Big Apple Yanks & Shanks

10/15/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning!

What a crazy 24-36 hours for New York sports fans. The Mets and Yankees both won their NLCS/ALCS games yesterday in the midst of back-to-back primetime host duties for the Giants (Sunday) and Jets (Monday) at MetLife Stadium. They weren’t all happy New York fans by night’s end. Penalties can really anger a man…

“Might as well play sarcastaball if we’re gonna call those things.” — Aaron Rodgers

Letter Rip!

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NFL

Jets Shank Away the AFC East

Two Doinked Field Goals & A Stunning Game-Winning INT Helped the Bills Beat the Jets (23-20) and Send New York Back to Panic Mode

Monday Night Football marked a must-see AFC East rivalry that was full of storylines. It was the Jets’ first game since firing head coach Robert Saleh, and a win against the Bills would somehow earn them first place in the AFC East. Too good to be true? It was. New York, look away. Aaron Rodgers and the offense battled to keep the game within reach, but Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein doinked two field goals off the uprights in the second half and the Bills notched the game-winning field goal with 3:43 left. On the Jets’ final possession, Rodgers was picked off on a ridiculous interception by Bills’ DB Taron Johnson to ice it. And the Jets’ misery plane flies on.

Flag-Flying Frenzy: Both teams had 11 penalties (22 total) for 204 combined penalty yards. To be fair, some were pretty questionable roughing the passer calls against New York, and Rodgers voiced his opinion (he’s good at that) in the postgame presser: “Might as well play sarcastaball if we’re gonna call those things.”

AFC East Standings: Bills (4-2), Dolphins (2-3), Jets (2-4), Patriots (1-5)

QB Comparison

J. Allen (BUF): 19/25, 233 yards, 3 TDs

A. Rodgers (NYJ): 23/35, 294 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Watch: Bills Hold Off Jets (23-20) Thanks to 2 Doinked Field Goals

The Ringer: The Jets Hoped a Coaching Change Would Provide a Spark… So Far It’s the Same Old Mess

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MLB

Yanks & Mets Show LCS Swagger

NLCS: Mets Pummel Dodgers in Game 2 (7-3) / ALCS: Yankees Too Tough for Guards in Game 1 (5-2)

New York football fans may have watched two primetime losses on back-to-back nights, but baseball fans? It’s a happy Tuesday morning in the Big Apple, and there’s still the potential for a Subway Series Fall Classic. Let’s rerun Monday night:

NLCS G2: Mets def. Dodgers (7-3)

Mark Vientos’ Slam Knots NLCS for NYM

Game 1 was a Dodger blowout, but the Mets responded in a big way to open Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday. New York got a leadoff home run from NLDS hero Francisco Lindor before Mark Vientos launched a grand slam in a five-run second inning. The Mets led 6-0 in a flash while Sean Manaea went into the sixth before giving up two runs. If you’re a Mets fan, you can’t ask for much more. It’s all even heading back to Citi Field. Series Tied (1-1)

ALCS G1: Yankees def. Guardians (5-2)

Rodon (9 Ks), Soto & Stanton (HRs) Lift NYY

A little run support and a masterclass from Carlos Rodon was the recipe for a Game 1 win last night in the Bronx. Rodon struck out nine batters over six innings of one-run ball while Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton lifted home runs in the third and seventh innings, respectively. Likely AL MVP Aaron Judge is still struggling, though. He’s just 5-for-15 in the postseason with 1 RBI and no home runs. Gerrit Cole gets the ball for Game 2 tonight in a potential must-win for the Guardians. NYY Lead Series (1-0)

Tonight’s Schedule

ALCS G2: Guardians at Yankees (7:30 pm, TBS)

FOX Sports: How Carlos Rodon, With Assists From Pettitte & Cole, Rewarded Yankees’ Game 1 Gamble

CBS Sports: Giancarlo Stanton Continues to Step Up in Playoffs With Aaron Judge Stuck in October Slump

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NCAA

The College Hoops Preseason Poll

Kansas, Alabama, Uconn & Houston Lead 1st AP Preseason College Basketball Poll

It’s been six long months since we crowned UConn as the champions of the Final Four back in April. A lot of star players have left for the NBA, but a retooled group of blue bloods and challengers are set to run it back in three short weeks. Two of last year’s Final Four — #2 Alabama and #3 UConn — reside in the top three. Purdue, another Final Four participant, starts at #14 after losing two-time player of the year, Zach Edey. The Cinderellas from NC State aren’t on the list, but we’ve learned to never count out Cinderella. The most decorated blue blood of all, No. 1 Kansas, returns with the big man, Hunter Dickinson, in what feels like his eighth year of eligibility. Rock chalk. Hoops are coming.

NCAA Men’s Preseason Poll

1. Kansas (0-0)

2. Alabama (0-0)

3. Uconn (0-0)

4. Houston (0-0)

5. Iowa State (0-0)

6. Gonzaga (0-0)

7. Duke (0-0)

8. Baylor (0-0)

9. North Carolina (0-0)

10. Arizona (0-0)

Teams 11-25: 11. Auburn, 12. Tennessee, 13. Texas A&M, 14. Purdue, 15. Creighton, 16. Arkansas, 17. Indiana, 18. Marquette, 19. Texas, 20. Cincinnati, 21. Florida, 22. UCLA, 23. Kentucky, 24. Ole Miss, 25. Rutgers

ESPN: NCAA Preseason Poll: What You Need to Know About Each Top-25 Team

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HIGHLIGHTS

NHL

Devils Hand Utah HC 1st Loss (3-0)

Panthers Hold Off Bruins (4-3)

Penguins Outpace Canadiens (6-3)

Islanders Skate Past Avalanche (6-2)

Senators Best Kings in 15-Goal Frenzy (8-7, OT)

Josh Norris Buries OT Winner

NBA Preseason

76ers def. Hawks (104-89)

Nets def. Wizards (131-92)

Bucks def. Bulls (111-107)

Clippers def. Mavericks (110-96)

Grizzlies def. Pacers (120-116)

Zach Edey (23 pts) Scores League-High Off the Bench

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STORYLINES

How the Bucs Navigated a Hurricane

Tampa’s staff secured 350 hotel rooms for the week, brought families and pets to New Orleans while some chose to stay in Florida, and they also tried to minimize distractions so the players could prep for a football game. (Sports Illustrated)

1 Defining Stat for Every NBA Team

Meaningful NBA action is almost back. With about a week to go until the new season tips off, let’s take a broad survey of the league by analyzing one key number that helps explain every team’s situation, for better or for worse. (The Ringer)

College Football Power Rankings

Excellent wire-to-wire games between Ohio State and Oregon, Penn State and USC and Ole MIss and LSU prove again why college football is America’s greatest sport. The CFB hierarchy has shape-shifted halfway through the season. (CBS Sports)

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NEWS

Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy Says ‘Bad Eye’ From Getting Head-Butted by Cattle (B/R)

Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Expects QB Tua Tagovailoa to Play in 2024 (ESPN)

Commanders’ Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen Feared to Have Suffered Season-Ending Pectoral Injury (Yahoo! Sports)

Caitlin Clark Has Relatable Reaction After Nearly Making Hole-in-One in Viral Video (SI)

Sean O’Malley Aiming for Merab Dvalishvili Title Rematch (Yahoo! Sports)

Utah QB Cam Rising Out Indefinitely With Leg Injury, to Consider 8th Year of Eligibility (B/R)

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SCHEDULE

Today’s Must-Watch List

MLB Playoffs