SEAHAWKS KNOCKED THE PRIDE DOWN A PEG

BY MARK HALPERN

    Last week’s Lions, Seahawks game was one of the most anticipated games of the week. The new-look Lions hosted the Seahawks, which was to be the battle of the top teams in the NFC, and it was a great fight until the last play in overtime.

     The Lions won their first game against the Chiefs and knew this week wouldn’t be easier. On Seattle’s first drive, Kenny Walker took the ball in from 1 yard out after an impressive 12-play drive. Seattle didn’t waste time and scored on a Josh Reynolds 22-yard pass from Jared Goff, and all viewers knew we would be in for a show. The second Quarter saw the Lions take the lead on a 36-yard Kalif Raymond score, and Detroit was leading 14-7 in the half.

    Sometimes, the first half depicts how the second half would be, and it was a complete 180-degree turnaround, and the second half was fire from both sides of the ball. Kenny Walker scored his second T.D. of the game to tie it up, and David Montgomery came back. Once again, the Lions were ahead by a touchdown, but a late field goal at the end of the third still kept the Lions up by 4 points going into the fourth Quarter.

    The fourth Quarter was fun to watch. Geno Smith took control of the reigns and connected with Tyler Lockett and Tre Brown for two back-to-back scores, giving the Seahawks a 10-point lead, but Goff is one of those quarterbacks you can’t leave time with because he can manage, and he did. He connected with Reynolds for another score and got the Lions in position to tie the game with only a minute 1 and some change left. The game went to overtime, and on the second Lion drive, they took nine plays, and then Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett, this time for the game-winning touchdown. This game was another tough contest for the Lions, and the Lions proved that they are ready to take on any team in the league. Even though the Lions lost, I expect them to bounce back.

A Tale of Two halves – Giants vs Cardinals 

By Jeff Knapp

The Giants rolled into Arizona off the heels of a complete home opener embarrassment, losing to the Dallas Cowboys 40-0.

The 1st half looked precisely like the Cowboys game. By that, I mean that Jones threw for only 64 yards, was sacked once, and, because of horrible blocking by the O-line, was rushed throughout the 1st half of the play. Saquon Barkley only ran the ball six times for 24 yards. One of the passes thrown his way went right off his hands and was intercepted for a 34-yard return, which led to an Arizona Field Goal. 

In all, the Giants only gained 76 yards of offense, while the defense allowed Zach Ertz and Joshua Dobbs to do whatever they wanted. Dobbs went untouched the entire 1st half, and Ertz had four of his six receptions and 34 of his 56 yards in the 1st half.

I don’t know what happened in the locker room during halftime or what Coach Daboll said, but I’m picturing the locker room scene from Necessary Roughness when Robert Loggia’s character went off.

This was a completely different team in the second half. Although the defense never got a sack, and Kayvon Thibodeaux was only there in spirit, they held the Cardinals to 8 points and 123 total yards and forced them to punt three times on their 1st four possessions. 

The Giants offense came to life as Daniel Jones threw for over 250 yards and 2 TD in the 2nd half to go along with his 55 yards rushing (only four yards in the 1st half) 

Jones was able to spread the ball around to 7 different receivers, including Darren Waller for 76 yards and Isiah Hodgins for 40 yards and the game-tying TD (minus the extra point)

The bad news of the day came in the 4th quarter when Barkley was tackled oddly and hurt his ankle, which we hope is only a few games back as of this writing.

This 21-point comeback is their most prominent in the Super Bowl era and tied for the largest comeback in franchise history (1945 and 1949). New York’s previous largest comeback in the Super Bowl era was 19 points in Week 9, 1970, against Washington.

Next week, the Giants head to Santa Clara to take on Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffery, Fred Warner, and company. The 49ers will be a tough team to beat, so going in 1-1 is way better than heading in there 0-2 with the Seahawks, Dolphins, and Bill all coming up after that.

Undefeated

By Mike Rifkin

The Miami Dolphins opened up the AFC East portion of their schedule Sunday night with a 24-17 over the New England Patriots in Foxborough. The Dolphins have won four last five meetings over their division rivals. Tua Tagovailoa improved his record to 5-0 over Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Tua is now one of four quarterbacks to be 5-0 or better against a Super Bowl-winning head coach, joining Russell Wilson (vs. Doug Pederson), Peyton Manning (vs. Tom Coughlin), and Chris Chandler (vs. Mike Ditka).

Tua was 21-30 for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tua did a great job taking what Belichick and the Pats defense gave him. The Patriots wanted to take away the Dolphin deep ball, and they did that. Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill combined for nine catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. While the Patriot defense successfully took away the deep ball, the Dolphins adjusted by running the football. As a team, the Dolphins averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and Raheem Mostert had his best game as a Dolphin with 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard run in the fourth quarter. Mostert averaged 6.7 yards per carry. 

On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins’ defense was gashed against the Chargers for over 200 yards rushing, limiting the Patriots to 88 yards rushing. The Dolphins’ defense had four sacks of Mac Jones without their best pass rusher, Jaelan Phillips, who was out with a back injury. Andrew Van Ginkel had a big game with six tackles, a pass breakup, one sack, and three hits on Mac Jones. Bradley Chubb and Christian Wilkins had seven tackles and a sack each. 

This game could have been a complete blowout, but the Dolphins allowed New England to hang around. Mac Jones was 31-42 for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception. I don’t believe the Patriots have the talent on the outside to throw the ball 40-plus times a game. They need to establish Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott early in the games. They did utilize their tight ends. Former Dolphin Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry combined for 11 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. 

The Dolphins will look to go 3-0 when they have their home opener against the Denver Broncos, while the Patriots will look for their first win against division rival Jets.

Divisional Battle 

By Mike Rifkin

The Miami Dolphins will open up their AFC East portion of the schedule Sunday night as they go to Foxborough to play the Patriots. Tua Tagovailoa and company put on a show in Los Angeles last week where Tua threw for 466 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Tyreek Hill had 11 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins’ defense made big plays on the Chargers final series when they needed it. 

The Patriots fell to the Eagles 25-20 in week one. Mac Jones threw for 316 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. The Patriots fell behind 16-0, so Jones was forced to throw 54 times in the game. We wonder who will make plays on the outside regarding the Patriots offense. Last week, Kendrick Bourne had six catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. 

The two divisional rivals split their two meetings last season. The Dolphins opened their season with a 20-7 win at home, and in week 17, the Patriots held serve on their home field with a 23-21 victory. Tua didn’t play in the second meeting as he was recovering from a concussion. In his career vs. the Patriots, Tua has a 68.5 completion percentage, 726 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in four games. Tyreek Hill has 36 catches for 550 yards and six touchdowns in six games. Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who has three touchdowns in four games vs. New England, can cause havoc on the Patriots secondary. 

Mac Jones has a 68.2 completion percentage with 959 yards (239.8 per game), five touchdowns, and two interceptions in four games vs. Miami. Miami’s defense does have eight sacks in the four games. One thing New England can take away from what the Chargers did is run the football. The Chargers had 233 yards rushing and averaged almost six yards per carry. The Patriots could not run the ball against the Eagles mainly because the score and the Eagles’ defensive line is excellent. On a positive note, they did average 3.5 yards per carry. 

Bill Belichick is 27-19 vs. the Dolphins as coach of the Patriots, his worst mark within the AFC East. Can Miami start the season 2-0, or will New England enter the win column for the first time in 2023? It should be a battle on Sunday night.

COWBOYS LOOK TO COOL THE JETS

BY Mark Halpern

After last week’s awful showing by the New York Giants, the Cowboys will open up their home schedule with a date with the other team in New York and one of the best defenses in Football.

    Before I get started, I want to shout out to all Jets fans and Aaron Rodgers fans for the loss of one of the best Quarterbacks ever to grace the gridiron. I was looking forward to this game (even though Rodgers has the Cowboys’ number) when it was announced, and no one ever wants to see a player injured.

     This week will be one of the best defensive battles in the League. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense and special teams showed up, and then some scored two touchdowns early in the game. The offense was only needed to score a little because the Dallas Defense can do it, too (scoring, I mean). This week will be a much better test for this high-powered offense to match up with one of the top 5 defenses in Football. Tony Pollard had a solid week 1 with 75 2 TDs and caught four balls out of the backfield. Pollard will have to shine brighter than last (even though it was played in a monsoon). Pollard will be counted on heavily because the Jets’ secondary plays are as tough as the Dallas secondary, and Pollard will have to move the ball on first down for at least four to six yards to try and bring that defense up to open the passing lanes. Look for Sauce Gardner to Shadow Cee Dee Lamb in a primetime matchup there. Brandin Coks is currently dealing with a slight knee sprain but has said he will be on the field for the game. Look for Michael Gallup and Jake Ferguson to see increased targets, along with rookie Jalen Tolbert, if Cooks can’t go. The Dallas Offensive line will be tested from the first snap to the end, and I expect trench warfare in this game. Dak will need time to get rid of the ball. 

    With Rodgers gone, the Jets have turned to the guy they brought in to be this team’s franchise quarterback, Zach Wilson. No offense, Jets fans, but Wilson will be on his back more than Daniel Jones and will be flustered. The entire Dallas defense will be critical to help make opportunities happen. I foresee Wilson throwing two picks, one to Diggs and the other to Deron Bland. Wilson will feel more pressure than a nuclear sub at 4,000 feet deep. 

     I will not sugarcoat it, but my prediction is Dallas will not only come out with the win, it will be another embarrassing showing from a New York team, and the final score will be 38-10. 

ANOTHER TOUGH TEST FOR THE PRIDE

By Mark Halpern

      Last week’s win by the Detroit Lions was something that many sportscasters and writers predicted. The concern of the Chiefs with injuries and players with stone hands made it possible for the Lions to adjust and stop the Chiefs’ offense from getting going. This week’s test is as hard as last week’s when the Seahawks came to town.

     The Lions made significant adjustments to the passing game last week because of injuries, but that is not the case this week. The Seahawks have one of the most talented WR duos in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, not to mention rookie wide receiver Jaxon-Smith-Njigba, and don’t forget Kenneth Walker. The Lion Defense will have to stop the run just like last week cause this Seahawk two-tired offense is no joke. 

 Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anazalone, and Benito Jones need to provide the same energy as last week to stop the run, and Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs will have their hands full. Look for the safeties to play up less, as all three of the Seahawks’ wide receivers have speed. The question is, what version of Geno Smith will show up? Geno needs to spread the ball around but will need production from the running back crew to create 2nd and shorts instead of 3 and longs. 

   As for Detroit’s Offense, we know what it can do when given the opportunity. One thing is no fumbles. Even though they lost one of the two, they can I’ll afford to give away any points in this game. The Seahawks’ secondary is good and can cover well, so I look to the run game to open up this offense. Look for the Lions to have more of an even split on carries this weekend between Gibbs and Montgomery to try and pull those safeties up, giving Jared Goff the chance to use play action (which he is so good at) and hit Amora St-Brown or Marvin Jones over the middle or on deep fly routes. This will be just as close as the Chiefs game, but in the end, I have Detroit winning 24-21.

A Stearn Hire

By : Mark Halpern and Mike Rifkin

Coming into the 2023 season, the New York Mets and their fans had high expectations regarding this team. Future Hall Of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were supposed to lead this club to their first World Series Championship since 1986. To say the 2023 season has been a massive disappointment is an understatement. But things are looking bright. At the trade deadline, Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler replenished their farm system by trading the two future hall of famers along with Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, and David Robertson, among others. 

One of the things Steve Cohen has wanted since the day he took over the franchise was a President of Baseball Operations. On Tuesday, that dream was realized. It is reported that Cohen will hire former Brewers President David Stearns for the same role. The deal should be announced shortly after the regular season ends. Stearns grew up in New York and was a Met fan himself. Stearns led the Brewers to four consecutive playoff appearances that ended last season.

Stearns is very respected in the Baseball community. Stearns will lead a hierarchy in the front office that will retain GM Billy Eppler. Stearns did great work for a team that needs to have the finances Steve Cohen does, so the pressure will be on Stearns and Eppler very quickly. But there are questions that Cohen, Eppler, and Stearns all have to answer. Let’s start at the top with Will the Mets bring back Manager Buck Showalter next season? We think he is. This year is not all on him; the Mets have had injuries and unforeseen circumstances ( Max Scherzer suspension). Steve Cohen’s respect for his manager might be enough for him to stay (at least for one more year). But if the Mets move on from Buck, Brewers Manager Craig Counsell’s contract expires after the season. Another question facing the front office will be what they do with First Baseman Pete Alonso. There were conversations at the trade deadline regarding Alonso, a free agent after next season. Alonso is having another 40 home runs and 100-plus RBI season. If you ask Mets fans like us, the bulk will tell the front office to extend the first baseman and make him the face of the franchise, and if they extend him, Alonso will own all the power records in franchise history. The last question is, where does Stearns see this team? Are they closer to the 100-win team they were last season or closer to what they look like now? The reason is how they go into the winter and look to upgrade for 2024. Stearns has never been a part of a team with such financial backing, so it will be interesting to see what the Mets do once the announcement is made.

The organization is in good hands with Cohen and Stearns. Not because they’re smart (they are) but because they are like us. They are fans of the team and want to see it succeed. So this no longer might be the fans looking at the sexiest names available, but the player(s) that make the most sense to be a Met. 

DALLAS PULVERIZES THE GIANTS

BY Mark Halpern

      Cowboys fans have known since training camp broke that this team has a chance to be remarkable. The Dallas Defense and Special teams helped lead the way to a 40-0 beatdown on Sunday Night Football this past Sunday at Metlife Stadium. 

      At the end of the first drive, the Giants were forced to attempt a field goal, and three members of the Dallas special teams were in the backfield so quickly you would have thought offsides, but there was no blocking by the Giants, and the kick was blocked and picked up by Noah Igbinoghene and returned for a 58-yard touchdown. All the life and energy left Met Life faster than the rain coming down. Dallas managed to get a field goal on the next drive, and then, to add insult to injury, Daron Bland picked off Danny “$40 Million” Jones and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. It has never happened that the Dallas Defense and Special Teams scored before the offense.

     The Dallas offense wasn’t spoken about much because they were barely on the field as the defense manhandled the Giants by accumulating seven sacks, two int (Gilmore and Bland), ten tackles for loss, and 16 Quarter Back hurries. Tony Pollard did have a stellar evening when he had the chance to rack up 70 yards and two touchdowns. Dak Prescott did throw for 143 yards, and Cee Dee Lamb had four receptions for 77 yards.

    As for the Giants. The player who did everything was the player who should have gotten the huge contract, and that was Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 51 yards during his opportunities. Still, those became few and far between because the Giants were down too many points to run the ball, but they needed more efficiency passing the ball. The last time the Cowboys shut out the Giants was in 1996, and they hadn’t shut them out on the road since 1995. So it’s a great start to the year. 

     The Cowboys will go home to play the other team from New York to take on the New York Jets next Sunday at 4:25 p.m. 

THE PRIDE RETURNS TO DETROIT

By Mark Halpern

     The Detroit Lions last year proved that they were an up-and-coming team not to be taken lightly. The Lions had an arduous task in their first game of the season, going into Arrowhead and playing against the defending Super Bowl champs Chiefs.

      The Lions caught a small break when Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce injured his knee and was ruled out. Kelce’s injury changed the whole dynamic for the Lions as they could adjust other factors. Stopping Mahomes is not impossible, but on most Sundays, it is improbable. The Lions’ defense was challenged and played toe to toe with this high-powered offense that was missing its motor. Mahomes did pass for 225 yards 2td-1int, but it was well below his norms on a Sunday. The Lions’ run defense was a big bright spot as they held the Chiefs’ rushing game to a mere 90 yards (45 by Mahomes), making it easy for the Lions’ defense to match up better with the passing attack.

    The Lions’ offense started where they left off, and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a Goff Touchdown for 9 yards. Goff had a good day moving the ball to 5 different receivers for 253 yards and 1TD-0 INT. The running game was the question coming into this game, and they answered well. David Montgomery (21 at 74 yards 1td) and Jahmyr Gibbs (7 for 42) are giving the Lions the rushing attack they need to propel them forward this season. Next weekend, the Lions open up their home schedule with a visit from the Seattle Seahawks.

Light It Up

By Mike Rifkin

The Miami Dolphins opened the 2023 season with an exciting 36-34 victory over the Chargers. Tua Tagovailoa was 28-45 for 466 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Only Tom Brady, Norm Van Brocklin, and Dolphins legend Dan Marino threw for more yards in a season opener. Tyreek Hill had 11 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns. 

It was a back-and-forth affair between these two teams. Last season, the Chargers defense held Tua to 145 yards and the team to 245 yards. This time around, the Dolphins offense had 536 yards offensively. With 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, Tagovailoa hit Hill for his second touchdown of the game, and to give the Dolphins a 36-34 lead, a Jason Sanders missed extra point had fans on the edge of their seats for the last 1:45. 

Dolphin fans were very excited about hiring new Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. Sunday was not an excellent debut for Fangio, as his defense gave up 433 yards and didn’t force any turnovers. But when they needed to, they stepped up. They forced Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert into an intentional grounding penalty on that final drive. Following that, the recently extended Zac Sieler sacked Herbert. After a third-down completion on fourth and 12, Jaelan Phillips sacked Herbert to seal the win for the Dolphins. One thing the Dolphins’ defense wants to change is the fact they gave up 234 rushing yards. 

The essential play came late in the second quarter when Tua tried to launch a ball to Erik Ezukanma, who was interfered with by J.C. Jackson. The penalty was 36 yards, leading to a Jason Sanders 41-yard field goal. 

The Dolphins will look to go to 2-0 when they visit division rival Patriots, while the Chargers visit the Titans.