SPORTS

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

(USA Today)

NFL is full of festive holiday matchups

JAKE TAYLOR

Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

Obviously, this holiday break is unlike any before; lockdowns are looming and family gatherings are up in the air.

The break will mirror 2020 as a whole, and people will do nothing but stay inside and find ways to be entertained. Luckily for the readers of this article, I am providing some solid choices between classic holiday movies and big NFL matchups. This is not a hot take article, so sit down, shut up and drink some eggnog.

We will start with a Week 15 matchup. The New England Patriots travel to sunny Miami to play the Dolphins. This division matchup will have heavy playoff implications for both teams. The Dolphins sit at 8-4 and the Patriots at 6-6. They both face very good opponents in Week 14, when the Patriots will start the week off Thursday night against the Rams.

A Super Bowl 53 rematch will have a hot Los Angeles Rams team host Bill Belichick and the Patriots. The Dolphins will host the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patriots could have newfound life after beating the Chargers 45-0. The Dolphins are struggling following a Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Miami has played two teams at the bottom, the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, putting up a combined 63 points. The new playoff format allows one more team to make the postseason, and the American Football Conference (AFC) is as tight as ever. The winner of the Patriots’ and Dolphins’ Week 15 matchup can decide their fates.

If football doesn’t interest you, then I suggest binging some holiday classics. Start with the greatest holiday movie of all time: “Die Hard.”

It combines the essentials to a good movie, which are action, humor, love, good versus evil and the greatest death scene in movie history. The movie takes place at Nakatomi Tower in Los Angeles.

John McClane must not only reconcile with his wife but save her company Christmas party from a group of international terrorists. Unless you hate true love and action scenes, I would suggest Charlie Brown.

“Die Hard” not only paved the way for all action films, it set the holiday spirit like no other. A film packed with so much love and so much passion for good really embodies the holiday spirit. I mean, it's not about a fat bearded white guy who spies on children, keeps a list of all their naughty actions and gives the poor kids worse presents than the rich ones. That would be bizarre.

Speaking of fat bearded men, it's back to watching football. Week 15 offers another huge matchup. The AFC favorite, the Chiefs, against the National Football Conference (NFC) favorite, New Orleans Saints. Somehow, it's not primetime because the NFL would rather have Nick Mullens versus Andy Dalton Sunday night.

The two heavyweights enter the Superdome to compete for true NFL dominance. This game doesn’t have as many playoff implications as other games, however, it will prove a lot about each team. The Chiefs have been playing down to their competition lately. The Saints needs to prove they are good enough to beat a team like the Chiefs without Drew Brees.

Another holiday film that stands above the rest has to be “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” The film starring John Candy and Steve Martin is a must watch. In a series of unfortunate events, Martin must find a way home in time for Thanksgiving. Candy, a shower curtain ring salesman, is his only companion.

In a film that offers belly busting laughs, it also offers deep emotional value. The rollercoaster that is the journey home combines humor, patience and compassion. The film hits on notes that are necessary for a feel-good holiday flick.

Staying in the holiday spirit, you can’t forget the Griswold family. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” offers the greatest family ever put to film. Chevy Chase, who plays Clark Griswold, is at the top of his game in this movie as he attempts to be the best father during the holiday season. Hilarious disaster after disaster throws his plan haywire. Granted, sometimes due to his own incompetence, Griswold means well.

Changing the channel back to NFL competition. Week 16 showcases the AFC’s top contenders, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. A key match-up for both football teams. Pittsburgh plays the Buffalo Bills Week 14, but win or lose, their game versus the Colts is more important.

The Colts won’t be competing for a first-round bye but will be competing for home field advantage in the first round, which does mean something because they are permitted fans. The Colts have had a tougher schedule this season, and the Steelers need to prove they can beat a playoff team. The Steelers will also be competing for a first-round bye.

Regardless, whatever you watch during your break, I hope it is full of good health and positivity. During this difficult time in our nation, reflect on what you have. Take time to understand that this time may be difficult, but there are humans around the world and in your community that are worse off.

Believe it or not, the holiday is not about Santa Claus coming to town, it is about embodying the holiday spirit and giving back.

Sports December 9, 2020 15 US Soccer making its presence felt in Europe

STEVEN LANGDON

Editor-in-Chief S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

U.S. Soccer players stared over the weekend for their club teams.

It was the first time since 2005 that three different players scored a goal in Europe’s top five leagues. This one was more special than the previous.

The first time this happened in 2005, goals came from Jermaine Jones, Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna. Their average age was 29.7 years old.

Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna, son of Claudio Reyna, were the goal scorers who made history this time around. Their average age is 20.6 years old, almost a decade younger.

This is not a coincidence; the U.S. has made this their goal to flood the European leagues with youth talent. McKennie and Pulisic’s goals were achievements in themselves as well.

This summer, McKennie became the first player to be signed by Juventus. Saturday, he became the first American goal scorer for the club. His header in the 78th minute leveled the score in the win against Torino.

Pulisic became the fastest to score 10 Premier League goals in the 3-1 win against Leeds United. He is the fourth American to achieve this milestone.

Reyna scored the equalizer in the 58th minute for Borussia Dortmund to salvage a point. Although he was happy about the goal, he felt that one or two more should have gone in as well.

This will not be the last time this happens, and it should not take another 15 years to achieve. There is a possibility that it will happen again this season. U.S. soccer has more than these three that could score goals.

Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah are also capable of finishing a shot in the back of the net. It is crazy to think that out of all the names that have been mentioned, the oldest players are McKinnie and Pulisic at 22 years old.

The new generation of U.S. Soccer players are part of the most talented group to ever come out. Before, clubs in Europe would not spend a penny scouting talent in the U.S. With this serge in talent, teams have started to place youth academies here to groom players for the next level.

Experts, including myself, have said for years that talent is coming through the ranks. They are having milestones never seen before. For example, Dest became both the first U.S. player to be signed and play for Barcelona.

He is not the only American there either. Konrad de la Fuerte has played in the Champions League for them this season. He is not a regular, but at 19 years old, regular minutes should be coming within the next year.

I did not include Yunus Musah because he has not declared alliance to the U.S. The 18-yearold played in both friendlies this past international window. He also became the youngest non-Spanish goal scorer in La Liga history, and he signed a new deal with Valencia that includes a €100 million buyout clause or about $121 million.

If Musah does decide to play for the U.S., the team could have a midfield of him, Adams and McKennie. That is one that could play together for the next decade or more.

Every player will be important along with others like Zack Steffen and Antonee Robinson as World Cup qualifying starts in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) next year. This is the steppingstone to seeing how talented of a group the U.S. produced.

There are three main goals for this group until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Some are individual and others are team based.

The first is to stay injury free as much as possible. One of the issues that have plagued this group are injuries. If the team has more options, then that is better for head coach Gregg Berhalter, especially if there are five or six players that could score goals.

The second goal is to make it impossible for your club team to not include your name in the lineup. American soccer is still going to be downplayed. Players need to go out and prove them wrong.

Coaches have said that American players will work as hard as possible to get better. Show them why you are the most important player to that team.

Finally, qualify for the World Cup. The reason this is not No. 1 is because without the first two, this is harder to achieve. After the disappointment of the last qualification, this is almost a whole new group, but the thought of not qualifying last time lingers in each player’s mind.

The potential of the team is not reached and will not be by the time 2022 comes around. Qatar should be the goal of qualifying and making it to the round of 16 or better. The full potential will come the World Cup after.

When 2026 rolls around, the World Cup will arrive in North America for the first time since 1994. Soccer is growing at an extraordinary pace. Anything short of a competitive team capable of winning a World Cup would be a disappointment.

If the U.S. has even half of those players develop into stars, this team will be a force to be reckoned with. Adams, McKinnie, Pulisic and Reyna are known names throughout club soccer now.

The American Outlaws are here, and they are here to stay.

December 9, 2020 Eagles 2020 struggles continue

Poor execution to start games is to blame

AUSTIN SMITH

Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Sixteen wins is the magic number so far in the entire NFC East division.

It has been nothing but a disappointment to watch this season. Injuries, coaching and so on have been the main reason for that poor play. The Philadelphia Eagles are not flying to the road to victory at all this season, and that showed greatly in the standings but not so much in the scores of the games.

The birds sit a 3-7-1 record and are third in the division right behind the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants. So, it’s anybody’s division right now.

The Eagles have had a lot of closer games than people think this season. They have not gotten blown out by a big margin in any of the games, but Carson Wentz has not been performing, and that is the problem is this season.

Wentz threw plenty of interceptions, got knocked down more than usual and really just has not found his groove this season, but is there a certain reason why?

For one, the injury bug, like many teams, have killed the birds. Wentz has had good players to throw to like Travis Fulgham and Dallas Goedert, but no so much of Zach Ertz due to injury.

Yet again, problems come on both sides of the ball. Philadelphia is ranked 14th in the league with tackles which shows they are showing up. They have allowed 307 points, which isn’t the worst, yet can definitely be improved.

The Eagles have allowed an average of 25. 6 points per game which puts them close to the middle ranked at 19th. This is also not terrible, but they only allowed 21.8 points a game in 2019.

So at this point, the Eagles offense and defense are just not on the same page every game, which is why their record is the way it is. They have the talent in each category for the most part and is a team that should be able to compete on any given night.

I am sure Doug Pederson and the rest of the coaching staff have many things to say about it as well as reporters. With the birds playing from behind, playing well in the second half will only get them so far. "We're going to have to execute,” Wentz said. “I say it every week and it kind of sounds cliché and we say it over and over, but we've got to execute better. We've got to come out and play faster early in games and try and strike early and change the momentum a little bit.”

He at least acknowledges that they have to come out faster and stronger earlier on because in today’s day and age, you will barely win when playing catch up the whole time. "Sometimes the other team comes out and plays something different than what we're expecting and we've got to make adjustments early,” Wentz said. “That's part of football. We have to come out confident and really execute our assignments better. It's been a big point of emphasis for us."

That’s sports in general. You do not know how your opponent is going to respond every time, but you have to be prepared for it.

Wentz, in my opinion, plays the game a little more relaxed as far as when he comes out of the pocket. He has looked rushed and panicked most of the time, and you cannot be that way in today’s game if you want success to happen.

The birds have to be prepared to play up to their opponent’s standards if they want any success. That all starts with the man behind the ship, Coach Pederson.

It could be the form of the play calling, as Pederson acknowledged that "everything is on the table" and that the Eagles' "collaborative" process to put together a game plan is a smooth one, but the results just haven't been there.

Pederson has allowed for, in recent games, play calling duties to be shared, if only a little. If the Eagles get off to a better start earlier in the game, I think their game plan would work out better.

So, with the offense, defense and injury bug, the Eagles need to execute their game plan right in the beginning of the game. That is the problem. Every team has problems, even if it is small with offense and/or defense, but not every team has a problem starting off early with their game plan as a lot of teams have higher records this season to prove that.

For Philadelphia fans, this season has been bad, but so has the entire division. So playing better earlier on will make the birds back on the top of the NFC East next season.

For now, there are still games left, and the Eagles have to focus on those and work on getting better each game for a better season next year and hope to have a better start to each of their games.