Tag: Christmas Day

Chiefs coaches, players recall last season’s Christmas Day loss to the Raiders

Kansas City #Chiefs coaches, players recall last season’s Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas #Raiders | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ undefeated streak began last season following their Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.

The players and coaches have pointed to that moment when the team came together and refocused on their goal of winning Super Bowl LVIII.

“I think more than anything, more than even the play on the field, I think it was just a wakeup call for us to know that we’re not going to be able to just come to the game and win,” said Mahomes during his Wednesday press conference. “We kind of battled through the year, and it was like everybody was just kind of trying to build, especially. I feel like myself; we were just building for the playoffs. We weren’t even worried about the regular season. I think you’ve seen that mentality since then is the guys are really taking every single practice and getting the best out of it so that every single week, we can play our best football, and if we don’t play our best football, we try to get better that next week. I think that’s translated into this season.

The Chiefs appeared lackluster offensively, while the defense held firm for most of the game. However, the unit couldn’t make the necessary stop in the fourth quarter to give the offense the ball back.

“The thing that I remember most is we were in there swinging away, right? It was a pretty tight game but where we kind of were disappointing as a group was when we had to stop them at the end, right? I think we had enough time-outs, and we call it a four-minute defense, right? We didn’t get that done.” said Spagnuolo during his Thursday press conference. “They ripped off a couple of long runs to kind of ice the game which is what you want your offense to do if you’re on their sideline, but we would’ve liked to have rose up somehow and got the ball back to Patrick (Mahomes) one more time. Am I right in saying it was a 20-14 final? Yeah, so if we could’ve got it back to Pat one more time – that’s what I remember. Now, I thought we played, for the most part, pretty good. I think we only gave up six points.“

The Chiefs are heading into Week 8 with the same mindset they adopted after last year’s matchup.

Steelers lose WR trade target to 2024 AFC opponent

The Pittsburgh Steelers have once again lost out on another All-Pro receiver the team was previously linked to.

Three former All-Pro wide receivers previously linked as Pittsburgh Steelers trade targets have come and gone, with nothing from the Steel City to show for it. The 32-year-old receiver DeAndre Hopkins has found himself a new quarterback to catch passes from, and sadly for all the Russell Wilson fans out there, it isn’t Mr. Unstoppable, but instead three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.

As if Steelers fans couldn’t fear the Christmas Day matchup with the Kansas City even more, with a current undefeated record of 6-0 on the season, the Chiefs pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans for a conditional fifth-round pick.

Will Pittsburgh finally stop losing out on the wide receiver trade market and bring a playmaker to a WR-needy Steelers team? While Russ will cook regardless, Steelers GM Omar Khan could set up his QB for success down the stretch with such a trade.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce will feature in ‘Hallmark’s 2024 Keepsake Ornament Collection’

Kansas City #Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will feature in ‘Hallmark’s 2024 Keepsake Ornament Collection’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs players continue to dominate on and off the field, participating in activities that allow them to stand out globally. A particular Pro Bowl tight end adds another unique experience to his popular resume just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Hallmark’s upcoming Keepsake Ornament Debut event, taking place October 12-20, will unveil 150+ new Keepsake Ornaments, including an ornament of Chiefs star Travis Kelce. The Christmas tree ornament features Kelce receiving the ball for another big play. The holiday decoration makes a statement as fashionable as the famous player whose likeness it captures. 

From pop culture favorites to ornaments that capture individual hobbies and life’s most significant milestones, Keepsake Ornaments offers something for every movie buff, sports fan, gamer, and holiday lover.

Hallmark’s new Keepsake Ornaments will be available online and at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores nationwide beginning Saturday, October 12th. Shoppers who visit their nearest Gold Crown Store during the Keepsake Ornament Debut can enjoy additional in-store perks throughout the event, including special offers, bonus points, and gifts with purchase while supplies last.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club members can enjoy exclusive perks like exclusive ornaments and early in-store shopping beginning Friday, October. 11th. 

Chiefs team up with Hallmark for a new Christmas movie premiering this winter

Kansas City #Chiefs team up with Hallmark for a new Christmas movie premiering this winter | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs will be in the holiday spirit for the production of an upcoming Christmas movie. In collaboration with Hallmark, Skydance Sports, and the NFL, the film is titled ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ and is part of their 15th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event.

The holiday love story stars Tyler Hynes, Hunter King, and Ed Begley Jr.. It is set to begin production next month, filming in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and Kansas City, Missouri, locations. Chiefs president Mark Donovan released a statement on the upcoming film production.

“We are honored to partner with Hallmark on a project as unique as this,” said Donovan. “As a club, we pride ourselves on exploring new ways to grow our brand, as well as connect with new audiences. This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season.”

Hallmark chief brand officer Darren Abbott believes the collaboration will highlight the franchise and spirit of the holiday season.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition, and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” said Abbott. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions, and passionate fans that define Kansas City, all wrapped up in the comforting and uplifting Hallmark way.”

The Chiefs hope for another successful season as they prepare to defend their title and secure the three-peat. A warm holiday movie on the horizon and another Super Bowl will keep Chiefs Kingdom joyful during the holidays.

Chiefs to face Steelers on Christmas, game to be exclusively streamed on Netflix

The Kansas City #Chiefs will face the Pittsburgh #Steelers on Christmas in 2024, and the game will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.

The 2024 NFL schedule is set for official release tonight, but the Kansas City Chiefs have already had a few of their most exciting matchups leaked.

After finding out that the defending Super Bowl champions will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, fans were excited to see that the Chiefs are now set to square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas day.

Clearly, the league is giving Kansas City top billing for their title defense campaign. It expects the Chiefs to provide an exceptional experience for viewers at every stage of the 2024 season as they endeavor to win a third consecutive Super Bowl.

Kansas City is expected to play the Christmas game on the road, but their matchups in Weeks 1 and 2 will both be played at Arrowhead Stadium.

No team in the NFL will have a bigger target on its back than the Chiefs, and the late-season matchup against the Steelers should prove to be one of the most exciting games on Kansas City’s schedule.

Steelers rumored to host Chiefs on Christmas Day

The Steelers might be celebrating Christmas with the Chiefs this year.

At this point, you have to take all NFL schedule leaks with a grain of salt but this one caught our eye. Pittsburgh radion host Andrew Fillipponi posted on X that he has heard the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day this season.

The Chiefs and Steelers know each other well. They have squared off 10 times since 2009 and the Steelers are up 6-5 in the rivalry during that time. The NFL plans to release the full regular-season schedule on Wednesday, May 15.

The Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champions and have become a legitimate NFL dynasty. The Steelers are hoping to return to legitimacy this season and win their first playoff game since 2016 thanks to a complete rebuild of the quarterback depth chart as well as the offensive line.

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Commanders’ Allen understands fans perspective, but he is an NFL player

Allen talks fans rooting for a higher position in the 2024 NFL draft and the quarterbacks.

Did the close loss to the Jets ruin Christmas for Jonathan Allen?

That was one of the early questions, asked of Allen on his weekly appearance on the “Sports Junkies” Tuesday.

“No, and here’s why. The amount of work I put in this week leading up to the Jets is probably some of the most I have done in my entire career. The way I was able to go out there and play hard, I can go to sleep knowing I left it all out there on the field.” Allen finished with four tackles and three of the four Commanders quarterback hits.

Allen said he has learned how fans look at it from their perspective of how can the team win over the next ten years. But he has also learned that as an NFL player, the only right way for him to look at it, is he is trying to win right now (this day, this game).

Allen then confirmed that a younger version of himself would have been upset with local fans and local media, wanting the team to lose for a better draft position, etc., but now that he has matured, having been in the NFL since the 2017 NFL draft, those things don’t bother him. He understands the fan base has their perspective, and they need to understand he has a player has his perspective.

As for the Commanders’ two quarterbacks and which should play against the 49ers next Sunday? “Obviously, Sam Howell is struggling, and Jacoby is playing great. Thank God, I don’t get paid to make those decisions. I just focus on what I have to do. Do you move on from him or do you continue to try to work with him (Howell)? I don’t know. That’s a tough question. I don’t think that is really a question I can answer.”

Allen was not being avoidant, he simply is mature and knows there is a time and place for everything.

 

Vikings Christmas mailbag: Justin Jefferson as a Christmas cookie

Tyler Forness takes a look at the NFL Draft, free agency and Justin Jefferson as a Christmas cookie

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off of a very disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions by a score of 30-24.

Even though they are coming off of that loss, it is Christmas Day at the time of publication and there are happier things than thinking about the loss.

Our latest mailbag focuses on the future of the Vikings, including some Christmas themed questions. Enjoy!

NBA Twitter reacts to Warriors’ win-streak ending with loss to Nuggets on Christmas

Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Twitter after the Warriors’ win-streak came to an end against the Nuggets on Christmas Day.

The Golden State Warriors turned Monday’s Christmas contest against the defending champion Denver Nuggets into a heavyweight fight.

While the Warriors hung around until the late rounds, the Nuggets held off Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins in the fourth quarter to secure a win on Christmas Day. Behind 54 combined points from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets snapped the Warriors’ five-game win streak, 120-114.

Fouls hampered the Warriors in Denver. They committed 23 fouls, including 17 coming in the second half. Both Trayce Jackson-Davis and Wiggins ended the game with five fouls.

After missing a pair of games due to an illness, Wiggins came off the bench to score 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds and two assists against the Nuggets.

Following the Warriors’ five-game win streak ending, the NBA community on X, formerly known as Twitter, chimed in with reactions on Monday afternoon. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on social media.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

John Harbaugh will need to outsmart Kyle Shanahan: Ravens vs. 49ers | NFL week 16

Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will need to outsmart San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in week 16.

Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will need to outsmart San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in week 16. The Niners have scored 53 touchdowns this season with their eyes set on more.

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Harbaugh has a career-winning regular season record of 158–98. He’s led the Ravens for well over a decade. 

Under Harbaugh’s wing is a first-year defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald. With MacDonald, the Ravens have allowed just 14 passing touchdowns this season.

Harbaugh and MacDonald must be in sync when deciphering Shanahan’s offense. The 49ers may attempt to use no huddle to tire out the Ravens’ linebackers. MacDonald must therefore keep the Niners out of short-yard situations.

In what should be a prolific matchup, Harbaugh may need to guide MacDonald’s play-calling in clutch situations. The Ravens rank No.1 in the NFL in points allowed per game.

Ultimately, while Niners fans continue to ride their high horse, Shanahan knows that Harbaugh has the leadership experience needed to compete in big games. Tonight’s game will be a clash of two masterful head coaches.