Eagles top Vikings thanks to dominant rushing attack. Plus, NFL and college football best bets, predictions
Vikings #Vikings
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🦅 Good morning to everyone but especially …
THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Give the Eagles an inch, and they’ll take a mile. And they’ll do so … swiftly. Behind a career-high 175 yards rushing from D’Andre Swift — most by an Eagles player since LeSean McCoy in 2013 — and 259 yards rushing overall, the Eagles ran over, around and through the Vikings in a 34-28 win.
Jeff Kerr was in Philadelphia for the game, and he has overreactions and reality checks for the Birds, including the sideline dispute between Hurts and Brown …
👍 Honorable mentions 😵 And not such a good morning for … Getty Images
THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS
We’ll make this quick: There is no shame going into the home of the reigning NFC champions on a short week and losing by a single possession. Aside from one fumble each, Cousins (364 yards, four touchdowns) and Jefferson (11 receptions, 159 yards) were fantastic.
But here’s the problem: “Aside from one play here or there” is a killer in the NFL. The Vikings have seven turnovers through two games, most since the 2019 Dolphins. They have six lost fumbles through two games, most since the 2003 Rams. The defense remains iffy. The running game is non-existent. And even so, they’ve had chances to win both games.
Last year, the Vikings went an NFL-record 11-0 in one-score games. They’re already 0-2 in such games this year. When there’s no margin for error, wins become losses with one bad bounce or one bad play. The Vikings are finding that out the hard way.
👎 Not so honorable mentions 🏈 NFL Week 2 picks, previews: Huge AFC showdowns loom Getty Images
We’re into Week 2 of the NFL season, and it’s time for teams to either reinforce or reverse the first impressions they made in Week 1.
There are great matchups across the board Sunday, but Chiefs-Jaguars has my attention. No reigning Super Bowl champion has started 0-2 since the 1999 Broncos, and Kansas City wants to keep it that way. Having Travis Kelce (knee) and Chris Jones (contract dispute) back will surely help, but the Jaguars — led by rising superstar Trevor Lawrence — are legit. Will Jacksonville make a huge statement? Here’s John Breech’s pick.
Sunday night should be an absolute doozy between an unstoppable force (the Dolphins offense) and an unmovable object (the Patriots defense). Will Brinson says …
Here are all of our expert picks:
Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Tyler Sullivan | Jordan Dajani
We also have quarterbacks most likely to bounce back.
🏈 College football Week 3 picks, previews USATSI
Go back just two summers ago, and Spencer Rattler was a potential future No.1 pick while Carson Beck was fighting for backup snaps. Fast forward to now and Rattler, after losing his job to Caleb Williams at Oklahoma, is in his second year at South Carolina still trying to fulfill his considerable potential. Meanwhile, Beck is trying to guide No. 1 Georgia to its third straight title.
The two meet this weekend as the Gamecocks visit the Bulldogs. Is an upset in store? In his Six Pack of picks, Tom Fornelli says … no … not even close.
Meanwhile, after a whirlwind offseason, No. 18 Colorado is off to a 2-0 start. But what about the guys Sanders replaced? Dennis Dodd looked at the flip side of the Buffaloes’ makeover.
Dodd also previewed the game of Saturday night as No. 11 Tennessee visits The Swamp where Florida has won nine straight in the rivalry series. The Gators will have a clear homefield advantage, but will Joe Milton prove he’s ready for prime time?
⚾ Red Sox fire Chaim Bloom; who could replace him? USATSI
The Red Sox fired chief baseball executive Chaim Bloom on Thursday as the franchise approaches its third missed postseason in four years under his direction. Bloom was dealt a tough hand with one of his first tasks being the Mookie Betts trade that yielded an underwhelming return. Even a 2021 ALCS appearance wasn’t enough to prevent his firing.
Where could the Red Sox go next? R.J. Anderson has six options, including …
R.J. also has other executives on the hot seat.
🏀 WNBA playoffs: Previewing Mystics-Liberty, Dream-Wings USATSI
After the Aces and Sun won Wednesday, the Liberty and the Wings look to make favorites 4 for 4 in Game 1s as they open their respective first-round series against the Mystics and Dream.
The Liberty are loaded with potential MVP Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu among five double-digit scorers. New York is viewed as Las Vegas’ top competition for the title, but the Liberty can’t get caught looking past the talented Mystics, writes Jack Maloney.
Jack also has his preview and prediction for Dream-Wings.
📺 What we’re watching this weekend Friday
🏀 Mystics at Liberty, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2🏈 Utah State at Air Force, 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network🏀 Dream at Wings, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday
🏈 No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State, Noon on ESPN🏈 South Carolina at No. 1 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. on CBS🏈 No. 11 Tennessee at Florida, 7 p.m. on ESPN🏈 Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
Sunday
🏈 Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. on CBS🏈 Chiefs at Jaguars, 1 p.m. on CBS🏀 Lynx at Sun, 1 p.m. on ESPN🏀 Sky at Aces, 3 p.m. on ABC🏈 49ers at Rams, 4:05 p.m. on Fox🏈 Jets at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. on CBS⚾ Cubs at Diamondbacks, 7 p.m. on ESPN🏈 Dolphins at Patriots, 8:20 p.m. on NBC