BSJ Daily Briefing 11.19.18: Eagles continue to have lots of fun, bad Jags/lucky Steelers

Good morning! 

A few random thoughts while I try to figure out what answers Lane Johnson will tout when he goes on his non-existent radio tour after being on a losing team ... 

• Seriously, was there any more predictable storyline than Johnson, the Eagles' right tackle, getting his, "Not to be reckless, but I'd much rather have fun and win a Super Bowl than be miserable and win five Super Bowls," quote to the PMT podcast, thrown into his face? The Eagles are 4-6 and were completely embarrassed by the Saints, 48-7.


• By the way, I point out when the Patriots aren't accountable ... well, the Eagles' locker room was a freaking ghost town after the beatdown. Nice look.


• Speaking of the Saints, they have to be considered the Super Bowl favorites right now. Their defense is playing really well right now. Among the contenders (Rams, Chiefs, Patriots, Steelers), the Saints defense has to be the best.


• The Jaguars looked like the team that dominated the Patriots for about 38 minutes in leading the Steelers 16-0, and then Jacksonville completely folded down the stretch and, much to the chagrin of Patriots fans eyeing a bye, let the Steelers win the game.


• Seriously, check out these great drives from the Jaguars down the stretch:

• If you're interested in the inner workings of football, Peter King was embedded with the Saints before they put the beatdown on the Eagles.


• What's really ironic about this, if you've worked for Peter and/or SI in the past decade, is that this is quite the turnaround in the relationship between Peter and Payton (very similar to Peter and Bill Belichick since Spygate). Payton thought Roger Goodell was swayed greatly by Peter's coverage of the bounty scandal (in fairness, Goodell is swayed by a light breeze, drizzle ... anything) so Payton held Peter directly responsible for his punishment.


• For years, Peter and SI could barely get anything out of the Saints. I found this out my first summer working for MMQB when I purposefully spent three days watching the Saints, Payton and Drew Brees (and Brandin Cooks) because I never get to see them, and I wanted to see their offense in action. One of the Saints' PR guys introduced me to Payton. As he walked away, and within earshot, he asked, "Who does he work for?" Payton was told, "Peter King." Payton's response: "Don't give that guy a (bleeping) thing." So, good times. But the Saints were still great, especially Medway native Pete Carmichael.