| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 4 | |||
| MONDAY | JANUARY 30 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 6:00pm | Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Christ Household of Faith | HOME | |
| TUESDAY | JANUARY 31 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:45pm | 2:20pm | 5:15pm | Nordic Ski Race | Como Golf Course |
| 4:15pm / 4:15pm 6:00pm | Boys Basketball vs. Park | HOME | |
| 7:00pm | 5:00pm | 8:45pm | Boys Varsity Hockey vs. Minneapolis | Minneapolis Ice Garden |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Chisago Lakes | Chisago Lakes Arena | |
| WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. South St. Paul | Charles M. Schulz – Highland Arena | |
| 5:00pm | Wrestling vs. Benilde St. Margaret’s and Central | HOME | |
| 5:30pm / 7:00pm | 4:45pm | 8:00pm | Girls Varsity Basketball vs. SPA/Visitation | St. Paul Academy |
| 6:00pm | Gymnastics Twin Cities Meet | North Star | |
| THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 2 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:15pm / 6:00pm | Girls Basketball vs. North St. Paul | HOME | |
| 5:00pm | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Boys Swimming and Diving vs. Central | Humboldt High School |
| FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 3 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:15pm / 4:15pm 6:00pm | Boys Basketball vs. Como Park | HOME | |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Hopkins | Minnetonka High School | |
| SATURDAY | FEBRUARY 4 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | 7:00am | 4:00pm | Wrestling Twin Cities Tournament | Como Park High School |
Category Archives: Sports
Forgotten legends in 5 different sports
By: Dylan Moore
Hockey: Theo Fleury
Theo Fleury is undeniable. The 5’ 6” French Canadian played with a knack for the net and tenacity rivaled by few.
Given his unceremonious end to his career and his drug problems, the NHL has mostly steered clear of Fleury. But his 7 All-Star appearances, 455 goals and 1088 points in 1084 games make him hard to ignore, even as decades pass since his career has ended.
To make it simple, 15 players managed to average over a point per game in both the regular season and the playoffs. 14 of them are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and then there is Theo Fleury. The 1989 Stanley Cup winner’s Hall of Fame introduction is long overdue.
Baseball: Tony Oliva
The lifelong Minnesota Twin was just inducted into the Hall of Fame this past year. While that is great and shows he isn’t as forgotten as some may think, do not let this distract you from the fact that it took over 40 years for him to be inducted.
While never the best player on loaded Twins teams (hall of farmers Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew made sure of that), Oliva’s impact on the Twins’s success was second to none. The 3 time batting champion was as consistent as it got, and his gold glove and 8 All Star appearances held up his career enough so he could be re-recognized all these years later.
Football: Fran Tarkenton
Continuing with the hometown heroes of the distant past, Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton is the next player on this list. While he is a long-time Hall of Famer, his impact has been largely forgotten. Not only did he hold just about every passing record a QB could for a decade after he retired, he also invented scrambling. For those who don’t know, scrambling is moving around in the pocket to evade defenders, and occasionally leaving the pocket to gain yards by running. This is something previously believed to be undoable by a QB before Tarkenton.
45 years after his retirement, the Vikings legend seems to have left the minds of NFL fans worldwide.
Basketball: Moses Malone
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Moses Malone. All of these players have one thing in common: 3 or more NBA MVPs. What differentiates Malone from the rest is simply recognition.
Even though Russell and Chamberlain played multiple decades before “The Chairman of the Boards,” they are both consensus top 10 players in every NBA fans mind, while Malone might not make the top 20. While he only won 1 ring, his scoring numbers, All Star appearances and NBA trophies make just about every player in today’s game jealous.
Even though there are plenty that get far more recognition in any all time debates than “Big Mo.” Moses deserves much more respect.
Soccer: Ronald Koeman
While there is no hall of fame for the biggest sport in the world, that hasn’t stopped Ronald Koeman from being snubbed far too many times. The center back had a whopping 193 goals in only 533 career matches at club level (reminder: he was a defender).
While still recognized by most as an all-time great in this position, his career, combined with his goal scoring record, goes far under the radar. The fabulous Dutch defender needs to be discussed by soccer superfans far more than he is.
While not all of these players are fully “forgotten,” it seems their career achievements certainly are. There are so many greats in all the sports discussed today, yet so many get disrespected and downright ignored when it comes to discussing legends of the game. I hope my article today reminded you how talented these individuals were and are.
Teri McKeever investigation
By: Mia David
In May of 2022, the University of California- Berkeley started an ongoing investigation, and coach Teri McKeever was sent on administrative leave. McKeever is under investigation for verbal and emotional abuse and promoting a toxic culture on the University of California- Berkeley women’s swim team.
A report from the Orange County Register was published with interviews from 19 female swimmers, 1 swimmer from the men’s team, and 6 parents. The report claimed that she has been abusing swimmers for decades now.
Teri McKeever is known as the first female to be the head coach of an Olympic team in the 2012 London Olympics. She has coached the Cal team to 4 NCAA championships and has won the Pac-12 coach of the year award 9 times.
The investigation has lasted longer than anyone expected it to. The athletic director at Berkeley released a statement when the investigation started saying it should last no more than 6 months. However, the investigation has lasted almost 9 months at this point.
McKeever’s lawyer has raised the question of whether or not Dave Burden (Berkeley’s head coach for the men’s team) also acts the way McKeever is being accused of acting. He has claimed that McKeever’s coaching offended people because she is a woman, and they expect her to be more kind and motherly than a men’s coach.
According to Swim Swam News, when asked about the name-calling and bullying of swimmers, McKeever’s lawyer claimed they misunderstood what she was saying.
Over the past couple of months, multiple former swimmers and coaches have sent letters to Berkeley to support Teri McKeever. Many coaches have expressed that this is simply gender bias and that the girls targeting McKeever are looking for attention.
According to Swim Swam News, a former coach from Princeton, Susan Teeter, said, “As a women’s coach, I have seen years of immature athletes who take on the role of ‘mean girls’ and become toxic and hateful, which is what I believe we have on our hands right now.”
People have expressed that the problem is not McKeever, but it is, in fact, an administrative problem. It is unlikely that Berkeley will address an administrative issue right now. Still, they have hired a law firm to investigate McKeever. Dave Durden has been coaching the men’s team but has overtaken both teams in McKeever’s absence.
Sports schedule for: Jan 23-28
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: JANUARY 23 – JANUARY 28 | |||
| MONDAY | JANUARY 23 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TUESDAY | JANUARY 24 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:45pm | 2:20pm / 5:15pm | JV Nordic Ski | Como Golf Course |
| 4:15pm / 4:15pm 6:00pm | Boys Basketball vs. Central | HOME | |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | JV: 3:30pm V: 5:15pm/ 8:45pm | Boys Hockey vs. Kennedy | Bloomington Ice Garden |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. South St. Paul | Doug Woog Arena | |
| 5:30pm / 7:00pm | 4:30pm / 8:15pm | Girls Basketball vs. Central | Central High School |
| WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 25 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:00pm | 3:30pm / 6:30pm | Wrestling vs. Harding | Harding High School |
| 6:00pm | Gymnastics vs. Central / Como / OWL | HOME | |
| 7:00pm | Boys Swimming vs. MPLS South | TBD | |
| THURSDAY | JANUARY 26 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:15pm / 4:15pm 6:00pm | Boys Basketball vs. Washington | HOME | |
| 5:30pm / 7:00pm | 4:30pm / 8:15pm | Girls Basketball vs. Washington | Washington Technology Magnet |
| FRIDAY | JANUARY 27 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 10:30am / 11:00am | 7:30am / 3:15pm | Nordic Ski Conference Championships | Theodore Wirth Park |
| 7:00pm | 5:30pm / 8:30pm | Boys Swimming and Diving vs. Central and Como Park | Humboldt High School |
| SATURDAY | JANUARY 28 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Dance Invitational | Blaine High School | |
| TBD | Girls Hockey vs. Visitation | St. Thomas Academy | |
| 10:00am | 7:00am / 4:00pm | Wrestling Invitational | Roseville High School |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Simley | Charles M Schulz Highland Arena | |
Reviewing different ski hills in Minnesota
By: Ann McMullen
Although Minnesota does not have any true mountains, the hilly terrain of primarily the east half of the state makes for great alpine skiing. These hills, combined with the massive amount of snow we get that seems to last for half the year, make skiing a popular winter activity. In fact, there are so many ski hills in the state that it can be hard to choose one to go to. If you’re wondering where you should ski…look no further than this article.
The closest major hill to the Cities is probably Buck Hill, located in Burnsville. There isn’t much variety in their runs, and it’s all condensed into quite a small area. That being said, a huge amount of olympic medalists grew up skiing at Buck Hill, so they must be doing something right! I’d say Buck is a great place to try out skiing, and if you enjoy it, you can eventually go to a bigger, steeper hill.
Afton Alps is arguably the most popular ski hill in the state, located about half an hour east of the Twin Cities. It’s definitely popular for a reason. It’s in a pretty area, has 17 chairlifts, and even a hilltop chalet! However, Afton can get really, really busy. It’s good skiing, for sure, but you’ll probably spend more time waiting in lift lines than actually going down the hill.
Lutsen Mountains is the closest thing to a real mountain skiing experience that the state offers. This resort is located in the town of Lutsen on beautiful Lake Superior, about twenty minutes south of Grand Marais. There are four unique “mountains” with different types of terrain, allowing anyone from beginners to experts to find something they can enjoy. In addition to the great skiing, Lutsen offers a variety of fun activities in the off-season. Their gondola still runs in the summer to provide beautiful tours of the mountains, and an alpine slide is available to ride down the steepest of their four hills.
If you’re looking for beautiful views like those in Lutsen but don’t want to drive the four hours, look no further than Spirit Mountain in Duluth — essentially halfway between the Cities and Lutsen. At Spirit, you can expect to see Lake Superior, as well as cool views of Duluth itself. The only real downside of Spirit is how small it is. If size is what you’re looking for, I wouldn’t recommend it. Otherwise, it’s great! I also feel inclined to share that they have an alpine roller coaster open in the summer, that winds through a forest and provides beautiful views of the lake. And, get this — you can even control your speed!
And finally, my personal favorite: Welch Village. I may be a bit biased because I grew up coming here nearly every winter weekend, but this hill — just under an hour south of the Cities — has a lot to offer. I wouldn’t call Welch a “hidden gem,” but it’s definitely overshadowed by Afton. That being said, Welch isn’t nearly as busy as Afton — there are rarely long lines for the lifts and you’re sure to be able to find a spot to sit in one of their two chalets.
I hope this helped you see how much downhill skiing Minnesota has to offer. See you on the hill!
Sports schedule for: Jan 16-21
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 21 | |||
| MONDAY | JANUARY 16 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 11:00am / 1:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Armstrong | Charles M. Schulz Highland Ice Arena | |
| TUESDAY | JANUARY 17 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:45pm / 7:30pm | Girls Hockey vs. Rochester Century | Rochester Rec Center | |
| WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 18 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:45pm | 2:10pm / 5:15pm | Nordic Ski Race | Hyland Hills Ski Area |
| 4:00pm / 5:30pm 7:00pm | JV/C: 3:15pm V: 5:45pm/8:45pm | Boys Basketball vs. Humboldt | Humboldt High School |
| 4:15pm / 6:00pm | Girls Basketball vs. Humboldt | HOME | |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Holy Angels | Charles M. Schulz Highland Ice Arena | |
| THURSDAY | JANUARY 19 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:00pm | 3:30pm / 6:30pm | Wrestling vs. Humboldt | Humboldt High School |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Southwest Christian | Charles M. Schulz Highland Ice Arena | |
| FRIDAY | JANUARY 20 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:15pm / 6:00pm | Girls Basketball vs. Harding | HOME | |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Simley | WSP Ice Arena | |
| 5:30pm / 5:30pm 7:00pm | JV/C: 4:30pm V: 5:45pm/8:45pm | Boys Basketball vs. Harding | Harding High School |
| 7:00pm | Boys Swimming and Diving vs. Johnson | Humboldt High School | |
| SATURDAY | JANUARY 21 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Dance Invitational | St. Michael Albertville High School | |
| 10:00am | Gymnastics Invitational | Park High School | |
| 5:15pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Princeton | Princeton Ice Arena | |
The story of the Kyalami Driver’s Strike of 1982
By: Jocelyn Knorr
The year is 1982. Apartheid is still reigning with an ugly, iron fist across South Africa; ironically, a song by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder called “Ebony and Ivory” is #4 on Billboard’s Top 100 list. And Formula One has come to Kyalami, carrying the sort of spectacle usually reserved for Roman coliseums.
But, let’s back up a bit. Austrian driver Niki Lauda, recently returned to the sport after a crash and injury took off half his face, was going over his Super License contract preseason when he found a clause or two that troubled him. For one, it forbade criticizing FISA (the forerunner to our current FIA—coincidentally run by the exact same money-hungry pack of Neanderthals) and disallowing drivers from entering negotiations with teams themselves. This was the thing that got Lauda hot under the collar; it would have crippled the drivers’ autonomy and, in his mind, would end in them being shunted from team to team, racing for the highest bidder. He fought it incessantly, but to no avail.
As the day of the South African Grand Prix drew closer, all solutions to the issue failed. The drivers sent their attorneys to meet with FISA’s president, Jean-Marie Balestre; Balestre refused to play ball, saying “Sign it or you’re out.”
So, Lauda hatched a plan with his friend and teammate Didier Pironi. The Thursday that practice was meant to start, Pironi and Lauda arranged for a bus to meet them at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Lauda herded the drivers on—most of them, outraged by the new, restricting terms, went willingly—and Pironi stayed behind to negotiate. The other two who stayed behind were Brian Henton (who didn’t have a guaranteed spot for next year and had decided to see if something would come up) and Jochen Mass (who had opted to sleep in and turned up late, most likely extremely confused).
The striking drivers spent a sun-soaked but nervous day by the pool, drinking and chatting; someone even started up a game of volleyball. Lauda was practically tied to the telephone—Pironi kept him updated periodically. However, the messages did not bring good tidings, and they were incredibly inconsistent. One moment, there would be no consequences for participating in the strike, another moment Brabham team boss, Bernie Ecclestone, had fired his drivers. One moment, Kyalami was going to impound the cars if racing didn’t start within the hour, but another the race was being pushed back a week. The striking drivers were even threatened with a lifetime ban from the sport. Despite FISA’s threats, they held firm. Lauda assured everyone that “[it was] all hot air—where [were] they going to get 30 or so drivers capable of handling supercharged F1 cars?”
When night came, Lauda—figuring that everyone sharing a room would preserve the sense of camaraderie and prevent anyone from bolting, something that almost worked—commandeered a conference room and several mattresses. They barricaded themselves in with a grand piano and bunked down for the night. Elio de Angelis and Giles Villeneuve made good use of the piano, Niki Lauda did some stand-up comedy, and Bruno Giacomelli gave a “rather amusing” lecture, complete with cartoons, about domestic terrorism in Italy—after all, who knew how this would end?
Throughout all of it, Pironi ferried messages back and forth from FISA and the bosses to the drivers, Villeneuve punctuating every dispatch from the front with the opening chords of Beethoven’s Fifth. This time, things were looking up; Balestre—difficult at the best of times—was still resistant to amending the terms of the Super License. However, he had suggested that if the drivers came back, they would agree to a temporary truce.
As the drivers slept, Admin conferred. Armed with information from Teo Fabi—unwilling to risk his F1 debut, he’d scarpered out the bathroom window—they called up the drivers. They capitulated; if the drivers came back they could guarantee that there would be no punishment conferred upon them—for now.
Everyone who struck was permitted by FISA to drive, (except for Patrick Tambay, who’d quit on the spot, disgusted by FISA’s actions—Henton’s “just hanging around” tactic worked out for him after all) but Bernie Ecclestone had other ideas. He disallowed reigning champion Nelson Piquet from driving in Friday practice, claiming he was “tired.” Piquet was later cleared by a medical examiner, and Ecclestone had to allow him to qualify and race in the actual Grand Prix.
However, it wasn’t over yet. The very moment the checkered flag fell in Kyalami, the FISA declared that the amnesty had expired; all the drivers were suspended from racing indefinitely. There was a protracted court battle, delaying several Grands Prix, but ultimately the drivers won. Lauda’s scheming had paid off; though they eventually had to sign unaltered Super Licenses, there was never any punishments for drivers bad-mouthing FISA or negotiating with teams personally.
While contemporary newspapers portrayed it as nothing more than a political spat, many of the drivers actually enjoyed the experience. Villeneuve in particular described it as “the best night of his life.” The photographs taken of the strike show not 30 elite athletes, but 30 men, enjoying a boy’s night out, however odd the circumstances were at the time. The Kyalami Driver’s Strike brought the drivers of the grid of 1982 closer than any grid had ever been before, or will be since.
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An incredible finish to the tournament, which had a deserved ending for two top players
By: Aeden Evenson-McDermott
Following the semifinal clash between Argentina and Croatia on December 13, Croatia would set their eyes on a piece of silverware to end the tournament with. This would be the 3rd place bronze medal.
On December 14, Morocco faced France and lost which matched them up to play Croatia for the third place game. It would ultimately be a rematch from the first group stage game as they tied 0-0 towards the beginning of the World Cup.
A big hats off to Morocco on being the first African team to make it this far in a World Cup. Most counted Croatia out before the tournament started but they once again persevered and showed they could medal in back to back World Cups.
On Saturday, December 17, the stage was set for a showdown at the Khalifa International Stadium which would compose itself of 44,000+ supporters in attendance.
It would kick off with the 10 first minutes being an absolute drama to see. A free kick early for the Croats had Modrić fake the kick with Majer following up to swing the ball over the top to Perišić who cocked his neck which headed it furthermore to the outstretched rising star and young talent center back, Joško Gvardiol, who would perfectly connect the force of the ball into the back of the net.
1-0 to Croatia! The lead wouldn’t last for long as Morocco would respond when the deflected ball went through the defenders and fell into Archaf Dari’s path and he headed it through the hands of Croatian goalkeeper Livaković. 1-1 and it was a game!
Later on though, in the first half, just before halftime, Croatia’s Mislav Orsić had an incredible first touch kick that was chipped over the keeper and dinked off the inner near post of the goal and it to the net. 2-1 to the Croatians!
The rest of the second half would be less entertaining with both sides each exchanging posessional turns but none resulting in a score. It was dramatic at times with both sides holding their breaths as each took chances on the counter attacks along the wings.
At the end of the 90 minutes of regulation, Croatia’s World Cup dreams would be fulfilled. They didn’t ultimately get first or second place like their World Cup in 2018, but they have much to be proud of. Modrić, who’s 37, is likely going to retire from international duty within the next year, so it was a nice send off for him as he has done so much for the team and country.
After Argentina beat Croatia and France beat Morocco their sights would be set on the ultimate prize. The World Cup trophy! The trophy touched by greats but revered for all could be Messi’s or it could be Mbappé’s. Who would achieve greater success?
The first half kicked off with Argentina being the more dominant side and exposing the French team near the goal. In the 23rd minute, Argentina’s Lionel Messi would convert the early penalty to give the Argentines the early lead. 1-0!
A little bit later, a second goal would be added as Angel Dí Maria would slot his goal and make it 2-0 Argentina. The excitefulness quieted down a bit but Argentina still remained in the driver’s seat.
France would show more quality as they picked up chances along the stretch. It would all turn in their favor when in the 80th minute, Mbappé would discreetly put the ball just through Martinez’s hands and into the net. 2-1.
The craziest turn of events would only be beginning and a minute later, Mbappé found himself on the end of another immaculate ball whipped in, and which he would convert through a sideways bicycle kick and into the back of the net! 2-2 and all was tied up.
This would prompt an additional 30 minutes of extra time at the end of the regulation 90 minutes. An early shout for a penalty, into extra time, on the edge of the box had many raising their eyebrows as to why that wasn’t a penalty for France?
Furthermore, Argentina would scramble down the field and Messi would score another decisive goal in the 108th minute to give Argentina the 3-2 advantage. If you didn’t think that put the nail in the coffin, you were in for a treat!
France wouldn’t go down without a fight and Mbappé would bag a hat trick of goals, when he bagged the third one, which again was another penalty in the 118th minute of extra time!
Now, since it was 3-3, and it would be the end of the 120 minutes total, it would be going to penalties!
Messi and Mbappé would each convert their first penalties of the shootout. Dybala of Argentina would convert his while Coman of France would miss his. This followed by Paredes scoring his and Tchouameni missing his. Muani of France would make his to keep his team alive but seconds later Montiel of Argentina would rise to the occasion and ultimately seal the fate of France, thus Argentina winning the World Cup!
A deep breath and sigh of relief after such an intense final match!
Messi is the GOAT and certainly deserves this after the incredible career he’s had. His brilliance never disappoints and alway shows how he has so much to prove and still has gas left in the tank for his aging legs.
Back to back medals for Croatia and France and a third World Cup trophy in the books for Argentina!
In terms of the play at The Qatar World Cup, it certainly didn’t disappoint. I would make the case that this was the best World Cup final ever, although I wouldn’t say it was the best World Cup.
Congrats to all the teams on making it a memorable World Cup to watch, and here’s to a good World Cup in North America in 2026, and it remains to be seen after that (the 2030 World Cup has yet to be announced).
With the World Cup coverage now ended, more articles will be coming out on transfers and the resuming of club football!
2023 NFL Wild Card weekend predictions
The 2023 NFL playoffs are upon us, starting with the highly anticipated Wild Card weekend. After adding a 7th team to the NFL playoffs, 12 teams will compete in Wild Card weekend, and 2 teams will watch with a first-round bye.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs entered the postseason with the best record in their respective conferences. These 2 teams have a first-round bye and wait patiently to see their matchups in the divisional round.
The other 12 teams that made the playoffs will go head-to-head this weekend. This is just the fifth time that every Wild Card game will feature a regular-season rematch. Here are my predictions for this weekend and my analysis of the team’s seasons thus far.
AFC:
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (Sunday 1/15 – 12:00 CT)
The Buffalo Bills have some of the highest expectations from fans coming into the playoffs. They finished the regular season 13-3 and won the AFC East by a wide margin. They played in one of the best games in NFL history in last season’s divisional-round game, just barely losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills are red hot and are looking to take their momentum into this divisional matchup.
The Dolphins took a different route into the playoffs. They finished the regular season 9-8, finished 2nd in the AFC east, and didn’t clinch a playoff spot until the last day of the regular season.
With a brand new head coaching staff, it’s understandable that a team would struggle as the Dolphins did, but injuries and concussions are what plagued the team all season. Starting QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered 3 different concussions throughout the season and has missed at least 4 games because of it. Tua is still suffering from his 3rd concussion, and will not play in this game. Miami’s backup QB Teddy Bridgewater is also likely to not play as he is dealing with a fractured pinky.
It is likely that rookie Skylar Thompson will suit up to try and upset the Bills.
Because both of these teams are in the AFC East, they have played each other twice this season. Both games were close and came down to the last minute, with Miami coming out on top 21-19 in week 3, and Buffalo taking the win 32-29 in week 14.
The Dolphins have been struggling as of late, losing 5 of their last 6 games. The Bills, on the other hand, have won their last 7 straight (excluding the canceled matchup in week 17 versus Cincinnati). The Bills offense led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is hard to stop, and I don’t think Miami’s average-level defense and rookie QB are up to the task.
My prediction: Bills 27-Dolphins 16
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday 1/15 – 7:15 CT)
Much like the Bills-Dolphins matchup, this game is between the 1st and 2nd place teams in the AFC North. The Ravens took a 19-17 win over Cincinnati in week 5, and the Bengals took a 27-16 victory over Baltimore in week 18.
Both teams should be well prepared for this matchup, as the Bengals and Ravens faced each other in week 18, exactly 7 days before this game. Back-to-back matchups between these teams should provide an interesting watch.
The Ravens starting QB Lamar Jackson has missed the last 5 games with a sprained PCL, and it is likely that he won’t be able to return in time for the first playoff game. In this scenario, third-string Anthony Brown could suit up, given backup Tyler Huntley misses another game with injuries.
The Bengals have won their last 8 in a row (excluding the canceled matchup in week 17 versus Buffalo), and are looking for a Super Bowl do-over, after losing to the Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
Cincinnati is on fire, and Joe Burrow is looking better than ever at quarterback. Offensive weapons like Ja’Maar Chase and Joe Mixon are hard to stop and the Bengals have one of the better defenses of teams in the playoffs. Baltimore is struggling with offensive injuries and has lost 3 of their last 4 games. Because of this, Baltimore will struggle to keep up, and Cincinnati will take the victory.
My prediction: Bengals 23-Ravens 14
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday 1/14 – 7:15 CT)
Young quarterbacks play a huge role in the future of the NFL, and this matchup is between 2 of the best up-and-coming quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert are both making their playoff debuts this weekend.
It’s not exactly clear how the Jaguars ended up turning their season around enough to make the playoffs. Jacksonville won the AFC South with a 9-8 record. In the first half of the season, the Jaguars lost to some of the worst teams in the league, including the Colts, Texans, and Broncos. They turned it around quickly, however, beating teams like the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Ravens in the second half of the season.
The Chargers finished just 1 game higher than the Jaguars, at 10-7, and 2nd in the AFC West. Both teams have had one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this season, with both teams playing only 6 opponents above .500.
While I don’t believe either team will make it beyond the second round, I think the Jaguars will pull off a first-round upset. Jacksonville has won 6 of their last 7, with Trevor Lawrence having multiple games with 300+ passing yards. The Jaguars defense has been on fire, holding their last 3 opponents to an average of 7.3 points. In my opinion, this should be enough to hold Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams to a minimal number of points, despite their success this season.
My prediction: Jaguars 17-Chargers 14
NFC:
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (Saturday 1/14 – 3:30 CT)
It’s not often that a brand-new rookie quarterback is so highly favored over a veteran quarterback, but 49ers QB Brock Purdy has led the team to a remarkable end of the season and deserves all the praise he’s getting. The 49ers won the NFC West and the second seed with a record of 13-4.
Brock Purdy didn’t start for the 49ers until week 14 against the Buccaneers, but hasn’t lost a game yet. The rookie “Mr. Irrelevant” stepped up as third-string after multiple QB injuries, and is making the 49ers offense look better than ever. Another thing helping the 49ers offense excel was the trade for Christian McCaffery after week 6. McCaffery has 736 rushing yards since he joined San Francisco.
On top of the rising offense, the 49ers are widely viewed to have the best defense in the NFL. Defensive end Nick Bosa is leading the defense to one of their best seasons and leading the NFL in sacks with 18.5 this season.
On the other side of this game, the Seahawks sit at 9-8, second in the NFC West. After trading Russell Wilson in the offseason, many projected the Seahawks to win very few games and be one of, if not the worst team in the league.
Veteran backup QB Geno Smith stepped up this season, however, and led the Seahawks to the 7th seed. This season, Smith threw for 4,282 yards, which is more than ⅓ of his total passing yards in his 9-year NFL career.
Geno Smith’s career season won’t be enough to take the Seahawks any farther this season. The 49ers combination of stellar offense and defense makes them the NFC team to beat in the playoffs, and the Seahawks will fall in yet another division matchup.
My prediction: 49ers 33-Seahawks 14
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday 1/15 – 3:30 CT)
At 13-4, nobody is quite sure what to think of the Minnesota Vikings this season. The offense has some of the biggest stars in the league, including star wide receiver Justin Jefferson and top-ranked tight end TJ Hockensen, and yet the Vikings have just 2 wins by more than one score.
The Vikings season has been full of painfully close, heart attack inducing games for Minnesota fans, and yet the Vikings are 11-0 in one-score games.
With games like week 14 against the Colts, where the Vikings completed the largest comeback in NFL history, and week 9 against the Bills with one of the most shocking endings to a game ever, it’s hard not to think of Minnesota as a true contender. Minnesota’s losses, however, put doubt in many NFL fans. With only 4 losses, the Vikings will finish the season with a point differential of -4.
The Giants are the third team from the NFC East to make the playoffs, sitting with a record of 9-7-1. First-year head coach Brian Daboll has led this New York team to a season beyond expectations, and Giants fans are more than satisfied with the season they’ve had thus far.
Minnesota and New York competed on Christmas eve at US Bank Stadium, and Minnesota pulled off a 27-24 win with a game-winning 61-yard field goal.
I believe the Vikings will come out of this game with a victory, as Minnesota has more playoff experience, veteran experience, and a record that shows they know how to win, no matter how close the games may be.
My prediction: Vikings 24-Giants 22
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday 1/16 – 7:15 CT)
The Dallas Cowboys have the 4th best record in the NFC, and yet they find themselves in a wildcard position as the 5th seed, while the Buccaneers have the 9th-best record in the NFC, and have home-field advantage as the 4th seed.
Tom Brady in the playoffs is not an unfamiliar sight, but Tom Brady leading a team to an 8-9 record definitely is. Brady has a stellar 22-year NFL career with 7 Super Bowl victories and 3 MVP awards. This, combined with the Cowboys performance in week 18, is a slight glimpse of hope for Bucs fans when it comes to advancing past this round.
Tampa Bay’s 8-9 record does not bode well for them in the playoffs, however, the Cowboys have shown signs of weakness as the season comes to an end. Losing to the commanders 26-6 in week 18 what not a positive sign for Dallas fans entering the postseason, and Dak Prescot has struggled. In week 18, Prescot completed 14/37 for a 37% completion rate.
I have struggled to pick a winner of this game more than any other, despite the vast difference in records this season. Because of the Cowboys’ performances against the Commanders in week 18, I do not have faith that Dallas will be able to turn things around, and Tampa Bay will win in a major upset.
My prediction: Buccaneers 31-Cowboys 26
Sports schedule for: Jan 9-14
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 14 | |||
| MONDAY | JANUARY 9 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm / 5:30pm 7:00pm | JV/C: 3:15pm V: 5:45pm/8:45pm | Boys Basketball vs. South St. Paul | South St. Paul High School |
| TUESDAY | JANUARY 10 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:45pm | 2:20pm / 5:15pm | Nordic Ski Race | Theodore Wirth Park |
| 4:15pm / 6:00pm | Girls Basketball vs. Como Park | HOME | |
| 5:00pm / 7:15pm | JV Girls Hockey vs. South St. Paul Varsity Girls Hockey vs. Red Wing | JV: WSP Ice Arena V: Red Wing High School | |
| 5:30pm / 5:30pm 7:00pm | JV/C: 3:15pm V: 5:45pm/8:45pm | Boys Basketball vs. Como Park | Como Park High School |
| WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 11 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Minneapolis | Charles M. Schulz Highland Ice Arena | |
| 5:00pm | Wrestling vs. Trinity and Johnson | HOME | |
| 6:00pm | Gymnastics vs. Johnson | Johnson High School | |
| THURSDAY | JANUARY 12 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:15pm / 4:15pm 6:00pm | Boys Basketball vs. Johnson | HOME | |
| 5:30pm / 7:00pm | 4:30pm / 8:00pm | Girls Basketball vs. Johnson | Johnson High School |
| FRIDAY | JANUARY 13 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:30pm | Boys Swimming and Diving vs. Humboldt/Washington | Humboldt High School | |
| 5:00pm / 7:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Dodge County | WSP Ice Arena | |
| SATURDAY | JANUARY 14 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Dance Invitational | Anoka High School | |
| TBD | 6:45am / 4:00pm | Varsity Wrestling Invitational | St. Croix Lutheran Academy |
| TBD | 7:00am / 2:00pm | JV Wrestling Invitational | North St. Paul High School |
| TBD | 7:30am / 1:30pm | Middle School Wrestling Invitational | Washington Technology |
| 1:00pm / 3:00pm | Boys Hockey vs. Baldwin | Charles M. Schulz Highland Ice Arena | |
| 1:00pm | Boys Swimming and Diving True Team Meet | Southview Middle School | |
| 5:00pm | Girls Hockey vs. Rochester Mayo | North Dale Rec Center | |
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