Happy Friday
Imagine if we had our own hype video every year when the annual sports schedule drops. Sadly, we don’t (yet) have the budget of an NFL franchise. Sorry team. The NFL schedule reveal earns today’s top story. Plus, two playoff squads are packing their bags, and the Rays are the first MLB team to 30 wins.
Don’t forget to help us improve the newsletter with a little question at the bottom of today’s edition. Also, don’t forget to get your mom something nice. Moms need hype videos, too.
Letter Rip!
NFL
NFL Schedule Hype
Primetime Slots, Strength of Schedule & The Top-20 Biggest Games for the 2023 NFL Season
It’s schedule day! The 2023 NFL schedule was released last night to set the stage for the season ahead. There’s plenty to analyze, from rematches and revenge games to strengths of schedule and more. One big surprise (or maybe not) is the Lions against the Chiefs to open the season. Jets fans were the biggest winners of the schedule release as the Aaron Rodgers effect delivered four primetime slots. And the marquee playoff squads from last season — Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Bengals, Cowboys and Bills — were blessed with at least three primetime games apiece. Sadly for four teams, there will be no primetime games in 2023 — Colts, Cardinals, Texans and Falcons. Here’s a look at the top-20 games to circle on the calendar next fall.
Season-Opener
Lions at Chiefs (Thurs. Sept. 7, 8:20 pm ET)
Holiday Games
Week 12: Packers at Lions (12:30 pm ET)
Week 12: Commanders at Cowboys (4:30 pm ET)
Week 12: 49ers at Seahawks (8:20 pm ET)
Week 16: Raiders at Chiefs (1:00 pm ET)
Week 16: Giants at Eagles (4:30 pm ET)
Week 16: Ravens at 49ers (8:15 pm ET)
Primetime Must-See Games
Week 1: Bills at Jets (Monday Night Football)
Week 4: Chiefs at Jets (Sunday Night Football)
Week 5: Cowboys at 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
Week 9: Bills at Bengals (Sunday Night Football)
Week 11: Eagles at Chiefs (Monday Night Football)
Week 12: Bears at Vikings (Monday Night Football)
Week 14: Eagles at Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)
Other Games to Watch (Storyline)
Week 2: Jets at Cowboys (Rodgers vs. McCarthy)
Week 3: Rams at Bengals (Super Bowl LVI Rematch)
Week 8: Texans at Panthers (Top-2 Rookie QBs)
Week 8: Jets at Giants (Battle of New York)
Week 13: 49ers at Eagles (NFC Champ Rematch)
Week 16: Browns at Texans (Deshaun Watson)
Week 17: Bengals at Chiefs (AFC Champ Rematch)
Strength of Schedules (2022 Opponent Win %)
1. Eagles (.566) — Toughest
2. Dolphins (.554)
3. Giants (.549)
4. Patriots (.549)
5. Cowboys (.549)
——————————
28. Titans (.448)
29. Colts (.434)
30. Texans (.431)
31. Saints (.427)
32. Falcons (.417) — Easiest
With 272 total games, it would be impossible to deliver the entire NFL slate. Here’s a collection of links for team-by-team breakdowns so you can see your team’s schedule in 2023.
Team Schedules
AFC North: Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers
AFC South: Texans | Colts | Titans | Jaguars
AFC East: Dolphins | Bills | Jets | Patriots
AFC West: Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers | Broncos
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Vikings | Packers
NFC South: Buccaneers | Saints | Panthers | Falcons
NFC East: Eagles | Cowboys | Giants | Commanders
NFC West: 49ers | Seahawks | Cardinals | Rams
Read More
NFL.com: Which Teams Have the Toughest Road to Super Bowl LVIII?
USA Today: The Aaron Rodgers Effect: Jets QB Has Massive Impact on NFL Schedule
CBS Sports: NFL Schedule Release Shocker: Chiefs Will Host Lions in TNF Opener
Yahoo! Sports: NFL Schedule Instant Reactions: Time to Officially Buy the Lions Hype
______________________________________________________________________________________
NBA PLAYOFFS
Denver Dominates the Desert
Nuggets Go Nuclear on Suns, Set Records En Route to West Finals; Tatum Takes Over Late to Force Game 7 Between Celtics & 76ers
The first ticket to the conference finals has been claimed! And emphatically so… The Nuggets destroyed the Suns for the second straight game on Thursday night, this time on the road. Denver scored 81 points in 1st half, the most by a road team in NBA postseason history, and they led by 30 at the half (the biggest halftime lead in franchise postseason history). Nikola Jokic (32-10-12) statted his typical triple-double, and the Suns have officially been eliminated. In the east, it was a Jayson Tatum takeover in the 4th quarter to beat the 76ers on the road. Tatum came alive to score 16 of his 19 points in the final frame and outscore Philly in the 4th on his own (16-13). It’s the eighth time the Celtics and 76ers will play a Game 7 — the most of any matchup in NBA playoff history.
Nuggets move on. Philly-Boston going seven. The Lakers and Heat can close things out tonight in Game 6. And we’re one step closer to the NBA’s final four.
Conference Semifinals Highlights
Gm 6: Nuggets def. Suns (125-100) | DEN Wins (4-2)
Gm 6: Celtics def. 76ers (95-86) | Series Tied (3-3)
Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 6: Knicks at Heat (7:30 pm ET) | MIA Leads (3-2)
Gm 6: Warriors at Lakers (10:00 pm ET) | LAL Leads (3-2)
Read More
Yahoo! Sports: Jokic & Nuggets Roll Over Suns to Return to West Finals
SI: Jayson Tatum Stares Down Elimination, Abysmal Shooting & Wills Celtics to Game 7
______________________________________________________________________________________
NHL PLAYOFFS
A Hurricane Haymaker
Hurricanes Eliminate Devils on Jesper Fast’s OT Winner; Stars Shine Bright to Take Game 5 Against Kraken
A Hurricane haymaker! Carolina is the first NHL team through to the conference finals after Jesper Fast’s overtime winner to delete the Devils in Game 5. The momentous goal came 7:09 into OT and sent the home crowd into bedlam. Meanwhile in the west, the Stars won their second straight against the Kraken to flip the series. Roope Hintz (2 goals, 1 assist), Joe Pavelski (1 goal, 1 assist) and Jason Robertson (3 assists) have re-injected the star-power into Dallas. The Panthers go for the close-out tonight against the Leafs while the Oilers and Golden Knights jockey for the series lead.
Conference Semifinals Highlights
Gm 5: Hurricanes def. Devils (3-2, OT) | CAR Wins (4-1)
Gm 5: Stars def. Kraken (5-2) | DAL Leads (3-2)
Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 5: Panthers at Maple Leafs (7:00 pm ET) | FLA Leads (3-1)
Gm 5: Oilers at Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET) | Series Tied (2-2)
Read More
ESPN: Hurricanes Advance on Fast’s OT Goal to Knock Out Devils
NHL: Hintz Raises Level for Stars With 3 Points in Game 5 Win
______________________________________________________________________________________
HIGHLIGHTS
Watch It
MLB
Rays Ride Rasmussen to Reach 30 Wins
Royals Beat White Sox With Walk-Off Bunt
Rookie Schmitt Makes Giants History (4-for-4, 3 RBIs)
Soccer
Juventus Late Goal Saves Draw in Europa League
Washington Tops Orlando in NWSL Challenge Cup (4-2)
PGA
Noh Seung-Yul Fires 11-Under 60 in Round 1 of AT&T Byron Nelson
______________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
Read It
______________________________________________________________________________________
SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
It’s one more jam-packed weekend of playoffs before we trim the fields to four in the NBA and NHL by next weekend. We’ll incorporate the WNBA, French Open, PGA Championship and Indy 500 in the second half of May. Enjoy!
NBA Playoffs
Gm 6: Knicks at Heat (Fri. 7:30 pm) | MIA Leads (3-2)
Gm 6: Warriors at Lakers (Fri. 10:00 pm) | LAL Leads (3-2)
Gm 7: 76ers at Celtics (Sun. TBD) | Series Tied (3-3)
*Gm 7: Lakers at Warriors (Sun. TBD)
*If Necessary
NHL Playoffs
Gm 5: Panthers at Maple Leafs (Fri. 7:00 pm) | FLA Leads (3-1)
Gm 5: Oilers at Golden Knights (Fri. 10:00 pm) | Series Tied (2-2)
Gm 6: Stars at Kraken (Sat. 7:00 pm) | DAL Leads (3-2)
Gm 6: Golden Knights at Oilers (Sun. TBD)
*Gm 6: Maple Leafs at Panthers (Sun. TBD)
*If Necessary
MLB
Yankees-Rays Series
Braves-Blue Jays Series
Mets-Nationals Series
Padres-Dodgers Series
Soccer Schedules
PGA Tour
AT&T Byron Nelson (All Weekend)
NASCAR
Goodyear 400 @ Darlington Raceway (Sun. 3:00 pm)
*All Times ET
©2023 Media Mobilize All rights reserved