The Sportsletter - Pack on Track 🧀

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 21, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Good Morning,

If any doubters wanted to write off Aaron Rodgers after Week 1, pack that thought. A little Tuesday cheese for the cheeseheads...

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NFL

Pack on Track 🧀

Photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images

Packers Thump Lions Behind Aaron Rodgers & Aaron Jones (35-17) to Bounce Back From Week 1 Blowout

One week after everyone destroyed the Packers for their three-point outing in Week 1, Aaron Rodgers and company scored 21 unanswered in the second half to blow out the Lions in Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football (35-17). Rodgers was stellar, completing 81 percent of his passes as he shredded Detroit (0-2) down the stretch. He tossed four TDs, including three to RB Aaron Jones. Green Bay (1-1) may have looked ugly in their 38-3 loss to the Saints in the opener, but never count out Rodgers.

QB Comparison

A. Rodgers (GB): 22/27, 255 yards, 4 TDs

J. Goff (DET): 26/34, 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Other Top Performers

RB A. Jones (GB): 23 touches, 115 total yards, 4 TDs

WR D. Adams (GB): 8 receptions, 121 yards

Watch: Rodgers, Jones & Packers Blow Out Lions on MNF (35-17)

NFC North Standings

Packers (1-1)

Bears (1-1)

Lions (0-2)

Vikings (0-2)

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Rodgers, Jones & Packers Get Things Righted Against Lions

SI: Aaron Jones Wore Chain With Father’s Ashes During MNF, Loses Them During TD

MLB

Cards Cruise to 9th Straight

Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

St. Louis Takes Control of NL Wild Card Race Behind Jon Lester’s 200th Win

Make it nine straight for the birds on the bat! The Cardinals cruised to a 5-2 win over the NL Central-leading Brewers on Monday night behind Jon Lester’s 200th career win. The 37-year-old pitcher went six innings and allowed just three hits and two runs in a milestone game. St. Louis (80-69) just surged from a Wild Card hopeful to a three-game lead over the Reds (78-73) with 13 games to play. The Padres (76-73), Phillies (76-74) and Mets (73-77) are still in the hunt, but the Cards hold all the cards to the NL Wild Card race.

Watch: Cardinals Streak Hits 9 in Lester’s 200th Win

MLB Quick-Hitters

Salvy’s Catcher HR Record: It was only a matter of time. Royals catcher Salvador Perez went yard in the 5th inning last night for his 46th homer of the season to set the single-season catcher record. Johnny Bench (45) held the previous record. The Royals beat the Indians (4-2).

MVP Up for Grabs: Shohei Ohtani (Angels) looked like the clear-cut MVP favorite for most of the season, but a recent slump has put the award up for grabs. Both the AL and NL MVP races are tightening down the stretch.

Votto Smashes 2 HRs: The Reds kept pace in the Wild Card race with a 9-5 win over the Pirates thanks to Joey Votto’s two-homer game on Monday night. The 38-year-old slugger continues his renaissance season with his 32nd and 33rd home runs.

WNBA

The WNBA Playoffs Primer

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

WNBA Playoffs Begin Thursday (Sept. 23) With Seeds 5-8 in Single Elimination Rounds

The WNBA regular season concluded over the weekend with a wild finish for the 8-seed. The New York Liberty (12-20) grabbed the final spot in the postseason on the final day thanks to a tiebreaker and losses by the L.A. Sparks (12-20) and Washington Mystics (12-20). The W’s playoff format is unique, and it starts with two single-elimination rounds before two best-of-five series between the final four teams. Here’s a look at what’s to come in the next month to crown a WNBA champion.

WNBA Playoff Bracket & Format

Round 1: Single Elimination

#6 Sky v. #7 Wings (Thurs. 8:00 pm ET)

#5 Mercury vs. #8 Liberty (Thurs. 10:00 pm ET)

Round 2: Single Elimination

#3 Lynx vs. Lower Seed (Sun. TBD)

#4 Storm vs. Higher Seed (Sun. TBD)

Semi-Finals: Best-of-5 Series

#1 Sun vs. Lower Seed (Begins Tues. Sept. 28)

#2 Aces vs. Higher Seed (Begins Tues. Sept. 28)

Finals: Begins Sun. Oct. 10

Full WNBA Playoff Bracket & Schedule

Additional Storylines

WNBA.com: Inside the W: Postseason Awards

ESPN: Liberty, Just 2-20 a Season Ago, Clinch Playoff Spot With Sparks & Mystics Losses

THE STORYLINES

🏀  50 Need-to-Knows About College Hoops

The 2021-22 men's college basketball season will be about a lot more than just the farewell tour of Mike Krzyzewski. Games begin in 50 days, so here are 50 things to know about the 2021-2022 season. (CBS Sports)

⚾️  The MLB Playoff Push

There are just two weeks to go in the 2021 MLB regular season. Which teams have the most at stake? Which end-of-season storylines aren't getting as much attention as they deserve? In short: How will it all shake out as September turns into October? (ESPN)

🏈  Buy or Sell: The NFL’s 2-0 Teams

Sunday was wild and wonky, and it featured some upsets the oddsmakers were happy to see. After the dust settled, there are multiple 2-0 teams that have exceeded expectations and a couple of 0-2 teams that carried much higher expectations into the season. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Buccaneers Reach Out to Veteran CB Richard Sherman to Help Struggling Secondary

(Yahoo! Sports)

Texans Won’t Activate QB Deshaun Watson Despite Tyrod Taylor’s Injury

(ESPN)

Half-Marathon Winner Disqualified After Running Wrong Race Course

(SI)

Nation’s Top Center Dereck Lively II Commits to Duke Basketball in 2022 Class

(USA Today)

Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy Blames Stadium Timekeeper for Clock Management Issue in Week 2

(CBS Sports)

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