BSJ Daily Briefing 11.26.18: Patriots solid in win and now control a bye as Steelers fall

Good morning! 

A few random thoughts while I try to figure out if that was Cordarrelle Patterson's season's greeting ...

• So the Patriots came back from the bye with a good, solid victory over the Jets. The offense moved the ball pretty much at will until the red area, especially on the ground.


• Basically, the Patriots did exactly what the Bills did to the Jets — minus red zone conversions — in New York's last game, a 41-10 home loss. Rushing output was almost identical, which should put the ground performance into perspective.


• Red zone will be a key down the stretch — Tom Brady wasn't happy with it either — and, in my opinion, they're going to have to figure out a new strategy after Rob Gronkowski returned and looked very similar to the pre-layoff Gronk. We look at the problem and offer a few possible solutions.


• Thought the defense did a nice job against the Jets. The coverage seemed good. I know people are down on Jonathan Jones, but the slot is almost impossible to be good at, especially the way the Patriots ask their corners to play it.


• Sweet music to Patriots' fans:

• Sunday couldn't get much better for Patriots fans with the Steelers falling on their faces in Denver. Thought that was very likely to happen. Steelers are so predictable. And, boy, did that Big Ben interception look exactly like the pick he threw last year against the Patriots.


• Also predictable: Patriots now have a bye in their hands thanks to the Steelers loss.


• Bruins look to build off of Saturday's good win over the Canadiens tonight in Toronto. This could very well be the postseason series that determines the Bruins' fate.


• Celtics are taking on the Pelicans. Issues still abound with Gang Green.