Lamar Jackson is [insert uninvented adjective]. In what has become a weekly occurrence, the Baltimore Ravens’ second-year quarterback is destroying every defense in his path with remarkable, logic-defying runs. Against the Houston Texans in Week 11, Jackson yet again proved he’s the most electric quarterback in the league.
The Texans had the elusive quarterback nearly wrapped up when, in true Jackson fashion, he casually slipped through their fingers and moved upfield with a burst of speed and vision that can only be described as… “whaaaaa?”
Jackson then slipped past another defender and, with the aid of a Hayden Hurst block, set his sights on the end zone. With seemingly the entire Texans’ defense in tow, Jackson ran 39 yards ahead like a bullet. If not for Texans safety Justin Reid, this one may have gone the distance.
Ian Eagle’s “uh oh” to prelude the play might be my favorite thing ever. It was perfect, probably because we were all thinking it.
And that’s the magic of Jackson.
If he has the ball and the slimmest of chances, anything can happen. Even when the opposing defense has him covered and cornered, he can make you pay. And it’s become arguably the most exciting trend in the NFL… a trend Ravens fans can’t wait to see continue.
The Falcons are pouring it on the Panthers. Quarterback Matt Ryan’s touchdown pass to WR Calvin Ridley put the team on top, 26-0, in the third quarter.
The Falcons are pouring it on the Panthers. Quarterback Matt Ryan’s touchdown pass to WR Calvin Ridley put the team on top, 26-0, in the third quarter. It was Ridley’s fifth TD catch of the season, and Ryan’s first TD pass of the game.
Atlanta’s defense has been dominant as well, recording three interceptions thus far.
Michigan football beat Michigan State 44-10 this week in the worst loss Mark Dantonio ever had against the Wolverines.
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Since arriving in East Lansing in 2007, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has had Michigan football struggling to take him down. Dantonio is 8-5 against the Wolverines with a four-game winning streak lasting from 2008-2011 and a three-game win streak from 2013-2015.
Since Michigan has hired Jim Harbaugh as their head coach though, Dantonio is 2-3 against Michigan and in their game yesterday, it was the worst performance Dantonio has ever had against the Wolverines. Michigan won the game 44-10, and the 34 point win was the biggest against MSU since Michigan won by 46 in 2002 when they won 49-3. The worst loss before yesterday’s under Dantonio? 2018 when Michigan won 21-7.
Michigan didn’t just score more points than they ever have against Dantonio, they set all types of records against Dantonio and his MSU teams. Since Dantonio was brought in as the head coach, Michigan hasn’t had an offensive explosion like they did this yesterday.
It was a complete domination by the Wolverines yesterday and one that they will never forget. It might even be the last game they ever play against Dantonio depending on what happens after the season as MSU is 4-6 this season with two games left to play. Their bowl chances look slim as they have to win out against Rutgers and Maryland to finish the season 6-6. In his past four seasons, Dantonio is 24-24 with his best season being in 2017 when MSU went 10-3 and won the Holiday Bowl.
If this is his last season at MSU, Dantonio is walking out with a huge loss to Michigan, never getting his revenge from the beatdown. If Dantonio does return for the 2020 season, he will be looking for his revenge but it won’t be easy as the Wolverines seem to have finally figured out their offense and another year under it could be dangerous for their opponents next season.
Houston Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson is questionable to return versus the Baltimore Ravens with a foot injury.
Houston Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson is questionable to return against the Baltimore Ravens with a foot injury.
The rookie sustained the foot injury in the third quarter of the game.
The Texans are already thin at cornerback with starter Bradley Roby scratched with a hamstring injury. Johnson was making his return from missing the Week 9 game with a concussion.
Eagles Inactives vs. Patriots: Jay Ajayi active; Jordan Howard ruled out
The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are set to square off Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in a Super Bowl LII rematch and a huge contest that could go a long way towards solidifying the Birds playoff chances.
The Eagles just released their inactives list and as expected, Jordan Howard was ruled out.
Brendon Todd is seeking back-to-back PGA Tour events. He and Vaughn Taylor share the lead at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
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On a marathon Sunday of golf at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, Brendon Todd and Vaughn Taylor are running stride for stride and share the lead at 20 under. But a champion won’t be crowned until Monday as play was suspended due to darkness at 6:11 p.m., with the leaders on the 15th hole, their 33rd hole of the day.
What’s one more night to wait for Taylor, who last won in 2016, and his pursuers, Harris English, who hasn’t won since the 2013 Mayakoba Golf Classic, and Carlos Ortiz, who is seeking his first Tour title?
Todd, meanwhile, ended a five-year victory drought at the Tour’s last event, the Bermuda Championship, two weeks ago (there was no Tour event scheduled last week).
The 34-year-old Todd is positioned to win in back-to-back events on the PGA Tour after posting his eighth consecutive score in the 60s. When asked earlier this week to name his goals for the rest of the season, Todd said he needed to recalibrate before adding, “I guess I’d like to win again and make it to the Tour Championship.”
He could check off the first part and take a huge step toward the latter with a victory on Monday. The last player to win consecutive Tour events was Bryson DeChambeau, who was victorious in the first two events of the 2018 FedEx Cup Playoffs at The Northern Trust and Dell Technologies Championship.
Vaughn Taylor waves to fans after a birdie on the 17th green during the third round of the 2019 Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
It’s a remarkable comeback for Todd, who missed 37 of 41 cuts from 2016-18 while struggling with the full-swing yips. After regaining his Tour privileges this season, Todd set an initial goal to get back into contention and see how he’d perform under the pressure.
He’s handled it with aplomb, shooting a final-round 62 to win in Bermuda and was 3 under through 14 holes in his final round at El Camaleon Golf Club. Todd made three birdies on the front nine and tacked on another at No. 12 to lead by two strokes. But Taylor made birdie at 13 and Todd made a bogey at 14, his first of the week on the back nine, and the lead was gone.
The final group called it a day after reaching the 15th green. Todd could have waited until Monday to hit his tee shot but opted to play on after the horn blew, planting his ball 10 feet from the hole at the par-3 15th while Taylor will face a testy 5-foot par putt after coming up short with his tee shot and leaving himself work to do with his chip.
“I wanted to hit the shot because I’m loose and there’s no wind,” Todd told the Golf Channel. “I thought I could get it in there close and come back and make birdie.”
Ortiz, on the other hand, was on the 18th hole and opted to wait to finish his round on Monday as his fellow playing competitors finished in the dark. The Mexico native opened with a double bogey, but bounced back to make seven birdies to get to 19 under. He’s tied with Harris English, the 36-hole leader who closed the gap with birdies at Nos. 13 and 14. Adam Long is two back at 18 under and marked his ball on the 16th green after play was suspended. Twelve golfers were remaining on the course. When asked what it would mean to win on home soil, Ortiz said, “Winning anywhere, it’s pretty special, and winning in front of my family would probably be like a dream come true.”
All four rounds of the Mayakoba Golf Classic have been played under preferred lies due to heavy rain earlier in the week that prevented play on Thursday. The field has been playing catch-up ever since. Todd fired 6-under 65 in Sunday morning’s third round to grab a one-stroke lead over Taylor and English at 17-under 196.
Todd vaulted into the lead with a chip-in at 16, one of seven birdies in his third round. His string of eight rounds in the 60s is his longest since carding eight straight in 2014, the year of his maiden victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Carlos Ortiz of Mexico watches his drive on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2019 Mayakoba Golf Classic. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Taylor, 43, is seeking his fourth victory and first since the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He stormed out of the gate on Sunday with birdies on four of his first five holes en route to shooting 4-under 67 and a 54-hole total of 16 under. In the final round, Taylor hit 10 of 11 fairways and 11 of 14 greens in regulation before play was suspended for the day.
English, 30, endured a roller-coaster round of 3-under 68 to improve to 16 under and extend a streak of shooting par or better in all 19 rounds he’s played in the 2019-20 season. El Camaleon is a course he’s always enjoyed and he is bidding to make his own slice of tournament history. No player in the 12-year run of the tournament has won it twice. But to do so, he’ll have to catch and pass Taylor and Todd, his fellow Georgia Bulldog alum, over the final four holes. Play is scheduled to resume at 7:30 on Monday morning.
“I feel great about my game,” Todd told Golf Channel. “I feel real happy to have a chance to win this tournament coming off a win in Bermuda and I’m excited to tee it up tomorrow and see if we can get another W.”
Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack suffered a hand injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars and won’t return to the game on Sunday.
Mack was tearing up the Jaguars defense. He left early in the third quarter during the team’s opening drive to open the second half but wasn’t on the field for the goal-line plays.
Mack will finish the game with 14 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown. Taking his place will be Nyheim Hines and Jonathan Williams.
Marlon Mack (hand) is OUT for the rest of the game. Big loss for the Colts.
LaMelo Ball helped break another NBL record on Sunday as the Hawks-Kings match-up set the all-time attendance record for the league.
In what has become a common occurrence in his singular season in Australia and with the National Basketball League (NBL), LaMelo Ball helped break yet another record on Sunday afternoon. In the most highly-anticipated match-up of the year, Ball and Illawarra squared off with the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and set the league’s all-time attendance record on the night.
In total, 17,514 fans attended the contest that saw the Kings survive a valiant fight from the Hawks to hang on for the win. The attendance mark was nearly 400 higher than the previous record.
We have a new biggest crowd in NBL history, with 17,514 here at Qudos Bank Arena for Kings-Hawks. The previous high was 17,143.
Ball has already been apart of the most-viewed game in league history earlier in the season in the showdown with New Zealand Breakers and fellow Next Star RJ Hampton. Sunday’s contest matched Ball up with the other Next Star in Didi Louzada, a player drafted by the Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft before being stashed in Australia for at least a season.
The contest lived up to the hype on the day as Illawarra, the bottom seed in the NBL table, not only battled Sydney tight but held a second-half lead and were tied in the fourth quarter with the best team in the league. The Kings, though, eventually fended off feisty Illawarra for the win.
Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC on ESPN+ 22, which took place Saturday in Sao Paulo.
What mattered most at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in Sao Paulo? Here are a few post-fight musings …
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1. Jan Blachowicz is good, but not the guy
No disrespect to [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC), but it’s hard to imagine anyone who spent 30 minutes of their Saturday night watching that underwhelming split decision win over Ronaldo Souza in the main event is now clamoring to see the Polish fighter challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title.
Not only did Blachowicz fail to produce the emphatic finish that fellow contenders Dominick Reyes and Corey Anderson delivered in their most recent wins, but he hardly had any memorable moments against “Jacare.” It was a grinding 25-minute affair, and not much happened that could serve as evidence he would stand a chance against Jones.
If Blachowicz ends up with a title shot – be it after this win or the next one – it will almost certainly be by default because there isn’t a more compelling matchup. It would be a huge moment for his career to reach that height, of course, but there’s no way that performance against Souza elevated the perception he can be champion while “Bones” is running the block.
The Jags exited the first half of their game against the Colts with an injury to one of their reserves on the defensive line.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars came into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts relatively healthy but will leave it with at least one injury. Defensive end/ linebacker Lerentee McCray exited the first half with a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.
It’s unknown as to what play the injury was sustained on but if he can’t return the Jags have plenty of depth on defensive end with Yannick Ngakoue, Josh Allen and Dawuane Smoot.
McCray hadn’t registered any stats before the injury, however, he has five total tackles on the season.
