PEREZ CRASHES | TMK #6 - October 30th

Today, on Polysport:

A Mexican crashes, a victory eight years in the making, and some Messi magic.

News Roundup:

• NFL Week 8 Recap

• Verstappen Wins The Mexican Grand Prix

• Man City Dominates Man United

• NBA Recap

Today’s Action:

• Ballor d’Or Ceremony

• Monday Night Football: Lions - Raiders

• World Series Game 3

• Milwaukee Bucks - Miami Heat

Quick Bites:

• Quote of the Day

• Can’t Miss Moment

• Stat of the Day

• Video of the Day

🏈 NFL Week 8

UPSET ALERT

Denver Broncos (3-5) 24 - 9 Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

Well, here’s a result no one saw coming. The Chiefs came into this game on a 6-win streak and were arguably the best team in the NFL. The Mahomes - Kelce connection has looked unstoppable so far this season. But Mahomes was reportedly suffering from flu-like symptoms, and the Chiefs turned the ball over 5 times (2 INT, 3 fumbles) to give the Broncos a divisional victory. The Chiefs fall to 6-2 and will hope to bounce back next week.

San Francisco 49ers (5-3) 17 - 31 Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)

Coming into Week 6, the 49ers boasted a perfect 5-0 record and looked like legitimate Superbowl contenders. Three weeks - and three losses later, they lost the division lead to a resurging Seahawks team. Granted, Cincinnati is a better team than its record indicates, with an explosive offense that can put up 30 points in any given game. Burrow finally looks fully healthy and threw for 283 yards and 3 TDs. Look for the Bengals to make a run for the AFC North crown.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Tennessee Titans (3-4) 28 - 23 Atlanta Falcons (4-4)

Will Levis, take a bow. The second-round pick QB made his debut and threw for 238 yards and 4 TDs against the Falcons, including 3 BOMBS for TDs of 47, 61, and 33 yards. He looked as good as any rookie QB in recent years and was unafraid to throw it and let his receivers have a day. DeAndre Hopkins looked like his old self and caught 3 TDs for 128 yards.

Washington Commanders (3-5) 31 - 38 Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)

NFC East divisional games usually deliver - and this was no exception. Jalen Hurts threw for 319 yards and 4 TDs for the Eagles, while Sam Howell racked up 397 yards and 4 TDs, with 1 INT. Unfortunately, that interception came in the fourth quarter and gave the ball to the Eagles on Washington’s 7-yard line, and the Eagles subsequently scored to definitively take the lead.

NOTES FROM WEEK 8

Tyreek Hill Watch

With 112 yards receiving today, Hill crossed the 1000 yards in receiving for the season. He is only the fourth receiver ever to catch for 1000 yards in the first 8 games of the season and is well on track to be the first receiver ever to finish a season with over 2000 yards receiving.

Kirk Cousins Tears Achilles 

The Minnesota Vikings confirmed that QB Kirk Cousins' injury will keep him out for the season. Cousins is 36 years old and in the last year of his contract with the Vikings. It's an unfortunate situation, and the future isn't clear for Cousins or for the Vikings. 

No More Winless Teams

With the Panthers' victory over the Texans, there are no more winless teams in the NFL. The Panthers started the season 0-6 with #1 pick Bryce Young at the helm, who will finally get to experience a victory Monday as an NFL QB. 

OTHER SCORES

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) 10 - 20 Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) 24 - 20 Cleveland Browns (4-3)

New York Giants (2-6) 10 - 13 New York Jets (4-3)

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) 43 - 20 Los Angeles Rams (3-5)

Carolina Panthers (1-6) 15 - 13 Houston Texans (3-4)

Arizona Cardinals (1-7) 24 - 31 Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

Los Angeles Chargers (3-4) 30 - 13 Chicago Bears (2-6)

Green Bay Packers (2-5) 10 - 24 Minnesota Vikings (4-4)

Miami Dolphins (6-2) 31 - 17 New England Patriots (2-6)

New Orleans Saints (4-4) 38 - 27 Indianapolis Colts (3-5)

🏎️ Verstappen Wins The Mexican Grand Prix

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Max Verstappen won the Mexican Grand Prix by 14 seconds despite the race being stopped and restarted halfway through. Such is the dominance of the Dutchman who secured a 16th win this season and could break the record for the highest percentage of races won in a season with another victory.

In perhaps as obvious news, Sergio Perez crashed on the opening lap and saw his home Grand Prix end before it even started. Verstappen and Perez got a good launch off the line, and both swarmed poleman Leclerc in turn one. But three cars cannot turn at the same time, and Perez turned into Leclerc, went airborne, and ended up with a massive hole in his sidepod that forced him to retire. Perez said after the race that he wanted to go for the win and paid the price of excessive risk-taking. No argument there.

Kevin Magnussen’s car failed in the high-speed corners of sector two and the Danish driver slammed into the barrier, triggering a safety car and eventually a red flag, stopping the race. Magnussen was able to leave his car and was shaken up but uninjured. The race was resumed 20-odd minutes later after his car was removed from the track and the barriers were fixed.

Lando Norris started the race in 17th position after not being able to put in a good lap in qualifying and stormed to fifth position after a brilliant second stint after the restart. Daniel Ricciardo showed he still had plenty of racing left in him as he converted his 4th position on the grid to 7th in the race and scored an all-important 6 points for himself and his team. Those 6 points bumped Alpha Tauri two places to 8th place in the constructor championship, which would award the team 18 million dollars more in prize money compared to 10th place. Put that man in the second Red Bull already.

Race Results:

1st - Verstappen - 25 PTS

2nd - Hamilton - 19 PTS - Fastest Lap

3rd - Leclerc - 15 PTS

4th - Sainz - 12 PTS

5th - Norris - 10 PTS

6th - Russell - 8 PTS

7th - Ricciardo - 6 PTS

8th - Piastri - 4 PTS

9th - Albon - 2 PTS

10th - Ocon - 1 PTS

⚽ Manchester United 0 - 3 Manchester City

Manchester United can consider itself lucky to have only lost by 3 goals. City looked like the dominant side throughout the game, and only Andre Onana - who would’ve thought - saved United from a heavier defeat with a few impressive parries.

City were relentless in attacking and were led by 2 goals and an assist from their main man Erling Haaland. Phil Foden tapped in the third goal in the 80’ minute to seal the deal. United created a few chances on the counter but the result of this game was never in doubt.

🏀 NBA

Milwaukee Bucks 110 - 127 Atlanta Hawks

Well, maybe it’s not quite Dame Time yet in Milwaukee. Lillard finished the game with a lowly 6 points, and the Bucks admitted that they’re still learning how to play together and make it work. I’m sure they can, but that performance tonight was flat-out bad.

Oklahoma City Thunder 95 - 128 Denver Nuggets

Both teams came into this game at 2-0, but only the team with former MVP Nikola Jokic left the building with a perfect record. Jokic finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds, and second-year forward Peyton Watson contributed 17 in his best game of the season so far.

Sacramento Kings 132 - 127 Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron: “We will cap my playing time at 30 minutes”

Also LeBron: Plays 39 minutes

The Lakers were competitive behind a 30 points and 16 rebounds performance from Anthony Davis, but the Kings are a very well-rounded team. LeBron seems to think the Lakers can be competitive with him on limited minutes; I think the past 2 games show that they aren’t. He’ll rest if they’re up big, but the Lakers don’t look like a playoff team without LeBron giving 100% every night.

⚽ Ballor d’Or 2023

Messi is the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s most prestigious individual football award, which will make it a record eighth Ballon d’Or for the Argentinian footballer. Messi, now playing for Inter Miami in the US Major League Soccer, is likely to win for having led Argentina to a World Cup victory last November.

Once again, the timing and period taken into account for the Ballon d’Or can easily warp the public perception of who should get the award, as it’s been a full calendar year since the tournament that will likely make Messi the Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi had a decent year by his standards, finishing with 32 goals and 25 assists. However, there is a discussion to be had around the outsized impact of the World Cup on the Ballon d’Or award, as Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 matches, and is simply unfortunate to have been born in a non-football-mad country. Erling Haaland would surely have won the trophy in a non-World Cup year, but the Norwegian will have to do it all over again this year against increased competition from the likes of Jude Bellingham.

🏈 NFL: Detroit Lions (5-2) - Las Vegas Raiders (3-4)

The Lions come into this game after what can only be described as an ass-whooping by the Ravens last week. They are still in first place in the NFC North and will remain there even with a loss, but they need to find their rhythm again to be a serious contender in the NFC.

The Raiders didn’t do any better and were soundly beaten 30-12 by rookie QB Bagent last week in Chicago. Granted, Jimmy Garappolo was out with an injury, but he should be back and the Raiders have run out of excuses.

⚾ MLB: World Series Game 3

The World Series lands in Arizona after the Diamondbacks and Rangers split the first two games in Texas. 

Game 3 is expected to be a battle of experience versus youth. 39-year-old Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, will start Game 3 of the World Series for the Texas Rangers. 25-year-old Rookie Brandon Pfaadt will start for the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

How close is this game? The betting moneyline is identical for both teams at -110 (1.9 in decimal). Vegas can’t call it, and neither can I.

🏀 NBA: Milwaukee Bucks - Miami Heat

Last year, the #8-seeded Heat eliminated the #1-seed Bucks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. This loss made the Bucks that much more aggressive in pursuing reinforcements and ended up driving the Bucks to acquire Lillard from the Trailblazers. Lillard has been HOT and COLD in two games for the Bucks, having scored 39 points in his first game but only 6 in his second. 

The Damian Lillard we’ll get today is likely to decide which team comes out on top in this one.

🗣️ Quote Of The Day

“A lot of booing, a lot of booing, guys…I mean, honestly, I had nowhere to go.”

Leclerc was heavily booed by the Mexican crowd in his post-race interview and tried to reason with the heated crowd who saw their home hero retire in the first lap of the race.

⭐ Can’t Miss Moment

AJ Brown with an incredible one handed catch

Arguably THE touchdown catch of the year so far.

🧮 Stat Of The Day

Broncos Win First Game Against Chiefs in 8 Years

Before yesterday’s game, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs were 16-0 against the Denver Broncos since 2015. The Broncos’ last win against the Chiefs came with Peyton Manning at quaterback in their Superbowl winning year. It’s been a WHILE.

📽️ Video of the Day

Messi Magic

In honor of Messi who is likely to win his 8th Ballon d’Or, let’s appreciate greatness while it’s still playing on the pitch. Here are 12 magical Messi moments from 2023.

Click HERE to watch on Youtube.

Wrap Up

What an incredible weekend of sports. We’ll have a bit of a quieter week this time around without European football, but there’s still plenty to be excited about. See you tomorrow.