DAILY DIRT: Swifties unite! Your girl is topping more than the charts these days

Would it be fair — or an insult — to call Taylor Swift the modern-day Madonna? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 803 of The Daily Dirt.

1. She’s now being called a global phenomenon, and it’s hard to argue that.

Taylor Swift’s latest accolades are being named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” and People magazine’s “Most Intriguing Person of the Year”.

The 12-time Grammy winner is a bona fide force when it comes to pop culture. People reports the 33-year-old Swift’s record-shattering Eras Tour (a 3.5-hour spectacle that draws from her 10 albums and spawned a history-making concert film) helped boost her to billionaire status, Forbes magazine told us in October.

That’s billionaire, with a “b”.

“She knows when, where, how to promote (her work), but she also knows when, where, how to be normal and be a human just living her life,” singer Tim McGraw told People.

Here’s the complete list of People’s most intriguing 25:

• Taylor Swift Jeremy Allen White
• Halle Bailey
• Ariana Madix
• Beyoncé
• Colman Domingo
• Donna Kelce
• David Beckham
• Margot Robbie
• Lily Gladstone
• Emma Stone
• Pedro Pascal
• Pamela Anderson
• Prince Harry
• Jacob Elordi
• Ashley Park
• Coco Gauff
• Robert Downey Jr.
• Adele
• Jada Pinkett Smith
• Jeremy Renner
• Britney Spears
• Ryan Gosling
• Jenna Ortega
• Bradley Cooper

2. There has been no change in our Great Plate Debate of 2023 rankings.

Only three weeks remain for some creative car owner to unseat the longstanding No. 1 — BE A BETH. In case you’ve forgotten, here are the current medal standings:

Gold medal: BE A BETH. 

Silver medal: APPEAL. 

Bronze medal: FUSEBOX. 

(2022 champion: IMDUMB)

The best of the rest from the past week:

• RUH RAH 7
• BG BG 75
• SENATR 6
• KCAR 78
• K MART 4

3. This week’s NFL rankings and marquee games:

• 1. San Francisco (9-3):ChristianMcCaffrey has almost 200 more yards rushing than any other back in the league.
• 2. Philadelphia (10-2): How will the Eagles respond from that big time butt-kicking from the 49ers?
• 3. Baltimore (9-3): First prediction of the week, The Ravens will shut out the Rams, or allow no more than a field goal. The Ravens’ defense is exceptional, the Rams’ offense is … well, not.
• 4. Dallas (9-3): I’ve always wondered how many football fans in Texas actually root for the Cowboys and how many side with the Texans? I would wager Cowboys control about 90 percent of the fans. Maybe more.
• 5. Kansas City (8-4): As the season progresses, do you get the feeling this just isn’t the Chiefs’ year?

This week’s three key games:

(Sunday) Jacksonville (8-4) at Cleveland (7-5): The health of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will likely decide this game. Prediction: Cleveland 24, Jacksonville 21. I’m betting we don’t see Lawrence, making Browns retread Joe Flacco the most experienced QB on the field.

(Sunday) Seattle (6-6) at San Francisco (9-3): The NFL’s new No. 1 team all but eliminates the Seahawks from the playoffs. Prediction: San Francisco 33, Seattle 20. It’s hard to believe the 49ers lost three in a row earlier this season.

(Sunday night) Philadelphia (10-2) at Dallas (9-3): The latest game of the year. Can you say potential ratings record for NBC? Prediction: Dallas 35, Philadelphia 34. This could be a classic. The one-point difference? Home-field advantage for America’s Team.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I’m legitimately excited about that Philadelphia-Dallas game. Maybe Taylor Swift will perform at halftime.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Have any of you heard of half of the people on the People list?