The Sportsletter - Undefeated No More

BY JEFF YODER

OCT. 29, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Happy Friday 👋

No undefeated teams are left in the NFL after a wild finish in the desert. It’s the weekend preview. In the event of a three-game win streak, we could have a World Series champion by Monday morning.

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NFL

Packer Pick Hands Cardinals First 'L'

Photo: Christian Peterson / Getty Images

Packers End Cardinals' Undefeated Season (24-21) on Rasul Douglas’ Game-Sealing INT in End Zone

The last undefeated team in the NFL has finally fallen. After a 7-0 start, the Arizona Cardinals suffered their first loss of the year to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football (24-21). The top two NFC teams went head-to-head in the desert for a thrilling finish. Arizona stuffed Green Bay with a goal-line stand in the final minutes to get the ball back. Kyler Murray engineered a drive that went the length of the field before Packers CB Rasul Douglas iced the game with an interception in the end zone in the final seconds.

7-0 Streak Swap

As one 7-0 win streak ends, another one begins. The Cardinals began the year 7-0 before last night’s first loss, while the Packers opened the year with an embarrassing ‘L’ before reeling off seven straight.

Fun Fact: Aaron Rodgers has won 10 straight prime time games. That's the most among all quarterbacks in the last 10 seasons.

QB Comparison

A. Rodgers (GB): 22/37, 184 yards, 2 TDs

K. Murray (ARI): 22/33, 274 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs

NFC’s Top Teams

Packers (7-1)

Cardinals (7-1)

Rams (6-1)

Bucs (6-1)

Cowboys (5-1)

Watch: Packers Hand Cardinals First Loss With Thrilling INT (24-21)

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Former Cardinals Practice Squad Player Rasul Douglas Seals Victory Over Old Team

Yahoo! Sports: Cardinals Are Undefeated No More After Packers Win a Wild One in Arizona

NBA

Eastern Conference Rivalry Renewed

Photo: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Knicks Hold Off Bulls (104-103) in Early Season Showdown

It’s been a long time since both Chicago and New York fans had basketball excitement, and even longer since they had it at the same time. This year’s Knicks and Bulls look like emerging early-season contenders, and that hasn’t been the case (simultaneously) the 90s era of Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. Thursday’s clash went down to the wire before the Knicks held off a 4th-quarter comeback attempt in Chicago (104-103). Bulls’ guard DeMar DeRozan got a look at a game-winner that resulted in an airball. Each team is 4-1, but the 2021-22 season looks promising for the Eastern Conference titans of old.

Top Performers

K. Walker (NYK): 21 points

J. Randle (NYK): 13 points, 16 rebounds, 9 assists

Z. LaVine (CHI): 25 points, 6 rebounds

N. Vucevic (CHI): 22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists

Watch: Knicks Beat Bulls in Eastern Conference Thriller (104-103)

Other NBA Highlights

76ers def. Pistons (110-102)

Wizards def. Hawks (122-111)

Jazz def. Rockets (122-91)

Mavericks def. Spurs (104-99)

Grizzlies def. Warriors (104-101, OT)

Additional Storylines

B/R: Early Heat Checks for NBA’s Top 2022 Free Agents

ESPN+: The Reasons Behind Ja Morant’s Scorching Start to the 2021-22 Season

NHL

Quenneville Resigns

Photo: Elliot J. Schecter / Getty Images

Panthers Head Coach Joel Quennevile Steps Down After Involvement in Blackhawks Allegations

The Florida Panthers are off to a 7-0-0 start to the 2021-22 season, but Thursday’s loss didn’t come on the ice. Head Coach Joel Quenneville resigned after the latest reports in the Chicago Blackhawks scandal involving former player Kyle Beach in 2010. Beach reportedly suffered sexual assault by then-assistant Brad Aldrich while Quenneville coached the Blackhawks. Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, but Beach’s sexual assault incident was apparently neglected by Quenneville, who met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before stepping down.

Quenneville was one of six members of Blackhawks management who reportedly met to discuss the incident in 2010 before failing to report it. The Panthers have not yet named an interim head coach.

Additional Storylines

The Athletic: 11 Years After Failing Kyle Beach, Joel Quenneville Gets What He Deserved

WSJ: Panthers Head Coach Resigns Amid Widening Fallout Over Blackhawks’ Handling of Sexual Misconduct

THE STORYLINES

🏈  NFL Week 8 Picks

After a rough start picking games against the spread to start the season, Bleacher Report national NFL writers have collectively gotten back on track. Whether you want to fade that trend or jump on board, here are the gang's ATS picks for every game on the Week 8 schedule. (Bleacher Report)

🏒  What We Learned About Blackhawks Scandal

Speaking openly to the media for the first time following his traumatic experience, Kyle Beach recounted the aftermath of his abuse, outlining an intricate cover-up by the Blackhawks organization that coincided with an attempt to paint his claims as baseless. (Sports Illustrated)

⚾️  Little Things Make the Difference in World Series

The World Series teams, it is increasingly clear, are not so separated in terms of talent… It seems, then, that this matchup will be decided on the margins. Which team will string together the key singles and sacrifice flies? Which team will be the beneficiary of more strokes of luck? (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

Padres Hire Manager Bob Melvin Away From Athletics

(CBS Sports)

NAACP Urges Athletes Not to Sign With Texas Teams Due to Recent State Legislation

(Sports Illustrated)

NFL Increases Rooney Rule Minority Requirements to 2 Interviews

(ESPN)

NHLPA Head Donald Fehr Admits Union Failed Blackhawks’ Kyle Beach in Sexual Abuse Scandal

(Yahoo! Sports)

Brett Favre Repays $600K in Mississippi Welfare Fraud Case

(USA Today)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

It’s World Series weekend on the sports schedule with a heavy dose of must-see football action. The NBA and NHL early-season slates pick up steam, but we’ll return next week with a better outlook on who holds the cards in the Fall Classic. Enjoy!

World Series

Gm 3: Astros at Braves (Fri. 8:09 pm)

Gm 4: Astros at Braves (Sat. 8:09 pm)

Gm 5: Astros at Braves (Sun. 8:15 pm)

NFL Week 8 (Sunday)

Titans at Colts (1:00 pm)

Steelers at Browns (1:00 pm)

Bucs at Saints (4:25 pm)

Cowboys at Vikings (8:20 pm)

Full NFL Schedule

College Football (Saturday)

#6 Michigan at #8 Michigan State (12:00 pm)

#9 Iowa at Wisconsin (12:00 pm)

Texas at #16 Baylor (12:00 pm)

#1 Georgia at Florida (3:30 pm)

Texas Tech at #4 Oklahoma (3:30 pm)

#10 Ole Miss at #18 Auburn (7:00 pm)

#20 Penn State at #5 Ohio State (7:30 pm)

Full CFB Schedule

NASCAR Playoffs

Martinsville Speedway (Sun. 2:00 pm)

Full NBA Schedule

Full NHL Schedule

*All Times Eastern

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