Who Will Win Super Bowl LX ?

This year is going to be quite a different Super Bowl. For the past couple of years, the Chiefs and the Eagles have dominated the Super Bowl, but this year the Chiefs did not even make the playoffs and the Eagles surprisingly lost in the Wild Card Round. After several losing seasons, the New England Patriots have made it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019, and their first playoff appearance since 2021. The Patriots have gone through many changes such as the loss of starting quarterback, Tom Brady, and their legendary coach, Bill Belichick. Last season and the season before, they finished with a 4-13 record. The Seattle Seahawks have had a slightly better past few years, and have not had as many losing seasons as the Patriots. However, the Seahawks have still had their downfalls, as they have missed the playoffs for two consecutive years. Furthermore, they have been developing as a team with many new players.

This season the Patriots finished as one of the best teams in the league with a 14-3 regular season record. They had made important moves such as drafting their starting quarterback Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL draft. Over the past two years, he has grown to become a Super- Bowl-caliber quarterbackback. In addition, they drafted running back, TreVyon Henderson, who has been the second string running back behind starting running back, Raymondre Stevenson. Even as a second stringer, Treyvon Henderson has emerged as an explosive running back and was recently named the AFC offensive player of the month. A fun fact is that his first touch in the NFL was a punt return kick for a 100 yard touchdown. Another major move that the Patriots made was to sign all star wide receiver, Stefon Diggs. Diggs has played a major role for the team all season.  He provides veteran leadership that proved crucial in their AFC playoff game against the Broncos. He has also been a major influence on the development of Drake Maye as a star quarterback. Another big piece to the puzzle of the 2025-26 Patriots team is their new head coach, Mike Vrabel. Vrabel has played a most critical role in engineering one the greatest single season-turnarounds in NFL history. Mike Vrabel is the one who should mostly be credited for the team's success.

The Seattle Seahawks may have gone under an even bigger facelift than the Patriots. After once again missing  the playoffs last season, the Seattle Seahawks traded away their starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders. They then acquired the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, Sam Darnold.  Darnold had led the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs the previous season. Another big move that they made was trading away their star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to the Steelers. And another move was cutting ties with their long time receiver, Tyler Lockett. They also acquired Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp’s season has not been on par with previous work with the Rams,  but he has provided the Seahawks with veteran leadership and some clutch receiving. Some of Cooper Kupp's clutch receiving came was on display when he caught the touchdown that gave the trailing Seahawks a lead over the Rams in the NFC championship game. Another big change in their receiver corps is the tremendous growth of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Since  Metcalf was traded, Smith-Njigba soared to the occasion.  Cooper Kupp filled out the  second string spot. Jaxon Smith Ngigba played tremendously all season.  They also have  starting running back Kenneth Walker IIII, who has served in a key offensive role, especially so during their postseason.  Another piece to the puzzle for the Seahawks success is their head coach Mike Macdonald. McDonald was hired as their head coach in the 2024 offseason. He should be duly credited for the success of this football team. 

Now we come to the prediction.  So readers, strap yourselves in. We know that the Patriots have their star quarterback Drake Maye, and the Seahawks have Sam Darnold.  Both have had outstanding seasons as starting quarterbacks, but Drake Maye has slightly done better than Darnold statistically so we can say that Drake Maye wins the quarterback game over the Seahawks. But if we compare their wide receiver strings, the Patriots only have Steffon Diggs as their best all around receiving threat.   We also have to consider Diggs’ age.   He has not been as consistently productive as he has in the past. The rest of the Patriots Wide receiving string do not feature notable players. The Seahawks impressed with  Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL.  And they also feature Cooper Kupp who has contributed to the team winning in critical moments of the season. So it appears the Seattle Seahawks have a better receiving game than the New England Patriots do. The Patriots running game has Rhamondre Steveson and Treyvon Henderson who have both been great contributors this season. The Seahawks could have countered with Walker and Zach Charbonnet, but Charbonnet had suffered a season ending injury in the divisional round of the playoffs. So I would say that the Patriots have a better running game than the Patriots entering the Super Bowl. If we talk about the coaching, it is fair to say that Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel are equally important as they both have led their teams to great seasons with matching 14-3 records. 

In conclusion the Seattle Seahawks have a more powerful all around team than the Patriots,  seeing that the Seahawk defense is number one in the NFL. Even though the Patriots may have a super talented head coach, the Seahawks have a great coach as well. Because of these reasons, I predict that the Seattle Seahawks will win the Super Bowl.

Jockey Hollow Lions are "Roaring" into a Successful Soccer Season. 

By: Lions Roar Sports Staff

The Unified Sports Program is in its ninth year at Jockey Hollow Middle School. Unified Sports is an inclusive program that unites Special Olympic athletes and partners as teammates for training and competition. The program is led by Jennifer Fisher and Donald Casey JR.

On October 21, 2025, the team traveled to Brookfield High School and competed in a middle school Unified Sports soccer tournament. Since Jockey Hollow has a large team, Mrs. Fisher and Mr. Casey made two squads consisting of athletes and partners. The Lions competed against teams from Brookfield, Danbury, and Newtown during four 12-minute games. Each team played great and scored lots of goals. 

According to head coach Donald Casey JR, "The athletes and partners were safe throughout, learned a lot, and had a ton of fun! Most importantly, team members were respectful and kind to each other and to new friends from other schools." 

The tournament concluded with each student receiving snacks and a gold medal. 

    Mrs. Fisher and Mr. Casey are so proud of every student on our Unified Sports Team. "1, 2, 3-GO LIONS!"  

Jockey Hollow Cross Country Team off to a Great Start to the Season!

By:  Lions Roar Staff

Did you ever wonder why forty nine students are running around Jockey Hollow after school? If you said, "the Cross Country Team," you are correct! 

Cross Country is running on various types of terrain not including a track. You may be running on paths in the woods, roads, and other types of surfaces, some which may be hilly. The distance is approximately 1.5/2.0 miles for middle school students. Times are recorded for both boys and girls when competing.

In practice, each session begins with a team meeting. Goals are set for each practice and upcoming meets. As a team, we stretch and prepare for a distance run. On many occasions, the team will run one mile, which are four laps around Jockey Hollow. We focus on SAFETY FIRST, respect for each other, working together as a team, and having FUN. Practice ends with our team cheer: "One two, three!" "Jockey Hollow!"

The Cross Country Team invites you to come to a meet and cheer us on. "GO LIONS!"

Here is the team's upcoming schedule: 

Thursday, 9/18, @ Bethel Middle School, 4:00 PM.

Thursday, 9/25, HOME, Great Hollow Lake versus Newtown, Bethel & Hillcrest, 4:00 PM.

Wednesday, 10/1, HOME,  Great Hollow Lake versus Fairfield Woods & Madison, 4:00 PM

Wednesday, 10/8, @ Newtown Middle School, 4:00 PM.

Thursday, 10/16, @ Madison Middle School in Trumbull, 4:00 PM.

Thursday, 10/23, HOME,  Great Hollow Lake versus Wooster, Flood & Fraser Woods, 4:30 PM. 

How Will the Teams who Played  Big Roles this Offseason do this Summer?

The past baseball offseason is going to make the upcoming baseball season exciting when it’s all said and done.   The offseason had some of the greatest players declare for free agency. Some of the signings may make a huge difference in the performance of their new teams. There were also teams that signed players to field a position that was not a strength with the team previously. This year's free agent signings and trades are going to make a difference.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 

This year's baseball offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers has turned them into an even bigger powerhouse than last year's team. This year, the LA Dodgers have made their pitching line up into a murders row, by signing two time Cy Young award winning pitcher Blake Snell. In addition, they signed Japanese superstar pitcher Roki Saski. Sasaki last year was Japan's greatest pitcher. Now with a more healthy Ohtani beginning to prepare to pitch again, their murderous pitching lineup may be even more criminal. In previous years, the Dodgers have not had a great bullpen, but after the signing of two time all star Kirby Yates and star reliever Tanner Scott, their bullpen performance should increase dramatically. The Dodgers have not only improved their pitching, but also their hittingl. After re-signing Teoscar Hernandez, their hitting lineup will be strong once again. And, it got stronger after the signing of four time gold glove award winner Hyeseong Kim, out of Korea.  With all of these free agent signings, the Dodgers are going to be a world series winning team again like last year, but maybe even better.

Jockey Hollow Lions on 'Track' for a Great Season

Monroe, Connecticut. April 8, 2025. "Runners on your mark. Set. GO!" The Jockey Hollow Middle School Track and Field team have begun to practice and train for their upcoming season. Each practice incorporates running, stretching, building teamwork skills, and specific event training. Sixty-two students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 are on the team this year. Track and field events at the middle school level include relays, sprints, middle distances races, hurdles, long jump, discus and shot put. The team is coached by Joseph Lato and Donald Casey JR.

This team has been an honored part of our sports, clubs, and overall community at Jockey Hollow for many years. Both the people on the track and the people in on field work hard every year to give their all at the meets. This year's track and field is a little different from years past.  The team has grown from forty members to sixty-two. The team may have grown larger, but the quality of sportsmanship has not diluted.  

According to Head Coach Donald Casey JR, "We are so proud of every student-athlete on our team. Students are safe, caring, kind, support each other, and work hard. Each student is learning many new skills and having fun at the same time." 

The Jockey Hollow Middle School student-athletes invite you to attend a meet and support the Lions. The 2025 Track & Field Team schedule includes the following meets versus other middle schools:

• Friday, April 25, 2025, at Masuk High School starting @ 4:00 PM.

• Monday, April 28, 2025, at Bethel High School @ 4:00 PM.

• Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Keller Relays at New Fairfield High School @ 4:00 PM. 

• Monday, May 19, 2025, at Shelton High School @ 4:00 PM. 

Jockey Hollow Track Event - May 31st 2024

Lorenzo Lucas

Friday, May 31st. “Speed. I. Am. Speed.” That’s what lightning McQueen (From Pixar’s Cars) said before his big race. That’s most likely what every participant in the track event said to themselves. The May 31st event was against Bethel. The track teams consisted of both boys and girls. The event was held at Benedict Field track, located at Masuk. “On your mark. Get set. GO!!!

The event started with the girls 50 meter hurdle. The hurdle is a run, with hurdles the runner must jump over. Jockey Hollow won the hurdle event! The next event was the boys 50 meter hurdle. Bethel won the boys event. The next event was the girls 4X100 relay. This event was done on the turf, not the track, while the long jump and disk throwing were also being held. The boys 4X100 happened afterward. 

Thank you to Coach Casey for inviting us to attend the event!  Mrs. V, Mr. L,  and Mr. Troesser were also coaching. We want to give a big round of applause to all runners and coaches!

The big run started! Jockey Hollow took the lead! Halfway through the race Bethel had caught up! Quarter way to the finish line, Bethel took the lead! Bethel won this event, but Jockey Hollow was just getting started. 

The girls were getting ready for the 400m run.. On the track, the boys had their dash. Right at the start, Jockey Hollow had a huge lead! This lead lasted until the halfway point, Jockey Hollow and Bethel were neck and neck at the end! Bethel had a slight edge and took the lead for the win. 

The girls 400m started, and Bethel took the lead. As the race neared its  finish point, Bethel was still was in front. Bethel won the race in the end. The second race started, with Bethel in the lead. Bethel also won this event.

The boys 400m race started. Jockey Hollow took the lead halfway through! Bethel caught up just feet before the finish line and took the win. The second race started, and Bethel also won the race. Another boys 400m started. Bethel won this race, with Jockey Hollow at a close second.

The 1600m boys then started.  Jockey Hollow and Bethel were tied at the start, before Jockey Hollow took a huge lead! This run was four laps around the field. Halfway through the second lap, Jockey Hollow had a massive advantage! By the end of the second lap, Bethel had caught up and taken the lead. Bethel took the advantage in the third lap, getting way ahead of everyone else. The last lap started, and Jockey Hollow fell further behind. Bethel won the race. 

The girls 100m dash was now about to start. Mr. Troesser lead them to the starting line. Coach Casey brought the boys to the 100m dash starting line as well. Bethel took the win for the girls' dash. For the second dash, Bethel also won. The third race was much closer. Bethel won this dash in addition to the two others. The boys 100m started next. 

The boys 100m started very quickly. Bethel won this one, but there was still a chance for Jockey Hollow to win the next dash. The second race was super close. Bethel had the lead for most of the race, when Jockey Hollow took the win just before the finish line! Jockey Hollow won the third dash, but Bethel did not participate. 

The 800m run was next. This is like the 400m run, but with an additional lap around the track. Bethel had the lead at the start of the race. Bethel still had a gigantic lead for the second lap. Bethel won the race. 

Next on the lineup was the 200m run. First was the girls running, starting from the halfway point. Jockey Hollow and Bethel were very close, but Bethel ended up winning. The girls had a second race, and Bethel won again. Jockey Hollow did not participate in the final race, so Bethel won that race too. 

The boys 200m run started. Bethel was winning this race halfway through. Bethel won the first race. Jockey Hollow had a lead for the second race! Bethel fell behind, and Jockey Hollow won! There was one race left for the boys 200m run. Jockey Hollow had a lead again in the last race, but with only 60m left, Bethel caught up and won.

The final event started, the 4 X 400 team event. This event had four runners in a lane. Bethel had the lead starting off as the second lap started. This race works by having four partners, with the runners passing the baton to the next runner.  The run is 400m, for a total of 1600m. Bethel was in the lead before the last lap. The final 100m began, and Bethel had first place. Bethel won this final race by a landslide. 

Many amazing athletes were at the track event. I could never run like all the participants did, it was amazing to spectate. Thank you to Coach Casey! Plenty of articles would not have been possible without him! Also, thank you to the Lion’s Roar!  Without which any of these articles would be possible!

Pete Alonso Breaks Mets Record

Mets Win First Game of '24

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

The New York Mets’ 2024 MLB Season has not started off the way they or their fan-base had hoped. For starters, their Opening Day was postponed due to rain at Citi Field and was pushed back a day. This is the second consecutive year that the Mets home-opener was postponed. The Mets kicked things off against the Milwaukee Brewers in a three game series, New York lost all three. 

The team then had to get ready for another three game set against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers came into that series a perfect 3-0 after sweeping the Chicago White Sox to open their season. The Mets lost the first game by blowing a scoreless game wide open by allowing five runs in the 10th inning. The final score was Tigers 5, Mets 0. The next two games were postponed, once again due to rain. This now set up a double-header on Thursday, April 4th; a day that was supposed to be an off day for both teams. 

Once again, the Mets blew one. Going into the 6th inning in game one it was 3-0, New York. Then the Tigers scored one run in the top of 6th, 7th, and 8th innings, tying the game at three a piece. After a scoreless 9th inning, the game went into extras. The 10th inning was scoreless as well, sending the game to its 11th inning. Mets reliever Michael Tonkin gave up three runs in the top of 11th. These runs would end up being the difference as the Mets could muster nothing in the bottom of the frame. Tigers won, 6-3. 

In Game two of the double-header, the Mets were held hitless for the first eight innings. These eight innings combined with the last five from the previous, meant that the Mets had gone 13 straight innings with no hits. This was the longest hitting drought in franchise history for the Mets. In the bottom of the eight, Mets CF Harrison Bader hit a line-drive single to spoil the Tigers’ no-hit bid. That baserunner would not eventually become a run as the Mets still trailed 1-0. Now going into the bottom of the ninth, Pete Alonso led off the frame. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Alonso hit a 403 foot Home Run into center field. An exit-velocity of 101.2 MPH to tie the game at one. With that swing, Pete Alosno not only hit his second home run of the season, but he got his 500th career RBI, and became the fastest Met to reach this milestone, in his 690th major league game. Following this, 3B Brett Baty drew a walk that represented the winning run for the Metropolitans. RF Starling Marte hit a sacrifice bunt, advancing Baty to 2nd as Marte was tagged out. LF Tyrone Taylor was up next. On a 3-2 count, Taylor swung and hit the ball over 3rd base and down the left field line in fair territory. Baty came around third…and came into score and the Mets won it. The first walk-off this season for the Mets and Tyrone Taylor’s first career walk-off hit. The Mets take the last game of the series from the Tigers, winning 2-1.

So there you have it. Pete Alosno gets his 500th career RBI, Tyrone Taylor walks it off for the first time in his career, and the Mets get their first win of the season. Their record is now 1-5 as they head to the Midwest to start their first road-trip of ‘24, playing the Cincinnati Reds for three games then going down South to Atlanta to play their NL East divisional rival, the Braves for four games. LGM!

On a side note, due to yesterday's Solar Eclipse (4/8), the start to the Marlins-Yankees game in the Bronx was pushed back by four hours. Originally scheduled for 2:05 PM, the first pitch was thrown at 6:05 PM. The Solar Eclipse affected everybody in a different way. 

2023 - Conference Championships 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

These games decide who goes to the Super Bowl! Only four teams remain, two in each conference. It’s the AFC and NFC Championship games, here we go! 

AFC: (3) Kansas City Chiefs @ (1) Baltimore Ravens: Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is appearing in his sixth straight AFC Championship game. He has never not appeared in the AFC title game in his career. He has a record of 4-2. Of those four wins, they went on to win two Super Bowls. Unfortunately, this AFC Championship wasn’t as entertaining as ones in years past. The Ravens, who looked like the best team in football for the entire season, couldn't beat the Chiefs. Kansas City looked dominant, leading 17-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, all five drives ended in a punt. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs only let up a field goal by Justin Tucker. The other two drives ended in a lost fumble and an interception in the endzone, which really put the Ravens away. The final score, 17-10, Kansas City Chiefs as they win their fourth AFC title in the last six years, and have a chance to win their third Super Bowl in their last four Super Bowl appearances. The Chiefs will be facing the NFC’s Detroit Lions or San Francisco 49ers. We'll see who meets KC in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII. 

NFC: (3) Detroit Lions @ (1) San Francisco 49ers: At Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay area, the home-town 49ers look to make the Super Bowl a rematch of the game four years ago, when the Chiefs beat the Niners. As for the opposing Detroit Lions, they look to make their first Super Bowl appearance EVER!!! It’s the Niners and the Lions, competing for the George Halas trophy. It was all Lions in the first quarter. After winning the coin toss and taking the ball, Detroit went down the field, 75 yards, in one minute and 42 seconds. The drive was capped off by a 42 yard run by WR Jameson Williams. TOUCHDOWN! 7-0, Detroit. After the 49ers first drive ended in a missed field goal by kicker Jake Moody, the Lions started their second drive at their own 38 yard line. They then traversed 62 yards in just over five minutes, ending on a one yard rushing TOUCHDOWN, up the middle for RB David Montgomery. 14-0, Detroit after the first. With 13:52 left in the second, RB Christian McCaffery ran up the middle and gave the Niners their first score of the game, TOUCHDOWN. 14-7, Detroit. With 6:01 left in the second, RB Jahmyr Gibbs ran 15 yards for the third rushing TOUCHDOWN of the game for the Lions. 21-7, Detroit. To close out the half, Lions kicker Michael Badgley made a 21 yard field goal. 24-7, Detroit at HALFTIME. 

It was all San Francisco in the third quarter. First, Jake Moody redeemed himself by making a 43 yard field goal. 24-10, Detroit. Then, a short, six yard pass by QB Brock Purdy to WR Brandon Aiyuk. TOUCHDOWN. 24-17, Detroit. Finally, Christian McCaffery ran up the middle for his second TOUCHDOWN of the game. The 49ers have come rushing back in the third, tying the ball game up. 24-24, heading to the fourth. With 9:56 left in the fourth, Jake Moody made a 33 yard field goal. The 49ers take their first lead of the game. 27-24, San Francisco. With 3:06 left, RB Elijah Mitchell ran three yards up the middle, TOUCHDOWN Niners. They lead by ten with three minutes to go. 34-24, San Francisco. With 1:00 left, QB Jared Goff threw a three yard pass to the back of the endzone, caught by WR Jameson Williams. TOUCHDOWN Lions. They’re now within three. They then tried for an on-sides kick and the Lions were close, but not close enough to recover. The 49ers come surging back, down by 21 at the half, and win by three in the end. Though, you’ve got to give an immense amount of credit to the Detroit Lions. They had an incredible season, a regular season record of 12-5, winning the NFC North, clinching the three seed and making it all the way to the NFC Championship. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing the Lions in the postseason for many years to come. Now, onto the now eight-time NFC Champions. The San Francisco 49ers have a date with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 11th in Las Vegas. A Super Bowl LIV (54) rematch, four years later. Final score, 34-31, San Francisco 49ers. The NFC Champions. 

Thank you folks for reading. Super Bowl LVIII has been set! The Chiefs and 49ers had a great game four years ago, I’m sure this year’s game we’ll be no different.

Super Bowl LVIII:

Sunday, February 11, 2024

San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - 6:30 PM

One more game, one more recap. My Super Bowl article comes out next week! See ya then! 

2023 - Wild Card Weekend 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

It’s Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL. Although to my surprise only one game really stood out to me. 

NFC: (6) Los Angeles Rams @ (3) Detroit Lions (SNF): It’s the return of Matthew Stafford to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. This game is a story that started on January 30, 2021 when the Lions and Rams switched quarterbacks in a trade. Jared Goff, who had brought the Rams to Super Bowl LIII (53) in the 2018-19 season and came up short to the New England Patriots 13-3, went to the Lions and Matthew Stafford went to the Rams. In the coming season, Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl of his own. This time, the Rams won it over the Bengals, 23-20. And here we are now, just about three years after that trade. It’s the Lions and Rams in the Wild Card Round on Sunday Night Football. With 9:34 left in the first, RB David Montgomery ran for two yards, up the middle for a Detroit TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Detroit. With 4:29 left in the first, Rams kicker Brett Maher made a 24 yard field goal. 7-3, Detroit. With 1:36 left in the first, RB Jahmyr Gibbs ran 10 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-3, Detroit after one. With 13:32 left in the second, QB Matthew Stafford threw a deep ball to WR Puka Nacua. He put a spin move on the Lions’ defender and walked into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 50 yard pass from Stafford to Nacua for the score. 14-10, Detroit. With 7:16 left in the second, QB Jared Goff threw a one yard pass to the back of the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. TE Sam LaPorta with the catch. 21-10, Detroit. With 4:11 left in the second, Matthew Stafford threw a perfect pass, caught by WR Tutu Atwell. He ran the last 20 yards and did a front-flip into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 38 yard pass, catch and run for the score. 21-17, Detroit at HALFTIME. Each team scored a field goal in the third quarter. First, a 54 yard kick by Lions kicker Michael Badgley. 24-17, Detroit. Next, a 27 yarder by Rams kicker Brett Maher. 24-20, Detroit after three. With 8:13 left in the fourth, Brett Maher made a 29 yard field goal. The Rams are within one point. After a punt by each team, the Lions had the ball with 2:00 left. The spot of the ball is their own 32 yard line for a second and nine play. The Rams have no timeouts. A first down would win the game. Jared Goff threw a short pass to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown caught it at the 43 yard line for a pickup of 11 and a first down. Now with the clock running, Jared Goff takes three kneel downs and takes home the first playoff victory for the Lions in 30 years! The first playoff game in history to be hosted at Ford Field has a great outcome for the Lions! Final score, 24-23, Detroit Lions. 

Unfortunately, that was the only really good game, a very evenly matched contest. Although, there is no way that I can publish this article without mentioning the losses of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. I am a New York Giants fan. And, as you have probably just figured out, I do not like either of these teams….at all! The only thing better than the Giants being in the playoffs is watching the Eagles, and especially the Cowboys, crumble in the playoffs. I’ll first talk about the Eagles game. With Philadelphia being the five seed in the NFC, they traveled to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to face the number four seed in the NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Eagles, after starting their season at 10-1 up to Week 12. The last six weeks of the season they went 1-5, finishing with a record of 11-6. They’re only win on that stretch: a very close game against the Giants on Christmas Day. The Eagles were so close to losing, but were able to squeak by Big Blue. That would not be the case two weeks later in Week 18 when the Giants absolutely ran over the Eagles, 27-10. In the Wild Card Round, the Eagles' struggles continued and were clearly present in their 32-9 loss. 

Now onto the Cowboys. My favorite part of this whole article. Dallas beat the Washington Commanders 38-10 in Week 18. And with the Eagles’ loss that same week, Dallas won the NFC East and clinched the two seed in the NFC. This was the NFC East’s 19th separate champion. Meaning there hasn’t been a back to back champion since the Eagles won the division four years straight in 2001, ‘02, ‘03 and ‘04. The Cowboys were set to face the seven seed, Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys have made the postseason 13 times since the 1995 season, their last Super Bowl win. In 28 years, they’ve won a total of five playoff games and haven’t made it to the NFC Championship since that Super Bowl winning season in ‘95. I just love that Cowboy’ fans over-hype their team every year, usually saying something around the lines of “This is our year!” This excitement happens every year just to have the exact same outcome for nearly three decades. This season, after going undefeated at home all-season long, they lost to the Packers, 48-32. This was the first time in NFL history that a seven seed won a playoff game. And it happened…to the Cowboys. So, to conclude my rant on these teams, if the Cowboys continue to crush the Giants in the regular season, I’ll be sad but at least I know that all that will just lead to yet another disappointing postseason. As for the Eagles, I hope their struggles roll over into next season. 

Divisional Round Schedule: 

Saturday, 1/20: 

AFC: (4) Houston Texans @ (1) Baltimore Ravens - 4:30 PM

NFC: (7) Green Bay Packers @ (1) San Francisco 49ers - 8:15 PM

Sunday, 1/21: 

NFC: (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ (3) Detroit Lions - 3:00 PM

AFC: (3) Kansas City Chiefs @ (2) Buffalo Bills - 6:30 PM 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the NFL’s Divisional round of the playoffs. See you for that article, next week. 

Jockey Hollow Basketball Update! 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Hello Jockey Hollow Lions! This is your official sports writer for the Jockey Hollow boys and girls varsity basketball teams. This article is meant to look at how the first two months of the season went and what the last month could look like. 

We’ll start with the boys varsity team. They went into holiday break with a 3-5 record. They started their season on a four game losing streak to Hillcrest, Roger Ludlowe, Fairfield Woods and Tomlinson. The boys, at 0-4, got their first win of the season on Friday, December 8th with an at-home victory over Bethel. It was a close game, the boys won, 52-46. The boys lost once more the following Monday, December 11th to Wooster, 60-34. After that, with a 1-5 record, the boys put together a two-game win streak. First, a home win vs. Flood on December 14th with a score of 50-27, then another home win vs. Newtown the Wednesday before break. It was a close one, and it came down to the wire. The Lions pulled out the win, 41-39. Now at 3-5, the boys came back from break preparing for a game on January 4th. Once again at home, they were set to play Fairfield Woods. Unfortunately, the boys lost that one, 53-42. They’re now at 3-6 with their next game at Bethel on January 5th. 

Next, is the girls. They started their season off with a hard loss at Hillcrest, 60-20. They bounced back though, at their first home game on November 30th, beating Roger Ludlowe 39-23. At 1-1 entering December, the girls go win number two with a home win against a Fairfield Woods team that wouldn’t stop fighting. That game came down to the final buzzer. The girls won, 45-44. They suffered a loss at Tomlinson, 34-29, but then went to Bethel two days later and won 40-32. Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone well for them since. They then went on a two game losing streak. A loss to Flood and another devastating loss to Hillcrest, 64-41, on the Thursday before break. They, like the boys, went into the break with a 3-5 record. I talked to the coach of the girls team and JH Health teacher, Mr. Troesser. First, I asked about the second Hillcrest game. He said “I felt like we were very well prepared going into the game, this showed in the first half.” Coach T. is right. The first half was back-and-forth. Our girls were down by four, 30-26 at halftime. I then asked him about the second half. “...we couldn’t keep up intensity and could not adapt to Hillcrest’s changes…”. I then asked him about how the season has gone up to this point. He explained “I feel like we have not performed to our girls’ potential in all of our games. There have been many bright moments, but we have been unable to put together a strong full-game performance against the top teams in our league.” Let’s hope the girls can do just that, perform at their best for the final month of the season. They won at Fairfield Woods on their first game back from break on January 4th. The score of that game was 38-32. Now 4-5, their next game is at home against Bethel on January 5th. 

Thank you for reading and best of luck to the boys and girls team in the final month of the regular season.  At the beginning of the season this reporter was given the opportunity by Mrs. V. to work the clock and scoreboard for the games in the JH gym. Luke Campos, my brother, Kellen and myself have managed the clock for all home games of the varsity boys and girls teams. It’s been great to watch!  We would like to send a quick thank you to Mrs. V., Mr. Troesser and Mr. Onderko for making this so much fun for Luke, Kellen and I. 

GO LIONS!!!

2023 - Week 16

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

It’s Christmas week and Week 16 in the NFL. A lot of good games this week. Some teams were gifted a playoff clinch as a Christmas present, while some saw coal in their stockings, in the form of being eliminated from playoff contention. It’s Week 16!! Let's see what went down! 

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday): At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The home-town chargers are coming off an embarrassing loss to their division rivals in the Raiders, with a score of 63-21. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was fired on Friday, December 15th. Here we are a week later, and the Chargers are looking to start the ‘new era’ off with a win. They put their 5-9 record on the line as they play the 8-6 Buffalo Bills. The only score of the first quarter was a 20 yard field goal by Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker. 3-0, Los Angeles after one. With 13:53 left in the second quarter, Chargers QB Easton Stick ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-0, Los Angeles. With 9:13 left in the second, QB Josh Allen threw a perfect pass to WR Gabe Davis, who caught a beautiful over-the-shoulder pass. He ran into the endzone to complete the 57 yard pass and catch. TOUCHDOWN Bills! 10-7, Los Angeles. With 41 seconds left in the half, Josh Allen ran two yards for a TOUCHDOWN! The Chargers score the first 10 points, the Bills score the next 14. 14-10, Buffalo at HALFTIME. With 7:26 left in the third quarter, Cameron Dicker made a 40 yard field goal. 14-13, Los Angeles. With 1:33 left in the third, Josh Allen went up the middle for a TOUCHDOWN! His second rushing score of the game. 21-13, Buffalo after three. With 12:40 left in the fourth quarter, Cameron Dicker yet again made a field goal. This time from 47 yards out, the kick was good. 21-16, Buffalo. With 7:24 left in the fourth, it was Cameron Dicker again! A 45 yard field goal cut the Bills lead down to two. 21-19, Buffalo. With 5:31 left in the fourth, why don’t you take a guess……yep, Cameron Dicker made his third field goal of the quarter! This is his longest, 53 yards. The Chargers take the lead with just under five and half to play. 22-21, Los Angeles. With 2:34 left, Josh Allen was getting a huge amount of pressure from the Chargers defensive line. He somehow got the ball down field to WR Khalil Shakir. He went down the turf, but hadn’t been touched. He got back up and ran into the endzone for a Bills TOUCHDOWN!!! Wait a minute…the officials took a look at this. It was determined that Chargers Safety Jaylinn Hawkins had touched Shakir while his knee was still in contact with the turf. He was ruled down at the Chargers’ 13 yard line. This took the score of the board. The Bills ran down the clock to 31 seconds. Kicker Tyler Bass came on to try a 29 yard field goal to put the Bills in front. The snap…the hold…and the kick…is good! The Bills lead by two. The Chargers, with no timeouts, need a miracle. Unfortunately for them, it would not be. The Chargers put up a fight, but the Bills come out on top. The Chargers, falling to 5-10 are eliminated from playoff contention with this loss. The Bills improve to 9-6. Final score, 24-22, Buffalo Bills. 

Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers: At Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The struggling, 2-12 Carolina Panthers are at home facing the 6-8 Green Bay Packers. With 7:34 left in the first, RB A.J. Dillon ran up the middle like a freight train for a one-yard rushing TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Green Bay. With 5:29 left in the first, Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro made a 52 yard field goal. 7-3, Green Bay after one. On the first play of the second quarter, QB Jordan Love ran up the middle for a one-yard rushing TOUCHDOWN of his own. Andres Carlson’s extra point was no good. 13-3, Green Bay. With 10:37 left in the second, QB Bryce Young faked a hand-off, twice, before really handing it off to WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette. He ran 20 yards for a Panthers TOUCHDOWN! What a play! 13-10, Green Bay. With 7:56 left in the second, Andres Carlson made a 53 yard field goal, setting a new career long for him. 16-10, Green Bay. Finally, with 57 seconds left in the half, Jordan Love threw a 21 yard pass to WR Dontayvion Wicks. TOUCHDOWN Packers! 23-10, Green Bay at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a four yard run by RB Chuba Hubbard. TOUCHDOWN! Eddy Pineiro’s extra point was no good. 23-16. Green Bay after three. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jordan Love threw a five yard pass to WR Romeo Doubs for a TOUCHDOWN. 30-16, Green Bay. With 7:18 to play, Bryce Young threw an 11 yard pass to WR D.J. Chark Jr. who caught it in the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN! Once again, the extra point was no good. 30-22, Green Bay. With 4:12 left, Bryce Young threw a perfect pass to, once again, D.J. Chark Jr. He made a beautiful catch, diving and keeping both feet in bounds. TOUCHDOWN Panthers!!! They’re within two. The Panthers went for a two-point conversion and got it. RB Raheem Blackshear with the run into the endzone. The Panthers have come roaring back, down by 13 at the half, now they’ve tied the game. 30-30 with just over four minutes to play. The Packers got the ball back with 4:05 left at their own 25 yard line. They moved the ball down the field and ran out the clock. They got down to the Panthers 14 yard line. There are now 22 seconds on the clock. Each team has no timeouts. Andres Carlson, who has missed an extra point in this game, came on to try the 32 yard kick. The kick was…good and the Packers regained the lead, by three, with 19 seconds left. The Panthers tried for a Christmas miracle but it would not be. The Panthers never had the lead, but they put up one heck of a fight. They fall to 2-13 as the Packers improve to 7-8. Final score, 33-30, Green Bay. 

Washington Commanders @ New York Jets: At Metlife Stadium in the Meadowlands of New Jersey.  Two teams, both eliminated from playoff contention, both struggling and both just looking for a win. The home-town 5-9 New York Jets face the 4-10 Washington Commanders. It wall Jets in the first quarter. First, a 25 yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein. Then, an eight yard pass by QB Trevor Siemian to WR Jason Brownlee for a TOUCHDOWN. Finally, a 36 yard run by RB Breece Hall for another TOUCHDOWN. In total, 17-0, New York after quarter number one. With 9:13 left in the second, Greg Zuerlein made a 27 yard field goal. 20-0, New York. With 6:48 left in the second, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran 12 yards for a Washington TOUCHDOWN! He had huge help from his teammates, pushing him the final few yards into the endzone. 20-7, New York. With 1:42 left in the second, RB Breece Hall ran towards the sideline, and before going out of bounds, he stretched the ball across the pylon for a TOUCHDOWN! What a play! 27-7, New York at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a 15 yard pass by QB Jacoby Brissett to TE Logan Thomas. TOUCHDOWN. 27-14, New York after three. With 9:36 left in the fourth, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 27-21, New York. With 4:56 left in the fourth, RB Antonio Gibson ran two yards for another Commanders TOUCHDOWN! They take the lead with this score. 28-27, Washington. The Jets got the ball back and ran out the clock. They got themselves to the Commanders’ 36 yard line with seconds to play. Greg Zuerlein came on to try the game-winning, 54 yard field goal. The snap…the hold…the long kick……is good!!! The Jets, nearly blowing a 20-0 lead, win it by two. They improve to 6-9 as the Commanders fall to 4-11. Final score, 30-28, New York Jets. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins: At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Dolphins, who have a 10-4 record, are struggling against teams with an over .500 record. The last team they beat a team with such a record was Week 3 of 2022 against the Buffalo Bills. We’ll see if the Dolphins can put up with a test, against the also 10-4 Dallas Cowboys, who have been on a hot streak it seems in every category. It’s the Cowboys and Dolphins, here we go! With 2:55 left in the first, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made a 57 yard field goal. 3-0, Miami. With 1:41 left in the first, QB Dak Prescott threw a perfect pass to WR Ceedee Lamb. He shedded a few tackles, avoided stepping out of bounds and ran into the endzone for a Cowboys TOUCHDOWN. In all, a 49 yard pass and catch for the score. 7-3, Dallas after one. It was all Dolphins in the second quarter. First, a 52 yard field goal by Jason Sanders. 7-6, Dallas. Then, a four yard pass by QB Tua Tagovailoa to RB Raheem Mostert. TOUCHDOWN. 13-7, Miami at HALFTIME. With 9:04 left in the third, Jason Sanders made another long field goal, his third. From 54 yards, the kick was good. 16-7, Miami. With 5:32 left in the third, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 43 yard field goal. 16-10, Miami. With 1:28 left in the third, Jason Sanders made a 35 yard field goal. 19-10, Miami after the third. With 12:35 left in the fourth, Brandon Aubrey made a 33 yard field goal. 19-13, Miami. With 3:33 left in the fourth, Dak Prescott threw an eight yard pass to WR Brandin Cooks. TOUCHDOWN Dallas! They take the lead with just over three minutes to play. 20-19, Dallas. The Dolphins ran down the rest of the clock, all the way down to two seconds. Jason Sanders, who has been a busy man in this game, came on to try a game-winning 29 yard field goal. The snap…the hold…the kick…right down the middle! It’s good and the Dolphins win it!!! What a game!! With this win, the Dolphins not only improve to 11-4 but clinch a playoff berth in the AFC. For the Cowboys, they lose their second straight, falling to 10-5. It was anyone's game up until the final play. Final score, 22-20, Miami Dolphins. 

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos (Christmas Eve edition of SNF): As Santa Claus and his reindeer fly across the world, these two teams are at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The 3-11 New England Patriots have their sights on a high draft pick. The 7-7 Denver Broncos are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s the Christmas Eve Holiday Classic, on Sunday Night Football. The Patriots got the ball first and everything went wrong on the first play. QB Bailey Zappe fumbled the ball and it was recovered by D-linemen D.J. Jones at the Patriots six yard line. The Broncos came on, and given the great field position, it felt like a piece of cake. Nope! The Broncos couldn’t score anything! On fourth and goal, RB Javonte Williams was tripped up and couldn’t get to the goal line. So, after a hectic start, the score is still 0-0. The first score of the game actually came eight minutes later, when RB Javonte Williams got his redemption and ran three yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Denver after one. The only score of the second quarter was a 33 yard field goal by Patriots kicker Chad Ryland. 7-3, Denver at HALFTIME. It was all Patriots in the third quarter. First, a pass by Bailey Zappe to RB Ezekiel Elliott. He ran 15 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was no good. 9-7, New England. Then, another pass by Bailey Zappe to TE Mike Gesicki. A 12 yard passing TOUCHDOWN. 16-7, New England. Finally, on the kickoff, Broncos returner Marvin Mims muffed the catch but regained control, until Patriots LB Mack Wilson punched the ball out. It rolled back into the endzone. Safety Cody Davis jumped on it for a Patriots TOUCHDOWN!! A total of 20 points scored in the third quarter, all by New England. They lead, 23-7 after the third. With 8:40 left in the fourth, QB Russel Wilson threw a four yard pass to TE Lucas Krull. TOUCHDOWN. They went for two and got it! 23-15, New England. With 2:59 left in the fourth, Russel Wilson threw a pass to WR Brandon Johnson. He shedded a tackle and dragged a defender across the goal line for a TOUCHDOWN. In all, a 21 yard pass and catch for the score. The Broncos are now down by two. They went for two and were once again successful. The Broncos have tied the game!!! Coming back from a 16 point deficit. The score is 23-23 with two and half to play. The Patriots got the ball and moved it down to the Broncos’ 38 yard line with seven seconds left. Chad Ryland, who is three for five on field goals and/or extra points in this game, came on to attempt the long, 56 yard kick that would give the Patriots the ‘W’. We’ll see if the thin, Denver air can help him. The kick is up and on its way……it’s good!!! The Patriots, nearly blowing a 16 point lead, win it on a last second field goal. They improve to 4-11 as the Broncos fall to 7-8, hurting their playoff chances. Final score, 26-23, New England Patriots. 

Thank you for reading. Before we’re finished, here is a quick look at who’s clinched, in the hunt, and eliminated in the playoff race. For the AFC, the Ravens (12-3) have clinched and the Dolphins (11-4) joined them with their win over the Cowboys. For the NFC, the 49ers (11-4), the Eagles (11-4) and the Cowboys (10-5) were joined by the Detroit Lions (11-4). The Lions beat their division rivals Minnesota Vikings, 30-24. For Detroit, they have won the NFC North for the first time in franchise history. It’s been 30 years since a division title for the Lions. They won it in 1993 when it was the NFC Central. For eliminations, we’ll start with the AFC. The Patriots (4-11), the Titans (5-10) and the Jets (6-9) were joined by the Chargers (5-10) with their loss to the Bills. For the NFC, the Panthers (2-13), Cardinals (3-12) and the Commanders (4-11) were joined by the New York Giants (5-10). The Giants put up a fight against the Eagles on Christmas Day, but couldn’t get the job done, losing 33-25. We’ll see who clinches the final few spots as the playoffs draw much closer.

 I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best in 2024.

2023 - Week 14

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

It’s Week 14 of the NFL. The playoffs are creeping closer and closer. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens: At M&T Bank Stadium right in the heart of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. The 6-6 Los Angeles Rams are in town as they face the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens. With 5:37 left in the first, Rams kicker Lucas Havrisik made a 27 yard field goal. 3-0, Los Angeles. With 34 seconds left in the first, QB Lamar Jackson threw a pass to a wide open TE Isaiah Likely. He ran into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 54 yard pass and catch for the score. 7-3, Baltimore after one. With 12:06 left in the second, QB Matthew Stafford threw a six yard pass to WR Cooper Kupp. TOUCHDOWN. 10-7, Los Angeles. With 9:48 left in the second, Lamar Jackson threw a 46 yard pass to WR Odell Beckham Jr. He tumbled into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-10, Baltimore. With 5:07 left in the second, Matthew Stafford threw a pass to TE Davis Allen. He went seven yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 17-14, Los Angeles. With 1:50 left in the second, Lucas Havrisik made a 51 yard field goal. 20-14, Los Angeles. To end the half, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a 31 yard field goal. 20-17, Los Angeles at HALFTIME. With 10:07 left in the third, Justin Tucker made a 47 yard field goal. 20-20. With 5:58 left in the third, Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum snapped the ball over Lamar Jackson’s head. It rolled back into the endzone. To avoid a Rams recovery for an LA touchdown, Lamar Jackson kicked the ball out of the back of the endzone. SAFETY. Jackson preferred to sacrifice the two points instead of six. 22-20, Los Angeles after the third quarter. With 11:22 left in the fourth, Justin Tucker made a 33 yard field goal. 23-22, Baltimore. With 4:47 left in the fourth, Matthew Stafford threw a five yard pass to WR Demarcus Robinson who made the diving catch. TOUCHDOWN. The two-point attempt was no good. 28-23, Los Angeles. With 1:22 left in the fourth, Lamar Jackson threw a perfect pass to WR Zay Flowers. TOUCHDOWN! A 21 yard pass and catch. They went for two and got it on another pass to Zay Flowers. 31-28, Baltimore. With 11 seconds left, Lucas Havrisik came on to make a 36 yard field goal. The snap, the hold the kick…is good! 31-31. OVERTIME! The Rams won the coin toss and got the ball first. That drive ended with a punt. With 8:07 left in OT, Rams punter Ethan Evans punted the ball away. The returner for Baltimore is Jihad Ward. And up until this game, he had never even been back to return a punt. He caught the ball at the Ravens 25 yard line. He ran towards the left sideline, shedded a few tackles he ran across midfield. To the 40, 30, 20, 15…10…5…TOUCHDOWN!!! The Ravens win it! What a game! What an ending!! Final score, 37-31. 

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs: Two teams that have developed one of the best rivalries in recent NFL history. It really got started in Kansas City in the back-and-forth scoring 2021 AFC Divisional game of the playoffs on January 23, 2022, when, in 13 seconds, the Chiefs went down the field to tie the game. They would go on to win in Overtime, 42-36. In the 2022 regular season, Week 6, also in Kansas City, the Bills beat the Chiefs, 24-20. For all-time records, the Bills lead 29-24, including five postseason games. It’s another game between these two and it’s sure to be a good one! The 6-6 Bills vs. the 8-4 Chiefs. The only score of the first quarter was a 25 yard pass by QB Josh Allen to RB James Cook. TOUCHDOWN Bills! 7-0, Buffalo after one. With 11:58 left in the second quarter, Josh Allen took the ball and ran. He seemed to be stopped at the 3 yard line. But with help from his team, he was pushed those extra three yards for the TOUCHDOWN. 14-0, Buffalo. With 1:26 left in the second, Patrick Mahomes handed the ball off to RB Jerick McKinnon. He ran six yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-7, Buffalo at HALFTIME. With 8:41 left in the third, Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 31 yard field goal. 17-7, Buffalo. With 3:35 left in the third, Patrick Mahomes threw a beautiful pass to WR Rashee Rice. A five yard pass and catch for the TOUCHDOWN. 17-14, Buffalo. With 11:33 left in the fourth quarter, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 28 yard field goal. 17-17. After a punt by each team, Tyler Bass kicked a 39 yard field goal for the Bills. They’re up by three with 1:54 on the game clock. With 1:25 left on a second and ten play, the Chiefs had the ball at the Buffalo 49 yard line. Patrick Mahomes threw a pass to TE Travis Kelce. He caught it at the Buffalo 32 yard line. After running 11 yards, Kelce threw the ball backwards on a lateral to WR Kadarius Toney. He ran 25 yards into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN! The Chiefs take the lead……hold up!!! There is a penalty flag on the play. Referee Carl Cheffers announced the penalty. “Offsides, offense number 19. Five yard penalty, replay second down.” WOW! Offensive offsides on Kadarius Toney! When I looked back at the replay, he was clearly offsides. Good call by the officials. Now the Chiefs have the ball at their own 46 yard line. On second down, Mahomes’ pass fell incomplete. On third down, a pass to Travis Kelce fell short. Now it’s fourth and 15 from the 46 yard line of Kansas City. Mahomes in shotgun, back lined up to his left. He drops back and fires down field to Kelce…incomplete. The pass sailed over Kelce’s head. Game over! Even with Taylor Swift there, the Chiefs couldn’t pull it off. To Chiefs fans, the refs did them wrong. To Bills fans, the refs are now their best friends, for now. For me, a fan of neither team, I think it was the correct call by the officials to a player who made a true error. The Bills still lead the all time series record, 30-24. We’ll see if these two teams meet again in the playoffs. The Chiefs fall to 8-5 as the Bills improve to 7-6. Final score, 20-17, Buffalo Bills. 

Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins (MNF): Game one of two of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. It’s the 4-8 Tennessee Titans and the 9-3 Miami Dolphins. The only score of the first quarter came on a third and eleven play for the Titans at their own five yard line. QB Will Levis’ pass was INTERCEPTED! Defensive Tackle Zach Sieler with the pick. He ran it back five yards for a TOUCHDOWN!! The big-man with the PICK-6! 7-0, Miami after one. With 6:58 left in the second, the Titans did a direct snap to RB Derrick Henry. He ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. To end the half, Titans kicker Nick Folk made a 28 yard field goal. 10-7, Tennessee at HALFTIME. Each team scored a field goal in the third quarter. First, it was Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders. He made a 20 yard field goal. 10-10. Then it was Nick Folk for the Titans. His 23 yard field goal was good. 13-10, Tennessee after three.  With 12:42 left in the fourth, Jason Sanders made a 31 yard field goal. 13-13. With 5:38 left in the fourth, RB Raheem Mostert ran two yards, extending his arm so the ball could cross the goal line for a TOUCHDOWN. 20-13, Miami. The Titans next drive ended on the first play when a pitch back pass by Will Levis to RB Derrick Henry was FUMBLED and recovered by Miami. Three plays later, RB Raheem Mostert ran five yards for another Dolphins TOUCHDOWN. 27-13, Miami to go up by 15. With 2:46 left in the fourth, Will Levis threw a three yard to WR DeAndre Hopkins. TOUCHDOWN Titans. The two point conversion was good on a completed pass, caught by WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. 27-21, Miami. The Dolphins next drive yielded nothing as they had to punt the ball away. With 1:53 left, RB Derrick Henry ran four yards for a TOUCHDOWN. They took the lead by one. With 27 seconds left on a fourth and two play, QB Tua Tagovailoa was rushed and brought down by the Titans defense for a sack. Game over! The Titans, down by 15 mid-way through the fourth quarter, came back and beat the Dolphins. Tennessee improves to 5-8 as the Dolphins fall to 9-4. Final score, 28-27, Tennessee Titans. 

Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants (MNF): Game two of two of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, five miles from New York City. The 6-6 Green Bay Packers are in town…and so are Tommy DeVito’s parents, plus DeVito’s agent! The Packers have to face the 4-8 New York Giants. After three consecutive drives ending on punts, two by Green Bay and one by New York, and a missed field goal by the Giants, the Packers got the ball for their third time. On a fourth and one play from their own 47 yard line, WR Dontayvion Wicks ran towards the sideline, sticking the ball across the line to gain, after it had gone out of bounds. The initial ruling was he was short. But after a booth review, the call was reversed and the Packers kept possession. This wouldn't be the first time there was a controversial call in this game. Three plays later, WR Jayden Reed ran 16 yards for a Green Bay TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Green Bay. The Giants answered right back on a 75 yard, eight play drive. This ended with a five yard run by RB Saquon Barkely for a G-men TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. The next four drives ended with no points. A fumble by the Packers, revived by the Giants. They’re drive ended on a turnover on downs. The Packers then threw an interception. That Giants drive ended on a punt. With 17 seconds left in the second, Packers kicker Anders Carlson made a 36 yard field goal. On the following kickoff, we thought the ball went out of bounds. This would be a “Kicking out of bounds” penalty and put the ball at the 40 yard line for New York. After a discussion between the officials, it was ruled the ball touched the Giants returner before going out of bounds. So the Giants took a knee and took us to the half. 10-7, Green Bay at HALFTIME. Off a muffed punt-return, the Giants got great field position. With 11:27 left in the third, RB Saquon Barkley ran a yard for his second TOUCHDOWN of the night. 14-10, New York. After the Packers screwed up a punt return, it was the Giants turn. The ball hit the back of a Giant’ defender. The ball was recovered by the Packers. This drive would only yield a field goal. A 32 yard kick by Andres Carlson gave Green Bay the three points. 14-13, New York. With 1:35 left in the third, QB Tommy DeVito threw a perfect pass to WR Isiah Hodgins. He made the perfect catch, getting two feet down in bounds in the back right corner of the endzone. An eight yard pass and catch for the Giants TOUCHDOWN. 21-13, New York after three. In the fourth quarter, the Packers missed a field goal and the Giants punted. The Packers got another chance at that field goal with 5:35 left. The 48 yard field goal by Andres Carlson was good. 21-16, New York. With 4:01 left, RB Saquon Barkley had a great run. From the Giants 48 to the Packers 19. But wait, he FUMBLED the ball on contact with the turf. Packers CB Carrington Valentine. He returned it to the Giants 36 yard line for a 50 yard return. This was Saquon Barkley’s third career lost fumble on 1,413 career touches. The Packers got the ball and nine plays later, QB Jordan Love threw a six yard pass to WR Malik Heath. The Packers went for two, trying to go up by three. This was unsuccessful on a run for no gain. 22-21, Green Bay with 1:33 left on the clock. The Giants have two timeouts. After three consecutive completed passes, Big-Blue is moving down the field. They’re now at their own 46 yard line. The key play of this drive was a 32 yard pass by Tommy DeVito to WR Wan’Dale Robinson. What a play!! The Giants are in field goal range at the Packers 22 yard line. The G-men ran the ball and ran out the clock. The Packers burned their last two timeouts. With two seconds left. Giants kicker Randy Bullock came on to try the 37 yard field goal for the win. The snap…the hold…the kick…is good!!! Right down the middle. Ball game! The Giants win it!!! The Giants win it!!! What a game! With the Packers losing and falling to 6-7, the San Francisco 49ers clinched a spot in the NFC side of the playoffs. The first team to do so this season. The Giants keep their playoff hopes alive as they improve to 5-8, on a three game win streak. And for his performance, Tommy DeVito won NFC Player of the Week! Final score, 24-22, New York Giants. 

Thank you so much for reading! This week we had upsets, incredible games and playoff implications. As I said, the 49ers clinched a spot in the NFC. And the 1-12 Carolina Panthers and the 3-10 New England Patriots have been eliminated from the postseason! The Patriots eliminated before the Jets!!! What! All jokes aside, it was a great week in the NFL. Week 15 is next! See ya!

2023 - Week 12

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

I hope you all had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope you ate to your limit and enjoyed the four-day break. But do you know what makes the holiday of Thanksgiving, and the weekend following for that matter, that much better?! NFL Football!!!! Week 12, which usually falls on this weekend of Thanksgiving, gave us some pretty good games. We even got a Black Friday game this year! Unfortunately, none of the games that happened on Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, weren’t good enough for the Lions Roar to put them in the article. But the Sunday after gave us some better action. Here they are: 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans: At NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, it’s an AFC South divisional matchup between the impressive, 6-4 Texans and the 7-3 Jaguars. The only score of the first quarter was a – yard field goal by Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus. 3-0, Jacksonville after one. With 9:44 left in the second, QB Trevor Lawrence jumped over the lineman and the ball crossed the goal line for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-0, Jacksonville. With 6:49 left in the second, QB C.J. Stroud threw a seven yard pass to WR Tank Dell. TOUCHDOWN. 10-7, Jacksonville. With 2:28 left in the second, Brandon McManus made a 48 yard field goal. 13-7, Jacksonville at HALFTIME. With 8:16 left in the third, the Texans faked a hand off and C.J. Stroud ran to the pylon for a one yard TOUCHDOWN run. 14-13, Houston. With 4:33, Trevor Lawrence threw a two yard pass to WR Calvin Ridley. TOUCHDOWN. The two point conversion was good with a pass by Lawreence to Ridley again. 21-14, Jacksonville after three. With 11:24 left in the fourth, Brandon McManus made a 53 yard field goal. 24-14, Jacksonville. With 5:22 left in the fourth, C.J. Stroud threw a 17 yard pass to WR Nico Collins. TOUCHDOWN. The Texans have cut the Jaguars lead down to three. The Jaguars next drive ended on a punt. The Texans got the ball back and ended up with a fourth and 12 play at the Jaguars 40 yard line. With 34 seconds left, Texans kicker Matt Ammendola came on to try the 58 yard field goal. This would tie the game. The snap….the hold…the kick………bounces off the crossbar and back onto the field. No good!!! The Jaguars hang on to win a tight one! Final score, 24-21, Jacksonville Jaguars. They improve to 8-3 as the Texans fall to 6-5. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Indianapolis Colts: At Lucas Oil Stadium just outside of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. The 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in town as they face off against the 5-5 Indianapolis Colts. With 7:31 left in the first, Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin made a 21 yard field goal. 3-0, Tampa Bay. With 3:05 left in the first, Colts kicker Matt Gay made a 46 yard field goal. 3-3. With 16 seconds left, RB Jonathan Taylor ran four yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-3, Indianapolis after one. Each team traded for a TD each in the second quarter. First, QB Gardner Minshew ran two yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 17-3, Indianapolis. The Bucs answered right back on a one yard pass by QB Baker Mayfield to the back left corner of the endzone, caught by a wide-open WR Mike Evans. TOUCHDOWN. 17-10, Indianapolis at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a 37 yard field goal by Matt Gay. 20-10, Indianapolis after three. With 12:55 left in the fourth, Baker Mayfield threw a beautiful, 23 yard pass to, you guessed it, WR Mike Evans. TOUCHDOWN. 20-17, Indianapolis. With 7:33 left in the fourth, RB Jonatahn Taylor ran right through the pile for a one-yard rushing TOUCHDOWN. 27-17, Indianapolis. With 4:07 left in the fourth, Chase McLaughlin made a 24 yard field goal. They shortened the Colts lead, but they’re still up by seven. The Bucs did end up getting one more drive, but that ended on a FUMBLE by Baker Mayfield, recovered by the Colts. The Buccaneers gave the Colts a fight, but in the end the Colts hung on for the victory. Final score, 27-20, Indianapolis Colts.

Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles: A very wet and windy evening at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 9-1 home-town Eagles face off against the still struggling, 6-5 Buffalo Bills. The only score of the first quarter was a one yard run by QB Jalen Hurts for a TOUCHDOWN. The Eagles classic, tush-push for the score. 7-0, Philadelphia after one. It was all Buffalo in the second quarter. First, Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 48 yard field goal. 7-3, Philadelphia. Following this came an INTERCEPTION by the Bills defense. LB Terrel Bernard with the pick. This turnover led to a nine yard run by QB Josh Allen for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-7, Buffalo. Finally, the Bills forced a FUMBLE the Eagles offense and got the ball back with 1:02 left in the half. That drive ended on a 13 yard pass by Josh Allen to WR Stefon Diggs. TOUCHDOWN. 17-7, Buffalo at HALFTIME. Each team scored a TD in the third quarter. First, it was the Eagles on a three yard pass by Jalen Hurts to WR A.J. Brown. TOUCHDOWN. 17-14, Buffalo. The Bills answered right back on another rushing score by Josh Allen. A 16 yard run for the TOUCHDOWN. 24-14, Buffalo after three. With 13:42 left in the fourth, Jalen Hurts threw a 15 yard pass to WR DeVonta Smith. TOUCHDOWN. 24-21, Buffalo. With 11:18 left in the fourth, Jalen Hurts threw a 29 yard pass to WR Olamide Zaccheaus. TOUCHDOWN. 28-24, Philadelphia. With 1:55 left in the fourth, Josh Allen threw a seven yard pass to WR Gabe Davis. TOUCHDOWN. 31-28, Buffalo. The Eagles got the ball back, down by three, with 1:32 on the clock and two timeouts. They got down to the Buffalo 42 yard line with 25 seconds left. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott came on to try a 59 yard field goal. Now for a veteran kicker like Elliott this is a little easier, but 59 yards still hard. And add on the fact that it’s windy and rainy. We’ll see how he does. The snap…the hold…the kick…to send it to overtime…is good!!! 31-31 is the score. OVERTIME here we come! The Bills got the ball first in OT. With 5:56 left in OT, Tyler Bass made a 40 yard field goal. This gives the Bills the lead, but not the win. Had they scored a touchdown, the game would be over. 34-31, Buffalo. With 2:41 left in OT, Jalen Hurts ran 12 yards into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. Ball game!!! The Bills divide but they could not conquer the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Philly improves to 10-1 and Bills fall to 6-6. Final score in overtime, 37-34, Philadelphia Eagles. 

Thank you for reading! Week 13 comes out next week! See ya then!

2023 - Week 10

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Wow! What a week in the NFL! Well, for some of us. Ya see, I’m a Giants fan and…uhhh…yeah. We don’t need to talk about that. But look at the bright side: Big Blue scored 17 more points than I thought they would! Anyway, let’s pull away from my mid-season dilemma and talk about the good teams, and good games there were in Week 10. This week, ten of the fourteen games played were decided by five points or fewer. And of those ten games, six of them ended on a last second field goal to win the game! So, you can imagine that I had my hands full when trying to pick which games to write about this week. 

Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers: It’s a classic, interleague football game between the 3-5 Green Bay Packers and the 5-3 Pittsburgh Steelers. Each team scored a TD in the first quarter. First, it was the Steelers. A four yard run, up the middle by RB Najee Harris for the score. 7-0, Pittsburgh. On the Packers next drive, they evened the score with an eight yard pass by QB Jordan Love to WR Romeo Doubs for six, plus the extra point. 7-7 after one. With 14:17 left in the second, RB Jaylen Warren ran 16 yards for TOUCHDOWN, breaking multiple tackles along the way. 14-7, Pittsburgh. With 8:12 left in the second, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell made a 42 yard field goal. 17-7, Pittsburgh. With 4:20 left in the second, Jordan Love threw a 35 yard pass to WR Jayden Reed. TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was blocked by the Steelers. 17-13, Pittsburgh at HALFTIME. 

With 9:11 left in the third, Packers kicker Andres Carlson made a 31 yard field goal. 17-16, Pittsburgh. With 3:07 left in the third, Andres Carlson made another field goal. This time from 28 yards out. 19-17, Green Bay. With 1:09 left in the third, Chris Boswell made a 49 yard field goal. 20-19, Pittsburgh through three. With 5:17 left to play, Chris Boswell continued to shine. This time from 35 yards out, the kick was good and the Steelers have a four point lead. With 3:32 left, Jordan Love’s pass intended for WR Christian Watson in the back right corner of the endzone was INTERCEPTED off the deflection by Steelers Safety Keanu Neal. The Steelers drive ended on a punt. The Packers got the ball back at their own 19 yard line with 59 seconds and no timeouts. On the Packers last breath, they had the ball on the Pittsburgh 16 yard line, three seconds on the clock. Love’s pass to Christian Watson was PICKED!!! Safety Damontae Kazee with the I.N.T. The clock hit triple zeroes and the Steelers win it!! What a game! The Steelers have been outgained in all nine of their games yet they're still 6-3 on the season. Finals score, 23-19, Pittsburgh. 

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens: A classic AFC North divisional matchup between the 5-3 Cleveland Browns and the 7-2 Baltimore Ravens. On the second play of the Browns opening drive, QB DeShaun Watson’s pass intended for TE David Njoku was deflected and INTERCEPTED and returned 18 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. Ravens Safety Kyle Hamiton with the PICK-6. 7-0, Baltimore. With 10:23 left in the first, RB Keaton Mitchell ran 39 yards, up the sideline for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-0, Baltimore. With 7:31 left in the first, Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made a 36 yard field goal. 14-3, Baltimore. With 3:33 left in the first, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a 37 yard field goal. 17-3, Baltimore after one. The only two scores of the second quarter were two field goals by the Browns. First, a 28 yarder then a 23 yarder, both by Dustin Hopkins. 17-9, Baltimore at HALFTIME. 

With 12:37 left in the third, QB Lamar Jackson threw a pass to WR Odell Beckham Jr. who ran 40 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-9, Baltimore. With 2:25 left in the third, RB Kareem Hunt ran three yards for a TOUCHDOWN, stumbling into the endzone. The two point conversion was good on the DeShaun Watson rushing score. 24-17, Baltimore after three. With 11:37 left in the fourth, RB Gus Edwards ran two yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 31-17, Baltimore. With 9:05 left in the fourth, DeShaun Watson threw a 10 yard pass to WR Elijah Moore, in the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. 31-24, Baltimore. With 8:24 left in the fourth, Lamar Jackson’s pass to RB Justice Hill was INTERCEPTED by CB Greg Newsome II. He ran it back 34 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was missed! The Ravens still lead. 31-30, Baltimore. The Ravens next drive ended in a punt. The Browns got the ball back at their own 25 yard line with 4:55 left and two timeouts. The Browns marched down to the Baltimore 23 yard line. The Browns called their final timeout with three seconds left. Dustin Hopkinds came on to try the game winning 40 yard field goal. The snap…the hold…the kick…is good!!! What an upset!!! The Browns beat their divisional rivals, improving to 6-3. The Ravens fall to 7-3. Final score, 33-31, Cleveland Browns. 

Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Chargers: At SoFi Stadium in LA, the 6-2 Detroit Lions are in town as they play the 4-4 Los Angeles Chargers. For the first score of the game, Lions kicker Riley Patterson made a 33 yard field goal. 3-0, Detroit. The Chargers answered right back on they’re next drive with a field goal of their own. LA kicker Cameron Dicker made a 48 yard field goal. 3-3. The Lions put the first TD on the board with a one yard run by RB Jahmyr Gibbs. TOUCHDOWN. 10-3, Detroit after one. In the second quarter, each team scored two TD’s of their own. First, the Lions ran it a yard with Jahmyr Gibbs again. 17-3, Detroit. Next, QB Justin Herbert threw a pass deep to Keenan Allen for a TOUCHDOWN. A 29 yard pass to cut the Detroit lead down. 17-10, Detroit. The Lions put the ball in the endzone again, on the first play of their drive. A 75 yard run by RB David Montgomery for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-10, Detroit. And finally, a two yard run, up the middle by RB Austin Eckler for the TOUCHDOWN. 24-17, Detroit at HALFTIME. Much of the third quarter was even scoring. A TD for each team would be enough in this quarter. First, an 18 yard pass by Justin Herbert to WR Jalen Guyton. TOUCHDOWN to tie it up. 24-24. The Lions pulled ahead once more on a 20 yard pass by QB Jared Goff to WR Amon Ra St. Brown for the TOUCHDOWN. 31-24, Detroit after three. 

With  time left in the fourth, Justin Herbert threw a 1 yard pass to WR Quentin Johnston for a TOUCHDOWN. 31-31. With 7:35 left in the fourth, Jared Goff threw a perfect pass, right over the defender and into the arms of TE Brock Wright. He ran into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 25 yard pass and catch for the score. 38-31, Detroit. With 3:42 left in the fourth, on a fourth and one play, Jusitn Herbert threw a perfect pass to WR Keenan Allen who ran back to the middle of the field, just passed the defender and into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 38 yard catch and run to tie the game back up. 38-38 with just over three minutes left in regulation. The Lions got the ball back and ran down the clock to two seconds. They are now on the 22 yard line of Los Angeles. Lions kicker Riley Patterson came on to kick the game-winning, 41 yard field goal. The snap…the hold……to win the game, the kick……is good!!! The Lions win it!!! They advance to 7-2. The  last time the Lions were 7-2 was 30 years ago, 1993. This is also the first season since 1993 that the Lions led the division. Detroit also went on to win the division, then called the NFC Central, that year. So technically, the Lions have never won the NFC North. 2023 could be their year!!! What a game!!! Final score, 41-38, Detroit Lions.

Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills (MNF): At Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, just outside of the city of Buffalo and 30 miles from Niagara Falls, the 3-5 Denver Broncos are in town as they face the struggling 5-4 Buffalo Bills. Although those struggles have been hard, the Bills are still 4-0 in front of the home-town crowd this season. On the first play of the game, Bills’ RB James Cook caught a pass from QB Josh Allen then Cook FUMBLED the ball. Denver jumped on it, Broncos ball! Those struggles I was talking about are in full effect. The Broncos could only get a field goal out of the great field position. A 40 yard kick by Broncos kicker Wil Lutz gave Denver the lead. 3-0, Denver after one. With 7:23 left in the second, on a fourth and two play, QB Russel Wilson was rushed by the Bills defense. He dropped back 12 yards then threw the ball away, into the endzone. It was caught by WR Courtland Sutton but he was ruled out of bounds. However, after further review, it was determined Sutton had control of the ball and two feet down inbounds for a Broncos TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was missed. 9-0, Denver. On the Bills next drive, they answered with points on the board. This came on a 22 yard pass from Josh Allen to TE Dalton Kincaid. TOUCHDOWN Buffalo. They went for two and got it with a catch by WR Gabe Davis. 9-8, Denver. With 49 seconds left, Wil Lutz made a 49 yard field goal. 12-8, Denver. 

sOn the first play Buffalo’s next drive, Josh Allen threw a pass intended for WR Denote Hardy but was INTERCEPTED by CB Fabian Moreau at the Buffalo 40 yard line. Four plays later, Wil Lutz and the rest of the Bronco’ field goal unit rushed out on the field as the Broncos had no more timeouts. The snap, hold and kick were good. A 40 yard field goal by Lutz. 15-8, Denver at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a two yard run by RB Latavius Murray. TOUCHDOWN. 15-15 after three. With 5:10 left in the fourth, Russel Wilson was getting rushed and just got rid of the ball by flipping it to RB Javonte Williams who ran three yards into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was once aging missed. 21-15, Denver. With 2:00 left in the fourth, Josh Allen faked to TE Dalton Kincaid and ran 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. They made the extra point and Buffalo gets their first lead of the game. 22-21, Buffalo. The Broncos got the ball back at their own 25 yard line with 1:55 on the clock two timeouts. With 35 seconds left, Russel Wilson threw a deep ball for WR Jerry Jeudy and there was contact by Bills CB Taron Johnson. Two officials threw the flag. Referee Bill Vinovich made the announcement: “Pass Interference, defense number seven. Spot foul, automatic first down.” Spot foul meaning the ball is placed at the sight of the foul, which in this case is the Buffalo 17 yard line. The next three plays Russel Wilson kneeled to run out the clock. Then on fourth down, Wil Lutz rushed out to kick the game winning field goal. This is very similar to how the first half ended. The 41 yard field goal is no good!!! But wait, there’s a flag. Bill Vinovich announced, “12 Men on Defense. 5 yard penalty, still fourth down.” Wow! The Bills had 12 guys on the field. Now the Broncos get an untimed down and are 5 yards closer. From 36 yards out, Wil Lutz’s kick…is good!!! What an upset! The Broncos win it! What a game! The Bills' struggles continue as they suffer another terrible loss, falling to 5-5. This is also the second time the Bills have lost or nearly lost a game because of penalties. Back in Week 6, against the New York Giants, the Bills committed a pass interference foul that put the ball at the one yard line. The next play was an untimed down for the G-men at the one yard line. On that play, there was another P.I. against the Bills that wasn’t called. If it was called, the outcome could have gone in the Giants’ favor. All jokes and penalties aside, the Bills lost and the Broncos improved to 4-5 with a final score of 24-22, Denver. 

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

2023 - Week 8

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

As the last week before the Halloween trade deadline, a lot can change in the NFL. Let’s see what Week 8 brought to us. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Buffalo Bills (TNF): At Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, just outside of Buffalo. The weather conditions are a shocking 60oF in late October as we get to see the 3-3 Bucs take on the 4-3 Bills. The only score of the first quarter was a 37 yard field goal by Bills kicker Tyler Bass. 3-0, Buffalo after one. With 11:10 left in the second, QB Josh Allen stepped up in the pocket, then took off. He ran 12 yards into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-0, Buffalo. With 7:45 left in the second, Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin made a 57 yard field goal. 10-3, Buffalo. With 6:51 left in the second, QB Baker Mayfield threw a three yard pass to WR Chirs Godwin. TOUCHDOWN. 10-10. With 2:46 left in the second, Josh Allen threw a 22 yard pass to TE Dalton Kincaid. TOUCHDOWN. 17-10, Buffalo at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a six yard pass from Josh Allen to WR Gabe Davis. TOUCHDOWN. 24-10, Buffalo. With 2:51 left in the fourth, Baker Mayfield threw a 26 yard pass to WR Mike Evans. What an amazing catch for a TOUCHDOWN. The Bucs went for two and got it. Tampa Bay is down by six. The Bills next drive ended in a punt and the Bucs got the ball back with around 40 seconds left. With just four seconds left, the Bucs had a First & 10 at the 50 yard line. Baker Mayfield threw a perfect Hail Mary pass but nobody could catch it. Game over. The Bills squeak out a win against the Bucs. Final score, 24-18, Buffalo.  

Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers: At Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers are back in town off of they’re bye week. Starting their season off with an 0-6 record, they seek their first win against the 3-3 Texans. The first quarter was scoreless with four total drives that ended in punts. Two by each team. With 13:16 left in the second, FB Andrew Beck ran through the pile for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Houston. With 1:39 left in the second, QB Bryce Young threw a pass in the back right corner of the endzone, caught by TE Tommy Tremble. TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was missed. 7-6, Houston at HALFTIME. With 10:50 left in the third, Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro made a 46 yard field goal. 9-7, Carolina. With 8:01 left in the third, Eddy Pineiro made another field goal. This time from 37 yards out, the kick was good. 12-7, Carolina. With 42 seconds left in the third, QB C.J. Stroud ran through the pile for a Texans TOUCHDOWN. Houston went for two but were unsuccessful. 13-12, Houston after the third. After, once again, four drives ending in punts with two by each team, the Panthers got the ball again with around 6:30 left in the game at their own nine yard line. They had all three timeouts. The Panthers drove down the field, 73 yards and took a timeout with three seconds left. Eddy Pineiro came on to attempt the game-winning, 23 yard field goal. The snap…hold…the kick…is good! The Panthers get their first win of the season, shocking the Texans! Final score, 15-13, Carolina Panthers. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders: It’s an NFC East divisional matchup that has brought us great games this season. Back in Week 4, the Eagles got the victory on an overtime field goal. We’ll see if Philly can complete the sweep, or if the Commanders get even. It’s the 6-1 Philadelphia Eagles against the 3-4 Washington Commanders. With 7:19 left in the first, QB Sam Howell threw a 26 yard pass to WR Terry McLaurin. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Washington. With 2:15 left in the first, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott made a 51 yard field goal. 7-3, Washington after one. With 12:44 left in the second, Sam Howell threw a 21 yard pass to WR Jahan Dotson. He was wide open in the middle of the field and took a step over the goal line for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-3, Washington. With 38 seconds left, QB Jalen Hurts threw a pass to WR A.J. Brown. While in coverage with Commanders’ CB Benjamin St-Juste, Brown reached out with one hand and reeled the ball in. TOUCHDOWN Eagles! What a catch to complete the 16 yard pass for the score. 14-10, Washington. To end the half, Commanders kicker Joey Slye made a 61 yard field goal. 17-10, Washington at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a 25 yard pass from Jalen Hurts to, you guessed it, A.J. Brown. TOUCHDOWN Philly. 17-17 after the third. With 12:06 left in the fourth, Sam Howell threw a seven yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Logan Thomas. 24-17, Washington. With 8:53 left in the fourth, Jalen Hurts threw a beautiful pass to wide-open WR DaVonte Smith. A 38 yard pass and catch for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-24. With 7:22 left in the fourth, Jalen Hurts threw a bullet of a pass to WR Julio Jones. An eight yard pass for a TOUCHDOWN. The Eagles have their first lead of the game. 31-24, Philadelphia. With 1:53 left in the fourth quarter, on third down & two, the Eagles lined up for a QB-sneak. Hurts took the snap and handed it off to RB D’Andre Swift. He ran eight yards for a TOUCHDOWN! What a smart play design. 38-24, Philadelphia. The Commanders got the ball back with 1:50 left and no timeouts. They need a miracle. With 1:08 left, Sam Howell rolled out to his left and heaved the ball down field for the endzone. WR Jamison Crowder laid out to make the diving catch for the TOUCHDOWN. A 26 yard pass and catch. Washington is down by seven. The onside kick was recovered by the Eagles and the miracle for the Commanders would not be. The Eagles ran down the last 60 seconds of clock and won the game. The Commanders have put up a fight against the Eagles now twice in the season. Two high-scoring between these two teams. The Eagles complete the season sweep over the Washington Commanders. Final score, 38-31, Philadelphia. 

Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks: At Lumen Field in Seattle Washington. P.J. Walker and the 4-2 Browns face off against Geno Smith and the 4-2 Seahawks. With 8:57 left in the first, WR Jake Bobo ran three yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Seattle. With 5:38 left in the first, QB Geno Smith threw a 12 yard pass to the back left corner of the endzone for WR Tyler Lockett. TOUCHDOWN! 14-0, Seattle. With 3:30 left in the first, QB P.J. Walker threw a pass to TE David Njoku. He broke a tackle and then was tackled at the goal line and fell into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. An 18 yard catch and run for a TD. 14-7, Seattle. With 1:02 left in the first, Seahawks kicker Jason Myers made a 32 yard field goal. 17-7, Seattle after one. The only score of the second quarter was a one yard run by RB Kareem Hunt. 17-14, Seattle at HALFTIME. With 7:34 left in the third, Browns kicker Cade York made a 25 yard field goal. 17-17. With 2:53 left in the third, Cade York made another field goal. From 27 yards out, the kick was good and the Browns take the lead. 20-17, Cleveland after three. The first 14 minutes and 15 seconds of the fourth quarter were scoreless. Until Geno Smith threw a screen pass to WR Jaxon Smith-Njibba. He ran nine yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The Seahakws regain the lead, up by four. The Brown got the ball back with 38 seconds left and two timeouts. With 22 seconds left, the Browns had the ball on their own 16 yard line and a fourth & 19 play upcoming. The fourth down conversion was unsuccessful and the Seahawks won the game! What a game between these two teams! The Browns fall to 4-3 as the Seahawks rise to 5-2. A Seattle victory, 24-20. 

Thank you for reading Week 8. Next week, we hit the halfway point of the 2023 Regular Season. Not only will I do traditional recaps, we’ll take a look at the playoff picture as if the season ended after next week. I hope you tune in! See ya then!!!

2023 - Week 7

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

What a week it was in the NFL. Honestly, it was hard to choose three or four games to write about this week. But somehow I narrowed down to these four games, and here we are! Week 7 of the NFL: 

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: At Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, FL, it’s an NFC South divisional matchup. The 3-3 Atlanta Falcons go up against the 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Each team put a TD on the scoreboard in the first quarter. The Falcons scored first on a two yard run by QB Desmond Ridder. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Atlanta. The Bucs answered back on a 40 yard pass from QB Baker Mayfield to WR Mike Evans. TOUCHDOWN. 7-7 after one. Much like the first quarter, each team traded scores in the second quarter as well. However this time, instead of TD’s, it’s field goals. The Falcons again scored first, courtesy of a 24 yard field goal made by kicker Younghoe Koo. 10-7, Atlanta. The Bucs tied it up with a 24 yard field goal of their own. Kicker Chase McLaughlin made it and the score is 10-10 at HALFTIME. Now in the third quarter, only the Falcons would score. It was only a field goal, but it gave them a three point lead. The 41 yard field goal by Younghoe Koo gave them that lead. 13-10, Atlanta after three. The first 14 minutes and 11 seconds of the fourth quarter were scoreless. Each team had two drives prior to this point. Each team had one punt, the Falcons had a lost FUMBLE, and the Bucs threw an INTERCEPTION. With 49 seconds left, Chase McLaughlin made a 36 yard field goal. 13-13. The Falcons got the ball back at their own 25 yard line with 45 seconds left. So they have to traverse 75 yards with no timeouts. They drove down to the Tampa Bay 33 yard line. This would be a 51 yard field goal. Younghoe Koo came on to try the game winner. The snap…holds…kick……is…GOOD! The Falcons win it! What a game! Final score, 16-13, Atlanta.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots: At Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts it’s a classic AFC East divisional matchup between the 1-5 New England Patriots and the 4-2 Buffalo Bills. It was all Patriots in the first quarter. First, a 30 yard field goal by the rookie kicker Chad Ryland. 3-0, New England. Next, a 2 yard run by RB Ezekiel Elliott for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-0, New England after one. In the second quarter each team traded the ball back and forth. Four drives by the Bills and three by the Pats. Although all each team would get would be a field goal. First, Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 36 yard field goal. 10-3, New England. To answer back, Chad Ryland made a 24 yard field goal. 13-3, New England at HALFTIME. With 9:57 left in the third, QB Josh Allen threw an eight yard pass to RB James Cook. TOUCHDOWN. 13-10, New England. With 4:34 left in the third, Chad Ryland made another field goal. This time from 49 yards out. It was a long one, but he nailed it! 16-10, New England after three. With 7:41 left in the fourth, QB Mac Jones threw a four yard pass to WR Kendrick Bourne. TOUCHDOWN. The Patriots tried for two but couldn’t convert. 22-10, New England. With 5:40 left in the fourth, Josh Allen threw a pass to WR Steffon Diggs. Diggs slid and made the catch, but nobody touched him. He got up, shredded a tackle and ran into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 25 yard pass and catch from Allen to Diggs. 22-17, New England. With 2:00 left, Josh Allen was pushed through the pile on a QB-sneak for a TOUCHDOWN. Now the Bills went for two and got it. 25-22, Buffalo. The Bills’ first lead of the game. The Patriots got the ball back at their own 25 yard line with 1:58 left and two timeouts. If they could go 75 yards and score a field goal, the game would be tied. But if they put the ball in the endzone, the game would be theirs. With 15 seconds left, Mac Jones threw a bullet of a pass to TE Mike Gesicki. TOUCHDOWN. The Patriots win it! What a game! And it’s an even more spectacular win for the Patriots because their Head Coach, Bill Belicheck got his 300th regular season win as a head coach. He is only the third head coach to reach 300 wins in NFL history. Don Shula with 328 wins, and George Halas with 318 wins are in front of Belicheck. A great win for the New England Patriots, 29-22. 

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts: At Lucas Oil Stadium just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, the 3-2 Cleveland Browns are in town as they play the 3-3 Indianapolis Colts. Just 48 seconds into the game, RB Jerome Ford ran 69 yards for a Cleveland TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Cleveland. With 11:47 left in the first, QB Gardner Minshew threw a pass to WR Josh Downs. A 59 yard pass and catch for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. With 4:33 left in the first, Gardner Minshew ran 17 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-7, Indianapolis after one. Much like the first quarter, the Browns scored quickly in the second quarter. 35 seconds into the second, RB Kareem Hunt ran two yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-14. With 8:43 left in the second, Browns kicker Cade York made a 44 yard field goal. 17-14, Cleveland. With 3:57 left in the second, Garder Minshew, while being tackled by the feet, dove across the goal line for a TOUCHDOWN! 21-17, Indianapolis. With 1:50 left, the Colts had the ball at their own five yard line. The Browns defense put heavy pressure on Gardner Minshew. The Browns got to Minshew and he FUMBLED the ball. Cleveland recovered in the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-21, Cleveland. To close out the half, Cade York made a 54 yard field goal. 27-21, Cleveland at HALFTIME. With 9:28 left in the third, Cade York made a 54 yard field goal. 30-21, Indianapolis. With 5:14 left in the third, RB Jonathan Taylor ran five yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 30-28, Cleveland after three. With 14:13 left in the fourth, Colts kicker Matt Gay made a 27 yard field goal. 31-30, Indianapolis. With 6:38 left in the fourth, another long field goal by Cade York. From 58 yards out, the kick was good. 33-31, Cleveland. With 5:50 left in the fourth, Gardner Minshew threw a pass to WR Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman shredded two tackles and ran 75 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 38-33, Indianapolis. With 47 seconds left, Colts’ LB E.J. Speed hit QB PJ Walker and he FUMBLED the ball. It was recovered by the Colts. However, there was a penalty on the Colts. Referee Shawn Smith announced, “Illegal Contact, Defense. Five yard penalty, automatic first down.” A huge call that keeps the possession for the Browns. On the next play, PJ Walker tried for the endzone with WR Donovan Peoples-Jones. The ball sailed over his head and landed way past the endzone. Wait a second, there’s a penalty flag. Shawn Smith again “Pass interference, defense number 39. This foul occurred in the endzone, by rule the ball is placed at the one yard line. Automatic first down.” Now, I’ve always loved being a football referee. In fact I am the referee for Monroe’s Flag Football league. And I do see a hold by CB Dareel Baker Jr. But in my opinion, there was no chance that Donovan Peoples-Jones could catch the ball inbounds. But the call was the call. And it was the Browns at the one yard line. Two plays later, RB Kareem Hunt stretched the ball across the goal line. TOUCHDOWN. The Browns win a controversial game. Final score, 39-38. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings (MNF): On Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium right in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 5-1 San Francisco 49ers face the 2-4 Minnesota Vikings. The only score of the first quarter was a 20 yard pass from QB Kirk Cousins to WR Jordan Addison. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Minnesota after one. With 7:36 left in the second, Vikings kicker Greg Joseph made a 21 yard field goal. 10-0 Minnesota. With 1:04 left in the second, RB Christian McCaffery ran three yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-7, Minnesota. With 16 seconds left, Kirk Cousins threw a pass into coverage. Intended for WR Jordan Addison. At first, the pass seemed to be picked off by the 49ers but Addison regained possession of the ball and ran into the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN. A 60 yard pass and catch for the Vikings. TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was missed and the score is 16-7, Minnesota at HALFTIME. With 7:02 left in the third, Greg Joseph made a 20 yard field goal. 19-7, Minnesota. With 6:02 left in the third, QB Brock Pudry threw a quick pass to RB Christian McCaffery. He shredded a tackle and took off into the endzone. TOUCHDOWN 49ers! A 35 yard TD. 19-14, Minnesota. With 25 seconds left in the third, Greg Joseph made a long, 54 yard field goal. 22-14, Minnesota after three. With 13:26 left in the fourth, 49ers kicker Jake Moody made a 55 yard field goal. The Minnesota lead is now five. The next Vikings drive ended in a punt. When the 49ers got the ball back, seven plays later Brock Purdy threw an INTERCEPTION. So the Vikings got the ball again. They had a chance to add to their lead with a 27 yard field goal, but it was missed. So now the 49ers have one last chance. With 1:11 on the clock and no timeouts, they have to go 67 yards for a TD. With 33 seconds left, Brock Purdy’s pass was INTERCEPTED again. The pick by Vikings’ Safety Camryn Bynum. Ball game. The Vikings complete the upset, improving to 3-4 and then 49ers suffer their second straight loss by 5 points or fewer. San Francisco falls to 5-2. Final score, 22-17, Minnesota.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for Week 8, coming out next week!

2023 - Week 5

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

It’s Week five of the 2023 NFL Season! Let’s see what went down. 

Houston Texans @ Atlanta Falcons: At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the Houston Texans (2-2) were in town to face the Atlanta Falcons (2-2). With 10:42 left in the first, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 38 yard field goal. 3-0, Houston. With 6:53 left in the first, QB Demond Ridder ran seven yards for a Falcons TOUCHDOWN. 7-3, Atlanta after one. With 14:15 left in the second, Ka’imi Fairbairn made another field goal. From 43 yards it was good. 7-6, Atlanta. To end the half, Ka’imi Fairbairn made his third field goal of the game. This time from 28 yards. He remained perfect, giving the Texans the lead at the half. 9-7, Houston at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a 42 yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn. 12-7, Houston. With 12:16 left in the fourth, RB Bijan Robsinson ran six yards for a TOUCHDOWN. They went for two and got it. 15-12, Atlanta. With 7:00 left in the fourth, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo made a 33 yard field goal. 18-12, Atlanta. With 1:54 left in the fourth, QB C.J. Stroud threw an 18 yard pass to TE Dalton Schultz. TOUCHDOWN. 19-18, Houston. The Falcons got the ball back and drove down the field. With two seconds left, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo came on to attempt a 37 yard, game winning field goal. The snap…the hold…the kick…is good!!! The Falcons win it on a last second field goal! Final score, 21-19, Atlanta. 

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers: An AFC North divisional matchup between the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2). The only score of the first quarter was a 14 yard run by RB Justice Hill. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Baltimore after one. In the second quarter, each team scored three points with a field goal. First, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a 23 yarder. 10-0, Baltimore. Then Steelers kicker Chris Boswell made a 43 yard field goal. 10-3, Baltimore at HALFTIME. The third quarter was scoreless. Each team had two drives and all of them ended in punts. With 11:19 left in the fourth, the Ravens were trying to punt the ball away to Pittsburgh from their own 14 yard line. If this punt was successful it would be the sixth consecutive drive of the game, by both teams, to end in a punt. However, the punt was blocked by Steelers Safety Miles Killebrew. The ball bounced out of the back of the end zone for a Steelers SAFETY! 10-5, Baltimore. And with the rules of a safety, the team who scored it, also gets the ball afterwards. On that next Pittsburgh drive, it yielded three points. Courtesy of 25 yard Chris Boswell field goal. 10-8, Baltimore. With 1:24 left in the game, QB Kenny Pickett threw a 41 yard pass to WR George Pickens. TOUCHDOWN! The Pickett-to-Pickens connection gives the Steelers a four point lead. This coming with Pittsburgh not converting on the two point attempt. 14-10, Pittsburgh. With 1:12 left in the game, QB Lamar Jackson FUMBLED the ball. It was scooped up by none other than #90, LB T.J. Watt. With 52 seconds left, Chris Boswell made a 42 yard field goal. Pittsburgh has a seven point lead. The Ravens next drive ended with a sack of Lamar Jackson by, you guessed it, T.J. Watt. Sack number eight on the year for Watt. The Steelers ran out the rest of the clock and won it! What an addition to the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. Pittsburgh wins a great one, 17-10. 

New York Jets @ Denver Broncos: At Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, the New York Jets (1-3) face the Denver Broncos (1-3). With 11:22 left in the first, Jets kicker Greg Zurlein made a 30 yard field goal. 3-0, New York. With 7:42 left in the first, QB Russel Wilson’s pass to RB Jaleel McLaughlin was bobbled but still caught by McLaughlin. He then ran 22 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-3, Denver. With 4:24 left in the first, the Broncos were on their own six yard line. Jets’ NT Al Woods put huge pressure on Russel Wilson, forcing him into the endzone. Wilson then tried to throw the ball away. Referee John Hussey, threw a flag. Intentional Grounding on Wilson. Because this foul occurred in the endzone, it’s a SAFETY for the Jets. 7-5, Denver after one. With 12:50 left in the second, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz made a 23 yard field goal. 10-5, Denver. With 6:44 left in the second, Greg Zuerlien made a 26 yard field goal. 10-8, Denver. With 1:51 left in the second, Wil Lutz made a 22 yard field goal. 13-8, Denver at HALFTIME. With 13:39 left in the third, RB Breece Hall ran 72 yards for a New York Jets TOUCHDOWN. 15-13, New York. With 5:20 left in the third, Greg Zurlein made a 27 yard field goal. 18-13, New York after three. With 12:22 left in the fourth, Greg Zurlien made another field goal. From 22 yards out the kick was good. 21-13, New York. With 7:32 left in the fourth, Greg Zurlein made a 49 yard field goal. 24-13, New York. With 4:48 left in the fourth, Russel Wilson threw a three yard pass to TE Adam Trautman. TOUCHDOWN. They went for two and got it! 24-21, New York. With 41 seconds left, LB Quincy Williams stripped Russell Wilson of the ball. It was scooped up by CB Bryce Hall. He returned it 39 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The Jets have a 10 point lead. The Broncos got the ball back but everybody knew there was no way they could score 10 points in 30 seconds. And we were right. The Jets won a great one in Denver, 31-21. 

Green Bay Packers @ Las Vegas Raiders (MNF): At Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the home of Super Bowl LVIII (58), we saw the Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) take on the visiting Green Bay Packers (2-2). The only score of the first quarter was a 37 yard field goal by Packers kicker Andres Carlson. 3-0, Green Bay after one. With 4:13 left in the second, QB Jimmy Garapolo threw a nine yard pass to WR Jakobi Myeres. TOUCHDOWN. 7-3, Las Vegas. With 2:35 left in the second, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made a 26 yard field goal. 10-3, Las Vegas at HALFTIME. With 8:32 left in the third, RB AJ Dillion ran five yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-10. With 5:19 left in the third, Andres Carlson made a 22 yard field goal. 13-10, Green Bay after three. On the first play of the fourth quarter, RB Josh Jacobs ran two yards for a Raider’ TOUCHDOWN. They now have a four point lead. The rest of the game consisted of many turnovers. An interception off Jordan Love, a punt by each team, a missed field goal by the Raiders, and another interception off Jordan Love. But what it came down to it, the Raiders had the ball last and ran out the clock. A great game on Monday Night Fall comes to a close with the Raiders on top, 17-13. 

Thank you so much for reading! five Weeks gone, 13 more to go! Week 6 comes next week!

2023 - Week 3

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

The first Sunday of Fall, Week three. It was a good one. Here are the games that stood out to me this past weekend. 

New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers: For the past 30 years, it has been Brett Farve or Aaron Rodgers starting at Quarterback for the Packers’ home opener at Lambeau Field. This past Sunday, Jordan Love cemented his name into Packers' history with this amazing game. The only score of the first quarter was an eight yard pass from QB Derek Carr to TE Jimmy Graham. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, New Orleans after one. The Saints’ extended their lead even further in the second quarter. First, a 76 yard punt return by punt-returner Rashid Shaheed. What a return for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-0, New Orleans. Next, a 25 yard field goal by Saints kicker Blake Grupe. 17-0, New Orleans at HALFTIME. The third quarter was scoreless, but very competitive. The first drive for Green Bay ended in three plays. An INTERCEPTION by CB Lonnie Johnson Jr. is to blame. Lucky for the Packers, that Saints’ drive ended in a punt. Then the Packers got the ball back, they punted. The Saints got the ball again, they punted…again. The Packers got the ball again and ran the clock down on the third quarter. Still 17-0, New Orleans after three. This Packers drive ended when they actually went for it on a fourth and two play. They were unsuccessful. The Saints got the ball back once more and guess what…they punted. The next Packer’ drive ended with a 38 yard field goal by kicker Andres Carlson. 17-3, Green Bay. With 7:03 left in the fourth, QB Jordan Love ran a yard for the first Packers TOUCHDOWN of the game. They went for two and…they got it! 17-11, New Orleans. With 2:59 left, Jordan Love threw an eight yard pass to WR Romeo Dobbs. TOUCHDOWN. The Packers have a 1 point lead. The Saints drove down the field on their next drive. With 1:10 left, Blake Grupe came on to try and kick a 46 yard field goal to give the Saints a “W”. The snap…the hold…the kick…is no good! He missed it wide right. The Packers win it! What a game! The biggest fourth quarter comeback in franchise history for the Green Bay Packers. Zero points in the first three quarters, 18 points in the fourth quarter. What a game and what a win for the Packers. Final score, 18-17. 

Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens: At M&T Bank Stadium just outside of Baltimore, the Baltimore Ravens take on the Indianapolis Colts. The only score of the first Quarter was an 8 yard run by QB Lamar Jackson. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Baltimore after one. It was all Colts in the second quarter. First, a 17 yard pass from QB Gardner Minshew to RB Zach Moss. TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. Next, a 31 yard field goal by Colts kicker Matt Gay. 10-7, Indianapolis at HALFTIME. With 8:38 left in the third, Matt Gay made a 54 yard field goal. 13-7, Indianapolis. With 18 seconds left in the third, another rushing TOUCHDOWN by Lamar Jackson. This time it was a 10 yard run. 14-13, Baltimore after three. With 11:27 left in the fourth, Matt Gay made another field goal. This time from 53 yards out. 16-14, Indianapolis. With 7:37 left in the fourth, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a 50 yard field goal. 17-16, Baltimore. With 2:05 left in the fourth, the Colts had the ball at their own one yard line. Gardner Minshew then dropped back in the pocket too much and stepped out of bounds. SAFETY for the Ravens. 19-16, Baltimore. With 1:02 left in the fourth, Matt Gay came on to attempt a 53 yard field goal. The snap…hold…the kick…is…good! Tie ball game, 19-19. The Ravens got the ball and drove down the field. With six seconds left, Justin Tucker came on to try a 61 yard, game winning field goal. Tucker’s longest career field goal was from 66 yards, so we’re in his range. The kick was up and……it was just short. OVERTIME, here we come. The Colts won the coin toss and got the ball first and their drive ended in a punt. The Ravens drive also ended in a punt. So now, with both teams getting a chance to score a TD, the next score wins. A field goal, safety, touchdown…whatever. If you score you win. The Colts second drive ended on a fourth and one play being stopped by the Ravens defense. The Ravens second drive also ended on a fourth down. An incomplete pass from Lamar Jackson, intended for WR Zay Flowers. The Colts got their third drive of OT with 3:21 left. With 1:14 left, it was Matt Gay’s turn to try and kick the game winner. From 53 yards, the snap…hold…the kick…is good! The Colts win it! What a game! The Colts pull off the upset in Overtime. Final score, 22-19 in OT. 

Los Angeles Chargers @ Minnesota Vikings: At U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Vikings seek their first win of the season. But they’ll have to tackle the one and one LA Chargers. The only score of the first quarter was a three yard pass from QB Justin Herbert to TE Donald Parham Jr. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Los Angeles after one. With 7:33 left in the second, QB Kirk Cousins threw a four yard pass to TE Josh Oliver. TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. With 2:11 left in the second, Vikings kicker Greg Joseph made a 23 yard field goal. 10-7, Minnesota. With 50 seconds left in the second, Justin Herbert threw a one yard pass to TE Donald Parham Jr. TOUCHDOWN. 14-10, Los Angeles at HALFTIME. With 6:01 left in the third, Justin Herbert passed backwards to WR Keenan Allen. Allen then threw a 49 yard pass to WR Mike Williams for TOUCHDOWN. What an arm Keenan Allen has. What a play to extend the Chargers lead, 21-10, Los Angeles. With 3:09 left in the third, Kirk Cousins threw a 36 yard pass to WR K.J. Osborn. TOUCHDOWN. 21-17, Los Angeles after three. With 11:30 left in the third, Kirk Cousins threw a 52 yard pass to WR Justin Jefferson. TOUCHDOWN. 24-21, Minnesota. With 8:11 left in the fourth, Justin Herbert threw a pass to WR Joshua Palmer. The pass was tipped in the air by Vikings CB Akayleb Evans. The ball then proceeded to somehow fall into the hands of Palmer as he fell backwards into the endzone. TOUCHDOWN Chargers. They have a four point lead. The rest of the game was full of turnovers but each drive yielded no points. When the clock hit triple zero’s the Chargers had won. A great win for Los Angeles, 28-24.  

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Las Vegas Raiders (SNF): A deep rivalry that started way back in the 70’s. It’s the Raiders and Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Each team put seven on the board in the first quarter. First, it was the Raiders. A 31 yard pass from QB Jimmy Garapolo to WR Davante Adams. 7-0, Las Vegas. The Steelers answered right back. A 72 yard pass from QB Kenny Pickett to WR Calvin Austin. What a pass and catch for Pittsburgh. 7-7 after one. With 8:37 left in the second, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell nailed a 43 yard field goal. 10-7, Pittsburgh. With 2:00 left in the second, Chris Boswell again. This time from a yard shorter, 42 yards. He knocked it through and the Steelers lead it at HALFTIME, 13-7, Pittsburgh. With 9:33 left in the third, Chris Boswell made a 57 yard field goal. 16-7, Pittsburgh. With 4:00 left in the third, Kenny Pickett threw a 13 yard pass to TE Pat Freiermuth. TOUCHDOWN. 23-7, Pittsburgh after three. With 5:45 left in the fourth, Jimmy Garapolo threw a one yard pass to WR Davante Adams. TOUCHDOWN. The Raiders went for two and got it. 23-15, Pittsburgh. With 2:25 left in the fourth, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made a 26 yard field goal. That trims the Steelers’ lead to five. Those five points would stand, and the Steelers win it, 23-18. 

Before I end the article, I would like to notice the whopping 70 points the Miami Dolphins scored this week. Their opponents, the Denver Broncos, literally gave up by the third quarter. The Dolphins set the tone for their season, almost saying that they're here to win and dominate this season. 10 touchdowns will definitely say that. The Dolphins also broke a few records with this game, too. They are the first team in NFL history to have 70 points and 700+ yards in a game. They had 726 yards to be exact. This was also the first time in the Super Bowl Era that a team had scored 70 points. The last time it was done was in 1966 by the then Washington Redskins, beating the New York Giants 72-41. The Dolphins dominated and I think they’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season. 

Thanks for reading. Week Four, here we come!

 2023 - Week 1

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Football is back baby! I am so excited that the 2023 NFL Season has officially started. It has been a long offseason, and an eventful one, too. Aaron Rodgers signed a 3 year $112.5 million contract with the New York Jets…Sean Payton became the Denver Broncos head coach…the New Orleans Saints acquired Derek Carr from the Las Vegas Raiders…all that and so much more. But with the offseason behind us, we can get into our first recap of the 2023 NFL Season! Here we go! 

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs (TNF): At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, the Super Bowl banner was given an update. The logos of Super Bowl 4, 54 and now 57 are etched into the history books of the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s the 2023 NFL Kickoff between the Chiefs and Detroit Lions. Let’s get into it! The only score of the 1st Quarter was a 9 yard pass from QB Jared Goff to WR Amon-ra ST. Brown. TOUCHDOWN. The first score of the 2023 season. 7-0, Detroit after one. In the 2nd Quarter, the Chiefs answered right back…with a 1 yard pass from QB Patrick Mahomes to WR Rashee Rice. 7-7. The Chiefs did more than answer the Lions, they took the lead. Another TD in that quarter came on a 4 yard side-arm sling from Mahomes to TE Blake Bell. 14-7, Kansas City at HALFTIME. With 11:04 left in the 3rd, Mahomes threw a pass intended for WR Kadarius Toney. Toney bobbled the ball and it was INTERCEPTED by Rookie Safety Brian Branch. He returned it 46 yards, a PICK 6 for a Lions TOUCHDOWN. 14-14. Prior to that play, Patrick Mahomes had never thrown an Interception in Week 1, being the starting QB for now the 6th time in Week 1. With 2:13 left in the 3rd, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a 35 yard field goal. 17-14, Kansas City after three. With 12:16 left in the 4th, Harrison Butker came on again. This time for a 39 yard field goal. The kick was good and gave the Chiefs a 6 point lead. 20-14, Kansas City. With 7:11 left in the 4th, RB David Montgomery ran 8 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The Lions now have a 1 point lead. With 2:30 left in the game, after an unsuccessful drive by both teams, the Chiefs got the ball back. They only ran a 30 second drive that ended with an incomplete pass on 4th & 25. The Lions then ran down the 2 minutes and won the game, 21-20. The Chiefs hadn’t lost a Week 1 game since 2014! That 8 game streak has been broken by the Detroit Lions. What a way to kickoff the 2023 NFL Season. 

Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos: At Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, it's an AFC West Divisional matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos. It’s also Sean Payton’s regular season debut as the Broncos head coach. The first score of the game was a 3 yard TD pass from QB Jimmy Garapolo to WR Jakobi Myers. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Las Vegas. The Broncos answered right back with a 5 yard TD pass from QB Russel Wilson to WR Lil’ Jordan Humpherey. However, the extra point was missed. 7-6, Las Vegas after one. With 10:57 left in the second, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made a 22 yard field goal. 10-6, Las Vegas. With 18 seconds left in the half, Russel Wilson threw a 5 yard TD pass to WR Courtland Sutton. TOUCHDOWN. 13-10, Denver at HALFTIME. The third quarter was scoreless but full of penalties. A total of 6 penalties in the quarter, 4 against the Raiders and 2 against the Broncos. Referee Bill Vinovich was busy. The score still 13-10, Denver after three. With 8:57 left in the fourth, Broncos kicker Wil Zutz made a 24 yard field goal. 16-10, Denver. With 6:38 left in the fourth, Jimmy Garapolo threw a 6 yard TD pass to WR Jakobi Myers. TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was good and the Raiders have a 1 point lead. The Broncos next drive ended on a punt. The Raiders got the ball back and ran out the clock. A Week 1 win for the Raiders, 17-16.  

Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Chargers: At SoFi Stadium in the city of angels, the Miami Dolphins play the Los Angeles Chargers. The first score of the game was a 1 yard TD run by RB Austin Eckler. TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Los Angeles. The Dolphins then marched down the field and tied it with a 2 yard TD run by RB Raheem Mostert. 7-7, after quarter one. With 11:46 left in the second, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders nails a 23 yard field goal. 10-7, Miami. With 9:11 left in the second, a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN pass by QB Justin Herbert to TE Donald Parham Jr. is what put the Chargers in the lead, 14-10, Los Angeles. With 1:47 left in the second, QB Tua Tagaviola threw a 1 yard TD pass to WR River Cracraft. TOUCHDOWN. 17-14, Miami. With 14 seconds left, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made a 50 yard field goal. 17-17. Then, with 2 seconds to play, Tua Tagaviola heaved a pass intended for WR Erik Ezukanma. The pass was incomplete, however, there was a flag thrown. Referee Brad Allen said, “Pass Interference, Defense number 27. The ball will be placed at the spot of the foul. Automatic 1st Down.” That’s huge for the Dolphins. They moved 34 yards on a pass that was incomplete. Now in field goal range, Jason Sanders made a 41 yard field goal. 20-17, Miami at HALFTIME. Both teams then had a TD in the 3rd Quarter. First, the Chargers scored on a QB sneak by Justin Hebert. 24-20, Los Angeles. Then, the Dolphins scored on a 35 yard pass from Tagaviola to WR Tyreek Hill. What a play to the Dolphins in the lead. 27-24, Miami after the 3rd. With 14:03 left in the fourth, a 2 yard TD run by RB Joshua Kelley. TOUCHDOWN. 31-27, Los Angeles. With 10:08 left, Jason Sanders made a 45 yard field goal. 31-30, Los Angeles. With 3:57 left, kicker Cameron Dicker made a 25 yard field goal. 34-30, Los Angeles.With 1:48 left, Tagaviola threw a 4 yard TD pass to WR Tyreek Hill. TOUCHDOWN. The extra point was missed. The Dolphins have a 2 point lead and the Charges need to go 50+ yards in a minute and 40 seconds, to get into field goal range. On 4th & 13, Jusitn Herbert was sacked in the back field. The Dolphins got the ball back and ran out the clock. What a game! The Dolphins come out victorious, 36-34.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets (MNF): It’s Aaron Rodgers’ debut as New York Jet. Although this game was no easy task because it was an AFC East Divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills. With 11:40 left in the first, on the Jets 4th play of the entire game, QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked by LB Leonard Floyd. Rodgers then was helped off the field and was carted to the locker room and trainers room. It was confirmed the next day he had a torn achilles tendon and is out for the season. Not a great way to start for the Jets. The only score of the first quarter was a 40 yard field goal by Bills kicker Tyler Bass. 3-0, Buffalo after one. With 10:39 left in the second, Jets kicker Greg Zuerlien made a 26 yard field goal. 3-3. With 4:51 left in the second, QB Josh Allen connected with WR Stefon Diggs for a 5 yard TD pass and reception. TOUCHDOWN. 10-3, Buffalo. With 20 seconds left in the half, Tyler Bass came on for a 34 yard field goal. The snap…the hold…the kick…is good. 13-3, Buffalo at HALFTIME. The only score of the third quarter was a 43 yard field goal by Greg Zuerlien. 13-6, Buffalo after the third. With 4:59 left in the fourth, QB Zach Wilson threw a 4 yard TD pass to WR Garret Wilson. An amazing catch for a Jets TOUCHDOWN! 13-13. With 1:51 left, Greg Zurlien made a 30 yard field goal. The Jets have the lead for the first time in the game. 16-13, New York. With 6 seconds to play, Tyler Bass came to try and tie the game with a 50 yard field goal. The kick is up and…hits the right upright…and bounces in. Tie game with 2 seconds to play. 16-16. Now, we’re headed to OVERTIME. The Bills won the toss and went 3 and out. Bills punter Matt Araiza came on to punt it away. It was a short punt from the Bills 22 yard line to the Jets 35. Punt Returner Xavier Gibson returned it all the way, 65 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! Jets win! What a game. The Jets come back after Rodgers’ injury and win it against their division rivals, 22-16 in OT. 

Before I end the article, I would like to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001. 2,977 Americans died that day (Plus 19 hijackers). People at work. FireFighters. Police Officers. EMT’s……Friends…Family. A day where 4 planes were hijacked and crashed into famous landmarks of our nation. Two planes hit both Twin Towers in NYC. Another plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia just outside of Washington D.C. And the fourth plane was believed to be headed for the White House or the Capitol Building. The hijacking attempt was stopped by brave passengers who heard of the previous three crashes. They fought the four hijackers on board and crashed the plane in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 9/11 brought fear and sadness to the 

U.S. But during and after the attacks, we came together as a nation. We will always remember the sacrifice, bravery and love shown by Americans on 9/11. Thank you for reading and have a great NFL Season!

An Amazin’ Flashback: 

New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies (May 5th, 2022)

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Let me paint this picture in your head: the score is 7-1, Philadelphia. It’s the TOP of the 9th inning. The Mets are up to bat. As a Mets fan, it was horrifying to see the score and the situation my team was in. But I didn’t lose hope. This is the story of a fantastic inning in the history of the New York Mets. Let’s see how it unfolded: 

RF Starling Marte is up to bat. On a 2-2 pitch, hit a single and ended up on 1st base. Next up, SS Franciso Lindor. On the first pitch, Lindor smashed one to deep right-center and it was gone. A two run-homer for Lindor, 7-3 Phillies. Next for 1B Pete Alonso, he lined one right down the left field line for an extra base hit. He ended up on 2nd Base. Up next in the box,  2B Jeff McNeil. He rifled one in between 1st and 2nd for a base hit. Alonso went to 3rd and McNiel on 1st, 1 out. The next New York batter to have a highlight was LF Mark Canha. He hit the ball off the pitcher’s foot for a base hit. Alonso in to score, McNeil at 2nd and Canha at 1st. 7-4, Phillies. Next , with two outs, PH J.D. Davis. He fired one down the left field line. McNeil came home from 2nd, Canha went to 3rd and Davis at 2nd. 7-5, Phillies. Next, the lead-off hitter, CF Brandon Nimmo. He dropped one into shallow center field…Davis and Canha in to score. Nimmo to 1st. Finally, where the inning began, RF Starling Marte. He hit the ball right before the fence in left center field. Nimmo came into score and that was the last run. Final score, 8-7, Mets.

The Northeast Wars: Mets vs.Yankees vs. Red Sox

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Three of the MLB’s most popular teams. The New York Mets, New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. All rivals with each other. But who is the best team? Which two teams have the greatest  rivalry? You’ll find out in this article. 

We’ll start by comparing the amount of World Series Championships each team has. The Yankees win the battle by a long shot. Twenty seven World Championships for the Yankees. Their first in 1923 (100 years ago, this season!) and their most recent in 2009. The Red Sox have nine World Series wins. Their first in 1903 (which was also the first EVER World Series), and their most recent in 2018. Finally, the Amazin’ Mets have…only two: 1969 and 1986. 

Next, we’ll compare their stadiums, not that that means anything, we’re just comparing these three great teams. We’ll start with the Yankees again. Their stadium: “The New” Yankee Stadium was built in a 2 ½ year span. From August 2006 to late 2008. The Stadium opened on April 2, 2009 and the first regular season game there was on April 16, 2009. The Red Sox have the most famous left field wall in all of the MLB: “The Green Monster”. Their ballpark, Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in the entire league. Its construction started on September 25, 1911 and it opened on April 20, 1912. On that day, the Red Sox played their first home game at Fenway against the New York Highlanders, now known as the New York Yankees. Todday, Fenway Park is 111 years old. Finally, Citi Field, home to the New York Mets for the past 15 seasons. It replaced Shea Stadium, which was the Mets home for 44 years. Citi Field’s construction started on November 13, 2006 and it opened on March 29, 2009. The first regular season game played there was on April 13, 2009 when the Mets played the San Diego Padres. So, if you haven’t noticed Citi Field and the “New” Yankee Stadium have been around for pretty much the same time. That’s just a fun fact as we move into the next comparison. 

Finally, we’ll compare how the 2022 Season went for each of these three teams. Like I’ve been doing, we’ll start with the Yankees. They finished the regular season with a 99-63 record and were 1st in the AL East. Their postseason run ended in the American League Championship Series when they got swept four games to none by the Houston Astros. The Red Sox had a 78-84 record and finished 5th in the AL East. The Amazin’ Mets finished with the best record when compared to the Yankees and Red Sox. The Mets finished 2nd in the NL East with a 101-61 record. Their postseason run ended when they lost to the San Diego Padres in the NL Wildcard Round two game to one. 

There you have it, three great teams all in the Northeastern U.S. We’ll see which team is better in the 2023 MLB Season. For opening day on March 30, 2023, the Yankees played the San Francisco Giants at home, which they won 5-0. The Red Sox played a division rival the Baltimore Orioles, also at home. They lost in a great game, 10-9. And the Mets also played a division rival of their own when they beat the Miami Marlins in Miami. The final score was 5-3. One game down, 161 more to go for each of these teams. Thank you for reading this article and enjoy the 2023 MLB Season! 

Super Bowl LVII 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Sunday, February 12th, 2023. The date of Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Both #1 seeds. It’s the Chiefs first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl 55 (2020 Season) and the Eagles first appearance since Super Bowl 52 (2017 Season), when they beat the Patriots, 41-33. The game will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The home of the Cardinals. This stadium has played host to 2 previous Super Bowls: 42 (2007 Season) and 49 (2014 Season). My pregame picks: I want the Chiefs to win, 34-31. Just so you know, that pick was made on Monday, February 6th. I am not making my pick after the game. Now that the game has concluded, let’s give it a good old-fashioned recap: 

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl LVII): Referee Carl Cheffers held the coin toss at midfield. The Chiefs won the toss and deferred to the second half. With 10:13 left in the first, QB Jalen Hurts ran through the pile for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Philadelphia. With 7:02 left in the first, QB Patrick Mahomes threw an 18 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Travis Kelce. 7-7 after the 1st. On the first play of the second quarter, Jalen Hurts threw a 45 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR A.J. Brown. 14-7, Philadelphia. With 9:47 left in the second, LB Nick Bolton stripped Jalen Hurts of the ball. FUMBLE. Bolton scooped it up, and took it to the house for Chiefs’ TOUCHDOWN. 14-14. With 2:23 left in the second, Jalen Hurts ran 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 21-14, Philadelphia. To end the half, Eagles’ kicker Jake Elliott made a 35 yard field goal. 24-14, Philadelphia at HALFTIME. 

Rihanna hit the stage on the field for the halftime show, while the teams got ready for the season's final 30 minutes. With 9:33 left in the third quarter, RB Isaiah Pacheco ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-21, Philadelphia. With 1:48 left in the third, Jake Elliott made a 33 yard field goal. 27-21, Philadelphia after the third. With 12:08 left in the fourth, Patrick Mahomes threw a 5 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Kadarius Toney. 28-27, Kansas City. With the Chiefs taking the lead on that play, that was the first time the Eagles had trailed in a game since Week 17, 7 weeks ago. That game was also the last time they had lost a game. It was to the New Orleans Saints. What a moment for the Chiefs, to take the lead, deep in Super Bowl 57. With 10:33 left in the fourth, Eagles’ Punter Arryn Simposs put the ball in Kadirus Toney’s hands at the Chiefs' 30 yard line. Toney ran it back to the Eagles’ 5 yard line. What a return! With 9:25 left in the fourth, Patrick Mahomes threw a five yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Skyy Moore. 35-27, Kansas City. 

With 5:20 left in the fourth, Jalen Hurts ran through the pile for a TOUCHDOWN. They went for two and got it! Tie game, 35-35. With 11 seconds left, Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker made a 27 yard field goal. The Chiefs are now up three. The Eagles got the ball back with four seconds left. Jalen Hurts tried a hail-Mary, but his throw was short. The Chiefs have won Super Bowl LVII. For the third time in their franchise history, and the second time in the last four years, the Kansas City Chiefs have won a Super Bowl. Their previous wins: Super Bowl IV (4) against the Minnesota Vikings (1969 Season) and Super Bowl LIV (54) against the San Francisco 49ers (2019 Season). Their Super Bowl record is now 3-2. QB Patrick Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career. Congratulations to the entire Kansas City Chiefs organization: Super Bowl LVII Champions!

NFL Conference Championships 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Ladies and gentlemen…boys and girls. These two games determine who is going to the Super Bowl! My pregame picks: the 49ers to beat the Eagles and the Bengals to beat the Chiefs. Let’s see who goes to Arizona for the Super Bowl.  

(#2) San Francisco 49ers @ (#1) Philadelphia Eagles: The undefeated rookie, starting QB Brock Purdy and the 49ers vs. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. As a Giants fan, this game looked way…way too familiar. Watching the game, I said to my parents, “this is like Deja vu!” Meaning, I felt like I was reliving the same moment, again. In the first quarter, Rookie QB Brock Purdy, suffered a nerve injury in his right arm. His throwing arm. Purdy’s arm was hit by Eagle’ LB Haason Reddick. The 49ers then put in their 4th-String QB, Josh Johnson. 

Remember Jimmy Garrapolo and back-up QB, Trey Lance, suffered injuries during the regular season. So, Purdy came in. If Josh Johnson was to get hurt, and Brock Purdy couldn’t come back in, the next QB option for the 49ers would RB Christian McCaffery! Anyway, Josh Johnson came in for the rest of the half. 21-7, Philadelphia at HALFTIME. In the second half, the 49ers were shut out. The final score was 31-7. The Eagles have really silenced critics about if they are the team they were in the early regular season. With two playoff victories, both with a 24 point lead or more, the Eagles punched their ticket to Super Bowl LVII.   

(#3) Cincinnati Bengals @ (#1) Kansas City Chiefs: It’s a rematch from last year's AFC Championship. It’s Joe Burrow and the 2021 AFC Champion Bengals vs. Patrick Mahomes and the 2020 AFC Champion Chiefs. This game’s score was way more close and it was way more competitive than the NFC Championship. So, I am actually going to give a recap to this game. The only score of the first quarter was a 43 yard field goal by Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker. 3-0, Kansas City after one. On the first play of the second quarter, Harrison Butker made a 24 yard field goal. 6-0, Kansas City. With 8:40 left in the second, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, made a 30 yard field goal. 6-3, Kansas City. With 3:59 left in the second, QB Patrick Mahomes threw a 15 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Travis Kelce. 13-3, Kansas City. To end the half, Evan McPherson made a 23 yard field goal. 13-6, Kansas City at HALFTIME. 

In the second half, with 9:59 left in the third, QB Joe Burrow threw a 27 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Tee Higgins. 13-13. With 4:21 left in the third, Patrick Mahomes threw a 19 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. 20-13, Kansas City after the third. With 13:35 left in the fourth, RB Samaje Perine ran 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 20-20. With 17 seconds left to play, Patrick Mahomes ran out of bounds at the Cincinnati 41 yard line. DE Joseph Ossia hit Mahomes into the sideline benches. The Referee’s called Personal Foul, Unnecessary Roughness: Late hit out of bounds on Ossia. That’s a 15 yard penalty. Then, Harrison Butker came out, for what would have been a 60+ yard field goal. Now, with the penalty enforced, it was a 45 yard field goal. The kick was up…and good! The Chiefs won their 3rd AFC Championship in franchise history! Final score, 23-20.   

The Super Bowl has been set, Chiefs at Eagles. Both number one seeds have made it to the big game! Make sure you and your family have great food and a good place to sit: Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff time is 6:30 PM. 

I can’t wait!  

NFL Wild Card Weekend Recap 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

The playoffs have begun! It was a very exciting Super Wild Card Weekend! Comebacks, upsets and more! There were 6 games that happened over the course of the weekend. I chose 3 that really stood out! Let’s get into it! 

AFC - (5) Los Angeles Chargers @ (4) Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday): The first AFC WildCard game of the weekend between Justin Herbert and the Chargers vs. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars. With 13:40 left in the 1st, RB Austin Ekeler ran 13 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Los Angeles. With 5:33 left in the 1st, Chargers' kicker Cameron Dicker made a 22 yard field goal. 10-0, Los Angeles. With 49 seconds left in the 1st, RB Austin Ekeler ran 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 17-0, Los Angeles after the 1st. With 7:16 left in the 2nd, QB Justin Herbert threw a 9 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Gerald Everett. 24-0, Los Angeles. With 4:28 left in the 2nd, Cameron Dicker made a 23 yard field goal. 27-0, Los Angeles. With 27 seconds left in the 2nd, QB Trevor Lawrence threw a nine yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Evan Engram. 27-7, Los Angeles at HALFTIME. 

Here is a quick “Stat Recap” of the 1st Half. Jacksonville had 9 turnovers. Four interceptions, Four punts and one fumble. Let’s see if they can turn it around. 

In the second half, with 5:16 left in the 3rd, Trevor Lawrence threw a six yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Marvin Jones Jr. 27-14, Los Angeles. With 3:02 left in the 3rd, Cameron Dicker made a 50 yard field goal. 30-14, Los Angeles. With 50 seconds left in the 3rd, Trevor Lawrecne threw a 39 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Zay Jones. They went for two points and were unsuccessful. 30-20, Los Angeles after 3. What a turn around for the Jags! Let’s see if they pull off a comeback! With 5:30 left in the 4th, Trevor Lawrence threw a nine yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Christian Kirk. They went for a two paint play again and made it! 30-28, Los Angeles. Wow! What a game! And it's not over yet. The Chargers next drive ended in a punt. The Jaguars got the ball back with 3:09 left to play. They drove 61 yards down the field. WIth three seconds left, Jaguars kicker, Riley Patterson lined up for a 36 yard field goal. The snap……the kick……is…GOOD! Jaguars win! Jaguars win! It’s the third largest comeback in NFL Postseason history. The Jags were down 27 points at one point. But they came all the way back! Final score, 31-30.         

AFC - (7) Miami Dolphins @ (2) Buffalo Bills: It’s an AFC East divisional matchup in the WildCard round. A third string QB in Skylar Thompson with the Dolphins vs. Josh Allen and the Bills. With 8:02 left in the 1st, QB Josh Allen threw a 6 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Dawson Knox. 7-0, Buffalo. With 5:12 left in the 1st, RB James Cook ran 12 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-0, Buffalo after one. With 12:48 left in the 2nd, Bills’ kicker Tyler Bass made a 33 yard field goal. 17-0, Buffalo. With 7:38 left in the 2nd, Dolphins’ kicker Jason Sanders made a 40 yard field goal. 17-3, Buffalo. With 2:20 left in the 2nd, Jason Sanders made a 47 yard field goal. 17-6, Buffalo. WIth 1:19 left in the 2nd, Jason Sanders again. He made a 37 yard field goal to make the score 17-9, Buffalo. With 36 seconds left in the 2nd, QB Skylar Thompson threw a seven yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Mike Gesicki. They went for two and got it! 17-17. To end the half, Tyler Bass made a 39 yard field goal. 20-17, Buffalo at HALFTIME. WIth 14:07 left in the 3rd, Josh Allen was hit and he FUMBLED the ball deep in Miami territory! DT Zach Sieler ran it back for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-20, Miami. With 5:22 left in the 3rd, Josh Allen threw a six yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Cole Beasley. 27-24, Buffalo. With 2:12 left in the 3rd, Josh Allen threw a 23 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Gabe Davis. 34-24, Buffalo. With 10:55 left in the 4th, RB Jeff Wilson Jr. jumped over the pile for a Dolphin’ TOUCHDOWN. Miami is now down by just 3. The rest of the game was super competitive. With 2:29 left in the game, the Dolphins went for it on 4th & 6. They were stopped. The Bills ran down the clock. For the 3rd consecutive year, the Bills are going to the Divisional Round! Final score, 34-31.        

NFC - (6) New York Giants @ (3) Minnesota Vikings: A rematch from Week 16 on Christmas Eve. It's the Giants first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 Season. That playoff run was short lived when they were eliminated in the first round by the Green Bay Packers. 6 years later, it’s another NFC North opponent in the Vikings. Let’s see how the game went down! With 8:25 left in the 1st, QB Kirk Cousins went right through the pile for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Minnesota. With 5:19 left in the 1st, RB Saquon Barkely ran 29 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-7. With 1:07 left in the 1st, QB Daniel Jones threw a 14 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Isaiah Hodgins. 14-7, New York after one.  With 3:29 left in the 2nd, Giants’ kicker Graham Gano made a 25 yard field goal. 17-7, New York. With 50 seconds left in the 2nd, Kirk Cousins threw a 10 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR K.J. Osborn. 17-14, New York at HALFTIME. WIth 11:41 left in the 3rd, Daniel Jones threw a nine yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Daneil Bellinger. 24-14, New York. With 7:50 left in the 3rd, Kirk Cousins threw a 3 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Irv Smith Jr. 24-21, New York after the 3rd. While the game was on commercial in between the 3rd and 4th Quarters, a light bulb went off in my head. “The Giants have had the lead after each quarter!” I said. My younger brother, Kellen (6th Grade), thought about it. He then said, “Yeah, but the final quarter’s score is the only one that matters.” I laughed and agreed. I was nervous and excited to watch the final quarter, as a Giants fan. With 12:38 left in the 4th, Vikings’ kicker Greg Joseph made a 38 yard field goal. 24-24. With 7:52 left in the game, Saquon Barkey ran two yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The Giants have taken the lead again, by seven. With 1:51 left in the game, The Vikings had a 4th & 8 from their own 47 yard line. If the Vikings can’t convert, the G-Men win! Kirk Cousins took the snap. He threw a pass to TE T.J. Hockenson. Giants’ Safety Xavier McKinney completely flattened Hockenson! Giants win! Giants win! My family was screaming watching this play! For the first time since Super Bowl 46 (XLVI) on February 5, 2012, the Giants won a playoff game! Nearly 11 years ago! What a moment for the Giants! And now the Divisional Round! Final score, 31-24.         

Wow! What a way to start this season’s playoffs. Some of the best games I have seen this year happened this past weekend. With the WildCard round over, the Divisional round has been set. Here’s the schedule:  

Saturday, 1/21: 

AFC: (4) Jaguars @ (1) Chiefs - 4:30 PM 

NFC: (6) Giants @ (1) Eagles - 8:15 PM 

Sunday, 1/22: 

AFC: (3) Bengals @ (2) Bills - 3:00 PM 

NFC: (5) Cowboys @ (2) 49ers - 6:30 PM 

I can’t wait for the Divisional round! See ya then! 

Week 17

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I hope you all had an amazing Holiday. The NFL regular season has continued. I can not believe it is Week 17. I feel like just last week the season started! But the playoffs are nearly upon us and Week 17 has come to an end. Let’s see what went on around the NFL.    

Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons: The 4-11 Cardinals vs. the 5-10 Falcons. The only score of the 1st Quarter was a 38 yard field goal by Cardinals’ kicker Matt Prater. 3-0, Arizona after 1. With 13:41 left in the 2nd, RB Tyler Allgiere ran 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-3, Atlanta. With 10:07 left in the 2nd, QB David Blough threw a 4 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Trey McBride. 10-7, Arizona. With 1:51 left in the 2nd, RB Cordarrelle Patterson ran 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-10, Atlanta. To end the half, Matt Prater made a 36 yard field goal. 14-13, Atlanta at HALFTIME. The only score of the 3rd Quarter was a 36 yard field goal by Matt Prater. 16-14, Arizona after the 3rd. With 9:40 left in the 4th, Falcons’ kicker Younghoe Koo made a 26 yard field goal. 17-16, Atlanta. With 5:03 left in the 4th, Matt Prater made a 57 yard field goal. 19-17, Arizona. With 2 seconds left, Younghoe Koo lined up for a 21 yard field goal. The snap…the hold…the kick is up and…good! Falcons win in a back-and- forth scoring game! Final score, 20-19.     

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: An NFC South divisional matchup between the 6-9 Panthers and the 7-8 Buccaneers. The only score of the 1st Quarter was a 17 yard TOUCHDOWN pass by QB Sam Darnold to TE Tommy Tremble. 7-0, Carolina after 1. With 7:57 left in the 2nd, Sam Darnold threw a 24 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR D.J. Moore. 14-0, Carolina. With 2:18 left in the 2nd, QB Tom Brady threw a 63 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Mike Evans. 14-7, Carolina. With 1:13 left in the 2nd, Bucs' kicker Ryan Succop made a 22 yard field goal. 14-10, Caronlian at HALFTIME. The 3rd Quarter was back-and-forth but no scoring. With 14:56 left in the 4th, Sam Darnold threw a 19 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Shi Smith. 21-10, Carolina. With 13:59 left in the 4th, Tom Brady threw another deep ball to WR Mike Evans. A 57 yard catch and run for the TOUCHDOWN. They went for 2 and were unsuccessful. 21-16, Carolina. With 6:52 left in the 4th, Brady to Evans again! A 30 yard TOUCHDOWN pass by Brady. They went for 2 again and…got it! 24-21, Tampa Bay. With 2:00 left, Tom Brady with the QB-Sneak. TOUCHDOWN! Ryan Succop missed the extra point. 30-21, Tampa Bay The Panthers are now down 9 with 1:58 left to play, all 3 timeouts left. With 1:04 left, Panthers’ kicker Eddy Pineiro made a 49 yard field goal. They’re still down 6 with 59 seconds to go. They tried the onside-kick, Tampa Bay picked it up. Bucs win, 30-24.             

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (SNF): An AFC North divisional matchup between Kenny Pickett and the Steelers and Tyler Huntley and the Ravens. The only score of the 1st Quarter was a 21 yard field goal by Steelers’ kicker Chris Boswell. 3-0, Pittsburgh after 1. With 14:12 left in the 2nd, Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker made a 30 yard field goal. 3-3. With 11 seconds until the half, QB Tyler Huntley threw a 7 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Isaiah Likely. 10-3, Baltimore at HALFTIME. With 9:36 left in the 3rd, Justin Tucker nailed a 51 yard field goal. 13-3, Baltimore. With 3:47 left in the 3rd, it was Chris Boswell’s turn to make a 51 yard field goal. 13-6, Baltimore after the 3rd. With 9:47 left in the 4th, Chris Boswell made a 33 yard field goal. 13-9, Baltimore. With 1:02 left to play, QB Kenny Pickett threw a 10 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Najee Harris. Pittsburgh takes the lead by 3 with just under a minute to play! The Ravens have no timeouts. However, they do have Justin Tucker. Who is arguably the best kicker in the NFL right now. He holds the record for longest field goal, 66 yards! Can LB T.J. Watt and the Steelers Defense hold the Ravens? Let’s see!! With 20 seconds left, Tyler Huntley threw a pass and it was INTERCEPTED by Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Ball game! The Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive and tie the series with the Ravens this season! Final score, 16-13.       

Since the last time I came out with a recap, Week 15, the playoff picture has come into even sharper focus. An additional two spots have been clinched in the NFC and 3 more in the AFC. There are two spots left in the AFC and only one left in the NFC. Who will round out the playoff picture? The final week of the 2022 NFL Regular Season, Week 18, is right around the corner. We’ll see how the playoff picture is formed heading into the WildCard round. Just one more recap to go and then the playoffs arrive! I can’t wait! See ya then!    

The Immaculate Reception - 50 Years Later

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

December 23, 1972 was a huge day in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an AFC Divisional round game between the Steelers and Oakland Raiders. The game took place in Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. With 22 seconds left in the 4th Quarter, the score was 7-6, Oakland. The Steelers had the ball on their own 40 yard line. It was 4th & 10. They had no timeouts. QB Terry Bradshaw was getting rushed. He scrambled away and he “rocketed” the ball down field. The pass was intended for RB John Fuqua. The ball was deflected off of Fuqua and Raiders’ Safety Jack Tatum. The ball fell into RB Franco Harris’ arms and he started to run. Harris ran all the way for a TOUCHDOWN! Fans rushed the field in excitement. The referee’s huddled together. Back then, if the ball had hit Fuqua and he didn’t catch it…it’s an incomplete pass. However, there was no clear replay of what happened. It happened so quickly the fans, players, coaches and even the refs didn’t know what happened. After 15 minutes of talking, and clearing the fans, the call was made that it was a TOUCHDOWN! The Steelers won, 13-7. 

And now here we are. 50 years later. When the 2022 Season schedule came out, we found out that the Raiders would be playing the Steelers on Christmas Eve, December 24. The day after the 50th Anniversary. In September, 2022, the Steelers announced they would be retiring Franco Harris’ number, 32 at that game against the Raiders. Unfortunately, on December 20, just 3 days before the anniversary, the man who caught the ball, Franco Harris, passed away at the age of 72. I was shocked and sad when I heard of Harris’ passing. But, in a news interview with former Steelers’ QB Ben Roethisberger, Ben said, “My interactions and my time with Franco…would be exactly what you say Bob [The News Reporter]. He would want this to be smiles and celebration and embracing the city. Embracing that play, that team. Um, and so I hope, as hard as it’s going to be for people, to be there and to mourn the loss of a legend, I hope people can smile and remember, not just that play but the man that Franco was. The player he was for the other years and the other great plays that he made for the Steelers. The Super Bowls and all that. I think that's what we should, how we should remember Franco.” As Ben said, this weekend will be a period of mourning and celebration of Franco Harris.      

I hope you all enjoyed this article! And hope you had an amazing holiday break!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!    

Week 14

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Children of all ages! Welcome to recap #14. The NFL Week 14 is the topic. This is a very special article for me because this is the 1 year mark of me being in the Newspaper Club! Thank you! Thank you very much! Any one, less about me…more about football. Let’s jump in!

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Rams (TNF): Derek Carr and the Raiders vs. Baker Mayfield and the Rams. With 9:17 left in the 1st, RB Josh Jacobs ran 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-0, Las Vegas. With 2:27 left in the 1st, Raiders’ kicker Daniel Carlson made a 52 yard field goal. 10-0, Las Vegas. With 11 seconds left in the 1st, Rams’ kicker Matt Gay made a 55 yard field goal. 10-3, Las Vegas after 1. The only score of the 2nd Quarter was a 31 yard field goal by Daniel Carlson. 13-3, Las Vegas at HALFTIME. The 3rd Quarter was scoreless. With 12:24 left in the 4th, Daniel Carlson made a 36 yard field goal. 16-3, Las Vegas. With 3:24 left in the 4th, RB Cam Akers ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 16-10, Las Vegas. The Raiders’ next drive was unsuccessful. Raiders’ punter A.J. Cole kicked an absolutely amazing punt! It was downed at the two yard line. The Rams had 1:41 left on the clock, no timeouts and 98 yards to the goal line. With 14 seconds left, QB Baker Mayfield threw a 23 yard pass to WR Van Jefferson. TOUCHDOWN!!! Once again, the Raiders lose after benign up by at least 13! The Rams came back to win, 17-16.            

Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys: The 1-10-1 Texans vs. the 9-3 Cowboys. Now when you look at the records and standings, this doesn’t look like a very good game. But you’re mistaken. Let’s see how this game unfolded. With 11:25 left in the 1st, RB Tony Pollard ran 11 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Dallas. With 5:37 left in the 1st, RB Dameon Pierce ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-7. To close out the 1st, Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 43 yard field goal. 10-7, Houston. With 12:34 left in the 2nd, QB Dak Presscott threw a 10 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Tony Pollard. 14-10, Dallas. With 2:30 left in the 2nd, QB T.J. Yates threw a 28 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Amari Rodgers. 17-14, Houston. With 44 seconds until the half, Cowboys’ kicker Brett Maher made a 32 yard field goal. 17-17. To end the half, Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 50 yard field goal. 20-17, Houston at HALFTIME. The only score of the 3rd Quarter was a 54 yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn. 23-17, Houston after 3. Wait a minute! The Texans, who have just 1 win, are beating the Cowboys by 6, who have 9 wins. WHAT?! Let’s see if the Texans can keep the lead. Just 6 seconds into the 4th, Brett Maher made a 53 yard field goal. 23-20, Houston. With 5:45 left in the 4th, Dak Presscott threw an INTERCEPTION! Picked off by CB Tremon Smith. Prescott was throwing out his endzone. So, the Texans got the ball at the Cowboys’ 5 yard line! The Texans couldn’t convert. The Cowboy’s got the ball back with 3:20 left to play. With 46 seconds left, RB Ezikel Elliott ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN! The Cowboys barely survived the Texans. Think about that…the Texans! Somehow the Cowboys won, 27-23.       

Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold and the Panthers vs. Geno Smith and the Seahawks. With 7:10 left in the 1st, Panthers’ kicker Eddie Pinero made a 47 yard field goal. 3-0, Carolina. With 6:49 left in the 1st, QB Sam Darnold threw a 13 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Shi Smith. 10-0, Carolina after the 1st. With 12:39 left in the 2nd, RB Chuba Hubbard ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 17-0, Carolina. With 9:33 left in the 2nd, QB Geno Smith threw a 5 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Tyler Lockett. 17-7, Carolina. With 2:13 left in the 2nd, Eddie Pinero made a 32 yard field goal. 20-7, Carolina. With 20 seconds left in the half, Geno Smith threw a 12 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR D.K. Metcalf. 20-14, Carolina at HALFTIME. There were a combined 4 scored in the 2nd Quarter. Although the 3rd Quarter only had 1. It was a 27 yard field goal by Seahawks kicker, Jason Myers. 20-17, Carolina after 3. With 7:01 left in the 4th, RB Raheem Blackshear ran 9 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 27-17, Carolina. With 2:00 left to play, Eddie Pinero made a 39 yard field goal. 30-17, Carolina. With 27 seconds left, Geno Smith threw a 24 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Marquise Goodwin. The Seahawks are still down by 4. They need to recover an onside kick. They were unsuccessful. What performance by the Panthers. Final score, 30-24.         

The playoff picture is beginning to form. There are 7 spots in the AFC that are left and 6 in the NFC. The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team to have secured a spot in the playoffs. Let’s see how the playoffs form! NFL Week 15 recap comes out next week! See ya then!

Week 12

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving break. Christmas is right around the corner and the NFL is moving closer and closer to the playoffs. So many games stood out this week. I had a hard time picking just 4. But the games have been chosen and we’re ready to go! Here we go with the NFL Week 12 recap. 

Buffalo Bills @ Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving): While the turkey was in the oven, most of you were watching the Lions’ yearly appearance on Thanksgiving. This year they were going against Josh Allen and the Bills. The first score of the game was a 2 yard TOUCHDOWN run by RB Jamaal Williams. 7-0, Detroit. Buffalo’s first score was a 20 yard TOUCHDOWN pass by QB Josh Allen to WR Isaiah McKenzie. 7-7 at the end of the 1st. With 8:01 left in the 2nd, Josh Allen ran 3 yards into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN! 14-7, Buffalo. With 1:55 left in the 2nd, QB Jared Goff threw a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. 14-14. On the final play of the 1st half, Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 46 yard field goal. 17-14, Buffalo at HALFTIME. With 9:11 left in the 3rd, Jared Goff was sacked in his own endzone. SAFETY for the Bills. 19-14, Buffalo at the end of the 3rd. With 13:52 left in the 4th, Jared Goff threw a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR D.J. Clark. They went for 2 and got. 22-19, Detroit. With 2:44 left in the 4th, Josh Allen threw a 5 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Steffon Diggs. Tyler Bass missed the extra point! 25-22, Buffalo. With 28 seconds left, Detroit kicker Michael Badgley made a 51 yard field goal. The game is now tied, 25-25. After the kickoff, the Bills had 23 seconds, 3 Timeouts and 75 yards to go until the goal line. But they only need a field goal to win. To end the game, Tyler Bass nailed a 45 yard field goal. Bills win, 28-25.    

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars: The 7-3 Ravens vs. the 3-7 Jaguars. With 9:28 left in the 1st, Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 27 yard field goal. 3-0, Baltimore. With 2:08 left in the 1st, Justin Tucker again, this time from 22 yards out. 6-0, Baltimore at the end of the 1st. With 10:03 left in the 2nd, QB Trevor Lawrence threw a 28 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB JaMycal Hasty. 7-6, Jacksonville. With 4:56 left in the 2nd, Justin Tucker nailed a 55 yard field goal. 9-7, Baltimore. To end the 1st half, Jacksonville kicker Riley Patterson made a 22 yard field goal. 10-9, Jacksonville at HALFTIME. The only score of the 3rd Quarter was a 24 yard field goal by Justin Tucker. 12-10, Baltimore after 3. With 13:13 left in the 4th, RB Gus Edwards ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN! 19-10, Baltimore. Their first TD of the game. With 6:00 left in the 4th, Trevor Lawrence threw a 1 TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Jamal Agnew. 19-17, Baltimore. On the first play of the Raven’s next drive, RB Gus Edwards FUMBLED the ball! The Jaguars picked it up! Jaguars ball at the Ravens’ 16 yard line. Unfortunately, the Jaguars couldn’t take advantage of the very short field. They had to settle for a 29 yard field goal by Riley Patterson. 20-19, Jacksonville. With 2:10 left in the 4th, QB Lamar Jackson threw a 12 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Josh Oliver. They went for 2 and got it! 27-20, Baltimore with just over 2 minutes to play. With 18 seconds left, Trevor Lawrence threw a 10 yard pass to WR Marvin Jones. TOUCHDOWN! The score is now 27-26, Baltimore. The Jaguars need to go for 2. Trevor Lawrence threw a rocket of a throw to WR Zay Jones. They got it! But the Ravens still have 14 seconds with 2 timeouts. On the final play of the game, Justin Tucker, who had been perfect the whole game, missed the long field goal! Jaguars win!!! What a game! The Jaguars get their 4th win of the season over the Ravens, 28-27.       

Las Vegas Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks: Derek Carr and the Raiders vs. Geno Smith and the Seahawks. On the first play of the game, QB Derek Carr threw an INTERCEPTION to Safety Quandre Diggs. 2 plays later, RB Kenneth Walker III ran 12 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-0, Seattle. With 9:30 left in the 1st, Derek Carr threw an 18 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Ameer Abdullah. 7-7. With 6:04 left in the 1st, Derek Carr threw another INTERCEPTION. Also picked off by Quandre Diggs. With 4:27 left in the 1st, Seahawks’ kicker Jason Myers kicked a field goal to give the Seahawks the lead. 10-7, Seattle at the end of the 1st. With 13:38 left in the 2nd, Jason Myers made a 34 yard field goal. 13-7, Seattle. With 10:12 left in the 2nd, Derek Carr threw a 41 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Mach Hollins. 14-13, Las Vegas. With 8:47 left in the 2nd, QB Geno Smith threw an INTERCEPTION of his own! Picked off by MLB Denzel Perryman. With 8:36 left in the 2nd, RB Josh Jacobs ran 30 yards for a Las Vegas TOUCHDOWN! 21-13, Las Vegas. With 5:27 left in the 2nd, Geno Smith threw a 35 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Tyler Lockett. 21-20, Las Vegas. To end the Quarter, kicker Daniel Carlson made a 36 yard field goal for the Raiders. 24-20, Las Vegas at HALFTIME. With 11:55 left in the 3rd, RB Kenneth Walker III ran 14 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 27-24, Seattle. With 5:06 left in the 3rd, Daniel Carlson made a 25 yard field goal. 27-27 after 3. With 5:44 left in the 4th, Geno Smith threw an 18 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Travis Homer. 34-27, Seattle. With 2:00 left in the 4th, Derek Carr threw a 5 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Foster Moreau. 34-34. The Seahawks failed to score. Now…it’s OVERTIME! The Raiders won the coin toss. With 4:32 left in OT, RB Josh Jacobs ran 86 yards for a TOUCHDOWN!!! Raiders win in OT! WHAT A GAME!!! Final score, 40-34.      

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles (SNF): The 4-7 Packers vs. the 9-1 Eagles. With 11:25 left in the 1st, RB Kenneth Gainwell ran 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-0, Philadelphia. With 9:09 left in the 1st, RB Miles Sanders ran 20 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. They missed the extra point. 13-0, Philadelphia. With 6:51 left in the 1st, RB A.J. Dillion ran 20 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 13-7, Philadelphia. With 3:16 left in the 1st, QB Aaron Rodgers threw a 11 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Randall Cobb. 14-13, Green Bay after 1. On the first play of the 2nd Quarter, RB Miles Sanders ran 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 20-14, Philadelphia. With 7:50 left in the 2nd, Aaron Rodgers threw a 23 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Aaron Jones. They missed the extra point. The score stayed 20-20. With 19 seconds left until the half, QB Jalen Hurts threw a 30 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Quez Watkins. 27-20, Philadelphia at HALFTIME. With 7:24 left in the 3rd, Jalen Hurts threw a 6 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR A.J. Brown. 34-20, Philadelphia. With 2:06 left in the 3rd, kicker Mason Crosby made a 29 yard field goal for the Packers. 34-23, Philadelphia at the end of the 3rd. With 11:14 left in the 4th, kicker Jake Elliott made a 31 yard field goal. 37-23, Philadelphia. With 9:10 left in the 4th, Aaron Rodgers threw a 63 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Christain Watson. 37-30, Philadelphia. With 2:21 left in the 4th, Jake Elliott made a 54 yard field goal. 40-30, Philadelphia. With 1:11 left in the 4th, kicker Mason Crosby made a 33 yard field goal. The Eagles had the ball for the rest of the game. Eagles win, 40-33. 

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for reading. Week 13 here we come! See ya!  

Week 10

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

The second half of the 2022 NFL Season has begun with Week 10. Many matchups stood out this week. Let’s jump right in. 

Detroit Lions  @ Chicago Bears: An NFC North divisional game between the 2-6 Lions and the 3-6 Bears. The first score was a 33 yard field goal by Chicago kicker Cairo Santos. 3-0, Chicago. The last score of the opening quarter was a 25 yard field goal by Detroit kicker Michael Badgley. 3-3, after the 1st. With 7:22 left in the 2nd, QB Jared Goff threw a 1 yard pass to TE Brock Wright. TOUCHDOWN. 10-3, Detroit. With just 21 seconds until the half, QB Justin Fields ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-10 at HALFTIME. With 7:40 left in the 3rd, Justin Fields threw an 11 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Cole Kmet. 17-10, Chicago. With 2:52 left in the 3rd, Fields to Kmet again. This time a 50 yard pass, catch and run. TOUCHDOWN. What a quarter for the Bears. 24-10, Chicago and the end of the 3rd. With 11:42 left in the 4th, Rb D’Andre Swift ran 9 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-17, Chicago. Here come the Lions. With 10:38 left in the 4th, Justin Fields threw a PICK 6. TOUCHDOWN Lions! It was caught by CB Jeff Okudah. Just like that, the score is tied, 24-24. With 9:23 left in the 4th, Justin Fields ran a whopping 67 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. They missed the extra point! That would come back to haunt them. The score stayed at 30-24, Chicago. With 2:24 left to play, RB Jamaal Williams ran a yard for a TOUCHDOWN. They got the extra point. The Lions are only up by 1. The Bears have 3 timeouts and plenty of time. With 1:12 left, the Lions sacked Justin Fields on 4th Down. Lions win, 31-30.         

Minnesota Vikings @ Buffalo Bills: Kirk Cousins and the Vikings vs Josh Allen and the Bills. This game has already been nominated by fans as the Game of the Year! Why? Let’s find out. The first score of the game was a 22 yard TOUCHDOWN pass by QB Kirk Cousins to WR Justin Jefferson. 7-0, Minnesota. Buffalo’s first score was a 4 yard rushing TOUCHDOWN by RB Devin Singletary. 7-7. The last score of the 1st was another rushing TOUCHDOWN by Devin Singletary. 14-7, Buffalo at the end of the 1st. As the 2nd Quarter started, snowflakes started to fall. With 12:57 left ‘till half, kicker Tyler Bass nailed a 34 yard field goal for the Bills. 17-7, Buffalo. With 7:15 left in the 2nd, kicker Greg Joseph kicked a 27 yarder for a field goal. 17-10, Buffalo. With 33 seconds left, Josh Allen threw an 11 yard pass to WR Gabe Davis. TOUCHDOWN. 24-10, Buffalo at HALFTIME. WIth 1:56 left in the 3rd, Tyler Bass kicked a 45 yard field goal. 27-10, Buffalo. With 1:46 left in the 3rd, just 10 seconds later, RB Dalvin Cook ran 81 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! What a run! 27-17, Buffalo. With 4:38 left in the 4th, FB C.J. Ham ran 3 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The extra point kick hit the upright and bounced backwards. The score stayed 27-23. With 50 seconds left, Kirk Cousins QB-sneaked to the goal line on 4th & GOAL. But the ball never crossed the plane! Bills ball! My family was watching this game while the Giants game was on commercial. After that play, we went back to the Giants game and assumed this game was over. Nope. We missed an amazing ending. Here’s what happened. On the Bills first play, Josh Allen fumbled the snap in the endzone. The Vikings recovered. TOUCHDOWN! 30-27, Minnesota. The Vikings have come back from what once was a 17 point deficit. With 5 seconds left, the Bills had driven down the field into field goal range. Tyler Bass…made it. He sneaked it through the upright. 30-30. OVERTIME! The Vikings won the coin toss and got the ball first. A TD would win it. With 3:45 left in OT, Greg Joseph nailed a 33 yard field goal. The Bills are down 3. A TD on their drive would win the game. With 1:18 left, Josh Allen threw a pass and it was INTERCEPTED at the goal line. CB Patrick Peterson with the pick. Vikings win, 33-30 in OT.              

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers: Dak Prescott and the Cowboys vs. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Packers, coming into this game, were on a 5 game losing streak. The Cowboys were coming off a 2 game winning streak. With Mike McCarthy back at Lambeau Field, let’s see if the Packers can beat the Cowboys and end their losing streak. The 1st Quarter was scoreless. Drive after drive. Turnover after turnover. The 2nd Quarter though, was filled with scores by both teams. With 9:57 left in the 2nd, QB Dak Presscott threw a 3 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Ceedee Lamb. 7-0, Dallas. With 5:02 left in the 2nd, Aaron Rodgers threw a 58 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Christian Watson. 7-7. With 1:48 left till half, RB Aaron Jones ran 12 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-7, Green Bay. With just 14 seconds left, Dak Presscott threw a 5 yard pass to TE Dalton Schultz. 14-14 at HALFTIME. With 7:19 left in the 3rd, RB Tony Pollard ran 14 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 21-14, Dallas. With 2:54 left in the 3rd, Dak Pressoctt threw a 35 yard pass to WR Ceedee Lamb. TOUCHDOWN! 28-14, Dallas at the end of the 3rd. With 13:31 left in the 4th, Aaron Rodgers threw a 39 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Christain Watson. 28-21, Dallas. With 2:33 left in the 4th, Aaron Rodgers to Christain Watson again for a TOUCHDOWN. 28-28. The rest of regulation was scoreless. OVERTIME. Dallas won the coin toss and got possession of the ball first. They went for it on 4th Down and didn’t get it. Packers’ ball with 6:15 left in OT. With 3:09 left in OT, Mason Crosby nailed a 28 yard field goal. Packers win and strap their 5 game losing streak. Final score 31-28.    

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles (MNF): An NFC East divisional matchup between the 4-5 Commanders and the 8-0 Eagles. The first score of the game was a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN run by QB Jalen Hurts. 7-0, Philadelphia. Washington’s first score was a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN run by RB Antonio Gibson. 7-7. The last score of the 1st was a 6 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Dallas Goedert. 14-7, Philadelphia at the end of the 1st. With 10:04 left in the 2nd, kicker Joey Skyle kicked a 44 yard field goal for Washington. 14-10, Philadelphia. The Eagles next drive resulted in an over-the-shoulder INTERCEPTION by Safety Darrick Forrest. With 1:44 left till the half, RB Brian Robinson Jr. ran a yard for a Commander TOUCHDOWN. The Eagles next drive was a 3 and out. The Commandes got the ball back with just over a minute to play. To end the 1st Half, Joey Skyle kicked his career high field goal. A 58 yard field goal. 20-14, Washington at HALFTIME. The only score of the 3rd Quarter was a 32 yard field goal by Joey Skyle. 23-14, Washington at the end of the 3rd. On the first play of the 4th Quarter, Jalen Hurts threw a 12 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR DaVonta Smith. 23-21, Washington. With 7:38 left to play, Joey Skyle again with a long field goal. This time from 55 yards out. 26-21, Washington. On the last play of the game, the Eagles’ FUMBLED the ball again. The Commanders returned in for a TOUCHDOWN. The Commanders snapped the Eagles winning streak. Final score 32-21.  

The 1972 Dolphins can celebrate now that there is no more undefeated team in the NFL this season. Thanks for reading and Week 11 recap is next week. See ya! 

Week 9

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello and welcome to a very special recap! This is because Week 9 marks the halfway point of the regular season. 9 weeks gone, 9 more to go! What a week in the NFL across the nation. Here’s a fun fact: 4 out of 13 games this week ended in a final score of 20-17. This made the task of picking the right games to write about very hard. But, I have chosen 4 games so let’s jump right into this week's recaps!

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions: An NFC North divisional matchup between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and Jared Goff and the Lions. Both teams currently have losing records. The Packers have come off of four straight losses and the Lions come off of five straight. Neither team is doing well. However, the 1st Quarter was very competitive. With a minute and change left in the 1st, the Packers were so close, but they fumbled the ball at the goal line. Luckily, it rolled out of bounds. On the first play of the 2nd Quarter, Aaron Rodgers threw an INTERCEPTION with the line of scrimmage on the 1 yard line! Lions ball! Unfortunately, the Lions were scoreless on the drive. With just 20 seconds left until the half, Matthew Stafford threw a 1 yard pass to TE Shane Zylstra for a TOUCHDOWN! The Lions completed the 2 point-conversion for an 8-0 lead at HALFTIME. With 10:18 left in the 3rd, Jared Goff threw his first pick of the game. That drive ended in Aaron Rodgers’ second pick of the game. This INTERCEPTION also happened at the goal line, much like the first. Also like the first pick, the Lions were scoreless on the drive. With 4:58 left in the 3rd, Aaron Rodgers threw a 20 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Allen Lazard. The Packers went for 2 and…nope. They didn’t get it. The score remained 8-6, Detroit at the end of the 3rd. Just 4 seconds into the 4th, Jared Goff threw a 3 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE James Mitchell. 15-6, Detroit. The Packers drove down to the Detroit 7 yard line, but couldn’t put the ball in the endzone. They had to settle for a 25 yard field goal by Mason Crosby. The Packers are now down by 6. The Packers were able to stop the Lions on their next drive. The Packers got the ball with just over 2 minutes left to play. The Packers drove down the field but couldn’t score. The Lions beat the Packers…15-9.          

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets: An AFC East divisional match-up between the 6-1 Bills and the 5-3 Jets. The first score of the game was a 1 yard run by QB Josh Allen for a Bills TOUCHDOWN. 7-0. The Jets first score was a 53 yard field goal by Greg Zurlein. 7-3, Buffalo after 1. With 6:39 left in the 2nd, Josh Allen ran 41 yards for his second rushing TOUCHDOWN of the game. 14-3, Buffalo. With 35 seconds until the half, RB Michael Carter ran 11 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 14-10, Buffalo the score at HALFTIME. With 4:10 left in the 3rd, Zach Wilson threw a 7 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB James Robinson. 17-14, New York after 3. With 13:38 left in the 4th, Tyler Bass nailed a 51 yard field goal for the Bills. 17-17. With 1:45 left to play, Greg Zurlein kicked a 28 yard field goal. The Jets are up by only 3 points. Can the Bills drive down the field with no timeouts? Let's find out! The Bills…couldn't drive down the field at all. The Jets defense stopped them in their tracks. Jets win, 20-17.     

Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The two previous Super Bowl Champions going head to head. Matthew Stafford vs. Tom Brady. The first and only score for the 1st Quarter was a Ryan Succop field goal for the Bucs. 3-0, Tampa Bay. With 13:07 left in the 2nd, Matthew Stafford threw a 29 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Cooper Cup. 7-3, Los Angeles. With 28 seconds left in the 2nd, Ryan Succop kicked another Tampa field goal. 7-6, Los Angeles the score at HALFTIME. With 9:17 left in the 3rd, kicker Matt Gay kicked a 26 yard field goal for the Rams. 10-6, Los Angeles. To end the 3rd Quarter, Matt Gay again kicked a field goal. This time from 35 yards out. He made it for 3 points. 13-6, Los Angeles the score after 3 Quarters of play. With 8:14 left in the 4th, Ryan Succop nailed a 50 yard field goal. 13-9, Los Angeles. Until the 1 minute mark, the game was scoreless. With 44 seconds left, The Bucs got the ball. They were 60 yards from the endzone with no timeouts. Somehow, I don’t how, but somehow, Tom Brady did it again. With 13 seconds left to play, Brady threw a 1 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Cade Otton. The Bucs with a very late comeback to beat the Rams 16-13.        

Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs (SNF): The 5-2 Titans vs. the 5-2 Chiefs. The only score of the 1st Quarter was a 23 yard field goal by Harrison Butker. 3-0, Kansas City. The 2nd Quarter was very different. 3 scores combined in the 2nd. On the first play of the 2nd, Mahomes threw a 7 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Mecole Hardman. They missed the extra point. 9-0, Kansas City. With 10:51 left in the 2nd, RB Derrick Henry ran 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 9-7, Kansas City. With 5:28 left ‘till half, Derrick Henry again ran in for a TOUCHDOWN. The rest of the half was scoreless. 14-9, Tennessee the score at HALFTIME. The only score of the 3rd Quarter was a 44 yard field goal by Randy Bullock. 17-9, Tennessee at the end of the 3rd. With 3:05 left to play, Patrick Mahoems ran 14 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 17-15, Tennessee. Kansas City went for 2 and…they got it! We’re tied at 17-17. With just under 3 minutes to play. The rest of the game was scoreless. The clock hit triple 0’s and the game is still tied. We’re going to OVERTIME. With 4:07 left in OT, Harrison Butker kicked a 28 yard field goal to give the Chiefs a 3 point lead. But, a TD wins the game. If the Titans score a TD, they’ll win. However, the Chiefs defense played so well in OT, the Titans offense didn’t have a chance. Chiefs win, 20-17. 

Thanks for reading and a Week 10 recap will come out next week.  

Week 8

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

The Eagles continue their undefeated season while Aaron Rodgers and the Packers continue to fall. Plus, Christian McCaffery makes NFL History! Welcome to the Week 8 recap. Let’s get started! 

Baltimore Ravens @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF): Lamar Jackson and the Ravens vs Tom Brady and the Bucs. The Ravens opening drive was only 5 plays. 2 minutes and 19 seconds had come off the clock. On the punt, the returner for the Bucs was ran into by his own teammate. Unfortunately, he already touched the ball. It’s a live ball! Ravens recovered. They have the ball deep in Tampa Bay territory. The 5 yard line. Sadly, the Ravens could not move the ball into the endzone. They had to settle for a short field goal. 3-0. On the Bucs first drive, they did end in the endzone. RB Leonard Fournette ran 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 7-3. To end the quarter, Ryan Succop kicked a 31 yard field goal. 10-3, Bucs after 1. In the 2nd Quarter, both teams had drives that nearly ended in a score. This showed how good and competitive both teams are. The 2nd was scoreless. 10-3, Bucs the score at HALFTIME. With 9:09 left in the 3rd, RB Kenyan Drake caught a 5 yard pass from Lamar Jackson for a TOUCHDOWN. 10-10. To end the 3rd, Lamar Jackson threw a 10 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Isaiah Likely. The Ravens are up, 17-10. With 12:30 left in the 4th, Ryan Succop nailed a 30 yard field goal. 17-13. With 7:00 to play, WR Devin Duvernay ran 21 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. 24-13. With 4:57 left, Ryan Succop kicked a 26 yard field goal. 24-16. With 2:16 left, Justin Tucker kicked an easy 30 yard field goal. 27-16. With just under a minute left on the clock, the Bucs scored a TOUCHDOWN. They are down 5. They went for 2 and…missed it. Baltimore wins, 27-22.    

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons: The 2-5 Panthers vs. the 3-4 Falcons in an NFC South Divisional matchup! The first and only score of the 1st Quarter was a 37 yard field goal by Carolina kicker Zane Gonzalez. 3-0.  The first TD of the game was a 2 yard pass to TE Kyle Pitts. TOUCHDOWN. 7-3. With 4:55 left in the 2nd, RB D’Onta Foreman ran 2 yards for the first Carolina TOUCHDOWN! 10-7. With only 50 seconds left, Carolina QB P.J. Walker threw an INTERCEPTION to LB Lorenzo Carter of the Falcons. He ran it back 37 yards for a PICK 6! TOUCHDOWN! 14-10, Atlanta is the score at HALFTIME. With 11:38 left in the 3rd, Carolina kicker Zane Gonzalez made a 42 yard field goal. 14-13. With 1:51 left in the 3rd, Atlanta QB Marcus Mariota threw a quick mass to RB Tyler Allgeier. He ran 25 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! 21-13 Atlanta after 3. This 4th Quarter was crazy with scoring! With 11:51 left, RB D’Onta Foreman ran a yard for a Panthers TOUCHDOWN! The Panthers are right back in it. 21-19. They went for 2 and got it! We’re all knotted at 21. With 7:38 to play, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo kicked a field goal for 3 points. 24-21. With 3:12 left, D’Onta Foreman ran 12 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! 28-24, Carolina. With 2:26 left, Marcus Mariota threw a 47 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Damiere Byrd. 31-28, Atlanta. With just 40 seconds left, kicker Younghoe Koo made a 34 yard field goal to give the Falcons a 34-28 lead. With 23 seconds left, QB P.J. Walker threw a 62 yard pass to D.J. Moore. TOUCHDOWN! After the play, he got so caught up in the celebration, that he took his helmet off. By rule, he can’t take his helmet off. A flag was thrown on Moore, Unsportsmanlike Conduct. This put the extra point back 15 yards. Zane Gozalez missed it. A made kick would have won the game. 34-34. OVERTIME. The Falcons won the coin toss and got the ball. Marcus Mariotta threw a pick just 2 minutes into OT. With 5:59 left in OT, Zane Gonzalez missed a 33 yard field goal for the Panthers. With 2:00 left, Younghoe Koo nailed a 41 yard field goal. Falcons win in OT, 37-34.  

Washington Commanders @ Indianapolis Colts: The 3-4 Commanders vs. the 3-3-1 Colts. The 1st Quarter was very competitive, but scoreless. Just 42 seconds into the 2nd, Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made a 46 yard field goal. 3-0, Colts. With 11:01 left in the 2nd, Taylor Hinecke threw a 9 yard pass to RB Antonio Gibson. TOUCHDOWN! 7-3, Commanders. Much like the 1st, the 2nd Quarter was also very competitive. Also like the 1st, the rest of the 2nd was scoreless. 7-3, Washington the score at HALFTIME. With 7:19 left in the 3rd, Rodrigo Blankenship made a 39 yard field goal. 7-6, Commanders. The rest of the 3rd…you guessed it…was scoreless. The 4th Quarter had the most scores. With 12:36 left in the 4th, Rodrigo Blankenship made a 20 yard field goal. 9-7, Colts. On the Commanders next drive, the Colts INTERCEPTED a pass from Taylor Heinicke. With 11:17 left, RB Nyheim Hines ran 6 yards for the first Colts TOUCHDOWN. 16-7, Colts. With 4:59 left, kicker Joey Slye made a 28 yard Washington field goal. 16-10, Colts. With 26 seconds left, Taylor Heinicke ran a yard through the pile for a TOUCHDOWN. 16-16. The Commanders are one extra point away from the win! Joey Slye made it! Commanders win, 17-16.     

Before I end the article, I want to mention a history-making moment that happened during the 49ers @ Rams game. 49ers RB Christain McCaffery made history by being the first player since 2005 to throw for TD, run for a TD and catch a TD. Those 3 TOUCHDOWN’s lead the 49ers to a 31-14 win over the Rams. What a milestone in his career. 

Thanks for reading and a Week 9 recap will be coming out next week. See ya!         

Week 6

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Hello and welcome to another NFL Recap, Week 6. What a week! I’m telling you, watching all the highlights from games around America I thought, “How I am going to write about just 4 games!” Well, here we are. 4 games from the NFL Week 6 coming right up! 

Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants: The 3-2 Ravens vs. the 4-1 Giants. The 1st Quarter was scoreless. But, there was a highlight that happened in the final minute of the quarter. It was 4th & 16 for the Ravens at the Giant’ 38 yard line. Baltimore’s Field Goal unit came out. Then a graphic came up. It said: Justin Tucker has made 10 straight field goals from 50+ yards. This field goal was 56 yards. The snap, the kick, and…he missed it! Snapping his kicking streak! The ball hit the upright and bounced off. 0-0 is the score at the end of the 1st. With 9:34 left in the 2nd, Ravens’ RB Kenyan Drake ran for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-0, Baltimore. On the Giants’ next drive, they drove down the field. With 3:36 until the half, Wan’Dale Robinson caught a 5 yard TOUCHDOWN pass from Daniel Jones. 7-7 is the score. With 1:47 left, Justin Tucker made a field goal. 10-7, Ravens is the score at HALFTIME. With 9:44 left in the 3rd, Justin Tucker knocked through a 23 yard field goal for the Ravens. 13-7 is the score. With 2:04 left in the 3rd Quarter, Graham Gano kicked a 34 yard field goal for New York. 13-10 is the score at the end of the 3rd. Just over 2 minutes into the 4th, Lamar Jackson threw a 19 yard pass TE Mark Andrews for a TOUCHDOWN! 20-10 is the score. With 6:07 left to play, Daniel Jones threw an 8 yard pass to Daniel Bellinger for a TOUCHDOWN! 20-17 is now the score. Here come the Giants! With 3:05 left, Ravens’ center snapped the ball over Lamar Jackson’s head. Jackson was then rushed and threw it away. And…INTERCEPTION! Julian Love for the Giants. The Giants have the ball at the Ravens’ 13 yard line. With 2 minutes left, Daniel Jones threw a pass and…INTERCEPTION! The Ravens came right back. Wait a second there’s a flag. Pass Interference on the Ravens. The foul occurred in the endzone so by rule, the ball is placed at the 1 yard line. 1st & GOAL for the Giants. With 1:46, RB Saqoun Barey leaped over the pile for a TOUCHDOWN! The Giants have taken the lead! On the Ravens first play of the drive, Lamar was rushed and…FUMBLE! The Giants have it! The Giants have came back against all odds once again! The Giants beat the Ravens, 24-20.      

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Pittsburgh Steelers: The 3-2 Bucs vs. 1-4 Steelers. The first score was a 6 yard pass to Pittsburgh RB Najee Harris for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-0 is the score. With 2:54 left in the opening quarter, Ryan Succop kicked a good 30 yard field goal. 7-3, Steelers is the score at the end of the 1st. With 11:05 in the 2nd Quarter, Ryan Succop kicked another field goal. 7-6 is the score. With 4:12 until the half, Chirs Bosewll kicked the ball and it hit the cross the bar and bounced in! 10-6 is the score. On the last play of the 1st half, Ryan Succop again scored a field goal. 10-9, Ptssburgh is the score at HALFTIME. On the opening kickoff of the 2nd half, Steven Sims ran all the way down to the Tampa Bay 11 yard line! Great field position for the Steelers. Unfortunately, the Steelers only came away with 3 points via a Chris Boswell field goal. 13-9 is the score. With 7:26 left in the 3rd, Ryan Succop again with a Buccaneer’ field goal. 13-12 is now the score. 9:59 left to play, and WR Chase Claypool caught a TOUCHDOWN pass from Mitchel Trubisky. 20-12 is now the score. Hold up a second. The Steelers are beating the Bucs?! Tom Brady?! WHAT! Let's see if they can finish it. With 4:44 left in the 4th, Tom Brady threw an 11 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to RB Leonard Fournette. The Bucs first TD of the day! But, the Bucs need the 2-point conversion to tie the game. And the pass was batted down by the Steelers. Pittsburgh then drove down the field and ran out the clock. The Steelers snapped their 4 game losing streak against the Bucs, 20-18.             

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs: “The Rematch”. Josh Allen and the Bills vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If you were watching, last season in the NFL Divisional Round for the AFC, the Bills played the Chiefs in Kansas City. That game's final 2 minutes were the craziest thing I have ever seen in the NFL. At the end of regulation, the score was 36-36. The Chiefs won in OT, 42-36. This game, for the Bills, was redemption. The 1st Quarter was scoreless. With 13:36 left in the 2nd Quarter, Bills kicker Tyler Bass kicked a 39 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. On the Chiefs next drive, Mahomes threw a 42 yard pass to WR Juju Smith-Schuster for a TOUCHDOWN! 7-3 is the score. With 22 seconds until halftime, Josh Allen threw a 34 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Gabe Davis. 7-7 is the score. On the last play before the half, Harrison Butker kicked a 62 yard field goal for the Chiefs. 10-10 is the score at HALFTIME. 7:08 left in the 3rd and Josh Allen threw a 22 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Steffon Diggs. 17-10, Buffalo is the score. 2:50 was on the clock when Patrick Mahomes threw a 3 yard pass to WR Mecole Hardman for a TOUCHDOWN. At the end of the 3rd, the score is tied again, 17-17. With 9:54 left to play, Harrison Butker knocked through a 44 yard field goal. 20-17, Kansas City is the score. With only 1:10 left, TE Dawson Knox caught a pass from Josh Allen. TOUCHDOWN! There’s still 1 minute left. Plus, the Chiefs have 2 timeouts left. On the Chiefs drive, Mahomes threw a pass and it was INTERCEPTED by Bills’ CB Taron Johnson. The Bills have gotten even with the Chiefs! Final score: 24-20.    

Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers (MNF): The Broncos are on Primetime again! Russel Wilson and the Broncos vs. Justin Herbert and the Chargers. The first points of the game was a 51 yard field goal by Denver kicker Brandon McManus in the 1st Quarter. 3-0, Denver. With 1:58 left, Russel Wilson threw a 39 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Grey Dulich. 10-0, Denver is the score at the of the 1st. With 9:16 left in the 2nd, Charger’ RB Austin Ekeler ran 6 yards for the first Charger TOUCHDOWN! 10-7 is the score. In the final minute until the end of the 1st half, LA kicker Dustin Hopkins kicked a 37 yard field goal. With 3 seconds left, Brandon McManus kicked a 27 yard field goal. 13-10, Broncos the score at HALFTIME. The only points of the 3rd Quarter was a 31 yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins. 13-13, tied up, at the end of the 3rd. With 8:27 left in the 4th, Brandon McManus kicked a 48 yard field goal for the Broncos. 16-13 is the score. With 4:02 left to play, Dustin Tucker kicked a 35 yard field goal for the Chargers. 16-16. Tied up again! The rest of the quarter was scoreless. OVERTIME. The Broncos won the coin toss and got the ball. If they were to score a TD, they would win. A field goal would force the Chargers to have a possession. The Broncos couldn’t even kick a field goal. The Chargers have a chance for the win. With 2:43 left in OT, Dustin Hopkins kicked a 39 yard field goal. Chargers win! Final score: 19-16 in OVERTIME!

Thanks for reading! I’ll see ya next week! 

Aaron Judge Update-  He Did It!!

By Lorenzo Lucas

Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run! He hit it on October 4th and surpassed the previous American League record holder Roger Maris.  Mr. Maris was also a Yankee, and also played right field.  He hit 61 home runs in 1961,  61 years ago!

Cory Youmans, the person who caught the ball, could now have up to two million dollars. After the game Judge said that “ Words can't describe it, it is an incredible honor.” 

Week 3

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Hello everyone! Three weeks of the NFL have come and gone. What a week it was that 2022 Week three! Let’s do a RECAP! Here we go! 

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins: The 2-0 Bills vs. the 2-0 Dolphins. The 1st Quarter resulted in a TOUCHDOWN for both teams. 7-7 is the score at the end of the 1st. That happened again on the 2nd. 14-14 is the score at HALFTIME. The 3rd Quarter was scoreless for the Dolphins. The Bills kicked a field goal. 17-14, Bills, at the end of the 3rd. The 4th Quarter was very interesting. With 10:08 left to play, Dolphin RB Chase Edmonds ran into the endzone from 3 yards out. TOUCHDOWN! 21-14, Miami is up. With 1:37 left in the 4th, Dolphin punter Thomas Morstead attempted to kick a punt out of his own endzone. But he kicked it off his own players' back! The ball landed out of bounds in the back of the endzone! SAFETY! 21-19, Dolphins! The Bills have a chance! With 18 seconds left, Josh Allen threw a short pass to WR Isaiah McKenzie. At this point the Bills have no timeouts! He couldn’t run out of bounds! 8…7…6….5…the Bills are trying to spike it! 4…3…2…1! FINAL! The Bills lost and the Dolphins were UNDEFEATED! 21-19, Dolphins was the final score.       

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts: Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs vs. Matt Ryan and the Colts. With 12:28 left in the 1st, the Colts scored a TOUCHDOWN for an early 7-0 lead. The Chiefs also scored a TOUCHDOWN in the 1st Quarter. But they missed the extra point. 7-6, Colts at the end of the 1st. With 9:44 left in the 2nd, Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made a good kick for a field goal. 10-6, Colts. With 1:50 left in the 1st half, Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran into the endzone for Chief TOUCHDOWN. Kansas City went for 2 and got it! 14-10, Chiefs is the score at HALFTIME. With 7:59 left in the 3rd, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicked a good 26 yard field goal for 3 points. 17-10 is now the score. With 2:58 left in the 3rd, Blankenship made a good 51 yard field goal for the Colts. 17-13 is the score at the end of the 3rd. With 28 seconds left in the 4th, the Colts scored a TOUCHDOWN! 20-17 is now the score. The Chiefs got the ball but couldn't score. The Colts did the unthinkable and beat the Chiefs, 20-17.    

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This may have been the last time we saw Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady. The 1st Quarter resulted in a TOUCHDOWN for the Packers and a field goal for the Bucs. 7-3, Green Bay was the score after the 1st. The 2nd Quarter was scoreless for the Bucs but the Packers scored another TOUCHDOWN! 14-3 was the score at HALFTIME. The Bucs kicked yet another field goal in the 3rd. With the Packers not scoring in that quarter, the Bucs had cut the lead down to 8. 14-6, Green Bay after 3. With 17 seconds left to play the Bucs scored a TOUCHDOWN! They went for 2…and couldn’t get it! The Packers got the ball and ran out the clock. The Packers had beaten the Bucs, 14-12. 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! 

Jacob deGrom Breaks MLB Record! 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to another sports article. This time, I am talking about MLB pitcher, Jacob deGrom. deGrom has been with the New York Mets since his MLB debut on May 15, 2014. He missed the second half of the 2021 season and the first half of the 2022 season. This was due to an injury in his right arm. He was first put on the injured list on July 18, 2021. deGrom made his first start back on August 2, 2022 at the Washington Nationals. And just this past weekend, on Sunday, September 18, 2022, deGrom broke the record for having his 40th straight start and letting up 3 or less runs. This record has stood since 1914! 108 years. The previous record holder was Chicago White Sox’s pitcher, Jim Scott. He had 39 consecutive starts with 3 or less runs. Jacob broke that with 40! Congratulations Jacob deGrom!    

WrestleMania 38 is Here!

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello readers! Today we are going to be taking a look at the WWE WrestleMania 38 Match Card. WrestleMania 38 is happening Saturday, April 2nd and Sunday, April 3rd at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX. In this article, I will be breaking down some of the matches for WrestleMania! Before I start, I would just like to tell you that I will most likely NOT include all matches because the match card has not been finalized yet. Regardless of that, let's get started!

Night 1:

Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin w/ Mad Cap Moss  

Happy Corbin and Map Cap Moss have been torturing Drew McIntyre since January! Drew McIntyre had 2 matches against Mad Cap Moss. At the Day 1 Pay-per-view (PPV) and the Elimination Chamber PPV McIntyre beat Moss both times. Finally, Drew McIntyre will get his hands on Happy Corbin at WrestleMania!

Charlotte Flair © vs. Ronda Rousey - 

SmackDown Women’s Championship

Ronda Rousey returned to WWE in January at the Royal Rumble PPV after 2 years of absence. Rousey won the Royal Rumble match and got her chance to fight a champion of her choosing on the grandest stage of them all! She picked the SmackDown Women’s Champion, The Queen: Charlotte Flair. Charlotte called Ronda “A one trick pony”. That was referring to Ronda Rousey’s “arm bar” submission. Ronday surprised Charlotte with a new submission: “the ankle lock”. Who will tap out first?! We’ll find out in the MAIN EVENT of WrestleMania, Night 1!

Night 2: 

Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory 

Pat McAfee is a commentator for WWE Friday Night SmackDown. On Pat’s talk show, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon gave Pat the opportunity to wrestle at WrestleMania. Who will Pat face at WrestleMania? Austin Theory. Theory is just 22 years old and has been taking advice personally from Mr. McMahon. Once it was announced it would be Theory vs. McAfee, Theory has been picking on Pat for the last 3-4 weeks or so. Everything has been put against Pat. Pat can’t lay a hand on Austin Theory, but Theory can do whatever he wants to Pat! On WrestleMania Sunday, Pat McAfee will finally get his revenge on Austin Theory!   

RK-Bro © vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy - 

RAW Tag Team Championship, Triple Threat Match  

On the March 7th episode of Monday Night RAW, the team of Randy Orton and Riddle, aka RK-Bro, won the RAW Tag Team Championships from Chad Gable and Otis, aka Alpha Academy. On the March 14th episode of RAW, the Street Profits, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, challenged RK-Bro to a championship match at WrestleMania. Then Alpha Academy came back in the mix and it became a triple threat match! Who will walk out as RAW Tag Team Champions? We’ll find out, on the most STUPENDOUS 2-Night WrestleMania in history!  

KO Show: Hosted by Kevin Owens - 

Special Guest: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

After Kevin Ownes and his tag team partner Seth Rollins lost their RAW Tag Team Championship opportunity, they both had no clear path to this year’s WrestleMania. Kevin Owens decided to pull out all the stops and “invite” none other than WWE Hall of Famer, the Texas Rattlesnake, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin! WrestleMania this year is in Austin’s home state of Texas and Owens has been saying Texas is a “trash bucket”. This has aggravated the Rattlesnake and I think Kevin Ownes is going to get a bit more than just a talk show with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. We’ll find out how this all goes for KO on the most STUPENDOUS KO Show in history!   

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns -

Champion vs. Champion, Winner Take All

For the 3rd time in WrestleMania history, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns will go head to head in the main event! They faced off at WrestleMania 31 (2015) for the WWE Championship. They fought at WrestleMania 34 (2018) for the Universal Championship. And this year, at WrestleMania 38 (2022), they will face off for BOTH the WWE Championship and Universal Championship. Winner Take All! Championship Unification! That means the winner of the match will get both titles. But not only that, the 2 championships will unify! Meaning they will become 1 championship. Roman Reigns is the Universal Champion. Brock Lesnar is the WWE Champion. Roman is a 2-time Universal Champion. He won the title at the Payback PPV on August 30, 2020. Reigns has been champion for 570+ Days! He is the Longest reigning Universal Champion in history! Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble match in January and chose to fight Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Then, at the ELimination Chamber PPV in February, Lesnar won the WWE Championship for the 7th time in his career. That made the match at WrestleMania Champion vs. Champion. Who will win and be the ultimate champion in WWE! We’ll see in the MAIN EVENT of WrestleMania! 

Well ladies and gentlemen there you have it! Some of the matches that will go down at WrestleMania 38! Reminder, the event has 2 nights. Night 1 is Saturday, April 2nd and Night 2 is Sunday, April 3rd. It will take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX! I’ll see you next time and enjoy WrestleMania! 

Los Angeles Rams: Super Bowl Champions!

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Ladies and gentlemen! Your Super Bowl Champions: the Los Angeles Rams. What a game! The Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20 this past Sunday. 7-3 was the score at the end of the 1st Quarter, the Rams were up. The 2nd Quarter brought 6 points for the Rams and 7 for the Bengals. 13-10 was the score at HALFTIME as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and more took the HALFTIME stage. Twelve seconds into the 3rd Quarter, the Bengals score a TOUCHDOWN! For the first time in the game, the Bengals were up. 17-13 was the score. Then the Rams got the ball back. On the first play of their drive, QB Matthew Stafford threw an interception. It was caught by Chidobe Awuzie at the Ram 32 yard line. Here come the Bengals! At the end of the 3rd Quarter, the score was 20-16, Bengals. With 43 seconds left in the game, the score was 23-20, Rams. It was 4th & 1 for the Bengals at the Ram 48 yard line. Pryor to the play, commentator Al Michaels said “This is the ball game, ladies and gentleman.” Joe Burrow took the snap and was hit by Ram Defensive Tackle, Aaron Donald. Burrow was able to get the ball away but it was too late. The game was over. Ram’s QB Matthew Stafford took the final kneel down. The clock wound down. The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl Champions! The 2nd Title of the franchise. 

This game made history in many ways. For one, the Rams were the 2nd team (and 2nd Consecutive Team) to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Plus, Head Coach Sean McVay was the youngest Head Coach to win a Super Bowl, at age 36. Sean McVay would say during the trophy presentation, “I’m so happy for these players. World Champs Baby!”

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! 

NFL Divisional Round Recap 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello! This is a recap of the NFL Divisional Round. ALL of the games were amazing! Each game came down to the last second! Now, let's get into it!

(4) Cincinnati Bengals at (1) Tennessee Titans (AFC): This game was amazing! Everyone thought the Bengals didn’t have a chance, including myself. At HALFTIME, it was 9-6. The Bengals were winning! Wait, what was going on? Sure, the Bengals were only up a Field Goal (3 points), but that’s still a lead. The 3rd Quarter brought the first TOUCHDOWNs of the game. At the end of the 3rd Quarter, it was 16-16. The 4th Quarter was scoreless. Until the end. It was the Bengals ball 3rd & 10 from the Titans’ 37 yard line. There were 4 seconds left. Bengals’ kicker, Evan McPherson, kicked a 52 yard field goal for the win! The final score was 19-16. The Bengals had done it! They beat the best team in the AFC! 

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Green Bay Packers (NFC): Jimmy Garapolo and the 49ers vs. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Just like the previous game I talked about in this article, everyone thought one team would crush the other. They all thought that the Packers were going to win. It was 7-0, Packers at HALFTIME. The 3rd Quarter only brought a 3rd Quarter for the 49ers. Now it was 7-3. In the 4th Quarter, the Packers scored a field goal and the 49ers scored a TOUCHDOWN. Now it was 10-10. With 4 seconds left, 49ers kicker, Robbie Gould, kicked a 45 yard field goal. The 49ers won! FINAL Score: 13-10. The 49ers are headed to the NFC Champion! 

(4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC): Everyone knew this was going to be a competitive game. And it was. The first half showed that the Rams were ready for Tom Brady and the Bucs! 20-3 was scored at HALFTIME. With 7:07 left in the 3rd Quarter, the Rams scored again. That made the score 27-3. After that score I asked my Dad, “Do you think you can say the game is over?” My Dad responded by saying, “Well, normally, I would say yes with a score like this. But this is Tom Brady. So, because it’s Brady, no. I can’t say the game is over yet.” My Dad was right. In Super Bowl LI (51), Tom Brady and the Patriots were playing the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots were down 28-3 in the 3rd Quarter and came back to win in OVERTIME! That’s 25 points they were down and they still won! That was a crazy Super Bowl! Anyway, let’s get back to the game at hand. At the end of the 3rd Quarter it was 27-13. The Rams were still up. The 4th Quarter was the complete opposite of all the previous quarters, scoring wise. Tampa Bay scored 2 TOUCHDOWNs to make the score 27-27. Just like all the previous games I’ve talked about, the ending came down to the final seconds. With 4 seconds left Rams kicker, Matt Gay, kicked a 20 yard fieid goal for the win! FINAL score: 30-27. What a game! 

(3) Buffalo Bills at (2) Kansas City Chiefs (AFC): This game, in my opinion, was one of the best games I have ever seen! Josh Allen and the Bills going against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. What a game! I could write a full article on just this game alone! The score was all tied up, 14-14, at HALFTIME. The 3rd Quarter brought 9 points for the Chiefs and 7 points for the Bills. Now, it was 23-21. Still a very close game! This might sound crazy but the final 2 minutes of the game was almost like it was out of fantasy! At the 2 minute warning, it was 26-21, Chiefs. It was the Bills’ ball, 4th & 13 at the Chiefs 27 yard line. On that play, Josh Allen threw a 27 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to Gabriel Davis. The Bills then went for 2, and got it. It was 29-26, Bills. Then the Chiefs got the ball back. With 1:13 left, Mahomes threw a 64 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to WR Tyrek Hill. After the extra point, it was is 33-29, Chiefs. Then the Bills got the ball back with a minute to go. With 17 seconds left, Josh Allen threw another TOUCHDOWN pass! Again to Gabriel Davis! Now it's 36-33, Bills. The Chiefs got the ball back with 13 seconds left. The Chiefs got to Field Goal range. Chiefs’ Kicker, Harrison Butker, kicked a 49 yard field goal for the tie! 36-36 is now the score! OVERTIME, here we come! The Chiefs won the coin toss. With 10:50 left in OT, Mahomes threw an 8 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to TE Travis Kelce. The game was over! The Chiefs won, 42-36. What a game! Here is an amazing stat from the game! Combined, there were 25 points scored in the last 2 minutes of the game. 15 points by the Bills and 10 by the Chiefs. WHAT A GAME!!!! 

Well, there you are! Some of the best Football games I have EVER SEEN! See you next time, when I recap the AFC and NFC championship games! 

AFC Championship: 

(4) Cincinnati Bengals at (2) Kansas City Chiefs 

• Sunday, January 30th at 3:00 PM

NFC Championship: 

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (4) Los Angeles Rams 

• Sunday, January 30th at 6:30 PM

2021-2022 Season Playoff Predictions 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Hello and welcome to another NFL article. This time, we’re talking about the NFL Playoff picture for this season! The playoffs are ready and set! And here are the WILD Card games this weekend: 

NFC: 

(7) Philadelphia Eagles at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 1:00 PM 

Now, I am a New York Giants fan. So, I don’t like the Eagles. But I also don't like Tom Brady. So, I don’t know who I’m going to root for. But, I do think Tom Brady and the Bucs are going to take the win, 31-17.    

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Dallas Cowboys - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 4:30 PM 

Again, a team in the Giants’ division. The Dallas Cowboys. Now, here’s my opinion. I would like to see San Francisco win, but sadly, I don’t think that's going to happen. I think the Cowboys are going to win, 24-20.

(5) Arizona Cardinals at (4) Los Angeles Rams - 

Monday, January 17th @ 8:15 PM  

This is going to be a great game! To me, it might be the best NFC game that is on this weekend. I am not really rooting for any specific team, but if I had to pick, I think the Cardinals are going to win, 20-17. 

(1) Green Bay Packers - 

Have a 1st Round BYE

AFC: 

(5) Las Vegas Raiders at (4) Cincinnati Bengals - 

Saturday, January 15th @ 4:30 PM 

I think this game is going to be a very competitive game! The Raiders and Bengals both have a 10-7 record. I think the Raiders are going to win, 17-14. 

(6) New England Patriots at (3) Buffalo Bills - 

Saturday, January 15th @ 8:15 PM 

It’s an AFC East divisional matchup! This may be the best AFC game over wildcard weekend! This is going to be a close one but I think the Patriots are going to win, 28-24.

(7) Pittsburgh Steelers at (2) Kansas City Chiefs - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 8:15 PM 

Now, the Steelers. What a season! Their regular season record is 9-7-1. In Week 18, they needed to beat a division rival in the Baltimore Ravens. They needed the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Indianapolis Colts. And finally, they needed the SNF game, Los Angeles Charges at Las Vegas Raiders to NOT end in a tie! And ironically, that all happened! Honestly, I think the Steelers can make a big upset, beating the Chiefs, 20-17.  

(1) Tennessee Titans - 

Have a 1st Round BYE

Well, there you have it! The 2021-2022 NFL Season Playoff games and my predictions! Stay tuned for more news as the playoffs finally begin!  

The NFL Week 15

By: J. Ryan O’Shea

Hello! Welcome to another NFL Recap! This time, we are covering some of the best games in Week 15. But before I get started, I have some BREAKING NEWS. For the first time this season, a game has had to have been postponed due to COVID-19. Even though the NFL said that they wouldn’t move a single game, regardless of the cause, Week 15 had 3 games moved. One was the Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns. Originally scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 now moved to Monday at 5:00. The second was the Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles. Originally on Sunday at 1:00 now moved to Tuesday at 7:00. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams. Originally on Sunday at 4:25, moved also to Tuesday at 7:00. Well there is your updated schedule, now let's look at 6 games that really stood out in Week 15:    

Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Tannehill and the Titans vs. Ben Roethlisburger and the Steelers was a great game! The game was kind of divided. The Titans scored a total of 13 points in the first half. The Steelers scored 3. Then, the Steelers ruled the second half, scoring wise. They scored 7 points in the 3rd Quarter and 9 in the 4th. In the end, it was the Steelers who came out on top, 19-13. The Titans record is now 9-5. The Steelers are 7-6-1. 

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens: This was probably the best game of Week 15. It was the 10-3 Packers vs. the 8-5 Ravens. At HALFTIME it was 14-14, all tied up. In the 3rd Quarter, the Ravens scored 3 points. The Packers scored 7. Now the score is 21-17, the Packers are up. In the 4th Quarter, the Packers scored 10 points. The Ravens had scored 7. It was now 31-24. The Ravens need a TOUCHDOWN plus a 2-point conversion to win. With 42 seconds left, the Ravens had the ball at the Packer 9 yard line. When Tyler Huntley (the Ravens’ BACKUP QB) saw an opening, he ran. He scored a TOUCHDOWN. Now it was 31-30. John Harbuagh, the Ravens’ Head Coach, had a decision to make. Should he just score the extra point and tie the game for OVERTIME, or should they go for 2 and try to win the game. He chose to go for 2. Sadly for the Ravens they didn’t get. The Packers won 31-30.     

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts: On Saturday Night, it was Mac Jones and the New England Patriots vs. Carson Wentz and the Indianapolis Colts. The entire game was a complete disaster for New England. At HALFTIME, it was 17-0 with Colts winning. The 3rd Quarter also had no points from the Patriots. The Colts scored 3 points in that quarter. In the 4th Quarter made a huge comeback! They scored 17 points! All of New England’s points came from the 4th Quarter! With 2:11 left in the game it was the Colts’ ball at the Patriots’ 34 yard line. It was 20-17. The Patriots needed a stop and field goal to tie the game. Then, Colts QB Carson Wentz handed the ball off to Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. He ran 72 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! The score was 27-17. The Patriots got the ball back and were unable to score. The Colts won, 27-17. The Colts are now 8-6. The Patriots are 9-5. 

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (TNF): On Thursday Night Football, it was an AFC West showdown between the 9-4 Chiefs and the 8-5 Chargers. At the end of the 3rd Quarter it was 14-13, the Charges were up by 1. The 4th Quarter brought up the most points out of the entire game. Combined, the teams scored 29 points. The Chiefs scored 15. The Chargers scored 14. At the end of the 4th, it was 28-28. OVERTIME, here we come! The Chiefs won the coin toss and got possession of the ball first. With 8:54 left in OT, Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes threw a pass to TE Travis Kelce. He ran 29 yards for a TOUCHDOWN. The Chiefs won 34-28. 

Arizona Cardinals at Detroit Lions: It was the 1-11-1 Detroit Lions vs. the 10-3 Arizona Cardinals. Everyone thought the Lions didn’t have a chance. Although, at HALFTIME, it looked like the Cardinals were the one with a 1-11-1 record. It was 17-0 with the Lions up big! In the 3rd Quarter the Lions scored 7 points. The Cardinals scored 6. It was now 24-6. The Lions were still winning! In the 4th Quarter, both teams scored 6 points. The Cardinals were never in the lead. The Lions got their second win with a final score of 30-12.   

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF): It was an NFC South showdown between Tom Brady and the 10-3 Buccaneers vs. Taysom Hill and the 6-7 Saints. There were no Touchdowns scored in the entire game! At HALFTIME, it was 6-0, the Saints were up. The 3rd Quarter was scoreless. In the 4th Quarter, the Saints scored one more field goal. In the end it was a New Orleans shutout of Tampa Bay. 9-0 was the final score. For the first time since 2006 Tom Brady was shutout. This was definitely a shock to Tampa Bay and a big win for New Orleans. 

Well there you have it! Some of the best games in Week 15! Stay tuned for NFL news! Happy Holidays!        

The NFL Week 14 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

The playoffs are not far away and the NFL is becoming intense! Week 14 was a great week in the NFL. But 5 games really stood out: 

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (SNF): On Sunday Night Football, it was a NFC North matchup between the 4-8 Bears and the 9-3 Green Bay Packers. In the first half the Bears scored 27 points and the Packers scored 21 points. 27-21 was the score at HALFTIME. This was going to be a BIG WIN for the Bears, if they were to win. In the 3rd Quarter the Packers scored 17 points and the Bears scored none! Now the score was 38-21. In the 4th Quarter, the Bears scored only a field goal, 3 points. The Packers scored 7 points. I don’t know what happened to the Bears in the second half, but it wasn’t pretty. They only scored 3 points in the entire second half. That’s 24 less points than what they scored in the first half. In the end, the Packers won 45-30. 

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: Another divisional showdown in the AFC North. The 6-6 Cleveland Browns vs. the 8-4 Baltimore Ravens. It was a great game! At HALFTIME it was 24-6, the Browns were up big! In the second half, the Ravens made a comeback! They scored 16 points. The Browns scored 0 points in that half. It was a very close game, but the Browns won 24-22. 

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings (TNF): Week 14’s Thursday Night Game was between Ben Roethisberger and the 6-5-1 Pittsburgh Steelers versus Kirk Cousins and  the 5-7 Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers had just come off a big win the previous Sunday (12/5) against a division rival, the Baltimore Ravens. A lot of people thought this was a turning point for the Steelers. They were mistaken. In the first half, the Steelers scored 0 points. The Vikings scored 23 points. The Steelers defence and offense couldn’t find a way to make a stop or to score. It was the exact opposite for the Vikings. In the 3rd Quarter, Pittsburgh scored 7 points. Minnesota scored 6 points. Now the score was 29-7. It seemed like the game was over for Pittsburgh. But they made a HUGE comeback in the 4th Quarter. The Steelers scored 21 points! The Vikings scored 7 points. But in the end, the Vikings came out on top, 36-28.       

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals (MNF): It was a NFL West showdown between the 8-4 Los Angeles Rams and the 10-2 Arizona Cardinals. The 1st Quarter was pretty scoreless. The Cardinals scored a field goal, 3 points. That was it for the 1st Quarter. In the 2nd Quarter, the Rams scored 13 points. The Cardinals scored 10. At HALFTIME, it was 13-13, all tied up! The 3rd Quarter brought up a big lead for the Rams. They scored 14 points! The Cardinals were scoreless in the 3rd Quarter. It was now 27-13. The Rams were up big! It was now the 4th Quarter. The Rams only scored 3 points. The Cardinals scored 10. In the end, the Rams won, 30-23. This was a massive win for the Rams and a big loss for Arizona. This was a great way to wrap up Week 14.    

Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It was Tom Brady and the 9-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Josh Allen and the 7-5 Buffalo Bills in a very good game! In my opinion, the best game of Week 14. At HALFTIME, it was 24-3, Tampa Bay was up, BIG! In the second half, the Bills made a huge comeback! They scored 7 points in the 3rd Quarter and 17 points in the 4th. The Bucs only scored 9 points in the entire second half. At the end of the 4th Quarter it was 27-27. Now we’re in OVERTIME! The Bills won the coin toss and received the ball first, but came out scoreless. With 5 minus left in OT, Tom Brady threw a pass to Breshad Perriman. He ran 50 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! The Bucs won 33-27 in OVERTIME! 

Well, there you have it! Some of the best games in Week 14! Stay tuned for more breaking news about the NFL as we head to the playoffs! 

The Week in the NFL

• Rahul Srinivasan

The Comeback Is Complete!

By Colin Firda

After over five years without a win and plague injuries in 2016 and 2017, it finally happened! Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time finally won for the first time in five years at the Tour Championship!

Tiger has had a strong season this year as he started at the Hero World Challenge with a top 10 finish. He stumbled a bit at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Genesis Open with a tied 23rd finish at the Farmers and a disappointing missed cut at the Genesis Open. However with a strong 12th place finish at the Honda Classic, Tiger looked good going into the Valspar Championship. There he played well through the first 3 rounds, even grabbing the lead at one point. But a disappointing 1 under par final round to finish in a tie for second. Not a win, but still an incredible step toward a great season and silenced the doubters that thought he couldn’t win again. After that great finish, he placed 5th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Because of this stellar play, many thought he could win the season’s first major tournament, The Masters.

Tiger disappointed many people with a poor, tied 33rd place finish and again brought up the questions if he could truly win again. Even more, questions were brought when he can in a tie for 55th place at the Wells Fargo Championship. But then, at The Players Championship Tiger had a really good chance to win before hitting his tee shot on the 17th hole into the water and made double bogey which ultimately ruined his chances of winning the tournament He came in a tie for 11th place. Tiger then played okay at the Memorial Tournament with a tied 23rd finish before playing the years second major, the U.S. Open. 

Just like the Masters, Tiger disappointed everyone by missing the cut for the second time that season. But just when you thought he was done playing well he came in a tie for fourth at the Quicken Loans National which he hosted. This finish gave many people hope going into the years third major, The Open.

Tiger played great at The Open getting the solo lead for a small period of time before blowing it on the 11th and 12th holes where he carded a bogey and a double bogey and he ultimately finishes in a tie for sixth. Two weeks later at the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational Tiger played great during the first two rounds before shooting back to back rounds of +3 in the third and fourth rounds. This left lots thinking if he could contend to win or fayed away at the season’s fourth and final major, The PGA (Professional Golfers Association) Championship.

Tiger wowed the crowds on Sunday with a solo second finish, the best of the season leaving many with hope going into the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the final four events of the season that decide the season-long points winner.

During the first event of the playoffs, The Northern Trust, Tiger played way worse than many thought he would notching a tied at 40th finish. A week later, at the Dell Technologies Championship, Tiger again underperformed with a tie for 24th finish. Then came the second to last event of the season, The BMW Championship. Tiger gave himself a chance to win after being tied for the lead after the first round. His second and third rounds weren’t as good with him being in a tie for 10th going into Sunday. However, mother nature had other ideas. Nearly three inches of rain fell on Sunday canceling play for the day. The tournament would have to conclude on Monday. And on Monday, Tiger came out playing great. He would go on to finish in a tie for sixth leading into the final event of the season that would decide the season-long FedEx Cup Champion, the Tour Championship.

Tiger played great the first day carding a five under par round complete with 27-foot putt going in on the last hole for an eagle to tie the lead with Rickie Fowler. After the second round in which Tiger shot two under par, he was still in a tie for the lead, this time with Justin Rose. During the Tiger shot another round of five under par and held a three-shot lead going into the final round Sunday over Justin Rose and Rory Mcilroy. It was on this day that Tiger Woods would play slow and steady and card a 1 over par round to win by two shots over Billy Horschel and win the tournament while Justin Rose went on to win the season-long points race for the FedEx Cup. 

2021-2022 Season Playoff Predictions 

By: J. Ryan O’Shea 

Hello and welcome to another NFL article. This time, we’re talking about the NFL Playoff picture for this season! The playoffs are ready and set! And here are the WILD Card games this weekend: 

NFC: 

(7) Philadelphia Eagles at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 1:00 PM 

Now, I am a New York Giants fan. So, I don’t like the Eagles. But I also don't like Tom Brady. So, I don’t know who I’m going to root for. But, I do think Tom Brady and the Bucs are going to take the win, 31-17.    

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Dallas Cowboys - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 4:30 PM 

Again, a team in the Giants’ division. The Dallas Cowboys. Now, here’s my opinion. I would like to see San Francisco win, but sadly, I don’t think that's going to happen. I think the Cowboys are going to win, 24-20.

(5) Arizona Cardinals at (4) Los Angeles Rams - 

Monday, January 17th @ 8:15 PM  

This is going to be a great game! To me, it might be the best NFC game that is on this weekend. I am not really rooting for any specific team, but if I had to pick, I think the Cardinals are going to win, 20-17. 

(1)  Green Bay Packers - 

Have a 1st Round BYE

AFC: 

(5) Las Vegas Raiders at (4) Cincinnati Bengals - 

Saturday, January 15th @ 4:30 PM 

I think this game is going to be a very competitive game! The Raiders and Bengals both have a 10-7 record. I think the Raiders are going to win, 17-14. 

(6) New England Patriots at (3) Buffalo Bills - 

Saturday, January 15th @ 8:15 PM 

It’s an AFC East divisional matchup! This may be the best AFC game over wildcard weekend! This is going to be a close one but I think the Patriots are going to win, 28-24.

(7) Pittsburgh Steelers at (2) Kansas City Chiefs - 

Sunday, January 16th @ 8:15 PM 

Now, the Steelers. What a season! Their regular season record is 9-7-1. In Week 18, they needed to beat a division rival in the Baltimore Ravens. They needed the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Indianapolis Colts. And finally, they needed the SNF game, Los Angeles Charges at Las Vegas Raiders to NOT end in a tie! And ironically, that all happened! Honestly, I think the Steelers can make a big upset, beating the Chiefs, 20-17.  

(1) Tennessee Titans - 

Have a 1st Round BYE

Well, there you have it! The 2021-2022 NFL Season Playoff games and my predictions! Stay tuned for more news as the playoffs finally begin!