🏈 Rams Reign Supreme, Big NFL Weekend Preview, + More!

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

I’m going to let you in on a little pro tip. When Thursday night rolls around, I usually start craving a dessert. It’s been a long week, so why not treat myself, right? What I do is go out and grab a box of donuts (I usually get a dozen; it’s cheaper that way—economy of scale and all.) I get to get a nice little sugar spike while writing the Blitz (any spelling/grammatical errors are due to my glazed-over fingers and nothing else). Then when Friday morning rolls around, look who has 3.5-6 donuts left over as a nice little Friday morning pick me up. Goes perfect with that morning coffee. Just like the Morning Blitz, so let’s get into it!

WTF Stat: The fact that DT Aaron Donald (the king of double/triple teams) and Kobie Turner played together on the same team is crazy:

🏈  Do you like field goals, and a rainy football game with not much offense? Those are weird things to like, but last night was for you. The Rams beat the 49ers 12-6 in a rain-soaked game, with Joshua Karty kicking four field goals to secure the win. The Rams (8-6) moved within a half-game of the NFC West-leading Seahawks, while the 49ers (6-8) saw their playoff hopes take a hit. QB Matthew Stafford guided a clock-killing drive, culminating in Karty's final field goal. The game marked the Rams' first series sweep of the 49ers since 2018.

🏈 Travis Hunter, a standout two-way player for the Colorado Buffaloes, had a remarkable night at the college football awards ceremony, winning multiple honors. He was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, and also claimed the Walter Camp Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Biletnikoff Award. Hunter, known for his versatility, played both receiver and cornerback, finishing the season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also recording four interceptions and 11 pass breakups on defense.

NFL Week 14 Preview

Kansas City (12-1) at Cleveland (3-10) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: The Chiefs escaped near defeat again last week, doinking a last-second field goal in to beat the Chargers. This team, man. It is wild the amount of breaks the Chiefs have gotten this year, but they still remain 12-1 and at the top of the AFC. Enter the Jameis led Browns. These guys have nothing to play for, nothing to lose, and that makes them dangerous. As long as Winston can avoid any late game pick-6s (a tall ask, I realize), the Browns can keep this game close and maybe even steal one from KC at home.

The Pick: Browns +4

Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: The Dolphins are creeping and crawling their way back into Wild Card contention sitting at 6-7. The Texans are a win and a Colts loss away from clinching the AFC South for the second year in a row. Miami has a big-game problem. So far this season, they only have one win against a team with a winning record (the Rams). Houston loves to play down to its opponents. What breaks first? This is a huge game for the Texans, simply because their next two opponents are away at the Chiefs and home against Baltimore. I think they rise to the occasion.

The Pick: Texans -3

Buffalo (10-3) at Detroit (12-1) - 4:25 PM (CBS)

The View: Buffalo was rolling…until they let Matthew Stafford and the Rams have a renaissance game. A stinging loss to a team they should have beat and now they have to go into the Lion’s den to face the best team in the NFL (said it, meant it). To make matters worse, Buffalo’s run defense has been suspect this year. Detroit is not the team you want to let run all over you with Sonic (Jamyr Gibbs) and Knuckles (David Montgomery). Dan Campbell will pound the rock down Buffalo’s throat until they choke. Josh Allen is doing amazing things this season and Detroit can be beat through the air…I just don’t see anyone going into Motown and winning right now.

The Pick: Lions -2.5

Tampa Bay (7-6) at LA Chargers (8-5) - Sunday 4:25 PM (FOX)

The View: The Chargers turn around this season is pretty remarkable. Leaning on Justin Herbert to be a game manager, not a hero, and playing solid defense. Who knew that could work? However, relying on JK Dobbins/Gus Edwards to be healthy all year as your lead backs…yeah that’s tough. Herbert will need to pass against a porous Tampa Bay secondary, the problem is that his top receiver and his top tight end are both banged up. Defense will keep them in the game, but Baker magic will reign supreme in LA.

The Pick: Bucs +3

Pittsburgh (10-3) at Philadelphia (11-2) - Sunday 8:20 PM (NBC)

The View: Vibes are again growing sour in the City of Brotherly love. Reports of AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts not being buddies anymore is not going to be great for morale, especially after last season’s crumbling down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Steelers have won seven of eight and are really efficient on both sides of the ball. If Pittsburgh can slow down Saquon and put the Eagles in passing situations, I think Philly will be exposed…again. Plus, for an in-state rivalry between two good teams…5.5 is just too much of a spread.

The Pick: Steelers +5.5

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 8-8

Jean Machine: 42-22

Full NFL Schedule click here

NBA Top Games

Celtics 123, Pistons 99: Payton Pritchard scored 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 123-99 victory, securing their 20th win of the season. Pritchard, a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, was joined by Derrick White, who added 23 points and also hit seven 3-pointers. Boston made 20 3-pointers in total and led by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter.

Heat 114, Raptors 104: Bam Adebayo posted a double-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 114-104 victory. Tyler Herro contributed 23 points, while Nikola Jovic added 14. The Heat overcame a 16-point deficit early in the second quarter, outscoring Toronto 33-10 to end the first half.

Kings 111, Pelicans 109: Domantas Sabonis had a standout performance, scoring a season-high 32 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. De'Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray each added 18 points, and DeMar DeRozan contributed 29 points.

See full NBA scoreboard NBA here and standings here.

NHL Top Games

Golden Knights 3, Jets 2: Big matchup against the top teams in the Central and Pacific divisions did not disappoint. Ivan Barbashev scored at 3:47 of overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 win. Barbashev capitalized on a Winnipeg turnover, beating Connor Hellebuyck on the blocker side for his 14th goal of the season. The Jets have now gone 0-6-2 in their last eight regular-season games against Vegas.

Devils 3, Kings 1: Jack Hughes scored the go-ahead goal and added two assists to lead the Devils to a 3-1 win, ending the Kings’ six-game winning streak. Hughes' 12th goal of the season came with 7:02 left in the third period, giving the Devils their first lead.

Capitals 2, Blue Jackets 1: Aliaksei Protas scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Protas tied the game 31 seconds into the third period and then netted the OT winner 2:23 into the extra period, bringing his season total to 11 goals. Charlie Lindgren made 32 saves, including crucial stops early in overtime.

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1956, the Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield & $35,000. The trade, however, was never completed; unbeknownst to the Dodgers, Robinson had already agreed with the president of Chock full o'Nuts (a coffee company) to quit baseball and become an executive with the company. Robinson retired from baseball at age 37.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which player has the most blocked shots in NBA history?

D) Hakeem Olajuwon - With 3,830 blocked shots, Dikembe Mutombo second with 3,289). Olajuwon averaged 3.1 blocks per game in his 18 year career. In the 1989-1990 season he averaged 4.6 blocks per game along with 24.3 PPG and 14 rebounds per game.

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