BSJ Daily Briefing 10.22.18: Patriots survive, Waiting on Sony, World Series Eve

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I wonder if Cordarrelle Patterson will try to get ahead of things and offer Bill Belichick a high-five this morning in the halls of Gillette...

• So the Patriots got a win in the Windy City. There was some good (Josh Gordon, pass protection, offense overall, the punt block/TD), some bad (Mitch Trubisky, Patriots defensive breakdowns, fumbles, Tom Brady's INT) and some potentially ugly stuff (Sony Michel's knee injury). So pretty much a mixed bag. But a win's a win.


• Tough injury for Michel, but there's a chance it's more of a high-ankle sprain variety. It is somewhat odd that the Patriots haven't leaked their usual positive words about the injury (when then it takes the player another six weeks to really be back). That's not a good sign, but we'll see.


• I think everyone will agree, especially with a half-speed Khalil Mack, that the Patriots should have wiped the Soldier Field turf with that Bears team. And in past years, by this time in Week 7, they would have. Weird season to this point.


• Mitch Tannehill is terrible and has no feel in the pocket, pressure or accuracy. He's another one of these guys — like Tannehill, Blake Bortles and Alex Smith — where they're really only effective if things are schemed up really well for them.


• Was telling people not to panic about Cordarrelle Patterson returning kicks because he would start to pay dividends once the weather turned colder and teams couldn't kick it long or far into the end zone. When the Bears had to kick off into the win, he was trouble.


• Weekly check-in: How is Lane Johnson's fun level right now after the Eagles blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead at home to the Panthers to drop to 3-4? Asking for a friend.


• Oh, by the way, Doug Pederson now says the pressure is off the Eagles now because no one believes in them ... Excuse me, what? Try losing on Sunday in London to the equally desperate Jaguars and you'll really see pressure.


• Excited that we get an L.A.-Boston World Series. Just sounds and feel right, no disrespect to the great people of Wisconsin. Plus, I didn't want to have to watch Craig Counsell continue to savagely over-manage.


• Excited to see Manny Machado play the villain up close — with Fenway involved. He's always gotten along with the Red Sox so well.

• Anyone check where Pedey stands on this?