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The Best of the Day: December 26th, 2020
See the best of the day in sports from December 26, 2020 including the thriller between MIA and LV, Brady's best game in Tampa, and more!
David Becker/AP Images
The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 12/26 here.
The Saturday slate in sports was full of action across the NFL and NBA. The story of the day and the best game, though, was clearly the thriller between the Miami Dolphins and the Las Vegas Raiders. The final four minutes were wild with both teams trading scores. However, a blown coverage and costly facemask penalty ultimately doomed the Raiders as it set up the Dolphins with a game-winning field goal to keep them in the playoff picture and officially eliminate Vegas. The other two NFL games saw Tom Brady and Bucs blowout the COVID-weakened Lions 47-7 and the 49ers hung on to upset the Cardinals 20-12.
Here is the best of the day from December 26, 2020:
Fitzmagic saved Miami’s playoff hopes with a miraculous comeback win in relief
The Dolphins kept their postseason hopes alive with their miracle win Saturday night against the Raiders. Down 16-13 in the fourth quarter after three-straight three-and-outs, Head Coach Brian Flores elected to replace a struggling Tua Tagovailoa with Ryan Fitzpatrick. The veteran QB immediately sparked the Miami offense during a wild, back-and-forth finish. Miami tied the game at 16-16 before Las Vegas answered with an 85-yard Derek-Carr-to-Nelson-Aghalor TD pass on their first play of the drive following a penalty. However, Daniel Carlson missed the extra point, giving LV a 22-16 lead with 3:37 remaining.
Miami answered the big scoring play with their own, when Fitpatrick hit RB Myles Gaskins, who scampered 59 YDS for a TD. A Jason Sanders XPM gave Miami a 23-22 lead with 2:55 left. Las Vegas then moved the ball right down the field and appeared to have sealed the win when Carlson hit a 22-yard FG to put Las Vegas back in front 25-23 with just 19-seconds left. Fitzmagic would not be denied, though, hitting an insane no-look 34-yd pass while being grabbed by his facemask. The extra 15 yards put Miami on the Vegas 26. After an incomplete pass, Sanders nailed a 44-yd FG with one second left to give MIA a miraculous 26-25 win.
With the win, Miami (10-5) remains in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC with Baltimore (9-5) hot on their heels. The Dolphins will likely need to win their last game against the Bills to secure a playoff spot, as the Ravens final two games are against the Giants and the Bengals. Flores now has a QB dilemma between Fitzpatrick, who likely gives Miami a better shot to win this season, or Tua, who has performed well at times this year and is the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, the Raiders are now 1-5 since starting 6-3 and are officially eliminated from the postseason for the third straight year since hiring HC Jon Gruden.
The last four minutes of #MIAvsLV were CRAZY 😱 pic.twitter.com/9ctMqAO19h
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 27, 2020
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 182 yards in the 4th quarter tonight, tied for his most ever yards in a 4th quarter (2013 Week 15 vs Cardinals).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 27, 2020
Fitz was 5-6 for 154 yards and 1 TD when throwing for more than 5 yards downfield (all in the 4th). Tua Tagovailoa was 3-7 for 35 yards. pic.twitter.com/ufUbahpApi
Related: NFL Week 16
6’6″ DeMar DeRozan is the new starting PF for this small-ball team under Gregg Popovich
The San Antonio Spurs are understandably not on many people’s radars right now. Last season’s unsuccessful trip to the bubble snapped the Spurs consecutive playoff streak at 22 seasons, but early season wins against the Grizzlies and Raptors have demonstrated what Popovich’s new small-ball team is capable of. The Spurs aren’t flashy, they don’t have a true “superstar” leading the way and they may be disregarded in the crowded Western Conference. But that’s exactly how Gregg Popovich likes it while he continues to make innovative adjustments to win games.
Demar Derozan has led the way for the Spurs, averaging 27.5 points, 8.5 assists and seven rebounds over their first two contests. He’s also found a stroke from the three-point line, knocking down three triples on Saturday, after hitting a total of nine all of last season. The Spurs have showcased their depth over the first two games, with LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker all playing key roles. The Spurs will have a long way to go to compete in the talented Western Conference, but at least for now, they can enjoy their hot start thanks to their new small-ball approach.
Related: NBA Game Reviews
#PlayerOfTheDay (12/26/20) - QB Tom Brady, TB
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 27, 2020
FACTS TO KNOW:
- 1st player to ever make the playoffs 12 straight times
- Most season PASS TD (36) in Bucs history
- 1st to play 20+ yrs w/ 1 team & make playoffs w/ another
- 1st w/ 600+ PASS YDS over 4 Qtr span in the last 40 yrs https://t.co/ygktzV8pgm
Related: Players of the Day
Miami Dolphins (GW-FG) vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Related: Games of the Day
Tom Brady wins unlike any player in history.
Tom Brady is the only player in NFL history to play for 20+ seasons with one team (Patriots) and later make the playoffs with another
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 26, 2020
Brady is also the first player in NFL history to make the playoffs 12 straight times (TEN S. Gostkowski can join in 2020)
Related: Facts of the Day
B/R: MLB 25 in ’25: Predicting the Top 25 Third Basemen in 2025
Best Read of the Day: Predicting the Top 25 3rd Basemen in 2025 by @JoelReuterBR ⬇️ https://t.co/yqfrbOC2lt
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 27, 2020
MAIN TAKEAWAY: Ke’Bryan Hayes is already the new face of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Not only expected to be one of the best 3B in five years, but after the Pirates dealt Josh Bell to the nation’s capital, all eyes in the Steel City are now focused on the development of PIT’s top prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes. Although he only played 24 games in 2020, Hayes led all rookies with a 1.9 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in such a short amount of time. That would have extrapolated to a whopping 12.8 WAR over a 162-game schedule.
Though it’s unlikely Hayes would have maintained that pace over a full season, the upside is clearly there. He showcased elite glove work at the hot corner while slashing a proficient .376/.442/.682 with 14 extra-base hits in 95 plate appearances. Hayes offers a glimmer of hope for a franchise with not much to be excited about. He’s already become the face of the failing organization and is expected to be one of the best 3B in the game over the coming years.
Related: What’s Hot
NBA Game Reviews: December 26, 2020 by Noah Camras
NBA fans were treated with fantastic finishes in multiple games following a Christmas Day full of blowouts.
James Harden & CJ McCollum had the duel of the season already, Spurs are going with a new small-ball approach, and the Hawks are building something special.
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) December 28, 2020
Check out all the best facts, highlights, & takeaways to know from Saturday's NBA action ⬇️ https://t.co/TA6v0iykAN
Related: Latest PSO Content
FULL ARTICLE: Most Significant Sports History on December 26th
Today in 1919, the Red Sox trade Babe Ruth to the Yankees.... pic.twitter.com/d8prSnN2mb
— Old School Boston (@OldSchoolBoston) December 26, 2019
YEAR: 1919
SIGNIFICANCE: Yankees and Red Sox reached an agreement that would send Babe Ruth from Boston to New York
Related: Significant Sports History
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