A loaded Monday edition of The Cheat Sheet with a wild and very important Week 16 of the NFL, and HGH allegations involving Peyton Manning (the guy from those commercials). Hopefully you had an awesome holiday weekend and let’s get caught up on the main sports stories from it…
The Patriots lost to the Jets… after electing to kick off in OT
The Patriots lost to the Jets 26-20 on Sunday, in really weird fashion. After winning the overtime coin toss, New England special teams ace Matthew Slater told the referee that the Patriots wanted to kick off instead of receive the ball.
Here’s the video. Slater clearly says he wants to kick off. https://t.co/1Aom1yKw69
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 27, 2015
Predictably, the Jets quickly went down the field and scored a touchdown to win the game 26-20. Slater claims he did as told by the coaching staff, and Bill Belichick agreed with that. Who knows what to believe (it is the Patriots after all) and who knows why the Patriots would do that.
Anyway, I did a full post on the topic, so check that for more on the bizarre finish to a game that was huge for AFC playoff implications.
The Carolina Panthers actually lost a football game
You know that Falcons team that had lost six of seven games entering Week 16? The one that the Panthers destroyed 38-0 in Week 14? That same Falcons team beat the Panthers 20-13 on Sunday in Atlanta, because NFL.
The Carolina Panthers’ undefeated hopes are done. Falcons win. pic.twitter.com/jOZ6JildJ1 — The Comeback (@comeback_sports) December 27, 2015
Cam Newton: “We got our ass kicked today. Offense, defense, special teams. And I’m talking with the mirror in front of my face.”
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 27, 2015
So, no 16-0 for the Panthers, although their eyes are of course on the bigger prize. That goes into the next topic on here, as…
The Cardinals blew out the Packers & look as good as anyone
The Arizona Cardinals look like an awesome, complete team, and they put that on full display Sunday with a dominating 38-8 win over the Packers. They especially made the game hell for Aaron Rodgers:
Cardinals’ 9 sacks are their most in a game since 1986 (10 vs Eagles) — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 28, 2015
Eight of those sacks were on Rodgers, and they returned two Rodgers fumbles for touchdowns. That’s with Green Bay wisely taking Rodgers out of the game early in the fourth quarter, as it wasn’t worth him getting pummeled in a blowout (especially since the Packers are going to the playoffs).
Arizona now has nine straight wins, a 13-2 record, an NFL-best +206 point differential, and are still alive for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Washington wins the (trash) NFC East
At 8-7 Redskins are already your NFC East champions, after humiliating the Eagles 38-24 on Saturday night in Philadelphia (the game was more lopsided than the score says). Kirk Cousins had an embarrassing moment at the end of the first half, but made up for it with a four-touchdown, zero-interception performance, and has been killing it over the last nine games.
Kirk Cousins lol pic.twitter.com/8SPF8oa8iG — The Comeback (@comeback_sports) December 27, 2015
And now, a non-mocking Kirk Cousins tweet: Kirk Cousins has thrown 20 touchdown passes and just 3 interceptions over the last 9 games. — The Comeback (@comeback_sports) December 27, 2015
Peyton Manning is really, really pissed about HGH allegations
Al Jazeera released a documentary on Sunday that links Peyton Manning and several other high-profile athletes to PEDS. We could go on a lot about this (a quick google will get you plenty of articles), but for today’s Cheat Sheet we’ll stick to a quick summary of the story in regards to Manning. The documentary alleges that the Broncos quarterback was supplied HGH while recovering from neck surgery in 2011, and Manning is furious about the allegations (he really likes the word “slapstick” too).
“It’s a joke. It’s a freaking joke.” Peyton Manning refutes Al Jazeera report that pharmacist sent HGH to his home. https://t.co/6FETJwkv5X — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 27, 2015
“It’s completely fabricated, complete trash, garbage — there’s more adjectives I’d like to be able to use. It really makes me sick.”
If there is anything to this report, we’re sure to hear much, much more (to an annoying degree), so stay tuned.
Quick Hits
– The Vikings crushed the Giants in what was an awful Sunday Night Football game. Minnesota has clinched a playoff spot. And they could still win the NFC North, because…
– Packers-Vikings in Week 17 will be for the NFC North title, and has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
– The Rams punter tossed a cheap shot at the Seahawks’ Cliff Avril, and then things got hilarious.
– Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry made a ridiculous one-handed catch. Catch of the Year nominee.
– Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had an awesome 70-yard touchdown reception that ended up being a crucial play in Atlanta’s upset over the Panthers.
– Clippers star forward Blake Griffin will miss at least two weeks with a torn tendon.
– Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane is the target of a sexual offense investigation.
– Warriors-Cavs finals rematch on Christmas Day, and Golden State came out victorious (again).
– The Bulls have had a drama-filled, erratic season, but they looked great in OKC on Christmas Day.
– Every Seinfeld episode ranked. Pretty good list; ‘The Merv Griffin Show’ is my personal fave. Let’s be honest- They’re all great.
One last breath of gratuitous procrastination
Probably the most important video you’ll watch for months… a compilation of cats scared of cucumbers.
Screw it, one more breath of gratuitous procrastination
