The Weirdest Streak in Sports

August 22, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Good Morning,

The weirdest win streak in sports has finally ended. Good riddance. The last time the Ravens lost a preseason game, Lamar Jackson was in high school, the Cubs hadn\’t won the World Series, the Cavs hadn\’t come back from down 3-1, and Seahawks fans were still fuming at Pete Carroll for not running the ball.

A lot can happen in eight years, but we\’ve been covering this nonsense every August. No more, Baltimore…

Letter Rip!

NFL

The Weirdest Streak in Sports is Over

\"\"/ — *Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images*

Commanders Beat Ravens on Late Field Goal (29-28) & End Baltimore’s Ridiculous Preseason Win Streak at 24 Games (8 Years)

The end of an era! Honestly, how many years can you run the table with backups and practice-squad guys? Enough is enough, already. Monday night’s finale to Week 2 of the NFL preseason featured the Ravens and Commanders in a Chesapeake Bay showcase with history on the line. The Ravens’ 24-game preseason win streak came to an end after the Commanders put up nine points in the final five minutes to mount a 4th-quarter comeback (29-28). Baltimore hadn’t lost a preseason football game since 2015 — the longest preseason streak in NFL history.

Longest NFL Preseason Streaks

Ravens (2015-2023) — 24 Games

Packers (1959-1962) — 19 Games

Multiple Teams With 14 Games

The Weirdest Streak in Sports

The Ravens’ win streak is so bizarre because, frankly, it doesn’t really matter. Preseason NFL games are a glorified scrimmage. At the same time, winning 24 consecutive football games is downright incredible, especially when preseason football consists of playing backups, third-stringers, and guys just vying for the league minimum. That’s a testament to head coach John Harbaugh and the organization. If Baltimore really cared about winning these games (they don’t), Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham Jr. would’ve gotten reps. They didn\’t, because these games don\’t matter. But somehow, they do? Color me puzzled. Am I missing something?

The Significance of 24 Straight Wins

I want to keep putting “wins” in asterisks… Preseason, shmee-season. Winning 24 football games in a row is a mark that may live forever. To put it in context, the historic ’72 Dolphins (14-0) are the only team to go unbeaten in a single NFL season. The Colts won nine games to finish 2008 before 14 straight to open 2009 (23 regular-season games), and that’s the best regular-season NFL streak of all time. Both those teams did it with Hall of Fame players. You know, like Peyton Manning. The Ravens did this with Tyler Huntley and Trace McSorley throwing it to Devin Duvernay and Willie Snead. They can’t keep getting away with it!

That’s what I kept saying every time the streak tacked on another win. Year after year, it was like an August ghost of sportswriting nightmares. Something didn’t add up. It felt like a crime against football and what the preseason stands for. Opposing teams certainly got tired of the questions before every preseason game.

“I think it’s a stupid record. I mean who gives a (expletive) about preseason games? If we beat it, great. We’re going to beat it, so there we go.” — Sam Cosmi (Commanders O-Lineman)

Cosmi hit the griddy after the Commanders scored a touchdown in the first quarter.

Throughout these eight years of this meaningless-yet-astonishing streak, the Ravens have just one playoff win. Maybe that was the trick? Turn the lights up. Last night’s loss was the first ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast of 2023, and the primetime atmosphere did Baltimore in.

Love it or hate it, what Harbaugh and the Ravens accomplished over the last eight years was historic and mind-blowing. What a run. No matter how weird. And after all that, a late penalty set up a game-winning field goal with 14 seconds left, and we can finally wave goodbye to the strangest streak in sports history.

Game Notes

Commanders new QB1 Sam Howell put together a squeaky clean first half (19/25, 188 yards, 2 TDs). For the Ravens, rookie WR Zay Flowers continues to impress (2 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD).

Watch: Commanders End Ravens’ Preseason Streak at 24 Games (29-28)

USA Today: Ravens\’ 24-Game Preseason Win Streak Ends in Dramatic Fashion

Yahoo! Sports: Commanders Ride Sam Howell, Late Rally Past Ravens to End One of Sports’ Strangest Streaks

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GOLF

Fall Guys: Starting Strokes & Ryder Snubs

\"\"/ — *Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images*

Tour Championship Starting Strokes & Ryder Cup Captains Picks Highlight Golf\’s Fall of Fun

After 46 PGA Tour events dating back to last fall, the finale is almost here. One last event determines the winner of the FedEx Cup this weekend with starting strokes in place following the BMW Championship. It\’s tough for the field to see a path beyond Scottie Scheffler\’s red-hot play. Giving the best golfer in the world any advantage is a scary thought, but anything can happen. Who holds the edge in strokes to begin this weekend’s Tour Championship? Only 30 players are left standing, and it\’s Scheffler vs. The Field with Round 1 Thursday at East Lake.

Plus, automatic qualifiers for next month’s Ryder Cup are all the rage this week. Nine players are locked with 15 total spots left. Who will the captains choose to fill out the teams for Rome? Golf’s fun-filled fall slate has finally arrived.

Starting Strokes (Tour Championship)

10-Under: Scottie Scheffler

8-Under: Viktor Hovland

7-Under: Rory McIlroy

6-Under: Jon Rahm

5-Under: Lucas Glover

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4-Under: Max Homa, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick

3-Under: Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele

2-Under: Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Corey Conners, Si Woo Kim

1-Under: Nick Taylor, Taylor Moore, Collin Morikawa, Adam Schenk, Jason Day

Even Par: Sam Burns, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka, Emiliano Grillo

Tour Championship

East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, GA (Aug. 24-27)

PGA: Tour Championship: Fedex Cup Starting Strokes for Tour Championship, Explained

2023 Ryder Cup Selections

Following the BMW Championship, the top half of the U.S. Ryder Cup picks are now locked. Sunday marked the end of Ryder Cup qualifying, and captain Zach Johnson will be tasked with filling out the rest of the 12-man roster. His six captain selections will be announced next week (Aug. 29) after the Tour Championship. Who would you take? (bottom of today’s edition)

$\"🇺🇸\"$ Team USA Ryder Cup

1. Scottie Scheffler $\"🔒\"$

2. Wyndham Clark $\"🔒\"$

3. Brian Harman $\"🔒\"$

4. Patrick Cantlay $\"🔒\"$

5. Max Homa $\"🔒\"$

6. Xander Shauffele $\"🔒\"$

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7. Brooks Koepka

8. Jordan Spieth

9. Cam Young

10. Collin Morikawa

11. Keegan Bradley

12. Sam Burns

Hopefuls: Rickie Fowler, Denny McCarthy, Justin Thomas, Lucas Glover, Russell Henley, Tony Finau, Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris, Harris English

$\"🇪🇺\"$ Team Europe (3): Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland are the only three European players who have secured roster spots. Europe selections will be made by captain Luke Donald on Sept. 3.

Ryder Cup

Marco Simone Country Club, Rome, Italy (Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

Yahoo! Sports: The Case For, And Against, Brooks Koepka as a Ryder Cup Captain’s Pick

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NFL

The Colts Are Crumbling

\"\"/ — *Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images*

Colts Give RB Jonathan Taylor Permission to Seek Trade After Chaotic Preseason

Jonathan Taylor got his wish, and the Colts are back to being the laughing stock of the AFC. After a month-long dispute with ownership, Jonathan Taylor was given permission to seek a trade on Monday. Taylor had spoken publicly about feeling disrespected by Indy entering Year 4 (a contract year) without a long-term deal after Colts owner Robert Irsay denounced the infamous running backs zoom call. The decline in running back value has been a topic we’ve covered extensively in recent years, and it’s gotten worse this time around. After Ezekiel Elliot (Patriots) and Dalvin Cook (Jets) sat through free agency, they eventually signed 1-year deals. So did Saquon Barkley (Giants). Austin Ekeler (Chargers) was as disgruntled as anyone. And Josh Jacobs (Raiders) is still holding out. So how high is Taylor’s value? And where might he end up?

JT’s Production…

Has been pretty remarkable. Taylor was the 41st overall pick by the Colts in 2020 (2nd Round), and he was the third running back taken that year. Only Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Chiefs) and D’Andre Swift (Lions) were drafted earlier. JT has outperformed both of them, amassing over 4,600 yards and 36 touchdowns in three seasons. He earned a pro bowl nod in 2021, and few ballcarriers in the league have been more productive as the bell-cow back. Taylor is only 24 years old, and he needs his next contract to be secure, and large, because it’ll likely be his only major extension before the league deems him expendable.

During JT’s stint with Indy…

The Colts are 24-25-1. They’ve had three head coaches — Frank Reich, Jeff Saturday, Shane Steichen — and six quarterbacks — Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, and now, Anthony Richardson. Tack on the devaluation of RBs and an owner who seems dug in on not paying his star player, and you’ve got a holdout showdown in Indy. Taylor has yet to suit up for the Colts this preseason, citing injuries and a trade request. So where could he land?

Potential Landing Spots

It’s difficult to picture a team willing to make a move for a running back that demands a high salary, unless it’s a one-season rental in a contract year. The Colts want a first-round pick (yikes). Let’s play pretend. Here are nine teams that might make sense, tiered from most likely to least likely based on rumors and reports we’ve read.

Tier 1: Bears, Dolphins, Commanders

Tier 2: Cowboys, Chiefs, Bengals

Tier 3: Rams, Bucs, Ravens

NBC Sports: Dolphins Reportedly Exploring Trade for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

B/R: Jonathan Taylor Gets Permission to Seek Trade, Colts Want 1st-Round Pick

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HIGHLIGHTS

MLB

Cal Raleigh Has a 2-HR, 6-RBI Night, Mariners WIn 7th Straight via Blowout (14-2)

Marcell Ozuna Hits 2 HRs, Becomes 5th Braves Player in 25+ HR Club

Cubs Maintain Grip on NL Wild Card With Late Win Over Tigers (7-6)

Soccer

Christian Pulisic Scores Stunner in Great Serie A Debut for AC Milan

Little League World Series

Curacao def. Venezuela (2-1)

Chinese Taipei def. Japan (10-0)

Texas def. California (3-1)

Washington def. Tennessee (6-2)

Track

Sha’Carri Richardson Becomes 1st American Woman to Win 100M at World Championships Since 2017

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STORYLINES

Ranking All 8 NFL Divisions

ESPN’s Dan Graziano is fascinated with the new potential in the NFL playoff format that means, someday, an NFL division could send all four teams to the postseason. Using the Football Power Index (FPI), he ranks all eight divisions with a deep NFL projection. (ESPN+)

What’s Next for Women’s Soccer?

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup proved the recent ‘exponential growth’ of women’s soccer is a new force in sports after the USWNT crashed out early and other teams got their share of the spotlight. So what’s next for the world’s game? (Sporting News)

MLB Power Rankings

Late August means turning up the heat on MLB wild card races. We’re dreaming of potential World Series matchups. The Yankees are plummeting and the Mariners are soaring. Let’s ask one burning question in each league. (CBS Sports)

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NEWS

Spain’s Soccer President Criticized for Kissing Player at World Cup Ceremony (SI)
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs Expected to End Holdout, Return for Week 1 (CBS Sports)
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Says ‘Of Course’ He Would Play in Saudi Arabia (B/R)
Scott Van Pelt to Replace Suzy Kolber on ESPN’s New ‘Monday Night Countdown’ (Yahoo! Sports)
Northwestern Players Speak Out About Unfair Lack of ‘Due Process’ in Pat Fitzgerald Firing (ESPN)
9-Time Pro Bowl Linebacker & Hall of Famer Maxie Baughn Dies at 85 (USA Today)

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SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

MLB

Giants at Phillies (6:40 pm ET)

Blue Jays at Orioles (7:05 pm ET)

Mets at Braves (7:20 pm ET)

Red Sox at Astros (8:10 pm ET)

Twins at Brewers (8:10 pm ET)

Reds at Angels (9:38 pm ET)

Marlins at Padres (9:40 pm ET)

WNBA

Aces at Dream (7:00 pm ET)

Sun at Mystics (7:00 pm ET)

Wings at Lynx (8:00 pm ET)

LLWS (Loser’s Bracket)

Mexico vs. Venezuala (1:00 pm ET)

Tennessee vs. Nevada (3:00 pm ET)

Japan vs. Panama (5:00 pm ET)

California vs. Rhode Island (7:00 pm ET)

Download The Sportsletter\’s Must-Watch Calendar

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POLL

Question of the Day

Six of the 12 Ryder Cup spots for Team USA are secure, and Zach Johnson has the task of filling out the roster by next week. Of the remaining top-15 available American golfers, who would you select with your last six Ryder Cup picks for Team USA?

Top Players (6-12): Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Cam Young, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns

Hopefuls (13-21): Rickie Fowler, Denny McCarthy, Justin Thomas, Lucas Glover, Russell Henley, Tony Finau, Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris, Harris English

Reply to today’s newsletter with your six picks

Results will be reported in tomorrow’s edition