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Tuesday Takeaways – Giants Dig Deeper Hole, Patriots Pull Out a Win

September 26, 2017 by Nate

Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season will be one to remember. The in-game action was overshadowed by actions taken by players across the world pregame. It all started in London early in the morning, and shifted across the Atlantic Ocean throughout the rest of Sunday.

The Jaguars and Ravens both stood together as a team before the game kicked off in London. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan was even down on the field arm-in-arm with the rest of his players during the National Anthem. Other players took knees while other teams stayed in the locker room to peacefully protest their rights as an American citizen.

Unfortunately, sports and politics has become a hostile relationship. From the President calling out NBA and NFL players, to players standing up for themselves, the world is in a unique place. Overall, bravo to the players and teams that had the courage to protest whichever way they saw fit.

However, statements were also made on the field in Week 3. Lets get in to this week’s edition of Tuesday Takeaways.

Week 3 Winners

Buffalo Bills – Wait…what? Yes, okay the Buffalo Bills deserve to be in the Week 3 winner’s section this week. Tyrod Taylor was the definition of efficient against a stingy Denver defense. Denver is coming off an incredibly dominating performance against the Dallas Cowboys, winning 42-17 and making Taylor’s performance much more impressive.

Buffalo has now planted themselves in the AFC East Divisional race. With the Patriots at 2-1, the Bills are tied for the division lead and can’t wait for the opportunity to play the defending champs. As mentioned, Tyrod Taylor went 20-26 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. However, he did not do it alone. Additionally, two interceptions from the defense and an impressive performance from kicker Steven Hauschka aided the Bills. A 49-yard field and two 50-yard field goals were crucial for the Bills to hang on in this one.

The task only gets tougher for Buffalo. They travel to Atlanta to take on the defending NFC champs, but will do so with much more confidence. A smart quarterback and a stingy defense is a recipe for a win in the NFL, and the Bills are hoping to repeat that formula on a weekly basis.

New Orleans Saints – The Saints get the nod to be a Week 3 winner because their season was on the line this week and they played like it. On the road, against a 2-0 team, and the Saints dominated. Going up against the Carolina Panthers is no easy task. With the Saints’ defense reeling, many experts expected the Panthers to cruise to victory.

Drew Brees and his aerial arsenal had other ideas. Michael Thomas is a breakout star at the wide receiver position. With seven catches and a touchdown, he is undoubtedly the number one target. Brandon Coleman and Tedd Ginn Jr. also caught touchdown passes in the impressive win.

The excellent performance from the defense is what helped the Saints win this one. They picked off former MVP Cam Newton on three occasions, and stifled every comeback effort.

Week 3 Losers

Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals had an epic road win against a top team in the NFL, and then it didn’t. Andy Dalton came out firing. He hit numerous wide receivers, linked up with AJ Green for a touchdown, and gave the Bengals a convincing lead heading in to halftime.

Up 21-7, the Bengals slowly but surely let their grasp on the game slip. Only scoring a field goal in the second half, Aaron Rodgers was able to bring his team all the way back to tie it at 24.

The Bengals had one more chance in overtime as they got the ball first, but an underwhelming three-and-out all but gave the game to the Packers.

Rodgers pulled off a couple incredible plays, and a Mason Crosby chip shot sank the Bengals to 0-3.

Oakland Raiders – A cross-country trip is always tough for any team. However, the Oakland Raiders are supposed to be able to bring their A-game anywhere if they want to become one of the elite teams in the NFL. That narrative did not play out in prime time on Sunday night.

The running game was unable to get going. Marshawn Lynch was stifled at the line of scrimmage and without that, the Oakland Raiders became one dimensional early.

Derek Carr didn’t bring his best game on Sunday night either. With an interception on the first drive, Oakland was searching for answers early. Carr added another interception later in the half, and that combined with numerous drops from his wide outs made for a frustrating night. Oakland will have a chance to prove this was just a blip on the radar as they travel to Denver next week for an enticing divisional match up.

Week 3 Top Plays

Ouch, this segment is going to hurt. Within a matter of minutes on Sunday afternoon the Patriots had secured an epic comeback while the Giants (Odell Beckham, Jr.) put together an impressive performance only to see it dashed by a rookie kicker. The back and forth between the two divisional rivals was must-see TV in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

Tom Brady is a savage. That’s the only way to put it. With the Patriots down five and only a few minutes left on the clock, Brady methodically drove his team down the field. He nearly turned the ball over twice, but the Texans couldn’t make him pay. After completing a few long passes, a New England win seemed inevitable. A beautiful dime to Brandin Cooks with less than 30 seconds remaining was the final blow to complete comeback.

As for the Giants, they finally came to play in the second half of the Philadelphia Eagles. It appeared that Odell Beckham, Jr. was back in action and ready to save the day once again.

With not one, but two incredible touchdown grabs, and a little help from Sterling Shepherd, the New York Giants had their first lead of the season! Odell started this season injured, but after an insane grab and a poignant celebration it was evident that he was back.

The man could be a Pro Bowl wide receiver with one hand. Truly remarkable stuff. However, the Giants are not the same team they were a year ago. They are not clicking the same, and are definitely not playing complimentary football. Jake Elliott kicked a 46-yard field goal for the tie with 51 seconds remaining. After the Giants failed to move the ball, the Eagles got a chance for the win.

Alshon Jeffrey made a great grab to put the Eagles in field goal position and Jake Elliott came on to attempt a 61-yard field goal for the win. I certainly was ready for overtime. The Giants even sent Odell back to catch a missed field goal so the Giants could win miraculously. Instead, Jake Elliott had other plans.

I don’t want to talk about football anymore. Here are the biggest games on the schedule in Week 4.

Week 4 Must-See Match Ups

Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings – Two 2-1 teams square off for a chance at first place in the NFC North. Matt Stafford takes on a stingy Minnesota defense in what should be an intense finish.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens – Another divisional match up that features two teams with records 0f 2-1. Both are coming off embarrassing losses and will be ready to go.

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos – A divisional match up yet again. What a coincidence, both teams are 2-1. Derek Carr needs a bounce back game, but the Denver defense and quarterback Trevor Siemian are extremely comfortable at home.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Washington Redskins – Monday Night Football closes out Week 4 with the Chiefs trying to remain undefeated. They will look to protect home field against a hot Redskins team that has won two in a row and scored 27 points in back-to-back weeks.

For a complete selection of NFL tickets, check out TicketNetwork.com.

Tuesday Takeaways: Chiefs are the Real Deal & the Cowboys Crumble

September 19, 2017 by Nate

Week 2 is an important one in the NFL. Questions are answered that lingered after Week 1. Teams begin to find their groove, while others sinker deeper in to a rut.

Did your team under perform again? Was the Week 1 win a fluke? Who are the real championship contenders? Most importantly, did you just see that?!

From the first game to the last game, NFL teams and players took turns putting on a show for fans. Also, the contenders and pretenders have gotten sorted out rather quickly in the 2017 NFL season.

Here are my Tuesday Takeaways.

Week 2 Winners

Atlanta Falcons – Brand new stadium, same dominant team. The Atlanta Falcons’ Super Bowl hangover is just not materializing. After blowing a 28-3 lead during the epic Super Bowl collapse, the Falcons are acting like that game never happened. They squeaked out a Week 1 win against the Chicago Bears on the road, and then returned home to the new Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

In an NFC Championship rematch, the game played out much like it did last year, resulting in an easy win for Atlanta. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers figure to be the Falcons’ stiffest competition in the NFC, but they still have a long way to go.

The Falcons defeated the Packers by double digits in a game that was never really close. Atlanta moved the ball with ease in the first half, and the defense clamped down in the second half. With Seattle, Minnesota, Carolina and Dallas all off to imperfect starts to the season in the NFC, it seems the road to Super Bowl LII will go through Atlanta (and their beautiful new stadium of course).

Kansas City Chiefs – It is time to start talking about the team getting better every week in Kansas City. Few teams in the NFL have played two quality opponents in the first two weeks the season, and Kansas City has handled them both. After they dismantled the New England Patriots on the road in Week 1, they were up to the task Week 2 also.

Kareem Hunt is the breakout star of the NFL season so far. Other dynamic weapons for the Chiefs include Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. All three have become viable options for Alex Smith, and the offense is running smoothly as a result.

Their defense stepped up after losing its leader, Eric Berry, with a torn Achilles in Week 1. They stifled the run game of the Philadelphia Eagles and made them one-dimensional. With a 27-13 lead, the Chiefs protected a lead in the fourth quarter and went on to win 27-20.

Week 2 Losers

Cincinnati Bengals – A brutal start to the season in Cincinnati is an understatement. They have scored nine points in eight quarters, and have yet to register a touchdown through two weeks. After an embarrassing loss on Thursday night to the Houston Texans, the Bengals chose to fire their offensive coordinator.

Andy Dalton is seemingly regressing as a pocket passer. A.J. Green has to be frustrated on the outside as well. The Pro Bowl wide out has yet to have a break out game and defenses are able to key in on him due to their lack of weapons. Tyler Eifert showed signs of life in Week 2, but a clumsy play led to a touchdown being called back. He also appeared to get injured Thursday night, so his status is up in the air going forward.

The backfield gets more confusing by the day in Cincinnati. The Bengals drafted Joe Mixon in a hope to solidify the position, but the Bengals already had two backs in place that have worked for them in the past. Jeremy Hill, Giovanni Bernard and Joe Mixon are all splitting carries, and they have yet to find a rhythm this season. Hopefully, next week the Bengals can score a touchdown, we’ll worry about wins after that.

Dallas Cowboys – A rare position for Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, but nonetheless, the Cowboys deserve to be here. They traveled west to take on the Denver Broncos, and the Cowboys couldn’t get anything going. Trevor Siemian unexpectedly outperformed Dak Prescott, the game was over before the fourth quarter began.

Ezekiel Elliott had his worst game as a pro as well. If Prescott and Elliott fail to show up, it will be a long day for the Cowboys every time. Prescott’s two interceptions and Zeke’s career low 8 yards rushing spelled doom for the Cowboys.

Additionally, with no offense materializing, it was a tough day for the Dallas defense. C.J. Anderson had a monster game, and Siemian will gain a lot of confidence from this game thanks to a leaky secondary. To add insult to injury, a late pick-six from Aqib Talib ballooned the score line to 42-17.

Week 2 Top Plays

There was plenty to choose from in Week 2. Toe-tapping grabs, electrifying plays on defense and special teams, and even some late game heroics. The first play to make it from Week 2 was a nail in the coffin on Monday night.

After the New York Giants dropped a sure first down that would have put them in Detroit Lions territory early in the fourth quarter, the script flipped. With the score 17-10, and the outcome still undecided, Jamal Agnew took matters in to his own hands. A beautiful punt had to be scooped off the ground by Agnew, but from there he torched the coverage team of the Giants.

Agnew’s 88-yard return took the air out of MetLife Stadium. The electrifying rookie has a chance to appear on this list again with moves like that.

Our second top play from Week 2 is the art of the toe tap. In the NFL, a receiver being able to get both feet in bounds after a difficult catch is a special skill. On Sunday, no one displayed that skill better than Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide out, Mike Evans. The Bucs missed their Week 1 game and were more than ready to take the field against the Chicago Bears. With just a little bit of time left in the first quarter, Jameis Winston and Evans connected.

Oh yes, that right foot was down.

Finally, it is only right end with the clutch gene. The Arizona Cardinals are expected to be in the mix for another deep playoff run. However, a blip on the radar during Week 1 had fans nervous. They were in danger of going 0-2 until Tyrann Mathieu put his hero cape on.

Arizona can take a deep breath as their season is still on track for now.

Week 3 Must-See Match Ups

Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions – The top two teams in the NFC square off in a pivotal match up that could decide home field in the playoffs. Matt Stafford and Matt Ryan are executing at an extremely high level so far this season at quarterback.

Oakland Raiders vs. Washington Redskins – A prime time game on Sunday night, this one features two young quarterbacks on quite the rise in the NFL. Kirk Cousins needs to bounce back after two mediocre weeks while Derek Carr is on point so far this season.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals – Can Dallas bounce back? Will Arizona continue its winning ways? Two teams at 1-1 could use a big win on Monday Night Football to jump start their season.

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Boxing is Back – Canelo Alvarez vs. Triple G Light Up Las Vegas

September 14, 2017 by Nate

As the buzz from the epic Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight dies down, boxing is back with another brawl worth watching. Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin pits two of the best active boxers against each other. With titles, bragging rights and a whole lot of money on the line, every boxing fan will be flocking to T-Mobile Arena for the epic fight.

The career stories of these two fighters are extremely similar. As a result, both of them are fighting for a title and position in the sport that they feel they have earned.

One man, Alvarez, is entering his prime boxing years. At 27, Canelo is a beast that gets better with every fight. Currently, the only blemish on his record is a hard-fought loss to Floyd Mayweather. With a record of 49-1-1, Alvarez still has a decade to rack up wins and go down as one of the best boxers to ever step in to the ring.

However, Triple G is no slouch. The undefeated boxer has a fighter’s mentality. He refuses to lose, and usually knocks out his opponent. His record of 37-0 includes 33 knockouts. In other words, 89% of fighters that go up against Triple G end up on the canvas.

For over a decade he has been untouchable, but Alvarez will be his toughest opponent.

Alvarez has knocked out 34 competitors throughout his career. The potential of this ending in bloody brawl has even the casual fan excited. Although Alvarez clearly has the advantage of youth, he has actually had much more wear and tear on his body. Golovkin is older, but much more efficient. This fact alone could be the reason Triple G succeeds.

Although Triple G is almost ten years older than Alvarez, he has fought almost 200 rounds less than Canelo Alvarez. Golovkin gets in and gets out as quick as possible. He does not rely on dancing around the ring and utilizing defensive tactics. Instead, he puts pressure on the other fighter to defend a variety of punches. Once he opens them up it is usually over. His punches are short and quick, and no energy is wasted. On average, Golovkin usually doesn’t let his opponent get to the fifth round. On the other hand, Alvarez is fighting into the sixth round on average.

All in all, both of these fighters are incredibly talented. They live in the gym, and have dedicated themselves to their craft. The hard work has paid off, and both are ready to cash in on the biggest fights of their careers. The Money Fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will have a lasting impact on the sport. Triple G and Canelo Alvarez are just the first to benefit from it.

TicketNetwork.com has sold over $175,000 worth of tickets, but there are still some left before the epic fight on Saturday night. View the complete selection of Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin tickets before it is too late!

Tuesday Takeaways – Wild Week 1 and What to Expect in Week 2

September 12, 2017 by Nate

Fans across the country are either waking up with a huge smile on their face or dreading the morning commute. Yes, the NFL season has returned. However, that glee of getting to watch your favorite team week in and week out comes with the agony of watching them under perform.

There was plenty to go around this week, so fans of the New York Giants and New England Patriots, you are not alone. Also, some unexpected dominant performances might be fool’s gold for other teams around the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams were prime examples of this.

Much like any week in the NFL, there were also some incredible plays. The speed, strength and talent of these players is unmatched, leading to some memorable highlights each season.

In this new segment, each week I’ll break down the best and worst of each NFL week. Tuesday Takeaways starts now!

Week 1 Winners

Jacksonville Jaguars – Although I mentioned that it might be fool’s gold, the Jags definitely came out a winner in Week 1. Their physical style of play on defense and powerful duo at running back give them a fighter’s chance in the inept AFC South.

Rookie Leonard Fournette led the way with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown. His back up, Chris Ivory, had a productive day as well. This one-two punch will keep the Jags afloat while Blake Bortles works through his issues in the pocket.

As for the Jacksonville defense, they feasted on an inexperienced offensive line on the road. Going forward that will give them a lot of confidence. Calais Campbell had 4 sacks, and Tashaun Gipson had an interception. Not to mention they did all of this against a division rival, the Houston Texans.

Detroit Lions – Trailing 17-15 at the end of the third quarter, the Lions stepped up at home to secure a Week 1 win. Scoring 20 unanswered before a late Arizona Cardinals touchdown, the Lions have to be pumped about a quality win versus a team as talented as the Arizona Cardinals.

Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, including the tremendous grab from Kenny Golladay. He has numerous weapons at his disposal, and spread the wealth to seven different receivers on Sunday. His favorite, Golden Tate, had the biggest day. He caught ten passes for 107 yards.

Throw in a 58-yard boot, and a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown and the Lions played well in all three phases of the game on Sunday. All wins are important in the NFL, but some are better than others. The Lions defending home turf against the Cards falls in to that category.

Week 1 Losers

New York Giants – Unfortunately the only winner from the New York Giants this week was Odell Beckham Jr. He might have rather seen his team get to 1-0 without him, but that was not the case.

The Giants struggled mightily all night against the Dallas Cowboys. The offense was only able to muster three points, and didn’t do a single favor for their defense. Without OBJ the team is inept. He affects the game in every way, and he needs to be on the field for the Giants to win. When contract negotiations come around for the star player, he should receive a healthy increase in salary. They struggled to move the ball, to sustain drives, and the only time they reached the red zone, it resulted in a field goal.

The defense was stout as usual, and kept the Giants in it throughout. However, without Odell, they played the whole game on fumes.

New England Patriots – This is the only week I expect to see the Patriots here, but nevertheless, they deserve to be here Week 1. Tom Brady went 16/36, failed to throw a touchdown pass, and by the end of the game he looked confused by the hungry Kansas City Chiefs defense.

Additionally, this was supposed to be a celebratory night for the Pats. They hung their fifth championship banner and were ready to start the season 1-0. The game started well, but they blew coverages, assignments and eventually the lead against Kansas City.

Injuries piled up for the Pats as well. On offense, Danny Amendola looked to suffer a concussion. He has become a trusted target for Brady, and was going to see an increased role with Julian Edelman out for the year. On defense, Dont’a Hightower suffered an apparent knee injury. Those are always extremely nerve racking for football players these days. Fortunately, it was ruled an MCL sprain, but Hightower will have to be careful on it as the season progresses.

Week 1 Top Plays

Week 1 was action-packed, and offered up a variety of must-see plays. Three in particular stand out in my mind. Some were pivotal while others were just plain outstanding.

The first is nothing too crazy. Cole Beasley of the Dallas Cowboys made a catch on third down that sustained momentum for his team and pretty much made a comeback for the Giants impossible. He juggled the ball, and needed help from his helmet. Although it was a short gain, the focus and timing that were involved in the catch helped it land on the list.

Our second top play is just something you don’t see everyday. A tight end scoring an 88-yard touchdown is a rare sight. On Sunday, Austin Hooper made it look easy. After not recording a catch for the entire game, he waited until the fourth quarter to make his move. After a blown coverage by the Chicago Bears‘ secondary, Hooper caught the pass around midfield and scampered another 15 yards before he was approached by a defender.

What happened next might be the highlight of his season. With his left arm, he delivered a mean stiff-arm to the safety of the Chicago Bears that sent his body flying in to the turf. Hooper galloped the rest of the way for an easy yet crucial touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons.

Lastly, comes an insane interception from an otherwise mediocre football game. The Carolina Panthers rolled the San Francisco 49ers, 23-3. The final score was far from the most important talking point in this one. Jaquiski Tartt made a memorable play early in the second quarter, and tried to do all he could to keep the Niners afloat.

The acrobatic ability mixed with the presence of mind to get up for a lengthy return showed Tartt’s talent as well as his football IQ. Unfortunately, the talent level for the Niners isn’t what it used to be. It will be a long season in San Francisco.

Hopefully Week 2 of the NFL season offers more of the same!

Week 2 Must-See Match Ups

New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots – Both teams start the season 0-1, and Drew Brees and Tom Brady will look to bounce back.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers – The grand opening of Mercedes Benz Stadium for the Atlanta Falcons should be a game to remember.

New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions – Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium. Nothing else needs to be said.

U.S. Open Championships: All-American Weekend is a Dream Scenario

September 8, 2017 by Nate

Let’s party like it’s 1981! The women’s semifinal brought us back 36 years. It was in 1981 when the U.S. Open semifinal featured four American women. Last night, the four women that made history squared off to display their tennis skills.

Women’s Semifinals

In a surprise finish, the late night match featured Madison Keys and CoCo Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe, a New York native, had a dream run to the semifinals. In the quarters, she knocked off the number one player in the world, Karolina Pliskova. However, facing Madison Keys turned out to be a nightmare. The 22-year-old from the Midwest has a game that features power and precision, and it proved too much for Vandeweghe. Keys is eyeing a top-10 spot in the world and her first major win of her career, but will face a tough test in the finals.

In 2017, the U.S. Open does not feature the dominating presence of Serena Williams. Her sister, Venus, and the next version of Serena, Sloane Stephens, performed admirably in Serena’s stead. This back and forth match between the old and the new did not disappoint. Stephens dominated the first set, 6-1. Venus did not go down without a fight. She went on to win the second set 6-0. In an epic third set, Sloane Stephens pulled it out, 7-5. The fans had mixed emotions, but at the end of the day an American was moving on to the finals and both women performed well under pressure.

Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys are undoubtedly the future of women’s American tennis. This epic final will go down tomorrow at 4:00 PM EST, and fans cannot wait. To witness history live, find US Open tickets to the Women’s Final at TicketNetwork!

Men’s Semifinals

On the men’s side, the semifinal match ups are a bit lopsided. In one semifinal, two newcomers will square off tonight. South African Kevin Anderson and Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta are both appearing in their first career semifinal. They both have had dream runs. Carreno Busta has not dropped a set, and most of it is due to the fact he has played the easiest draw of any competitor. Kevin Anderson played spoiler for American fans as he knocked one of the best players in tennis right now, Sam Querrey.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had a chance to play for the first time ever in the U.S. Open this year. However, Juan Martin del Potro had other plans. The 2009 U.S. Open champ has had terrible luck since winning eight years ago. He has faced numerous injuries, taken a lot of time off and struggled to find his game on surfaces other than hard courts.

Del Potro’s forehand is massive at the U.S. Open. If anything the injuries have taken the pressure off of his career. He goes big on every shot because every point he plays is a bonus. He dispatched the graceful Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, and Nadal has to be worried.

For Rafa, his only problem this tournament has been a few slow starts. He has had a few four set matches in which he dropped the first set, but then found his form and cruised to victory. He had one of the easiest quarterfinal matches, so Rafa Nadal will be rested. Nadal was the champion at the U.S. Open in 2010 and 2013. He will have to rely on that experience to surge past del Potro and the player that makes it from the other side of the draw.

U.S. Open Championship Weekend Tickets

No matter how you slice it, this will be a must-see weekend at the U.S. Open. With two men’s semifinals later today, a championship match on Saturday and one on Sunday, the action is jam-packed. For the complete selection of tickets, check out the weekend schedule at TicketNetwork.com.