While you were sleeping, no doubt some NFL team had a field goal blocked or a pass interecepted and run back for a touchdown. What a crazy day in the NFL yesterday? We are only 3 weeks into the NFL season but there have already been a slew of missed field goals and extra points combined with made 60-yard kicks that would have been jaw dropping 10 years ago. Are the balls juiced?

We enter the final week of the MLB season and the Mets are running on fumes. They have gone from having almost the best record in baseball back in June (they may have had it and maybe it wasn’t in June but the SU research team is off for the Jewish holidays) to desperately hanging on for the final wild card spot in the National League. Now, we know past history says that the Mets can turn it on in October and you can never count them out but at this point, making the playoffs and losing in the Wild Card round will be a failed season. Is this the week that you paid over $700 million for Juan Soto to do something?

The Yankees appear to be comfortably locked into the top Wild Card slot and there is a tremendous battle now for the other two spots between Cleveland, Houston and Boston. Even Detroit is now in the mix. The Yankees cannot beat the good teams but they sure are good against the bad ones. Making the World Series this year is just not that hard in the American League as most of the teams are really medicore – including the Yankees. Note to Aaron Boone: stop platooning Ben Rice and find a spot for him every game. He is learning to hit lefties and there is no reason to sit him given his bat. Sure, his defense is a bit of a problem but just tell Volpe to throw strikes to first base.

Will this be the year where Aaron Judge has a great post-season? SU says it is. He is ready to stop swinging for the fences and put the ball in play come October. The Yankees will need to score a lot of runs – we all know that – and no lead is safe with this bullpen. As in no lead. SU still believes that they are overpowered by good pitching and Boston is scary in a short series given their starters. Success for this season has to be another World Series appearance.

SU believes the World Series champion will come out of the National League this year.

It used to be that only in college football did we see teams score with 25 seconds left in the game or half. But now, the NFL is in the same boat. Really, no lead is safe with long passes and kickers who are money from 60+ yards out. Crazy.

Can NFL and college players stop with the taunting and the gestures that come with 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties? A Michigan defensive player cost his team a punting situation on Saturday and last night, Karim Hunt, after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run had to do the throat slash gesture. Kicked then missed the extra point which was 15 yards further back. SU knows it is a different generation and players want to get the social media hits as well as show up the opposition’s players and fans, but how about “act like you’ve been there before?” I know: old man talking but the rules were made by old guys and they will enforce them.

Finally, a happy and healthy New Year to the SU Jewish subscribers who are celebrating this week. Really hoping for a better new year – in this country and abroad.