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NFL Flag to Host Flag Football Championships at 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: NFL

Released by NFL:

NEW YORK — Jan. 24, 2024 — The National Football League announced today details about the Flag Football Championships taking place at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. The tournament will showcase teams that won at the 2023 NFL Flag Regionals. Multiple levels of flag football, including youth, adult and international teams, will compete in the NFL Flag Championships at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.

The NFL Flag Championships, activated by RCX Sports, marks the first time a competition with over 250 teams will participate in a flag football tournament. Teams from the markets of as many as 23 NFL clubs and 12 countries have earned a spot in the championships taking place at the University of Central Florida’s recreational fields in Orlando from Feb. 1-4.

“The NFL Flag Championships at the Pro Bowl Games gives participants an opportunity to see NFL Flag on one of the biggest stages,” said Roman Oben, NFL vice president of football development. “It is our largest tournament to date celebrating flag football with players competing against teams from around the country. The tournament also gives fans an opportunity to see the many levels of quality competition that will be on display.”

The tournament structure will consist of eight flag football teams ranging from eight-and-under co-ed to adults. Leagues will compete in eight divisions across two conferences and each team will compete against the other teams from their NFL clubs’ division (e.g., NFC West, AFC East). Each of the four division winners will move into an NFL-style playoff format, single-elimination tournament, as well as four wild card selections from each conference, until there is one representative from both conferences remaining. In each of the two leagues, the championship games will crown the 2024 NFL Flag champions. All teams in the NFL Flag Championships must participate in an active NFL Flag league.

Teams representing the following NFL clubs will participate in the NFL Flag Championships at the Pro Bowl Games: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders.

International youth flag football teams representing Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the U.K. will compete in a similar tournament structure, while Team Canada will compete against the U.S.

“The NFL Flag Championships at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the amazing youth talent that NFL Flag is developing throughout our leagues around the world,” said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports, executive director of NFL Flag and a Global Flag Football Ambassador. “By bringing youth flag football to such a prominent stage, we are removing barriers and allowing more kids to get involved with NFL Flag so one day they can follow their dreams to compete in these prestigious championships.”

Flag football is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports disciplines, played by over 20 million people in more than 100 countries, across six continents. It is the most inclusive and accessible format of football, played by people of all ages and genders, with female athletes driving some of the fastest growth. Pro Bowl Games participants as well as Global Flag Ambassadors will make appearances at the NFL Flag Championships to promote the growth of flag football and bring awareness to the event.

Can CU Finally Translate Home Success to the Road?

By
Augustus Oswald
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Photo Cred: USA Today

The Colorado men’s basketball team is currently in a strong position with a record of 14-5 (5-3 Pac-12), tied for 4th in the conference standings. After a successful homestand, they are eager to carry their momentum onto the road. On January 13th, led by senior guard J’Vonne Hadley’s 15 points, CU secured a 68-58 victory over the USC Trojans (8-8, 2-3 Pac-12) after overcoming a 16-point deficit in the first half. However, challenges awaited them.

Facing the Oregon Ducks (13-3, 5-0 Pac-12) on January 18th, CU found themselves trailing 57-56 with 11:26 remaining in the second half. Senior forward Tristan Da Silva’s three-pointer shifted the momentum, leading the Buffs to a 86-70 win, with four of their five starters scoring in double figures. Subsequently, on January 20th, they dominated against Oregon State, winning 90-57 and maintaining a perfect 12-0 home record.

What channel is USC basketball vs. Colorado on?

Photo Cred: USA Today

With a 5-0 home record in conference play, the Buffs now face a crucial 3-game road trip against the Washington schools and Utah. Having struggled on the road this year with a 0-4 record, CU aims to translate their home success into away games, particularly after going 2-8 in road games last year. Their road challenges began on November 29th with a loss to the Colorado State Rams, but CU remains focused on improving.

The upcoming road trip includes matchups against the Washington schools and Utah, and the Buffs cannot afford to go 0-3. Notably, they are determined to break their 2-14 all-time record in Seattle as they face the Washington Huskies on Wednesday, January 24th, at 9 p.m. MT. Despite earlier setbacks on the road, the Buffs believe that their recent 3-0 homestand has reignited their momentum.

Buffs Hope To Bounce Back Wednesday At Cal - University of Colorado Athletics

Photo Cred: CO Athletics

With key players like Da Silva and Cody Williams back in action, they look forward to extending their winning streak to four games and overcoming their road struggles. After their win against Oregon State, Da Silva expressed confidence, stating, “We’re about to go on the road, so I feel like this little momentum that we’ve got going right now is going to be good for us on the road, too. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing.” The Buffs are determined to carry this momentum forward as they embark on their road journey.

UNT Men’s Basketball Faces Setback, Loses First Place to Charlotte 49ers

By
Yassine Keyou
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Photo Cred: Charlotte Athletics

In a recent showdown, the University of North Texas men’s basketball team faced a setback, losing 56-44 to conference rivals Charlotte 49ers. This defeat brought an end to their impressive six-game winning streak. 

Despite entering the game with strong momentum, North Texas struggled early on. They only achieved a 32% field goal success rate and a mere 6% from three-point range. Charlotte’s solid defense presented a formidable challenge, hampering star player Jason Edwards, who only mustered 11 points and one assist in his 37 minutes on the court. 

North Texas basketball rewind: Charlotte 56, UNT 44 | Texas | kdhnews.com

Photo Cred: The Killeen Daily Herald 

On the opposite side, Niner guard Lu’Cye Patterson seized the spotlight with a stellar 20-point and four-rebound performance, playing a pivotal role in Charlotte’s triumph. Patterson’s standout performance highlighted the team’s determination to compete for the top spot in the conference. 

The defeat dropped UNT to fifth in the AAC standings. However, the conference competition is intense, with Florida Atlantic presently holding the No. 1 spot at 15-4. UNT now looks to redeem itself and climb up the standings as they face Southern Methodist this Thursday. The upcoming matchup against the SMU Mustangs offers the Mean Green a chance to rebound and reclaim their position in the conference rankings. 

North Texas vs. SMU: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch - Bleacher Nation

Photo Cred: Bleacher Nation

NFL Divisional Round Games Average 40.0 Million Viewers

By
Stephen Patrick
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Photo Cred: NFL

NEW YORK — Jan. 23, 2024 — This year’s NFL Divisional Round averaged 40.0 million viewers (TV+Digital) – the highest on record dating back to 1988. The 40.0 million average viewers for the four games – Houston Texans versus Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers versus San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers versus Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs versus Buffalo Bills – are up +7% versus last year, and up +5% versus the prior record in 2021-22.

In total, 126.7 million viewers tuned in for the Divisional Round.

Highlights from the NFL’s Divisional Round include:

  • The Saturday primetime game on FOX between the Packers and 49ers averaged 37.5 million viewers, the most-watched Saturday NFL playoff game on record.
  • The Sunday primetime game on CBS between the Chiefs and Bills averaged 50.4 million viewers, the most-watched Divisional or Wild Card game on record.

The schedule for this Sunday’s AFC and NFC Championship games is as follows:

  • Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens – 3 p.m. ET on CBS
  • Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX

NFL Announces Head Coaches for 99th East-West Shrine Bowl

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: NFL

Released by NFL:

NEW YORK –– Jan. 23, 2024 –– The National Football League announced today the head coaches for the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, Richard Hightower of the Chicago Bears and Mike Kafka of the New York Giants.

“Coaches Hightower and Kafka have the opportunity to not only evaluate top athlete prospects, but also to showcase their skills in leading players and coaching staffs in this high-profile game,” said Troy Vincent Sr., executive vice president of football operations for the NFL. “This is an important evaluation week for prospects as well as for coaches as they pursue their professional and personal goals. The game also shows the humanitarian side of football as participants greatly encourage the children and families at the Shriners Hospitals.”

Hightower has spent the past two seasons as the Bears’ special teams coordinator and completed his third year overall in Chicago in 2023 after previously serving as the club’s assistant special teams coach in 2016. Hightower has 17 years of NFL coaching experience, including stops with Houston (2006-08), Washington (2010-13), Cleveland (2014), San Francisco (2015, 2017-21) and Chicago (2016, 2022-23).

Kafka recently completed his second season as the Giants’ offensive coordinator and has seven years of NFL coaching experience. He spent five seasons as an assistant coach on Andy Reid’s staff with the Kansas City Chiefs, the last two as the team’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. In 2016, Kafka served as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Northwestern University.

“We’re excited to have Mike Kafka and Richard Hightower as our head coaches for the 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl,” said Bob Roller, vice president of sports for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Coach Kafka played in our game 14 years ago and was the game’s most valuable player. Now, he returns to coach, develop and provide his wisdom to our quarterbacks and the entire West roster. Coach Hightower is among the best special teams coordinators in the NFL and has Texas ties as a University of Texas alum. We’re looking forward to him leading the East roster.”

At the conclusion of the NFL regular season, teams nominated deserving assistant coaches who were reviewed by a panel that includes NFL Football Operations staff, East-West Shrine Bowl leadership, members of the NFL’s General Managers Advisory Committee and the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

Coaches nominated by NFL clubs must be active assistant coaches who display extraordinary teaching and communication skills and are recognized for their integrity and commitment to excellence in the coaching profession. The coaches must be accomplished at developing and preparing players to compete in the NFL.

The 99th East-West Shrine Bowl, which features some of college football’s best prospects, will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 1, from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and will be televised on NFL Network.

For more than 90 years, some of football’s greatest players and coaches have contributed to the tradition of the East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation’s first college all-star football game. Created by the Shriners in 1925, the game is driven by the desire to support Shriners Hospitals for Children in its mission to help children in need of expert medical care. Participating players make an annual visit to the local Shriners Hospital, visiting children and staff in an experience that they will truly never forget.

Meet Seth Schwartzberg, Our Missouri/SEC Intern/Freelancer

By
Memphis Spence
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Photo Cred: Seth Schwartzberg

Give us an introduction about yourself. Where are you from, what is your major, and what do you write for us?

I am from Houston, Texas and I am a journalism major at the University of Missouri. I am going to be writing about all things baseball, ranging from Missouri/SEC to MLB content. I will be always tracking all baseball news, but am open to writing about other topics as well.

Photo Cred: Seth Schwartzberg 

  1. What got you into sports journalism?
    I started doing sports writing when I learned just how much of a passion I had for it. I had always been into reading about sports. When I first got into doing the writing and own research myself, as well as getting to talk about the things that I wanted to talk about, I realized that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
  2. What is your favorite sport and why?
    My favorite sport is baseball. I grew up around people who loved it. I just fell in love with it myself from a very young age, even playing it as well. I would always go to baseball games with my family at home, and it would bring us all closer together as my dad and I would always talk about baseball.
  3. What sports moment resonates with you the most?
    The sports moment that resonates with me the most is a tie between the last out of the 2017 World Series and the Dez Bryant no catch. 2017 was a very crazy year in my life because it was when my house flooded from a hurricane. Even though I was living in an apartment, I watched something I never thought I would see in my life. The other one, we don’t need to talk about…
  4. Who are your top five favorite artists?
    I am a very big music listener. According to Spotify, I spent over 200,000 minutes last year listening to music, so I have a weird taste. In no order, my top five would probably be: Kanye West, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Wu-Tang Clan, and Gorillaz.
  5. What would be your idea of a dream job?
    My dream job would be to do what Ken Rosenthal does. I want to be the head beat reporter/writer for the MLB. I would work for a major news outlet, but I would be employed by the MLB to report on breaking news around the league.
  6. Name the best place you’ve ever traveled to.
    The best place I have ever traveled to is Japan. I had family who was in the military and they were stationed in Okinawa, so I got the privilege of visiting them with my family.

Lastly, how can people follow you on social media?

I can be found on Instagram @Seth_Schwartzberg, on Twitter @s_schwartzberg0, and on LinkedIn.

NFL Announces Head Coaches for 75th Anniversary Reese’s Senior Bowl

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: Pro Football Network

Released by NFL:

NEW YORK –– Jan. 23, 2024 –– The National Football League announced today the head coaches for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, Jeff Ulbrich of the New York Jets and Terrell Williams of the Tennessee Titans.

“This is an opportunity for two excellent coaches, Jeff Ulbrich of the Jets and Terrell Williams of the Titans, to take the reins as head coaches in leading their staffs and top football athletes in the Senior Bowl’s week-long evaluation of NFL prospects,” said Troy Vincent Sr., executive vice president of football operations for the NFL. “The Senior Bowl is not only a showcase for top football student-athletes, but also a wonderful opportunity for coaches that are nominated by their NFL clubs to further develop their skills and learn from one another.”

Ulbrich recently completed his third season as the Jets’ defensive coordinator after joining New York as part of Robert Saleh’s first staff in 2021. Ulbrich, a 10-year NFL linebacker, has 14 years of coaching experience, 11 at the NFL level.

Williams has 26 seasons of coaching experience, including 12 in the NFL. He coached the past six seasons as a member of the Titans’ coaching staff, including the 2023 season as the team’s assistant head coach/defensive line coach.

“The Senior Bowl is excited about having two highly respected coaches like Jeff Ulbrich and Terrell Williams lead our teams in Mobile,” said Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl. “I had a chance to observe Jeff down here at the Senior Bowl two years ago when the Jets’ staff coached in the game, and he brought tons of juice to his defensive players. Jeff also has an impactful story to tell our players about being a one-year starter at Hawaii and the Senior Bowl helping him become a top-100 draft pick. I met Terrell years ago when he was defensive line coach at Purdue and always came away impressed with how he connected with his guys at practice. Over the past week, I’ve spoken to a number of friends in the league who have worked alongside Terrell, and they all gave him glowing recommendations. Our players are going to have a great week learning under these two men.”

This is the second year the Senior Bowl is implementing a “Coach Up” format in which coordinators and assistant coaches are placed into elevated or different roles from the ones they currently hold with their respective clubs. Head coaches and general managers from all non-playoff teams and Wild Card round participants had the opportunity to nominate assistant coaches. Ulbrich and Williams were then selected by a group composed of league office executives and representatives from the General Managers Advisory Committee.

The Reese’s Senior Bowl, widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process, is the longest continuously running all-star game and has taken place in Mobile, Ala., for the previous years. The 75th anniversary Senior Bowl will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 3, from the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium and will be televised on NFL Network.

Youthful Quarterbacks Again Take Center Stage on Championship Sunday

By
Stephen Patrick
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0

Released by NFL:

NEW YORK ­— Jan. 23, 2024 — Two’s company and four’s a crowd.

Four teams remain and 28 others, just like the rest of us, are merely spectators in America’s most popular spectator sport.

And as the NFL prepares to determine the two clubs that will compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, the league can point to one fact underlining a brilliantly bright future.

Just like last season, all four starting quarterbacks in the NFL’s Championship Games – JARED GOFF, LAMAR JACKSON, PATRICK MAHOMES and BROCK PURDY – are under 30 years old. Prior to this week, that’s happened in consecutive seasons only once since the 1970 merger, 2003 and 2004.

Over the previous 53 seasons from 1970-2022, all four starting quarterbacks in Championship Games were under the age of 30 on only seven occasions: 1984, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2022.

Plus, Sunday’s AFC Championship Game featuring Mahomes (2018) and Jackson (2019) is the first postseason contest in league history involving former MVP quarterbacks under 30 years of age.

So welcome to the NFL’s Championship Sunday, and welcome to the future.

The Starting 11 entering the AFC and NFC Championship Games…

  1. NINERS ARE SITTING PURDY: The 49ers’BROCK PURDY will join BEN ROETHLISBERGER and MARK SANCHEZ as the only quarterbacks in league annals to start conference Championship Games in each of their first two NFL seasons. That’s especially impressive considering Purdy was the last selection in the 2022 NFL Draft while both Roethlisberger (11th overall) and Sanchez (fifth overall) were first-round choices. Since 1994, when the NFL reduced the draft to seven rounds, Purdy is the only quarterback drafted in the seventh round to start a conference Championship Game.
      • Over a longer stretch, 16 quarterbacks have started a conference Championship Game who were either undrafted or selected in the seventh round or later. Included in that group are Purdy in 2022 and an undrafted ERIK KRAMER, the last Lions quarterback to start the NFC Championship Game, in 1991.
      • The next Lions quarterback to start the NFC Championship Game, JARED GOFF, is attempting to become only the fifth starting quarterback in NFL history to lead multiple franchises to Super Bowl appearances. Only TOM BRADY (New England and Tampa Bay), CRAIG MORTON (Dallas and Denver) and Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (Indianapolis and Denver) and KURT WARNER (St. Louis Rams and Arizona) have done it.
  1. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 14: The number of postseason wins Kansas City’sPATRICK MAHOMES would own as a starting quarterback with a victory on Sunday. In NFL history, TOM BRADY (14-3 from 2001-07) is the only starting quarterback to win 14 of his first 17 postseason starts. Mahomes is 13-3 over his first 16 postseason starts (2018-23) with 4,561 passing yards, 38 touchdown passes and a 106.7 passer rating. What’s more, with a win on Sunday, Mahomes would surpass BEN ROETHLISBERGER (13) and Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (13) to become one of only six all-time quarterbacks to win 14-or-more postseason starts, joining Brady (35) and Pro Football Hall of Famers JOE MONTANA (16), TERRY BRADSHAW (14), JOHN ELWAY (14) and PEYTON MANNING (14).
  2. JACKSONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS: In last week’s win, Baltimore’sLAMAR JACKSON became the first player in NFL history to rush for two touchdowns, record 100 rushing yards, pass for two touchdowns and compile a passer rating of 100-or-higher in a postseason game. With a minimum of five playoff games, his 93.4 career rushing yards per postseason game ranks fifth in NFL history among all players, trailing Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRELL DAVIS (142.5) and JOHN RIGGINS (110.7), DERRICK HENRY (104.6) and Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (103.4).
  3. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUP: Two players recently named to theAssociated Press All-Pro team will go toe-to-toe on Sunday when Lions wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN meets 49ers cornerback CHARVARIUS WARD. In 2023, St. Brown has an NFL-leading 10 100-yard receiving games, including the postseason. Four of those efforts have come over the Lions’ last six games, including the Wild Card victory over the Rams. He also has a touchdown reception in five of his past six games, including last week’s 31-23 win over Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, Ward during the regular season led the NFL with a career-high 23 passes defensed, including a career-best five interceptions. In 15 career playoff games, Ward has 13 passes defensed.
  4. SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: Defensive coordinatorAARON GLENN led a Lions unit that allowed just 88.8 rushing yards per game during the regular season, the second fewest in the league. Including the postseason, the only opposing player in 2023 who has topped 70 rushing yards against the Lions is Chicago quarterback JUSTIN FIELDS, who had 104 on Nov. 19. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ offense during the regular season ranked third on the ground (140.5 rushing yards per game), led by the NFL’s rushing champion CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (1,459 yards). A 49ers player has rushed for at least 70 yards on 13 occasions this season, including the playoffs.
  5. STREAK SPEAK: TheKANSAS CITY CHIEFS have now advanced to the AFC Championship Game in six straight seasons (2018-23), surpassing the OAKLAND RAIDERS (five from 1973-77) for the second-longest streak of conference Championship Game appearances in NFL history. Only the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (eight from 2011-18) have a longer streak. The first five Championship Games in Kansas City’s streak were at Arrowhead Stadium. Sunday marks the Chiefs’ first road AFC Championship Game since a 1993 loss at Buffalo. This week also marks the first AFC Championship outside Kansas City since New England defeated Jacksonville at Gillette Stadium in the 2017 contest.
      • For the BALTIMORE RAVENS, Sunday’s game marks the first time the franchise has hosted an AFC Championship Game. The last time the city of Baltimore hosted the contest was Jan. 3, 1971, when the Baltimore Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders, 27-17, at Memorial Stadium en route to the Colts’ Super Bowl V championship. The Ravens make their first appearance in the AFC Championship since the 2012 season, when they went into Gillette Stadium and overpowered New England, 28-13, en route to a Super Bowl XLVII victory over San Francisco. Baltimore has made four prior appearances in the game as the road team. Since the Ravens’ inception in 1996, they’ve played the Chiefs just once in the postseason, a 2010 Wild Card victory at Kansas City.
      • Meanwhile, the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have won six consecutive home playoff games, the NFL’s longest active streak. The 49ers also are headed to a third consecutive NFC Championship Game. It’s the fourth time in franchise history San Francisco has reached three straight Championship Games (also 1988-90, 1992-94 and 2011-13 – the 49ers were also the last NFL team to play in three straight conference Championship Games). And since the 1970 merger, no franchise has played in more conference Championship Games than San Francisco. The 49ers will make their 19th appearance in the game, three more than the next-closest team, Pittsburgh (16). Meanwhile, the DETROIT LIONS have played in one NFC Championship, a loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Washington in 1991.
      • Sunday marks the third all-time postseason meeting between the Lions and 49ers. The prior two meetings also were in the Bay Area. Detroit won the first contest, a 1957 Divisional playoff at Kezar Stadium, en route to the Lions’ most recent world championship. That Lions victory also marked the last time Detroit won on the road in the postseason. Then, 26 years later, the 49ers captured the second meeting, a thrilling, come-from-behind victory in the 1983 NFC Divisional Round at Candlestick Park.
  1. DID YOU KNOW?: For the first time in 20 years, a pair of three seeds – the DETROIT LIONS and KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – has reached the Championship Games. The last time that happened was 2003, when both the CAROLINA PANTHERS and INDIANAPOLIS COLTS were among the league’s final four. The last No. 3 seed to advance to and win a Super Bowl was the 2006 Colts.
      • While No. 3-seeded teams have lost four straight conference Championship Games since that Colts victory, No. 1 seeds haven’t fared significantly better. From 2018-22, No. 1 seeds have posted a modest 4-3 (.571) record in Championship Games and they’re only 12-9 (.571) overall in the postseason. And just one No. 1 seed in that span – the 2022 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – won a Super Bowl.
      • No team since the 2003-04 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS has won consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City is aiming to break that 18-year streak (2005-22), the longest in league history.
  1. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINES: Baltimore’sJOHN HARBAUGH launched his NFL career with the Eagles in 1998, one year before ANDY REID became Philadelphia’s head coach. Reid retained Harbaugh on his Philadelphia staff until the Ravens hired Harbaugh as head coach in 2008.
      • Sunday’s Chiefs-Ravens matchup will be the third postseason game in NFL history in which the head coaches have combined for 450-or-more wins. Including the postseason, Reid is 282-160-1 (.638) while Harbaugh is 172-108-0 (.614). The only other playoff games with head coaches accounting for at least 450 career wins were the 2018 AFC Championship between New England and Kansas City on Jan. 20, 2019 (BILL BELICHICK, 290, and Reid, 207) and a 1995 AFC Wild Card contest between Buffalo and Miami on Dec. 30, 1995 (Pro Football Hall of Famers MARV LEVY, 137, and DON SHULA, 347). That 1995 contest marked the final game of Shula’s remarkable career.
      • Also this week, Reid will appear in his 11th Championship Game as a head coach and surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (10) for second most in NFL history. Only BILL BELICHICK (13) has more.
      • Meanwhile, when the Lions visit the 49ers in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, Detroit quarterback JARED GOFF will return to his roots. Goff grew up just north of San Francisco and graduated from Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, Calif. He went on to start at Cal in Berkeley, Calif., before the Rams selected him No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Another former Bay Area quarterback, TOM BRADY, also grew up a 49ers fan before starting for two seasons at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. Brady and Goff faced each other in Super Bowl LIII. Goff has started four career games at Levi’s Stadium – all with the Rams (wins in 2017 and 2018 and losses in 2019 and 2020).
  1. TREND TIME: Since 2018, when bothPATRICK MAHOMES and LAMAR JACKSON became full-time starters, the Chiefs and Ravens own the NFL’s best winning percentages, including the postseason. Kansas City during that stretch is 88-27 (.765), No. 1 in the league, while Baltimore is 68-37 (.648), second in the NFL. Also since 2018 and including the postseason, Kansas City leads the league with 28.9 points per game while Baltimore (25.82) ranks second. On the other side of the ball, the Ravens lead the NFL in scoring defense during that period, allowing just 18.80 points per contest.
      • Since the 1970 merger and including the postseason, Mahomes (.777) has the best winning percentage among starting quarterbacks (minimum 50 starts). Second on that list is TOM BRADY (.751) and third is Jackson (.732).
      • Detroit defensive end AIDAN HUTCHINSON has eight sacks over his last four games, including Weeks 17-18 of the regular season.
      • Since Week 15 and including the postseason, Lions quarterback JARED GOFF has shined in the fourth quarter. In the final stanza during that stretch, Goff has compiled a 116.9 passer rating (843 passing yards, six touchdown passes) and the Lions are 5-1. In last week’s 31-23 win over Tampa Bay, Goff in the fourth quarter completed 16 of 21 attempts (76.2 percent) for 188 yards and a touchdown.
      • In three of the four Divisional games last week, the team that won the coin toss opted to receive. That happened in less than 5 percent of regular-season games this year (13 of 272).
  1. NEXT GEN STAT OF THE WEEK: Since 2018, including the postseason, Baltimore’sLAMAR JACKSON has 14 touchdown passes on designed rollouts without play action. Only Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (23) has more in that period. No other quarterback in that span has more than six.
  2. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The NFL’s final four includes arguably the league’s best four tight ends, including University of Iowa productsGEORGE KITTLE and SAM LAPORTA, the respective first- and second-team tight ends on the 2023 Associated Press All-Pro list.
      • While Kittle and LaPorta have had impressive 2023 seasons, Kansas City’s TRAVIS KELCE has had an impressive career, especially in the postseason. Kelce enters this week with 145 career receptions in 20 postseason games. He needs seven receptions against the Ravens to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (151 receptions in 29 postseason games) for the most in NFL history. In last week’s 27-24 win at Buffalo, Kelce caught five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns, reaching five receptions in a 12th consecutive postseason game, the second-longest streak in league history behind JULIAN EDELMAN (13). Kelce also reached 50 receiving yards in an 11th straight playoff game and trails only Edelman (13) in that category.
      • Kittle in last week’s 24-21 win over Green Bay led the 49ers with 81 receiving yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception. During the regular season, he led NFL tight ends with 1,020 receiving yards, helping San Francisco become the first team ever with a running back, two wide receivers and a tight end to eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards in the same season.
      • LaPorta in Detroit’s 31-23 win over Tampa Bay posted nine catches, the most single-game receptions ever by a rookie tight end in a playoff game (surpassing KEITH JACKSON and JEREMY SHOCKEY, who previously shared the mark with seven). During the regular season, LaPorta caught 86 passes to establish the NFL’s single-season rookie record among tight ends. And, with 10 touchdown receptions, LaPorta joined running back JAHMYR GIBBS as the first pair of rookie teammates in league annals to each score 10 touchdowns.
      • Baltimore’s MARK ANDREWS caught six touchdowns in 2023 and joined Kelce as the only NFL tight ends with five-or-more touchdown receptions in each of the past five seasons. Andrews has 40 regular-season touchdown receptions since he entered the league in 2018. Only Kelce (52) has more in that period. What’s more, Ravens tight end ISAIAH LIKELY has five touchdown receptions over his last six games, including playoffs.

 

SRA Augustus’s Pac-12 Player of the Week

By
Augustus Oswald
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Photo Cred: Cal

In a standout performance, senior forward Fardaws Aimaq of the California Golden Bears has been named the PAC-12 Player of the Week. Aimaq’s exceptional play included two impressive double-doubles during the front end of a three-game homestand against Washington and Washington State. On Thursday, Aimaq showcased his skills with an 8-14 shooting performance, tallying 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 32 minutes.

Cal Falls To Washington At Buzzer - California Golden Bears Athletics

Photo Cred: Cal

Despite a tough 77-75 loss to the Washington Huskies, Aimaq’s contributions did not go unnoticed. On Saturday, he continued his stellar performance, shooting 7-14 with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 steals in 38 minutes, securing an 81-75 victory over the Washington State Cougars. Aimaq’s remarkable performances contribute to his season average of 15.4 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game. In the two games against

Washington and Washington State, he accumulated 36 points, 24 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, two blocks, and impressively committed only one turnover in a total of seventy minutes. Aimaq now boasts 12 double-doubles for the season, with 4 in conference play. The California Golden Bears, now standing at 3-5 in conference play and 7-12 overall, hold the 10th position in the PAC-12.

Fardaws Aimaq - Men's Basketball - California Golden Bears Athletics

Photo Cred: Cal

The recent victory over the Washington State Cougars has already surpassed last year’s conference win total, marking a significant improvement from a challenging 3-29 campaign, where they finished 2-18 in conference play and endured a 16-game losing streak. Under the guidance of first-year coach Mark Madsen, the Golden Bears, led by Aimaq and guard Jaylon Tyson, have shown considerable improvement. They are poised to continue their momentum and build a winning streak as they face arch-rival Stanford at home this Friday.

NFL Continues Commitment to LGBTQ Community with “A Night of Pride with GLAAD”

By
Stephen Patrick
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Photo Cred: NFL

Released By NFL:

NEW YORK – Jan. 22, 2024 – The National Football League (NFL) will host the third annual A Night of Pride with GLAAD presented by Smirnoff during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas, NV on Wednesday, February 7. The event will feature a special live performance presented by Smartfood with singer-songwriter VINCINT.

A Night of Pride with GLAAD is an evening of music, cocktails and interview-style conversations with GLAAD, a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. The NFL family and partners will gather to spotlight advances in the future of LGBTQ inclusion in professional sports as well the NFL’s commitment to LGBTQ former and current players.

To kick off the celebrations, A Night of Pride with GLAAD Red Carpet will begin at 7:30 p.m. PT, with coverage across CBS Sports, GLAAD, and NFL social channels. Red carpet attendees will be met by NFL correspondent Ryan Mitchell who will anchor coverage and interview celebrities as they kick off Super Bowl week.

Sponsored by Smirnoff, A Night of Pride with GLAAD also includes a panel discussion on how inclusion in sports advances acceptance for LGBTQ people, featuring NFL Legend Carl Nassib. Additional partners for the evening include Starter and Google.

“GLAAD’s partnership with the NFL is committed to creating spaces where all fans can celebrate and to growing important visibility for LGBTQ fans at the Super Bowl and all season long,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “The third annual A Night of Pride at Super Bowl LVIII will spotlight LGBTQ leaders in sports as we work to create safe and inclusive sports environments for our community.”

“Our Third Annual A Night of Pride with GLAAD is yet another strong step to accelerating acceptance and demonstrating the NFL’s unwavering support of the LGBTQ community,” said NFL’s Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Jonathan Beane. “We look forward to continuing and strengthening our efforts to ensure football is for everyone.”

Earlier in the day, the NFL will also host its second annual Pride Flag Football Clinic at Super Bowl Experience, working with a local center that serves LGBTQ youth. Attendees and their families will be celebrated and welcomed by NFL players and members of the National Gay Flag Football League.

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