🏀 Caitlin Clark & The Fever's Season Ends, TNF Preview + Wild Card Races

Good Morning!

Ready to hit the ground running? We got your Morning Blitz newsletter chock-full of info and hot takes for you to start your morning. WNBA playoffs, MLB, NFL and more! All topics to discuss at the water cooler (is this still a thing?) Anyway, let’s get right on into it!

WTF Stat: In 1979, the three-point line was added into the NBA. That year, Brian Taylor led the NBA in 3-point shot attempts with 239. This past season, 146 NBA players or about 5 players per NBA team attempted this many 3-point shots.

🏀 The Connecticut Sun defeated the Indiana Fever 87-81, completing a playoff sweep and eliminating Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Alyssa Thomas contributed 19 points and 13 assists in the win. Clark had a better game 2, scoring 25 points and adding 9 assists. Despite a brief Indiana lead late in the game, the Sun secured the win with key shots from DeWanna Bonner and Marina Mabrey.

There will be no game 3 in the first round of the playoffs because the Lynx also swept the Mercury winning 101-88. Napheesa Collier scored 42 points, tying the WNBA playoff record. She also made history by scoring 38 or more points in consecutive playoff games, totaling 80 points over the two-game series—an all-time WNBA playoff record.

• 🔥 Take: Sad to see Clark eliminated, she really added star power to a sport that was desperately needing it. Now it’s on the rest of the players to step up and carry the mantle. And if you can’t do it on the court, time to start guaranteeing wins, talking trash, and creating rivalries. Or convince Taylor Swift to come to a couple of games, that’ll have me tuning in. Because the drama is what sports fans really live for.

🏈 Browns QB Deshaun Watson has stated he is not seeking more designed run plays to boost the struggling offense. He emphasized that he is "not a running back" and prefers to focus on passing rather than taking unnecessary hits. "I'm not trying to take any hits. ... I'm not a running quarterback, in a sense. I can make things happen, but I'm not trying to run.”

• 🔥 Take: Yikes… this is an awful look. Even though I can agree with the sentiment, why are you saying this out loud? Especially when you and your team are struggling. This was a guy that had the heart of a lion early in his career. He played a full college game with a torn ACL because he didn’t want to miss a rivalry game! He seemingly had no problem running the ball in Houston, where in his first four seasons as a pro he ran for 1,677 yards and 17 TDs. Just say, “I’ll do whatever the team needs me to do” and then have this conversation with your coach privately. C’mon Deshaun try and ingratiate yourself a little bit with the Cleveland fans, all they’ve gotten is 15 total games in 3 subpar years, while giving up a boatload of draft picks.

⚾️ Reds outfielder TJ Friedl broke up a combined perfect game with a bunt single in the seventh inning game against the Guardians. The Guardians' bullpen had kept the Reds hitless for six innings before Friedl's strategic play. Despite some boos from the crowd, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt supported Friedl's decision, emphasizing the importance of trying to win the game. The Guardians won 5-2.

• 🔥 Take: I’m not the biggest ‘unwritten rules of baseball’ guy but there are a few factors to this one. 1) If it was a starter going for history (there have only been 24 perfect games in all of baseball), then I think this would be a much bigger deal, but it was a bullpen game so I don’t really count it 2) I pretty much always side with the guy trying to win a close game and doing whatever it takes… but at the same time there are 3 games left in the season, the Reds are completely out of it, so this game is meaningless. 3) The Guardians social media was talking trash about Cincinnati. With all those factors added in I side with TJ Friedl. Bunting is fair game. Start a real pitcher and have him throw a perfect game, and then he won’t bunt.

Thursday Night Football Preview

Game: Cowboys @ Giants (8:15 EST)

Why we’re watching: For CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers. Lamb is one of the best in the NFL and Nabers may be next in line (all he has done is put up highlight reel catches so far). It looks like rain is in the forecast, so I’m really hoping this doesn’t impact the passing game, because if I have to watch RB Zeke Elliot carry it up the middle for 3 yards every play and QB Daniel Jones throwing ducks all night I’m going to be really upset.

Key Matchup: Cowboys passing attack vs Giants pass rush. The Cowboys lead the league in passing yards while the Giants are second in the NFL in sacks. What makes the Giants so interesting is it’s not just one or two dominant defensive lineman, but it’s the whole team. 10 players on their defensive side have registered at least .5 sacks. Will the Cowboys be able to hand the pressure coming from all angles?

TNF Prop Bets: Jean (1-2) - Zeke Elliot over 7.5 rush attempts — Keith (0-3) - I’ll keep picking them so you can bet the opposite… CeeDee Lamb over .5 yards rushing.

D-Man’s Pick (1-2 TNF): Cowboys -4.5 → “not official” - sorry bucko, that’s not how it works.

• Note - The rainy forecast has postponed the next 2 games of Mets-Braves series… there will be a doubleheader on Monday.

• Mariners 8, Astros 1: Good news is the Mariners still are fighting for a Wild Card spot, bad new is the Twins, Royals and Tigers all won so they didn’t gain any ground. Julio Rodríguez did homer and accomplish his third 20/20 season.

• Tigers 7, Rays 1: The hottest team in baseball keeps winning. Each night it seems like a different guy steps up, this time it was Parker Meadows and Spencer Torkelson, who both homered. Top prospect Jackson Jobe made his first appearance to close out the game. Could he be slated for more work in the playoffs? The Tigers have one more game against the Rays before their final three games against the White Sox. Things are looking good.

• Royals 3, Nationals 0: Second game in a row the Royals have shut out the Nationals, this time they had to rely heavily on their bullpen after starter Michael Lorenzen was pulled early due to “lower body fatigue” (I get this from sitting at a computer all day, so we’re similar). Robbie Grossman two-run single was enough to get the win.

• Twins 8, Marlins 3: The Twins got down early, but came roaring back and brought home the win after a 5-run 7th inning. They still sit 2 games back in the Wild Card race.

• Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2: The Dbacks ended their 3 game losing streak with a much needed blowout win. Pavin Smith’s torrid September continues as he hit a 3-run pinch hit HR. The Diamondbacks remain 1 game up in the Wild Card from the Braves.

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here.

On this day in 1973, Wilt Chamberlain signs as a player-coach with the ABA San Diego Conquistadors (a member of the NBA-rival league). The Lakers sued Chamberlain and prevented him from playing for the Conquistadors because he still owed the Lakers the option year of his contract. A judge ruled Chamberlain could coach the Conquistadors but could not play for any team other than the Lakers for 1973–74. Chamberlain’s coaching left a lot to be desired and he eventually retired from professional basketball after a disappointing season.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which QB holds the record for most passing touchdowns in their rookie season?

D. Justin Herbert - Herbert threw for 31 touchdown passes his rookie season (in 2020). He’s only eclipsed that total once (in 2021, when he threw 38). Others on the list were Baker Mayfield (27), Russell Wilson (26), Peyton Manning (26).

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!

P.S. Have a good trivia question you want to share with us? Send them our way!