Sports Equinox — Hail Marys & Walk-Offs

10/28/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

Welcome Back!

Nobody likes Mondays, but here’s something to lift your spirits — it’s the 2024 Sports Equinox! All five major pro sports are in action tonight with 23 games over a six-hour span.

Did you miss any of the non-stop action during the final weekend of October sports? From a walk-off grand slam in the World Series on Friday (Freddie!) to a must-see Hail Mary on Sunday (Hail Maryland!), we’ve got it all.

Letter Rip!

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WORLD SERIES

WS Rewind: Freddie’s Fireworks

Photo: Media News Group / Pasadena-Star via Getty Images

Freddie Freeman’s Game 1 Walk-Off Grand Slam & Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Game 2 Gem Give Dodgers 2-0 Lead in World Series

There was no World Series action on Sunday, but we’ve got you covered in case you missed Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday. You probably caught a glimpse of that historic walk-off grand slam from Freddie Freeman in Game 1We’ll tell you about it. Yoshinobu Yamamoto brought the heat in Game 2, and the Dodgers lead the Fall Classic (2-0) before tonight’s Game 3 in the Bronx. We’ll also update you on Shohei Ohtani’s injury. Let’s get caught up:

Game 1: Dodgers def. Yankees (6-3, 10th)

Freeman’s Walk-Off Slam Saves LAD

Friday night’s Game 1 was a defensive battle between Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty. The game went into extras where the Yankees scored in the top of the 10th (3-2), but the Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th with two outs and Freddie Freeman at the dish. He rocked Nester Cortes deep to right field and caused an earthquake at Dodger Stadium. Believe it or not, it was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

Game 2: Dodgers def. Yankees (4-2)

Yamamoto’s Brilliance Carries LAD

Game 2 on Saturday was a little less frenetic at the end. Yoshinobu Yamamoto twirled a one-run gem in almost seven innings of work while the Dodgers scored four runs on three homers — Tommy Edman (solo), Teoscar Hernandez (two-run) and Freeman again (solo). Saturday was bittersweet for L.A. though. Shohei Ohtani injured his shoulder on a slide into second base. He left the game, but it sounds like he’ll be available for Game 3 tonight in New York.

Tonight (World Series Schedule)

G3: Dodgers at Yankees (8:00 pm ET, FOX)

Dodgers Lead Series (2-0)

Read More

ESPN: ‘As Good As It Gets’: Freddie Freeman’s Walk-Off Slam Becomes Instant All-Time World Series Moment

CBS Sports: Shohei Ohtani Expected to Start in Game 3 After Suffering Partially Dislocated Shoulder

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NFL  

Week 8: The Hail Mary(land)! 

Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images

Commanders-Bears Battle of Rookie QBs Ends With Jayden Daniels’ 52-Yard Hail Mary (in Maryland!)

They may be called the Washington Commanders, but they play football in Landover, Maryland. Hail Mary-land! I couldn’t help myself. Sunday’s rookie quarterback showdown between the top two picks — No. 1 Caleb Williams (Bears) and No. 2 Jayden Daniels (Commanders) — was one to remember. After the Commanders blew a late lead to the Bears, they responded with the greatest play of the 2024 NFL season to date. Trailing (15-12) with two seconds left and the ball near midfield, Daniels scrambled around to buy time before uncorking a 52-yard Hail Mary to the goal line. The pass was tipped, then hauled in by Noah Brown. The ball traveled well over 60 yards in the air, and the play we’re dubbing the “Hail Maryland” will circulate on highlight tapes for football eternity.

Fun Fact: Sunday’s Hail Mary was the fourth-longest game-winning touchdown play (as time expired) in the Super Bowl era (1970). I watched it live. My jaw dropped. If you didn’t see it, do yourself a favor…

Must-Watch: Commanders Beat Bears (18-15) on Jayden Daniels’ Incredible Hail Mary

NFL Week 8 Scores & Highlights

Rams def. Vikings (30-20)

Commanders def. Bears (18-15)

Chiefs def. Raiders (27-20)

Broncos def. Panthers (28-14)

Bills def. Seahawks (31-10)

Texans def. Colts (23-20)

Packers def. Jaguars (30-27)

Falcons def. Buccaneers (31-26)

Patriots def. Jets (25-22)

Cardinals def. Dolphins (28-27)

Lions def. Titans (52-14)

Browns def. Ravens (29-24)

Eagles def. Bengals (37-17)

49ers def. Cowboys (30-24)

Monday Night Football

Giants at Steelers (8:15 pm ET, ESPN)

Read More

ESPN: Jayden Daniels Stuns the Bears With Unbelieveable Hail Mary TD

NBC Sports: Bears DB Tyrique Stevenson Goes From Taunting Fans to Tipping Hail Mary

Yahoo! Sports: Jameis Winston & The Browns Stun Ravens With GW Touchdown Bomb

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

New Top-10: Return of the Irish?

Photo: Edward Diller / Getty Images

3 New Teams Enter Top 10 as College Football Enters November — Notre Dame, BYU & Texas A&M

CFB Highlights & Scores

#1 Oregon def. #20 Illinois (38-9)

#3 Penn State def. Wisconsin (28-13)

#4 Ohio State def. Nebraska (21-17)

#5 Texas def. #25 Vanderbilt (27-24)

#6 Miami def. Florida State (36-14)

#14 Texas A&M def. #8 LSU (38-23)

#11 BYU def. UCF (37-24)

#12 Notre Dame def. #24 Navy (51-14)

#15 Alabama def. #21 Missouri (34-0)

AP Poll (Top 10)

1. Oregon (8-0) | 

2. Georgia (6-1) | 

3. Penn State (7-0) | 

4. Ohio State (6-1) | 

5. Miami (8-0) | 1

6. Texas (7-1) | 1

7. Tennessee (6-1) | 

8. Notre Dame (7-1) | 4

9. BYU (8-0) | 2

10. Texas A&M (7-1) | 4

Full AP Top 25

Read More

AP: Miami Cracks Top 5 for 1st Time Since 2017; Notre Dame, BYU & Texas A&M Enter Top-10

Sporting News: AP Top 25: Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffs Finally Earn Top-25 Ranking

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HIGHLIGHTS

NBA

76ers def. Pacers (118-114, OT)

Tyrese Maxey (45 points)

Lakers def. Kings (131-127)

LeBron James (32 pts, 14 rebs, 10 ast)

Full NBA Scoreboard

NHL

Oilers def. Red Wings (3-2, OT)

Leon Draisaitl Celebrates Birthday (2G, 1A)

Jets def. Flames (5-3)

Kyle Connor (1G, 1A), Jets Still Perfect (8-0-0)

Full NHL Scoreboard

MLS Cup Playoffs (Round 1)

LAFC def. Vancouver (2-1)

LA Galaxy def. Colorado Rapids (5-0)

Inter Miami def. Atlanta Utd. (2-1)

Orlando City def. Charlotte FC (2-0)

UFC

Illia Topuria KOs Max Holloway in R3

Topuria Retains Featherweight, Stays Unbeaten (16-0-0)

Racing

Tyler Reddick Secures Wild Win at Miami

Reddick Earns Championship 4 Berth for 23XI Racing (Michael Jordan’s Team)

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NEWS   

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Expected to Play in Game 3 Tonight After Shoulder Injury (ESPN)

Heat Unveil Dwyane Wade Statue, But Fans Not Sure It Resembles Hall of Famer (Yahoo! Sports)

Indiana Fever Fire Head Coach Christie Sides After 1st Playoff Berth Since 2016 (CBS Sports)

Seahawks Teammates Get in Huge Sideline Fight During Heated Moment vs. Bills (SI)

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk Out for Season With Broken Collarbone (FOX Sports)

Philadelphia Union Goalkeeper Holden Trent Dies Suddenly at Age 25 (CBS News)

Michael Jordan Celebrates in Miami as His NASCAR Driver Tyler Reddick Makes Championship 4 (USA Today)

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SCHEDULE   

The Sports Equinox Watch List

It’s a special night. All five American professional team sports collide for 23 games in (roughly) a six-hour window. Enjoy the 2024 Sports Equinox!

MLB (World Series)

G3: Dodgers at Yankees (8:00 pm ET, FOX)

NFL (Monday Night Football)

Giants at Steelers (8:15 pm ET, ESPN)

MLS Cup Playoffs

Cincinnati vs. NYCFC (6:45 pm ET, AppTV)

Seattle vs. Houston (9:00 pm ET, AppTV)

NBA

Full NBA Schedule (11 Games)

NHL

Full NHL Schedule (8 Games)