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Good morning to all, but especially to …
THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Ankle intact? Clutch gene intact? Perfect record intact? Check, check, and check. Patrick Mahomes overcame a late ankle injury scare and the Chiefs overcame a valiant effort from the Buccaneers for a rain-soaked 30-24 overtime win.
Let’s pick things up early in the fourth quarter, when Mahomes ran right, stopped, skidded on the slippery field and flipped the ball to Samaje Perine for a touchdown. Replays showed Mahomes’ left ankle — which bothered him all week — bending awkwardly, and he stayed down before eventually being helped off.
Baker Mayfield led a terrific two-minute drill and capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown to Ryan Miller.
To overtime they went, and as soon as the Chiefs won the coin toss, even Mayfield had the feeling it was over. Mahomes methodically drove Kansas City down the field, and Kareem Hunt plowed in from two yards out to win it.
Mahomes is 6-0 in regular-season overtime games, the most wins without a loss by any quarterback.
The Chiefs’ perfect 8-0 record covers what is an imperfect team — the offense has stops and starts, and the defensive secondary is dealing with injuries — but Mahomes seems to have every answer, every time. And don’t look now, but Travis Kelce (100 yards) and DeAndre Hopkins (two touchdowns, one awesome celebration) are giving him even more ways to solve any and all problems. I especially liked how the Chiefs deployed Hopkins.
Finally, for the “Buccaneers should have gone for two” crowd, I’m not so sure. If you’re so scared of Mahomes driving for a game-winning kick in regulation, wouldn’t you be more scared of him trying to do so while down one point and therefore allowing him to be more aggressive?
People much smarter than I am said the win probability is about even regardless of the decision. Hindsight is 20/20. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Kansas City just seems to win these games over and over again.
The Cowboys were in this section yesterday, and since then, things have only gotten worse. Dak Prescott (hamstring) will miss several games. Cooper Rush will be the new starter, with Trey Lance behind him.
We can be quick here: The Cowboys are 3-5. There is no room for error. Keep in mind this is a team that has won 12 straight games each of the past three seasons; they would have to win out to reach that number again. It’s a pipe dream. Even the playoffs seem unlikely.
… AND ALSO DENNIS ALLEN AND THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
For the second time in as many coaching stops, Dennis Allen has been fired midseason. His Saints are 2-7 after a 2-0 start. Darren Rizzi is the interim coach.
The vibes surrounding this team stink. Derek Carr is getting lambasted by former teammate Michael Thomas after Chris Olave left an eventual 23-22 loss to the Panthers with a concussion. The defense doesn’t seem to be interested in tackling anyone. Long story short, owner Gayle Benson was absolutely right to make a change. More are coming.
The Saints have been pushing off huge salaries for years and years, trying to stay in contention with a veteran-heavy roster. But this may finally spell the end of that practice, Cody Benjamin notes; pillars like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore could end up elsewhere soon as New Orleans enters a rebuild.
Of course, the Saints will need a coach to oversee that rebuild, and Jordan Dajani ranked five potential candidates.
But the biggest reveal comes tonight: The College Football Playoff makes its first reveal in the 12-team playoff era. Brad Crawford’s projected bracket has also been thrown upside-down after last weekend, and his top four seeds (which receive byes) are …
Oregon (Big Ten champion)
Georgia (SEC champion)
BYU (Big 12 champion)
Miami (ACC champion)
Meanwhile, No. 11 Alabama earned Brad’s projected 11th spot, but the Crimson Tide at No. 14 LSU this weekend in what is essentially an elimination game for both teams. “Death Valley” has never been a more appropriately named host stadium.
Salerno: “Where does Boise State land? —Boise State is unquestionably the most consequential team in the first CFP Rankings. The Broncos are favorites to earn the Group of Five’s guaranteed slot in the CFP (assuming they win the Mountain West), but things may not stop there. Depending on where Boise State slots in the initial group, it could threaten for either a higher seed than No. 12 in the final field and could even push the ACC or Big 12 champion for a first-round bye.”
After wide receivers were at the center of big moves across the league over the past few weeks, the Cardinals swung things to the defensive side of the ball Monday, acquiring Baron Browning from the Broncos for a sixth-round pick. In his trade grades, Jordan Dajani says Arizona comes out slightly ahead.
Benjamin: “Seahawks send WR Tyler Lockett to Pittsburgh — The Steelers are undefeated in near-misses when it comes to the wide receiver trade market this year. At 32, however, Lockett wouldn’t necessarily require a premium haul, especially with the Seahawks already boasting two young studs at the position in DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. His history with new Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson would make him a savvy complement to No. 1 George Pickens.”
Cole originally opted out of said contract, but the player and team decided to return to the agreement.
Cole, 34, dealt with several ailments and failed to pitch 100 innings in a full season for the first time in his career, but he still went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in the regular season.
It’s certainly a gamble given Cole’s age and recent injury history plus the fact that Juan Soto is a free agent (and the top-ranked one at that), all while the Yankees are trying to cut payroll.
We’re watching the UEFA Champions League.Here’s how. CFP rankings reveal, 7 p.m. on ESPN Bowling Green at Central Michigan, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 Miami (Ohio) at Ball State, 8 p.m. on ESPN