Sarni's Scrolls: NFL again needs to flex its muscles

By Jim Sarni

Miami Dolphins vs. Philadelphia Eagles was everything we wanted in a Sunday Night Football game.

Two superior 5-1 teams. A pair of star quarterbacks in Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. Pretty uniforms.

The heavyweight clash lived up to expectations... a thriller than was not decided until deep into the fourth quarter.

So what does NBC give America this Sunday?

The 2-5 Chicago Bears at the 2-4 Los Angeles Chargers.

With no World Series game to turn to.

The schedule-maker is not kind to NBC the rest of the way this season. One Eagles game. One Chiefs game. No Dolphins. No 49ers.

Instead, the Vikings twice, the Broncos twice, the Packers twice. The Patriots, the Raiders, the Chargers. Losers.

The NFL needs to flex its muscles and tush-push some better games our way.

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A monumental Monday Night Baseball doubleheader:

5 -- NLCS Game 6 with the Philadelphia Phillies leading the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on TBS.

8 -- ALCS Game 7 with the Texas Rangers at the defending World Series champion Houston Astros on FS1.

NLCS Game 7, if necessary, is scheduled for Tuesday night.

The World Series begins Friday on Fox.

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■ Out: Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy... part of the wave of ESPN layoffs.

■ In: Doris Burke, Doc Rivers... replacements on ESPN/ABC's No. 1 team with Mike Breen.

That's the big broadcast news as the NBA tips off its 78th season on Tuesday with five consecutive nights of doubleheaders. Fourteen top teams.

■ Tuesday (TNT): Lakers-Nuggets; Suns-Warriors.

■ Wednesday (ESPN): Celtics-Knicks; Mavericks- Spurs (Victor Wembanyama debut).

■ Thursday (TNT): 76ers-Bucks; Suns-Lakers.

■ Friday (ESPN): Heat-Celtics; Warriors-Kings.

■ Saturday (NBA TV): Knicks-Pelicans; Bucks-Suns.

National TV appearances: Warriors (29), Lakers (28), Celtics (26), Suns (25).

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ESPN is debuting Frozen Frenzy, an NHL whiparound show, on Tuesday.

All 32 teams will be in action, led by a tripleheader beginning at 6 p.m. -- Maple Leafs-Capitals, Bruins-Blackhawks, Flyers-Golden Knights.

The additional 13 Tuesday night games are available on NHL Power Play on ESPN+ with 15-minute staggered start times

.The whip-around, look-in studio show will be hosted by John Buccigross and Kevin Weeks from 7-8 p.m. on ESPN+ and then 8 p.m.–1:30 a.m. on ESPN2 and ESPN+ for a combined 6.5 hours of non-stop NHL coverage\

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ETC

oRb Gronkowski has replaced Jimmy Kimmel as host of the Los Angeles Bowl. "I'm going to turn it up."Tom Rinaldi did a pregame show funny piece on Tom Rinaldi, defensive line coach for Southeastern Louisiana.Yes, that's veteran Jim Joyce in the Geico commercial with the Griffeys

.Derek Jeter's second Wagoneer commercial is getting heavy play, featuring a special rendition of "Drove All Night," a great song written for Roy Orbison and covered by Celine Dion.

The New England Patriots brought back their silver-grey pants Sunday. Better look than all-blue.

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Nine of the AP college football Top 10 will be in either the SEC or Big Ten next season. All but the ACC's Florida State.Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy is now the Heisman Trophy betting favorite

.Pat McAfee is casting doubt over his future on ESPN's "GameDay." The majority of fans in one survey don't like him.

There are four U.S. men in the Top 15... 10. Taylor Fritz, 12. Tommy Paul, 14. Ben Shelton, 15.

 Francis Tiafoe.Coco Gauff donated her U.S. Open-winning outfit and shoes to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. On display for fans to view until the end of the year.

Tennis icon Althea Gibson is one of five American women who will appear on a new set of quarters in 2025.***Barcelona will wear a special Rolling Stones-sponsored kit for the El Classico fixture this weekend

.Tara Lipinski, 41, and director husband Todd Kapostasy are expecting a baby via surrogate.

Cher has an ice cream named Cherlato.

The 2023 tree of the year is a 484-year-old sweet chestnut. Better luck next time, Stanford Tree

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THEY SAID IT

"They've got a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback, so they're gonna make some things and that's just the way it is. But we've got ourselves a pig farmer at quarterback so we're proud of that guy too." -- Utah coach Kyle Whittingham after the Utes and QB Bryson Barnes beat USC and QB Caleb Williams

."We've got one. He's probably on suicide watch right now." -- Clemson coach Dabo Sweeney, asked if his team has a sports psychologist after the Tigers lost to Miami.

"Are you watching 'Fboy Island'? The answer should be F-yeah." -- Tom Werme, reading The CW promo during ACC football telecast.

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Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television.