Jason Haskins's Blog, page 22

College Football Playoff draws near with only 1 clearcut semifinalist

 

The 2021 college football closing in on the finish of another season, with the promise of some fresh faces entering playoff consideration.

A chaotic college football season is about to wrap up, with the only thing left to do is put on the final bows for playoff and bowl-game matchups.

If we've learned anything as conference championship weekend approaches, there's still a lot that can happen.  The four top-ranked teams could go unchanged as we head into Sunday's official selection.

Or, we could possibly see a major shift, with only one of those top-four teams surviving the weekend.

It's the type of chaos one can embrace, unless you're a fan of the schools involved. Even then, I'd wager part of you embraces the action, chaos, and excitement that comes with this time of year in college football.

College Football Playoff: The top four

A clear-cut favorite to win it all is the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (12-0). It's almost a certainty this Bulldog team will advance to the semifinals, as they simply dominated the regular season. 

Georgia's closest game was a 10-3 victory over the Clemson Tigers way back at the start of the season. The most points they allowed was 17 (to Tennessee). One of the top defenses of all-time to date, Georgia is allowing only 6.9 points per game while scoring 40.7.

Barring a complete meltdown in the SEC title game against Alabama, the Bulldogs should be safe in earning a spot, even with a close loss.

The Crimson Tide (11-1) have at times completely dominated games while also looking very beatable. Not only did they suffer a loss to Texas A&M, but Alabama had close victories against Auburn (24-22), LSU (a six-point margin), and Arkansas (a seven-point victory). They have a Heisman candidate in Bryce Young and the offense has performed flawless at times but this is one of those rare seasons it's not a guarantee Alabama is in the playoffs.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has the Michigan Wolverines (11-1) poised to make the semifinals. The 2nd-ranked Wolverines throttled Ohio State last Saturday and their lone loss was a four-point defeat to Michigan State.

And the underdog of the bunch is the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats (12-0). The Group of Five upstart has delivered all season and have outscored opponents by an average of nearly 24 points per game.

A look at the schedule of conference championship games with playoff implications:

No. 9 Baylor vs No. 5 Oklahoma State (12/4, Noon ET)No. 1 Georgia vs No. 3 Alabama (12/4, 4:00 p.m. ET)No. 21 Houston vs No. 4 Cincinnati (12/4, 4:00 p.m. ET)No. 2 Michigan vs No. 13 Iowa (12/4, 8:00 p.m. ET)

College Football Playoff scenarios

A victory by Alabama, alongside victories by Michigan and Cincy, would likely mean the top-4 schools won't change, except for seedings.

However, a loss by the Crimson Tide is just one way the door could open for other teams, most notably the fifth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys and the sixth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Cowboys could help themselves with a victory in the Big 12 title game. Some out there believe they could jump Cincinnati, even if the Bearcats win.

Notre Dame is in a holding pattern, thanks both to not having another game and also for former head coach Brian Kelly jumping ship to LSU. The Fighting Irish have reportedly hired their next head coach in defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, so at least there would be some continuity there that the playoff committee would have to consider.

If Georgia wins and Michigan and Cincy lose along with Alabama, there could be a mad scramble to narrow down the other three teams. This especially could get interesting if Oklahoma State were to lose as well, perhaps opening the door for 7th-ranked Ohio State or 8th-ranked Ole Miss.

Personally, I don't see either of those teams sneaking in. Michigan should still be considered above the Buckeyes, given their head-to-head. Ole Miss likely wouldn't make that leap, either, with losses to Alabama and Auburn. 

In this scenario, a two-loss Alabama team would likely get the nod, along with a two-loss Michigan team.

And sorry Pac-12 fans, even if no. 10 Oregon defeats no. 17 Utah, I don't see the Ducks making that huge of a jump.

Predicted final four: (1) Georgia vs (4) Oklahoma State and (2) Michigan vs (3) Cincinnati

Placing the Bearcats as the third-seed is likely a pipe dream but if they defeat Houston on Saturday, they should definitely be in the final four. They have a victory over Notre Dame and have taken care of business as needed.

Notre Dame could sneak in if Oklahoma State loses. Given that the Irish have only given up 23 points over the last four games, they might finally have the defense to make some noise in the semifinals.

Given the implications in games this week, strap in for wild ride as an exciting weekend of games are about to take place.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos football: Climbing back, towards possible glory

 

It's been a bit of a roller coaster season for the Boise State Broncos under first-year head coach Andy Avalos but the team has righted the course as of late.

Discouraging and disappointing were words thrown around regarding the Boise State Broncos football team in the first-half of the 2021 season. Despite early season struggles, however, as the team preps to face 21st-ranked San Diego State, the Broncos (7-4, 5-2) have a chance to win the Mountain Division title in the Mountain West Conference.

Things will have to break their way, as even a Boise State victory alone doesn't earn them the crown. A loss by the Air Force Falcons (8-3, 5-2) is needed and, in this chaotic college football season, you can bet Bronco fans will be rooting for the UNLV Rebels (2-9, 2-5).

Air Force plays host to UNLV on Friday (11/26) at 3:30 pm ET on the CBS Sports Network.

First, however, Boise State needs to take care of business at San Diego State (10-1, 6-1) on Friday morning. Secure a victory, and they will have to sweat out the Air Force game. Which, considering that many wondered at one point this season if the Broncos would even have a winning record or be bowl eligible, is a pretty big thing.

Boise State Broncos: A season of peaks and valleys

Heading into their bye week after a 24-17 loss to Air Force on Oct. 16, things looked pretty grim. The Broncos were 3-4 and had suffered three straight home losses, something unheard of to Bronco fans under the age of 25. 

There was definitely a lot to be disappointed about when in fact there could have been more focus placed in regards to this team being much better than their record had indicated.

In those first seven games, there was only one game that could be considered bad. Yes, four losses were bad in, and of, themselves. Lapses in play, second-half struggles on offense, and difficult coaching decisions all played their part in those first games.

Three of those losses were by a combined 13 points, where a lack of offense, especially in the second-half of those games, shoulders much of the blame. 

The 41-31 loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack was a double-digit loss in which second-half woes bit the Broncos. Boise State looked very unworthy in this game despite holding a halftime lead.

A new staff under Avalos, one of the younger staffs in the conference as far as FBS experience goes, can also be assigned a fair share of the blame. Injuries have certainly played their part, too, as during this four-game winning streak Boise State has been decently healthy (at least in consistently having the same players on the field, that is).

There is plenty of talent up and down the roster, and seeing them come together during this win streak has been nice. Two road victories over ranked teams have been a highlight, both of teams you love to see Boise State defeat in BYU and Fresno St. A third can be added this week if the Broncos can defeat the Aztecs.

In some ways, it's hard not to think about what might have been with a little extra defense (or bad pass) in a 36-30 loss to UCF. Or to not daydream about some second-half offense in losses to Oklahoma State (21-20) or Air Force (24-17). The Broncos had every opportunity to at least be 10-1 heading into this final week, but those issues and health of certain players impacted so much.

That happens, and with improved play across the conference, it's often not as easy to make up ground when injuries and consistent play take a hit. As bad as it could have been, the Broncos have turned it around, thanks in large part to a relentless, hard-hitting defense.

Boise State defense bringing the boom

Talent was abound from day one for Boise State. Entering the season, there was some secondary depth that needed to be replaced, but overall they looked to be an excellent unit.

Battling attrition up front on the line in the season's early-going was the first hurdle. It was definitely noticed during the three home losses. Slowly, however, depth has again been reinforced, with players coming back from injury (or getting healthy for the first time in a year). 

The secondary has been hit hard, with the two starters from game one both out  or limited. 

Still, through it all, the defense has been a force for much of 2021, especially in the second-half of games.

In the UCF and Nevada games, Boise State allowed a combined 43 points after halftime. The other nine games? A grand total of 29, including three games with second-half shutouts. And 13 of those points were garbage time touchdowns from Fresno State and Wyoming.

These inspired efforts have helped Boise State, especially as it took until this four-game winning streak for the offense to provide consistency after halftime in games. It was often a bend-but-don't-break defense but one that was very opportune. This began in game one with a Tyric LeBeauf 101-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Broncos have forced 22 turnovers this season and have 23 sacks. A major factor in the turnover department has been safety JL Skinner. Skinner, who leads the team in tackles with 83, has also accounted for two interceptions, tied for the team lead, and three fumble recoveries.

Up front, the steady play from Scott Matlock and Isaiah Bagnah have factored into Boise State's success. The two are 1-2 in sacks and tackles-for-loss, combining for 13 sacks. They have also combined for 75 tackles and it's been nice watching them all over the field consistently making big plays.

Defense for the Broncos did a lot of the heavy lifting, especially when the offense was finding trouble with consistency.

A return of healthy ground game

The answer all along to success on offense was simple: establish the run.

A healthy George Holani has made all the difference.

Holani, who burst onto the scene has a true freshman in 2019, has battled injuries since. And while he saw sporadic action in the games the last two seasons, he is finally back in form in making solid cuts, powering through tacklers, and eating up yards.

He has three straight games of at least 100 yards, averaging at least six yards per carry in that span.

It has also helped that the offensive line finally found a combination that worked. After be hit with injuries and less-than-stellar play from the line, moving Jake Stetz to center solidified the unit. (Here's hoping Stetz is playing on Friday after suffering an injury late in the shutout victory over New Mexico.)

Of course, a huge reason for any success is because of the highlight reel that is Khalil Shakir. Shakir has often been a one-person show with 1043 receiving yards (on 71 catches, 123 rushing yards, and six touchdowns.

Octavius Evans and Stefan Cobbs have been decent options behind Shakir. Both have missed some time but have combined for 62 catches, 790 yards, and seven touchdowns.

The man under center, Hank Bachmeier, has had a solid and steady season. A little unspectacular but he has shown improvement, growing alongside his offensive line. He's thrown for almost 3000 yards and has 18 touchdowns against six interceptions. There can be times Bachmeier gets too dialed in on Shakir. While sometimes it's fine, other times the lack of spreading the ball around is detrimental to this team.

A near-perfect game is going to be needed from the Broncos on Friday. Sticking to the run while on offense, with some tempo and connecting on short passes while biding time for the big play, should be the plan. On a defense, not letting a not-so-good San Diego State Aztec offense come up with huge plays is a must. 

Naturally, as it often comes down to between these teams, special teams play will likely be the difference. And while the Aztecs are good, it could be sophomore kicker Jonah Dalmas (who should have been a Lou Groza Award finalist), who is the difference maker for Boise State. And it would only fitting in a season where he's tying or setting Boise State records, that a Dalmas field goal sends Boise State to win number eight on the season.

Kickoff is set for noon on 11/27 on CBS.

image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Quarterbacks from 1st-round 2018 NFL draft: Hitting a rough patch

 

The 2018 NFL draft had five quarterbacks chosen in the 1st-round. Time to look in on how they're doing through week 9 of season four.

The hot start the quarterback class from the 1st-round of the 2018 NFL draft had in the first four weeks of 2021 has gone off the rails the last five weeks.

Two of them managed to lead their teams to wins in week 9, but the last five weeks have been highlighted by bad play, injuries, miscues, and surprise losses. Yes, there were big wins and solid play, too, but as a collective whole, struggles were the story.

Over in Buffalo, Josh Allen and the Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in week 5. This was a statement win for this team. And while a tough loss on the road to Tennessee can be explained, it's hard to do the same for a 9-6 loss last week to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Allen isn't the only one prone to these surprises. The Bengals dismantled Lamar Jackson and the Ravens one week. So, what do Baker Mayfield and the Browns do? They go ahead and beat Cincinnati by almost the exact same score the Bengals beat the Ravens by.

No one expects (all) these quarterbacks to perform at the exact same level each and every week. It is a team sport and so much relies on other aspects of the game for success. Huge stats can sometimes mean a loss. Pedestrian stats can often equal a win. 

In the end, it's about leading their respective teams to the next level. In season four of their careers, some are still definitely on that path. There may have been hiccups and pot holes, but the second-half of the season gives them time to right the ship.

For others in this first-round quarterback class, however, their time as starters may officially be on the fast track to ending.

Josh Allen

Allen continues to put very nice numbers, though one of the pitfalls for Buffalo is scoring touchdowns, especially when hitting the red zone. It was a struggle in a week 1 loss to Pittsburgh and it has been an issue in victories and defeats since.

The Bills have managed only 32 points the last two games. Backed by a strong defense, this shouldn't be much of an issue. Considering in those same games Buffalo has only allowed 20.

This team has too much talent on the offensive side of the ball to be only putting up six points game. When they are clicking, the Bills and Allen are a joy to watch. Allen threw a combined 668 yards, six touchdowns, and ran for 85 yards in the games against the Chief and Titans.

There has been a slight drop-off coming off the bye week. Allen has still thrown for 513 yards but only two touchdowns. Worse yet, the turnover bug returned against the Jaguars, with Allen throwing two picks and losing one fumble.

Allen is at a 65.5 completion percentage rate and has thrown for 2236 yards. He has 17 touchdown passes against only five interceptions while only being sacked 12 times.

There's a lot more here to indicate the Jacksonville game can be written off as a bad game. The Bills, at 5-3, hold a slim first-place lead over the Patriots. If they get back in sync on offense, a 4-0 stretch on the horizon is a strong possibility.

Next four weeks: @NYJ (11/14), vs IND (11/21), @NO (11/25), vs NE (12/6)

Lamar Jackson

Jackson has been the most consistent of the bunch the last five weeks. He had the added advantage of a bye week and four-straight home games. Still, the Baltimore Ravens went 3-1 and are 6-2 on the season, good for first-place in the AFC North.

The Ravens averaged 33 points per game in victories during this recent stretch. The anomaly was a 41-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in which Jackson was only 15-31 (though he did through for 257 yards).

Jackson began the recent stretch off with a bang, throwing for 442 yards in a 31-25 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. He was 37-43 that game and threw four touchdowns, playing quite possibly the best game of his young career.

It can even be said he's playing at a much higher level and doing more for the Ravens than he did during his . During his NFL career, Jackson has always been a top-runner. Now he's doing even more as the Ravens are getting by at the running back position with a collection of solid, if not past-their-prime, running back unit. 

Jackson has 600 yards on the ground on 6.2 yards per carry.

Jackson has also thrown for 2209 yards and is completing 65 percent while tossing 13 touchdowns.

Three of the next four games for Baltimore take place on the road. Two divisional matchups are also on the agenda. If Jackson keeps the Ravens on track, with his arms and his legs, this team could very well be 10-2 entering the final phase of the season.

Next four weeks: @MIA (11/11), @CHI (11/21), vs CLE (11/28), @PIT (12/5)

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield has been battling a shoulder injury as the Cleveland Browns went 2-3 in the last five games. One of those wins was with Mayfield not playing but at 5-4, Cleveland is still very much in the thick of a competitive AFC North.

The team is in a bit of disarray, too. Odell Beckham Jr. and the team reached an agreement for his release. Mayfield actually seems to play better without Beckham in the lineup so this could possibly help Cleveland in the long run.

The running backs have been hampered with injuries. Now a case of positive COVID-19 cases, Nick Chubb among them, is hampering the team's strength. Chubb could possibly be back by Sunday's game, but if not, the team could squarely be on Mayfield's back.

Mayfield hasn't been horrible in the recent stretch, despite the team going 1-3 in his last four starts. Two of those losses were by five points and he's only thrown one interception since week 4.

Overall, he's completing 66.7 percent with 1917 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sacks have been an issue, with Mayfield getting downed 24 times.

A stretch of at least 2-1 in the next few weeks should have the Browns sitting in good position still. A lot of that depends on Mayfield. He's likely headed for offseason surgery on the shoulder. Troubles have been abound but if Mayfield can keep the team moving forward and continue to be accurate, life around the Browns will be just fine.

Next four weeks: @NE (11/14), vs DET (11/21), @BAL (11/28), BYE

Sam Darnold

The "Sam Darnold Experience" has come full circle in the season's first nine weeks.

After looking rejuvenated and putting up the best numbers of his career in the season's first four games, Darnold regressed and became the quarterback he was during his first three seasons.

Bad throws. Bad reads. And he's been nicked up, with a shoulder injury suffered in Carolina's loss to New England that will keep Darnold out at least the next 4-6 weeks.

A promising 3-0 start has turned ugly, with the Panthers losing five of their last six. Darnold has only crossed the 200-yard barrier once in his last five games, with 207 in an overtime loss to Minnesota in week 6. He also only threw for two touchdowns in this span, none in the last three, with a total of eight interceptions.

Darnold has been sacked 22 times this season. He's completing 59.5 percent of his passes with 1986 yards, seven touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Uneven play in 2021 is putting it mildly for Darnold. This was likely going to be a make-or-break season for Darnold has a starter going forward. While his first four games were a breath of fresh air, the last five may have cemented his status. Concerning, too, is a history of injuries and bad luck. Bouncing back could still be a factor but the larger question remains if it will be in Carolina or not.

Next four weeks: @ARI (11/14), vs WFT (11/21), @MIA 11/28), BYE

Josh Rosen

The odd man out of this group continues to be Josh Rosen. Atlanta has been more competitive as of late, winning three of their last four games to improve to 4-4 on the season. And while Rosen got some mop-up duty early in the season for the Falcons, he has not thrown a pass since as he remains the backup to Matt Ryan.

Next four weeks: @DAL (11/14), vs NE (11/18), @JAX (11/28), vs TB (12/5)

Check back in on these quarterbacks' progress following the week 13 set of games.

Season 4 preview

Season 4 through week four

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Dominant Derrick Henry continues remarkable run

 

Running backs seem to be an interchangeable lot for much of the NFL these days. Don't tell that to workhorse Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans.

NFL fans are in the midst of witnessing a special standard being set by Derrick Henry. One that will hopefully keep Henry running years into the future and the NFL record books.

Not too shabby for a player drafted in the second-round (45th-pick) in the 2016 NFL draft.

True, running backs have been viewed differently in recent years. While still very valuable and integral to an offense, the way players in this position are used can lead to limited carries and opportunities for lead running backs.

This is not entirely a bad thing, as longer careers and hopefully healthier players are a result.

Henry is a breed of running back straight out of the past, bruising his way to highlights and yards. He was exactly this back in 2016, coming off a Heisman-winning campaign in 2015 where as a junior at Alabama he ran for 2215 yards. Henry had 28 rushing touchdowns and added 11 in the passing game.

Despite those numbers, NFL teams shied away from running backs in those early rounds. Prior to Henry's selection by the Titans, the only other running back selected was Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott was drafted fourth by the Dallas Cowboys.

Things began slowly in Henry's career, but he's definitely proving as of late to be a once-in-a-generation talent.

Derrick Henry: A meteoric rise

Those first two seasons, Henry split time with Demarco Murray, playing in a total of 31 games. He did have four starts and finished that two-season run with a grand total of 1434 yards and 10 touchdowns.

As a rookie, Henry's highest single game output was 65 yards. He didn't even record his first 100-yard game until game six of 2017, a 131-yard effort against Indianapolis.

Since the close of 2017, all that Henry has done is rack up numbers. Five times the powerful back has reached 200 rushing yards in a game or more. Two of these games have come against the Houston Texans. Once was in 2019, where Henry had 211 yards and three touchdowns. He went and upped the ante in 2020, dropping 250 yards on 7.4 yards per attempt (with two touchdowns to boot).

In 2018, Henry became the man in the backfield, but it wasn't until 2019 that he really got going. He was a consistent performer but had only 100-yard game in the season's first nine games. Closing out '19, however, Henry was held to under 100 yards only once.

In his career, in addition to the 200-yard games, Henry has hit between 100 and 199 yards a total of 19 times.

Last season, Henry finished with 2027 yards on the ground, placing him fifth on the single season list. He had 17 touchdowns on the ground and averaged 5.4 yards per attempt.

As good as Henry was last year, and as valuable he is to the Tennessee Titans, 2021 is gearing up to be even better.

Derrick Henry in 2021

Five games into this season, Henry is again going to work, with 640 yards to his credit. He's on pace to become the first running back with three-straight seasons with at least 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns. Doing so might even rightfully deliver the MVP award to Henry.

Henry is outracing his competitors as Nick Chubb, who is having a fine season himself, is second in the league in rushing and a 117 yards behind.

By himself, Henry has more rushing yards than 24 teams and has the same total as Arizona.

With the added 17th-game this season, there's a decent chance Henry can set the single-season rushing record. If he kept up at his current pace, Henry would finish with 2176. This would beat the record Eric Dickerson set in 1984 by 71 yards.

At 6500 career-rushing yards, Henry is already 77th on the all-time list. He could very well be within the top-60 by the end of the season.

Henry has been something to behold as he runs around and through opponents. A perfect combination of speed, strength, and vision has helped Henry become the best running back in the game. Watching him play, it's evident Henry gets better quarter-by-quarter and game-by-game. One day, as long as health and desire hold, Henry will be one of the greatest to ever grace this game.

image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The NFL 2018 1st-round quarterback class: Sam Darnold has entered the chat

 

Five quarterbacks were chosen in the 1st-round of the 2018 NFL draft. Time to check in on their progress after week four, year four.

Three seasons in, Sam Darnold's NFL career had been a circus of highs and lows, illness and injury, and a very disappointing 2020 season.

A victory to begin his career. A promising close to Darnold's second season followed by a disastrous third had many wondering if he was going to fall hard. A trio of quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft were threatening to leave Darnold behind.

It's early yet in 2021, but Darnold is working his way back.

A change of scenery and a new offense has done wonders for Darnold.  He and the Carolina Panthers have started the season 3-1, surprising a few folks in the process.

Darnold has started this season with some of the best numbers of his career. A season after only crossing the 200-yard mark four times (out of 12 games), Darnold has done that in every game so far. To top it off, he has passed for 300 or more yards three times this season. Darnold hadn't reached that since week 12 of the 2019 season, where he threw for 315 against the team formerly known as the Oakland Raiders. 

In 2021, Darnold has thrown for 1189 yards, completing 67.8 percent of his passes with five touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has been sacked 11 times this season.

Getting it done on the ground has been a positive for Darnold, too, at least in the red zone. He has 52 rushing yards but has scored five times (tops in the NFL, if you're scoring at home).

Helping out Darnold are two receivers in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson. Star running back Christian McCaffrey has been out most of the last two games but his talent makes any quarterback look better. And Darnold has benefited from a competent coach behind him.

Next 5 weeks: vs PHI (10/10), vs MIN (10/17), @NYG (10/24), @ATL (10/31), vs NE (11/7)

Darnold is not the only quarterback from this class leading his team to a fast start. Three of the other quarterbacks are a combined 9-3.

Josh Allen

Josh Allen stalled out of the gates in 2021, looking more like he did early in his career and not the near-MVP of 2020. Sure, he was playing a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense but he threw the ball 51 times, completing only 30. Allen and the Bills were ineffective in the red zone as Buffalo lost 23-16. 

Since then, the ship has been righted.

Buffalo is averaging 39.3 points per game and the defense has two shutouts, effectively only allowing 7 points on average the last three games as the Bills improved to 3-1.

Allen, too, has since found his touch. He was just under 50 percent in week 2 but has returned to form in weeks three and four. Allen has thrown for over 600 yards and six touchdowns the last two games, bringing his total to nine this season.

Overall, Allen has 1055 passing yards, completing 63.1 percent. He's added 129 yards on the ground but has only found the end zone once.

Fumbling has also returned to his bag of tricks, though he's only lost one this season. Protection has been good for Allen. After getting sacked three times against the Steelers, he's only been sacked twice since.

Allen will get an early-season test in week five's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. He will be looking for his first win against the Chiefs, something one of his fellow draft mates finally did this season.

Next 5 weeks: @KC (10/10), @TEN (10/18), Bye, vs MIA (10/31), @JAX (11/7)

Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson finally got the Patrick Mahomes monkey off their back. It wasn't pretty and not quite a classic, but the Ravens won a back-and-forth affair in week two, defeating the Chiefs 36-35.

A week one overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders has been Baltimore's only blemish in the loss column so far this season.

Jackson has shouldered the load and has been passing more as the Ravens try to deal with an unsettled running back situation. Only once this season has Jackson attempted less than 30 passes and that was in a 18-26 performance against the Chiefs. Two of those eight incompletions were interceptions but he did more than enough to help propel the Ravens to victory.

Jackson passed for 239 yards that game and ran for 107, accounting for three total touchdowns.

On the season, Jackson has 1077 passing yards in completing 60.5 percent. Jackson had his first 300-yard game since week 1 of 2019, throwing for 316 yards in last week's 23-7 win over Denver. Jackson is also the team's leading-rushing with 279 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Jackson and the Ravens are blessed with playing their next four games at home, meaning they could very well be 7-1 when we check back in later this season.

Next 5 weeks: vs IND (10/11), vs LAC (10/17), vs CIN (10/24), Bye, vs MIN (11/7)

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield has the Cleveland Browns off to a 3-1 start, winning three-straight after a narrow week one loss to Kansas City, 33-29.

Mayfield has had some uneven performances as the Browns rely on Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the ground game. Chubb and Hunt have combined 596 rushing yards.

Mayfield began the season locked in, completing 40 of 49 with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Though wide receiver Jarvis Landry is currently out with an injury, Odell Beckham Jr. did return to the lineup. Mayfield has struggled in those two games, going 34-64, though he hasn't tossed a pick. (A strong defense is also completing the Browns offensive attack, allowing only 13 points the last two weeks.)

Part of the issue is that Mayfield has been under pressure, getting sacked 12 times this season. And, it's also being reported he's been playing with a partially torn labrum since week 2.

Overall, the fourth-year quarterback has thrown for 935 yards and is still completing 65.5 percent. With a strong running game, Mayfield has only thrown two touchdown passes and also run one in on the ground.

A tough stretch awaits the Browns so Mayfield will need to play closer to the way he did the first two weeks of the season than the latter. 

Next 5 weeks: @LAC (10/10), vs ARI (10/17), vs DEN (10/21), vs PIT (10/31), @CIN (11/7)

Josh Rosen

Josh Rosen remains the backup quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, who are off to a 1-3 start. Rosen did see some action in a 48-25 loss to Tampa Bay, attempting two passes with zero completions.

Next 5 weeks: vs NYJ (10/10), Bye, @MIA (10/24), vs CAR (10/31), @NO (11/7)

Be sure to follow along with this series, with the next update coming after the week nine slate of games.  

photo credit: flickr

1st-round quarterbacks: Season 4 preview

The 1st-round quarterback class from 2018: Year 4 Super Bowl dreams

 

Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Entering year four, three have risen above the rest in the quest for glory.

NFL draft classes are often lumped together when one looks back at history. Specifically, quarterbacks from certain classes are given much more scrutiny, drawing comparisons throughout their careers (and beyond).

Six quarterbacks from 1983 were taken in the first round, highlighted by Hall of Fame selections John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino. These three vaulted to the top of their class and, in some cases, left Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason, and Ken O'Brien as mere afterthoughts.

In 2004, a stellar trio made a name for themselves and two became Super Bowl champions. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger will be one day inducted into the Hall, as should Philip Rivers. And what about the other quarterback taken in the first round that year? Well, J.P. Losman never truly ascended to greatness but he did grab a few highlights along the way.

The 2021 NFL draft found five quarterbacks being selected in the first round. And while they are just beginning their NFL journeys, the last class to have five quarterbacks selected in the first round is beginning to make the world take notice. 

As the five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft enter their fourth season, three have pulled away from the pack. Each has designs on leading their respective team to a Super Bowl title with the next few seasons.

One need look no further than the 2020 season to believe that.

In the playoffs after last year's regular season, two of these quarterbacks picked up their first playoff wins.  Lamar Jackson finally notched win no. 1 after failed chances in his first two seasons. And Baker Mayfield not only delivered the Cleveland Browns their first playoff berth since 2002, but also led the Browns to their first playoff win since 1995.

It was Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, however, who came closest to that Super Bowl berth.  Allen led the Bills to the AFC title game, where Buffalo lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-24.

In 2021, Allen will be setting out to prove his 2020 near-MVP season was no fluke. Mayfield will be doing the same, while Jackson will be climbing back towards his 2019 MVP campaign. And Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen hope better things are on the horizon as they suit up for new teams.

Josh Allen

To think that it's Allen who has come the closest to the Super Bowl might be a little unbelievable. But from the beginning, ownership and coaching have shown faith in the quarterback. They've surrounded Allen with plenty of talent on offense and built a sturdy defense to boot, which resulted in a 13-3 record in 2020. 

With Allen at the helm, the Buffalo Bills should own the AFC East and hold a constant playoff presence for years to come. Including this upcoming 2021 season in which most of the key players from last season return.

Allen had his best year as a pro, throwing for 4544 yards. He did so while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, throwing for 37 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.  Allen also ran the ball less for the third straight year, in turn saving wear and tear on his body, rushing for 421 yards and eight touchdowns.

Each season has brought improvement over the last, and 2021 should be no different. He is 28-15 as a starter and holds a 2-2 record in the playoffs. Allen is nearing the 10,000 yard mark in career passing yards with 9707 and has thrown 67 touchdowns against 31 interceptions.

Barring any major injury, Allen and the Bills should be kings of the AFC East again. And with another year under his belt, that berth in the Super Bowl could very well be in the cards.

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield capped off his best pro season with the Browns' playoff win, before they came up just short in falling to the Chiefs 22-17 in the AFC Divisional round. Still, there's a lot to build on for Cleveland going forward, much of it thanks to Mayfield.

Mixed results had taken place in his first two seasons and there was some talk of Mayfield not being the quarterback of the future in Cleveland. In 2020, he settled in and played up to his potential. Some of his offensive numbers were down compared to previous seasons, but for Mayfield, the results were much better.

Mayfield went 11-5 in 2020, throwing for 3563 yards and completing 62.8 percent of his passes. He tossed 26 touchdowns and most impressive was the low number of interceptions, eight, he threw.

A strong and healthy running game certainly helped. Much like Buffalo, the Browns also return many of their key weapons on offense. The AFC North will continue to be competitive so the playoffs are no guarantee but Mayfield and Browns are poised for more success in 2021.

Overall, Mayfield is 23-22 as a starter (the most starts among these five quarterbacks from the 2018 first-round). He also has the most passing yards and touchdowns, with 11,115 and 75, respectively. (His 43 interceptions also lead the pack).

Lamar Jackson

Jackson had his ups-and-downs as the Baltimore Ravens went 11-4 when he was a starter in 2020. He was banged up a bit more, was slightly more inconsistent, yet all told the numbers were close to his 2019 campaign.

Baltimore simply wasn't blowing teams out like they did that season, which led many to believe they'd taken a big step backwards.

Except Jackson finally snagged that first playoff win, a 20-13 victory over Tennessee, though the offense was largely non-existent in the Ravens 17-3 playoff loss to Buffalo. 

Jackson hit the 1000-yard mark as a rusher again, finishing with 1005. He threw 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions, finishing with 2757 yards and a 64.4 completion percentage.

The concern is availability, of course, as he continues to be a spectacular "running" quarterback. And a subpar playoff record of 1-3 isn't helping. Jackson is only a 55 percent passer in these four games with three touchdowns and five interceptions, though he is averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Still, Jackson is 30-7 as a starter with 68 career touchdown passes. He has also averaged six yards per carry in his carry, with 19 touchdowns and 2906 yards on the ground.

Jackson and Baltimore should very much be in contention for the playoffs once again. A lot of that depends on Jackson and, if he's healthy and accurate, the Ravens could finally make the jump to serious contender. 

Sam Darnold

A change of scenery might be what's best for Darnold as he enters his fourth season.

The New York Jets moved on from the "face of the future" when they traded Darnold to the Carolina Panthers four weeks prior to the 2021 draft. And while the Jets will now be starting over with rookie Zach Wilson as their future, the Panthers get to see if Darnold can lift them back to glory.

It won't be easy with Tom Brady looming over the NFC South but if Darnold can play a full season and have his abilities shine through, Carolina could be in the playoff discussion.

For the first time, he'll have some star power to help carry the load. A stellar running back in Christian McCaffrey is a plus, as are two outstanding receivers in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.

There was a lot of hope for Darnold after he went 7-6 as a starter in 2019. But the health bug caught him again in 2020 and Darnold went 2-10. There were more interceptions than touchdowns (11 to 9) and Darnold managed to average less than 200 yards passing per start.

He's 13-25 in his career as a starter, with 8097 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions. Darnold hasn't quite had the receiving corps like he has in Carolina. If he can't find at least a modicum of success this season, Darnold could very well be on his way to lackluster career and just another 1st-round quarterback who couldn't quite find magic in the NFL.

Josh Rosen

Rosen, in many ways, has become the outlier of this group. To start 2021, he will be suiting up for his fifth team and possibly gearing up for a redemption arc. Or be looking at his final chance.

But first, he will be settling in with the Atlanta Falcons.

After spending most of last season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, Rosen found himself closing out the year with the San Francisco 49ers. And while he was welcomed back to camp this summer, the 49ers cut Rosen after the first preseason game.

Then the Atlanta Falcons came calling after their projected backup to Matt Ryan, A.J. McCarron, was injured.

It appears Rosen, who has not thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2019, will be the backup to Ryan heading into the season. For a player who has bounced around the league in such a short time, there should be a lot of gratitude for his chances.

Rosen is 3-13 as a starter, overall completing 54.8 percent of his passes for 2845 yards. He's thrown 12 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. He's looked awful at times, tempered with brilliance. While Rosen may have been given up on early in Arizona, he hasn't done a whole lot yet to show that he deserved more.
Perhaps Atlanta will offer that opportunity.

Be sure to follow along in charting the progress in year four of these five quarterbacks, with updates after week 4, 9, 13, and 18.

5 quarterbacks series, 2018

5 quarterbacks series, 2019

5 quarterbacks series, 2020

photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

USWNT: Last stand for a generation of stars

 

The USWNT moved one step closer to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in what could be the last go-around on a big stage for many key players.

They've been at the core of the United States Women's National Team for over a decade now. Names like Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe have helped the United States to two World Cup championships and a runner-up finish.

Some were there in 2012, when the USWNT last won the gold medal in the Olympics. Even more were there in the stunning quarterfinal loss to Sweden in the 2016 Rio Games.

And now, they have advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Games (here in 2021) after a riveting quarterfinal victory over Netherlands.

In a quarterfinal match that alternated between domination and frustration, the USWNT looked at times brilliant and other times utterly lost. Despite the hiccups and often times worrisome action in the defensive third, the United States managed to pull off the victory over the talented Netherlands squad.

The game pitted the two squads that met up in the 2019 World Cup final and it was worth every second. Paced by the youth of Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams, along with the play of Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz, team USA held a 2-1 halftime lead.

Williams shined in a rare start and had a foot in both goals. She set up Mewis with the first goal and scored herself minutes later.

Team USA controlled much of the action early, with the only blemish a breakdown in the 18th-minute that allowed Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema to find space and the back of the net.

Miedema again created space and tied things up in the 54th-minute. Her 10th goal of the tournament was nearly perfectly placed, deflecting off the hands of diving USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Naeher more than atoned for this goal, saving a penalty kick by Netherlands Lieke Martens in the 81st-minute. Then, after the scored remained tied at two through extra time, Naeher had two huge saves in the penalty shootout.

The USWNT connected on all four of their shootout chances, with Rapinoe sealing the deal to send the United States to the semis with a 4-2 penalty victory.

Rapinoe, Christen Press, and Alex Morgan, all subs in the second-half, struggled at times with timing and passing.  (Though they did help contribute to team USA's disallowed goal total, bringing it to nine in the Olympics.)

The next few years will be interesting to see how this team changes. Nothing is set in stone but the Tokyo Olympics could be the last world tournament that sees some of these players on the team.

USWMNT: Changing of the guard

The will take place in Australia and New Zealand. Many players on this current roster, if selected, would be attending their fourth World Cup that summer.

Lloyd is among them and already has a blazing 310 national appearances with the team. Lloyd is playing in her fourth Olympics and would be 41 in the next World Cup. 

Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn would both be 38.

Eyes towards a fourth World Cup appearance could also be on the agenda for Kelly O'Hara, Morgan, Press, and Heath, who are among players that would be between 34 and 36 years old when the 2023 tournament rolls around.

Now, this isn't to say any of these players shouldn't be on the team. All are still contributing at an elite level, though at times it has been shaky for some of them in these Olympics. Keep in mind, before losing to Sweden to kick off group play in Tokyo, the USWNT had a 44-match unbeaten streak.

There's a great veteran group behind this group of stars we've grown to love over the years. Ertz, Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Lindsey Horan, and Kristie Mewis would among the players who formed the backbone of future national teams.

Lloyd has previously stated she will be retiring following the Olympics. There's a good chance Rapinoe and Sauerbrunn will do the same.

As for the others? I can see them be selected for one more journey to achieve greatness. It might be in lesser roles for some but often times leadership on the bench is just as important. Injuries and decisions to simply move on could also factor in.

For now, a semifinal match with Canada awaits on 8/1 (4 a.m. ET). And if it indeed is the last go-around with this collective of players, let's hope it ends with a gold medal around their necks.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Deep route: A look at the best quarterbacks of the silver screen

 

Sports films have long been a staple of the silver screen. Football has often dominated this landscape, with focus often geared towards a star quarterback.

"...I don't want your life." - Jonathan 'Mox' Moxon (James Van Der Beek), Varsity Blues.

The uttering of those words told off overbearing parents who vicariously lived out their lives through their kids, reverberating in the sports world and beyond.

"Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever." - Shane "Footsteps" Falco (Keanu Reeves), The Replacements.

Inspirational speeches are the foundation of sports films, whether it a high school comedy or a film centered on the NFL, like the one above. 

The fabled football film will soon be again gracing the screen with American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story. And this film, based on the Super Bowl-winning, MVP-having Kurt Warner, will likely have its fair share of inspiration when released in December. 

This film gives us Zachary Levi as Warner, whose rise from stock boy to MVP is part of NFL lore. Now, the legacy will be forever etched in history via cinema. 

That being said, I figured now was as good a time as any to look at some of the finest, and maybe not so finest, performances as quarterbacks on the silver screen. Television quarterbacks are equally important but left out in this instance as Friday Night Lights could provide a nice dissertation all on its own. Between state champions Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) and Vince Howard (Michael B. Jordan), stellar but tragically injured Jason Street (Scott Porter), enigmatic Ray "Voodoo" Tatum (Aldis Hodge), and Peter Pan - er, I mean J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter), there were plenty of good quarterbacks to go around.

Former athletes and the not-so-athletic have portrayed the position of quarterback on film, making the action much more believable. Even when the performer might have been less-than-stellar, editing, camera shots, and more made the action entertaining. Something Robbie Amell could have used in The Duff. Instead, Amell will live on in the foreseeable future in GIF and meme form. 

Some of these films, much like Warner's story, were taken from real life events and/or based on real players. Others deftly mix drama, action, and comedy into fine fiction and, like Any Given Sunday, helped pave the way how broadcasts of NFL games are filmed today. All, in some form, bring at least moments of fun, whether intended or not.

This is not an exhaustive list nor is it a list of the all-time best football films. In some cases, football might even be a secondary focus or more about the team rather than the quarterback. Like real action on the field, the quarterback plays a central role, often taking center stage, whether we like it or not.

Football on the silver screen: The high school years

The journey begins in high school, with Varsity Blues and Mox, a backup quarterback who never really expected to play. Not when the worthy Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) has been leading the team for years. Plus, Mox is a guy who simply wants to get out of Texas, spending his time on the field by drawing up trick plays and throwing errant passes at opposing teams' mascots.

A season-ending injury to Harbor thrusts Mox into the spotlight as he attempts to navigate newfound fame and being true to his former self. 

Mox wants to get away from Texas, where worship involves God, football, and guns (and not necessarily in that order). The fanaticism of high school football is the basis of Buzz Bissinger's book Friday Night Lights, where it was turned into a film before becoming a critically-acclaimed television series. 

The movie, too, had plenty of drama and solid football action, with Lucas Black playing the tortured soul of quarterback Mike Winchell. 

The pressures we see placed upon the shoulders of quarterbacks is evident in Johnny Be Good, starring Anthony Michael Hall as star quarterback Johnny Walker. Given Hall's earlier roles in The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, it was somewhat difficult to witness his turn as star athlete. Muscle mass helped and proved worthy of a solid silver screen quarterback.

Remember the Titans takes the based on a true story route and is focused more on team building and race relations. Still, a quarterback controversy does occur when Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass (Kip Pardue) joins the team. Bass, however, only takes over when Jerry "Rev" Harris (Craig Kirkwood) is injured.

Football, too, takes a back seat in School Ties. Though it's the initial jumping off point when David Greene (Brendan Fraser) is offered a scholarship based off his football skills to a prestigious prep school. However, the film is centered more on anti-Semitism and how it affects the teenagers in the film.

Star turns at quarterback begin even earlier, such as Devon Sawa as Junior in Little Giants. The O'Shea Brothers fought over the talented right arm over Sawa, though we all know Becky "Ice Box" O'Shea (Shawna Waldron) was the real talent on the field.

Football on the silver screen: The college years

Two quarterbacks standout as we enter the college years. Views vary on the quality of these two films, but both provide entertainment value nonetheless.

In some ways, these two films can be seen as a before-and-after. The before is 1993's The Program, which very much reminded me of the Florida State teams of the early-90s and Miami Hurricane teams of the late 80s. No doubt violations mounted for the fictional Eastern State University team, given all they went through during the course of the movie, including for Heisman candidate Joe Kane (Craig Sheffer). Kane is haunted by off-the-field issues, including an alcohol problem, that thwarts his Heisman campaign. But when he does play, he shines.

We get to see what might have happened if the Eastern State football team was placed on probation and had all their scholarships stripped in Necessary Roughness. These movies aren't connected but it could easily be a sequel, albeit one with two very different tones.

The Texas State Fightin' Armadillos are in need of a quarterback so who better to do that then washed-up and over-the-hill, but still with college eligibility, 30-year old freshman Paul Blake (Scott Bakula). 

Blake might not be the best of fictional quarterbacks but boy could he throw a football at scarecrows. 

Football on the silver screen: The professionalsPerformances in regards to high school and college quarterbacks can be somewhat forgiven. When it comes to the pro-level, we expect to see some believable pro-style action.

Reeves as Falco in The Replacements lends itself to credibility because he is supposed to be rusty. Plus, he's one of the few left-handed quarterbacks we see, so automatic points are given there.

Any Given Sunday lends us two quarterbacks, the aging Jack "Cap" Rooney (Dennis Quaid) and the young upstart "Steamin" Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx). Contradicting styles are brought to the forefront but both men display their athleticism on film.

Athleticism is not a problem for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Joe Kingman in The Game Plan. Coming from a football background helps, unless you can't forgive the fact that Johnson played defensive line in college. 

Now, Warren Beatty as quarterback can be hard to get behind. But the man can do everything and did so as Joe Pendleton in Heaven Can Wait (which has a plot line that I believe is basically Warner's life. So maybe it was a predictor of the future). 

And finally, there are two of the many versions of The Longest Yard. While not focused on a professional league, unless you count the penal league, the films do center around football. Paul Crewe (as played by Burt Reynolds first, then Adam Sandler in the remake) is a former professional player and both men who played him do enjoy their sports. Reynolds even played college football at Florida State before injuries derailed his career. 

Honorable mentions: Frank Cushman (Jerry O'Connell) in Jerry Maguire. Seth Maxwell (Mac Davis) in North Dallas Forty. 

These are among a handful of performers who have portrayed quarterbacks on the silver screen and did so with aplomb. What were some of your favorites? Was there a performer (or performers) left off this list that you enjoyed? Feel free to sound off in the comments. 

And may your feet be swift, your bats be mighty and... wait. Wrong sport, but you know the rest. 

photo credit: Flickr

Euro 2020: Semifinals set to sizzle after exciting quarterfinals

 

The final four countries have advanced in Euro 2020, with the semifinals slated to begin on July 5.

FIFA's top-ranked team Belgium has been shown the exit by an upstart team from Italy. It is the mighty Three Lions of England, however, that proved to be the most impressive lot in the quarterfinal round of Euro 2020. 

Through their first four matches, England had proven to be a team that lacked prowess in the final third of the attack. Scoring only four goals through the quarterfinals, the English had relied on a solid defense and the excellent play of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. 

Pickford and his teammates had delivered four clean sheets in Euro 2020 play and added a fifth against Ukraine in the quarterfinals.

An additional bonus was finally the arrival of the England scoring attack. 

Harry Kane, much derided for lackluster play in the Group Stage, scored his second goal of the Knockout Stage, with a stylish shot in the 4th-minute. England kept the pressure on for much of the first-half but some timely saves and deflections by Ukraine kept the score 1-0.

The second-half was a different story as England sealed the game with three goals in the first 15 minutes. 

Harry Maguire scored off a set piece the half's opening minute and four minutes later Kane added his second goal of the game. Scoring was finished off with Jordan Henderson scoring his first goal for England, securing a 4-0 victory.

Earlier in the day, Denmark used first-half goals by Thomas Delaney and Kasper Dolberg to take a 2-0 lead over the Czech Republic. Patrick Schick scored for the Czech side early in the second-half to bring the score to within one.

Despite winning the possession battle and and taking 17 shots (five on goal), the Czech Republic couldn't find the equalizer and Denmark advanced with a 2-1 victory.

England and Denmark will square off on Wednesday July 7 at Wembley Stadium, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. (ET).

Euro 2020: Italy, Spain advance to semifinals

On the first day of quarterfinal action, fans were treated to heartbreak and exhilaration in two highly contested matches.

Switzerland nearly pulled off another upset, taking Spain to the brink, only losing when their penalty kick magic from the victory over France was not repeated.

The Swiss fell behind early after an unlucky own goal in the game's 8th-minute. But they continuously battled and Xherdan Shaqiri found the equalizer in the 68th-minute.

Nine minutes later, Switzerland's Remo Freuler was sent off in a very debatable red card, leaving the Swiss a man down. Still, they battled through the end of regulation and extra time, keeping the game knotted at one.

Poor kicks and timely saves by Spain did the Swiss in during the penalty kicks portion, losing 3-1.

In the other match, Italy raced out to a 2-0 lead over a somewhat depleted Belgium squad. Eden Hazard missed the match and while Kevin De Bruyne played the entire match, but was injured and a step slow at times.

Belgium was able to make the score 2-1 on a penalty kick stoppage time goal by Romelu Lukaku just before halftime. Italy was able to hold strong, despite some spirited attempts by the Belgium side, for a 2-1 victory.

Spain and Italy will square off on Tuesday July 6 from Wembley Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET)

Euro 2020: Semifinal predictions

After a disappointing 3-5 record on Round of 16 predictions, I made up for it with a perfect quarterfinal round. It's much easier to do with only four games to choose from, but I was inches away from possibly being 1-3 instead of 4-0.

That being said, some interesting matchups here in this semifinal. Spain can't seem to settle on whether they want to be dominant or be a team that sweats things out. Italy has played well, of course, in winning all five matches but they have a young team and will be without standout left-back Leonardo Spinazzola, who tore his Achilles tendon towards the end of the Belgium game. 

England and Denmark is even a tougher choice. England will be on their home turf but Denmark seems they may be a team of destiny.

Predictions: Italy over Spain and England over Denmark

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Euro 2020: Title up for grabs as quarterfinals approach

 

Euro 2020 marches on, with the quarterfinal matchups set after a thrilling last couple of days in round of 16 action.

There will be no repeat champion in Euro 2020 and, thanks to a few more surprises, the field has truly opened up.

Netherlands made another early exit, once again failing to win on the big stage. The defending champion Portugal saw their dreams of back-to-back titles ended. Germany, too, will be watching from home the rest of the way. And the biggest departure belongs to winner and Euro 2016 runner-up France, who fell to Switzerland on June 28.

The Swiss were down 3-1 thanks to a flurry of goals by France, coming after a penalty kick save by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris that could have put Switzerland up 2-0. Instead, France took control and was finally playing with ease. 

Then, Haris Seferovic's 2nd goal of the game brought Switzerland within one in the 81st-minute. With the pressure on and only seconds remaining, Mario Gavranović tied the game at three.

After 30 minutes of extra time, no victor had been decided. Turning to penalty kicks, the first nine strikes were sent through. The Swiss were up 5-4 and it came down to France's Kylian Mbappé vs the goalkeeper from Switzerland, Yann Sommer. 

MBAPPE MISSED!!

SWITZERLAND PULL OFF THE MASSIVE UPSET!! pic.twitter.com/Wv3hEYoURF

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2021

Victory was sealed as Switzerland defeated France 5-4 on penalty kicks.  

Euro 2020: Round of 16 results

Croatia, too, had an opportunity earlier on Monday to pull off an upset of their own over Spain. The same blueprint had played out, with Croatia down 3-1 before roaring back to force extra time and stave off a few minutes longer their Euro 2020 exit. 

Spain, however, scored two goals in less than four-minute span in extra time, holding on for a 5-3 victory. After struggling early in the tournament, Spain delivered their second consecutive game of scoring five goals.

Netherlands, on the other hand, went scoreless in their game after leading group play in goals scored. They failed to record a shot on goal and lost to the Czech Republic 2-0. The loss likely factored into Dutch manager Frank de Boer's decision to resign his post on Tuesday.

Denmark, on the other hand, continued their goal scoring spree as well, knocking four into the back of the net while holding Wales scoreless.

Other results included: Italy (2) vs Austria (1), Belgium (1) vs Portugal (0), England (2) vs Germany (0), and Ukraine (2) vs Sweden (1).

France, Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany were all considered favorites and have all been knocked out of the tournament. But there is still plenty to keep an eye on. Italy and England have moved up the field as favorites, along with Spain and Denmark. Belgium could be in consideration as well, but they will be dealing with the injuries to stars Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

Euro 2020 has proven to deliver plenty of surprises, so none of the final eight teams should be counted out. In a tournament that has seen numerous own goals (9) and top teams with lackluster showings, truly anything can happen going forward.

Euro 2020 quarterfinal matches

A tough three wins and five losses on predictions from the round of 16 does not bode well for my record. The England-Germany, Croatia-Spain, and Sweden-Ukraine games were toss-ups for me and I tossed wrong. Losses from France and Netherlands, however, were both upsets in my book.

The four quarterfinal matchups, with predicted winners in bold.

July 2: Switzerland vs Spain - noon (ET) and Belgium vs Italy - 3 p.m. (ET)

July 3: Czech Republic vs Denmark - noon (ET) and Ukraine vs England - 3 p.m. (ET)

photo credit: Flickr