The Sportsletter - Flying No More

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 15, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Let's lay to rest the chatter of an undefeated Eagles season. Monday Night Football brought the Birds back to reality with a shocking upset. Plus, we delve into the NBA after the first month and take a moment to remember the players who were killed in the UVA shooting. Early season college hoops and World Cup coverage will begin shortly.

Letter Rip!

NFL PICK 'EM

Congrats to our Week 10 winner, Joe K.! Joe rocked a 10-2 record this week and came within four points of the tiebreaker. Check your email for details on your prize. The points are reset for Week 11 (click below to play).

Thursday Night Football Games Not Included to Allow Players to Make Picks Until Sunday Morning

NFL

A Commanding Upset 🤯

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Commanders Hand Eagles 1st Loss of Season on Monday Night Football (32-21)

Unbeaten no more! The Eagles suffered their first loss of the year in a stunner on Monday Night Football thanks to three forced turnovers by the Commanders, including two fumbles in the fourth quarter. Washington outscored Philly 25-7 over the final three quarters thanks to four field goals from kicker Joey Slye, including two beyond 50 yards. The Commanders shut down the Eagles offense and dominated time of possession (40 minutes to 20 minutes). Washington got a few major breaks on penalties down the stretch, including a ridiculous facemask on a forced fumble with QB Taylor Heinicke earning a bizarre roughing the passer call to earn the game-clinching first down.

Top Performers

QB J. Hurts (PHI): 17/26, 203 total yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

RB B. Robinson Jr. (WAS): 26 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD

WR T. McLaurin (WAS): 8 receptions, 128 yards

DT J. Hargrave (PHI): 13 tackles, 1 sack

Watch: Commanders Hand Eagles 1st Loss on MNF (32-21)

After a 1-4 start to the season, the Commanders have won four of their last five. The NFC East — once the laughing stock of the league — now features four teams at .500 or above.

NFC East Standings

Eagles (8-1)

Giants (7-2)

Cowboys (6-3)

Commanders (5-5)

Additional Storylines

USA Today: Eagles, NFL’s Last Unbeaten, Upset by Commanders

Yahoo! Sports: Washington Benefits From Big Blown Call to Stop Eagles’ Undefeated Season

DraftKings: Commanders Beat Eagles After Late Hit on Taylor Heinicke, But Did QB Flop?

NBA

NBA Power Rankings 🏀

Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images

Bucks & Celtics Jockeying for NBA’s Top Spot After 1 Month

The Jazz have lost two straight after a hot start. The Celtics are winners of six in a row. The Bucks are still the best team, but the Suns are on the move. It’s a mosh pit in the middle with half the league hovering around .500, but it’s still early. Roughly 70 more games separate us between now and the playoffs, so we’re just getting started.

NBA Power Rankings

1. Celtics (11-3)

2. Bucks (10-3)

3. Nuggets (9-4)

4. Jazz (10-5)

5. Suns (8-5)

6. Cavaliers (8-5)

7. Blazers (9-4)

8. Grizzlies (9-5)

9. 76ers (7-7)

10. Mavericks (7-5)

11-20: 11. Hawks (9-5) | 12. Clippers (8-6) | 13. Wizards (8-6) | 14. Raptors (8-7) | 15. Pelicans (7-6) | 16. Bulls (6-8) | 17. Nets (6-8) | 18. Heat (7-7) | 19. Warriors (6-8) | 20. Timberwolves (6-8)

21-30: 21. Pacers (6-6) | 22. Knicks (6-7) | 23. Kings (6-6) | 24. Thunder (6-8) | 25. Spurs (6-8) | 26. Lakers (3-10) | 27. Magic (4-10) | 28. Hornets (4-11) | 29. Pistons (3-12) | 30. Rockets (2-12)

NBA Highlights

Celtics Win 7th Straight: Boston topped Oklahoma City (126-122) for their league-best seventh straight win thanks to 20-plus apiece from the trio of Jayson Tatum (27), Jaylen Brown (26) and Marcus Smart (22).

Stunner in Miami: The Heat held off the Suns (113-112) thanks to Jimmy Butler’s blocked shot on Devin Booker’s game-winner attempt in the final seconds. Bam Adebayo (30 points, 10 rebounds) had a monster night to lead Miami to their third straight victory.

Banton’s Big Night: Toronto’s backup point guard Dalano Banton exploded for a career-high 27 to lead the Raptors over the Pistons (115-111). Toronto snapped a two-game skid.

Additional Storylines

NBA: Power Rankings, Week 5: Celtics Power Past Bucks for No. 1 Spot?

CBS Sports: Why Next Stretch on Lakers’ Schedule Will Make or Break Season

USA Today: NBA Predictions: Which Teams Will Reach Finals? Who Will Win MVP, Title & More?

CFB

Inside the UVA Shooting

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

3 Football Players Killed in Charlottesville Shooting as Ex-Football Player Arrested

Monday morning’s biggest news story blended sports and national media as three Virginia football players were shot and killed. Two other students were injured after UVA police secured an arrest warrant for Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. — a former UVA football player himself. Jones was still a student on campus despite no longer being a member of the football team. The three players who passed away were D’Sean Perry, Devin Chandler and Lavel Davis Jr. Running back Michael Hollins was one of the injured.

Police said Jones was under investigation for a misdemeanor prior to the shooting.

“I cannot find the words to express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling today after the tragic events last night…These were incredible young men with huge aspirations and extremely bright futures. Our hearts ache for their families, their classmates and their friends.” — UVA Football Coach Tony Elliot

Additional Storylines

SI: Thousands of Virginia Students Gather for Vigil to Honor Shooting Victims

NBC News: UVA Shooting Suspect in Custody After 3 Football Players Killed

THE STORYLINES

⚽️ Expert World Cup Picks

There’s no consensus champion, but there’s an agreement about one thing: Europe’s reign over the World Cup will end in Qatar. (Sports Illustrated)

🏈 Greatest Catch Ever?

Peter King writes about the play Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson made at the two-minute warning in Buffalo, and explains why it is one of the best catches in NFL history. (NBC Sports)

🏀 College Basketball Rankings

It's a beautiful thing to have college basketball back and the preseason prognostications in our rearview mirror. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Ex-Virginia Football Player Suspected in Fatal Shooting of 3 UVA Players (Yahoo! Sports)

• Marlins Promote Caroline O’Connor, Becomes 1st Female President & GM of Major U.S. Sports Franchise (USA Today)

• Manchester United Furious After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Explosive Interview (ESPN)
• NFL Admits Error in Vikings-Bills Catch Controversy (CBS Sports)

• Odell Beckham Jr. Sues Nike for $20 Million Endorsement Breach (B/R)

• Browns QB Deshaun Watson Eligible to Return to Practice This Week (NBC Sports)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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