The Titans, COVID19 and What’s Next
With 13 members of the Titans organization, seven of which are players, testing positive for COVID-19, the NFL has postponed this week’s game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game will now take place on Oct. 25, with the matchup between the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens being moved to Nov. 1 as a result. That had been the bye week for both teams.
The Titans facility was shut down earlier this week, as the positive tests came in. The Minnesota Vikings’ facility was also shut down while tests were being administered, as they were the Titans’ Week 3 opponent. Thankfully, no positive tests came back and they’re back to business as usual. Per ESPN, the NFL will extend daily testing indefinitely and that will include bye weeks.
With the news that the President and the First Lady have also tested positive for COVID-19, it is an important reminder that we are not out of the woods and this pandemic is serious. Please act accordingly.
Lakers Bring the Heat in Game 1
The Los Angeles Lakers are on a mission and they made that very clear in their 116-98 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It wasn’t really even that close.
Anthony Davis again dominated the court with 34 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. LeBron James was every bit the leader we’ve come to expect and had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists of his own.
Meanwhile, the Heat are dealing with injuries, as Goran Dragic is doubtful for tonight’s Game 2, and Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Bam Adebayo will be out with a shoulder injury. Dragic has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. Jimmy Butler had hurt his ankle in the first half of Game 1, so it remains to be seen how that will affect him tonight.
Patriots vs. Chiefs
Cam Newton and the 2-1 New England Patriots are off to Kansas City to take on soon-to-be daddy Patrick Mahomes and the 3-0 Chiefs.
The Patriots go to Arrowhead Stadium as seven-point underdogs, which is fair, because, you know, Patrick Mahomes. However, New England has a not-so-secret weapon and that is cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who has historically owned the Chiefs. Running back James White also returns to the Pats after the tragic death of his father, and the run game will be the Pats bread and butter on Sunday, as it was in last week’s victory over the Raiders.
For the Chiefs’ part, they continued to look like the NFL’s team to beat in their 34-20 Monday night win over the Ravens, with Mahomes’ 385 yards passing and four TDs. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce will be tough to stop, but the Pats just may be able to pull it out. See ya Sunday!
Next Stop, MLB Bubbles
Major League Baseball is on to the Division Series’ and the bubbles that go with them.
As this is posted, the Cardinals and Padres are starting Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series to determine who will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Atlanta Braves will take on the Miami Marlins at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Over in the American League, it will be the Houston Astros taking on the Oakland A’s at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Oh, the irony. Petco Park in San Diego will host the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.
Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers had a tough Monday and then a better Thursday.
After a mutual parting of ways between Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, Rivers will reportedly be the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Talk about turning that frown upside down.
Rivers will go back to the Atlantic Division, where he formerly coached the Boston Celtics and made them the 2008 NBA champs.