2 weeks Ago
The Pulse Newsletter đŁ | This is The Athleticâs daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Go full Raygun in the end zone today.
Assumptions are a bad thing, no matter how strong the underlying data. That maxim was certainly true than in yesterdayâs slate of NFL games, which was frankly shocking across the board. I want to trot out some assumptions I had coming into Week 10 and see how they fared.
Spoiler: not great overall. Onward: Assumption: Detroit is the best team in the NFL. Answer: True! â
We start with last nightâs closer, an incredible game.
I was all ready to apologize for doubting the Texans (6-4), who largely walloped the Lions â until the final quarter. Gritty defense and two incredible kicks from Jake Bates sealed a 26-23 Detroit win . The 8-1 Lions won despite MVP-candidate quarterback Jared Goff throwing five interceptions.
Charmed stuff. (Apologies to the undefeated Chiefs, who won via a last-second field goal block , for not earning the top spot. Kansas City canât get away with this every weekend.
Right?) Assumption: Carolina has the leagueâs worst vibes. Answer: False â That distinction belongs to the 4-5 Bears , who suffered one of this seasonâs worst defeats in a 19-3 home loss to the Patriots. We talked about this last week, but coach Matt Eberflus probably needs to go.
Caleb Williams completed only about 50 percent of his passes, and the Bearsâ offense was simply awful. How is it this bad already? Meanwhile, the former laughingstock Panthers (3-7) have won two straight after a victory in Germany against the 2-8 Giants, which might send Daniel Jones to the bench . Assumption: Dallas is still a good football team.
Answer: False â The Cowboys arenât quite Chicago, but then again, their record is worse: 3-6. Dak Prescott is hurt, his backups arenât great, Mike McCarthyâs seat is boiling and the sun is still taking away touchdowns â in Dallasâ domed stadium. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he wonât fire McCarthy midseason, which means these last eight weeks are going to be awkward.
Hey, at least we were right about the Eagles (7-2) being good again . Assumption: The Jets will figure it out. Answer: False â Every game, we scrape New Yorkâs film for signs of hope.
Last weekâs win had us poring over the Jetsâ remaining games, wondering what would help them get into the playoffs. Then they went and lost 31-6 to the Cardinals â winners of four straight â yesterday, dropping to 3-7 and essentially ending a second straight cursed year . And now, teams I donât know what to do with: See our full Week 10 takeaways here .
Giannis Antetokounmpo trolled Jaylen Brown mid-game đ đ„ @FanDuelSN_WI | @NBA pic.twitter.com/M8yHxCQH4f â The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 10, 2024 Giannis goes full teenager In the second quarter of Bostonâs win over Milwaukee yesterday, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo pulled a move against Jaylen Brown that, per my money, all of us executed in middle school: a perfect fake handshake turned into a too-cool fake-out.
Brown called Antetokounmpo âa childâ after the game, while the perpetrator said he was just trying to have fun. Is this beef? Advertisement Golden to keep coaching Florida menâs basketball coach Todd Golden will continue in his role while the school investigates multiple claims of sexual harassment and other misconduct against him. He has acknowledged the investigation and is pondering a possible defamation case after Floridaâs student newspaper, The Alligator, published the accusations.
See the full update here . More news Rejoice, college football oligarchs: The sweeping change you made to a sport beloved by millions is working out. At least for a majority of Pulse readers, who said the experience has been improved by the upcoming postseason.
Two takes from me: Thank you, as always, for voting. đș NFL: Dolphins at Rams 8:15 p.m.
ET on ESPN There are playoff implications here for L.A., but Iâm frankly more interested in this stat, via the APâs Tim Reynolds: Florida football teams in the NFL and Division I have gone 0-11 this weekend.
Miami is the only thing that stands between the state and ugly history. đș NBA : Clippers at Thunder 8 p.m.
ET on NBA TV We know Oklahoma City is elite, but Iâm more curious about the 6-4 Clips, who have been getting All-Star play from Norman Powell in Kawhi Leonardâs absence, at this point. Are they actually good? Weâll find out here. Also: We might see how the Thunder look without Chet Holmgren, who injured his hip last night .
Get tickets to games like these here . đ§ âThe Athletic Football Showâ wraps up the weekend the way only it can. Listen here .
Shula? Like Don Shula? Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula , grandson of Don, has heard this his entire career. But as Zak Keefer writes today in a wonderful feature, Chris has fought to forge his own path. Start your week with this one .
Weâre all thinking about Juan Soto . But how does he fit with nine realistic suitors? (Yes, this includes Washington . đ) Babe Ruthâs rookie card was originally a simple means to acquire a free jump rope.
Now one is about to sell for $500,000 . This Veterans Day , former NFL safety Brian Dawkins is helping connect football, mental health and the military community. Cool story by Jason Jones today .
Why isnât Alexander Mogilny in the Hockey Hall of Fame? No one will say, but Tim Graham has some ideas . Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday : Our story on that unbelievable (and controversial) ending to BYU-Utah . Still dumbfounded it happened.
Most-read on the website yesterday : Stephen J. Nesbittâs explainer on Roki Sasaki, the incoming Japanese phenom pitcher . đ« Love The Pulse? Check out The Athletic âs other newsletters .
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images).
