It’s the best time of the year for sports fans.
Sunday marks the second sporting equinox of 2022 – the day the five major men’s sports leagues in North America (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS) will be playing actual regular season or playoff games.
Equinoxes of games used to be rare but have become more common recently – especially when the CCIDID-19 pandemic forced every league to change its schedule in 2020 and 2021.
On Thursday, balanced games saw the victory of the Arizona Cardinals over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, joined by the victory of the Houston Astros over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, Philadelphia Union FC and Los Angeles FC to win in. the MLS playoffs on FOX Sports 1, the Milwaukee Bucks’ and LA Clippers’ primetime wins in the NBA and a full slate of 12 NHL games. The wins for LAFC and the Clippers came with some crossover significance as they defeated the intra-city rival LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.
Sunday’s games could be better, with 28 total games on tape across five leagues. In addition, the NASCAR Dixie Vodka 400 is taking place in Florida and the National Women’s Soccer League will feature two games of its own: the Portland Thorns will take on the San Diego Wave and the OL Reign will face Kansas City Current.
Here are the top games to help you navigate the Sunday sports smorgasbord.
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Sunday’s American Game of the Week on FOX was marked on the calendar as the first time the Chiefs and 49ers met since Kansas City defeated San Francisco in Super Bowl LV. Then the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey, a former Heisman Trophy finalist at Stanford in college, will likely be able to go to Levi’s Stadium for his game against the 49ers Sunday, although he will have a limited role after being sent back to the Bay Area on Thursday.
However, his appearance would give fans their first taste of what McCaffrey can do in an offense created by Kyle Shanahan alongside star receiver Deebo Samuel.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will have to overcome the number 2 scoring defense in the NFL in order not to fall to 4-3 after losing to the league’s number 1 scoring defense – the Buffalo Bills – last week.
Buckle up, because this game could go down to the wire.
MLB: National League Championship Series Game 5: San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies, 2:37 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1
Many predicted that the National League East team would reach the World Series at the start of the playoffs.
But almost everyone thought that the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, who won 101 games, would be that team. Not the 89-win Phillies, who entered as the third NL Wild Card team in the extended MLB playoffs.
But here the Phillies are, sliding their way to a World Series berth after a wild NLCS Game 4 saw them come back from a 4-0 deficit to win 10-6. Manager Rob Thompson — who spent most of the year with a shortstop tag on his name after taking over from Joe Girardi in May — will return the ball to first baseman Zack Wheeler as the Phillies try to keep their magic going into October.
NBA: Phoenix Suns at LA Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, check local titles
A lot can change in more than a year.
Since the Suns beat the Clippers in the 2021 Western Conference Finals to advance to the second-ever NBA Finals in franchise history, Phoenix has been going through skyscraping highs on the court and shocking lows on and off the court.
Amidst the ongoing sale of the Suns’ franchise, Phoenix is 1-1 in the young NBA season. Phoenix’s first two games have been exciting – a doubleheader against the Dallas Mavericks and a blown lead on the road to the Portland Trail Blazers – but now the Suns face a tough test against a Clippers team playing their first real game. home game with a healthy Kawhi Leonard in about 18 months.
NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 5 p.m. ET, check local titles
The Blue Jackets appear to have entered a rebuilding phase following the departure of key players in 2019 free agency, including star winger and points leader Atermi Panarin who signed with the Rangers. But Columbus shocked the NHL world last season by signing Johnny Gaudreau to fill the vacancy left by Panarin’s departure. Blue Jackets fans now get a chance to see a new player on their team face off against an old one as Gaudreau faces Panarin and the Rangers as a Blue Jacket for the first time.
MLS: Eastern Conference semifinals: New York City FC at CF Montreal, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
NYCFC is looking to become the first team to repeat as MLS champion since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. NYCFC enters Montreal on a five-game winning streak as it seeks to recapture some of the magic of the championship, but Montreal is 5-0 all-time in home games.
Can Ismaël Koné & Co. stop the defending champions in their tracks, or will NYCFC get one step closer to back-to-back titles?
Blazin’ 5: Seahawks upset Chargers, 49ers beat Chiefs at home
Blazin’ 5: Seahawks upset Chargers, 49ers defeat Chiefs at home
Colin Cowherd shares Blazin’ 5 picks for Week 7. To see also : Addressing the policy challenges posed by NFT games.
So, there you have it, folks. Get your popcorn ready because Sunday’s Sports Equinox is going to be one for the ages. Are you watching this event?
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