Brains vs. Brawn
The big story of the weekend will make your head hurt, why Bills fans will melt your heart and what Pitbull has to do with burning rubber.
Today our nation honors Martin Luther King Jr. what would’ve been his 92nd birthday. Not to mention today kicks off a significant week in our country’s history, so we leave you with a quote from MLK himself, "The time is always right to do what is right."
Be kind to one another,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
This weekend's storyline should be the big playoff wins, but those wins were overshadowed by not one but two starting quarterbacks leaving their respective games with concussions. Both Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) were ruled out of the game with concussions, but in Mahomes’ case, his team prevailed and took home the win. Jackson’s team lost to the Buffalo Bills. TOUGH WAY TO LOSE
Overtime
Late last year, a delegation of NBA (National Basketball Association) players met with Pope Francis at his request to discuss their individual and collective efforts addressing social and economic injustice and inequality occurring in their communities. Pope Francis honored them for their work demanding social justice. The Atlanta Hawks made sure to send Pope Francis a custom version of their MLK Nike City Edition Jerseys. With the help of UPS, His Holiness received the jersey, blessed it and signed it. The Hawks will wear those blessed special edition jerseys that honor Martin Luther King Jr. when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. BETTER TOGETHER
Sideline stat
The Buffalo Bills may have hardcore fans, but they have big hearts. After their team beat Lamar Jackson, who left the game with a concussion, and his Ravens, donations poured in from Bills fans to Jackson’s favorite charity, Blessings in a Backpack. As of this morning, more than $290,000 has been donated to the organization that provides food to kids over the weekend.
This isn’t the first time Bills fans made donations in honor of an opponent. In 2017, Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton made a huge play that sent the Bills to the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons. The fans donated more than $415,000 for the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation as a thank you. The Daltons then paid it forward and made a significant donation to a Buffalo hospital. COLD WEATHER, WARM HEARTS
Coaches’ corner
We’re a few weeks away from the start of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) season and the racing league gave us a little extra surprise to get us excited. Pitbull joins Michael Jordan on the list of big-named celebrities to buy into NASCAR. Armando Perez, aka Pitbull, celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday with the announcement that he joined Trackhouse as a co-owner. Their driver Daniel Suarez will drive the No. 99 car in the NASCAR Cup Series. The season starts with the Daytona 500 on February 14. TIME OF OUR LIVES
What to watch
In the battle between the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL, Tom Brady and his Buccaneers prevailed over Drew Brees and his Saints. Before the game, Brees announced that he was retiring and that the playoff game would be his last in the Saints home stadium. The sweet moment came after the game where there’s a video of Brady and Brees hanging out on the field with Brees family and Brady throws a touchdown pass to one of Brees’ kids. A MUST SEE MOMENT
Here We Go
The Super Bowl is set, why 40 seconds isn’t long enough and who was riding dirty?
The Super Bowl is set. Get your game face on.
Let’s go Monday,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira aren’t the only ones heading to the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and Jimmy Garoppolo and his San Francisco 49ers will be joining them. While the Chiefs celebrated their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1970, the 49ers celebrated by wearing shirts featuring their quarterback in his underwear. (Because why not)?
According to Vegas odds, the Chiefs are the slight favorites to win the game. Super Bowl 54 will take place in Miami on February 2. We'll have more big game insight leading up to it. BUT WILL THERE BE SNACKS?
Overtime
Somehow Rob Lowe became the most interesting part of the 49ers - Packers game. He was likely in the stands to promote his new TV show that aired after the game on the same network. But it was his hat, not his show, that sent the internet into a frenzy. MUST TRY TO BLEND IN
Sideline stat
Conor McGregor stepped back into the octagon Saturday night looking for his first win since 2016. His UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fight against the all-time wins leader Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone wasn’t at all what anyone expected. McGregor took him out in 40 seconds. Be glad you didn’t pay for it on Pay-Per-View. END OF STORY
Coaches’ corner
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Kyle Larson has had a pretty decorated racing career including a win at Daytona. But his greatest victory, according to him, was this weekend at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa where he finally won the illusive dirt track title. He’s proof that you should try and try again - it was his 13th time driving in this dirt-race event. The NASCAR season starts with the Daytona 500 on February 16. RIDIN’ DIRTY
What to watch
The tennis season began yesterday (U.S. time) with the Australian Open. The tournament down under is the first major of the season (aka a Grand Slam Tournament). The Grand Slam schedule includes the four most important tournaments of the season - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. LOTS OF LOVE FOR AUSTRALIA + TENNIS
For All The Marbles
After last night's momentous Golden Globe Awards, we're headed toward another exciting evening tonight. The College Football National Championship Game is this evening. Let’s talk about that and a few other things so you can complete the watercooler talk.
After last night's momentous Golden Globe Awards, we're headed toward another exciting evening tonight. The College Football National Championship Game is this evening featuring Alabama vs. Georgia with Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar at halftime. Let’s talk about that and a few other things so you can complete the watercooler talk.
So...how was your weekend,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS - Tune into our Instagram to catch the recap of our morning TV appearance about tonight's big football game. We're empowering the sports curious.
College football
If you agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Nick Saban, head coach of Alabama Crimson Tide, agrees with you. He starts his day with two Little Debbie oatmeal cookies. There’s oatmeal in them so that counts right?
Don’t forget to check out our Five Things To Know About The National Championship Game here so you’re in the know for tonight’s game.
Sideline stat
After being the voice of Monday Night Football, former NFL (National Football League) coach Jon Gruden is heading back to the sidelines and he’s getting paid handsomely to make the move. He’s been off the field for nine years but the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders are giving him the largest contract in NFL history, $100 million for 10 years.
Overtime
Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux may have had the goal of the year. He scored a goal after the puck bounced off an opposing player’s butt. Somewhere Sir Mix-A-Lot is smiling.
Coaches’ corner
It was a wild weekend in the wild card playoff games in NFL. Tennessee Titans quarterback did something no else has done in NFL playoff history, he threw a touchdown to himself during his team’s epic comeback to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. PLAYOFF RECAP