The Arizona Cardinals fell to 3-6 on Sunday following one of the most embarrassing showings by any NFL team this season. Arizona never had a shot in this one, mixing two three-and-outs with two fumbles that the Seattle Seahawks returned for touchdowns in their first four possessions. The Cardinals' offensive line has underperformed all year, and Seattle’s defense amplified those struggles to the max during a 44-22 win. The Main Takeaway: Justin Frye cannot return as OL coach in 2026 Replacing Klayton Adams with Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye has been a colossal failure. The Cardinals' surprisingly solid offensive line was a big reason for their success on that side of the ball in 2024. The group ranked fourth in PFF team pass block grade and 14th in team run block grade with the exact same players that they’ve rolled out this season, minus about eight games worth of Trystan Colon. In 2025, those grades currently rank 25th in pass block grade and 27th in run block grade. In pass protection, Jonah Williams has been a turnstile at right tackle, playing so poorly on Sunday that he was finally benched for last year's starter, Kelvin Beachum. The interior has also done a complete 180, with guard Evan Brown having already allowed five more pressures through nine games than he did in 17 games in 2024, and Will Hernandez looking like a shell of his former self through six games since returning to the lineup. Every Cardinal offensive lineman not named Paris Johnson has seen their individual run blocking grade drop. They cannot protect, they cannot generate push on the ground and they certainly cannot pick up a blitz. Keeping Frye and giving him time won’t make a difference, considering he was the only new piece dropped onto a staff and position room with lots of continuity, so his removal this offseason is a must. On A More Positive Note: Trey McBride has another level he can reach The Cardinals' biggest bright spot this season has undoubtedly been fourth-year tight end Trey McBride . After a 111 catch season in 2024, it feels crazy to say that McBride could ascend even higher, but he’s already scored more touchdowns in nine games this season than the rest of his career combined. Jacoby Brissett has been able to unlock McBride in the red zone, with five of his touchdowns coming since Brissett took over. His role is the same, with 51 of his 83 targets coming between 0-9 yards, giving him good run-after-catch opportunities. He’s running harder as well, with 11 missed tackles forced through nine games, as opposed to 14 through 16 games in 2024. With Brissett at QB, McBride has averaged 8 catches for 82 yards and 1.25 touchdowns per game. With that pace in mind, McBride should eclipse 100 catches again, and he’s got a shot to blow past 10 touchdowns, which would almost guarantee him an All-Pro selection. Finally: Lets see what Cody Simon’s got Rookie linebacker Cody Simon got an opportunity to start in place of an injured Mack Wilson on Sunday. Simon played 62 snaps on Sunday and compiled six tackles along with a pass breakup, but he also missed three tackles and posted a 48.2 run defense grade. While not the most encouraging performance, the linebacker has become the most difficult position to play on an NFL defense, and young players are taking longer than ever to develop into quality starters. The Cardinals' season is effectively over regarding competing for a playoff spot, so it wouldn’t hurt to live with the growing pains of a rookie linebacker, and if he completely fails to show flashes of being an effective starter, it isn’t difficult to justify upgrading over a former fourth-round pick in the offseason. It’s a no-risk situation given the spot Arizona finds itself in, and it’s a fantastic chance to get a fourth rookie contributing to the defense.

It’s been a long time since Chicago basketball had this kind of buzz. The Bulls are playing loose, confident, and for the first time in years, the offense feels unpredictable — and that’s largely because of a 23-year-old Australian point forward who’s redefining how this team moves. If the Bulls finish as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, it won’t be because of a surprise hot streak or a fluke schedule. It’ll be because Josh Giddey turned into the engine that powered Chicago back to relevance. Today's Hottest Take: Josh Giddey’s All-Around Brilliance is Making the Bulls Contenders When the Bulls traded for Giddey, there were questions — about his shooting, his fit next to Coby White , and whether he could elevate a roster that had been stuck in mediocrity. But through the first few games of this season, Giddey has erased every doubt. The numbers back it up. Giddey’s averaging near triple-double territory — 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.3 assists — while shooting a career-high 38.5% from three. His passing has unlocked new life in the offense. Matas Buzelis and White are all beneficiaries of his vision, but it’s the pace and trust Giddey brings that’s reshaped Chicago’s identity. Instead of the half-court stagnation fans have come to dread, possessions now flow like water — Giddey grabs the rebound, pushes the tempo, and finds shooters in rhythm. This quick-trigger transition game has made Chicago 10th in pace and looking for more offensive opportunities What You Need to Know: Why Josh Giddey Deserves MVP Recognition This isn’t just about stats — it’s about impact . Every MVP conversation eventually comes down to one question: Whose presence changes everything? For the Bulls, Giddey has been that guy. He’s made White more efficient, Buzelis more confident as a spot-up shooter. Even Nikola Vučević’s production has surged because Giddey knows exactly how to manipulate defenses before dumping it inside. Although not known for defense, Giddey’s 6-foot-8 frame and anticipation can make him an effective team defender, switching across positions and helping close out on shooters. The intangibles like leadership, being calm under pressure and a contagious love for playmaking are what separate him. He is fourth in assist percentage at 40.6%. He’s become the glue that holds Chicago’s revival together. Since March 6, the Bulls have gone 21-8 and look like a competitive team in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Before You Go: The Bulls Finally Have a True Floor General There’s something poetic about it — Chicago, a city known for point guard legends, finding its rhythm again through an unselfish, pass-first playmaker. Giddey doesn’t have to score 30 a night to dominate; he makes everyone else better. That’s value, in the purest sense. So if the Bulls end up holding the top seed in the East, don’t credit luck or schedule strength. Credit the young man who turned chemistry into championship DNA. Giddey isn’t just the Bulls’ most important player — he’s playing like the most valuable player in the NBA.

Over a year ago, the New York Knicks made a blockbuster trade to make Karl-Anthony Towns their new center. It was a match made in heaven for the superstar big man, as he went on to his sixth NBA All-Star game and made the All-NBA third team for the third time in his career. In 72 games, he averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game on 52.6% from the field. Towns' strong season led the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals in 25 years. Despite struggling with leading his team past the Indiana Pacers, I had high expectations for the former Kentucky Wildcat. However, at the start of this year, it seemed as if Towns was struggling to get into a groove. He scored just eight points against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 28, even though he had others where he could score more than 20. It seemed as if Knick fans wouldn’t see the same version of Towns we saw last year, until last week began. New York’s big man put up a 33-point and 13-rebound double-double against the Washington Wizards, before going for 15 points and 10 rebounds against his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. And on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, Towns got into even more of a groove. Towns Played Efficiently in the Paint The All-Star center started his night with six points in the first quarter, all coming in the paint. In the second, he scored another five, putting himself up to 11 points at the end of the first half. Towns started the third quarter with another five points before putting up another six in the fourth. All of these points came under the basket or from foul shots. He ended the game with a 28-point and 12-rebound double-double. The Knicks ' big man went 10-for-17 from the field and 8-for-8 from the foul line. His performance led New York to a convincing 134-98 triumph over the Nets. I’m pleased with what I’ve seen from Towns because this is what I expect from a six-time All-Star, who will need to pick up the slack at times when his teammates aren’t playing as well. He is the Knicks' most reliable scoring option at the center position, with Mitchell Robinson being their next best big man. Both players are good at using the paint to their advantage, but it’s Towns who has the advantage due to his speed and touch. The one thing I’d like to see more from him is shooting 3-pointers because against the Nets — he shot just two from long range. With all things considered, it was a true standout performance from Towns, who has gotten his averages up to 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. However, the pressure will be on him to keep performing well as the season continues, with the Knicks taking on the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden this week.

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The most fan-involved coverage in sports. Is Josh Giddey an actual MVP Candidate for the Chicago Bulls? Steven Ryan 8 hours ago Karl-Anthony Towns Shines Bright with 28-Point Standout Performance Dean Koutourtsas 8 hours ago Is Ajay Mitchell the 4th Star for the Thunder? Paul Daniel Flores 8 hours ago J.K. Dobbins Was the Offensive Highlight in a Low-Scoring Victory Kyle Bumpers 14 hours ago The Dallas Cowboys Took Action at the Trade Deadline Aaron Ball 14 hours ago Napheesa Collier Calls Out WNBA Leadership in Exit Interview Olafimihan Oshin Oct 8 Angel Reese Responds to Backlash After Critical Comments of Teammates and Problems Arise Olafimihan Oshin Sep 12 Kawhi’s $28M No-Show Job Dave Reidinger Sep 4 1/10 SHOP NOW APPEAR ON THE SHOW Seahawks are a wagon; Packers offensive emergency; Daboll fired; Jags angry fan tweets; NBA talk ESPN fatigue is BOOMING and fans are fleeing ESPN fatigue; Arizona Cardinals fan talks Kyler/Brissett, fanbase pulse check, future; NFL previews NFL Trade Deadline Winners & Losers NFL deadline winners/losers; CFP bracket review; Perplexing Packers; McCarthy Madness; Ravens Rising Steelers fan talks Tomlin, defensive failures, trades targets, and team's future Load More NFL LATEST J.K. Dobbins Was the Offensive Highlight in a Low-Scoring Victory Kyle Bumpers 14 hours ago The Dallas Cowboys Took Action at the Trade Deadline Aaron Ball 14 hours ago How Will the Green Bay Packers Contain Philly’s High-Powered Offense? Felipe Reis Aceti 14 hours ago The New York Giants Have Given Shane Bowen Three Strikes, He Should Be Out Jesse Stiller 1 day ago The Tennessee Titans’ Quiet Trade Deadline Has Everyone Confused Zack Laware 3 days ago Justin Herbert’s MVP Run Can Lead The Los Angeles Chargers To The Top Of The AFC Devin Jasso 4 days ago NBA LATEST Is Josh Giddey an actual MVP Candidate for the Chicago Bulls? Steven Ryan 8 hours ago Karl-Anthony Towns Shines Bright with 28-Point Standout Performance Dean Koutourtsas 8 hours ago Is Ajay Mitchell the 4th Star for the Thunder? Paul Daniel Flores 8 hours ago The Hornets are Struggling, but the Rookies are Shining Preston Palm 4 days ago Consistent Shooting Is the New York Knicks' Key to Success Dean Koutourtsas Nov 2 MLB LATEST The Philadelphia Phillies Enter October With Rotation Questions and Outfield Decisions Ross Billig Sep 24 The New York Yankees Pursuing Alex Bregman Would Be Their Boldest Play Yet Alvin Garcia Sep 22 Did the Philadelphia Phillies Just Bury the New York Mets After That Sweep? Ross Billig Sep 16 MLB Insider Blasts New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Amid Playoff Push Alvin Garcia Sep 4 The Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio Picks Up Right Where He Left Off Jordon Lawrenz Sep 1 Erick Fedde Might Be What the Milwaukee Brewers Need, Despite Falling to 4-13 on the Season Jordon Lawrenz Aug 29 VIEW MORE P A T R E O N Discounts at sign up Have a say in the content Be involved in the content Exclusive giveaways & voting Eligible for fan awards & prizes N E W S L E T T E R Discount at sign up Choose your experience Austin 3:15 From The Week (FTW) Exclusive grabs & access HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? SOUND OFF! LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL TO GET FEATURED ON CHALK TALK SOCIAL: 414-436-5120

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