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Archives for October 2024

The Revenge of Mookie Betts

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NEW YORK – Was it the revenge of Mookie Betts, the Curse of the Betts-bino, or is it a deeper, darker Curse of the Morons? That’ll be the question the New York Yankees and their ill-fated fans will have to answer after the Los Angeles Dodgers performed the unthinkable and defeated the Yankees in a comeback for the ages, a day after a fan attempted to grab a baseball right out of Betts’ glove. The fan was ejected and banned from baseball but, the Curse might remain.

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Betts, LA’s right fielder, lifted a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a five-run deficit and clinched their eighth World Series title with a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in Game 5 in the Bronx.

Six outs away from being forced back to Los Angeles for a sixth game on Friday, the Dodgers won their second title in five seasons and first in a full season since Kirk Gibson and the 1988 team stunned the Oakland Athletics.

Los Angeles also avoided becoming the first team to win the first three games of a best-of-seven Fall Classic and get taken to a sixth game.

The Dodgers trailed 6-5 entering the eighth before Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (1-1) allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Gavin Lux cracked a tying sacrifice fly to center field off Luke Weaver.

Shohei Ohtani then reached base on catcher’s interference when his bat grazed Austin Wells’ glove. Following a brief review, the call was confirmed.

On the next pitch, Betts lifted a fly ball to center fielder Aaron Judge, and utility man Tommy Edman trotted home for a 7-6 lead.

It was the largest comeback ever in a World Series clincher, surpassing the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates overcoming a four-run deficit in Game 7 against the Washington Senators.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead after Los Angeles erased its 5-0 deficit by sending 10 to the plate in fifth. The Dodgers capitalized on physical errors by Judge and Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe along with a mental error by Gerrit Cole, New York’s starting pitcher.

New York held a 5-0 lead and Cole had yet to allow a hit before Enrique Hernandez singled to open the fifth inning.

Edman reached when his fly ball caromed off Judge’s glove, putting runners at first and second. Will Smith followed by hitting a grounder to Volpe, whose throw bounced in front of third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., loading the bases with no outs.

After Cole struck out Lux and Ohtani, Betts hit a soft grounder to first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Cole went about halfway off the mound before stopping, and Betts beat Rizzo to the bag allowing the Dodgers’ first run to score.

Cole was one strike away from ending the inning with a 5-1 lead but allowed a two-run single to Freddie Freeman. Teoscar Hernandez also was one strike away from making the final out before lining a two-run double over Judge’s head, tying the game 5-5.

Los Angeles rallied after getting a short start from Jack Flaherty, who was tagged for four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Blake Treinen (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out Anthony Rizzo with two on in the eighth.

Two days after winning Game 3, Walker Buehler pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first major league save, regular season or postseason.

Judge hit a two-run homer in the first and Chisholm followed with a solo shot. Alex Verdugo added an RBI single to chase Flaherty in the second, and Stanton homered in the third off Ryan Brasier.

Cole allowed five unearned runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.

–Field Level Media

Shanahan, Holmgren Ready for Canton

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CANTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Super Bowl-winning head coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan and George Seifert are among the nine semifinalists from the coach category nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Only one from the group can be named a finalist to be considered by the full Hall of Fame Selection Committee for possible election in 2025.

The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee narrowed a list of 14 candidates to these semifinalists: Bill Arnsparger, Coughlin, Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Shanahan and Clark Shaughnessy. All but Arnsparger, Knox and Seifert reached the semifinalist stage in 2023.

The same committee is scheduled for a virtual meeting on Nov. 19 to nominate one finalist to be considered for enshrinement.

Earlier this week, the Hall of Fame semifinalists from the contributor category, from which one finalist will be up for consideration with the next Hall of Fame class, were released: K.S. “Bud” Adams, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Art Rooney Jr., Seymour Siwoff of the Elias Sports Bureau, Doug Williams and John Wooten.

A grand total of 20 finalists are presented for debate at the selection committee’s annual meeting in advance of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, including 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor. Between four and eight new members will be selected, according to the Hall of Fame’s selection process bylaws.

–Field Level Media

Flyers Blank Bruins, 2-0

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Samuel Ersson made 23 saves en route to his first shutout of the season as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Boston Bruins 2-0 on Tuesday. Tyson Foerster netted the game-winning goal in the second period, and Joel Farabee added a last-minute empty-netter.

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The Flyers have won two of their last three games since a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Emil Andrae had the primary assist on Foerster’s game-opening goal. It was the 22-year-old Swedish defenseman’s first career point in his sixth NHL game, his second contest this season.

Joonas Korpisalo made 17 saves for the Bruins, who have won just one of their past four (0-3-1). That span includes a pair of shutout losses.

Prior to Tuesday, the Bruins had earned at least a point in 20 consecutive home games vs. the Flyers since March 17, 2012.

The Bruins had a 24-19 shot advantage but finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Just three of their shots came in the third period.

Foerster broke the scoreless deadlock 5:32 into the second. Andrae slipped a pass from the half-wall through traffic and right to Foerster between the circles, where a straight-on wrist shot beat Korpisalo.

The Bruins had a prime scoring opportunity before the game was six minutes old but were unable to convert on 1:37 of five-on-three time.

On the other end, Korpisalo made a big save on Garnet Hathaway, who shot off a two-on-one break with Scott Laughton out of the penalty box.

One of Ersson’s best saves of the opening period came with 5:21 left when a crisp passing sequence resulted in Elias Lindholm getting a point-blank chance at the left post.

Ersson did not see a shot on goal on either of Boston’s last two power plays, including attempts in both the second and third frames.

The opening minutes of the third saw 19-year-old Flyers star Matvei Michkov attempt a lacrosse-style goal, only to be thwarted by Korpisalo, while Ersson pounced on a loose puck that Brad Marchand threw on from behind the goal line during a short-handed sequence.

–Field Level Media

 

Series Goes to Game 5

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole spent Tuesday afternoon preparing for a game they weren’t certain would happen. A few hours later, Anthony Volpe ensured the World Series would continue with Game 5 on Wednesday, when Flaherty pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cole starts for the New York Yankees.

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The Dodgers held a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series entering play on Tuesday, but New York cruised to an 11-4 victory in Game 4, sparked by Volpe’s third-inning grand slam.

Another Yankees win on Wednesday would create some history. Of the 24 previous teams that fell behind 3-0 in the World Series, 21 were swept in four games and the other three were eliminated in Game 5.

If New York can extend the series again, Game 6 would be played Friday in Los Angeles.

The Yankees hit .186 in the first three games and scored a total of seven runs. The Dodgers then grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Wednesday before Volpe sparked a comeback.

“They’re just like, ‘Let’s go get it,’” New York manager Aaron Boone said of his players. “Again, these guys love playing with each other, and you kind of got that sense before the game. And obviously as the game unfolded, it kind of got better and better tonight.

“It’s one game. We wanted to get it to tomorrow, and we’ve done that. Excited for the opportunity tomorrow.”

The Yankees are now hitting .206 in the series after posting their highest-scoring World Series game since a 12-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1978 Fall Classic.

Besides Volpe, Austin Wells and Gleyber Torres homered for New York. Aaron Judge hit an RBI single and walked, and every New York player except Anthony Rizzo reached base at least once.

“We’re just going to play our game,” Volpe said. “We feel like if we do that and we play the way we know we’re capable of playing, they can — they’re obviously a good team, and they can do what they do and whatever they want to do. We just have so much confidence in us that we play … that way, we feel like we’ll win.”

The Dodgers had few highlights other than Freddie Freeman setting a pair of major league records by homering in his sixth straight World Series game and becoming the first player to homer in the opening four games of a Fall Classic. Los Angeles mustered just six hits and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

“We’re up 3-1 right now,” Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts said. “We feel pretty good about it, but you know that they’re going to fight. It doesn’t matter what the score is and it doesn’t matter when it is; they’re going to fight. So, I mean, no lead is safe until you win the fourth game.”

Flaherty (1-2, 6.10 ERA in the postseason) allowed eight runs in three innings during Game 5 of the NLCS against the New York Mets on Oct. 18, but he opened the World Series by allowing two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Flaherty departed his first World Series start due to hamstring tightness he felt on the pitch before allowing a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton on his final delivery, but he said he feels fine now.

“It’s caused a little extra work that I normally wouldn’t have to do, but I’m feeling good today, felt good yesterday during my bullpen (session),” Flaherty said before Game 4. “At this point, it’s not anything I’m worried about.”

Cole (1-0, 2.82) will make his fourth career World Series start and first in an elimination game. Cole is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in World Series starts, and he took a no-decision in Game 1 when he allowed one run on four hits in six innings while throwing 88 pitches.

Cole was not a consideration to start Game 4 on three days of rest because his season began with a 2 1/2-month absence caused by an elbow injury.

“I feel now like I’m in good shape,” he said. “I have a reserve while I’m pitching. So if I need to dip into the tank, I can go get it, and then I can go get it again. It’s not like a one-time thing.

“And then familiarity both with myself and my delivery, how I’m moving, how well I’m concentrating the ball in the areas of the strike zone that I want to get. I’m … missing east and west very rarely anymore. Things are more defined.”

–Field Level Media

Bullpen Opener for World Series?

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With a commanding lead in the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to rookie right-hander Ben Casparius to open Game 4 on the road against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Holding a 3-0 advantage in the series, the Dodgers are in position to pull off the sweep for their first title since 2020, and their first championship after a full 162-game season since 1988.

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Casparius, 25, has just three games of regular-season experience. They all came after Aug. 31 when he went 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 8 1/3 total innings. After he was given a spot on the postseason roster, he has made three appearances in the playoffs, going 1-0 without allowing a run in 4 1/3 innings.

Tuesday’s game will be the Dodgers’ fourth bullpen game of the postseason, going 2-1 in those contests. They entered the playoffs with just three healthy starters: Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler.

The Dodgers’ most recent bullpen came in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against New York Mets when they earned a 10-5 victory to clinch a spot in the World Series. Casparius went 1 1/3 scoreless innings in that game while earning the win.

Right-hander Ryan Brasier started two bullpen games in the playoffs for Los Angeles, while right-hander Michael Kopech started the other.

–Field Level Media

Bruins, Marchand Face Philly

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Bruins captain Brad Marchand has the monkey off his back.

Marchand scored his first goal of the season on Saturday — an overtime game-winner to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs — and the Bruins will try to ride that momentum into Tuesday’s homestand finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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“It’s one game. It’s not going to completely turn things around,” Marchand said. “But … it’s a great way to start building our foundation of understanding the way that we need to play to have success. It’s something to build on, but again, it’s one game.”

Marchand’s goal lifted Boston out of a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Following the game, coach Jim Montgomery was quick to recognize the lift that his team’s bench got when Marchand was the player to win it.

“You could tell how happy the bench was when he scored that goal,” Montgomery said. “He’s our leader, he’s someone that embodies what it is to be a Bruin — the right way.”

Marchand and David Pastrnak each registered a goal and an assist while Justin Brazeau and Mark Kastelic also scored for Boston in the 4-3 win. Montgomery saw better overall effort from his group, including better puck management and fewer odd-man rushes.

Boston held its opponent to three power plays for only the second time this season, though it has still been short-handed more times than any other team (43).

From Montgomery’s eyes, there was improvement in that area, and he wants to see more in another area as well.

“Our puck pressure last game was the best it’s been, but it’s still not where it needs to be,” Montgomery said. “I would not come close to describing our team as relentless and that’s where we want to get. … Someone’s got to be pressuring the puck.”

The Flyers arrive in Boston at 2-6-1, looking to climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar.

A winning streak has eluded Philadelphia as it was unable to follow up a 7-5 Saturday win over the Minnesota Wild — which broke a six-game losing skid — with another victory, falling 4-3 to the Montreal Canadiens in the second half of a back-to-back.

“We’re just not working as a group,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “Last year, the reason we were so successful was it was five-man units, one after another, every line. We had an identity, we were working hard.”

Some of that togetherness appeared on Saturday in the Flyers’ first regulation win of the season, but it did not last into Sunday. Sanheim did score twice against Montreal, but Aleksei Kolosov (20 saves) could not manage a win in his NHL debut.

Marginal improvement aside, the Flyers have not hit the 30-shot mark in their last six games. With leading scorer Travis Konecny and much of the team’s core returning from a season ago, that result has been a bit of a surprise to coach John Tortorella.

“Some guys, I’m sure, a little frustrated and are gripping their sticks tight,” Tortorella said. “But, it does, it looks disjointed. … We’ve just got to get a little bit of, what’s the word I’m looking for? Just some smoothness in our game, just some good tempo and puck support.”

Konecny has a team-leading five goals, including one in three straight games, and 10 points this season.

However, further evidence of the team’s struggles comes on defense — in a minus-13 goal differential that is tied for second-worst in the NHL. Sean Couturier (plus-1) is the only player with a positive rating.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Upend J-E-T-S

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining to lift the New England Patriots to a 25-22 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts.

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Stevenson then hauled in a two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett as New England (2-6) ended a six-game skid.

New York (2-6) had gone up 22-17 when Braelon Allen ran for a 2-yard score with 2:57 left. However, the Jets came up empty on a two-point conversion attempt, and it ended up costing them.

Brissett was under center because rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, sustained a concussion late in the first quarter. Brissett ended up completing 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards.

Maye was 3-of-6 passing for 23 yards prior to exiting. He also had 46 yards and a TD on three carries.

Stevenson finished with 48 yards and two scores on 20 touches.

Aaron Rodgers had 233 yards and two TDs on 17-of-28 passing for the Jets, who dropped their fifth game in a row. Breece Hall rushed 16 times for 80 yards, and Garrett Wilson hauled in five catches for 113 yards.

After the New England defense forced a three-and-out to begin the second half, Marcus Jones put the Patriots at New York 26 with a 62-yard punt return. Five plays later, Stevenson ran into the end zone from 3 yards out for a 14-13 edge.

Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein booted a 29-yard field goal with 7:54 to go in the third quarter before missing a 44-yarder early in the fourth.

Joey Slye made it 17-16 New England with a 23-yard field goal with 7:34 left in the game.

Maye used his legs to open the scoring, scrambling for a 17-yard touchdown with 5:18 left in the first quarter to put New England up 7-0.

Tyler Conklin was on the receiving end of a 2-yard score just under four minutes later, but Zuerlein pulled the ensuing extra-point attempt wide left to keep New York trailing.

However, it wouldn’t be long until the Jets moved in front, taking a 13-7 lead when Rodgers found Xavier Gipson for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:06 remaining in the first half.

–Field Level Media

World Series Continues in the Bronx

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NEW YORK – In the opening two games of their first World Series appearance since 2009, the New York Yankees were close to at least exiting Dodger Stadium with a split and possibly two wins.

Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers were productive enough and even with Shohei Ohtani off to a quiet start and sustaining a partially dislocated left shoulder, the best team during the regular season is halfway to a title.

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While Ohtani is slated to play and attempt to help the Dodgers inch closer to their eighth title, the Yankees hope returning home can aid them in getting back into the series when the Fall Classic shifts to Yankee Stadium on Monday.

After the Dodgers won games started by Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler gets the nod for Game 3. Following losses in games started by Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt gets the ball for New York in a matchup of former first-round picks.

The Dodgers are attempting to win their first title in a 162-game season since beating the Oakland Athletics in five games in 1988. Like that series, Los Angeles won the opening two games at home and the Dodgers are seeking a three games to none lead for the first time since 1963 when they swept the Yankees.

Los Angeles held serve by earning a 6-3 victory in the opener and following it up with a 4-2 win in Game 2 on Saturday. Freddie Freeman hit the game-ending grand slam with two outs in the 10th inning off Nestor Cortes in the opener, and homered again Saturday before Alex Vesia needed one pitch to escape a bases-loaded jam after the Yankees scored their second run.

Vesia’s escape occurred after Ohtani hurt his shoulder attempting to steal second in the seventh inning. Ohtani is 1-for-8 in the series and manager Dave Roberts said the superstar felt good Sunday morning, flew separately from the team and was able to participate in their workout.

“If (Ohtani) feels good enough to go, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be in there,” Roberts said of the starting lineup before the Dodgers worked out.

The Yankees are hoping to get some better clutch hitting after going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position in Los Angeles. Juan Soto homered in Game 2 but Aaron Judge went 1-for-9 with six strikeouts and is 6-for-40 with 19 strikeouts during the postseason.

“Just expanding the zone. That’s what it really comes down to,” Judge said. “I think it’s trying to make things happen instead of letting the game come to you. Plain and simple, I’ve got to start swinging at strikes.”

Judge is struggling while hitting between Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, who are hitting a combined .313 (26-for-83) with 10 homers and 23 RBIs in the postseason.

“We’ve been through a lot of tough moments throughout the year. So I think we’ve been there,” Soto said. “We know how (to take) a couple punches in the face and just keep battling and keep going. We can go home and do our thing.”

The Yankees are facing a 2-0 deficit for the first time since dropping the first two against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 in a series that reached Game 7. New York is facing a two games to none World Series deficit for the ninth time and rallied to win a title in 1996 against the Atlanta Braves, 1978 against the Dodgers, 1958 against the Milwaukee Braves and 1956 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Under the World Series’ current 2-3-2 format, the team winning the opening two games has won 45 out of 56 times. The last team to overcome a two games to none deficit was the Yankees, who are the only team to do so since the 1986 New York Mets.

Schmidt, who has a pair of no-decisions in the postseason, will pitch in Game 3 for the third straight time. Schmidt is pitching for the first time since allowing two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings in Cleveland in Game 3 of the ALCS on Oct. 17.

“I’m obviously very excited to get out there, but I know I have a job to do. We’re trying to win this World Series,” Schmidt said before Game 2. “I think for me I’m just trying to go out there and execute and do my job.”

Buehler is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in a pair of postseason starts. He was tagged for six runs in five innings in Game 3 of the Division Series at San Diego and allowed three hits in four innings during an 8-0 win over the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS on Oct. 16.

Buehler is 1-0 with an 0.69 ERA in a pair of World Series Starts which occurred in Games 3 in 2018 against the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay two years later.

“We love Walker in big games,” Roberts said. “The road isn’t going to faze him. It also allows him potentially to be available for a Game 7 too.”

–Field Level Media

 

NFL Round-Up

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LANDOVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – DC QB Jayden Daniels threw a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown on the final play of the game and the Washington Commanders beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 on Sunday.

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Roschon Johnson had scored on the ground from 1 yard out with 25 seconds left in regulation, and the Bears (4-3) made good on the ensuing two-point conversion to take a 15-12 lead after trailing 12-0 earlier in the contest.

That left just enough time for the Commanders (6-2) to return the kickoff to their own 24 and complete two short passes to set up the game-winning heave, which deflected off a crowd of players and went into Brown’s hands in the end zone as time expired.

The game matched rookie quarterbacks Caleb Williams of Chicago, selected first overall out of Southern California in this year’s draft, and Daniels, taken No. 2 out of LSU.

Daniels was 21-of-38 passing for 326 yards and the score. He also ran eight times for 52 yards. Williams completed 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards. D’Andre Swift ran for 129 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for Chicago.

Lions 52, Titans 14

Kalif Raymond returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and added a receiving score as Detroit overwhelmed visiting Tennessee.

David Montgomery ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the first half for the Lions (6-1). Jared Goff tossed three scoring passes and Jahmyr Gibbs had a 70-yard scoring run as Detroit surpassed the 50-point mark for the first time since scoring 55 points in 1997. Gibbs finished with 127 rushing yards.

Tennessee’s Mason Rudolph passed for a touchdown and ran for another but was also intercepted twice. Calvin Ridley caught 10 passes for 143 yards for the Titans (1-6).

49ers 30, Cowboys 24

Brock Purdy passed for 260 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for a score as San Francisco beat Dallas in Santa Clara, Calif.

George Kittle had six receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown as the 49ers (4-4) beat the Cowboys for the fourth consecutive time, with two of those wins coming in the playoffs. Kittle also became the fifth player in 49ers history with 500 or more career receptions.

Dak Prescott completed 25 of 38 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Cowboys (3-4). CeeDee Lamb matched his career high of 13 receptions to go with 146 yards and two scores for Dallas, which lost its second straight game.

Patriots 25, Jets 22

Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining to lift New England over New York in Foxborough, Mass.

Stevenson then hauled in a two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots (2-6) ended a six-game skid. The Jets (2-6) had gone up 22-17 when Braelon Allen ran for a 2-yard score with 2:57 left.

Brissett was under center because rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, sustained a concussion late in the first quarter. Brissett ended up completing 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards. Aaron Rodgers had 233 yards and two TDs on 17-of-28 passing for the Jets.

Browns 29, Ravens 24

Jameis Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining as Cleveland stunned visiting Baltimore.

Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards with three touchdowns in his first start since 2022. The 30-year-old stepped in after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last Sunday and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his finger in relief of Watson.

Tillman had seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns (2-6). His game-winning score came one play after Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton dropped an interception that could have sealed the win for Baltimore (5-3).

Texans 23, Colts 20

C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards and a touchdown as Houston took a commanding lead in the AFC South with a win over visiting Indianapolis.

One week after finishing with only 86 passing yards in a loss against the Green Bay Packers, Stroud was back in form, completing 25 of 37 passes and directing five scoring drives. The Texans (6-2) took a two-game lead over the second-place Colts (4-4) in the division and also earned a sweep of the season series.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson struggled from the start. He completed only 2 of 15 passes in the first half and finished 10-of-32 passing for 175 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Packers 30, Jaguars 27

Brandon McManus booted a game-winning field goal as time expired for the second straight week and Green Bay survived an injury to quarterback Jordan Love during a victory over host Jacksonville.

McManus’ game-winner came from 24 yards out and lifted Green Bay (6-2) to its fourth consecutive victory. Josh Jacobs ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries for the Packers. That performance was crucial after Love was visibly limping throughout the second quarter due to a groin injury.

Trevor Lawrence completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Jacksonville (2-6). He also ran for a touchdown.

Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27

Chad Ryland booted a 34-yard field goal with no time remaining as Arizona clipped Miami in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The game-winning kick was Ryland’s second straight and third of the season. He hit a field goal to beat the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 6 and made good on another to knock off the Los Angeles Chargers last Monday.

Kyler Murray completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (4-4). Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa returned from a concussion and completed 28 of 38 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown as the Dolphins (2-5) achieved a season-high point total.

Falcons 31, Buccaneers 26

Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns, leading visiting Atlanta past Tampa Bay.

Darnell Mooney had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown while Kyle Pitts hauled in four receptions for 91 yards and two scores as the Falcons (5-3) improved to 4-0 against NFC South opponents.

Baker Mayfield completed 37 of 50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as Tampa Bay (4-4) lost its fourth game in six tries. Cade Otton led the Buccaneers with nine receptions for 81 yards and two scores.

Eagles 37, Bengals 17

Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and threw for another as visiting Philadelphia blew by Cincinnati.

Hurts finished 16-of-20 passing for 236 yards for Philadelphia (5-2), which won its third straight. Saquon Barkley eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the second straight game and fourth time this season, finishing with 108 yards on 22 carries.

The Bengals (3-5) fell to 0-4 at home this season. Joe Burrow was held to 234 yards on 26-of-37 passing, tossing one touchdown and an interception.

Chargers 26, Saints 8

Justin Herbert threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles stopped struggling New Orleans in Inglewood, Calif.

Herbert completed 20 of 32 passes, the biggest one a 60-yard scoring strike to rookie receiver Ladd McConkey with 8:48 left in the third quarter. McConkey finished with six catches for 111 yards and two scores, making him the first Charger rookie receiver to get 100 yards and a touchdown in a game since Keenan Allen did so in 2013. J.K. Dobbins added a score for Los Angeles (4-3).

The Saints (2-6) dropped their sixth straight game and again struggled to generate offense with starting quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined. Rookie Spencer Rattler started and went 12-for-24 passing for 156 yards before being pulled in the third quarter for Jake Haener.

Bills 31, Seahawks 10

James Cook rushed for a season-high 111 yards and two touchdowns as Buffalo defeated host Seattle in a matchup of division leaders.

Josh Allen completed 24 of 34 passes for 283 yards and two scores for the AFC East-leading Bills (6-2), who won their third game in a row. Khalil Shakir grabbed a career-high nine receptions for 107 yards.

The NFC West-leading Seahawks (4-4), who lost for the fourth time in their past five games, managed just 233 yards of total offense without leading receiver DK Metcalf, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament last week. Geno Smith completed 21 of 29 passes for 212 yards with an interception.

Broncos 28, Panthers 14

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw for three touchdowns and ran for another and Denver kept visiting Carolina’s sluggish offense in check.

Nix completed 28 of 37 throws for 284 yards, with 11 Broncos making at least one reception. Courtland Sutton had eight catches for 100 receiving yards for the Broncos (5-3).

The return of quarterback Bryce Young, the 2023 draft’s first overall pick, to a starting role didn’t provide much of a spark for the Panthers (1-7) even though the team produced the game’s first touchdown.

Chiefs 27, Raiders 20

Patrick Mahomes completed 27 of 38 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and Kansas City held on for a win over host Las Vegas.

Travis Kelce had 10 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (7-0), who are the NFL’s last unbeaten team this season. Kareem Hunt added a touchdown on the ground and Xavier Worthy had a TD catch.

Gardner Minshew completed 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders (2-6). Jakobi Meyers and D.J. Turner had one touchdown catch apiece.

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NFL

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Oct 27

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“Walking on the sidewalk, roundball under my arm

Everybody knows how you play is who you are,

Walking down the road, looking for a game or two

The real moves come through, no matter what they’re gonna do

It’s down to you.”

“Take me to the old playground

Where the old ones rule, and the young ones do their time

Take me to the old playground

Where the talk is cheap

And the restless stalk the baseline.”

“The old sage frowns, he says just pass it on around

But all-world junior’s pulling up from downtown

For some it’s a way out, for some it’s a way in

Most of us don’t even care

We’re just looking for another gym to get in.”

“Take me to the old playground

Where the old ones rule, and the young ones do their time

Take me to the old playground

Where some play from dreams

And the rest just play for pride …

The old man said stop running with those boys

But they know what to do and their folks don’t mind the noise

Say hey now, everybody’s gonna get along

Just call your own foul when you break the rules

If you make it, take it, so make your move.”

– Music and lyrics by Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby

By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The great Bruce Hornsby burst on to the rock scene in 1986 with his hit song, “Just the Way It Is,“ which paved his way to a GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist of ‘86 and a solid new “Virginia Sound,” combining rock, jazz and bluegrass all into one. Hornsby wrote a few other incredible songs, including Mandolin Rain in 1986, Jacob’s Ladder (for Huey Lewis and the News) in 1987, End of the Innocence (for Don Henley) in 1989 and one of my all-time favorites – The Old Playground – in 1990.

Around or about 1989 or 1990, I had the great fortune to meet Hornsby and his band and witness a dozen shows from his concert right at St. John’s University to shows at the Westbury Music Fair to summer tours at Jones Beach and one memorable concert in Philadelphia with Don Stirling, he of “The School of Rock,” and outposts such as the Golden State Warriors, NBA Properties, Mitt Romney’s Governor of Massachusetts’ office for sports, and later the Utah Jazz senior staff. We reminisced and recalled every detail of that Philly show just two or three weeks ago when a number of former NBAers met in Chicago.

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While running my first NBA All-Star event for our Communications department, I had little time to chit-chat as the specific events unfolded, but the foundation of the Lyons-Hornsby relationship was solidified at the 1991 All-Star Weekend in Charlotte when Hornsby and Branford Marsalis combined for one of the most beautiful and meaningful National Anthem performances of our time. At that event (just a week or two after the Gulf War broke out), the challenge was getting Bruce’s BALDWIN grand piano onto the basketball court without putting a divot into the hardwood. And, as I recall, the bigger challenge was removing the piano in the two minutes we had after the anthem was completed. (I still thank many of the still photographers who went out of their way to help us get that done right in the middle of their own courtside set-ups.

Fast forward a number of years to the 2000 NBA Finals, and we snuck a small tip cup/glass onto Bruce’s piano just before he did his sound check at the Pacers’ Field House in Indianapolis. Hornsby was invited to perform by his fellow pianist and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. After Bruce played an impeccable “practice” National anthem a couple hours before tip-off, we tucked a couple $1 bills into the cup and made a request which – of course – he played just a few bars of as we all laughed.

One other day, years later, when UNC-Asheville played at Northeastern, Bruce’s son, Keith, was lighting up the Huskies at Matthews Arena in Boston and I was able to snap a halfway decent still photo and I e-mailed it to Keith’s Dad in real time. Bruce was astonished and ever appreciative that I thought of him.

Over the years, there were many a meet-up, including backstage at Madison Square Garden for a Grateful Dead show, a few solo shows in New York City and Boston, and one night, in particular, when I left him a simple email at about 6:00pm for an 8:00pm show, simply to say I had purchased great seats and would be in the audience, figuring he’d read my message a day or two later.

Of course, Bruce replied to the email in 10 minutes and said there’d be backstage passes awaiting. He had a number of meet-and-greet obligations after the show and I stood aside, figuring I’d just say thanks, congratulate him on an amazing show and be on my way.

Nope!

Bruce wanted to review some basketball highlight tapes of Keith and we went into a back dressing room where he brought out his laptop. Keith had transferred from UNC-Asheville to LSU where he slid over to the “2” guard spot to accomodate Ben Simmons playing the point. Keith improved his three-point field goal shooting and avaeraged about 13 points a game, good enough to get looks at Portland and Dallas, where he later signed on to play for the Texas Legends, the Mavs’ G-League squad.

Keith played in Poland, Germany and then moved up the European ladder to play in France and Lithuania before settling in with Bilbao Basket (Spain) in the highly competitive ACB.

Rightfully so, Bruce was quite proud of his son, Keith, but was always hoping for that NBA break.

It never came and Bruce and Keith played on.

PLAYING DEAD: There’s a pretty good Grateful Dead cover band that tours around, and they’re called “Playing Dead.” I’ve heard they’re pretty good but haven’t had the chance to see them perform. … The problem and reality we’re all facing is the fact that two of the original members of the real Dead are now playing dead. Yes, another member of the original band, Phil Lesh, passed away this week. In a prominent obituary, The New York Times wrote, “Key to the dynamic of the Grateful Dead was the way Mr. Lesh used the bass to provide ever-shifting counterpoints to the dancing lines of the lead guitarist Jerry Garcia, the curt riffs of the rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, the bold rhythms of the drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, and, in the band’s first eight years, the warm organ work of Ron McKernan, known as Pigpen. … Lesh joins Garcia in the afterlife, and you can only pray, they’re writing new music for a legion of fans, including our bud, Ramrod (Larry Shurtliff), the president of the incorporated band, and his wife, Francis, both frequent guests at the NBA All-Star Game and an occasional Finals. Ramrod passed away in 2006 at the young age of 61. Everyone who ever met him misses him (and Francis) greatly.

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Now, we return to 99.9% sports notes.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The 2024 World Series began with an “Instant Classic” on Friday night when Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning, extra innings grand slam home run. Trailing the NY Yankees 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, a hobbled Freeman came to bat, reminding many of the 1988 feat by Kirk Gibson against the Oakland A’s. There were even side-by-side comparisons posted to social media outlets.

Game 2 is underway as WWYI is being posted and then, the Series will continue with Games 3, 4, and (if necessary) 5 in the Bronx. … As in the past, our friends at Strat-O-Matic have crunched the numbers and run the computer simulations for the Series.

The result?

The LA Dodgers bested the NY Yankees in a seven-game series (the same number of games this and many other pundits are predicting this year).

In the StratO-Matic simulation of the decisive Game 7, Teoscar Hernandez’s single plated Series MVP Mookie Betts with the go-ahead run that gave L.A. a 2-1 edge. The hosts would add another in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Dodgers catcher Will Smith, and on a bullpen day, pitcher Blake Treinen tossed two perfect innings, fanning four, as the last of eight Los Angeles pitchers in the game. Treinen registered his third save of the series.

Los Angeles rallied from a 3-1 series deficit, getting five-inning starts from SPs Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Games Five and Six to send it to the winner-take-all contest in L.A.

Betts hit .370 in the seven games with a home run and seven RBI. In the battle between probable league MVPs, New York’s Aaron Judge (.346, two home runs, three RBI) and Shohei Ohtani (.231, two HR, six RBI) were fairly even, while Giancarlo Stanton had three home runs and drove in six in the series.

TIDBITS: The Westchester Knicks selected Matt Ryan (6-6, 215, Tennessee-Chattanooga) with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA G League Draft, which was held Saturday, Oct. 26. The Knicks also selected six-year NBA veteran Landry Shamet (6-4, 190, Wichita State) with the second overall pick, while the Cleveland Charge took Sean East II (6-3, 180, Missouri) with the third pick. … Boston’s affiliate, the Maine Celtics, (once known as the Red Claws) selected Eric Gaines, a 6-2, 23-year old rookie guard. Gaines, a former LSU (Louisiana State) and UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) collegiate player, was the ninth overall selection in the G League Draft.

In pro golf circles, there are significant rumors and multiple reports that legend Greg Norman is set to be replaced as LIV Golf’s CEO, with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund actively looking for a replacement for the Australian tour star.

The two-time major championship winner, age 69, has been the most vocal figure and ambassador for the controversial breakaway LIV Golf since its formation in 2022. Reports note Norman will stay within LIV even after his replacement is hired. According to Sports Business Journal, Norman will simply be moved into another role as his replacement is sought. … Norman was named CEO of LIV Investments in October of 2021 in a 10-year deal that reportedly pays him $50m a year.

SPORTS BIZ: In the “can’t make it up category” also known as “Sign of the Apocalypse,” as once penned by Sports Illustrated’s Jack McCallum, this came across the sports wire on Thursday: The National Basketball Association and Wingstop announced a multiyear partnership making Wingstop the Official Chicken Partner of the NBA and NBA G League. The agreement marks Wingstop’s first official partnership with a major U.S. professional sports league. … The “chicken partner” is traded on NASDAQ. No word on a pork partner.

NBA PREDICTIONS: I usually await the 10-game mark before making any predictions, looking for some early season trends and observing the various new combos (Klay Thompson at Dallas should work) or injuries/return from injuries (Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis won’t be back until Decemberish). This year? What the heck, not all that much is going to change between two games and 10 games.

Here’s the scoop, and it’s nothing you haven’t seen elsewhere:

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics
  2. Milwaukee Bucks
  3. New York Knicks
  4. Philadelphia 76ers
  5. Cleveland Cavaliers
  6. Indiana Pacers
  7. Orlando Magic
  8. Atlanta Hawks

Boston over Milwaukee in the ECF.

Western Conference:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Denver Nuggets
  3. Dallas Mavericks
  4. New Orleans Pelicans
  5. Phoenix Suns
  6. LA Clippers
  7. Memphis Grizzlies

Denver over OKC in the WCF.

Boston over Denver in the 2025 NBA Finals (unless Porzingis is OUT).