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Good Morning 👋
It’s a beautiful day for a mid-week edition. The weekly NFL Power Rankings get a little easier after three games. The Dolphins have scored 130 points — as many as the Jets, Giants and Titans combined — so they did our job for us. Mike McDaniel is a true man of the people.
And if you haven’t learned how to pronounce it yet, it’s time to start… Tua (too-uh) Tagovailoa (tung-oh-vy-low-uh). It’s the missing ’n’ that’ll get you. Or, you can try his full name: Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa. For now, his initials (TT) can just stand for ‘Ten Touchdowns.’ Letter Rip! |
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The Sportsletter's NFL Pick 'Em |
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Image: Joe Stella / Media Mobilize |
Dolphins Splash to No. 1, But Underdog-Heavy Weekend Shakes Up Tier 3
There’s no surprise who the top-3 teams are in this week’s NFL Power Rankings. They’re the same virtually everywhere you look — Dolphins, 49ers and Eagles. All three are undefeated, but Miami’s 70-point super-blowout on Sunday vaulted them to No. 1 in every poll across the world. The Cowboys fell from the top spot after just one week due to a loss against our previously 32nd-ranked team, and that was just the tip of the iceberg for underdogs in Week 3. The Cardinals, Colts, Texans, Patriots and Steelers all made moves up the board this week. And as we come to the end of September, we uncover a little more about the 2023 NFL outlook.
Undefeated Teams (3-0): Dolphins, 49ers, Eagles Winless Teams (0-3): Vikings, Panthers, Bears, Broncos In the Super Bowl Era: Only six teams have reached the playoffs after starting 0-3, and only one has done it in the last 25 years (Texans, 2018). Teams that start 0-3 have roughly a 1% chance of making the postseason. On the flip side, teams that start 3-0 go on to reach the playoffs 74% of the time. Those teams actually reach the Super Bowl at a 27% rate. Winning it all? -- 14%. Vegas Odds: After Week 3, a Dolphins-49ers Super Bowl is the favorite for oddsmakers, but there’s a lot of drama left between now and February.
NFL Power Rankings (Week 4) 1. Dolphins (3-0) | ↑3 2. 49ers (3-0) | — 3. Eagles (3-0) | — 4. Chiefs (2-1) | ↑1 5. Bills (2-1) | ↑2 6. Cowboys (2-1) | ↓5 7. Ravens (2-1) | ↓1 8. Seahawks (2-1) | ↑1 9. Lions (2-1) | ↑1 10. Browns (2-1) | ↑4
Teams 11-20 11. Chargers (1-2) | ↑7 12. Packers (2-1) | ↑5 13. Saints (2-1) | ↓5 14. Bengals (1-2) | ↑5 15. Rams (1-2) | ↓3 16. Falcons (2-1) | ↓5 17. Steelers (2-1) | ↑4 18. Patriots (1-2) | ↑6 19. Buccaneers (2-1) | ↓4 20. Jaguars (1-2) | ↓7
Teams 21-32 21. Colts (2-1) | ↑6 22. Texans (1-2) | ↑9 23. Jets (1-2) | ↓7
24. Cardinals (1-2) | ↑8 25. Commanders (2-1) | ↓3 26. Vikings (0-3) | ↓3 27. Titans (1-2) | ↓7
28. Raiders (1-2) | ↓4 29. Giants (1-2) | ↓3 30. Panthers (0-3) | ↓1 31. Broncos (0-3) | ↓4
32. Bears (0-3) | ↓2 Read More
ESPN: NFL Week 4 Power Rankings: How All 32 Teams Stack Up
Yahoo! Sports: NFL Power Rankings: Where Bears Stand After Being Obliterated
SportsNaut: Week 4 Power Rankings: Dolphins Soar to Top, Vikings & Jets Plummet
NFL: Week 4 Power Rankings: Prolific Dolphins Hit No. 1 Spot, Browns & Packers Crack Top-10 |
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Silly in Philly: A Walk Off... & In 🙌 |
Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images |
Phillies Clinch Playoff Berth With Walk-Off Win Over the Pirates (3-2, 10 Innings), And They’re Right Back in Playoff Underdog Mode
It was last October when the Philadelphia Phillies stormed through the postseason as baseball’s great playoff underdog story and nearly won the World Series. After a season of ups and downs, this team knew they just needed to get in and they could cause mayhem again. Mission accomplished. The Phillies etched their name on the playoff bracket as the first NL Wild Card team in a stacked race, and it happened at home via walk-off single from Johan Rojas. The Phillies beat the Pirates (3-2, 10 innings) on Rojas’ base-knock up the middle that scored Cristian Pache from 2nd base. An eruption of Citizens Bank Park came next. Likely locked as the lurking No. 4 seed in the NL bracket, Philly can now turn their gaze to another postseason run for the ages.
Watch: Phillies Clinch Playoff Berth on 10th-Inning Walk-Off Single from Johan Rojas |
Crew Clinch Central Crown: The Brewers may have lost to the Cardinals on Tuesday (4-1), but losses in the division made their NL Central title official. Milwaukee had already clinched a playoff spot. It’s their third division crown in six seasons.
Walker’s Big Night: The Diamondbacks dominated the White Sox (15-4) to inch ever closer to an NL Wild Card spot, and they did it with big help from the bat of Christian Walker (2 HRs, 6 RBIs).
Cubs Lose on Costly Error: The Cubs lost a tight one in Atlanta (7-6) on a critical error from Seiya Suzuki in right field. Suzuki’s missed catch in the 8th allowed two runs for the Braves and brought a disorienting loss for Chicago on a night where the Reds and D-backs both won. The NL Wild Card is as tight as it gets.
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American League
East: Orioles (98-59)* West: Rangers (88-69) Central: Twins (84-73)*
Wild Card 1: Rays (96-62)* Wild Card 2: Blue Jays (87-70) Wild Card 3: Astros (86-71)
Out: Mariners (84-72) National League East: Braves (101-56)*
West: Dodgers (97-60)* Central: Brewers (88-69)* Wild Card 1: Phillies (88-69)*
Wild Card 2: Diamondbacks (83-74) Wild Card 3: Cubs (82-75) Out: Marlins (81-75)
Out: Reds (81-77) Out: Padres (78-80) Out: Giants (78-80)
*Clinched Playoffs |
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Stewy Gets MVP, Liberty Get Back on Track |
Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images |
Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 WNBA MVP on Night Liberty Even Series; Aces Take 2-0 Lead
On a night where Breanna Stewart was named WNBA MVP, her Liberty scored a crucial Game 2 win to even the semifinals against the Sun. Stewart claimed the second MVP award of her career in the closest WNBA MVP race ever recorded, narrowly beating out Alyssa Thomas and reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson. All three were in action on Tuesday (we’ll get to that in a moment), but Stewart’s MVP comes after averaging 23 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and breaking the WNBA’s all-time single-season scoring record. Here’s the voting breakdown:
2023 WNBA MVP Voting 1. B. Stewart (NYL): 446 points (20 1st-Place Votes)
2. A. Thomas (CON): 439 points (23 1st-Place Votes) 3. A. Wilson (LV): 433 points (17 1st-Place Votes) Doesn't get much closer than that! Now, the games... |
Gm 2: #2 Liberty def. #3 Sun (84-77)
On the court, following Stewy’s MVP ceremony, the Liberty got off to a slow start and looked dangerously close to falling down 0-2 to the Sun. Connecticut’s Tiffany Hayes (30 points, five 3s) caught fire, but New York rallied to outscore the Sun by 11 in the second half. Stewy finished with 11-11-5 to cap off her special night, but Sabrina Ionescu led the way with 21 points. It’s all square in the best-of-5. Series Tied (1-1) Gm 2: #1 Aces def. #4 Wings (91-84)
Game 2 in Las Vegas may have been the backbreaker for the Dallas Wings. Vegas held Dallas at arm’s length throughout Game 2 before a furious 4th-quarter comeback that saw the Wings pull within five. Aces star A’ja Wilson (30 points, 11 rebounds) scored 30 for her second straight game in the series. No one has ever scored 30 in three straight games in WNBA Playoffs history. She can set that mark on Friday when the Aces go for the closeout in Dallas. LV Leads Series (2-0)
Game 3s (Friday) #2 Liberty at #3 Sun (7:30 pm ET) #1 Aces at #4 Wings (9:30 pm ET) Read More
ESPN: With ‘Different Mentality,’ Liberty Win to Knot Series
Yahoo! Sports: Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 WNBA MVP Award in 3-Way Battle With Thomas & Wilson |
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🏈 The NFL’s Most Unstoppable Play
The most unstoppable play in the NFL was on full display under the brights lights Monday night. When the Philadelphia Eagles need a yard, it’s automatic. The ‘Tush Push’ has been widely criticized, but it’s demoralizing defenses in short yardage. (FOX Sports)
⛳️ Ranking Every Player in the Ryder Cup
The best players in the world will be teeing it up over three days, starting Friday, when the U.S. team will try to end a 30-year drought on foreign soil. Here's a look at the golfers who will compete in the 44th Ryder Cup, ranking them from first to 24th. (ESPN)
⚾️ Ohtani’s Silence is Maddening
Ohtani last spoke to the media on Aug. 9 — nearly seven weeks ago. At the time, the Angels had a .500 record, and Ohtani still had an intact UCL. The most intriguing person in baseball is about to enter his most intriguing offseason. The Angels are on edge. (Yahoo! Sports) |
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Tonight's Must-Watch List |
⚾️ MLB Diamondbacks at White Sox (2:10 pm ET) Reds at Guardians (6:10 pm ET) Marlins at Mets (7:10 pm ET) Cubs at Braves (7:20 pm ET) Rangers at Angels (9:38 pm ET)
Astros at Mariners (9:40 pm ET) *All Games With Playoff Implications
⚽️ Soccer Carabao Cup: Newcastle vs. Man. City (3:00 pm ET)
US Open Cup: Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo (8:30 pm ET) Campeones Cup: LAFC vs. Tigres UANL (11:00 pm ET)
Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar |
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