Los Angles Chargers vs Los Angles Rams Pre-Season #1

By Zakary Haines

LOS ANGLES- Football has returned to Los Angeles, and what better way to kick off pre-season than with the two teams that call LA home. The Rams and Chargers will face off tonight at 10 pm est making this the latest game of the day. Most of the Rams starters will sit out game one. That includes Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and many more. This makes the Chargers the favorite to win this game. With the spread at +3 for the Rams, this game will mostly be for evaluations and where to make some cuts to the roster. 

The NFL has carried over its COVID flex rules and will make cuts occur on Tuesday for the 2nd season in a row. The Rams will have to cut their roster down to 85 players after Saturday night. This game will be crucial for many players as it is a chance to prove they belong on the 53 man roster for week 1. Here are some groups to look out for on the field for game 1.

Wide Receiver: The Rams have plenty of options to throw to, but who will get the ball is another question. Currently, there are ten listed players in the Wide Receiver position, and trimming it down will be important in the coming weeks. Some players are returning to the team, such as Robert Woods and Connor Kupp, while newer additions such as DeSean Jackson and Van Jefferson will need to carve out a spot for themselves. Considering Matthew Stafford will be the starter in week 1, it is important to find the best hands and talent in this group.

Inside Linebackers: Despite the Rams ranking 1st in defense last year, that does not mean it was perfect. One position of concern is the Inside Linebacker. With the talents of Aaron Donald on the defensive line and Jalen Ramsey at corner, the Rams need a leader to step up in the middle. Expect these guys to go all out in the pre-season with a young mix of Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, Travin Howard, and Kenny Young looking to make the roster and earn the starting role. Young is the favorite to win the spot but is not surprised if another player grabs the spot.

Special Teams: The Rams ranked 30th in special teams last season and were the worst out of all the playoff teams. Significant improvements for this upcoming season are necessary. This first game will help see who may be a good fit on kickoff, punts, and field goals. There will be some competition. Johnny Hekker has been on the team for ten seasons, but Corey Bojorquez is on the roster for a reason. Meanwhile, Matt Gay and Austin MacGinnis will be fighting for the starting kicker position after the Rams moved on from Sam Sloman last season.

There is a lot to improve on from last season. Trading for Matthew Stafford has created a significant buzz and a new drive in the team. It is important to be firing on all cylinders early on in the upcoming season. Overall, this game may not appear necessary, but it starts the final preparations for the regular season for the players and coaches. 

New York Jets vs New York Giants Pre-Season #1

By Jeff Knapp

NEW YORK- The 2021 season is here, and the New York Giants start things off this preseason with three games against the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots. This Monday, the Giants will take the field with a returning core unit on both sides of the ball. We’ll see Daniels Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram on the offense. On defense, we are seeing the return of Blake Martinez, who was in the top 10 again last year for tackles, Leonard Williams, who signed a three-year contract with the Giants after having the franchise tag put on him, and Jabrill Peppers alongside Logan Ryan on defens

The Giants said goodbye to Kevin Zeitler, Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis, Golden Tate, David Mayo, and Dalvin Tomlinson during the offseason. Not having Dalvin upfront may hurt the Giants. He was a force in the middle and was highly reliable. He started and played in every game since his 2017 rookie year and played in at least 50% or more of the defensive snaps.

Although we lost a few good men, we also added some great men. On defense, the Giants signed 26-year-old CB Adoree’ Jackson away from Tennessee for three years; from Minnesota, they signed DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, who might help fill the void left by Dalvin Tomlinson.

The big splash this past offseason was the addition of highly coveted WR Kenny Golladay for the likes of 4 years. Golladay will make their wide receiver core much more dangerous. The addition of speedy John Ross, who should open up the field alongside Darius Slayton. We can’t forget the addition of TE Kyle Rudolph, who should be a tremendous asset to help Evan Engram grow as a TE.

During the 2021 draft, the Giants selected multi-tool player Kadarius Toney, WR out of Florida, with their first-round pick. They then selected LB Azeez Ojulari out of Georgia in the second round.

One of the things that concerned me the most going into preseason was LB Todd Davis’s retirements and  O-linemen Joe Looney and Zach Fulton. I hope this isn’t an omen of things to come. Heading into week one of the preseason and the next few weeks, we will need to keep an eye on the injuries that occurred to John Ross, Kenny Golladay, Shane Lemieux, and how Saquon Barkley fares from his 2020 injury.

We will not see much of the starters during preseason until the 3rd and final game, but Joe Judge, Patrick Graham, and Jason Garrett will be looking for many different things. For instance, schematic changes or play calling focus. The staff may look at how the team does on the 2nd & 3rd down. They may also teach them the basics of their team’s blocking assignment terminology. The coaches may also go week by week looking to set specific goals for individual players to reach.

I’m not looking at wins and losses during the preseason. I’m looking to see how they look as a unit early in the preseason.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pre-Season #1

By Liam Sullivan

TAMPA, FL- The Cincinnati Bengals finished with the fourth-worst record in the NFL last season, with a 4-11-1 record. Before LSU Rookie Joe Burrow got hurt, he was having a pretty good year. Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon, running back, had a good season until he injured his foot in Week 6, on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Clemson Rookie Tee Higgins had an excellent season for a rookie with 66 receptions for 900 yards, with six touchdowns. 

On the defensive side, it was a pretty bad performance. However, there are future stars in Wake Forest rookie Jesse Bates and Ohio State product Vonn Bell. 

Zac Taylor is in his third year at the coaching helm of this team. Taylor improved from his 2019 season to 2020 from a two-win season to four wins. With Burrow and Higgins on the team, fans wanted to see a better improvement. The playoffs are not expected for this organization, but they would like to see a winning season. Some say that Taylor can expect to be fired if he does not have a winning season.

This year, the Bengals look to open up the preseason in Tampa, Florida, against the championship defending Buccaneers. Mike Brown’s organization hopes to present its newly drafted players on the field against the Glazer Family. 

Brandon Allen is expected to get the start against Florida rookie Kyle Trask. Allen is expected to have a rotating backfield of Trayveon Williams and Samaje Perine. He is expected to throw to newly drafted Wide Receiver and LSU Product Ja’Marr Chase, Florida State product Auden Tate, and sixth-year Veteran from Southern Miss Mike Thomas, all of whom play for Troy Walters. Potentially blocking and receiving for the Bengals will be a third-year player from Washington, Drew Sample, coached by James Casey. Jackson Carman, D’Ante Smith, and Trey Hill will hold Frank Pollack’s lineup. Evan McPherson will hope to make Darrin Simmons’ Special Teams unit. 

For Staten Island, NY., Native and Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Bengals hope to display some of their newly drafted players on the defensive side of the ball. On Marion Hobby’s defensive line will be players like Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, Tyler Shelvin, and Wyatt Hubert. In the defensive backfield will be Jesse Bates and Vonn Bell at safety, playing for Robert Livingston, and Trae Waynes and Mike Hilton at corner, playing for Steve Jackson. 

When I asked Reed Burton, in Arlington, NY., a Bengals fan, about why he is excited about this season, he said this: “I want to see how Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow play together.” 

Takeaways from last night’s WFT/Patriots Matchup

By. Dan Ryans

WASHINGTON–The Washington Football Team played a preseason game for the first time since 2019. Most aspects of the team shined during the 22-13 loss against the New England Patriots. Here are three takeaways from last night’s events:

1. Chase Young is still a stud

Right out the gate, Chase Young showed us once again why he was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. Not only did he repeatedly beat left tackle Isaiah Wynn in 1-on-1 battles, but Young also put a lot of pressure on QB Cam Newton. One play, in particular, was early in the first quarter. The Patriots were on 3rd & 8 at their own 22-yard line and on that play, Chase Young easily got by Wynn and manhandled Newton for what looked like a sack and a fumble at the time. Unfortunately, the ruling on the field was changed to an incomplete pass, and Young was credited only with a QB hit. That doesn’t matter though. It still didn’t change the fact that he wasted no time showing the league his dominant force on that defensive line. 

2. All 3 QB’s were excellent

Let’s start off with Ryan Fitzpatrick and what else can you say about the 17-year veteran. He ended the night going 5 of 8 with 58 yards. On top of that, his early connections at camp with receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Logan Thomas were easily noticeable. One of his first passes was to McLaurin for a 22-yarder on a 2nd & 7. Later on, Fitzpatrick converts a pass on 3rd & 10 to Thomas for 24 yards. If Fitzy can keep this up throughout camp and into the season, this offense should be in good shape. 

Taylor Heinicke was next after Fitzpatrick’s two series and let’s just say, he was solid as well. He struggled at first with an incompletion and a sack. However, he rebounded quickly with two big completions to TE John Bates and WR Steven Sims, Jr. He even led Washington down a scoring to put them up 7-6 at the end of the half. Heinicke ended his night going 9 for 15 with 86 yards, pleasing head coach Ron Rivera. “Taylor picked up right where he left off,” said Coach Rivera after the game. “I think he’s a high-dynamic energy type player. He did a lot of good things, made some good decisions, and I like who he is as a football player right now.”

Rookie Steven Montez capped off the night for quarterbacks with a nice performance of his own completing 17 of 24 passes, for 108 yards, one touchdown, one interception. His lone TD pass to Lamar Miller came late in the fourth to pull Washington within two points.

3. Keep your eyes on undrafted rookie Jaret Patterson

Standing at 5’8, 195 pounds is Prince George’s County, Maryland native Jaret Patterson. A 21-year old lifelong fan of Washington Football, Patterson said after the game that making his NFL debut with his hometown team is a dream come true. “It’s a blur, man. It’s been unreal. The feeling was unbelievable…My mindset was whenever I get the opportunity, I was going to take advantage of it and show these coaches…I belong in the NFL.” And he certainly did show out last night as he led the squad with a total of 40 yards rushing and added 30 receiving yards on 14 touches.

Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions Pre-Season #1

By Lawrence Lang

DETROIT- With Hall of Fame weekend behind us, we now move to preseason football. Now, as we know, preseason football can be a waste of time. Why do we need four weeks of watching this? Well, it’s simple we need the preseason to figure out a few things: who the starters will be even though most teams have their starter set, backups, and third strings players also there could be, and god forbid it happens an injury that shakes up the starting line. In the case of the Buffalo Bills, there is a significant question: who will back- up Josh Allen?

Allen is the man in Buffalo now after getting a new deal with a six-year contract worth $258 million with a $150 million guarantee. Three quarterbacks are fighting for the position in preseason game one is a good start to that decision in the backup conversation. The Bills have three other quarterbacks in their depth chart with Mitchell Trubisky, Jake Fromm, and Davis Webb.

The Chicago Bears drafted Trubisky as the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Bears would trade up for him, giving the San Francisco 49ers two third-round picks. In Trubisky’s four years with the bears, he would bring the Bears their first Division title in eight years when they won the North in 2018 after beating division rival Green Bay Packers 24-17. In 2020 we would see a battle for the Starting QB position with him and Nick Foles. He would start the first two weeks, then was benched in week three against the Atlanta Falcons. He wouldn’t be the starter again till week 12 against the Packers. The bears that season would make the playoffs and, in the Wild card Round, would lose to the New Orleans Saints 21-9. Trubisky finished his tenure in Chicago with a 29-21 record, 64 Tds 37 Ints, and 87.2 Passer Rating. Trubisky is out to prove that even though he might not be the starter in Buffalo, he can be the number 2 and be ready to go if Allen were to go down. Looking at Trubisky, I feel he’s out for redemption after the fallout with the Bears. If he can prove in the preseason that he can be that number #2 in Buffalo, I wouldn’t be upset because it shows that he’s not giving up on trying to be a Qb in the NFL, and if it doesn’t work out for him in Buffalo maybe it will make a case for a team to pick him up.

Next, we turn to Jake Fromm. The 23-year-old 167th 5th round pick in the 2020 NFL draft comes from Georgia, where he made them the N0.1 college team and took the Bulldogs to the 2017 SEC Championship, where they beat Auburn. In the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma, he would lead them to a 54-48 victory to earn them a spot in the College Football National Championship, where they would lose 23-26. Fromm would throw for 232 yards, two interceptions, one touchdown, and going 16 of 32. In his time at Georgia, he finished with a career of 78 Tds 18 Ints and a QBR of 157.5. Fromm signed a four-year, $3.771 million contract, including a $302,960 signing bonus, with the Bills on May 7, 2020. Fromm seems to be for the long run with the contract offer from 2020, but with Trubsiky here now. There might be a case where he might be dropped to third-string if Trubisky thrives in the preseason. Trubsiky might light a fire under Fromm to go all out and show his talent and show Trubisky that he will be the one behind Allen.

Lastly, Davis Webb, the 26-year-old 87th 3rd round pick in 2017, has played hot potato with teams. He was drafted by the New York Giants but was later waived in 2018 by the Giants on September 2, 2018. He was then picked up by the New York Jets just two days later in 2019. He was part of last-minute roster cuts and was cut on August 31, 2019. Once again, two days later, he was signed to the Bills practice squad. On January 26, 2021, Webb signed a reserves/futures contract with the Bills. In his college days at Texas Tech from 2013 to 2015 and a transfer to California in 2016 fished with 9,852 passing yards, 83 TDs, and 34 Ints. Webb is a dark horse because of the bouncing around teams and not being given a chance to showcase himself. But that time might be now as the battle of the backup begins. While there might be a battle between Trubisky and Fromm, he has a chance maybe to go off the grid and sneak his way into the backup position. If anything, he might see himself off the practice squad and at third string. If he has a great preseason and is cut from the Bills, he might have a case for another team like Trubisky.

With Wins and losses not mattering, I’m more interested in the backup QB conversation because this can be something to look out for since all three QBs have a case to be that guy behind Allen and be ready just in case. If anything, I see the Bills winning 21-10.

Preseason Week 1: Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta Falcons

By Bill Murphy

ATLANTA-  After six long months, football is finally back for the Tennessee Titans will open up their preseason in Atlanta against the Falcons. Last year the Titans finished with an 11-5 record winning the AFC South but lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Baltimore Ravens 20-13. Running back, Derrick  Henry was named the NFL’s offensive player of the year, rushing for 2,000 yards, making him the second player in franchise history to do so (the other being Chris Johnson ). Aside from Henry, there is also  Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who threw 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions last year. Wide Receiver AJ Brown had his second straight 1,000 yard season, scored 11 touchdowns, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

Now fast-forwarding to this season, the Titans have made some moves to benefit the offense and defense over the offseason.  The most substantial pick this offseason was, of course, Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons. Acquiring Jones will give Tannehill another weapon along with Brown and  Henry.  The Titans would have to look out for Jones and his health because last year with the Falcons he was injured a good portion of the season and is also getting up there at 32. Jones’s appearance can be good for the fans. According to USA Today,” Titans ticket sales went up 61% from this time last year .” 

There will be two significant additions to a struggling Tennessee Defense this season with Outside Linebacker  Bud Dupree, who the Titans signed from the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Dupree has high-end athleticism and motor, but he is coming off a torn ACL injury and just got removed from the physically unable to perform list, so we will have to see.  The other addition is Caleb Farley, a first-round draft pick from Virginia Tech who was on the ACC all-conference team in 2019 but did not play during the 2020 season because of Covid. 

 With the gains, there are, unfortunately, losses. The Titans lost their playmaker  Corey Davis. Davis ended up going to the Jets and will be a top receiver for Zach Wilson.  Losing Davis is a good and bad thing for the Titans. They lose their slot receiver, but with Julio Jones, he has been replaced.  On top of losing their playmaker, the Titans also lost their offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who is now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Smith molded Ryan Tannehill into an NFL Quarterback, strengthened the offense here, and brought them to the playoffs twice in a row.  

It does not sound like many starters will be on the field tonight when it comes to tonight’s game.  Coach Mike Vrabel has officially announced that Derrick Henry will not be starting. In his place will be Darrynton Evans. Ryan Tannehill is not likely to start so that the ball will be given to either Logan Woodside or Matt Barkley.  Julio Jones is still coming off an injury and is marked as questionable, and it looks like Jones will not get his big start at his former team. When it comes to the new draft picks picked up this year, all of them will be starting except for   Farley, who Vrabel said is “not ready. “When it comes to the Atlanta Falcons, we won’t be seeing much of their starters either. It has been announced the quarterback Matt Ryan will not start.

With a team full of backups, the key to victory for tonight’s game will be for the defense to cover Atlanta’s new tight end, Kyle Pitts. Another key is to make sure Julio Jones and Bud Dupree stay healthy. This season, the keys for victory are the strong offense by Tannehill, Brown, Henry, and now Jones. My expectation is that the Titans will at least make the playoffs.

The Detroit Lions A new Era and New Quarterback

By Mark Halpern

DETROIT- Another year of football has arrived, and one of the biggest trades that happened in the off-season was that the Lions traded Quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams for Jared Geoff. Now I saw this and pondered if this was the right move. Stafford was a fan favorite but never could get them very far. Now Bring in Geoff, who had some great success with the Rams and is now in Detroit. Geoff has his work cut out because he doesn’t have the superstars he had with the rams. On the other side, Stafford has the weapons he needs to be competitive, and he has a shot to take them far.

    Last season the Lions went 3-12-1 during the covid season. Just a fun fact, they were the first team not to win a game in a season, so if you think it couldn’t get worse, could it? Well, they added another game, so can they go 0-17? What a thought. 

    As I mentioned, Geoff has his work cut out for him this year. In the backfield of the defense is second-year running back D’Andre Swift, who had a good rookie year and dealt with injuries. Swift rushed for 1218yrds last year and is going to have to be even more productive this year. 

    Tyrell Williams and veteran Breshad Perriman are the two starting wide receivers. If you are looking for Kenny Golladay, he is with the Giants now. That was a move that surprised me. Golladay would have easily had #1 WR status. T.J Hockenson is the #1 Tight end for this team, and he does have the ability to make plays, and he is a good blocker. I see a lot of TE screens this season, something Geoff was used to with the Rams. 

   You can’t have a good offense without a good defense. The Detroit defense can be stingy and look like a top 1 defense but, then there are the times when they get steamrolled and force the offense to put up tons of points. Looking over the defense, I see many familiar names, but the one substantial stand-out is Cornerback Jeff Okuda. He missed last season due to injury but is healthy and one of the better corners in the league. He will have his challenges throughout the season. Trey Flowers is another player to keep your eyes on. He also missed last season, but he can swim through offensive lines and get to the QB when he is healthy.

    The Lions’ first three games are also challenging as they face SF, GB, and Baltimore. That is a rough way to open your schedule. The defense is going to have to man up to give the weak Lions’ offense a chance. I see the Lions going 5-11 this year and missing the playoffs, I see Geoff having his worst year yet, and I don’t see this defense being able to compete against these formidable offenses but, things in football are constantly changing and as we know any team can beat any team on any given Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals Preseason Game #2

By Mark Halpern

ARIZONA- So last week, we saw the second and third-string players for the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. This was not going to be a high-scoring game by any means but turnovers were the story of the game as both sides coughed up the ball plenty. Garrett Gilbert was impressive for Dallas but couldn’t lead the team into the endzone, which is a little bit of concern but not much to worry about. Rookie Micha Parsons recorded a few tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. The game concluded with the Steelers winning 16-3.

     This week the Cowboys face the Cardinals in Arizona on Friday at 10 PM est. Again, we won’t see star QB Dak Prescott as he works through a shoulder strain. Don’t expect Amari Cooper to play as he is also recovering from injury, and sure other first-stringers will be there in spirit but not starting. We should get the first looks at Zeke, Cee Dee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and most of the offensive line for the Cowboys this Friday. They will probably play 1-2 drives at the most so they can get their feet wet.

      We won’t see Demarcus Lawrence on the defensive side for Dallas due to recovering from shoulder surgery, but a lot of the first-team defense will be on the field for the first quarter. We will get to see the young LB crew of Smith, Vander Esch, and Parsons work together for the first time. Keanu Neal will be a factor in that mix as well. If any of you are wondering what happened to Sean Lee, he is now a coach, and he will help mentor younger players and older ones. The secondary is still a Hodgepodge of players that Dallas Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn is trying to find the right combo of secondary players that works best with each other. Malik Hooker, who will most likely be the starting strong safety, has been ramping up his workouts over the last week, and we could see him in week 4 of preseason to get some rust off.

    On the other side of the ball, I expect to see most of the Cardinals 1st string offense and defense as they are still trying to find specific backups for Kyler Murray if some players on the team decide not to get vaccinated and threaten to hold out. The Cardinals have a potent offense with Kyler Murray at the helm, a good core of wide receivers staring Deandre Hopkins, and an excellent line to protect Murray as well. Their defense needs some work, but they will be a force to reckon with when everything comes together.

    Again, I don’t see a ton of scoring, as, by the middle of the second quarter, we will see second and third stringers play again. A victory is well insight if the Dallas offense can come out firing and hold the lead when other players come in. Final Score Dallas 17-10 over the Cardinals.

Preseason Week 1- On The Road: WFT at New England

By. Dan Ryans

WASHINGTON–Football is back as the Washington Football Team is on the road this week to matchup against the New England Patriots in the first of three preseason games in 2021. The burgundy and gold are on a quest to repeat as NFC East Champions with their eyes set on a much bigger playoff run than last year’s Wild Card round exit. The starters are expected to play at least one series in Foxborough, but the game plan will be limited.

For Washington, the development of the young core is critical. For head coach Ron Rivera, he’s looking to see if the rookies sink or swim. “You let them go on with everybody else,” Rivera said when asked on Tuesday if he had any advice for them. “If they can’t get themselves up, you gotta be concerned. It’s too late to go home; now let’s go.” Coach Rivera also reiterated that he doesn’t worry about his team in the early stages of camp. “I think our young guys have the right frame of mind. I think they’ve had a good couple of weeks of practice in the preparation, and I look forward to watching our guys play.”

One rookie to look out for is second-round offensive lineman Sam Cosmi. He has been given a huge learning curve at camp so far. After all, replacing longtime offensive tackle Morgan Moses, who was released following the 2020 season, is no easy task. With 1-on-1 reps against Montez Sweat and Chase Young, he is slowly starting to hold his own, enough to get him the starting job on the unofficial depth chart.Washington needs communication. Players have to shine and take command on the field, especially at quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick is going for that QB1 spot. Even though Fitzy doesn’t need preseason games, he says that first impressions with his new squad are critical. “It’ll be good to get out there and go through the process with the guys,” said Fitzpatrick in an interview with NFL Network’s Kim Jones. “Even just the communication, in and out of the huddle, getting out there and looking at a play clock again, communicating with the line on a pass play and run plays… it’s good to get a little dress rehearsal, so I’m excited to get out there a little bit.”

Fitzpatrick will have an exciting challenge with Taylor Heinicke for the starting job. Unfortunately for Heinicke, Fitz Magic has the upper hand and nine more years of experience. But don’t be mistaken because this man has the potential to lead the charge. When Alex Smith was ruled out of last season’s Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an injury, Heinicke was inserted and impressed everyone on the field, going 26 for 44, 306 yards, and a touchdown. Against a team that eventually won the Super Bowl, you have to give him a lot of credit.

The biggest thing going for this team is the defense. Fifth-year star DT Jonathan Allen recently signed a four-year $72 million extension and hopes to add another great season to his defensive resume. He will be joined by second-year lineman and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young, who is also looking to have a better season with the club. The DMV native had 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12 QB hits, and four forced fumbles in his outstanding rookie campaign.

Now there’s plenty of camps left to go before the season starts, but it’ll be great to finally see this Washington Football team go out in a real NFL game. With New England also giving its starters limited time on the field, it should be quite a battle to start. The kickoff starts at 7:30 pm EDT.

Best Food in Stadiums and Venues Pt1. (MLB)

By Mark Halpern

So, we all love going to the ballpark to watch our favorite team or players play the game of Baseball. However, watching the game is only part of the experience. Back in the early days of Baseball, ballparks offered concessions such as Beer, Hotdogs, Knishes, Hot Pretzels, and other small edibles. Over the past 70 years, ballparks all over the country have made it so that you can get some insane things to eat. People travel all over the country to visit a new stadium or follow their favorite team and try the new famous concoctions that ball clubs offer. You can still get the standard hotdog and a beer, hamburger, nachos, sausage, and peppers, and of course, Pretzels. Here is just a sample of a particular out-of-this-world Lipitor needing foods you can have at a Baseball game today. I have picked 12 stadiums, and I will rank them, in my opinion, 1st being the best buy to 13th in maybe I will try them one day.

#8. Now not every team has incredible food to sample. However, at Guaranteed Rate Field, you can get Smothered French Fries home of the White Sox. Now I know that sounds like French fries covered in cheese, right? However, this version is french fries with feta cheese, gyro meat, and bacon. That’s extraordinary, and it will cost you a whopping $15 to enjoy.

#2. Let’s move south a little to Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. Who doesn’t love to have a good hamburger at a game? You can smell them cooking on the grills as you walk in. The Royals took it a bit further than that. If you attend a game, be sure to try the BBQ burger. It’s just as it sounds but with a twist. This burger has an all-beef patty, pulled pork, cheese, and a giant onion ring. You can get a single for $12 or a double for $14.25.

#5. Heading toward the east coast to Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, you can get more than a cheesesteak sandwich. This stadium also has a simple burger. It consists of one or two burger patties, bacon, cheese, and cherry peppers jam. However, you don’t get a regular bun for this burger. The burger and all its fixings are placed between two glazed doughnuts. It might be very messy, but it sounds yummy.

#10 Moving a little west now but not very far to Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians {will be the Cleveland Guardians in 2022} kept things typical and traditional with this choice. We all know you can get a hot dog at a game, but not like this one. Called the Slider Dog, it’s a traditional all-beef hot dog with pimento mac and cheese, bacon, and Fruit Loops. Now, this is a game-changer here. You get Breakfast and Lunch in one sitting. Not bad for $11, and one day I will have to try it.

#9. Heading to the Sunshine State, the Miami Marlins now offer Sushi made to order. At some of the Stadiums, I know that they have private restaurants and other places for season ticket holders to get this Asian cuisine, but fans can get an essential California Roll or other choices at a fair price of $10 per six pieces

#1. Deep in the heart of Texas at Minute Maid field home of the Houston Astros, you can get a sandwich that will set you back a few bucks but, by the looks of it, looks like an absolute mouth-watering delight. Called the Prime Rib sandwich, you get what you expect. A slice of prime rib with caramelized onions and, of course, horseradish sauce. It looks great and will cost you a steep price of $20.At the ballpark, one of the most sought out sandwiches is the Rocky Mountain oyster Po’boy.

#6. Heading back out west to the Mile High State of Colorado, the Rockies offer a sandwich that you would think you need to be closer to the south or east coast for this one. It consists of a foot-long hoagie roll filled with Rocky Mountain Oysters, Garlic ColeSlaw, guacamole, green chili ranch, Pico de Gallo, and cotija cheese. You would think this sandwich would be the most expensive on the list, but this wedge will only run you $10.

#7. At Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, you would think their famous food would be something that lives under the sea. However, they are known for this famous dessert called the fried dough sundae. This delicious dessert gives you a hot and cold treat that is one for the ages. A plate-size piece of fried dough topped with either chocolate or vanilla ice cream, and then top it off with a mound of whip cream and your choice of toppings. Better eat it fast cause it will melt quickly but, it won’t break the bank as it is only $7.75 per plate. Skip dinner and have two, I would say.

#12. At SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, we find one of the most expensive ballparks treats on this list called the Blooper Burger. The burger is not your everyday burger of any sort. You get a hamburger, sliced hot dogs, chicken fingers, Jalapenos, and a massive helping of cheese sauce on toasted thick bread. Come Hungry cause for $26; this is something you want to finish and not toss any out.

#9. Now, heading back to the Empire State of New York, we tackle the Yankees. This ball club has been known to offer some of the most extravagant foods. From the fast-food chain Johnny Rockets to the most delicious Prime Rib sandwich I have ever had, we get a famous dessert here called the Tres Leche Milkshake. When you buy this creamy concoction, you get a tall glass filled with vanilla ice cream, substantial yellow cake pieces, a mound of whip cream, and Churros. Be sure not to throw the glass out when you are done because it is a souvenir glass and is only $15, which is reasonable for New York food.

#4. Just a 30 min drive to Citi Field {depending on the traffic} home of the Mets, you can find a bunch of different great foods. From Shake Shack burgers and shakes to some of the best Tacos and Nachos I have eaten. Like Yankee Stadium, here at Citi Field, they have one of the best deserts called Wowfulls. It consists of a vast waffle cone filled with a choice of ice cream, and I kid you, not almost every junk food item in the dessert world can fit in it if they have not run out. Again, you would think you would top the pricing chart, but it is very reasonable at $8. However, there is no souvenir cup to take home because you eat every last bite.

#3. The next stadium that we will visit is home to one of the most expensive ballpark foods out there. Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, offers a traditional ballpark indulgence called the 18-inch hot dog. Now it is not just a long hotdog that makes this one of the most expensive items out there. This hotdog is 18 inches but covered in toppings of your choice. One version that I read about had the hot dog but then topped with Coleslaw, mozzarella sticks, sliced cucumber, chopped green onions, and spicy mayo. This Hot Dog will set you back a whopping $30, but it is somewhat reasonable with unlimited toppings like the one I mentioned above. Come hungry, or don’t take on this beast.

#11. Lastly, we head out to the northwest to T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, where we find the most unusual ballpark food ever. It is not a hamburger, hotdog, slice of pizza, or even a creamy dessert. It is a cup of creepy crawlers. Yes, for the low price of $5, you can get a cup of Toasted Grasshoppers. To many of us, this sounds disgusting, but they are high in protein and possibly a food of the future. People go to this stadium to say they have tried it, and believe it or not. Most people say they would do it again and again. Per each cup, you get roughly 40 of the toasted creations, and according to the GM of the Mariners, they can’t keep the stands open the whole game sometimes because they run out frequently.

This article is only a sample of some of the delicacies you can get across the country. Next week, check out when I cover the NFL, NBA, and NHL stadiums with great and odd foods they serve.