🏈 NFL Weekend Recap, CFB Rehash, and More!

Good Morning, Blitzers!

Hope you had a great weekend! Before we get into the nitty gritty of the weekend and how awesome it was, Keith and I would like to express our extreme gratitude to all of you for continuing to read and engage with the Morning Blitz. It is the best gift the two of us could ask for Christmas…aside from maybe one of those damn 15-leg parlays to hit. Speaking of the holiday season, we will be taking a few days off this week and next week. We will be releasing the Blitz today and Friday this week and will run the same schedule for New Years. Ok, enough of the level-setting, let’s get into the weekend’s activities.

WTF Stat: Shoutout to all the #ShortKings out there

🏈 Eagles QB Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion early in the loss against the Commanders. Hurts’ replacement, Kenny Pickett, was seen entering the X-Ray room with an injury to his ribs. After the Birds snapped their 10-game winning streak, both QBs will be seen as questionable for next week’s game against the Cowboys. Luckily for them, they already clinched a playoff spot…but not the division.

🏈 In a move which should shock no one, Steve Belichick will make the move from Washington to North Carolina to join his father as defensive coordinator of the Tar Heels. He will roam the sidelines for the Tiger Sun Bowl when Washington takes on the Louisville Cardinals. Washington ranked 27th in the nation in total defense under Stevie B.

🏌️‍♂️Your heart-warming moment of the weekend, Tiger Woods’ son Charlie was playing with his pops in the PNC Championship and this happened:

However, Bernard Langer and his son, Jason, defeated Tiger and Charlie to win the title.

⚾️ Sad news over the weekend in the baseball community, Rickey Henderson passed away at the age of 65. The Hall-of-Famer played in the MLB for 25 years and is the all-time stolen base (including single season leader with 130!) and runs scored leader. He was a 10-time all-star, two-time World Series champ and won MVP in 1990.

⚾️ In other baseball news:

• The Yankees signed 1B Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12 million deal. Goldy is 37 years old, but has remained productive in his old age.

• The Phillies acquired pitcher Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins for two prospects. Luzardo has shown signs of greatness throughout his five-year career with the Athletics and Marlins, but has yet to put all the pieces together.

• The Guardians sent 1B Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks and then signed aging slugger Carlos Santana.

• Washington traded for 1B Josh Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a reliever.

NFL Week 15

What You Missed

→ Jayden Daniels continues to be super clutch - Daniels threw for five touchdowns including the above strike with just six seconds on the clock to steal a win from the Eagles. Philly was in complete control of this game before Jalen Hurts left the game with a concussion then the Eagles fans were treated to the Kenny Pickett Experience. Saquon Barkley rushed for 150 yards and is 268 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. Eagles have clinched a playoff spot and will clinch the division with a win or Commanders loss next week. Commander HC Dan Quinn became the first Washington Head Coach to win 10 games in his debut season.

→ Jonathan Taylor really took all the vitriol over his dropped TD personally - JT went OFF against the Titans rushing for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns in an effort that was probably one week too late for most fantasy owners. The Colts scored 38 unanswered points…and then gave up 23, but hung on to win 38-30 and keep their playoff hopes alive.

→ Penix-led Falcons down the Giants - It wasn’t pretty for Penix, only throwing for 202 yards and an INT, but lucky for the Falcons, they have Bijon Robinson and the Giants suuuuuck. Jessie Bates and Matthew Judon each had pick-6s in the blowout victory.

→ The Lions trick play section of the playbook is Elite - Coined “The Stumblebum,” Jared Goff faked that he stumbled and pulled one of these:

The trick plays the Lions try to pull off (and sometimes do) every week is truly remarkable. And they did this while they were up 13! If you’re not a Bears, Vikings or Packers fan, the Lions have to be the easiest team to like. Caleb Williams actually played pretty well (334 yards, 2 TDs, 34 yards rushing), but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the best team in the NFC.

→ The Panthers didn’t hear no bell - After losing four in a row, the Panthers bounced back to defeat the Cardinals in overtime thanks to Chuba Hubbard putting the team on his back. Hubbard is earning that extension, he rushed for 152 yards and two TDs. Embattled 2nd year QB Bryce Young played efficiently and threw for 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the Cardinals season is unraveling before their very eyes. Just three weeks ago they were atop the NFC West, this loss dropped them below .500 and star RB James Connor left the game with a knee injury.

What We Learned

→ The Jets are truly and utterly hopeless - Aaron Rodgers and co. could only manage nine points against the Rams at home. Rodgers hit Davante Adams late in the first quarter to take the lead and then did basically nothing else. Two turnover on downs, a fumble, and a missed field goal in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, the Rams continue their surge. Four wins in a row and with the Seattle loss, are a game clear in first place.

→ The Bengals are still a threat - After a horrid start to the season, the Bengals are in the hunt for the playoffs. Burrow and Chase connected again for a touchdown, and for Chase, he is well on his way to a receiver Triple Crown. Tough road ahead, they will have to get some help and beat the Broncos at home and the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile in Cleveland…God it must be terrible to be a Browns fan. #WeWantJameis

→ Is this the week stop #DoubtingDarnold? - Great game in Seattle and it was the Darnold-Jefferson connection that won the day for the Vikings as they improve to 13-2. Darnold threw for 3 touchdowns on the day and continues to prove the haters wrong. It does help when you have Justin Jefferson to throw to, 10 receptions for 144 yards and 2 TDs. Have a day! The loss puts the Seahawks playoff hopes in a big bind.

→Dolphins are still relevant - Miami kept their playoff hopes alive thanks to a massive performance from RB De’Von Achane (17 carries for 120, TD, 6 receptions for 70). The Dolphins have the Browns and Jets left on the schedule, but both games are away…and we know how Miami plays in the cold…

→ Bring your brooms, the NFC South is a mess - The Cowboys played like their jobs depended on it (Emperor Jones had the guillotine ready), and Dallas pulled off an upset over the Bucs at home. Tampa had a shot to win the game, but Daron Bland ripped the ball out of Rachaad White’s hands and as a result, threw the NFC South into chaos. The Falcons, yes, the Falcons are now in the driver’s seat to win the division because the Bucs have lost to them twice. Bucs play the Panthers and Saints, the Falcons play the Commanders and Panthers. If the Falcons win out, they’re in.

NFL Scoreboard and Standings

🏈 Tonight

The Saints @ Packers on ESPN/ABC at 8:30 PM

College Football Recap - 1st Round

Notre Dame 27 - Indiana 17: The Irish set the tone early in this one with Jeremiyah Love’s 98 yard touchdown run on ND’s opening drive of the game. The Hoosiers took the gut punch about as worse as you could imagine. I guess when you spend the season playing cupcakes and blowing out teams adversity becomes an allergy. Indiana woke up in the 4th quarter but it was too little too late and the Irish advance to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl/Quarterfinals. Let’s not have a complete celebration, Irish fans, the hole in this team (Riley Leonard’s QB play) was still very apparent. Tune in later this week when I tell you why their luck is about to run out.

Penn State 38, SMU 10: When you’re an underdog, and not only an underdog, an underdog who most everyone believes you don’t belong, you have to play your best game. That is not what SMU did. Kevin Jennings threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in the first half when the Mustang defense was stopping the Penn State offense. From then on the Nittany Lions took care of business and sent SMU back to Texas. Similar to the Irish, PSU still has a big problem with their QB play, unlike the Irish, Penn State will be favored in the 2nd round against Boise State.

Texas 38, Clemson 24: The Longhorns ran up, over, and around the Clemson Tigers en route to a 14-point victory. Clemson made a game of it (unlike the other three games), closing the gap to just seven points early in the 4th quarter. Then Jaydon Blue’s 77 yard TD scamper and a goal line stand (CAN WE STOP RUNNING UP THE MIDDLE ON 4TH AND ONE), sealed the deal for the Longhorns. Blue and Quintrevion Wisner combined for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns and they’ll need them to continue to dominate as QB Quinn Ewers isn’t setting the world aflame in recent weeks. The Longhorns should be heavy favorites against Arizona State in the next round.

Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17: Remember when a really smart person said this: “Tennessee is just not that good. No one talked about them not making the playoff, but they may be the biggest fraud of the 12.” I just love being proven right. Tennessee looked outmatched from the jump. Ohio State jumped out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter and it was pretty much over from there. QB Will Howard played well, the running game was strong and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith rose to the challenge. All in all, you could not have asked for a better bounce back if you’re a Buckeyes fan. A rematch with Oregon awaits Ohio State.

Other Bowl Games

StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio 30, Jacksonville State 27

Union Home Mortage Gasparilla Bowl: Florida 33, Tulane 8

Top NBA Games

Nuggets 132, Pelicans 129: Another day, another triple-double for Nikola Jokic.

Pacers 122, Kings 95: The Pacers had seven players score in double-digits and dominated the Kings in the second half to inch closer to .500.

Rockets 114, Raptors 110: Houston went down early, but stormed back led by Dillon Brooks’ 27 points to pick their 19th win of the season.

Full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Ducks 5, Utah 4 (SO): The Ducks scored two goals in the 3rd period, forced overtime and won in a shootout. Utah’s Clayton Keller scored two goals and logged two assists in the losing effort.

Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1: Pyotr Kochetkov outdueled Igor Shesterkin only letting in one goal. The goal came in the first period and then the Hurricanes scored three unanswered to pick up the win.

Panthers 4, Lightning 2: Sam Reinhart scored two goals and the Panthers defeated their in-state rival. It was two second period short-handed goals by AJ Greer and Eetu Luostarinen that gave Florida the separation they needed.

Full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers used an “Immaculate Reception” to beat the Oakland Raiders. With the Steelers trailing 7-6, on fourth down with 22 seconds left in the game, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass targeting Steelers running back John Fuqua. The ball bounced off the helmet of Raiders safety Jack Tatum. Steelers fullback Franco Harris caught it just before it hit the ground and ran for a game-winning touchdown.

Friday’s Trivia Time Answer

When was the last time IU beat Notre Dame?

B) 1950 - The IU-Notre Dame match-up dates back to 1898, but before Friday night they hadn’t faced each other since 1991 and it was only the second meeting since 1958. The last time Indiana actually beat the Irish on the field was Saturday, October 21, 1950. The Hoosiers beat Notre Dame 20-7.

Check back on Tuesday for today’s trivia answer and more info!