Opinion: Forget the Dodgers. The National League East division race demands your attention.

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Was the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2024 World Series win ever in doubt? The Dodgers’ run to the World Series had every setback the sport could throw at the club, yet the Dodgers made their second title of the 2020s feel inevitable in retrospect. The Dodgers’ offseason signing of the sport’s best player, hybrid designated hitter/pitching … Continue reading Opinion: Forget the Dodgers. The National League East division race demands your attention.

Opinion: The first weekend of men’s March Madness game eliminated the Cinderella stories. Is NIL the reason?

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For a moment on Sunday evening, the Colorado State Rams reveled in the greatest sensation March Madness has to offer: a clutch three-pointer to take the lead in the final seconds of regulation.  Rams star guard Nique Clifford backed down a Maryland defender, then fired a daring pass across the court to wide-open guard Jalen … Continue reading Opinion: The first weekend of men’s March Madness game eliminated the Cinderella stories. Is NIL the reason?

Riker Report: Quarterback changes, trade requests highlight busy start to NFL offseason

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One month removed from Super Bowl LIX, the NFL is still providing plenty of entertainment value. The NFL landscape has been littered with trade requests from All-Pros, cryptic social media posts, quarterback trades and overpriced signings, all against the backdrop of the excitement of the NFL combine and upcoming draft. Even the defending Super Bowl … Continue reading Riker Report: Quarterback changes, trade requests highlight busy start to NFL offseason

Riker Report: Eagles pound Chiefs in stunning Super Bowl LIX (and what to make of the NFL awards results)

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In one of the most shocking Super Bowl results in recent memory, the Philadelphia Eagles demolished the 17-2 Kansas City Chiefs and thwarted KC’s attempt for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat. Though the game was not competitive for all but the first couple minutes, the outcome left plenty for NFL fans to dissect heading into … Continue reading Riker Report: Eagles pound Chiefs in stunning Super Bowl LIX (and what to make of the NFL awards results)

Riker Report: 10 NFL storylines with staying power leading into Super Bowl LIX

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The stage is set for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, but the action around the NFL isn’t limited to the Big Easy. From the teams that nearly missed out on the Super Bowl to those who missed the playoffs entirely but are making waves in the offseason, the last month has felt like an … Continue reading Riker Report: 10 NFL storylines with staying power leading into Super Bowl LIX

Column: Ravens begin and end 2024 season with failures in the end zone. But their earlier lapses did them in.

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The games bookending the Ravens’ 2024 season finished in eerily similar fashion: road contests against playoff-tested AFC contenders that saw Baltimore’s late rallies falter with failed attempts to knot up the score. In Week 1 — the first game of the entire NFL season — the Ravens looked out of sorts against the Kansas City … Continue reading Column: Ravens begin and end 2024 season with failures in the end zone. But their earlier lapses did them in.

Riker Report: Regular season report cards for 2024 playoff teams (and a couple extra AFC squads)

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Last week, I assessed the 2024 seasons of the bottom half of the NFL, the 16 teams with dashed playoff hopes and unrealized potential. I’m shifting my focus to the top half this week and taking a look at the 14 playoff entrants, along with the two contestants for the last AFC wild card spot … Continue reading Riker Report: Regular season report cards for 2024 playoff teams (and a couple extra AFC squads)

Riker Report: Report cards for the 16 teams on the outside of the playoff picture

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When NFL teams make an early-round draft selection or a headline-grabbing free agency signing, experts are quick to assess the transaction and slap on a grade. Those grades may not take into account the team’s decision-making process, the fit with the team or the player’s potential for growth, and they can become fodder for some … Continue reading Riker Report: Report cards for the 16 teams on the outside of the playoff picture

Riker Report Week 16: Commanders punch playoff ticket with thrilling divisional win

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Welcome to the Riker Report, where I open up my game day files each week and share a quick-hitter observation or development from each of the eight NFL divisions. Divisional battles in Baltimore and Landover, Maryland brought clarity to the playoff picture this weekend, headlined by masterful performances by award hopefuls in Lamar Jackson and … Continue reading Riker Report Week 16: Commanders punch playoff ticket with thrilling divisional win