The Sportsletter - The World Series Lives On

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 1, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Welcome Back,

Sunday’s sports-filled Halloween almost saw a World Series champion crowned, but the Astros said ‘not so fast.’ We’ve got more baseball in the mid-week, and the arrival of November means college hoops is about to tip-off. Big things happened this weekend. Bigger things are coming.

Letter Rip!

WORLD SERIES

Astros Avoid the Atlanta Celebration

Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Astros Survives Game 5 (9-5) to Take World Series Back to Houston (ATL Leads 3-2)

Three World Series games over the weekend brought us to the brink of a Braves celebration, but the Astros had something to say on Sunday. Atlanta won Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday by narrow margins before entering yesterday with their sights on the franchise’s first title since 1995. Instead, it was an Astros’ comeback that brings the series back to Houston for Games 6 and 7.

How Game 5 Was Won

The Braves stepped to the plate in Game 5 eyeing a celebratory evening, and it looked for a moment like the celebration was on. Adam Duvall smashed a first-inning grand slam to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead, but the Astros rallied to take a 7-5 lead by the 5th inning. Carlos Correa (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) and Yuri Gurriel (3-for-5, 2 runs) led the charge. The Braves didn’t add a run after the third inning, and the ‘Stros still have life.

Watch All Weekend Highlights

Gm 3: Braves def. Astros (2-0)

Gm 4: Braves def. Astros (3-2)

Gm 5: Astros def. Braves (9-5)

Braves Lead World Series (3-2)

This Week’s Schedule

Gm 6: Braves at Astros (Tues. 8:00 pm ET)

Gm 7: Braves at Astros (Wed. 8:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Astros Erase Early Deficit in World Series Game 5 to Stave Off Elimination

MLB: Adam Duvall Delivers First 1st-Inning Grand Slam in World Series Since 1960

NFL

World, Meet Mike White

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Jets Stun Bengals (34-31) in QB Mike White’s First Career NFL Start

Another Sunday in the NFL delivered endless storylines, but none were bigger than the debut of Jets backup quarterback, Mike White. White rallied the Jets for a comeback win over the 5-2 Bengals (34-31), including 17 points in the 4th quarter. The 26-year-old QB was cut five times in his NFL career before landing in New York. His debut was sensational — 37-of-45 for 405 yards and 3 TDs. And with former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson still injured for at least one more week, Jets coach Robert Saleh didn’t dismiss a quarterback controversy if White continues to shine next week against the Titans. World, meet Mike White, the hero of Week 8.

Fun Fact: White joins Cam Newton (411 yards) as the only quarterbacks with 400-plus passing yards in their first career NFL starts.

Watch: Jets QB Mike White Shines in Comeback Win

Other Week 8 Top Performers

QB J. Allen (BUF): 29/42, 304 total yards, 3 TDs

QB M. Stafford (DET): 21/32 305 yards, 3 TDs

QB T. Brady (TB): 28/40, 375 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs

RB N. Harris (PIT): 29 touches, 120 total yards, 1 TD

WR A. Cooper (DAL): 8 receptions, 122 yards, 1 TD

All Week 8 Scores & Highlights

Packers def. Cardinals (24-21) | Panthers def. Falcons (19-13) | Bills def. Dolphins (26-11) | 49ers def. Bears (33-22) | Steelers def. Browns (15-10) | Eagles def. Lions (44-6) | Titans def. Colts (34-31, OT) | Jets def. Bengals (34-31) | Rams def. Texans (38-22) | Patriots def. Chargers (27-24) | Seahawks def. Jaguars (31-7) | Broncos def. Washington (17-10) | Saints def. Buccaneers (36-27) | Cowboys def. Vikings (20-16)

Monday Night Football

Giants at Chiefs (8:15 pm ET, ESPN)

Additional Storylines

B/R: NFL’s Best Costumes on Halloween Sunday

SI: Week 8 Takeaways: Feisty Divisional Games, Blowouts & the Mike White Show

NFL: Saints QB Jameis Winston Suffers ‘Significant’ Knee Injury Against Bucs

CFB

Spartans Rise Into Top-5

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

#8 Michigan State Wipes Out #6 Michigan as CFB Playoff Comes Into Focus

Another weekend of college football is in the books, and the biggest storyline emerged from the state of Michigan. An intrastate clash saw #8 Michigan State end #6 Michigan’s undefeated season, and potentially end their hopes of making the CFB Playoff. The Spartans (8-0) remain unbeaten. And #9 Iowa also took another tumble to an unranked Big Ten opponent for the second straight week. The Top-10 got a slight shakeup with #3 Alabama on a bye week. Here’s the new Top-10 and all the must-see highlights from the weekend that was.

AP Top-10

1. Georgia (8-0) | —

2. Cincinnati (8-0) | —

3. Alabama (7-1) | —

4. Oklahoma (9-0) | —

5. Michigan State (8-0) | ↑3

6. Ohio State (7-1) | ↓1

7. Oregon (7-1) | —

8. Notre Dame (7-1) | ↑3

9. Michigan (7-1) | ↓3

10. Wake Forest (8-0) | ↑3

Full AP Top-25

Top-10 Highlights

#1 Georgia def. Florida (34-7)

#2 Cincinnati def. Tulane (31-12)

#4 Oklahoma def. Texas Tech (52-21)

#5 Ohio State def. #20 Penn State (33-24)

#8 Michigan State def. #6 Michigan (37-33)

#7 Oregon def. Colorado (52-29)

Wisconsin def. #9 Iowa (27-7)

#18 Auburn def. #10 Ole Miss (31-20)

Additional Storylines

ESPN: College Football Poll Reaction: What’s Next for Each Ranked Team?

CBS Sports: Michigan State Jumps Ohio State for No. 5 Ranking in New Poll

📰 THE HEADLINES

Hamlin, Elliot, Truex Jr. & Larson Advance to NASCAR’s Championship 4

(FOX Sports)

Yasiel Puig Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Plans MLB Return in 2022

(Yahoo! Sports)

Jake Paul to Fight Tyson Fury’s Half-Brother Tommy in December Boxing Match

(USA Today)

Barcelona Legend Xavi Returns to Camp Nou as Team’s New Manager

(NBC Sports)

TCU Football Coach Gary Patterson Out After 20 Years With School

(ESPN)

Saints QB Jameis Winston Suffers ACL Injury Against Bucs

(Bleacher Report)

Falcons WR Calvin Ridley Steps Away From Football to Focus on Mental Health

(USA Today)

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