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We pause our series on specific divisions within the NFL to bring you some Monday morning nuggets.  But there is plenty of the NFL in the nuggets. There’s a Pope, too.  Start your Monday off right, consume away.

1. In an unprecedented meeting, a delegation of five NBA players and several officials from the National Basketball Players Association are at the Vatican this Monday morning for a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss their work on social justice issues.  This was at the Pope’s behest.   It’s another blast of fresh air to keep the social justice platform flying and it’s the most outspoken pope jumping into the limelight yet again.  Now if he could take measures to minimize those pesky pedophile priests that he “hires,” but we digress.
2. One day after Florida State abruptly postponed its scheduled game against Clemson because of a positive COVID-19 test among the Tigers’ roster, Dabo Swinney lambasted FSU’s administration for the decision.  “This game was not canceled because of COVID,” Swinney said. “COVID was just an excuse to cancel the game. To me, the Florida State administration forfeited the game.”  Dabo tends to color outside of the lines a bit.  He never hesitates to “give all the glory to the Lord” either.  If he doesn’t get the Bama gig post-Saban maybe he’s on a shortlist to be the next pope, but we digress again.
3. Speaking of Alabama, while many other big-time programs leak oil all over the 2020 track, the Tide just keeps the pedal to the metal.  Nick Saban is the engine that never needs a tune-up.  They remain ranked numero uno in the latest AP top 25 after a 63-3 mud stomp of the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday.  They haven’t been tested in five weeks.  The Iron Bowl v # 22 Auburn might be (MIGHT BE) a test and is only five days away.
4. Did you have both Cincinnatti and BYU undefeated and ranked inside of the top ten in the AP Top 25 as we enter the home stretch in NCAA football before the season started?  No, you didn’t.  Cincy survived and gutted out a win late over a hungry and always ready UCF Saturday.  BYU had a glorified practice against North Alabama.  BYU might have the best QB in the country this year in Zach Wilson and that is saying something with guys named Jones, Fields, Lawrence, and Trask slinging it around.
5.  Did you have Penn St at 0-5 and dead last in the Big 10 East and Northwestern at 5-0 and alone in first in the Big 10 West?  No, you didn’t.  Penn St lost last week to Nebraska who this week got worked by Illinois.  As an encore, the Nittany Lions gave up 41 getting blasted by Iowa in (not so) Happy Valley.  Wisconsin scored a meager 7 points in 60 minutes against a stout NW defense.  The Badgers coughed the ball up five times in all and four in the first half alone.  Northwestern only scored 17 themselves, but that was nine more than needed.
6. Turning to the NFL, this staff reporter was assigned to the Saints v Falcons contest in the Superdome where 6000 faithful masked and watched the Saints D turn in its third straight sterling effort.  Falcons QB Matty Ryan is sore this AM.  Cam Jordan sacked him three ( and now 21 times in his career) of the eight times the Saints D sacked him altogether.  The Saints’ offense only mustered 24 points in Taysom Hill’s first NFL start.  Taysom is 31 but had more fun out there than a kid.  But, it was 14 more than needed when you hold the formerly high flying Falcons O to just three field goals.  Remember, two weeks ago Tom Brady and the Bucs only got one field goal at home against NO.
7. The New Orleans win coupled with the Green Bay loss to Indy flipped the race for the NFC one seed.  NO is 8-2 while GB slipped to 7-3.  Seattle is also 7-3.  Don’t look now but the LA Rams are 6-3, also playing strong on defense, and face 7-3 Tampa Bay in FL tonight on MNF.
8. Upsets ruled the day.  The aforementioned Indianapolis team trailed 28-14 at the half but won 34-31.  The Titans beat the now limping Ravens in Baltimore.  And Tua sat for quarter number four in Denver as Ryan Fitzpatrick tried to rally the Dolphins.  His late pick secured the win for Denver 20-13.
9. After Kansas City held off the Vegas Raiders that leaves the exciting AFC playoff picture, well, even more exciting.  Pitt is 10-0 while KC is 9-1.  Indy and Tennessee are tied virtually at 7-3 in the South, while Buffalo leads the East at 7-3, all the while that Cleveland is somehow 7-3.  Losers from yesterday, Miami, Vegas, and Baltimore are all 6-4.
10. Everyone knew that Joe Burrow would need to break a leg to prop up the woeful Cincinnati Bengals when he was drafted #1 overall last spring.  Their D is porous.  And, their O line is a sieve. Ranked 29th by Pro Football Focus in pass protection metrics, yesterday against the Washington Football Team the Cincy offensive line lived down to its reputation.  And, down went Burrow.  He was sacked and so was his season.  He did indeed break a leg.  Or, at least his ACL.  An MRI will tell the severity of the injury later today.  That’s sad, just like the Bengals franchise.

Happy Monday.  It’s a short week at least.