Truth hurts

November 23, 2020
This weekend was a flurry of activity in Beantown: the Patriots lost (sigh), the Celtics made a ton of personnel moves and the Revolution squeaked into the first round of MLS playoffs. Dig in!
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Truth hurts
SOURCE: DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP PHOTO

The GIST: This weekend was a flurry of activity in Beantown: the Patriots lost (sigh), the Celtics made a ton of personnel moves and the Revolution squeaked into the first round of MLS playoffs. Dig in!

🏈Houston, we have a problem: Yesterday, Houston defensive end J.J. Watt batted away the Pats’ slim postseason hopes, as the Pats fell 27–20 to the Texans. Houston’s QB Deshaun Watson incinerated the Pats’ defense, which was also burned by former Patriot WR Brandin Cooks. This loss stings.

  • Curiously, the Pats didn’t run much, but instead relied on QB Cam Newton’s passing. Although WR Damiere Byrd reeled in a career-high 132 receiving yards, those yards ultimately couldn’t make up for the Pats’ lack of a run game.
  • To make matters worse, RB Rex Burkhead, who was having a career season, left in the third quarter with a knee injury. Devastating.

🏀Not too good at goodbyes: With NBA free agency and trade season in full swing, the Celtics saw a lot of departures: Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets, Enes Kanter to the Portland Trail Blazers and Brad Wanamaker to the Golden State Warriors. Eek.

  • On top of giving Jayson Tatum a five-year, $195 million extension (!!!), the Celts also brought in Tristan Thompson and the Kardashians to provide a powerful frontcourt presence. But Hayward’s exit means the team still needs scoring depth at wing, so we’re giving the Celtics a B grade for their moves thus far.