Chargers drop yet another close game against Kansas City

Chargers fail to slow down the Chiefs offense while L.A. can only find the end zone once in the second half.

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1. Chargers drop yet another close game against Kansas City

For the second week in a row, the Chargers were close to finishing off a very good team on national television. But as The Sporting Tribune’s Fernando Ramirez writes, “Keywords ‘were close.’” The Chargers dropped to 5-5 after a 30-27 loss to the 8-2 Kansas City Chiefs and Ramirez has all the details on the Chargers’ latest thrilling loss.

It felt like déjà vu watching the Chargers put up points in the first half and their quarterback, Justin Herbert, playing at a high level. The offense combined to score seven points in the second half of the 49ers and Chiefs game. The Chargers defense gave up big plays that led to big points. A team left frustrated after losing two games in a row that they had in the palm of their hand.

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2. Raiders’ Carr and Adams are a blockbuster duo

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 22-16 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos looked like a climactic scene from a movie. The Sporting Tribune’s Tony Capobianco was in Denver to watch the drama play out as Derek Carr and Davante Adams led the Raiders to a Hollywood-like comeback victory over the Broncos.

Quarterback Derek Carr fighting for time and space looking for a target, sees Davante Adams wide open en route to the end zone. With mere seconds to spare and a Denver defender within an arm’s length, he fires the football towards his receiver. "It's plays like that him and I dreamed about in college,” Carr said. “To get to have a moment like that, we'll remember it forever."

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3. Rams QB Matthew Stafford leaves game vs. Saints in concussion protocol

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford — cleared Saturday from the concussion protocol — left in the third quarter of Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints for a concussion evaluation. The defending Super Bowl champion Rams are now 3-7, tied for the second fewest win in the league. The Sporting Tribune has the latest on the Rams’ nightmarish season.   

Stafford came out of the game at the 9:38 mark of the quarter after being sacked for a 9-yard loss. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by Bryce Perkins. Stafford was placed in NFL concussion protocol after the team’s loss to Tampa Bay in a Week 9 game. Los Angeles started nine different combinations on the offensive line in its first nine games.

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4. No. 8 UCLA falls to No. 5 Baylor for second straight loss

After falling to the No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday, the UCLA Bruins had a redemption opportunity against the No. 5 Baylor Bears. However, they failed to capitalize, losing 80-75 in the Continental Tire Main Event consolation game, finishing the tournament 0-2. The Sporting Tribune’s Kamran Nia has the latest on UCLA’s forgettable trip to Las Vegas. 

The UCLA Bruins were on their back foot all night. They dropped behind by nine points early, then clawed back to take the lead. Then, the Bruins fell again but cut the deficit before halftime. Finally, they found themselves behind once more, but by then, it was too late. LJ Cryer and Adam Flagler led the Bears' effort by shutting the down the Bruins' runs with scoring. Cryer finished the night with 28 points, and Flagler ended with 22 points. The Bruins have been unable to receive much production this season outside of their veteran quartet of Jaime Jaquez, Tyger Campbell, Jaylen Clark, and David Singleton. When the group was relatively ineffective on Friday, the rest of the team failed to step up.

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5. USMNT are a global melting pot of experience

A melting pot of heritage, culture, and international training has built the U.S. Men’s National Team representing the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup into a blend representative of America and one that might lift the country further into the tournament than ever before. The Sporting Tribune’s Chandrima Chatterjee has the latest on the United States at the World Cup in Qatar.

As one of the more senior players representing the United States in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Acosta finds himself uniquely poised as an emissary of what this youthful team actually heralds – embracing our position as an ever-evolving melting pot where the best of many cultures blend into one. Fresh off winning the MLS Cup with LAFC, Acosta, who hails from Texas is just a 27-year-old, but he has seen the best and worst of this country, and whether he realizes it or not, he embodies many of the qualities of his teammates, his team, the very 26 men who are about to make history as the second youngest U.S. side at a World Cup who are also remarkably a fusion of many cultures, both by birth and by training. The only player with prior World Cup experience is defender DeAndre Yedlin, who was at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, and even he played in England (Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham) as well as in Turkey for Galatasaray.

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6. Anthony Davis leads Lakers to rout of hapless Spurs

Anthony Davis recorded 30 points and 18 rebounds as the Lakers dominated the San Antonio Spurs 123-92 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday to win their season-best third straight game. The Sporting Tribune has the latest on the suddenly streaking Lakers.

The Lakers were without LeBron James for the fourth straight game because of an adductor strain but barely missed a beat. They were up by 18 points at halftime and never allowed San Antonio to get in contention. It didn’t help that the Spurs missed their first 11 shots of the third quarter, not making a field goal for the first 7:32 of the period while falling behind 85-53.

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7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports

Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:

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8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick  

Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:

Utah Jazz at LA Clippers: $15

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9. On the Air presented by Pirnia Law

Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region:

5:00 p.m. – Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues – Bally Sports West

7:30 p.m. – Utah Jazz at LA Clippers – Bally Sports SoCal    

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10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune 

On Friday’s show, the crew talked talked about WrestleMania coming to Los Angeles with WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio and Bianca Belair.

Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Fan in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.

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That’s it for today. Talk to you all tomorrow!