Catch That Friday Feeling

The first work week of the 2018 is coming to a close but not without that Last Night’s Game Friday feeling.

Spirit fingers,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - This Friday's Tailgate Treat is an easy one that even our team can make. Break out the slow cooker and the chicken wings because it's going to be a party. 

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Tennis

If you’ve ever spoken too soon. We were so excited for Serena Williams’ return to the Australian Open, one year after she won it while pregnant. Yesterday we found out she’s not ready yet and she withdrew from the tournament. Another one of tennis’ best, Andy Murray also dropped out of the tournament this week with a bum right hip. Crikey!

NFL (National Football League)

When you're rewarded for your hard work. The NFL playoffs start this weekend with the ultimate goal of reaching the Super Bowl on February 4. We'll see playoff action in Los Angeles for the first time since 1986 as the L.A. Rams host the Atlanta Falcons. PLAYOFF PREVIEW

Overtime

Get that #FridayFeeling this morning with more cuteness than one should see in a week. The starting lineup for this year’s Animal Planet Puppy Bowl has been released. Team Fluff and Team Ruff are made up of shelter dogs that hope to be adopted. Talk about the ultimate “tail”gate. Here’s the cutest lineup you’ve ever seen. PICS

Sideline stat

This weekend the Jacksonville Jaguars are playing in their first home playoff game since 2000 against a Buffalo Bills team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1999. They’re so excited (maybe almost too excited) that their black, teal and gold exuberance has spread to the game day food. The team is offering very appetizing burgers with teal buns, teal ice cream and even teal beer. Try to refrain from reciting green eggs and ham.

Coaches’ corner

Do you have weekend plans? If you are in Cleveland, you do now. The Cleveland Browns are celebrating their perfect season with a parade on Saturday. Although it’s not the kind of perfect season you’d think. The parade celebrates the winless, 0-16 (wins-losses) regular season for the team - the second time in NFL history that a team has had a winless season.

Heads up!

Alabama and Georgia will battle it out for the the College Football National Championship on Monday. Brush up on the Five Things To Know About Monday's National Championship Game so you're in the know for the weekend chatter.  

Working The Room

Good looking and interesting? You’re bound to be the party favorite after reading today’s weekend preview edition.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it,

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Need something to bring to a holiday party? This week's Tailgate Treat won't help you fit into your clothes but we're sure it'll get everyone talking. 

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College football

Saturday = couch surfing all day. It’s championship weekend in college football. That means the top two teams in a conference play each other for the conference championship. These games determine the postseason of college football (i.e all of those bowl games) and the national championship contenders. SCHEDULE

Golf

He's baack. Tiger Woods is in the Bahamas, but not for vacation. He’s hitting the green to play competitively for the first time in 300 days. Woods recently underwent spinal fusion surgery but is playing well in his comeback in the Hero World Classic. If this story sounds familiar, Woods has had quite a few “comebacks” over the past few years. So feel free to get excited, just not too excited. Yet.

 

Overtime

Carrie Bradshaw would be so proud because it’s all about the shoes this weekend in the NFL (National Football League). The “My Cause My Cleats” initiative allows players to wear customized cleats that represent a cause meaningful to them. The shoes will then be auctioned off to benefit their individual causes. Browse the shoe rack here. #mycausemycleats

Sideline stat

As part of the NFL’s plan to combat social injustice and address the causes players are kneeling for, they announced a proposal for an $89 million, seven-year initiative. The proposal funds projects dealing with criminal justice reform, law enforcement/community relations and education. Although not all players are happy with the proposal that was negotiated by their fellow athletes, many believe this is the first step. Will less players kneel during the anthem because of this milestone agreement? We’ll find out come Sunday.  

Coaches’ corner

Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB - Major League Baseball) player Andrew McCutchen took his love for his city to another level. He and his wife welcomed a new son this week and it seemed only fitting when playing in the "Steel City" that they name him Steel. Let's hope McCutchen isn't traded anytime soon. 

Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for today’s big 2018 World Cup announcement.

Scary Good

No need to waste your time scouring the internet to determine what happened this weekend because we have it all right here. Put that time toward something useful, like finding a last-minute Halloween costume for tomorrow night.

Trick or treat,

The Last Night’s Game Team  

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MLB (Major League Baseball)

Super Series. Last night’s World Series game saw a record setting number of home runs, more than a dozen different pitchers and a handful of lead changes, all in a five-plus hour game. The second longest game in World Series history ended with the Houston Astros on top. The teams will now head to Dodger Stadium for game six tomorrow. If the Astros win that game, they’ll be World Champions.

College Football

Celebrations ensue. There were two huge upsets in college football this weekend that you should know about. The first, Ohio State (#6) came from behind to beat an undefeated Penn State (#2). The second, Cinderella story Iowa State beat a previously undefeated TCU (Texas Christian University - #4) team. RESULTS

NFL (National Football League)

Remain defeated. The two winless NFL teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns, lost again. Better luck next week. WEEKEND SCORES

Overtime

At only 32 years old, driver Lewis Hamilton has won his fourth F1 (Formula One) championship. Hamilton now claims the title of most accomplished British driver ever. Pretty impressive even if he does drive on the other side of the road.

Sideline stat

Five games. That's how many games Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will be suspended next season for making a racist gesture toward a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. After hitting a home run off of him, Gurriel made a slanted eye gesture toward Japanese-Iranian pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish accepted Gurriel's apology and said that everyone "should learn from this instead of focusing on anger."

Coaches’ corner

Just in time for a good Halloween statistical scare, the first official college football playoff rankings will be released tomorrow. These rankings will give teams a good idea where they stand as it relates to the playoffs, although there is plenty of football left to be played.