Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and friends and enjoy everything the holidays have to offer: turkey trots (I’m not ashamed to admit I make one) , parades, great food and, oh yeah, a delicious sports program that includes the NFL, World Cup, college football and college basketball.
I won’t take too much of your time, so we have a special, abridged edition of the holiday newsletter today, but I promise you it’s a good one.
Let’s cut to the chase.
Hello everyone, but especially to…
NFL FANS
Ah, Thanksgiving football. There is no such thing. We play turkey bowls in the morning and plan our Thanksgiving dinner in the evening (I strongly suggest between the start of the game and the afternoon game). And there is a good reason: There are three intriguing games, each with playoff implications.
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Here’s all the great content our NFL team has cooked up:
Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for…
ZACH WILSON AND THE NEW YORK JETS
For the first time in over a decade, the Jets are in the hunt for the playoffs at the end of November. And for what seems like the millionth time in franchise history, the Jets have major quarterbacking issues.
Wednesday, the head coach Robert Saleh announced that Mike White will start this weekend against the Bearand Zach Wilson will be inactive. The decision comes after the Jets lost to the patriots10-3, after which Saleh described his team’s offense as ‘dog shit’. He’s not wrong. The Jets gained two yards throughout the second half.
- Wilson went 9 for 22 for 77 yards. He dug himself a deeper hole say “no” when asked if he felt he had let down his defense.
- It will be the Whites’ first game for over a year. His last start came in a 45-17 loss to Buffalo last year. Joe Flacco – who started the first three games of the year as Wilson recovered from a knee injury – will be White’s replacement.
Wilson had a rocky start to his career, but it’s definitely down. Still, Saleh called the move a ‘reset’ for the young quarterbackand our NFL guru Garrett Podell believes Wilson can get back on track.
- Podell: “If Wilson takes care of business and returns to the football field in 2022 as Saleh has said, five of the six potential opponents the 23-year-old quarterback would face starting in Week 13 currently rank in the bottom half of NFL coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, which means the opportunity for a comeback is possible.All Wilson needs to do now is put his head down and get to work.
If the Jets feel the need to go quarterback hunting this offseason, Jordan has options to explore in 2023.
Not so honorable mentions
World Cup recap: Japan stun Germany, Spain score a touchdown ⚽
Another World Cup day, another love at first sight: After dominating for 75 minutes, Germany lost to Japan, 2-1, with Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano score late goals. As the players produced the result, the Japan coach, Hajime Moriyasudeserves a lot of praise, writes our football journalist James Benge.
- Benge: “It was a game won in the Japan locker room at half-time. … Changing wingers Takefusa Kubo for Takehiro Tomiyasu…gave his players the maximum opportunity to exploit Germany’s weakness. Moriyasu continued to add new legs, not only using the maximum number of substitutes, but also using the most moments at his disposal to add something to the squad. Match winner Asano was a pressing dynamo more than willing to chase away lost causes…and turn them into something in the case of Japan’s second goal.”
In other Wednesday actions…
Early this morning, Switzerland beat Cameroon 1-0 with a historic goal from Breel Embolo. Meanwhile, with Argentina and Germany down, Roger Gonzalez has the next teams that should be on high alert.
What we’re watching on Thursday 📺
⚽ We watch the World Cup. Here is the program.
🏈 We also watch all three NFL games. Here is the program.
🏀 No. 8 Duke vs. Oregon State3 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Mississippi State at No. 20 Ole Miss7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 18 Alabama vs. No. 12 Michigan State10:30 p.m. on ESPN