With Bill Belichick and Tom Brady‘s names continually popping up in NFL media, it feels like an appropriate time to revisit a recent instant of Brady praising Belichick. Back in September, the GOAT quarterback went into detail about how Belichick taught him how to read defenses early on in his career with the Patriots.
Brady made these revelations while appearing as a guest on The Herd.
“When I got to the Patriots, I sat behind Drew (Bledsoe), who was a franchise quarterback, right?” Brady said.
“In my second year, it’s training camp, and we had a very good quarterbacks coach named Dick Rabine, and God rest his soul, unfortunately, he passed away in training camp … it was a very difficult loss for our team, and the way that we found a way to continue on that season is Bill Belichick became more of a quarterback coach than we ever imagined him being.”
“(Belichick) decided to come in every week and talk to the quarterbacks about coverage,” Brady continued. “That’s how I developed and learned … So I learned from an offensive standpoint, watching Drew and having very good offensive coaches. Then I had a defensive coach, the best one of all time, teach me how to read defenses.”
From 2000 to 2019, Brady and Belichick forged one of the NFL’s most dominant partnerships, capturing six Super Bowl titles and nine conference championships. Brady stepped in after Bledsoe’s injury in 2001 and ignited a dynasty that included iconic comebacks like Super Bowl LI’s 28-3 rally. Belichick’s defensive mastery and innovative schemes complemented Brady’s precision, amassing 89,214 passing yards and 649 touchdowns over their tenure.
As the Patriots, now in a new era, seek to clinch their first division title without the Brady-Belichick duo since 1997, the Pats’ dynasty era remains a blueprint for sustained excellence, blending grit, strategy, and unyielding preparation.
It’s ridiculous how much Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has already accomplished in MLB at just 23 years old. Skenes is already a Cy Young Award winner, a two-time All-Star, and a two-time All-MLB First Team selection.
Skenes also won National League Rookie of the Year in 2024 and was the MLB ERA leader in 2025.
Skenes’s ERA over his first 55 starts in the bigs is something to marvel at; at 1.96, it’s better than career-best 55-start spans for legends like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. This suggests that Skenes has the potential to become one of the greatest pitchers of all-time.
After an absurd rookie season for Skenes, his 2025 campaign elevated him further: a unanimous Cy Young with a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts in 187 2/3 innings, and a 0.95 WHIP that baffled hitters league-wide. Despite a 10-10 record hampered by spotty run support, his 217 ERA+ and 5.1 wins above replacement signal dominance unseen since prime-era aces. He even garnered MVP votes, finishing with 83 points.
What sets Skenes apart for eternal greatness? His arsenal: a 102-mph heater, wipeout slider, and pinpoint control. It evokes memories of Nolan Ryan’s strikeout artistry or Pedro Martinez’s surgical precision, but with modern durability.
Averaging over 11 strikeouts per nine innings across 320 career frames, he boasts the raw tools and early stats (386 total Ks) to chase 3,000 strikeouts while sustaining sub-2.00 ERAs. If he stays healthy and the Pirates build around him, Skenes could etch his name among the immortals, blending unhittable velocity with Cy Young-caliber consistency for a decade-plus.
The New England Patriots reportedly added some notable depth at the running back position on Friday.
Craig Reynolds, who spent the last five seasons with the Detroit Lions, signed with the club’s practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of KPCR2. Reynolds’ addition was reflected in the locker room at Gillette Stadium, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.
Reynolds, 29, primarily served as a special teams ace and change-of-pace running back in Detroit, though his role diminished this season and was ultimately punctuated by three healthy scratches prior to being released on Wednesday. The Lions made the decision after activating defensive lineman Marcus Davenport and offensive lineman Miles Frazier.
The Patriots have been looking for running back depth for nearly two months, relying on D’Ernest Johnson and Terrell Jennings at different points following a season-ending knee injury to Antonio Gibson. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson will continue to be the primary options, though Reynolds could mix in as the third option while also providing a spark on special teams early in his tenure on the practice squad — potentially starting as early as Monday against the New York Giants.
Reynolds has totaled 916 yards on 179 touches during stints with the Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Lions.
When Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early made his MLB debut on September 9, 2025, pretty much everything went great. Well … maybe not according to Alex Bregman.
Early struck out 11 batters in five innings of work against the Athletics, tying the Red Sox record for strikeouts in a rookie debut. But following the performance, Bregman apparently expressed one area of concern in talking to Early, something that the left-hander revealed on Friday while appearing as a guest on the Section 10 podcast
“After my MLB debut, on the next day, I went into my meetings with all my pitching coaches and everything, and (I) obviously threw pretty well that outing, and Bregman comes up to me and he’s like, ‘Hey, man, we gotta make sure you’re not tipping pitches.’ And I’m like, ‘Dude, can I have, like, one day or something (to enjoy this), you know?’”
“But yeah, he was on me,” Early continued. “He was like, ‘Yeah, I can see certain stuff from third base.’ So I worked on that a lot in bullpen (sessions) and everything. And that was something that, you know, I hadn’t ever really considered, hadn’t really worked on too much. And obviously (it’s) something that people are looking at a lot in the big leagues.”
Over four MLB outings in the 2025 regular season, Early went 1-2 with a sharp 2.33 ERA, 29 punchouts, and just four walks in 19.1 innings.
The climax of his breakout season came in the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees, where Early drew the decisive Game 3 start on October 2. Though Boston fell short in a heartbreaking elimination, his unflinching delivery in Yankee Stadium signaled a star in the making.
Even if you’re not a New York Yankees fan, the relationship between Alex Rodríguez and Derek Jeter is a fascinating baseball storyline, and it’s one that keeps evolving.
Rodríguez and Jeter were best buds as teenagers as they shared the dream of becoming MLB superstars, each possessing the outrageous talent to achieve that mission.
And while both Rodríguez and Jeter carved out MLB amazing careers early on (A-Rod with the Seattle Mariners, Jeter with the Yankees), their relationship suffered a major fracture in 2001, when Rodríguez made controversial remarks about Jeter in an Esquire interview, suggesting that Jeter was the beneficiary of New York’s team success and had never had to be a leader.
Jeter reportedly felt betrayed by the comments from Rodríguez, viewing the interview as A-Rod’s way of diminishing Jeter’s individual accomplishments at a time when Rodríguez himself had just signed a massive, new contract with the Texas Rangers.
Then, in 2004, Rodríguez was traded to the Yankees, and Jeter was forced to compartmentalize his resentment towards A-Rod in the name of chasing a championship together (which the duo eventually won in 2009). It probably helped that A-Rod was willing to move to third base to cater to Jeter.
Still, even today as the two friends work together as analysts for FOX, there’s still a sense that their relationship has never quite recovered, even though there is obviously a ton of mutual respect there.
In recent years, A-Rod has been very honest and vulnerable in interviews when talking about his shortcomings in the relationship, his regrets, and how he’s consciously worked on himself and grown as a person. He’s outright stated that he wishes he and Jeter could have the same type of bond they did when they were younger, even if it’s not possible from Jeter’s perspective.
Anytime A-Rod shares his thoughts on the relationship, it’s very interesting for baseball fans to listen in, and the most recent example of this came when Alex appeared as a guest on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast.
Rodríguez’s main impetus for appearing on the pod was to discuss the new documentary about his life and career, Alex vs. Arod. Naturally, Jeter arose as a topic of discussion during the interview.
“Our relationship is great,” A-Rod said of Jeter. “It’s as good as it’s been, I would say, in over 20 years. And part of (that) is me growing up. When I look back now, I’m like man, I must have been a very difficult guy to deal with.”
“And, you know, Derek has great parents, he’s a great human being, he’s got great character, and obviously, looking back, it’s easy to see that he had the maturity at 21 of a 31-year-old, and at 31, I had the maturity of a nine-year-old,” Rodríguez contined.
“So, we were just not on the same wavelength. Where we always jibed is … we always loved and respected each other’s game. We both played everyday, and we both had one commonality (in that) we wanted to win, and win badly.”
The New York Giants and New England Patriots will face off on Monday Night Football in a few days, and the matchup is expected to be more competitive than the clubs’ respective records would normally indicate. It’ll also be interesting now that Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has been cleared to start, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter relayed the news on Friday afternoon after getting word from Giants interim head coach Mike Kakfa that Dart will start. The rookie QB cleared concussion protocol on Thursday.
Dart’s rookie campaign with the Giants has unfolded as a tale of raw potential amid persistent challenges. Drafted 25th overall out of Ole Miss in April, the 22-year-old quarterback entered the league surrounded by whispers that he was ready to play immediately.
Yet, Dart didn’t claim the starting role until Week 4, following a dismal 0-3 opening under veteran Russell Wilson. The switch ignited an immediate response: in his first outing against the Los Angeles Chargers, Dart engineered a narrow 21-18 victory, completing 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 7, when Dart torched the Denver Broncos for 283 passing yards and three aerial scores in a loss. Over seven starts, he’s tallied 1,417 passing yards, 10 touchdowns against six interceptions, and a league-leading streak of five straight games with a rushing touchdown, capped by two against the Chicago Bears in Week 10 before a concussion sidelined him.
Dart’s aggressive style has drawn praise from teammates like Brian Burns, who called the QB’s fearlessness a “game-changer,” but it has also exposed vulnerabilities. The Giants’ offensive line has crumbled under pressure, allowing Dart to absorb 28 sacks (fourth-most among starters), prompting coaches to urge a more cautious approach to his runs. Kafka emphasized protection schemes this week, noting, “We can’t keep putting him in harm’s way like that.”
It would be unwise for the Boston Red Sox or their fan base to underestimate the Baltimore Orioles. While the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays (who are already making huge moves this offseason) and the ever-dangerous New York Yankees are the two teams most concerning to the Red Sox in the AL East, Baltimore could be primed for a resurgence in 2026.
Although the Orioles just missed the postseason for the first time in three years, Baltimore still has a young core that contributed to a 101-win season in 2023. With a fresh voice in the manager’s chair in Craig Albernaz, the Orioles are ready to keep building something special around Gunnar Henderson and Trevor Rogers, and from the sound of a new report from New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, Baltimore’s front office is locked and loaded for a big winter.
“The Orioles look like a potential winter wild card as they work hard to bounce back from a shockingly disappointing season,” Heyman wrote (subscription required). “They are pursuing a frontline starter, closer and big bat. Assuming Díaz is too rich for them, they have a bevy of closing options (Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver, Brad Keller, Ryan Helsley and Kenley Jansen — though Weaver, Keller and Helsley are each weighing making the transition to starter).”
“They’ve checked in on the very top starters, including Valdez, Imai and Cease (before he signed), but one of the cost-effective and accomplished free agent alternatives, who include Michael King and Zac Gallen, would suffice,” Heyman continued.
“The Orioles are among many pursuing Schwarber as he’s a nice fit for their 1B/DH need. They also checked on Alonso, but that may be slightly less likely now that they’ve tendered Ryan Mountcastle a contract.”
If Baltimore does indeed make a splash this offseason, the AL East will become that much more competitive in 2026. The Tampa Bay Rays are still a team to watch, too. There won’t be much room for error in the division, and it could stay that way for years to come.
If you didn’t watch the Boston Celtics-Detroit Pistons game on Wednesday night and only checked the box score, you won’t understand the impact that rookie Amari Williams had on the game.
In his first extended opportunity in an NBA game, the 2025 second-round pick and seven-footer Williams played 15 minutes and didn’t take a shot. He hit one free throw, snagged three rebounds, and blocked two shots.
Williams’s two rejections were the only statistical hint of his defensive presence, which the Pistons definitely felt, and which the Celtics definitely appreciated.
Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown discussed Williams’s performance, sounding impressed with the young big man.
“That was impressive, I’m not gonna lie,” Brown said, per CLNS Media’s Noa Dalzell
“He hasn’t been with us (for most of the season) … you know, (there was) a lot of pressure (against the Pistons) in a high-profile game … coming in and making an impact, you know, credit to him … he did well for us.”
“Amari has talent,” Brown continued. “He can pass the ball. He’s a big guy, knows the game, but that was a big-time performance, man.”
Wednesday night was technically Williams’s third NBA game, but he only played in 40 seconds of his first and a little over six minutes in his second, meaning this was his true debut on an NBA floor for the Celtics in a meaningful role.
Williams, 23, is originally from Nottingham, England. Over five college seasons, he evolved into a versatile big man prized for his defensive instincts and playmaking touch. He anchored Drexel for four years, earning three CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors (the first player ever to do so) as a two-time All-CAA First Team pick and two-time team MVP. He amassed 186 blocks, ranking fifth in program history, while averaging 10.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 swats overall.
Transferring to Kentucky for his graduate year in 2024-25, Williams started all 36 games for the Wildcats, posting 10.9 points, a team-high 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks on 56.1 percent shooting. He notched 10 double-doubles, tied Kentucky’s assist lead with 115 (a record for a 7-footer there), and became just the second SEC player ever to hit 375 points, 300 rebounds, 100 assists, 40 blocks, and 20 steals in a season. Kentucky reached the Sweet 16, where Williams tallied 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists against Tennessee.
Selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Celtics, Williams ultimately inked a two-way deal with Boston on August 15.
Now that the Boston Red Sox have made their first significant move of the offseason in trading for Sonny Gray, fans are wondering what’s next. Based on intel from USA Today‘s MLB insider Bob Nightengale, offseason activity across the league will mostly happen in the trade market until January. This means we might not figure out Alex Bregman’s landing spot until the new year.
If that’s the case, December will be filled with speculation about Bregman. The Red Sox are known to be highly interested in re-signing Bregman, but he’ll have other eager suitors. On Friday, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand was discussing Bregman’s market and only mentioned one other team besides the Red Sox: the Detroit Tigers.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a reunion (between Bregman and the Red Sox), but at the same time, the Red Sox have also shown interest in adding a big power bat,” Feinsand said.
“Bregman has the ability to hit the ball out of the park, but he’s not Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber, so when (Craig) Breslow says that he’s going to be aggressive, I don’t know if that means returning Bregman, or signing one of those big boppers, or possibly doing both, which obviously would be the most aggressive play.”
“I think the Tigers are also in the mix for Bregman,” Feinsand said. “They wanted him last year, and I think they’re going to try for him again this year.”
Here’s some food for thought as you gobble on your Thanksgiving leftovers: the Boston Red Sox could whiff on signing Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Scwharber.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers says the Worldwide Leader recently polled 16 MLB executives on what’s ahead during Hot Stove season.
One of the questions asked the respondents to predict which slugger will return to his original team: Schwarber, Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger.
A total of 15 votes were cast for Schwarber (respondents had the choice to skip any questions). Seven of the votes — almost half — had him returning to Philadelphia.
“The Phillies need Schwarber more than he needs them, so in pure contract terms, they may have to overpay,” one executive said. “But he’s worth it. He’ll stay.”
Schwarber is a three-time All-Star and led the National League with a career-high 56 home runs last season.
The runner-up for NL MVP in 2025 has hit at least 38 home runs in each of the last four seasons.
If you’re looking for a silver lining, only four executives cast their vote for Alonso, who continues to be linked to the Red Sox.
That said, the home-grown Mets star remains on New York’s radar.
“At this point, Alonso is synonymous as a Met,” another voter said. “He’s the most popular player. And he can hit. They need him.”
The 30-year-old Alonso hit 38 home runs this season, which was eighth-best in the majors, and drove in 126 runs, second only to Schwarber.
Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion and five-time All-Star, spent seven seasons in Queens. This year he became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, surpassing eight-time All-Star Darryl Strawberry.
There’s a second silver lining here. Another four executives voted for Bregman to re-sign with the Red Sox.
“Bregman provided so much [leadership] for Boston and that park is perfect for him,” another executive said.
The 31-year-old Bregman earned his third All-Star nod while playing for Boston in 2025. His .273 batting average and .821 OPS were his highest since 2019. And he still has plenty of pop in his bat, as proven by his 18 home runs and 62 RBIs.
But Bregman also missed almost two months of the 2025 season with a right quad strain. He also is looking for a massive payday after opting out of his three-year, $120 million contract. Current projections have Bregman getting as much as a six-or seven-year deal worth almost $30 million per season.
Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia is the No. 3 overall prospect in the Boston Red Sox’s system, and a new update on Garcia emerged on Thanksgiving day: Garcia is set to play winter ball in Venezuela between December 5 and 21, per SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield.
This is exciting news for Red Sox fans, especially when paired with recent hints from manager Alex Cora that Kristian Campbell could also be playing winter ball.
Campbell and Garcia are two of the Red Sox’s young studs who are on the verge of making a sustained MLB impact, and it might happen in 2026 for one or both of them.
The 22-year-old García had a very productive 2025 season. He was added to Boston’s 40-man roster in March and spent the bulk of the year sharpening his tools in the upper minors before earning a late-summer promotion. He has obvious tools that could translate to MLB: raw power, plate discipline, and a high defensive ceiling.
García opened the 2025 season at Double-A Portland, where he posted a .256/ .355/ .393 slash line with three home runs and 17 RBI over 33 games. Promoted to Triple-A Worcester on May 20, he caught fire, raking at .305/ .375/ .587 with 15 homers, 44 RBI, and a .962 OPS across 54 games.
Overall in the minors in 2025, he slashed .267/ .340/ .470 with 21 long balls, 75 RBI, and 79 runs in 114 contests between the levels, topping Red Sox farmhands in homers and total bases while earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. Selected for the All-Star Futures Game, he struck out twice but impressed scouts with his athleticism.
The payoff arrived August 21, when García debuted at Yankee Stadium amid Wilyer Abreu’s injury. He started in right field and became the first Red Sox prospect to do so since Mookie Betts in 2014.
In five big-league games, he went 1-for-7 with a double against Baltimore, drawing two walks but fanning five times. He was optioned back to Worcester on August 29..
The Boston Red Sox could be in the market for an impact bat, and there is no shortage of elite hitters on the open market. However, finding the right hitter will be key for Craig Breslow.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Red Sox are considering “signing up to two” of these five sluggers: Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kazuma Okamoto, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber. The team is clearly interested in adding an elite hitter, but there is one they could consider that was not on Heyman’s list.
Heyman noted that Bregman is the most likely fit. Schwarber and Alonso are two of the best power hitters in baseball and would be great fits on the Red Sox. However, Munetaka Murakami is also available this winter and has proven to hit for power in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Murakami made his NPB debut for the Yakult Swallows in 2018. He was just 18 years old when he made his debut, and is now 25. He has 246 home runs in his NPB career, and has a .270/.394/.550 slash line in eight seasons.
Murakami plays first and third base. His position in the field could complicate things for the Red Sox. If Bregman returns, Murakami would have to serve as a first baseman and designated hitter. However, that would create problems for Triston Casas.
While Murakami has great overall numbers, he also has flaws. His in-zone contact rate is one of the worst in NPB, and he has a strikeout rate that sits between 28 and 29 in each of the last three seasons. Generally, strikeout rates rise when players transition from NPB to MLB.
While Murakami could help the Red Sox, the team may be better suited to sign a player like Schwarber or Alonso. The Red Sox are in a position to compete right now, and both of them have proven their ability to hit for power in MLB. Both would also fit better into Alex Cora’s lineup.
The Boston Red Sox have already made one big move this offseason, but still have work to do in the minor leagues. Building depth throughout the organization should not be overlooked.
Injuries happen over the course of a season, and organizational depth is tested. The Red Sox just signed Vinny Capra to a minor league deal, according to his MLB.com transaction log. He is a versatile infielder who started last season with the Milwaukee Brewers. Capra hit an opening day home run for the Brewers, but had an otherwise forgettable tenure with the team.
The Brewers designated Capra for assignment in May. He slashed .074/.121/.130 in 24 games. He was claimed by the Chicago White Sox and played 23 games for the team. He did not have a great season, but he has four seasons of experience in the big leagues.
Capra made his debut in 2022 for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2023, the Blue Jays traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tyler Heineman. He played nine games with the Pirates before landing with the Brewers.
After not producing much throughout his career, he made the Brewers’ opening day roster after a phenomenal spring. He slashed .292/.358/.729 in 19 games and hit six home runs. That is the version of Capra the Red Sox could use at some point next season.
Capra can play shortstop, second base and third base. He could be a solid piece to have in the minor leagues when injuries happen. He can fill in at multiple spots, but he will need to prove he can hit at the big league level before the Red Sox can trust him.
Capra will likely start the season in Worcester, but his offensive presence will ultimately dictate if he ever gets called up. He has just a .133 batting average in the big leagues.
Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie is off to a hot start, but he admits it has him feeling out of place.
Geekie entered Thanksgiving in second place in the NHL in goals with 17, just one back of Nathan MacKinnon. It’s been an incredible start for Geekie, who’s helped the Bruins have plenty of success to begin the season.
Although Geekie has been a top player in the NHL this season, he does admit he feels out of place when he looks at the goal leaders.
“It’s weird because those people are still so far above me, it’s weird to see your name up there,” Geekie said, via NHL.com. “It’s obviously an accomplishment you’ll look back on, like, oh, that was pretty cool. But I mean, just, I don’t know. Those are household names. You feel out of place, almost.”
Geekie has been playing alongside Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak, and although many have said he’s only good because of Pastrnak, the Bruins star is proving those doubters wrong.
Geekie signed a six-year, $33 million extension with the Bruins this offseason, and already the contract looks like a great one for Boston. He’s recorded 17 goals and six assists for 23 points in 25 games this season.
Boston will return to the ice on Friday at home against the New York Rangers at 1 p.m. ET. The Bruins enter play with a record of 14-11-0 and are in third place in the Atlantic Division.
Happy Thanksgiving, Bruins fans. We hope you enjoyed the holiday with plenty of turkey.
Now to why you’re here. The Black Friday game between the Bruins and Rangers isn’t on NESN today. Don’t worry, we have you covered below on where to find all the action.
This could be a rope-a-dope kind of contest for the Bs on Friday. New York spends over 40.0 percent of the time in the opposing team’s zone during even-strength play. That’s in the top five in the league this season, according to NHL stats.
While the Rangers have been on the front foot for most of their games, it hasn’t yet translated into goals. New York is averaging just 2.50 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the league.
If Boston can take advantage of some quick counters and maintain solid defense even with their backs against the wall, this one should be a win.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch the nationally televised Black Friday match.
How to Watch Bruins vs. Rangers on Black Friday
TV Channel: TNT
Live Stream: DIRECTV | HBO MAX
Bruins-Rangers won’t air on NESN, as it will air nationally on TNT.
For those with cable, the game should be easy to find, but for those without and looking to catch it for free, you can do so with DIRECTV, which has a free trial and offers the Turner Networks.
You can also stream the game on HBO Max if you already have that service.
What Time Is Puck Drop?
Start time: 1:00 p.m.
The listed start time for Friday’s contest is 1:00 p.m. ET. Expect puck drop to be a little bit after that. With this being on national TV, the TNT panel will probably push the start time closer to 1:15 p.m. than 1:00 p.m.
This is a home game for the Bs, so it will be played at TD Garden.
Where to Buy Bruins Tickets for the Black Friday Game
If you’re here and you’re saying to yourself, “might as well go to the game”, I’ve got nothing better to do, then fear not, we’ve got ticket options for you.
Stubhub has tickets to this holiday game starting at $184, and Seat Geek has them listed for $219 (fees included).
Bruins’ Upcoming Schedule
Boston is back in action on Saturday for the first leg of a home-and-home with the Red Wings. Both those games will be on NESN.
Here’s the next five for the Bs:
Saturday, Nov 29 vs. Red Wings 7:00 p.m. NESN
Tuesday, Dec. 2 at. Red Wings 7:00 p.m. NESN
Thursday, Dec. 4 vs. Blues 7:00 p.m. NESN
Saturday, Dec. 6 vs. Devils 7:00 p.m. NESN
Tuesday, Dec. 9 at. Blues 8:00 p.m. NESN
The New England Patriots will likely look to improve their receiving corps during the offseason, and one way to do so is by bringing in a veteran player.
Patriots fans might want to keep an eye on Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens, who will become a free agent after this season. However, Phil Perry, a Patriots insider for NBC Sports Boston, believes Pickens might not be a viable option for New England.
“The Patriots aren’t loaded with receivers who strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators because they will torch man coverage on a regular basis when given the opportunity,” Perry wrote on Wednesday.
“I’m just not sure George Pickens is the kind of guy they want to bring aboard and sign for a boatload of dough. Could be wrong there but that’s just my initial reaction to that idea.”
Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, and he has established himself as one of the NFL’s top receivers. He has recorded 67 receptions, totaling 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Cowboys have the option to franchise tag Pickens or sign him to a contract extension this offseason. If Dallas decides to let Pickens explore the open market, New England will have the salary cap space to pursue him. However, the real question is whether the Patriots will sign a wide receiver to a lucrative contract rather than draft a first-round rookie.
The Patriots will host the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, and it could be a good matchup for New England.
New York currently holds a 2-10 record, and one of the main reasons for its struggle to secure victories is its weak run defense.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz pointed out that New York’s rush defense ranks second-worst through 12 games since 1978.
“This one is a throwback to my look at early-season trends after Week 4. At that point, the Giants had the third-worst run defense ever tracked through four games,” Schatz wrote. “They’ve been up and down since then, but they gave up 219 yards and two touchdowns to Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs on just 15 carries in Week 12.
“That performance means they are now the worst run defense tracked by defense-adjusted value over average through 12 games in over 45 years and the second worst in the history of the database.”
The Giants are allowing a league-worst 157.2 rushing yards per game this season, and New England should be able to take advantage of this with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who performed well over the past five games. Additionally, quarterback Drake Maye can gain yards with his legs, further adding to the Patriots’ offensive options.
We might be just a few weeks away from hats and t-shirts being passed around the Patriots locker room.
New England is on the verge of clinching its first AFC East title since 2019. The Buffalo Bills won the last five division crowns, but the 10-2 Patriots currently sit atop the AFC East standings with six weeks left on the schedule.
So, how soon could the Patriots clinch the division?
Their path is relatively straightforward, and we’ll break it all down in a moment. But first, let’s look at the remaining schedules for New England and Buffalo.
Patriots (10-2, first in AFC East)
Week 13: vs. New York Giants
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: vs. Bills
Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 17: at New York Jets
Week 18: vs. Miami Dolphins
Bills (7-4, second in AFC East)
Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15: at Patriots
Week 16: at Cleveland Browns
Week 17: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 18: vs. Jets
The Patriots will be AFC East champions if they beat the Giants and Bills. If they win those two games, it won’t matter what Buffalo does against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The Patriots will have gone 2-0 against Buffalo — head-to-head matchups are the first tiebreaker — and winning their next two games would guarantee they can’t finish with more losses than the Bills.
However, New England doesn’t need to beat the Giants. If the Bills lose either of their next two games, the Patriots still would clinch the AFC East with a win over Buffalo in Week 15 even if they lose to New York on “Monday Night Football.”
Of course, all bets are off if the Patriots lose to Buffalo, let alone also losing to New York. That would open the door for tiebreakers, which could go in the Bills’ favor. The divisional-record tiebreaker is first up; New England entered Week 13 with a 3-0 in-division record, whereas Buffalo was 2-2 against AFC East opponents.
But what if the Patriots and Bills finish with the same AFC East records?
Here’s one disaster scenario that isn’t too implausible: Patriots and Bills both win this week; Buffalo loses to Cincinnati in Week 14; Bills beat Patriots the following week; Buffalo then wins its final three games; New England goes 1-2 over the final three weeks, including a Week 18 home loss to the Miami Dolphins.
So, Buffalo goes 5-1 the rest of the way, including a win over New England, and the Patriots go 2-3. That would leave both teams at 12-5 overall, 4-2 in the division and 8-4 in the conference. The common-games tiebreaker then would come into play, with the strength-of-victory tiebreaker next in line if common-games records are the same.
Here’s hoping things don’t get that complicated.
As for clinching a playoff spot, the Patriots actually could accomplish that as soon as this week if they beat the Giants and get some help around the NFL. But we’ll spare you the playoff-scenario mathematics and the accompanying ice-cream headache.
The Patriots will host the Giants on “Monday Night Football.” As New England is looking to secure its 10th consecutive win, it faces a challenge, especially with New York likely to welcome back one of its star players.
Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart passed through the concussion protocol on Thursday, making it likely that he will take the field against New England.
Dart missed the last two games due to a concussion he suffered in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears.
Despite the Giants’ 2-10 record, Dart has been a standout player. He has thrown for 1,417 yards and recorded 10 touchdowns against three interceptions, while also rushing for 317 yards and scoring seven touchdowns in nine games.
In the two games that Dart missed, backup quarterback Jameis Winston stepped in, throwing for 567 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. However, he couldn’t lead the Giants to victory, as they fell to the Detroit Lions 34-17 in overtime last Sunday.
The Patriots are going to need to ensure they can contain Dart in the pocket because once he breaks out, he can make big plays that can hurt a defense.
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently took to a live stream to provide some excellent advice for young basketball players.
Brown talked about the tendency for young players to all want to be an alpha scorer, while neglecting other important roles on a team.
“Everybody wants to be a star,” Brown said. “That’s fine to want to be that. But you have to find your niche first.”
Brown definitely provides this advice from experience, as he’s played multiple roles for the Celtics in 10 seasons, beginning as a defensive specialist when he was a rookie and having evolved into a two-way superstar.
He’s picked up an NBA Finals MVP trophy along the way, and he hasn’t even turned 30 years old yet.
Brown is powering the Celtics through a competitive start to the 2025-26 season with his explosive scoring and versatile play. Averaging 27.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 50.6% shooting, he’s become the offensive engine Boston desperately needs. His latest double-double was on Wednesday night: 33 points and 10 boards in a 117-114 win over the Pistons.
Brown’s surge continues a trend of high-impact outings, including his 35 points against Orlando on November 23. With consistent play and leadership, he’s elevating teammates like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. As December looms, Brown’s form positions the Celtics to stay in the playoff hunt.
A new Cody Bellinger update dropped from New York Post‘s Jon Heyman on Thanksgiving, with Heyman indicating that Bellinger is still being hotly pursued by the New York Yankees, and even that Kyle Tucker is New York’s “backup plan” in the event that they miss out on Bellinger.
Kyle Tucker? Backup plan behind Bellinger? Really?
Despite the mysterious assertion by Heyman, Bellinger’s free agency is clearly interesting due to all of the different potential landing spots attached to the former National League MVP.
Another MLB insider, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, broke down Belli’s market this week.
“The Yankees want Bellinger back,” Feinsand said. “You look at what he did at Yankee Stadium this year … he just owns that ballpark. It was perfect for his swing.”
“He opted out with the idea of trying to finally secure that long-term contract that has evaded hin the last couple times in free agency, but he’s a different player now than he was the last couple times. There’s going to be competition for him, though.”
The Mets are going to be interested in him, especially after the trade they just made,” Feinsand continued. “You know, there’s now an opening in the outfield where Brandon Nimmo was. The Dodgers have been a team that’s been talked about as a potential Bellinger landing spot. … So you’re talking about some big market teams going for Cody Bellinger.”
“I don’t think (that it’s a) foregone conclusion that he goes back to the Yankees, but they’re certainly going to give it a try to bring him back.”
Bellinger slashed .272/ .334/ .480/ .814 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI across 152 games in 2025, posting a career-best 4.9 fWAR while logging starts in left, center, right field, and first base. His defensive prowess shone with +7 Outs Above Average, anchoring New York’s outfield. A three-homer explosion against his old club capped a month where he earned AL Player of the Week honors, fueling the Yankees’ deep playoff push.