Editor’s word: That is the Sunday, January 8 challenge of the “Recreation Day with Kevin Modesti” e-newsletter. Join right here to obtain the e-newsletter in your inbox.
Good morning. This chargers, coaches and different NFL groups are wrapping up the common season extra dramatically right this moment than ever earlier than. Let’s check out different sports activities information and see what’s at stake.
The thrilling weekend of the NFL’s common season is not like some other league. The NFL entered the ultimate spherical of video games yesterday and right this moment, with playoff docks or standings for 18 of its 32 groups (the opposite two groups are locked to seeded). In 2022, the variety of groups with one thing to play on the final day within the NBA was 11, eight within the NHL and nil within the MLB; they’ve for much longer schedules to get issues performed.
In whole, 11 of the 14 video games performed right this moment may someway have an effect on the playoff line-up, with the New England Patriots within the Buffalo-Payments, the Baltimore Ravens within the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers impacting each groups’ playoff spots.
The Payments and Bengals are taking part in for the primary time since a cardiac arrest on the sphere when Payments guard Damar Hamlin pressured them to cancel their recreation Monday evening as a result of feelings are operating excessive. Hamlin is recovering at a Cincinnati hospital and is protecting in contact together with his teammates.
A Payments win secures 2nd place on the AFC, leaving the Bengals third behind the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who gained yesterday and moved as much as #1.
Both method, a Bengals win could have the impact of serving to the Chargers.
Assured of at the very least sixth place within the AFC, the Chargers will clinch fifth place if the Ravens lose to the Bengals at 10am (Pacific time) or if the Chargers beat the Denver Broncos at 1:25am. staff pm. At quantity 5, they’d face the Jacksonville Jaguars within the first spherical of the playoffs; At quantity 6, they must face both the Payments or the Bengals.
The Chargers beat author Elliott Teaford, because the Chargers’ protection, which took again quick attacker Joey Bosa final week, be healthy and sharp proper time. Elliott analyzes matchup with Broncos here.
It is completely different for the Rams, who way back fell out of the battle to defend their Tremendous Bowl championship and will solely hope to play spoilers within the 13:25 recreation in Seattle. If the Seahawks beat the Rams and the Packers lose to the Lions tonight, they may qualify for the playoffs because the seventh – final – seed within the NFC.
Beat the Rams author Gilbert Manzano says the sport can be particularly meaningful to defender Bobby WagnerHe’s taking part in for Seattle for the primary time for the reason that Seahawks let him go and the Rams signed him out of season. Gilbert’s matching evaluation here.
The Rams ought to hope the sport would not matter some other method. Coach Sean McVay said little this week to deter speculation this might be his final Rams recreation. McVay thought-about leaving to take the job of a TV analyst after profitable the Tremendous Bowl final February, and few issues about teaching have change into extra satisfying in a dropping, injury-ridden season.
Whereas the playoffs will not embody the Rams, they may embody at the very least 5 and not more than seven groups that did not make it final season. And they’ll function three groups (the Jaguars, possibly the Pittsburgh Steelers, possibly the Lions or Packers) which have had 4 or extra video games underneath .500 in some unspecified time in the future this season.
The NFL has statistics displaying that this season’s video games have nearer finishes than ever earlier than. The season itself is about to have a tense ending, as at all times.
TODAY
- chargers Go to Denver in hopes of extending their streak to 5 video games resulting in the playoffs (13:25, Episode 2).
- coaches Finish his season in Seattle (13:25, Episode 11) by attempting to screw issues up for the Seahawks, who may make it to the playoffs with a win and a loss to the Packers.
- clippers and the Hawks are having a tough time stepping into the sport on the Crypto.com Area (18:00, BSSC).
- geese Attempt once more their first three-game profitable streak of the season as they face the NHL leaders the Bruins (17:30 BSW). duck update.
- UCLAs twelfth girls’s basketball staff of the nation face off USC Main scorers of each groups within the air (14:00, Pac12N) on the Pauley Pavilion. Preview.
- of Santa Anita 9 races (midday, FanDuel TV) function the Swaps Stakes, the beginning of the western path to the Kentucky Derby.
- Los Alamitos runs a kart for 9 races (17:00).
NEXT QUESTION
Do you might have a message for Sean McVay amid hypothesis that he might step down? coaches Coach accepting a TV supply or taking a break from the stress of your job? Share your ideas through electronic mail ([email protected]) or on Twitter (@KevinModesti).
280 CHARACTERS
“Welcome to the monitor meet.” – Kyle Goon (@KyleGoon) Watching Los Angeles’ 136-134 win at Sacramento draw the Lakers and Kings 73-73 at halftime.
1,000 WORDS
Launch angle: Chase Sexton takes an enormous leap in the direction of profitable the 450SX race on the 2023 Monster Vitality AMA Supercross held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim final evening. Picture courtesy of Will Lester of the Inland Valley Day by day Bulletin and SCNG.
LET’S TALK
Thanks for studying the e-newsletter. Ship options, feedback and questions by electronic mail at KModesti@scng.com and on Twitter @KevinModesti.
Editor’s word: Thanks for studying the “Recreation Day with Kevin Modesti” e-newsletter. Join right here to obtain the e-newsletter in your inbox.
#Chargers #Rams #NFL #Heaps #late #drama #Orange #County #Register
