The Sportsletter - Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood

BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 13, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

Week 14 had milestones, injuries and overtime thrillers, and it also had the Bears getting owned again in Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood. Plus, the Heisman Trophy, an MLS Cup that needed PKs and a 51-point night for Kevin Durant headlined the weekend. Let’s get caught up in just a few minutes.

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 14: Rodgers Still Owns the Bears

Photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images

Aaron Rodgers Tosses 4 TDs as Packers Beat Bears in a Shootout (45-30)

Sunday of Week 14 in the NFL saw a number of high-scoring affairs, but Packers QB Aaron Rodgers gets the headline after hanging four TDs and 45 points on the Bears in the Sunday Night Football rivalry game. In his first matchup against Chicago since the famous “I own you” game, Rodgers was nearly perfect (29/37, 341 yards, 4 TDs) while he fed WR Davante Adams (10 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TDs). Green Bay (10-3) currently holds the 2-seed in the NFC, but a loss from the Cardinals (10-2) tonight could put the top spot on the line.

Watch: Rodgers Throws 4 TDs in Shootout Against Bears

Other NFL Week 14 Notes

Quarterback Injuries

Two AFC quarterbacks on playoff teams suffered key injuries on Sunday. Lamar Jackson (Ravens) was carted off with an ankle injury while Josh Allen (Bills) left Sunday in a walking boot.

Tom Brady Makes More History

TB12 hit multiple milestones in the Bucs’ overtime win over the Bills (33-27, OT). Brady broke Drew Brees’ NFL completion record (7,143) and threw his 700th career TD pass.

Chiefs Stomp Raiders for 6th Straight

The biggest blowout of Week 14 belonged to Kansas City with a 48-9 smackdown of the Raiders. Patrick Mahomes (20/24, 258 yards, 2 TDs) had little work to do after a 35-3 halftime lead as the Chiefs (9-4) are winners of six in a row.

All Week 14 Scores & Highlights

Vikings def. Steelers (36-28) | Browns def. Ravens (24-22) | Titans def. Jaguars (20-0) | Chiefs def. Raiders (48-9) | Saints def. Jets (30-9) | Cowboys def. Washington (27-20) | Falcons def. Panthers (29-21) | Seahawks def. Texans (33-13) | Broncos def. Lions (38-10) | Chargers def. Giants (37-21) | 49ers def. Bengals (26-23, OT) | Buccaneers def. Bills (33-27, OT) | Packers def. Bears (45-30)

Current NFL Playoff Picture

Monday Night Football

Rams at Cardinals (8:15 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

SI: NFL Week 14 Takeaways

FOX Sports: NFL Week 14 Top Plays: Bucs & 49ers Win OT Thrillers

B/R: Aaron Rodgers Still Owns the Bears With Another MVP in Sights

CFB

Bama Goes Back-to-Back

Photo: Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

Alabama QB Bryce Young Wins 2021 Heisman Trophy

The quarterback of the nation’s No. 1 team took home the most prestigious award in college football. Alabama sophomore QB Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy Saturday night in New York. Young saved his best performance for last when the Crimson Tide rolled then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC title game, putting the dagger in the Heisman race. He led the Crimson Tide to a 12-1 record, the SEC title and the No. 1 overall spot in the College Football Playoff.

Bama Back-to-Back: Young becomes the second straight Alabama player to win the Heisman, following WR DeVonta Smith in 2020. They’re just the sixth team to go back-to-back. Young is also the fourth player to win the award in the Alabama history. Surprisingly, he’s the first Crimson Tide quarterback to ever win it.

Bryce Young’s 2021 Stats

4,322 yards, 43 TDs, 4 INTs, 3 Rushing TDs, 67.9% Comp.

2021 Heisman Trophy Voting

1. QB Bryce Young (ALA): 2,311 Points

2. DE Aidan Hutchinson (MICH): 954 Points

3. QB Kenny Pickett (PITT): 631 Points

4. QB C.J. Stroud (OSU): 399 Points

Watch: Bryce Young’s Full Heisman Trophy Speech

Additional Storylines

The Ringer: Inside Bryce Young’s Pursuit of Excellence

NY Times: Bryce Young, Alabama’s Sophomore Star, Wins the Heisman Trophy

MLS

A New York Moment

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

New York City FC def. Portland Timbers (1-1, 4-2 PKs) to Win 1st MLS Cup Title

History for New York! The underdogs from New York City FC won their first MLS Cup on Saturday with a thrilling finish against Portland Timbers. NYCFC — making their first MLS Cup Final appearance — struck first on a set-piece header from Valentin Castellanos (41’) that slipped through the wet fingers of Portland keeper Steve Clark. It looked like the game’s lone goal until Felipe Mora (90+4’) equalized in the waning seconds to send the Portland fans into pure bedlam. It was the 11th MLS Cup finale that needed more than 90 minutes, and the fifth that needed penalty kicks.

Extra Time / Penalty Kicks

NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson made a miraculous save in the 112th minute to keep New York afloat and force penalty kicks. It was there that Johnson was brilliant again, making saves on the first two Portland attempts. On NYCFC’s fifth attempt, Alexander Callens went top-middle for the celebration-starter.

NYCFC — in their first ever trip to the MLS Cup Final — are champions of 2021.

Watch: NYCFC Win MLS Cup Final in Penalties (1-1, 4-2 PKs)

Watch: Full Shootout Highlights

Additional Storylines

MLS: NYCFC Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Named MLS Cup MVP

ESPN: NYCFC Show Steel in MLS Cup, Delivering on Ronny Deila’s Promise of Heavy Metal Football

NBA

Durant Drops Season-Best 51

Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images

Kevin Durant (51 Points) Leads Nets Over Pistons With League’s Top Performance

Move over, Steph Curry. Kevin Durant now holds the NBA’s season-high scoring performance with a 51-point outing against the Pistons on Sunday night (116-104). It was Durant’s best outing since joining Brooklyn two years ago. He helped the Nets package a 4th-quarter rally (30-13) with an eye-popping stat line (see below). Brooklyn was without James Harden and, still, Kyrie Irving, but the Nets are now 19-8 atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Kevin Durant Stats

51 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal

16-31, FG | 5-10, 3-Pt | 14-15, FT

Watch: Kevin Durant Drops 51 in Nets Win

Other NBA Highlights

Curry’s Record in Waiting: Steph Curry went 3-point hunting again on Saturday, but another disappointing night left him 3-for-14 from deep (18 points) in a Warriors’ loss to the 76ers (102-93). He’s just six 3s shy of Ray Allen’s all-time record (2,973).

Jazz Win 7th Straight: Utah has taken over as the league’s hottest team after trouncing the Wizards on Saturday (123-98). The Jazz have won seven straight. Donovan Mitchell has averaged 29.4 ppg during that span.

LBJ’s 30-Point Triple Double: Turning back the clock, once more. LeBron James poured in a 30-11-10 night on Sunday for his second triple double in the last three games. The Lakers beat the Magic (106-94), and they’ve now won three of their last four to get back on track.

🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

🏎️  F1: Verstappen Wins F1 Title With Dramatic Finish

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton entered the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Formula 1’s final race of the season — even in points. After drama on Lap 1 between the two drivers, Verstappen swiped the lead in the final lap for his first F1 title.

🏒  NHL: Burakovsky’s First Hat Trick

Andre Burakovsky netted all three of the Avalanche goals for his first career hat trick in Colorado’s 3-2 win over Florida on Sunday. Make it four straight wins for the streaking Avs.

🥊  UFC: Pena Shocks Nunes in Epic Fight

In what was dubbed the biggest upset in women’s UFC history, Julianna Pena stunned Amanda Nunes with a second-round submission Saturday night in UFC 269.

⛷️  SKI: Shiffrin Takes 3rd in Super-G

For the first time in two years, Mikaela Shiffrin was back on the World Cup podium with her bronze run in the Super-G at St. Mortiz, Switzerland. Shiffrin was 1.18 seconds behind winner Lara Gut-Behrami.

🏀  NCAA: #2 Baylor Smashes #6 Villanova

Today’s new No. 1 team in the land should be (will be) Baylor after the Bears crushed #6 Villanova (57-36) with a defensive lockdown. The defending champs will take the top spot after #1 Purdue lost last week.

📰 THE HEADLINES

5-Star QB Recruit Quinn Ewers to Transfer from Ohio State to Texas

(Bleacher Report)

Zach LaVine Becomes 9th Bulls Player to Land in COVID-19 Protocols

(Yahoo! Sports)

Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl Suspended 2 Games, Program Placed on 4-Year Probation

(CBS Sports)

Zion Williamson’s Return Delayed Again Due to Foot Recovery

(NBC Sports)

Auburn QB Bo Nix Announces Plans to Transfer as Graduate

(ESPN)

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