The Sportsletter - Primetime Hype 🍿

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 12, 2023 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

Imagine if we had our own hype video every year when the annual sports schedule drops. Sadly, we don’t (yet) have the budget of an NFL franchise. Sorry team. The NFL schedule reveal earns today’s top story. Plus, two playoff squads are packing their bags, and the Rays are the first MLB team to 30 wins.

Don’t forget to help us improve the newsletter with a little question at the bottom of today’s edition. Also, don’t forget to get your mom something nice. Moms need hype videos, too.

Letter Rip!

NFL

NFL Schedule Hype 🍿

Image via NFL/Giphy

Primetime Slots, Strength of Schedule & The Top-20 Biggest Games for the 2023 NFL Season

It’s schedule day! The 2023 NFL schedule was released last night to set the stage for the season ahead. There’s plenty to analyze, from rematches and revenge games to strengths of schedule and more. One big surprise (or maybe not) is the Lions against the Chiefs to open the season. Jets fans were the biggest winners of the schedule release as the Aaron Rodgers effect delivered four primetime slots. And the marquee playoff squads from last season — Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Bengals, Cowboys and Bills — were blessed with at least three primetime games apiece. Sadly for four teams, there will be no primetime games in 2023 — Colts, Cardinals, Texans and Falcons. Here’s a look at the top-20 games to circle on the calendar next fall.

Season-Opener

Lions at Chiefs (Thurs. Sept. 7, 8:20 pm ET)

Holiday Games

🦃 Week 12: Packers at Lions (12:30 pm ET)

🦃 Week 12: Commanders at Cowboys (4:30 pm ET)

🦃 Week 12: 49ers at Seahawks (8:20 pm ET)

🎄 Week 16: Raiders at Chiefs (1:00 pm ET)

🎄 Week 16: Giants at Eagles (4:30 pm ET)

🎄 Week 16: Ravens at 49ers (8:15 pm ET)

Primetime Must-See Games

📺 Week 1: Bills at Jets (Monday Night Football)

📺 Week 4: Chiefs at Jets (Sunday Night Football)

📺 Week 5: Cowboys at 49ers (Sunday Night Football)

📺 Week 9: Bills at Bengals (Sunday Night Football)

📺 Week 11: Eagles at Chiefs (Monday Night Football)

📺 Week 12: Bears at Vikings (Monday Night Football)

📺 Week 14: Eagles at Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)

Other Games to Watch (Storyline)

🍿 Week 2: Jets at Cowboys (Rodgers vs. McCarthy)

🍿 Week 3: Rams at Bengals (Super Bowl LVI Rematch)

🍿 Week 8: Texans at Panthers (Top-2 Rookie QBs)

🍿 Week 8: Jets at Giants (Battle of New York)

🍿 Week 13: 49ers at Eagles (NFC Champ Rematch)

🍿 Week 16: Browns at Texans (Deshaun Watson)

🍿 Week 17: Bengals at Chiefs (AFC Champ Rematch)

Strength of Schedules (2022 Opponent Win %)

1. Eagles (.566) — Toughest

2. Dolphins (.554)

3. Giants (.549)

4. Patriots (.549)

5. Cowboys (.549)

——————————

28. Titans (.448)

29. Colts (.434)

30. Texans (.431)

31. Saints (.427)

32. Falcons (.417) — Easiest

With 272 total games, it would be impossible to deliver the entire NFL slate. Here’s a collection of links for team-by-team breakdowns so you can see your team’s schedule in 2023.

Team Schedules 🗓️

AFC North: Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers

AFC South: Texans | Colts | Titans | Jaguars

AFC East: Dolphins | Bills | Jets | Patriots

AFC West: Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers | Broncos

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Vikings | Packers

NFC South: Buccaneers | Saints | Panthers | Falcons

NFC East: Eagles | Cowboys | Giants | Commanders

NFC West: 49ers | Seahawks | Cardinals | Rams

USA Today: The Aaron Rodgers Effect: Jets QB Has Massive Impact on NFL Schedule

CBS Sports: NFL Schedule Release Shocker: Chiefs Will Host Lions in TNF Opener

Yahoo! Sports: NFL Schedule Instant Reactions: Time to Officially Buy the Lions Hype

NBA PLAYOFFS

Denver Dominates the Desert

Photo: Aaron Ontiveroz / Getty Images

Nuggets Go Nuclear on Suns, Set Records En Route to West Finals; Tatum Takes Over Late to Force Game 7 Between Celtics & 76ers

The first ticket to the conference finals has been claimed! And emphatically so… The Nuggets destroyed the Suns for the second straight game on Thursday night, this time on the road. Denver scored 81 points in 1st half, the most by a road team in NBA postseason history, and they led by 30 at the half (the biggest halftime lead in franchise postseason history). Nikola Jokic (32-10-12) statted his typical triple-double, and the Suns have officially been eliminated. In the east, it was a Jayson Tatum takeover in the 4th quarter to beat the 76ers on the road. Tatum came alive to score 16 of his 19 points in the final frame and outscore Philly in the 4th on his own (16-13). It’s the eighth time the Celtics and 76ers will play a Game 7 — the most of any matchup in NBA playoff history.

Nuggets move on. Philly-Boston going seven. The Lakers and Heat can close things out tonight in Game 6. And we’re one step closer to the NBA’s final four.

Conference Semifinals Highlights

Gm 6: Nuggets def. Suns (125-100) | DEN Wins (4-2)

Gm 6: Celtics def. 76ers (95-86) | Series Tied (3-3)

NBA Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: Knicks at Heat (7:30 pm ET) | MIA Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Warriors at Lakers (10:00 pm ET) | LAL Leads (3-2)

SI: Jayson Tatum Stares Down Elimination, Abysmal Shooting & Wills Celtics to Game 7

NHL PLAYOFFS

A Hurricane Haymaker

Photo: Josh Lavailee / Getty Images

Hurricanes Eliminate Devils on Jesper Fast’s OT Winner; Stars Shine Bright to Take Game 5 Against Kraken

A Hurricane haymaker! Carolina is the first NHL team through to the conference finals after Jesper Fast’s overtime winner to delete the Devils in Game 5. The momentous goal came 7:09 into OT and sent the home crowd into bedlam. Meanwhile in the west, the Stars won their second straight against the Kraken to flip the series. Roope Hintz (2 goals, 1 assist), Joe Pavelski (1 goal, 1 assist) and Jason Robertson (3 assists) have re-injected the star-power into Dallas. The Panthers go for the close-out tonight against the Leafs while the Oilers and Golden Knights jockey for the series lead.

Conference Semifinals Highlights

Gm 5: Hurricanes def. Devils (3-2, OT) | CAR Wins (4-1)

Gm 5: Stars def. Kraken (5-2) | DAL Leads (3-2)

NHL Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 5: Panthers at Maple Leafs (7:00 pm ET) | FLA Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Oilers at Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET) | Series Tied (2-2)

NHL: Hintz Raises Level for Stars With 3 Points in Game 5 Win

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

Watch It

⚾️ MLB

Rays Ride Rasmussen to Reach 30 Wins

Royals Beat White Sox With Walk-Off Bunt

Rookie Schmitt Makes Giants History (4-for-4, 3 RBIs)

⚽️ Soccer

Juventus Late Goal Saves Draw in Europa League

Washington Tops Orlando in NWSL Challenge Cup (4-2)

⛳️ PGA

Noh Seung-Yul Fires 11-Under 60 in Round 1 of AT&T Byron Nelson

NEWS 📰

Read It

Philadelphia Flyers Hire TV Analyst Keith Jones as Next President of Hockey Operations (ESPN)
Lakers Expect Anthony Davis to be Available for Game 6 After Head Injury (Yahoo! Sports)
Phil Mickelson Puts PGA Championship Field on Blast in Deleted Tweet (SI)
Jacksonville Jaguars Could Relocate for 2 Years as TIAA Bank Field Undergoes Renovations (CBS Sports)
Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins Questionable for Game 6 Against Lakers With Rib Injury (B/R)
NHL Suspends Darnell Nurse (Oilers) & Alex Pietrangelo (Golden Knights) for Game 5 (NBC Sports)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

The Must-Watch List

It’s one more jam-packed weekend of playoffs before we trim the fields to four in the NBA and NHL by next weekend. We'll incorporate the WNBA, French Open, PGA Championship and Indy 500 in the second half of May. Enjoy!

NBA Playoffs

Gm 6: Knicks at Heat (Fri. 7:30 pm) | MIA Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Warriors at Lakers (Fri. 10:00 pm) | LAL Leads (3-2)

Gm 7: 76ers at Celtics (Sun. TBD) | Series Tied (3-3)

*Gm 7: Lakers at Warriors (Sun. TBD)

*If Necessary

NHL Playoffs

Gm 5: Panthers at Maple Leafs (Fri. 7:00 pm) | FLA Leads (3-1)

Gm 5: Oilers at Golden Knights (Fri. 10:00 pm) | Series Tied (2-2)

Gm 6: Stars at Kraken (Sat. 7:00 pm) | DAL Leads (3-2)

Gm 6: Golden Knights at Oilers (Sun. TBD)

*Gm 6: Maple Leafs at Panthers (Sun. TBD)

*If Necessary

MLB

Yankees-Rays Series

Braves-Blue Jays Series

Mets-Nationals Series

Padres-Dodgers Series

Full MLB Schedule

Soccer Schedules

Premier League

MLS Matchday 12

NWSL Schedule

PGA Tour

AT&T Byron Nelson (All Weekend)

NASCAR

Goodyear 400 @ Darlington Raceway (Sun. 3:00 pm)

*All Times ET

POLL 📊

Question of the Day

The Sportsletter has been delivered at 7:00 am ET for multiple years. We're surveying the team to find out if there's a better time. When do you prefer to receive The Sportsletter each morning? (click to vote)

No Change (7:00 am ET)

A Little Earlier (6:30 am ET)

A Lot Earlier (6:00 am ET)

Before the Sunrise (5:30 am ET)

Yesterday we asked: Which potential NBA Finals matchup do you want to see most?

Nuggets-76ers: 30%

Lakers-Celtics: 20%

Warriors-Celtics: 18%

Knicks-Suns: 17%

Lakers-Heat: 10%

Honorable Mentions: 76ers-Lakers (3%), Warriors-Knicks (1%), Heat-Warriors (1%)

THE TEAM