Sexuality and athletics are inextricably linked. Throughout history, many black athletes have come out as gay or shown their support for gays. Their unapologetic commitment, courage, and commitment have made them social icons. They give much-needed visibility and voice to the members of the black gay community. A study by Magrath has shown that many active athletes who identify as gay are shown tremendous support and acceptance by society. Although we only know of a few black gay active athletes, there's a sea change of acceptance for black gays thanks to the increasing number of folks showing gay support in the industry.

1.   Wade Davis II

Wade Allan is a writer, speaker, activist, and former football player. Nine years after the end of his career, he came out as gay. Wade shared his fears of being out while still nurturing his football career. He was always cautious with his actions and words, worrying about his teammates ever finding out his orientation.

The perspective on the community changed within the industry since Wade retired from his career. Although acceptance by the community isn't at its peak, Wade is working hard to improve it. Davis believes that everyone is responsible for creating a gender-equal and equitable world. He started working within the NFL to create a safe environment for gay players, served as an LGBTQ surrogate for President Obama, and globally addressed matters surrounding sexual orientation in different capacities. Wade insists that who you date shouldn't matter in sports.

You can clearly see throughout the best black gay dating sites that his impact positively affected the black gay community. So many gays see Wade as a role model and inspirator. Thanks to his proactive stance, thousands of black football stans can now use dating sites and social media to come out as gay and proudly date other guys without fear of being judged.

2.   Seimone Augustus

Seimone is a real pioneer in basketball and was destined for greatness as a child. She realized her potential and abilities as a young lady in Minnesota. Before retiring in 2020, she had earned a legacy by winning three gold medals in one of basketball's greatest dynasties. She came out in 2012 and was supported by her family but not her community. That motivated her to become a vocal champion for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality in athletics. She speaks freely of her sexual orientation journey and openly expresses her support for gay stars.

She is a forward thinker and an outspoken and unsung activist in favor of the gay within the athletic industry. Working as an assistant coach in LA Sparks, she aims to create a safe space for LGBTQ players and lead them to find the solace and freedom they need.

3.   Jason Collins

Collins is a retired professional basketball player who came out as gay in 2013 while still active in the sport. For the 13 seasons he played in the NFL, he served as a center. The reception of his sexual orientation revelation was primarily positive, making him the face of a long-awaited gay movement in athletics sports. 

After retiring, he became a vocal LGBTQ equality advocate. He has inspired young gay players to embrace their sexuality and identity.

4.   Fallon Fox

Fox is a retired Martial Artist transgender fighter who knows what the rumors' focus is and what hearsay feels like. Fallon was born male but now lives as female. Although Fox is still transitioning, she is the first MMA fighter to come out as transgender. She was five when she first wore a dress, and it felt right. She tried keeping it a secret for years, but eventually, her truth came out. 

The sailing became less smooth with the bad reception by her parents. She has tried fighting her way through transgender rights and as a martial artist. It gave her the confidence to voice her support for gays and to participate in LGBTQ pride walks.

5.   John Amaechi

John is a British-American psychologist. He played in the NBA before retiring in 2007. After his retirement, he hit the headlines for coming out as gay. As an organizational psychologist, he inspires transformative change for gay clients. John is also a NY Best-selling author, a sought-after public speaker, an executive coach, and a CEO in favor of gays. He has recently inspired gay Premier League footballers to come out by helping them feel comfortable in who they are. 

Conclusion

Sports stars in any field want to be remembered for who they are and what they accomplished, not their sexual orientation. Although many players have chosen to live their truths, it does not make them deviant from any other straight player. In the past, identifying as gay in the sports world would be a huge risk to a career. The scene is slowly changing, with more LGBTQ supporters declaring their stand. We hope that in the future, many more gay athletes will come out publicly, and it will be more of the opening of floodgates compared to the current trickle. In the meantime, we have these inspiring examples that have helped many males to accept themselves, get involved in online dating websites for black singles, and enjoy their lives without looking back.

The wide receiver position in the NFL is one of the most important on the gridiron, as these players help convert passes into touchdowns. Having elite players in this position is a big boost to a team’s offense.

Here is a rundown of the top 10 wide receivers in the NFL today who look on course to finish their careers as Hall of Fame players.

10. Tyler Lockett (Seattle Seahawks)

With over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons, Tyler Lockett has consistently been one of the league’s best wide receivers. The Seattle Seahawks man often produces explosive plays down the field for his team. 

9. Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills)

One of the reasons for the success the Buffalo Bills have has in recent seasons is down to the plays Stefon Diggs has made at WR. He is the player who attracts the most attention from the opponents' defense. Diggs will be doing all he can to help his team to Super Bowl success this season. As of January 20, the AFC East champions are +300 in the sports betting for the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LVII.

8. Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)

Three-time Pro Bowler Michael Thomas was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the league in 2019. He finished that year with 149 receptions and 1,725 receiving yards. Injuries have limited the number of games he has played in recent years, but when fit, he remains an elite WR.

7. Cooper Kupp (LA Rams)

Super Bowl winner Cooper Kupp was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2021. He was also named the Super Bowl MVP after a huge performance against the Cincinnati Bengals at Super Bowl LVI. The LA Rams player has scored over 6,000 receiving yards in the last six years in the NFL.

6. Odell Beckham Jr. (free agent)

Former LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made an immediate impact in the NFL in his opening year. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year after scoring 12 touchdowns for the New York Giants. Beckham Jr. moved to LA in 2021 to join the Rams and he helped them win the Super Bowl at their home stadium. He is set to attract a lot of interest in the offseason as a free agent.

5. Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns)

Amari Cooper has been a star quarterback at three different franchises now. The talented WR is currently with the Cleveland Browns, and they will be hoping he can help them with their rebuild project. The four-time Pro Bowler led his team in receiving yards in 2021, accumulating a total of 1,160 yards in his debut season in Ohio.

4. Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson led the league in receiving yards in 2022. He finished the regular season with 1,809 yards and 128 receptions. He played a big role in the Vikings’ impressive offense. Jefferson has put up big numbers in each of his three years in the league and there is likely to be a lot more to come from him.

3. A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)

The Philadelphia Eagles signed A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans last year and he has helped turn them into Super Bowl contenders. The new Eagles man put up career-best figures in 2022, with 1,496 receiving yards, 88 receptions, and 11 touchdowns. Philadelphia will be hoping he continues that form into the playoffs.

2. Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders)

After eight years of playing with Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers, Davante Adams opted to join the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. He proved he could have success with another franchise. Adams will be closing in on 10,000 career receiving yards in 2023. He is an exceptionally gifted catcher of the ball.

1. Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)

Arguably the biggest trade before the 2022 season began came when the Miami Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs. The explosive wide receiver has scored 63 receiving touchdowns in seven seasons in the NFL. His speed, low center of gravity, and ability to bring down the ball makes him one of the best of his generation at his position.

The above players will surely be in contention for many of the awards on offer at the 2023 NFL Honors in February in Arizona. 

Betting is a popular hobby that millions around the globe regularly practice. It’s adventurous and simply lets people enjoy sports more. Every new game is an exciting opportunity not only to cheer for your team but potentially win some money. One of the most popular sports globally is NFL. That’s why you’ll find the sports available on online casinos real money platforms. They are easily accessible from both desktop and mobile devices and offer a wide range of NFL betting features. In this article, we’ll answer the question of how to bet on NFL games at casino. Keep reading to learn a couple of valuable tips.

Pick the Right Platform

The starting step is finding the right platform for NFL betting. There are several things to take in mind. Luckily, you can explore them without even creating an account, which makes things simple. Take a look at the following:

• What’s the welcome bonus? - A good welcome bonus will help you get started with a bonus bet or a deposit match bonus that you could use. Compare bonuses offered by other brands and pick your best bet. Pay attention to playthrough requirements as these show how realistic is that you will withdraw winnings from bonus funds.
• What are the casino NFL odds? - This is a crucial thing when you take a look at the whole picture. Picking a platform with competitive odds will work well for you in the long run. You can potentially win more money if a brand is offering great NFL casino odds. Also, check whether there is any NFL casino sponsorship deal, as it might mean that the casino will offer boosted odds when that team is playing.
• What types of bets are available? - The bigger the range of available bets, the better. It only means that you have more chances to show off your knowledge and potentially make money.
• Are live streaming and betting available? - You can have it all in one platform. While you’ll find that many are offering live betting features, not many support live streaming. This is a great way to watch the game and place in-play bets while watching.
• Is the platform reputable? - Last but not least, you want a platform that will pay out your wins. So pick a reputable online casino that holds licensing from the relevant gambling authorities.

Now, let’s look at things to learn to increase your chances of winning the next bet.

Follow the Latest News

Keeping up with the latest news opens an opportunity for smarter bets. The more information you can gather, the better. This usually refers to any player injuries. If someone important is not able to play the next game for any reason, the team will not be as good as it usually is. That needs to be reflected in the bet you’re placing.

On the other hand, if a player is having some kind of challenges in his life off the pitch, there’s a chance that they might not be able to focus fully on the game. All these little things have a big role in betting. Experienced bettors are well aware of this, and that’s why you’ll find them reading about the lives of the players all the time. They are gathering more information to use when they’re betting next time.

Doing your research regularly will turn a bet into a winning one just because you were able to better predict an outcome.

Casino NFL Betting Types

As mentioned above, you want a platform that has all the popular bet types available. That way, you can combine different bets and establish strategies to increase your chances of winning. The most popular betting markets include:

• Point spreads - With a point spread, you’re placing one team at a disadvantage. So one team has to win against the other by a certain amount of points. If you score this type of bet, the reward is usually high.
• Moneyline - This is the simplest form of betting, you’re simply picking who’s going to be a winner.
• Total - This bet guesses whether the teams will score over or under the number of points proposed by the sportsbook.
• Parlay bet - Parlay bets combine multiple other bets and place them on a single bet slip. While it’s much harder to win, it’s really rewarding.
• Futures bet - This bet lets you guess the outcome of an important event in the future. For example, who’s going to win the Super Bowl, months before it happens.
• Prop bet - Prop bets are more custom, meaning that you can bet what a certain player will do in the game.

The key is to combine the knowledge gathered from the team’s previous games and news and make smarter assumptions when betting. These different bets will allow you to create a compelling strategy that might lead to a higher win chance.

There's a buzz of excitement to warm the cold January air as the National Football League
season prepares to move into its playoff rounds. Results from the regular season are now in
the books, with the best-performing teams progressing to the next phase, leaving the rest
behind to mull over their shortcomings. A frantic few weeks lie ahead, but which teams will
make it through to the season-defining match?

Football fans can have their say on the winner of each fixture with pre-game and in-play
betting available at the top sportsbooks. Those looking for a bet that lasts a little longer can
look ahead and predict the eventual Super Bowl champion. The team, they believe, will go all
the way to the history books. There is plenty of value to be found, especially if you decent to
oppose the market leaders with a bet on a plucky underdog. But which team is worth backing,
and where will you find the best NFL gambling odds?

This article explains all, bringing football fans and sportsbook bettors onto the same page.
We present the current betting and how it relates to the form shown by the top teams in this
campaign. There are one or two surprises to be found and no lack of value. This year's Super
Bowl will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday 12th, February.
That means time is running out to grab your share of the free bets offered. Keep reading for
details on how to land a welcome bonus free bet on the NFL using your smartphone.

Kansas leads the way

According to bookmakers, Kansas City is now the most likely team to win the Super Bowl.
That's an important shift and something worth keeping in mind when preparing your
predictions, as the betting has changed since the regular season finished. Traders have altered
their views on the Super Bowl, moving from the Buffalo Bills to Kansas. But why did they
do that when Buffalo is still in the running?

Only recently, all the hype focused on the Bills, but the team has yet to live up to its billing.
Buffalo has done everything expected of them by fans so far this season, but there can be no
denying they have been less than impressive. The favorites huffed and puffed their way
through games at times and have yet to look anywhere near as impressive as their rivals in
Kansas. The stats of the two teams after the conclusion of the regular season tell the story of
why traders changed their minds.

Kansas topped the AFC West with their stats showing 14 wins and three defeats, with 496
points scored and 369 conceded. They finished clear of a chasing pack led by the Los
Angeles Chargers, who failed to land a glove on the Chiefs in one-way traffic despite putting
up a fight. Despite how impressive Kansas was in the regular season, there's more to come
from this side. They are yet to hit top gear, encouraging supporters as they prepare to follow
their side into the extended season.

Buffalo started the season as the team to beat, with traders picking them as their favorite at
every major sportsbook. So far, they have barely put a foot wrong and comfortably won the
AFC East, losing just three of their games. The Bills scored fewer points than Kansas with
455 but had a much better defense, conceding 286 points in the campaign. That sturdy
backline will be required in the later rounds and could be the difference between winning the
Super Bowl and watching as spectators.

Bonuses and promotions

The leading bookies offer all new players who sign up for an online betting account, make
their first deposit, and wager an attractive welcome bonus. Register today, and you'll qualify
for a free bet equal to your first deposit and wager. Ready to claim your share?

When joining a bookie to bet on the NFL or the winner of the Super Bowl, we advise reading
the terms and conditions on the app. Doing so will ensure you understand what's expected of
you as a customer and the options available when making a withdrawal.

The Super Bowl is the most prestigious event in American football, and every year teams from across the NFL compete for the championship title. However, while some teams have been incredibly successful over the years, a few still have yet to experience victory at this level. From small-market franchises to traditional powerhouses, here's a look at some of the NFL teams that have yet to win a Super Bowl.

Minnesota Vikings

Despite four trips to the Super Bowl in the 1970s, Minnesota's Vikings have yet to earn a championship title. They faced off against Kansas City Chiefs in 1970, Miami Dolphins in 1974, Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975, and Oakland Raiders in 1977, all ending with defeat for the squad. In 2018 they were just one game away from making it back again but unfortunately succumbed 38-7 against Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to claim the victory that year.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills experienced a streak of unprecedented dominance from 1990 to 1993, reaching the Super Bowl for four consecutive seasons. Regrettably, their expedition ended in anguish every time - starting with a narrow 20-19 loss against the Giants and then a 37-24 defeat by Washington, followed by back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. The team has not returned since that era but last year made it as far as an AFC Championship game, only to fall again under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals

With three Super Bowl appearances, the Bengals have their sights set on lifting a Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately, they twice encountered defeat in 1981 and 1988 against San Francisco but were also unfortunate to succumb by a mere 3 points to Los Angeles 23-20 in 2022. But, surely, this is just the beginning of a remarkable journey for Cincinnati, and we eagerly await what's next!

Atlanta Falcons

After 18 years of absence, the Falcons returned to the Super Bowl for a second time in 2017, only to be defeated after an epic comeback from New England. Atlanta had been leading 28-3 in the third quarter before their opponents managed to triumph 34-28 during overtime and secure a historic victory. In 1999, the Broncos were similarly successful as they blew out the Falcons with an impressive 34-19. In addition, according to Super Bowl betting odds, the Atlanta Falcons remain one of the teams most likely to feature in a Super Bowl game.

Carolina Panthers

In 2003, the Panthers came close to claiming their first Super Bowl victory but were ultimately denied by a last-second field goal from Adam Vinatieri that gave the Patriots a 32-29 win. Unfortunately, history repeated itself in 2015 when Denver's defense shut down Carolina's offense and won 24-10 - marking two heartbreaking losses for the franchise during its tenure at the big game.

Arizona Cardinals

In their first Super Bowl appearance in 2009, the Cardinals almost clinched a Lombardi Trophy; unfortunately, they fell to the Steelers 27-23. Despite multiple playoff appearances since then and even making it to the NFC Championship game in 2015, Arizona is still diligently striving for its much sought-after first Super Bowl victory.

Tennessee Titans

In its inaugural year as the Tennessee Titans, the squad made a dramatic run to Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999, only to be thwarted by an agonizingly close 23-16 loss to the Rams. Kevin Dyson's last-second dive for a touchdown proved too little too late, and though they have since reached nine playoff appearances, with two conference championship berths along their way - a return trip to the Big Game has yet eluded them.

Los Angeles Chargers

Even though the Chargers, led by Philip Rivers as their franchise quarterback, never made it to a Super Bowl during his time with them, they could still make history in 1995. Stan Humphries was at the helm of that team and guided them all the way to face off against the 49ers in an epic battle for football supremacy - only to be beaten soundly with a scoreline reading 49-26. Unfortunately, since then, Los Angeles has only been able to reach one AFC Conference Championship game.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns have been deprived of a Super Bowl appearance since the game's inception in 1967. With five conference championship appearances before 1990, they've only made the playoffs three times post-1990 and encountered an abysmal 17-year streak without reaching that level from 2003-2019.

Detroit Lions

Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions are still seeking their first Super Bowl appearance and have had limited success in playoff games. Through 13 postseason appearances since 1991, they have only made it to one conference championship game. Even more disheartening is that despite eight tries since 1992, the team has yet to win a single playoff game.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Despite reaching the conference championship three times in their history, the Jacksonville Jaguars have never quite made it to a Super Bowl. From 2008-2016 was an especially dry spell for them, and when they finally returned to playoff contention in 2017, only be beaten by defending champions New England Patriots 24-20. Since then, Jacksonville has been unable to make playoffs, making fans wonder if this will ever change.

Houston Texans

In two decades as a franchise, the Houston Texans have yet to secure a Super Bowl title or even appear at one - despite making six playoff appearances in their history. Even more dismal is that none of these postseason berths resulted in advancing past the divisional round. To make matters worse, during the first eight seasons since inception, not once did they qualify for playoffs!

The Hall of Fame promises to be a crowded place for quarterbacks in the AFC in 20 years if the current crop of players continue to astound and develop. The 2022 season has highlighted the rise of brilliant young quarterbacks, so much so that Patrick Mahomes, at the age of 27, is the elder statesman of the group. The Kansas City Chiefs player has already put forward an impressive resume for his Hall of Fame credentials. He's already won one Super Bowl and reached another in the first five years of his career.

The Chiefs are once again backed as one of the leading contenders in the odds to win the Super Bowl. A second Vince Lombardi Trophy would all but ensure that Mahomes will be donning a yellow jacket at the end of his career. However, there will be intense competition along the way due to the quality of quarterbacks and teams in the AFC Conference alone. That will make Canton, Ohio a crowded place should they all opt to retire at the same time. It will also make for an enthralling 20 years of AFC action, bringing back memories of the conference when it was at its best, a time when Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and others battled it out to reach the Super Bowl.

The new era looks even more exciting.

Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes has almost punched his ticket to Canton and, if he opted to retire tomorrow, there would be few doubters that would deny him a place in the Hall of Fame. He has been electric on the field since replacing Alex Smith in his sophomore season. Mahomes appears to be all set to win his second MVP after a brilliant 2022 season in which he propelled the Chiefs to the number one seed, notably without Tyreek Hill.

That was a major challenge for Mahomes, but he passed with flying colors, connecting with his new wideouts. With Travis Kelce closer to the end of his career than the start, he will have to continue to develop players around him. Mahomes will now aim to reach his third Super Bowl to banish memories of his side’s defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 campaign.

Josh Allen

Allen and Mahomes played out a thrilling Divisional Round matchup last season. Mahomes’ brilliance in the final 13 seconds tied the game before the Buffalo Bills were beaten in overtime to deny them a second-straight AFC Championship appearance. Allen has been incredible once again this season, displaying maturity and leadership as well as having every throw in the book. He alone will give the Bills a fighting chance in the AFC every year.

Even after Tom Brady's exit, it was not easy to dethrone the New England Patriots at the top of the AFC East. But Allen and Buffalo are now kings of the East and will now look to transfer that dominance to the AFC. He and his team just need to raise their levels in the big games, because only then can Allen be considered one of the greats.

Joe Burrow

Burrow well and truly announced his arrival lasts season with a brilliant run to knock off the Chiefs away at the AFC Championship Game. The Bengals were not quite ready to win the Super Bowl, narrowly losing out to the Los Angeles Rams. However,  Burrow and his team are a confident bunch and, with Joe Cool as quarterback, will be contenders every year.

Burrow has earned comparisons to Brady when it comes to his demeanor on the field. He always seems to make clutch throws with pinpoint accuracy when it matters the most. Burrow doesn’t have the wow plays of Mahomes and Allen, but he's downright clinical when required. If the Bengals can keep him upright and injury-free, Cincinnati will be a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Burrow has the personality and drive to win multiple crowns. Although he'd be doing very well to ever match Brady, he is certainly capable of winning one or two.

Trevor Lawrence

In the early stages of the 2022 seasons there were fears that Lawrence was trending towards being a bust. He endured a miserable rookie campaign, which was entirely the fault of former head coach Urban Meyer, who failed to last the term with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Doug Pederson’s arrival promised stability and the chance for Lawrence to develop. It didn’t appear to go that way after a poor performance in a loss to the Denver Broncos.

But from then on Lawrence flicked the switch and was sensational down the stretch, guiding his team to seven victories in nine games. The Jags won the AFC South for the first time since 2017 and it could well be the start of an era of dominance. Lawrence’s performances were made all the more impressive considering the lack of talent around him. If the Jags get him some top-tier receivers, he will flourish in Florida.

Justin Herbert

Herbert is the other quarterback in the AFC West that has all the tools, but has not quite put it all together yet. He won Rookie of the Year ahead of Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa in 2020, but he has not been able to take the next step yet, despite making the post-season for the first time in 2022. The Los Angeles Chargers have always had a string of bad luck and bad decision-making that has held them back. They cannot afford to let that happen to Herbert as it did his predecessor Rivers.

Herbert has all the talent in the world and skills to match Mahomes, Allen and Burrow. He just needs to settle in with a composed coach that will allow him to thrive in the big moments. Herbert could be the answer to the Chargers’ longstanding playoff woes.

Tua and Lamar

Lamar Jackson could have been on the same trajectory as the other quarterbacks, but injuries and a lack of post-season form has stalled his progress. Renowned for his running ability, he has developed as a passer, making him a dual-threat quarterback. Until he can resolve his injury woes once and for all, he and the Baltimore Ravens are going nowhere.

It’s the same story for Tua and the Miami Dolphins. After two poor seasons, head coach Mike McDaniel appeared to unlock Tua's potential. Tua connected with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to devastating effect to propel Miami towards the number one seed in the AFC. However, he sustained two concussions over the course of the season, the second one ruling him out of the final three games of the campaign. That is a huge concern for the Dolphins moving forward, and could end a bright career.

The Most Shocking NFL Upsets in History

Whether you're a football fan or not, we can all agree that the National Football League (NFL) is a huge part of our culture. The Super Bowl has become like a National Holiday. Every year, we look forward to watching the game and seeing who will emerge victorious, even if we have yet to learn much about either team.

Every year, NFL happens, and as always, it had some twists and turns along the way. Of course, the most remarkable games in NFL history resulted in shocking upsets, and we've listed the greatest ones here.

The Dallas Cowboys vs. the San Francisco 49ers (2022)

The playoff rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys goes back a long way. Currently, NFL odds have America's Cowboys as the favorites every season, and their 8.51 million fans agree. However, on January 16, 2022, despite a fierce comeback attempt by the Cowboys (11-7), the San Francisco 49ers (11-7) prevailed 23-17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With their victory, the 49ers became the first road team to advance in the playoffs. 

Prescott completes a 20-yard gain on a quarterback sneak in 0:14 seconds, moving the ball to the 49ers' 25-yard line. They need more time as they try to form a lineup. The umpire must touch the ball. He takes out for the middle of the field and promptly loses possession of the ball. The 49ers win by a 23-17 after the center gets the ball to Prescott just as time expires. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Indianapolis Colts (2005)

In the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff, the Steelers led the Indianapolis Colts 21-3 in the last quarter. However, the Colts came out strong in the final 15 minutes of the game. 

Over 10 minutes, they earned 15 points, cutting the deficit to three points at 21-18 with 4:24 on the clock. The next drive resulted in no points for the Steelers and increased pressure on the defense to hold back Peyton Manning and the Colts' high-scoring attack. 

The Steelers appeared to be cruising to an easy AFC Championship Game berth with 1:20 remaining and possession at the two-yard line. However, it was not the case. After receiving the handoff from the two, Jerome Bettis was sacked by Gary Brackett, and the offense recovered the ball. Nick Harper snatched it up and sprinted while the Steelers' sideline gazed in stunned awe. What was a fairly easy finale to the game quickly became a nightmare. All hope seemed lost until Ben Roethlisberger performed what would be forever named "The Tackle." At the Colts' 42-yard line, Roethlisberger made the crucial shoestring tackle on Harper, preventing what seemed like it would have been an easy touchdown.

With 1:01 remaining and the ball on their 42-yard line, the Colts appeared to be in command. Starting at the Steelers' 28-yard line, Manning completed passes of 22 and 8 yards to Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, respectively. Next, kicker Mike Vanderjagt stepped up to make the 46-yard field goal. 

The Steelers used a timeout to try to calm him down, but the kick sailed wide. What happened after it is legend or legend itself. The Pittsburgh Steelers prevailed and advanced to the AFC Championship Game, ultimately defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

The New England Patriots vs. the New York Jets (2011)

Any game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots will garner wide attention. There is more at stake here than a simple border battle between two regions that cannot stand the sight of each other. You can't find a better football rivalry than this.

In 2011, however, the Patriots finished the regular season with a 14-2 record, good enough to secure the AFC's top playoff spot. When the Patriots and Jets last met during the regular season, the Patriots won by a score of 45 to 3. New York won the divisional round game 28-14 thanks to a 20-yard touchdown run from Shonn Greene and five sacks of Tom Brady. 

After a drought of more than 40 years, the Jets nearly made it to the Super Bowl before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

The Miami Dolphins vs. the New England Patriots (2008)

The 2008 Super Bowl champions are the New York Giants. They won the Super Bowl and defeated one of the best teams in history. The final result was 17–14 in favor of the Giants over the Patriots. They were able to pull out the victory thanks to Eli Manning's incredible play in the fourth quarter. He had two touchdown passes in the fourth (both of which gave his team the lead), no interceptions, and completed 9 of 14 passes.

Ultimately, the Patriots' loss came down to them being outperformed. This was demonstrated when Eli escaped a collapsed pocket, and David Tyree intercepted a pass intended for New England safety Rodney Harrison. New England's offensive momentum sometimes picked up, but the Giants' defense eventually stifled the Patriots.

Final Thoughts

Sports fans adore the NFL playoffs for several reasons, including seeing underdogs upset favored teams like the ones we've highlighted here. The history of NFL upsets only proves that each season brings its unique set of unpredictable games, which makes the NFL so exciting to watch.

Entering the very late bye of Week 14, the Chicago Bears sported a humbling 3-10 record. The .231 percentage had Chicago ranked as the lowest team in the NFC, on par with the Denver Broncos, and only below the 1-11 Houston Texans. It’s not great company for a team with a good share of high-quality talents.

Regardless, this was never meant to be the season that the Bears surged towards the playoffs, as the CBS Sports preseason predictions suggest. In the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers were meant to be the top contender, but the Minnesota Vikings bulked up and the Detroit Lions are starting to realize the quality of the players at the team’s disposal.

Even if three wins were to be the final count for the Bears this season, it hasn’t been all bad. The 270 points for coming out of the bye was seven better than the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers, which is always nice. With five games lost by seven or fewer points, some by less than a field goal, the Bears certainly showed up more than the record would suggest.

There have been bright spots dotted around the 2022 season for Chicago, even if the season will end with the 17th game. Importantly, there’s good reason to be optimistic next season, especially once a high draft pick is secured.

Injuries and working out the receiver room

While the Chicago Bears have been able to stay mostly healthy overall, little irritating injuries have popped up at inconvenient times. Justin Fields missing one, Khalil Herbert going down just as he looked set to almost take the backfield for his own, and the double knockout of Bears defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker for two games all contributed to a somewhat stop-start feeling around the Bears this season.

Overall, though, the good take is that most key players and up-and-coming stars have been able to play the majority of the games. That said, this makes the receiving space that much more baffling. Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet have become the main targets for Fields, sharing 111 targets over 13 games, but behind them, it’s anyone’s guess with Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, and Chase Claypool seemingly the frontrunners of the other six or so candidates, but is largely ineffective.

 Ground game gathering speed

If there’s been one outright shining light for the ’22 Bears, it’s been the run game. Perhaps the only frustrating element has been that Herbert hasn’t been allowed to take full command just yet. David Montgomery hit 641 yards and a 4.0 average through 12 starts. Herbert, in one start and ten games, collected 643 yards and a 6.0 average. To Montgomery’s credit, he’s picked up in the passing game, collecting 25 of 30 targets for a 9.8 average.

Of course, the star of the show has been Fields. Yahoo reports that Fields is hitting the highest yards per carry mark in a single season of any player at 125 carries coming into the bye. Accompanying this, a historic average of 7.1 yards per carry, as well as a franchise-record 67-yard stomp to score a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.

However, one of the reasons why the receiving corps has been relatively hit-or-miss has been Fields getting hurried – which has also encouraged his absurd rushing figures. At the start of the season, the Bears’ O-line ranked nearly dead last, but legend Olin Kreutz sees flashes of potential from Teven Jenkins, perhaps even enough to one day earn him a Pro Bowl nod.

It’s been very slow going as far as a football season goes, but the starting set of Jenkins, Riley Reiff, Sam Mustipher, Cody Whitehair, and Braxton Jones has undoubtedly improved a great deal throughout the season. The number of pressures put on Fields has waned as the games have ticked along, and space is being made for the ground game to flourish.

Tanking for an opportunistic draft day

With four games to go, the Bears were tasked with facing the two leading Super Bowl contenders – the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles – and then their divisional leaders. First to come, the Detroit Lions, somehow knocking around the wild card contention. Then, the leaders, the Vikings. Earlier in the season, the Bears lost by a single point to the Lions, and by seven to Minnesota.

So, it won’t come as a surprise that even the platform with the highest rating among all Illinois sports betting outlets was fairly undecided on the Bears even getting one more win. Also offering a $1,000 risk-free bet, the 9.6-rated BetMGM had the bears at -200 to get over 3.5 wins this season and +165 to remain on three. For the Bears, staying under that three-win mark wouldn’t be the worst thing.

As it stands, Chicago would likely get the second overall pick – even higher than when the team landed linebacker Chuck Howley. Naturally, the first-overall Texans would take the top quarterback, leaving the Bears with a potential star pass rusher, Will Anderson. However, with bolstering protection for Fields surely the priority, and the offensive lineman going mid-round in most mock drafts, perhaps a trade for even more value could come in.

All-in-all, 2022 is going to go down as a building season, and there’s been plenty to have Bears fans optimistic for the future.

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NASCAR has evolved significantly since its inception. What was once a small sport that featured small prizes and bragging rights as a way of celebrating success has since turned into a highly profitable sport that can make drivers millions and millions of dollars.

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Let's take a look at the wealthiest NASCAR drivers of all time:

Rick Hendrick

Rick Hendrick is the wealthiest NASCAR driver of all time. He’s estimated to have a net worth of around $1 billion. Most of his wealth has come from his successful ownership of Hendrick Motorsports, one of the most successful race teams in the sport's history. His stable includes four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

Richard Childress

Richard Childress is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers and owners of all time. He has a net worth estimated to be around $350 million, making him one of the richest players in the sport’s history. Childress began his career as a driver but eventually transitioned into ownership when he formed Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Under his guidance, RCR has won multiple championships, including six Cup Series titles.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. He has an estimated net worth of around $300 million, making him one of the wealthiest drivers in the sport's history. Dale Jr. began his career driving for his father’s race team but eventually moved to Hendrick Motorsports where he enjoyed much success. He won 26 races and two championships in his career. Earnhardt Jr. also has a number of lucrative endorsement and sponsorship deals, making him one of the most marketable athletes in the world. His wealth is due in large part to smart investments which have allowed him to diversify his portfolio and increase his net worth exponentially.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history and a four-time champion. He has an estimated net worth of around $200 million, making him one of the richest NASCAR drivers ever. Gordon spent his entire career driving for Hendrick Motorsports, where he won 93 races and seven championships. He also had several lucrative endorsement deals, which helped him build his fortune.

Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time Cup Series champion and one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in history. He has an estimated net worth of around $120 million, making him one of the wealthiest racers in the sport. Johnson began his career as a driver for Hendrick Motorsports in 2002 and won six championships between 2006 and 2016. He is also the only driver to win five consecutive championships, which he did from 2006 to 2010. Johnson has multiple sponsorship deals, including well-known brands such as Lowe's and Chevrolet. He also owns several businesses and investments outside of NASCAR racing, which have contributed significantly to his overall wealth. 

Conclusion

These are just five of the most successful NASCAR drivers in history, with each of them having been able to reap the rewards that this sport has been able to offer over the decades that they were involved.