OUT: Alabama after its 32-31 overtime loss to LSU after the Tigers’ game-winning two-point conversion. Is the magic over for Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban?
IN: Seattle Seahawks are 6-3 to lead the NFC West. The Hawks have clearly moved on after Russell Wilson’s departure to Denver with quarterback Geno Smith, who led Seattle to a 31-21 victory against the Arizona Cardinals in commanding style.
OUT: Indianapolis Colts fired head coach Frank Reich following their blowout loss to the Patriots. With Colts QB Matt Ryan benched, now who’s to blame? This team could not find the end zone with a map.
IN: Tom Brady for saving the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who defeated the Los Angeles Rams 16-13. Brady’s game-winning drive with just 44 seconds left in the game and no timeouts remaining may have been one of his finest comebacks. This is why he’s the GOAT. Plus, Brady’s receivers dropped no fewer than five big passes, including a late dropped pass in the end zone just before his fourth-quarter heroics.
OUT: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers…Rodgers was just downright horrible against the Detroit Lions. The Packers are 3-6, and the Cheeseheads are not very happy. The Lions weren’t giant killers either Sunday. But somebody had to win. The Pack has now lost five in a row.
IN: Seahawks’ rookie RB Kenneth Walker III is running like a man possessed after posting another 100-yard game and two rushing touchdowns. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has the birds flying high.
IN: TCU Horned Frogs are undefeated and have improved to one of the top four teams in the College Football Playoff. Not too shabby for first-year TCU head coach Sonny Dykes, who’s getting them crazed up in Fort Worth, Texas. This team’s offensive line mirrors NFL frontmen.
OUT: Clemson…Anybody who thought the Tigers were a top-four contender was proved terribly wrong after a 35-14 pummeling by Notre Dame. The ship has left the dock, and it’s not coming back as in years past. Clemson looked discombobulated and was never in the game.
IN: Houston Astros’ skipper Dusty Baker winning his first World Series championship as a manager. Baker was as nasty as his pitching staff, and his decisions and leadership were spot-on the entire postseason.
OUT: Defending Super Bowl champions Los Angeles Rams, who looked pathetic on Sunday against the Buccaneers. Just terrible team chemistry. The Rams’ defense collapsed late, and their clock management was worse in defeat. Not this year!
IN: Georgia Bulldogs…If you want to talk about defense, start here. The No.1 Bulldogs’ D beats down their opponents and did it again to defeat the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (The Vols were ranked No. 1 heading into the matchup). At this stage, only one team is blocking their path to a second-straight NCAA championship — the Buckeyes of Ohio State.
OUT: Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving was suspended for five games and fined $500,000 for failing to disavow antisemitism. Nike also dropped his $11 million annual contract. Look, you have to stay off Twitter and realize the impact and consequences of your tone-deaf views. The world is not flat, and your thoughts on the Holocaust never need to be brought up again.
IN: Flightline, a 4-year-old colt who remains undefeated after winning the $6 million Breeders’ Cup by more than 8¼ lengths on Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky. Flightline won the Pacific Classic by 20 lengths at Del Mar Racetrack this summer. Owners retired him to stud on Sunday morning.
IN: Joey Logano, who won his second NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz. Logano won wire-to-wire, driving all day perfectly. Big year for the Penske Racing team.
OUT: Los Angeles Lakers…This team is hard to watch. The Lakers need to make some moves, and getting rid of Anthony Davis would be a start. When is he injury-free? Answer: Never.
IN: Giannis Antetokounmpo, aka The Greek Freak, has lived up to his nickname for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are playing the game the right way. The Bucks are 9-0 to start the season through last Sunday night. Antetokounmpo on the court.
IN: Los Angeles Chargers…You can hate the owner but not the player. You must respect the play of a slightly injured Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert and his decimated squad. The Oregon grad showed incredible heart to get a 20-17 road win over the Falcons. This kid is a franchise quarterback with guts and arms to back it up. If the Chargers get healthy, they will be in the playoffs.
IN: Houston Astros’ pitching staff. Four pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the Phillies and silenced their big bats through the World Series. This team played solid, winning 108 games this season. The Astros deserved the chip.
IN: Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings all had huge wins on Sunday. Bengals’ RB Joe Mixon scored five touchdowns, and the Vikings now lead the NFC Central by 4½ games.
OUT: Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams…Looking worse than they did the previous week. But anything can change in the NFL.
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