The D.C. Do-Over
09/17/2021By: Jeff Yoder
Happy Friday
The final game of Week 1 in the NFL was a dramatic overtime thriller, but the opener of Week 2? A finish for the ages in D.C. left Giants fans heartbroken after a game-altering, last-second penalty. The weekend is here, and football’s fall takeover is getting fun.
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Enjoy!
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NFL
The D.C. Do-Over
Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images
Washington Takes Down New York (30-29) on Game-Winning Field Goal After Penalty Gives Kicker Second Chance
From heartbreak to celebration! The NFC East battle on Thursday night was an absolute roller-coaster between the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants. A back-and-forth night trickled into the 4th quarter before Washington won a wild finish. Fill-in quarterback Taylor Heinicke seemingly coughed away the game with an interception inside three minutes, but Washington got the ball back in time to set up a game-winning field goal attempt.
The D.C. Do-Over
After Dustin Hopkins pushed his game-winning, 48-yard field goal attempt wide right, an offsides penalty on the Giants gave him another chance. From 43 yards, he delivered. Washington wins it at the horn (30-29).
QB Taylor Heinicke (34/46, 336 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
After QB Ryan Fitzpatrick went down with a hip injury last week, Heinicke stepped in get Washington its first win of the season. He did throw the costly interception down the stretch on a wild play, but he led the final drive to set up the game-winning kick.
Other Top Performers
QB D. Jones (NYG): 22/32, 249 yards, 1 TD
QB D. Jones (NYG): 9 rush, 95 yards, 1 TD
WR T. McLaurin (WFT): 11 rec. 107 yards, 1 TD
Watch: Washington-Giants TNF Highlights
Additional Storylines
B/R: Giants’ Unresolved Fatal Flaws Continue to be New York’s Downfall
Yahoo! Sports: Giants’ Mistakes, Including Last Second Offsides, Allow Washington to Steal a Win
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MLB
The Catcher in the Record Books
Photo: Name / Getty Images
Salvador Perez Joins the Home Run Race With Record-Tying 45th Blast
The home run race just got tighter. Royals’ catcher Salvador Perez launched a 2-run homer in his first at-bat Thursday against the A’s to tally his 45th of the season and tie Johnny Bench for the most HRs in a season by a catcher. Perez knotted up the HR race with Vlad Guerrero Jr. (45) as he overtook Shohei Ohtani (44). It’s a three-horse race with two weeks left in the season as no other batter has more than 40 HRs. The Royals may be eliminated from the postseason, but there’s one milestone to hang their hats on. Kansas City lost to the A’s (7-2).
Watch: Salvador Perez Hits Record-Tying 45th HR
MLB Playoff Picture
American League
AL East: Rays (91-56)
AL Central: White Sox (83-63)
AL West: Astros (86-60)
Wild Card: Blue Jays (82-64)
Wild Card: Red Sox (83-65)
In the Hunt: Yankees (82-65), Athletics (79-67), Mariners (78-68)
National League
NL East: Braves (76-68)
NL Central: Brewers (89-57)
NL West: Giants (95-52)
Wild Card: Dodgers (94-53)
Wild Card: Cardinals (76-69)
In the Hunt: Padres (76-70), Reds (76-71), Phillies (74-72), Mets (72-75)
Additional Storylines
Video: Orioles Top Yankees in 10th Inning (3-2) Thanks to Austin Hays’ Walk-Off Single
ESPN: MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand With Top Squads Starting to Clinch
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THE STORYLINES
When cutting the Cup Series playoff field from 16 to 12, drivers and teams who have mistake-free rounds typically will advance. NASCAR’s playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway is about teams not beating themselves. (FOX Sports)
Why Jonquel Jones is the WNBA MVP
As the rest of the WNBA jockeys for seeds and the final playoff spot ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finales, the experts pick winners for every major season award, including the likely MVP, Jonquel Jones. (ESPN)
Colts on Regular-Season ‘Hard Knocks’
HBO’s NFL series is finally venturing into the regular season, and the Indianapolis Colts are the first test subject. Here are six things we want to see when the docuseries debuts from Indianapolis on November 17. (USA Today)
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THE HEADLINES
Chris Livingston Becomes Kentucky’s 3rd 5-Star Recruit for 2022 Class
(ESPN)
Padres Place Pitcher Blake Snell on Injured List With Strained Groin
(CBS Sports)
Portland State Football Coach Offers to Buy Beer for Fans at Saturday’s Home Opener
(Yahoo! Sports)
Angels Infielder Luis Rengifo Charged by Venezuelan Government for Falsifying Divorce
(SI)
Worst Own Goal Ever? Lazio Goalkeeper Makes Epic Blunder in Europa League Match
(USA Today)
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
It’s another weekend full of football and baseball. Early season on the gridiron means teams are still finding their identity, but the MLB playoff push is quickly separating the hopefuls from the hopeless. We’ll run it back again on Monday. Enjoy!
NFL Week 2 (Sunday)
Rams at Colts (1:00 pm, FOX)
Raiders at Steelers (1:00 pm, CBS)
Saints at Panthers (1:00 pm, FOX)
Titans at Seahawks (4:25 pm, CBS)
Cowboys at Chargers (4:25 pm, CBS)
Chiefs at Ravens (8:20 pm, NBC)
College Football (Saturday)
Nebraska at #3 Oklahoma (Noon, FOX)
Purdue at #12 Notre Dame (2:30 pm, NBC)
#1 Alabama at #11 Florida (3:30 pm, CBS)
Georgia Tech at #6 Clemson (3:30 pm, ABC)
#22 Auburn at #10 Penn State (7:30 pm, ABC)
#19 Arizona State at #23 BYU (10:15 pm, ESPN)
Full College Football Schedule
MLB
Dodgers-Reds Series
Padres-Cardinals Series
Braves-Giants Series
Phillies-Mets Series
Soccer
EPL: Tottenham vs. Chelsea (Sun. 11:30 am)
MLS: Portland Timbers vs. LAFC (Sun. 7:30 pm)
NASCAR Playoffs (Race 3)
Bristol Motor Speedway (Sat. 7:30 pm)
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