The Sports Equinox

10/30/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Welcome Back

What could make Monday better? Every. Single. Professional. Sport.

Today is the day, team. All five American professional sports leagues are live at the same time for one day, and one day only, in 2023. The NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS… Music to my ears. Tomorrow, we’ll recap all five leagues and celebrate by giving away some gear (see below). You have until midnight tonight to join the action.

The Equinox: Where Sports Align

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 8: Another #1 Bites the Dust

Broncos Shock Chiefs, Kirk Cousins Tears Achilles, Will Levis Shines & More From Week 8 in the NFL

The NFL Trade Deadline is approximately 36 hours away (Tues. 4:00 pm ET), and one team may have shifted the energy for a lot of teams looking to make a deal. Had the Broncos lost on Sunday and fell to 2-6, they might be fielding calls for the entire roster. Instead, a stunner against the Chiefs (for their second straight win) puts Denver in the thick of the AFC, and it signals one other thing — our fourth straight loss by the No. 1 team in our power rankings. That’s right. For the fourth consecutive week, we put a new No. 1 in our weekly power rankings, and they responded by laying an egg. The Dolphins, 49ers, Lions and Chiefs have all crumbled. Shows you how much we know, or how incredibly competitive the NFL truly is. I almost feel bad for this week’s new No. 1 team. We’ve started our own curse. Moving on…

Across the league, key injuries and other record-breaking moments highlighted Week 8. Let’s relive the top eight stories from a bizarre Sunday that just set the tone for Trade Deadline week.

Broncos Upset Chiefs in Stunning Twist

Upset in the mountains… The Broncos ended a 16-game losing streak against the Chiefs on Sunday (eight years). Denver held Kansas City without an offensive touchdown (24-9) while Patrick Mahomes was held without a passing touchdown for the first time since 2021. It was Mahomes’ first career loss against Denver, as well as his first road loss against an AFC West opponent. The Broncos played some Taylor Swift over the speakers to celebrate the win (petty, but funny). Shake it off, KC.

A.J. Brown Makes NFL Receiver History

With a Chiefs loss and an Eagles win, the birds are now the top team in the NFL at 7-1. A big reason why has been the play of WR A.J. Brown. On Sunday, he had eight catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs in a comeback win, making him the first player in NFL history to record six straight games with 125-plus yards. The Eagles beat the Commanders (38-31).

Niners Fall, But CMC’s TD Streak Continues

The Christian McCaffrey touchdown streak continued with another end zone trip on Sunday, but the 49ers fell to the Bengals (31-17) and suffered their third straight loss. McCaffrey has now scored a touchdown in 17 straight games, tying the all-time NFL record held by Colts RB Lenny Moore (1963-64).

Kirk Cousins Suffers Torn Achilles

The Vikings won their third straight game on Sunday over the Packers (24-10) to keep rising up the NFC, but QB Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in the 4th quarter and was carted off. Minnesota’s backup is Nick Mullens, and we’ve seen him find success in past emergency roles. The Vikes are now 4-4.

Bryce Young Outduels C.J. Stroud for 1st Win

The Panthers-Texans matchup may have been a sleeper for most football fans, but it was the first clash of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from last April’s draft. Bryce Young and the Panthers beat C.J. Stroud and the Texans on a walk-off field goal (15-13) to secure Young’s first NFL victory.

Will Levis Throws 4 TDs in Titans Debut

How about another rookie quarterback in the spotlight? The wounded Titans turned to QB Will Levis on Sunday, and the Kentucky product turned some heads. Levis threw four touchdowns — three to WR DeAndre Hopkins — and helped Tennessee down the Falcons (28-23). It’s the Titans’ first win since October 1.

Jets Top Giants in OT Battle of New York

Offense, anyone? The once-every-four-years showdown between the two New York teams who share MetLife Stadium went exactly as many predicted. Neither team could buy points and we needed overtime before the Jets won a defensive dogfight on a game-winning field goal (13-10, OT). One of the Jets players accidentally walked into the Giants locker room at halftime.

Jags Win 5th Straight, But Refs Under Review

The longest win streak in the league now belongs to Jacksonville after a controversy-filled Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Jags beat the Steelers (20-10) to earn their fifth straight win, but this game was littered with head-scratching calls. Not to take away a good game from the Jags, but Steelers fans are the least happy of all NFL fans this Monday morning. If you know a Pittsburgh fan, maybe check on them.

All Week 8 NFL Scores & Highlights

Bills def. Buccaneers (24-18)

Cowboys def. Rams (43-20)

Vikings def. Packers (24-10)

Titans def. Falcons (28-23)

Saints def. Colts (38-27)

Dolphins def. Patriots (31-17)

Jets def. Giants (13-10, OT)

Jaguars def. Steelers (20-10)

Eagles def. Commanders (38-31)

Panthers def. Texans (15-13)

Seahawks def. Browns (24-20)

Broncos def. Chiefs (24-9)

Ravens def. Cardinals (31-24)

Bengals def. 49ers (31-17)

Chargers def. Bears (30-13)

Monday Night Football (Tonight)

Raiders at Lions (8:15 pm ET, ESPN)

CBS Sports: Where Vikings Can Look for QB After Kirk Cousins Suffers Achilles Injury

Yahoo! Sports: Steelers Players & Coaches Rip Refs for Horrible Officiating in Jaguars Game

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WORLD SERIES

Texas Split: World Series Tied 1-1

Rangers Win Game 1 in Extras (6-5, 11 Innings), But D-Backs Make Statement in Game 2 (9-1)

The plot thickens! Opening weekend of the World Series produced a Texas split (1-1), and we’re all square heading to Arizona for Games 3-5. The Rangers opened the Fall Classic with an epic rally in the 9th inning of Game 1 on Friday. Texas trailed 5-3 before Corey Seager’s two-run blast in the bottom of the 9th to force extras (5-5). Then, it was Adolis Garcia with an 11th-inning walk-off to take Game 1.

On Saturday, Game 2 was a different story. The Diamondbacks pounded the Rangers bullpen down the stretch, scoring seven runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings to secure a 9-1 blowout. Arizona ace Merrill Kelly was brilliant once more (7 IP, 9 Ks, 3 Hits, 1 Run). Ketel Marte also made MLB history as he continued his 18-game playoff hit streak. The Rangers may have been the favorites, but these underdog snakes are all even with the next three World Series games at home.

World Series Highlights

Gm 1: Rangers def. D-Backs (6-5, 11 Innings)

Gm 2: D-Backs def. Rangers (9-1)

*Series Tied (1-1)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: Rangers at D-Backs (8:03 pm ET)

SI: Rangers’ Adolis Garcia Spoke His Game 1 Walk-Off Into Existence

ESPN: Takeaways From D-Backs’ Huge Series-Tying Game 2 Win

Yahoo! Sports: D-Backs’ Ketel Marte Breaks MLB Record With 18-Game Postseason Hitting Streak

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HIGHLIGHTS

Lightning Round