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.

It’s no secret that Ajay Mitchell is starting to impress this season with the Thunder, but can he be the fourth star in this highly talented OKC squad? We have seen how talented the Thunder roster can be. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP, Jalen Williams is shining bright after a massive star season, and Chet Holmgren is on the rise with his own star campaign this year. If this isn't enough for you to see how OKC is developing its players right, then the bench may be the next big thing for you to look out for. Aaron Wiggins is on a tear as one of their spark plugs off the bench. Isaiah Joe is also enjoying a great start to the campaign. And then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who has been putting up a promising run so far with his great instinct in scoring and underrated ability to run the offense for the Thunder when needed. It has been quite some time since the Thunder has seen someone like Ajay Mitchell. The fact that he started with no big expectations after coming off an injury-plagued rookie season means he’s really making waves. He’s seen a huge bump in the odds for the Sixth Man of the Year, and his improvement is just getting started at this point. How good has Mitchell been so far? While SGA is showing off yet another great MVP campaign , it cannot be denied that Mitchell has stolen the spotlight in the season with his great performances. While he is not scoring as big as star players do, he is making a lot of impact with the way he plays night in and night out. We have seen Mitchell carry the scoring load in big moments when SGA needs to take a rest, or when no Thunder starter is left to run the offense. The Santa Barbara product is starting to be the next iteration of James Harden — who is the Thunder’s lone 6MOTY winner. Mitchell is averaging 17.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game to go along with 46.2% shooting and 1.8 steals per game. He has seen a massive bump in his playing time, going from 16.6 minutes per game last season to 28 minutes a night in 11 games with the Thunder. Mitchell’s impressive contributions come at a very needed time for OKC. Williams has yet to come up with an appearance in the season. Then there’s the fact that Holmgren has missed a few games. Mitchell is the Thunder’s third leading scorer night in and night out, and that says a lot about his contribution to OKC’s title defense so far. The Fourth Star in the Making One thing that makes the Thunder stand out as the best defensive team in the league is its mentality, and they have really done a great job in coming up with continued success. Not every team has a fourth star to look out for. Sure, one can add four stars in a single squad like the Los Angeles Clippers have done in the past, or the Los Angeles Lakers, but how about homegrown stars? The Thunder are doing yet another impressive thing in their talent development. Mitchell has been as impressive as other 6MOTY candidates this season, and it cannot be denied that OKC is going to make the most of its chances with the sophomore guard also ramping up his development in the game. If you’re not convinced, Mitchell has played every single game for the Thunder so far this season. He has been tearing it up with multiple 15+ point games, and has only scored below double-digits once. Just imagine how talented OKC can be when they are already flexing SGA, Williams and Holmgren to begin with. Now you’re adding Ajay Mitchell, who is still young and has a lot to improve with the rest of the team. This is indeed a recipe for success in the years to come.

The 8-2 Denver Broncos are off to their best start since the year they won the Super Bowl, but many still question their ability to contend. And rightfully so. Today’s Hottest Take: More Dobbins Touches Will Help Bo Nix and the Passing Attack Thursday was maybe the ugliest win of the season; there was no explosive fourth quarter or big-time lead. Denver just barely beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football, and the start of the game likely led to some NFL fans turning their televisions to a different channel. Through four possessions, the Broncos failed to get even one first down. Quarterback Bo Nix and his weapons just weren’t accomplishing anything. The bigger issue, though, was J.K. Dobbins’s lack of involvement. The running back had three carries on the Broncos’ first three offensive plays, and had just one more touch in that stretch of three-and-outs. The next time Dobbins touched the ball, it was a 13-yard run for a first down. Not much went right offensively against the Raiders, but it felt like good results often happened when Dobbins touched the ball. Denver loves passing the ball, which gives Dobbins more opportunities, but the more he touches the ball, the easier it is for Nix and the passing game to move the ball down the field. Dobbins ended the game with 18 rushes for 77 yards and a  66.1 Pro Football Focus grade . It was far from an outstanding day for the first-year Bronco, but Dobbins is the most consistent weapon on the Broncos’ offense, and he needs to be remembered going forward. What You Need To Know: Nik Bonitto Was in Need of a Get-Right Game A quiet game for Nik Bonitto is a great game for many edge rushers, but Bonitto has been on a slight plateau. He hadn’t had a sack since Week 6 against the New York Jets, and he failed to register a sack against the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, but the star edge rusher was still doing his job for the most part. He had 10 combined pressures in those games, according to PFF , he just couldn’t finish a play for a sack. Just like a good shooter, Bonitto just needed to see one fall, in this case, a quarterback. Against Las Vegas, Bonitto had nine pressures and 1.5 sacks. Even if the Raiders have a weak offensive line, it was important for Bonitto to pick up some momentum. Before You Go: Singleton’s Heroics Shouldn’t Go Unnoticed Alex Singleton has been a bit of an unsung hero in Denver this season. Singleton missed most of last season due to injury, but he’s been reliable for the Broncos this year. He currently has 89 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, but Monday, he made a shocking announcement. The linebacker posted that he was diagnosed with a testicular tumor that he had successfully removed on Friday. It is currently unclear if he will miss time, but he deserves praise for his performance on Thursday, especially given the circumstances. Singleton was tied for a team-high of nine tackles in Thursday’s win over Las Vegas after just recently finding out about his diagnosis. Singleton had been the most consistent linebacker on the Denver defense. If Singleton misses time, Denver may need to find a way to get linebackers Justin Strnad and Dre Greenlaw on the field at the same time.

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone. The Dallas Cowboys made moves not just once, but twice, bringing in reinforcements for their struggling defense. Here are the two players they acquired. LB Logan Wilson Trade Cowboys - 2026 7th round selection for Bengals - Linebacker Logan Wilson 2025 stats- 46 tackles (19 solo tkls) and fumble recovery On the morning of the deadline, news emerged that the Dallas Cowboys were acquiring veteran linebacker Logan Wilson for a late-round pick. The Cowboys needed linebacker assistance after Jack Sanborn was placed on IR and Kenneth Murray struggled in the Mike linebacker position; they required a reliable Mike linebacker. Wilson is recognized for his physicality, instincts, versatility and effectiveness in run defense, as well as his ability to create turnovers throughout his five-year career. Although his stats this year aren't particularly eye-catching, I believe that in the right atmosphere, we will see an improved Wilson. Therefore, I would give this trade a grade of B. DT Quinnen Williams Trade Cowboys- 2026 2nd round pick, 2027 1st round pick, and DT Mazi Smith Jets- DT Quinnen Williams 2025 stats - 32 tackles (17 solo tkls), sack 7 tackles for loss and 3 force fumbles This move came out of nowhere. After already adding veteran DT Kenny Clark earlier this offseason, the Cowboys stunned everyone by trading for 3-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams. Many expected Dallas to give up multiple first-rounders, but the price was far more reasonable: just a 2025 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick and former 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, whose career hasn’t panned out. Williams reunites with DL coach Aaron Whitecotton and Solomon Thomas, and that chemistry should pay off fast. Both Thomas and Williams ranked among league leaders in run-stop win rate (45%+), per ESPN. Expect to see them clogging lanes and collapsing pockets together often. According to Next Gen Stats, Williams has led the league since 2020 in beating double teams (57 wins), just ahead of new teammate Osa Odighizuwa (53). That’s dominance at its finest. With his explosive first step, deep pass-rush arsenal, and relentless motor, Williams is a nightmare for quarterbacks and a brick wall against the run. This addition turns Dallas’s defensive front into one of the best DT groups in the NFL, both on paper and potentially on the field. This trade would be an A.

The Green Bay Packers enter Week 10 at 5-2-1. After a 16-13 upset home loss to the Carolina Panthers, they will look to bounce back when they host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and their high-powered offense on Monday Night Football. Today’s Hottest Take: While Green Bay’s defense has been more effective in man coverage, this is the week they need to lean even deeper into their zone-coverage roots. According to SumerSports, the Packers’ defense ranks sixth in EPA/play when in man coverage but 18th in zone coverage. Their success rate also drops from 60.7% in man to 55.6% in zone. Green Bay’s cornerbacks are much better suited for a press, physical style at the line of scrimmage. However, on Monday, they’ll face an offense that has been more productive when facing man coverage. A.J. Brown leads all wide receivers in yards gained against man coverage. Additionally, Jalen Hurts ranks fourth in completion percentage and third in passer rating versus man coverage. However, he’s only 13th in completion rate and 12th in passer rating against zone. By using more zone coverage, Green Bay’s defenders can keep their eyes on Hurts at all times, limiting potential gains through his scrambling ability. “A.J. (Brown) is just — he’s such a big, physical receiver. You know, he can take a slant or an under route, break a tackle, and take it to the house,” Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur said last January. “He’s been doing it for a long time now. Obviously, he got us in Week 1 [in Brazil] on a double move — we couldn’t get him on the ground after he caught the ball,” he added. He’s a dynamic playmaker. They’ve got DeVonta Smith, who’s electric. So, like I said, they just have a lot of pieces.” What You Need To Know: Carrington Valentine Steps Into the Spotlight Green Bay’s secondary will be without Nate Hobbs on Monday night, meaning Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine should start on the outside. Valentine opened the season as a starter but saw his role decrease over the first six games, especially once Hobbs returned from injury in Week 2. Hobbs remained the starter until Week 8, when he was benched for Valentine, who went on to play 62 total snaps against the Pittsburgh Steelers and 43 against the Panthers. Regardless of Hobbs’ health, Valentine should see more playing time — he’s been Green Bay’s best cornerback this season. The last time Valentine faced the Eagles, Dallas Goedert stiff-armed his soul into oblivion on his way to a touchdown. This time around, Valentine will get another shot — likely matching up with Brown and DeVonta Smith — and a strong performance could help him build confidence and momentum for the stretch run. Before You Go: Green Bay Needs Standout Performances From Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker The Packers are the only team in the league with both starting linebackers ranked inside the top 12 for yards allowed in man coverage. Meanwhile, Goedert leads all tight ends in touchdowns against man looks. Walker and Cooper not only need to know where Goedert is at all times, but they’ll also play a vital role in keeping Saquon Barkley in check. Last season, Barkley topped 100 rushing yards in both matchups between Philadelphia and Green Bay. However, among rushers with at least 20 attempts this year, he ranks 49th in  total EPA , 40th in rushing EPA, and 35th in yards per carry. Sure, he’s struggled to get going, but every football fan knows what he’s capable of if he finds a rhythm.

In what’s become almost routine for the New York Giants, the team turned what should have been a win into another fourth-quarter defensive meltdown. Despite holding a 20-10 lead well into the game, the Giants lost to the Chicago Bears 24-20, dropping to a disastrous 2-8 record. What should have been a season of redemption and a potential playoff hunt is now dust. It was an ugly game for New York, as. Jaxson Dart went down with a concussion as he continued to scramble and run around the field. No John Michael Schmitz, no Cam Skattebo, no Malik Nabers, and almost no offensive weapons anywhere. The defense should have stepped up in those last minutes of the game when they needed to protect the lead. Once again, they allowed a team to march over them en route to another crushing defeat with only minutes to go. Shane Bowen is not the man the Giants need to have leading the defense, between questionable play calls and what seems to be complete disorder in the locker room. Players seem very defeated after games, while Bowen has almost no answers for why these collapses keep happening. No wonder fans keep wishing for Wink Martindale to come back, three defensive collapses in one-half of a season should get anyone canned before the end of December. Bowen Is Taking Everyone Down With Him Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s jobs are on the line, and the defensive coordinator’s seemingly lack of adjusting or understanding is sinking them. The three meltdowns at the hands of the defense were completely avoidable with a serious difference in playcalling. Instead of getting aggressive, Bowen opts for a more conservative and contained approach at the line. The first mishap took place during Week 2 in Dallas, where Bowen not only allowed Dallas to go 71 yards in two minutes to take the lead, but also 21 yards in 25 seconds to send the game to overtime. In fact, he only rushed four guys while some safeties played 25 yards deep with 14 seconds to go: Things got worse in Denver in Week 7, when Bowen’s defense gave up an unprecedented 33 points, blowing a shutout and a win at the same time. Over half of the Denver Broncos’ offensive output accumulated in the fourth quarter alone, including an 18-yard scramble for a touchdown by quarterback Bo Nix. Once again, Bowen played conservatively but did accept fault for the collapse. His own players do not respect him, at all: And ... Bottom Line: It’s Time To Move On Bowen has seen three defensive collapses in 10 games this year, and his defense holds the second-most penalties and fifth-most yards surrendered per game. They also hold the fourth-most points given up and the third-least takeaways in the NFL. This is not a productive team, and the defensive coaching staff must take responsibility for this mess. It’s likely Bowen is fired before the end of the season, regardless if things improve or not. However, he could likely be fired in a ceremonial move with Daboll and Schoen. Regardless, the house is about to be cleaned out.

This was probably a pretty happy bye week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who now sit at 6-2. But this Sunday marks the start of the most difficult three-game stretch on Tampa’s calendar. It will begin with the 7-2 New England Patriots at home, followed by a trip to Buffalo to take on the Bills (6-2) and a trek out to Los Angeles for Sunday Night Football against the Rams (6-2). The stretch is a gauntlet, and it represents a make-or-break opportunity for the Bucs to take control of the NFC playoff picture. Each good-on-good matchup poses a different challenge, and to respond to those challenges, each game has a most important key to success. Here’s a look at those keys: Patriots: Take What the Defense Gives You The Drake Maye-led Patriots offense is a bear, but if Tampa executes a solid offensive game plan, they have the firepower to make this game a high-scoring affair. The mistake many teams have been making against New England this year is trying to attack the Pats’ defense too conventionally. The conventional approach includes doing what teams can to establish the run early, including many run plays on first downs against heavy boxes. With that approach, teams have been getting behind the chains, leading to difficult 2nd-and-long situations. Through Week 9, the Pats have the best run defense in the NFL, and it isn’t particularly close. They average 75.4 rushing yards allowed, which is more than 10 yards better than the second-place Seahawks. There’s no sugar-coating it—their run defense is straight-up dominant. With that being said, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard can’t be afraid to pull the trigger on pass plays on first down, especially early in the game. Even a spot route for four yards against zone coverage is better than a run getting stuffed for no gain. If the Bucs show they’re willing to air the ball out on early downs, the Patriots’ defense will have to ease its stranglehold on the run game, and it could open the running lanes from the second quarter on. Bills: Stack Up the Ground Game While the Patriots have a suffocating run defense, the Bills have a dynamic rush offense. Running back James Cook has been a bona fide problem for opposing defenses, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, which is tied for a league high among tailbacks. On top of his production, quarterback Josh Allen’s legs are always a threat, both when he escapes the pocket and on designed runs in the red zone. With that being said, Cook has only had three games all season where he has rushed for less than 100 yards. In two of those games, he did not find the end zone. It is no coincidence that those two games are the Bills’ two losses. The Bucs have had a great run defense for years now, led by nose tackle Vita Vea. They will need him healthy and wrecking the line of scrimmage to stack up Cook and Allen, and if they do that, the Bills’ offense has proven it will stall. Rams: Coverage is Key There was a lot of talk about the run game in the Patriots and Bills matchups, but against Matt Stafford and the Rams, it’s all about playing successful defense when the ball is airborne. When healthy, the Rams’ passing attack is lethal. Stafford averages the most passing yards per game among active quarterbacks through Week 9, and the team arguably has two top-20 receivers on its roster: Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. While both Nacua and Adams are versatile, they each have their specialties. Nacua, who has been debatably the best receiver in the league this year, operates all over the field—slot and wide—and from everywhere, he is a nightmare against zone coverage. Adams, on the other hand, typically stays in his own lane on the outside, and he attacks man coverage effectively. But if the Bucs can disguise their coverages well for even a couple of seconds on blitzes and disturb Stafford, it gives them a fighting chance against what may be the most lethal passing attack in the NFL.

The Tennessee Titans came off a close loss to the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday, 27-20, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans are currently 0-3 under interim head coach Mike McCoy, and this is the first game in which the Titans didn’t lose by more than three possessions under McCoy. Cam Ward has looked much better recently, with 658 passing yards and two touchdowns in those three games. With just three turnovers to show in those games, Ward is slowly getting better at keeping the ball, which hopefully will not be a problem moving forward. Now with the Titans falling to 1-8, fans expected quite a few trades ahead of the deadline to prepare for the future, whether it was through draft picks or a salary dump. However, the Titans did neither as they stayed dormant on deadline day. Tennessee traded just three players this year: Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Roger McCreary, and Dre’mont Jones. In return, Tennessee got multiple fifth-round picks and a seventh-round pick, but they gave up a sixth- and seventh-round pick in those trades. In the end, the Titans ended up with one extra pick than what they started with and moved these later picks up by just a few rounds. It makes you sit there and wonder what the plans are going forward and why GM Mike Borgonzi is in charge. Three defensive players gone, including the best corner, and you have nothing to show for it. This could have been the deadline where they dropped a decent-sized contract like Arden Key, or made a big move with L’Jarius Sneed, who just seems angry that he is stuck in Tennessee and constantly hurt. The team could have traded pending free agents for value like Chig Okonkwo, doing something to make this team better in the future. Instead, Borgonzi is holding them till the end of the year, but what's the reasoning? If he plans to re-sign either Key or Okonkwo, why have there have been no extension talks with either party? It seems like the Titans are rolling with what they've got moving forward and looking towards the draft ... where they haven’t found much success in over the last few years. The Titans only have one current player from the draft classes between 2020 and 2022, and that is Okonkwo, who could be gone at the end of the year. The only good news is that the Titans are projected to have $118 million in cap space for next season, the second-most in the NFL. Which is why it wouldn’t hurt to dump a few more contracts and add value moving forward with this team. Any move Borgonzi makes from here on out needs to set this team up for the future. As of right now, he’s done a whole lot of nothing this year and has a lot to prove this offseason that he can assemble a decent team and coaching staff. If the Titans can’t find the right coach and GM for the job, then plenty of news outlets will love to report once again about the revolving door that is the Titans' front office and coaching staff. For now, Titans fans can only hope to see some improvement going forward and hopefully salvage one or two wins to build momentum for next year.

On Tuesday night, the Hornets dropped their first of what will be a two-game road trip against the then-winless New Orleans Pelicans. The game was frustrating for the Charlotte faithful, as the Hornets led for most of the game and ultimately let it slip away late in the fourth quarter. Charlotte was also without its two core stars, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball missed his second game in a row with a right ankle injury, something Hornets fans are always worried will come back to bite the team, as Ball has a history of ankle issues. Meanwhile, Miller was out due to a wrist injury that will be reevaluated in roughly two weeks. The loss put Charlotte at 3-5 on the season, and the Hornets have yet to win two games in a row, despite averaging the eighth-most points per game this season. Even with Miller and LaMelo missing games, the Hornets haven’t had any issues scoring the ball; the problem is on the other end of the floor. The Hornets have been a bottom-five defense in the NBA this season; their defensive rating ranks 25th in the NBA at 116.9. The Hornets have only had one game where they gave up fewer than 113 points and have zero games where they’ve given up less than 103. A formula where you must score 130 every night to win simply won't work and isn’t sustainable at all. Fans might be asking, “Well, what are the positives of the season so far?” The answer is this rookie class, who have all been phenomenal in different ways. Starting with Kon Knueppel. The No. 4 pick is off to a blazing start, especially from 3-point range. Through his first four games, he hit 16 threes, which is an NBA record for a player’s first four games. He hasn’t slowed down either. For the season so far, he’s shooting at a 43% clip from long range. Knuppel is averaging 14 points per game along with 5 boards and just over 2 assists a night. Since seeing an increased role, he's been well above the 14-point mark, scoring 24 and 20 points in his last two games, showing that if needed, he can pick up some slack on offense, and he's been doing it scoring at all three levels, not just long distance. It's so far so good when it comes to Knueppel in Charlotte. Ryan Kalkbrenner has been a solid player so far, bringing a rim-protecting presence to Charlotte that they weren’t sure they’d have this year. He’s averaging 2.1 blocks per game and is also adding 1.3 steals per game. He’s essentially been the only bright spot defensively for this Charlotte group. He’s still got to be a little more consistent with his production on offense, but with his skill set, he has all the potential to be a double-double machine. Lastly, there’s Sion James, who's been more productive on offense than most may have expected this early on, averaging just over 9 points a night, and while he isn’t shooting that many of them, he’s shooting a ridiculous 72% from three. Over time, if Charlotte wants to build any sort of defensive identity, James will play a big role in that. He’s arguably Charlotte’s best on-ball defender already. The stats may not show it yet, but with his size and strength as a guard, he’ll develop into a great perimeter defender. The Hornets have the chance to bounce back on the road against Miami in their first NBA Cup game this season on Friday night. With Ball and Miller likely out, the rookies will have to build on their strong starts and keep up the pace.

The Chargers are now 6-3 after beating the Tennessee Titans, and keeping pace with the AFC’s best. Yet the vibes in La La Land are at a season low … Today’s Hottest Take: No Alt, No Problem Joe Alt, the player whom I less than a week ago touted as “the second-most important player to the Chargers,” is now done for the season with an ankle injury. With that blow, a lot of fans, including Charger fans, are writing this season off as a lost hope, despite the 6-3 record and being ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs in the standings as of this moment. I am here to play the role of optimist, something often frowned upon among Chargers fans, and tell the masses that not only is the season not doomed, but the Chargers are still very much a threat to take home the AFC West crown, and there’s one reason why: Justin Herbert. Right now, despite all of the tumultuous circumstances, his RB1, RB2, and RB3 all out, down to his sixth and seventh tackles, Mehki Becton in and out of the lineup, Bradley Bozeman’s poor play ... Herbert is playing MVP-caliber football. The Bolts are 6-3 because with No. 10 at the helm, they are capable of beating anyone on any day. What You Need to Know: 3rd and Keenan Lives "3rd and Keenan" was a long-standing mantra among Chargers fans during the future Hall-of-Famer’s first tenure with the Chargers. Now that he’s back where in belongs, Keenan Allen has revived said mantra, as the vet has led the Chargers' offense to the best third-down conversion rate in the NFL . His knack for showing up on the money down has added an element to a Chargers offense that needs all of the help it can get with the struggles up front, and Herbert having his favorite safety blanket on a passing down where pressure is coming is one of the reasons I still believe this roster can get the job done. Allen’s role has been reduced to three-receiver sets, as Tre Harris has taken the role of the dirty work WR that once belonged to No. 13, but when Keenan is on the field, he still takes the attention of every player in the secondary, allowing Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden to find their role in the pass game much easier. The Chargers all-time great only needs two more catches to break Antonio Gates record for receptions, and he looks to do it versus a porous Steelers secondary. Before You Go: Betting On Penning At The NFL Trade Deadline The Chargers were very timid at the deadline, which was expected when you acknowledge the lack of capital the Bolts have in this upcoming draft. But they absolutely couldn’t go on without attempting to address the elephant in the room after the announcement of Joe Alt’s season-ending injury. Enter Trevor Penning. Penning is a former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, taken not many picks after current Chargers left guard Zion Johnson. Los Angeles now looks at a scenario where both of the underwhelming first-round picks will line up next to each other on the left side of the Chargers O-line to protect Justin Herbert’s blindside. Penning has been nothing too special in the NFL, but as is the case with many former first-rounders: the talent is there. Penning is a stronger run blocker than pass blocker and utilizes his athleticism and nasty streak to win in space in the run game, but struggles to match the athleticism with technique against fast-twitch speed rushers. His physicality and nastiness will never be in question , and the Chargers are hoping to fine-tune that into someone who can keep their season afloat as their left tackle for the time being.

The Green Bay Packers opened their 2025 season with two statement wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders — both of whom finished among the NFC’s top four teams last year. Confidence was sky-high as they headed to Ohio as 7.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns, a game they were expected to win. However, Matt LaFleur’s team went on to lay an egg on the road against a winless Cleveland squad, falling 13-10. The Browns scored all 13 of their points in the final five minutes as Green Bay completely collapsed down the stretch. The following week, Green Bay’s offense exploded for 40 points against a Dallas Cowboys defense that was off to a historically bad start. The problem? Their own defense also gave up 40. Sure, Dak Prescott had an outlier performance, but the Packers couldn’t stop a nosebleed after Devonte Wyatt left with  an injury . At that point, they sat at 2-1-1 heading into the bye week — with both their offense and defense riding a roller coaster of performances in back-to-back games. After the bye, Green Bay pulled out close wins against the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals. Don’t let the 27-18 score over Cincinnati fool you — the Packers were only up by one score with just minutes left in the fourth quarter. Still, those are the kinds of wins good football teams need to have, and they took care of business. Even so, it was striking how the offensive play-calling continued to do Jordan Love and company no favors. Things got off to a strange start in Week 8 at Pittsburgh. The Packers jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but the offense stalled, and they went into halftime trailing 16-7. Then Jordan Love put on a complete masterclass in the second half, finishing with 20 straight completions, 360 yards, and three touchdowns — earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. But in Week 9, the high vanished as quickly as it came. The Packers found no rhythm against a middling Carolina Panthers team, and the defense couldn’t stop the run. Green Bay fell 16-13 in what was the biggest upset of the NFL season — the Packers were 13.5-point favorites — and, per ESPN research, it tied their largest upset loss since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The story of the 2024 Packers was that they couldn’t beat the top teams, going 0-6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. This year, though, the story has flipped. The 2025 Packers have found too many ways to complicate things against inferior opponents. They’ll enter Week 10 with only two losses — to the Browns and the Panthers, the latter of which was blown out 40-9 by the Buffalo Bills just last week. The Packers aren’t a bad team by any stretch. At 5-2-1, they lead the only division where all four teams are at .500 or better, but they’ve been inconsistent in all three phases. Can we really call them Super Bowl contenders? Maybe not just yet. Still, the media has pegged them as a top-five team for most of the season, so they’re at least in the conversation — even if their play hasn’t always lived up to the hype.

The Arizona Cardinals put together their most complete effort of the season on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak with a 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The offense continued to play solid football with Jacoby Brissett under center, and Marvin Harrison Jr. embarrassed Daron Bland all night en route to a career-high seven catches for 96 yards and a score. The bigger storyline from Monday night was the Cardinals' defense, which held an opponent to under 20 points for the first time since week three, and just the second time all season. Dallas came into the game averaging over 30 points per game, but could only manage 10 offensive points, with the other seven coming via a blocked punt. Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell continued to dominate upfront for Arizona, but the biggest reason for the defensive ascension is the play of three rookies. 1st-round pick Walter Nolen made his NFL debut after being sidelined with an injury, and it was immediately apparent that, as long as he can stay healthy, he’s going to eat offenses alive. On 10 run defense snaps, Nolen was able to earn an 82.4 PFF grade and tally two stops at or behind the line of scrimmage. His tackle for loss on Javonte Williams halted what looked to be an impressive first drive for Dallas and set the tone for Arizona’s domination up front. Later in the game, he was able to showcase his pass-rush ability, blowing by Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith and sacking Dak Prescott. Nolen playing this well in his first game against one of the best interior offensive lines in the league means it’s not crazy to project that the Cardinals' pass rush could fully evolve into the top 10 unit that fans were expecting, given the resources put into this group over the last two seasons. In the secondary, Will Johnson has looked like a special player since week one, and he continued his fantastic play against two of the game's best receivers, limiting Ceedee Lamb to 24 yards on two catches and George Pickens to one catch for 19 yards while being the primary coverage defender. Johnson’s PFF coverage grade sits at 74.9 through six games, and he’s yet to allow more than 43 yards in a single game. The most pleasant surprise from Monday has to be Denzel Burke , though. Forced into his second-most coverage snaps of the entire season due to a mid-game injury to Max Melton, Burke posted an elite coverage grade of 90.8. Burke allowed four catches on seven targets for 33 yards, and his clutch pass breakup against Lamb on 4th down early in the fourth quarter proved to be monumental in preventing a Cowboy comeback. Burke was also able to snag an interception on what was effectively a 4th down Hail Mary from Prescott down by 10. It’s unclear if Melton will return against the Seattle Seahawks next week, but Burke’s performance should give the team confidence if they need to start him. This draft class looks like a transformative one for Arizona’s defense, both up front and in the secondary. It’s going to be interesting to see if Cody Simon can earn more snaps after his forced fumble on Monday, because Akeem Davis-Gaither isn’t getting it done as a tackler, or if Arizona invests more at the position during the offseason to really complete the defense. Either way, there's deserved optimism for this unit going forward, and a red-hot Seahawks offense is going to provide another great measuring stick for just how good this group can be.

As the Denver Broncos’ defense rolled onto the field for the first possession of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, there was one glaring difference from every other game this season. In place of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, the rookie corner Jahdae Barron and the first-round pick were given the task of lining up across from star receiver Nico Collins on the first play of the game. While Denver didn’t have a cornerback truly suited to lock Collins up, and pass coverage was a concern, the Broncos still managed a win over the Texans. By an 18-15 margin, the defense, without Surtain II, did enough to keep the Denver offense in the game once again. On their first defensive possession of the game, Houston was moving the ball, and Denver was struggling to come up with answers, but on a third-and-5 from the Denver 23, Zach Allen sacked Houston’s C.J. Stroud for a nine-yard loss, turning a 42-yard field goal into a 51-yarder. Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn then missed the extended kick and gave Denver the ball back. Denver then had a field goal blocked, and Houston got the ball at their own 41. After four plays that included a 47-yard shot to Texans tight end Dalton Schultz and a defensive holding call on safety Brandon Jones, Houston had the ball at the 1-yard line. The Broncos’ defensive line stood strong and got some help from safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw on three straight plays — a false start on fourth down convinced Houston to settle for three points. The defensive front continued covering for the lackluster offense and Surtain II-less secondary. On Houston’s fourth possession of the game, Jonathan Cooper ended the Texans’ drive with a 12-yard sack on third down, another field goal for the Texans. Denver took a short lead after a touchdown drive ending with a Courtland Sutton score, but Houston immediately regained the advantage with another field goal. Despite a short four-play drive on their next offensive drive, the Broncos were given another chance to put points on the board after the defense forced a three-and-out, but receiver Michael Bandy, who was called up from the practice squad, fumbled the punt return, giving Houston the ball at the Denver 30 with 39 seconds left in the half. Davis Mills, who came in for an injured Stroud, picked on the Denver secondary for a couple of plays and had the ball at the 17-yard line, but Dondrea Tillman and Malcolm Roach combined for a sack to keep the Texans out of the end zone once again. Houston had just one more chance to score for the rest of the game. On their first offensive possession out of the half, they scored a field goal. They punted on each of their next six drives and had just two more first downs. If not for Denver’s elite defense, the Broncos would have suffered their third loss of the year. That’s been the story all season, but being without Surtain II revealed how important Denver’s defensive line is to the team’s success. Of course, it’s important to consider the context of Denver’s defensive line success on Sunday. The Texans are one of the worst offensive lines in the league, so the Broncos didn’t have a tough matchup, but they have played like this all season. The Broncos were averaging 23.6 pressures going into Sunday’s game, according to Pro Football Focus , and they notched  25 against Houston . Nik Bonitto had six, Allen had four, John Franklin-Myers had four and Cooper had three. When the defensive line is living in the backfield, opposing offenses haven’t been able to find as much success downfield. To be fair, though, Houston’s receivers played well Sunday, and Denver’s outside cornerbacks struggled. Riley Moss gave up six catches for 65 yards on seven targets, according to PFF . Kris Abrams-Draine failed to break up a target, allowing five catches for 37 yards. Barron generally lives in the slot, but in Sunday’s game, he saw 86.7% of his reps come  at the outside corner position . Denver tried to find ways to limit the Houston passing attack, and keeping the offense in front of them ended up being the key. After they got most of their blips out of the way in the first half, Denver mostly prevented Houston from getting over the top of the defense. Houston drew up a few chances for Collins to match up with Abrams-Draine, but the four completions he allowed to Collins resulted in just 24 yards. The Denver pass rush often got into the backfield, and if Stroud and Mills found a receiver, it generally came on short completions that Denver knew it could bounce back from, and the defensive front held on its bend-don’t-break situations.

Just when you think you know a team. The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Sunday’s game with an offense doing the heavy lifting in terms of team success, a defense that was getting carved up on a weekly basis, and slim odds of beating the supercharged Indianapolis Colts. Naturally, the Steelers’ defense went berserk, their offense struggled, and Acrisure Stadium was defended in a 27-20 Pittsburgh victory. Without much to discuss in terms of offensive production this week, let’s take one of our first opportunities of the season to commend the defense on a great game. In honor of hockey season being underway (go Penguins!), here’s three stars from Sunday. FIRST STAR: KYLE DUGGER Show up Thursday, practice for two days, play 72 snaps, get a game ball from Coach Tomlin. Light work for the Lenoir-Rhyme product in his first few days in black and yellow. Dugger was brought in last week from New England to mitigate the loss of DeShon Eliott, and with Jabrill Peppers and Chuck Clark both unable to suit up for the Colts game, he was immediately given a heavy workload. Outside of Eliott, safety had been a glaring weakness for the Steelers defense throughout the season. Dugger’s presence brought some stability, keeping a lid on Indy’s passing game in his first outing with the game. As he begins to familiarize himself with the Steelers system, expect Dugger to improve as a solo act and form a dangerous tandem with Eliott upon the latter’s return. SECOND STAR: PAYTON WILSON The second-year linebacker from NC State had 14 tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception in a massive solo effort on Sunday. Wilson’s presence in the middle of the defense was a key part of Pittsburgh’s ability to shut down MVP hopeful Johnathan Taylor, holding the league’s most productive rusher to a mere 45 yards on the ground. He also played a huge role in containing Daniel Jones in what was by far his worst game as a Colt. Wilson has been showing improvement week after week, and he has the capability to be a star for this defense sooner rather than later. THIRD STAR: TERYL AUSTIN Arguably nobody is more hated in the Steel City at the moment than Teryl Austin. Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator has been the public’s scapegoat for all of the team’s defensive struggles, especially given how much talent (and money) is on the field. However, if Austin has to wear the blame for the team’s failures, he should get a piece of the credit for the successes as well. Sure, the defense gave up 342 yards through the air, but they also forced six turnovers and held one of the best teams in the AFC to 20 points. Austin’s 4-3 scheme was incredibly effective at stopping a run game that featured Taylor to little success, allowing only 55 ground yards. Before everyone continues the Austin hate train into this week, show him the respect he deserves for a gritty conference win that comes at a crucial juncture in the season.

Sunday finally brought a 49ers game without much stress, as the team triumphed over the New York Giants in a surprisingly entertaining 34-24 shootout, although in truth, the game felt over long before its final snaps. It’s hard to read too much into the performance, however, as the Giants looked every inch a team that sits at 2-7 on the season, with deficiencies schematically and in personnel (due largely, ironically, to the 49ers usual bugbear, injuries) that the 49ers were able to exploit. Still, in welcoming back Spencer Burford on the offensive line, things did seem to get a little more consistent in blocking for Christian McCaffrey, who had another solid outing, while Brian Robinson Jr. produced his best game as a 49er, picking up 53 yards and an 18-yard touchdown on five explosive carries, as well as making a rare impact play on special teams with a 41-yard kick return. Jauan Jennings also made a nice return to productivity, catching a touchdown and showing his usual spikiness in the run game. Defensively, the team continued to show signs that its constant, year-long attrition has affected its ability to hit a high level on a consistent basis, with very few notable performances to speak of outside of Tatum Bethune’s ludicrous 16-tackle performance in relief of Fred Warner. The team struggled to contain Jaxson Dart through the air and on the ground, although his hero-ball act could only do so much to bail out the diminished talent level around him. Ultimately, though, it’s a win, and it’s an important win in a league where everything must be earned. Now sitting at 6-3, the 49ers victory in the first "hinge point" game of the season turns them into likely buyers rather than sellers at the trade deadline, especially coming into Week 10’s titanic clash with the division rival Los Angeles Rams. Let’s take a look at each of these subjects in turn. Can John Lynch come bearing gifts at the deadline? The 49ers defense badly needs a shot in the arm. While the efforts of youngsters like Tatum Bethune, Dee Winters, and Renardo Green should be commended, and solid efforts from the likes of Sam Okuayinonu and the returning Cle Ferrell warm the heart (again, it’s really hard not to love this team when they put in the effort – they’re a hardworking, never-say-die bunch, and I love that) it’s a unit badly in need of a difference maker, especially along the defensive line. The loss of Nick Bosa has had a pretty big impact on the team’s pass rush, but losing both Fred Warner and Bryce Huff in recent weeks, as well as a pending ACL tear for first-round pick Mykel Williams , is stretching the "next man up" attitude to its very limit. Can John Lynch release some of the pressure in making a blockbuster deal? His additions of Ferrell and former Patriot Keion White certainly patched some holes stemming from last weeks abomination in Houston, but neither are long-term starting pieces, rather good depth options for Kris Kocurek to put in his defensive line packages. Who might Lynch look to in order to accomplish that? Here are some ideas targets, ranging from pie-in-the-sky to possible: Maxx Crosby – I’ll open with him because a) I love riling Raiders fans, and b) those Raiders fans are the same ones who have told me for eons that Crosby is a better pass-rusher than Nick Bosa. Hey, Maxx? Come prove it. Of course, hearing that from Raiders fans isn’t a surprise, as they have Schroedinger’s Roster, simultaneously the best and worst in the league at any given time. I don’t seriously think this would happen in spite of the Raiders’ record, because as stupid as Mark Davis is, he’s smart enough not to deal with the 49ers, which is why we didn’t get Khalil Mack all those years ago. Trey Hendrickson – This is the most popular name on social media, and he’s probably the best rusher who may be available at the deadline. The Bengals’ season doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, so why not? Well, from a 49ers point of view: he’s a one-year rental, in a season where the team’s *unlikely* to make the Super Bowl (making it a different proposition to the pickups of Randy Gregory and Chase Young in 2023). And if he’s not going to be a one-year rental, he’ll need Bosa money ... I don’t see the 49ers committing that to Hendrickson. If you could get him for a low price and bank on a compensatory pick coming back when he signs his inevitable huge free agency deal, maybe, but this feels like the kind of move the 49ers don’t make. Not that they don’t pick up A-listers (see McCaffrey, Christian), but they usually like some long-term certainty on such players. Most of the New York Jets – Jermaine Johnson? Micheal Clemons? Will McDonald? Quinnen Williams? All have been linked to varying degrees, and all would probably love to link up with Robert Saleh again, but price and contracts will be an issue here. Jermaine Johnson would probably be first choice (although Williams on the inside probably upgrades the defensive unit against the run and pass), but the Jets aren’t going to let him go for cheap, at least until Woody Johnson’s son fires up Madden. Clemons feels the likeliest here, and it fits with the 49ers’ "many good players for cheap, not one great player for ridiculous money" trade ethos. Picking something up at the Titans fire-sale – With everyone seemingly knowing a change is coming in Tennessee, they must be the most ripe for picking of all the teams in the NFL. Former 49er Arden Key is here–and had his best season with us in 2021–while young talent T'Vondre Sweat would be an interesting player to develop. This seems more likely to be the 49ers’ market than any other, given the relatively cheap nature of acquiring some of these players. A Massive Week for the 49ers Whatever the combination, it feels as though the 49ers must land at least one, if not two, players from the above list. They’re 6-3, playing well, and about to enter a huge game with the Rams which could see them take divisional supremacy. It’ll be the second home game against the Rams this year (arf, arf), and winning would put the Niners at an excellent 4-0 in the division. Adding some pass rush to get after Matthew Stafford, a frequent thorn in the 49ers side but also someone who can be forced into mistakes, could be crucial in winning this titanic division tie. In general, the defense will need to play better than it has the last two weeks as well–while the 49ers came out with the win on Sunday, their defensive play in coverage left something to be desired. The strange choice of two "box" safeties in Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha in the starting lineup has had some role in this, while the holes left in the middle of the field by the absence of Fred Warner have often been exploited too. The 49ers will need to fix this, as the combination of Rams head coach Sean McVay and an excellent quarterback in Stafford will be aiming for blood early and often in their Week 10 matchup. Fortunately, Kyle Shanahan often saves his best games for duels against his compatriots like McVay, so you can probably expect another classic. Come out on the right side of this one, and the season has the potential to go anywhere. On the wrong side, and the 49ers will be 6-4 and likely searching for a little identity going into the back half of the season. I can’t wait. Welcome to the second "hinge point" game of the season, friends–and I’ll be back if a big trade drops, too. Go Niners!

The New York Giants' season continues to slump towards new low points each week, losing 34-24 against the San Francisco 49ers on November 2. It’s an impressive effort by the team given their defense continues to sit in the cellar of every single statistical category; their offensive production seems to be functioning well enough without star wide receiver Malik Nabers or rookie running back Cam Skattebo. New York’s offense can be attributed to one man alone: rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Ole Miss product’s performance since being thrust into the starter spot is what Brian Daboll hoped for. In fact, Dart’s performance has propelled him to a slight favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Such an accomplishment alone cements him as the team’s future franchise quarterback for at least the duration of his rookie contract. Dart’s Dual Threat Cannot Be Understated Since becoming the starter in Week 4, Dart has over 1,300 yards from scrimmage both in the air and on the ground. That’s also not counting the 15 touchdowns in those five games, while only committing three turnovers on interceptions. Whatever he can’t do in completion percentage, he makes up for with his legs in short-yardage or scrambling situations. This is what the Giants hoped to get out of drafting him in the late first round in 2025. Scouts saw his ability to keep a play alive and make good decisions in the pocket when he was on the run. Having a mobile quarterback is one of the priorities the Giants needed since the departure of Eli Manning, with Daniel Jones being a failure before departing for Indianapolis. One thing we haven’t seen yet is his ability to pass the ball accurately and for long-yardage plays. Dart completed 69.3% of his passes at Ole Miss in 2024 behind a sturdy offensive line and with playmakers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins going for 1,030 and 906 yards, respectively. It could be since he’s pressured a lot behind a line that has given up the sixth-most sacks in the league this year. When Dart is given a more sturdy offensive line and when Nabers and Skattebo return to the fold, his abilities will likely be unlocked and we could see him bloom. We’ve seen Dart throw the ball very well during his senior year with Ole Miss, with a 42% completion rate on throws of more than 20 yards. Once Nabers comes into the picture, and if the Giants select a wide receiver in 2026, Dart’s value and potential skyrocket if he keeps this up. He’s Doing This Against Really Tough Teams Everyone started turning their heads towards Dart after New York’s convincing 34-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. Don’t forget that the Eagles’ defense is one of the best in the league with Cooper Dejean and Jalen Carter at the helm, but he had to play them twice. While he was only limited to just 388 yards and two touchdowns in the air, he still ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns. It’s a good line for a rookie quarterback facing a defending champion team. Dart also played well against a strong Denver Broncos defense, throwing for three touchdowns and scoring one on the ground. While the team did collapse defensively in the fourth quarter, he’s making statements against good teams. The recent 49ers game is an example, which comes with an asterisk, given San Francisco doesn’t have Nick Bosa or Fred Warner. The Giants’ schedule is ranked as the fourth-hardest schedule remaining throughout the 2026 season. They have dates against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears in the next three weeks. This stretch will be Dart’s make-or-break moment for his rookie campaign.

At the start of last week, the New York Knicks looked as if they were on the verge of a multi-game losing streak. Consecutive 10-point losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls demonstrated their inability to perform well against the Eastern Conference’s best competition. Some can infer that the losses were due to poor shooting from the entire team. For example, the Knicks scored just 42% of their field goals against the Bucks, while their opponents scored 54% of their shots. From long range, New York hit 33% of theirs, 8% lower than Milwaukee’s 41%. It didn't get much better against the Bulls in an NBA Cup game for the Knicks. Mike Brown’s team made just 49% of their field goal attempts. Billy Donovan’s Bulls nailed 54% of theirs. The Knicks' defense was far from good against the Bulls, allowing guard Josh Giddey to score 32 points and center Nikola Vucevic to end with 26. Jalen Brunson tried combating the Bulls' offense by putting up 29 points, which wasn’t enough to outdo Chicago’s duo. As all of us fans thought the Knicks would receive their fourth straight loss, something changed. During Sunday’s rematch with the Bulls, the Knicks were rejuvenated by their home crowd at Madison Square Garden. Brunson recorded 31 points, five rebounds and three assists. Karl-Anthony Towns ended with a 20-point and 15-rebound double-double. Ultimately, the tandem's efforts led the Knicks to a 128-116 victory over the Bulls. The 12-point triumph showcased New York’s ability to make shots, going 45% from the field and 48% from beyond the arc. Therefore, I believe consistent shooting is the Knicks' key to success in Brown’s high-power offense, and there was a way the head coach made it work. Brown Got Everyone More Involved The guard slot was a key area the Knicks' front office focused on building during these past two seasons. Adding Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet gave more depth to that position. Clarkson scored 15 points and made three long-range shots against the Bulls. Shamet had nine points and went a perfect 3-for-3 from long range. Six-man Josh Hart put up 14 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes of action, as Miles McBride scored eight points in 23 minutes. Brown evenly distributed minutes to each player, with Brunson and Hart earning the most playing time. As the guards played well, forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined for 31 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and five 3-pointers. The one thing I would like to see Brown do is give more minutes to the big men. For example, Mitchell Robinson got 13 minutes, and Guerschon Yabusele received two. On the other hand, Towns played 36 minutes, the most out of the entire team. If Brown can give more minutes to the big men, this will help the offense create more second-chance opportunities due to their rebounding skills. The Knicks will have the chance to execute this plan in Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

For the second time in franchise history, the Thunder have started 6-0. The last time they pulled off the same feat? They won the NBA Finals last year. This is a great omen for fans of the Thunder, who have seen how this team has been off to yet another great start. Only the San Antonio Spurs have managed to stay undefeated, but that’s another topic for another day. In case you missed it, OKC just capped off another promising victory to notch their sixth win of the season. They are yet to lose a game, despite missing time from some of their key players. Chet Holmgren has missed some time due to back soreness, and even star Jalen Williams has yet to make his season debut . There are also certain names for the Thunder who are yet to get started in the season. Nikola Topic, for starters, may miss time longer than expected. Thomas Sorber is a no-go in the season with an injury. Yet somehow, the defending champions are still armed with a promising confidence that will play a huge role in their chances of winning. How is OKC Still Good Despite Missing its Best Players? We all know how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still keeping that same killer instinct that he’s had in the playoffs. After being criticized for having more free throws than field goals in his first three games, the reigning MVP has turned it up a notch . He recently logged a 31-point performance in just three quarters while shooting 11-20 from the field in a win against the Washington Wizards. The thing is, he did that in just three quarters and sat the whole fourth quarter. That kind of efficiency is what’s carrying OKC to the finish line in their first six games so far. Then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who has been a promising standout in his first six games as well. The latest BetMGM odds for the Sixth Man of the Year have already seen him enter the fray at +2,000, 12th overall in the list. Sure, that’s not much of a big deal, but have you ever considered the fact that he’s the third-scoring option for OKC right now, with a scoring average of 18.5 points per game? Then there’s the absolute consistency of Aaron Wiggins, who is also a candidate for 6MOTY. He’s been a massive sparkplug off the bench for the Thunder, and there’s no reason to expect him to take a dip in his performances. The return of Isaiah Joe also proved to be a good sign for OKC — he just dropped 20 points in his first game of the season. Everyone stepping up proves just how the “next man up” mentality for the Thunder really works at this point. One can say that the Thunder are really deep when it comes to their rotation, and that their bench can definitely win on its own. The Championship Recipe Remains True As we have seen before, the Thunder are still the best defensive team in the league . If you are not impressed, Cason Wallace – another Oklahoma City player coming off the bench – is leading the league in steals. The last time the steals leader was a guard? Dyson Daniels ended up winning DPOY by the end of the previous season. But that’s just a part of their defense. There’s a whole lot of strong defenders in the Thunder rotation, and it shows just how well they have improved as a team to look out for even with a whole offseason rusting their performances on the court. Now that the Thunder have turned up the volume in their games, it’s safe to say that their defense is still going to anchor them to a whole lot of wins. Sure, they're not winning a whole lot of games by a huge margin as they did last season. However, it’s safe to say that they’re on the same pace. For starters, they have won two of six games by double-digits. The Thunder are also starting to embrace their feel in the clutch, as we have seen in their first two games. The fact that your best players are not in full strength yet still winning a lot of games and are yet to lose is proof that the Thunder are bound for another championship run. What’s Next for OKC? The next five games will be a good test for the Thunder. They will be facing the Pelicans, Clippers, Trail Blazers, and then the Kings in an NBA Cup Group Stage showdown. There’s no sign of early fatigue for OKC just yet, even though they’ve played some tougher opponents. Of course, we are all waiting for the Thunder to return to full strength. This means seeing J-Dub back in the rotation and Chet getting back to his strong start to the season. Considering that OKC has yet to play at its full best, just think of how the 6-0 start can be if they have all their weapons at the ready to take on any team in the league. That’s absolute mayhem. No wonder they are the best team in the league at this point.

Well, this is fun!! The Chicago Bulls move to 5-0 on the young NBA season after a 135-125 victory over the New York Knicks. It is not that the Bulls are winning games, it is how this team answers the challenge every matchup so far. The first three wins of the season were against teams that not only have playoff aspirations but believe they can maybe make a run in the Eastern Conference (Detroit, Orlando and Atlanta). The Bulls took care of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at the United Center, and then beat a team that has finals aspirations in the first game of the NBA Cup. How do they do it? The streets are calling it “Billy Ball,” but it honestly just looks like good team basketball to me. The ball is never stagnant in a player's hand, and if someone does not have the ball, they are moving without it to set up the next pass or score. You never know who is going to beat you on a given night, and on Friday it was Josh Giddey , who posted his first 30-point game with the Bulls and poured in 10 rebounds and 8 assists as well. The other night against the Kings, it was the potential future franchise player Matas Buzelis who scored 27 points in a variety of ways and made it look easy against former Bulls DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine . Another factor contributing to this hot start is their new identity on the defensive side of the ball. The Defense According to ESPN, entering action on Saturday, the Bulls are third in defensive efficiency and sixth in opponent points per game. This helps the Bulls set up their offense, where they are ranked second in assists per game at 30.5, only behind the Denver Nuggets. Opponents are shooting a grizzly 25.6% from 3-point land, which is No. 1 in the league by almost 5%. Now, I stated it in my expectations article earlier that this team is going to be fun and win some games. I am not expecting a title, but this is something the Bulls can legitimately build on. I do not expect teams to shoot that porous against us all season, but if that number remains in the high 20s or low 30s, then this team has a chance to be a top-five seed in a wide open Eastern Conference. Did I mention assists? Yeah, I said it earlier, the Bulls are second in the league in assists per game. The combination of Giddey, Tre Jones and Nikola Vucevic operating at all different points of the floor has really kept all scoring lanes open for anyone to set up for a 3-point shot or a back-door cut to the basket. Giddey is averaging 7.8 assists per game, Jones is chipping in with 7.5 assists. Vucevic gets to operate in the high post and has always been an underrated passing big man, but now gets to shine in this new Bulls offense. I do not know if this is sustainable, and I am keeping my expectations tempered, but man! This is so much fun to watch, and I am going to enjoy every Bulls game this season. Coby White and Zach Collins still have to get back on the floor and gel with their teammates too. The Bulls are about to face some teams that will be not only in the playoff hunt but title aspirations as well. The next game for the Bulls is Sunday in New York against these same Knicks. I am curious to see how this team responds!

The Cowboys return home after a challenging defeat on the road against the Denver Broncos, with a score of 44-24. They remain undefeated at home (2-0). Can they maintain this impressive record? Here are three strategies to help them keep this streak going. Generate pressure With the possible return of Kyler Murray after suffering a mild foot sprain in Week 5, the Allen, Texas native will look to continue his success against his hometown Cowboys, holding a 2–0 record against them so far. One of the best ways for Dallas to finally break that streak will be to generate consistent pressure on Murray. The Cowboys’ defense has been terribly inconsistent this season, but they’ve shown flashes of strength in their pressure metrics. According to ESPN, they currently rank 19th in pass rush win rate (37%) and 6th in run stop win rate (32%) — respectable numbers that suggest they can disrupt opposing offenses when everything falls into place. One player who could be a key difference-maker is James Houston. The underrated part-time edge rusher has quietly produced 12 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble while posting a 14.8% pass rush win rate, which is above the league average. Houston could serve as the designated spy on Murray — a role that plays to his athleticism and discipline. By keeping Murray contained while the interior defensive tackles collapse the pocket, the Cowboys could make life very difficult for the Cardinals’ quarterback. If that formula works, Murray might be in for a long afternoon in Arlington. Getting back to the passing game Outside of their sack leader, Josh Sweat — who has 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and ranks second in the NFL in that category — the Cardinals don’t have a true standout presence in the trenches. The Cowboys’ offensive line, meanwhile, has been a steady and reliable unit throughout the season. Suppose they can continue to give Dak Prescott a clean pocket. In that case, he’ll have the time to spread the ball around to his talented receiving corps — headlined by the dynamic WR duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, along with reliable tight end Jake Ferguson, who’s proven to be a dependable safety valve in the passing game. A strong performance from the offensive line could tilt the matchup in Dallas’s favor, especially if Prescott can get into rhythm early and neutralize Arizona’s limited pass rush. Run the ball to set up the pass. The Cardinals’ run defense currently ranks 12th in the NFL, allowing an average of 100.9 rushing yards per game. While that’s a respectable mark, it’s worth noting that Arizona has allowed a rushing touchdown in every game since Week 4 — a sign that opponents have been able to finish drives on the ground. That shouldn’t deter the Cowboys from leaning on their top running back, Javonte Williams, who’s been the engine of their ground game. Williams brings a blend of power and physicality, forcing linebackers to stay disciplined against his bruising run style. He currently ranks 4th in the league in rushing yards (633) and 3rd in rushing touchdowns (8). If Dallas can establish the run early and design plays that maximize Williams’ strengths — such as inside zone and power runs — it could open up the play-action game for Prescott. Successfully setting that balance between run and pass would give the Cowboys a much better chance to secure the win.

You can rarely look at a game in Week 8, especially out of conference, and feel that immense “must-win” pressure. This was one of those rare occurrences, and the Los Angeles Chargers treated it as such. Answering the Bell The Chargers were presented with an opportunity Thursday night in a game I called a potential “Get Right Game” in last week’s article . They took the opportunity and used it to do just that, as they beat the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 37-10 on primetime. Despite only being in Week 8 vs an NFC Team, this game felt like a potential turning point for a roster and a coaching staff looking for answers. That suspect run game we had questions about? North of 200 on the ground. The struggling run defense that got exposed in the last month? Held the Vikings to 3.1 YPC. The offensive line that looked lost? Add in one Joe Alt and all of a sudden the unit looks pretty damn good. The Chargers, while only temporary, answered many questions against a well-coached team with a good chunk of talent. In doing so, they drastically aided their potential playoff chances and did enough to keep pace with the big dogs in the AFC. Joe Alt Joe Alt. What a guy! Alt completely transforms this roster, as evidenced by what Chargers beat reporter Daniel Popper calls the “Joe Alt Effect.” The Chargers are also 4-0 in games Joe Alt starts and finishes, and the Chargers' offense balloons from 20.3 PPG to 26.8 PPG with the stud left tackle in the lineup. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Alt is the second-most important player on the team (behind only Justin Herbert) regarding the Bolts' chances to make any serious noise in an AFC that still feels wide open. Alt’s ability to completely shut down an entire side in pass protection, as well as bolster a struggling run game alongside Zion Johnson, who's quietly putting together a good 2025 campaign considering the circumstances around him, almost makes you forget how many times the Chargers' O-line let Justin Herbert get hit while Alt was out. Almost. Déjà Vu “Do you get Déjà Vu?” Well, yes, watching Justin Herbert on Thursday night, I very much did get Déjà Vu. Remember when I went on that whole monologue about why this game was a Get Right game in the first place? Justin Herbert owns Brian Flores. After his historic performance against the highly touted defensive signal caller in 2023, Justin Herbert decided to do it again . Shredding the blitz, utilizing his legs for big gains, and all around being a problem that Flores had no answer for. Once again on the big stage with the primetime lights shining down, Justin Herbert proves why he is a superstar. Looking Ahead Now, a cardinal sin of sports is looking ahead. I made that mistake after Week 3, when I claimed the Chargers were then the favorites to win the AFC West. With all of that said, it’s impossible not to look at what is in front of the Chargers: it's the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Denver Broncos in these upcoming weeks. The Chargers have four straight games where they are in all likelihood to be favored (Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Las Vegas Raiders), while the Chiefs and Broncos will play each other during this stretch, and Kansas City also draws a couple of tough matchups vs the Buffalo Bills and the Indianapolis Colts. Denver has a softer schedule than the Chiefs, but a Demceo Ryans-led Texans defense is liable to give Bo Nix plenty of problems, and if the Washington Commanders get healthy in time for their matchup, that is by no means a gimme for Denver. The main takeaway is that four weeks from now, we could have a lot more clarity of where the AFC West is headed, and where the Chargers stand as far as contender or pretender.

The Titans lost another rough game Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts, 38-14, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Titans are now 1-7 and tied for the worst record in the league along with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. However, the Titans have already gone into full tank mode as they traded Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to the Jets, released Tyler Lockett, and now traded Roger McCreary to the Los Angeles Rams. The Titans got a fifth-round pick in return for McCreary, but they also gave up a sixth-round pick. Let that sink in: the Titans just traded one of their top cornerbacks and got absolutely nothing in return. Management has made another head-scratching move that will not help advance the Titans through this rebuild any quicker. Chig Okonkwo is now the only player left from the 2020-2022 draft classes, which saw the Titans draft 23 players. That is an embarrassing stat considering the Titans failed to develop and keep most of that talent. With the Titans likely to trade more players before the trade deadline, these two players are most likely on the trade block moving forward. Arden Key Arden Key has been a name that Titans fans haven’t heard much from; the linebacker has only played in five games this season and has recorded six total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Key has had a rough season thus far and is in the last year of a three-year, $21 million contract. The Titans getting rid of him would clear up seven million in which they can spend in free agency moving forward. Key is in his eighth NFL season and could be a great addition to a contending team. I could see him going back to San Francisco amid their injuries to Fred Warner and Joey Bosa. The Titans could shed some much-needed cap space in Key’s contract and hopefully get some solid draft picks in return if they ship this veteran off to San Francisco. Chig Okonkwo Okonkwo has grown on me during his time with the Titans, but it simply feels like the Titans are going to move on from him, as he is also in the last year of his contract. Gunner Helm is most likely taking over as the starting tight end next season. Okonkwo has been a decent threat for the Titans in his career. He's totaled 1,700 receiving yards over his career thus far, and is on pace for his best season yet. The Titans could get some solid draft picks for him as his value is at its highest. The Packers have shown interest in Okonkwo, and so have the Rams, amidst their many injuries. Seeing Okonkwo go would be tough, but management doesn’t seem interested in signing him going forward. Titans fans should get ready for another brutal stretch, as key players will be leaving sooner rather than later. This next tough test with the Chargers this Sunday is the least of their concerns.

Sunday’s victory over the Bengals does not erase a rough start to the season for the Jets (1-7), but it did show real, measurable reasons to be optimistic. The Jets generated 502 yards of total offense and staged a 23-point fourth-quarter comeback that showed aggression, creativity, solid game planning, and execution. Here are three key takeaways that fans can be excited about. A Moment of Redemption for QB Justin Fields Fields was taken out at halftime last Sunday and spent the following week uncertain about whether he had lost his starting role. As reported by Yahoo Sports , earlier this week, during league meetings, Jets owner Woody Johnson criticized his quarterback and the team for their 0-7 season start, remarking that it is difficult to win “when you have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got.” Fields put on a brave face and stepped up during a difficult period for the roster in Sunday’s game, delivering one of his most composed performances in green. The QB finished the game completing 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards, adding a touchdown and a crucial two-point conversion that ultimately made the difference in the final 39-38 win. The Run Game and Offensive Line Working in Harmony Despite months of trade rumors surrounding RB Breece Hall, he’s stayed focused and has continued to shine as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise tumultuous season for the Jets. A free agent after this season, Hall carried the offense on his back, rushing for a season-high of 133 yards . According to ESPN , he became just the fourth non-quarterback since 1950 to throw a game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of regulation. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, giving up no sacks for the first time this season and the first time since 2023. The NFL reports the Jets finished with roughly 254 rushing yards on the day. With the line opening lanes and Hall capitalizing on every crease, the Jets finally found balance and rhythm on the ground. "We were very aggressive when it came to running the ball and just showing our brand of football," head coach Aaron Glenn said in an interview the next day. The Late Defensive Stops Show Fight Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks caught a break this week thanks to the Jets’ offense, as his unit had a rough night. The defense missed tackles throughout the game, allowing Bengals backup Samaje Perine to rack up 94 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. Tee Higgins easily beat rookie Azareye’h Thomas for a 44-yard score in the second quarter, and the defensive front generated minimal pressure on Joe Flacco, who even added a rushing touchdown. Aside from a key fourth-quarter sack by Will McDonald, the group struggled to make an impact. The defense did allow big chunks of yardage earlier, but the unit made critical late plays that preserved the comeback. That shows the group can bend and then hold in the moments that count. Yes, the defense still needs to tighten up across four quarters, but showing the ability to get stops in crunch time is an encouraging sign that adjustment and focus are possible. This was more than a single win. After a 0-7 stretch, a 39-38 comeback is a morale lifter. The team now heads into a bye with tangible proof that the script can flip late in games. Momentum is not a statistic, but it changes the team's approach, energy, and how coaches evaluate confidence in personnel. The Jets showed enough that they can plan the bye week from a position of progress rather than desperation.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached their Week 9 bye and, although they enter the break sitting atop the NFC South and boasting a 6-2 record, the team is far from a finished product. Tampa has split its last two games—both on the road—but they were both messy, ugly endeavors. The Bucs’ defense, which people thought would likely be the team’s weak spot in 2025, has been a formidable force in both games. So what has been the problem? Though quarterback Baker Mayfield looked like a legitimate NFL MVP candidate through the first six weeks, and the Bucs offense was explosive during that time, both entities have looked increasingly pedestrian over the last two games. In the 24-9 loss at the hands of Detroit, it was a lack of accuracy in the passing game. Mayfield overthrew numerous downfield shots, both medium and deep, and each miscue stripped the offense of confidence. In last week’s 23-3 rout of New Orleans, it was a lack of execution in the redzone, and that forced fans to watch consecutive weeks of an offense that is devoid of exciting plays. Now, Tampa enters its bye week, and it has come at an incredibly fortunate time. The non-divisional schedule only gets more difficult from here, so here are three things Tampa Bay has to hammer home during the two-week break: Get the Ground Game Back on Track In the NFL, in most cases, a successful offense is one that can run the football efficiently. That has not been Tampa Bay this fall. Over the Bucs’ first eight games, they are averaging fewer than 100 yards on the ground per game. Now, you could be thinking, ‘Well of course their running game has sputtered—their lead tailback has been sidelined for half the games.' That is true. Bucky Irving has been hurt, and backups Rachaad White and Sean Tucker have combined to average just over 3.5 yards per carry. So what did Irving average before his injury? 3.3. The fact of the matter is that no matter who is taking the handoffs, the Bucs have not been able to find the chunk plays they were last fall. Their run blocking ranks 29th according to PFF , and while that may not mean a whole lot to a lot of old-school football minds, it also looks terrible when using the eye test. As the ground game has become less of a factor, opposing defensive coordinators have been able to lock their game plans onto controlling Mayfield, and his MVP-caliber season has been largely stymied. During the bye, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard needs to work with his unit to dial up better gap and zone blocking schemes to spring his backs. If the Bucs get back to being able to threaten 25-yard plays on the ground, Mayfield will probably get better looks when it’s time to uncork downfield. Lock Baker Back In While it’s true that a one-dimensional offense has left a lot of weight on Mayfield’s shoulders, he has not carried it well recently. Early in the season, Mayfield was playing with a chip on his shoulder, throwing with overwhelming confidence and using his legs to extend plays effectively. However, since the rough primetime loss to the Lions, those things have disappeared. He isn’t getting a ton of time from his offensive line, but even when he is given a sufficient pocket, he has been throwing like he is afraid to turn the ball over. Even to relatively open targets, he has floated the ball—kind of like an exaggerated ‘put-it-where-only-my-guy-can-get-it’ mindset. The Bucs exit their bye week to stare down a gauntlet—a three-course meal of New England, Buffalo and the LA Rams (combined record 16-6) between Weeks 10-12. If Tampa has any hope of emerging from that stretch with multiple wins, the Bucs will have to put points on the board. Mayfield needs to get his swagger back and drop any hesitation to let the ball fly. Fans will know whether that has happened by the end of the first quarter against the Patriots. Get Some Players Back on the Field Bye weeks are about rest, relaxation, adjustments and (this is the big one for Tampa) getting healthy. It might be obvious, but one of the pressure points this week should be getting starters back on the field. Since the beginning of the season, the Bucs' injury report has looked like a Jackson Pollock painting—not in a work-of-art way, just in a busy way. The offensive line has been terrorized, which has led to the team’s poor blocking in all facets. The defensive line is down to a skeleton crew, which has made it difficult to rush the passer. If Tampa wants to have success down the stretch and into the playoffs, the team needs its best players.

I love the job that I do, but some games just leave you scratching for things to say that are of relevance. The 49ers' capitulation to the Houston Texans this past Sunday was one of those games. If you are a regular reader of this column, you will know that I’m something of an optimist. I’ve enjoyed watching this team grow, I’ve lived and breathed every down with them, and we’ve all shared in some epic victories, particularly over the Falcons and the Rams. In spite of everything that’s gone against the 49ers this season, they’ve been able to do one thing, make us proud. This is a team that was (and maybe is) still in the playoff reckoning, ground out road wins, and showed progression with its younger players. They were forming a heart, an identity, and had some grit about them. So, what went wrong? It’s Not Just The Rush Beware of predictable narratives. In my 20 years watching the NFL, I’ve heard it proclaimed (among other things), that: The tight end position is dead. This was shortly before Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez joined the Patriots to reinvigorate Bill Belichick’s dynasty. The running back position is dead. This was shortly before Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs made their respective teams Super Bowl winners and cashed in on bigger contracts ... and not long after one of our own in Christian McCaffrey had become one of the NFL’s standout offensive players. It’s a passing league. The most tired and untrue trope of them all, as the game evolves and improves. Those that find success are the ones who find niches in the conventionally chosen thinking. The most successful teams–and the teams that will be successful tomorrow, next week, and into the next decade–are still the teams with the strongest trenches. I mention all this because there’s some very lazy and easy tropes coming into 49ers analysis following Sunday’s defeat. It’s been predictable all season: every loss is down to Nick Bosa and/or Fred Warner not being available, everything the defensive scheme can’t do is because they’re missing, and so on, and so on. This narrative is many things, mostly words I can’t write in this column, but it intensified on Sunday as the 49ers failed to pressure CJ Stroud. With Bosa, Bryce Huff, and other defensive ends out, this led to the usual "the 49ers have no pass rush, therefore they can’t be expected to stop CJ Stroud" opinions bursting forth. There’s some truth in that, of course. But examining some of the bigger plays from Sunday shows other issues that have dogged the 49ers all season. Tatum Bethune and Dee Winters both continually bit on play action, leading to big plays down the field, including in one case a 50-yard play that flipped the field. These aren’t symptoms of a pass-rush issue, nor are the touchdown tosses later in the drive from CJ Stroud. In both of these cases, players were wide open long before any pass-rush, even ones containing Bosa, Charles Haley, Reggie White, and whoever else you want to name, would’ve got to the quarterback. Coverage was a continual issue, and in many cases, Texans receivers ran wide open. It’s the same thing that’s dogged the Niners in all of their losses this season. Fundamental mistakes, like being in the wrong spot or missing a tackle, are killers to defenses. There were and are multiple players who are consistent starters, particularly in the secondary, still playing, despite the loss of senior talent. It simply isn’t good enough from them. To be fair to Shanahan (and I suspect Robert Saleh too), they’re unlikely to hide behind these lazy narratives. Yes, losing great players is an issue. Creating your own issues on top of that by failing to do the basics right is on you, as a player, and on the coaching staff. My bet is that we’ll see less of that moving forward, but it’ll need to come with an improvement from certain players. Trade market talk Some would have the 49ers solve these problems by pulling off a blockbuster trade, a la Christian McCaffrey in previous years, that looked set to fizzle out. I don’t have a huge issue with this line of thinking–adding someone both talented and experienced to the defensive unit, for instance, could elevate it back up a few levels, as well as give the team an emotional shot in the arm it may need following the loss of a couple of defensive leaders. Where, though? Most fans seem to be getting excited over the idea of adding a pass-rusher like the Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson, but I think the bigger issue may be in the middle of the defensive line. Since the departures of the likes of DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead, the team has lacked a solid presence in the middle of the line. Rookies Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins are both adding something to the team, but a solid, consistent, disruptive veteran presence would really help the team go up a level, both against the run and pass. To be honest, however, with the rash of injuries going through the 49ers defensive line, perhaps John Lynch should make two moves, and find both an edge and an inside guy. As it stands, the team will be suiting up third-stringers on the defensive line this Sunday, so if something’s going to happen, hopefully its soon. What Next? The schedule supposedly gets easier for the 49ers from here: But it’ll begin this week against the New York Giants. Cam Skattebo’s absence will help the reeling 49ers defense, but given our historical failures against mobile quarterbacks, facing Jaxson Dart–who, in spite of the Giants’ record, has been making some plays–could be interesting. You should also look out for the Giants pass-rush facing off against the 49ers offensive line, although if Ben Bartch does return as rumoured, we will at least be slightly improved. This feels, much like the Rams game a few weeks ago, as the season’s first "hinge point" game. Win, and the team could go to the playoffs this season (and may get its players back in time for the late-season run). Lose? It might be time to think about the draft pick. Which is it going to be? We’ll find out soon …

After losing to the Green Bay Packers 35-25 on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are on a two-game losing streak. Panic is starting to set in. The Steelers are no longer favorites to win the AFC North according to BetMGM after being firmly in the driver’s seat following their victory over the Browns. While Mike Tomlin and company work out solutions to the team’s recent struggles, the fanbase is finding plenty of issues to concern themselves with following their most recent loss. Here’s three of the most common concerns that Steelers faithful are dealing with, and how valid they are. DeShon Eliott’s Knee Injury: 7/10 Eliott went down in the third quarter of Sunday’s game after some awkward contact with Packers tight end Tucker Kraft and had to be carted off of the field. While an official timetable for his return has yet to be disclosed, a speedy recovery from Eliott could be crucial to Pittsburgh’s chances of winning the division. Eliott has been an anchor in the secondary, keeping a lid on opposing offenses and bringing consistency to a group that’s been shaky at times. A prolonged absence could leave Pittsburgh vulnerable to teams who excel at airing the ball out, and with the Colts and Chargers coming up, the Steelers could be in serious trouble. If Chuck Clark and Juan Thornhill can rise to the occasion (or if Eliott makes a faster recovery than anticipated), there’s still hope, but we'll find out very quickly if they’re up to it. Aaron Rodgers Sacked Three Times: 3/10 Besides Packers defensive end Rashan Gary having a productive two-sack day, Pittsburgh allowed one sack to superstar Micah Parsons. While three sacks is a rough total for one game, Rodgers has only been sacked 12 times this season, so this isn’t a trend that’s likely to continue. This is the same O-line that held Myles Garrett in check for a full 60 minutes earlier in the season, so there’s plenty of confidence in their ability to keep Rodgers upright. The only problem is that any hit on the 41-year-old quarterback could do some damage, so the unit as a whole will be looking to avoid an outing like this again. Steelers Fanbase Losing Confidence in Coaching Staff: 9/10 Almost any other fanbase would value the consistency that Mike Tomlin has brought to the organization, steering the team through troubled seas on multiple occasions over the last few years. However, many in Pittsburgh are starting to feel trapped between a high floor and a low ceiling. While the team hasn’t been bad, they also haven’t been in the hunt for a Super Bowl recently, and a two-game skid inspires painful memories of seasons past. Are the Steelers’ struggles Tomlin’s fault? Not necessarily. But someone is going to take the fall if the team faces another early playoff exit (or fails to make it there entirely). If not Tomlin, it could end up being defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s cross to bear. Austin’s defense, the most expensive in the league, has struggled despite immense star power. Pittsburgh is currently allowing 273.3 passing yards per game, good for dead last in the league. The aforementioned loss of Eliott in the secondary is significant–especially given how much talent is around him–and it just goes to show how much trouble the unit has been in so far in 2025. Again, the blame might not necessarily belong with Tomlin or Austin, but if things don’t take a turn for the better, it could be the end of their tenure with the Steelers.

It was only two weeks ago that there was talk that the New York Giants were on the cusp of finally turning their franchise around. They had just knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and had an emerging quarterback-running back duo on the rise. Finally, some hope in the Meadowlands appeared to be within reach. Fast forward to Week 8, and all that hope is gone under a wave of injuries, bad reffing, and poor play from the defense. It doesn’t help that their burgeoning duo in the backfield is no longer possible this year, and that there seems to be no purpose for the team to fight in 2025. It’s back to the drawing board for the Giants after a 38-20 loss at Philadelphia, and the road again starts with a potential top-10 draft pick next year. Cam Sakttebo’s Injury Is Worse Than Malik Nabers The injury to fourth-round rookie running back Skattebo might be the most devastating blow to New York in a season marred by injuries. His season came to an end in the second quarter on a check-down pass play when Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun tackled him from behind. On what appeared to be an illegal hip-drop tackle, Skattebo’s ankle got rolled under Baun and bent awkwardly. Anyone who even looked at the play for a split second knew Skattebo’s season was over. The reaction from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart said it all, a crushing blow to the swag and personality of the team: The fan-favorite running back underwent a successful surgery shortly after the game at a Philadelphia hospital. His recovery is going to be a top story in New York media during the rest of the season and the offseason, regardless of what the Giants do. What is going to be the most pivotal development is whether he’s the same player post-recovery. It’s the second major lower-body injury to a pivotal offensive weapon for the Giants, with the first being star wideout Malik Nabers in Week 4. The backfield will be spearheaded by Tyrone Tracy Jr., with a potential second back to work on third downs if the team goes in that direction. Brutal. Bad Calls By Referees Complicate Matters The no-call against Baun’s hip-drop tackle wasn’t the only blown call during the game on Sunday. In the second quarter, adding insult to Skattebo’s injury, the Giants not only stopped the “tush push” play against the Eagles but also caused a fumble. The ball appeared to be picked up by New York and would have resulted in a new drive to take the lead, until the referees stepped in. They ruled Hurts was already down past the line, giving the Eagles a first down and an opportunity to score. Later, Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton caught a 68-yard pass from Dart on what would have been the rookie quarterback’s longest touchdown of the season. However, it was called back on what could be one of the most questionable offensive pass interference calls in recent memory. Of course, head coach Brian Daboll acted appropriately to the situation, and so did most of the Giants. Throw in a couple of other penalties, and there’s the reason why everyone wants those referees fired. The Giants somehow mustered up enough courage to tell reporters in an adult-like tone what happened without going ballistic. It’s amazing how that team can keep a straight head when everything is going against them.

Can the Cardinals Jumpstart their Offense Against a Struggling Dallas Defense? Fresh off their week eight bye, the Arizona Cardinals travel to Dallas for a Monday night matchup with the 3-4-1 Cowboys. The Cardinals’ offense showed signs of life in Jacoby Brissett’s two starts, though they’ll give the keys back to Kyler Murray this week. The QB situation has been a hot topic among the fanbase, with a large portion of fans hoping Brissett keeps the starting job due to his willingness to get the ball out on time and hang in the pocket when pressure is closing in. In contrast, Murray is great at escaping from trouble, but he often does so far too soon, which can close off large portions of the passing concepts and leave him with the option of throwing the ball away or scrambling for a short gain. Murray’s playstyle ultimately gives the offense a more boom-or-bust nature, especially against less disciplined defenses like the one they’ll face in week nine. The Cowboys present the perfect opportunity for a confidence-boosting performance from Arizona, as their defense has conceded an average of 31.3 points per game, good for 31st in the NFL. The Dallas defense allows 258.6 passing yards per game and 146 rushing yards per game, ranking 31st and 29th in the league in their respective categories. They’re also among the worst in the NFL at allowing explosive plays, more so on the ground than through the air. Starting with the defensive line, the Cowboys base out of a standard four-man front, the two defensive tackle positions will mostly be occupied by Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, with Solomon Thomas rotating in behind them. Both Clark and Odighizuwa have been effective pass rushers when given the chance, registering PFF pass rush win rates above 12%, while Thomas has been below average with just an 8.7% win rate. The edge room is much more of a rotation, with six different players seeing snaps since Jadeveon Clowney was signed and suited up in week four. Veteran Dante Fowler Jr. has been the most consistent threat off the edge this season with a 16.7% win rate, but lately, rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku has started to flash the skillset that made him a 2nd round pick out of Boston College, and he could very easily wreck this game for Arizona if he’s isolated 1-on-1 with Jonah Williams. Behind those two, Sam Williams has received quite a bit of playing time, but his play has been so poor that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ezeiruaku eat into his snap share. James Houston and Clowney offer spot snaps as pass rushers, and both have been solid in that role, while Marshawn Kneeland is mostly a base down rotational edge for run defense purposes. Speaking of run defense, this unit is downright awful against the run. Of the nine players previously mentioned, just two have run defense grades over 60.0: Thomas at 61.0 and Clowney at 65.4. 146 rushing yards per game doesn’t happen by mistake; these guys get gashed weekly, and in the last month, that number has jumped up to a staggering 168.75 yards per game allowed on the ground. The linebackers aren’t without blame either, as this group looked rough on paper coming into the season and has managed to tank what little optimism fans might have had. Kenneth Murray Jr., in particular, has been a nightmare against the run throughout his entire career , and yet he’s a starter who leads this group in run defense snaps. Lately, Murray Jr.’s running mate has been rookie Shemar James, who has also been a complete liability in run defense, with a 41.7 overall grade. Marist Liufau has been much better, with a grade of 81.7, albeit in only 75 snaps. A large reason for Liufau’s limited snaps is his inability to cover, and we can start to group the secondary into the pass coverage conversation because it’s very similar to the run defense: there aren’t many bright spots. To highlight one, Daron Bland has been a fine corner, but aside from being on the receiving end of a Marcus Mariota grenade toss in week seven, he hasn’t been able to force turnovers at the incredible rate he did in the past. Bland has shifted into the slot recently, and because of this, the outside cornerbacks have been a combination of Kaiir Elam, Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges. Elam has been replacement-level but not downright awful, with a coverage grade of 60.6, but he hasn’t been able to make plays on the ball, with only one forced incompletion. Steward has allowed a high percentage of targets his way to be caught, but those catches are generally short gains. Bridges has been the disaster of this group, a rookie seventh-round pick by the Chargers who's already on his second team and had his coverage ability compared to running routes in the air by Tony Romo on Sunday. He allowed seven catches on 13 targets for 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos, good for a 27.4 coverage grade, even taking into account his interception on an errant Bo Nix pass. The Cowboys' defense gives Arizona a really good opportunity to put up a performance they can build upon down the stretch, and maybe that’s just what they need to flip the script in all of these one-score games.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off to another great start in the 2025-26 season. However, other stars are also making their presence felt, which could make for tougher competition. He won the MVP narrowly in the previous season, but going back-to-back may seem a bigger challenge than ever. Sure, OKC has had its own fantastic start with two consecutive 2OT victories against the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers, and SGA performed well, but then other notable names have been making rounds of their own. From Luka Doncic bringing bigger performances with LeBron James out, Stephen Curry getting back to his scoring groove, and even Victor Wembanyama with otherworldly stat lines, each of these is deserving of early accounts for the MVP. But can Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and the first guard to win the award since 2018, hold his ground and make a strong case to go back-to-back, as the first guard since Curry in 2014-16 to repeat at the top? Considering the Thunder’s Status, SGA is on Fire Jalen Williams is still recovering from his wrist surgery and isn’t expected to return in a few weeks or months. Nikola Topic is also recovering from a testicular surgery, and Thomas Sorber is redshirting his first season with OKC. There’s even a crop of players missing some time, with Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams missing the first two games. And yet, SGA himself has been on a tear. The MVP dropped 35 points in his first game and then set a new career-high 55 points in the second one. Both games had to be decided in the clutch, which says a lot about how Gilgeous-Alexander is definitely making his presence felt in the race for the MVP once more. In the first two games of the season, he’s already averaging 45 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game on 45% shooting. OKC has won without some of its best players under SGA’s lead, and it seems that there are high hopes that he will be gunning for a second MVP in a row, all while pushing the Thunder to some impressive wins so far. Now more than ever, it does seem that Gilgeous-Alexander is on the rise with high expectations set before him. Sure, there are some notable names making waves to begin the season, but we all know that consistency matters, and Shai isn’t one to shy away from that kind of banter; his impressive game speaks for itself. SGA’s MVP Chances Gilgeous-Alexander is at the top of the MVP odds to begin the season, according to Bet365. With candidates on the rise so far, it does seem that this will be an interesting year for the MVP race. Now more than ever, there are a lot of expectations set before him, and SGA has to find a way to prove that he’s still one of the best icons the league has to watch out for. Sure, criticize all you want about him making 23 of 26 free throws in that recent win against Indiana. There’s no denying that OKC is getting a lot of heat when it comes to those antics by SGA, but that’s one of his skills, something that cannot be replicated so easily. But if that helps the Thunder come up with needed wins or even push his numbers to a whole new level, then it doesn’t matter at all. As of the time of writing, SGA stands with +175 odds to win the MVP, followed closely by Nikola Jokic at +250. Doncic is making his presence felt and has risen among sportsbooks with +400. Giannis Antetokounmpo follows suit with +1000, while Victor Wembanyama drives into the discussion with +1200. Can SGA Win MVP Again? Barring injuries, SGA can definitely go for the second time in his career, as he’ll be playing 82 games in a season. The most he’s played was last season, with 76 games logged to his name. He even played 75 games in 2023-24 as well. More games for SGA mean that he’ll get to bring the Thunder to bigger heights . If OKC can win 68 games with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, imagine what historic feat Oklahoma City would come up with once more. After all, nothing is easy for the Thunder, and everything is earned. That goes the same way for SGA gearing up for an MVP run once more, and this one is definitely his to lose now more than ever.

For the past five seasons, Tom Thibodeau was in charge of the New York Knicks . His coaching strategy relied heavily on a strong defense and for starters to play a good amount of minutes while showcasing a certain level of intensity. This translated into four winning seasons and three consecutive playoff berths. With Thibodeau at the helm, the Knicks reached their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, capping off an impressive 51-31 season. However, the team came up short of their ultimate goal of bringing a championship back to New York. The Knicks haven’t won an NBA title since 1973, and with Thibodeau in control, it seemed they were never able to reach that point. The team’s offense always felt flat, with the only source of constant production coming from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Miles McBride. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart chipped in a fair amount, but it wasn’t anywhere close to what I would’ve liked to have seen. Since Thibodeau’s scheme focused heavily on the starters receiving most of the playing time, it seemed as if veterans Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet and Delon Wright never saw the floor as much as they could’ve. Not to mention, Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet never received many minutes, even though both have a fair amount of talent. But when Thibodeau finally decided to utilize the bench during the playoffs, the Knicks started to build momentum. Until their season ended at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in six hard-fought games. Therefore, when president of basketball operations Leon Rose decided to fire Thibodeau, it felt like the Knicks had finally been freed from his coaching style. To succeed in this current era of basketball, the team needs to focus more on the offense, which is exactly what Rose did when he brought in Mike Brown as their new head coach. Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, helped the Sacramento Kings snap their 16-season playoff drought. His offensive scheme assisted De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis in reaching their offensive potential. Given the proven offensive scheme, I had high expectations for Brown. Fast-forward to one week into this season, and I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far. Knicks Win 1st Two Games The Knicks took down the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, two perennial playoff contenders. In the game against Cleveland, Brown spread minutes out to 11 players. Even though most of the playing time went to Brunson, Towns, Anunoby and Bridges, Shamet and Kolek got time to show what they’re made of. Five players scored in the double digits, with Anunoby’s 24 and Brunson's 23 leading the way. As a team, the Knicks shot 43% from the field and 35% from 3-point range, which is lower than last season but still good. During the game against Boston, Brown ran a 10-man rotation , with Hart coming off the bench in his season debut, snagging 14 rebounds in 19 minutes. Brunson led the team in scoring with 31 points, while Towns put up a 26-point and 13-rebound double-double. That day, the Knicks shot 38.4% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc, another OK showing with room to improve. Knicks Drop 3rd Game to Heat However, the Knicks lost some steam by losing to the Miami Heat 115-107 on the road. Brown’s offensive scheme wasn’t good enough to keep up with the Heat, who were led by Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell. Brunson had 37 points, but the next closest was Bridges with 20. I don’t think this is much of a concern, because losses are bound to happen in an 82-game season. For the Knicks, that meant dropping their third game, and hopefully they will learn from this experience. Therefore, with Brown in control, I have faith the Knicks will succeed this season and play top-notch basketball. New York’s next test will be Tuesday night against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Charlotte took care of business at home, as they defeated the Brooklyn Nets with a final score of 136-117. The Hornets offense clicked on all cylinders Wednesday night with team percentage totals of 53% from the field and 48% from 3-point range. While the shooting percentages were awesome, the most impressive part of the win was the rebounding advantage they had over Brooklyn, winning the rebounding battle by 23 boards. Charlotte also set a new franchise record by having nine players score over double digits. Here are three of the biggest takeaways from the Hornets’ opening night win at home. The centers aren’t a concern Going into this season, Charlotte had question marks around the center position after trading away Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic, leaving fans wondering how they’d fill those spots. It seems they’ve managed to hit the mark by buying in on Moussa Diabaté and drafting Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton. Kalkbrenner got the nod to start on opening night and didn’t disappoint, scoring 10 points and hauling in 11 rebounds. Kalkbrenner showed his double-double potential in the preseason, and he didn’t miss a beat in the regular season opener. Watching him play, he looks a lot like Brook Lopez, finding his spots on the floor offensively and already being a great rebounder. He also blocked two shots last night, which should happen plenty more this season. Then there’s Diabaté, who brings a little more athleticism and energy into the lineup when he’s on the floor. He finished his night with 13 points and 9 rebounds, also adding a steal and a block. Diabaté did a really great job of running the floor in transition and showed off his touch with multiple floaters close to the paint. Buying in on youth at the center position seems to pay off early on, and if it continues, then Charlotte will cause all sorts of problems for opposing teams. Brandon Miller could take over as the No. 1 option Brandon Miller looked the part of a true No. 1 option for this Charlotte team. He scored 25 points and dished out seven assists. His playmaking looked largely improved, as he did a great job finding open players in the paint and on the perimeter. Miller ended the night with only one turnover as well. The scariest part of Miller’s performance was that he could’ve shot more efficiently from the field; he was 8-19 from the field and just 2-8 from 3-point range. Miller should easily shoot better than 2-8 from three for the season, so there’s no telling what his limits are offensively if he stays healthy. The defense will remain a concern While Charlotte did dominate for pretty much the entire game, the Nets still were able to score 117 points by the end of the game. Now, I'm not saying every game is the same, but if the Brooklyn Nets are scoring 117 points on them, then what in the world are teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, or the New York Knicks, or even the Orlando Magic going to do to them? The Nets had seven players score over double digits in the loss. At this point, we are aware of the defensive limitations of some roster members, especially on the perimeter, with players like LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton being less than average defenders. The hope is that bringing in young talent like Sion James and Kon Knueppel will give Charlotte a boost on the defensive end of the floor, especially knowing that the paint defense is looking brighter with the two young centers in Charlotte's rotation. The question from now on is, will the Charlotte defense improve over time? Or will Charlotte need to stay hot on offense to really make noise? Only time will tell.

For the first time since 1970, the Green Bay Packers have won a football game in Pittsburgh. To put that in perspective, the last time the Green and Gold left the Steel City with a victory, Bart Starr was still under center. It was a tale of two halves on Sunday night. Green Bay struck first for a 7-3 lead, but the offense went cold the rest of the half. Brandon McManus missed two field goals, and Pittsburgh made them pay, taking a 16-7 lead into the break. In the second half, Green Bay’s offense finally woke up, erupting for 28 points while Pittsburgh managed just nine. The Packers turned a nine-point halftime deficit into a 10-point victory — their largest comeback win from a 9+ point halftime deficit since 1982, according to ESPN Research. The Packers played their most complete second half of the season, and several performances stood out. With that in mind, here are three key takeaways from Green Bay’s triumph in Pittsburgh. 1 – Jordan Love continues to prove he belongs in the conversation among the league’s elite quarterbacks On Sunday, Jordan Love completed over 20 consecutive passes, threw for more than 350 yards, delivered three or more touchdown passes, had zero turnovers and took no sacks. No other quarterback in NFL history has ever accomplished all of that in a single game. Through seven games, Love is putting up elite numbers: 70.7% completion rate for 256.8 yards per game, with 13 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions and a 111.3 passer rating. He ranks in the top three in EPA per play , total EPA and success rate. Among QBs with at least 20 attempts, he leads in passer rating and completion rate on i ntermediate throws (10–19 yards) and ranks second in yards per attempt. For context, in the same category last season, he was 26th in passer rating, 30th in completion rate and 12th in YPA. In primetime this season, Love has been spectacular: 70.6% completion rate, 989 yards, 8 touchdowns with 0 interceptions, 8.9 yards per attempt and a 122.0 passer rating. When the lights are bright, he delivers, and any attempt to downplay his performance says more about certain fans and analysts than it does about how well he’s actually been playing. 2 – Tucker Kraft has become one of the league’s most underrated players Throughout the week, the NFL’s X account shared posters for National Tight Ends Day, highlighting some of the league’s top tight ends — but Tucker Kraft was nowhere to be found. Naturally, he responded by putting on a monster performance in front of the national audience. Kraft hauled in seven of nine targets for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Heading into Monday Night Football, he led all other tight ends by 66 yards in Week 8. Green Bay’s offense clicks when he’s the focal point — and it needs to stay that way. Last year, the Packers averaged over 26 points per game whenever Kraft saw at least six targets. This season, he ranks among the top five tight ends in the league in total yards, yards per catch, receiving grade, yards after the catch, yards after catch per reception, yards per route run and passer rating when targeted. “We’d be crazy not to,” Matt LaFleur said post-game on the potential of building the Packers’ offense around Tucker Kraft. “He was a beast. He was a man possessed. You’ve just got to find ways to get him the ball.” Is Kraft going to get more respect moving forward? Probably. But honestly, I still believe he won’t appear on many top-three tight end lists — a spot where he has clearly earned at least a serious discussion. 3 – Carrington Valentine needs to be a starter Valentine actually opened the season with 76 snaps in Week 1 and 50 in Week 2 while Nate Hobbs was recovering from injury. Since then, however, his playing time has steadily decreased. Keisean Nixon and Hobbs have been starting on the outside, but Valentine is a far more efficient boundary corner than Hobbs. Hobbs has played over 76% of the snaps on the outside, and quarterbacks targeting him have a passer rating over 127.0 with a 65% completion rate. By no means has Valentine been a perfect defensive back. He’s allowed a 115.1 passer rating when targeted and three touchdowns, but he’s also made more plays on the outside when called upon — including a huge one in the end zone against DK Metcalf. "I thought, all in all, he showed physicality,” Matt LaFleur said about Valentine’s performance against the Steelers. “He was challenging guys. There was just no gimmes. I thought that was big time." Week 7 defensive snap count (76 total) saw Hobbs on the field for all 76 snaps, while Valentine played just 2. In Week 8 (63 total), the roles flipped: Hobbs saw only 4 snaps, and Valentine took 62. On Monday, LaFleur said the cornerback position will remain a competition, and the team still has faith in Hobbs despite benching him for Valentine. That competition also includes Nixon. Moreover, he added that he was pleased with how Valentine competed on Sunday. Hobbs was a productive cornerback with the Las Vegas Raiders, primarily playing in the slot, where he spent most of his career. It’s time for Green Bay to let him play to his strengths, which means moving him inside. That also opens the door to move Valentine to the outside, where he’s a more effective player than Hobbs and can make a bigger impact on the defense.

Going into the Denver Broncos’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, there was plenty of noise about the lack of production from Denver’s 2025 rookie class. During the game, the noise was even louder, but not because they were absent. After a blip of an interception on the first drive and a subsequent interception, Dallas took its only lead of the game. The Broncos scored on the next drive of the game, and it was all Denver from there. What stood out most during the blowout 44-24 win, though, was how the most recent draft class looked. Throughout the season, the rookies had struggled to make an impact. Before the game, cornerback Jahdae Barron had yet to pick off his opponent, running back RJ Harvey hadn’t found the end zone for a rushing touchdown and receiver Pat Bryant was looking for his first touchdown, but that all changed Sunday. Harvey had three touchdowns in what could be considered his breakout game. While he played well against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, he didn’t score a rushing touchdown this week and had easily the best performance of his short NFL career. His first score came on a 40-yard run. The blocking was great, so there was little doubt he was going to score, but he got some help from a fellow rookie on his way to the end zone. Bryant got a piece of the Dallas edge rusher. If he didn’t, Harvey could have been brought down in the backfield, but the block got Harvey in space and allowed the blocks to develop for him. The score gave Denver a lead that they never relinquished, but the win over Dallas was never particularly stressful. With the Broncos ahead for the rest of the game, coach Sean Payton had the opportunity to throw his rookies into action against a bad yet still pro-level defense. Harvey was the next rookie to make another big play. With Denver already ahead 14-10, he got the ball in wildcat formation and punched it in for a one-yard touchdown. His second touchdown of the game wasn’t overly impressive, but it showed Payton feels comfortable simply allowing Harvey to make a play. Harvey has been behind J.K. Dobbins all year, and rightfully so, but it was nice to see Payton believe in Harvey to go and make a play. Then it was Bryant’s turn to get his first game ball. Bryant’s route wasn’t overly elaborate, but it was a great throw and catch between quarterback Bo Nix and Bryant, who haven’t done much together this season. As Harvey’s 40-yard touchdown and the rest of the season proved, Bryant is a great blocker, but seeing him get a ball in the corner of the end zone and make a play was a welcome sight. Payton makes it known that he loves Bryant’s blocking, and he’s seen plenty of chances to run the slant route that he perfected in college, but he showed up when allowed to add something else to his route tree. Bryant’s two catches against Dallas were both 10 or more air yards down the field, according to Pro Football Focus . Bryant’s other five receptions this season were all within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. This may not be a sign that Bryant’s route tree is expanding in the immediate future, but it is proof that he is capable of more than shallow crossers. Just three plays later, Barron reminded Broncos fans he was the first pick in this year’s draft class. Barron picked off Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott right before halftime to prevent the Cowboys from putting more points on the board before the break. The throw definitely was a poor decision by Prescott, but Barron undoubtedly won the rep against tight end Jake Ferguson, who has had a great season. The interception marked Barron’s only target of the game on just 15 total snaps. Barron hasn’t been on the field much this season, and he often doesn’t need to be, but seeing him make a play was a nice reminder that the first-round pick is a playmaker. By the time Harvey found the end zone again, Denver was up by 20 points. Payton designed a nice play for the rookie to get an easy score that capped the highest-scoring performance of the Broncos’ season. Frankly, the rookies don’t need to be on the field much. Barron is usually behind Ja’Quan McMillian in the depth chart, but if Denver wanted to try him on the outside, he would still be behind Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss. Dobbins is having a stellar season, so Harvey probably should not be taking reps from him, and Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. have made Bryant a luxury, but it’s nice to see that when the time comes, Payton has trust in the 2025 rookie class to fill in and make plays.

Quarterback: Dak Prescott Grade A+: Dak has been incredibly precise this season so far. In his 10th year with the Dallas Cowboys, he stands second in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, boasting 1,881 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, while leading in QB rating. He has achieved a career-best passing completion rate of 71.4%. As reported by Mike Leslie , Dak Prescott is projected to reach 4,610 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2025. Running Back: Javonte Williams, Jayden Blue, and Miles Sanders (out for the season) Grade B+: Javonte Williams has exceeded expectations, emerging as the clear lead RB with 592 rushing yards (second in the NFL) and six touchdowns (third). His consistency, vision, physicality, and versatility as a receiver and pass blocker make him a standout performer. However, the RB room earns a B+ grade due to the lack of a consistent RB2—Sanders showed flashes before his injury, and Blue, who’s recently stepped into the role, is still developing despite a promising 4.1 yards per carry last week. WR: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Kavonte Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, and Ryan Flournoy Grade A: The addition of Pickens has transformed the passing game, forming one of the league’s top receiver duos with Lamb. Pickens ranks fourth in receiving yards (607) and second in touchdowns (six), while Lamb, despite missing three weeks, has 21 catches for 332 yards and a score. Turpin adds versatility as a returner and motion threat, while Flournoy and Tolbert stepped up in his and Lamb’s absence—Flournoy posting 114 yards against the Jets and Tolbert showing improved route running. Overall, Pickens’ arrival has elevated this group into one of the NFL’s premier wide receiver units. TE: Jake Ferguson, Breyvn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker Grade B: Ferguson is enjoying an underrated season following last year's struggles with a knee injury that plagued him for most of the time. This year, he has become Dak's reliable safety net and third receiving option. He has already achieved a career-high in touchdowns, reaching six. Currently, he ranks second in the league for both receptions and receiving touchdowns, boasting 51 catches, 334 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. Following him is last year's undrafted free agent from the University of Minnesota, Breyvn Spann-Ford, who has proven to be quite effective as a run blocker, aiding in creating openings for the run game. Meanwhile, Schoonmaker offers a similar level of familiarity as a blocker. OL: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Bebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Brock Hoffman, and TJ Bass Grade A: Due to early injuries sustained by Cooper Bebe, Tyler Guyton, and Tyler Booker this season, Nate Thomas, TJ Bass, and Brock Hoffman stepped up to maintain performance under the guidance of OL coach Connor Riley and OC Klayton Adams. The offensive line has proven to be an absolute powerhouse. The offense is generating impressive totals in yards per game and ranks as the second-highest-scoring team in the league. They are also positioned second in passing offense, boasting a completion rate of 71.21% and averaging 268.4 passing yards per game. Additionally, they hold the third spot in rushing offense, with an average of 4.9 yards per attempt. None of this would be possible without the strong presence of the big guys up front.

The Titans once again struggled this week as they lost to the Patriots 31-13 at Nissan Stadium on Sunday Afternoon. The Titans fall to 1-6 on the season, and will face off with the Colts this Sunday in Indianapolis. Cam Ward struggled again, having another backward fumble for a touchdown, which put the game away in the third quarter, and another interception as well. Ward is growing through a lot of growing pains so far this season, and will hopefully improve over time, as interim head coach Mike McCoy can help him turn things around. However, McCoy didn’t impress in his Titans debut, as the Titans failed to score in the second half. McCoy also had to urgency to score at the end of the first half when down 17-13, which got him booed off the field. It was the post-game comments from Patriots wide receiver Keyshon Boutte that sparked a massive debate about the Titans this season. Boutte, in his post-game press conference, stated: “We took advantage of lazy cornerback play and lazy safety play.” This sparked the debate about the players' efforts and desire to play this season. However, Boutte wasn’t the only player who had talked about the Titans' efforts this season. Michael Pittman of the Colts shared his thoughts on the Titans after their win against them earlier this season, saying, “They didn’t look like they wanted to play. No energy.” A member of the Raiders coaching staff also commented about the Titans after their win just a few weeks ago, describing this Titans team as “the worst team we’ve seen in 25 years.” Just keep in mind, this is coming from a Raiders coach. Besides their 20-10 win against Tennessee, in their last two games they have played, they have been outscored 71-6. That shows you just how bad and how little effort this Titans team is giving. They have players getting paid millions of dollars, such as L’Jarius Sneed, to go out there and give half the effort you would hope from a top corner in this league at one point. Tyler Lockett just asked for his release from the team after just seven games, and I don’t think the fire sale will stop there. It is concerning to see where this team is at just seven games into the season. They are already focused on the 2026 draft and onto next season, not even halfway through the year. I don’t know who can save this sinking ship, but at this point, the Titans need to focus on retaining the right players for next season and making good hires to turn this franchise around.

One step forward, two steps backwards. The Los Angeles Chargers are officially not in first place in the AFC West after a throttling at the hands of the now one-seeded Indianapolis Colts. Now what? Jesse Minter’s Unit is a Problem I’m going to be very honest, you won’t find many people who were more excited about the Jesse Minter hire than I was. This makes it so difficult to understand where it's gone wrong. Minter’s unit has played sloppily for about a month now, tackling poorly, failing to maintain an edge constantly, and coverage busts that resemble a high school team. I’m not ready to throw all of this on the shoulders of Minter, but there comes a time when Minter’s trademark 2-high shell has to take a back seat, and when your run defense is creeping towards the bottom of the barrel, I believe we have reached that point. Coming into the game against the Colts, the Bolts allowed 394 rushing yards on designed attempts over the three weeks prior . Then came the league's best rusher, Jonathan Taylor, who dropped a hat trick of touchdowns and over 100 total yards. During the span of that game, we saw the Chargers stick to their 2-high shell as they were carved up. Reinforcements are Coming Khalil Mack returned to the lineup with a sack on Sunday, but as Thursday approaches, the Chargers are expecting the return of starting tackles Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins. Giving us the Week 1 starting offensive line of Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mehki Becton, and Trey Pipkins, that kept Justin Herbert upright all game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If both Alt and Pipkins are active and able to play anywhere close to 100%, it’s very likely the Chargers look more like the team people were crowning future kings of the AFC West (especially with the full-blown emergence of Oronde Gadsden II), and less like the team allowing their QB to be pressured on more than 50% of dropbacks . Off-Season Decisions are Coming Back to Bite the Bolts Actions have consequences. The Chargers' run defense was much better last year as a result of both Poona Ford and Teair Tart manning the middle, allowing Minter’s 2-high shell to eliminate big plays while still being a stout run defense. The Chargers let Poona Ford walk to the Rams for a contract worth less than the one they gave Bradley Bozeman in the off-season, effectively choosing the much-maligned center over one of the best IDL’s in the entire league in Ford. The Bozeman contract has aged unfathomably badly, as he is playing unfathomably badly. Not finding a center when it was a massive need, not retaining their best defensive lineman in Ford, not drafting more O-line depth, not addressing the linebacker room in the slightest, and despite having 90 million in cap space to work with in the offseason, their best signing happened to be 33-year-old Keenan Allen about a month before the season started. In the most important offseason of the Harbaugh/Horwitz rebuild, they missed on much more than was acceptable. Get Right Game Coming Up? Nothing says “Get Right” like a chance to play against a familiar face. The last time Justin Herbert ran into the high-pressure scheme of Brian Flores, Herbert tore Flores apart on a level that can only be described as historic. One of the most impressive displays of quarterbacking in the face of pressure the sport has ever seen. Herbert connected with Keenan Allen 18 times for north of 200 yards in this contest, exposing the many different zone blitz looks Flores can throw at a QB, and making them pay every time they tried to man up on the future Hall-of-Famer. If Herbert and Keenan can find anything close to that level of success on Thursday, along with the return of his tackles, we could be looking at another all-timer from the golden arm of Herbert. As far as the defense is concerned, nothing can help a team and coach out of a funk like going against a struggling, turnover-prone QB, enter Carson Wentz. Fresh off a multi-INT game, Wentz immediately has to try to turn the page on a short week against a unit hungry to bounce back in the Bolts' defense. If the Chargers' defense can’t capitalize this week, it might be time to write the obituary.

Monday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions didn’t just hurt the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the loss column. In the second quarter, while the Bucs’ offense was stalling, Baker Mayfield tried to take a shot up the seam into (illegally) tight coverage, hoping Mike Evans would come down with it. After riding his back for a step and a half, Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin lunged and landed forcefully on Evans, briefly knocking him unconscious and rendering him concussed and with a broken clavicle. The odds he will return before the last couple games of the regular season are slim. Evans, a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, entered the 2025 campaign with an 11-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons. With this critical injury, that streak will effectively come to an end. A large portion of the fanbase is distraught about that development, but nobody should be. Evans just turned 32 years old, and that streak had to end at some point. It was probably better that injury cut the string, rather than a lack of production. However, there are also many people out there who are not Bucs fans and have expressed that the 1,000-yard streak does not mean anything, citing a few seasons where he hardly hit the mark and the notion that he has never been the best receiver of any season. That is not what the streak was about. What will place Evans among the all-time greats is not the fact that he can rip off 200-yard games. It is not his ability to take 80-yard touchdowns to the crib on bubble screens. It is the fact that for his entire career, since the moment he was drafted, he has been there for this Tampa Bay team, doing whatever it takes to win. He has never been a diva, never complained about his targets and never chastised his quarterback play, even when he was catching passes from a truly atrocious carousel in the mid-2010s. With those bad passers—Josh McKown and Mike Glennon, to name a couple—Evans’ production has never waned. The internet trolls will talk about his 1,001-yard or 1,051-yard seasons, but isn’t a 1,051-yard year with the McKown-Glennon tandem more impressive than 1,500 with someone competent? For a 6-foot-5 catch-in-traffic guy, Evans’ durability to this point has been an incredible anomaly. Now in his 12th season, this snapped collarbone will be the first injury to sideline him for more than four weeks . It is poetic that the year the Bucs use a first-round pick to draft a premier receiver—Emeka Egbuka—and seemingly hit on him, Evans’ streak breaks. Egbuka was the Bucs’ first receiver drafted in the first round since Evans himself in 2014. While Evans’ career is certainly not over yet, it does seem to be a slight changing-of-the-guard year. If his character holds true to what it has been for his entire time as a pro, he will mentor young bucks Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and Jalen McMillan while he recovers, and he will celebrate their wins as they carry the torch for a premier receiving corps. Hopefully for Bucs fans, Evans will be back to 100% around the time they look to make a deep playoff run. With how Egbuka and the other young pass-catchers on the squad have looked, this group will be a problem when the season is on the line.

The Chicago Bulls opened the 2025-26 campaign Wednesday night with a thrilling 115-111 win over the Detroit Pistons — and while the scoreboard tells a tight story, the bigger takeaway is the potential this team showed, especially in a reshaped Eastern Conference that might be more wide open than many expect. What went right On paper, the Bulls got exactly what you’d hope from an opener: a veteran leader stepping up, a young player making noise and a gritty finish when the momentum shifted. Nikola Vucevic dropped 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, anchoring the front-court with steady production. Meanwhile, Matas Buzelis chipped in 21 points and flashed the sort of highlight-making plays (including an alley-oop dunk) that hint at upside. The orchestrator, Josh Giddey , added 19 points and 11 assists — exactly the sort of floor-spacing, pass-first guard you hope will elevate the surrounding pieces. Also encouraging: Chicago outrebounded Detroit 50-46, showing commitment on the glass and giving themselves extra chances when turnovers or cold stretches start creeping in. They jumped out to a big lead (as much as 23 points) thanks to sharp ball movement and 3-point looks early on. What you still want to see Of course, it wasn’t all flawless. The Bulls let that 23-point lead shrink to almost nothing late in the game. Detroit tied the game at 105 with under three minutes remaining, forcing Chicago to dig deep to seal the win. That kind of lapse suggests they’ll still need to tighten up closing games and sharpen defensive rotations. Also, consistency from younger players (Buzelis, others) will be critical if this team truly wants to contend rather than just compete. Why the timing could be special Here’s where the real excitement kicks in: The Eastern Conference is in a transitional phase. Some of the traditional heavyweights are retooling, and the Bulls are well positioned to take advantage. With their mix of experience (Vucevic, Giddey) and youth (Buzelis, etc.), Chicago could find itself in that sweet spot of being “good now” and improving. The win over Detroit - while just one game - signals the Bulls believe they can hang. More importantly, they showed belief in themselves. That’s key when you’re in a conference where the margin between “play-in” and “playoffs” is razor thin. With Chicago’s roster saying “we can win,” they put teams on notice. Final takeaways Opening night gave Bulls fans reason for optimism — not because everything was perfect, but because the intent and capability were clearly visible. Vucevic looked durable. Giddey looks like a floor general. Buzelis looks like a spark. And the board work looked serious. If you’re someone who follows this team (and I count myself among them), you walk away thinking: yes — this team might actually be better than many expect . In a down-ish conference, that matters. More than ever, momentum counts, confidence matters, and belief that you can win becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Bulls got the “good” out of the opener. Now the test becomes consistency, refinement and exploiting the softness enough to move past “hopeful” and into “threat.” Here’s hoping they keep the pedal down. The Bulls' second game of the season is Saturday night in Orlando against the Magic. Playoff positioning. The win sets the tone that they won’t be just happy to make noise — they want to own their spot. If they finish in the mid-to-upper tier of the East, that changes expectations and trajectory. Breakthrough role players. Buzelis’ performance suggests he’s not just for the future — he’s contributing now. If he and other younger pieces continue to ascend, Chicago gains real depth and versatility. Seizing conference momentum. When rival teams falter or double-down on rebuilds, the Bulls can exploit openings. They might not yet be the class of the East, but they could be the “best of the rest” with upside to challenge higher.

After a three-month offseason, the NBA is back in full swing. The season opener on Tuesday was between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Kevin Durant-led Houston Rockets. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks will return to Madison Square Garden on Wednesday to face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams finished in the conference's top three and are projected to live up to those rankings this season. With the Knicks starting lineup led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, going against the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, there’s a reason why this can easily be one of the best games of opening week. Furthermore, there is a lot at stake for New York. The team hasn’t won its season opener since 2021-22, losing once to the Memphis Grizzlies and twice to the Boston Celtics. Injuries have also plagued their roster. Guard Josh Hart and center Mitchell Robinson have both been ruled out. Towns is also listed as questionable due to a right quad strain. With the odds stacked against the Knicks, you’d think I’d pick the Cavaliers to win, but I have faith New York will leave their season opener victorious. Therefore, I think the Knicks will start their season in the win column for the first time in four years. Knicks have a Revamped, High Power Offense When the Knicks fired former head coach Tom Thibodeau in early June, many fans wondered who would become their next head coach. Fast-forward to the signing of two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown. Brown was responsible for helping the Sacramento Kings snap their 16-season playoff drought, but lost his job in December last year. Under Thibodeau’s leadership, the Knicks reached their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 seasons but couldn’t reach the NBA Finals. Their offense lacked consistent 3-point shooting, halting them from mounting significant leads. So when Brown arrived in New York, he and the president of basketball operations, Leon Rose, had their work cut out for them. In the offseason, they signed Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, proven role players who can provide extra scoring off the bench. The Knicks also re-signed veteran guard Landry Shamet for a similar purpose. The new additions are on top of their starting lineup, led by Brunson and Towns. If this new-look, loaded offense can perform up to its potential against Cleveland, the Knicks can cruise to victory. They did in the preseason, going 4-1. Brunson scored in the double digits during three of those triumphs. His best performance came in the preseason finale against the Charlotte Hornets, where he put up 31 points, six assists, and seven rebounds. Yabusele scored 11 points, and Clarkson scored 12 that night. Towns didn’t play against Charlotte but still logged 27 total preseason points. As a team, the Knicks shot 44.6 % from the field and 37.5 % from 3-point range. Cavaliers Rank 12th in Scoring Defense The Cavaliers are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory. Last year, Cleveland finished with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at 64-18. Despite the impressive record, they fell to the Indiana Pacers in five games during the playoffs. Cleveland has a similar problem with the Knicks: its defense has trouble stopping high-level scoring. The Cavaliers' scoring defense last season ranked 12th in the league, three spots behind the Knicks at ninth. The Cavaliers averaged 112.4 points per game and allowed 109 points per 100 possessions. Their 3-point defense ranks 13th in the NBA, 13 spots ahead of New York's. If the Knicks' offense can consistently get going from long range, the Cavaliers can be on the receiving end of a loss. Injuries Can Hold Back the Knicks Even though I’m a firm believer that the Knicks will defeat the Cavaliers, the number of injuries the team has accumulated gives me second thoughts. Hart will be out with lumbar spasms, which have been present since the preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. Robinson is sidelined with a left ankle injury, and Towns might be out with a right quad strain. That’s not good luck for a team that relies on rebounding, especially since all three are key contributors to that statistic. Towns and Robinson are also good at scoring, meaning more pressure will fall on Brunson and Bridges’ shoulders. But the injury report hasn’t scared me enough from not choosing the Knicks over the Cavaliers in this opening duel. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Heading into their bye on the heels of five straight losses, the Arizona Cardinals sit at 2-5 with no real path to the playoffs in a loaded NFC. As of today, Arizona holds the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so it feels appropriate to start familiarizing with some of the high-level prospects that could be on the Cardinals' radar come draft day. Alabama QB Ty Simpson A Junior with just seven career starts, Ty Simpson is a strong candidate to return to Tuscaloosa if all of his team's goals aren’t accomplished. However, it’s difficult to look at the type of run Simpson has been on for the last month and not fall in love with his potential. Standing a solid 6-foot-2 with great arm strength and pinpoint accuracy on his passes, Simpson has thrown 18 touchdowns to just one interception while leading a surging Crimson Tide team back from their upset loss to Florida State University in week one. Alabama has strung together wins against four ranked opponents in a row: Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee, all on the back of Simpson. His poise has shown up in these big games, and his ability to hang in muddy pockets and still deliver the ball on time would provide Arizona’s offense with some structure and stability it hasn’t had this season. Simpson doesn’t have incredible athletic ability or an arm on par with the Josh Allens and Matthew Staffords of the world, but he feels like a guy just scratching the surface of what he can be, and if he keeps playing this level or even improves further, the 9th pick likely won’t be high enough to select him. Utah OT’s Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano Jonah Williams' time at right tackle for Arizona is coming to an end, with a disastrous performance against Micah Parsons and the Packers' pass rush on Sunday adding another chapter to a horrific free agent signing by the Cardinals. Pairing Lomu and Fano makes perfect sense. Both guys have spent the past three seasons at Utah, with Fano having started since his true freshman season in 2023, and Lomu entering the lineup in 2024 after a redshirt season in 2023. Both guys are draft-eligible this season, and both are projected first-round picks. Fano is the more experienced of the two and is the current right tackle for Utah. Fano has developed very nicely in pass protection during his time at Utah, seeing his pressure numbers fall from 21 allowed as a freshman to 14 as a sophomore, despite 131 more pass blocking snaps. This season, he’s seen a minor step back in his pass blocking grade , but still only allowed six pressures in seven starts. Fano isn’t a one-dimensional player either; his athleticism and raw power are a big reason Utah averages 245 rushing yards per game. Lomu is very similar, but his first-year pressure numbers were better than Fano’s, with only 17 pressures allowed, and only seven in seven games this season. He also provides elite athleticism in the run game and may have more overall power than Fano does. Fano would be my choice due to his familiarity playing right tackle, but neither player would be a bad selection, and Arizona should jump on the chance to select one of these guys if they get the chance. Ohio State LB Arvell Reese If you read this and grimaced at the thought of another Cardinals first-round linebacker, I understand, but if you just let the memories of Isaiah Simmons disappear for a moment, you can see that Arvell Reese is a completely different beast. Reese was a rotational player for the Buckeyes in 2024, tallying 309 snaps for the national champions. This year, he’s shifted into a full-time role on a defense that’s allowing less than six points per game, and his multi-faceted skillset is a big reason for their success. There aren’t many linebackers in college football with the ability to stand up offensive tackles with a long arm in the run game who also display elite-level closing speed while spying the QB and the ability to convert speed to power off the edge against Big Ten Tackles. The point is that with the right defensive coordinator, this guy has the length, strength and speed to be a one-man wrecking crew at the next level. With the way he’s played so far, it’s doubtful that Reese even makes it to ninth overall with his skillset, but if Arizona’s struggles continue down the stretch and they earn a pick high enough, I’d love to see what he can add to this defense.

In the offseason, the Green Bay Packers signed former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contract. It was unreasonable to expect him to carry the secondary on his own, but his addition was meant to bring some stability to a cornerback group that was the defense’s biggest weakness entering the 2025 season. However, six games into his tenure with the Green and Gold, the results have been far from what the Packers had hoped for. Hobbs got off to a promising start, allowing just one catch on four targets in his first two games with the Packers, but since then, things have gone downhill. In Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, he gave up four completions on six targets for 55 yards — an average of 13.8 yards per catch — two touchdowns and a passer rating of 135.4. His passer rating allowed was among the top 10 highest for all cornerbacks that week. Dak Prescott repeatedly exploited him in the passing game, and Hobbs had no answers. In Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hobbs allowed four catches on five targets. He also committed a penalty and surrendered a passer rating of 92.5. The following week, against the Arizona Cardinals, Jacoby Brissett had a passer rating of 109.7. His performance against Arizona was arguably his worst of the year. He was beaten on both plays that led to the Cardinals’ touchdowns. First, he was beaten by Marvin Harrison on a 3rd-and-14, then he left Trey McBride completely uncovered, allowing him to walk in for the score. After six games, Hobbs has allowed two touchdowns and committed three penalties. He has just one pass breakup and is allowing a passer rating of 120.9. That production is far from ideal, especially considering the investment made by General Manager Brian Gutekunst. There’s still a lot of football left to play, but should Green Bay continue to trust Hobbs with a starting role? If the Packers do continue to trust Hobbs, they might need to rethink how they use him. He’s been playing mostly as a boundary cornerback, but he was at his best in 2024 with the Raiders as a slot corner. That year, he played over 300 snaps in the slot compared to 174 as a wide cornerback. The year before, he played 504 snaps as a slot cornerback, but only 111 wide. Through six games with Green Bay, Hobbs has played over 200 snaps as a wide corner but only 30 in the slot. Javon Bullard has been Green Bay’s primary starter in the slot, allowing over 85% of his targets to be caught. If Hobbs — who was a serviceable slot corner in Vegas — can’t beat Bullard for the job, the Packers should be very worried. Surely, we have to consider the long-term effects that moving Hobbs inside could have on the entire secondary. Would the Packers feel comfortable with Carrington Valentine lining up outside next to Keisean Nixon? For context, entering Week 7, Valentine was PFF’s second-best cornerback in man coverage. By no means is he a perfect defensive back, but he is more naturally suited to playing on the outside than Hobbs. Additionally, would this move mean that Bullard sees a decreased role in the defense? Would he rotate with Evan Williams at the post? These are important questions as the Packers weigh how to optimize their secondary moving forward. One could argue that Green Bay has $48 million reasons not to bench Hobbs after a slow start. That said, some changes might be necessary. He’s simply not holding his own on the outside, and the smart move could be to shift him into the slot — or, if things get worse, to limit him to a rotational role.

Team of destiny or an undisciplined squad that keeps getting bailed out? It’s hard to figure out what to make of the Denver Broncos after another improbable fourth-quarter comeback win. Through three quarters of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, the game was one of the most frustrating watches of the Sean Payton era. Naturally, the game couldn’t be that simple. The Broncos somehow stormed back and took a 30-26 lead with less than two minutes remaining, just when New York seemed down and out. However, a couple of Denver penalties resulted in a Giants score, and then it was the Broncos who appeared out of answers. A lucky deep shot to Marvin Mims Jr. and a great catch by Courtland Sutton set Wil Lutz up with a game-winning field goal opportunity. Lutz converted the kick, capping a 33-point fourth quarter and pushing Denver into first place in the AFC West. The past three weeks of Denver football have been an odd mix of thrilling endings and horrible gameplay, and this win is the most difficult one to make sense of, but to best understand what this win means, the win should be viewed as separate games: the disastrous first three quarters and then the astonishing fourth. In the first three quarters, Denver couldn’t move the ball at all. The offense was made of screen passes, dig routes and confusing deep shots, and nothing seemed to work. Anyone who watches Broncos games knows Payton’s infatuation with screen passes. In Sunday’s game, Denver utilized the screen play on nearly 20% of its snaps, 11 of 56 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus . In total, Bo Nix attempted 30 passes within 10 yards and only 14 more than 10 yards down the field. When he is completing a high percentage of those passes, the offense can look smooth, but it also makes the offense easy to predict. The Broncos had too many plays where New York knew what they were doing. The Giants batted five of Nix’s pass attempts Sunday. Nix also leads the league with 10 batted passes, according to PFF . While the precarious playcalling could be for several reasons, it feels like Payton is limiting the passing attack because he is worried about Nix’s ability to perform, yet he is putting the ball in his hands a lot because he wants him to develop into a top quarterback. Though, when opposing defenses know more than half of Nix’s attempts are coming from screens and slants, it makes it less likely they will respect the deep ball, and those short passes will be less successful. When Denver started its comeback, Payton started to let Nix loose, and the offense started moving the ball. Some of that came from letting Nix use his legs to make a difference. Nix is one of the better rushing quarterbacks in the league, and his two rushing touchdowns were massive plays Sunday. While Payton’s playcalling has been spotty, his call out of the two-minute warning was the perfect decision. He called a quarterback power run from the 18-yard line, and Nix took the ball into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown. Despite his frustrating calls, Payton has a handful of calls every game that are truly brilliant. Right now, though, he generally calls games too safely. Nix has also been great as the game winds down this season. Some of that could be because of the calls Payton gives Nix, but Nix also could just be better in high-pressure, high-tempo moments. When trailing this season, Nix has 1,044 total yards, 11 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 76.3% adjusted completion rate. “Obviously, we get into two-minute offense — I don’t want to hear about tempo,” Payton said Sunday. “You can’t just have a long two-minute drill touchdown; we had chunks.” Clearly, Payton has no plans to change his schematic approach, but it also seems as though he knows Nix and the offense have been best when they are finding chunk plays and operating quickly. Payton still is one of the best play designers in the league, but he needs to find a way to keep the offense moving.

The 2025 preseason showcased some of the promising highs and recurring lows for the Golden State Warriors heading into the regular season. Some of the good signs included veteran savvy, impactful veteran presence, promising young talent, and a Stephen Curry in midseason form already. There is also room for them to improve in taking care of the ball, remaining healthy, and building more chemistry. Preseason Highs Steph Curry’s Continued Brilliance: At 37, Curry appears to be in peak condition, delivering dominant performances in limited minutes. This was evident in his performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he scored 28 points in 27 minutes, and against the Los Angeles Clippers in their preseason finale, proving to be the best player on the floor. Impactful Veteran Additions: Al Horford has fit in seamlessly with his versatile skillset, complementing their team perfectly. Coach Steve Kerr sang his praises, calling him the “perfect modern-day center.” His defensive prowess, shot-making, and experience will be key to their success. Jimmy Butler, who was acquired last season, will now have a full season with the team and provide a complementary force alongside Curry. Promising Young Talent: Rookie guard Will Richard, the 56th pick in the 2025 Draft, has made a strong impression, making valuable contributions on both sides of the floor, like when he ignited the crowd with this three-pointer: Third-year players Brandon Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Trayce Jackson-Davis are also expected to have more significant roles. Preseason Lows Excessive Turnovers: Sloppy play was a consistent theme throughout the Warriors’ preseason. In the finale against the Clippers, the team committed 23 turnovers, marking the fifth straight preseason game with 20 or more. Al Horford views the problem as carelessness, whereas coach Kerr acknowledges the issue but believes Butler is the answer, stating, “But, you know, I think Jimmy solves a lot of that,” according to Monte Pool of NBC Sports Bay Area . Injury Concerns: The Warriors played the preseason finale without key players Butler, Kuminga, Moses Moody, and De’Anthony Melton. Podziemski also suffered a left hip contusion in the final game, though he eventually returned to the game. Melton is already slated to miss the start of the regular season due to a knee injury. Offensive Disorganization: Outside of Curry’s stellar performances, the Warriors’ offense resorted to the inconsistent and unorganized style that loomed over them last season. Though the lack of consistent lineups in the preseason unquestionably contributed to this issue, they don’t want to overlook it and have it plague them in the regular season. Kenzo Fukuda of Clutch Points stated , “In recent history, Golden State has struggled with maximizing its offensive opportunities.” Regular Season Implications Best-Case Scenario: The most optimistic outlook for the Warriors is a title hunt, with their retooled roster gelling quickly. Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green could form a formidable and experienced trio. The key additions of veterans like Horford and Melton provide great depth and shooting. At the same time, the continued evolution of young players like Kuminga, Podziemski, and Jackson-Davis offers a unique blend of veteran wisdom and youthful energy. If this vision comes to fruition, some analysts project the Warriors to be a top contender, with one ESPN model predicting a 56-win season. Worst Case Scenario: A doubtful outlook suggests the Warriors may struggle to regain the form needed to compete for a championship. The age of their core players makes them prone to injury concerns. Additionally, if they continue to turnover the ball the way they have, they could find themselves in the same boat as last season, fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. Balanced Perspective: A more realistic scenario for the Warriors positions them as a strong playoff contender, but not a guaranteed championship favorite. Adding good veteran talent and a full season with Butler should give them a boost from last year. However, they still have to consider the tough Western Conference they are in, with formidable teams like the reigning champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Denver Nuggets. Their success relies on their health and finding consistent contributions from their younger players. Their preseason challenges and injury issues are problematic, but the talent on the roster is undeniable. The regular season will test Kerr’s ability to make this complex roster gel when it matters the most.

The rollercoaster rolls on. With the 20-10 win on Sunday Night Football over the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers are 5-2, and realistically, in spite of everything , have only really been comprehensively outplayed in one game: last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a team that remains without its starting quarterback, two starting receivers, and it’s two best defensive players. It’s difficult not to be proud of this team. They’ve shown up in almost every game and played well, and more often than not, I write this column from a position of being on Victory Monday. You can’t ask for much else, can you? Whatever the reasons, this team keeps changing the narrative. Dead after Bosa’s injury? They won the game, and beat the Rams shortly thereafter. Warner’s injury being the final bullet? They come back and beat a Falcons team that the world seemed convinced was contenders for beating the Buffalo Bills. Sellers at the trade deadline? They now might be buyers after all. In a world where Green Bay were crowned Super Bowl champions in September, and Baker Mayfield is being handed the MVP in October, the 49ers lead the NFC West, and barely anyone seems to have noticed. The Unsung Heroes Lead the Way With so many players out, it fell to this ragtag bunch of backups, and their backups, to pull out yet another life-affirming win. Let’s quickly whip through the unsung heroes on the current 49ers team, and what they’ve done for this team: Tatum Bethune : Making the start in the place of Fred Warner, Bethune did a passable impression of the great linebacker, making 10 total tackles , but also being a menace in coverage and on the blitz. Bethune isn’t the athlete Warner is, but it was apparent from his first snaps in the 2024 preseason that what he did have were instincts. They were on full display on Sunday. If he can keep playing at this level, #48 can go far. Bryce Huff : It’d be easy to list the entire defensive line here, as they found a new level on Sunday, consistently generating pressures and reducing Bijan Robinson to a peripheral figure despite the entire SNF broadcast seeming to be about him. Alfred Collins, who recovered a fumble, Mykel Williams and Sam Okuayinonu all played well, but Huff stood out the most, with a sack and numerous other good plays. As his former team, the Eagles, bring Brandon Graham out of retirement to play edge rusher for them, they may actually still be paying a better player to rush the edge in the Bay Area. The interior offensive line, but particularly backup center Matt Hennessy : Hennessy stepped in for the much-maligned Jake Brendel early in the game following the latter’s hamstring injury, and honestly, he may have won the job. Hennessy was consistent and strong in the run game, and made no glaring errors in pass protection either. After a tough few weeks for the middle of San Francisco’s offensive line, he, Connor Colby and Dominick Puni all went up a level to allow Christian McCaffrey to thrive, including throwing him into the endzone late in the fourth quarter. Chase Lucas : A peripheral figure for the most part since his star turn in preseason, Lucas has now been involved in two vital 4th down stops–one to win the recent battle with the Rams, and yesterday, when his excellent coverage on Drake London made a momentum-shifting play in the game. The 49ers had been on their heels a little throughout the second half, not helped by some poor offensive rhythm and playcalling. Lucas’s pass breakup turned the game back in the team’s favor, and the 49ers never looked back. Lucas was also an effective blitzer, and continues to earn the right to more playing time. Eddy Piniero : Perhaps kicker isn’t the sexiest position on the roster, but when you have someone who you can count on to land three points from a good range on a consistent basis, it changes the whole structure of your offense. Not only has San Francisco’s scoring improved, but the fanbase’s blood pressure has dropped too. An honorable mention should also go to Malik Turner, who may not play again this year, but he recorded three excellent special teams plays in his single game elevation from the practice squad. On a team that has consistently struggled for competent special teams play, that was good to see. Christian McCaffrey is Back Now, let’s talk about a star. There’s a narrative that’s formed all season that Christian McCaffrey has "lost a step," largely because his performance running the ball. His paltry 3.0 yards per carry average was indeed worthy of criticism, but it’s also fair to point out that McCaffrey was often raging against the dying of his run blocking, with the aforementioned interior offensive line particularly at fault. He did still find ways to contribute, being a favoured target in the offense and recording some absolutely huge plays, but the Shanahan offense always favours a strong running game. That came back on Sunday, with McCaffrey running for 129 yards (with no-nonsense backup Brian Robinson adding a further 36) and two touchdowns. He continued to impress as a receiver, too, catching seven passes, including a vital third-and-long completion. But the sudden appearance of the team’s rushing attack could’ve actually been down to another player’s return: All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Kittle missed out on the box score, recording no catches, but was clearly impactful in the run game, not just regularly moving his man, but also creating space for others to work in. The statistics bear it out, and hopefully Kittle’s return means the 49ers ground game is finally back on track. Coach(es) of the Year? To return to my original theme in the introduction of this article, the 49ers are 5-2, despite players missing that would cripple most NFL rosters. That ought to put Kyle Shanahan, in my mind, in pole position for the Coach of the Year award from the NFL if the team sustains this down the stretch. Should that be the case, though, he might want to share some of his award and resultant kudos with his defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh. I have, at times, been critical of Saleh, and I do know that there are some things he’s going to do in a game, coverage-wise, that infuriate me. But when he returned to the Bay Area this offseason, he was handed a defense shorn of veteran talent and with a number of rookies and youngsters to build, develop, and introduce into starting roles. Apart from one half against Tampa Bay (when the team was mostly still suffering from the shock of losing its emotional leader in Warner), its been mission accomplished. It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that with Steve Wilks or Nick Sorensen coaching this defense, the team is looking at reversing that 5-2 record, or possibly worse. But then … that’s the 49ers this year. The 2025 team is the anthesis of the 2024 team. Where 2024 was a slog, a hate-watch, particularly at 4am , as the team found ways to lose, the 2025 team is fun, a joyful watch, even at 4am , and the team finds ways to win. It’s Houston up next. I don’t know who’s in the lineup. I don’t know the gameplan. I don’t know if I’d pick us to win. But I’ll be there.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are rumored to be in the market for a new wide receiver after stumbling against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. A rough outing against Joe Flacco and Co. is hardly a reason for drastic change, but the front office (and the fanbase) have identified the need for added talent in order to make a significant playoff push. While it’s tempting to pull the Aaron Rodgers classic and predict a trade for Allen Lazard, we’ll resist the urge and identify four other receivers that the Steelers might make a move for before the trade window closes on November 4. Jakobi Meyers Meyers does not want to be a Raider, having been denied his trade request at the start of the season. Las Vegas is far from being competitive, and Meyers hasn’t been productive with Geno Smith as his quarterback. His expiring contract and comparatively low stats have sunk his trade value, which is great news for potential trade partners. Meyers is a veteran presence with sure hands, making him an ideal complement for any offense. While he may not have the top-end speed the Steelers are looking for, he is still capable of earning a decent share of targets in Pittsburgh’s offense. Rashid Shaheed There’s been a lot of chatter online about New Orleans’ top target Chris Olave, but there could be an even better option for a much smaller price. Shaheed has carved out a name for himself with pure speed, but he’s flown under the radar so far due to his team’s underwhelming performance. With his rookie contract set to expire at the end of this season, the Saints might not have room to pay him as they continue to try and build a contender. Shaheed’s low price tag makes him an appealing asset for the front office, and his ability to get downfield makes him an appealing target for Rodgers, who can still spin it with the best of them at the age of 41. Jahan Dotson If Meyers has been quiet this year, Dotson has been mute. The Philadelphia Eagles don’t throw the ball too much to begin with, and he’s been stuck behind AJ Brown and Devonta Smith in terms of target share. Dotson would love to return to the level of production he had in Washington,but the opportunities are slim considering that even Brown isn’t getting the ball enough .Having spent time in Philly and at Penn State, a trip to the other side of the state could be exactly what he needs. Dotson is a human joystick who’s hard to touch in the open field, and his explosive first step can create plenty of space playing out of the slot. If the Steelers want speed, Dotson is a great choice. Adonai Mitchell A second-round pick in 2024, Mitchell was anticipating having a larger role for the Indianapolis Colts this year. However, his statline (8/145/0) has him looking like the odd man out in an explosive Colts offense. Mitchell’s potential has yet to be realized, but a change of scenery could help the young receiver out a bit. The raw athleticism and massive catch radius is enticing enough to make a deal for the right price if the Steelers are willing to take the risk. There have been questions about his focus and his maturity, but that won’t be anything new for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.

When a team is up 19-0 at the end of the third quarter, it’s usually a done deal for them, barring an epic collapse. If the team is still up 26-8 halfway through the fourth quarter, it takes a violent defensive failure to turn that into a loss. Somehow, the New York Giants were able to do that in what can only be described as a complete defensive meltdown. Despite controlling most of the game on offense and defense, the Giants’ defense saw a spectacular collapse en route to a 33-32 loss against the Denver Broncos. The team now falls to 2-5 and is in danger of being well behind in any playoff race, thanks to a 33-point fourth-quarter rally by Denver. In fact, the Broncos scored three touchdowns in five minutes, including on a drive set up by a Jaxson Dart turnover. There Is No Excuse For Shane Bowen There had already been questions about defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s ability to lead the defense, seeing that New York held one of the worst-performing corps in the league. Following yesterday’s loss, the team ranks nearly-last in yards surrendered per game, dead-last in fourth-down conversions allowed, and 26th in yards per play. The secondary is quite possibly the worst in the league, despite holding opposing quarterbacks to a 64% completion rating. They lack a consistent rush at the front and are not able to make a lot of turnovers, even in the wake of their Week 6 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. If there’s one play that sums up Bowen’s poor decision-making in critical situations, look no further than the long completion to Marvin Mims: Needless to say, veteran linebacker Brian Burns wasn’t happy with the playcall, nor was Brian Daboll. A 33-point collapse, which was nearly saved by a Dart touchdown run with 33 seconds remaining in the game, is flat-out unacceptable by any standards. It’s also not the first time Bowen’s been under fire for his questionable play-calling. The same issues arose following an overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, where Bowen played zone coverage down the field. The Cowboys were able to march down the field for kicker Brandon Aubrey to tie the game at 37. That drive took just 19 seconds. How Bown is still here remains a mystery, but he’s likely going to be out by the end of the season at the latest. However, if the defense continues to collapse in late-game situations like this, a mid-season change to the defensive coaching staff may be considered. Jaxson Dart Quickly Making A Case To Be The Franchise Face The defensive collapse ruined what could have been Dart’s second-straight statement performance against a playoff-ready team. Despite battling the altitude aerodynamics that saw his completion rating dip under 50%, the rookie quarterback threw for over 280 yards and three touchdowns. He also added his rushing touchdown late in the game. His big mistake came late in the fourth quarter, when he threw an interception to Justin Strnad in Giants territory. Dart was quick to take responsibility in the situation, stating “in that situation, you can’t do that.” He didn’t blame anyone outside of himself for the loss, he didn’t throw kicker Jude McAtamney under the bus for missing two extra points, choosing to sound like a seasoned pro rather than someone whose youth and ego get in the way of progress. In his first four games as a starter, Dart has made the most of the opportunity by throwing seven touchdowns and rushing for three more scores. He’s thrown for under 1,000 yards and only has a completion rate above 60%, so there is work that needs to be done. His athleticism and leadership cannot be denied and his immediate impact on the offense can’t be understated. He’s going to be the next staple for the Giants at quarterback, barring any meltdowns or regression in play. Just wait until Malik Nabers comes back next year.

Being a Chicago Bulls fan isn’t for the faint of heart. For the past few years, it’s felt like we’ve been stuck in neutral — not bad enough to bottom out, but not good enough to scare anyone either. Every offseason brings the same question: what direction are we going? But this year feels… different. There’s finally a sense that the front office might be ready to shift gears — leaning into youth, player development and a cleaner identity. The roster looks younger, fresher and maybe even hungrier. So, as we head into another season, here are the three things I’m genuinely looking forward to as a Bulls fan. 1. Watching Matas Buzelis Grow into his Own I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a Bulls player. Matas Buzelis brings something we’ve been missing for years — real potential. Not just “nice role player” potential, but star-upside potential. At 6-foot-10, he’s smooth, athletic and has that confident Chicago edge to his game. He’s got the skill set every modern NBA team wants — can handle the ball, shoot off the dribble and attack the rim. The G League Ignite experience gave him a head start against pros, but now it’s about adjusting to the physicality and pace of the NBA. What I’ll be watching for most is how he fits in with the rest of the roster. Will Billy Donovan let him grow into his game? Can he continue to develop chemistry with guys like Coby White and Josh Giddey ? Those reps early in the season will matter. He’s still young and raw, so the ups and downs are coming, but that’s part of the fun. Bulls fans haven’t had a true homegrown star in the making since Derrick Rose . And while it’s unfair to put that kind of pressure on Matas, it’s hard not to dream a little. The city loves a kid who plays with confidence, hustle and heart — and Buzelis checks every box. This season isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. I’m ready to watch him grow game by game. 2. The Future of Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White Two guards. Two homegrown talents. Two different stories that might define the Bulls’ direction for the next few years. White is coming off his breakout season — one that made everyone take notice. He finally put it all together: the scoring, the maturity, the leadership. He’s no longer just a spark plug off the bench; he’s the heartbeat of the offense now. You can tell he’s confident, more patient and more in control. Watching his development from streaky shooter to legitimate starting guard has been one of the most satisfying journeys as a fan. Then there’s Ayo Dosunmu — the Chicago kid who’s all about toughness and defense. He’s never been the flashiest player, but his energy, effort and willingness to guard the other team’s best perimeter player every night make him special. With Alex Caruso gone, Ayo’s defensive presence becomes even more valuable. The question is how the Bulls balance their growth together. Can they both be part of the long-term core? Their chemistry is solid, and both have improved every year, but the front office will have to decide what kind of backcourt they want to build around. Either way, watching two young guards who’ve earned everything through hard work — and done it in Bulls colors — makes this team easier to root for. Whether they end up sharing the backcourt long-term or going different directions, they’ve helped restore some pride to the franchise. 3. Can this Team Finally Find a Defensive Identity? The biggest frustration with recent Bulls teams hasn’t been effort — it’s not like they need to become the 2004 Detroit Pistons, but paired with the potency that this offense brings, any marginal improvement to the defense could result in a significant win increase in 2025-26. This season, that has to change. With Lonzo Ball and Caruso gone, the team’s defensive personality will look different, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It opens the door for a new defensive leader to step up — whether it’s Ayo setting the tone at the perimeter, Patrick Williams (if healthy) taking a leap as a stopper, or even Buzelis learning how to use his length effectively on switches. What the Bulls need is buy-in. The roster isn’t elite defensively on paper, but if they commit to effort, rotations and rebounding, they can be solid. Defense is about attitude more than anything — and this team finally feels like it might have the right mix of players who want to prove something. The other key is scheme. The Bulls have spent years trying to play conservative defense, but maybe it’s time to embrace chaos — push tempo off turnovers, fly around, use athleticism to their advantage. When the United Center crowd gets behind those energy runs, you can feel it. Chicago basketball is supposed to be gritty. Hopefully, this year’s group brings that edge back. Final Thoughts For once, I’m not focused on playoff seeding or trade rumors. I just want to see progress. Buzelis developing into a future cornerstone. White and Dosunmu continuing to grow as a backcourt. A team that actually competes defensively and plays with pride. This might not be a championship season — maybe not even close — but it can be a turning point. After years of being stuck, the Bulls finally have a direction rooted in youth, effort and upside. And as a fan, that’s all I’ve been asking for. Hope. Growth. Identity. It’s been a while since we’ve had all three — but maybe, just maybe, this is the year it starts to come together.

When examining a full NFL career, six weeks is not a terribly long span of time. But nearly all the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookies sure have made an impression in these first six games. Back in April, the Bucs’ front office put together an NFL Draft class of six players that it felt best addressed the roster’s needs. The group included a pair of receivers, a pair of cornerbacks and two defensive linemen—one an interior player and the other an edge rusher. Though it’s typically ideal to give rookies an extended period of time to adjust to the league’s game speed, five of these six players have already seen bulk snaps, and with how injured the team has become, they will likely continue to see their playing time increase. That might sound like a downtrodden statement, but there is an easy way to be optimistic about the situation: These rookies have been awesome. A third of the way through the season, all five rookies that have played have shown glimpses that they can be perennial NFL starters if developed correctly. In fact, you can go back to the two draft classes before this one — the hit rate has been astonishing. In those three classes, 17 different players still act as either consistent starters or rotational players for Tampa when they are healthy. This year, the rookie class has been integral on both sides of the ball to the Bucs’ 5-1 start. They found a Rookie of the Year candidate in the mix, and if the others continue to evolve, the front office will have done it again. Here is an early-season progress report: Emeka Egbuka, WR If you follow the NFL, the chances you haven’t heard Emeka Egbuka’s name are wildly slim. Without Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan to start the season, and with Mike Evans pulling a hamstring shortly after, the rookie Egbuka has been the cornerstone of the Tampa Bay offense at 23 years old. Despite suffering an injury Sunday against San Francisco, Egbuka’s versatility and playmaking ability have brought him well on his way to 1,000 yards in his first year. He is averaging over 17 yards per catch and has only played two games in which he did not find the end zone. He currently sits at No. 2 in the Offensive Rookie of the Year odds behind Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, but before his injury, he was the favorite in some sportsbooks. Benjamin Morrison, CB One of the reasons Notre Dame’s talented corner, Benjamin Morrison, fell in the draft was because of durability concerns. So far as a rookie, those concerns have been valid. After having arguably his best outing of the season against Philadelphia in Week 4, Morrison has not seen the field due to hamstring issues. However, before getting banged up, Morrison was improving steadily. Entering the San Francisco matchup, Morrison ranked fifth of all rookies in lowest passer rating allowed while being targeted. He played a big role in holding Philadelphia’s stud receiver, AJ Brown, to two receptions for only seven yards on nine targets. When he returns, Morrison will be a great depth piece on the outside for the Bucs’ defense. Jacob Parrish, CB Though Jacob Parrish was selected after Morrison, he has arguably been the more impressive of the two defensive backs so far. For one, availability is the best ability, and Parrish has certainly had fewer injury concerns thus far. Furthermore, when he has been on the field, he has freed up 2024 draft pick Tykee Smith to either lurk in the box or sink back into a pure free safety position. With Parrish working largely in the nickel, close to the line of scrimmage, it has given Tampa a trustworthy five-DB set for obvious passing situations. He has also been unafraid to stick his hat in on run plays , notching 15 total tackles in his last two games. David Walker, EDGE David Walker has been the lone player of the 2025 draft class who has not seen the field. It’s unfortunate, but it’s not an indictment of his skill level—he tore his ACL back in July. He had surgery to repair his knee and should be an asset after this season, but he will not play a snap in 2025. Elijah Roberts, DL When Calijah Kancey saw his season cut short, there were a lot of question marks about who was going to step up and be that three-tech ox that Todd Bowles’ defenses often call for. The answer so far has been Elijah Roberts. The fifth-round pick from SMU has not exactly lit up the stat sheet , but many interior defensive linemen are most effective when they aren’t the one making the plays. Working alongside Vita Vea, Roberts has been a great force in a top-5 run defense in the NFL so far. He currently ranks first among rookie interior defensive linemen for pass rush win rate (11%), and his ability to rush the passer will likely only improve as well. Tez Johnson, WR Tez Johnson is the guy at work who just got really important in the blink of an eye. After Egbuka went down with his Week 6 hamstring tweak, the Bucs are now without their top four receivers and their starting running back. If none of them return, Tampa will enter this Monday night’s matchup against the Detroit Lions (4-2) with a receiving corps of Tez Johnson, Kam Johnson, Sterling Shepard and Ryan Miller. Johnson made his first huge play of his rookie season on Sunday, when he caught a 45-yard bomb from Baker Mayfield to give Tampa a 30-19 lead. Against the Lions, Tampa will likely look for him again for his big play ability.