NFL
- Bills 24, Patriots 10
- The Bills had underperformed for a few weeks leading into this game, so it was nice to see them assert their dominance last night. I don’t think a run-first offense is Buffalo’s ticket to advancing in January, but the team actually ran more than it threw last night, a rarity for Sean McDermott’s club. Von Miller will be a big loss, but AJ Epenesa filled in nicely in this contest, registering a sack and two tackles for loss.
- The Patriots are in trouble. At 6-6, New England faces a daunting schedule down the stretch, and could’ve really benefited by banking a victory last night. A conservative game plan limited Mac Jones and the offense in this game, and it’s fair now to wonder whether Jones is the guy for the Patriots to have under center from 2023 and on.
NCAAF
- Florida Atlantic hires Tom Herman as head coach
- Herman has been out of the game for two years, but this is a solid hire for the Owls. In two seasons, Herman quickly built Houston into a good team, going 22-4. If Herman can even come close to replicating that success by going, let’s say, 7-5 or better each year, FAU fans should be happy.
Grade: B
- Herman has been out of the game for two years, but this is a solid hire for the Owls. In two seasons, Herman quickly built Houston into a good team, going 22-4. If Herman can even come close to replicating that success by going, let’s say, 7-5 or better each year, FAU fans should be happy.
NBA
- Celtics sign C Al Horford to two-year, $20M extension
- A $10M average annual value, even for an aging player like Horford, is a bargain with a rising salary cap, so good on Boston for getting this deal done. It’s likely Horford will transition into being a backup over the course of this extension, but he’ll still be worth it.
Grade: A-
- A $10M average annual value, even for an aging player like Horford, is a bargain with a rising salary cap, so good on Boston for getting this deal done. It’s likely Horford will transition into being a backup over the course of this extension, but he’ll still be worth it.
- Pistons 131, Mavericks 125
- The Mavericks are now 10-11, but should be so much better than that. The team has a positive point differential and holds the league’s 10th best net rating. In this particular game, Dallas received absolutely nothing from Spencer Dinwiddie, as the guard recorded just two points in 28 minutes. Luka Doncic needs a more consistent supporting cast.
NCAAB
- Texas 72, Creighton 67
- Creighton is phenomenal on the offensive end, so it was impressive that Texas held the BlueJays to just 4-27 on three pointers. Perhaps more impressive, though? The fact Creighton lost by just five. The Bluejays have a loaded starting unit, but they’ll need more production from the bench at some point, as the team’s reserves were shut out last night.
- Robert Morris 80, Wright State 59
- What a disastrous loss for the Raiders. Wright State entered this game as a 12-point favorite, and is now 0-1 in Horizon League play after winning the league’s tournament in 2022.
- Denver 93, Houston Christian 83
- Denver is off to a heck of a start. After stumbling to an 11-21 finish last season, the Pioneers are 7-1 thus far, although the team’s schedule has been pathetic, at best.
MLB
- Rays sign SP Zach Eflin to three-year, $40M contract
- This feels a bit pricey, especially for a cautious spending club like the Rays. Eflin, at 28-years-old, is relatively young, so that helps, but Tampa Bay could’ve put this money to better use.
Grade: C-
- This feels a bit pricey, especially for a cautious spending club like the Rays. Eflin, at 28-years-old, is relatively young, so that helps, but Tampa Bay could’ve put this money to better use.
Burke Sports Talk 
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