Davante Adams’ historic night propels Packers past Seahawks

Davante Adams caught 8 passes for 160 yards and 2 TDs in the Packers’ 28-23 win.

The biggest night of Davante Adams’ NFL career helped the Green Bay Packers advance to the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

Adams terrorized the Seattle Seahawks, catching eight of 11 targets for 160 yards, two touchdowns and a crucial third-down conversion late in the 28-23 victory.

It was one of the best games by a Packers receiver in playoff history.

Adams set a new franchise record for playoff receiving yards. He was also the first player in franchise history to produce 150 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a playoff game.

Adams came up big early and late.

Aaron Rodgers found him twice on the opening drive for 34 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-7. It was set up with a beautiful route combination with Geronimo Allison and a double move by Adams, who fooled the secondary and got behind the coverage for the score.

On the Packers’ second scoring drive, Adams was the engine. He caught passes on three straight plays gaining 44 yards, and he drew an 18-yard pass interference penalty to get the Packers into the red zone.

Adams helped answer the Seahawks’ first touchdown of the second half with a 40-yard touchdown on an inside-out route. Rodgers and Adams both said the slightly-inaccurate throw forced Adams to stop before he got to the sideline, which freed up a cutback lane for him to run in for the score.

Rodgers and the Packers needed one more play from No. 17, and Adams produced it late.

On 3rd-and-8 and just over two minutes left, Adams won on a fade from the slot and made the over-the-shoulder catch for 32 huge yards. The play was designed for Adams, and Rodgers made a terrific throw. The conversion gave the Packers a new set of downs and helped the offense kill a big chunk of the clock before Jimmy Graham’s late catch sealed the win.

It could have gotten really tricky for the Packers had the offense punted the ball back to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks late.

Instead, the Packers escaped with their first playoff win since 2016.

Rodgers and the Packers offense needed a difference-maker in the passing game. Adams was that difference-maker. He was the best player on the field for the winning team on Sunday night.

5 takeaways from Seattle’s 28-23 divisional-round defeat in Green Bay

The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 28-23 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Here are five takeaways.

The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the 2019 NFL playoffs, extending their losing streak at Lambeau Field to nine games. Here are five takeaways from the loss on Sunday.

Disastrous first half

The Seahawks went into halftime trailing 21-3 as their defense could not stop a nosebleed. They could not generate much offensively, only scoring a 45-yard Jason Myers field goal and a subsequent 50-yard miss and a failed Hail Mary attempt at the end of the half. The Packers outgained the Seahawks in yards 201 to 135, as well as the time of possession with 18:05 to Seattle’s 11:55. Green Bay would match Seattle’s subsequent touchdown in the second half with one of its own, and this would ultimately prove too much to overcome.

No answer for Davante Adams

Davante Adams finished with eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns and had 120 yards and one TD in the first half. He burned whoever covered him and the Seahawks defense simply had no answer for him in particular. He caught all four of his targets of 10 or more yards downfield, and one of those was a clutch third-and-8 conversion that went for 32 yards when the Packers needed a play to run the clock down. He averaged 5.7 yards per route and was Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable target, as well as Green Bay’s biggest contributor to its offensive production.

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Strong second-half surge

The Seahawks came out of halftime to score three consecutive offensive touchdowns, getting them back into the game. They could not capitalize on opportunities when the contest was on the line, but the Seahawks continued to make the statement that they are a no-quit team, as they have often been throughout the Pete Carroll era. They always find a way to stay in the game and receive a chance to win it. Unfortunately, they could not pull it off this time.

Defense horrid on third down

Ken Norton Jr.’s defense got torched on third down all game long, including several times with the game hanging in the balance. The Packers converted nine of their 14 third-down attempts and were six of eight after making the score 28-10 in their favor. In addition, all three of Green Bay’s first-half TDs were on third down. The Seahawks defense could not get stops when they needed to, and this played a huge role in the outcome.

Former Seahawk Jimmy Graham makes the game-winning catch

Tight end Jimmy Graham made perhaps the biggest catch of his career when he converted a third and 9 with 1:48 remaining in the game. The spot was controversial, as it appeared Graham was short of the first-down marker, but the Seahawks defense could have prevented him from making the crucial catch, and they did not, nor did they get to quarterback Aaron Rodgers when they needed to. Graham caught two additional passes on third down and was clutch for the Packers with the game on the line. This will obviously sting Seahawks fans quite a bit, but it must have felt good for Graham to win against his former team.

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Cameron Smith wins the Sony Open in a sudden-death playoff

Cameron Smith won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii on the first playoff hole over Brendan Steele. It’s Smith’s first individual title on the PGA Tour. In 2018, he won the Zurich Classic, a team event, alongside Jonas Blixt. Smith was among the Aussie players in the field who pledged $500 per birdie and $1,000 per eagle. The donations are going to aid the Australian wildlife effort in the wake of unprecedented fires there. Webb Simpson finished third. Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer and Kevin Kisner finished T-4.

Cameron Smith won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii on the first playoff hole over Brendan Steele. It’s Smith’s first individual title on the PGA Tour. In 2018, he won the Zurich Classic, a team event, alongside Jonas Blixt. Smith was among the Aussie players in the field who pledged $500 per birdie and $1,000 per eagle. The donations are going to aid the Australian wildlife effort in the wake of unprecedented fires there. Webb Simpson finished third. Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer and Kevin Kisner finished T-4.

Cameron Smith wins the Sony Open in a sudden-death playoff

Cameron Smith won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii on the first playoff hole over Brendan Steele. It’s Smith’s first individual title on the PGA Tour. In 2018, he won the Zurich Classic, a team event, alongside Jonas Blixt. Smith was among the Aussie players in the field who pledged $500 per birdie and $1,000 per eagle. The donations are going to aid the Australian wildlife effort in the wake of unprecedented fires there. Webb Simpson finished third. Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer and Kevin Kisner finished T-4.

Cameron Smith won the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii on the first playoff hole over Brendan Steele. It’s Smith’s first individual title on the PGA Tour. In 2018, he won the Zurich Classic, a team event, alongside Jonas Blixt. Smith was among the Aussie players in the field who pledged $500 per birdie and $1,000 per eagle. The donations are going to aid the Australian wildlife effort in the wake of unprecedented fires there. Webb Simpson finished third. Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer and Kevin Kisner finished T-4.

Watch: Muffet McGraw’s Emotional Response to Blowout Loss

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

It’s been a trying year for Notre Dame Women’s Basketball.

Rebuilds are tough and whether you like it or not, it’s what you get when your five best players from a season ago are playing in the WNBA now.

After a decade of Final Four appearances being the norm, getting even a home victory has become tough as the Irish sit just 6-11 overall and 1-4 in ACC play after getting routed Sunday by No. 9 North Carolina State.

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

An incredibly rare moment to see a coach wear their emotions on their sleeve quite like that, especially one as accomplished as McGraw.

Hopefully this dark season is an exception and things get turned around soon because seeings videos like this much longer will get rather tough to watch.

How much money each golfer won at the Sony Open in Hawaii

Check out how much each player won this week at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

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The PGA Tour’s annual swing through the Hawaiian islands has come and gone, and Cameron Smith is leaving paradise with a gift.

The 26-year-old Smith, who is donating $10,500 to the Australian relief efforts thanks to 21 birdies this week, forced a playoff with Brendan Steele thanks to a birdie on the 18th hole and went on to win the Sony Open on a soggy Sunday at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This week Waialae played host to a PGA tour event for the 55th consecutive year, the fourth-longest streak on Tour.

Take a look at how much each player earned this week in Hawaii.

Sony Open: Photos | Scores | Schedule, results | Winner’s bag

Position Player To par Earnings
1 Cameron Smith -11 $1,188,000
2 Brendan Steele -11 $719,400
3 Webb Simpson -10 $455,400
T-4 Kevin Kisner -9 $277,750
T-4 Graeme McDowell -9 $277,750
T-4 Ryan Palmer -9 $277,750
T-7 Lanto Griffin -8 $214,500
T-7 Ted Potter Jr. -8 $214,500
T-9 Bo Hoag -7 $179,850
T-9 Henrik Norlander -7 $179,850
T-9 Cameron Davis -7 $179,850
T-12 Joel Dahmen -6 $116,050
T-12 Brandt Snedeker -6 $116,050
T-12 Charles Howell III -6 $116,050
T-12 Peter Malnati -6 $116,050
T-12 Vaughn Taylor -6 $116,050
T-12 Hideki Matsuyama -6 $116,050
T-12 Corey Conners -6 $116,050
T-12 Keegan Bradley -6 $116,050
T-12 Tom Hoge -6 $116,050
T-21 Collin Morikawa -5 $64,350
T-21 Rob Oppenheim -5 $64,350
T-21 Brendon Todd -5 $64,350
T-21 Emiliano Grillo -5 $64,350
T-21 Rory Sabbatini -5 $64,350
T-21 Sung jae Im -5 $64,350
T-21 Mark D. Anderson -5 $64,350
T-28 D.J. Trahan -4 $46,200
T-28 Sam Ryder -4 $46,200
T-28 Marc Leishman -4 $46,200
T-28 Zach Johnson -4 $46,200
T-32 Tim Wilkinson -3 $36,850
T-32 Alex Noren -3 $36,850
T-32 Matthew NeSmith -3 $36,850
T-32 Nick Taylor -3 $36,850
T-32 Brian Harman -3 $36,850
T-32 Russell Knox -3 $36,850
T-38 Matt Jones -2 $27,390
T-38 Abraham Ancer -2 $27,390
T-38 Michael Gellerman -2 $27,390
T-38 Patrick Rodgers -2 $27,390
T-38 Daniel Berger -2 $27,390
T-38 Chase Seiffert -2 $27,390
T-38 Michael Thompson -2 $27,390
T-45 Pat Perez -1 $18,496
T-45 Jimmy Walker -1 $18,496
T-45 Ben Martin -1 $18,496
T-45 Scott Piercy -1 $18,496
T-45 Rikuya Hoshino -1 $18,496
T-45 Kramer Hickok -1 $18,496
T-45 Jerry Kelly -1 $18,496
T-45 Joseph Bramlett -1 $18,496
T-53 Nate Lashley E $15,609
T-53 Carlos Ortiz E $15,609
T-53 Brian Stuard E $15,609
T-53 Sepp Straka E $15,609
T-57 Andrew Putnam +1 $14,916
T-57 Hudson Swafford +1 $14,916
T-57 Scott Harrington +1 $14,916
T-57 Rhein Gibson +1 $14,916
T-57 Joaquin Niemann +1 $14,916
T-57 Harry Higgs +1 $14,916
T-63 Talor Gooch +2 $14,388
T-63 Zac Blair +2 $14,388
65 Mikumu Horikawa +3 $14,190
66 Satoshi Kodaira +6 $14,058

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Enjoy the best cheese in Wisconsin at these 10 spots

Heading to the great Dairy State? Here are the 10 best places in Wisconsin to eat cheese, cheese curds, cheese sandwiches and more.

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Happy cows don’t just come from California anymore. America’s Dairyland a.k.a. Wisconsin, has been producing delicious, award-winning cheese for years and it’s time to get a piece of the wheel.

Wisconsin boasts many unique creameries that specialize in everything from cheese curds to aged gouda. Hop in the car and make your own cheesy road trip or just visit one shop to stock up on your cheese essentials; you won’t be disappointed.

Here are 10 of the best spots in Wisconsin to truly become a cheesehead!

Emmi Roth + Alp and Dell | Monroe

Get transported to Switzerland with a visit to the Emmi Roth cheese factory. Visitors are welcome to take a full factory tour of one of Wisconsin’s biggest cheese producers, and even take a peek at the cheesemaking process. Don’t forget to make a post-tour stop at Alp and Dell, Emmi Roth’s shop, which carries over 100 cheeses for you to take home.

Fromagination | Madison

Right in the heart of Madison lies the cutest little cheese shop around. Fromagination carries so many delicious artisan cheeses from Wisconsin and beyond, plus just about every accoutrement you could imagine.

This petite shop also offers specialty classes (curious about British Isles cheeses?) and pairing classes (beer and cheese, anyone?) for the real curd nerds out there. Fromagination is the perfect spot to shop for any foodies in your life.

Old Rittenhouse Inn | Bayfield

Jamaica me caprese! #oldrittenhouseinn #seewhatididthere #lunch

A post shared by Old Rittenhouse Inn (@rittenhouseinn) on Jun 1, 2016 at 3:47pm PDT

If you’re looking for a cheese-filled meal at a picturesque Victorian inn, the Old Rittenhouse Inn probably checks all your boxes and more. Their menu features artisan Wisconsin cheeses beautifully woven throughout for unique local flavors and delicious comfort food. See if you can get cheese in every course – we dare you.

Wisconsin Cheese Mart | Madison + Milwaukee

Not to be cheesy, but I miss Milwaukee dairy much 🧀

A post shared by ashley (@ashleydeolive) on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:38pm PST

If you’re looking to stock up on some of the finest cheddars Wisconsin has to offer, this is where to go. The Wisconsin Cheese Mart boasts a wide selection of small batch and classic cheeses; you can even pick up a cow-shaped piece of cheddar as a parting gift.

Right next door at the Milwaukee location is the Uber Tap Room, where you’re invited to wash down your freshly selected cheese with a local brew.

Marieke Gouda | Thorp

Get a little piece of Holland right in the heart of Wisconsin with a visit to Marieke Gouda. A stop by their farm can be a family affair, with activities from soccer to bouncing pillows (not full of cheese, unfortunately), and of course, cheesemaking tours.

Make a pit stop at the Café Dutchess to try their grilled Gouda sandwich or Gouda nachos.

Clock Shadow Creamery | Milwaukee

Just making a short trip to the “grate” state of cheese and craving the squeakiest cheese curds you can find? Head over to Clock Shadow Creamery, a.k.a. Milwaukee’s first and only cheese factory. To get all your cheese curd questions answered, you can take a tour of the creamery and sample their fresh cheeses for just $3. Available every day but Sundays.

Carr Valley Cheese | Multiple Locations

To taste cheese made the old-fashioned way, head to Carr Valley Cheese. Cheesemaker Sid Cook and his family have been making cheese since the 1880s. Their award-winning cheeses range from classic bread cheese to the unique goat cheddar.

With over 8 locations throughout Wisconsin, you can get your cheese fill just about anywhere in the state.

Baumgartner’s Cheese | Monroe

Now, it’s time for a little cheese history. Baumgartner’s Cheese is the oldest cheese store in Wisconsin and they serve up the most delicious cheese sandwiches. Stop in for a thick slice of cheese (your choice!) on rye bread with housemade horseradish mustard.

All that’s missing is a local beer – and maybe even something harder – to wash it down.

Widmer’s Cheese Cellars | Theresa

Widmer’s specializes in brick cheese, cheddar and Colby – simple, but to the point. A visit to their retail store in Theresa, Wisconsin takes you back in time. Watch as cheesemakers stir the curds, making the magical, delicious cheese you’re about to sample.

Mars Cheese Castle | Kenosha

The Mars Cheese Castle got the memo: all cheese belongs in a castle. Stop in to try some of their famous cheese bread, or just peruse all of the royal cheeses. Their dramatic space, fit for kings and queens, features a bakery, deli and all the beer and wine you could ever need.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

AFC South down to 1 representative in NFL playoffs after divisional round

The Tennessee Titans will be the lone representative for the AFC South in the championship round after beating the Ravens.

The AFC South entered the weekend with two representatives in the playoffs with the Tennessee Titans taking on the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans taking on the Kansas City Chiefs, but when the dust settled, just one of those teams were left standing. That teams was the Tennessee Titans who stunned the Ravens Saturday by a score of 28-12.

The Titans were dominant in Saturday’s victory and won the game by outmatching the Ravens in a category that most can’t: physicality. Running back Derrick Henry continued to roll as he did in the wild-card game, accumulating a whopping 195 rushing yards over 30 carries and he was also able to register a passing touchdown. He proved to really be all the Titans needed offensively as Ryan Tannehill only had 14 passing attempts (for 88 yards), two of which were touchdowns passes to tight end Jonnu Smith and receiver Kalif Ramond.

They will now head to Kansas City to play the Chiefs and will enter the game as 7.5 point underdogs, per Bet MGM.

As for the Texans, they weren’t as fortunate. After starting off to a 24-0 start against the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes and company rallied with seven consecutive touchdowns, some of which were a result from turnovers on Houston’s part. In the end, the final score was 51-31, marking one of the biggest divisional round comebacks in history.

Report: ESPN planning to offer Tony Romo between $10M-14M per season

A Front Office Sports reports suggests ESPN is planning to offer Tony Romo a landmark contract.

One of the biggest free agents this offseason won’t be in a uniform. Tony Romo’s contract with CBS is coming up and Mike McCarthy of Front Office Sports reports ESPN is planning to make a huge effort to sign the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback:

ESPN is preparing an offer that would make Tony Romo the highest-paid sportscaster in TV history, with a multi-year deal that would pay him between $10 million to $14 million annually, said sources.

ESPN declined to comment. A representative for Romo could not be reached for comment.

https://twitter.com/frntofficesport/status/1216549061442011139

If ESPN would land Romo, Front Office Sports sources suggest he could succeed Booger McFarland as the analyst on “Monday Night Football.”

Romo could also potentially quarterback ESPN’s NFL game coverage if parent Disney acquires a Sunday afternoon game package from rival FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC Sports during the next round of NFL TV negotiations in 2020-2021.

No deal has been signed yet, and one source said any negotiation for a new contract for Romo might not wrap up until a month or two after Super Bowl 54.

CBS also has a right to match any offers for Romo, according to sources.

The 39-year-old Romo makes about $4 million annually on the final year of his three-year rookie broadcasting deal. Troy Aikman, FOX’s top NFL game analyst, makes around $7.5 million per year.

Romo has been an instant hit in the TV booth, teamed with Jim Nantz on CBS’ lead broadcast pairing.

Meanwhile, the ESPN MNF team of McFarland and Joe Tessitore have been ridiculed over their two seasons. The ESPN team’s first season featured a three-person booth with Jason Witten, who returned to the field after an unsuccessful venture at broadcasting.

Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Rodgers had a cool moment inside Packers’ locker room after game

Marshawn Lynch sought out his former college teammate after the game.

Marshawn Lynch made his surprising return to the NFL days before Seattle’s Week 17 game against the 49ers last month. On Sunday, his short season came to an end in Green Bay as the Seahawks lost to the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Lynch, who scored two touchdowns in the loss, might have just played his last NFL game, though we’ve learned the past few weeks to expect the unexpected from Beast Mode.

If Sunday was in fact his last game, he closed it out with a special moment in Green Bay’s locker room before leaving town.

Lynch and Aaron Rodgers played college football together at Cal and the running back went to see his former teammate to exchange jerseys:

Rodgers spoke highly of Lynch:

Beast Mode also took some time to talk to the media and offer some advice for younger players:

What a fun few weeks this has been for Marshawn Lynch and us fans, who enjoyed seeing him back doing his thing.

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