 8-1-1 in its past 10 games.

Rangers 3, Devils 2: Sam Carrick scored an overtime goal to lift the Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Devils. Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves in the win, his first since returning from a four-game injury absence.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

Couldn’t turn this into a trivia question but wanted to share!

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On this day in 1982, San Francisco 49ers beat Dallas Cowboys, 28-27 thanks to "The Catch". Dwight Clark makes a fingertip catch in the back of the endzone with 58 seconds remaining. Joe Montana and the 49ers go on to win Super Bowl XVI.

See the video breakdown here.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which QB has the most yards passing in NCAA Division I history?

C) Case Keenum - Keenum leads the way with 19,217 yards. Gabriel had a chance to pass him had the Ducks been able to advance further into the playoffs. Here is the top 10:

Morning Blitzers,

Hope you’re staying safe from the Los Angeles fires. The LA Kings’ game was postponed last night and we may see the Rams’ home playoff game move down to Arizona if things don’t improve. Stay safe out there!

WTF Stat: It seems like the Cleveland Cavaliers are quietly having a historic season. They're only one game off the pace of the 95-96 Bulls! Yet, they have the 4th-best odds to win it all this year (at +1000), well behind OKC (+245), Boston (+250), and the New York Knicks (+950).

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🏈 QB Jalen Hurts returned to practice on Wednesday, taking part in limited activities as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for their wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Hurts, who suffered a concussion on December 22, missed the final two regular-season games. QB Jordan Love of the Packers says he is ‘hopeful’ to play after leaving last week’s game with an elbow injury.

⚾️ There are still a few big names remaining on the MLB free agent market. Here is a rundown of the biggest names, and some potential landing spots:

Roki Sasaki, Pitcher - Former Chiba Lotte Marine (Japan), 23 years old

Last Season: 10-5, 2.35 ERA, 111 IP, 129 Ks

Teams in Contention: Padres, Giants, Cubs, Mets, Dodgers, and many more rumored

Alex Bregman, Third Base - Former Houston Astro, 2x All-Star, 30 years old

Last Season: .260/.315/.453 - 26 HRs, 75 RBI

Teams in Contention: Tigers, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox

Pete Alonso, First Base - Former Met, best pure power hitter available

Last Season: .240/.329/.459 - 34 HRs, 88 RBI

Teams in Contention: Mets, Astros, Yankees

Anthony Santander, Right Field - Former Oriole, high-risk, high-reward switch-hitting OF

Last Season: .235/.308/.506 - 44 HRs, 102 RBI

Teams in Contention: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, and Tigers

Thursday Night Playoffs - Orange Bowl - Penn State vs. Notre Dame

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Game: #6 Penn State (13-2) vs. Notre Dame (13-1) at 4:30 EST on ESPN

Preview: A matchup between two historic, prestigious programs that haven’t brought home a national title since the '80s. Unlike some of the previous playoff game matchups (that everyone complained about), this one looks to be pretty even. Add in some trash talk (see above), and this is appointment television tonight. For those looking for a run-and-gun, light-up-the-scoreboard type of game, this probably won’t be it. Penn State is 58th in the country in passing yards per game, while Notre Dame sits at 108th. The over/under is only 45.5 points, so set your expectations appropriately.

Key Matchup: Which QB steps up? - I don’t think it’s far-fetched to say that Notre Dame’s QB, Riley Leonard, and Penn State’s QB, Drew Allar, have been game managers this year. Leonard threw for only 90 yards in the win against Georgia, while Allar has been a bit more effective, but he’s still thrown for less than 200 yards in both playoff games, while completing only 55% of his passes. Notre Dame and Penn State are deep at RB, with great rushing attacks and rushing defenses, so that will most likely be the focus for both teams. But which QB can step up and make the few key plays when needed, especially if this game comes down to the wire?

The Pick: Notre Dame -1.5 - ND is 11-2-1 against the spread this year.

Top NBA Scores

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• Cavaliers 129, Thunders 122: The Cavaliers have ended the OKC’s 15-game winning streak. Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 25 points, while Evan Mobley added 21. Despite a subpar performance from Donovan Mitchell (11 points on 3-of-16 shooting), Cleveland extended their own winning streak to 11 and improved their record to 32-4.

• Nuggets 126, Clippers 103: Jamal Murray finished with 21 points and nine assists, while Russell Westbrook contributed 19 points and eight assists. The Clippers were missing their star forward, Kawhi Leonard, who left to address family matters related to wildfires, and the Nuggets played without Nikola Jokic due to illness.

• Bucks 121, Spurs 105: Damian Lillard scored 26 points and dished out eight assists, while Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. Brook Lopez added 22 points, including 17 in the first half, as the Bucks bounced back from a recent slump.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Scores

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• Capitals 2, Canucks 1: Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Capitals defeated the Canucks 2-1. Dubois' second goal came with 40.3 seconds left in the 3-on-3 overtime

• Blackhawks 3, Avalanche 1: Connor Bedard scored a goal and added an assist to help Chicago win 3-1. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev also scored for the Blackhawks, who had been struggling with six losses in their last seven games.

• Panthers 4, Utah Hockey Club 1: A strong game for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who saved 27 shots, helping the Panthers win 4-1. The Panthers got out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Sam Reinhart and Jesper Boqvist, and they never looked back. They scored two empty-net goals in the final two minutes for good measure.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1952, Ted Williams' name was called from a list of inactive reserves to serve on active duty in the Korean War. Earlier in Williams’ career he missed three full seasons (1943-1945) because he was serving in World War II. Williams would only play six major league games in the 1952 season, before beginning refresher flight training for the Korean War. He returned at the end of the 1953 season in August, played 37 games hitting .407 with an OPS of 1.410.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

According to Sportrac, which MLB team is projected to have the highest salary in 2025?

B) Los Angeles Dodgers - Just ahead of the Yankees, see full list here:

2025 MLB Team Salary Payroll Tracker

A real-time look at the 2025 salary payroll totals for each MLB team..

www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025/sort/cap_total2/dir/desc

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Need a little motivation to kickstart your Wednesday? Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. played a whole season with fractured back. Trust me, if I had a fractured back, I’d be calling out of work – and my job only involves sitting in front of a computer, not being hit by large men running at full speed. Be a DAWG like Michael today:

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Let’s get into the Blitz!

WTF Stat: A little late, but any time you can match the Admiral, you’re doing something right:

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🏈 The Raiders have fired Antonio Pierce as head coach following his first full season (he had served as interim head coach in 2023). Pierce's tenure as the permanent coach was marked by a disappointing 4-13 record in 2024, with the team finishing last in the AFC West and enduring a 10-game losing streak. General manager Tom Telesco, hired in 2024, will remain with the team. Tom Brady, a limited owner of the Raiders, is expected to play a key role in interviewing new head coach candidates.

• 🔥Take: This is the 6th coach to be fired so far in the NFL. It’s a win now business, and if you don’t have a star QB, it’s really hard to make it more than two seasons. The Raiders will hand their new coach $112 million in salary cap space and a solid defense. But the 6th pick in the draft may not get you the franchise QB you need (the Titans, Browns, and Giants may all be eying QBs). This will be a tough job for any coach unless they can convince Tom Brady to come out of retirement during the interview.

🏈 The Dallas Cowboys have denied the Chicago Bears permission to interview head coach Mike McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. The Bears had requested to speak with McCarthy, but the Cowboys are holding onto him for now.

• 🔥Take: This never really made a lot of sense to me. The Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights with McCarthy until January 14th. So, if you’re really interested in him, the best thing to do would let him know through back channels. But make no formal request to interview or show any interest at all, and hope he hits the open market. By requesting permission to interview him, all it does is help McCarthy leverage a better deal from the Cowboys. Maybe that was the Bears plan all along. They never wanted to sign him, but wanted Jerry Jones to overpay for McCarthy and his clock management skills.

⚾️ Justin Verlander has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, continuing his Hall of Fame-caliber career at age 42. The deal, which is pending a physical, will see Verlander pitch in one of baseball’s most pitcher-friendly stadiums, Oracle Park.

🏀 Duke dominated Pitt 76-47 - but most importantly he is a monster jam from Cooper Flagg:

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🏀 No. 1 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season, falling 73-43 to No. 8 Florida. The Gators dominated from the start, scoring the first 12 points while Tennessee missed their first nine shots. Florida led by as much as 36 points late in the first half.

Free Forum Wednesdays

Free Forum Wednesdays are back! We'll be writing more outside-the-box, fun content – hope you enjoy!

The Best Part of Working From Home: The Bathroom Situation

RTO is an acronym that has gained a lot of traction as of late. The first few times I saw it I assumed someone had just misspelled RPO (run-pass option). Turns out people weren’t debating the merit of the RPO (great play, although illegal man down field needs to be called more on these), they were arguing about RTO, which is “return to office” mandates.

Arguments for/against working from home are being made on both sides, but no one is out there talking about the actual best thing about working from home. We’re all thinking it, but no one is saying it. Sure, it’s nice to have a flexible schedule, no commute time, and be able to work from anywhere. But the best thing about being able to work from home is being able to drop a deuce (also, known as a Roger Goodell or RG) in the privacy of your own home.

Let’s face it the bathroom situation in most offices is barbaric. Multiple stalls, pungent smell, constant foot traffic, every sound amplified and echoing. And how do you exit a stall and look your co-workers in the eyes after Taco Tuesdays? We have an 8th amendment in the constitution for a reason, this cruel and unusual punishment must stop!

The bathroom is supposed to be a sanctuary. A private isolated time for self reflection. It’s a place to relax, open up the Morning Blitz and escape your job for a 5-25 minutes. It’s the best part of my day, but working at an office ruined that. I was one of those people that had constant stomach pain. I ended up ‘working’ more on figuring out a good bathroom situation, than at my actual job. I crafted my skills and became an expert at the field of public bathroom usage, George Costanza, would be proud of me. By year three of working in an office I updated my resume to look like this:

• Demonstrated proficiency in optimizing off-floor bathroom utilization, analyzing foot traffic patterns.

• Conducted in-depth analysis of bathroom usage trends, creating pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data visualization tools to identify and avoid peak hours.

• Independently managed and coordinated multiple successful RG initiatives, increasing efficiency by 80%.

Thankfully that skill set has been retired once my job has became work-from-home. Since then, my production has skyrocketed, my stress levels have decreased, my bowl movements have been immaculate. I feel like a king on his throne (in more ways than one). The weight has been completely lifted off my shoulders and out of my intestines.

I’ll leave you with one last thing. Have you ever wanted to feel alive? Feel a midday rush like no other? Take a zoom/video call whilst on the toilet. It’s like ejecting rocket fuel into your veins. The ecstasy and jubilation is unimaginable. It’s a thrill ride. One misclick of the mute button or an accidental camera share and you’re finished. You’d never be able to show your face to your co-workers again (which is great because you’re already working from home). But there really is nothing like dropping more than just knowledge on a video call. Give it a try.

Who’s with me?!

Top NBA Games

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Hawks 124, Jazz 121: With the game tied after Collin Sexton’s clutch 3-pointer with four seconds left, Trae Young responded by draining a half-court shot as time expired, securing the win for the Hawks.

Celtics 118, Nuggets 106: The game was tightly contested, with 10 lead changes, but the Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 15-0 run. Jayson Tatum led the team with 29 points and 6 assists, while Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points and 11 rebounds. Despite missing key players, including Nikola Jokic, Denver stayed competitive, with Russell Westbrook scoring 26 points.

Mavericks 118, Lakers 97: The Mavericks ended a five-game losing streak with a 118-97 home win. Quinten Grimes led the Mavericks with 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, matching his career high with six 3-pointers. P.J. Washington contributed 22 points and eight rebounds. Despite missing key players Luka Doncic (calf strain) and Kyrie Irving (back injury), the Mavericks shot 52% from the field and dominated the game.

Full scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Stars 5, Rangers 4: Jamie Benn scored on a power play in overtime, leading the Stars to a 5-4 comeback victory. The Stars erased a three-goal deficit, with Thomas Harley contributing a goal and two assists, including the game-tying goal in the third period.

Lightning 3, Hurricanes 2: Brayden Point scored with 52 seconds remaining, lifting Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 win over Carolina, and snapping a four-game losing streak. Point's game-winning goal came after a precise pass from Nikita Kucherov, who found Point cutting into the slot. Point spun and fired a shot past Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov for his 16th goal of the season.

Red Wings 3, Senators 2: Patrick Kane scored a power-play goal with 2:39 remaining in overtime, lifting the Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Senators. The win extended Detroit's streak to five games.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 2012, we witnessed "The 3:16 Game" AFC Wild Card Playoff, underdogs Denver Broncos defeat Pittsburgh Steelers 29–23 with Tim Tebow connecting with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown pass on first play from scrimmage of overtime.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for most 30-point games, on Saturday, who is 3rd on the list?

D) Wilt Chamberlain - Surprising to see Karl Malone so high on the list. See full list below:

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Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Did you know the Saxons called January 'Wolf Month' because hungry wolves would come into their towns looking for food? It makes sense why my dog has been roaming around the house looking for food more than usual. Yeah, he may be a 9-pound Chiweenie, but he’s been wolf-like this month… Let’s get into it!

WTF Stat:

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🏈 The Jaguars have fired head coach Doug Pederson following a disappointing 4-13 season, marking their 10th season of double-digit losses in the 13 years under owner Shad Khan. Despite this, Khan chose to retain general manager Trent Baalke, emphasizing the improvements made in various organizational areas such as player health, scouting, and contract administration. Khan believes the team needs improvements in creativity and unpredictability on both offense and defense, which he feels a coaching change can address.

🏈 The Chicago Bears have requested permission to interview Mike McCarthy, the head coach of the Cowboys, for their head coaching vacancy. The Cowboys have yet to respond to this request. McCarthy’s contract expires today, but the Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights until January 14th.

🏈 North Dakota State (NDSU) secured its 10th FCS title in 14 seasons, defeating top-seeded Montana State 35-32 in the championship game. QB Cam Miller, who made his 54th consecutive start, was pivotal, running for two touchdowns and throwing for two more. He completed 19/22 passes for 199 yards and rushed 18 times for 121 yards.

Tuesday’s NFL Playoff & End of Season

Playoff Team Ranking

1. Detroit Lions (15-2) - They’ve averaged 36.2 points in the last five games. The only thing that could stop them is distractions (coordinators interviewing for jobs) or the time-off. They’re so hot right now I don’t think I’d even want a bye.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - I’m already resigned to the fact that they’ll be in the Super Bowl again, going for their third consecutive championship. As long as QB Patrick Mahomes is under center, they’ll be favorites in the AFC.

3. Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Tough matchup against a hot Broncos team, but they’re at home against a rookie QB, and QB Josh Allen is on a mission this season.

4. Baltimore Ravens (12-5) - QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens always seem to come up short in the playoffs, but they get a relatively easy first game (at home against the struggling Steelers), and they head into the playoffs this year with the NFLs best rushing attack.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) -  Biggest question mark for the Eagles is QB Jalen Hurts’ health, who remains in the concussion protocol. They have a tough first game against the Packers, but their defense (best YPG in the NFL) and rush attack make them a big time threat.

6. Minnesota Vikings (14-3) - Tough loss to end the season, and they’ll have to do things the hard way, but this is a 14-win team for a reason.

7. Green Bay Packers (11-6) - The Packers vs Eagles matchup is the best game of the Wild Card weekend, outside of the Lions, I think they have the best chance of upsetting the Eagles.

8. Washington Commanders (12-5) - A nice matchup in round one against the Bucs. Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, this year has already been a huge success. They’re playing with house money.

9. Denver Broncos (10-7) - One of the hottest teams headed into the playoffs, I’ve doubted QB Bo Nix for too long, if he goes into Buffalo and wins, he is officially the chosen one.

10. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - Lot of talent and experience still left on this Rams squad. They get a tough home game against the Vikings, but this is a team that could turn it on in the playoffs.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - The Chargers were built for the playoffs. Solid defense, good rushing attack, 4th best turnover differential. The only problem is outside of the Broncos, they really haven’t beat anyone of significance.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) - Bucs are the #3 seed but they’ve been far too streaky this season. After their showing against an abysmal Saints in their last game, I’m not feeling overly confident about their chances in the playoffs.

13. Houston Texans (10-7) - Speaking of streaky, the Texans were 5-6 their last 11 games and that 31-2 loss against Baltimore in week 17 makes it harder to put them higher than this.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - The Steelers lost their last four games. They are going to need big plays from their defense and special teams to win. Their offense needs to revert back to what it looked like before December.

Best Non-Playoff Teams For Next Season

1. Cincinnati Bengals - They have one of the best QBs in the NFL and probably the best WR in the NFL. If they can manage to keep WR Tee Higgins and make some improvements to their defense they should easily be a double-digit win team next season.

2. San Francisco 49ers - Lot of injuries, and bad luck this past season. I think they are too talented and Kyle Shanahan is too good of a coach for them to have another down year.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Call me the conductor, because I’m all the way on the Michael Penix Jr. train. Now Penix gets a a full offseason taking first team reps. I’m expecting big things!

4. Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys had some ugly losses this season, but they also had a bunch of close losses to good teams. I think people are forgetting that QB Dak Prescot put up 36 TDs, 9 INT and 4,516 yards passing a season ago. They should bounce back next season.

5. Arizona Cardinals - $83 million in cap space (4th best), they need help on the D-line and O-line and have a lot of options available to them.

Best Teams With Head Coach Openings

Helping Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores and other top candidates determine which job to take:

1. Chicago Bears - #1 Overall Pick QB Caleb Williams showed flashes, they just need to protect him better. They have talent up-and-down the roster, plus they have $81 million in cap space to spend (5th best).

2. New England Patriots - NFL best $131 million in cap space, 4th pick in the draft, and a franchise QB in Drake Maye. They need a lot of help on the offensive line and a couple playmakers on offense. But the defense is still young and talented and a coach/GM has a ton of wiggle room.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - On paper the Jags have a great team. They have the #5 pick in the draft, they have one of the best young WRs in then NFL in Brian Thomas Jr. and a number of good young players on defense. I feel like they just need some stability to get things on the right path.

4. New Orleans Saints - They may need to hire an accountant as head coach because they’re in salary cap hell. $78 million over the cap. Plus, they have a lot of aging stars, this team needs a full-reboot.

5. New York Jets - The Saints should probably be 5th, but I’m going with the Jets, mainly because they’re cursed. They do have a lot of young talent on this team, but I wouldn’t want to deal with the personalities of QB Aaron Rodgers, CB Sauce Gardner, and Fireman Ed so they’re gonna be last for me.

Top NBA Games

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Suns 109, 76ers 99: Bradley Beal came off the bench for the first time in nine years and scored 25 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 109-99 win, snapping a four-game losing streak. Beal was instrumental in the second half, scoring 20 points as the Suns overcame an early 12-point deficit.

Grizzlies 119, Mavericks 104: Jaren Jackson Jr. went off scoring 35 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Grizzlies to a win. Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed 18 points, while Jaylen Wells added 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping Memphis secure their 10th win in the last 11 home games.

Timberwolves 108, Clippers 106: Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves, scoring 28 of his 37 points in the second half. Edwards also contributed eight assists, finishing 14 of 29 from the field, including two critical 3-pointers in the final minute. This marked his eighth game of the season with 30 or more points.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Canadiens 5, Canucks 4: Nick Suzuki scored a power-play goal 48 seconds into overtime, leading the Canadiens to a 5-4 victory. Suzuki also had two assists in the game, helping Montreal extend its strong run, having won five of its last six games and eight of its last 10.

Avalanche 3, Panthers 1: Devon Toews scored twice, as Colorado rallied to defeat Florida 3-1. Mikko Rantanen added an empty-net goal, extending his points streak to 14 games. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood had 26 saves, improving his record to 7-1-1 since joining Colorado.

Devils 3, Kraken 2: Ondrej Palat scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Monday to snap a four-game losing streak. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist, and Paul Cotter also scored, helping the Devils avoid their first five-game losing streak since February 2022.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1961, the first NFL Playoff Bowl (or Runner-Up Bowl) was played. The game to determine 3rd place would be played between 1961-1969.

When the merger was completed for the 1970 season, there was discussion about continuing the Playoff Bowl, with the losers of the AFC and NFC Championship Games playing each other during the idle week before the Super Bowl. A "losers' game" was not necessarily attractive for the league, and the Playoff Bowl came to an end.

Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi detested the Playoff Bowl, coaching in the games following the 1963 and 1964 seasons. To his players, he called it "the 'Shit Bowl', ...a losers' bowl for losers."

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Former #1 overall pick, QB Baker Mayfield just finished the season with 4,500 yards passing. Which QB has the most passing yards in a season for his former team, the Cleveland Browns?

A) Brian Sipe - Sipe passed for 4,132 yards in the 1980 season, a number that has not be surpassed since that time. Mayfield has passed for 4,000+ yards the past two seasons with the Buccaneers.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning, Blitzers!

Well, Blitzers, we have a full week ahead of us. No sugar coating things, this is going to be a tough week. But let’s look on the bright side! On Thursday, we get the Notre Dame vs. Penn State semifinal game; followed by the Ohio State vs. Texas game on Friday. Then the NFL playoffs start and we get games on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. So, we have a lot to look forward to. We just need to plow through these first few days of the week and we’ll be golden. Let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: Pretty incredible turnaround for the Commanders. For all of us that had their team eliminated yesterday (or much earlier in the season), remember this is possible next season if everything comes together — and if you have an amazing QB:

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🏈 Jerod Mayo has been fired as head coach of the New England Patriots after just one season, finishing with a disappointing 4-13 record. Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed regret over the decision, acknowledging Mayo's leadership and respect within the team, but ultimately felt the team’s performance did not improve as expected.

🏈 Aaron Rodgers, in what may have been his final NFL game, reached a significant milestone by throwing his 500th career touchdown in the New York Jets' season finale against the Dolphins. The 41-year-old quarterback became only the fifth player in NFL history to achieve this, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and former teammate Brett Favre.

🏈 Tyreek Hill hinted at leaving Miami after their season-ending loss yesterday, which eliminated the Dolphins from playoff contention. Hill expressed frustration about missing the playoffs for the first time in his career and suggested that he would need to do what’s best for himself and his family, which could involve leaving the Dolphins. Hill, who has two years left on his contract, was noticeably absent during the game's final possessions, though coach Mike McDaniel clarified that his absence wasn’t injury-related.

NFL Week 18

What You Missed

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→ Buccaneers win NFC South, WR Mike Evans makes history - The Buccaneers didn’t make it easy. Going up against a decimated Saints roster, the Bucs kept things close before finally pulling away in the 4th quarter winning 27-19. It was great to see Mike Evans surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the 11th time (tying WR Jerry Rice). Evans is just a consistent, no drama, stud year in, and year out. You can also tell by the celebration that his teammates really wanted this for him.

→ Lions cap season with dominant win to take NFC North - it looked like it was going to be a defensive battle with the Vikings on SNF, but the Lions closed out the game scoring 21 unanswered to win 31-9. RB Jahmyr Gibbs was incredible scoring 4 TDs and racking up 170 total yards of offense. With the win the Lions lock up the #1 seed and get to rest up next week.

→ Broncos and rookie QB Bo Nix are headed to the playoffs - Incredible game and turnaround season for the Broncos as they dominated the Chiefs (backups) 38-0. Everything was going right for them as Nix finished 26/29, 368 total yards and 4 TDs. You know things are working when this crazy play turns into a touchdown:

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→ Titans get #1 Overall Pick in Draft - The Titans lost against the Texans, who were playing mostly backups, 23-14, but it was the best loss of the season as they secured the #1 overall pick in the draft. Thanks to the Patriots, who were slotted to get the #1 pick, but decided to get their worst win of the season against the Bills, squandering what likely would have been a big trading chip. New draft order as follows:

1. Titans (3-14)

2. Browns (3-14)

3. Giants (3-14)

4. Patriots (4-13)

5. Jaguars (4-13)

Full order here.

→ Bears finally beat the Packers! - Too bad it was in a game that really didn’t mean anything. In fact, all it did was hurt the Bears in the draft. The biggest news from this game, however, was the injury status of QB Jordan Love, who left the game early with an elbow injury. Sounds like he’ll be good-to-go for their first round playoff matchup against the Eagles:

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→ Ravens crush Browns, get #3 seed - This game went about as expected as the Ravens were 20 point favorites and won 35-10. The Ravens will face-off against division rival Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. In case you missed it, the game was sealed by 345-pound lockdown CB/DT Michael Pierce:

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What We Learned

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→ QB Bryce Young could be the guy after all - We witnessed a surprisingly great game between the Panthers and Falcons. Both Young and Michael Penix Jr. went off, while RB Bijan Robinson quietly had another great game (170 yards rushing, 2 TDs). But Young and the Panthers were too much for the Falcons winning in overtime 44-38 and squashing the little hope the Falcons had of making the playoffs. (The Bucs ended up winning so it didn’t matter.)

→ Steelers have the least momentum headed into the playoffs - Steelers lost their 4th game in a row to the Bengals on Saturday 19-17. Their defense wasn’t the issue, they held the red hot Bengals to only 19 points, even though the Bengals controlled the ball on offense for 38 minutes. The Steelers offense certainly does not look like it’s ready for playoff football, as they managed only 193 total yards against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

NFL Scoreboard and Standings

🏈 Tonight

No Monday Night Football unfortunately.

Top NBA Games

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Thunder 105, Celtics 102: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the City Thunder, scoring 33 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. This win marked the Thunder's franchise-record 15th consecutive victory, improving their record to 30-5. Lu Dort's back-to-back 3-pointers helped seal the win. The Celtics went 9 of 46 from beyond the arc.

Rockets 119, Kings 115: Jalen Green scored 33 points, and Fred VanVleet's late-game steal helped the Houston Rockets secure a 119-115 victory. Amen Thompson added a career-high 23 points and 16 rebounds in his return from a suspension.

Kings 129, Warriors 99: Malik Monk scored 26 points and added 12 assists, while Domantas Sabonis contributed 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Sacramento Kings to a dominant 129-99 win. Despite playing without De'Aaron Fox, the Kings never trailed and held a commanding 75-51 halftime lead.

Full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Islanders 5, Bruins 4: Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the game in overtime, leading the New York Islanders to a 5-4 victory. Horvat’s game-winner came on a breakaway 3:10 into overtime, slipping a wrist shot between Bruins goalie Jonas Korpisalo's pads.

Maple Leafs 3, Flyers 2: Morgan Rielly scored the winning goal in overtime, extending their winning streak to four games. Rielly's goal, assisted by Auston Matthews, was his fifth of the season and first in two months.

Hurricanes 4, Penguins 3: Sebastian Aho scored at 1:30 in overtime to lift Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 win. Aho, who also added two assists, reached 600 career points with his game-winning goal.

Full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1994, US figure skating champion Nancy Kerrigan is attacked by Tonya Harding's bodyguard at the US Championships in Detroit. There are a lot of layers to this story, for those that don’t remember or were too young you can deep dive on wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_of_Nancy_Kerrigan

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

The Chiefs have made the playoffs the last 10 seasons, which NFL team has the second longest active playoff streak?

B) Buffalo Bills - Pretty surprising, here is a look at the full list:

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Happy New Year! 2025 has started off strong: two workdays followed by a weekend. Every week should be like this! But just in case we’re all forced to do a full week next week, don’t worry—the Blitz has you covered. We’ll be back to our normal schedule, bringing you all the sports news you need to start your morning off right. Now, let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: Two stats of the day: 

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and because I’m a Brian Kelly hater:

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🏈  Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl, securing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite Georgia outgaining Notre Dame in total yards, the Bulldogs were plagued by turnovers, including two fumbles and failed fourth-down attempts. Notre Dame's defense was dominant, and saw key plays including a 98-yard kickoff return by Jayden Harrison and a touchdown pass from Riley Leonard.

🏈 NFL Pro Bowl rosters announced — you can see the full rosters here. But let’s talk about what is most important… the snubs:

• Bills RB James Cook - Give me Cook over RB Joe Mixon all day. Mixon had a great year, but Cook had more touchdowns (15 vs 11), and a much better YPC (5.0 vs 4.1). Their rushing and receiving totals are pretty much the same, I’ll take the more explosive Cook.

• Lions S Kerby Joseph - Why are we only selecting one free safety and three total safeties? Most NFL teams at this point run five if not six defensive backs the majority of the game. Joseph led the NFL in interceptions and passer rating allowed. It seems like this should have been a no-brainer selection.

• Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez - If the Patriots weren’t so bad this one would be a bit more obvious, but you don’t get the benefit of the doubt when you have three wins. The second year Gonzalez is easily one of the best CBs in the NFL but may be a bit too quiet to get the recognition.

• Bucs QB Baker Mayfield - He’s going to get in likely because one of the current QBs from the NFC is going to the Super Bowl. But he had a great year. Him and Sam Darnold are great comeback stories.

• Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. - I love me some WR Zay Flowers but Thomas deserved it more. He had more receptions, yards, and touchdowns (10 vs 4). Add in the fact that he was a rookie, and the turmoil at QB he dealt with makes it even more impressive.

• Vikings DE Danielle Hunter:

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NFL Week 18 Preview

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Cincinnati (8-8) at Pittsburgh (10-6) - Sat. 1:00 PM (ABC)

The View: I’ve been on the Bengals bandwagon all year, and I’ve been betting them all year (my bank account is not happy about this). But after a tumultuous year, somehow they have a chance to make the playoffs. Just when I thought I was out… They pull me back in. The Bengals have no defense, but who needs a defense when your offense is on fire. Plus, the Steelers are headed in the opposite direction after losing the last three games. Give me the Bengals, one more time!

What's at Stake: If the Bengals win and Denver loses to Kansas City and Miami loses to the Jets, the Bengals are in (so there’s a chance!). The Steelers have a chance to win their division if they win and the Ravens lose.

The Pick: Bengals -2

Minnesota (14-2) at Detroit (14-2) - Sun. 8:20 PM (NBC)

The View: Who would have thought the NFC North would come down to the final game of the year between two 14-win teams, and one of those teams wouldn’t be the Packers. Whoever wins this game will likely be the Super Bowl favorite. 2.5 points seems a bit light for a home game, I’m taking the Lions.

What's at Stake: Winner of this game clinches #1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Loser becomes the first 14-win wild card team.

The Pick: Lions -2.5

New Orleans at Tampa Bay (9-7) - 1:00 PM (FOX)

The View: After watching the Saints the last two weeks, I feel like this spread should be at least 21 points. But I have a strange feeling that the Saints somehow make this divisional game close or backdoor and cover. I’m not putting real money on this game because It’s not worth having to pay attention to them play (I’m still upset about the Saints vs. Packers MNF game). But I’m taking the Saints to play spoilers aka lose by 13.

What's at Stake: Bucs win and they clinch the NFC South (or if Atlanta loses to then Panthers).

The Pick: Saints +14

Kansas City (15-1) at Denver (9-7) - Sunday 4:25PM (CBS)

The View: Veteran QB Carson Wentz will be under center for the Chiefs in week 18. Any time you take the best QB in the NFL off the field you’re going to see a huge point swing. Add in that the Broncos only lost by a last-second missed field goal last time they played. You have to imagine most people will be betting the Broncos. The line is now at 10.5 points. Which is pretty nuts. I understand why most people are jumping off the Chiefs, but not me. I’ve seen their witchcraft all season long. I think they play spoilers and beat the Broncos to go 16-1 in the regular season.

What's at Stake: The Broncos win and they clinch a playoff spot. They’re also in if Cincy + Miami lose.

The Pick: Chiefs +10.5

Baltimore (11-5) at Cleveland (3-13) - Saturday 4:30 PM (ESPN)

The View: QB showdown for the ages. We have the MVP favorite, QB Lamar Jackson, versus the Browns 4th QB this season (and 40th QB to start a game since 1999) in QB Bailey Zappe. The Browns have injuries up and down their depth chart, and outside of WR Jerry Jeudy and DE Myles Garrett, not a lot to love. I’ll ride the 20 point spread and stick with Baltimore.

What's at Stake: Ravens clinch the AFC North title with a win or Steelers loss.

The Pick: Baltimore -20

Full NFL Schedule click here

NBA Top Games

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Celtics 118, Timberwolves 115: Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to a 118-115 victory, scoring 33 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing eight rebounds. Derrick White added 26 points, and Sam Hauser contributed 15 points in place of the injured Jaylen Brown.

Thunder 116, Clippers 98: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and had eight assists, leading the Thunder to victory, extending their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games. The Thunder, who trailed by 16 points in the first half, made a strong comeback with a 42-point third quarter.

Warriors 139, 76ers 105: Stephen Curry led Golden State to a dominant win, scoring 30 points and making all eight of his 3-point attempts. Jonathan Kuminga added 20 points off the bench.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

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Wild 4, Capitals 3: The Wild rallied to beat the Capitals 4-3 in a shootout, with Matt Boldy scoring the game-winning goal. Marco Rossi tied the game in the third period. Boldy scored the only goal in the shootout, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves in regulation and overtime to secure the win.

Ducks 4, Jets 3: Troy Terry scored his second goal of the game in overtime, leading the Ducks to a 4-3 victory. Terry also added an assist, contributing to a three-point performance.

Avalanche 6, Sabres 5: Devon Toews scored 48 seconds into overtime to lift the Avalanche to a dramatic 6-5 victory. The Avalanche, who extended their winning streak to six games, overcame a three-goal deficit, with Jonathan Drouin tying the game at 5 with just 6.8 seconds left in regulation. Toews then capitalized on a breakaway to secure the win.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1920, the Boston Red Sox baseball owner Harry Frazee announces agreement to sell slugger Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 in cash and a $350,000 loan. It started the 84 year "Curse of the Bambino".

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Who did Saquon Barkley pass in the 2,000 yard club today?

C) O.J. Simpson - Here is a look at the full list:

Check back on Monday for today’s trivia answer and more info!

Good Morning, Blitzers!

For those of you who were in fantasy football championships, I hope you reigned supreme…just like me. 😀 For those of you, who lost in the championship or was already eliminated, there’s always next year! A lot of happenings in the NFL over the weekend, let’s get to it!

WTF Stat: This rookie wide receiver class is dominating…especially since three of the four are on, let’s just say, not so special teams.

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Bowers (Right) caught 7 passes for 77 yards, breaking records in the process

🏈 Saquon Barkley joined the 2,000 yard club on Sunday rushing for 167 yards against the Cowboys. He is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season record which has stood since 1984. Of course the Eagles final game is against the Giants. Couldn’t have written a better script.

🏈 We’ve already touched upon the special rookie receiver class, but Brock Bowers is now historically a stud. The Raider TE broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end and then later in the game broke the rookie record for receptions, which was set by Puka Nacua last year. Bowers did this catching passes from Gardner Minshew, Aiden O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder.

🏀 The Los Angeles LeBrons are shaking things up by shipping D’Angelo Russell across the country to the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers also sent Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

🏒 Sidney Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux’s franchise assist mark in the Penguins victory over the Islanders on Sunday. Crosby has 1,034 assists, which is 12th all-time in the NHL. The 37-year-old Sid the Kid still trails Lemieux in goals and points by a significant margin.

⚾️ In baseball news:

• The Diamondbacks seemingly came out of nowhere and signed star pitcher Corbin Burnes to a 6-year, $210M contract. Burnes is coming off a great year with the Baltimore Orioles finishing with a 2.92 ERA.

• Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez earned a new contract for the Los Angeles Dodgers to the tune of 3-years, $66 million. Hernandez a key bat for the World Series champs, he smacked 33 home runs and drove in 99 RBIs.

• The Detroit Tigers signed infielder Gleyber Torres to a one-year deal worth $15 million. Torres has played the last seven seasons with the New York Yankees and was named to the All-Star team twice.

NFL Week 17

What You Missed

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→ Jayden Daniels continues to be super clutch - I didn’t even have to change the headline from last week. Jayden Daniels: DAWG. After beating the Eagles in dramatic fashion last week, the rookie out of LSU marched the Commanders down and the above toss to Zach Ertz downed the Falcons in OT. The win clinches a playoff spot for the Commanders…and weirdly, the Rams. Daniels did it through the air and on the ground, passing for 227 yards and 3 TDs as well as 127 yards rushing. Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix had some of his own heroics leading Atlanta down the field to force OT. Before last night, the Falcons held their playoff destiny in their hands. With the loss, Atlanta will need to win next week against the Panthers and the Bucs to lose against the Saints.

→ Baker Magic is truly a sight to behold - Baker Mayfield diced up the Carolina Panthers in the Bucs 48-14 drubbing. Mayfield went 27-32 for 359 yards and 5 TDs. Two of his TDs were to Mike Evans, two to Jalen McMillan and one to Payne Durham. Aside from Baker, the Bucs may have found an absolute stud in Bucky Irving who accounted for 200 yards from scrimmage. As I mentioned, the Bucs are back in the driver’s seat and just need a win over the Saints to get back into the playoffs.

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→ The Giants hurt themselves by winning - Drew Lock threw for four touchdowns and ran for another in the shootout victory over the Colts. Yes, Drew Lock, that Drew Lock, scored five touchdowns. Rookie wideout Malik Nabors was electric catching seven passes for 171 yards and two TDs. That’s good news. The bad news is that because of the win, the Giants no longer hold the first overall pick that honor belongs to the New England Patriots. There was no good news for the Colts, with the loss they are now eliminated from playoff contention. Good news for fans, we won’t have to watch that team beyond next week.

→ The Bills made the Jets look like a JV team - Usually beating up on the elderly is frowned upon, it was met with raucous applause in Buffalo when the Bills bullied Old Man Rodgers on Sunday. 4 sacks, 2 picks and a total QBR of…1.2. WOOF. Josh Allen scored 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) and the 40-14 win locked up the 2-seed for the Bills. They pretty much could use next week against the Patriots as a bye.

What We Learned

→ There are a lot of bad teams in the NFL - Sunday only had 9 games with the funky Christmas week schedule and we as a fandom was subjected to Saints/Raiders, Titans/Jaguars, and Dolphins/Browns. Let me tell you, it was not a good product. 10 teams have five wins or less. That’s a little under a third of the league. I can’t remember a season where there were teams that are just this woeful.

→ The Playoff Hunt is On - The final spot of the AFC is still up for grabs for the Broncos, Bengals, and Dolphins. If the Broncos beat the Chiefs, who may be resting their players with the 1-seed locked up, they’re in. The Dolphins need to win and the Broncos to lose and the Bengals need to win and have the Broncos and Dolphins lose. Meanwhile in the NFC, the biggest game of the week will be between the Lions and Vikings for the 1-seed. Assuming the Lions win tonight against the Niners, the winner gets a rest, the loser will drop to the 5-seed.

→ As for the rest of the playoff picture here’s what we’re looking at right now:

AFC

1. Chiefs*

2. Bills*

3. Ravens*

4. Texans*

5. Steelers*

6. Chargers*

7. Broncos/Dolphins/Bengals

NFC

1. Vikings/Lions

2. Eagles*

3. Rams*

4. Bucs

5. Lions/Vikings

6. Commanders*

7. Packers*

*clinched

NFL Scoreboard and Standings

🏈 Tonight

The Lions @ Niners on ESPN/ABC at 8:30 PM

Lol @Colorado

Bowl Games

Friday, December 27th

Syracuse 52, Washington State 35

Navy 21, Oklahoma 20

Arkansas 39, Texas Tech 26

USC 35, Texas A&M 31

Saturday, December 28th

Iowa State 42, Miami 41

BYU 36, Colorado 14

Army 27, Louisiana Tech 6

UCONN 27, UNC 14

Nebraska 20, BC 15

TCU 34, Louisiana 3

Miami (OH) 43, Colorado State 17

East Carolina 26, NC State 21

Monday, December 30

TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri - 2:30 PM (ESPN)

Conference Records

American Athletic 6-1

Big 12 4-2

Big Ten 4-2

MAC 4-2

SEC 4-3

Sun Belt 3-3

Independents 2-0

Conference USA 1-3

Mountain West 1-3

ACC 1-9 (WOOOOOOFFFFFFF)

PAC-12 0-1

Top NBA Games

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Heat 104, Rockets 100: The two teams got into a benches clearing scuffle, but it was the Heat that won the game in the end. Tyler Herro, who got tossed like a rag doll in the fight, scored a game-high 27 points.

Magic 102, Nets 101: Cole Anthony’s floater banked in with just 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the Magic over the Nets.

Pacers 123, Celtics 114: Tyrese Haliburton was a man on a mission and the Pacers avenged getting blown out on Friday with a win on the Celtics home floor. Haliburton scored 31 with 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

Thunder 130, Grizzlies 106: With no Ja Murant, the Grizzlies were mince meat for the rolling Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in the blowout.

Full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Ducks 5, Oilers 3: The Ducks scored four unanswered goals in the 2nd and 3rd periods to upset the Oilers in Anaheim.

Red Wings 4, Capitals 2: The Red Wings started out red hot, scoring four goals in the first period. Alex DeBrincat accounted for two of them and Detroit held on to win.

Canadiens 5, Lightning 2: A lot of top teams took the L on Sunday including the Lightning at the hands of the Canadiens. Montreal had five different goal scorers getting two in 3rd period to down Tampa.

Full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 2020, San Antonio assistant Becky Hammon becomes first female to coach an NBA team after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is ejected in a 121-107 loss to the LA Lakers. She’s currently the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

Good Morning, Blitzers!

Hope you had a great weekend! Before we get into the nitty gritty of the weekend and how awesome it was, Keith and I would like to express our extreme gratitude to all of you for continuing to read and engage with the Morning Blitz. It is the best gift the two of us could ask for Christmas…aside from maybe one of those damn 15-leg parlays to hit. Speaking of the holiday season, we will be taking a few days off this week and next week. We will be releasing the Blitz today and Friday this week and will run the same schedule for New Years. Ok, enough of the level-setting, let’s get into the weekend’s activities.

WTF Stat: Shoutout to all the #ShortKings out there

🏈 Eagles QB Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion early in the loss against the Commanders. Hurts’ replacement, Kenny Pickett, was seen entering the X-Ray room with an injury to his ribs. After the Birds snapped their 10-game winning streak, both QBs will be seen as questionable for next week’s game against the Cowboys. Luckily for them, they already clinched a playoff spot…but not the division.

🏈 In a move which should shock no one, Steve Belichick will make the move from Washington to North Carolina to join his father as defensive coordinator of the Tar Heels. He will roam the sidelines for the Tiger Sun Bowl when Washington takes on the Louisville Cardinals. Washington ranked 27th in the nation in total defense under Stevie B.

🏌️‍♂️Your heart-warming moment of the weekend, Tiger Woods’ son Charlie was playing with his pops in the PNC Championship and this happened:

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However, Bernard Langer and his son, Jason, defeated Tiger and Charlie to win the title.

⚾️ Sad news over the weekend in the baseball community, Rickey Henderson passed away at the age of 65. The Hall-of-Famer played in the MLB for 25 years and is the all-time stolen base (including single season leader with 130!) and runs scored leader. He was a 10-time all-star, two-time World Series champ and won MVP in 1990.

⚾️ In other baseball news:

• The Yankees signed 1B Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12 million deal. Goldy is 37 years old, but has remained productive in his old age.

• The Phillies acquired pitcher Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins for two prospects. Luzardo has shown signs of greatness throughout his five-year career with the Athletics and Marlins, but has yet to put all the pieces together.

• The Guardians sent 1B Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks and then signed aging slugger Carlos Santana.

• Washington traded for 1B Josh Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a reliever.

NFL Week 15

What You Missed

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→ Jayden Daniels continues to be super clutch - Daniels threw for five touchdowns including the above strike with just six seconds on the clock to steal a win from the Eagles. Philly was in complete control of this game before Jalen Hurts left the game with a concussion then the Eagles fans were treated to the Kenny Pickett Experience. Saquon Barkley rushed for 150 yards and is 268 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. Eagles have clinched a playoff spot and will clinch the division with a win or Commanders loss next week. Commander HC Dan Quinn became the first Washington Head Coach to win 10 games in his debut season.

→ Jonathan Taylor really took all the vitriol over his dropped TD personally - JT went OFF against the Titans rushing for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns in an effort that was probably one week too late for most fantasy owners. The Colts scored 38 unanswered points…and then gave up 23, but hung on to win 38-30 and keep their playoff hopes alive.

→ Penix-led Falcons down the Giants - It wasn’t pretty for Penix, only throwing for 202 yards and an INT, but lucky for the Falcons, they have Bijon Robinson and the Giants suuuuuck. Jessie Bates and Matthew Judon each had pick-6s in the blowout victory.

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→ The Lions trick play section of the playbook is Elite - Coined “The Stumblebum,” Jared Goff faked that he stumbled and pulled one of these:

The trick plays the Lions try to pull off (and sometimes do) every week is truly remarkable. And they did this while they were up 13! If you’re not a Bears, Vikings or Packers fan, the Lions have to be the easiest team to like. Caleb Williams actually played pretty well (334 yards, 2 TDs, 34 yards rushing), but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the best team in the NFC.

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→ The Panthers didn’t hear no bell - After losing four in a row, the Panthers bounced back to defeat the Cardinals in overtime thanks to Chuba Hubbard putting the team on his back. Hubbard is earning that extension, he rushed for 152 yards and two TDs. Embattled 2nd year QB Bryce Young played efficiently and threw for 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the Cardinals season is unraveling before their very eyes. Just three weeks ago they were atop the NFC West, this loss dropped them below .500 and star RB James Connor left the game with a knee injury.

What We Learned

→ The Jets are truly and utterly hopeless - Aaron Rodgers and co. could only manage nine points against the Rams at home. Rodgers hit Davante Adams late in the first quarter to take the lead and then did basically nothing else. Two turnover on downs, a fumble, and a missed field goal in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, the Rams continue their surge. Four wins in a row and with the Seattle loss, are a game clear in first place.

→ The Bengals are still a threat - After a horrid start to the season, the Bengals are in the hunt for the playoffs. Burrow and Chase connected again for a touchdown, and for Chase, he is well on his way to a receiver Triple Crown. Tough road ahead, they will have to get some help and beat the Broncos at home and the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile in Cleveland…God it must be terrible to be a Browns fan. #WeWantJameis

→ Is this the week stop #DoubtingDarnold? - Great game in Seattle and it was the Darnold-Jefferson connection that won the day for the Vikings as they improve to 13-2. Darnold threw for 3 touchdowns on the day and continues to prove the haters wrong. It does help when you have Justin Jefferson to throw to, 10 receptions for 144 yards and 2 TDs. Have a day! The loss puts the Seahawks playoff hopes in a big bind.

→Dolphins are still relevant - Miami kept their playoff hopes alive thanks to a massive performance from RB De’Von Achane (17 carries for 120, TD, 6 receptions for 70). The Dolphins have the Browns and Jets left on the schedule, but both games are away…and we know how Miami plays in the cold…

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→ Bring your brooms, the NFC South is a mess - The Cowboys played like their jobs depended on it (Emperor Jones had the guillotine ready), and Dallas pulled off an upset over the Bucs at home. Tampa had a shot to win the game, but Daron Bland ripped the ball out of Rachaad White’s hands and as a result, threw the NFC South into chaos. The Falcons, yes, the Falcons are now in the driver’s seat to win the division because the Bucs have lost to them twice. Bucs play the Panthers and Saints, the Falcons play the Commanders and Panthers. If the Falcons win out, they’re in.

NFL Scoreboard and Standings

🏈 Tonight

The Saints @ Packers on ESPN/ABC at 8:30 PM

College Football Recap - 1st Round

The Irish celebrated early and hung on to win

Notre Dame 27 - Indiana 17: The Irish set the tone early in this one with Jeremiyah Love’s 98 yard touchdown run on ND’s opening drive of the game. The Hoosiers took the gut punch about as worse as you could imagine. I guess when you spend the season playing cupcakes and blowing out teams adversity becomes an allergy. Indiana woke up in the 4th quarter but it was too little too late and the Irish advance to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl/Quarterfinals. Let’s not have a complete celebration, Irish fans, the hole in this team (Riley Leonard’s QB play) was still very apparent. Tune in later this week when I tell you why their luck is about to run out.

Penn State’s defense proved too much for SMU

Penn State 38, SMU 10: When you’re an underdog, and not only an underdog, an underdog who most everyone believes you don’t belong, you have to play your best game. That is not what SMU did. Kevin Jennings threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in the first half when the Mustang defense was stopping the Penn State offense. From then on the Nittany Lions took care of business and sent SMU back to Texas. Similar to the Irish, PSU still has a big problem with their QB play, unlike the Irish, Penn State will be favored in the 2nd round against Boise State.

The Texas run game could not be contained

Texas 38, Clemson 24: The Longhorns ran up, over, and around the Clemson Tigers en route to a 14-point victory. Clemson made a game of it (unlike the other three games), closing the gap to just seven points early in the 4th quarter. Then Jaydon Blue’s 77 yard TD scamper and a goal line stand (CAN WE STOP RUNNING UP THE MIDDLE ON 4TH AND ONE), sealed the deal for the Longhorns. Blue and Quintrevion Wisner combined for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns and they’ll need them to continue to dominate as QB Quinn Ewers isn’t setting the world aflame in recent weeks. The Longhorns should be heavy favorites against Arizona State in the next round.

Jeremiah Smith (4) caught two touchdown passes

Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17: Remember when a really smart person said this: “Tennessee is just not that good. No one talked about them not making the playoff, but they may be the biggest fraud of the 12.” I just love being proven right. Tennessee looked outmatched from the jump. Ohio State jumped out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter and it was pretty much over from there. QB Will Howard played well, the running game was strong and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith rose to the challenge. All in all, you could not have asked for a better bounce back if you’re a Buckeyes fan. A rematch with Oregon awaits Ohio State.

Other Bowl Games

StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27

Union Home Mortage Gasparilla Bowl: Florida 33, Tulane 8

Top NBA Games

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Nuggets 132, Pelicans 129: Another day, another triple-double for Nikola Jokic.

Pacers 122, Kings 95: The Pacers had seven players score in double-digits and dominated the Kings in the second half to inch closer to .500.

Rockets 114, Raptors 110: Houston went down early, but stormed back led by Dillon Brooks’ 27 points to pick their 19th win of the season.

Full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Ducks 5, Utah 4 (SO): The Ducks scored two goals in the 3rd period, forced overtime and won in a shootout. Utah’s Clayton Keller scored two goals and logged two assists in the losing effort.

Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1: Pyotr Kochetkov outdueled Igor Shesterkin only letting in one goal. The goal came in the first period and then the Hurricanes scored three unanswered to pick up the win.

Panthers 4, Lightning 2: Sam Reinhart scored two goals and the Panthers defeated their in-state rival. It was two second period short-handed goals by AJ Greer and Eetu Luostarinen that gave Florida the separation they needed.

Full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers used an “Immaculate Reception” to beat the Oakland Raiders. With the Steelers trailing 7-6, on fourth down with 22 seconds left in the game, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass targeting Steelers running back John Fuqua. The ball bounced off the helmet of Raiders safety Jack Tatum. Steelers fullback Franco Harris caught it just before it hit the ground and ran for a game-winning touchdown.

Friday’s Trivia Time Answer

When was the last time IU beat Notre Dame?

B) 1950 - The IU-Notre Dame match-up dates back to 1898, but before Friday night they hadn’t faced each other since 1991 and it was only the second meeting since 1958. The last time Indiana actually beat the Irish on the field was Saturday, October 21, 1950. The Hoosiers beat Notre Dame 20-7.

Check back on Tuesday for today’s trivia answer and more info!

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Today we embark on the first ever weekend of the 12-team CFB Playoff. We finally get to see who truly is the best of the best in college football (sorry Ole Miss, Alabama, Miami fans). Sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacle. Oh yeah, we have high impact NFL games to talk about as well! Christmas may not be until Wednesday, but I feel a whole lot of holiday cheer right now.

WTF Stat: LeBron James passes another major milestone:

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🏈  The Chargers outscored the Broncos 21-6 in the 2nd half and picked up a crucial victory over their division rival. Not to mention the bit of history they made! Cameron Dicker the Kicker buried a 57-yard free kick field goal at the halftime buzzer. It was the first free kick field goal since 1976. There’s some abstract rule where if a player calls for a fair catch, the team can opt for an untimed free kick. Jim Harbaugh does his homework folks!

• Chargers Takeaways: LA was looking like a team running out of gas after a heartbreaking loss to KC and a blowout loss to Tampa. This win should put the wind back in their sails as they make the final push to the playoffs. It’s pretty impressive what the Chargers have been able to accomplish in year 1 of the Harbaugh regime. They lost their three best skill players, been dealing with injuries all season, and still find themselves at 9-6 with the Patriots and Raiders left on the schedule.

• Broncos Takeaways: Speaking of exceeding expectations, the Broncos are playing with house money. No one expected them to be 9-6 at this junction. Having said that, they let this one get away from them in the 2nd half. And while they are 9-6…they only have one win against a team with a current winning record (Bucs). Unlike the Chargers, Denver has to beat the Bengals and Chiefs in the final two weeks to lock up a playoff spot.

🏈 Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes was cleared to play in Saturday’s game against the Texans. Mahomes left last week’s game with an ankle injury.

• 🔥Take: Not shocking, the Chiefs desperately need to lock up the first round bye and they still have some work to do in that regard. Instead of giving Patty the week off and starting Wentz, it looks like Andy Reid will roll the dice and put his franchise QB in harms way against Houston.

🏈 The Saints are having another nightmare season and the hits just keep on coming. RB Alvin Kamara will likely miss the remainder of the regular season with a groin injury.

College Football Playoff Opening Round

Friday

#10 Indiana (11-2) at #7 Notre Dame (11-1) - Fri. 8:00 PM (ABC/ESPN)

What’s At Stake: I mean, it’s only appropriate that the first 12-team CFB Playoff game takes place at one of the cathedrals of college football, right? South Bend, Indiana. Touchdown Jesus! And it’s a battle between two teams from the same state. We love some intrigue! Once we get over the pageantry of the pregame, the actual game will be played. Indiana shocked everyone throughout the season as they proceeded to steamroll over nearly everyone they played. Notre Dame stumbled mightily, losing to Northern Illinois at home early in the season, but haven’t missed a beat since. What’s most interesting about both of these teams…they haven’t really played let alone beat anyone that good. IU got stomped by Ohio State in its only appearance against a highly ranked opponent. ND had a cupcake schedule. The Irish use a stingy defense to put its offense into advantageous positions. The Hoosiers are extremely disciplined and Kurtis Rourke takes care of the football. Hoosiers get it done.

The Pick: Hoosiers +7

Other Bowl Games:

Ohio vs. Jacksonville State - 12:00 PM (ESPN)

Tulane vs. Florida - 3:30 (ESPN)

Saturday

#11 SMU (11-2) at #6 Penn State (11-2) - Sat. 12:00 PM (TNT)

What’s At Stake: This may not be the best game of the day, but it is the most interesting to me. There has been a lot trash talk surrounding the ACC (looks in mirror), but SMU has an opportunity to prove that they are indeed for real. On the flip side, James Franklin’s job may be on the line in this game, the dude cannot win a big game. PSU is 5-12 in the last five years against the Top 25. Add in the fact that I think Drew Allar is one of the most overrated players in the country and we get another upset…or at least a closer game than anticipated.

The Pick: SMU +8.5

#12 Clemson (10-3) at #5 Texas (11-2) - Sat. 4:00 PM (TNT)

What’s At Stake: If you don’t like looking at the color orange, avert thy eyes! Here we have another “prove it” game for the ACC. Clemson won a thriller over SMU to sneak into the playoff and get greeted by Texas, which, looking at the weather for some of these northern games…they should be grateful for. Add to that the fact that the Longhorns may be paper tigers after losing both games to the only top 15 team they played and there may be another upset brewing. Oh wait, silly me, Clemson played two SEC teams and lost to both. They’ll lose again.

The Pick: Longhorns -12

#9 Tennessee (10-2) at #8 Ohio State (10-2) - Sat. 8:00 PM (ABC/ESPN)

What’s At Stake: Ohio State has had almost a month to stew over losing at home to rival Michigan costing them a Big Ten title game berth. Now, some stews when you leave them turn into chef’s kiss masterpieces. Other stews burn and you throw them out. If the Buckeyes realize that they have the better team and play like it, they’ll win this game by 20. Tennessee is just not that good. No one talked about them not making the playoff, but they may be the biggest fraud of the 12. Outside of beating Alabama, they lost to Arkansas, should have lost to Florida at home, and they’re next best win is…Vanderbilt? Ohio State does have a nasty habit of getting in their own way, but Ryan Day will have the Buckeyes playing like their lives depend on it…his livelihood certainly does.

The Pick: Buckeyes -7.5

NFL Week 14 Preview

Houston (9-5) at Kansas City (13-1) - Sat. 1:00 PM (NBC)

The View: First of all, so dumb that the NFL is playing on Saturday with the first round of the CFB Playoffs on. So dumb. Anywhooser, here we have two teams who have already clinched division titles. Now it’s all about seeding. I saw a fun fact today, the Chiefs are one of four teams this season to not score 30 points. Isn’t that weird? 13-1, the best QB of the generation and for whatever reason, they have not scored over 30 points. I think that streak continues in this game, but they find a way to beat the Texans at home.

The Pick: Chiefs -3.5

Pittsburgh (10-4) at Baltimore (9-5) - Sat. 4:30 PM (FOX)

The View: So, so dumb. Let’s put a game with division championship implications right in the middle of Clemson vs. Texas. The first game between Baltimore and Pittsburgh was a classic AFC North defensive slobberknocker. It came down to the kickers, Chris Boswell went a perfect 6/6, the aging Justin Tucker missed two key FGs and cost the Ravens the game. The Steelers are running low on weapons and are really missing George Pickens. They couldn’t keep up with the Eagles last week and they won’t be able to this week in a Lamar revenge game.

The Pick: Ravens -6.5

Philadelphia (12-2) at Washington (9-5) - 4:25 PM (FOX)

The View: Huge game for both teams when it comes to the playoffs. The Eagles technically haven’t wrapped up the division yet, a win will clinch that. I really do like the Commanders story this year. How can you not root for Jayden Daniels? However, I think the season is starting to wear on the upstart Commanders. They’re still in a good spot to make the playoffs, but they’ll have to take care of that against Atlanta and Dallas. The Eagles are playing great football and after a down week against Pittsburgh, look for Saquon to feast.

The Pick: Eagles -3.5

Minnesota (12-2) at Seattle (8-6) - Sunday 4:05 PM (FOX)

The View: Seattle is in a dogfight in the NFC West and they need to keep pace with the surging Rams. Unfortunately, they are very banged up. Geno Smith hurt his knee last week, he’s expected to play, but how effective will he be? Star running back Ken Walker III has been nursing a calf injury and isn’t expected to play. Minnesota forces you to throw the ball with a great run defense and if Geno isn’t on his A-game, this game could get ugly.

The Pick: Vikings -3.5

San Francisco (6-8) at Miami (6-8) - Sunday 4:25 PM (CBS)

The View: Two teams, two disastrous seasons…so far. The Niners and Dolphins have avenues to make the playoffs. The Dolphins have a better avenue thanks to the middle of the AFC being low-key trash. San Francisco is down to their 4th string running back, I’m pretty sure Deebo has given up and other than beating the Bears (lol) they’ve looked hopeless. The Dolphins have four of six and I think they have more to play for…but then again…Tyreek is cryptically tweeting. Oh star wideouts and their passive aggressive social media personas.

The Pick: Dolphins -1

Full NFL Schedule click here

NBA Top Games

Thunder 105, Magic 99: SGA poured in 35 points and the Thunder hung on to beat the Magic improving to 21-5 on the season.

Bulls 117, Celtics 108: The Bulls got red hot in the 4th quarter outscoring Boston 35-22 to shock the C’s in the Garden.

Grizzlies 144, Warriors 93: Memphis made a franchise record 27 3-pointers and blew out the Warriors by 51, which is the largest margin of victory so far this season. Oh, and they did it with Ja Morant only scoring 9 points.

Knicks 133, Timberwolves 107: Karl-Anthony Towns woke up feeling dangerous in his former hometown going for 32 points and 20 rebounds.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

Lightning 3, Blues 1: Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 31/32 shots propelling the Lightning to a 3-1 victory over St. Louis.

Blue Jackets 4, Devils 2: Columbus took care of New Jersey behind a great performance from goalie Elvis Merzlinkins (40 saves). Sean Monahan had a hand in three of the four goals (2 goals, 1 assist).

Oilers 3, Boston 2 (OT): Edmonton scored three unanswered goals after going down 2-0 including Mattias Ekholm’s OT winner.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1940, baseball great Connie Mack purchased the Athletics for a whopping $42,000.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Who is the fastest player to reach 10,000 yards receiving in he NFL?

B) Julio Jones - Jones achieved the feat in just 104 games beating Calvin Johnson’s record of 115.

Check back on Monday for today’s trivia answer and more info!

Morning Blitzers,

Hope you’re having a great week! We’ve officially made it to the second half of the week before the holiday break. Let’s all be honest with ourselves, we’re not getting a lot of work done today and tomorrow. I’m not going to go out and tweet this, especially when my team is 2-10 (get ‘em Schefty)! But it’s okay to hit cruise control and focus more of your time on what counts: family, friends, and the Morning Blitz. Let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: You never know on TNF but…

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🏈 QB John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, has committed to Oklahoma, announced on social media. Mateer had an impressive 2024 season with Washington State, totaling 44 touchdowns (29 passing, 15 rushing) and 3,139 passing yards. Mateer has two years of eligibility remaining.

⚾️ Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has used his no-trade clause to block a potential trade to the Astros. There is still a chance the two sides work out a deal for the eight time All-Star. Alex Bregman, the Astros' longtime third baseman, is currently a free agent.

🏒 The New York Rangers traded forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken, in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, along with 2025 third- and sixth-round picks. Kakko, 23, was drafted second overall by the Rangers in 2019 but had struggled with consistency, scoring only four goals and 14 points in 30 games this season. Despite signing a one-year, $2.4 million contract as a restricted free agent last spring, Kakko's role with the team had diminished, and he was recently a healthy scratch.

Thursday Night Football Preview

Game: Broncos (9-5) @ Chargers (8-6) at 8:15 EST

Why we’re watching: I’m not going to lie and say these are the most entertaining teams to watch for the casual fan. But both of these teams are very good, and both will be looking to show out on the national stage.

The Chargers only have one win against teams with winning records. That win came earlier in the season against the Broncos. Are they for real? Can they hang with a talented team on national TV? This feels like a must-win for them after losing the last 3 out of 4 games.

For the Broncos, they’re on a four game winning streak. They’ve played everyone close (except for the Ravens who blew them out). This is a statement game for them. Can they go on the road on short rest and take care of a struggling Chargers team? Can Rookie QB Bo Nix get out of his two-game slump?

Key Matchup: Which defense bends first - These defenses lead the NFL in points per game. The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks, the Charges lead then NFL in rushing scores allowed. My guess is this one comes down to which QB uses his legs best. Both are capable runners who can make things happen when needed. Extending plays in the pocket and scrambling when needed will be the key against these stout defenses.

TNF Prop Bets: Jean (7-6) - Justin Herbert over 11.5 yards rushing — Keith (7-6) - Bo Nix 0.5+ INT

D-Man’s Pick (9-5 TNF): Denver has a phenomenal rush defense, and interior pressure. Chargers have below average guard play, and a non-existent run game. Add in the fact that Herbert has a bum ankle and I don’t see them putting up a lot of points. As long as the Broncos explosive plays are limited, I see this one as a knock-down, drag-out fight. Under 42 points.

Top NBA Scores

(No games last night)

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Scores

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• Maple Leafs 5, Stars 3: Nicholas Robertson played a key role in Toronto’s win, scoring the go-ahead goal and assisting on another. His younger brother, William Nylander, scored twice, including an empty-netter to seal the victory. Joseph Woll made 38 saves for Toronto, who have won four of their last five games.

• Utah Hockey Club 3, Canucks 2: Mikhail Sergachev scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Utah a 3-2 victory. The goal came just 12 seconds before the end of overtime. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz scored in the third period to force the game into extra time, with Schmaltz tying it on a power play.

• Ducks 3, Jets 2: Troy Terry scored a last-minute goal with 24 seconds remaining to lead the Ducks to a victory over the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets. The Ducks, who had been struggling recently, also got a game-tying goal from Frank Vatrano with just under five minutes left. Lukas Dostal made 21 saves in the win.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here. Only two games last night.

On this day in 1984, Wayne Gretzky scores his 1,000th point. He was only 23-years old (they youngest to ever score 1,000 points). The second fastest is Mario Lemieux who accomplished the milestone when he was 26-years old.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

According to Forbes, with a valuation of $4.1 billion, which NFL franchise is worth the least amount?

D) Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals are the lowest valued franchise at a modest $4.1 billion. 31st is the The Detroit Lions ($4.1 billion - this number has to be going up after this season). 30th is the Buffalo Bills ($4.2 billion), 29th is the Arizona Cardinals ($4.3 billion).

See the full list here:

Forbes list of the most valuable NFL teams - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_list_of_the_most_valuable_NFL_teams

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Hope you’re having a great week! This is your final reminder to get your holiday shopping done. We’re starting to cut it close, get it done now so you don’t have to battle people in-person. Let’s get into things!

WTF Stat: Does the NBA Cup matter? No, not really, but this is still a pretty interesting stat:

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🏀The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to win the NBA Cup, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Bucks also hit 17 three-pointers in the victory. Damian Lillard contributed 23 points, and Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. added 13 points each.

• 🔥Take: I want to get excited about this, but I just can’t. The stakes are not high enough. It’s great for the players, they get $500k each for winning a title. I’m sure the bench players are elated. But as a fan, what does it mean? Here are three changes they could implement to raise the stakes:

  • 1) Teams that win the NBA Cup should get to turn five away games into home games. Players would love this (less travel), owners would love this (more money), and fans would get to see more games (I know this would be a logistical nightmare).

  • 2) Teams that win the NBA Cup get an uncontested halfcourt shot to start every game for the remainder of the regular season. They get a chance to start up 3-0 every game, add some entertainment, maybe even have a random fan do it each game. I know it’s kinda dumb but so is the NBA Cup.

  • 3) All the of the losing NBA teams chip in and pay for 50% off concession prices for the remainder of the season for the winning team. You know what gets fans excited more than anything? Discounted or free stuff. Win-win for everyone.

🏈 The Atlanta Falcons have named QB Michael Penix Jr. their new starting quarterback, replacing Kirk Cousins. Head coach Raheem Morris announced the change after the Falcons’ 15-9 victory over the Raiders, which ended a four-game losing streak. Over his last five games, he has thrown 9 INTs and just 1 TD.

• 🔥Take: This one is tough because I’m a big Kirky Cousins fan. But I also loved Michael Penix coming out of college. It’s sad to say, but this is the right move. Penix gets to face off against the Giants at home, so a pretty good first game to start, hopefully he can deliver.

⚾️ The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in a trade. In exchange, the Cubs receive right-hander Cody Poteet. The Yankees also get $5 million in cash from the Cubs to help cover part of Bellinger's $27.5 million salary for 2025, with additional funds potentially going toward his 2026 salary or a contract buyout if he opts out.

Free Forum Wednesdays

Free Forum Wednesdays continue - we'll be writing a bit more outside-the-box, fun content, hope you enjoy it!

The Worst Part About Living in California

No this isn’t about the rising and unsustainable cost of living, the gas prices, the lack of seasons, the fires, or the many other issues that Californian’s complain about. This is for the California transients. Those that come from New England (like myself), or Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc. Those modern day Lewis and Clarks that were sick of the cold and the three months of sunshine and ventured to the land of golden opportunity.

The worst part about living in California occurs when you travel back to your cold-weather state. Whether it’s for a wedding, to visit family, or for the upcoming holiday. The same interactions happen every time and on numerous occasions. It goes down something like this:

Person 1: Hey Keith, how’s it been, long time no see! Are you still out in California?

Me: Yup, I’m still out there.

Person 1: Looks me up and down whilst frowning Oh… But isn’t it sunny year round there?

Me: Yeah…

Person 1: But you’re still pale…

Every time. To translate this conversation it’s essentially the person saying, “Hey you live in California now right? Why are you still so ugly?” Not only are they disappointed in me, they’re disgusted. They are upset by everything I am and represent.

See, the promise of California is tan skin, long hair and six pack abs. My milk colored complexion, receding hairline, and body built by Cali-Burrito’s really extinguishes what they imagined. I understand why they’re upset, seeing me crushes their dreams. It’s like I’ve unknowingly catfished them.

The Fix

Now, I’ve been called translucent, whiter than snow, Casper the ghost, a sun reflector, an eye hazard, and everything in-between. So, none of this is new. But the resentment, that’s new.

What is the solution? Am I going to start working out, maybe take up surfing, try to grow my hair out, dye it blond? No, I’m not going to do any of that. Instead, I’m going to try and get tan the old fashioned way. Not by actually tanning since that’s impossible. Instead my 2025 New Years Resolution is to get so many freckles that that they all merge into one freckle, a golden tan freckle. 2025 is the year. Wish me luck.

Have any good New Years resolutions? Send them our way!

Top NHL Games

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Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2: Ryan Donato scored a late goal to lead the Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory, completing a three-goal. Donato's goal, his team-leading 11th of the season, came with 2:18 left in regulation. TJ Brodie tied the game at 2 with 5:53 remaining, and Ilya Mikheyev scored Chicago’s first short-handed goal of the season just 51 seconds into the third period, sparking the comeback.

Bruins 4, Flames 3: David Pastrnak scored 4:22 into overtime, leading the Bruins to a 4-3 comeback victory. Former Flame Elias Lindholm had a goal and an assist, while Morgan Geekie and Marc McLaughlin also scored for the Bruins, who have now won six of their last eight games. Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves for Boston, winning five of his last six starts.

Penguins 3, Kings 2: Rickard Rakell scored the game-winning goal in overtime, leading the Penguins to a 3-2 victory. Rakell deflected Erik Karlsson's shot past Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper for the win. Evgeni Malkin scored earlier for Pittsburgh, and Matt Grzelcyk tied the game at 2 with his first goal as a Penguin, forcing overtime.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 2022, Argentina beats France, 4-2 in penalty shootout to win the World Cup. It was a game that lived up to the hype with Lionel Messi scoring 2 goals for Argentina and Kylian Mbappé scoring 3 for France.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Who has the most rushing yards playing on Monday Night Football in their career?

A) Emmitt Smith - Not too shocking, Smith has 2,434 yards on Monday night football in 25 games played, 4.7 YPC, and 23 rushing touchdowns (also the most for MNF).

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Did you know that December 17th is primarily known as "Wright Brothers’ Day" because on this date in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first successful sustained flight in a heavier-than-air, powered airplane? So, today, think big. The sky is the limit —or better yet, think beyond it. As a great philosopher once said, “You can't say the sky's the limit when people have been to the moon.” - Jameis Winston

WTF Stat: Justin Jefferson has had a relatively quiet season this year. By quiet I mean, he’s only managed 75 receptions, 1,170 yards (second in NFL), and 7 TDs so far. 7,000+ yards in five season… not too bad.

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🏈 The Vikings defeated the Bears 30-12 on Monday night, securing their seventh straight win and moving into a tie for first place in the NFC North. Aaron Jones and Cam Akers each had touchdown runs in the second half, while the Vikings’ defense dominated, limiting the Bears to just 1-for-12 on third downs and 1-for-3 on fourth downs.

A really cool gesture before the game for Randy Moss, who is battling cancer:

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🏈The Falcons defeated the Raiders 15-9 on Monday night, snapping a four-game losing streak and keeping pace with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. Kirk Cousins threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to WR Drake London, marking his first touchdown in five weeks. After that it was a bit of a snooze fest. The game included 10 punts, and four turnovers.

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🏈 NFL injury updates:

QB Patrick Mahomes has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, but the team does not believe the injury is severe. The Chiefs will continue to evaluate Mahomes throughout the week to determine his availability for their upcoming game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. This is part of a stretch of three games in 11 days, with the team facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

Lions RB David Montgomery will miss the rest of the season due to a sprained MCL that requires surgery. This injury occurred during the Lions' 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, starting defensive tackle Alim McNeill suffered a torn ACL, ending his season.

Tuesday’s NFL Power Rankings

This Week’s Theme: Best Ever Christmas/Holiday Gifts

Tier 1 - N64

The greatest gift of all time. The video game system that brought us Golden Eye, Mario Kart, Mario Party, Zelda, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, and so many other classics. Just an amazing thing to open up on Christmas morning and play with your siblings. Sadly, my parents didn’t believe in video games. They wanted me to focus on school work. Probably the right decision, I can barely read and write as it is, can you imagine if I had easy access to video games? As a Patriots fan, watching these Tier 1 teams play this season has been like watching my friends get N64 for Christmas. I’ll just keep telling myself next year is the year, and pretend I’m not extremely jealous.

1. Buffalo Bills (11-3)

2. Detroit Lions (12-2)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Tier 2 - Easy-Bake Oven

Looking back at it, was the Easy-Bake Oven just a micro wave for kids? I guess it was. But as a kid, having the ability to make ready-to-order treats was mind-blowing. The Easy-Bake Oven was a lot like the teams in Tier 2. Top of the list for sure. They look great on paper, only problem is if you’re not careful you’ll get burned (249 reported incidents included 77 burns, 16 of which were second- or third-degree in nature).

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

9. Denver Broncos (9-5)

10. Houston Texans (9-5)

11. Washington Commanders (9-5)

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

13. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

14. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

Tier 3 - Harry Potter Books

Once reading became required in school it wasn’t as cool to receive books for Christmas. That was until Harry Potter changed the whole game. I got my first Harry Potter book for Christmas and no gift has ever been more impactful. It doesn’t matter if you’re 6 or 106 these books hit every time. I can’t say that these Tier 3 teams are as good as Harry Potter, but these teams are overlooked. Tier 3 make up some of my favorite teams to watch (outside of the Falcons, last night was gross). Like Harry in the Goblet of Fire, these teams have a big uphill battle if they want win the Triwazarding Cup/get into the playoffs.

16. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

17. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

18. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

19. Dallas Cowboys (6-8) I

20. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

21. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

22. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

Tier 4 - Devil Sticks

Not sure how these really caught on. I feel like in the 90s there were just a bunch of toys to keep kids with low attention spans busy for a long time. Yo-yos, Skip It, Bop It, Slinkys, etc. Devil Sticks were the ultimate gift at one point, which is pretty funny because they were literally three sticks. That’s it. Didn’t take much to entertain us back in the day I guess? These teams are like Devil Sticks. Popular, lot of hype, then you look at them and there really isn’t much there.

23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

24. Chicago Bears (4-10)

25. New York Jets (4-10)

26. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

Tier 5 - Tamagotchi

Who ever invented the Tamagotchi had a real morbid sense of humor. It was ‘A handheld digital pet that needed cleaning, feeding, and playing with, however, if they were neglected they would die’. Pretty sick to give an 8-year old a electronic device and tell them to constantly check it, and if they don’t, their pet would die. No wonder we’re all addicted to our phones. Anyway, these Tier 5 teams are like getting the Tamagotchi now. Pretty one dimensional, and after some initial hope, they got dull and saw their playoff chances die.

27. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

29. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

30. New England Patriots (3-11)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

32. New York Giants (2-12)

Top NBA Games

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Nuggets 130, Kings 129: The game was tightly contested, with the lead changing seven times in the final 75 seconds. Nikola Jokic recorded his 10th triple-double of the season, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Jamal Murray hit a game-winning 16-foot jumper with 8.6 seconds left. Murray scored 28 points, and Russell Westbrook contributed 18 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists.

Pistons 125, Heat 124: Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Pistons to a 125-124 overtime victory hitting three crucial 3-pointers in overtime, including one to put Detroit ahead with 19 seconds left. Cade Cunningham had a standout performance with 20 points, 18 assists, and 11 rebounds, marking his sixth triple-double of the season. Malik Beasley also contributed 28 points, making 7 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Bulls 122, Raptors 121: Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points to lead the Bulls to a 122-121 victory, securing their fourth win in the last six games. Coby White added 19 points, and seven Bulls players reached double figures. Despite a tough start, Lonzo Ball hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game. Josh Giddey, who contributed 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, was injured in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain and did not return.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Panthers 6, Oilers 5: Carter Verhaeghe scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period as the Panthers defeated the Oilers 6-5 in a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final. Despite missing star Aleksander Barkov due to illness, the Panthers received contributions from Niko Mikkola, Sam Reinhart, Jesper Boqvist, Matthew Tkachuk, and Gustav Forsling.

Stars 3, Capitals 1: Roope Hintz scored twice, and Jake Oettinger made 25 saves to lead Dallas Stars to a 3-1 victory. Hintz tied the game with a power-play goal in the second period and sealed the win with another goal in the third. Rookie defenseman Lian Bichsel also scored for Dallas. The Capitals' Ryan Strome had the only goal for Washington, which saw its franchise-record 10-game road win streak snapped.

Canucks 3, Avalanche 1: Kiefer Sherwood scored in each period completing the hat-trick for Vancouver. The big turning point was the short-handed breakaway goal in the second period which really solidified the lead. Thatcher Demko had 30 saves in the win.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 2022, Minnesota Vikings comeback down 33-0 down at halftime to beat Indianapolis Colts, 39-36 in overtime. The biggest comeback in NFL history.

Watch the highlights of the crazy comeback here.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Anthony Edwards leads the NBA in 3-point shots made this season, who is second?

D) Payton Pritchard - Pritchard has 101, 3-point field goals this season (second only to Anthony Edwards 108). Pretty impressive since Pritchard has come off the bench and has played 153 minutes less than Edwards.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

Good Morning, Blitzers!

Hope you had a great weekend! There’s a lot to cover today, so let’s dive right in!

WTF Stat: What an insane game, give us these two teams in the Super Bowl!

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🏈 Patrick Mahomes suffered an ankle injury during yesterday’s 21-7 win over the Browns. He was removed in the fourth quarter and did not return, with Carson Wentz taking over at quarterback. Mahomes limped off the field at the end of the game. He had been under heavy pressure, being hit multiple times and pressured 21 times in total.

🏈 Travis Hunter, a two-way star for the Colorado Buffaloes, won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the second player in Colorado history to claim the prestigious award. Hunter was a dynamic force on both offense and defense, with 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He helped lead Colorado to a 9-3 season after a 4-8 record in 2023, and was honored with multiple awards, including The Associated Press Player of the Year. Hunter finished with 552 first-place votes and 2,231 points, narrowly edging Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

⚾️ Couple weekend MLB moves:

The Yankees traded for closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, prospect Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations. Williams, a two-time All-Star known for his elite changeup, has a career 1.83 ERA over 97 relief appearances.

The Oakland Athletics have acquired left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs in a six-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Springs, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, joins the A's rotation after making seven starts in 2024, posting a 3.27 ERA. In exchange, the Rays receive left-hander Jacob Lopez, right-handers Joe Boyle and Jacob Watters, first baseman Will Simpson, and a Competitive Balance A round draft pick.

NFL Week 15

What You Missed

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→ Bills win potential Super bowl preview - The Bills vs. Lions game was the one everyone had circled this past weekend, and it did not disappoint. The Bills pulled out a 48-42 win in a game that saw 1,080 yards of offense - yes, you read that right. QB Jared Goff went 38/59, threw 494 yards, 5 TDs and 0 Interceptions and lost! A crazy game and one that lived up to the hype.

→ Commanders escape with a win against Saints - The Commanders took a 20-7 lead early in the 4th quarter, and this one looked over. Especially after this insane play. The Saints had 3rd string QB Spencer Rattler in, and had not been able to move the ball all day. But the Saints came battling back thanks to an unreal catch by Alvin Kamara on a trick-play and a great 2-minute drive scoring a touchdown. They had the chance to tie the game, but instead went for two (on a very similar looking play as the touchdown), and failed to convert:

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→ Ravens stomp Giants - Lamar Jackson went 21/25, 290 yards, and 5 TD passes in a 35-14 win against the Giants. They now turn their attention to upcoming games against the Steelers and Texans.

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→ Jonathan Taylor and Colts fumble away game against the Broncos - Just watch the highlight above… Would have put the Colts up 20-7 after a 42-yard TD run, instead Broncos ball. After that play not surprisingly everything went downhill for the Colts as they wound not scoring again and wound up losing 31-13. Maybe we should bring back the WR Larry Fitzgerald hand the ball to the ref celebration after scoring?

→ Buccaneers go to LA and dominate Chargers - This one was a bit of a shock. All season the Buccaneers have been hit-or-miss. They’ve beat the Lions and Eagles, but have lost to the Falcons twice. They had a four game losing streak and now are on a four game winning streak. This was a good barometer game as the Chargers physical, ground-and-pound style of football has really thrown off event he best teams this season. But the Buccaneers passed the test with flying colors, dominating the line of scrimmage and never letting the Chargers get comfortable in a 40-17 win.

What We Learned

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→ Jalen Hurts and the Eagles can still pass the ball - Lot of chatter after last weeks win about the relationship between Hurts and AJ Brown. Coming into the game the Eagles had the second fewest passing yards in the NFL (only the Patriots have had less) so the concerns were valid. Well, that changed pretty quickly as Hurts went 25/32 for 290 yards and 2 TDs, while Brown had 8 receptions, for 110 yards and a TD in their 27-13 win against the Steelers.

→ The Packers and NFC North are a lot better than the NFC West - It looked like the Seahawks were starting to figure things out, they had won 4-in a row (three against NFC West teams and one against the Jets). They hosted the 9-3 Packers on Sunday Night Football and we learned real quick that maybe the Seahawks aren’t that good. The Packers were up 20-3 in a blink of an eye and would go on to win 30-13. QB Geno Smith also left with a knee injury so a really tough night for the Seahawks.

→ Are the Cowboys…back? - Yeah they beat up on the Panthers in the 30-14 win. But they’ve won three of the last four, QB Cooper Rush has been surprisingly strong (10 TDs - 3 INTs this season), and their defense looked awfully good yesterday (4 forced turnovers, 6 sacks). They only have a 2.3% of making the playoffs… but you’re telling me there is a chance?

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→Will Levis may be done in Tennessee - The former 33rd overall pick threw 3 interceptions in the 37-27 loss to the Bengals, before being benched. The Bengals continue to be one of the most fun teams to watch as Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and DE/TE Sam Hubbard continued their offensive dominance and now move to 6-8 and have 5% chance of making the playoffs.

→ Cardinals run through the Patriots - In a must-win game for the Cardinals, they left no doubt. This one never felt close, as James Connor (16 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs) and TE Trey McBride (9 receptions, 87 yards) had their way with the Pats in a 30-17 win.

Standouts

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→ CB Derek Stingley Jr. - Stingley was matched up against WR Tyreek Hill most of the day and locked down one of the hardest people to cover in man. He had 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended and 2 tackles for loss in the Texans 20-12 win against the Dolphins. The interception above is one of the best plays you’ll ever see from a defensive back. Running stride-for-stride with the fastest player in the NFL and then making an unreal play on the ball. He is really special.

→ WR Davante Adams - In what turned out to be an awesome game against two of the worse teams in the NFL, Adams went off. 9 Receptions, 198 yards, 2 TDs in the 32-25 Jets win against the Jaguars. This is the type of production we were expecting from Adams and QB Aaron Rodgers when they got paired up again. Maybe next season they can be a bit more consistent?

🏈 Tonight

The Bears @ Vikings @ 8:00 EST on ABC and Falcons @ Raiders @ 8:30 EST on ESPN.

Top NBA Games

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Mavericks 143, Warriors 133: Luka Dončić led the Mavericks to a 143-133 victory over the Warriors with a season-high 45 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, recording his 80th career triple-double. He shot 16-for-23, including 4 three-pointers, with 28 points by halftime.

Knicks 100, Magic 91: Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 22 points and 22 rebounds. The Magic struggled with 3-point shooting, making just 9 of 30 attempts.

Lakers 116, Grizzlies 110: Anthony Davis lead the way with 40 points and 16 rebounds. LeBron James, in his return after missing two games due to a left foot injury and personal reasons, contributed 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Austin Reaves added 19 points. The Lakers controlled the game throughout, leading by as much as 23 points in the second half and never trailing.

Full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

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Maple Leafs 5, Sabres 3: John Tavares recorded his 14th career hat trick, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tavares scored twice in the second period and added an empty-net goal. Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson each had a goal and an assist. Dennis Hildeby made 24 saves in his third NHL start, helping Toronto improve to 19-10-2.

Golden Knights 3, Wild 2: Victor Olofsson scored twice to lead Vegas to a 3-2 victory. Shea Theodore also scored, and Jack Eichel contributed two assists, extending his team-leading total to 33 assists. Ilya Samsonov made 20 saves in the win.

Blues 3, Rangers 2: Joel Hofer made 26 saves securing his fourth consecutive win. Robert Thomas contributed a goal and an assist, extending his points streak to seven games. Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou also scored for the Blues, who built a 3-0 lead by the second period.

Full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1983, the New York Yankees named Yogi Berra as their manager for the second time. He initially managed the 1964 season going 99-63 and leading the Yankees to the World Series (they lost in game 7). He was fired after that, many believed because of the Harmonica Incident. George Steinbrenner re-hired him for the 1984 season where he went 87-75, and then was fired after going 6-10 to start the 1985 season.

Friday’s Trivia Time Answer

Bill Belichick had 302 wins in the NFL, which coach had the second most NFL wins when they took over a college job?

B) Lou Saban - Lou Saban had won 95 NFL games before going to the college ranks. See full list here:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/12/11/college-coaches-most-nfl-wins-bill-belichick-list/76923337007/

Check back on Tuesday for today’s trivia answer and more info!

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

I’m going to let you in on a little pro tip. When Thursday night rolls around, I usually start craving a dessert. It’s been a long week, so why not treat myself, right? What I do is go out and grab a box of donuts (I usually get a dozen; it’s cheaper that way—economy of scale and all.) I get to get a nice little sugar spike while writing the Blitz (any spelling/grammatical errors are due to my glazed-over fingers and nothing else). Then when Friday morning rolls around, look who has 3.5-6 donuts left over as a nice little Friday morning pick me up. Goes perfect with that morning coffee. Just like the Morning Blitz, so let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: The fact that DT Aaron Donald (the king of double/triple teams) and Kobie Turner played together on the same team is crazy:

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🏈  Do you like field goals, and a rainy football game with not much offense? Those are weird things to like, but last night was for you. The Rams beat the 49ers 12-6 in a rain-soaked game, with Joshua Karty kicking four field goals to secure the win. The Rams (8-6) moved within a half-game of the NFC West-leading Seahawks, while the 49ers (6-8) saw their playoff hopes take a hit. QB Matthew Stafford guided a clock-killing drive, culminating in Karty's final field goal. The game marked the Rams' first series sweep of the 49ers since 2018.

🏈 Travis Hunter, a standout two-way player for the Colorado Buffaloes, had a remarkable night at the college football awards ceremony, winning multiple honors. He was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, and also claimed the Walter Camp Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Biletnikoff Award. Hunter, known for his versatility, played both receiver and cornerback, finishing the season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also recording four interceptions and 11 pass breakups on defense.

NFL Week 14 Preview

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Kansas City (12-1) at Cleveland (3-10) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: The Chiefs escaped near defeat again last week, doinking a last-second field goal in to beat the Chargers. This team, man. It is wild the amount of breaks the Chiefs have gotten this year, but they still remain 12-1 and at the top of the AFC. Enter the Jameis led Browns. These guys have nothing to play for, nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous. As long as Winston can avoid any late game pick-6s (a tall ask, I realize), the Browns can keep this game close and maybe even steal one from KC at home.

The Pick: Browns +4

Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: The Dolphins are creeping and crawling their way back into Wild Card contention sitting at 6-7. The Texans are a win and a Colts loss away from clinching the AFC South for the second year in a row. Miami has a big-game problem. So far this season, they only have one win against a team with a winning record (the Rams). Houston loves to play down to its opponents. What breaks first? This is a huge game for the Texans, simply because their next two opponents are away at the Chiefs and home against Baltimore. I think they rise to the occasion.

The Pick: Texans -3

Buffalo (10-3) at Detroit (12-1) - 4:25 PM (CBS)

The View: Buffalo was rolling…until they let Matthew Stafford and the Rams have a renaissance game. A stinging loss to a team they should have beat and now they have to go into the Lion’s den to face the best team in the NFL (said it, meant it). To make matters worse, Buffalo’s run defense has been suspect this year. Detroit is not the team you want to let run all over you with Sonic (Jamyr Gibbs) and Knuckles (David Montgomery). Dan Campbell will pound the rock down Buffalo’s throat until they choke. Josh Allen is doing amazing things this season and Detroit can be beat through the air…I just don’t see anyone going into Motown and winning right now.

The Pick: Lions -2.5

Tampa Bay (7-6) at LA Chargers (8-5) - Sunday 4:25 PM (FOX)

The View: The Chargers turn around this season is pretty remarkable. Leaning on Justin Herbert to be a game manager, not a hero, and playing solid defense. Who knew that could work? However, relying on JK Dobbins/Gus Edwards to be healthy all year as your lead backs…yeah that’s tough. Herbert will need to pass against a porous Tampa Bay secondary, the problem is that his top receiver and his top tight end are both banged up. Defense will keep them in the game, but Baker magic will reign supreme in LA.

The Pick: Bucs +3

Pittsburgh (10-3) at Philadelphia (11-2) - Sunday 8:20 PM (NBC)

The View: Vibes are again growing sour in the City of Brotherly love. Reports of AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts not being buddies anymore is not going to be great for morale, especially after last season’s crumbling down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Steelers have won seven of eight and are really efficient on both sides of the ball. If Pittsburgh can slow down Saquon and put the Eagles in passing situations, I think Philly will be exposed…again. Plus, for an in-state rivalry between two good teams…5.5 is just too much of a spread.

The Pick: Steelers +5.5

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 8-8

Jean Machine: 42-22

Full NFL Schedule click here

NBA Top Games

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Celtics 123, Pistons 99: Payton Pritchard scored 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 123-99 victory, securing their 20th win of the season. Pritchard, a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, was joined by Derrick White, who added 23 points and also hit seven 3-pointers. Boston made 20 3-pointers in total and led by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter.

Heat 114, Raptors 104: Bam Adebayo posted a double-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 114-104 victory. Tyler Herro contributed 23 points, while Nikola Jovic added 14. The Heat overcame a 16-point deficit early in the second quarter, outscoring Toronto 33-10 to end the first half.

Kings 111, Pelicans 109: Domantas Sabonis had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 32 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. De'Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray each added 18 points, and DeMar DeRozan contributed 29 points.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

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Golden Knights 3, Jets 2: Big matchup against the top teams in the Central and Pacific divisions did not disappoint. Ivan Barbashev scored at 3:47 of overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 win. Barbashev capitalized on a Winnipeg turnover, beating Connor Hellebuyck on the blocker side for his 14th goal of the season. The Jets have now gone 0-6-2 in their last eight regular-season games against Vegas.

Devils 3, Kings 1: Jack Hughes scored the go-ahead goal and added two assists to lead the Devils to a 3-1 win, ending the Kings’ six-game winning streak. Hughes' 12th goal of the season came with 7:02 left in the third period, giving the Devils their first lead.

Capitals 2, Blue Jackets 1: Aliaksei Protas scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Protas tied the game 31 seconds into the third period and then netted the OT winner 2:23 into the extra period, bringing his season total to 11 goals. Charlie Lindgren made 32 saves, including crucial stops early in overtime.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1956, the Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield & $35,000. The trade, however, was never completed; unbeknownst to the Dodgers, Robinson had already agreed with the president of Chock full o'Nuts (a coffee company) to quit baseball and become an executive with the company. Robinson retired from baseball at age 37.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which player has the most blocked shots in NBA history?

D) Hakeem Olajuwon - With 3,830 blocked shots, Dikembe Mutombo second with 3,289). Olajuwon averaged 3.1 blocks per game in his 18 year career. In the 1989-1990 season he averaged 4.6 blocks per game along with 24.3 PPG and 14 rebounds per game.

Check back on Monday for today’s trivia answer and more info!

Morning Blitzers,

Six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick will be coaching college football next season. I’m stunned. NFL history is very important to him, and he’s only 26 wins away from Don Shula’s regular season all-time wins record. I thought he might retire, but not coach outside of the NFL.

The biggest obvious reason why it doesn’t make a lot of sense is that college football is so different from a recruiting/alumni/politicking standpoint. Things I can’t imagine Belichick, at 72, would want to spend his time on. Plus, college football programs take time to develop. Going to UNC isn’t exactly plug-and-play. They finished 6-6 overall and 13th in a pretty weak ACC. Even his former players didn’t think it was going to happen:

With that being said, Belichick has always marched to his own drum. He’s made a living off doing the opposite of what everyone thought he should do, and it’s paid off tremendously for him. I already think he’s the greatest coach to ever live, but now he’s off to prove that at the college level. I wish him luck (just don’t beat up on my Clemson Tigers please!)

WTF Stat: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs, were the biggest running backs in free agency in the offseason but were not considered a priority by their former teams (or much of the NFL). Their new teams are 28-11 combined, while their old teams are 7-32. Is running back value going to go back up?

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🏈 Bill Belichick, the legendary NFL coach with six Super Bowl titles, has been named the new head coach of the University of North Carolina football team, marking his first college coaching job. It’s a five-year deal pending board approval. Belichick, 72, brings unprecedented star power to the Tar Heels, who have struggled in recent years. His father, Steve, was an assistant coach at UNC in the 1950s.

⚾️ The Red Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects: catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez. Crochet, 25, had a standout season in 2024, transitioning from relief to a starting role, where he posted a 35.1% strikeout rate and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings. With a fastball averaging 97 mph and a strong slider, Crochet is expected to bolster the Red Sox's rotation, which struggled in 2024.

Thursday Night Football Preview

Game: Rams (7-6) @ 49ers (6-7) at 8:15 EST

Why we’re watching: The NFC West is as tight as it can be right now, so every matchup is like a playoff game. These are two really talented teams*… When healthy and when the 49ers are at home (+47 point differential when they’re at home, -47 when they’re away). Well, the Rams are looking healthy and the 49ers are at home so something’s got to give, should be a great matchup.

Key Matchup: WR Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp vs. 49ers secondary. I think Nacua and Kupp make up the NFLs best WR duo. But they’ll be going up against a secondary that has let up the second fewest passing yards in the NFL. What makes the 49ers so good is they don’t give up a ton of big passing plays (fewest 20+ yard passing plays in the NFL), but the Nacua and Kupp aren’t really boom-or-bust type guys, they’re high volume catchers. So it’ll be interesting to see if the 49ers can lock them down or will they experience death by 1,000 receptions.

TNF Prop Bets: Jean (6-6) - Rams ML (+124) — Keith (7-5) - Deebo Samuel 68.5+ Rushing + Receiving yards

D-Man’s Pick (8-5 TNF): I don’t really trust either of these teams, so I’ll take the points Rams +3

Top NBA Scores

• Hawks 108, Knicks 100: The Hawks secured a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. Trae Young had 22 points and 11 assists, while De'Andre Hunter scored 24 points and Jalen Johnson contributed 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. Despite a strong first half from the Knicks, including 21 points from Josh Hart and a 19-point, 19-rebound performance from Karl-Anthony Towns, the Hawks surged in the second half, outscoring the Knicks 61-46.

• Rockets 91, Warriors 90: The Rockets also secured a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, after snapping a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors. Jalen Green made two crucial free throws with 3.5 seconds left to give the Rockets the win (after a questionable loose ball foul call). The Warriors had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Jabari Smith Jr. blocked Brandin Podziemski’s 3-point attempt.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Scores

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• Rangers 3, Sabres 2: Adam Fox had a goal and two assists to lead the Rangers to a 3-2 victory. Mika Zibanejad scored his 300th career goal, and Reilly Smith also found the net for the Rangers, who ended a two-game losing streak. Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves in the win.

• Senators 5, Ducks 1: Drake Batherson had a dominant performance, recording a hat trick and an assist. Brady Tkachuk added a goal and an assist, while Noah Gregor also scored. Linus Ullmark made 31 saves in goal for Ottawa.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here. Only two games last night.

On this day in 1973, San Diego files anti-trust against the Padres to stop them from selling and moving to Washington DC. The Padres were on the verge of being sold to Joseph Danzansky, who was planning to move the franchise to Washington, D.C., in time for the upcoming season. New uniforms were designed for the team, which was planning to be renamed to either the Washington Stars or the Washington Nationals. The lawsuits prevented the sale from going through, instead the team sold to McDonald's co-founder Ray Kroc for $12 million. Kroc was well-financed and firmly committed to keeping the Padres in San Diego.

Can read more about it here:

Padres nearly became the Washington Stars

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com/news/featured/padres-nearly-became-the-washington-stars

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which left-handed pitcher had the biggest deal before Max Fried's signing?

B) David Price - The Red Sox signed price to a 7-yearm $217-million contract in 2015. Surpassed now by Fried’s $218 million dollar deal (although Fried’s is for 8-years).

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!