The Sportsletter - Brown Down 🟠

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 19, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

First, Aaron Rodgers. Now, Nick Chubb. Two AFC teams with playoff hopes just got gut-punched in September. Let’s wrap up Week 2 in the NFL before turning the page to baseball and the return of... (drumroll, please)... the Champions League!

Letter Rip!

  NFL PICKS   

NFL Pick 'Em Leaderboard (Week 2)

Congratulations to this week’s champion in the NFL Pick ‘Em contest, Binyamin Kloor! A whopping 14/15 — and only a failed two-point attempt from the Broncos stood in the way of a perfect weekend. Binyamin, check your email later today to claim your prize.

Week 2 Leaderboard

1. Binyamin Kloor (14 Picks)

T2. Lacey Boven (13 Picks)

T2. Tushar Gandhi (13 Picks)

T4. Shanna Edwards (12 Picks)

T4. Sam Ortiz (12 Picks)

*15 players picked 12 correct games, but this week’s top-5 decision went to the tiebreaker.

The top-five players from this week are added to the playoff pool. If you haven’t won yet, don’t give up. The points reset for Week 3 ahead!

🏈 Play The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em (Week 3)

*Winner Gets $50 / Top-5 Added to Playoff Pool

  NFL   

Brown Down 🟠

Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images

Steelers & Saints Victorious in Monday Night Doubleheader, But Scary Nick Chubb Injury Clouds Browns Season

A two-piece combo meal of Monday Night Football was electric out of the gate last night, particularly in Pittsburgh where the Steelers house-called a pick-six on the first play. But even with two close games in a fun evening of football, a gruesome knee injury to Browns RB Nick Chubb was the headline. Chubb’s season is undoubtedly over, and I’d advise not watching the replay. More on that in the game recap below. By night’s end, the Saints held off Bryce Young and the Panthers, and Pittsburgh defended home turf to bounce back from an ugly Week 1. Here’s how it went down:

Monday Night Football Highlights

Saints def. Panthers (20-17)

The Saints and Panthers gave fans a lackluster offensive performance to kick things off on Monday Night Football. Aside from an amazing juggling catch from Saints WR Chris Olave, it was 6-6 on four field goals through 40-plus minutes. The Saints punched in two scores down the stretch to take a 20-9 lead in the waning moments. Rookie QB Bryce Young, in his Panthers debut, finally got things moving with a touchdown drive inside two minutes, but it was too little, too late. The Carolina growing pains are far from over (0-2), but the Saints (2-0) are off to a hot start in the Derek Carr era. New Orleans hasn’t allowed over 20 points in 10 straight regular season games.

Steelers def. Browns (26-22)

The Steelers and Browns had polar opposite Week 1 experiences, but nothing is easy in the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s Alex Highsmith returned an interception for a defensive touchdown on the first play. The Browns bounced back, but RB Nick Chubb had his left knee snapped backwards on a goal-line stand in the first half. A demoralizing blow to the Browns, but Cleveland fought back to take the lead early in the third quarter, but they were held scoreless in the final 25 minutes. Steelers’ DE T.J. Watt — after recording a sack that made him Pittsburgh’s all-time sacks leader — returned a fumble to the house for the Steeler’s second defensive TD of the game (26-22). A classic AFC North showdown ends with the Steelers’ first win (1-1), but it’s tough times ahead for the Browns (1-1).

NFL Standings (Week 2)

Read More

ESPN: Social Media Reacts to Browns RB Nick Chubb’s Knee Injury

CBS Sports: Steelers’ T.J. Watt Breaks James Harrison’s Franchise Sack Record

  MLB   

The Wright Time for #200

Photo: Joe Puetz / Getty Images

Cardinals Ace Adam Wainwright Tosses Shutout for Career Win No. 200 Weeks Before Retirement

You couldn’t script win No. 200 any better for Adam Wainwright. The 42-year-old right-hander is on his way out of baseball this season with the Cardinals outside of the playoff picture, but Monday night in St. Louis was one final feather in his cap. Waino tossed a shutout against the Brewers (1-0) with 3 Ks and 4 hits in seven innings of work to earn his 200th career win. The Georgia native spent all 18 seasons in St. Louis, helping the Cards win the World Series in 2006 and earning three all-star nods, two gold gloves and one silver slugger. He may get one or two more games before the end of an illustrious career, but he joined four other star pitchers as the fifth active player with 200-plus wins.

Active Pitchers With 200+ Wins

Justin Verlander (HOU): 255 Wins

Zack Greinke (KC): 224 Wins

Max Scherzer (TEX): 214 Wins

Clayton Kershaw (LAD): 209 Wins

Adam Wainwright (STL): 200 Wins

Waino, a shutout for No. 200 and a night to remember!

Watch: Adam Wainwright Shuts Out Brewers for 200th Win

MLB Quick-Hitters

JD Takes 2: JD Martinez hit two home runs in the Dodgers’ win over the Tigers (8-3) for their fourth straight victory. L.A. is still within striking distance (5 games) of the No. 1 seed in the NL with the Braves on a four-game skid.

Texas Trouble: In the heat of a dogfight for the the AL Wild Card, the Rangers’ struggles continue. Texas lost to the Red Sox (4-2) for their fourth consecutive loss. They’re still clinging to the third Wild Card spot by 0.5 games.

Clevinger’s Complete Game: The White Sox may be out of the playoff picture, but Mike Clevinger had himself a night in Washington D.C. when he tossed nine full frames of one-run ball with seven strikeouts against the Nationals (6-1).

  STORYLINES  

⚽️ Champions League Players to Watch

A mere 110 days after Manchester City reached the promised land in Istanbul, the road to Wembley begins with the kick off of the Champions League group stage today. Here are five of the best young players to watch. (CBS Sports)

🏈 The NFL 0-2 Panic Index

Eight teams have started off the season 0-2, hindering their playoff chances and dashing fans’ hopes. But is it time for the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and others to really freak out? Or are worries about them overblown? (The Ringer)

⚾️ Inside the HR-Crushing Braves

The Atlanta Braves have the most home runs in National League history. They have the highest slugging percentage ever in a season. They have averaged nearly two home runs per game. On pace for history, is this the greatest lineup ever assembled? (ESPN+)

  NEWS   📰 

• Chiefs & QB Patrick Mahomes Reportedly Restructure Contract With New Guaranteed Money (Sporting News)

• Tampa Bay Rays Complete New Deal for Stadium in St. Petersburg (ESPN)
• Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon ‘Angry’ With Team Following Failed Offseason Trade (B/R)
• Colorado’s 2-Way Star Travis Hunter to Miss 3 Weeks After Dirty Hit (SI)
• Ex-NFL Player Sergio Brown Missing After Mother’s Homicide (Yahoo! Sports)

• Michigan State Informs Football Coach Mel Tucker They Intend to Fire Him (FOX Sports)

• Lions Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson Feared to Have Torn Pec, Could Miss Rest of Season (CBS Sports)

• Colorado State Football Player Receives Death Threats for Dirty Hit on Travis Hunter (ESPN)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

The Must-Watch List

⚽️ UEFA Champions League (Group Stage)

AC Milan vs. Newcastle (12:45 pm ET)

Lazio vs. Atletico Madrid (3:00 pm ET)

Manchester City vs. Red Star Belgrade (3:00 pm ET)

PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund (3:00 pm ET)

Full Champions League Schedule

⚾️ MLB

Twins at Reds (6:40 pm ET)

Blue Jays at Yankees (7:05 pm ET)

Phillies at Braves (7:20 pm ET)

Red Sox at Rangers (8:05 pm ET)

Orioles at Astros (8:10 pm ET)

Giants at Diamondbacks (9:40 pm ET)

Full MLB Schedule

🏀 WNBA Playoffs

Gm 2: Mystics at Liberty (7:00 pm ET)

*NYL Leads Series (1-0)

Gm 2: Dream at Wings (9:00 pm ET)

*DAL Leads Series (1-0)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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