X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Daily Sports Recap 1/23: Something Something Deflated Balls

 

Well, that was sure an entertaining and controversy-free NFC championship game!  I'm glad I got to watch it-- it was one of the best football games I've ever seen.  I didn't get to watch the AFC championship, but I'm sure it was just as entertaining and controversy-free as well, right?

You're saying that it was a 45-7 blowout that was only interesting if you're a Patriots fan and kind of depressing if you were a Colts fan, like every single other Pats-Colts game of the Luck era? And you're saying there was a pointless scandal at the end of it that's led professional athletes and journalists to talk about how quarterbacks like their balls to feel in their hands, without a trace of self-awareness or irony?

(At least they fined Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for his "hold my dick" move in the end zone, AFTER threatening him with expulsion if he wore gold cleats.  Thank God the NFL is on top of the real issues in football nowadays.)

 

NFC Championship Game: Seattle Seahawks Defeat Green Bay Packers 28-22

So I guess we're starting off with the good news here.

This was not the Packers-Seahawks game anyone was expecting to see.  If Vegas had set the over/under on interceptions in this game at 0.5 a week before, I would have taken the under.  If Vegas had set the over/under at 5.5 I would have laughed my way to the bank taking the under.  Of course, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson combined for six picks in the game, and you should never ever listen to me if you want to gamble.  The Seahawks offense was so bad for the first 56.5 minutes of this game that their only points came off a fake field goal.  Rodgers was clearly off his game, Mike McCarthy was definitely off of his (fourth and one in field goal range with AARON RODGERS as your QB and you go for three, are you for real right now, like AARON FREAKING RODGERS can't get one yard), and yet it seemed that the Packers would cruise.

True story: I bring up the 56.5 figure because with 3:25 left in the game, I looked to my friend and said "You know, it's not technically over yet; the Seahawks could score and recover the onside kick."  To which he responded with a look that intimated yes, it could happen, and technically we could all win the MegaMillions lottery and live like kings. Three minutes and 25 seconds later, everyone in the room was losing it as the game went into overtime after the Seahawks scored and then recovered the onside kick.  (Sadly, the lottery tickets didn't work out.)

Russell Wilson then promptly marched the Seahawks down the field, capping off the drive with a deep ball to Jermaine Kearse, who had been targeted on all four of Wilson's interceptions.  Chaos erupted, Wilson broke down, some dude whose number I didn't see was riding a bike, and Brian Bostick (who infamously muffed the onside kick, giving the ball back to Seattle) adopted the thousand-yard stare of a war veteran who's seen the suffering firsthand and now can't stop seeing it, no matter how hard he tries.  It was fifty-plus minutes of football at its worst, followed by five of football at its absolute zenith.

So of course it gets followed by HASHTAG DEFLATE GATE.  (I'm still lost on scandal nomenclature.)

 

AFC Championship: New England Bicycle Pumps Patriots Defeat Indianapolis Colts 45-7

Like I said above, I did not watch this game.  The sight of Tom Brady (a Michigan alum) succeeding makes me break out in hives.  I just resigned myself to checking the final score and reconciling myself with the fact that Brady has a chance to cement himself as one of the best in history and oh God I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

So you can imagine my surprise when this whole "underinflated balls" thing started going around.  We're going to talk about that a bit, because A) it's fun to talk about NFL scandals, and B) mentally I'm like 13 years old, tops.

The #deflateGATE controversy apparently started when Colts LB D'Qwell Jackson intercepted a Tom Brady pass, and mentioned to an equipment manager on the sideline that the ball felt wrong.  The NFL decided to investigate, and the story was broken on Twitter, because that's how news works now.  Of course, since the Patriots are such a well-loved team with no such history of shady behavior, nobody really gave that much thought to the news (and subsequent findings that 11 of 12 balls were sunstantially underinflated).

Since Spygate was a thing, and since Bill Belichick exudes all of the likability of that weird two-thumbed hooded alien dude from The Avengers, the latest "-Gate" scandal was born.  While it could be argued that there is no one on the planet who feels sympathy for Roger Goodell anymore (and I will argue that), this scandal has put the NFL in a pretty terrible spot two weeks before its showcase event.  There are a handful of possible outcomes here, and every single one of them is a loss.

Scenario 1: the NFL fines some random equipment manager on the Patriots $25,ooo and does nothing else

This is highly unlikely, as Internet rumblings have it that owners are not happy about this at all.  That said, the NFL can't just fine a team $25K for cheating in the AFC Championship.  That's not even a slap on the wrist. Public opinion says the NFL was way too lenient.  Three months later, Roger Goodell tries to have Bill Belichick executed for tarnishing the league's integrity.  However, he forgets to burn the body and Belichick comes back stronger than before.  Belichick always comes back.

Scenario 2: the NFL takes draft picks away from the Patriots

Belichick is infuriated.  He was going to trade those draft picks for 20 hoodies and a lifetime supply of Dunkin' Donuts coffee (and before you ask, of course he takes it black; the only thing he adds to his coffee is the tears of the innocent).

Scenario 3: the NFL declares the AFC championship forfeit and sends the Colts to the Super Bowl instead

This will never, ever happen.  I'm only bringing it up because a crazy homeless man suggested it to me.  I would have ignored everything he said, but then he told me that Bill Belichick could see into his dreams at night and feasts slowly on his fear.  This is widely acknowledged as accurate.

So basically, the NFL will underpunish the Patriots and people will get mad about it.  What remains to be seen is how the NFL will go about botching this latest investigation and its subsequent hilarious overreaction.  Well, that and how many more times they'll be talking about the relative fullness of balls on ESPN.

Don't look at me like that.  I warned you I would react to this like a 13-year-old.

 

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Colby Thomas22 mins ago

Sustains Injury On Saturday
Dee Eskridge24 mins ago

Sticking With Dolphins
Josh Giddey27 mins ago

Officially Out On Saturday Night
Ja Morant31 mins ago

Ruled Out On Saturday Night
JuJu Smith-Schuster32 mins ago

Returning To Chiefs
Josh Rojas36 mins ago

Exits Early On Saturday
NFL43 mins ago

Chidobe Awuzie Released By Titans
Thairo Estrada43 mins ago

Removed From Saturday's Contest
Damian Lillard50 mins ago

Available Versus Indiana
Parris Campbell50 mins ago

Headed To Dallas
Nick Kurtz52 mins ago

Exits After HBP
Giannis Antetokounmpo54 mins ago

Good To Go On Saturday
Jamal Murray1 hour ago

Added To Saturday's Injury Report
Jiri Kulich1 hour ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Tobias Myers1 hour ago

Exits Early On Saturday
Brice Turang1 hour ago

Dealing With Shoulder Fatigue
Tyler Myers1 hour ago

Set To Return Against Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov1 hour ago

Good To Go Against Bruins
Yegor Chinakhov1 hour ago

Rejoins Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Cole Anthony2 hours ago

Back On The Injury Report
Joel Armia2 hours ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Brady Tkachuk2 hours ago

Available Saturday
Donovan Mitchell2 hours ago

Questionable Against Orlando
Adam Fox2 hours ago

Ready To Rejoin Rangers Lineup
Andre Drummond2 hours ago

Out Against Dallas
Ja Morant2 hours ago

Questionable On Saturday Night
P.J. Washington2 hours ago

Returning On Sunday
Philadelphia Eagles5 hours ago

Patrick Johnson Rejoins Philadelphia
Dante Exum5 hours ago

Diagnosed With A Fractured Left Hand
Los Angeles Rams5 hours ago

Larrell Murchison Back With The Rams
Amed Rosario5 hours ago

Returning On Saturday
Cam Thomas5 hours ago

Expected To Miss Rest Of The Season
Jose Trevino5 hours ago

Going For CT Scan
Kirk Cousins5 hours ago

Set To Receive Roster Bonus
Bryce Eldridge6 hours ago

Will Not Play On Saturday
Aaron Rodgers6 hours ago

Wants To Play In Minnesota
Blake Perkins6 hours ago

Cleared For Light Baseball Activities
Doug Nikhazy6 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Jung Hoo Lee6 hours ago

Scratched On Saturday With Back Tightness
Cody Bradford6 hours ago

Won't Throw For At Least Four Weeks
Colorado Rockies6 hours ago

Charlie Condon Out At Least Six Weeks With Broken Wrist
Bryce Miller6 hours ago

Ironing Out The Kinks In Spring Training
Logan Gilbert7 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Mookie Betts7 hours ago

Missing Tokyo Exhibition Games Due To Illness
Jesús Sánchez7 hours ago

Jesus Sanchez To Miss Four Weeks With Oblique Strain
Jon Gray7 hours ago

Has A Fractured Right Wrist
Bobby Witt Jr.7 hours ago

Back In Cactus League Lineup On Saturday
Washington Commanders7 hours ago

Clelin Ferrell Returning To Washington
New York Jets7 hours ago

Kris Boyd Signs With The Jets
Garrett Crochet7 hours ago

Starting On Opening Day
Los Angeles Chargers8 hours ago

Mekhi Becton Inks Deal With Chargers
Tyler Johnson8 hours ago

Links Up With Jets
Kyle Juszczyk9 hours ago

Returns To 49ers
Eeli Tolvanen12 hours ago

Scores Twice In Victory
WPG13 hours ago

Kyle Connor Strikes Twice On Friday
Jack Roslovic13 hours ago

Tallies Goal, Assist In Friday's Victory
Leon Draisaitl13 hours ago

Leads Edmonton To Victory
Liam O'Brien13 hours ago

Exits With Undisclosed Injury
Josh Manson13 hours ago

Exits On Friday
Kevin Porter Jr.21 hours ago

Expected To Be Available Saturday
Atlanta Falcons22 hours ago

Falcons Agree To Terms With Morgan Fox
Damian Lillard22 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Saturday's Game
Giannis Antetokounmpo22 hours ago

Probable For Saturday
Lonzo Ball22 hours ago

Remains Out For Saturday
Indianapolis Colts22 hours ago

Colts Sign Corey Ballentine To One-Year Deal On Friday
Trendon Watford22 hours ago

Will Miss Saturday's Game
Chet Holmgren22 hours ago

Resting Versus Detroit
Nicolas Claxton22 hours ago

Resting On Saturday
Pittsburgh Steelers22 hours ago

Brandin Echols Signs Two-Year Deal With Steelers
Josh Giddey22 hours ago

Not Likely To Play Saturday
Noah Clowney22 hours ago

To Remain Out Against Celtics
Kenny Yeboah22 hours ago

Signs One-Year Deal With Lions
Avery Williams22 hours ago

Signs With Eagles
Kene Nwangwu22 hours ago

Jets Re-Sign Kene Nwangwu To One-Year Deal
Simi Fehoko1 day ago

Signing With Cardinals
Kylen Granson1 day ago

Headed To Philadelphia
Karel Vejmelka1 day ago

Makes Ninth Consecutive Start Friday
Dustin Wolf1 day ago

Set To Face Avalanche Friday
Mikael Backlund1 day ago

Out Week-To-Week
Sam Colangelo1 day ago

Deemed Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Michael Bunting1 day ago

A Game-Time Call Friday
Andrei Svechnikov1 day ago

Expected To Return Next Week
Nikolaj Ehlers1 day ago

Good To Go Against Stars
Mackenzie Blackwood1 day ago

Battling Illness, Not Starting On Friday
Roman Dolidze1 day ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori1 day ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Chidi Njokuani1 day ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos1 day ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Kurt Holobaugh1 day ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Alexander Hernandez1 day ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson2 days ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear2 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Brendson Ribeiro2 days ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Diyar Nurgozhay2 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
MMA2 days ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Kevin Vallejos2 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jacob Bridgeman3 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard3 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips3 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith3 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala3 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick3 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler3 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter3 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim3 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy3 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa4 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre4 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth4 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young4 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim4 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas4 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele4 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy4 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA4 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman4 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee4 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

Power-Steering Failure Foils Tyler Reddick's Bid For Potential Victory
William Byron5 days ago

Recovers From Being Trapped A Lap Down To Finish Sixth
Josh Berry5 days ago

Gives Wood Brothers Team Best Run Since 2021
Alex Pereira5 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev5 days ago

Becomes The New UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion
Justin Gaethje5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev5 days ago

Loses Third Fight In A Row
Ignacio Bahamondes5 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC 313
Christopher Bell5 days ago

Scores His Third Consecutive Victory Of The Season At Phoenix
Kyle Larson5 days ago

Strong Phoenix Performance Falls Short Of Victory
Chris Buescher5 days ago

Quietly Earns A Top-Five Finish At Phoenix
Alex Bowman5 days ago

Leaves Phoenix With His Best Finish At The Site Since 2016
Zane Smith5 days ago

Quietly Nabs His First Phoenix Top-10 Finish
Jalin Turner5 days ago

Retires After UFC 313 Loss
Iasmin Lucindo5 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 313
Amanda Lemos5 days ago

Dominates At UFC 313
King Green5 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC 313
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

Tyron Smith Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

New York Jets and former long-time Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith was one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for an extended period of time. He's made five All-Pro teams, two with the first team and two with the second team, been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and earned a spot on […]


Bills Defense - Von Miller IDP Rankings, D/ST Streamers, Fantasy Football Team Defense

Von Miller Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller, one of the greatest pass-rushers in NFL history, was released by his team on March 9, 2025. He had signed a six-year, $120 million deal with the team in 2022, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old wasn't able to make it to the end of that contract, so he's now looking for […]


Aaron Jones - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Staying Put - Impact Players Re-signed: Aaron Jones, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Warren, more

NFL free agency is a frenzy. As football fans, we love to see the movement around the league. It allows us to dream about the possibility of our team signing a fresh player who could make a serious impact. However, one cannot overlook the impact of re-signing significant contributors. While it is not as exciting […]


Tucker Kraft - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends To Buy in 2025

My friend Josh used to make me listen to the Bring Me The Horizon song "Diamonds Aren't Forever," which begins with the line "We will never sleep, cause sleep is for the weak." That sentiment rings true in fantasy football dynasty leagues as well. You can't get complacent. You can't stop thinking about how to […]


Zay Flowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Buy or Sell: Zay Flowers, Rashee Rice, and Jordan Addison (2025)

The 2024 NFL Draft class had seven first-round wide receivers. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze were selected in the top 10. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette were Day 1 selections. More importantly, Nabers and Thomas finished their rookie seasons as top-7 wide receivers in half-point PPR […]


Courtland Sutton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Sleepers, Draft Targets: Early 2025 Analysis

One of the biggest factors in winning fantasy football teams is finding middle-to-late-round sleepers. With wide receivers typically carrying the most drafted players of any position, it makes sense that taking multiple stabs at the position in search of hitting multiple-round values is the way to set yourself apart in drafts. For 2025, the draft […]


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, QB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2025 NFL Free Agency Frenzy: Biggest Winners and Disappointments at Every Fantasy Football Position

NFL franchises will have an opportunity to reshape their rosters before the draft. Fantasy managers will have a chance to read the tea leaves and make measured strikes against their fantasy football opposition ahead of rookie drafts. Savvy managers will use this period to try to get the best return on some previous investments, as […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Fantasy Football Analysis: Fallers On New Teams (2025)

With the first wave of NFL free agency coming to an end, several fantasy-relevant players have signed on to new teams. The quarterback carousel still has several dominoes to fall, but Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, and Kenny Pickett have found new homes within the first few days of the new league year. The running back […]


James Conner - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Fallers - Players Trending Down In 2025

Fantasy football players trending "down" can mean a few different things. It can mean aging veterans, a new situation for players, regression in production after a stellar season, a change in coordinators, or all of the above. It doesn't necessarily mean these players won't produce; it's just a warning sign to proceed cautiously. Ultimately, marking […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Free Agency Fantasy Fallout!

Michael F. Florio is back going over the any signings and trades that free agency week brought us! He discusses his winners and losers of players that changed teams - then does the same for players who were not moved but still had their value impacted! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

The NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Drake Maye - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Players To Target In Deep Leagues

Fantasy football sleepers are what make the game fun. There is nothing like landing an absolute stud in the double-digit rounds of your fantasy draft. The more teams in your league, the more important sleepers become. As the player pool shrinks, it is an absolute must to hit on at least one or two sleepers. […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Avoids, Busts: 2025 NFL Free Agent Signings

The 2025 NFL free-agency period is well underway, and many wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs have already found their new homes. While some of them are in better landing spots, or at least should continue having solid production relative to their ADP (anticipated draft position) in fantasy football, some of them should […]