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Good morning! Sure, we noticed Taylor Swift in Kansas Metropolis yesterday.
Lists: Some say the Dolphins are nonetheless scoring
Let’s get final evening’s slog out of the way in which first: The Steelers beat the Raiders, 23-18, in final evening’s late recreation. Each groups give off probably the most mediocre vibes. TJ Watt stays terrifying. Jimmy Garoppolo might need an interception drawback. Pittsburgh leaves the sport 2-1, after certainly one of the extra puzzling teaching choices — kicking a subject objective down 8 late as a substitute of going for a game-tying landing — we’ve seen this 12 months.
Elsewhere? Buddy, was it a weekend. We simply must rank the moments:
7. Patrick Mahomes bought pulled … for good motive!
The Chiefs mauled the Bears, 41-10, in a recreation that additional illustrated how two franchises are in fully reverse orbits. Kansas Metropolis seems to be free (and terrifying) after that Week 1 loss to Detroit. It’s exhausting to think about a worse begin to the season than what’s happening in Chicago, who’s misplaced 13 straight. Woof.
6. Inexperienced Bay’s huge comeback
The Saints have been profitable 17-0 when Derek Carr left with a shoulder damage within the third quarter. The ultimate rating: Inexperienced Bay 18, New Orleans 17. The two-1 Saints’ season already hinges on Carr’s shoulder well being, whereas Jordan Love bought a signature win in his first dwelling recreation because the Packers’ beginning quarterback.
5. Zach Wilson’s security
The Patriots gained their fifteenth straight recreation over the Jets yesterday, a bruising 15-10 victory that ended on a sadly hilarious notice: a security sack of the hapless Zach Wilson, who has already wasted all goodwill from that Week 1 win with two straight stinkers. It’s important to marvel if the Jets make a QB change quickly, it doesn’t matter what coach Robert Saleh stated after the sport.
4. The way in which the Chargers gained their first recreation
Brandon Staley’s crew nearly blew it, once more. And but an interception ultimately zone saved per week’s value of bickering about job safety. The very best half? The Chargers’ final landing, which ended up being the game-winner in a 28-24 closing:
3. The Colts’ leg energy
Matt Homosexual hit 4 subject objectives of fifty yards or extra to provide 2-1 Indianapolis a large highway win in Baltimore (additionally 2-1), with Gardner Minshew beginning rather than Anthony Richardson, no much less. It’s supremely humorous that Homosexual saved his finest for Justin Tucker’s dwelling subject.
2. The Cardinals did what?
Sure, Arizona stomped the Cowboys — the crew we thought could be the league’s finest coming into this week — 28-16. And sure, the Cardinals — the crew we thought was tanking this 12 months — may simply be 3-0 proper now. Arizona seems to be promising. Dallas turned in its worst recreation in years. We all know nothing.
1. Miami did the unthinkable
Sixteen hours later and I nonetheless don’t imagine the field rating. Dolphins 70, Broncos 20. It’s probably the most factors scored by an NFL crew since Washington scored 72 in 1966. Tua Tagovailoa is your MVP frontrunner. Working again Devon Achane is a blossoming star. Tyreek Hill is unfair. The Dolphins really feel like a simple No. 1 within the Energy Rankings after this. Think about beginning this all-Miami lineup in fantasy this week:
And for Denver? It’s wild to see Russell Wilson play effectively and the crew nonetheless lose by 50.
There was loads extra motion across the league. See how your crew fared in our full Week 3 roundup. Mike Sando’s Choose Six is up, and Sean Payton’s mess is in focus.
Additionally, don’t miss The Athletic Soccer Present’s reside response to every part Week 3 final evening. Sure, there may be loads of Taylor Swift protection, too:
Information to Know
Yankees = toast
The New York Yankees gained’t play any postseason video games for the primary time since 2016 after shedding to the Diamondbacks yesterday. The temporary “what if” dialog a couple of late run is lastly, fortunately, over. Now the Yankees can concentrate on rebuilding — and making an attempt to keep away from the franchise’s first shedding season since 1992. Arduous choices are coming.
USWNT wins Rapinoe finale
Megan Rapinoe performed 54 minutes in her closing USWNT match, a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a pleasant. She caps a glowing profession, which we went into extra element about in Sunday’s publication. Rapinoe finishes her USWNT profession with 203 caps. There’s no changing Rapinoe, however final evening did see a brand new face — 22-year-old Mia Fishel — incomes her first USWNT cap. Love symmetry.
Solheim Cup slips away
Europe retained the Solheim Cup yesterday due to a surprising rally, coming down from 13-11 late within the day to engineer a 14-14 tie. Underneath Solheim Cup guidelines, if each groups tie, the Cup stays with the earlier winner. Bummer. Europe has gained three straight Cups and 5 of the final seven.
Extra information
- Talking of worldwide soccer: USFF sporting director Matt Crocker stated yesterday that Gio Reyna will likely be known as as much as the following USMNT camp. Reyna and USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter are apparently prepared to maneuver ahead.
- Georgia, Michigan and Texas are nonetheless your high 3 within the AP ballot. Loads of different groups shuffled round, although, together with a large fall for Colorado. (With USC up subsequent.)
- Texas, driving that top-3 momentum, snagged a five-star recruit yesterday over Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State.
Curtain Calls: Joey Votto’s attainable farewell
The Reds beat the Pirates, 4-2, yesterday within the crew’s dwelling finale, a bittersweet second — on a number of ranges — for the hometown crew. Two issues:
- Cincinnati has had a superb season, one most surprising, that noticed younger, homegrown stars emerge. The longer term is vibrant for now. And but, the crew is 2.5 video games out of a playoff spot with 5 video games left. The experience could be over.
- Joey Votto, 40, would possibly’ve performed his final recreation in entrance of the house crowd yesterday. Votto is a singular character in baseball, a charismatic, hilarious, media-savvy man who occurs to be, quietly, among the finest hitters the sport has ever seen. However time has caught as much as him. He’s struggled with accidents this 12 months. He has a $20 million possibility for subsequent 12 months that assuredly gained’t be exercised. It looks like time.
Votto, per ordinary, was open and introspective in a dialog with C. Trent Rosecrans after yesterday’s recreation. It seems like he needs to play one other season, however he additionally is aware of the fact — for each the Reds and himself.
Let’s hope we get yet one more 12 months of Votto quips and Joey Moppo.
Pulse Picks
We lead with a beautiful Monday learn for you: Zack Meisel writes about Reds outfielder Will Benson, who was formed by the brother he by no means met.
Nick Baumgardner has a very good replace on the 2024 NFL QB prospects. A sizzling title slid down the board.
Austin Meek wrote what I assumed was a very good article: Why Ryan Day’s outburst after Ohio State’s win this weekend was extra about Michigan and fewer about Notre Dame.
We’re, after all, nonetheless paying shut consideration to the Brian Ferentz Factors Chase. Placing up a goose egg Saturday didn’t assist. Is the offense even fixable at this level?
The weekend’s most burning query: What songs will Usher carry out on the Tremendous Bowl? .
Need extra? Take a look at our different 5-minute newsletters at The Athletic.
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