White Sox Force One Game Playoff

162 games is not quite enough to figure out everything in the AL playoff picture. The Chicago White Sox, behind a grand slam by Alexei Ramirez, defeated the Detroit Tigers forcing a one game playoff between the White Sox and Minnesota Twins to determine the winner of the AL central, and the chance to square off with the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

The Tigers were up 2-1 after the top of the 6th, but the grand slam by Ramirez gave the White Sox a lead that they were not going to give up. Gavin Floyd picked up the win bumping his record to 17-8.

The game was a makeup of a rainout earlier this month, and was delayed 3 hours by rain moving through the Chicago area.

Linehan The First To Go

The first coach to go this NFL season? Now former Rams coach Scott Linehan got the unfortunate title. The coach was fired after a 31-14 loss to the Bills, capping off an 0-4 start where the Rams only put up a total of 43 points. It seems as though Linehan lost control of his team, after star running back Steven Jackson pubicly aired his concerns on a St. Louis radio show last week, where he said the locker room was "kind of on eggshells". He also disagreed with the benching of starter Marc Buldger.

What does an unhappy superstar, unhappy ownership, and an 0-4 start get you?
A kick out the door.

NL PLayoff Picture Set

Another year, same result. For the second time in as many years the New York Mets have failed to make for playoffs after having led either the division or the wild card for the majority of the season. The task was simple. Win today and they will live to play another day. What better way to send off Shea Stadium then to win on the final day of the regular season to make the playoffs. Instead they lost at the hands of the Florida Marlins Sunday by the score of 4-2. Their Achilles' heal all season long was their bullpen and that served true once again. Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala served up back-to-back homers in the eighth inning giving the Marlins the lead and giving away the Mets' playoff hopes.

Elsewhere in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers did that the Mets failed to do; take care of business and live to fight another day. CC Sabathia went the distance for the Brewers allowing just one run on four hits over nine innings. A Ryan Braun homer in the 8th sealed the deal for the Brewers 3-1. Sabathia did just what Milwaukee acquired him to do; get the Brewers to the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Pitching on three days rest for the third straight start, Sabathia looked every bit as sharp as he has in his time with the Brewers. CC has been dominant to say the least since coming to the National League. Sabathia is 10-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 16 starts. Now he and his Brewer teammates will get to take another crack at the Chicago Cubs, the team the Brewers beat Sunday to get into the playoffs.

Its All J-E-T-S

As good as Kurt Warner looked a few weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins he is looking equally as bad today against the New York Jets. Warner has been sacked three times, thrown two interceptions, and fumbled four times in the first half.

Meanwhie, Brett Favre and the Jets have looked pretty good, but then again how can you not when you keep getting handed great field position series after series. Favre has thrown for over 150 yards in the first half including three touchdown passes to Laveranues Coles.

34-0 Jets at halftime. This one is all over...

Week 4 Outlook

Week 4 is upon us. Here's a look at this week's top matchups...

Arizona Cardinals (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
It is a little early to call this a must win game for the Jets but starting out the season 1-3 after all the highly acclaimed off season moves could be the sort of downward momentum that can crash a season. Arizona has been traditionally bad on the east coast but, with an offense clicking on all cylenders right now under the lead of Kurt Warner, the Cardinals have a chance to end that today.

Green Bay Packers (2-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1), 1 p.m. ET
Brian Griese threw an unheard of 67 times last week. Green Bay will be without both starting safeties (Nick Collins & Aaron Rouse). This could be a high scoring game unless the Packers defense steps up in their absence. You can expect another 40+ throw performance today from Griese.

Wahington Redskins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-0), 4:15 p.m. ET
The first of two big time inner division match-ups this week. After a poor performance in week 1 the Redskins seem to be clicking once again. Offensively Clinton Portis is leading the way for Washington, regaining his explosiveness. Today however it will likely be a passing orientated game. Both Terrell Owens and Santana Moss have historically had monster games against each other. Look for that to continue today.

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), 8:30 p.m. ET Monday
A battle of the top two teams in the AFC North. These two teams to not like each other. Traditionally these games feature hard hitting smash mouth football. The problem for the Steelers is that they will be without starting running back Willie Parker. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will get the carries in Parker's absence. His effectiveness very well may determine the outcome of this game.

Be sure to check back with WAY Back Sports throughout the day for the latest news from around the NFL.

It's Sunday!

It's another Sunday, meaning only one thing: more football! Let's see if the pros can match the excitement that college football started the weekend with. Keep checking waybacksports.com to get the latest news and stats.

More Upset Specials

USC. Florida. Georgia. Clemson. Wisconsin. What do these teams share in common? They were upset in another exciting week of college football. Oregon St. knocked off USC. Ole Miss upset Florida. 'Bama tripped up Clemson and Michigan protected the Big House.

We will remember week 5 of the college football season as the week where national title hopes were thrown out the window, and where the underdogs reigned supreme.

Weekend Of Upsets Continues

If you thought that Oregon St. beating USC was going to be the only upset this weekend, you were mistaken. Ole Miss knocked off #4 Florida today in the Swamp, where the Gators had won 21 of there last 22. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Sneed tossed two touchdowns and ran for another, but the play of the game was on special teams. After Ole Miss took a late lead, but Flordia's Percy Harvin scored on a 15 yard rush, leaving the Gators just the extra point shy of a tie. But as the PAT went up, Rebles special teamer Kentrell Lockett charged over the Flordia line and blocked the game-tying kick.

Tim Tebow went 24/38 for 319 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Worst To First: Rays Clinch AL East Title

66-96. This was the record of the last place Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, the laughing stock of the AL.

No one is laughing now.

Though the Rays dropped their game last night to the Tigers, the Red Sox loss to the Yankees clinched Tampa's first AL East championship. "You can't believe it. You have to kind of wait and sit back. It just feels fantastic right now, wonderful" said should-be manager of the year Joe Maddon. It's the first time since 1997 that Boston or New York has not won the division. Tampa had never won more then 70 games in a season, but have accumulated 96 victories thus far. "Unbelievable, it just feels unbelievable" said Rays 1B Carlos Pena.

Unbelievable is definatly the word for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

Jackson: Locker Room is "Kind of on eggshells"

Rams RB Steven Jackson has thrown his support behind benched QB Marc Bulger. Jackson, in an interview with a St. Louis radio station, said that benching the starter was the "wrong decision". He added "You just rewarded this man with a new contract last year, millions of dollars, and you bench him. Then if things do not work out with Trent(Green), you go back. I don't like it at all".

The Rams have proven to be one of the doormats in the NFL this year, and now their superstar is unhappy. Sorry St. Louis fans, it's going to be a long year.