While Jumanji kept its top spot at the box office, The Post, The Commuter and The Greatest Showman round out the weekend’s top four films.
The sports world had plenty of drama this week but the focus is on the road to the Super Bowl, and the NFL is down to its final quartet of teams.
TINK Sports Big-3
Here are three things you need to know:
1) There are four NFL teams still alive, and the Super Bowl matchup will be set after Sunday’s games
2) The NBA had its MLK day games Monday and the Golden State Warriors look as strong as ever seeking a third NBA title in four years
3) Manchester City, despite losing its first league game, is running away from the pack in the English Premier League
National Football League (NFL)
The NFL had a weekend full of surprises and crazy endings.
The Jacksonville Jaguars shocked the football world going into the Steel City and beating the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42.
Most expected the Steelers to cruise into an AFC championship matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The Pats did their part easily, defeating the Tennessee Titans 35-14 to reach their seventh straight AFC title game.
In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles, despite playing without injured QB Carson Wentz, squeaked by the Atlanta Falcons 15-10 Saturday to punch their ticket to the NFC Championship.
Source: Irish Times
Saving the best for last…In the one of the craziest endings of all time, the Minnesota Vikings’ prayers were answered when receiver Stefon Diggs caught a miraculous 61-yard touchdown pass as time expired. The New Orleans Saints and Hall-of-Fame bound QB Drew Brees had just scored moments earlier and were booking their tickets to Philadelphia.=
With a Super Bowl berth at stake, don’t expect football fans to move far from the TV Sunday. Here is the schedule:
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots – Sunday, Jan 21 @ 3:10pm
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, Jan 21 @ 6:45pm
Some interesting facts about the teams and their Super Bowl pursuit:
- Minnesota Vikings: The Super Bowl will be held in Minneapolis. Wait, isn’t that where the Viking play? Indeed. The Vikings are attempting to become the first team in Super Bowl history – that’s 52 years – to play in their home stadium
- Philadelphia Eagles – Have never won a Super Bowl. They have been to the Big Game twice losing both times
- New England Patriots – Are in pursuit of their sixth Super Bowl title, which would tie them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most all time
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Have never been to a Super Bowl since joining the league in 1995
On the rebound…NASCAR driver Danica Patrick confirmed Monday that she and Green Bay Packers star QB Aaron Rodgers are an item. Rodgers broke it off with actress Olivia Munn last year while Patrick recently ended her five-year stint with fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The NBA had a full slate of Martin Luther King Day games highlighted by the Golden State Warriors visiting the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors’ Kevin Durant and Cavs’ LeBron James each scored 32, and the Warriors won 118-108.
Source: ESPN
See you again in June’s NBA Finals, for the fourth straight year (most likely).
College Basketball
Coeds are back from winter break and focused on academics…and college basketball. There was some shakeup at the top of the rankings, and here is the new AP top-5:
1) Villanova
2) Virginia
3) Purdue
4) Oklahoma
5) Duke
Source: Bleacher Report
A star is born. Call up Simon Cowell, Blake Shelton and Fergie because Oklahoma freshman Trae Young is taking the country by storm. The 19-year-old from Norman, OK is leading the country in points (30.1) AND assists (9.9), something you never see. Enjoy Mr. Young now because he won’t be in college long. #NBACalling
Soccer
On the other side of the pond, where President Trump is not welcome, four heavyweights are slugging it out atop the Premier League standings.
Source: New York Times
Sunday, Liverpool gave Manchester City its first league defeat, 4-3. Don’t shed a tear for Man City, though, as they are running away from the pack with 62 points. Liverpool’s victory puts them into a three-way tie for second place with Manchester United and Chelsea (at 47 points).
Tennis
While the US is freezing, Australian Open tennis is warming up fans Down Under. Aussie hospitality has not been very good to US women, however, as #5 Venus Williams, #10 Coco Vandeweghe and #13 Sloane Stephens all suffered first round losses.
The Women’s #1 seed is Romanian Simona Halep, and the Men’s top seed is Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
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