Pull Up A Chair — An Epic NFL Weekend Is Upon Us!!

December 14, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Pittsburgh Steelers v New England Patriots

Take the night off.

Since the NFL decided to put the worst football game in the history of football games on Thursday night, take the night off. Go finish your Christmas shopping. Go cook a nice meal. Go to bed early. And gear up for a FANTASTIC weekend of football.

Week 15 is poised to be historic. The amount of games with major playoff implications is staggering. Don’t forget, Saturday football starts this week as well. Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Yes, the NFL is taking over the calendar.

Here are the top 4 games of Week 15:

4.) Los Angeles Chargers (7-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), Saturday @ 8:25 P.M.

Can I get some Saturday Night Football here?? Not only can you stay home and watch football on Saturday night, but you’ll be blessed with an AFC West showdown. That’s 1 part serious, 1 part sarcasm. Bad or not, this game may determine the winner of the AFC West. Philip Rivers is playing some of the best football of his career. Melvin Gordon is on his way to the 1st 1,000 yard season of his career. And the Chargers pass rush is as good as it gets. I don’t care that the Chiefs finally won a game, I’ll stick with the team playing as well as anyone in the league; the Chargers.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Chiefs 24

3.) Green Bay Packers (7-6) @ Carolina Panthers (9-4), Sunday @ 1:00 P.M.

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The Baaaaad Man is back!! Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared to play, and will be under center this coming Sunday. Rodgers hasn’t played football since he broke his collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. Let’s give Brett Hundley credit for the job he did over the past 8 games. He led the Packers to a 3-5 record. It’s not easy to fill Aaron Rodgers shoes, but Hundley kept the Packers afloat. Now, Rodgers must do the improbable — run the table. I think we’ll see some rust from Rodgers, but ultimately he’ll be the best player on the field.

Prediction: Packers 24, Panthers 18

2.) Los Angeles Rams (9-4) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-5), Sunday @ 4:05 P.M.

Talk about an important game. A potential playoff berth, and the lead in the NFC West hangs in the balance. Despite the level Russell Wilson is playing, football is not a 1-man sport. The Rams are a more complete team. One of Jared Goff’s favorite weapons, Robert Woods, will return to the field this week after missing 3 straight games with a shoulder injury. This will be a close, hard fought game. But Jared Goff, Todd Gurley III, Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp will prove too much for this stripped down, Seahawks’ defense.

Prediction: Rams 28, Seahawks 24

1.) New England Patriots (10-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2), Sunday @ 4:25 P.M.

You wanted the game of the week. You got the game of the week. Sunday afternoon, the class of the AFC, will throw down at Heinz Field. The Patriots and Steelers are the only 2 teams in the AFC with double-digit wins. The Steelers offense is firing on all cylinders. Big Ben has turned back the clock, and Leveon Bell and Antonio Brown are the best, at their respective position, in the league. But the Patriots play well everywhere. Duh! It’s noteworthy when you handle the 2nd best team in the AFC (for the past 15 years), year in and year out. The Patriots are 5-2, including playoffs, at Heinz Field since 2002. Plus, since the start of the 2003 season, the Patriots are 40-5 following a loss. THAT’S INSANE!! That means they’ve only lost consecutive games 5 times in nearly 15 seasons.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Steelers 20

What is the most exciting game of Week 15?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

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Week 14 Had It All

December 12, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

bills-colts-600

That throw.

How many can make that throw?? Click here to see the spectacular precision only a handful of men on the planet possess (it happens at the 2:00 mark of the video). That’s “Big Ben” doing what “Big Ben” does.

Instant Classic

Ben Roethlisberger has been a really good quarterback for a really long time. His performance on Sunday Night Football is a microcosm of his career. With 6:44 left to play, the Pittsburgh Steelers trailed their division rival, Baltimore Ravens, by 9 points. Roethlisberger, poised as ever, drove his team 68-yards for a touchdown in just 3 minutes and 15 seconds. After a 3 and out that lasted just 1 minute and 4 seconds, Roethlisberger went back to work.

See, it’s not just the throw. It’s the moment. When the moment calls for a perfect, 34-yard pass that looks like it was gently placed into the hands of Antonio Brown, Roethlisberger produces that throw. On that play, Roethlisberger not only clinched the game, but became the only quarterback in NFL history with 3 career 500-yard passing games. 39-38 Steelers. If you didn’t catch this one live, go find a replay. It’ll be worth it.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman??

Football in a blizzard is awesome!! It’s unique. It’s different. It draws eyes to the TV. Eyes that would otherwise be glued to an iPhone, iPad, or videogame. It also gave us a wildly entertaining football game. The Indianapolis Colts struggled in the elements in Buffalo, scoring their 1st points with just 1:16 left in the game. With 40-mph wind gusts staring Adam Vinatieri in the face, the Colts opted to go for 2. It worked!! The Colts went up 8-7 in the most improbable of comebacks….until they didn’t. In came a flag, 45 seconds after the play, nullifying the conversion. Vinatieri would be forced to attempt a 43-yard extra point. He nailed it!! To overtime we’d go. As the 1st tie of the NFL season was staring each team in the face, the Buffalo Bills did the impossible. 3rd string quarterback, Joe Webb, hit Deonte Thompson for a 34-yard bomb. This would set up a Lesean McCoy scamper from 21-yards out for the 13-7 overtime victory!!

What A Weird Season

The New York Jets beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-20 in Week 4. The New York Jets lost to the Denever Broncos 23-0 in Week 14. Make sense of that….

Overshadowed By Injury

The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Los Angeles Rams was supposed to be the game of the week. The battle for NFC supremacy. Carson Wentz vs. Jared Goff. What could be more exciting??

While it was an entertaining game, it was marred by Carson Wentz’, season ending torn ACL. Wentz was sandwiched between 2 Rams as he dove into the endzone in the 3rd quarter. Check out the play here. Down 28-24, he hobbled back to the huddle after the touchdown was called back on a holding penalty. Wentz, left immobilized, stayed in the game long enough to throw a 1-legged touchdown!! The Eagles would hold on for a 43-35 victory, clinching the NFC East Division Title. However, Wentz’ MVP hopes circled the drain hand-in-hand with the Eagles’ Super Bowl dreams….

Last Time I Checked, You Can’t Do That

Reminiscent of the “Malice at the Palace”, a Seattle Seahawks’ player tried to fight a fan.

Let me repeat that: A SEATTLE SEAHAWKS PLAYER TRIED TO FIGHT A FAN!!

Watch Einstein here.

Quinton Jefferson, unhappy that some of his teammates are dirty players, and that his team lost, decided it would be a good idea to try to climb into the stands and fight a fan. Yes, of course fans should NEVER throw objects on the field. But, a player, no matter the circumstance, should NEVER EVER try to climb into the stands to assault a fan.

I thought that was understood….

What was the most exciting part of Week 14?? Tell me in the comment section below.

Thursday Helped Me Procrastinate

December 8, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

jeter trades dee gordon

I haven’t started my Christmas shopping yet. Hell, I haven’t even thought about starting my Christmas shopping — until now. What you call procrastination, I call waiting for the right moment. Can I blame Thursday?? I’m going to blame Thursday.

Trade #1

The first of 2 major trades came from NBA land. Jhalil Okafor, the #3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft (Duke), has had a rocky start to his professional career. Prior to being shipped out of Philadelphia on Thursday, Okafor had played just 25 total minutes this season. The 76ers are giving him a fresh start, as his new zip code will be 11218….

Brooklyn Nets Receive:

Jhalil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a 2019 2nd-round pick

Philadelphia 76ers Receive:

Trevor Booker

While I like Trevor Booker, this trade is a win for the Brooklyn Nets. Nets general manger, Sean Marks, continues to prove he knows what he’s doing. Most Gregg Popovich disciples do. This season alone, Marks has acquired the #2 and #3 picks from the solid 2015 NBA draft. I guess he was listening when Coach Popovich was talking.

Trade #2

Let the salary dump begin!! The Miami Marlins, are in the midst of a complete tear down. EVERYTHING MUST GO!! Marlins fans have seen this movie before. The only difference is, Derek Jeter has his finger on the button this time around. Jeter became Marlins’ CEO when he and his group purchased the team back in August. And he made his first major move yesterday.

Seattle Mariners Receive:

Dee Gordon

Miami Marlins Receive:

3 Minor League Players (Robert Dugger, Nick Neidert and Christopher Torres)

With a log jam in the middle infield, the Mariners plan to play Gordon in center field. This is a very solid trade for the Mariners, as they also receive $1 million in International money. This makes them leaders in the clubhouse in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.

Thursday Night Football

Thursday night provided an entertaining football game, however, the moral of the story is simple; you HAVE to score more than 17 points when the opposing quarterback throws 3 interceptions. Yes, Matt Ryan threw 3 interceptions last night. No, the Saints did not capitalize on those opportunities. Being held to a season-low 50 rushing yards probably didn’t help matters.

And I don’t care that they got it. Going for it, on 4th and 1, on Atlanta’s 24-yard line, trailing 20-17, on the road, with under 2 minutes left, was STUPID!!

A decision and the result are 2 separate entities.

Drew Brees iced the game, as he threw an interception in the end zone with 1 minute and 25 seconds left. Brees’ interception was just his 2nd since October 22nd!! Brees and company will look to bounce back when they host the New York Jets next week. And they won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption. The Falcons come to town on Christmas Eve. You won’t want to miss that rematch, as it could determine the NFC South champion.

What was the biggest story from Thursday?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

Giants Pull The Plug On Season….A Month After It Died

December 5, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

reese and mcadoo

It’s about time!!

The New York Giants finally came to their senses, albeit a month late, parting ways with their general manager and head coach. As of Monday, Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo’s services are no longer needed at MetLife Stadium. Giants’ owners, John Mara and Steve Tisch, confirmed the firings in a news conference Monday afternoon. Defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, will be named interim head coach, and assistant general manager, Kevin Abrams, will be named interim general manager. While I would have fired Reese and McAdoo 5 weeks ago, the blame for this season’s dumpster fire shouldn’t be placed on their shoulders. The buck stops with the owners.

The Giants organization deserves an Oscar. They’ve fooled everyone for a long time. It’s actually impressive. See, everyone places the Giants organization on this imaginary golden pedestal, and adds the prefix ‘classy’ to their name. Yeah, not so much. You don’t have to dig that deep to see past that pretty little façade. John Mara’s grandfather, Tim Mara, purchased the Giants for $500 in 1925, making it the most sound investment in the history of the world.

However, does anyone know how Tim Mara made a living in 1925??

He was a bookie!! If you think the gambling epidemic and mob ties to the NFL in the 1920’s weren’t intertwined with Mara and the Giants, you were born yesterday.

The Giants also enabled Lawrence Taylor’s behavior for over a decade. Taylor, one of the best players in NFL history, was constantly in trouble off the field. But, as long as he produced on the field, the Giants tolerated his drug abuse and other problems.

And let’s not forget the “mis”handling of the Josh Brown domestic violence issue. The Giants knew exactly what their kicker did (in abusing his wife), but decided to sweep it under the rug to avoid negative publicity. It wasn’t until the truth leaked to the public that the Giants suspended Brown indefinitely.

That pedestal is starting to look rusty….

And then, there’s their present day folly. Because nothing says classy like dragging the face of your franchise through the mud. Then backing up and driving over him. Then putting the car in drive and running him over again.

What John Mara allowed Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo to do to Eli Manning was practically criminal. To rip Eli’s consecutive games played streak (210 games) from his hands, for just 1 game, was painful to watch (even for a non-Giants fan). Especially for Geno Smith. And now, the Giants, at 2-10, will hand the reigns back to Eli Manning. WOW!! Just — WOW!!

Here’s John Mara’s sorry attempt at pointing the finger at himself:

“You ought to stop blaming Ben and Jerry on that. If you want to blame anyone on that, blame me. I certainly had the power to overrule it if I wanted to. I chose not to do it.”

I already blamed you John!! But thanks for giving me permission….

What do you think of the New York Giants?? Are they a classy organization?? Or just another group of money hungry, selfish, billionaires??

Giants Reach An All-Time Low — Drag An All-Time Great Through The Mud

November 29, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Eli Mannin

Eli Manning is being benched for the 1st time in his career….

for Geno Smith?!

*No need to adjust your TV set (or eyeballs). This is a real story.

Eli Manning has started every game in his career for the New York Giants. His consecutive games started streak, that currently stands at 210 (2nd longest in NFL history), will come to an end this coming Sunday. Allow me to remove any fluff other media outlets are adding to this story:

THIS IS STUPID!!

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not Eli Manning’s #1 fan. In fact, I think he’ll rank as the 2nd worst quarterback in the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done. Joe Namath will forever hold that wonderful distinction. But that’s no reason to treat a consummate professional this way.

Eli Manning has been a good soldier. He’s done everything the Giants’ organization has asked of him. He’s started every game of his 13-year career. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

He’s dodged fake allegations of autograph fraud. He’s taken head coach, Ben McAdoo’s unjust, public criticism on the chin. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

He stands as the Giants’ best quarterback in franchise history. He ranks 7th all-time in passing yards. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

Check out Eli Manning’s career stats here.

Generally, when a team is 2-9, they aren’t faced with the dilemma of benching an all-time great quarterback. However, this Giants team is taking unprecedented to a whole new level. Enter Geno Smith. The world already knows Geno Smith isn’t fit to be a quarterback in the NFL. Add this to the looooong list of things Ben McAdoo doesn’t know. I think we’ll put this right in between ‘how to comb your hair’ and ‘the meaning of embarrassed’.

I never thought the Giants would bench Eli Manning. They should have traded him at the deadline, but that’s a different story. I thought they’d let him start the rest of the season, and watch him don another team’s jersey next season. If you decide to bench Eli, you must play Davis Webb, as he is the only unknown here. And as poor of a decision as that would have been, at least McAdoo(dle) could have fallen back on ‘future of the franchise’. So, rather than fall on the sword, McAdoo is pushing Eli on that sword, in the most disgraceful way possible.

Oh yeah, coach McAdoo(dle) offered Eli the choice to continue starting games, and be pulled at halftime, solely to keep his games started streak alive. As always, Eli responded to that nonsensical notion in the only way a classy person can:

“Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and Davis [Webb] are given an opportunity to play,” Manning said. “My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.”

At the end of the day, organizational decisions are approved by the person who signs the checks. At least they should be. Giants’ owner, John Mara, should be ashamed of himself. For Mara to allow McAdoo(dle) to make this decision, when McAdoo(dle) won’t be the head coach next year, IS ABSURD!!!! So rather than allow Eli Manning to ride off into sunset, the Giants are going to drag him through the mud first.

I guess there’s a reason the words classy and NFL organization don’t often collide in the same sentence….

Post your thoughts on Eli Manning’s benching in the comment section below. I know a lot of you have a lot to say, so don’t hold back.

NFL Won’t Give Players A Puncher’s Chance

November 28, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

aqib-talib-michael-crabtree-fight

Chain Snatchers II

I care about me!! Me, ME, ME!! If there were thought bubbles floating above Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree during Sunday’s brawl, that’s what they’d read. Less than 3 minutes into Week 12’s matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders, things got out of hand.

Sunday’s altercation was a continuation of a feud that’s been brewing since Week 17 of last season. While tangled up along the sideline, Talib snatched Crabtree’s chain off his neck. Fast forward to this past Sunday….

Talib did it again!!

Click here to see the entire fight.

Rightfully upset, Crabtree drove Talib to the ground, taking out a camera man in the process. And a melee ensued. After a 5-minute delay, 3 players were ejected:

Aqib Talib

Michael Crabtree

Gabe Jackson

Talib and Crabtree were ejected for throwing punches, and Jackson was tossed for shoving an official to the ground.

Monday night, the NFL doled out lofty suspensions. While it appears Jackson won’t be suspended, Talib and Crabtree both received 2-game suspensions. From an outsiders perspective, this doesn’t sound too harsh, but as far as NFL suspension precedent is concerned, these are hefty suspensions. Both players plan to appeal their suspensions.

Stay tuned….

Monday Night Rears Its Ugly Head

If the season ended today, the Baltimore Ravens would make the playoffs. That is sad. At 6-5, they hold the tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills for the 6th and final playoff spot in the awful AFC. As if the Patriots don’t dominate enough, their road to the Super Bowl is as traffic-free as I can remember.

In the year of terrible quarterback matchups, Monday Night Football lined up a doozy; Tom Savage Vs. Joe Flacco.

42-69, 393 yards, NO touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.

That line of nastiness would be the combined stats from Savage and Flacco. Stellar!! For my math wizards out there, yes, that WOULD be 5.6 yards per pass attempt. That’s not good either.

Well, the Ravens eked out a 23-16 victory, showcasing the mediocrity the AFC breeds.

I’ve Never Seen That Before

What was supposed to be a nice little Saturday, turned into the oddest thing I’ve ever seen on a basketball court. The Alabama Crimson Tide were battling the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the championship game of the Barclay’s Center Classic. After jawing between Minnesota’s Nate Mason and Alabama’s Collin Sexton, double technical fouls were assessed. Just 27 seconds later, a fight broke out. After collectively stepping onto the court, 5 players from Alabama’s bench were ejected. Another fouled out. And just a few plays later, another left the game with an injury.

The result??

5-on-3 basketball. The Alabama Crimson Tide played nearly 14 minutes with only 3 players. The craziest part….they outscored Minnesota 55-48 in the 2nd half. Ultimately they would lose 89-84, but Alabama put forth a valiant effort behind Collin Sexton’s 40 points.

I can now cross ‘watch a 5-on-3 college basketball game’ off my bucket list.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen during a sporting event?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

Patriots Take Their Talents South Of The Border

November 20, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

Mexico Patriots Raiders Football

Hola NFL!

Bienvenidos a Mexico!

On Sunday, the people of Mexico, welcomed the NFL with open arms. For the 2nd consecutive season, a November matchup was slated to be played in Estadio Azteca (a famed soccer stadium in the heart of Mexico City). Last season, the Oakland Raiders beat the Houston Texans 27-20. This season, Los Raiders would return to battle the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the Raiders left their battle at home. The Patriots jumped out to a slight advantage. Because nothing says competitive like 30 unanswered points!! The Patriots thought it’d be a good idea to make the score look respectable, so they let the Raiders score a touchdown in the 4th quarter.

La gente de Mexico got to see the best the NFL has to offer; the New England Patriots. Although the words hate and Patriots often collide in the same sentence in my household, the word respect is usually mixed in as well.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all-time.

And it’s not even that close.

Tom Brady’s afternoon in la Ciudad de Mexico: 30-37, 339 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions

Tom Brady, at 40 years old, is still the best quarterback in the NFL. After a 2-2 start, the Patriots have now won 6 straight games. They’re the best team in the AFC and favorites to represent their conference in the Super Bowl — again. The Patriots will look to follow-up their 33-8 victory over the Raiders with a beat down of the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.

Only one question remains: When will father time catch up to Tom Brady??

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As for the rest of Week 11, blow out or overtime loss, there was no in between.

Giants….Win?!

I’m still not sure how, but the New York Giants beat the Kansas City Chiefs (12-9). Being the ugliest game of the year didn’t hurt, but the Giants have no business winning football games. The Giants scored the game’s lone touchdown in the 2nd quarter on an Orleans Darkwa run. In typical G-Men fashion, Aldrick Rosas missed the extra point. They actually could have won this game handily if it weren’t for the dumbest trick play known to man. On the Giants 1st offensive possession, they enjoyed a nearly 7 minute drive, down to the Chiefs’ 18-yard line. They inexplicably thought that was the right place, and time, to let their running back attempt a pass. It’s not like there were 50 mph wind gusts at MetLife Stadium or anything….It’s not Shane Vereen’s fault, but his pass was picked off at the 1-yard line.

Luckily for the Giants, they won the turnover battle (3-1), and won their 2nd game of the year. They’ll get back to their losing ways when they take on the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving.

What A Comeback!!

What looked like the upset of the week, turned into the game of the week. Midway through the 3rd quarter, the Washington Redskins jumped out to a 24-13 lead over the New Orleans Saints (in New Orleans). The Redskins would extend their lead to 31-16 with just 5:58 to play. Obviously, the Redskins went into a super prevent defense, allowing an easy touchdown in just 3 minutes and 5 seconds (on 9 yards per play). This is the moment that drives me nuts!! Don’t start playing a soft defense because you’re holding a 15-point lead. Continue doing what helped build that lead in the first place.

The Redskins predictably went 3 and out, only burning 1 minute off the clock. 87 yards and 48 seconds later, the Saints brought the game within 2 points. Alvin Kamara successfully converted the 2-point conversion, sending the game to overtime. The Redskins started with the ball in overtime, but that didn’t help matters. They went backwards 10 yards before punting. 2 runs by Mark Ingram was all it took (31 and 20 yards). Will Lutz drove home a 28-yard field goal for the 34-31 victory. And with the win, the Saints became the 1st team in NFL history to win 8 consecutive games after starting a season 0-2.

Smart Move Brandon Beane!!

Brandon Beane is the general manager of the Buffalo Bills, and he is not very bright. Beane replaced Doug Whaley who was unceremoniously fired in April. Just 7 months into the job, Beane thought it would be a good idea to bench his starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor for rookie quarterback, Nathan Peterman.

How’d that work out for ya?!

Peterman tied a dubious NFL record on Sunday: Most interceptions in his 1st career start (5). He tied Keith Null who set the record for the St. Louis Rams in 2009. Peterman almost assuredly would have broken the record, for he was pulled for Tyrod Taylor just after halftime. Taylor, who should have never been benched in the first place, put up decent numbers. But it was too little, too late, as the Chargers stomped out the Bills 54-24!!

What were you watching on Sunday?? Would you like to see an NFL team in Mexico City permanently?? Tell me in the comment section below.

Celtics D Stifles Warriors, Headline Busy Thursday Night

November 17, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

jaylen brown

You’ve done it again Thursday.

My thumb was reacquainted with the ‘Prev Ch’ button. Football to basketball, basketball to football, NFL Network and TNT got my ratings Thursday night (until I fell asleep on the couch). To the hardwood we go….

NBA Finals Preview??

Thursday’s nights matchup between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors pinned the 2 best records in the NBA against each other. The Warriors were winners of 7 straight, as they travelled to Beantown to take on the red hot Celtics (winners of 13 straight).

The Warriors looked like the Warriors, carrying a 17-point lead past the midway point of the 3rd quarter. Then, Jaylen Brown happened. Over a 49 second span, Brown scored 8 consecutive points. After learning of his best friend’s death just hours prior to tip-off, Brown played inspired basketball (22 points and 7 rebounds). He dedicated his performance to Trevin Steede.

The Celtics didn’t win their 14th straight game because they scored 142 points. They won because they do something that’s very rare in the NBA. The play defense. They held a Warriors team, that’s averaging 117.5 points per game, to 88 points. Unbelievably impressive, but I wouldn’t expect Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to shoot a combined 11 for 43 (25.5%) from the field again — ever.

The Celtics will revel in their 92-88 victory during their day off on Friday. They’ll seek their 15th straight win on Saturday against the hapless Atlanta Hawks (3-12).

A 4th Quarter To Forget

Marcus Mariota let’s it fly. Rishard Matthews comes down with the deep bomb, scampering 75-yards for a touchdown. That’s one way to start the 2nd half. 16-7 became 16-14 in the blink of an eye. And just like that, we had a football game on our hands. Or so we thought. The Titans final 3 possessions: punt, interception, interception. That, plus Antonio Brown’s 3-touchdown night, put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter. 17 unanswered points brought the totality of destruction to 40-17.

The Steelers now own an AFC best record; 8-2. That is, until the New England Patriots play on Sunday. As for the Titans, they drop to 6-4, leaving the door wide open for the Jacksonville Jaguars to grab an AFC South division lead.

You Scored How Many Points?!

Chris Paul made his return to the court Thursday night. After missing 14 games with a knee injury, Paul played 21 minutes against the Phoenix Suns. Effective minutes I’d call them.

Chris Paul’s Evening: 11 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Paul was merely a pedestrian contributor to the absolute smack down the Rockets laid on the Suns. He was 1 of 7 players to score in double figures, led by James Harden’s 48 points. The Rockets set a franchise record Thursday night, scoring 90 points in the 1st half.

No need to readjust your spectacles. The Houston Rockets scored 90 points in the 1st half. I know the Suns are bad, but that’s absurd. The final score of 142-116 included 6 Rockets’ going a perfect 35 for 35 from the free throw line. Only Clint Capela would miss a free throw (0-3).

Harden, Paul, and company will look to improve on their 12-4 record when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday. Paul will look to ramp up his minutes, while Harden continues his MVP charge.

What were you watching Thursday night?? Tell me about it in the comment section below.

Nothing Better Than Game 7!!

November 1, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

dodgers-force-decisive-game-7-with-narrow-win-over-astros-1

Okay. So, you all got what you wanted: Game 7. Well, all except the Houston Astros and their fans. But everyone else, everyone else got what they wanted. Another do-or-die situation. It’s the best term in sports; Game 7.

Wednesday night’s Game 7 will stand as the 38th in World Series history, and the 2nd in as many years. The question is, will we get a clunker like 1956 or an unforgettable masterpiece like 1960??

To understand where we are, we must look at how we get here….

“Oh, now he’s a philosophizer.”

I feel bad for those who fell into a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup induced coma in the 5th inning. You missed yet another comeback by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Justin Verlander, with a 1-0 lead, had a 1-hit gem going.

Then, the 6th inning happened: Single, Hit By Pitch, Double, Sacrifice Fly.

And just like that, a 1-0 lead became a 2-1 deficit.

Verlander got through the inning but would be the end of his evening. Joe Musgrove was brought in to cough up a solo home run to Joc Pederson. 3-1 is where it would stay. Following Dave Roberts’ quick hook of starter, Rich Hill, the Dodgers went to the familiar combination of Brandon Morrow, Tony Watson, Kenta Maeda, and Kenley Jansen to slam the door on the Astros. This 4-man wrecking crew would allow just 1 hit and 1 walk through 4 and 2/3 innings. Jansen, aka Super-Closer, will be available for Game 7 despite a 2-inning save. All I have to say is, 2 innings, 19 pitches, and 18 strikes. Boom!

Game 7 will be played tonight at 8:20 P.M. EST on FOX. Lance McCullers Jr. will face off against Yu Darvish for all the marbles. I look forward to having a fist fight with my eyelids.

Who wins tonight?? Post your prediction, with the score, in the comment section below.

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Halloween was a busy day in the sports world. 4 P.M. EST marked the trade deadline in the NFL. A handful of names were on the move. Some trades were good, some were bad, and some may effect your fantasy football team. However, we must take this moment in history to make fun of the Cleveland Browns. I know, I know. They’re an easy target. But some things can’t be ignored.

Did you ever do something….but not actually do it?? Yeah I know that doesn’t make sense, but the Cleveland Browns figured out how to accomplish whatever it is I’m saying. The Browns traded for Cincinnati Bengals’ backup quarterback, A.J. McCarron on Tuesday. The Bengals would receive a 2nd and 3rd round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and McCarron would receive a slow, painful death sentence otherwise known as the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals sent all the necessary paperwork to the Browns as well as the NFL approximately 20 minutes prior to the deadline. The Browns sent paperwork to the Bengals, but left out the only part that matters….SENDING PAPERWORK TO THE NFL!!

No trade is official until it’s signed, sealed, and delivered to the NFL. Yeah, I went there. As dumb as my New York Jets are, I am confident that ONLY the Cleveland Browns can figure out how to make a trade without actually making a trade….

Notable Trades:

Carolina Panthers traded Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills for a 3rd and 7th-round picks (2018)

Miami Dolphins traded Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 4th-round pick (2018)

Buffalo Bills traded Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 6th-round pick (2018)

Are the Cleveland Browns the most poorly run franchise in sports history?? If not, please tell me in the comment section below.

Who Needs Sleep When You Have Thursday?!

October 13, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

scherzer

I was going to get a good night sleep….until Thursday happened. Thursday night brought us an oxymoron, a moron, and a nail biting elimination game.

A Good Thursday Night Football Game

This term is an oxymoron. But every so often, despite having our viewership locked up, Thursday Night Football provides something worth watching. In a matchup of 4 and 1’s, the Philadelphia Eagles flew into Carolina to take on the Panthers. It was a close, competitive game, but just as I predicted, Cam Newton threw the game away. Not 1, not 2, but 3 interceptions led to a 28-23 victory by the Eagles. I couldn’t be happier for a nicer guy.

On the brighter side of things, Eagles quarterback, Carson Wentz, continued to impress. He posted 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and added 25 yards on the ground. That’s not too shabby against a stout Panthers’ defense.

Wentz is the real deal.

The Eagles (now 5-1), will have plenty of time to rest, as their next game is a primetime, Monday Night matchup with the Washington Redskins. The Panthers (4-2) will look to bounce back against rookie quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, as they take on the Chicago Bears next week.

Suspend Me Please

She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me no….

That’s what Ezekiel Elliot’s status has been like this year. He’s suspended. No, he’s not suspended. Okay he’s suspended, but he can play. Oh wait, now he’s really suspended. Elliot’s 6-game suspension will start next week when the Dallas Cowboys return from their Bye Week. The 5th U.S Circuit Court in New Orleans (Federal appeals court) made this ruling on Thursday.

Elliot and his legal team are exploring their options, primarily their right to appeal the suspension — again. For now, the Cowboys (2-3) will need a game plan while they’re without the services of their star running back. A running back committee of Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith has already been discussed.

Stay tuned. Something tells me the final chapter hasn’t been written on this story yet.

An Inning To Forget

When Max Scherzer is in the game, the opposing team doesn’t usually stand a chance. After retiring the 1st 2 batters of the 5th inning in Game 5, that appeared to be the case. The Nationals were winning when Scherzer entered, however, calamity was about to ensue….

Infield Single
Bloop Single
2-Run Double
Intentional Walk
Strikeout That Didn’t End The Inning
Catcher’s Interference
RBI Hit By Pitch

Ummm, wow!! That brought the grand total in the 5th inning to 4 runs scored on 3 hits and 2 errors. Yes, this inning was insane, however, it is a microcosm of the Nationals, postseason persona. The Nationals have won the NL East 4 out of the past 6 years, and have lost in the 1st round of the playoffs each time. On the contrary, the Cubs won their 4th straight elimination game and advanced to their 3rd consecutive NLCS.

The Cubs will travel to La La Land to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Game 1 can be seen on TBS on Saturday @ 8:08 P.M. EST.

But more importantly, the Yankees take on the Astros in Houston tonight for Game 1 of the ALCS. Tune in to FS1 @ 8:08 for all the action.

Projected Starters: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Dallas Keuchel

Prediction: Yankees 5, Astros 4

Let’s Go Yankees!!

Who do you think will win Game 1 of the ALCS?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

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