Category: Sports

The Big Story – It’s 2013 All Over Again: Every time the Red Sox advanced in 2013, I asked, how did they do that?

Same for the Pats now as the D is becoming as reliable as Koji Uehara in 2013. After it gave up the usual (annoying) early TD, it completely shut down Denver to win the AFC Championship 10-7. And while Drake Maye had trouble throwing amid constant pressure, his 28-yard third quarter scramble set up the winning FG and his end of the game bootleg got the first down that iced it. So, so much for the “easy schedule” talk, as they’ve now beaten three playoff teams with a 40-14 combined record as the D surrendered just 26 points.

Next up is Seattle in the place no Patriots fan thought they’d be in 2025-’26, the Super Bowl.

How did they do that?

Sports 101: At 23 years and 162 days Maye will try to be the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl. He’ll also be the second youngest starter ever. Who is the youngest to start at QB in the big game and youngest to win one?

News Item – Patriots 10, Denver 7: It wasn’t pretty but they’re moving on.

Key Stat: The D gave up just 3.1 yards per play.

Improvement: Since Milton Williams returned the D has given up 8 ppg.

Backslide – Maye: No turnovers, but his 87 passing yards were his worst ever. He’s got to do better in Santa Clara.

Game Ball – The D: Yes, they were facing a backup QB, but Denver got just 181 yards overall, 79 rushing, were a +2 in TO’s, had five sacks and gave up just seven points.

The Numbers:

8 – 20+ points games off the bench already, with an eye-popping 39 vs. Miami two weeks ago, make one wonder if the Celtics should keep Anfernee Simons and his Vinnie ‘TheMicrowave’ Johnson-like instant scoring ability at the trade deadline.

20.7 – percent of Hall of Fame voters who voted for Dustin Pedroia, leaving him well short of the 75 percent needed.

346 – passing yards and three TD’s one-time ghost-seeing ex-Jet Sam Darnold threw for in Seattle’s 31-27 NFC Title game win over L.A.

… Of the Week Awards

Quote – Curt Cignetti: “I’m gonna have a beer,” said after Indiana beat Miami 27-21 in their thrilling college football championship game.

I Did Not Know That Stat – Jhonny Peralta: The .203 career batting average against the Mets’ newly acquired ace from Milwaukee is third best in history. Behind only two one-inning-per-night closers. For context that’s one and two points better than all-timers Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax.

Sports 101 Answer: The youngest SB starting QB was Dan Marino (23 years, 123 days), in Miami’s 38-16 loss to SF in 1984, and the youngest winning QB was Ben Roethlisberger (23 years, 11 months) when he somehow won 21-10 in 2006 despite having the lowest QB rating ever in SB history (22.1).

Final Thoughts – Latest NFL News:

Milton Williams is the best Patriots DL since Richard Seymour and worth every penny paid in free agency. The struggling end of the year D went right back to early season dominance since he came back off IR.

Don’t know if the Bills have hired Phillip Rivers to be their HC. But does it make sense to fire an effective HC in Sean McDermott because he couldn’t get his team over the hump to the SB in favor of a QB (with no experience) who never could get his own team to the SB?

Wasn’t Norm Van Brocklin available?

Google him.

Is it karma for the MVP vote that Matthew Stafford’s season ends one game short as he threw for 374 yards and three TD’s while the other candidate moves on when he just threw for a career-low 87 yards and no TD’s?

Thanks to Payton for making my case from last week when I said coaches are going for it too much on fourth down and should take the FG points in the playoffs. Payton does that vs. New England in the first quarter, Denver goes to OT instead of on vacation. Just like Chicago and Jacksonville this year and Detroit last year vs. Philly. The statistics-led “go-for-it” casualties are piling up.

Not really sure how they did it. But the Pats are back!

Who’d have thunk that in August?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Pats Win: Been saying it all year, and did it again Sunday — how are they doing it? Except they keep doing it. This time beating the tougher-scheduled Texans 28-16 to return to the AFC Title Game for the first time since 2018. The defense got five turnovers while making C.J. Stroud look awful. Next up is Denver, where old friend Jarrett Stidham will start at QB after starter Bo Nix sadly broke his ankle in the waning minutes of OT in their 33-30 win over Buffalo. Game time 3 p.m. Sunday in Denver.

Sports 101: On Monday Indiana attempted to join eight other D-I colleges who’ve won both a football and a basketball national championship. Name the other eight.

News Item – Patriots Beat Houston 28-16:

• Best Play – Kayshon Boutte: His spectacular one-handed fourth-quarter TD catch was not only the play of the game, it also iced the game.

• Key Stat: Houston had just 48 rushing yards.

• Backslide – Drake Maye: After four more fumbles you’ve got to hold on to the ball in the pocket much better, young fella.

• Game Ball – Defense: With four picks, a recovered fumble, three sacks, constant pressure on Stroud and a pick-six by Marcus Jones it was tremendous.

News Item – Red Sox: After giving Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez almost as much as Alex Bregman wanted, the Sox have prioritized starting pitching over AB and that’s hard to argue with. Now get a real second baseman and the off-season work is done.

The Numbers:

14 – after coughing up four more Sunday, Maye’s NFL-leading fumbles.

28.0 – microscopic QB rating for Stroud vs. NE — can you play any worse than that?

119 – million dollars per year is what Tucker will actually cost L.A. instead of the meager 57.1 he’ll get after exceeding every luxury tax threshold. But who cares it’s only deferred money.

… Of the Week Awards

Crybabies of the Week – Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown: I’m the last person to defend NBA (or NFL) refereeing and know how frustrating inconsistent officiating can be. But after hearing Brown and Slo Joe whine after consecutive Celtic losses, come on. Brown about a big free throw disparity and Mazzulla (correctly) about a no call on a moving screen on the game-winning score. Earth to those sore losers: everyone in the NBA moves setting picks and if Joe didn’t complain when Al Horford did it on every pick he set, then why now? As for the reason the C’s are last in free throw in the NBA, it’s because they are first in 3-ball attempts. You rarely get fouled 25 feet from the basket. Stop blaming others and get to the rack if you want more foul shots.

Prediction – CFP Title Game: With the game already over, here’s my pre-game prediction. Rooting for Miami to make Notre Dame’s whining about UM getting in over them look worse. But, I got Indiana winning their first national title 31-14.

Sports 101 Answer: The dual title winners are Florida, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Syracuse, Maryland, Arkansas and Cal.

Final Thought – Fourth Down: I know going for it on fourth down is all the rage, but coaches overdo it. If I’m fourth and more than 2 in the red zone during the playoffs I’m taking the FG. Not doing that cost Chicago the game vs L.A. Sunday, when they failed three times in six fourth-down tries. They scored a TD on one of the makes, but if they made FG’s on those failed attempts instead, Williams’ miracle heave would have won the game not tied it. Of course Mike Vrabel did it Sunday and it scored the Pats’ first TD on fourth and 1 from inside the 10. But that does not change my mind.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Patriots Move to Round II: So much for “they’re only there because of an easy schedule.” Weird game in that it was close most of the way, but the Pats seemed in control the whole way. It wasn’t a thing of beauty. But if you’re from the “a win is a win is a win” club, it was, as they took out their ancient AFL rival from a supposed stronger division in the 16-3 win over the L.A. Chargers. Either way, they now move on to face the Houston-Pittsburgh winner in Round II.

Sports 101: Three head coaches have won a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. Name them.

News Item – Patriots vs. Chargers

• Key Defensive Stat: The L.A. offense was 3-14 converting third and fourth downs into first downs.

• Key Offensive Stat:Drake Maye threw for 278 yards and a TD, but his running was more pivotal. He saved two scoring drives with scrambles for first down as he ran for 69 yards on 10 carries.

• Backslide – O-Line: Maye was under pressure all night.

• Game Ball – Defense: Their best game for holding Justin Herbert to just 207 total yards and FG.

News Item – Pats Or C’s: Which was less conceivable on their opening days? The Patriots finishing tied with the best record in the NFL, or the Celtics climbing up to fourth in ESPN’s weekly NBA rankings last week?

The Numbers:

4 – ridiculous number of colleges Bill Belichick’s new QB Billy Edwards will have played for (Wake Forest, Maryland and Wisconsin) after transferring (again) to North Carolina.

18 – point lead blown by Green Bay to let archrival Chicago rally from down 21-3 at halftime to beat them 31-27 in their wild card playoff game.

… Of the Week Award

Har-Dee-Har-Har Moment of the Week – Jerry Jones: My friend George Copadis, the biggest Cowboys fan in NH, must have gotten a big laugh hearing the Cowboys owner say last week his goal is to retire with the most SB wins ever. Pretty funny when you consider in the 30 years since the architect of his three SB wins, Jimmy Johnson, walked out the door in 1994, they have never gone to even an NFC title game once. No shot.

Help Wanted – Chip Kelly: Nice to see he won’t be spending next year in Pago Pago unemployed after being hired as the Offensive Coordinator at Northwestern.

Random Thoughts – On CFP:

After Notre Dame’s tirade they deserved to be in the tournament over a team with the same record, who beat them head to head, ND looked even dumber when Miami beat Ole Miss to get to the championship game.

We haven’t seen the level of demolition of opponents by any school ever in CFP history like Indiana rolling up a 94-25 point differential in its wins over Alabama and Oregon. Which sets up IU as 7.5 favorites Monday night.

I’m betting Alabama already has IU head man Curt Cignetti on speed dial to be ready for the inevitable firing of Kalen DeBoer after next year for not being Nick Saban/Bear Bryant enough.

If you’re looking for a good underdog omen, Monday is the 51st anniversary of one of the biggest upsets in college sports history when Notre Dame beat UCLA to end its 88-game basketball winning streak.

Indiana 35-16.

Sports 101 Answer: The dual winning coaches are Pete Carroll (USC and Seattle), Jimmy Johnson (U of Miami and Dallas) and Barry Switzer (Oklahoma and Dallas).

Final Thought – The Alex Bregman Saga: There’s certain guys you just don’t like when they play for a rival team and he was of them. A whiner with Houston in the 2018 playoffs, in the middle of the Astros cheating scandal (with no apology I know of), a Scott Boras client with no loyalty and while good last year before getting hurt, he did get hurt again with the same kind of injury that derailed his 2020 season.

So the Red Sox losing him does not bother me even though they have no third baseman or real clean-up hitter with spring training five weeks away. And only partly because I don’t like him. The RBI totals of 55, 93, 97, 75 and 62 in the last five seasons do not bode well for giving a 32-year-old a five-year contract. Let alone at $35 million per, which he certainly is not worth now, let alone at 36.

But it does make me look stupid. Despite all the evidence he wouldn’t re-invest the money saved in the Devers trade in a big hitter like Pete Alonso, I gave him the benefit of the doubt he would. But, true to recent form, he didn’t. Instead it was just a salary dump. Now all that’s left is hearing lap dog/ president Sam Kennedy’s latest pathetic spin effort telling all how hard the Sox tried to keep AB.

As for me, I’m like that song from The Who — I won’t get fooled again.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Pats Start Playoff March: After going an unexpected 14-3, the Patriots are back in the playoffs, where they spent most of this century. This time, after a season closing 38-10 win over Miami, as the 2-seed, facing the 7-seed L.A. Chargers Sunday night in Foxboro. The question is, with Drake Maye having a better Year 2 season than you know who, at least statistically, can history repeat itself with a SB win? Doubtful, but it should be fun seeing if it can.

Sports 101: Name the teams with the most wins, losses and playoff games played in NFL history.

News Item – Scouting Report Pats vs. Chargers:

Trend: L.A. (11-6) has lost two in a row. The Patriots have won three in a row and 13 of their last 14.

Stat Sheet: L.A.’s D is eighth (105.4) in rushing yards allowed, fifth vs the pass (179.1) and 10th in points allowed (20.0). For the Pats it’s 101.7, 193.5 and 18.8.

Injured List: L.A. is beat up, especially on the O-line with both tackles out. While the Patriots have key guys Milton Williams, Robert Spillane and Will Campbell back.

Odds:Pats favored by 3.5.

Prediction: Pats 20, L.A. 10. The D gives up the usual 10 early points, then shuts L.A. down as Maye gets them enough points to move on.

A Little Playoff History – Chargers vs. Pats: The ancient rivals first met in the fourth AFL title game in 1963. When the Pats got pounded 51-10 by (then) San Diego in 1963 FB Keith Lincoln ran for 208 yards, had 129 more receiving and passed for 20 yards to boot. But the news was better in the Brady-Belichick era when NE won in 2007, 2008 and 2019.

News Item – CFP Observations: The Final Four are Miami vs. Oregon and Indiana vs Mississippi.

Ohio State – my predicted champ goes down early in a 24-14 loss to Miami.

Indiana – taking down giant programs. First OSU for Big 10 title and Bama 38-3 in the CFP.

Ole Miss – I like that the more they win the longer deserter HC Lane Kiffin has to wait to fill out his staff to begin recruiting after abandoning his players to begin recruiting early at LSU.

Alabama – that 38-3 final was the largest losing margin in Bama bowl game history. Makes HC Kalen DeBoer “just” 19-8 since Nick Saban retired.

News Item – Celtics Update: After losing four key players and Jayson Tatum to a big injury, the Celtics are somehow 22-12. And after scoring 50 Saturday on just 26 shots, Jaylen Brown ishaving the career year averaging 30.1 points per, along with 6.1 rebounds and 5 assists. The much criticized Joe Mazzulla also earns credit for getting them there.

The Numbers

0 – interceptions made by the NY Jets during the entire 2025 season.

89.6 – Patrick Mahomes’ lowest QB rating since became the starter in KC.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Mike Vrabel: For tuning out the noise to not bury Rhamondre Stevenson (or worse) after his early fumbling issues so he couldrumble for 156 total yards and three TDs Sunday.

Rumor Mill – Bill Belichick: After insecure GM Terry Fontenot passed on him for Raheem Morris in 2024, will Coach B enter the picture in Atlanta after both got fired following their 8-9 season?

Random Thoughts:

How long ago was Indiana last in the Rose Bowl? MVP OJ Simpson ran for 128 yards and two TDs as they lost to USC in 1969!

Sports 101 Answer: The playoff leaders in NFL history: Wins — SF with 39 to NE’s 37. Losses — Minnesota, 32. Games — Dallas, 69.

Final Thought — Biggest Sports Stories of 2025:

1 – The WNBA:The rise of and petty jealousy aimed at Caitlin Clark because she drove it all.

2 – Collapse Of KC Chiefs: They missed the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era. So is it like NE 2008, then back to normal? Or should the Pats just say thanks for keeping our seat worm, we’ll take it back from here?

3 – The Raffy Devers Trade: The Sox were right in moving the sulking insubordinate out. And guess what? Despite massive public opinion against, the Sox got immediately better and SF immediately got worse and never recovered.

4 – Fisher Cats Alums Shine in World Series. Along with former F-Cat manager/player John Schneider in the dugout there were 11 other alums. The biggest contributors were Bo Bichette, hitting .348 with a homer and 6 RBI, and Trey Yesavage, who won a game at Delta Dental Stadium in June, allowed just a run on three hits and struck out 12 Dodgers in a 3-1 Game 5 win.

5 – Ryan Day Leads OSU to CFP title: The ex-Central High and UNH quarterback became the first local to win a national college football title as a head by beating Notre Dame 34-23. Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.