The GIST - The NFL playoff field is set
From The Gist Team
Happy Monday!
And happy College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship day. ICYMI, yesterdayâs Scroll previewed the big matchup ahead of tonightâs 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. While you wait, todayâs newsletter is filled with pro football updates, plus a whole lot more. Get your game face, and your scroll, on.
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Quote of the Day |
Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as muchâŚthankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed. This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me! đŤśđż3ď¸
â Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, in his first social media post since suffering a cardiac arrest during a game last week. Hamlin is now breathing on his own and watched his team win (and the NFL spread the love) from the hospital yesterday. |
The Latest |
đ NFL Week 18: Go on and take a bow
The GIST: The first NFL weekend since Hamlinâs injury (and last of the regular season) was filled with emotional scenes, heartfelt tributes and stunning plays en route to deciding the 14-team playoff field.
- Hereâs whoâs sitting at the top and who squeaked into the postseason after a thrilling 48 hours of football.
AFC: The Kansas City Chiefs (literally) ran circles around the Las Vegas Raiders, posting a 31â13 Saturday rout to lock in the No. 1 seed and a crucial first-round bye. Then the Jacksonville Jaguars went from worst team in the NFL last year to AFC South champs (and the No. 4 seed) with a 20â16 win vs. the Tennessee Titans. Talk about a glow up.
- Elsewhere, the Miami Dolphins are the last team in, thanks to their 11â6 snoozefest win over the NY Jets and the New England Patriots throwing away their shot with a 35â23 loss to the now No. 2 seed Bills.
NFC: The Philadelphia Eagles did their job against the NY Giants, hanging on for a 22â16 win to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And in true dramatic fashion, the final playoff berth came down to the final regular-season game.
- The Seattle Seahawks miraculously nabbed the No. 7 seed after their 19â16 overtime win vs. the LA Rams and the Green Bay Packersâ 20â16 Sunday Night Football loss to the Detroit Lions. New life in Seattle, and maybe the end of an era in Green Bay?
Looking ahead: There will be plenty more postseason deets in our full preview later this week, but the next few days will likely be about the teams who didnât make it. Today is known as âBlack Monday,â when eliminated squads often cut ties with their lackluster head coaches (HC).
- The Houston Texans wasted no time, firing HC Lovie Smith yesterday after he went a dismal 3-13-1 (wins, losses, ties).
- Other names on the hot seat? Arizona Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury, who posted a 4-13 record and Indianapolis Colts interim HC Jeff Saturday, who went 1-7 after controversially taking over the team in Week 10. As if Mondays werenât tough enoughâŚ
Quick Hits |
đż Skiing
Somebody call Taylor Swift because American skier Mikaela Shiffrin was gleaming and twinkling after tying the legendary Lindsey Vonnâs World Cup win record with her 82nd career victory in Slovenia on Sunday. All thatâs left to do is break it. Shiffrin will have a shot when she hits the slopes in Austria tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET.
âž MLB
Content warning: The following contains mention of sexual assault.
On Friday, the LA Dodgers officially parted ways with pitcher Trevor Bauer, who recently had his league suspension shockingly reduced after being accused of sexual assault. Bauer will be eligible to sign with any team as a free agent starting on Friday.
- And while itâs infuriating to imagine him continuing to pitch professionally, as disgraced Cleveland Browns quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson recently showed us, talent sadly often trumps morality in pro sports.
đž Tennis
Eighteen-year-old American phenom Coco Gauff beat Spainâs Viktoria Masarova in yesterdayâs ASB Classic final, marking Gauffâs first WTA hard court title win since she was 15. Not to mention, she was dominant â Gauff didnât drop a set throughout the entire tournament. Australian Open, here she comes.
đđ¤¸ââď¸ NCAA womenâs gymnastics
This weekendâs first meets of the season did not disappoint. No. 2 Floridaâs Trinity Thomas posted the yearâs first perfect 10 â the 21st (!!!) of her career â on the beam at Fridayâs home opener, and No. 5 Auburnâs Sunisa Lee did the same in Vegas on Saturday.
- But Fridayâs Super 16 Vegas first session made history, with the sportâs first-ever HBCU team, the Fisk Bulldogs, making their debut. Five-star recruit Morgan Price dazzled with a massive 9.9 statement vault. Flip yeah.
đ§ Monday mindset
The GIST: So much of success in sports comes down to winning the mental game. When you feel better, you play better. Simple as that. Vagisil understands that and wants to help you start the week feeling comfortable and confident.
The reset: Vagisil is getting all of our heads in the game with some Monday morning mantras. Try these mood boosters on for size:
- I love who I am.
- I'm allowed to take up space.
- My voice matters.
- My vulva is beautiful.
- I belong in sports!
The relief: How did that feel? Ready to take on the week? Keep the good vibes rolling by shopping Vagisilâs personal care products. Vulva-va-voom.
Early Week Watching |
đđ CFP National Championship: No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs â Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET â ESPN
- So nice we had to say it twice. The Bulldogs are trying to become the first back-to-back champs since the CFPâs inception in 2014, while the Horned Frogs are making their first CFP appearance ever. A true David vs. Goliath matchup â who ya got?
đ NBA: LA Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets â Tonight at 9 p.m. ET â NBA League Pass
- Grab some popcorn because watching the Lakersâ LeBron James take on two-time reigning MVP Nikola JokiÄ is going to be a treat. More intrigue? Denver leads the Western Conference, but LA is on a five-game win streak.
đđ NCAA womenâs basketball: No. 14 Michigan vs. Purdue â Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET â BTN
- Fresh off a tight high-scoring loss to No. 16 Iowa, the Michigan Wolverines will be on the prowl for Big Ten vengeance against the Boilermakers, who havenât beat a ranked squad all season.
The GIST's Picks |
đž Whoâs sitting out
Tennis greats Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, who all withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open due to various injuries. Say it ainât so.
đ What to read
This article by Dr. CĂŠline Gounder correcting disinformation spread about the passing of her late husband, beloved soccer journalist Grant Wahl.
đ What to make
These delicious football cake pops, before heading to your watch party for tonightâs CFP championship game. Trust us, theyâre sure to score some smiles.
đ§ What to subscribe to
The Daily Upside. Are you as tired of reading sensationalized headlines as the Chicago Bears are of losing football games? Then sign up here to receive free, daily news stories straight to your inbox, without the nonsense. Touchdown.
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Sunday Scroll: Everything you need to know about the CFP Championship
Sunday, January 8, 2023
Georgia's defending champ 'Dawgs vs. TCU's Under-Frogs
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