Not so Boxing Challenge: Inoue, Nakatani notch wins

    It comes too late to be, but I wanted to write before it was too late. The biggest fight in Japanese history appears to be on the horizon, but not without some difficulty in Riyadh.

In the main event, undisputed world junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue retained his four titles with a dominant unanimous decision over mandatory contender Alan David Picasso.

No knockdowns scored with the champion winning by scores of 120-109, 119-109 (my score), and 117-111.

Former unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani made his junior featherweight bow a successful one. Still, he had to battle for it, as Nakatani barely repelled the unexpectedly firm challenge of Sebastian Hernandez by a close but unanimous decision.

Lots of action, and Nakatani's left eye was swollen shut by the end of the bout.

Scores of 115-113 on two cards (and mine) with the third an absurd 118-110 all for Nakatani.

Inoue and Nakatani are expected to meet in the spring at the Tokyo Dome for Inoue's titles in the biggest All-Japanese fight in the nation's history.

The other fight took place in Japan, where Masamichi Yabuki retained his IBF flyweight title with a final-round knockout of former light flyweight champion Felix Alvarado.

Yabuki scored knockdowns in the eleventh and twelfth rounds to cement the win.

Browns stop Steelers 13-6

   The Cleveland Browns scored ten points on their first two drives and hung on for dear life for the rest of the game to score a 13-6 upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland.

Harold Fannin caught a twenty-eight yard pass from Shedeur Sanders for the game's only touchdown and Andre Smzyt kicked field goals in both the initial and final quarters to complete the Cleveland scoring.

Shedeur Sanders completed seventeen of twenty-three passes for 186 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions with Jerry Jeudy catching five passes for fifty-four yards to lead the receivers.

Cleveland improved to 4-12 with the win and will finish their season next week in Cincinnati against the Bengals.

Brownie Bits

1) Shedeur Sanderrs was erratic in the win, throwing a very nice pass to Harold Fannin on the game's only touchdown but both of his interceptions were bad throws and while the Browns collected the win, the credit should go to the defense.

2) I'm still torn on Sanders.

I see some good things, poise in the pocket and better than advertised mobility.

However, for a player that was heralded for his accuracy, I see too many passes that get away from him and while this could get better as time moves along, I'm not sure just what the Browns have in Sanders.

3) BUT, I can see Sanders being a servicable starter in the league and maybe even these Browns.

He's certainly better than Dillon Gabriel and unless I fall in love with a quarterback in the draft, I won't have a problem with the Browns going with Sanders as the leader to be the starter in 2026 (I also would like a decent veteran to come in and compete with him).

4) Harold Fannin injured his groin in practice on Friday and was questionable to play at all but was out there in the first quarter to score the only touchdown.

Fannin aggravated the injury on the score and didn't return to the game but Fannin has come a long way since the beginning of the season and in case Fannin sits out next Sunday in Cincinnati, allow me to say this, I think he deserves consideration for the offensive rookie of the year award.

I'm not sure he gets it, but he may deserve it.

5) Myles Garrett didn't get the sack that he needed to break the league record for sacks in a season but he was a major influence on the Steelers tepid offensive outing.

Pittsburgh seemed almost as determined to keep Garrett from setting the record as they were in moving the football.

6) Aaron Rodgers was throwing the ball very quickly (the Browns did sack him twice as Alex Wright and Grant Delpit dumped the veteran) and the Steelers offense reminded me a great deal of the Browns in the way that the offenses worked to avoid sacks to the point of not giving their receivers time to get downfield.

Pittsburgh averaged under five yards per pass in the game.

7) Pittsburgh's receivers were about as good as the Browns without missing starters D.K. Metcalf (suspension) and Calvin Austin (injury), so the Browns didn't have to worry about downfield coverage because it was similar to playing themselves.

8) Pittsburgh was only three for fifteen on third down and were stopped on each of the three times that they attempted to convert on fourth down, including the final two drives.

9) I've liked what I've seen from cornerback Tyson Campbell since he was acquired from Jacksonville.

Campbell played well in this game with several pass breakups and I can see the Browns being pretty satisfied with their end of the deal.

10) Pittsburgh could have clinched the AFC North with a win but their defeat means that their games against Baltimore next week will be the first unofficial playoff game as the winner will be division champion with the loser not playing in the postseason.

11) While I'm disappointed in the Browns drop in draft position with the win, I must admit beating the Steelers, while a long-term hindrance, is nice because losing to them always is awful as I hate seeing Mike Tomlin walk off the field and at his postgame press conference with his condescending sheepish grin, so that's nice.

12) While the future of Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski is in question after next week's game, I bet Mike Tomlin's could be also.

Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh but they have been pretty average the last few seasons with late season collapses and early postseason exits.

Should Pittsburgh lose to Baltimore, I could see a parting of the ways with Tomlin having plenty of suitors and the Steelers feeling that it could be time to move on. 

PPM

 I did last week's picks but forgot to post.

Since I've already missed much of bowl season, I won't be picking bowls, but I will continue to select the college playoffs.

Last Week: 5-1 

Overall: 154-68

College Playoffs

Ohio State over Miami 24-13

Texas Tech over Oregon 41-37

Georgia over Ole Miss 27-17

Indiana over Alabama 31-21

NFL
Steelers over Browns 21-10

Titans over Saints 17-13

Games of the week

Bills over Eagles 37-29

Giants over Raiders 13-9

Merry Christmas

      Been very busy over the last week, and it's been evident here as I've written nothing-literally!

I forgot to post the PPM (I'll have the results with this week's version) and didn't even have time to write about the Browns loss to Buffalo.

That was the first time I can remember that I didn't write about a Browns game.

I still have to catch up with a road trip and others after the first of the year.

I have things to say, I only need time to write them!

Enjoy your day (I am at work) and have a Merry Christmas!

Offense frozen in Chicago, Browns lose 31-3

     The weather was cold at Chicago's Soldier Field, and so was the offense of the Cleveland Browns as the Chicago Bears routed the Browns 31-3.

Shedeur Sanders tossed three interceptions, and the Browns biggest offensive achievement was Sanders' forty-seven-yard toss to Isaiah Bond.

Only Andre Smzyt's fifty-yard field goal allowed the Browns to escape without being shut out.

Cleveland drops to 3-11 with the defeat and will host Buffalo next Sunday.

Brownie Bits

1) Shedeur Sanders struggled with three interceptions, but one was his best thrown ball of the day.

Sanders dropped back and fired a perfect pass to Jerry Jeudy in the end zone, who appeared to have the ball, only to have it stolen by Jaylen Johnson for a touchback.

Unfortunate for Sanders, who did everything right.

2) Otherwise, Sanders struggled as he finished 18 of 35 for 177 yards and the three interceptions.

Sanders shows just enough to keep you wanting to see more, which is more than I can say for Dillon Gabriel, but the jury is still out.

3) Sanders didn't have a ton of time to throw as he was harassed all day by the Bears and was sacked five times.

Sanders didn't have protection in front of him, and it showed against the Bears.

4) Quinshon Judkins finished with only twenty-one yards on twelve carries, and Shedeur Sanders had two scrambles for twenty-four yards, which allowed him to lead the team in rushing.

5) Only Joel Bitonio was on the field for most of the game of the five regular starting offensive linemen, and the makeshift line(as noted above) struggled all day against the Bears, a team not noted for its pass rush or stopping the run, although Chicago is among the best at forcing turnovers.

6) Ethan Pocic suffered an injury and will miss the rest of the season.

2024 draftee Luke Wypler will start in Pocic's spot for the last three games in an audition for the center position next season.

7) Myles Garrett finished with a sack and a half to move within one of the NFL sack record.

The current record is shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt with 22.5.

8) Andre Szymt's fifty-yard field goal was quite a kick in such bitterly cold conditions.

Kicking a ball in that weather is like kicking a brick.

Late thoughts on a Lost Weekend

   A few thoughts on the lost football weekend.

I was away on a trip with our buddy Fred Landucci, so I watched both games with Fred in the hotel, and with the trip, I didn't have the time to write about the games, so here is a quick synopsis.

The Ohio State 13-10 loss to Indiana was one of the better games played all season in the sport, but Ohio State had a few distractions leading up to the game that wouldn't happen in a possible rematch.

Brian Hartline's announced departure for the head coaching job at South Florida, the need to re-recruit the Buckeyes' top-rated recruit, wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., and Penn State's push to interview defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for the head coaching job in State College, all were factors in a lack of focus on a good Hoosiers team.

I don't think those will be a factor in the playoffs, although I am concerned about Brian Hartline, who called a less-than-glittering offensive game against Indiana.

Even with those issues, it took a slip on a fourth and short by Julian Sayin inside the Indiana five and a missed chip shot by Jayden Fielding to lose 13-10.

The Buckeyes still could have won, and I feel good about a prospective rematch.

The referees weren't great; constantly missed holding calls for both teams in the passing game.

I wouldn't say it cost Ohio State the game, but it might have.

As for the Browns, it's all about the Stefanski as the Browns lost to the even worse Tennessee Titans at home.

I really hate the going for two down 8 thing, and the Browns did just that and then had to go for two to tie when the Browns scored late in the game.

Maybe I'm an old guy, but I'd rather kick the extra point, be down seven, and then have the decision to tie or win with a two-point conversion if needed.

I know that's cutting against the new wave, but that's my thinking.

I did like some of what I saw from Shedeur Sanders, and I'm glad that he'll be starting the rest of the year.

However, before anointing him for the future, remember his good games have come against the Raiders and Titans, who have combined for four wins this season.

I'm very interested to see how he plays in his next three games against teams fighting for playoff position in the Bears, Bills, and Steelers.

PPM

   It's a lighter PPM with the college game starts the bowl season and the NFL season hitting the final month.

Last Week: 7-6 

Overall: 142-62

College

Navy over Army 20-13

LA Bowl 

Boise State over Washington 29-24

Veterans Bowl

Jacksonville State over Troy 30-21

Cure Bowl

South Florida over Old Dominion 41-35

68 Ventures Bowl

Louisiana over Delaware 28-21

XBox Bowl

Arkansas State over Missouri State 27-19

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Western Michigan over Kennesaw State 34-33

Gasparilla Bowl

Memphis over N.C State 27-19

NFL

Bears over Browns 24-10

Panthers over Saints 30-21

Games of the Week

Packers over Broncos 31-24

Bills over Patriots 29-24