Novak Djokovic shocked in first round of 2026 US Open

 On the first day of the 2026 US Open, tennis legend and #4 player in the world, Novak Djokovic, was upset by Mariano Navone, 6-7 (5-7 in tiebreaker), 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6. It is the first time in Djokovic's career that the 4-time US Open champion lost in his opening match at the tournament. The 39-year-old seemed visibly ill throughout the match, even vomiting during the 3rd set. He later said, "The vomiting, the gagging. it's a serious problem. Then my whole body started to give way, with cramps and pain....I didn't have fun out there."

I am not surprised that Djokovic didn't win the US Open. He's 39 years old, and clearly doesn't have a lot in the tank. But I think I speak for most tennis fans when I say NOBODY expected him to lose this quickly. He made mistakes that Mariano Navone simply didn't make. Djokovic's age seems to have caught up to him, and he showed it here at the US Open.  

Navone will now face 2019 US Open semifinalist Matteo Berrettini in the 2nd round. Navone's got nothing to lose, but can he pull off another upset? We'll see.

2026-27 NFL playoff predictions

 Finally, it's time for the NFL playoff predictions. I already did all the divisions, so these teams aren't randomized. I won't be doing my usual "explain why (X) is going to win" because it's too early to tell. So just sit back and relax.

NFC Wild Card

(2) Eagles over (7) Bears

(6) 49ers over (3) Packers

(5) Seahawks over (4) Saints

NFC Divisional

(1) Rams over 49ers

Eagles over Seahawks

NFC Championship

Rams over Eagles

AFC Wild Card

(2) Bills over (7) Titans

(3) Ravens over (6) Patriots

(4) Jaguars over (5) Broncos

AFC Divisional 

(1) Chiefs over Jaguars

 Ravens over Bills

AFC Championship

Chiefs over Ravens

Super Bowl 61

Rams over Chiefs

And with that, my predictions for the 2026-27 NFL season have concluded. It was fun, but a lot of work. These are probably gonna age like milk, but you never know. That's why sports are so fun. I hope you all enjoyed this journey with me.

AFC West predictions.

 It is now time to look at the final division in the NFL, the AFC West. The Chiefs had their worst season in a long time, but there's a good chance they'll be back. The Broncos won the division for the first time since their Super Bowl win back in 2015, but came up short in the AFC Championship. The Chargers were first round exits. And the Raiders were the worst team in the league, but their future is looking bright. Here's my 2 cents.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-4) (1 seed)

2. Denver Broncos (12-5) (5 seed)

3. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)

4. Las Vegas Raiders (8-9)

The Chiefs went 6-11 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, when Patrick Mahomes was a freshman in college. Speaking of Mahomes, he tore his ACL in week 15, but is expected to be back in time for the start of the season. The Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to a 3-year deal, and traded for Justin Fields as a backup to Mahomes. They also kept Travis Kelce for another year. They selected cornerback Mansoor Delane with the 6th pick in the draft. They are going all in for this year, because if this year doesn't go well, their window might be shut. And I think it's working and the window stays open a bit longer.

The Broncos won the AFC West last year for the first time in 10 years, and beat the Bills to go to the AFC Championship. A couple of minutes after that game, it was announced that quarterback Bo Nix had broken his ankle and would miss the rest of the playoffs. The Broncos lost the AFC Championship to the Patriots in a game that was hard to watch. They traded for Jaylen Waddle so Nix has another weapon to throw to. Other than that their off-season was pretty quiet. They had no first round picks and didn't sign anyone notable. But I still believe that their team is very talented and I could definitely see them winning this division. It's just gonna be hard to stop the Chiefs.

The Chargers were the 7th seed last year and lost in round 1 to the Patriots. They fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after 2 years, and replaced him with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Definitely an upgrade. They signed Keaton Mitchell and Tyler Biadasz in the offseason and cut Mekhi Becton. They drafted Akeem Mesidor. They are loading up for this year in hopes that this year they have a deep run and maybe reach the playoffs. I could definitely see it happening.

The Raiders had a horrible 2025, going 3-14. That got them the number 1 overall pick, where they selected Fernando Mendoza. They hired Klint Kubiak as their new coach, Andrew Janocko as their new offensive coordinator, and Rob Leonard as their defensive coordinator. They signed Tyler Lindenbaum, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker, as well as Kirk Cousins as a backup QB. They also drafted Mike Washington Jr, although Ashton Jeanty will get the majority of the carries. This is a very promising team, but I still think they're a few years away from being elite.

Literally all 4 of these teams have a realistic shot at the playoffs. You can never count out Mahomes and the Chiefs, though. So that's why they are my pick for the division champion.

Now that all the divisions are done, what's left for me to do? The playoffs! That's what I will be doing next time out.

AFC South predictions

 We're now halfway through the AFC predictions. Up next is the AFC South. This division was really strange last year. The Texans surprisingly started out slow, but caught fire. The Jaguars took the division after shocking the league. The Colts had one of the worst collapses in NFL history. And the Titans struggled in the first year of the Cam Ward era. So what will this year bring to the table? We'll see.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-7) (4 seed)

2. Tennessee Titans (9-8) (7 seed; win tiebreaker over LAC and CIN) 

3. Houston Texans (8-9)

4. Indianapolis Colts (7-10)

The Jaguars had a rough 2024, so people were expecting more of the same in 2025. The Jags shocked everyone, going 13-4 in Liam Coen's first year. Trevor Lawrence had a breakout year, and Cam Little broke the record for longest field goal in NFL history, making a 68 yard field goal in week 9. However, the Jaguars went one-and-done, losing in the first round to the Bills. Lawrence threw an interception late to lose the game. They had a quiet offseason, with no major signings, and losing Travis Etienne Jr. However, I still believe that this team is a good team. Lawrence is a good quarterback, and Coen is a good coach. I just think things need to click just like they did last year.

The Titans had a rough first season with Cam Ward at quarterback. He played fine, but it's hard to win when you have bad coaching and no real talent. Brian Callahan was fired early in the season, and the Titans named Robert Saleh the permanent coach in January. Brian Daboll was hired as offensive coordinator. The Titans spent over $265 million in free agency, and got players like Wandale Robinson and John Franklin Myers. They drafted Carnell Tate to give Ward another weapon to throw to. Honestly, it might be a little crazy to have them at 9-8, but I believe it can happen.

The Texans won their last 9 games last year and finished 12-5. They decimated the Steelers in the Wild Card round. Then in the divisional round, CJ Stroud threw 4 interceptions and the Texans lost. Questions about whether Stroud was the QB of the Texans' future were asked all around. Their off-season was about reshaping their roster, signing David Montgomery and Reed Blankenship. They also gave Will Anderson a $150 million extension. I definitely think they have a playoff-caliber defense, but I just don't believe in CJ Stroud.

The Colts had a wild season. They shocked everyone by starting off 8-2 and Daniel Jones looked like an MVP favorite. Then the wheels came off. They lost every game after that, Jones tore his ACL, and they had to lure 44-year old GRANDFATHER Philip Rivers out of retirement to play quarterback for them. Yeah, pretty crazy. Their off-season was pretty tame, re-signing Jones and Jonathan Taylor. They did add Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Jonathan Owens. If Jones plays like he did for the first few months of last year, and Taylor keeps running the way he always has, and the defense plays well, this team could have a good year. But I just don't believe it can happen. I wouldn't be surprised if I was proven wrong.

This division is really up for grabs. I could see any of these teams winning. I definitely could see multiple teams in the playoffs again, but I just don't know. But only time will tell.

Last but not least, the AFC West. Possibly the best division in football. Mahomes, Herbert, Nix, and now Mendoza. Can't wait to predict it.

AFC North predictions

Now, it's time for the AFC North. Last year, this division came down to literally the very last second, but the Steelers prevailed and were the only team from the division to make the playoffs. 3 of the 4 teams in this division enter this year with a new coach. Let's see what happens.

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-6) (3 seed)

2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9)

4. Cleveland Browns (4-13)

The Ravens had a year of streaks in 2025. They started out 1-5 and Lamar Jackson was injured. Then he came back and they reeled off 5 straight wins. On the final day of the season, the Ravens needed a win in Pittsburgh to return to the playoffs. But rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed the game winning field goal attempt and the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. They started the offseason by firing head coach John Harbaugh after 17 years. They signed Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million deal, and appeared to have traded for Maxx Crosby, but Crosby failed a physical and the trade was canceled. They hired Jesse Minter to replace Harbaugh. They hired new coordinators. Things are looking up in Baltimore, but can they live up to the hype?

The Bengals were banged up as hell last year and sputtered to a 6-11 record. Even Joe Burrow spent time on the IR for a while. They traded for Dexter Lawrence and signed Jonathan Allen. They restructured Joe Burrow's contract. They did lose Shemar Stewart for a significant amount of time, so that will hurt. But I feel like if they stay healthy, they have a bright future.

The Steelers, after winning the AFC North, got embarrassed on their home turf by the Texans. Head coach Mike Tomlin retired after 19 years (and no losing seasons). The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy to fill Tomlin's shoes. Aaron Rodgers debated retiring as well, but he decided to stay for another year. The Steelers did draft Penn State QB Drew Allar, so it is likely he takes over for Rodgers when he retires. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr so Rodgers has someone to throw to. They have a defense that is capable of winning games, especially with TJ Watt. But I just don't believe in Rodgers or McCarthy. So I wouldn't be surprised if this was Pittsburgh's first losing season since 2003.

The Browns were terrible last year, finishing 5-12. But they did have Myles Garrett, who broke the NFL's single season sack record with 23 sacks. So surely the Browns would give him a ton of money, right? Nope. Garrett was traded to the LA Rams for Jared Verse. Yeah, really shocking move. After the season, head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired and replaced with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The Browns drafted offensive lineman Spencer Fano and wide receivers KC Conception and Denzel Boston. The question is: will Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders be starting at quarterback? Either way, I don't think Cleveland is in good hands.

I could see this division having multiple playoff teams, but the Ravens are the team in this division that really sticks out to me. I just don't have enough confidence in anyone else.

Next time it's a deep dive into the AFC South. Last year the Jaguars won the division, and the Texans won a playoff game. What will happen this year? We'll see.

Phillies beat Twins 7-1 at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA

 The MLB returned to the site of the iconic 1989 movie "Field of Dreams" after 4 years away. This year's matchup featured the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins, and the Phillies won 7-1. Before the game, the 2 teams emerged from the cornfields in center field, followed by 26 MLB Hall of Famers, including Jim Thome, who played for both the Phillies and Twins. Other notable Hall of Famers who appeared were Rollie Fingers, Trevor Hoffman, Cal Ripken, Tony La Russa, Joe Torre, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Joe Mauer and more. 

In the actual game, it was all Phillies. Kyle Schwarber hit 2 home runs, Brandon Marsh had one, and pitcher Aaron Nola struck out 9 hitters. Luis Arraez, the former Twin, got 3 hits on the day. And Bryson Stott drove in a run.

For the Twins, Luke Keaschall had 2 hits including a home run, the only run for the Twins. Ryan Jeffers and Trevor Larnach each had 2 hits. And Byron Buxton and Kaelen Culpepper each had a hit.

It was really great that the MLB decided to bring back the Field of Dreams game. Seeing all the Hall of Famers come out of the cornfield was really cool, and it fit the bill of the Field of Dreams, which is a movie about nostalgia as well as baseball. And it was really touching to see Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens play catch with his son, Minnesota utility man Kody, as they recreated the iconic scene from the movie when Kevin Costner's character and the character's father play catch.

The MLB announced that next year's Field of Dreams game will be between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox. I'm glad that the return to the Field of Dreams wasn't just a one-off, and I hope it stays for many years to come. 

AFC East predictions

 We have completed the NFC part of the predictions. Now it's time for the AFC. We start with the AFC East, because we started the NFC with the NFC East, so it's only fair. This division features the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots, and the NFL's bridesmaid in the Buffalo Bills. Who will come out on top? Here's what I think.

1. Buffalo Bills (12-5) (2 seed)

2. New England Patriots (10-7) (6 seed)

3. Miami Dolphins (5-12)

4. New York Jets (3-14)

The Bills did not win the AFC East for the first time since 2019, but they did make the playoffs for the seventh straight year. They beat the Jaguars on the road in the Wild Card, in a close game. Then they lost an overtime heartbreaker in Denver in the Divisional Round. The day after the loss, the Bills fired Sean McDermott and promoted Joe Brady to replace him. They also promoted GM Brandon Beane to president of football operations (he will remain GM). The Bills traded for DJ Moore, giving Josh Allen a weapon to throw to. They signed defensive end Bradley Chubb to help out that defense, which was good but not great last year. I am excited about this team. I don't think they'll go all the way, but I do think they will win this division.

The Patriots were expected to be bad last year. They proved everyone wrong, winning the East for the first time since 2019 and going all the way to the Super Bowl. They were crushed by the Seahawks, but there was optimism in New England once again. Their off-season was highlighted by trading for AJ Brown, signing Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker, and cutting Stefon Diggs. They're looking to prove that last year wasn't a fluke. I think they'll take a few steps back this year, but they're going to make the playoffs.

The Dolphins started off 2-7 and fired GM Chris Grier. Then they ripped off 4 wins in a row to get to 6-7 (haha) but lost 2 of their last 3 to finish 7-10. They fired Mike McDaniel and hired Jeff Hafley. They cut Tua Tagovailoa and signed Malik Willis. They traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. They cut Tyreek Hill. They drafted Kaden Proctor to give Willis some protection. They promoted Bobby Slowik and hired Kevin Patullo (lol). I just do not have a ton of faith in this team. Willis might be alright, but I'm not so sure about that receiving room.

The Jets were absolutely awful last year. They finished 3-14 and became the first team in history to go an entire season without intercepting a pass. They received Minkah Fitzpatrick in a deal from the Dolphins, signed Geno Smith (who is likely to start at quarterback this year), and drafted David Bailey with the #2 pick and Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th. They also drafted Omar Cooper with the 30th pick. I'm not gonna beat around the bush here, this team just isn't gonna be good.

This division has 2 Super Bowl contenders and 2 long shots. It'll be interesting to see if this is the year the Bills finally get over the hump. The Patriots will likely take some steps back. The Dolphins had a busy offseason, but are unlikely to do well. And the Jets.....yikes.

Next time I will be predicting the AFC North, one of the more wide open divisions in football. I'm conflicted on who is going to win it, honestly. 

NFC West division predictions

 It's now time to predict the last division in the NFC, the NFC West. This division features the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the team who had arguably the best offseason, the LA Rams. This is going to be a fun division to predict, and I can't wait for it. So let's go get into it.

1. Los Angeles Rams (13-4) (1 seed)

2. Seattle Seahawks (11-6) (5 seed)

3. San Francisco 49ers (10-7) (6 seed) (win tiebreaker over CHI)

4. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)

The Rams were a very good team, but they happened to be in a very tough division, and so they came second in the West, and were the 5 seed. They survived scares against the Panthers and Bears to reach the NFC Championship, where they lost to the Seahawks in a tough game. At least they had the NFL MVP in Matthew Stafford. In free agency they traded for Trent McDuffie, which should help their secondary very much. They had an interesting draft, choosing Georgia QB Stetson Bennett despite Stafford healthy. Sure, Stafford is towards the end of his career, but why draft for the future now? Anyway, their offseason didn't end there. They signed 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, who set the single-season sack record last year. So yeah, pretty busy offseason.

The Seahawks were expected to be bad heading into last year. Boy, did they prove everybody wrong. They went 14-3 and won the Super Bowl, dominating the Patriots in a game that was never really close. Sam Darnold proved all his doubters wrong and Jaxon Smith-Njigba cemented himself as one of the better receivers in the league. And who could forget that defense? It was one of, if not THE best defensive units in the league. So how did their off-season go? It was alright. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker left for the Chiefs, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the coach of the Raiders. They extended Njigba and drafted Jadarian Price, but outside of that, not the best off-season. I still think they'll be fine.

The 49ers were badly injured, as always, but they still won in spite of the injuries. They made the playoffs and dethroned the reigning champs on their turf. Sure, they got decimated by the Seahawks, but that was going to be a tough task no matter what. Their offseason was a busy one. They signed receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and drafted one in De'Shaun Stribling. They traded for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from the Cowboys. Unfortunately, they already lost Ricky Pearsall for the season, and head coach Kyle Shanahan was in a terrible car crash. Thankfully, he's okay. I could see the Niners returning to the playoffs.

The Cardinals won their first 2 games last year, and then won 1 game the rest of the way. They fired their head coach and offensive coordinator. They drafted Jeremiyah Love and Carson Beck. They cut Kyler Murray. They cut Emari Demarcado, who made an embarrassing mistake in week 5. They are trying for a new look this year. I'd be shocked if it worked, especially with how hard that schedule is.

This division should be a fun one, especially with the Rams and Seahawks. The 49ers, if they somehow stay healthy, should be a competitive team. And the Cardinals are....there. 

Next time I will be shifting to the AFC and starting with the AFC East, featuring the Bills and Patriots (who the Seahawks beat in the Super Bowl). I am very excited for the switch to the new conference. I hope you all are as well.

NFC South predictions

I'm now halfway through the NFC predictions after doing the East and North. Now, it's time for a challenge: the NFC South. The opposite of the NFC North, where every team finished above .500 last year. In the NFC South, no team finished above .500. The Panthers came out on top with a record of 8-9, and came pretty close to winning a playoff game. All these teams had interesting offseasons, and it'll be interesting to see what happens. This is a very hard division to predict, but I hope I can do it. Let's get into it.

1. New Orleans Saints (9-8) (4 seed)

2. Carolina Panthers (8-9)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-10) (win tiebreaker over ATL)

4. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)

The Saints had a very rough start to last year, starting out 2-10. But they finished by winning 4 of their last 5 and going 6-11. Tyler Shough looks like the quarterback they've been trying to find since Drew Brees retired, and Chris Olave earned a massive contract extension in the offseason. In the draft, the Saints chose wide receiver Jordan Tyson, giving Shough another weapon to throw to. They still have Cameron Jordan and Chase Young, so their defense should be pretty good. It wouldn't surprise me if they were on top of the division.

The Panthers, as previously mentioned, won the division last year and almost won a playoff game. Panthers fans have hope for the first time in a long time. Can they keep it up? They had a busy off-season, signing Jaelen Phillips, Devin Lloyd, and many offensive linemen. They also signed Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King as an undrafted free agent. He looked terrific in the Hall of Fame game, but that means nothing. I am impressed by what they did this off-season, but I am not sure if they are good enough to defend their division title.

The Buccaneers were looking like Super Bowl contenders midway through the year, and Baker Mayfield was looking like an MVP candidate. Then they collapsed, winning just 2 games out of their last 9, finishing 8-9, and missing the playoffs. For the first time in his career, Mike Evans didn't reach 1,000 receiving yards, as he only played 9 games. He was cut and signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. The Bucs drafted edge rusher Rueben Bain, which should help with the defense. They also signed Alex Anzalone, Kenneth Gainwell, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and more. They have a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson, so will the offense be better? I'm not sure.

The Falcons started 4-9, but won their last 4 to finish 8-9. They fired Raheem Morris, hired Kevin Stefanski, cut Kirk Cousins, signed Tua Tagovailoa, and brought back Austin Hooper. They paid Bijan Robinson $66.75 million a few days ago, which is fair because he's pretty much their whole offense. They are going to need him to be spectacular this year to have any shot of the playoffs. Let's see if the contract pays off (pun intended).

This is honestly a division I could see any of these teams winning. It's so wide open and unpredictable. Next time, we visit the NFC West, featuring the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. I'm excited to see how that division plays out. Take care, everyone.

NFC North division predictions

 I did the NFC East last time, so now it's time to do the NFC North's predictions. This division intrigues me. Every team finished above .500 last year, and it'll be interesting to see what happens this year. Will the Bears defend their title? Will the Packers go a step further? Will the Lions stay healthy? Will the Vikings find their quarterback of the future? We'll see. Let's get into it.

1. Green Bay Packers (11-6) (3 seed)

2. Chicago Bears (10-7) (7 seed)

3. Detroit Lions (9-8)

4. Minnesota Vikings (7-10)

The Packers had a heartbreaking elimination last year, blowing a 21-3 lead to the Bears. They lost defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, who became the Dolphins head coach. They also lost backup quarterback Malik Willis to the Dolphins. They traded Rashan Gary and Dontayvion Wicks, and cut Elgton Jenkins. They hired Jonathan Gannon to replace Hafley. And they signed Javon Hargrave and Tyrod Taylor. They had a busy off-season, and I think it'll translate to success.

After beating the Packers in the Wild Card, the Bears lost a heartbreaker in the Divisional to the Rams. They traded DJ Moore to the Bills, signed Devin Bush, and traded for Garrett Bradbury. As well as drafting Dillon Theineman in round 1. Caleb Williams took a leap last year. Can he take an even bigger one this year?

The Lions had a disappointing 2025, going 9-8. Their offense was lackluster, and they missed Ben Johnson. They signed Isiah Pacheco in the offseason, but let go of Taylor Decker. They also signed DJ Wonnum and Cade Mays. They signed Josh Dobbs as a backup to Jared Goff. This team intrigues me. I am not sure if they'll be good or not, but I want them to be good, honestly. Is Dan Campbell the guy? We'll see.

The Vikings had an....interesting season last year. They started 4-8 and won 5 straight to finish 9-8. But those stats didn't tell the whole story. They had terrible quarterback play all season, whether it was JJ McCarthy, Carson Wentz, or Max Brosmer, who started 1 game and threw 4 interceptions. So what did the Vikings do to add to their quarterback room? Sign....Kyler Murray. Yeah, not great. They also signed Jauan Jennings and Eric Wilson. They have a defense that could win them some games. And Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the league. But the question is: Can their quarterback room lead them to the playoffs? It honestly could happen, but I'm just not convinced.

Those are my NFC North predictions. Up next: The NFC South! The most wide open division in football. That's gonna be a tough division to predict, but I think I can do it.

NFC East division predictions

 The NFL season is almost here, so you know what that means. It's time to do some predictions. I will do my predictions by division, and then do playoff predictions. I will do 9 separate articles, 1 for each division, and then the playoffs. I am starting with the NFC East, because I'm an Eagles fan, and the best always start first. Last year I had the Seahawks going 9-8, and they won the Super Bowl, so I'm not the best source when it comes to this. But it's still fun, and who knows? Maybe I'll be right this year. Probably not, but still. Enough chatting. Let's get into it

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-5) (2 seed)

2. Dallas Cowboys (9-8)

3. New York Giants (7-10)

4. Washington Commanders (6-11)

The Eagles came into last year as the defending champions. They started out 8-2, but the offense was really shaky, and there were tons of questions. Then they lost 3 straight, finished 11-6 and lost in the Wild Card. They fired their offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, and replaced him with Sean Mannion. They lost their longtime offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland. They lost Nakobe Dean, Reed Blankenship, and traded AJ Brown, and added Tariq Woolen, Elijah Moore, Jonathan Greenard, Dontayvion Wicks, and Hollywood Brown. There's a lot to be excited about in Philly. It wouuld be disappointing if they didn't win the division.

The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons right before the season began, and everyone laughed at them. They came in with a new coach in Brian Schottenheimer, and there wasn't a lot of high hopes in Dallas. But while they weren't good, they weren't awful either. They finished 7-9-1, and Dak Prescott had a hell of a year. However, the defense was horrible, allowing the most points in the league. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and replaced him with Eagles secondary coach Christian Parker. They traded for Rashan Gary, but didn't do much else. They did keep George Pickens and Javonte Williams, so that is important. I could see them being a playoff team, but I can't trust the defense.

The Giants were expected to be very bad in 2025, and they were. But they weren't bad enough to get the #1 pick, because they won the last 2 games. Rookies Jaxon Dart and Cam Skattebo showed out, and they both have bright futures. The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll and replaced him with Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh. They picked Arvell Reese and Francis Mauioga in the first round of the draft. They traded away Dexter Lawrence, brought back Odell Beckham Jr, and added Juju Smith Schuster. I don't think they're gonna be great, but I don't think they'll be awful.

The Commanders went to the NFC Championship game in 2024, so expectations were high heading into last year. They didn't meet those expectations at all, going 5-12. Jayden Daniels was injured midway through the year, and the team floundered without him. They fired offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and replaced him with David Blough. They also got a new defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones. They traded for Stefon Diggs. I don't think they'll be good.

 

MLB Trade Deadline recap

 The MLB trade deadline was today, so I will do a little recap of it and talk about some of the major moves. Let's get into it.

Let's start off with the biggest move of the deadline. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2-time defending World Series champions, traded for Detroit Tigers pitcher and 2-time defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, in exchange for top prospects. All of baseball is pissed, and understandably so. I am annoyed a bit myself, honestly. Skubal is having a solid season, and the Dodgers are having a great year so far. Do I think LA is ruining baseball? Probably not. I do think this will help tremendously in LA's quest for a 3-peat.

Now to another big move. My favorite team, the Philadelphia Phillies, traded for Luis Arraez, the current NL batting average leader, and reliever Caleb Kilian, in exchange for prospects. I am not sure how good Kilian is. I am more focused on Arraez. I did not have high hopes for Dave Dombrowski and the boys heading into this deadline, but getting Arraez is definitely a big move. This move will mean Alec Bohm will move to 1st base while Bryson Stott moves to 3rd, and Bryce Harper to the outfield. You would think with Trea Turner's struggles in the field, they would move him out of shortstop. But no. That's the only real perplexing thing about this move.

One last move for you. The Baltimore Orioles sent All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox. Rutschman is hitting .271 with 8 home runs and 47 RBIs. He is a solid catcher, but he's not elite, I wouldn't say. This is a good trade for Boston, and it's obvious now that Baltimore is rebuilding.

That's my recap on the trade deadline! It was more active than ones in the past, that's for sure. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.