The Sportsletter - Star Struck & Captain America

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 19, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

We’re just over one week away from Thanksgiving, food, football and family. If you’re the sports fanatic we think you are, that’s reason to celebrate. It’s an exciting time to be a fan, and this week is no exception.

Today’s Edition: The NFL’s battle for Texas proved ‘America’s Team’ isn't even Texas' team right now. Christian Pulisic vaulted the USMNT back to their winning ways. Plus, we’re handing out hardware all week for the 2024 MLB awards. Hope you can keep up!

Letter Rip!

PICKS

Pick 'Em Leaderboard (Week 11)

Congrats to this week’s Pick ‘Em winner, Russell Aquino! Russell was the only player to post a perfect score in Week 11 (13-for-13). That’s especially impressive in a week with three or four toss-up games. Cheers, Russell. This week's top five are going to the playoffs.

Week 11 Leaderboard

1. Russell Aquino (13/13)

2. Danielle Fagan (12/13)

3. David Glass (12/13)

4. Charles Pecukaitis (12/13)

5. Daniel Tomosawa (12/13)

The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em (Week 12)

Picks Take Approximately 60 Seconds

NFL

Star Struck in the Battle for Texas

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Joe Mixon (3 TDs), Texans Torch Cowboys (34-10) for Franchise’s 1st Road Win in Texas

Monday Night Football brought us the NFL’s seventh modern-era battle for Texas, but this game was far from a battle by the fourth quarter. The Texans torched the Cowboys (34-10) with 17 unanswered in the second half for the franchise's historic first road win at AT&T Stadium. Dallas led the all-time head-to-head in the Texas series (4-2) before Monday night, but they were 3-0 at home. This year? Dallas is 0-6 at home. They’ve trailed by at least 20 in every game, too. It’s all eyes on 2025 for the Cowboys (3-7), but the Texans (7-4) are large and in charge of the AFC North.

Game Recap: Texans RB Joe Mixon was the game's clear-cut MVP with 153 yards and 3 TDs. The Houston defense forced five sacks, two turnovers, and a run-back fumble return TD.

Watch: Texans Take Texas in Battle With Cowboys (34-10)

FOX Sports: Texans Never Trail While Handing Cowboys 5th Straight Loss

SOCCER

Captain America Strikes Again 🇺🇸

Photo: Omar Vega / Getty Images

🇺🇸 USMNT Beats 🇯🇲 Jamaica (4-2) & Earns Bid to Concacaf Nations League Semifinals

The U.S. Men’s Soccer Team breathed a sigh of relief on Monday in St. Louis. They entered Leg 2 of the Concacaf Nations League matchup with Jamaica only leading by one aggregate goal, but an early strike from Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic, put everyone at ease. Pulisic one-tapped a perfect pass in the box with his left foot, then he struck the viral Trump dance like many other athletes across the country. The U.S. were all smiles as they cruised past Jamaica (4-2). Ricardo Pepi and Timothy Weah also scored, and Mauricio Pochettino’s bunch — when healthy and active — look like the team we’ve been waiting for. They’ll play in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals next year (March, 2025). This week marks the last international soccer break for quite a while.

Watch: Pulisic Strikes Early as 🇺🇸 USMNT Top 🇯🇲 Jamaica (4-2)

ESPN: Pochettino Impressed, Praises USMNT’s ‘Fantastic’ Win Over Jamaica

MLB

MLB Awards Week is Here 🏆

Photo: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images

Paul Skenes (Pirates, NL) & Luis Gil (Yankees, AL) Win Rookie of the Year Awards

The hot stove starts to burn in November, but it’s also the time when we stop to recognize the awards from the 2024 MLB season. Each day this week features another set of honors in both the American League and National League, and Monday started things off with rookie of the year awards.

NL: Paul Skenes (Pirates)

Little surprise here, but Skenes did have some competition. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick by the Pirates emerged as a bonafide superstar pitcher in Year 1. Skenes was 11-3 as a starter with a 1.96 ERA and 170 Ks. He received 23 (out of 30) first-place votes. 2nd: Jackson Merrill (Padres), 3rd: Jackson Chourio (Brewers), 4th: Shota Imanaga (Cubs)

AL: Luis Gil (Yankees)

The AL ROY vote was a lot closer than the NL. Yankees’ pitcher Luis Gil was 15-7 as a starter with 171 Ks and a 3.50 ERA. The 26-year-old earned a big role in the New York lineup right out of the gate, but the BBWAA vote was close. Gil received 15 (out of 30) first-place votes and won by a narrow margin. 2nd: Colton Cowser (Orioles), 3rd: Austin Wells (Yankees), 4th: Mason Miller (Athletics)

🗓️ MLB Awards Week (Schedule)

Tuesday: Managers of the Year

Wednesday: Cy Young Awards

Thursday: MVP Awards

NCAA

College Basketball Polls 📊

Men’s AP Poll: (6) Purdue & (9) Kentucky Vault Into Top-10

Women’s AP Poll: Zero Movement Among Top-10 After 3-4 Games

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NBA

NBA Scores & Highlights

Monday Night (Nov. 18)

🏒 NHL

NHL Scores & Highlights

Monday Night (Nov. 18)

STORYLINES

⚾️ 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

The BBWAA ballot was released Monday and includes newcomers like Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Dustin Pedroia, Carlos Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Félix Hernández. (CBS Sports)

🏀 2025 WNBA Mock Draft

The WNBA Draft lottery handed the Dallas Wings the No. 1 pick and the potential selection of UConn’s Paige Bueckers. The Sparks (#2) and Sky (#3) also have decisions to make. (ESPN)

🏈 2025 NFL Mock Draft

This year’s quarterback class is thriving in the NFL, but will that be the case in 2025? Next year’s NFL draft order is taking shape, but expect more defense this time around. (CBS Sports)

NEWS 📰

🏈 Giants Demote QB Daniel Jones to 3rd String, Tab Tommy DeVito to Start (ESPN)

📺 Big 12 Football Games Moving to TNT as Part of Sublicensing Deal (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 Houston Rockets Linked to Rumors of Pursuing Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo (B/R)

🇺🇸 Trump Dance Sweeps Sports World as UFC Fighter & NFL Players Celebrate With Presidents' Viral Shuffle (Sporting News)

🎤 Beyonce to Perform Halftime Show of Ravens-Texans Christmas Day Game on Netflix (SI)

⚾️ Houston Astros’ Ballpark Renamed to ‘Daikin Park’ After Minute Maid Naming Rights Deal Ends (USA Today)

🏒 Alex Ovechkin Scores 2 More Goals for Capitals But Limps Off Ice With Leg Injury (Reuters)