By Pro Sports Outlook, The Front Office for Fans
Jan 09, 2021

January 9th, 2021 was highlighted by the first day of the first-ever NFL “Super” Wildcard weekend with three games on each day. Tom Brady extended some NFL postseason records with a win over an impressive Taylor Heinecke and the Washington Football Team, Josh Allen led Buffalo to their first playoff win in his lifetime, and Cam Akers historic game led a Rams upset over Seattle. LaMelo Ball became the youngest ever to record a triple-double, Patty Mills came in clutch in OT for the Spurs, and the Nationals signed Kyle Schwarber. 

Check out everything that happened in sports on January 9th last year and the Best in Sports from exactly a year ago, headlined by Russell Westbrook’s return to OKC, Chris Paul embarrassing his old team, and an under-the-radar trade that helped the Rays land Randy Arozarena. This daily sports article includes real headlines only (no clickbait rumors), all of the best highlights, interesting facts from around the NFL, NBA, & MLB, the main games to watch, top performances of the day, significant birthdays, and a quick recap of notable events on this day in sports history.

Heinicke’s already a DC legend

Allen making plays in the playoffs

Best of the NBA on Saturday

Brady made a play in the clutch

Heinicke delivered a dime TD

Peters iced the game

Kupp made a great grab in traffic

LaMelo posts youngest triple-dub

Hornets throwing it down

Rivers kept it interesting late

Williams perfectly jumped route

Lockett pulled it in with the left

Diggs hands are elite

Russ redeemed himself w/ DK TD

AB got wide open for 6

Akers got some good YAC

Big play from the rookie

LAR special teams came up big

DeMar slammed it home

Big 1st start for this guy

Joker leads Nuggets to a dub

Mikal Bridges had a career night

Herro drops 31 for his career high

Rams dagger over Seattle

Capela catches a body

Welcome back, Karl Towns

Domantas produces the 20-20

Luka drops the triple-double

McCollum has been hoopin’

DeRozan with 38 points

Schwarber is heading to DC

Lindor is a legend in his prime

Curry is having a MVP season

Beal is a walking bucket

CF with a hill… no problem

Happy bday to Ochocinco

Watson won it all OTD

Moss’ legendary celebration

Epic start to the Playoffs OTD

[SEE MORE]

[SEE MORE]

NFL Wild Card Playoffs

[Highlights] RB Cam Akers, LAR (@SEA): 28 RSH, 131 YDS, 1 TD; 2 REC, 45 YDS [Player of the Day]

[Highlights] QB Tom Brady, TB (@WAS): 22-40 (55.0%) 381 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT

[Highlights] QB Josh Allen, BUF (v.IND): 26-35 (74.3%), 324 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT; 11 RSH, 54 YDS, 1 TD

[Highlights] DL Daron Payne, WAS (v.TB): 5 TKL, 2 TFL, 2 SK, 1 FF

[Highlights] QB Taylor Heinicke, WAS (v.TB): 26-44 (59.1%), 306 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 CAR, 46 YDS, 1 TD

NBA Saturday

[Highlights] G LaMelo Ball, CHA (v.ATL): 22 PTS (9-13 FG | 3-5 3PT), 11 AST, 12 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] G/F Jimmy Butler, MIA (@WAS): 26 PTS (10-18 FG | 0-1 3PT), 9 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 0 TO

[Highlights] F DeMar DeRozan, SA (@MIN): 38 PTS (13-23 FG | 0-2 3PT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] G Tyrese Maxey, PHI (v.DEN): 39 PTS (18-33 FG | 3-8 3PT), 6 AST, 7 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] G CJ McCollum, POR (@SAC): 37 PTS (13-22 FG | 6-11 3PT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO

NFL TOP PERFORMERS | NBA TOP PERFORMERS

NFL: LB Blake Martinez, New York Giants (turns 27)

NFL: CB Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens (28)

NFL: RS/WR Andre Roberts, Buffalo Bills (33)

NFL: WR Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Retired after 2011 (43)

NFL: QB Bart Starr, Hall of Fame (87)

2020: Tampa Bay Rays acquired unheralded (at the time) OF prospect Randy Arozarena from the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4-player trade that also included SP prospect Matthew Liberatore heading to STL from TB

2020: Oklahoma City Thunder franchise icon Russell Westbrook played his 1st game in OKC since his departure and was honored with an epic tribute video and a blowout loss at the hands of his former team led by CP3

2005: During a Wild Card upset of the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings WR Randy Moss pretended to “moon” the crowd as a TD celebration

2000: Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino won his last career game 20-17 over the Seattle Seahawks

1996: Toronto Raptors became the 1st (and still only) team in NBA history to complete a game without making a single free throw (0-3 FT) in a 92-91 loss to the Charlotte Hornets who shot 24/41 on FTs in the game

1991: MLB officially banned Pete Rose from the Hall of Fame for his gambling involvement

1991: Chicago Bulls SG Michael Jordan scored 40 points in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers to reach 15,000 points for his career quicker than any player (460 games) in NBA history except Wilt Chamberlain (358 games)

1977: Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings for their very 1st Super Bowl title

1972: Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA-record 33-game win streak was snapped by C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks

1967: New Orleans’ expansion NFL franchise officially adopted the “Saints” nickname

1963: Cleveland Browns fired longtime HC and namesake, Paul Brown, after a fallout with new owner Art Modell

1962: The NFL made a new rule that grabbing of the facemask while tackling would be a penalty

1947: Providence Steamrollers SG Don Martin became the 1st player in NBA (BAA) history to score 40 points in a victory over the Cleveland Rebel

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