The Washington Commanders played great for one half of football on Monday night in Kansas City. But that’s not good enough in the NFL. It takes two halves to win a game.
The Chiefs pulled away in the second half, beating Washington 28-7. It’s the third straight loss for the Commanders.
Washington got the ball first. It was a fantastic opening drive until Deebo Samuel let a short pass go right through his hands, bounced off his helmet and into the arms of a Kansas City defender.
On the Chiefs’ opening drive, Marshon Lattimore picked up his first interception since joining Washington last season.
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In the second quarter, still scoreless. A deflected pass and Bobby Wagner came down with an interception.
Next Kansas City drive, the Chiefs find the end zone for the first time in the game. Kareem Hunt scoring from a yard out. 7-0 Chiefs.
Washington would respond on their next possession. 3rd and 10 from the 11-yard line. Marcus Mariota with a great ball to Terry McLaurin. Toe tap and a touchdown. The game was tied 7-7 going into halftime.
Coming out of halftime, Kansas City would get on the scoreboard again—4th and goal from the three-yard line. Patrick Mahomes found Hunt for the touchdown. The Chiefs retook the lead, 14-7.
One possession later, Mahomes capped off an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce to put KC up 21-7.
In the fourth quarter, Mahomes did it again, this time finding Rashee Rice for a touchdown. Kansas City on top, 28-7.
And that’s how it would end up. The Commanders fell to the Chiefs, 28-7. Next up, another primetime game for Washington, hosting Seattle on Sunday night.

By now, Caitlin Clark’s love for the NFL is no secret to anybody. This love stemmed from her father’s passionate fandom of the Kansas City Chiefs. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, she lived just three hours away from Kansas City, so following them throughout her childhood was a natural choice. Even now, with her busy schedule, she doesn’t leave any opportunity to catch a game or even show support on social media. Recently, as the NFL side launched new gear in collaboration with Fanatics, our Fever ace wasn’t far behind with a four-word reaction.
Amid offseason uncertainty about Caitlin Clark’s training plans, she showed her support for the Chiefs. In fashion designer Doni Nahmias’ post announcing the release of the NFL X Miracle Academy Capsule Collection, the WNBA star had a four-word reaction. She commented on the post, “You know I’m rocking ❤️.”
The hoopster’s comment teased the possibility of her attending the Chiefs’ game against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. While it is unclear how many games she has actually attended, in the 2025-26 NFL season, she has been spotted at least twice.
Clark’s presence during the Lions-Chiefs game went viral, as she sat alongside Travis Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift. She also attended an Indianapolis Colts game with fellow Fever players and was handed a Colts jersey that she did not end up wearing! It caused a significant stir of emotions on social media.
On the above-mentioned Instagram post, though, the renowned fashion designer replied to Caitlin Clark’s comment. “@caitlinclark22 chiefs fit tomorrow 👀,” Nahmias responded.
However, tonight’s game might be her last one for a while if the reports are to be believed. According to recent reports, popular NBA trainer Chris Brickley is rumored to partner up with Caitlin Clark this offseason. Brickley has a notable resume among NBA stars. He has worked with players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and others. In his appearance on The Line podcast, the trainer revealed that he and Caitlin Clark have been in discussions for a long time, and there were even plans to work together before the 2025 WNBA season!
However, it seems like the partnership may finally come to fruition this offseason.
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“So I’m hoping now, this offseason, I’m hoping that she’ll come to New York and we’ll get some work in. Man, she’s the reason why the WNBA has become so big. I’d love to work with her. She’s an amazing talent… and I love her competitiveness, too,” the hoops trainer said.
Although there are no confirmations yet, if the two can link up, it could be a massive boost for the Indiana Fever. As it is, there is significant concern about CC’s conditioning. However, if she is working with one of the best trainers out there, expect to see a more efficient front to her game soon!
What are Caitlin Clark’s plans for this offseason?
After witnessing her on the bench for most of the 2025 WNBA season, everyone was eager to see how Caitlin Clark recovered from her injury and what her plans were for the offseason. The majority of the time since then has been spent in recovery and rehab with the Indiana Fever’s medical staff. Recent reports have hinted that Clark may be ready to go full throttle in training soon.
There were even brief rumors that she planned to play in the second season of Unrivaled, but they were not true. League President Alex Bazzell made it clear that they would love to have her services in the newly built league, but they wouldn’t “pressure” her.
Many have also speculated whether she would commit to Team USA’s games. Even if she is healthy, given the time she has missed, it will be vital for her to have a sort of preseason or training camp before she can return to play competitive basketball again. Qualifying games for the 2026 FIBA World Cup run from March 11 to 17, and though the US qualified as a top-six team at Americup, it’s possible they will play in the upcoming fixtures anyway.
Whether Clark’s offseason fitness improves through scrimmages with Chris Brickley, Fever practice games, hooping with Team USA, or straight into the 2026 WNBA season remains to be seen.
For now, the focus should be on ensuring that, whenever she returns, the ramp-up is gradual so there are no setbacks in her recovery. Sure, the next season is far away, but with the kind of soft tissue injuries she had to deal with throughout the season, there is going to be an element of risk involved.

There were a few upsets across the NFL Sunday, including the New York Jets pulling off a last-minute comeback to secure their first win of the season. The Miami Dolphins were able to come together for a much-needed victory as well, which cost them position in the 2026 NFL Draft order. There is a new team at No. 1 overall this week.
As a reminder, there are three teams without a first-round pick in 2026 as a result of draft day trades, plus the Micah Parsons deal: Atlanta, Green Bay and Jacksonville.
Here is the current 2026 NFL Draft order, per Tankathon, as well as potential team needs:
1. New Orleans Saints (1-7)
Projected needs: CB, S, DL, RB, WR
New Orleans struggled to get anything going on offense against Tampa Bay and the team made the decision to install Tyler Shough as the new starting quarterback.
2. New York Jets (1-7)
Projected needs: QB, WR, DL, CB, TE
New York got its first win of the season as Justin Fields led the franchise to a comeback victory over the Bengals. It was a particularly strong performance on the ground for the Jets.
3. Tennessee Titans (1-7)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, WR, DL, EDGE
The Titans continue to struggle on both sides of the ball as Indianapolis delivered a decisive blow Sunday.
4. Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Edge rusher Myles Garrett produced five sacks and a forced fumble. Cleveland played New England close for one half, but the Patriots eventually pulled away from Dillon Gabriel and the Browns.
5. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Projected needs: CB, WR, TE, IOL, S
The vibes were bad in Miami after last weekend’s loss to Cleveland in blustery conditions. Coach Mike McDaniel was able to rally the troops for a definitive victory over the Falcons.
6. New York Giants (2-6)
Projected needs: IOL, OT, DL, CB, LB
New York was unable to pull off the regular-season sweep of the rival Eagles. The loss was even more costly as running back Cam Skattebo was lost for the season with an ankle injury.
7. Baltimore Ravens (2-5)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, IOL, TE, CB
Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley led Baltimore to a much-needed victory over Chicago in the absence of Lamar Jackson. The Ravens have an opportunity to gain ground in the AFC North.
8. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
Projected needs: CB, LB, S, DL, OT
The Raiders were on a bye this week after dropping last week’s contest.
9. Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, LB, DL, RB
Arizona was able to use its bye week to sulk over last weekend’s loss to the Packers. Coach Jonathan Gannon attempts to rally the troops in time for next week’s Monday night game against the Cowboys.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
Projected needs: IOL, CB, S, TE, EDGE
Joe Flacco provided Cincinnati with competent play at the game’s most important position once again. He threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns, but the defense was unable to stop the Jets when it needed it most.
11. Washington Commanders (3-5)
Projected needs: EDGE, LB, CB, TE, WR
Another loss for the Commanders without Jayden Daniels. It’s getting late early for last season’s playoff darlings.
12. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
Atlanta’s loss to Miami was Los Angeles’ gain. The Rams possess the Falcons’ first-round pick after a draft night trade in April.
13. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
Projected needs: LB, CB, S, DL, RB
The curtain may have dropped on Carson Wentz on Thursday night. Minnesota was nowhere near competitive as Max Brosmer was inserted into the lineup late.
14. Houston Texans (3-4)
Projected needs: IOL, OT, TE, DL, S
Houston has not had the season it had envisioned, but Sunday was a bright spot as the Texans overcame one of the league’s best teams: San Francisco.
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
Dallas is a difficult team to pinpoint this year. The Cowboys are capable of outscoring teams, but the defense is not stopping much of anything. The Cowboys were nearly doubled up Sunday by the Broncos.
16. Carolina Panthers (4-4)
Projected needs: CB, S, IOL, WR, DL
Carolina’s three-game win streak ended Sunday against Buffalo. The Panthers were a complete no-show without Bryce Young.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
Projected needs: DL, S, IOL, RB, OT
Chicago’s win streak draws to a close as the Ravens pulled away Sunday. The Bears remain above .500 and alive in the NFC playoff hunt.
18. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
Projected needs: OT, WR, QB, CB, IOL
Jacksonville was on its bye after losing to the Rams in London last weekend. The Browns retain the rights to the Jaguars’ first-round pick, following a draft day trade for Travis Hunter Jr.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
Projected needs: QB, DL, WR, CB, IOL
The Steelers lost the much-anticipated prime-time game against the Packers as Aaron Rodgers couldn’t beat his former team.
20. San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
Projected needs: OT, IOL, DL, WR, TE
Injuries continue to mount for San Francisco. The 49ers finally faltered against Houston on Sunday.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
Projected needs: IOL, EDGE, CB, TE, DL
The Chargers crushed Minnesota on Thursday night. Justin Herbert threw for three touchdowns and Los Angeles’ defense limited the Vikings to 10 points.
22. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
Projected needs: DL, RB, CB, LB, TE
The Chiefs were locked in a 7-7 tie at halftime on Monday night before Patrick Mahomes’ flawless second half led them to a 28-7 victory.
23. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
Projected needs: CB, OT, LB, S, IOL
The Rams were on a bye this week after toppling Jacksonville in London a week ago.
24. Detroit Lions (5-2)
Projected needs: EDGE, DL, LB, CB, OT
Detroit was on a bye this week. The Lions return next week against Minnesota.
25. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, CB, WR
Buffalo, coming off its bye week, demolished Carolina. First-round cornerback selection Maxwell Hairston had a tackle in his professional debut.
26. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
Projected needs: CB, DL, IOL, S, WR
Seattle is yet another team on a laundry list of bye teams this week.
27. Denver Broncos (6-2)
Projected needs: LB, TE, S, WR, OT
Dallas gave up big play after big play as the Broncos ran away in a romp. Wide receiver Troy Franklin (two) and running back RJ Harvey (three) combined for five scores.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Projected needs: LB, DL, EDGE, IOL, TE
Tampa Bay stifled the New Orleans offense to the point that second-round pick Tyler Shough replaced Spencer Rattler.
29. New England Patriots (6-2)
Projected needs: OT, TE, WR, LB, EDGE
New England and Cleveland played a tight game in the first half, but the Drake Maye hype train rolled as the Patriots pulled away in the second half.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
Projected needs: TE, CB, EDGE, S, IOL
Philadelphia avoided a regular-season sweep at the hand of the Giants. Jalen Hurts threw for four touchdowns.
31. Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay Packers (5-1-1)
Projected needs: S, LB, EDGE, RB, CB
Dallas has the rights to Green Bay’s first-round pick as a result of the Micah Parsons trade.
32. Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
Projected needs: LB, CB, EDGE, IOL, DL
Indianapolis’ magical season continues as the Colts put divisional foe Tennessee in its place. The Colts have scored 25+ points in each of their seven victories this season.

As the NFL is nearing the halfway point of the 2025 season, the league playoff races are starting to heat up. The Week 8 slate certainly had some pivotal games that impacted playoff races.
The New York Jets likely took the Cincinnati Bengals out of the AFC North hunt with their upset win. The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff chances took a massive hit with their loss to the Denver Broncos, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be cruising toward their fifth straight NFC South title.
The Indianapolis Colts have the best record in football and are atop the AFC, while the Green Bay Packers maintained their No. 1 spot in the NFC thanks to their big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. The Kansas City Chiefs are also in the playoff picture after their win over the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
Below is a breakdown of the seven teams that are currently in the playoffs after Week 8. In addition to the seven playoff teams, let’s look at their schedules and predict if they’ll get in the playoffs or not — along with the contenders for a playoff spot.
AFC playoff picture
SeedTeamWLTPCT1
Colts
7
1
0
.875
2
Patriots
6
2
0
.750
3Broncos
6
2
0
.750
4Steelers
4
3
0
.571
5Bills520.7146Chargers530.6257Chiefs530.625
1. Indianapolis Colts (7-1)
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Falcons, Bye, at Chiefs, vs. Texans, at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans
The Colts are two games up in the loss column in the AFC South standings, which is their division to lose. Not only should Indianapolis have a playoff spot come January, but the Colts are a contender for home-field advantage. They also have wins over the Broncos, Rams and Chargers — all teams with winning records.
2. New England Patriots (6-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Buccaneers, vs. Jets, at Bengals, vs. Giants, Bye, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins
The Patriots still have the lead over the Bills in the AFC East via the head-to-head tiebreaker and have taken advantage of a light schedule, which included Sunday’s win over the Browns. New England should challenge Buffalo for the division, with a favorable schedule until the bye week. At worst, the Patriots are a wild card based on how they’re playing.
3. Denver Broncos (6-2)
Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Raiders, vs. Chiefs, Bye, at Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
A dominant victory over the Cowboys solidifies the Broncos as contenders for the AFC West, as the division leaders will be in the mix all year. The schedule gets a little easier over the next month, but the Broncos still have to play the Chiefs twice. Denver is making its case for a return trip to the playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, at Chargers, vs. Bengals, at Bears, vs. Bills, at Ravens, vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens
The Steelers are trying to fall back to the field in the AFC North with two straight losses, but the Bengals helped by falling to the Jets. The schedule does get significantly tougher, and the Steelers play the Ravens twice. Pittsburgh leads the division by two games in the loss column, a sign how poor the AFC North is.
5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, at Dolphins, vs. Buccaneers, at Texans, at Steelers, vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
The Bills got on the right track with a blowout win over the Panthers on Sunday, keeping pace with the Patriots in the AFC East. A win over the Chiefs in Week 9 will catapult the Bills’ season, as significant playoff implications for both teams are at stake.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
Remaining schedule: at Titans, vs. Steelers, at Jaguars, Bye, vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos
The Chargers had a convincing win over the Vikings on Thursday to get back on track, showcasing they are still in the AFC West race. Wins over the Chiefs and Broncos do help the Chargers in the division race, and are the early tiebreakers they can sit on. Los Angeles can make a run in November with two AFC South teams on the schedule.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
Remaining schedule: at Bills, Bye, at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, vs. Chargers, at Titans, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
A win over the Commanders on Monday night allowed the Chiefs to leapfrog the Jaguars (4-3) for the No. 7 seed in the AFC. Kansas City is a game out of the AFC West race, with a loss to Los Angeles in hand. The Chiefs have won five of six and appear destined to make another Super Bowl run.
Who’s in and who’s out?
The Chiefs (5-3) appear primed to take a playoff spot, but Los Angeles and Denver deserve a lot of credit for holding serve and winning this week as well. Three AFC West teams look likely to make the playoffs.
The Patriots and Bills are still battling it out for the AFC East, and both of those teams should make the playoffs. The Ravens (2-5) had a big win over the Bears to stay alive in the AFC North race, especially with the Steelers falling to the Packers in Week 8. The Steelers still have a commanding lead in the division, but the Ravens are getting Lamar Jackson back and Pittsburgh has to play Baltimore twice. The Bengals (3-5) took a massive hit for their division chances by losing to the Jets.
The Colts have control of the AFC South, but the Texans (3-4) are lurking for a playoff spot as the No. 9 seed. Jacksonville (4-3) still have a shot at the wild card. There is a playoff spot up for grabs in the AFC, but it appears the AFC West is getting three teams in. Houston would likely have to win the AFC South to get in, but Denver and Los Angeles are on the schedule (Broncos next week).
Here are the early predictions for the AFC playoff teams though the Sunday slate of games in Week 8:
Colts (AFC North)
Chiefs (AFC West)
Bills (AFC East)
Steelers (AFC North)
Patriots (wild card)
Broncos (wild card)
Chargers (wild card)
NFC playoff picture
RankTeamWLTPCT1
Packers
5
1
1
.786
2Eagles620.7503Buccaneers620.7504
Seahawks
5
2
0
.714
5Lions520.7146Rams520.714749ers530.625
1. Green Bay Packers (5-1-1)
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. Eagles, at Giants, vs. Vikings, at Lions, vs. Bears, at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings
The Packers took care of business against the Steelers in a matchup of division leaders, holding onto the No. 1 seed. The Eagles aren’t going anywhere in the NFC, so the Week 10 matchup could be for the top seed in the conference when all is said and done. Green Bay has a pretty easy schedule after Philadelphia.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
Remaining schedule: Bye, at Packers, vs. Lions, at Cowboys, vs. Bears, at Chargers, vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders
The Eagles go into their bye week with a two-game lead over the Cowboys in the loss column with a head-to-head victory in hand. They have control of the NFC East, but the Week 10 matchup with the Packers and Week 11 showdown with the Lions loom large for home-field advantage.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Patriots, at Bills, at Rams, vs. Cardinals, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers
The Buccaneers are in control in the NFC South, and gained a bigger lead with everyone else in the division falling in Week 8. A loss to the Eagles hurts home-field advantage chances, but the Buccaneers do have an easy schedule after back-to-back games against the Patriots and Bills.
4. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cardinals, at Rams, at Titans, vs. Vikings, at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers
The Seahawks had their bye week and took over the division lead with the 49ers falling to the Texans. Two games against the Rams and a rematch with the 49ers will be fun, as the NFC West is a brutal division. Three teams from the NFC West may make the playoffs.
5. Detroit Lions (5-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Commanders, at Eagles, vs. Giants, vs. Packers, vs. Cowboys, at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears
The Lions retain the No. 5 seed with the Packers winning while they are on their bye. Detroit has losses to Green Bay and Kansas City, but the Lions are one of the more talented teams in the NFL. Their schedule looked rough on paper a week ago, but it got a bit easier.
6. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at 49ers, vs. Seahawks, vs. Buccaneers, at Panthers, at Cardinals, vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
A tough schedule in November could decide the NFC West, but the Rams are right in the mix for the division. Los Angeles remains the No. 6 seed as it was idle this week. The Rams should have a wild card spot (at least) if Matthew Stafford stays healthy, as Los Angeles is a Super Bowl contender in the NFC.
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Rams, at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Browns, Bye, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The 49ers have sustained injury after injury, and the injuries may have caught up with them after a Week 8 loss to the Texans. San Francisco lost the NFC West lead and fell to third in the division with that loss. The schedule is still very favorable, and the 49ers are 3-0 in the NFC West already. This is a still a playoff team, as no one outside the playoff picture seems to want a playoff spot.
Who’s in and who’s out?
The Packers remain in control of the NFC North, but Detroit is still within striking distance. This division may be settled by Thanksgiving, when Detroit faces Green Bay in the rematch. Both teams are in the playoffs regardless. Chicago (4-3) is also in the running for a playoff spot, currently possessing the No. 8 seed (half game out of the playoffs).
The Buccaneers have full control of the NFC South. They’ll win the division.
The Eagles have control of the NFC East, but have back-to-back games against the Packers and Lions off the bye. A split would be massive for Philadelphia. The Commanders (3-5) and Cowboys (3-4-1) continue to lose ground on a wild card spot in a loaded NFC.
The NFC West is loaded, as two teams (Seahawks, Rams) are 5-2 through eight weeks. The 49ers are right there at 5-3, currently occupying the last playoff spot. The NFC North and NFC West could cancel each other out in the playoff race, as the NFC West matchups could involve some playoff reshuffling. Even though the Bears lost this week, don’t count them out.
The seven teams in right now? They may be the seven teams in come January, but Chicago is trying to crash the party.
Here are the early predictions for the NFC playoff teams though the Sunday games in Week 8:

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw three second-half touchdown passes as the Chiefs pulled away to a 28-7 victory over the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
After Washington intercepted Mahomes twice in the first half, the quarterback completed 17-of-19 passes for 210 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the second half.
Tying the score at 7-7 on a touchdown with 58 seconds left in the first half, the Commanders managed only 66 yards on 20 snaps after halftime.
Washington played without quarterback Jayden Daniels, who sustained a hamstring injury in the Commanders’ previous game. Marcus Mariota handled the QB duties for Washington against the Chiefs, and he completed 21-of-30 passes for 213 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
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Five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Washington-Kansas City game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri:
Trey Amos (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Amos made two tackles and broke up one pass.
Commanders wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (Sidney Lanier, Alabama State) started at running back for the Commanders. Croskey-Merritt ran for 25 yards on nine carries.
Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Commanders cornerback Jonathan Jones (Auburn) did not record any stats.
Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Chiefs defensive lineman Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made one tackle. Payne played even though a toe injury prevented him from practicing for the game.
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made six tackles on defense, recorded two tackles for loss and had one tackle on special teams.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.
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After its third straight win, Kansas City (5-3) plays the Buffalo Bills at 3:25 p.m. CST Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
After its third straight loss, Washington (3-5) plays in prime time for the fourth time this season in Week 9. The Commanders take on the Seattle Seahawks at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. NBC will televise the game.

All football teams deal with injuries, but the Arizona Cardinals’ running back room has been ravaged this season.
Starting tailback James Conner suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 3, and backup Trey Benson also landed on injured reserved with a knee ailment after Week 4, via ESPN. Additionally, veteran Emari Demercado hasn’t played since Week 6 due to an ankle injury, via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss.
That’s left fellow veteran backups Bam Knight and Michael Carter to get the majority of the carries recently, but Arizona cut Carter on Monday, via Weinfuss. However, the club will follow that up with another move soon, per Weinfuss.
The Cardinals intend to re-sign the former New York Jet. He has 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on 35 carries (2.8 yards per carry) along with nine catches for 77 receiving yards across four games played this season.
Knight has been more efficient, as he has 102 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries (3.5 yards per carry) to go with five catches for 40 receiving yards. However, Arizona needs all the running back depth it can get given its injuries, so cutting Carter was likely a temporary move while tinkering with the roster. The club also released defensive back Darren Hall on Monday.
Cardinals Falling Into Dangerous Territory
Arizona is 2-5 and has lost five straight games after winning its first two. The team was on bye in Week 8, and it will visit the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” in Week 9 before facing the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 10.
The injury bug hasn’t only hit the running backs, as quarterback Kyler Murray is “questionable” for the Cowboys game with a foot injury, via ESPN. The 28-year-old has missed the last two contests.
Veteran backup Jacoby Brissett has moved the offense in Murray’s stead, totaling 599 passing yards with four touchdowns and one pick over those two games. Still, the Cardinals need Murray, as he adds another element to the offense with his legs. The 5-foot-10, 207-pounder has 173 rushing yards on 29 carries (six yards per carry) with one score this season and averages six yards per carry over 532 career rushes.

Simone Biles’ latest game-day appearance for the Chicago Bears came with a surprising twist beyond the stands. The Olympic icon offered fans an unseen glimpse inside M&T Bank Stadium through her Instagram handle and revealed a unique post-game ritual that only a few have witnessed.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Biles shared a few visuals from the M&T Bank Stadium as the Chicago Bears took on the Baltimore Ravens on October 26, 2025. In one of the videos added to the carousel, the gymnast crouched down and signed a white wall. In the caption, she wrote, “signing the wall of fame.” It attributes to a behind-the-scenes tradition of signing the stadium’s private ‘Wall of Fame’. Unlike the public PSL Walls of Honor or the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, this wall is likely located near the locker rooms or player corridors, where athletes, VIP guests, and visiting celebrities drop off their signatures to commemorate their special visits. And Biles received that honor.
And even though the game ended in a miserable loss for Jonathan Owens’ team, Biles and others clanked their glasses at the end. It might have been a loss for the Bears, but they did fight a strong battle. The 11-time Olympic medalist wrote, “bear down 🤍,” as she raised her glass in the final IG Story. But one thing was evident – Simone Biles would never really miss out on cheering for Jonathan Owens by gracing the sidelines in a custom outfit.
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In the first two stories, the gymnast flaunted her game day attire. She donned a white top, white full-length bottoms, white shoes, and a white varsity jacket, paired with a white handbag and pink goggles. Unlike the previous times when Biles’ outfits featured Owens’ name and number, this one had his image. At the back of the jacket, there was a figure of Owens wearing a #36 jersey, in a shell that shouted ‘CHICAGO’. Additionally, the jacket also had a sign from the Bears’ safety.
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Simone Biles’ never-ending support for Jonathan Owens in his NFL journey
Not too long ago, in a TikTok video featuring herself and Owens, Biles stated, “This guy makes me feel like the prettiest girl in the world. He makes me feel extremely blessed and adored, like I’m the only girl in the world.” Needless to say, the sporting community has been witnessing Biles’ constant support for Owens. And the trend has continued through all the victories and defeats.
In fact, the NFL safety also paid homage to the gymnast with a cursive capital “S” in black ink on his ring finger. And for Owens, it’s way of keeping his wife close when he is playing on the field. But if I don’t have my ring on, though, like when I’m playing, that’s why I made sure I tattooed her initial right here. So, you know, she’s always with me,” he revealed.
That devotion often shines through in how the couple express their support for each other. While Owens tattooed his wife’s initals, Biles become known for her custom outfits. Be it the orange highlight on her shirt to mark Owens’ eighth year in the NFL, or custom apparel that shouts ‘OWENS’ in golden lettering, Biles has done it all.

Tyler Shough’s week didn’t end with a win, but it did bring an unexpected highlight. As the New Orleans Saints struggle and head coach Kellen Moore delays naming a starting quarterback, the rookie QB made headlines off the field. His quiet moment of recognition offered a rare bright spot in a tough stretch.
“Officially a Kentucky Colonel!” he wrote in his Instagram story. He also offered his thanks to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Andy Beshear. “Thank you @andybeshearky #GoCards 🖤.” It was a surprising moment of gratitude and positivity coming from a player whose weekend had been otherwise difficult.
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So, what exactly does that title mean? A Kentucky Colonel certificate is the highest honor granted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Governor gives it to individuals who’ve made remarkable contributions or shown exceptional service to their community, state, or nation. The certificate signed by both the Governor and the Secretary of State serves as an official document of recognition. In simple terms, it’s a big deal.
In fact, a former governor once explained the honor perfectly. “The name Kentucky Colonel has become synonymous with strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others.”
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But how can someone become a Kentucky Colonel? The Governor must receive a nomination, and the nominee must be at least 18 years old. Once approved, they receive the official commission.
But now, let’s go back to the Saints with Kellen Moore still stalling on a QB1 decision.
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Will Tyler Shough suit up next week?
Week 8 didn’t turn out the way the Saints had hoped. They looked out of sync in a rough 3-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Spencer Rattler started the game and completed 15 of 21 passes for 136 yards with one interception, a pick-six, before being benched late in the third quarter.
Rookie Tyler Shough was given another chance to prove himself, stepping in with 3:57 left in the third. It was his second NFL appearance, the first being a brief outing five weeks earlier against Seattle. Shough finished the game completing 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards with one interception and added just 12 yards on three carries. So, the energy among the fans is anything but cheerful.
Head coach Kellen addressed the team’s offensive struggles head-on. “We just needed to create something on offense,” he said. “It’s not just about Spencer; the whole offense isn’t playing up to standard. We have to move the ball, protect it, and score points. This was a full offensive evaluation,” he added.
Meanwhile, fans want something new. Some believe it’s time to give Shough a real chance over Rattler. The Saints drafted Shough in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 26-year-old finished his college career with a 21-11 record as a starter. Last season, he threw for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions while completing 62.7% of his passes. Those numbers are hard to ignore, especially for a team desperate for offensive rhythm.
Still, Moore is taking his time with the Week 9 call. “We’ll look at everything over the next 48 hours and figure out what gives us the best chance to win,” he said. “Tyler went in, looked the part, made some plays. His interception was unfortunate, but he gave us a spark. We’ll make that call soon.”
However, there are some other options Moore might look at. Hunter Dekkers, the strong-armed competitor who joined as an undrafted free agent, remains an option. He’s been bouncing between the practice squad and active roster since the summer. The other name in the mix is Jake Haener, who continues to work behind the scenes.
So, the real question for the Saints heading into Week 9 is simple: who will Kellen Moore trust to lead the offense next?

The NFL trade deadline is on November 4, and time is running out. Nothing is set in stone until the clock strikes the deadline, and the most intriguing story may be about Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Across the league, his trade has been intriguing. The trade rumor surrounding Jakobi Meyers remains continuous but indefinite, with no guarantee, as teams are unsure whether Pete Carroll’s Raiders are actually willing to trade the veteran receiver.
Across the league, the situation has become a guessing game — a series of “mind games” born from the NFL’s struggle to get a clear read on what Las Vegas intends to do. The other 31 teams are watching closely, even those not desperate for a wide receiver, knowing that one unexpected move could reshape trade dynamics across the league. In a market where leverage is everything, the Raiders’ silence has left rival general managers guessing, fueling the intrigue around Pete Carroll’s strategic restraint.
Teams have been at a loss to figure out whether the Raiders are serious about moving Meyers, with the organization still sounding optimistic about its foundation of offensive building blocks. The mindset in league circles is that it would take at least a Day 2 draft pick for Las Vegas even to consider a trade.
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The Raiders have stated they will only trade Meyers for fair value. None of what’s on the board today is that high, and the consensus is the demand price, a second or third-round selection. Each scenario is based mostly upon cost, and unless a team is going to ink Meyers to an extension beyond 2025, it’s too steep a price for something that may be a rental.
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The veteran wideout first requested a trade during the offseason; however, the Raiders refused. “I’m a professional at the end of the day,” Meyers said earlier this week.
”I’m just trying to play good football. If I’m here, like I said, I’ll play good football. If I’m not here, I’ll go out there and play wherever I’m supposed to be.”
Even after the Raiders’ denial, his desire to play elsewhere has not changed. Before Week 8, Meyers reaffirmed that he still wants to be traded. Meyers is unable to find chemistry with new quarterback Geno Smith.
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Potential landing spots for Jakobi Meyers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are genuine contenders in a volatile AFC. Depth remains an issue behind franchise wideout D.K. Metcalf, Rodgers’ top target with 406 yards and four scores. Tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Jaylen Warren are waiting in the wings behind him in the target pursuit, with wideout Calvin Austin III still waiting to make his steady contribution.
Signing Jakobi Meyers would bring another experienced route-runner to join Rodgers, who can get through key-downs and possession situations, something Pittsburgh has to do to sustain its offense push and solidify its Super Bowl hopes.
The Washington Commanders started the season with hopes of building on last season’s NFC Championship push, but have been sidetracked by a 3-5 start. Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin’s injuries have left the team searching for receiving corps depth, leaving the offense too dependent on experienced tight end Zach Ertz.
Unreliable young pass-receivers Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey leave quarterback Jayden Daniels with no consistent receiver aside from the backfield.
Meyers can add the consistency and veteran leadership this offense needs to stay in the NFC contention.
The Carolina Panthers’ passing attack needs help. Without Bryce Young and with veteran Andy Dalton starting, it has not been easy to establish consistency at wide receiver. Meyers would provide a stabilizing influence to them.
His football IQ and precision would immediately enhance the short passing attack, keeping Dalton productive while giving coach Dave Canales another trusted option on crucial downs.
In an NFC South division as competitively charged as ever, Carolina could view Meyers as the missing component that enables them to sustain their second-half push.
Jakobi Meyers remains center stage in one of the NFL’s most mystifying storylines.

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been arrested in Sugar Land, Texas, on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to jail records.
Peterson, 40, was taken into custody Sunday morning at around 9:30 a.m., Sugar Land police told CNN affiliate KHOU.
This is the second time Peterson has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving this year.
In April, the former NFL MVP was booked in Minnesota on a charge of driving while impaired after police pulled him over for speeding, the Associated Press reported. The arrest happened after Peterson had attended an NFL draft event for Vikings fans.
CNN reached out to police for further details about Peterson’s arrest in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston.
Peterson has lived in the Houston area and was a star high school football player in East Texas, according to the AP. He played in the NFL for 15 seasons, earning league MVP honors in 2012, when he became one of only nine running backs in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

By Karina Tsui, Isaac Yee, CNN
(CNN) — Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been arrested in Sugar Land, Texas, on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to jail records.
Peterson, 40, was taken into custody Sunday morning at around 9:30 a.m., Sugar Land police told CNN affiliate KHOU.
This is the second time Peterson has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving this year.
In April, the former NFL MVP was booked in Minnesota on a charge of driving while impaired after police pulled him over for speeding, the Associated Press reported. The arrest happened after Peterson had attended an NFL draft event for Vikings fans.
CNN reached out to police for further details about Peterson’s arrest in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston.
Peterson has lived in the Houston area and was a star high school football player in East Texas, according to the AP. He played in the NFL for 15 seasons, earning league MVP honors in 2012, when he became one of only nine running backs in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
The NFL suspended Peterson in 2014 after he was charged with felony child abuse over allegations he had disciplined his 4-year-old son too harshly with a switch. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault, and the NFL reinstated him the following year.

Every week this NFL season, we will break down the highs and lows—and everything in between—from the most recent slate of pro football. This week, the slate was defined by blowouts, Jordan Love had a near-perfect fourth quarter to ruin Aaron Rodgers’s revenge bid, Sean Payton called a brilliant game to exploit the Cowboys’ defensive weaknesses, Jonathan Taylor is building an unlikely MVP case, the Jets finally got their first win, and more. Welcome to Winners and Losers.
Winner: Jordan Love
On Sunday night, Love confirmed what the Packers believed three years ago when they moved on from Aaron Rodgers: that Rodgers’s former mentee had passed the veteran by. If that wasn’t apparent in the very first year of the Love era in Green Bay, when he led the Packers to a playoff win over Dallas, it definitely is now. On Sunday, Love threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Rodgers’s Steelers that kept the Packers atop the NFC standings at 5-1-1. And if there were any Packers fans who still weren’t over Rodgers and hadn’t fully accepted Love as the team’s franchise quarterback, I’m not sure there was anything more they needed to see.
Love put his entire skill set on display against Pittsburgh. He threw with good timing, averaging just under 2.5 seconds per attempt. He wasn’t sacked, despite being pressured on nearly a fourth of his dropbacks. Love faced plenty of pressure but often beat it with his signature fadeaway. And Love was accurate, completing 20 passes in a row at one point.
There were a handful of layups mixed in there, but Love kept the streak going with some truly outrageous throws. This cross-body heave to Christian Watson on third down had no business being completed.
Packers receivers made some unreal catches and helped Love by getting open all night. Pittsburgh tried to play man coverage against Green Bay’s deep group of pass catchers but found little success. Tight end Tucker Kraft looked like a Rob Gronkowski–Travis Kelce hybrid in the open field, catching all seven of his targets against man coverage for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns, per Next Gen Stats. Watson, in his first game back since suffering an ACL tear in 2024, caught four passes for 85 yards, with 52 of those yards coming against man coverage. In all, Love averaged over 13 yards per attempt and threw all three of his touchdowns against Pittsburgh’s man coverage.
This is a continuation of a positive trend for Love, who’s been dicing up man coverage after struggling against it in 2024. He’s made significant jumps in EPA per dropback, yards per dropback, and success rate.
Love is scrambling more often when he sees man coverage, which makes sense. Coverage defenders are chasing their matchups, and because their backs are turned, there’s more room for Love to scramble. Last season, Love hardly took advantage, scrambling on just 1.6 percent of his dropbacks against man. In 2025, that’s up to 8.3 percent, per TruMedia. He’s finally putting his mobility to use when Packers receivers aren’t getting open, and it’s unlocked another level for the passing game.
Love is playing at a level that Rodgers, in his 40s and two years removed from a major Achilles tendon injury, can no longer reach. As we saw on Sunday in the loss to the Packers, the Steelers quarterback can still deliver beautiful passes when he has time and space in the pocket, but he’s pretty much useless when put under any pressure. Rodgers averaged 0.4 yards on six pressured dropbacks, per TruMedia. That would be impressive if it were his EPA average, but that was –0.43 per dropback. (And that’s actually an improvement on his full-season average of –0.50 EPA per dropback, which ranks 28th in the NFL.)
As Rodgers has learned since losing his mobility a few years back, playing quarterback today is a lot harder when you can’t move or throw off-platform. It’s a problem the Packers haven’t been concerned with going back to the early 1990s, when Brett Favre took over as the starter. Rodgers could always throw on the move during his time in green and gold, and now Love has added that ability to his game.
Winner: Jonathan Taylor’s MVP Campaign
It’s time for our weekly check-in on the NFL’s most dominant offense. The Colts ran over the Titans, 38-14, on their way to a 7-1 start. I’ve already spent plenty of time talking about the resurgence of Daniel Jones and the ingenious play calling of Shane Steichen this season, so it’s probably past time for me to finally give the team’s best player his flowers. That’s running back Jonathan Taylor, who was already the betting favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year before racking up 153 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries against Tennessee. I know we don’t give the MVP award to running backs anymore, but if we weren’t so quarterback-obsessed, Taylor would be the leader in the race for the league’s biggest individual award.
Taylor leads the league in yards from scrimmage (1,056) and total touchdowns (14), which puts him on pace for a 2,244-yard, 28-touchdown season. Adrian Peterson had 2,314 scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns during his MVP-winning season in 2012, which was the last time we saw a non-quarterback win the award.
Look, I get why a quarterback always wins MVP and why running backs no longer do: The success of a team’s run game is typically more influenced by the performance of the offensive line and play calling. But we have advanced metrics that can account for the degree of difficulty a runner faces, and those stats say Taylor is having an exceptional season. He leads the NFL with 366 rushing yards after missed tackles, and he’s forcing a missed tackle on 34 percent of his rush attempts. And he’s currently ranked second with 203 rushing yards over expected per Next Gen Stats. Against the Titans on Sunday, he averaged 8.4 yards after contact and generated 131 rushing yards after forcing missed tackles.
The Colts’ offensive line may be blocking its collective ass off, but how many running backs are deleting this defender’s tackling angle and taking this run to the house?
How many backs are making this play?
Or this one?
If we gave Josh Allen a “here, damn” MVP award last year, can’t we do the same for a running back? This would be the season to do it because there isn’t a truly dominant quarterback. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are hurt, the Bills have Allen playing like a game manager, and Patrick Mahomes isn’t putting up top-five passing stats (yet). And while I love Drake Maye’s game, he’ll have plenty of time to win MVP over the next decade.
Even after Taylor’s historic start to the season, there are still seven players with better odds to win the award, including his teammate Jones. Taylor is just ahead of Jalen Hurts, who’s thrown for at least 300 yards only once all season. Taylor has no margin for error in the MVP race. He’ll have to keep up this ridiculous pace just to keep his name in the conversation. He may have to improve on his current pace—and get over 2,000 rushing yards—to actually win it. Based on his performance through two months, I wouldn’t rule that out completely.
Loser: Sean Payton’s Impulse Control
Just when you think Payton might have lost his fastball as a play caller, the Broncos coach goes and pitches a gem. After a week of hearing questions about the offense’s early-game struggles, Payton had Denver firing early in a 44-22 win over the Cowboys. Bo Nix threw four touchdown passes and finally found some downfield accuracy after a shaky start to the game and an opening-drive interception. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey combined for 157 yards on the ground, which helped keep Nix out of obvious passing situations. Nix took just six of his 29 dropbacks on third down—only Tua Tagovailoa and Daniel Jones had fewer in Week 8, per TruMedia. It was a low-stress game for the Broncos quarterback against a hapless Dallas defense, thanks to Payton and the run game.
“We wanted to keep them in last,” Payton coldly said of the Cowboys’ last-ranked defense after the win, continuing his string of spicy press conferences after pissing off Russell Wilson last Sunday. Whether or not it was meant as a sign of disrespect, Payton insinuated that he built his game plan around the Cowboys defense being both bad and injured—and Payton showed little remorse for doing so. He set up mismatches for Nix to attack through the air, including one against cornerback Trikweze Bridges, a college teammate of both Nix and Denver receiver Troy Franklin, in what had to feel like a real-life re-creation of the crying Wesley Snipes meme for Denver’s Oregon alums.
Nix targeted Bridges 13 times throughout the game and burned him for 102 yards, two touchdowns, and five first downs, per Pro Football Focus. A recurring theme was a Broncos receiver running past Bridges, who looked like he was playing in quicksand. Rookie Pat Bryant ran right past him for his first career touchdown.
Courtland Sutton did the same for a big gain in the fourth quarter.
Denver’s offensive line also won its matchup in the trenches. Despite Jerry Jones’s preseason hopes, swapping out Micah Parsons for Kenny Clark has not fixed the Cowboys’ run defense. The Broncos got whatever they wanted on the ground on Sunday. Their ballcarriers averaged 1.3 yards before contact, a sign the offensive line was doing its job, and 5.1 yards after contact, showing how poorly Dallas tackled.
“Offensively, I felt like we did a great job with the line of scrimmage, so our run numbers, pass numbers, all of it was kind of lopsided,” Payton said of Denver’s dominant day. It was the second consecutive week that the Broncos have been able to run the ball efficiently, which makes things easier for Nix. We’ve seen that in stretches throughout the season, but Sunday’s performance was a full 60-minute production and a show of how much potential Payton’s offense carries when operating as designed. The operation has run smoothly the last five quarters against shoddy Cowboys and Giants defenses. Next week, the Broncos offense will attempt to do it against an elite Texans defense. If Payton can pull this off against them, he’ll have earned the right to talk as much shit as he’d like.
Winner: Tush Push Discourse
The game wasn’t all that interesting from a competitive standpoint, but there was a lot going on in the Eagles’ 38-20 win over the Giants. New York’s rookie running back, Cam Skattebo, was carted off after suffering a gruesome ankle injury that you should avoid watching at all costs. The Giants also lost one of their few healthy cornerbacks when Cor’Dale Flott caught a stray punch from his own teammate and was ruled out with a concussion. And the Giants took a metaphorical blow to the gut when the refs blew an early whistle and wiped out what should have been a fumble on an Eagles tush push.
Kayvon Thibodeaux ripped the ball out of Jalen Hurts’s hands as the Eagles quarterback reached it out beyond the first-down marker. Though you don’t hear a whistle until a few seconds after possession changed hands, the refs had apparently decided that Hurts’s forward progress had been stopped (it hadn’t) and the play was over before the fumble (it wasn’t). Giants coach Brian Daboll was able to eventually challenge the play after the officials initially denied his request. Daboll lost the challenge, the Eagles kept the ball, and Saquon Barkley found the end zone a play later.
Thibodeaux astutely called the ruling “some bullshit” after the game, which is a fitting way to describe the overall performance of the referee crew led by Brad Rogers. The refs blew an errant whistle after the snap on a missed field goal attempt by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott. By rule, the down should have been replayed, but it was not.
And the Eagles were on the wrong end of a questionable fumble ruling when this Jaxson Dart fumble was overturned.
Most of the bad refereeing went against the Giants, though. There were missed false starts and questionable pass interference calls on both sides of the ball, including a soft offensive pass interference call that wiped out a long Darius Slayton touchdown on fourth-and-11.
That call sent Daboll into a fit of rage on the sideline and turned him a shade of red that matched the accents on the Giants uniforms.
To his credit, after the game, Daboll didn’t blame the result on the refs and admitted his team was outplayed in all three phases. It’s true: New York didn’t play well enough to win—even if the officiating had been a bit more equitable. The Eagles dominated in the run game; Barkley went off for 150 yards before injuring his hamstring on his 14th carry of the game. Barkley opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown on the second play of the day.
You’ll notice the Eagles had Hurts lined up under center on that play. First-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has been doing more of that in recent weeks, and it’s helped set up Hurts for success in the passing game. Philadelphia has mostly operated out of shotgun throughout the Nick Sirianni era, so this could be a new wrinkle that gives the offense a much-needed boost down the stretch of the season.
The Eagles defense also enjoyed a bounce-back performance on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio dared Dart to go through his progressions in the pocket. The rookie looked uncomfortable doing that and dropped his eyes from downfield to look for exit lanes on a number of dropbacks. Fangio’s coverages and pressures had Dart seemingly doing TikTok dances in the pocket on his way to taking five sacks.
It’s too early to say definitively that Philadelphia’s pass rush and running game are back, but in Sunday’s game, both performed in a way that we haven’t seen since the Super Bowl run last season. Unfortunately, thanks to the refereeing crew that was off its game all afternoon, that may be overshadowed by yet another round of tush push discourse. If the refs’ inability to properly officiate the play isn’t enough to get it banned next offseason, the prospect of never having to debate the play again should be enough to secure the votes.
Losers: Washed-up Backups
All right, I’ll admit it. I was a little excited to see whether Kirk Cousins or Andy Dalton had anything left when the 30-something backups were tapped to start for the Falcons and Panthers, respectively, in Week 8, a little more than a week before the trade deadline. It took about a quarter of play from both quarterbacks for that excitement to turn into existential boredom. Cousins and Dalton both looked like guys who didn’t want to be playing.
Let’s start with Cousins, who drew some interest on the offseason trade market and may have drummed up more over the next week had he lit up a bad Dolphins defense on Sunday. I guess we’ll never know. If this was Cousins’s last stand, he went out sad, throwing for just 173 yards on 31 attempts in a 34-10 loss to a broken Miami team. Despite being behind for most of the game, Cousins attempted just one pass over 20 air yards, and that was incomplete.
The 37-year-old passer has little mobility left and rarely tries to use it. He looked like he was just trying to survive Sunday’s game rather than trying to win it, knowing that the direct deposit would still hit in a few days either way. The prospect of Cousins getting traded to a QB-needy team was already a long shot before Sunday’s stinker—he’s due a $10 million roster bonus next offseason that will scare off teams—and now it feels like a nonstarter after seeing his work against the Dolphins. If Cousins is going to launch the final chapter of his career out of Atlanta, he may have to wait until 2026 for his chance.
And yet, Dalton’s Sunday was even worse. His Panthers lost 40-9 to the Bills, and Dalton may have been the worst player on the field. He turned the ball over twice and took an inexcusable sack that cost Carolina a chance at a field goal before the half.
That was one of seven sacks taken by Dalton, who was playing behind a line that lost three starters throughout the day. Brady Christensen was carted off with an Achilles injury, Taylor Moton was ruled out with a knee injury, and Cade Mays didn’t return from a second-quarter ankle injury. Still, not all of Carolina’s issues in pass protection could be pinned on the offensive line. Dalton contributed to the mess with his indecision and inability to escape Buffalo’s rush. Avoiding sacks had been an underrated aspect of Dalton’s game during his prime years in Cincinnati, but his ability to do so now seems diminished.
Of course, Dalton isn’t solely to blame for the blowout loss. He didn’t get any help from his defense, which allowed Buffalo running back James Cook to rush for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries But Dalton’s early mistakes put Buffalo’s offense in a positive game script, and Carolina’s defense was unable to pull the Bills out of it.
Sundays can have a way of reminding anyone in their late 30s that they don’t have it like they used to. For Cousins and Dalton, their wake-up call wasn’t a debilitating hangover—they just played like they had one—but rather a punishing and ineffective day on the field.
Winner: Breece Hall
Joe Flacco nearly got one back for the old quarterback gang, but a predictable defensive implosion by the Bengals wasted the 40-year-old quarterback’s effort. The Jets erased Cincinnati’s 31-16 lead in the fourth quarter and gave Aaron Glenn his first win as head coach. It was a Sunday of redemption for both Glenn and his quarterback, Justin Fields, whom team owner Woody Johnson publicly blamed for the team’s 0-7 record earlier in the week—but I’m hesitant to give either of them too much credit for New York’s win. Glenn, a defensive-minded head coach, watched his defense give up 38 points to Flacco. Fields had a solid day no matter how you spin it, but the comeback was mostly sparked by New York’s effective run game. Even with the Jets trailing by two scores for most of the second half, they still maintained a near-50/50 split in run and pass rates. You don’t often see an offense stick with its run game after falling behind by multiple scores, but when New York got desperate, the ball remained in Breece Hall’s hands—even on the game-winning touchdown pass, which came on a trick play.
Cue the obligatory “Breece Hall might be the best quarterback on the roster” jokes. He was certainly the best player on the field in Cincinnati. When he wasn’t throwing touchdowns, Hall was running for 133 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 carries. Per TruMedia, 112 of those yards came in the second half, when Hall averaged 0.92 EPA per rush attempt with a success rate of 80 percent.
Fields was an efficient passer during the comeback but completed just one pass that traveled more than 5 air yards. If a receiver didn’t pop open immediately, Fields either threw the ball away or looked to scramble. A few of his short passes turned into longer gains after the catch thanks to a generous Bengals defense.
As Glenn pointed out during his postgame news conference, Fields has been unfairly blamed for all of the issues on offense—even by the team owner—so maybe Fields has earned an outsize share of the credit for hanging in there on Sunday. And Glenn also deserves credit for tightening up his defense in the final two quarters and making the correct decision to go for two after a touchdown that cut Cincinnati’s lead to eight in the fourth quarter, which allowed New York to win the game in regulation. But Hall was the star, and he got just enough support from his coach and quarterback to win the game.
Winner: Baltimore’s Playoff Hopes
With Cincinnati blowing its game, Cleveland getting blown out (despite a Tungsten Arm O’Doyle–like, five-sack outing from Myles Garrett), and Pittsburgh losing in prime time, Baltimore was a clear winner this week. It pulled within two games of the AFC North lead and will face the Steelers and Bengals four times total in the remainder of the season.
But the Ravens’ status as winners is pending after the team erroneously listed quarterback Lamar Jackson as a full participant at Friday’s practice. Jackson did take all of the scout team reps during practice, but he should have been designated as “limited” according to the league’s injury reporting guidelines. On Saturday, Baltimore updated Jackson’s Friday practice designation from “full” to “limited” and ruled him out for the game against Chicago. Head coach John Harbaugh’s explanation for the mix-up was essentially “We made an oopsie.” According to Pro Football Talk, the Ravens could be fined or stripped of a draft pick if the league office doesn’t accept that explanation. The strict injury reporting rules are set up to curb shady gambling activity—which is a growing problem throughout the sports world—but that erroneous injury report may have provided Baltimore with a competitive advantage if Chicago saw Jackson as a full participant and prepared to play against a two-time MVP rather than Tyler Huntley.
It turns out that the Bears defense didn’t look prepared for either quarterback. Huntley wasn’t asked to do too much in the 30-16 win in Baltimore. He logged just 25 dropbacks but averaged 8.5 yards on those plays and didn’t turn the ball over. Huntley also did a solid Lamar impression in the run game, adding 53 yards on five designed carries. The Ravens’ run game powered the win. Derrick Henry ran for 71 yards on 21 attempts but found the end zone twice, while Keaton Mitchell ran for 43 yards on four attempts off the bench.
This seems like a missed opportunity for the Bears, who have to be feeling some déjà vu. While this wasn’t nearly as dramatic as last year’s loss to Washington on a Hail Mary, Chicago once again blew a winnable Week 8 game and a chance to start the season 5-2. Both losses even took place in Maryland. That devastating loss to the Commanders sparked a losing streak that stretched to the final week of the season. Another Bears losing streak seems unlikely, with games against the Bengals, Giants, and Vikings up next on the schedule, but the vibes would have been much better if Chicago were heading into that stretch at 5-2 rather than 4-3.
And Sunday’s game felt like a setback for Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, who had gotten off to a solid start to the season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Williams was mostly fine for the first three quarters, but he threw an interception early in the fourth quarter that set Baltimore up for a short touchdown drive.
Williams called that pass a “good read,” and while I’m inclined to agree with that analysis—he had Rome Odunze on a crossing route against man coverage—he didn’t need to publicly say that about a throw that ultimately lost Chicago the game. Later, Williams missed a chance to pad his stats when he sprayed a pass to an open DJ Moore on fourth-and-goal with under a minute remaining. Williams made the throw harder than it had to be. Rather than an over-the-top delivery to get the ball past the defensive line, he went with a sidearm technique that caused him to be high and wide on the throw. The Bears would have lost even if Williams had hit the throw, but it’s another bad look for a quarterback who’s been struggling with his accuracy since entering the league in 2024.
A playoff run is starting to feel like a long shot for a 4-3 Bears team with a porous defense, an inconsistent quarterback, and an unreliable run game. The opposite feels true for Baltimore. Even if the Ravens are 2-5, first place in the division is within reach, the defense is improving, the running game is showing signs of life, and Jackson should be a full participant at practice this week. For real this time.

The Baltimore Ravens played their third game in a row without quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday. But Baltimore didn’t come away with its fifth consecutive loss. Instead, the Ravens posted a 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears.
In ending Chicago’s four-game winning streak, Baltimore got 71 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries from running back Derrick Henry.
“It feels better than a loss, I’ll tell you that,” Henry said. “I am just proud of everybody and for all of the hard work. Like I said in preparation for this week, it was great to put all the work in and let it pay off with the victory.”
Henry scored on a 2-yard run as the Ravens took a 7-6 lead with 8:15 left in the first half and a 2-yard run with 2:09 left in the game.
Henry broke his tie with Walter Payton for fifth place in NFL history in rushing touchdowns by reaching 112. The only players with more rushing TDs than Henry are Emmitt Smith with 164, LaDainian Tomlinson with 145, Marcus Allen with 123 and Adrian Peterson with 120.
“I’m always going to give homage and pay homage to the ones that came before me,” Henry said. “It’s such a cool thing. I’ve been blessed with the teammates and coaches I had throughout the years to reach that milestone. But still more to do, and looking forward to being better.”
Henry also recorded his 29th regular-season game with at least two rushing touchdowns. Only Tomlinson with 38 and Smith with 36 have had more.
Henry was among the 41 former Alabama players who got on the field on the eighth Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
One other former Alabama player was involved in the Chicago-Baltimore game:
Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Humphrey had five tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
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In the other Sunday games:
Miami Dolphins 34, Atlanta Falcons 10
Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick made three tackles before leaving with a thumb injury.
Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison made two tackles in his first appearance of the 2025 season. Until Saturday, Harrison had been on Atlanta’s practice squad.
Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams did not record any stats.
Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 20-of-26 passes for 205 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Tagovailoa threw TD passes of 3 yards to running back De’Von Achane, 9 yards to wide receiver Malik Washington, 43 yards to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and 20 yards to running back Ollie Gordon. Tagovailoa has four games with four touchdown passes and one with six in his NFL career.
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Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had five receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown. Waddle took a pass across the middle and outran the Atlanta defense over the final 32 yards of a 43-yard touchdown reception as Miami took a 24-3 lead with 4:18 left in the third quarter.
Buffalo Bills 40, Carolina Panthers 9
Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) did not record any stats.
A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made three tackles and shared one sack. After the game, Robinson and Buffalo offensive tackle Dion Dawkins got nose to nose, and Robinson shoved Dawkins. The two linemen were separated, with Carolina defensive end Derrick Brown pulling Robinson away from the skirmish.
Tyrell Shavers started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers did not record any stats.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was designated as a game-day inactive. An ankle injury sustained in last week’s game kept the QB out of Carolina’s lineup.
New York Jets 39, Cincinnati Bengals 38
Jordan Battle started at safety for the Bengals. Battle made eight tackles and broke up one pass.
Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton was designated as a game-day inactive.
Bengals center Seth McLauglin is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville) started at safety for the Jets. The rookie reached a career high with eight tackles to lead New York.
Jets running back Keilan Robinson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Quinnen Williams (Wenonah) started at defensive tackle for the Jets. Williams made one tackle.
Houston Texans 26, San Francisco 49ers 15
Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson recorded one sack, registered three quarterback hits and broke up one pass. Anderson has five sacks this season.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris did not record any stats.
Mac Jones started at quarterback for the 49ers. Jones completed 19-of-32 passes for 193 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and ran twice for 23 yards. Jones threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle as San Francisco cut Houston’s lead to 16-7 with 25 seconds left in the first half and a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Tonges as the 49ers reduced their deficit to 23-15 with 28 seconds left in the third quarter. Jones completed a 2-point conversion pass after the second touchdown.
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Forty-Niners running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) returned three kickoffs for 99 yards, including a 46-yarder that set up San Francisco’s first touchdown.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o made four tackles and broke up one pass.
New England Patriots 32, Cleveland Browns 13
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore made one tackle.
Isaiah Bond started at wide receiver for the Browns. Bond was targeted four times but did not have a reception.
Patriots tight end CJ Dippre is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns running back Jerome Ford had one reception that lost 1 yard.
Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy was targeted twice but did not have a reception.
Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville) recorded his first sack of the season. Jennings has 6.5 sacks in his NFL career.
Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Browns.
Philadelphia Eagles 38, New York Giants 20
Jihaad Campbell started at linebacker for the Eagles. Campbell made two tackles.
Landon Dickerson started at left guard for the Eagles.
Jalen Hurts started at quarterback for the Eagles. Hurts completed 15-of-20 passes for 179 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions and ran four times for 22 yards. Hurts’ touchdown passes went 9 yards to Barkley with 11:38 left in the first half to break a 7-7 tie, 6 yards to tight end Dallas Goedert as the Eagles went ahead 21-10 with 21 seconds left in the first half, 17 yards to Goedert for a 31-13 lead with 11:17 left to play and 40 yards to wide receiver Jahan Dotson for a 38-13 lead with 5:59 remaining.
RELATED: JALEN HURTS THROWS 4 TD PASSES AS EAGLES RUN OVER GIANTS
Eagles tight end Cameron Latu made one tackle on special teams.
Eagles wide receiver John Metchie III did not record any stats.
Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal was designated as a game-day inactive.
DeVonta Smith started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had six receptions for 84 yards.
Tyler Steen started at right guard for the Eagles.
Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young made two tackles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, New Orleans Saints 3
Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell registered one quarterback hit and made one tackle on special teams.
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry made four tackles and broke up two passes.
Denver Broncos 44, Dallas Cowboys 22
Tyler Booker started at right guard for the Cowboys.
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Cowboys wide receiver Traeshon Holden is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Broncos outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made five tackles and broke up one pass before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
Indianapolis Colts 38, Tennessee Titans 14
Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at cornerback for the Titans. Armour-Davis made one tackle.
J.C. Latham started at right offensive tackle for the Titans.
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury kept Ridley out of Tennessee’s lineup for the second game in a row.
Colts defensive tackle Tim Smith is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Green Bay Packers 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
Josh Jacobs started at running back for the Packers. Jacobs ran for 33 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries and caught three passes for 12 yards. Jacobs scored on a 3-yard run as Green Bay took a 22-19 lead with 14:55 remaining in the game.
Xavier McKinney started at safety for the Packers. McKinney led Green Bay with seven tackles.
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Week 8 started on Thursday night, when the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10.
Week 8 concludes on Monday, when the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.

With six teams on a bye and eight of 13 games on the schedule being interconference games, Week 8 might be one of the least consequential weeks on the 2025 NFL season. Still, every game is important and the results we’ve seen so far have impacted the current playoff picture (early as it may be).
The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills both won Sunday to remain in the same playoff seeding they had last week — Patriots at No. 2 and Bills at No. 5. New England has the edge based on its Week 5 upset of Buffalo. Until they meet again in Week 15, these teams will likely continue to battle it out for supremacy in the AFC East. That Week 15 game could be critical, since it might help decide which of these teams will have at least one home playoff game and which will have to hit the road.
Another key race to watch is in the NFC West, a division that currently has three teams lined up to play in the postseason. And while the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks both had a bye in Week 8, they both moved up a notch in the seeding thanks to the San Francisco 49ers getting knocked off by the Houston Texans. When they were all 5-2, it was the 49ers who were on pace to win the West and host a wild-card game. With the 49ers falling to 5-3, it’s currently the Seahawks who control their own destiny in the division.
AFC Playoff Seeding
Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots
Denver Broncos
Pittsburgh Steelers
Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC Wild Card Round (Colts get bye):
Jaguars at Patriots
Chargers at Broncos
Bills at Steelers
NFC Playoff Seeding
Green Bay Packers
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
NFC Wild Card Round (Packers get bye):
49ers at Eagles
Rams at Buccaneers
Lions at Seahawks

Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season is officially in the books. It was a weekend filled with blowouts, and while it might not be the most entertaining thing to watch, these types of weekends can really tell you a lot about the state of the league.
It may not have made for great TV, but we learned a lot this weekend. Here were some of my key takeaways from Week 8.
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If the Chargers get healthy, watch out
The Los Angeles Chargers could be a dangerous team if they can get healthy. They have injuries all over the place. Rashawn Slater and Najee Harris are out for the year, but they need guys like Omarion Hampton, Mekhi Becton, and Derwin James to get healthy sooner rather than later.
If they can stay in the playoff hunt while those guys get healthy, which they’re doing a great job of right now, they could be a real threat in the AFC. Justin Herbert has been very impressive this season, and when everyone’s playing, that offense can keep up with anybody.
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Justin Fields might’ve just saved his job
Last week, Justin Fields was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor just last week. While Aaron Glenn kept who would start this week close to the vest, he was saved from making that decision when Taylor was ruled out with a knee injury. Many felt it likely would’ve been Taylor, but Fields got the start, and he may have just saved his job.
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Fields played his best game of the season, completing 21 of his 32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 31 yards. He looked sharp, and while Breece Hall was the main catalyst for the New York Jets’ first win, Fields played his part well. It will be interesting to see how Glenn handles this moving forward.
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It’s hard to judge Dillon Gabriel until he gets some real weapons
I feel bad for Dillon Gabriel. I think he’s eventually going to end up losing his job, and it might not really be his fault. The Cleveland Browns just have absolutely no weapons on the outside. Yes, they have two very good tight ends in Harold Fannin and David Njoku, but a quarterback needs some help at receiver to showcase their real talents.
On Sunday, the Browns had one receiver catch a pass, and that was Jamari Thrash, who finished the game with two catches for 31 yards. Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond were the only two receivers who were targeted, and neither of them caught a single ball.
I’m afraid Gabriel is going to lose his job before ever getting a real chance to showcase his true skills. According to Kevin Stefanski, Gabriel will keep the job through the bye week, but who knows what’ll happen after that? Maybe Shedeur Sanders is actually their quarterback of the future, but I don’t think they’ll ever know what Gabriel has unless they give him better weapons.
Is it finally time for TreVeyon Henderson to take over as RB1?
When the New England Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson, everyone was ready for him to take over as RB1 right away. He was an electric player in college, but it’s taken a bit longer than fans (and fantasy players) hoped.
Rhamondre Stevenson has been RB1 this year, and he’s played well, but it might be time for the young buck to take over. This week, Stevenson carried it 14 times for just 34 yards, but Henderson totaled 75 yards on just 10 carries. Add in the fact that I think Henderson’s receiving upside is much higher than Stevenson’s, and I think it’s a matter of time before Henderson is RB1.
Will it happen this week? Maybe not, but he should only continue to see more and more carries as the season wanes on.
It’s going to be hard to replace Cam Skattebo
What happened to Cam Skattebo today was just horrible, man. If you didn’t see it, consider yourself lucky. He suffered a pretty nasty ankle dislocation, and his foot was turned in the wrong direction after getting rolled up on. He was taken to the hospital and is having surgery tonight.
Not only will it be hard to replace his production on the field – coming into tonight, he’d had five straight games of 50+ yards and had four touchdowns over that span – but it will be hard to replace his leadership. Despite being a rookie, his teammates love him and look up to him, so losing him is really going to hurt morale.
I just feel so bad for him and the New York Giants. Wish him a speedy recovery!
What is happening in Atlanta?
The Atlanta Falcons got off to a pretty good start to the year. They were 3-2 with a win over the Buffalo Bills heading into Week 7, but have since dropped back-to-back games, and this Sunday, it wasn’t even close.
The Miami Dolphins – yes, the Dolphins – chewed them up, spit them out, then stomped on them, winning 34-10. Tua Tagovailoa threw for four touchdowns, and Bijan Robinson averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. I know Michael Penix was out, but Kirk Cousins isn’t some horrible quarterback. They should not have lost this game, much less by 24 points.
This game just shows the parity in the NFL this year. The Dolphins looked dead in the water a week ago, and now they have some momentum behind them. I think it’s safe to say the Falcons are no longer playoff contenders.
Saints pulling Spencer Rattler was the right move
The New Orleans Saints made a pretty surprising decision, benching starting quarterback Spencer Rattler in favor of second-round rookie Tyler Shough. Rattler threw for 136 yards in the first half, but threw an interception and lost a fumble as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The Saints felt like it was time to make a change, and Shough came in for the second half, completing 17 of his 30 attempts for 128 yards and an interception while rushing for 12 yards.
I think this was the right move. Spencer Rattler is now 1-13 as a starter, and after 14 games in the NFL and 48 college games, you kind of know what you have in a guy. They spent premium draft capital on Shough, and they’d be doing themselves a disservice by not trying to find out what they have in him before the end of the year. They could have a top-three pick, and if he’s not the guy, they need to know now.
We’ll see if they move forward with Shough as a starter, but I think you have to. You don’t pull your starter at halftime for a rookie and then just give him the job back. Then again, this could’ve just been a lesson; if you turn the ball over, you’re going to get benched.
We’ll see what decisions they make, but as a Saints fan, I think you move forward with Shough.
The Bills are back and better than ever
The Bills were kind of forgotten. They lost two straight games before going on their bye, and everyone started talking about Kansas City and Indianapolis as the only contenders in the AFC. I know they still have their issues, but you cannot talk about AFC contenders without mentioning Josh Allen and the Bills.
The Bills came out and absolutely dominated the Carolina Panthers, winning 40-9. Josh Allen only threw for 163 yards and a touchdown, but rushed for two more scores. James Cook added 216 yards and two more scores on the ground. Defensively, they looked great, too. Andy Dalton was sacked seven times, and they forced three turnovers.
I know the Carolina Panthers are worse than their record and were without Bryce Young, but this was still a big win for the Bills. They’ve got some of their swagger back, and next Sunday’s showdown against the Chiefs will be a great litmus test for where this team is through nine weeks.
Yeah, the Cowboys are not playoff contenders
After last week, when it looked like their defense made some strides, I thought the Dallas Cowboys were going to be serious playoff contenders. It looked like their defense turned a corner, and with that offense, they were going to be a tough out. However, after this week, I just don’t see that happening anymore.
Their defense is still a massive issue. They just gave up 44 points to the Denver Broncos, whose offense has struggled greatly at times this season. They have an offense that can keep up with anyone, but if they’re even slightly off, like they were today, their defense can’t do them any favors.
Sorry, Cowboys fans, but just like the last 29 seasons, this is not your year.
Okay, maybe I was wrong about the Packers
I have not been the Green Bay Packers‘ biggest fan this year. Outside of their season-opening win over the Detroit Lions, I had not been impressed with them, but tonight, they showed just how good they can be at their peak.
The Packers fell behind early, but their offense got rolling in the second half, scoring 28 points in the final 30 minutes to erase a nine-point deficit and earn a big road win. Their defense also spoiled Aaron Rodgers’ revenge game. They were all over Rodgers in the second half, recording three sacks and shutting down everything the Steelers’ offense tried to do in the second half.
I still don’t think they’re quite in the same class as the Lions, Rams, and Eagles, but when they’re playing their best, they can beat anyone on any given Sunday. If they can be just a bit more consistent, I’ll feel much better about this team.
Also, minor takeaway: those Steelers uniforms might be the worst of all time. The jerseys aren’t impressive, but don’t even get me started on the helmets. I mean, is it that hard to center the logo? Just awful.

The Green Bay Packers don’t have a star-studded receiving core, but tight end Tucker Kraft is one of the reasons why they lead the NFC North at 5-1-1.
The third-year veteran entered Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a team-high 326 receiving yards over six contests. He was also tied with wide receiver Romeo Doubs for the most touchdown catches (four), and his 23 receptions were one behind Doubs for the team lead.
Kraft then stole the show against the Steelers, catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. During the game, the NFL announced franchise history that the 24-year-old made through the first six contests, via the NFL+ social media account.
“Tucker Kraft is the only TE in GB history w/ 300+ rec yds & 4+ rec TD through first 6 games,” it announced.
Kraft hauled in a 16-yard touchdown grab to give Green Bay a 7-3 lead in the first quarter before catching a 24-yard scoring strike to give the club a 29-19 lead in the fourth. The 6-foot-5, 259-pounder also notched a 59-yard reception in the third quarter, which was part of a nine-play, 90-yard touchdown drive that cut the deficit to 16-14. The Packers later won 35-25.
Tucker Kraft Emerging As Elite Tight End
Kraft now has 469 yards on the season and is on pace to break his career-high of 707. The South Dakota State University product also has six touchdowns, which is just one below his career-best mark from last season.
Kraft is now second in receiving yards only to Indianapolis Colts rookie Tyler Warren among tight ends, per FantasyPros. He’s also tied for second in touchdowns with Philadelphia Eagles veteran Dallas Goedert.
Kraft’s ascenscion has helped the Packers’ offense produce without wideout Jayden Reed (collarbone/foot), who led the squad with 857 receiving yards last season. The 25-year-old is on injured reserve and hasn’t played since Week 2, via ESPN.
Kraft’s performance on Sunday was also timely given that Pittsburgh contained star running back Josh Jacobs. The 2019 first-round pick rushed for just 33 yards on 13 carries, although he did have a three-yard scoring run to give Green Bay a 22-19 lead in the fourth quarter. The game exemplified how the offense has multiple cards to play, which could keep defenses from selling out to stop the run.

Once viewed as the Sooners’ next star quarterback and a potential NFL first-rounder, Mateer’s recent struggles have raised serious doubts about his draft future. The Sooners’ 34-26 loss to Ole Miss exposed every weakness that’s been creeping into Mateer’s game. The truth is, Mateer currently lacks the single trait that separates college quarterbacks from true NFL prospects: accuracy under pressure. Since injuring his throwing hand against Auburn, he hasn’t looked the same. His completion rate has dropped from 67.4% in his first four outings to just 58% since returning from surgery. The Ole Miss matchup only reinforced the concern.
17 completions on 31 attempts for 223 yards and a touchdown, no interceptions, but little rhythm or command. His usually dynamic rushing attack, a key part of his dual-threat identity, also vanished, producing just 17 yards on 13 carries. That decline is eroding Mateer’s NFL draft stock. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid went as far as to say that the hand injury and uneven play could push Mateer “outside the top 50 picks.”
After the Ole Miss game, in a 26th October episode of The Ruffino & Joe Show‘ betting host and draftnik Joe Deleone further highlights it: “Mateer clearly is not accurate at the current moment; he has gone backward, whether it’s the thumb injury or it’s other outside factors, and, from what I understand, the NFL has cooled on him because they also don’t think his decision-making has been great recently as well.”
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Pocket accuracy is the devil’s lair for Mateer. Against Ole Miss, he went 17 of 31 passes for 223 yards with a TD and no interceptions, but his run game took a major hit, finishing with just 17 yards on 13 carries. That’s affecting his NFL projections, too. Throwing for 1,417 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions and a 64.6% completion rate doesn’t exactly scream first-round buzz. Reid added that missing nearly a month of action only worsens the situation, though a late-season rebound against ranked programs like Alabama, Missouri, and LSU could still help him claw back into Round 1 conversations.
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Mateer’s ability to spot open receivers was also a major concern in the Ole Miss game. Mateer made some risky throws into tight coverages, which almost took the game away from them. That pass during the fourth-and-5 play to Javonnie Gibson was too far to catch. Even Brent Venables didn’t mince words before saying it loud. “We probably chose the wrong guy to throw it to,” Venables said. “Not where we need to be from a consistency standpoint and a cleanliness standpoint. That’s a position that needs to play well in order to win, and we could have played a little better there.”
But the same guy’s performance in the first four games of the season earned him the ninth-highest PFSN QB impact grade in the country, which is 89.6, which shows he isn’t completely ruled out of the NFL conversation. “Evaluators are taking a wait-and-see approach,” Reid noted, emphasizing that Mateer still has another year of eligibility to rebuild his reputation if he chooses. It will be interesting to see if Mateer pulls a Carson Beck move to raise his stock.
With Mateer’s inconsistencies, Brent Venables’s entire performance went down.
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Against Ole Miss, Brent Venables’ squad struggled on both sides of the ball
Having a strong defense is Oklahoma’s strength this season. They made things extremely difficult for Auburn QB Jackson Arnold, sacking him 9 times and making 14 tackles for loss. They have held their opponents to one TD or less in three of their 4 games this season. But against Ole Miss? They gave up 9 of their 3rd down conversions and were on the field for 87 Rebels snaps. Even the offense was a big mess, as Joe Deleone points straight at it.
Ole Miss just allowed 99 yards over 23 plays across Oklahoma’s final three drives. Those inconsistencies ended Oklahoma’s game against the Rebels. “You have an overrated coaching staff, and an overrated defense, all of these things, like, I’m not pulling punches. The most embarrassing performance by the Oklahoma team at home. It was the best offense that you faced. And you got put into a locker. You got out-coached Pete Golding, Coach Ben Arbuckle. Four rushing attempts at halftime for play lock. They didn’t run the ball until the second half, and then they didn’t get back to running the ball because they had a couple of big plays, and they thought that was enough,” Deleone said.

Before the start of the 2025 NFL season, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made a bold claim about his quarterback, Bo Nix.
During training camp, Payton told Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson,

Daniel Jones’ rebirth in Indianapolis has caught the attention of the entire NFL and now, he’s got a nickname to prove it.
After the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 8 win over the Tennessee Titans, the NFL’s official X account shared a post highlighting Jones’ record-setting start, showing him as the leader for “Most Points in the First 8 Games in Franchise History.”
“Indiana Dimes,” the NFL captioned as a new moniker for Jones.
Through eight games, Jones has guided the Colts to a league-best 7–1 record, throwing for 2,062 yards and 13 touchdowns and adding four scores on the ground. His 80.4 QBR ranks second in the NFL, a stat that underscores his dominance in Shane Steichen’s high-octane offense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jones now holds a 91.8 QBR when pressured, the highest ever recorded since the metric began in 2006. That number surpasses Josh Allen’s previous record of 83.5 from his 2024 MVP season.
“Daniel is playing with total command,” one Colts insider said. “He’s calm when things break down, he’s decisive, and he’s delivering strikes in big moments.”
That composure was on full display against the Titans. Jones completed 21 of 29 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball efficiently among his receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Jonathan Taylor, who also added a touchdown catch.
His play has not only lifted the Colts to the top of the AFC standings but has also revived his career narrative. Once labeled a draft disappointment for the New York Giants, Jones is now a symbol of resilience and adaptation.
Colts’ Offense Clicking Behind Jones and Taylor
Running back Jonathan Taylor has been the perfect partner in crime. Against Tennessee, Taylor needed just 12 carries to rush for 153 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching one from Jones.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Indianapolis plans to keep Jones beyond his current one-year deal.
“The Colts want this [Jones era] to continue beyond this year,” Rapoport reported. “They have interest in bringing Daniel Jones back on a long-term deal after the 2025 season.”
It’s a dramatic shift from where Jones stood just a year ago. After being released by the Giants and spending a short stint in Minnesota, few expected him to headline MVP conversations again. But with the Colts, Jones has rewritten his story and the scoreboard.

SUGAR LAND, Texas (AP) — Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson has been arrested in a Houston suburb on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon, records show.
Peterson was taken into custody Sunday in Sugar Land, according to Houston television station KHOU. It’s the second DWI arrest in seven months for the 2012 NFL MVP and three-time league rushing champion.
The 40-year-old Peterson was a high school football star in East Texas and has lived in the Houston area. He played at Oklahoma before spending the first 10 years of his NFL career with Minnesota, which drafted him No. 7 overall in 2007.
Peterson was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Minneapolis in April after appearing at an NFL draft party for Vikings fans.
Peterson was pulled over for speeding before his arrest in Minnesota. There were no further details about his arrest in Texas, and there was no information on an attorney for him.
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Peterson is one of nine running backs to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He had 2,097 yards for the Vikings in his MVP season of 2012 and finished with 14,918 yards and 120 touchdowns over 15 seasons. He played for six teams during his final five seasons.

Aaron Rodgers stands among the all-time greats in pretty much every single career accomplishment.
His four MVPs are second all-time, one behind Peyton Manning. He’s top five in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP. But in Sunday night’s 35-25 loss to the Packers, he missed out on adding one more accolade. With a win, he would have been just the fifth quarterback to defeat all 32 current NFL franchises.
Considering the Packers and the Steelers are in different conferences — and more crucially that Rodgers is 41 years old and has said that this will be his final season — it will likely remain that way.
This was Rodgers’ first game against his former longtime franchise. He played and beat his other former franchise, the Jets, in Week 1. Though Rodgers didn’t play poorly Sunday (219 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions), Pittsburgh’s offense managed just one touchdown in the second half, and the defense fell off significantly against Jordan Love (360 passing yards, three touchdowns) after a strong start.
Though we’ll never say never with Rodgers, it appears the four-quarterback group to beat all 32 teams — Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning — is safe for now. It should also be noted that Fran Tarkenton and Joe Montana beat all 28 teams when the league only had 28 teams.
Rodgers remains on the slightly less-impressive (but still very impressive) list of quarterbacks to beat 31 teams.

After rushing for 766 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2024 season, running back Tank Bigsby had all but disappeared in the 2025 season – until Sunday.
In Philadelphia’s 38-20 victory over the New York Giants, Bigsby ran for 104 yards on nine carries for the Eagles.
Since joining Philadelphia in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the first game of the 2025 season, Bigsby had one carry for 11 yards, one reception for minus-1 yards and nine kickoff returns for a 20.8-yard average.
But against New York, which beat Philadelphia 34-17 two weeks ago, starting running back Saquon Barkley ran for 150 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, and Bigsby helped the Eagles push their rushing total to 276 yards in Sunday’s game.
The third 100-yard game of Bigsby’s career came after he had played 18 offensive snaps in the first seven games of the 2025 season.
“Obviously, there’s a reason we traded for him,” Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said. “Really, really explosive runner, and we see that all the time in practice. And as he’s caught up to our system and everything that we do and learning it, he’s gotten more opportunities, and it’s been it’s been fun to see him run with the football. But I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise with how he looked today because we obviously saw that in Jacksonville reason, why how we went and got him, and then we see it in practice every day, where you’re like, ‘Hey, we got to get this guy some touches.’
“And he’s made the most of these opportunities. I mean I think he’s averaging over 10 yards a carry in two games now. Not a ton of carries as of yet, but we know we can count on him because he can run violently, he can make you miss, he’s explosive, he can hit a home run, so I’m excited about what he brings to the table.”
The game was the first for Philadelphia with two 100-yard running backs since LeSean McCoy ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and Bryce Brown ran for 115 yards and one touchdown on nine carries in a 54-11 victory over the Chicago Bears on Dec. 22, 2013.
In 2020 and 2022, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Miles Sanders had games in which each reached 100 rushing yards.
Barkley and Bigsby became the first running-back duo to turn in two 100-yard performances in the same game in the NFL since D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard in the Carolina Panthers’ 37-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on Dec. 24, 2022.
Bigsby was among the 14 former Auburn players who got on the field on the eighth Sunday of the NFL’s 106th season.
One other former Auburn player was involved in the New York-Philadelphia game:
Darius Slayton started at wide receiver for the Giants. Slayton had two receptions for 26 yards as he returned from a two-game injury absence. Slayton lost a touchdown catch to an offensive pass interference penalty.
More stories on the NFL
Broncos QB Bo Nix throws for 4 touchdowns: ‘He was magnificent’
49ers QB Mac Jones on loss to Texans: ‘I just didn’t feel like we had a chance’
Jalen Hurts throws 4 TD passes as Eagles run over Giants
In the other Sunday games:
Miami Dolphins 34, Atlanta Falcons 10
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) made one tackle.
Baltimore Ravens 30, Chicago Bears 16
Ravens defensive end Carl Lawson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Buffalo Bills 40, Carolina Panthers 9
Derrick Brown started at defensive end for the Panthers. Brown made one tackle. Brown dealt with a knee problem during the game.
New York Jets 39, Cincinnati Bengals 38
Jets defensive tackle Byron Cowart is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood made five tackles and broke up one pass. Sherwood had started 22 consecutive games for New York and had 32 more tackles this season than any other player for the Jets. But he did not play in the first quarter against Cincinnati.
Houston Texans 26, San Francisco 49ers 15
Texans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
New England Patriots 32, Cleveland Browns 13
Brown linebacker Eugene Asante is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Browns tight end Sal Cannella is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Carlton Davis started at cornerback for the Patriots. Davis made three tackles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, New Orleans Saints 3
Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made six tackles, registered one quarterback hit and forced one fumble. New Orleans recovered the fumble.
Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Saints linebacker Eku Leota did not record any stats. New Orleans elevated Leota from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
Denver Broncos 44, Dallas Cowboys 22
Cowboys tight end Rivaldo Fairweather is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 19-of-29 passes for 247 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Nix threw touchdown passes of 25 yards to wide receiver Troy Franklin as Denver took a 14-3 lead with 3:04 left in the first quarter, 24 yards to rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant to extend the advantage to 27-10 with 39 seconds left in the first half, 7 yards to Franklin for a 37-17 lead with 12:48 remaining and 5 yards to rookie running back RJ Harvey to push the margin to 44-17 with 7:14 to play.
RELATED: BO NIX THROWS FOR 4 TOUCHDOWNS: ‘HE WAS MAGNIFICENT’
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham handled Denver’s offense for the final two possessions. He had a kneel-down that lost 1 yard to close the game.
Indianapolis Colts 38, Tennessee Titans 14
Titans linebacker Dorian Mausi did not record any stats.
Roger McCreary (Williamson) started at cornerback for the Titans. McCreary made three tackles and recorded his first sack of the season and fourth of his career.
Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts.
Green Bay Packers 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
Packers safety Jaylin Simpson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Packers quarterback Malik Willis dressed for the game but did not play.
Colby Wooden started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Week 8 started on Thursday night, when the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10.
Week 8 concludes on Monday, when the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. ABC and ESPN will televise the game.

The current NFL season features a historic first in the final two minutes of games.
The Denver Broncos’ 33-point fourth-quarter comeback is the biggest in NFL history.
The season is praised for its unpredictability and heightened drama for fans.
There has been no shortage of action in the NFL over the first seven weeks of the season. Football fans wait seven months during the offseason only to be provided with five months of an action-packed NFL season. Based on what supporters have witnessed so far in the campaign, however, it would be safe to say that the wait has been absolutely worth it.
The league took to social media on Friday to announce a historic first — one not seen since the NFL was established in 1920. The feat speaks volumes about how exciting the season has been thus far, even before the mid-way point of the campaign.
A perfect example would be the unbelievable Week 7 matchup between the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. Bo Nix and the Broncos put up 33 points on the board in the fourth quarter after being held scoreless in the first three quarters, marking one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history.
Denver got its first lead of the game with just 1:51 left on the clock. Nix rushed to the endzone for an 18-yard touchdown, which gave the Broncos a 30-26 lead after the extra point. The Giants battled back, though, reclaiming the lead with just 37 seconds left, 32-30. Denver, however, won it at the death with a 39-yard field goal. The game ended with the Broncos stealing away the victory, 33-32.
While no other game this season has matched the drama of the Broncos’ unprecedented comeback victory over the Giants, this contest is a good representation of how thrilling the NFL season has been thus far.
On Friday, the league announced that there have been no less than 26 games with a lead change in the final two minutes of regulation. This represents the most in NFL history through seven weeks.
“This season has been absolute cinema 🙌” the league captioned its post.
This development brings a whole lot of excitement and drama for the fans, making this era arguably the most unpredictable in decades.
This also has major implications for teams across the league. Now more than ever, the mantra that no lead is safe has become even more relevant. Extra attention must be given to defensive and special teams performances in the final minutes. On the offensive end, teams have to be on point with their execution in two-minute type scenarios, while also avoiding penalty disasters and managing field position.
Week 8 promises to be another exhilarating round of football. The Los Angeles Chargers kicked things off with a dominant 37-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings on “Thursday Night Football.”

In a surprise to many, the Indianapolis Colts currently hold the best record in the NFL with a 6-1 record.
Indy’s offense has been averaging 33.1 points per game this season, the best in the league. The team is being led by quarterback Daniel Jones, who is having a bounce-back season under head coach Shane Steichen.
Running back Jonathan Taylor leads the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, rookie Tyler Warren leads all tight ends in receiving yards and the offensive line has only let up six sacks through seven games this season.
The Colts’ defense should not go unrecognized, only allowing 20 points per game to opposing offenses this season, which ties them for the eighth-lowest in the league.
Indianapolis is starting to be taken as a serious Super Bowl contender, but one NFL writer believes the team should make one addition to help secure a chance at the Lombardi trophy.
Trading For Playing In The AFC North
Linebacker Zaire Franklin has been one of the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive players the past three seasons. Franklin has recorded three straight seasons with over 100 tackles before the start of 2025.
The linebacker currently has the second most tackles on the team, behind safety Nick Cross, with 42 tackles. The next three? Coming from the secondary.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes that if the Colts trade for Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson, it can help the team make a playoff run.
“The Indianapolis Colts’ offense is humming right now, flowing more seamlessly than any other group in the NFL. Where the Colts can really make some gains at the trade deadline is on defense, especially when it comes to the pass rush. The Bengals are about ready to throw in the towel. Logan Wilson is facing a demotion as Cincy embraces its youth movement and tries to reinvigorate a patchwork defense. That makes the 31-year-old, under salary at an affordable $5.4 million price tag in 2026, a logical target for Indy,” Kline wrote.
“Wilson has seen a decline in impact over the last couple years, in part due to injury, but he’s a versatile linebacker who notched four interceptions and 135 tackles in 2023. He can plug a lot of holes for the Colts and give their defense a better shot to hold down the fort for Daniel Jones and Indianapolis’ high-octane offense.”
Logan Wilson Reuniting With Familiar Face
If Logan Wilson were to be traded to the Indianapolis Colts, he would have the third-most tackles on the team and second-most at the linebacker spot with 41 tackles.
He would provide an immediate impact on the Colts’ defense.
Wilson knows the defensive scheme Indianapolis runs, as defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo used to hold the same position with Cincinnati and has been coached by him for five seasons.
The linebacker recorded four 100+ tackle seasons under Anarumo, with two of those seasons logging over 120.
If the Colts were to pull the trigger on acquiring the linebacker, he wouldn’t need too much time getting used to the defense and play, maybe as soon as the team asks of him.
Colts’ linebaacker room hasn’t been too productive this season, but a former Anarumo defender can make the switch happen.

It’s really a wonder how the San Francisco 49ers are sitting at 5-2 and somehow leading the NFC West, especially with the avalanche of injuries they’ve had to deal with. But Kyle Shanahan knows that kind of luck doesn’t last forever. And if there’s one move that could help keep things steady, it might just involve a certain $96 million defensive lineman from the New York Jets, especially after Yetur Gross-Matos and Bryce Huff’s injuries.
We are all aware that the Jets are a complete mess this year. They’re winless at 0-7, and there may not be a better time for another team to start picking off their top talent. Word around the league is that Shanahan’s got his eyes on Quinnen Williams. And reports suggest the 49ers have already reached out to the Jets about a potential trade.
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Williams signed a four-year, $96 million extension with New York that runs through 2027. When he inked that deal, it was one of the richest contracts ever given to an interior defensive lineman. It made him the second-highest-paid at his position behind Aaron Donald at the time.
This season, Williams has totaled 31 tackles, seven TFL, and a sack. Not eye-popping numbers, but considering the dysfunction around him, that’s still impressive. At 27 years old, he’s in his prime, already a three-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro, and one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.
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According to insider Connor Hughes, “Teams call/continue to call on guys like Breece Hall, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDoanld, Michael Carrer, Quinnen & Quincy Williams, but that’s the vibe they’re getting from conversations. Some league sources wonder if there will be more willingness from Jets to give in negotiations if they fall to 0-8 with a loss to the Bengals. That’s to be seen.”
So, yeah, it sounds like the 49ers could at least get New York on the phone. Hughes also mentioned that the Jets might be looking for a second-round pick for Quinnen Williams. But the fans would probably riot if they gave him up for anything less than a first.
Still, if there’s ever a time for San Francisco to be aggressive, it’s now. Because Shanahan’s patched-together defense won’t hold up forever.
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This trade is imperative amid the 49ers’ injury woes
The 49ers’ defensive struggles make this move almost a necessity. Every team in the league has had to deal with the injury bug. But few have been hit harder than San Francisco’s defense this season. During Sunday night’s 20-10 win over the Falcons, defensive end Bryce Huff went down with a hamstring injury, Shanahan confirmed Monday.
That’s just the latest blow. Nick Bosa, the five-time Pro Bowler, is already out for the year with a torn ACL. Tarron Jackson (neck) is on injured reserve, and Yetur Gross-Matos has not practiced since sustaining knee and hamstring injuries in Week 5.
Linebacker Fred Warner suffered a dislocated and broken ankle and is also done for the year. Second-year linebacker Tatum Bethune has stepped in admirably, but depth is running dangerously thin. If the 49ers want to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, they need reinforcements. And that too, soon.
Yes, they’re still sitting at the top of the division, but that doesn’t mean everything’s fine. The defense is allowing 317.4 yards per game and has already given up 16 touchdowns. Their red zone defense isn’t great either, with opponents scoring touchdowns 60% of the time on 4th downs. It’s not quite panic mode yet, but with all these injuries, it’s not a formula that can last.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have slipped a bit after a hot 4-1 start to the 2025 season. They’ve lost the last two games and have looked alarmingly bad in doing so.
While both sides of the ball need to pick it up, defensive end Travon Walker knows that the Jaguars’ defense needs to right the ship and finish the season strong.
“Yeah, it’s not always about how you start, but it’s about how you finish,” Walker said this week. “Like we got 10 weeks left of the regular season and we’re going to go out there and make the best of all 10 of these games.”
The former first-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft didn’t play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5 with a wrist injury and was thusly limited the following two games. In those three games, the defense has given up an alarming 83 points.
Travon Walker thinks the defense needs to just follow the game plan
Through seven weeks, the 4-3 Jaguars’ defense ranks 18th in the NFL in points per game and 23rd in yards per game. Considering the struggles of the offense, they’ll need to be better than that, even if they are in a forgiving division (minus the Indianapolis Colts right now).
“Personally like I say, just continuously stick together and buy into the plan as far as what the coaches give us throughout the game, throughout the week,” Walker said. “And just go out there and execute, do our job. Everybody has to look deep down inside and just continuously improve ourselves individually, and then come together collectively as a defense to execute the play calls.”
Walker, who has two sacks in six games this year, was asked if the players were getting frustrated.
“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating, obviously, because the way I look at it’s still early in the season,” Walker said. “Like I say, we’re going into a bye Week now, so it’s time for us to just take a little step back and as we go into this bye Week and observe all the things that we potentially made those same mistakes on and just try our best not to make those same mistakes over again.”
Owner Shad Khan agrees with Travon Walker
Jaguars owner Shad Khan spoke to the media before the game in London against the Rams. He echoed much about Walker said when it comes to finishing the season.
“Not too long ago, a couple of years ago, we were 8-3 then we know what happened,” Khan said, referring to 2023. “There are many other precedents like that. nWe have to feel good. We have to be confident. [But] very important we don’t lose track of the next 11 games.
“Winning is fun. You win, you don’t want the week to be over. You lose, you want to just hit delete right now other than you want to learn from why you lost and the correction.
“So, winning is fabulous, but it’s like football: You have to play to the whistle and just don’t get tendinitis patting yourself on the back. We have to enjoy the moment, absolutely, but don’t get too happy and content with it.”
The Jaguars will use the bye week to start reducing mistakes and mental errors. Hopefully Walker can get healthy and start producing because they absolutely need him.

Key Points:
An NFL draft analyst posed a surprising question
He hinted he would chose a current Ohio State receiver over Michigan’s all-time roster
The Wolverines’ receivers have improved this season
The Michigan Wolverines’ passing game has become part of a team-wide resurgence this season with Bryce Underwood leading the way at quarterback and newcomers Andrew Marsh, Donoven McCulley and others stepping up.
The Wolverines aren’t one of the top passing teams in the country but they have the ability to play like one against above average competition when Underwood has time in the pocket.
On Friday, a well known NFL draft analyst had a surprising take on Michigan’s receivers that he tied into a current Ohio State Buckeye’s ascension with Ryan Day’s program.
Carnell Tate – Better Than Any Michigan Receiver, Ever?
Breer posed the question as to whether current Buckeyes wideout Carnell Tate would be the best receiver in Michigan history if he played in Ann Arbor.
Tate, the number two receiver behind Jeremiah Smith for the Buckeyes, has 34 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns with Ryan Day’s team this season.
Two sports talk radio hosts from Cleveland appeared to choose Michigan legend Braylon Edwards over Tate before Breer shared his take.
“You guys can clip that if you want, I think Carnell Tate if he was playing there (Ann Arbor) might become the best receiver in Michigan history, and he’s not even number one on his own team,” Breer said.
McCulley, Marsh, and Morgan Lead 2025-26 Wolverines
The 2025 Wolverines have been led by newcomers Donaven McCulley and Andrew Marsh in the receiving department along with Semaj Morgan, whose time with the team dates back to the 2023-24 National Championship.
McCulley leads with 369 yards, Marsh has come on strong of late to compile 297 yards total and Morgan has 214 yards despite numerous dropped passes.
The all-time Wolverines boast one Heisman Trophy winner who played the position, Desmond Howard, along with Edwards, David Terrell, Anthony Carter and other former stars.
Breer’s assertion seems odd considering the long history of great names who played lights out football in Ann Arbor in a maize and blue helmet, but it shows his faith in Tate, who led the Buckeyes with six receptions for 58 yards in a losing effort last season vs. the Wolverines.
The Buckeyes’ receivers were stopped cold in Columbus last season but holding them down could prove tougher this year with Julian Sayin starring as a former five-star quarterback who could eclipse Will Howard’s disappointing effort last year at the Horseshoe.

Just a few weeks ago, John Harbaugh decided to shuffle things a bit. The Baltimore Ravens waived undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery and gave that 53-man roster spot to nose tackle C.J. Okoye. And now Harbaugh couldn’t hide his excitement about Okoye’s progress. However, the real twist is that the first time Okoye played in an NFL game, he didn’t even know what a “sack” was.
“I played my first NFL game, I still didn’t know the rules. When coach talked about I had a sack, I didn’t know it was a sack that was true,” he said on The Lounge Podcast.
“I didn’t know it was a sack, I didn’t know what was going on, I thought it was a tackle for loss or something. It was my teammate that was like you got a sack, I didn’t even know. Like, what’s a sack? I didn’t know, I swear to God I didn’t know it was a sack. Yeah, so the first tryout I didn’t know nothing.” But here’s what makes it even better.
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Okoye’s story started far from Baltimore, in Agbogugu, Nigeria. He came to America in 2023 through the NFL’s International Pathway Program. So, his first real game was a preseason matchup on August 13, 2023, when the Los Angeles Chargers faced the Rams. That night he sacked quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Interestingly, his journey began with a nudge from a friend and Nigerian legend Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl champ.
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Okoye joined the Uprise football camp, impressed scouts, and then earned a spot among 38 players at the NFL International Combine in London. So, from there, he was one of just 13 athletes who completed 10 intense weeks at IMG Academy in Florida.
By May 2023, his persistence paid off. Okoye was one of only eight players to make the final cut and was assigned to the Chargers. So, he got that first sack without knowing what it meant. After two years on the practice squad, the Ravens signed him in January. Now, under John Harbaugh, he’s finally showing why that decision was worth it.
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John Harbaugh is happy with CJ Okoye’s development
No player on the Baltimore Ravens’ defense has climbed faster than C.J. Okoye. From his roots in Nigeria to lining up in front of the Flock at M&T Bank Stadium, his growth has been wild to watch. And the Ravens’ coaching staff sees something special in him.
“I think C.J. Okoye has come a long way,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s come a long way. To see him where he is at right now compared to where he was when he got here is just unbelievable. It’s night and day. He’s really done a great job. I got to give him credit.”
Even though Okoye has been in the league for three seasons, his real debut came this year. When the Ravens faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, Okoye finally got his shot. And he made it count. In 3 games, he got eight total tackles, including five solo stops and a hit on the quarterback.
Now with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season and Broderick Washington sidelined, Baltimore needed someone to step up. Okoye did just that.
“I think, for him, coming through for us the way he did has been kind of a real blessing; [it’s] not something we really expected to have happen,” Harbaugh said.
So now it’s on Harbaugh to figure out how to keep his emerging star in the mix.

Jerry Jones watched on as his Dallas Cowboys jumped to 3-3-1 under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, defeating Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders 44-22 in Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. Now, the Cowboys turn their focus to Week 8, hitting the road to take on Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.
Dak Prescott has been one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks through seven games despite multiple injuries along the offensive line. Even left tackle Tyler Guyton was forced to miss a game after suffering a concussion. The 2024 first-round pick has shown promise at the left tackle position, with many hoping he can eventually live up to the future Hall of Famer he replaced.
Tyron Smith established himself as one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history during his 13 seasons with the Cowboys. A five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, he anchored the line while protecting quarterbacks such as Prescott and Tony Romo. After a string of injuries hampered his final years in Dallas, Smith signed with the Jets for the 2024 season before retiring in April 2025.
And on Friday, Smith made his return to football, joining the East-West Shrine Bowl as an offensive line coaching advisor. The college all-star game, showcasing some of the NFL’s top prospects, will notably be held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the home of the Cowboys.
“BIG NEWS,” East-West Shrine Bowl wrote on X. “Tyron Smith, 5x All-Pro and 8x Pro Bowler, is joining the East-West Shrine Bowl as an Offensive Line Coaching Advisor this year! We’re excited to have our offensive linemen working with a future hall of famer all week long 💪 #ShrineBowlWHOSNEXT”
While Smith prepares for the upcoming Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27, 2026, the Cowboys get ready for their Week 8 matchup against the Broncos on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

The Los Angeles Rams wanted to acquire an elite cornerback this offseason to cover the opposing team’s primary receiver.
One of the players the team was interested in bringing was former LA Rams Jalen Ramsey in a trade. Ramsey was eventually traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving the Rams without a proper CB1.
Even without Ramsey or another notable cornerback in the secondary room, the Rams have one of the better defenses in the league. The LA defense is only allowing 16.7 points per game after seven games and heading into their bye week.
The Rams are still considered one of the contenders to make the Super Bowl, but one NFL writer believes the team needs to acquire a cornerback to do so.
Trading For A Young Cornerback
The Los Angeles Rams defense is allowing 208.3 passing yards per game, placing them at the 13th fewest in the league, even without a CB1 on the team.
LA is without cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who suffered a broken collarbone early in the season in Week 2 of the 2025 season. The corner was set to play a key part of the Rams’ defense, but will now return to the field near the end of the season.
Christopher Kline of FanSided believes the Rams should trade for New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor to help the team in the regular season and a postseason run.
“The Saints are in full-blown tank mode, which puts 26-year-old Alontae Taylor squarely on the trade block. It would take a lot for the Los Angeles Rams to pry him out of New Orleans, but Taylor is a soon-to-be free agent with a high price tag. New Orleans might see the writing on the wall. The Los Angeles Rams’ offense continues to pull out the necessary stops to compete every week, but injuries have put their defense in a compromised state. Taylor helps a ton in the secondary,” Kline wrote.
“With a sack and 35 tackles on the season to date, Taylor has proven his capacity to defend all over the field and impact the game in myriad ways. His athleticism and aggression are infectious, and he’s sure to embrace the chance to compete for a Super Bowl on a talented L.A. roster.”
The average age of the cornerbacks on the Rams’ 53-man roster, including nickel backs, is 27 years old. While Taylor is just a year younger than the average age, a trade with the Saints gives the team a bit more youth.
When Witherspoon returns to the team, it will increase the average age, as the player is 30 years of age.
Alontae Taylor In LA
When Jalen Ramsey was drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, one draft analyst used the words aggressive and versatile to describe his game, words Kline used to describe Alontae Taylor.
Ramsey went on to be one of the, if not the best, cornerbacks in the league in the following years of his career, with some of his best years on the Los Angeles Rams defense.
If head coach Sean McVay can get his hands on another player of similar qualities, it brings up the question of whether he can do the same.
Taylor has let up 218 receiving yards this season and 27 completed passes this season for the 1-7 Saints.
If the cornerback can get some help in the secondary and defensive front, it could decrease his completion percentage, which currently stands at 67.5%, something the Rams have.

The Buffalo Bills have been knocking on the door of Super Bowl Sunday for years, but have yet to receive an answer.
The franchise may finally be able to kick that door in this postseason if it is able to acquire a big-time playmaker ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.

Three days after safety Shilo Sanders was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he dropped a heartfelt message about the next steps when an athlete is away from the game. Well, seems like it did not take long for Shilo to take that step, with his next big move already making waves.
Sanders will be taking part in the ‘GOAT TALK‘ organized by ComplexCon, where he’ll be side by side with basketball player DeMarcus Amir Cousins. And it’s actually a pretty big deal for the NFL ‘hopeful.’
For those who don’t know, ComplexCon is one of the biggest pop culture events in the U.S., pulling together everything from music, streetwear, sneakers, and art to food and tech innovation. It’s basically a weekend-long celebration of creativity, and a hotspot for exclusive drops and appearances from some of the biggest names in the world.
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Among all the wild things happening at ComplexCon, ‘GOAT TALK’ is easily one of its crown jewels. Past editions have featured legends like Roger Federer, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Emily Blunt, and John Cena. So yeah, Shilo sharing that stage? Well, good for him.
Still, you can’t help but wonder, what’s next if the NFL dream doesn’t come back around? Shilo seems at peace with whatever comes.
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“I’m not saying that’s what it is now. I’m just saying mentally I’m good because I know that I got a lot of talents and I’ve been blessed,” he said in the video.
The 25-year-old safety mentioned being into music, acting, and modeling. So don’t be surprised if you see him popping up on screens or red carpets soon. However, for people who watched him play his final season at Colorado, it won’t be easy to see their favorite star away from football for too long.
He wrapped up his senior year in 2024 with 67 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Solid numbers that had fans thinking he’d make an easy jump to the pros. Seeing him step away from football just doesn’t feel right.
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But if Shilo had it his way, he’d still be in the NFL. And he’d give anything for it.
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Shilo Sanders awaits an NFL opportunity
It’s been about two months since Tampa Bay waived him. Safe to say, his preseason stint didn’t do much to help his case. He recorded four total tackles (all solo) across three preseason games, with no tackles for loss, no interceptions, and no pass breakups. Well, he did pick up two penalties and even got ejected in the last game. Not exactly highlight material.
And given the demand is not too high for a safety in the league right now, Shilo is unlikely to get an opportunity anytime soon. The NFL trade deadline is just days away, and things have been unusually quiet compared to past years. It’s ironic, the Sanders brothers are two of the most talked-about players who haven’t yet made a big splash in the league. So for Shilo, that silence around his name isn’t a great sign.