Ravens crush Payments to cap wild NFL weekend; inside Georgia vs. Alabama; MLB playoff discipline practically full

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🏈 The Soccer 5

1. The 4-0 Vikings simply maintain going. Sam Darnold tossed three landing passes and Minnesota held on for a 31-29 win over the Packers. The Vikings additionally picked off Jordan Love 3 times (although he threw 4 touchdowns) in his return from a knee damage. Minnesota is certainly one of Cody Benjamin’s Week 4 winners. In the meantime, Packers coach Matt LaFleur was “absolutely embarrassed.”
2. The Chiefs are additionally 4-0, having defeated the Chargers, 17-10, however Kansas Metropolis was dealt a setback within the course of: Star huge receiver Rashee Rice is feared to have torn his ACL, a devastating blow. This is how Okay.C. can try to move forward.
3. The Steelers fell from the undefeated ranks with a 27-24 loss to the Colts, although Justin Fields had a huge game and Anthony Richardson (hip) left early and didn’t return. Ageless surprise Joe Flacco was terrific in Richardson’s stead. Minkah Fitzpatrick, in the meantime, had pointed words in regards to the officiating.
4. Todd Bowles‘ domination of Jalen Hurts continued because the Buccaneers thumped the Eagles, 33-16. Tampa Bay sacked Hurts six instances, and Baker Mayfield threw for 347 yards and had three complete touchdowns. Brandon Graham called a team meeting after the loss. Yikes.
5. Additionally yikes: Jacksonville. C.J. Stroud threw a 1-yard landing to Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds left because the Texans beat the Jaguars, 24-20. The Jags are 0-4, and changes could be coming. There was a bad beat, too.

🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE BALTIMORE RAVENS …

From the very first offensive snap — Derrick Henry‘s franchise-record 87-yard touchdown — the Ravens got here to dominate. This time, they made positive that effort continued all through. Baltimore walloped the beforehand unbeaten Payments 35-10 in a complete performance.

• Lamar Jackson threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for an additional, and Henry ran for 199 yards and had two scores.
• Justice Hill confirmed it is not simply these two within the backfield. He had 96 complete yards and a rating, and I really like his ability set as a complement to Henry’s.
• Early MVP frontrunner Josh Allen had his first touchdown-less recreation since November of 2021.

Baltimore blew an enormous lead in opposition to the Raiders in Week 2 and practically blew an enormous lead in opposition to the Cowboys in Week 3. It appeared it would occur once more: The primary three drives of the second half had been Baltimore three-and-outs sandwiching a Buffalo landing. Buffalo was driving once more, down 21-10, earlier than Kyle Van Noy made an unbelievable strip sack on Allen. Buffalo by no means threatened once more, and Baltimore, after an 0-2 begin, as soon as once more seems among the many cream of the NFL crop.

… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS

The phrase “all-timer” will get thrown round haphazardly. Not each nice recreation is an all-timer.

However this one? This one, my pals, was an all-timer.

Alabama beat Georgia, 41-34, in a heavyweight battle for the ages with probably the greatest finishes I’ve ever seen.

• After main 28-0 early and 30-7 at halftime, Alabama’s offense stalled out, and Georgia’s received going.
• Trailing 33-28, Georgia received the ball again with below three minutes left, and Carson Beck discovered Dillon Bell on the primary play of the drive to place the Bulldogs in entrance, 34-33.
• One play later, Jalen Milroe discovered Ryan Williams for a 75-yard landing on a play I cannot stop watching. The catch. The stability. The notice. The physique management. The strikes. The pace. The the whole lot. And Williams is 17 years outdated!!! Is he the next Julio Jones?
• Beck received another probability, however Zabien Brown, a real freshman similar to Williams, picked off a soar ball in the long run zone.

This is John Talty’s excellent column from Tuscaloosa.

If anybody thought the 12-team School Soccer Playoff would wreck the game, suppose once more. When Beck discovered Bell to provide Georgia the lead, nobody thought, “Who cares?” When Williams jumped and juked and scored to provide Alabama the lead again one play later, nobody thought, “That is meaningless.” And when Brown picked off Beck to finish it, nobody yawned and went straight to mattress, coronary heart price having remained regular all evening.

No, this one meant one thing. Georgia’s margin for error narrowed, and it nonetheless has Texas, Ole Miss and Tennessee on its schedule. Not each recreation ought to really feel do-or-die. However would anybody object to seeing that recreation again … and again?

The brand new playoff leaves open the prospect for extra all-timers. Each fan ought to embrace that.

This is extra:

👍 Honorable mentions

⚾ And never such a superb morning for …

THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX

The White Sox set the record for most losses in a season in modern MLB history, finishing 41-121. The 1962 Mets misplaced 120, so it actually got here right down to the wire; Chicago really gained 5 of its final six video games.

This is extra on the season that can stay on in infamy …

Possibly subsequent yr! (however most likely not) (and doubtless not quickly)

👎 Not so honorable mentions

⚾ MLB playoffs practically set: Mets-Braves doubleheader to find out NL discipline

Because the late Ernie Banks would have stated: “It is an excellent day for a ball recreation. Let’s play two.”

I’ll add: “And discover out the final two playoff spots!”

With all different groups having accomplished their common seasons Sunday, the Mets and the Braves will play a doubleheader today to determine the second and third NL Wild Card spots after Hurricane Helene postponed two of their meetings final week.

It isn’t simply the Mets and the Braves who’ve a lot at stake. The Diamondbacks can be paying shut consideration, too. This is why:

• Mets win each video games: Mets No. 5 seed, Diamondbacks No. 6 seed, Braves eradicated
• Braves win each video games: Braves No. 5 seed, Diamondbacks No. 6 seed, Mets eradicated
• Braves, Mets cut up video games: Braves No. 5 seed, Mets No. 6 seed, Diamondbacks eradicated

Issues weren’t as dramatic within the AL. The Tigers clinched a playoff spot on Friday, as did the Royals. Each symbolize magical turnarounds: Detroit bought on the commerce deadline and was 10 video games again of the wild card on Aug. 10 earlier than successful 31 of its subsequent 42. Kansas Metropolis is simply the second crew to make the playoffs one yr after a 100-loss season.

So … in any case of that … The playoffs are (nearly) set:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• Bye: No. 1 Yankees and No. 2 Guardians
• Wild Card: No. 6 Royals at No. 3 Astros (winner performs Guardians)
• Wild Card: No. 5 Tigers at No. 4 Orioles (winner performs Yankees)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

• Bye: No. 1 Dodgers and No. 2 Phillies
• Wild Card: No. 6 TBD at No. 3 Brewers (winner performs Phillies)
• Wild Card: No. 5 TBD at No. 4 Padres (winner performs Dodgers)

⛳ U.S. wins tenth consecutive Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is staying with the US, however this time, it meant somewhat further for the clinching participant. The U.S. beat the International team 18½-11½, with Keegan Bradley fittingly earning the clinching point with a 1UP win over Si Woo Kim. It is the Individuals’ tenth straight Presidents Cup victory and the biggest win by an away crew within the occasion’s historical past.

Bradley received left off final yr’s Ryder Cup crew in controversial, heartbreaking vogue and hadn’t performed on a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup crew since 2014. He’ll be the Ryder Cup captain subsequent yr. However he received to experience off into the sundown as a U.S. participant (possibly) on an emotional excessive.

It wasn’t at all times such a blowout. The U.S. swept Thursday’s session 5-0 earlier than the Internationals swept again on Friday. However the U.S. gained each of Saturday’s classes 3-1, establishing for a comparatively easy Sunday, when the U.S. took 4½ factors within the first six contests.

As for standouts, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay all went 4-1-0 on the week, and Sam Burns went 3-0-1.

Credit score the Worldwide crew for bringing a ton of vitality (Si Woo Kim imitated Stephen Curry‘s “Night Night” celebration) and making issues fascinating heading into the weekend. Credit score the U.S. for quelling the risk in masterful vogue.

🏀 Liberty, Solar win semifinal Recreation 1s

Breanna Stewart made a press release early: This is not final yr. Stewart scored 34 points because the Liberty beat the Aces, 87-77 in Recreation 1 of their semifinal sequence, a rematch of final season’s WNBA Finals.

Stewart did a little bit of the whole lot en path to her sixth profession playoff 30-pointer, tied with Angel McCoughtry for second all-time.

Within the nightcap, the Solar eked out a 73-70 win over the Lynx, with Alyssa Thomas (17 factors, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) narrowly lacking out on a triple-double … however making two big pictures late.

Additionally over the weekend, the WNBA gave out more awards.

🏀 Knicks purchase Karl-Anthony Cities in beautiful blockbuster

Simply after we thought the coast was clear, the NBA delivered one other bombshell. The Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Cities from the Timberwolves, a surprising deal weeks earlier than the season begins. Here are the details:

• Knicks purchase: Karl-Anthony Cities
• Timberwolves purchase: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, 2025 top-13-protected first-round choose (through Pistons)
• Hornets purchase: DaQuan Jeffries, wage, draft compensation

Cities is an unbelievable expertise, an all-time nice shooter who will be an offensive fulcrum … all at 7 ft tall. He does not match typical Tom Thibodeau‘s favored scrappy, tireless defender archetype, however Sam Quinn gave New York and Minnesota strong marks in his trade grades.

• Quinn: “Knicks: B+: He isn’t only a good shooter. He’s, by nearly any statistical measure, the best shooter ever to play the middle place. Having that caliber of capturing out of an enormous man adjustments the whole lot. … Timberwolves: B+: Anthony Edwards has an opportunity to be the perfect participant on the earth … If sacrificing Cities is what it takes to make sure Edwards has a long-term contender round him, then it was worthwhile.”

This is extra:

📺 What we’re watching Monday

⚾ Mets at Braves, 1:10 p.m. on ESPN2
⚾ Mets at Braves, 4:40 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Titans at Dolphins, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Seahawks at Lions, 8:15 p.m. on ABC