Fall is officially in the air and Saturday Night Live kicked off its 42nd season with some political humor and entertainment thanks to Margot Robbie, Alec Baldwin and The Weeknd.
In the sports world, October ushered in exciting football games as well as clarity for the upcoming baseball playoffs. Give a hug to your European friends as a couple of the continent’s teams fell in international hockey and golf competitions.
National Football League (NFL)
NFL Week 4 brought some color, as well as surprises and disappointment.
Pink Panthers…Throughout October, NFL players, coaches, and referees will wear pink gear to increase breast cancer awareness. #EndCancer
Teamwork in action…The Buffalo Bills handed the New England Patriots, still playing without suspended QB Tom Brady, their first loss of the season Sunday, 16-0. Bills head coach Rex Ryan showed similar team spirit to what he displayed when he got his lap band removed in solidarity with his brother (who is also the Bills defensive coordinator). Pats fans need not be worried as the Golden Boy returns this week.
The Atlanta Falcons (3-1) continue to surprise with a jet-fueled offense. Their latest victim was the disappointing Carolina Panthers (1-3), last year’s Super Bowl runner-up. The Falcons were led by QB Matt Ryan who threw for an impressive 503 yards and WR Julio Jones, who tallied 300 receiving yards, 6th most in NFL history.
We missed you…Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell rejoined the team after a three-game suspension for a missed drug test (think too much weed). Bell led his squad to a 43-14 blowout of the Kansas City Chiefs, helping put the 34-3 Week 3 loss behind them.
The Minnesota Vikings dominated the New York Giants 24-10 on Monday night and are shocking fans as one of only three undefeated teams. Impressive considering the Vikings lost their starting QB and their best player, running back Adrian Peterson, to injury.
College Football
With three Top-10 matchups, college football was in the spotlight again over the weekend.
Each year the Heisman Trophy, a 25-pound bronze statue, is given to the nation’s best college football player. Two of the top candidates squared off in the marquee matchup of the year thus far.
- #3 Louisville, led by super sophomore QB Lamar Jackson, gave #5 Clemson and junior QB Deshaun Watson a run for their money, but fell short 42-36. Both QBs played great (457 total yards and three TDs for Jackson, and 397 total yards with five TDs for Watson) and are safe bets to be Heisman finalists.
- #10 Washington routed #7 Stanford 44-6 Friday putting a huge dent in last year’s Heisman runner-up Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey’s candidacy.
Think Big…Big Ten rivals battled in the Big House as #4 Michigan escaped #8 Wisconsin 14-7. Celebrating a 5-0 start, beer was flowing at Rick’s in Ann Arbor Saturday night.
A fantastic finish in Athens Saturday as #25 Georgia took the lead over #11 Tennessee with just 10 seconds remaining thanks to a 47-yard touchdown. Bulldogs fans were ready to celebrate but Tennessee ruined the party with a 43-yard Hail Mary of their own as time expired, winning 34-31.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
The MLB playoffs have fallen into place, finally, after 162 games over six grueling months.
No rest for the weary…Even though they technically made the post-season, Wild Card teams still have to win their play-in game to advance to the Division series. Here is this week’s schedule:
Wild Card games
- American League – Baltimore Orioles @ Toronto Blue Jays (Tuesday)
- National League – San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets (Wednesday)
American League Division Series
- Baltimore / Toronto winner @ Texas Rangers
- Boston Red Sox @ Cleveland Indians
National League Division Series
- Giants / Mets Winner @ Chicago Cubs
- Los Angeles Dodgers @ Washington Nationals
Hockey
What country produces the world’s best hockey players? Think poutine and beer. Canada strengthened its position as the top hockey nation winning the World Cup over Team Europe, led by tournament MVP Sidney Crosby.
Golf
Long distance rivalry…Every two years top golfers from the US and Europe square off in the Ryder Cup. The US squad took advantage of home cooking at Hazeltine National outside Minneapolis to win back the Cup. Golf spectators are usually quiet as a mouse, but the Ryder Cup provides an opportunity to let it all out. American fans and players alike were letting loose and doing a lot of celebrating. The European squad will have to wait until 2018 in Paris to get revenge.
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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