Top Clutch Performances of the Week
Clutch moments don't go away. They replicate and repeat as each passing day goes on.
This week's edition of the top clutch moments in sports combines a little U.S. Open tennis with college football's first weekend, intense Major League Baseball action and an NFL trade we won't soon forget.
If you don't know the drill by now, you really should. It's time to buckle up and find out which 10 examples of clutch made this week's list.
Lucas Pouille Takes Down a Giant
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Who: Lucas Pouille
When: September 4, U.S. Open 2016 vs. Rafael Nadal
This year's rendition of the U.S. Open has carved out quite the field of young competitors. On September 4, Lucas Pouille continued that streak, defeating Rafael Nadal in an absolute classic.
Pouille matched Nadal's ferocity and power with each point. The back-and-forth contest was essentially a tie throughout. A 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) final score gave Pouille the edge.
His win at Arthur Ashe cements the start of something special. Although he was bounced in the next round by fellow Frenchmen Gael Monfils, Pouille is a 22-year-old with a remarkably bright future ahead of him.
Bartolo Colon Remains an Ageless Wonder
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Who: New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon
When: September 5 vs. Cincinnati Reds
Bartolo Colon doesn't care about age. He laughs in the face of Father Time.
The 43-year-old New York Mets pitcher put age aside once again, pitching six innings of shutout baseball against the Cincinnati Reds on September 5.
We've seen great things from Colon this season. His 13-7 record, 3.22 ERA and 108 strikeouts are numbers you'd see from a prime Colon. At 43, his arsenal of pitches has continued to impress.
The Mets are battling for a wild-card spot, and every win counts at this point. We know one thing: If Colon continues to thrive, the chances of this team getting back into the postseason will dramatically improve.
Deondre Francois Refuses to Give Up
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Who: Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois
When: September 5 vs. Ole Miss
On September 5, Florida State freshman quarterback Deondre Francois put everyone on notice. FSU won't go quietly into the night.
Picking up the pieces after Jameis Winston left for the NFL wasn't supposed to be easy. But for one night against Ole Miss, Francois brought nostalgic vibes back to the gridiron.
After struggling and watching his team go down 28-6, Francois battled and helped his squad turn things around. Completing 33 passes for 419 and two touchdowns, Florida State wound up beating Ole Miss 45-34.
Francois, who made a name for himself early into the 2016 season, led the point fest. Hopefully this performance is a sign of things to come for the Seminoles.
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Karolina Pliskova Makes a Name for Herself
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Who: Karolina Pliskova
When: September 5, U.S. Open 2016 vs. Venus Williams
The fans at Arthur Ashe were treated to another great clash on September 5 when Karolina Pliskova took on Venus Williams. It was a match that pitted a genuine service master—Pliskova—against a savvy, seasoned veteran in Williams.
After splitting the first two sets, it took a tiebreaker in the third to decide things. Both women forged on until the younger Pliskova was able to lean on her serve enough to win. She outpointed Williams by a final tally of 7-3 and moved on.
It's cool to see fresh talent make its way to the top, and Pliskova represents that. She's a gifted player with a huge serve and an ability to stay focused during clutch moments, as she displayed against Williams.
The Minnesota Vikings Go After Sam Bradford
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Who: Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman
When: September 3
The Minnesota Vikings' 2016 NFL season looks nothing like it did a week ago. After losing starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a devastating knee injury, per the Vikings' PR team, general manager Rick Spielman went all in.
His decision to trade a first-round draft pick in 2017—plus an additional fourth-round pick in 2018, per the Philadelphia Eagles' official Twitter account—to land Sam Bradford was stunning. Was it too much to give up for a QB? Would backup Shaun Hill have been a serviceable solution? Why Bradford?
Questions lingered until Peter King of the MMQB exposed Spielman's thought process. "I will do everything in my power to always give us the best chance to win, and it came down to—this is what we’re dealing with," Spielman told King.
Bradford has the tools to be effective—you can see this on film. It's just a matter of finding and using them. In Minnesota, weapons like Adrian Peterson, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell and Kyle Rudolph will surround him.
With a talented roster already in place, trading two picks for a veteran QB is a clutch decision Spielman was forced to make.
Edwin Jackson Fans 11
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Who: San Diego Padres pitcher Edwin Jackson
When: September 5 vs. Boston Red Sox
San Diego Padres pitcher Edwin Jackson has been around Major League Baseball for a long time. He's thrown for 11 teams in 14 years and still is only 32 years old.
As a traveler of the road, Jackson has never really been able to find a true home. But on September 5, he pitched a masterpiece against a potent Boston Red Sox lineup.
Jackson fanned 11 batters over seven innings of shutout baseball. He held a lineup full of names like David Ortiz, Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. at bay, giving the Padres a 2-1 win.
The Padres, sitting at 57-81, don't have much to cheer about these days. At least Jackson's clutch piece of pitching was a temporary fix for an otherwise ailing roster.
Trevor Knight Brings a Little Magic Back to Texas A&M
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Who: Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight
When: September 3 vs. UCLA Bruins
College football has always been a safe haven for upsets. On September 3, Texas A&M joined the upset club by conquering No. 16 UCLA 31-24 in overtime.
The win was sparked by Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight. He performed well, throwing for 239 yards and scoring three touchdowns—one in the air and two by way of the ground.
Knight's second rushing touchdown proved to be the game-winner in overtime. He showed a touch of poise and a knack for finding open space—Knight ran for 94 yards on 15 attempts.
In some odd, offbeat way, he's the anti-Johnny Manziel. Knight didn't dazzle or put people on skates, but he was effective nonetheless. Marching forward, Texas A&M will need clutch performances by Knight and a strong defense to continue its 2016 push.
Justin Upton Showcases His Power
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Who: Detroit Tigers outfielder Justin Upton
When: September 5 vs. Chicago White Sox
Justin Upton is a perplexing, strikeout-prone power hitter, and his regular-season totals are a direct reflection of that.
Currently, Upton is batting .239 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI. He doesn't get on base much, but when he does, it's usually because of the long ball.
Against the Chicago White Sox, Upton delivered when it mattered the most. In the top of the 11th inning, the Detroit Tigers outfielder launched a three-run shot into the stands, which led to a 5-3 win.
Upton might not be a Triple Crown threat. However, he has proved to be clutch time and time again.
Texas Longhorns' Ground Game Gets Going
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Who: Texas Longhorns running backs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III and quarterback Tyrone Swoopes
When: September 5 vs. Notre Dame
The Texas Longhorns and Notre Dame Fighting Irish gave college football fans all they could handle and more when the two teams collided in a double-overtime thriller.
Led by a dominant ground attack, Texas won the war 50-47. Credit goes to tailbacks D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III—as well as quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele. Together they ran for 237 yards and five touchdowns.
If offensively this is a sign of things to come, this whole Charlie Strong hiring might work out after all. Texas looked well prepared and offensively charged up in this clutch Week 1 showdown.
Gael Monfils Advances to the Semifinals
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Who: Gael Monfils
When: September 6, U.S. Open 2016 vs. Lucas Pouille
Tennis can be a cruel sport. Our weekly reminder of that came when Gael Monfils blasted Lucas Pouille in straight sets.
After Pouille stopped Rafael Nadal in dramatic fashion, his U.S. Open dream was snatched away by the powerful Monfils. Pushing the ball toward the back line and playing with power, Monfils proved to be way more than Pouille could handle.
The match wasn't close. Monfils won 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. His command was unmatched, and his precision was unwavering.
Clutch doesn't always mean close matches. Sometimes dominating can also fit the definition. In Monfils' case, his win means the semifinals are now the next task he must conquer.
All stats, box scores and information via Sports-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
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