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By: Cristina Hauerstein The football season is settling in as will we when our most anticipated football game is on this week, as will you. Here's this week's games if you are interested in checking out other match ups this week. Remember to check the official NFL website for more information and to let us know your predictions! 49ers v Giants on Thurs, 21st Sept Lions v Falcons on Sun, 24th Sept Vikings v Chargers on Sun, 24th Sept Packers v Saints on Sun, 24th Sept Jaguars v Texans on Sun, 24th Sept Dophins v Broncos on Sun, 24th Sept Browns v Titans on Sun, 24th Sept Commanders v Bills on Sun, 24th Sept Ravens v Colts on Sun, 24th Sept Jets v Patriots on Sun, 24th Sept Seahawks v Panthers on Sun, 24th Sept Chiefs v Bears on Sun, 24th Sept Cardinals v Cowboys on Sun, 24th Sept Raiders v Steelers on Sun, 24th Sept Buccaneers v Eagles on Mon, 25th Sept Bengals v Rams on Mon, 25th Sept And here's this weeks game all in one, remember to follow our instagram and twitter to stay updated!

By Lily Belcher A fourth quarter pick-six by Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett secured a 27-17 victory over the Bears in Tampa Bay’s Sunday home opener. On the Bears’ 6-yard line with just over two minutes left in the game, Barrett intercepted a short pass by Bears quarterback Justin Fields and returned it for a touchdown. Head coach Todd Bowles said Barrett’s performance was unbelievable, especially considering his on- and off-the-field stressors. Barrett was sidelined in the 2022 season after tearing his Achilles tendon, but his off-season brought the hardest challenge. In April, his two-year-old daughter drowned in their family’s pool, something Barrett said he was struggling with every day. “You can’t even fathom going through something like that. To see him go through it and come out the other side. I’m sure he still has days, but to play like he’s playing right now, to be where he is right now, is unbelievable,” Bowles said in a postgame press conference. Barrett’s interception capped a strong defensive game for the Bucs, who got Fields for six sacks and nine quarterback hits against a hesitant Fields. The Bucs sacked Fields on back-to-back plays twice during Sunday’s game, showcasing a strong blitz strategy against a quick Bears offense. “Last week was more in the turnover category. This week was more in the sack category. Either way, you get pressure,” Bowles said. “…The guys understand the game plan and they help each other out.” Tampa Bay safety Christian Izien intercepted a pass on the Bears’ final possession, allowing the Bucs to run the final minute out. While Tampa Bay’s defense held Chicago’s offense to 236 yards and forced them to punt on five possessions, the young offense showed even more improvement under the new leadership of quarterback Baker Mayfield. “He’s savvy. You don’t have to be fast to be a dodging quarterback,” Bowles said about Mayfield’s ability to dodge the opponent’s blitz. “He has a good feel for the game and what’s around him and the awareness he has being a football player helps him out a great deal. He’s a very smart guy.” Mayfield connected on 26 of his 34 passes for 317 total yards. Evans caught six passes for 171 receiving yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception to give the Bucs a 10-7 lead at the beginning of the second quarter. The Bucs tacked on a field goal in the final two minutes of the half to extend their lead to six points. “Mike [Evans] is a stud. He’s been doing this for a long time at a high level…It was a throw it out of bounds or an only-he-can-get-it play there on the left sideline,” Mayfield said about Evans. Evans caught a 32-yard pass into the left corner to open the Bucs’ second half and leaned on the defense to hold the 20-10 lead through the third quarter. “He’s been doing it his whole career. He’s fresh, he’s healthy, he’s in a great place. He competes his butt off everyday in practice. It shows in the game. He prepared well,” Bowles said. A quick 90-yard touchdown drive by Chicago narrowed Tampa Bay’s lead with six minutes left in the game. Mayfield’s offense failed to move the ball into field goal range and turned the ball over to the Bears. Barrett’s pick-six at the end of the game gave the Bucs the edge they needed to bring their record to 2-0. “As we start to gel and win while we gel,” Bowles said. “It was a good victory for us.”

By: Cristina Hauerstein We are officially half way through the first month and we have 16 new scores to talk about, so let's get right into it. Remember to check the official NFL website for more information and let us know your own predictions! The Eagles win yet again 34-28 against the Vikings. The Bengals lose week 2 against the Ravens, 27-24. The Seahawks beat the Lions by 6 points, making the final 37-31. The Texans lose 31-20 against the Colts. The Buccaneers show up again winning 27-17 against the Bears. The Jaguars don't make it this week, losing against the Chiefs, 17-9. The Falcons take a close one point difference win against the Packers, the final score being 25-24. The Raiders take a big loss of 38-10 against the Bills. The Titans win in overtime 27-24 against the Chargers. The Rams take the second LA loss this week against the 49ers, the final being 30-23. The Giants win 31-28 against the Cardinals. The Jets lose 30-10 against the Cowboys. The Commanders win week 2, against the Broncos 35-33. The Patriots unfortunately lose 24-17 against the Dolphins. The Saints beat the Panthers 20-17 The Browns lose 26-22 against the Steelers. And that's this week's wrap up. Let us know your thoughts and opinions and keep an eye out for this week's games!

By Lily Belcher The Rays punched their fifth consecutive ticket to the postseason after the Texas Rangers lost Sunday afternoon, despite their own crushing extra-innings loss to the Baltimore Orioles. With a wildcard post season spot secured, the Rays still have a lot to play for in their final 11 games. Tampa Bay currently sits two games behind Baltimore in the AL East divisional race after going 2-2 in the teams’ final regular season series. The Rays opened the series with two strong victories against the Orioles, who have held the top spot in the division since the Rays’ July slump. The Rays were looking for a four-game sweep that would have given them first place and the tiebreaker against the O’s. Without game 163, any divisional tiebreaker is determined by the head-to-head record between the teams. In the tight race with Baltimore, a sweep to earn the tiebreaking record seemed like a necessity. A disappointing game 3 shutout squashed the tiebreaker hopes. Tampa Bay still had a chance to tie the division in the final game of the series, but fell short in eleven innings at Camden Yards. One positive to come out of the crushing loss was shortstop Tristan Gray making his MLB debut after Taylor Walls went on the paternity list. Gray got his first big league hit early in the game and hit the go-ahead homerun for the Rays in the eighth inning. Before he could finish celebrating, Christian Bethancourt knocked one over the fence, going back-to-back with the 27-year-old rookie. After the Rays took an exciting 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, they turned to reliever Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks gave up a solo shot to Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman to narrow the Rays’ lead and returned for the ninth, looking for the final outs. Manager Kevin Cash said the decision to use Fairbanks for two innings, a rare outing for the fastball hurler, was made because of the playoff intensity needed for the game. “It was a big game and we had the lead and [Fairbanks] had been fairly well rested with two days. We talked to him and kind of tried to prep a lot of the bullpen guys coming into this series that usage could alter a little bit,” Cash said. “I think we looked at this as as close to a post season game. It’s not a postseason game, but [it’s] as close as you’re going to get in the regular season at this point and [Fairbanks] was the right guy for that.” However, Adam Frazier had other plans with an RBI double to tie the game with two outs. A sacrifice fly by Cedric Mullins allowed Rutschman to score from second in the bottom of the eleventh as the Orioles walked it off. To pour salt on the wound, the Rays went into the clubhouse after the game to find the couches moved and lockers covered with tarp, clearly prepped for a celebration that never came. Despite the anti-climactic postseason berth, Cash was proud of his team for making the playoffs for the fifth straight season. “I’m really excited, really proud of this group. They’re all special in their own way,” Cash said. “…It’s taken a lot to get here. I think everybody realizes that, the injuries, plenty of things have taken place. But [I] really commend this group and [am] happy that we’re in and let’s see where we go.” The game 4 loss gave the Orioles a two-game lead that the Rays will have to fight to overcome in the final weeks of the regular season. The Rays’ division title chances are now dependent on chipping away at the Orioles lead by tackling their final four series. Even though the Rangers’ loss gave the Rays’ the postseason berth despite the game 4 outcome, the Rays are looking for most. Winning the division title means avoiding a three-game wildcard series and taking the extra days of rest before battling their way to the World Series. Sunday’s loss hurt their chances at the division title, but, in the words of Yogi Berra, “it’s not over til it’s over.” The Rays traveled back to St. Pete where they will host the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays, who hold the second wildcard spot ahead of the Rangers. The Angels are on a five-game losing streak, just secured their eighth consecutive season with a losing record and are eliminated from the playoffs. Their star Shohei Ohtani is officially out for the season and Mike Trout is still on the injured list, but expected to travel with the team. The Blue Jays are set to be the Rays’ biggest challenge, playing both a home and away series against their AL East foes. Toronto is hoping to make it past the wild card series in October after falling in the series in their last two postseason appearances. Between the two series against the Blue Jays, the Rays will travel to Beantown for two days to face the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are currently in a tight race with the Yankees for the worst team in the AL East. The Orioles will face the AL West first place Houston Astros, wildcard competitor Cleveland Guardians, last place Washington Nationals and the Red Sox in their final weeks.

By: Cristina Hauerstein Autumn leaves are falling, and pumpkin spice is back, but so is Sunday Night Football - or Thursday / Monday - and we are excited to continue with this new season of Football. Here are your week's games. Let us know your predictions and for more information please check the Official NFL website! Eagles v Vikings, Sept Thursday 15th Bengals v Ravens, Sept Sunday 17th Lions v Seahawks, Sept Sunday 17th Texans v Colts, Sept Sunday 17th Buccaneers v Bears, Sept Sunday 17th Jaguars v Chiefs, Sept Sunday 17th Falcons v Packers, Sept Sunday 17th Bills v Raiders, Sept Sunday 17th Titans v Chargers, Sept Sunday 17th Rams v 49ers, Sept Sunday 17th Cardinals v Giants, Sept Sunday 17th Cowboys v Jets, Sept Sunday 17th Broncos v Commanders, Sept Sunday 17th Patriots v Dolphins, Sept Sunday 17th Panthers v Saints, Sept Monday 18th Steelers v Browns, Sept Monday 18th Here we have this next week game! Remember to let us know your predictions either on our social media or the forum on our website!

By: Cristina Hauerstein Football is officially - OFFICIALLY - back now that week one is wrapped up with the first 16 wins of the 2023-24 season, and here are you're final results. If you're looking for more information, please check out the official NFL website. The Lions beat the Chiefs by a small margin of a point, the final being, 21-20. The Bengals took a devastating first 24-3 loss against the Browns. The Ravens beat the Texans 25-9 during week 1. The Vikings lose 20-17 to the Buccaneers. The Falcons win 24-10 against the panthers. The Cardinals take the third loss, against the Commanders, making the final 20-16. The Jaguars win their first season game 31-21 against the Colts. The Steeler lose big agaist the 49ers, 30-7. The Saints win another game this week by a point, 16-15, against the Titans. The Raiders, do the opposite, taking a one point loss agaisnt the Raiders, the end score being 17-16. The Eagles, ask predicted, win their first game against the Patriots 25-20. The Seahawks lose 30-13 against the Rams. The Dolphins win 36-24 against the Chargers, making every Florida team win this week. The Bears fall 38-20 against the Packers. The Cowboys sweep the Giants, winning 40-0. The Bills fall short against the Jets, 22-16. After this first week, where do you see these NFL teams going? Let us know and stay tunned for next week's schedule.

By Lily Belcher Quarterback Baker Mayfield seemed to fit nicely with the young Buccaneers team, securing a close 20-17 victory over the Vikings Sunday afternoon. Mayfield went back-and-forth with Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, but a decisive 57-yard field goal by Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin was enough to give the defending NFC South champions the edge. “It was a good test for us for our first match. We’re going to grow. We’re going to get better. Offensively we have a long way to go, but we’ll take all the wins we can get. It’s extremely hard in this league,” Mayfield said. The Bucs defense intercepted two fumbles off sloppy handoffs by Cousins in the first half. They scored first in U.S. Bank Stadium with a 36-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, who joined the Bucs in the off season. The Vikings responded with an 83-yard touchdown drive off seven quick plays. Cousins kept a quick tempo for his possessions, limiting huddles to throw off the Buccaneers defense. They tacked on a 25-yard field goal on their next possession to give them a 10-3 lead over Tampa Bay. Mayfield answered with a 28-yard shotgun pass to Mike Evans with less than two minutes to go in the half to tie the game. The Vikings made a 42-yard drive with less than a minute to go in the half and entered the red zone hoping to take the lead. As Cousins made a promising throw towards the end zone, Buccaneers free agent rookie Christian Izien snagged the pass for his first career interception. “Schematically they gave us a hard time in the beginning,” coach Todd Bowles said. “They did some things we had to get used to. I think the adjustments they made at halftime were outstanding. We started moving the ball some. We stuck with it.” The Bucs took a 17-10 lead with a touchdown by rookie wide receiver Trey Palmer in the third quarter off a 70-yard drive after receiving the kickoff and kept the Vikings offense at bay until the fourth. Cousins made a 20-play touchdown drive with a 4-yard connection into the end zone to tie the game before the Bucs drove the ball to the Vikings half for McLaughlin to score the winning points with his 57-yard, longest-career field goal. “I couldn’t have drawn it up any better. That’s what we got him for. He was accurate, he got it through the uprights. He made a hell of a kick,” Bowles said about McLaughlin’s final field goal. After the season opening 20-17 victory, the Bucs look forward to week two when they host the Bears. The new roster is still building camaraderie, but the first game was a promising look at what Tampa Bay has to offer this year. “It’s week one. We’re still growing together.,” Bowles said. “…They grew as a team. They’re continuing to grow as a team. I really like where they’re at. We just got to keep getting better.”

By Lily Belcher With the 2023 football season underway, the Buccaneers are set to make their third consecutive race for the NFC South division title. The Bucs, led by second-year head coach Todd Bowles, will travel to Minnesota, where they will take on the NFC North division champion Vikings at 1 p.m. The Bucs made an early playoff exit in 2022, but, with a new quarterback to lead the charge, they come into this season with something to prove. Former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield will take the opening snap for Tampa Bay’s starting offense. He looks to fill the shoes of Tom Brady, who retired in the offseason. After a preseason game, Mayfield said he is looking forward to seeing his offense come to life while putting their practice to the test in the first regular season game. "I think our group truly understands the system that we've put in [and] what we're trying to get accomplished,” Mayfield said. Alongside Mayfield, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans and Chris Godwin reclaimed their role on the starter’s roster and welcomed rookie Trey Palmer. The Nebraska Cornhuskers receiver was drafted by the Bucs in 2023 in the sixth round as the 191st overall pick. Palmer is one of 13 rookies on the 53-man roster, transforming the Bucs’ post-Brady team to a much younger lineup. “[Palmer] is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Godwin said in the preseason. “He’s a fast guy, man. I don’t [know if] people notice it or not, but he’s flying out there.” Cade Otton and Ko Kieft are both only in their second season, but are the most experienced tight ends on the Bucs’ roster. Otton posted an average of six yards per target and Kieft posted eight yards per target in 2022, compared to the league average of 7.23 yards. With Bucs center Ryan Jensen likely out for the 2023 season after his knee injury failed to heal properly, second-year Robert Hainsey will be Tampa Bay’s center this season. Hainsey was already stepping into the leadership role in the preseason, according to the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. “He’s sharp. He just gets them all on the same page, going to the right game. Whether it’s the run game or the protection, those are the guys that make this offense go,” Canales said. “We try to take as much off the quarterback as possible. So, Hainsey allows us to do that.” Prior to being tasked with raising the young Tampa Bay offense, Canales was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. He led the Seahawks to the 2022 playoffs after improving Geno Smith, who was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year last year. “I’m really excited about just the variety of the stuff we can [do]. Going into the preseason, [we were] just putting thoughts into execution, how can we get our system going,” Canales said. “Putting something out there that the guys could grab onto [and] play fast.” The Bucs will play the Vikings on Sunday, September 10 with kick off at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS and NFL+.

By Cristina Hauerstein The long awaited NFL 2023-24 season is back after a long summer and a quick preseason. The next 18 weeks we will be publishing articles and updates on the NFL season, with final results and team standings every month. Here's this first weeks match ups. Let us know who you think will win and for more information please visit the official NFL wesbite. Chiefs v Lions on Friday, Sept 8th Browns v Bengals on Sunday, Sept 10th Ravens v Texans on Sunday, Sept 10th Vikings v Buccanners on Sunday, Sept 10th Falcons v Panthers on Sunday, Sept 10th Commanders v Cardinals on Sunday, Sept 10th Colts v Jaguars on Sunday, Sept 10th Steelers v 49ers on Sunday, Sept 10th Saints v Titans on Sunday, Sept 10th Broncos v Raiders on Sunday, Sept 10th Patriots v Eagles on Sunday, Sept 10th Seahawks v Rams on Sunday, Sept 10th Chargers v Dolphins on Sunday, Sept 10th Bears v Packers on Sunday, Sept 10th Giants v Cowboys on Sunday, Sept 10th Jets v Bills on Monday, Sept 11th So, which match up are you most excited for? What 16 teams are going to win the first week? Let us know on our instagram or X! INSTAGRAM: @chirping.chicks X: @chirping_chicks

By: Cristina Hauerstein Although some of us are still on vacation, favorite some of our NHLers are back in their team's cities and trying for the up coming season. As training camps approach, people have already started speculating what this next season will look like for the different hockey teams in North America. Some believe it won't be much different from last season's standings while others expect big changes in the league with the different trades and signings that have been happening this off-season. Here's my own prediction on this year's standings. WAY-TOO-EARLY 2023-24 NHL STANDINGS Carolina Hurricanes Edmenton Oilers Boston Bruins Vegas Golden Knights Dallas Stars New Jersey Devils Colorado Avalanche Toronto Maple Leafs Los Angeles Kings Tampa Bay Lightning Minnesota Wild New York Rangers Seattle Kraken Nashville Predators Winnipeg Jets Buffalo Sabres Florida Panthers Calgary Flames New York Islanders Pittsburgh Penguins Dertroit Red Wings Ottawa Senators Vancouver Canucks St. Louis Blues Washington Capitals Chicago Blackhawks Arizona Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers Montreal Canadiens Columbus Blue Jackets Anahiem Ducks San Jose Sharks Although there is a few changes here and there, I don't believe we'll see drastic change in this upcoming 2023-24 season. Where do you see these teams ending up? Let us know!

By Lily Belcher All eyes are on Shohei Ohtani for what would be the biggest trade of the year. That is, if the Angels do deal him ahead of the August 1 trade deadline. Ohtani has just three months left on his 1 year/$30 million contract with the fourth-place Angels before he hits the free agent market. The modern-day Babe Ruth is expected to sign a major contract that could award him over $600 million dollars this off-season. It seems unlikely that the two-way phenomenon will sign with the Angels again, probably hoping to avoid making the same mistake as teammate Mike Trout, who signed a long-term deal with a losing team. However, almost all of the 29 other teams seem to be interested in talking with Shotime. The Angels will lose control of Ohtani at the end of the season, but trading him now gives Los Angeles the opportunity to pick up a player or two from another team. It’s a good idea on the Angels' side. They probably won’t make the playoffs (again) and are looking to sell. Exchanging their superstar for a few other lower-tier players might be the best option. And, if they sell him now, they can at least get a hitter, or a pitcher, or a good defender, given that they seem to be lacking in all areas. By trading Ohtani, the only thing the Angels will miss out on is the preliminary free agency discussion, since other teams cannot talk to Ohtani about his 2024 contract until he is officially released at the end of the season. This isn’t that big of a loss for the Halos because Ohtani won’t (or at least shouldn’t) resign with the team. So, who should he sign with? An argument can be, and has been, made for any of the other 29 teams. But, Ohtani should sign with a team that will at least make a respectable push for the playoffs next year. The Japanese native is also rumored to prefer to stay on the West Coast, due to his more private lifestyle and the slightly easier trip back to his hometown. Obviously, Diamondbacks’ and Dodgers’ fans think Shotime would fill the gaps in their rosters. The Diamondbacks might be an interesting option, but one star player doesn’t seem to be the answer in Arizona. According to PHNX D-Backs Podcast, Arizona needs a starting pitcher and could use a power hitter, but admitted that Ohtani is not a reasonable choice because of the price the Angels will ask for him. The Dodgers have the money and the players for the trade, but the celebrity-level attention the roster gets wouldn’t fit Ohtani’s private lifestyle. The team that makes the best case for Ohtani is the Seattle Mariners. The Emerald City showed Ohtani plenty of love during his visit for the All-Star Game, even petitioning him to join the Mariners during his at-bats, chanting “Come to Seattle.” Ohtani might have a mutual affection for the Mariners, specifically the legacy left by compatriot and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki. Ohtani, who grew up admiring the right fielder, reportedly went straight to where Suzuki’s locker used to be when he got to Seattle’s clubhouse for the All-Star break. Maybe the legacy of Suzuki isn’t enough to sway Ohtani, but the Mariners have more to offer. It is a smaller media market on the West Coast. They have plenty of potential, snapping a 21-year playoff drought last season, staying above .500 and having an even better season than in 2022. They are in third-place in the AL West, but are pushing for at least a wildcard spot in October. The Angels are in desperate need for an effective rebuild, so the Mariners’ farm system could offer some top prospects and/or a few hitters from their roster to the Angels for Ohtani. While The Athletic writer Ken Rosenthal reported the Halos were intent on keeping their two-way star, a deal with the Mariners may be intriguing enough to change President John Carpino’s mind.

By Lily Belcher Rays' fan-favorite Randy Arozarena posed his way through the All-Star festivities, launching homeruns over the fence and flashing leather in Seattle. Despite the Rays’ power, the American League lost to the National League for the first time since 2012 with a narrow 3-2 score. The team-RBI leader out-hit his daughter’s godfather, Rangers’ Adolis Garcia, with 24 in the first round. He smacked 35 homers into the stands of T-Mobile Park in the second round and was the only quarterfinalist to hit more runs in the second round compared to the first. Arozarena was just two shots short of Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final round, becoming the first Rays’ slugger to make it to the championship of the Derby. In Tuesday’s Mid-Summer Classic, Arozarena snagged a hit from Braves’ Freddie Freeman for the second out of the game, continuing his impressive performance. The Rays’ star crossed his arms, his celebratory pose that earned worldwide attention in the World Baseball Classic, and earned a nod from American League Starter and Yankee Garret Cole. He got the first hit of the All-Star game on a line drive to left-centerfield in the bottom of the first, but was caught stealing on an attempt to second for the final out of the inning. Yandy Diaz, who leads the team in batting average, added his own homerun to the All-Star week, knocking the first run into left field to put the American League on the board first. His first career All-Star run came just hours before the birth of his first child, who was scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday. Despite the Rays’ being snubbed by FOX’s broadcast of the All-Star reserves, Wander Franco and Shane McClanahan made the team. Franco was selected after Yankee’s right fielder, Aaron Judge, was injured, preventing him from playing. The 22-year-old shortstop played the final three innings, but only got one at bat, where he sent a fly ball to the warning track in right field for the first out in the bottom of the ninth. Shane McClanahan was also elected to the American League pitching staff after an outstanding 11-1 first half. The left hander would have been a likely choice to make his second consecutive start (since Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani didn’t pitch due to a cracked middle finger nail), but forfeited the start after being placed on the injured list with a mid-back tightness. After the exciting trip to Seattle, the Rays will take a few days to rest before kicking off the second half of the season with a short road trip to Kansas City and Arlington, Texas.