Bengals Beat Raiders in 26-19 Thriller

The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-19 in Saturday’s AFC wild-card matchup, earning their first postseason victory since 1991 and ending an eight-game playoff losing streak that dated back more than three decades.

On Saturday evening, Paul Brown Stadium was absolutely rocking as the Cincinnati Bengals hosted a playoff game for the first time since the 2015 season.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase performed in the playoffs, just as advertised. Burrow completed over 70% of his passes and tossed a pair of touchdowns. Chase was his favorite target, with nine catches for 119 yards.

The Bengals last won a playoff game 32 years and nine days ago, so long that it came against a now-defunct team, the Houston Oilers. Only two active Bengals players — punter Kevin Huber​​ and long snapper Clark Harris — were alive. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was 7. The playoff losing streak started the following week against the Raiders, who were in Los Angeles back then.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow was efficient Saturday, completing 24 of 34 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made all four of his field-goal attempts.

Giants Are Looking For A New Head Coach

The Giants are once again in the market for a new head coach as a once-proud franchise continues to sink to new depths on its way to hitting rock-bottom.

Joe Judge was spared the axe on Black Monday, but he did not survive another day in the job he ascended to almost exactly two years ago. Judge met with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch the day after the Giants finished off a miserable 4-13 season and Mara informed Judge on Tuesday that he was fired.

“Steve and I both believe it is in the best interest of our franchise to move in another direction,” Mara said. “We met with Joe to discuss the state of the team. I met again with Joe this afternoon, and it was during that conversation I informed Joe of our decision. We appreciate Joe’s efforts on behalf of the organization.

“I said before the season started that I wanted to feel good about the direction we were headed when we played our last game of the season. Unfortunately, I cannot make that statement, which is why we have made this decision.’’

Georgia Wins College Football Championship

Georgia’s agonizing 41-year wait is over.

With 54 seconds left in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship, Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo intercepted Alabama quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown — the longest pick-six in championship game history — cementing the No. 3 Bulldogs’ 33-18 win over the No. 1 Crimson Tide and the program’s first national championship since 1980.

The play brought Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on, to tears on the sideline, and as soon as the clock expired, Georgia’s assistant coaches and staff bolted to the elevators in the shaking press box at Lucas Oil Stadium, with one yelling, “Hell yeah!” as they thundered out cheering together.

On the field, coach Kirby Smart said he hugged 89-year-old Vince Dooley’s neck — the last coach at Georgia before Smart to win the national title — and they were both in tears.