BSJ Daily Briefing 12.18.17 -- Patriots survive fantastic finish in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Good morning! And after that finish last night, I'm guessing that will be in New England.

A few random thoughts before I close my eyes for a few seconds before an early morning flight:

• He's been criticized (fairly) in recent weeks, but you have to salute Malcolm Butler for his tackle in bounds of Darrius Heyward-Bey on the play before the interception. Like Dont'a Hightower's tackle of Marshawn Lynch before Butler's heroics in Super Bowl 49, you don't get one without the other. Huge, huge play that likely got lost a bit in the furious finish.


• I still don't understand how the Steelers didn't double-team Rob Gronkowski on that final drive.


• Gronk's yardage total on that final drive: 69 yards. Only Gronk.


• With Rex Burkhead likely out for a while, welcome back Mike Gillislee!


• Didn't seem like Tom Brady was all that thrilled after the game. Thinks he realized they got really lucky and have a lot more work to do. Which they do.


• As someone who has learned the weight that words can carry, Tony Romo needs to check himself a little bit. His criticism of Stephon Gilmore's tackle attempt, saying that he ducked the attempt, was largely unfair. Gilmore had a guard coming at him. They're instructed to go low and to the outside to keep the runner in play. Taking on the blocker wouldn't be good for anybody but the Steelers.


• Love Pittsburgh's big-game atmosphere.


• Good to see Ryan Shazier at the stadium.


• Would really like to see one Patriots-Steelers game where either Le'Veon Bell and/or Antonio Brown doesn't leave early.


• That was a bad hospital ball by Ben Roethlisberger.


• What is it about the Patriots that makes normally (somewhat) sane people go insane? Tell us how you really fell, Sal

• Two good games on tap tonight as the Bruins host the Blue Jackets, and the Celtics (and B-Robb) are in Indianapolis to take on the Pacers.

• Every Friday, Dr. Jessica Flynn will answer your injury questions about all four teams, or any other injury questions you have. You can submit those questions at any time via email (docflynn@bostonsportsjournal.com), or you can Tweet them to her here.


• Mr. PatsCap himself, Miguel Benzan, does a weekly mailbag with all your funky cap-related inquiries. Hit him up via email or Twitter.


• We just added a ton of content to the Free Preview section, so if you have any friends that are holding out, send them here to take a look. Included are a couple of my Patriots’ breakdowns. Make sure you tell them we don’t talk about #BSJFightClub.


• iOS app. Android app. (Both have 5-star reviews)


• You can subscribe here.


• If you wish to upgrade your subscription to any of our other levels at any time, hit My Account at the top of the screen and then click Upgrade Subscription through a browser. In the app, click the settings thingy in the upper right-hand corner, click My Account, and then Upgrade Subscription.


• We’re going to kick in our advertising plan very soon. We’re looking for advertising partners who realize the unique value of BSJ, and like to support small, home-grown businesses. For more information, go here. For this model to work, we need advertisers to help offset our travel budget. It’s crucial.


• Find a typo? Let us know at typos@bostonsportsjournal.com.


• Need help? Drop us a line at help@bostonsportsjournal.com.