Good Morning, and welcome to Savage Sports. The latest update on Wednesday’s poll—you guys do not want robot umpires. So, I guess we will have to make do with the likes of Angel Hernandez calling balls and strikes for the foreseeable future.

ICYMI: The Texas Rangers are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history. So, how did GM Chris Young orchestrate the perfect rebuild? More on that later, but for now, just enjoy the celebration. ⬇️

Here's what we got for you today:

• Steelers Win On Thursday Night Football

• NFL Playoff Contenders—Where They Stand

• Wemby Goes Off

• Texas Rangers In Five

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NFL

Steelers Win, Stay On Pace With Ravens

The Steelers pulled off a narrow victory against the Titans with a score of 20-16 on Thursday Night Football, putting them at 5-3 and just a game behind the Ravens in the AFC North.

Diontae Johnson was the star for Pittsburgh, catching a crucial 3-yard pass from Kenny Pickett in the fourth quarter for his first touchdown since the 2021 season—a significant breakthrough for the team.

The Steelers’ ground game also impressed, amassing 166 yards courtesy of dynamic performances from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

The game was not without its share of concerning injuries during what has already felt like an injury-plagued season. Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb and Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks were both carted off due to injuries.

Treylon Burks’ injury was particularly scary, but the most recent updates are that he is doing OK.

On the Titans’ side, rookie quarterback Will Levis delivered 262 yards through the air, but also suffered an interception. Not the ideal performance Titans fans wanted to see following an impressive four-touchdown debut last game.

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NFL Contenders—Where They Stand After The Trade Deadline

The NFL Trade Deadline has come and gone. What did the top playoff contenders do (or not do) at the deadline and where does everyone stand as we head into the latter half of the season?

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2, AFC West)

With a top-tier QB in Mahomes and Kelce’s tight end dominance, the Chiefs’ biggest move was re-acquiring WR Hardman, targeting a shaky receiving corps riddled with dropped passes.

GM Veach’s strategy suggests confidence in internal improvements with playoff positioning strong, but receiving reliability remains a question.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-1, NFC East)

The NFC champions bolstered their secondary with safety Kevin Byard, addressing their only glaring weakness.

The Eagles, led by Hurts and a stellar lineup, now seem even more formidable in their Super Bowl pursuit with a defense strengthened by Byard’s prowess in coverage and run support.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2, NFC West)

The Seahawks, pacing the NFC West, enhanced their pass rush with Leonard Williams, eyeing to capitalize on his disruptive presence.

Quarterback Geno Smith’s revival keeps Seattle competitive, with the addition of Williams reinforcing their defensive line and run defense, essential for a deep playoff run.

Baltimore Ravens (6-2, AFC North)

The Ravens stood still at the deadline, signaling satisfaction with a roster that’s thriving on both ends under Lamar Jackson’s lead.

Top-tier in both offensive efficiency and defensive dominance, Baltimore’s comprehensive strength makes them a formidable playoff-bound team without evident needs for trade acquisitions.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2, NFC East)

Post-trade deadline, the Cowboys are overcoming key injury setbacks, relying on Prescott’s leadership and recent wins to maintain their pursuit behind the Eagles in the NFC East.

With no trades made, Dallas seems to bet on the depth of their roster and coaching to navigate the loss of talents like Diggs and Vander Esch.

NBA

Wemby Goes Off

The Wemby hype is getting more and more real over in San Antonio.

Victor Wembanyama showed up in a big way last night with 38 points and 10 rebounds against the Suns in San Antonio’s 132-121 victory.

Watching the 19-year-old play at this level just five games into his NBA career was jaw-dropping.

What do you think? Is the Wemby hype just hype, or is he the real thing?

MLB PLAYOFFS

The Texas Rangers Are World Series Champions

The Perfect Rebuild

In a season that defied all odds, the Texas Rangers have completed a historic turnaround, clinching their first World Series title. Unfortunately, not many people tuned in.

Just a couple of seasons removed from a 102-loss debacle, the Rangers’ rebuild will forever go down as one for the history books.

Game 5 was a game of moments—the crack of Corey Seager’s bat in the seventh inning breaking the silence of a no-hitter, and the unruffled demeanor of Nathan Eovaldi, navigating through jams with the poise of a seasoned postseason vet.

But the real highlight came in the ninth, with Marcus Semien’s two-run homer that not only sealed the game but encapsulated the Rangers’ fighting spirit and historic turnaround.

With Seager’s World Series MVP performance anchoring the achievement and Semien’s pivotal contributions, the Rangers have not only rewritten their narrative but redefined what a comeback in sports looks like.

Smart postseason moves and a little patience can go a long way.

Congratulations, Rangers fans!

TW0-MINUTE DRILL

• Your NHL ESPN Power Rankings so far.

• USA 3x3 Basketball Men’s and Women’s teams will play in the next Olympics.

• The San Diego Padres had to take a loan to make payroll. Yikes.

• Surprise, surprise. Big Ten football coaches are not happy with Michigan.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

When your team wins the World Series, but the kids are already in bed. Queue the silent celebration.

jomboymedia

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THE BUZZER

That's a wrap for today. We'll be back on Monday!

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