MonNovember 2, 2026

Is Caleb Williams the best No. 1 overall pick since Andrew Luck? Trevor Lawrence is starting to establish himself as a top QB in the league, while Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield have been good—if shy of MVP candidacy—since finding homes in Detroit and Tampa Bay, respectively. Joe Burrow, having appeared in a Super Bowl as a sophomore, is the obvious and correct retort. But something about Williams feels even more swaggering than Joe Shiesty.

Maybe it is just that Williams feels like the breakthrough in Chicago’s decades-long quarterback drought, Soldier Field being so parched that Jay Cutler once appeared to be the savior. Goff replaced Stafford; Mayfield came after Brady. Hell, even Lawrence had to follow in the footsteps of a legend: Gardner Minshew (just ask the Cowboys). Williams arrived in the wake of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields, which was the perfect framing to accentuate his already irresistible game.

It ain’t over till it’s over. Austin Reaves got a bit too ahead of himself with the Lakers up big in the fourth quarter against the Raptors. Toronto’s reserves made a run to get back into the game and Reaves had to retrieve his headband – which he had given to a fan behind the bench – to return to the game.

The Lakers won by six, though that is highly misleading. Toronto was never really close in this game. Luka Doncic had the Raptors’ amped up defense on a string all game, dominating them to the tune of 41 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists (though you can credit the Raps for forcing 7 turnovers). Keep an eye out for Matisse Thybulle, who is the latest adopted of the no-dip 3 and is hovering at 50 percent from deep to start the season. That kind of accuracy would be huge for a player whose defense has always pleaded with his offense to just be normal, man, so he can stay on the floor.

Lionel Messi scores the winning goal in the 83rd minute against the Revolution tonight, taking Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference with one match remaining in the regular season. Does that matter? Not really. But look at that dribble from the 39-year-old. What a treat to still catch these glimpses. Messi’s sitting at 26 goals entering the season finale. FC Dallas’ Petar Musa is within sight at 22 goals, but if Messi starts against Charlotte, he should be able to secure the Golden Boot. If he does, he will be the first player in league history to win the award in back-to-back seasons (he scored 29 goals last campaign).

Early contender for halftime performer of the year in the NBA: The Amazing Christopher, whose four Village People-inspired marionettes dance in step with him thanks to an apparatus featuring polls and ventriloquist toggles. Unfortunately, he lost one of the Village People during his show tonight.