🏈Dolphins Win on MNF, NFL Power Rankings, Weekend Recap, + More!

Morning Blitzers,

Hope you all had a great long weekend. Special thanks to all veterans celebrating Veterans Day yesterday.

We’ll be recapping everything from over the weekend, providing NFL power rankings and all the other topics on today’s Blitz, so let’s get right into it!

WTF Stat: It’s starting to feel like maybe this could finally be the year for the Lions, that game on Sunday night was crazy:

🏈 The Dolphins snapped their three-game losing streak with a 23-15 win over the Rams on MNF, improving to 3-6. The victory was highlighted by Rookie WR Malik Washington first NFL touchdown on Miami’s opening drive and WR Tyreek Hill catching a short touchdown pass from QB Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter. Hill, playing through a wrist injury, had three receptions, including his first TD since the season opener. Miami's defense was key, forcing two turnovers and keeping the Rams out of the end zone despite allowing 327 yards.

🏒 Jeremy Roenick, who accumulated 1,216 points over 1,363 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, has entered the Hall of Fame. Roenick also earned 122 points in 154 playoff games and a silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Olympics. Known for his colorful personality, he was a nine-time NHL All-Star.

Tuesday’s NFL Power Rankings & NFL Weekend Recap

This Week’s Theme: Best School Lunch Snacks

Tier 1 - Fruit Snacks

Fruit snacks are by far the best thing to pull out of your lunch bag. Great in any situation, the envy of every classmate. You almost had to keep your fruit snacks secret otherwise classmates around you would want to ‘try one’ or have you ‘pull off a piece’. These teams are the fruit snacks of the NFL. You go the Chiefs who are still clearly the best just like - Shark Bites. The Lions are like Gushers - explosive. Bills are like Fruit by the Foot, they just keep rolling and rolling… You get the point.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) - Stay undefeated thanks to an improbable blocked field goal. They refuse to lose.

2. Detroit Lions (8-1) - See WTF stat above, I’m still not sure how the Lions managed to win that game against Houston. A team that can play that poorly and still win is impressive.

3. Buffalo Bills (8-2) - Josh Allen now leads the NFL in most games with 250+ yards passing and 50 yards rushing, what he’s doing with the (lack of) offense around him this year is really special.

4. Baltimore Ravens (7-3) - What a Thursday night game. Like the teams above, they didn’t play their best but still managed to win

5. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) - Blew out the Cowboys 34-6 and may have gotten everyone in Dallas fired.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) - Great game against Washington, Russell Wilson just continues to makes big plays.

7. Washington Commanders (7-3) - Tough loss in a close 28-27 game, they missed Brian Robinson Jr., they’ll be fine.

8. Minnesota Vikings (7-2) - The last four weeks haven’t been pretty, a wins a win, but 12-7 against the Jaguars is pretty bad.

Tier 2 - Cheez-Its (Preferably Extra Toasty)

Pair some Cheez-Its with an ice cold chocolate milk and it brings me right back to my school days or to yesterday afternoon when I had this combination at lunch. There is no better salty snack out there, give me Cheez-Its all day, every day. These teams are all on the cusp of top tier, they’ve all had tough stretches, but just like Cheez-Its I’ll continue trusting them and betting them (Bengals and Falcons are killing me).

11. Green Bay Packers (6-3) - had a bye week, should be able to take care of business against the Bears on the road before a big game against the 49ers at home.

12. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) -  The Chargers' defense, has gone from bottom 10 in the league in both scoring and total defense last year, to NFL-best 13.1 points per game in 2024. They did get the benefit of playing the Titans, but their whole identity has changed this year.

13. Arizona Cardinals (6-4) - TE Trey McBride is one of the best TEs in the NFL and one of the most underrated players out there. Him and Marvin Harrison Jr. should be fun to watch for a long time to come.

14. San Francisco 49ers (5-4) - Their game against the Bucs was closer than it should have been (23-20 win on last second field goal) considering they almost doubled the Bucs offensive yardage. But they got the win and RB Christian McCaffrey is back in the fold and should only get stronger moving forward.

15. Atlanta Falcons (6-4) - Each week they go from looking like one of the best teams in the NFL to one of the worst… I can’t figure them out!

16. Houston Texans (6-4) - Great first half of football against the Lions, second half they looked like a completely different team. Talent wise they’re still a top team, but they need to gain more consistency.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) - I feel like I’ve said this every week… but I still believe in the Bengals, they just need to win a few close games, and basically be perfect the rest of the season.

Tier 3 - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic for a reason. I was a Chips Ahoy man, but really any chocolate chip cookie with a carton of milk really tied together the whole meal. There is a deli near me now that gives out chocolate chip cookies anytime you buy a sandwich, and to be honest the sandwiches are just okay, but any business that gives a free cookie out is one I want to fully support. These teams are like that deli. Most of what you see from them is just okay, but they do have their moments of brilliance, their chocolate chip cookie moments if you will, they need more of that and less of what they’ve been showing.

17. Denver Broncos (5-5) - They held their own against the Chiefs, but lost in a heartbreaking fashion. The Broncos have to be one of the only .500 teams that no one really wants to face.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) - The Buccaneers are 4-6 but have the highest point differential (+13) in the NFC South. They have three very winnable games coming up against the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders, they should be 7-6 and a real challenger for the division come December.

19. Miami Dolphins (3-6) - They aren’t back to their old offense yet, but you can see flashes of it. They are just a much different team when QB Tua Tagovailoa is operating under center.

20. Seattle Seahawks (4-5) - Had a bye week and will now have a tough test against the 49ers, this feels like a must win game for the Seahawks who sit last in the tightly contested NFC West.

21. Los Angeles Rams (4-5) - Dolphins snapped their 3 game win streak, their game at the Patriots this week will be a good barometer for them. Are a bottom tier team or a team can they take care of business against less talented teams.

Tier 4 - Chocolate Pudding aka Snack Pack

Nothing really reminds me more of school lunches as much as a chocolate pudding in a snack pack. Obviously this is highlighted quite well in Billy Madison. You got a couple of these bad boys on ice and you’ll be the king of the cafeteria. These teams, however, are like a toddler with a Snack Pack without a spoon. Talent is there, but sloppy, all over the place, and have made a mess of things this season.

22. Indianapolis Colts (4-6) - Feed RB Jonathan Taylor and get QB Anthony Richardson involved in the offense. That is all.

23. Chicago Bears (4-5) - The Patriots defense has started to figure things out, but eight punts?? You have to do better than that.

24. New York Jets (3-7) - Yikes, 31-6 shellacking from the Cardinals, it’s been one step forward, five steps back for the Jets.

25. New Orleans Saints (3-7) - The Saints have three very winnable games ahead, but I’m not buying their team just yet. Teams always get a bit of extra juice with a new coach, we’ll see how that carries over to this week.

26. Dallas Cowboys (3-6) - The Cowboys honestly deserve to be in the bottom tier, but their roster has so much talent still, I don’t understand why they’re so bad?!

Tier 5 - Cut Up Apples & Peanut Butter

I love me some apples and peanut butter. It’s a great snack. The problem in school was 1) most of the time if you packed an apple for school lunch it was either bruised or mushy which I can’t stand 2) When you saw other kids pulling out their Dunkaroos, and dipping cookies into frosting, apples and peanut butter lost their luster. These teams are like mushy bruised apples and organic peanut butter… gross.

26. Carolina Panthers (3-7) - Two wins in a row (against two really bad teams) are the Panthers back? Probably not but RB Chuba Hubbard has been a nice bright spot.

27. New England Patriots (3-7) - #3 pick Drake Maye outplayed #1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams. Patriots like the Panthers though, need a lot of help in a lot of places.

28. Cleveland Browns (2-7) - Much needed bye week, they’ll face the Saints in a must watch game on Sunday (I kid, I kid).

29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) - Also on the bye, lot of teams are going to need QBs on this list, not winning may be their best strategy.

30. Tennessee Titans (2-7) - One play really changed the whole Chargers game… This looked like a fumble to me but was reversed.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) - Thought for a second we would be seeing the Alabama version of QB Mac Jones, but after one good series, things really fell apart for the Jags.

32. New York Giants (2-8) - Sorry Giants fans, at least RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., despite his fumble, has been good.

College Football Recap

The Shockers

Ole Miss 28 - Georgia 10 : Credit to where credit is due. Kiffin finally got his signature win at Ole Miss. The Rebels, led by a rabid defense, got in the face of Carson Beck and the Bulldogs and made the big plays when it mattered. Ole Miss salvaged some hope to make the playoffs. The Georgia loss leaves three one loss teams at the top of the SEC: Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M. Just what the playoff committee hoped for…2 1-loss and 5 2-loss SEC teams going into the final three weeks. Buckle up!

Georgia Tech 28 - Miami 23: I think everyone watching this game, especially Miami fans, were just waiting for QB Cam Ward to pull a rabbit out of his hat again but this time when he reached into his bag of tricks he came up empty. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King put the team on his back and handed The U its first loss of the season. The loss leaves a bit of a logjam for second place in the ACC with SMU alone at the top.

Statement Games

Penn State 35 - Washington 6: No Ohio State hangover for the Nittany Lions. PSU reminded everyone that they are still a force to be reckoned with, pouncing on the Huskies to the tune of 28-0 in the first half. It’s not out of the question to see Penn State in the B1G final, but they need a lot of help.

Indiana 20 - Michigan 15: It wasn’t the smackdown we’ve come accustomed to for IU, but the Hoosiers picked up its 10th win, the first 10-win season in program history. Hoosier fans better hope the Wolverines didn’t beat them up too bad…they’ve got the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday.

Alabama 42 - LSU 13: Night game at LSU? No problem for Alabama. The Tide played one of their most complete games of the season and Jalen Milroe was electric (see Video Game stats). Bama is keeping itself relevant in the playoff hunt, while Brian Kelly and the Tigers will have to go back to the drawing board.

Colorado 41 - Texas Tech 27: The Buffs took a Red Raider jab on the chin in the first quarter, going down by 10 and then outscored TTech 41-14 the rest of the way. Both Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter shined in the win. Coach Prime is now 7-2 on the season and 5-1 in conference. With Iowa State’s loss to Kansas, they are now alone in 2nd place.

BYU 22 - Utah 21: The Holy War delivered! What a battle between two in-state rivals and it was the Cougars who edged out the Utes to stay undefeated and atop the Big 12. BYU holds its destiny in his hands, they just need to win.

Washington State 49 - Utah State 28: The only statement in this game is that Washington State is 8-1. The Pac ain’t dead yet, fam! The Cougars, playing a Mountain West schedule, could make some decisions tough come playoff time if they win out. QB John Mateer is the best dual-threat quarterback you haven’t heard of: over 2,200 passing yards, over 630 rushing yards and 33 total TDs.

That Was Embarrassing

Kansas 45 - Iowa State 36: This is embarrassing for both teams. The Jayhawks are showing how they should have played all season long. This team is so much better than 3-6. On the other side, Iowa State was in the driver’s seat for a shot at the Big 12 Championship, this loss makes that a lot murkier.

Virginia 24 - Pittsburgh 19: Back-to-back losses for the Pitt Panthers. In October, they were a surprise upstart with a chance to sneak into the postseason, yeah well, that’s over with this tough loss to Virginia at home. Look at it this way Pitt fans…at least you’re bowl eligible.

Video Game Stats

QB Katin Houser (ECU) - 17/22, 343 yards, 5 TDs, 5 car, 52, yards, TD

QB Quinn Ewers (Texas) - 19/27, 333 yards, 5 TDs

QB Jalen Milroe (Bama) - 12/18, 109 yards, 12 car, 185 yards, 4 TDs

RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise St) - 34 car, 209 yards, 3 TD

Top Ten Power Rankings

*Note this isn’t an AP Top 25, this is who I think are the best ten teams after this week. Come at me.

1. Ohio State - W vs. Purdue, 45-0

2. Oregon - W vs. Maryland, 39-18

3. Texas - W vs. Florida, 49-17

4. Tennessee - W vs. Miss. St., 33-14

5. Penn State - W vs. Washington, 35-6

6. Indiana - W vs. Michigan, 20-15

7. Alabama - W vs. LSU, 41-13

8. Georgia - L vs. Ole Miss, 10-28

9. Ole Miss - W vs. Georgia, 28-10

10. Notre Dame - W vs. FSU, 52-3

Knocking on the Door: Miami, Clemson, BYU

Premier League Roundup

Chuffed

1. Brighton - The Gulls handed Man City its second loss in as many weeks with two late goals.

2. Liverpool - Mohamed Salah scored a goal and had a helper in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa. With the City loss, they’re now 5-points clear in first.

3. Manchester United - On the new manager vibes, the Red Devils picked up a dominating 3-0 win over Leicester.

Gutted

1. Nottingham Forest - Forest was sitting in 3rd place in the EPL going into a home match against Newcastle…whoops, lost 3-1 and dropped to 5th.

2. Tottenham - Spur has now traded wins and losses for the past month, but a loss at home to Ipswich, man that’s gotta sting.

3. Arsenal - The Gunners haven’t won in four straight matches and had a chance to steal one from Chelsea at home to gain on City and Liverpool. Maybe next time.

The Mint Matches of the Week

International Break

Top NBA Games

Cavaliers 119, Bulls 113: The Cavaliers improved to 12-0 with a 119-113 victory over the Bulls, marking the best start to a season since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. Donovan Mitchell led the way with a season-high 36 points, including 25 in the first half. Despite a competitive game, including a third-quarter surge by the Bulls, the Cavs pulled away with a strong performance from their bench, particularly Ty Jerome, who contributed 12 points and 6 assists.

Spurs 116, Kings 96: Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs to a dominant 116-96 victory over the Kings scoring 34 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and blocking three shots. This performance marked his 12th career 30-point game, and he became the sixth player in NBA history to accumulate over 1,700 points, 800 rebounds, and 300 assists in his first 82 games.

Thunder 134, Clippers 128: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a career-high 45 points to lead the Thunder to victory. It was their first game without Chet Holmgren, who is out with a pelvic fracture. Gilgeous-Alexander also contributed nine assists, shooting 13 of 21 from the field and 15 of 16 from the free-throw line. Jalen Williams added 28 points, while Lu Dort chipped in 19 for the Thunder.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Hurricanes 5, Golden Knights 2: The Hurricanes ended Vegas' perfect home record with the 5-2 win. Jordan Martinook extended his goal streak to four games, scoring in the victory. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Robinson, Jordan Staal, and Tyson Jost also found the back of the net for Carolina.

Avalanche 3, Predators 2: Samuel Girard scored the game-winning goal in overtime, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Girard stole the puck and broke away, beating goaltender Juuse Saros with a shot into the corner of the net 2:47 into OT, marking his first goal of the season. Fellow defenseman Devon Toews also scored his first goal of the year, and Mikko Rantanen added another for the Avalanche.

Flames 3, Kings 1: Mikael Backlund led the Flames to a 3-1 win over the Kings, contributing a goal and an assist. Jonathan Huberdeau scored his team-leading sixth goal, and Kevin Rooney sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf made 28 saves, just missing his first NHL shutout as Trevor Moore scored for the Kings with 2:31 left after Los Angeles pulled their goalie.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1995, Dan Marino breaks Frank Tarkenton's NFL all-time passing yardage mark of 47,003. The record had stood since 1978. Marino now sits 8th all-time in passing yards with 61,361. Tom Brady sits atop the list with 89,214 yards in his career.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Ja'Marr Chase just put up the second most yards on a Thursday night NFL game, with 264, which receiver put up the most?

D) Jim Benton - This one was a little bit unfair as it happened on November 22nd, 1945. Benton had 10 receptions and 303 yards. Benton only played 9 games that season catching 45 balls, for 8 TDs, and 1,067 yards receiving (23.7 yards/reception). The highest Modern day receiving on Thursday night is DJ Moore with 230 yards last season.

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