Titans vs. Ravens
Remember when the Tennessee Titans shocked everyone and beat the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs this past January? Like the ex that broke your heart but keeps popping back up, the Titans are heading to Baltimore to try to do it again.
Both teams are 6-3 and both teams are fighting for a playoff spot. The Ravens have lost two of their last three, and the Titans have lost three of its last four and both are coming off losses in Week 10.
Though Baltimore’s passing game has been somewhat lackluster, QB Lamar Jackson has been dynamic in the run game, with the Ravens averaging 164 rushing yards per game. The Ravens’ defense is giving up an average of 18 points per game, which is not too shabby.
For Tennessee’s part, the Titans’ offense has made up for a pretty shabby Titans’ defense. QB Ryan Tannehill has thrown only three interceptions all season and running back Derrick Henry is averaging over 100 yards a game. Feed Derrick, like a lot.
This game will be won on the ground and by a lack of mistakes. Gentleman, play ball.
King of the Hill
It’s Taysom Hill time in New Orleans, probably.
With QB Drew Brees out with cracked ribs and a punctured lung, ESPN is reporting that the Saints are going with their jack-of-all-trades to start over Jameis Winston against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. It is worth noting that head coach Sean Payton will not confirm his starter for Sunday. It is also worth noting that this is not Sean Payton’s first rodeo and he is a smart man.
Hill has lined up at everything from quarterback to running back to wide receiver to tight end, and the list goes on. However, now Hill has a chance to prove that can be a true QB1 and he gets to start that journey against the Falcons. The odds are in his favor.
This is going to be electric! https://t.co/kZSZqKke05
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) November 20, 2020
The Wild, Wild NFC West
The home stadium went from CenturyLink to Lumen Field, but the home team Seattle Seahawks stayed consistent to beat the Arizona Cardinals, 28-21, in a Thursday Night Football game that did not disappoint…that is unless you’re a Cardinals fan, in which case, it was very disappointing.
What a difference a running back makes. With Carlos Hyde back in the offense, Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense were cooking. Hyde rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown, while Wilson threw for 197 yards and connected with wide receives Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf for a touchdown apiece. And he didn’t throw a single pick.
The Cardinals and Kyler Murray almost engineered a TD drive in the final minute of the game, but DE Carlos Dunlap had other plans, sacking Murray on 4th and 10 with 0:34 left in the fourth. Seahawks’ tight end Greg Olsen left the game with what is feared to be a ruptured fascia in his left foot.
Seattle has a one-game lead over Arizona and a half a game lead over the Los Angeles Rams, who play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night.
Klay Thompson
In gut-wrenching news for the Golden State Warriors, guard Klay Thompson will miss the 2020-2021 NBA season with a torn achilles. The injury happened while Thompson was playing with this week in Los Angeles.
Thompson had missed the 2019-2020 season with a torn ACL and was set to return when the season starts in December. This is devastating news for the Warriors and for the league, as Thompson is one of its most beloved players.
NBA Trades
The NBA’s free agency period starts tonight. The draft was on Wednesday. Trades have been happening all week.
- All-Star guard Chris Paul is heading to Phoenix, after the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul and forward Abdel Nader to the Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick.
- OKC was busy this week, sending guard Dennis Schröder to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, while also finalizing a trade with the Warriors to send Kelly Oubre Jr. to Golden State for a 2021 protected first-round pick.
- Enes Kanter is going from Boston back to Portland in a three-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
- And then there’s the Milwaukee Bucks, who are under investigation for tampering after a failed sign-and-trade agreement with the Sacramento Kings. The Bucks were supposed to get shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic from Sacramento in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova. Bogdanovic is a restricted free agent and was not able to agree to the terms of the trade.