Issue V – Welcome!
Every October, I can count on two things…
The leaves 🍁 changing color
The Chicago Cubs breaking my heart 💔
To catch you up, the Chicago Cubs made it past the Wild Card round of the 2025 MLB Playoffs last week. This pushed them into the National League Division Series (NLDS).
I was so excited when they advanced . But THEN they traveled just 90 miles north on Saturday, and lost 9-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers. 😭
And it seems like whenever I catch a game, they don’t play well.
So, from here on out, you’ll catch me changing the channel any time the Cubs play. ‘Cuz I’m not about to jinx it! #SUPERSTITIOUS
– jen
In today’s memo:
How did the NFL hash marks come to be?
Who’s Peter? 🐶
Who’s who in the 2025 MLB Playoffs
How the WNBA Finals are going down
AND MORE!
PS: Be on the look out for an up-and-coming NFL Football Guide!
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BUT FIRST…
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NFL 🏈
THE HISTORY OF THE HASH MARK
Photo: iStock
Here’s a quick history lesson you can drop at the next happy hour: before 1933, there were no hash marks on the NFL football field. If a play died inches from the sideline, the next snap happened right there.
The breaking point came when the 1932 indoor championship was played in a cramped arena with improvised rules. Yeah, not ideal.
It was clear football needed standardized “inbounds” spots so every snap wasn’t a geometry problem. So, in 1933, the hash mark was introduced, painted 10 yards in from each sideline.
Then in 1935, the hashes slid to 15 yards from the sideline, increasing to 20 yards in 1945.
In 1972, the NFL made the modern move we see today: hashes aligned with the goalposts (18’6” apart), which sets each hash about 70’9” from the sideline. Today, those little dashes dictate everything on the field, from ball placement to first-down conversions.
So, next time you’re watching a game with friends and the ball gets “walked in” after a sideline tackle, just remember that’s the hash mark doing what it was intended to do: keeping the game off the sidelines.
Week 5 Final Scores
THUR, Oct 2
San Francisco 49ers (4-1) 26, Los Angeles Rams (3-2) 23
SUN, Oct 5
Minnesota Vikings (3-2) 21, Cleveland Browns (1-4) 17
Indianapolis Colts (4-1) 40, Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) 6
New Orleans Saints (1-4) 26, New York Giants (1-4) 14
Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) 37, New York Jets (0-5) 22
Denver Broncos (3-2) 21, Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) 17
Carolina Panthers (2-3) 27, Miami Dolphins (1-4) 24
Houston Texans (2-3) 44, Baltimore Ravnes (1-4) 10
Tennesse Titans (1-4) 22, Arizona Cardinals (2-3) 21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) 38, Seattle Seahawks (3-2) 35
Detroit Lions (4-1) 37, Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) 24
Washington Commanders (3-2) 27, Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) 10
New England Patriots (3-2) 23, Buffalo Bills (4-1) 20
MON, Oct 6
Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) – 8:15 PM EST, ABC/ESPN
Week 6 Byes: Vikings & Texans
COLLEGE FOOTBALL 🏈
THE GOODEST BOY OF COLLEGE GAME DAY
If you ever catch a glimpse of ESPN's College Game Day on Saturday mornings, you just might get lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Peter.
Some background: Rece Davis runs point as host of the show, while analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pat McAfee bring film-room brains, Heisman cred, and a lot of chaos.
So, who’s Peter? Well, he’s Kirk’s golden retriever and Game Day’s unofficial morale officer. He trots through behind-the-scenes shots, parks at Kirk’s feet during prep, and pops up on social feeds with main character energy.
Students are now making “WE ❤️ PETER” signs, sneak him into cameos, and social clips of his head tilt do stupid numbers on Instagram.
Peter even enjoys flying private, since that’s how Kirk gets from each College Game Day set to his Saturday night calling booth.
Oh to be Peter. 😭
MLB ⚾️
NEXT UP: THE DIVISION SERIES
Now that we’re past the Wild Card round, allow me to introduce you to your official playoff contenders:
National League Division
The Los Angeles Dodgers have household names everywhere on the roster and depth that wears you down. If the bullpen (backup pitchers) gets hot, good night 🌙 and see you tomorrow.
The Philadelphia Phillies know how to win. With a veteran core they have no problem finding their stride on the offense. One loud inning can swing an entire series.
The Milwaukee Brewers have a deadly combo: they can pressure pitchers during at bats, and have a bullpen stacked full of hot hands. Give them an early lead and you’ll never catch up.
The Chicago Cubs will surprise you with power plays and a scrappy defense. 👀 Clean starts = wins, but that’s only if they avoid early mistakes and errors.
American League Division
The Toronto Blue Jays are balanced and bossy on defense making sure you pay for your mistakes. If the all goes well, Toronto controls the pace and the vibes.
The New York Yankees are the team you love to hate. Full of star power for days and October experience you can’t teach, the Yankees are a team that will having you watching your back.
The Seattle Mariners have big arms, bigger swings, ⚾️ and a team that can flip a game in one inning. When the batting rotation settles, they’re built to squeeze a best-of-five series.
The Detroit Tigers are young, fearless, and clearly not here for a field trip. They thrive in chaos; if games get weird late, Detroit leans in.
WNBA 🏀
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS
Last you and I talked, we were still waiting for the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever to wrap up their semi-finals series. Now, just 7 days later, we’re headed to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals (yes – things do move quickly!) between the Phoenix Mercury and the Aces.
And so far, the Aces are dominating 2-0. But that’s not too surprising, and here’s why…
The Aces’ Triple Threat
On the Vegas side of the ball, the Aces have experience and connectivity, especially between A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray who have played together for the last five seasons. And when it comes to winning on the big stage, that kind of history goes a long way.
The Mercury is Struggling
Early foul trouble and an inability to guard Young in Game 2 has landed the Mercury in hot water. While the WNBA Finals are a best of 7 finale, dropping game three at home would more than likely seal their fate.
MORE NEWS
TOP HEADLINES
NFL – Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was stabbed and then arrested in Indianapolis over the weekend. This story is a wild one, and details are still surfacing as to what exactly happened.
NFL – The Jets are the first team in league history to start the season 0-5 with no takeaways (aka zero forced turnovers by the defense).
COLLEGE – Texas and Penn State fall out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2022. Both teams lost to unranked teams over the weekend.
NBA – The NBA season tips off on Oct. 21st. Here are 10 names analysts say could make a difference for the 2025-26 season.
FANTASY
ANOTHER WEEK IN FANTASY
It was a relatively quiet week, but here’s my advice on who to drop, keep, watch, and snag as we head into Week 6:
Jonathan Taylor (RB – Colts) had another stellar week with 30-pts in fantasy. If you have him on your roster, KEEP’EM. If you’re looking for a solid running back, SNAG’EM!
Rico Dowdle (RB – Panthers) stepped up big for the Panthers in the absence of Chuba Hubbard (calf), scoring a career-high 32.4 points. If Hubbard remains sidelined, SNAG’EM.
Mac Jones (QB – 49ers) stepped in for starter Brock Purdy (toe) in Week 5, leading the 49ers to a win over the Rams. WATCH how things play out this week, but Jones would be a solid start if Purdy stays out.
Alvin Kamara (RB – Saints) was a pretty big let down in Week 5. Scoring just 9.5 PPR fantasy points, some analysts suggest you bench him, while others say he’s still solid at the RB2 spot. Mark this one to WATCH and be ready to make a game-day decision.
Geno Smith (QB – Raiders) threw three interceptions 🫣 (aka tossed the ball to the other team) in Sunday’s matchup. If he continues to struggle with consistency next week, DROP’EM.
TERMINOLOGY
TUSH PUSH
Made popular by the Eagles offense in recent years, the “Tush Push” (aka “Brotherly Shove,” aka “quarterback sneak”) is a play that teams use when they’re close to a first down. Think of it like moving a couch through a doorway: the quarterback is the couch, the linemen clear a small path, and his teammates get behind him and push to help him cross the line.
Because the Eagles do it with great timing and muscle, it works a lot, which is why some people think it’s “too easy” while others say it’s just smart teamwork.