Ball Girl #122: Brawls and Bowties to kick off 2025

Happy New Year! 🎉 We're kicking off 2025 with a bang — and it’s not just the fireworks. We're diving straight into a roundup of the most memorable football games from the holiday season, plus all the must-watch matchups this weekend. Get ready for more action than my personal holiday tradition of watching all the Die Hard movies in one sitting. Let’s get into it!

🏈 NFL

Brawl to End the NFC East
The Birds beat down the Cowboys to secure the NFC East and the second overall seed in the NFC. This game was anything but pretty. In the fourth quarter, the football game turned WWE Smackdown when Eagles safety Sydney Brown started some drama with two Cowboys players & a fight erupted. Other than that, Saquon Barkley emerged as a bright spot, reaching a record 2,000 rushing yards. The birds keep their season going while the Cowboys end the year with their tail between their legs.

And the funniest game of the week goes to….
The Giants and the Colts. The Giants needed to lose to secure the number one pick in the draft, and the Colts needed to win to keep playoff hopes alive… By the end of the game last Sunday, the Giants had pulled off the biggest win of their season, demolishing the Colts, 45-33. QB Drew Lock decided to have the best game of his career — in the one game where they needed him to do absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, the Colts watched their playoff hopes disappear along with 2024. Go figure.

📆 Games to Watch

🏈 Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday 8pm

The Bengals are clinging to their season like my baby niece holding onto her last Christmas cookie, all thanks to QB Joe Burrow. They need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive — and probably some of their dignity, too. Meanwhile, the Steelers are enjoying a solid season and could lock down the #5 seed in the AFC with a victory. Plus, if the Ravens also lose, they’ll be popping champagne for an AFC North title, which would be the cherry on top of their already great year.

🏈 Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions, Sunday 8:20pm 

Both of these teams are 14-2 — the Lions have been the people’s champ, while the Vikings have gone from underdogs to legit contenders. After shaking off some early doubts, they’ve found their groove. The winner of this game takes the NFC North and locks in the top seed in the NFC. The loser? Well, they drop all the way to #5 and become the most successful team in NFL history in a wild card spot. This is shaping up to be one of the best games of the season.

🍿 Gossip Corner

Cam Newton Moonlights as Cowboy/Willy Wonka/Magician?
Cam Newton appeared on Stephen A. Smith’s show “First Take” to share his opinions on various NFL topics… but the internet couldn’t get past his unforgettable outfit. Newton is famous for his ‘fits, but this one topped the cake. A pink cowboy hat, blue spectacles and a bowtie completed the unique look. Not sure if its laundry day, or he was just trying to fit in one last crazy look in 2024… but it caused a stir nonetheless.

That’s all for today! Hope you have a great start to the new year and happy weekend 🥂