🏈 Broncos Pull Out Wild Win on MNF, NFL Rankings, + More!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Did you know the word "Decem" is Latin for "tenth". December was originally the tenth month of the Roman calendar, but January and February were added later. I assume this is all cleared up in the new Gladiator 2 movie. That’s all I got for you this morning, let’s get right into the Blitz!

WTF Stat: New record alert! Not sure if this is one you want to have, but a pretty funny/insane stat:

🏈 The Broncos defeated the Browns 41-32 on Monday Night Football. A few stat lines really jump out - QB Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards and 4 TDs. while WR Jerry Jeudy went off: 9 receptions, 235 yards and a TD. Now the bad… Winston threw three interceptions including two for touchdowns.

P.S. I know no one cares about fantasy football, but I lost by 1 point last night because of that second pick-6 and need to vent. I had this text exchange with my buddy I was playing before the game:

🏈 49er running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are expected to be placed on injured reserve. McCaffrey is out for the remainder of the season due to a PCL injury, while Mason suffered a high ankle sprain during the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. McCaffrey will not require surgery but is expected to miss about six weeks. Rookie Isaac Guerendo will start as the team's running back in the upcoming game.

🏈 USC QB Miller Moss has announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal, seeking new opportunities for his final year of eligibility. Moss threw for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns this season but was eventually replaced as the starting quarterback.

Tuesday’s NFL Power Rankings

In honor of the Bills vs 49ers Snow bowl theme this week is:

This Week’s Theme: Best/worst things about the snow

Tier 1 - Snow Days

As you get older, you start to hear a lot of chatter about how satisfying it is to have your plans canceled so you can just relax at home. Well, snow days were like that but x100. Missing a full day of school so you can go outside, build forts, make snow angels (like Josh Allen!) throw snow balls (like the Bills fans!), and come back inside for hot chocolate. I have a smile on my face just thinking about it. Fans of these tier 1 teams have had smiles on their face a lot this season. Also, quick note, I said yesterday that the Bills and Eagles were the best teams in the NFL, I got a little carried away, Lions still lead the pack despite a close game against the Bears.

1. Detroit Lions (11-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)

4. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

7. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

8. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

10. Denver Broncos (8-5)

11. Washington Commanders (8-5)

Tier 2 - Skiing/Snowboarding/Sledding

I’m not much of a skier or snowboarder, but I’d tear up the fresh powder on a sled back in my day. But I can appreciate a good ski weekend; add in the après-ski and hot tub and I’m all for it. These teams are like a good ski weekend, except the mountain is 5-hours away. For the most part they’re awesome, but when you look a bit deeper you start to see some flaws.

12. Houston Texans (8-5)

13. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

14. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)

16. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

17. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)

Tier 3 - Slush & Ice

Slush is like when you’re at a bar and the lights come on and you realize the party is over. It ruins your clothes/car gets everything wet, be snow or melt already. Ice is the hangover the next morning. You have to do the slow waddle/walk-of-shame everywhere you go otherwise you’ll slip and fall. Note there are some silver linings when it comes to slush and ice. Slushies are awesome, and ice skating and hockey are great too. For the most part these teams are the slush and ice of the snow world, but they do have some redeeming qualities.

18. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)

20. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)

21. Miami Dolphins (5-7)

22. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)

23. Chicago Bears (4-8)

24. New Orleans Saints (4-8)

Tier 4 - Scraping Your Windshield

Character, grit, perseverance, frostbite, all things you garner when you’re forced to scrape your windshield in the freezing cold. Nothing worse than waking up while it’s still dark out, below freezing to start your 1997 Toyota Corolla, getting the heat going, which doesn’t work and then having to battle the ice on your windshield. The absolute worst. If you’ve done this, you know. Unfortunately, I never got any of the character, grit, and perseverance, just the frostbite. These teams are the ice on your windshield.

25. Cleveland Browns (3-9)

26. Carolina Panthers (3-9)

27. New York Jets (3-9)

28. Tennessee Titans (3-9)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

30. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

31. New England Patriots (3-10)

32. New York Giants (2-10)

Top NBA Games

Timberwolves 109, Lakers 80: Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 18 points, while Rudy Gobert contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds. Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each added 15 points. The Wolves’ defense was stifling, limiting the Lakers to their lowest point total since 2017. LeBron James and Anthony Davis struggled, combining for just 22 points.

Celtics 108, Heat 89: Jaylen Brown scored 29 points, Jayson Tatum added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Payton Pritchard contributed 25 points off the bench. Derrick White also chipped in with 19 points. The Celtics won for the eighth time in their last nine games.

Bulls 128, Nets 102: Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading the Bulls to a dominant 128-102 victory. It was Giddey's first triple-double of the season and the 12th of his career. Nikola Vucevic contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Matas Buzelis added 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Devils 5, Rangers 1: Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists, Jack Hughes scored twice, and Jacob Markstrom made 39 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 5-1.

Maple Leafs 4, Blackhawks 1: Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from injury, leading the Leafs to a 4-1 victory. Matthews, who had missed nine games due to an upper-body injury, opened the scoring in the first period. Anthony Stolarz made 27 saves, and Mitch Marner recorded two assists in his 600th regular-season game.

Stars 2, Utah Hockey Club 1: Evgeni Dadonov and Jamie Benn each scored to lead the Stars to a 2-1 victory, marking their third straight win. Casey DeSmith made 34 saves for Dallas.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1956, Wilt Chamberlain makes his much anticipated varsity debut; scores 52 points and grabs 31 rebounds, breaking both all-time Kansas records in an 87–69 win against Northwestern. Note, back then college athletes were not allowed to play their first year. Chamberlain's freshman team debut was highly anticipated; the freshman team played against the varsity, who were favored to win their conference that year. Chamberlain dominated his older college teammates by scoring 42 points, 29 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Drake Maye currently averages 8.7 yards/attempt, the highest yards/attempt by a QB ever, if he continues this pace, which QB record (of 8.4) would he be breaking?

A) Michael Vick - In 2006 Vick had 1,036 rushing yards on 123 attempts (8.4 YPC), it was his best rushing season but worst record with Atlanta (they went 7-9). Maye’s Patriots are now 3-10.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!