Sports this 'n' that

 The Los Angeles Dodgers have waited 32 years to win another World Series. This morning, they're on the verge of doing just that.

As Clayton Kershaw continues to exorcise the postseason demons of his past, the Dodgers now have a 3-2 lead in games over the Tampa Bay Rays following a 4-2 win on Sunday night, memorable only because Tampa's Manuel Margot, a former San Diego Padre whom Kershaw has faced many times before, was caught trying to steal home.

The last time someone tried stealing home in the Fall Classic? Brad Fullmer, then with the Angels, in 2002, against----wait for it---Kershaw. The Angels went on to win the Freeway Series that year.

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Two more teams fell from the ranks of the undefeated Sunday in NFL play.

NFC West leader Seattle dropped a 37-34 overtime decision to resurgent Arizona, tightening the division race even more, as the Los Angeles Rams will take the field tonight vs. Chicago.

In a battle of unbeatens in the AFC, North leader Pittsburgh defeated South front-runner Tennessee when old nemesis Stephen Gostkowski missed a game-tying field goal with 11 ticks left on the clock.

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Dallas Cowboys owner/GM/President Jerry Jones is just as stubborn as some of his fellow geriatrics (i.e. Vince McMahon, President Trump). His refusal to hire an actual, full-time general manager is a big reason why the 'Boys keep falling short.

More proof of this came with the hiring of former Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, who is no longer the game manager he was with the Packers. At the end of his run there, and so far this season with Dallas, McCarthy is coaching like he's Charlie McCarthy, but Jones is no Edgar Bergen.

Dallas was blown out by the Washington Deviants, 25-3, Sunday, but the big story was a late hit on QB Andy Dalton, who probably thinks he's back in Cincinnati this morning, by Washington's Jon Bostic, who was rightfully ejected for his stupidity.

Image courtesy of Yahoo!

Now, the Deviants and Cowboys are tied for 2nd in the NFC Least at 2-5 behind Philadelphia. Barring a late winning streak, the division winner is assured of the #4 seed in the conference come playoff time. As you can see above, Dalton was helped off the field, and went through the concussion protocol. Status for the next game is questionable at the moment.

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Somehow, ye scribe went the entire day without a Peytonville ad from Nationwide Insurance. Unfortunately, Peyton Manning was still heard from.

Manning is the new shill for Tide detergent. Apparently, Procter & Gamble realized that Rob Gronkowski might've accidentally ate some detergent pods like they were candy (actually, his contract with P & G expired), so Gronk's been replaced by the Mayor of Simpleton, who apparently doesn't know thing one about remote control equipment.

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We joke about how the Patriots' game day catering now consists of yogurt (due to Cam Newton doing ads for Dannon) and sub platters (Bill Belichick is one of the NFL shills for Subway). Unfortunately, at 2-4 after getting blown out at home by San Francisco, maybe the menu needs to change. Newton was benched in the 3rd quarter, replaced by Jarrett Stidham, after throwing three interceptions. Meanwhile, it's beginning to look like Tom Brady will have the last laugh.

Brady, Gronk, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dispatched Las Vegas, frustrating Jon Gruden even more. Tampa is 5-2, atop the NFC South, a half-game up on New Orleans, which would own the tiebreaker if they complete a season sweep of the Bucs later this season.