WEEKEND WRAP-UP

WEEKEND WRAP-UP

 

This weekend was certainly filled with drama and action both on the diamond and the gridiron. Teams in both baseball and college football saw their postseason chances fade away and the playoff races in baseball have become slightly clearer.

The Yankees and Braves were embarrassed on the road and can say goodbye to the postseason barring a miracle the likes of which has never been seen based on their horrific offensive outputs. Clayton Kershaw all but locked up both the NL Cy Young and NL MVP awards with his 19th win of the season. Teammate Adrian Gonzalez went on the record to say that anyone who doesn’t think Kershaw deserves both awards is an idiot. Strong words but I have to agree with Gonzalez. The Oakland A’s continued their second half downfall and are lucky that Toronto and Cleveland aren’t very good otherwise they would be playing golf come postseason play. While the Braves were watching their postseason hopes wash down the drain, the Nationals beat up on the Mets in their home away from home Citi Field. The Nationals have run over the Mets in Flushing and make the huge Citi Field play small with their power outbursts.

In college football Virginia Tech and USC both suffered defeats at the hands of less talented opponents. Both teams were coming off the highs of huge road upsets and just didn’t have enough to get it done. Oregon continues to look like the best team in the country (sorry Florida State fans) and should have no problem locking up a spot in the four team playoff. Georgia and South Carolina not only played in the game of the day but a game for the ages. Big plays, heartbreaking penalties, and bad weather; This game had everything you could ask for as a fan.

In the NFL there were two major surprises this week. The Bills dominated the Dolphins in front of a raucous and electric crowd to move into sole possession of first place in the AFC East. The other surprise was Drew Brees and the Saints falling to the Browns, giving them a record of 0-2. The team that beat New Orleans in Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons fell victim to the Cincinnati Bengals who could very well be the best team in the league outside of Seattle and Denver. Speaking of Seattle and Denver, they will meet in a Super Bowl rematch this Sunday in Seattle and with the Seahawks coming off a loss to the Chargers, I would not want to be Peyton Manning and that Denver offense. The Jets almost were able to pull off a huge upset in Green Bay but thanks to TimeoutGate, they once again find a way to shoot themselves in the foot. Finally, on Sunday night the 49ers hosted the Chicago Bears in the first regular season game in their new stadium. Early on the 49ers looked dominant and ready to blow out the Bears but some timely penalties and a Bears squad that looked like it woke up after Cutler took a huge hit to the sternum turned things around and came away with a victory. Chicago really had no business winning that game but they showed a lot of heart and toughness, especially Cutler after taking that big hit and both Marshall and Jeffery for playing through injury. There are a lot of good games on the docket next week and all I can say after two weeks is this….Thank God football is back.