With Donald Trump calling the presidential election rigged, rest assured that all games in the sports world this week were settled fair and square on the field…we think. Toronto Blue Jays star Jose Bautista might disagree.
After being at it for a grueling eight months, baseball is closing in on the World Series, while college and professional football action is heating up. Also, the long hockey season began with a bang this past week.
National Football League (NFL)
Week 6 concluded Monday with both surprise and panic in several NFL cities.
What have you done for me lately? Last year’s super Bowl squads, the Denver Broncos and Carolina panthers, both lost last week and their fans are breathing heavily. The Broncos dropped their second in a row Thursday and are now struggling to win with their two rookie quarterbacks. After losing to the New Orleans Saints Sunday, the Panthers fell to 1-5 and their playoff hopes are fading fast.
All eyes were on Colin Kaepernick in Buffalo, and not just because he came to work with a Muhammad Ali t-shirt and a full-on afro. Kaep has been kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice, and in his first start for the San Francisco 49ers this season he was greeted with ‘USA’ chants, boos and vulgarity. On the field, Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy (140 yards and three TDs) exacted some revenge against current 49ers head coach Chip Kelly who traded him when they were both with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bills won big, 45-16.
Top that. In an outstanding matchup of marquee defense versus stellar offense, the Seattle Seahawks did just enough to slow the high-powered, top-ranked Atlanta Falcons offense, and came back to win 26-24.
Youth is served…The Dallas Cowboys beat the Green Bay Packers 30-16 behind two record-setting rookies. RB Ezekiel Elliot and QB Dak Prescott each set rookie records during the games. Frustrated Packers fans don’t have time to sulk as they face the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
Having fun at work? After being frustrated for several weeks, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed his on-the-job excitement Sunday with an elaborate touchdown celebration as part of a huge 222-yard and two touchdown performance in a Giants win.
College Football
After a feverishly competitive first several weeks, this past weekend in college football had only a handful of top matchups.
Roll Tide…#1 Alabama continued to flex its muscle crushing #9 Tennessee 49-10 in Knoxville led by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts with three rushing touchdowns.
The game of the week took place in Madison when #8 Wisconsin hosted #2 Ohio State. After being outplayed in the first half, Ohio State came back to win in overtime 30-23.
Tired of ramen noodles? So is Wisconsin basketball star Nigel Hayes who took advantage of the national spotlight brought by the football game to plead for more pizza money for college athletes.
A little luck never hurt. Playing in front of a fiery home crowd in Death Valley, #3 Clemson remained undefeated as they squeaked by North Carolina State 24-17. NC State missed a makeable 33-yard field goal at the end of regulation and Clemson capitalized, winning the game in overtime.
A long time in the making…#12 Ole Miss and #22 Arkansas met as top-25-ranked teams for the first time since 1970. Arkansas came away happy, winning 34-30.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Baseball is down to its final four with the Division Series winners advancing to the World Series.
American League Division Series
The Cleveland Indians are hoping to ride the wave started by the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers who delivered the city’s first professional title since 1960 in June. The Indians lead the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 in their best-of-seven series after winning 4-2 on Monday. Look away now…The win was even more impressive considering the Indians lost starting pitcher Trevor Bauer in the 1st inning when he reinjured the finger he originally hurt in a drone accident. The Indians can close out the series Tuesday in Toronto.
National League Division Series
As Rob Base declared in the 80s, “It takes two to make a thing go right.” The Los Angeles Dodgers took note and unleashed their two best pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, Sunday to get back into their series with the Chicago Cubs. The dynamic duo shut down the Cubs allowing just two hits. The series is now tied 1-1 and continues in LA Tuesday night.
National Hockey League (NHL)
The six-month, 82-game NHL regular season began last week. The favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup as hockey’s champion are the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightening, Washington Capitals and defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pretty sure your first day of work wasn’t this good…Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews, the first pick in the NHL Draft, took the league by storm scoring a record four goals in his debut. In a sport dominated by Canadians, the 19-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona is bringing smiles to US hockey fans.
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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