The Sportsletter - The Big One 🏈

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 11, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Happy Friday 👋

Yesterday brought sports news in bunches. More Winter Olympics, an NBA blockbuster trade, NFL awards and much more. But first, we head into the weekend edition with the Super Bowl LVI Primer. The big game just two days away...

Letter Rip!

NFL

The Super Bowl LVI Primer

Photo: Picture Alliance / Getty Images

Everything You Need to Know for Sunday’s Big Game

Here. We. Go. After a wild month of NFL playoffs, two teams remain. The 4-seed from the AFC and the 3-seed from the NFC are gearing up for America's biggest night in sports and entertainment. Two quarterbacks and one unlikely underdog team square off in Los Angeles. The Rams are 3.5-point favorites at home, but it’s the Bengals who will be the “home” team on the scoreboard. Here’s a look at the quarterback comparisons and team stats between the two similar squads, plus a smorgasbord of previews to sink your teeth into. We crown the NFL champion on Monday morning...

Super Bowl LVI: Sunday (6:30 pm ET, NBC)

QB Comparison

M. Stafford (LAR): 4,886 yards, 41 TDs, 17 INTs, 67.2% Comp.

J. Burrow (CIN): 4,611 yards, 34 TDs, 14 INTs, 70.4% Comp.

Yards (Offense)

Rams: 372.1 yards per game (9th)

Bengals: 365.1 yards per game (15th)

Scoring (Offense)

Rams: 27.1 points per game (8th)

Bengals: 27.1 points per game (7th)

Yards Allowed (Defense)

Rams: 344.9 yards per game (17th)

Bengals: 350.8 yards per game (18th)

Points Allowed (Defense)

Rams: 21.9 points per game (15th)

Bengals: 22.1 points per game (17th)

Halftime Show

This year’s Pepsi Halftime Show features five performers, mostly from the early 2000s era. They are: Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

Super Bowl Previews

ESPN: Rams-Bengals Score Prediction, Strength, Weaknesses, Surprises & Storylines to Watch

CBS Sports: Super Bowl Records That Could Fall

SI: How the Bengals & Rams Punched Their Tickets to Super Bowl LVI

USA Today: 32 Things We Learned From 2021 Conference Championships: Unexpected Super Bowl Matchup

NBA

Deadline Domino: Harden & Simmons Swapped

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

76ers & Nets Complete Harden-Simmons Blockbuster Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

The deal we’ve all been waiting for! The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets made one of the biggest deadline deals in NBA history on Thursday, swapping all-stars James Harden and Ben Simmons, along with multiple other players and picks. The move completely changes the landscape in the Eastern Conference with Philly replacing their holdout headcase, Simmons, with a scoring threat in Harden to compliment MVP candidate Joel Embiid. The Nets are still a threat, and they added depth with the release of Harden, as well as future picks. Here are all the deals from a busy deadline day in the NBA.

NBA Trade Deadline Tracker

76ers-Nets Trade

76ers Get: James Harden

Nets Get: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummong, Two 1st-Round Picks

Bucks-Clippers-Kings-Pistons Trade

Bucks Get: Serge Ibaka, Two 2nd-Round Picks

Clippers Get: Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye

Kings Get: Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Jackson, Trey Lyles

Pistons Get: Marvin Bagley

Mavericks-Wizards Trade

Mavericks Get: Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans

Wizards Get: Kristaps Porzingis, 2nd-Round Pick

Raptors-Spurs Trade

Raptors Get: Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, 2nd-Round Pick

Spurs Get: Goran Dragic, 1st-Round Pick

Celtics-Rockets Trade

Celtics Get: Daniel Theis

Rockets Get: Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom, Bruno Fernando

Hornets-Wizards Trade

Hornets Get: Montrezl Harrell

Wizards Get: Ish Smith, Vernon Carey Jr.

Celtics-Magic Trade

Celtics Get: 2nd-Round Pick

Magic Get: Bol Bol, PJ Dozier

Additional Storylines

The Ringer: The Harden-for-Simmons Blockbuster Raises a Whole New Set of Questions

CBS Sports: Joel Embiid’s Hilarious Tweet & Other Best Reactions to Harden-Simmons Trade

OLYMPICS

Shaun White's Final Run

Photo: Clive Rose / Getty Images

Shaun White Fails to Medal, But Ends Epic Career on a High Note

The world’s most notable snowboarder made his final run on Thursday in Beijing. And even though he failed to medal, Shaun White will be remembered as one of the United States’ great winter olympians. The three-time gold medalist finished fourth in the men’s halfpipe final. He smiled through tears in his final interview and hinted at the next phase of his career after competition. The 35-year-old competed in five Winter Olympics.

Watch: Shaun White’s Final Run in Snowboard Halfpipe

Other Olympic Highlights

Men’s Figure Skating: USA’s Nathan Chen Earns Gold in Free Skate

Women’s Super-G: Shiffrin Completes First Event, Finishes 9th

Women’s Hockey: USA Beat Czech Republic (4-1) to Reach Semifinals

Men’s Hockey: USA Crushes China (8-0) in Opening Game

Medal Count 🏅

Austria (14)

Canada (12)

Norway (12)

ROC (11)

United States (10)

Germany (9)

Netherlands (8)

Italy (8)

Japan (8)

Full Medal Count

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀  NBA: Luka Doncic’s Goes for 51

Have a night, Luka Doncic! Luka poured in a career-high 51 points, including 28 in the first quarter before the Mavericks beat the Clippers (112-105). Doncic buried seven 3s and added nine rebounds and six assists.

🏒 NHL: Avalanche Extend Streak to 18

With a 3-2 win over the Lightning on Thursday, the Avalanche added another tally to their now-18-game point streak. Devon Toews recorded a goal and an assist in the victory. Colorado (33-8-4) has won 11 of their last 12, and they’re the first team in the NHL to 70 points.

🏀  NCAA: Michigan Thrashes #3 Purdue

Unranked Michigan hammered 3rd-ranked Purdue on Thursday night in college hoops (82-58) behind 22 points from Hunter Dickinson and a full-team effort. All five Michigan starters scored in double figures.

⛳️ PGA: Theegala Goes Low at Scottsdale

Plenty of low numbers hit the scorecards in Round 1 of the Waste Management Open at TPC Scottsdale in Phoenix, but no one went lower than Sahith Theegala (-7). Brooks Koepka (-5), Xander Schauffele (-4), Justin Thomas (-4), Patrick Cantlay (-4) and Jon Rahm (-4) are in pursuit.

NFL

NFL Honors

Rodgers Wins 4th MVP Award

Aaron Rodgers won his second straight MVP award and fourth total on Thursday night at the NFL Honors ceremony in Los Angeles. Here’s a list of all the winners:

Offensive Player of the Year: WR Cooper Kupp (LAR)

Defensive Player of the Year: DE T.J. Watt (PIT)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: WR Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: LB Micah Parsons (DAL)

Comeback Player of the Year: QB Joe Burrow (CIN)

Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel (TEN)

Walter Payton Man of the Year: OL Andrew Whitworth (LAR)

NBA

NBA All-Star Draft

Full Rosters for NBA All-Star Game

Team captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant made their picks for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game on Thursday. Here’s a look a the ASG rosters:

Team LeBron Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Steph Curry (GSW), DeMar DeRozan (CHI), Nikola Jokic (DEN)

Team Durant Starters: Joel Embiid (PHI), Ja Morant (MEM), Jayson Tatum (BOS), Andrew Wiggins (GSW), Trae Young (ATL)

📰 THE HEADLINES

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Refuses to Concede Spring Training Delay

(Yahoo! Sports)

Edmonton Oilers Fire Dave Tippett After Another Loss

(ESPN)

Universal Designated Hitter Coming to MLB in 2022

(SI)

Lakers Reportedly Declined Russell Westbrook & John Wall Trade

(CBS Sports)

Richard Seymour & Dick Vermeil Headline 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

(NBC Sports)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

It’s time for the big game! The 2021-22 NFL season concludes with a new champ on Sunday night, but that’s not the only thing to look forward to this weekend. Here’s what we’re watching.

Super Bowl LVI

Rams vs. Bengals (6:30 pm, NBC)

Winter Olympics

Full Schedule of Events

NBA

Lakers at Warriors (Sat. 8:30 pm)

Hawks at Celtics (Sun. 2:00 pm)

Full NBA Weekend Schedule

NHL

Hurricanes at Wild (Sat. 8:00 pm)

Avalanche at Stars (Sun. 2:00 pm)

Full NHL Weekend Schedule

NCAA Men’s Basketball

#20 Texas at #10 Baylor (Sat. Noon)

Oklahoma at #8 Kansas (Sat. 1:00 pm)

Indiana at #17 Michigan State (Sat. 3:30 pm)

Florida at #5 Kentucky (Sat. 4:00 pm)

#16 Ohio State at Michigan (Sat. 6:00 pm)

#22 Saint Mary’s at #2 Gonzaga (Sat. 10:00 pm)

#12 UCLA at #21 USC (Sat. 10:00 pm)

NCAA Women’s Basketball

#12 Oklahoma at #16 Texas (Sat. 8:00 pm)

#1 South Carolina at #17 Georgia (Sun. Noon)

#18 Notre Dame at #3 Louisville (Sun. 2:00 pm)

#5 NC State at Duke (Sun. 2:00 pm)

PGA Tour

Waste Management Phoenix Open (All Weekend)

UFC 271

I. Adesanya vs. R. Whittaker (Sat. 10:00 pm)

*All Times Eastern

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