The current and former Houston NFL football franchises advanced to the division round with thrilling wild card round victories.
Houston (Texans) rallied from a (16-0) third quarter deficit and won (22-19) in overtime, vs the Buffalo Bills, who suffered a 6th straight ‘offs loss and have not won such a game since beating the Dolphins, in Don Shula’s last game as coach in the 1995 wild card round.
At night, the Tennessee Titans, nee Houston Oilers won (20-13) vs the defending champion New England Patriots.
Both the Titans and Texans are big underdogs in the division round.
AFC top seed Baltimore (Ravens) are 10 point faves vs Tennessee, likely with Nantz next Saturday night.
Meanwhile K.C. , (Chiefs) the AFC two seed, is a 9 point favorite vs the Texans.
On his 26th birthday, Derrick Henry, the NFL rushing champion for 2019, pictured above, ran for 184 yards and a touchdown as his Titans upset the Patriots.
All these years later, the movie “Planet Of The Apes,” which started the still going, successful “franchise,” still resonates and was truly a great film.
I watched it again on TCM last night.
Ben Mankiewicz, one of the fine TCM hosts informed with some good notes including the presence of the great writer, Rod Serling as one of the screenplay writers (Michael Wilson was the other) and his “Twilight Zone” type influence, throughout the film.
I saw this depicted in the lead character “Taylor’s” (played by Charlton Heston) thoughts and insights. It truly enhanced my enjoyment and appreciation of the memorable film.
If you do not know the superb character actor, G.D. Spradlin, by name, it is probable you will recognize his face, via the picture below.
Which was your favorite G.D. Spradlin role?
I certainly marvel at his performance, as the corrupt Senator Geary in “The Godfather Part II,” but also as coaches of respective football and basketball teams in “North Dallas Forty” and “One on One.”
He played a pair of U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and Lyndon B. Johnson.
There were many other fine roles, as I recall fondly G.D. Spradlin’s body of work.
G.D. Spradlin, pictured above.
Hoops Cabaret in New York City (48 West 33rd Street) is the place to watch the UFC 246 action. At Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar, fans can view the matches on Saturday, January 18th, on the Hoops Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs and flat screens throughout the three-story club, giving every seat a clear view of all the action.
“Conor McGregor is returning to the UFC,” said Hoops girl Lucinda. “Everyone is very excited, and I’m sure there will be a lot of his fans here.”
Hoops Cabaret combines the excitement of a gentlemen’s club with the fun of a sports bar. Lots of gorgeous Hoops girls, and an exciting UFC card–sounds like fun!
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar
48 West 33rd Street, New York City
***Court-side, Mezzanine and VIP seating
***Multiple Hi-Def TVs on all Three Floors
***Super VIP “Man Cave”
***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
Last week’s stunning Miami Dolphins’ upset win at New England, (Mia. was a 17 point underdog) relegated the defending champion Patriots to the AFC three seed, manifesting in them having to play a wild card round game for the first time in 10 years.
After gaining at least the two seed and a home division round game for 9 straight seasons (2010-2018), last week’s loss and K.C. Chiefs (K.C. and its coach Reid were shown celebrating getting the two seed), win means it will be a second Saturday night home wild card game for N.E. this one vs the Tennessee Titans.
The Patriots are (8-0) in home Saturday night playoffs tilts, (0-1) on the road and won their lone previous Saturday night wild card round game at home, vs the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. The next week, playing at home, Denver (Broncos) handed New England their lone Saturday night ‘offs loss.
Kansas City Chiefs coach, Andy Reid, pictured above.
It was great to see Agnes Moorehead in a classic episode of “The Twilight Zone” titled “The Invaders” (the fine show “The Invaders” is now on MeTV, commencing first thing Sunday, tune in 11:59 PM Saturday night) that aired last night on MeTV.
Sixty years inclusive (1961-2020, would you believe it is 2020?!) from its air date in 1961, Moorehead’s performance, sans a spoken word, resonates as one of the best ever on that great show.
She is the only performer, playing a woman living in an isolated area, who gets some not wanted “company.”
Ms. Moorehead probably best known for her roles as “Kane’s” mother in the epic film “Citizen Kane” and as “Endora” on Bewitched, a show that “spoke” ahead of its time, was a tremendous performer.
Among many great achievements in a stellar career, Ms. Moorehead was a member of Orson Welles’ legendary “Mercury Players.”
A great actress, Agnes Moorehead, pictured above.
Today the mystery guest segment with the fabulous Debbie Reynolds, from a “What’s My Line?” episode, that aired in 1959.
Debbie is fabulous giving great answers as panelists Arlene Francis, Eamonn Andrews, Dorothy Kilgallen and Bennett Cerf try to ascertain the identity of the mystery guest, once again the one and only, Debbie Reynolds.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host.
It will be the defending champion Clemson Tigers (they have won 29 straight tilts after a (29-23) win vs Ohio State) vs the top seed and opening 5 point favorite, LSU Tigers in a battle between two (14-0) teams, in the national title game in New Orleans on January 13th.
In yesterday’s opening game devastating (63-28) rout of Oklahoma (0-3) in “semis” games), Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow accounted for 8 touchdowns (7 on first half passes, four of which went to Justin Jefferson–to my knowledge not related to Roy, a great receiving Jefferson, with classic sideburns. He also ran 1 yard for another).
At night, defending champion Clemson made it 29 straight wins ending Ohio State’s 17 game win skein, as Trevor Lawrence, still undefeated as “Clem” quarterback, threw 2 touchdown passes and ran for another.
Travis Etienne caught the two touchdown passes and also ran for another. Lawrence led a 4 play 94 yard drive that was only 4 plays/ 1 minute 18 seconds in duration, capped by a 31 yard TD to Etienne, with 1:49 to play.
Ohio State drove to the “Clem” 24, however on 2nd and 7 with 47 seconds left, miscommunication manifested in a Nolan Turner interception, that sealed the win for Clemson.
Surely, Ohio State coach Ryan Day has cause for complaint regarding a number of reversed calls, that went vs his Buckeyes.
However, he should look in the mirror/take a math lesson, as he foolishly kicked an extra point up 1 point, with 11 minutes remaining. Clearly the right move was to go for 2 points.
Day did a fine job otherwise and Ohio State had quite a season. Now with LSU Tigers vs Clemson Tigers, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence, it shapes up as quite a title game.
Justin Jefferson, #2, pictured above.
The four quarterbacks, three of whom transferred to their current college football playoff teams, are the highlight players in today’s playoff semi-final games.
At 4 P.M. or so Eastern Time, hopefully and likely, with the fine broadcasting team of Sean McDonough and Todd Blackledge, top seed LSU, with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow is a 2 touchdown favorite, vs Oklahoma and its outstanding quarterback Jalen Hurts.
At night three seed, defending champion, Clemson with Trevor Lawrence, the title winning quarterback as a freshman, last season, is a slight favorite vs Ohio State, whose “QB” Justin Fields threw 40 touchdown passes and but one interception in the 13 games, he has played thus far, this season.
Trevor Lawrence, pictured above as a high school player, is the only one of the starting quarterbacks in today’s games, that did not transfer. Fields (from Georgia), Hurts (from Alabama) and Burrow (from Ohio State) did so.
Andy B Sports 