Tag: Thanksgiving

Raiders’ Takk McKinley out, Vic Beasley could play vs. Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons opted to let linebacker Vic Beasley walk during the 2020 free agency period, and later released defensive end Takk McKinley in Week 9.

The Atlanta Falcons opted to let linebacker Vic Beasley walk during the 2020 free agency period, and later released defensive end Takk McKinley in Week 9. Both Beasley and McKinley were formerly first-round picks that flamed out after promising starts with the team.

Beasley would go on to sign with the Tennessee Titans, but was released after five games. McKinley was claimed by several teams but stayed on waivers due to multiple physicals. Atlanta’s Week 12 opponent, the Las Vegas Raiders, signed both players earlier this week.

According to Vegas Nation reporter Vincent Bonsignore, Beasley has a chance to play this weekend if activated from the practice squad. However, McKinley has already been ruled out and will be placed on injured reserve by the Raiders with a groin injury.

The Falcons will look for their fourth win of the year on Sunday as they attempt to keep their extremely thin playoff chances alive for another week.

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Notre Dame at North Carolina: FIW Staff Predictions

Staff picks are up for Notre Dame vs. North Carolina. Will the Irish return to South Bend 9-0 or fall on the road? Expect a thriller…

A very happy Thanksgiving weekend to all of you out there as we exit the actual holiday and now plow ahead with what is likely to be a very non-traditional Black Friday.

Non-traditional not only because the doors at countless retails shops won’t be nearly as full this year but also because No. 2 Notre Dame is playing a regular season game on a Friday which never happens and they’re spending Thanksgiving on the east coast instead of southern California or the Bay Area out west.

Notre Dame looks to remain perfect on the year but the task ahead of them is anything but easy as they’re in North Carolina. Don’t let the two losses fool you by any stretch, this Tar Heels team can score points with the best of teams and no lead has been too big for them to not get back into a game this year.

So what happens Friday afternoon?  Do the Irish stay unbeaten?  Or does North Carolina put an end to the dreams of a perfect season and make the Irish path to the College Football Playoff that much more difficult?

Here is what the Fighting Irish Wire staff thinks, starting with Geoffrey Clark.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Instant Analysis: Washington sweeps Cowboys in convincing fashion, 41-16

The Dallas Cowboys fell to 3-8 on the 2020 season on Thanksgiving Day, the latest debacle in what’s been a season of failures.

For three-fourths of the game, it seemed like yet another Thanksgiving Classic between the Dallas Cowboys and team from Washington, before a trio of fourth quarter touchdowns broke it open for the Football Team. Any late-season momentum the Cowboys hoped to generate was quickly dashed as things unraveled in the game’s final 15 minutes.

Dallas had a chance to change their narrative this season, and instead this game became just the latest disappointment in a year where almost nothing has gone right for America’s Team.

Antonio Gibson becomes first rookie to have 3 TDs on Thanksgiving since Randy Moss

Antonio Gibson introduced himself to the world with a 3 TD performance, which hasn’t been done on Thanksgiving since Randy Moss in 1998.

Whenever you can walk away from a day’s work and be mentioned in the same sentence with the great Randy Moss, you must be doing something right.

That’s the case for Washington’s rookie running back Antonio Gibson, who became the first rookie to have three touchdowns in a Thanksgiving Day game since Randy Moss did so with the Minnesota Vikings back in 1998.

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Gibson’s big day came on a big stage, with the whole world watching in Washington’s first nationally televised game of the season. It was the first time that the NFL world at large could get a chance to see Gibson go to work, and he did not disappoint. The rookie finished the day with 115 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. He also added five catches for 21 yards on the day.

Those of us in Washington know that he’s been capable of something like this, but the fact that he could put together the best performance of his career on the big stage shows you what kind of player he is. Washington got a real one, and they need to do everything they can to hold onto him.

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Heavy-hearted Cowboys make putrid calls, show little fight in 41-16 loss to Washington

The Dallas Cowboys entered the week hopeful they had turned the corner. Following a 31-28 Week 11 victory over the surging Minnesota Vikings, the club thought they may have solved their issues. It turns out that wasn’t the case. That wasn’t the case …

The Dallas Cowboys entered the week hopeful they had turned the corner. Following a 31-28 Week 11 victory over the surging Minnesota Vikings, the club thought they may have solved their issues. It turns out that wasn’t the case. That wasn’t the case at all.

Following the loss of strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul just a day prior, the team was not only operating on a short week due to playing on Thursday, but one with even more limited practice and a challenge in getting focused. It showed, from player mistakes to coaching snafus. The club routinely gambled deep in their own end of the field, and lost. They fumbled, threw interceptions and failed to capitalize on golden opportunities inside their opponents 10-yard line, leading to being thoroughly embarrassed by the Washington Football team for the second time this season. While rookie running back Antonio Gibson accrued over 130 yards and scored three touchdowns, it was self-inflicted wounds by the Cowboys that were the biggest culprit in their blowout loss, 41-16.

The defeat moves the Cowboys down to 3-8 for the season and back into the basement of the pathetic NFC East. Washington is now in first place with a 4-7 record.

To make matters worse, Dallas lost both of their tackles on their opening drive of the game. All-Pro Zack Martin went out with a calf injury a few plays after Cam Erving had his knee rolled up on. Neither returned to the game, while Martin returned to the sideline on crutches and in a walking boot.

Dallas has a week off to reconvene and prepare for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.

NFL fans roasted the Cowboys for this ridiculously bad fake punt attempt

This was SO bad

Fake punts are always fun. Either they end up working and everyone ends up being shocked. Or, OR, they fail miserably and we laugh at them for days.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they fell in the latter category on Thanksgiving against the Washington Football Team.

Down just 20-16 in a completely manageable game only a few minutes into the fourth quarter, Mike McCarthy dialed up a fake punt on his own 24-yard line.

And it wasn’t just any fake punt. It was an end-around that turned into what seemed to be the Philly Special. On 4th & 10. OF COURSE, this thing failed miserably.

WHEW that was bad. NFL fans roasted them. Cowboy fans were fed up.

The worst part is, maybe this thing works if they throw it.

Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, we’ll never know.

Terry McLaurin made his best DK Metcalf impression with this chase down tackle after INT

WHEW Terry McLaurin is fast.

Terry McLaurin is pretty easily the Washington Football Team’s best wide receiver, but the best play he made on Thanksgiving had nothing to do with his offense.

Instead it was his incredible effort to make a touchdown-saving tackle on an interception return that might have just saved Washington the game.

Alex Smith got hit and threw a pass right into the lap of Jaylon Smith. From there, he was off to the races.

When he caught the ball, it looked like this play was pretty clearly going to turn into a touchdown. But NOPE. All of a sudden, a burgundy blur comes out of nowhere. It’s McLaurin.

WHEW. Shades of DK Metcalf.

Of course, it wasn’t 90 yards, but it was still pretty impressive. And it saved Washington four points — they kept a 20-16 lead in the game heading into the 4th quarter.

Shouts to Terry. He probably made a lot of WFT fans happy with that one.

Star Wars fans spent Thanksgiving arguing about ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ again

Here we go again

Look. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day that we talk about what we’re thankful for. We’re supposed to spend time talking about all of the good in our lives.

That’s why I’m so confused as to why there are actual people on the internet actually discussing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. 

For those of you who may be out of the loop, that is the latest Star Wars film to release and the last film of the latest trilogy. And, uh, it was pretty bad. There were plot holes everywhere. I won’t get into them. Not because I don’t want to spoil this for you, but just because it was that bad. I refuse to spend time upsetting myself on such a glorious Thanksgiving day with a full belly.

Anyway, not only were they talking about it. Some of them were actually calling it the best Star Wars film ever. Like, seriously.

Now, look. There is a legitimate argument to make about the cinematography in the movie. It was fantastic. But it should’ve been fantastic — it’s Star Wars.

That wasn’t the issue with the film — or the entire trilogy. The movies just aren’t really cohesive at all. They make no sense. Like, how do we still not know anything about Rey’s parents? Where did the random love interest between her and Kylo Ren come from? Why wasn’t Jar Jar Binks the movie’s…you know what, let’s not go there today. Just know there are real valid criticisms about this film.

Which is why the rest of us were so confused. Here’s me, being confused, by the way.

And here’s everyone else, just as confused.

Others were (correctly) pointing out that Rogue One should be recognized as one of the best Star Wars movies of all-time. Especially that Vader scene. You know the one.

Ah, finally. Someone making sense.

The Washington Football Team ran a ‘Fumblerooski’ and NFL fans loved it

The Cowboys fell for the old Fumblerooski! The Washington Football Team got tricky on Thanksgiving Day.

Look, if the football is going to be bad — and in the NFC East, it always is — it might as well be weird, too.

Well, the Washington Football Team got weird on Thanksgiving, dialing up the old Fumblerooski against the rival Dallas Cowboys and picking up a first down.

The best part of the play is No. 41 J.D. McKissic hiding behind Washington’s right guard. With the guard standing up, that made it a bit easier. McKissic did have to make the ultimate sacrifice by putting his face right in the dude’s butt. I hope he was holding his breath.

After the snap, Alex Smith sneakily handed the ball to McKissic before bailing to the left. When the defense pursued Smith, McKissic snuck out the back door and picked up enough yardage to move the chains.

Yes, it was all legal…

And, yes, NFL fans loved it…