🏈 Pro Bowler Judon on the Move + NFC East Preview

Morning Blitzertarians! 

Welcome to Thursday’s edition of the Morning Blitz. What do we have in store for you today? A lot of football talk, including an NFC East preview, baseball highlights, and all of your favorite categories to fill things out. So let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: The NFC East, which was initially named the NFL Capitol Division, is the highest valued franchise division, worth almost $28 billion, according to Forbes (2023). All four franchises are in the top 10, with the Cowboys at #1 ($9.2 billion), Giants #4 ($6.8 billion), Commanders #8 ($6.05 billion), and Eagles #10 ($5.8 billion).

🏈 The Patriots have traded their top edge rusher, Matthew Judon, to the Falcons in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, had previously expressed frustration with his contract situation in New England. Although Judon has not yet agreed to a new contract with the Falcons, both parties plan to finalize one before the season begins.

🏈 It’s official, Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The injury occurred during the Vikings first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. With McCarthy sidelined, veteran QB Sam Darnold is expected to start for the Vikings in 2024.

⚾️ Aaron Judge hit his 300th career home run during the New York Yankees' 10-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, becoming the fastest player in MLB history to reach that milestone. His three-run homer in the eighth inning marked his 43rd of the season and helped break open the game. Chicago was trailing 6-2 when interim manager Grady Sizemore intentionally walked Juan Soto to bring up Judge. Big mistake. After three straight balls, Judge blasted the next pitch, and said, "Usually, 3-0 I'll take a pitch, see a pitch, kind of pass it on to the next guy. But in that situation, if they don't want to pitch to you, you got to come through."

NFL SEASON PREVIEW - NFC EAST

Our next division is a story of the haves and the have nots. The talented and the talentless. The hopeful and the hopeless… Welcome to the 2024 NFC East.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

After a chaotic crumble down the stretch in 2023 culminating in a Wild Card loss to the fighting Bakers (Buccaneers), head coach Nick Sirianni cried a little and then cleaned house firing both the offensive and defensive coordinators. While wiping away the tears, the Eagles went out and snagged star RB Saquon Barkley from their division rival, to bolster an already potent offense. If QB Jalen Hurts is in fact, ‘that dude’, this offense will be must watch television. The battle for NFC East supremacy will be tight with the Cowboys, but with firepower on both sides of the ball, the Eagles should be favorites to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.

Biggest Additions: RB Saquon Barkley, S CJ Gardner-Johnson, LB Devin White, QB Kenny Pickett

Biggest Departures: RB D’Andre Swift, S Kevin Byard, LB Haason Reddick, C Jason Kelce (Ret.)

Biggest Question: Will the marriage between Sirianni and Hurts result in happily ever after or will Howie Roseman be forced to take sides in a messy divorce.

Playmakers: WRs AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith - accounted for 62% of the Eagles' passing offense last year and caught 7 TDs each. All eyes are on how new OC Kellen Moore will utilize these two and, more importantly, get them their targets.

Name You Should Know: C Cam Jurgens - The architect of the infamous ‘Tush Push’ is on the couch/in podcast studio, new center Jurgens will be in the spotlight to see if he can maintain Kelce’s success in executing the most unstoppable play in the NFL.

Sleeper: RB Will Shipley - A very productive Swiss army knife at Clemson, the rookie RB could be in line to see some action in one of the better rushing offenses in the NFL.

Projection: 13-4

2. Dallas Cowboys

Rod Tidwell said it best, “Show me the money!!” The Cowboys enter the 2024 season with massive question marks around contracts for WR CeeDee Lamb, QB Dak Prescott, and LB Micah Parsons. Question marks that will hang over the team like a dark cloud for the season if they are not addressed. Head coach Mike McCarthy is seeking his fourth season in a row of at least 12 wins, but with Emperor Jerry Jones entering his 82nd trip around the globe, it’s Super Bowl or bust for Dallas.

Biggest Additions: RB Ezekiel Elliott, OT Tyler Guyton (R), LB Eric Kendricks

Biggest Departures: OT Tyron Smith, LB Leighton Vander Esch, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Tony Pollard, WR Michael Gallup

Biggest Question: How long of a runway does Mike McCarthy have if Dak Prescott and the Cowboys stumble?

Playmakers: WR CeeDee Lamb - In the conversation for best receiver in the NFL, led the league in catches/targets and was 2nd in yards and TDs in 2023.

Name You Should Know: EDGE Micah Parsons - This one is pretty obvious. He is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, over 40 sacks in his first three years in the NFL and is in a contract year.

Sleeper: RB Rico Dowdle - Old man Zeke is back in town, but the Cowboys re-signed Dowdle for a reason. Excpect him to get a heavy workload and emerge as the top back in Dallas.

Projection: 12-5

3. Washington Commanders

A new coach with a proven track record (Dan Quinn), a rookie QB who put up video game numbers last year at LSU (Jayden Daniels), and a slew of new faces should have the Commanders’ faithful excited about 2024. Anyone see the Texans last year? The Commanders could be this year’s big surprise with their something new, something borrowed, and something old strategy. If some of the grizzled veterans they brought in (RB Austin Ekeler, TE Zach Ertz, LB Bobby Wagner) combine with some potential realization (WR Terry McLaurin/WR Jahan Dotson) a playoff appearance is not a pipe dream.

Biggest Additions: QB Jayden Daniels (R), RB Austin Ekeler, C Tyler Biadasz, TE Zach Ertz, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Dante Fowler, LB Bobby Wagner

Biggest Departures: RB Antonio Gibson, QB Sam Howell, CB Kendall Fuller, WR Curtis Samuel, LB Cody Barton

Biggest Question: Do they hit the ground running or will it take time for the new pieces to mesh?

Playmakers: WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson - McLaurin already proved that he can be a stud, but he isn’t superman, Dotson is a first round pick that has yet to pop, but the potential to be a potent duo is there.

Name You Should Know: DT Jonathan Allen - The eight year vet doesn’t get the shine he deserves mostly because he’s been on Washington . He’s a true game wrecker and anchors a new-look defensive line.

Sleeper: TE Ben Sinnott - Rookie tight ends can be slow out of the gate, but with just old man Ertz in front of him, the second round pick has the receiving acumen to be a weapon in the passing game.

Projection: 9-8

4. New York Giants

The Giants let the cameras of Hard Knocks into their hallowed walls during the offseason. The highlights: letting their best player walk to a division rival, and their star TE leaving the team to pursue a music career. Woof. It wasn’t all bad news this offseason, the G-men traded for pass rush specialist Brian Burns to pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux and signed a bunch of offensive linemen. They also spent their 6th overall pick on LSU standout WR Malik Nabors. Wait, who’s supposed to lead these guys? Oh… yeah, QB Daniel Jones.

Biggest Additions: EDGE Brian Burns, WR Malik Nabors (R), OG Jon Runyan, RB Devin Singletary, QB Drew Lock

Biggest Departures: RB Saquon Barkley, TE Darren Waller (Ret.), S Xavier McKinney, WR Sterling Shepard, RB Matt Breida,

Biggest Question: After sticking with Daniel Jones, will Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen still be employed when the calendar turns to December?

Playmakers: DEs Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux - when the Giants won their most recent Super Bowls they had fearsome pass rushing duos, New York faithful are hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

Name You Should Know: DT Dexter Lawrence - keeping with the defensive line, Lawrence is a monster in the middle and should have less double teams to worry about with Burns and Thibodeaux lurking on the edges.

Sleeper: WR Jalin Hyatt - Dude had big stats at Tennessee and an underwhelming rookie season, but the talent is there. There’s room for him to grow within the offense.

Projection: 6-11

MLB - Top Games

• Texas Rangers 9, Boston Red Sox 7 (10 innings) : Wyatt Langford came up completely clutch in the 9th inning, hitting a 3-run shot to tie the game. The Texas Rangers hit four home runs in total against the Boston Red Sox, with Jonah Heim's go-ahead two-run shot in the 10th inning leading to a 9-7 victory. Adolis García added two home runs, a good sign for the struggling slugger.

Key Highlight: It appears the 22-year old Langford was born with the clutch gene:

• Detroit Tigers 3, Seattle Mariners 2 (10 innings): The Tigers mounted a late comeback, with Kerry Carpenter tying the game in the 8th inning with a two-run homer. Akil Baddoo played the hero, delivering a walk-off double in the 10th to secure the 3-2 victory. The win marks Detroit's third triumph over Seattle in their last five meetings.

Key Highlight: Akil Baddoo’s walk off!

• Philadelphia Phillies 9, Miami Marlins 5: The Phillies ended their four-game losing streak, highlighted by Kyle Schwarber's go-ahead graand slam in the fourth inning. After falling behind early, the Phillies rallied with Schwarber's big hit, turning a three-run deficit into a lead. Phillies rookie Tyler Phillips struggled, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings, but the offense provided enough support, adding insurance runs in the seventh inning.

Key Highlight: Shwar- 💣️ 

• Milwaukee Brewers 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4: The Milwaukee Brewers snapped a three-game losing streak, capitalizing on three Dodgers' errors. In the seventh inning Dodgers' outfielder Mookie Betts misplayed a ball, allowing Joey Ortiz to score the go-ahead run. Brewers' closer Devin Williams secured the win by retiring Shohei Ohtani, Betts, and Freddie Freeman in order in the ninth inning. Dodgers' pitcher Walker Buehler, returning from injury, allowed four runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings.

Key Highlight: Not a ton of Brewers highlights, but how about this absolute laser beam from Kevin Kiermaier:

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here.

Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez becomes 23rd pitcher to throw a perfect game (1-0 vs Tampa Bay). Hernández threw 113 pitches, 77 of them strikes, striking out 12. Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected from the game in the seventh inning for arguing a called strike with the home plate umpire Rob Drake. King Félix was once known for his overpowering stuff (as a 19-year old rookie he was known to hit 100 mph on his fastball), but in this game, his fastball sat in the low-to-mid 90’s and showed that he wasn’t just a ‘thrower’ but a true pitcher.

Trivia Time Answer

B. Jason Witten - playing 16 seasons with the Cowboys Witten racked up 12,977 yards in 255 games. The second highest is WR Art Monk with 12,140 yards, he played 14 years with Washington and his last year in Philadelphia WR Michael Irvin was 3rd with 11,904 yards, and WR DeSean Jackson is 6th with 9,214 yards.