THE UN-LUCK OF THE IRISH

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Sunday, the NCAA announced the 12 teams that will compete in the College Football Playoff. One team that didn’t hear their name called was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish have made the CFP three times and as recently as 2024. Notre Dame finished the season 10-2, losing their first two games of the season. Ironically enough the two teams that defeated them Miami and Texas A&M will play each other in the first round of the playoff. Also, let’s not make it out that the Irish were blown out in either game, they lost the two games by a combined four points. The Irish do have some solid victories over USC and Pittsburgh, whom both were in the top 25 at the time of the game. 

James Madison and Tulane are the schools the “experts” will say don’t deserve to be there, but they both won their respective conferences. Tulane even has a win over ACC champion Duke. But the team that shouldn’t be in the playoff is Alabama. Alabama has three losses on the season, which is what Madison and Tulane have combined. Alabama’s three losses were to Florida St (5-7), Oklahoma (10-2), and Georgia (12-1). Now the Georgia loss occurred in the SEC Championship game, Alabama did beat Georgia in the regular season. But the SEC title game was as non competitive as it gets, so my question would be are they counting the conference title games or does it not matter and what Alabama did during the season was enough? 

Now, I am not one who wants the CFP to keep expanding, I don’t think it’s necessary. But are the Irish being penalized because they’re not in a conference, because that’s what it feels like. Where I disagree with Notre Dame is that they should want to play in a bowl game, for those seniors it’s a last chance to wear the jersey to the school they committed to, and for others it could be something to carry over into next season. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but Notre Dame has a right to be upset, and Alabama doesn’t deserve to be there. That’s not what you’ll hear, but it is true.

WHAT A SHAME!

BY MARK HALPERN

   When Daniel Jones signed with the Colts everyone laughed including yours truly. Well, Daniel Jones made a fool of everyone including myself. Jones and the Colts were one of the toasts of the season at 8-4. Today the unfortunate happened to Jones, while throwing for a completion down the field you see Jones go down but it was Non-contact and immediately grab his lower calf/heel area. According to reports it is a torn Achilles for Jones and he will miss the rest of this season and possibly the beginning of next year. Achilles injuries have had major impacts on the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins among others have suffered the devastating injury. 

    Daniel Jones after being dismissed by the New York Giants had to find a new gig. Jones was offered the backup job to Anthony Richardson and jumped at the opportunity to have a fresh start. Jones beat Richardson to be the Colts starting QB. A lot of people didn’t believe this would be what it would become. Well to shut us all up before the injury Jones has passed for 3,041 yards with a 67.5% completion percentage to go along with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. By far Jones’s most productive season. Jones will sorely be missed on and off the field as he is a leader in the locker room as well. After the injury Jones returned to the sideline in a walking boot and street clothes to be there for his team. Riley Leonard took over at Quarterback and the Colts ended up losing sending them to 8-5 on the year and much uncertainty for the rest of the season.

     The Colts don’t have many options right now however, Anthony Richardson could be able to return by week 16, otherwise it will be Riley Leonard at the helm and the Colts Defense is going to have to step up and keep games close. The Colts schedule is going to be difficult with division games remaining with the Texans and Jags, along with games against the Seahawks and 49ers.

WEEK 14

BY SIN BLITZERS

MIA AT NYJ : The Dolphins enter this divisional game being winners of three straight games and have a slim opportunity to make the playoffs. The Dolphins defeated the Jets in week four 27-21. Tua Tagovailoa was 17-25 for 177 yards and two touchdowns (both to Darren Waller) The Jets were able to run the ball in the first meeting, they ran for almost 200 yards and averaged seven yards per carry. The Jets are coming off a win over the Falcons and would love nothing more than to halt their division rival’s playoff hopes. 

PIT AT BAL : The best rivalry in the NFL makes it’s 2025 debut with major stakes as the winner will be in first place of the AFC North. Both teams sit at 6-6 and are coming off of awful home losses. The Ravens lost on Thanksgiving night to the Bengals. The offense had five turnovers in the loss, while the Steelers lost to the Bills. Things were so ugly that Steeler fans chanted “fire Tomlin” during the game. The Ravens defeated the Steelers in the Wild Card Round in the playoffs. 

CIN AT BUF : The Bengals got Joe Burrow back and he was back in form against the Ravens. The Bengals are still in the thick of the AFC North. The Bengals also got good news on the injury front this week, Tee Higgins cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday. Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins have been on the field together for 54 snaps on the season or just 7% of their snaps. For the Bills, they’re coming off a win over the Steelers. It wasn’t pretty but they got the job done. But the Bills’ defense will be tested on Sunday, but two elite Quarterbacks will take the field. 

IND AT JAC : First place in the AFC South is on the line with these two division rivals meeting for the first time. The Colts have dropped three of their last four games. In the three losses Jonathan Taylor has been held under 100 yards and out of the endzone, although the one win he went for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. The Jags are giving up just over 82 yards per game rushing. 

CHI AT GB : The oldest rivalry in football also makes it’s debut on Sunday when the Bears travel to the frozen tundra (Shoutout Chris Berman) to play the Packers. First place in the NFC North is on the line in this game. The key to this game is going to be the quarterbacks. Caleb Williams has played very well during this stretch for the Bears, while Jordan Love has had his ups and downs throughout the season. This might be a defensive battle in Lambeau. 

HOU AT KC : Huge playoff implications are on the line here. The Texans have been on a roll recently winners of their last four and they got CJ Stroud back last week. They’re going up against a Chiefs team with their backs against the wall. The chess match between Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid against Demeco Ryans and Matt Burke will be worth monitoring. How will the Texans deploy Derek Stingley, and could Patrick Mahomes’ legs be the difference.

BIG GAME FEEL

BY MARK HALPERN

This Thursday the Dallas Cowboys will face the Detroit Lions, their third consecutive game against a team that made the playoffs last season. The Cowboys are getting done on all fronts as they have won back-to-back games against the Eagles and Chiefs on Thanksgiving. The Lions bring the BEST running back duo into this game and will be using it plenty. The Lions lost WR Amon-ra St. Brown on Thanksgiving due to a high ankle sprain and is considered week to week. As of Tuesday, St. Brown has not practiced but could be available according to Dan Campbell. The Cowboys could get Trevon Diggs back and couldn’t happen at a better time especially with the Defense is playing better. Expect this game to be a back and forth and most likely will be decided by three points or less. For the Cowboys it’s establishing the run game early and then getting into the hands of Lamb, Pickens and Williams on offense and for the Lions it’s Gibbs, J. Williams, and if St. Brown is out someone is going to have to step up. (this could be the deciding factor) My X factor for this game is going to be the Dallas D-Line stopping Gibbs as they have stopped Barkley and Pacheco/Hunt in consecutive weeks.

IT’S OVER

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Steelers’ fans were loud and clear during their team’s 26-7 loss to the Bills on Sunday and the message was to fire coach Mike Tomlin. But the Steelers issues go deeper than Tomlin in my opinion and it is time for one of the most prominent organizations in the NFL to start rebuilding. 

The Steelers have had three coaches over the last 40 years including Tomlin the last 18 seasons. The Steelers have not won a playoff game in nine seasons, but Tomlin like his predecessors Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll does have a Super Bowl ring, which he won in 2009. 

But here is where Tomlin and the Steelers failed over the last two seasons and that was taking chances on aging quarterbacks, who wouldn’t put them over the edge. Last season it was Russell Wilson and this season it’s Aaron Rodgers, now while they’re not exempt from blame, the fact of the matter is the Steelers were trying to bandage up their flaws with potential future hall of famers. 

With their loss on Sunday the Steelers sit at a record of 6-6, while they started the season 4-1. 6-6 is good enough right now to be tied for the AFC North lead with the Baltimore Ravens, but if you’re a Steeler fan it’s not good. The Ravens started the season 1-5 and even lost Quarterback Lamar Jackson for a three plus game stretch. The Steelers left the door open for the Ravens and even the Bengals, who just got Quarterback Joe Burrow back from injury. 

Here is the thing about the Steelers, they are very good at beating up on bad teams, but when they play the elite teams they struggle. Now, whether you want to blame the players or coaching I don’t care, but to quote Ric Flair “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” 

This season was supposed to be different for the Steelers. After they signed Rodgers, they acquired DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey. They re-signed TJ Watt and Cam Heyward and they’re in the same spot they’re always in. Look, if Bill Belichick and the Patriots can part ways, the Steelers can do the same with Tomlin. And right now might be the perfect time to do something like a rebuild or a retool, you probably won’t have a Quarterback as good as Jackson or Burrow and that’s just your division, in the AFC as a whole you have to compete with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as well.

WHERE  IS THE LOYALTY

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Well the question everyone in College Football has been asking was answered on Sunday. Lane Kiffin will be leaving Oxford, Mississippi to go to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and coach the LSU Tigers. In December of 2019 Kiffin became the coach of the Rebels, leaving Florida Atlantic University. Kiffin signed a four year 16.2 million dollar contract. Kiffin went 55-19 in his six seasons at Ole Miss. 

Kiffin has signed a seven year contract at LSU worth 12 million dollars per season. The 12 million make Kiffin the third highest paid coach in the country behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day. The difference is Smart and Day have won National Championships and Kiffin hasn’t. Kiffin will replace Brian Kelly, who was fired a few weeks ago. 

On Friday Kiffin and the Rebels beat in state rivals Mississippi State for their 11th win of the season and basically clinching a spot in the CFP. Kiffin will not coach in the CFP. 

Look, we get on players when it comes to free agency, or in the case of college players the transfer portal. But we are supposed to be okay when these coaches decide to leave for a higher profile job. And Kiffin can’t say he wasn’t just leaving for the money because both Ole Miss and LSU play in the same division in the same conference. The two teams will be scheduled to play each other in 2026 in Oxford. 

I understand that there is very little loyalty in sports now. But the people who get hurt in this situation are the players, who are still kids. Now these Ole Miss players have to answer questions about a situation they shouldn’t be in. Today there are very few Bobby Bowden’s, Mike Krzyzewski, or Jim Boeheim’s. Ole Miss has their best season ever and now the coach leaves to become the third highest paid coach in the country, one thing is for sure LSU at Ole Miss will be must watch next season.

WEEK 13 

BY SIN BLITZERS

NO AT MIA : Don’t look now but the Dolphins have made the in the hunt graphic for the playoffs (hey we gotta celebrate something). The Dolphins have won two straight games prior to their bye week and take on a Saints team that is coming off a loss to the Falcons. Tyler Shough has been decent since being named the starter, but the offensive line has been a problem for the Saints. The Saints will not have Alvin Kamara, who is out with a knee injury. The Dolphins on the other hand might be getting back Tight End Darren Waller and Right Tackle Austin Jackson. Can the Dolphins make it three in a row or will this be the nail in their very slim chances. 

HOU AT IND : The Texans have won three in a row and will now get CJ Stroud back from a concussion. The Texans sit two games behind the Colts and will play them for the first time this season (the second one will come in week 18). The Colts have dropped two of their last three games and have come back to earth a bit.  The Colts averaged 139 rushing yards per game, last week they were held to 74 yards on 19 carries. The Texans are allowing 92 rushing yards per game. There’s been some talks about Daniel Jones playing through an injury, so if his mobility isn’t there, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter could feast. 

LAR AT CAR : The Rams have continued to be the best team in the NFL. Matthew Stafford has been sensational, as have his weapons and this Rams’ defense. Last week against the Bucs the Rams helped the Panthers, this week this is their opponent. The Panthers have another opportunity to chase down the Bucs, if the Bucs lose and the Panthers win they could find themselves in first place in the NFC South. 

BUF AT PIT : This is the biggest game of the week, as both teams are in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Both teams are coming off of disappointing losses, the Bills to the Texans and the Steelers to the Bears. Aaron Rodgers, who missed last week’s game will play according to Mike Tomlin. This game might come down to which defense can make one more stop.

REALLY DUDE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Monday Yankees Owner Hal Steinbrenner spoke to the media about the team and some other financial things. One of the items Hal Steinbrenner discussed was MLB implementing a salary cap. Steinbrenner said “ he would consider a cap only if it’s accompanied by a salary floor.” 

A Steinbrenner arguing for a potential salary cap is not good for the game of baseball. Would George talk about a salary cap? No, he would do whatever it took to win baseball games. Hal, you are the owner of the New York Yankees, the most successful franchise in all of sports and you want to have a salary cap? Now, where I do agree with him is the fact that baseball should have a salary floor, but we all know the players will not go for a salary cap. This is the owner of the Yankees crying because now other teams are spending to their levels. The fact that Hal even said salary cap, like he owns the Pirates is an awful sign for baseball, the owner of the Yankees should want to spend money. 

The Milwaukee Brewers had the best record in the National League, and were four wins away from going to the World Series and were 23rd in payroll. The Mariners were one win away from going to the World Series and they were 16th in payroll, I don’t hear those owners crying for a cap. Five teams in MLB spent less than 100 million dollars, The Pirates, Rays, Marlins, A’S and White Sox and they all finished below .500. Now, the Rays have a new owner so we can wait to see if they spend. 

These small market teams can be upset about how big markets spend, but the owner of the Yankees shouldn’t make that argument. Again, I think Hal is right about getting a salary floor, but a cap is not something he should focus on. What he should be focused on is helping the Yankees win their first World Series since 2009.

THANK YOU NIMMO!

BY MARK HALPERN

In a very surprising move yesterday the New York Mets traded long time favorite OF Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for 2B Marcus Semien. Nimmo, was the Mets first round pick in 2011 (13th overall). Nimmo was called up during the 2016 season, and since was a mainstay in the Mets lineup. Nimmo showed his love for the game when he’d run everything out (including walks) and played the game with a smile on his face, something fans appreciated. 

       Nimmo during his tenure with the Mets had 974 hits, 135 homers, and 463 RBI’S. Nimmo had a slash line of .262/.364/.438. His patience at the plate earns him a lot of walks. There is no secret that Nimmo has been and always be a fan favorite and he will be sorely missed but, we look at who the Mets traded for and it absolutely solves one of the Mets offseason issues of a need for a consistent second baseman and they got it with Semien. One thing you have to look at is his age which is 35 and might not be a power hitter any more but his defense is undeniably good and it makes the Mets infield even deeper. 

    The Mets have a lot to do before next season. The one move that Mets fans want to see is the announcement that Pete Alonso has been resigned. Brand Nimmo will join the Texas Rangers and be reunited with SP Jacob Degrom, who apparently sold Nimmo on going to Texas.

AN INCREDIBLE WIN

BY MARK HALPERN

Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys came back from a 21 point deficit to defeat their long-time division rival the Philadelphia Eagles by the score of 24-21. On “Sunday Sideline Report” I discussed the importance of the game. If you want to hear what I said over 6 hours prior to kickoff please go watch this clip at 49:40 on our YouTube page here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDImMxxuZ1s&t=2983s. 

     The Cowboys were coming off a monster win over the Raiders. Most people saw it as just a win over a bad team, but something I noticed was that maybe after the trade deadline the Cowboys might have found something in this defense.

    The Eagles were in control of this game in the first half. The Dallas offense was moving the ball but would end up self sabotaging itself. Cee Dee Lamb was dropping passes again against Philly. The Eagles were winning the line of scrimmage and getting to Prescott. With under a minute the Cowboys were finally able to get on the board with a 3 yard pass from Prescott to Pickens to make it 21-7 at Halftime.

     I don’t know what was said by head coach Brian Schottenhimer and DC Matt Ebberflus but, I would have killed to be a fly on the wall. Whatever was said inspired this team because they looked like a different squad in the second half. 

    The second half was the complete opposite of the first half. The Eagles offense was a trainwreck, and the Cowboys were going up and down the field. I had predicted earlier that day Javonte Williams would be the fantasy point leader for the Cowboys (had a good day with 87 yards on 20 carries) but Dak Prescott went 23/35 for 354 yards along with 2 TD’s and 1 INT and also ran in a touchdown. You know who the big difference maker was in this game? George Pickens, who had a game high nine catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. In the week one meeting, Pickens was a non factor with three catches for 30 yards. This offense for the Cowboys isn’t a secret on how good it can be even against tougher defenses. The question becomes what is this defense?

    Through the first half this looked like it was going to be a trouncing of the Cowboys as the Eagles were up by 21 in the middle of the second quarter and all signs pointed to a very embarrassing day at AT&T Stadium. One thing that the Cowboys did was completely take Saquon Barkley out of the game limiting him to only 33 rushing yards (did have 50 yards receiving). Barkley also had a costly fumble. The Eagles put  everything on Hurts shoulders and the Cowboys were ready. The Defensive line made up of Clowney, Clark, Williams and a mix of players at DE on the right side were in Hurts’ face the whole half. The Defense only managed one sack but forced Hurts and company off the field and forced punts. The Cowboys and the Eagles could have won this game if BOTH Place Kickers had made respected field goals but to overtime, we went.

     The momentum was on the Cowboys side, but the Eagles had first chance and the Cowboys defensive plan hadn’t changed and they forced a Punt. Dak led a 9 play 49-yard drive with big passes to Jake Ferguson Once down to the 26 yard line Brandon Aubrey came out and did what he does best and kicked the ball straight through the uprights to put an exclamation point on the comeback.

    What’s next for the Cowboys is their Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs, who had an impressive win of their own against the Colts this weekend. This game will be more of a test again for this re-tooled Dallas Defense as Patrick Mahomes and company are playing for their playoff lives.