Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s nightcap:
Micah Parsons held in check in back-and-forth affair
Parsons’ only sack of the game prevented Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott from scoring what would have been the game-sealer in overtime, but was otherwise kept from leaving a huge impact on the field.
While the Cowboys had to settle for a Brandon Aubrey field goal moments later, Green Bay took the clock all the way down in overtime. Despite nearly running out of time, Packers kicker Brandon McManus nailed a 34-yard field goal to tie the game at 40.
In a game that saw both QBs combine for seven TDs and a hat trick from Packers WR Romeo Doubs (Six catches, 58 yards, three TDs), there was no shortage of action in one of the more thrilling games you will see offensively.
George Pickens steps up for Cowboys
With their star wideout CeeDee Lamb (left ankle) out of action, the offseason trade acquisition Pickens was elevated to the WR1 role and delivered in a major way.
Along with a key TD to put the Cowboys in the lead prior to the half, Pickens made the go-ahead 28-yard catch with 43 seconds remaining in regulation.
Overall, Pickens had eight catches for 134 yards and two TDs, delivering in clutch moments for a Cowboys team that was down their top target. If Dallas can continue to get that kind of production from Pickens while Lamb is out, it will certainly take it.
Packers must get healthy on offensive line
Injuries have plagued Green Bay’s offensive line so far, which has led to multiple combinations and sloppy play at times. Although the Packers eventually scored on each drive, a pair of false starts from guard Sean Rhyan and center Elgton Jenkins on the one-yard line were inexcusable that close to the end zone.
This has been a lingering issue through the first four weeks of the season for the Packers. Starters Aaron Banks (groin) and Zach Tom (oblique) were out for Sunday’s game, as was rookie Anthony Belton (ankle), who was expected to fill in for Tom.
In addition to Tom and Belton, the Packers have also played Jordan Morgan and Darian Kinnard at right tackle, which speaks to the inconsistency they have had putting a healthy offensive line together.
For this team to take that next step, its offensive line must get healthy, especially in tightly-contested games when penalties can prove even more costly.
Cowboys defense is still not right
Following a blocked PAT attempt in the second quarter and a scoring drive from the offense, the Dallas defense got a strip sack from defensive end James Houston late in the first half that led to a second TD within one minute of game action.

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers played the wildest game of Week 4 on Sunday night. The two teams combined for 925 yards of offense, 10 touchdowns and one scorigami. That’s right, we got a scorigami.
Packers kicker Brandon McManus drilled a 34-yard field goal on the final play of overtime to earn a 40-40 tie with the Cowboys. The tie game marked the 1,093rd unique final score in NFL history. Not only was the game a scorigami, but it was also the highest-scoring tie in the Super Bowl era, which dates back to 1966. The Cowboys and Packers also combined for the NFL’s first tie since December 2022 when the Washington Commanders and New York Giants ended in a 20-20 tie.
To get a scorigami, you usually need a few crazy things to happen and this game definitely had that. The most bizarre play came in the second quarter and it gave the Cowboys two points. After the Packers got a touchdown from Romeo Doubs to go up 13-0, McManus went out to attempt a routine extra point, but there was nothing routine about it. The Cowboys ended up blocking the kick and then Markquese Bell picked it up and returned it for two points to make the score 13-2.
That one play set the stage for the scorigami. Oh, and a wild fourth quarter also helped.
There were a total of 17 points scored in the final two minutes of action. With 1:45 left in the game, Doubs caught a touchdown pass that put the Packers up 34-30. However, the Cowboys immediately responded by scoring a touchdown barely one minute later when George Pickens caught a 28-yard pass from Dak Prescott with just 43 seconds left to give Dallas a 37-34 lead. That lead didn’t last long, though, as the Packers drove down and got a 53-yard field goal from McManus on the final play of regulation to send the game to overtime.
This game marks the fifth time since the start of the 2022 season that the Cowboys have been involved in a scorigami. Before Sunday, their most recent one came in a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions back in October 2024. As for the Packers, this is the first scorigami they’ve been involved in since the 2020 season when they beat the Vikings, 43-34.
Overall, this is the second scorgami of the 2025 season. The only other that happened came on

ARLINGTON, Texas — Brandon Aubrey and Brandon McManus traded short field goals in overtime, and Micah Parsons’ highly anticipated return to Dallas ended with the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in a 40-40 tie Sunday night.
Dak Prescott and Jordan Love had three touchdown passes apiece in regulation, which included seven consecutive lead-changing TDs before McManus’ tying 53-yard field goal as time expired.
McManus kicked a 34-yarder as the clock hit 0:00 in overtime, just after Love’s pass into the back of the end zone fell incomplete with just a second remaining.
What started as the hyped return of one of the game’s elite pass rushers exactly a month after the Cowboys (1-2-1) traded Parsons to the Packers (2-1-1) ended up as the second dramatic duel of quarterbacks in as many home games for Dallas.
The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 in overtime two weeks earlier when Russell Wilson was starting for New York.
The second-highest scoring tie in NFL history, behind the Raiders’ 43-43 draw with the Boston Patriots in the AFL in 1964, was the first for Dallas since 1969. The Packers last tied in 2018.
EAGLES 31, BUCCANEERS 25
TAMPA, Fla. — The Philadelphia Eagles used a fake punt, another special teams touchdown and a late defensive stop to stay undefeated.
Jalen Hurts tossed two touchdown passes, Sydney Brown returned a blocked punt for a score and the Eagles beat Tampa Bay for their 20th victory in 21 games.
The only loss in that span for the reigning Super Bowl champions was against Washington last December in a game Hurts left with a concussion in the first half.
Chase McLaughlin’s 65-yard field goal for Tampa Bay on the final play of the first half was the longest in NFL history in an outdoor stadium.
BILLS 31, SAINTS 19
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Buffalo shook off a sloppy first three quarters to stay undefeated while beating winless New Orleans.
James Cook had 117 yards rushing and a touchdown in a game that wasn’t decided until midway through the fourth quarter. The Bills never trailed, but were clinging to a 21-19 lead when Allen hit a wide-open Dalton Kincaid for a 28-yard touchdown with 7:07 left.
Allen asserted himself on the previous play by putting his head down, breaking two tackles and dragging three defenders before finally going down for a 27-yard gain to convert a third-and-5.
Allen finished 16 of 22 for 209 yards while throwing his first interception of the season. Khalil Shakir scored on a 43-yard catch to cap Buffalo’s opening drive.
The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills are 4-0 for the 10th time in team history and first since 2020. Buffalo also won its 14th straight regular-season outing at home, one short of matching the franchise record spanning the 1990-91 seasons.
The Saints opened a season 0-4 for the ninth time in team history and first since 2012. They’ve lost eight straight dating to last year, their worst streak since losing 14 straight in 1980.
The Saints showed some resolve, but still couldn’t finish, a week after a mistake-filled 44-13 loss at Seattle.
STEELERS 24, VIKINGS 21
DUBLIN — Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh held on to beat Minnesota in Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game.
DK Metcalf had five catches for 126 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown for the Steelers, who improved to 3-1 going into their bye week.
The Steelers victory gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first international win and capped a Rooney family homecoming in front of a decidedly pro-Steelers crowd of 74,512 at Croke Park. Rodgers was 18 for 22 for 200 yards and the touchdown to Metcalf.
Carson Wentz, making his second consecutive start for the injured J.J. McCarthy, was 30 for 46 for 350 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Vikings (2-2).
T.J. Watt’s interception of Wentz’s pass — tipped by Cam Heyward at the line of scrimmage — set up the Steelers on the Minnesota 35 in the third quarter, and Gainwell scored from 4 yards for a 21-6 lead. It was nearly identical to Gainwell’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
DeShon Elliott had the other interception and the Steelers sacked Wentz six times.
TEXANS 26, TITANS 0
HOUSTON — Rookie Woody Marks had a touchdown reception and ran for another score and Houston beat Tennessee for its first win this season.
It’s the third time the Texans have shut out a team and the first time since blanking the Titans 29-0 on Nov. 28, 2010. The Titans were shut out for the first time since a 16-0 loss at Denver on Oct. 13, 2019.
C.J. Stroud threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday to put the game away and match their TD total in the previous three games combined.
The Texans (1-3) led 6-0 after two first-half field goals, but neither team got into the red zone until a 17-yard grab by Nico Collins put Houston on the 12 on the last play of the third quarter. Stroud connected with Marks for a TD on the next play, but the 2-point try failed to leave the Texans up 12-0.
Derek Stingley picked off rookie first overall pick Cam Ward on the next drive and returned it 20 yards. The Texans cashed in on that mistake when Stroud threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jayden Higgins to push the lead to 19-0 with about 9 ½ minutes to go.
An 18-yard touchdown run by Marks, a fourth-round pick from USC, made it 26-0 with less than five minutes remaining.
Marks had 69 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving.
FALCONS 34, COMMANDERS 27
ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. bounced back from his worst NFL start, Bijan Robinson had a career-high 181 yards from scrimmage as Atlanta beat short-handed Washington.
The Falcons (2-2) were coming off a 30-0 loss to the Panthers in which Penix and the offense were totally ineffective. Against the Commanders (2-2), Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 313 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Robinson had 75 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a nifty 14-yard touchdown run where he broke multiple tackles. He also had four catches for 106 yards, the highlight being a 69-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that set up Penix’s TD toss to Kyle Pitts.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London had his best game of the season with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown less than a week after the Falcons fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard.
Marcus Mariota, filling in for injured Commanders starter Jayden Daniels, was 16 for 27 for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. With top receiver Terry McLaurin also sidelined, Deebo Samuel had six receptions for 72 yards and a TD for Washington. Luke McCaffrey also had a scoring catch and Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Commanders in rushing with 59 yards on seven carries.
Tyler Allegeier gave the Falcons a 31-16 lead with a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Mariota answered with a pretty 24-yard touchdown pass to Samuel on fourth down, plus a 2-point pass to Zach Ertz to cut the lead to 31-24.
The Falcons responded with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that featured two key third-down conversions by Penix and ended with Parker Romo’s 26-yard field goal with 1:57 left. Matt Gay kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining for the Commanders, but the Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick.
PATRIOTS 42, PANTHERS 13
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Marcus Jones had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, Drake Maye added two touchdown passes and ran for another, and New England rolled to a win over Carolina.
TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson added touchdown runs and Jones had a 61-yard punt return that set up another TD to help the Patriots (2-2) avoid their fifth straight 1-3 start.
A week after turning the ball over five times in a loss to Pittsburgh, the Patriots were turnover-free while going 4 for 4 in the red zone.
Maye was steady throughout, completing 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards. Receiver Stefon Diggs had six catches for 101 yards.
Carolina struggled from the outset, missing an extra point after scoring on the game’s opening possession and then punting on four of its final five drives. The other possession ended with a missed field goal.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Andy Dalton with just over eight minutes remaining.
Maye put New England in front 14-6 in the opening seconds of the second quarter when he scored on a designed quarterback run.
Later, following a missed 55-yard field-goal attempt by Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald, Maye led the Patriots on an eight-play drive that was punctuated by a 5-yard TD run by Henderson.
A 61-yard punt return by Jones to the Carolina 14 got the Patriots back in business. Four plays later, a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibson pushed the lead to 28-6 just before halftime.
LIONS 34, BROWNS 10
DETROIT — Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond returned a punt 65 yards for another score and Detroit beat Cleveland.
The Lions (3-1) intercepted Joe Flacco twice in the first half and scored 20 straight points for a 13-point lead at halftime. Detroit forced Flacco to fumble in the fourth, setting up another touchdown.
The Browns (1-3) opened with an 88-yard, 13-play touchdown drive, then had 44 yards with three punts and two turnovers the rest of the half. They finished with 249 yards of offense, gaining an average of 3.8 yards per play.
Goff was 16 of 27 for 168 yards with a 2-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown late in the first half and an 8-yard toss to him in the fourth quarter, giving the All-Pro receiver six TD receptions in the last three games.
Flacco started strong before struggling and finishing 16 of 34 for 184 yards with three turnovers. Rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, replaced Flacco late in the lopsided game.
Quinshon Judkins had 21 carries for 82 yards and a 1-yard scoring run that gave the Browns a short-lived lead in the first quarter.
The Lions pulled into a tie on the ensuing possession after Jahmyr Gibbs scored on an 8-yard run. Jake Bates kicked 48- and 58-yard field goals in the first half to give Detroit a 20-7 lead.
Cleveland pulled within 10 points on Andre Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, and its stingy defense kept the score close until Raymond’s punt return early in the fourth and St. Brown’s second scoring catch helped the Lions pull away.
JAGUARS 26, 49ERS 21
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Parker Washington had Jacksonville’s first punt return touchdown in eight seasons and the Jaguars opportunistic defense delivered four more takeaways in a victory over San Francisco.
Former Niners star Arik Armstead’s strip-sack of Brock Purdy with less than three minutes to play sealed the win for the Jaguars (3-1).
The Jaguars have generated at least three takeaways in all four games this season, and have four more takeaways than they had in the entire 2024 season. They turned those into 17 points against the 49ers (3-1) highlighted by Travis Etienne’s 48-yard run one play after Dennis Gardeck forced a fumble by Luke Farrell in the second quarter.
Trevor Lawrence then threw a 4-yard TD pass to Hunter Long following the first of Purdy’s two interceptions for the 49ers to give the Jaguars their second 3-1 start in the past 18 seasons.
Jacksonville built the lead to 26-14 when Washington returned a punt 87 yards for the Jaguars first punt return TD since Jaydon Mickens had one in 2017
Purdy threw a 21-yard TD pass to Jake Tonges with 7:41 to play to cut the deficit to 26-21 and San Francisco had a chance for a comeback after Cam Little missed a 47-yard field goal.
But Armstead broke through on the second play of the ensuing drive and knocked the ball loose from Purdy. Foyesade Oluokun recovered to give the Jaguars their fifth road win ever in 20 trips to the West Coast.
CHIEFS 37, RAVENS 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns while outdueling Lamar Jackson, who left in the second half with a right hamstring injury, and Kansas City routed beat-up Baltimore.
Xavier Worthy returned from a shoulder injury to catch five passes for 83 yards, igniting a Chiefs offense that had been struggling to find its footing without the speedster and his suspended teammate, Rashee Rice, early in the season.
The Chiefs (2-2) built a 20-10 halftime lead against Baltimore before cruising to their seventh win in the past eight meetings. The most recent time the Ravens (1-3) beat them was September 2021, and their previous win in Kansas City was on Oct. 7, 2021.
Jackson threw for 147 yards with a touchdown and his first interception of the season before hurting his hamstring midway through the third quarter, though by that point the game was mostly decided. Cooper Rush played the rest of the way for the Ravens, who suddenly find themselves in a dire situation just four weeks into the season.
BEARS 25, RAIDERS 24
LAS VEGAS — Josh Blackwell blocked a 54-yard field-goal attempt by Daniel Carlson in the final minute to preserve a fourth-quarter rally led by Caleb Williams, and Chicago stunned Las Vegas.
After D’Andre Swift’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left put the Bears (2-2) in front, Geno Smith led the Raiders (1-3) into position for Carlson’s kick with 38 seconds left. Blackwell came in nearly untouched from the left side, dived and deflected the ball. He raced down the field in celebration as teammates chased him.
The Bears became the second team to win 800 regular-season games, joining the Green Bay Packers, who had 812 going into Sunday night’s game at Dallas. The Raiders have lost three straight.
Chicago had four takeaways for the second game in a row, allowing the Bears to survive a middling performance by Williams and coach Ben Johnson’s offense. They gained 271 yards, just 69 on the ground.
The Bears rushed for 2 yards in the first half. That’s their lowest output in a half since totaling minus-1 against Minnesota in Week 17 in 2017. It was also the fewest allowed by the Raiders in a first half since Kansas City had minus-2 in Week 15 in 2012.
Rome Odunze, playing in his hometown, became the first Bears receiver to catch at least one touchdown pass in the first four games of a season since Alshon Jeffery’s six-game streak in 2014.

Despite being away from the world of gymnastics, Simone Biles has found a way to keep herself extremely busy. Even Joscelyn Roberson deemed her “the busiest human ever” earlier in July 2025. She became a creative partner and a board member at ‘Religion of Sports’. She’s working on opening a restaurant called ‘Taste of Gold.’ Biles is also working on her philanthropy projects, like ‘Friends of the Children Foundation’. Yet, in this busy schedule, she found the time to fly to Las Vegas to give Jonathan Owens the perfect match day gift.
Biles took to Instagram and announced through her stories of landing in Las Vegas. That was followed by some time beside the pool of her hotel, and a dance to Marshmello’s mix. But what caught most of our attention was her next story. It showcased the words ‘LAS VEGAS’ spelled across the width of the field, prior to the battle between the Chicago Bears and the Las Vegas Raiders. Moreover, the ‘Queen of Flips’ was in the stands wearing a white custom-made top with ‘Chicago’ written in white with black borders, and she showed off her apparel.
But in the last one, Simone Biles decided to share a reel by the NFL. The caption to the reel read, “SIMONE BILES HERE TO SUPPORT HUSBAND JONATHAN OWENS 🫶.” And that’s what it was. The 11-time Olympic medalist took precious time out of her hectic schedule just to support Owens as he battles the Raiders. And before the match commenced, the camera captured Owens walking towards Biles and addressing her with a kiss. She has definitely set a new relationship standard, don’t you agree?
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After taking a break from gymnastics, she cherishes the little things in life after a successful career. Sometimes, when someone gives their all to the sport, it’s great to have a break to put things into perspective. Biles is rowing the same boat as most of us. By doing the small heartwarming stuff she wanted to do in college, Biles looks content in life.
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But of course, this wasn’t the first time Biles showed up to support Jonathan Owens in style. Just a week earlier, during the Chicago Bears’ clash with the Dallas Cowboys, she stole the spotlight in a chic denim button-down top, matching skirt, and striking white knee-high boots featuring Owens’ name etched in gold. But with Simone Biles taking a step back from the gymnastics world, the big question remains – what do her retirement plans look like?
Simone Biles drops a hint about her post-retirement life
During her appearance on The Olympics Podcast back in August 2025, Biles claimed her ADHD pushed her to work even while she was on vacation. Be it ‘Friends of the Children Foundation’, ‘Make a Wish Foundation’, or even working with ‘Athleta’, Biles loved to stay busy and take her game up a notch. But one world seemed to call Biles for her post-retirement life – fashion and beauty.
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Reflecting on her future, Simone Biles said, “We’re trying to enter the fashion industry and beauty industry. Some of the things I can’t talk about, but they are in the works, and it’s gonna be really exciting. But yeah. There’s always a project to be made, even if that’s just like the post-Olympic tour, or trying to have involvement in the 2028 Olympics. So yeah, that’s kind of like what’s on the horizon.”

At least for the early wave of games, drama took a week off. The usual craziness at the end of the 1 p.m. window never arrived. In the first eight games of Week 4, no leads changed hands in the fourth quarter. Half were decided by double-digits. Since when are yawns allowed on an NFL Sunday?
Here is what to know.
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The Jaxson Dart Era began with a win and a wince
The New York Giants’ unveiling of Jaxson Dart was a broad success. Dart led them to their first win while knocking the Los Angeles Chargers from the ranks of the unbeaten, showing athleticism and poise in a 21-18 victory. He threw his first career touchdown pass on a goal line shovel to tight end Theo Johnson. He rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t commit a turnover.
But the day couldn’t be considered an unqualified success for the snakebit Giants. Wide receiver Malik Nabers, their best offensive player, exited the game in the second quarter on a cart with an injury that seems likely to sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Nabers’s right knee buckled awkwardly as he attempted to make a leaping catch. Once he landed, he immediately grabbed for his knee. Trainers tended to him, and he entered the locker room on a cart. NFL Network reported that Nabers is believed to have torn his ACL.
Nabers’s injury will leave Dart without his best weapon. But he made clear the Giants are his team. Dart needs to speed his processing on dropbacks, evidenced by the five sacks he took. But he has enough speed and athleticism to function while he refines his passing on the fly. On the Giants’ opening drive, Dart completed two of two pass attempts, both to Nabers, and ran three times for 28 yards, including a 15-yard draw for a touchdown.
Nabers’s misfortune wasn’t the only significant injury. Chargers star tackle Joe Alt was carted into the locker room in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Los Angeles already lost left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending injury in training camp. Despite their 3-0 start, the Chargers are suddenly facing adversity.
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The Eagles are head and shoulders above the NFL
In Week 4 last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throttled the Eagles, 33-16, dropping them to 2-2 and inviting doubt Philadelphia had recovered from its 2023 collapse. The Eagles returned to Tampa on Sunday, and their 31-25 victory over previously undefeated Tampa Bay provided a full-circle emblem of how thoroughly the Eagles have dominated the rest of the NFL.
Since that 2024 loss to the Buccaneers, playoffs included, the Eagles have gone 20-1. On average, the Eagles have won those games 31-22. Their only loss came in Washington late last year, after Jalen Hurts sat out the second half with a concussion and their defense yielded a game-winning touchdown in the final 10 seconds. The Eagles improved to 4-0 this season, their last three victories coming against 2024 playoff teams.
The Eagles continue unearthing defensive stars. Rookie Jihaad Campbell, the 31st pick of the first round, looks like a Zach Baun clone – a former edge rusher unleashed as a versatile off-ball linebacker. His interception of Baker Mayfield in the end zone may have been the most pivotal play of Sunday’s victory.
Philadelphia’s offense can still go up a level. Saquon Barkley, coming off his 2,000-yard season, has rushed for only 237 yards all year while gaining a startlingly low 3.1 yards per carry. He hasn’t uncorked any of his signature game-breaking long runs. But his slow start has not kept the Eagles from hovering above the rest of the NFL.
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The Bills’ run defense is a problem
Along with the Eagles, the Buffalo Bills ended Sunday’s early wave as one of two 4-0 teams. But the Bills have a glaring issue that was exposed again in a closer-than-expected 31-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints: They have one of the NFL’s worst run defenses.
The statistics are skewed by Baltimore’s bonkers rushing performance on the first Sunday night of the season. And Coach Sean McDermott prefers a bend-don’t-break style that makes them susceptible to opposing production on the ground. But the Bills have been allowing opponent after opponent to run on them.
The Saints ran 34 times for 189 yards, which actually lowered the Bills’ average allowed per rush – they entered allowing a league-worst 6.2 yards per carry. Their running allowed the Saints to hang in a game they entered as a 16.5-point underdog. The Saints pulled to within 21-19 midway through the fourth quarter before Josh Allen came to the rescue, barreling for 27 yards on a tackle-breaking scramble and then hitting tight end Dalton Kincaid – a breakout tight end in his third season – down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown.
The path to the Bills’ improvement starts with the return of defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who missed his third consecutive game with an ankle injury. The Bills have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Their top mission right now may be to prevent their run defense from becoming a fatal flaw.
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Joe Flacco is on the clock
The vibes from the Cleveland Browns’ shocking victory over the Green Bay Packers evaporated in Detroit, where the Lions pulverized the Browns, 34-10. The Browns’ upset last week momentarily masked the obvious issue hovering over their season: Joe Flacco’s ineptitude at quarterback is making a switch inevitable.
The Browns drafted two quarterbacks – Dillon Gabriel and, you may have heard, Shedeur Sanders – in the middle rounds. At 40, Flacco is clearly a placeholder. He may not be holding the place much longer. Despite the benefit of field position earned by one of the NFL’s best defenses, the Browns have produced 16, 17, 13 and 10 points in their games this season.
On Sunday, Flacco completed fewer than half his passes for 184 yards and threw two interceptions, giving him a league-high six. He entered Week 4 with the lowest yards per attempt in the NFL. The Browns held the high-flying Lions to 4.9 yards per play, but Flacco’s turnovers and three sacks taken led to short field and no chance to win.
For the second time in four weeks, Gabriel mopped up in the fourth quarter. The undersized, 25-year-old rookie may soon be playing all game. Gabriel has stood above Sanders on the depth chart all season; Sanders has been rostered on game day as the emergency quarterback. Whichever rookie gets the chance, playing Flacco is becoming both untenable and pointless for a team whose future matters more than the present.
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Mike Tomlin got away with one
All in all, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a tremendous trip to Dublin in their 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Aaron Rodgers played one of his best games in years, efficiently spreading the ball around. Their defense rebounded aside from a late, blown-coverage glitch. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Their offense revolved around DK Metcalf, who in a twist played more than half his snaps from the slot, resulting in five catches for 126 yards and an 80-yard touchdown.
They escaped, though, only after an unforgivable game management misstep from Coach Mike Tomlin. Leading by three after the two-minute warning, the Vikings having exhausted their timeouts, the Steelers faced fourth and half a yard from the Vikings’ 40-yard line. Going should have been an obvious decision. The game would be over with a high-probability conversion. Only an exceptional punt would gain more than 20 or 30 yards in field position. Essentially, going for it gave Pittsburgh two paths to clinch victory and punting provided only one.
The Steelers took a delay of game and punted. Woof. Corliss Waitman’s punt sailed into the end zone. Pittsburgh’s defense narrowly bailed Tomlin out when Nick Herbig’s pressure on Carson Wentz forced an intentional grounding as the Vikings approached midfield. Tomlin got away with it, but in an easy moment to help the Steelers win, he made victory less likely.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Brandon Aubrey and Brandon McManus traded short field goals in overtime, and Micah Parsons’ highly anticipated return to Dallas ended with the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in a 40-40 tie Sunday night.
Dak Prescott and Jordan Love had three touchdown passes apiece in regulation, which included seven consecutive lead-changing TDs before McManus’ tying 53-yard field goal as time expired.
McManus kicked a 34-yarder as the clock hit 0:00 in overtime, just after Love’s pass into the back of the end zone fell incomplete with just a second remaining.
What started as the hyped return of one of the game’s elite pass rushers exactly a month after the Cowboys (1-2-1) traded Parsons to the Packers (2-1-1) ended up as the second dramatic duel of quarterbacks in as many home games for Dallas.
The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 in overtime two weeks earlier when Russell Wilson was starting for New York.
The second-highest scoring tie in NFL history, behind the Raiders’ 43-43 draw with the Boston Patriots in the AFL in 1964, was the first for Dallas since 1969. The Packers last tied in 2018.
EAGLES 31, BUCCANEERS 25
TAMPA, Fla. — The Philadelphia Eagles used a fake punt, another special teams touchdown and a late defensive stop to stay undefeated.
Jalen Hurts tossed two touchdown passes, Sydney Brown returned a blocked punt for a score and the Eagles beat Tampa Bay for their 20th victory in 21 games.
The only loss in that span for the reigning Super Bowl champions was against Washington last December in a game Hurts left with a concussion in the first half.
Chase McLaughlin’s 65-yard field goal for Tampa Bay on the final play of the first half was the longest in NFL history in an outdoor stadium.
BILLS 31, SAINTS 19
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Buffalo shook off a sloppy first three quarters to stay undefeated while beating winless New Orleans.
James Cook had 117 yards rushing and a touchdown in a game that wasn’t decided until midway through the fourth quarter. The Bills never trailed, but were clinging to a 21-19 lead when Allen hit a wide-open Dalton Kincaid for a 28-yard touchdown with 7:07 left.
Allen asserted himself on the previous play by putting his head down, breaking two tackles and dragging three defenders before finally going down for a 27-yard gain to convert a third-and-5.
Allen finished 16 of 22 for 209 yards while throwing his first interception of the season. Khalil Shakir scored on a 43-yard catch to cap Buffalo’s opening drive.
The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills are 4-0 for the 10th time in team history and first since 2020. Buffalo also won its 14th straight regular-season outing at home, one short of matching the franchise record spanning the 1990-91 seasons.
The Saints opened a season 0-4 for the ninth time in team history and first since 2012. They’ve lost eight straight dating to last year, their worst streak since losing 14 straight in 1980.
The Saints showed some resolve, but still couldn’t finish, a week after a mistake-filled 44-13 loss at Seattle.
STEELERS 24, VIKINGS 21
DUBLIN — Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh held on to beat Minnesota in Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game.
DK Metcalf had five catches for 126 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown for the Steelers, who improved to 3-1 going into their bye week.
The Steelers victory gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first international win and capped a Rooney family homecoming in front of a decidedly pro-Steelers crowd of 74,512 at Croke Park. Rodgers was 18 for 22 for 200 yards and the touchdown to Metcalf.
Carson Wentz, making his second consecutive start for the injured J.J. McCarthy, was 30 for 46 for 350 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Vikings (2-2).
T.J. Watt’s interception of Wentz’s pass — tipped by Cam Heyward at the line of scrimmage — set up the Steelers on the Minnesota 35 in the third quarter, and Gainwell scored from 4 yards for a 21-6 lead. It was nearly identical to Gainwell’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
DeShon Elliott had the other interception and the Steelers sacked Wentz six times.
TEXANS 26, TITANS 0
HOUSTON — Rookie Woody Marks had a touchdown reception and ran for another score and Houston beat Tennessee for its first win this season.
It’s the third time the Texans have shut out a team and the first time since blanking the Titans 29-0 on Nov. 28, 2010. The Titans were shut out for the first time since a 16-0 loss at Denver on Oct. 13, 2019.
C.J. Stroud threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday to put the game away and match their TD total in the previous three games combined.
The Texans (1-3) led 6-0 after two first-half field goals, but neither team got into the red zone until a 17-yard grab by Nico Collins put Houston on the 12 on the last play of the third quarter. Stroud connected with Marks for a TD on the next play, but the 2-point try failed to leave the Texans up 12-0.
Derek Stingley picked off rookie first overall pick Cam Ward on the next drive and returned it 20 yards. The Texans cashed in on that mistake when Stroud threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jayden Higgins to push the lead to 19-0 with about 9 ½ minutes to go.
An 18-yard touchdown run by Marks, a fourth-round pick from USC, made it 26-0 with less than five minutes remaining.
Marks had 69 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving.
FALCONS 34, COMMANDERS 27
ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. bounced back from his worst NFL start, Bijan Robinson had a career-high 181 yards from scrimmage as Atlanta beat short-handed Washington.
The Falcons (2-2) were coming off a 30-0 loss to the Panthers in which Penix and the offense were totally ineffective. Against the Commanders (2-2), Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 313 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Robinson had 75 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a nifty 14-yard touchdown run where he broke multiple tackles. He also had four catches for 106 yards, the highlight being a 69-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that set up Penix’s TD toss to Kyle Pitts.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London had his best game of the season with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown less than a week after the Falcons fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard.
Marcus Mariota, filling in for injured Commanders starter Jayden Daniels, was 16 for 27 for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. With top receiver Terry McLaurin also sidelined, Deebo Samuel had six receptions for 72 yards and a TD for Washington. Luke McCaffrey also had a scoring catch and Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Commanders in rushing with 59 yards on seven carries.
Tyler Allegeier gave the Falcons a 31-16 lead with a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Mariota answered with a pretty 24-yard touchdown pass to Samuel on fourth down, plus a 2-point pass to Zach Ertz to cut the lead to 31-24.
The Falcons responded with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that featured two key third-down conversions by Penix and ended with Parker Romo’s 26-yard field goal with 1:57 left. Matt Gay kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining for the Commanders, but the Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick.
PATRIOTS 42, PANTHERS 13
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Marcus Jones had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, Drake Maye added two touchdown passes and ran for another, and New England rolled to a win over Carolina.
TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson added touchdown runs and Jones had a 61-yard punt return that set up another TD to help the Patriots (2-2) avoid their fifth straight 1-3 start.
A week after turning the ball over five times in a loss to Pittsburgh, the Patriots were turnover-free while going 4 for 4 in the red zone.
Maye was steady throughout, completing 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards. Receiver Stefon Diggs had six catches for 101 yards.
Carolina struggled from the outset, missing an extra point after scoring on the game’s opening possession and then punting on four of its final five drives. The other possession ended with a missed field goal.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Andy Dalton with just over eight minutes remaining.
Maye put New England in front 14-6 in the opening seconds of the second quarter when he scored on a designed quarterback run.
Later, following a missed 55-yard field-goal attempt by Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald, Maye led the Patriots on an eight-play drive that was punctuated by a 5-yard TD run by Henderson.
A 61-yard punt return by Jones to the Carolina 14 got the Patriots back in business. Four plays later, a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibson pushed the lead to 28-6 just before halftime.
LIONS 34, BROWNS 10
DETROIT — Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond returned a punt 65 yards for another score and Detroit beat Cleveland.
The Lions (3-1) intercepted Joe Flacco twice in the first half and scored 20 straight points for a 13-point lead at halftime. Detroit forced Flacco to fumble in the fourth, setting up another touchdown.
The Browns (1-3) opened with an 88-yard, 13-play touchdown drive, then had 44 yards with three punts and two turnovers the rest of the half. They finished with 249 yards of offense, gaining an average of 3.8 yards per play.
Goff was 16 of 27 for 168 yards with a 2-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown late in the first half and an 8-yard toss to him in the fourth quarter, giving the All-Pro receiver six TD receptions in the last three games.
Flacco started strong before struggling and finishing 16 of 34 for 184 yards with three turnovers. Rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, replaced Flacco late in the lopsided game.
Quinshon Judkins had 21 carries for 82 yards and a 1-yard scoring run that gave the Browns a short-lived lead in the first quarter.
The Lions pulled into a tie on the ensuing possession after Jahmyr Gibbs scored on an 8-yard run. Jake Bates kicked 48- and 58-yard field goals in the first half to give Detroit a 20-7 lead.
Cleveland pulled within 10 points on Andre Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, and its stingy defense kept the score close until Raymond’s punt return early in the fourth and St. Brown’s second scoring catch helped the Lions pull away.
GIANTS 21, CHARGERS 18
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jaxson Dart threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in an impressive NFL starting debut, leading New York to its first victory over previously undefeated Los Angeles.
The excitement by the Giants (1-3) over the win was a bit tempered by the uncertain status of wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was carted off the field in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Dart launched a deep pass down the right sideline — a free play after the Chargers jumped offside — toward a streaking Nabers. The wide receiver’s right leg appeared to buckle as he went up to try to catch the pass, which fell incomplete.
Nabers, down at the Chargers 7 with 6:12 left before halftime, immediately grabbed at his right leg. He was checked for several minutes before being helped onto the cart.
Dart, starting in place of Russell Wilson, ran for a 15-yard score to cap his first drive as a starting quarterback. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson. Dart finished 13 of 20 for 111 yards and ran 10 times for 54 yards.
He also brushed off a hamstring injury after halftime and a big hit from the Chargers that sent him to the medical tent for two plays to be evaluated for a head injury.
[What to know from NFL Week 4: Jaxson Dart era opens with a win and a wince]
The Giants’ defense also made big plays when it counted most, including Brian Burns’ sack of Justin Herbert that forced the Chargers (3-1) to punt late in the game. Then, Dart and the offense took over and milked the clock before giving Herbert and Los Angeles one final try — but with just 18 seconds left.
Herbert threw incomplete to Quentin Johnston and then completed a 22-yard pass to Johnston, who was tackled by Cor’Dale Flott and couldn’t get out of bounds — ending the game
RAMS 27, COLTS 20
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Tutu Atwell caught an 88-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford with 1:33 to play, and Los Angeles rallied to end Indianapolis’ unbeaten start to the season with a victory.
Daniel Jones passed for 262 yards for the Colts (3-1), but Indy couldn’t overcome receiver Adonai Mitchell’s mind-boggling fumble right before he crossed the goal line with what was about to be a 76-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
The Colts also had a 53-yard rushing TD by Jonathan Taylor taken off the board by a holding call on Mitchell with 2:15 to play.
Stafford passed for 375 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams (3-1), and he hit Puka Nacua for a 9-yard score with 3:20 left. Nacua finished with 13 catches for 170 yards.
After the Rams’ defense quickly got the ball back, Stafford made a brilliant throw on the next snap for the decisive score by Atwell, the speedy receiver who frequently goes underutilized in Sean McVay’s offense. Atwell’s TD catch was only his second reception of the season.
Kam Curl then made his second interception of the day with 53 seconds left, and the Rams ran out the clock on a thrilling win.
JAGUARS 26, 49ERS 21
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Parker Washington had Jacksonville’s first punt return touchdown in eight seasons and the Jaguars opportunistic defense delivered four more takeaways in a victory over San Francisco.
Former Niners star Arik Armstead’s strip-sack of Brock Purdy with less than three minutes to play sealed the win for the Jaguars (3-1).
The Jaguars have generated at least three takeaways in all four games this season, and have four more takeaways than they had in the entire 2024 season. They turned those into 17 points against the 49ers (3-1) highlighted by Travis Etienne’s 48-yard run one play after Dennis Gardeck forced a fumble by Luke Farrell in the second quarter.
Trevor Lawrence then threw a 4-yard TD pass to Hunter Long following the first of Purdy’s two interceptions for the 49ers to give the Jaguars their second 3-1 start in the past 18 seasons.
Jacksonville built the lead to 26-14 when Washington returned a punt 87 yards for the Jaguars first punt return TD since Jaydon Mickens had one in 2017
Purdy threw a 21-yard TD pass to Jake Tonges with 7:41 to play to cut the deficit to 26-21 and San Francisco had a chance for a comeback after Cam Little missed a 47-yard field goal.
But Armstead broke through on the second play of the ensuing drive and knocked the ball loose from Purdy. Foyesade Oluokun recovered to give the Jaguars their fifth road win ever in 20 trips to the West Coast.
CHIEFS 37, RAVENS 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns while outdueling Lamar Jackson, who left in the second half with a right hamstring injury, and Kansas City routed beat-up Baltimore.
Xavier Worthy returned from a shoulder injury to catch five passes for 83 yards, igniting a Chiefs offense that had been struggling to find its footing without the speedster and his suspended teammate, Rashee Rice, early in the season.
The Chiefs (2-2) built a 20-10 halftime lead against Baltimore before cruising to their seventh win in the past eight meetings. The most recent time the Ravens (1-3) beat them was September 2021, and their previous win in Kansas City was on Oct. 7, 2021.
Jackson threw for 147 yards with a touchdown and his first interception of the season before hurting his hamstring midway through the third quarter, though by that point the game was mostly decided. Cooper Rush played the rest of the way for the Ravens, who suddenly find themselves in a dire situation just four weeks into the season.
BEARS 25, RAIDERS 24
LAS VEGAS — Josh Blackwell blocked a 54-yard field-goal attempt by Daniel Carlson in the final minute to preserve a fourth-quarter rally led by Caleb Williams, and Chicago stunned Las Vegas.
After D’Andre Swift’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left put the Bears (2-2) in front, Geno Smith led the Raiders (1-3) into position for Carlson’s kick with 38 seconds left. Blackwell came in nearly untouched from the left side, dived and deflected the ball. He raced down the field in celebration as teammates chased him.
The Bears became the second team to win 800 regular-season games, joining the Green Bay Packers, who had 812 going into Sunday night’s game at Dallas. The Raiders have lost three straight.
Chicago had four takeaways for the second game in a row, allowing the Bears to survive a middling performance by Williams and coach Ben Johnson’s offense. They gained 271 yards, just 69 on the ground.
The Bears rushed for 2 yards in the first half. That’s their lowest output in a half since totaling minus-1 against Minnesota in Week 17 in 2017. It also was the fewest allowed by the Raiders in a first half since Kansas City had minus-2 in Week 15 in 2012.
Rome Odunze, playing in his hometown, became the first Bears receiver to catch at least one touchdown pass in the first four games of a season since Alshon Jeffery’s six-game streak in 2014.

A team that suffered a shocking 30-0 loss just bounced back and beat the Washington Commanders. The team stands at 2-2, which may not be bad, until you look at the bigger picture. Magic Johnson is in his third season as an NFL team owner, some radical changes were made to the team, yet the problems persist. Just like Magic’s Lakers, the Commanders have their own defense problem. Fans and analysts peeked between their fingers as the Atlanta Falcons dismantled the Commanders’ defense tonight. We know Magic was (maybe) not happy with his team. But he refocused his energies on something positive – friendships.
We know the Lakers legend adores his friends. They were there to keep this team owner company as well as maybe offer consolation and/or encouragement. Johnson was glad to thank the people who joined him to watch the Commanders. But that included a tiny little warning to the team.
“My Washington @Commanders lost to the Atlanta Falcons 34-27 but I had the privilege of hosting my friends in a suite at the game – Mike Triplett and his daughter Alysa, John and Vicki Palmer, and Atlanta Falcons minority owner Rosalind Brewer came by to say hello!” Magic wrote on all his official social media pages with a picture from his box with his friends.
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It’s of course never a good sign when the team’s co-owner starts with the team’s loss. He abruptly ends it there like he either had too many notes to give the staff or he had nothing to say at all. It’s especially stark after the profound messages he typed out on X.com for the last three games.
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We’ve seen John and Vicki Palmer in Magic and Cookie Johnson’s yacht vacation pictures more often than their events in Atlanta. Although they’re movers and shakers within the Atlanta society, they hung out with their friend in the Commanders side of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Mike Triplett is a prominent football journalist who’s probably getting the best view for the next day’s analysis of the Commanders’ loss. Or maybe even to give Magic some pointers.
Rosalind Brewer, whose resume included managing Sam’s Club and Starbucks, and is one of the few women in the NFL team owernship scape, graciously stopped by not to gloat (or who knows, there could’ve been some joke trash talk) but for a how do you do.
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Johnson was more grateful for the company than dwell on the Commanders’ loss. Doesn’t mean that some glaring mistakes were made. Especially after the expensive changes that were made.
Magic Johnson was speechless about the Commanders
Usually when the Lakers, Dodgers, Sparks, Spirit, and Commanders do well, Magic Johnson gives the key players their shoutouts. when they lose, the team as a whole gets called out. Today, they barely got a line.
The Commanders had solid games during Week 1 and Week 3. The 5x NBA champion also tweeted, “Marcus Mariota had a solid game and we looked good on both sides of the ball in my @Commanders 41-24 victory over the Raiders today!”and lauded the defense.
But once again it’s proven that the Commanders have a tough time on the road, as they did last season. Their defensive line’s miscues gave the win to the Packers in Week 2 and it was near deja vu this time. According to The Athletic writer, Nicki Jhabvala, the Falcons converted 50% of their third down attempts, made it to Washington’s red zone six times, and converted four of them to touchdowns. They also reduced Washington’s offense to 20%. How did this team not make a single touchdown last week?
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It could be that the Falcons came with retribution on their minds yet the Commanders facilitated it. Magic’s team also missed 12 tackles, had a very slow start (which has been a consisten problem even when they won), and made more mistakes than Magic can put into one tweet.
The team is lucky that Johnson doesn’t usually give out public notes this early in the season. The problems would be if the mistakes continue further into season. Then the mega-watt smiling team boss won’t be this gracious.

We got our first overtime frame of the 2025 NFL season in Week 2, when the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys ended regulation tied at 37 after three scoring plays in the final minute. The Giants won the coin toss in overtime and chose to have the second possession. Neither team scored on their first drive — Dallas ultimately won on a 46-yard field goal with just 4 seconds left in overtime — but it brought up a question: Should NFL coaches take the ball first or second in OT? We say they should take it first — but it’s a close call and there are arguments for both sides.
From 1974 to 2011, overtime was sudden death, good and proper. First team to score wins. Winning the coin toss and taking the first possession was accordingly always optimal. Even after 2012, when the NFL adjusted the regular-season rules to give the second-possession team a drive after a first-possession field goal, it was still optimal to take the ball first, because a touchdown ended the game. Since 2012, there have been 201 overtime coin tosses — only two winners elected to kick off, and only three winners deferred the choice to pick a side of the field to defend. There was rarely any thought to the decision.
Until now. In 2025, the NFL is adopting the postseason overtime rules they’ve used for the past few seasons during the regular season. A first-possession touchdown no longer ends the overtime period. Short of a defensive score (or a possession that lasts the entire 10-minute extra period), both offenses will now possess the ball. If, at the end of each first possession, the score remains tied, then the next score wins. Should the 10-minute overtime period expire with the score still deadlocked, the game ends in a tie.
We saw something close to this overtime format play out in Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. It wasn’t exactly analogous, as playoff games can’t end in a tie — but the difficulty of the decision remains. There are advantages to taking the ball first and advantages to taking the ball second, and they aren’t concrete. They change relative to both opponent team strength and opponent behavior. In the case of the Chiefs and 49ers, San Francisco’s decision was heavily scrutinized after the team’s overtime loss. But more significant than the specifics of the choice was the fact that few on the outside — and even few among the 49ers — totally understood all of the dynamics at play.
As such, ESPN surveyed analytics staffers from nine NFL teams with a series of questions about the new regular-season overtime rules for the 2025 season. This year marks the first regular season in which the overtime coin flip decision is a meaningful moment — one in which sharp teams might find an edge. But as our survey shows, those edges still aren’t totally clear.
Jump to:
Right coin-toss choice | Actual coin-toss choice
SBLVIII effect | First or second possession?
Other factors | Go for two? | Direction over ball?
When teams win the coin toss, what should they choose?
Responses:
Lean first possession, but matchup factors could make second possession feasible (3 votes)
Lean second possession, but matchup factors could make first possession feasible (3 votes)
Almost always first possession (1 vote)
Almost always second possession (1 vote)
True 50-50 (1 vote)
Teams are split on this decision. The survey response above indicates that NFL analytics teams are coming to different conclusions about the best strategy. It’s understandable, because there are countervailing forces at play, and each option offers a potential advantage.
The second possession team has the advantage of knowing what the first possession team did on its drive. If the first possession team scored a touchdown, the second possession team knows it must go for any and all fourth downs — which can provide a playcalling advantage on third down, too, when the offense knows it doesn’t have to reach the line to gain because it will have another shot. If the first possession team failed to score, the second possession team knows it can kick a short field goal, even on a fourth-and-1.
But the first possession team also has an edge: It receives the ball in any potential third possession and it can shorten the second possession with a long opening drive. If neither team scores in the first two drives, or the teams trade field goals, then the first-possession team gets the ball back in a true sudden-death scenario.
This is the kind of question where quantitative analysis helps. But as the results above show, different analysts can come up with different responses to the same question. So what does ESPN Analytics’ model show?
The short answer is it favors taking the first possession, but there’s more to it. In fact, a lot of the decision hinges on touchbacks. In another critical rule update, touchbacks are now coming out to the 35-yard line (up from the 30-yard line last season), and the expected rate of the touchback changes this analysis.
If touchbacks continue near the 64% rate they occurred last season, then our simulation model would estimate the first-possession team’s net chances to win at 53.6%. But touchbacks will likely be less frequent given the yard-line change. If touchbacks drop to, say, a 40% rate, then we would estimate a 52.6% net win probability for the first-possession team. If it falls to 10%, then the first-possession team would have a 50.9% net win probability.
This is because having the ball at the 35 helps the first-possession team. If they are forced to punt or commit a turnover, it will be farther downfield — thus lessening the probability of a second-possession score and improving field position for a third possession.
But what is truly relevant isn’t the leaguewide average touchback rate; it’s the touchback rates for a team and its opponent. And the team kicking off has significant control over whether there is a touchback. In other words, if a team chooses to kick, it can do so knowing it is trying to avoid a touchback (though this could cost it a couple of yards if the kick is short). Sharp teams that win the coin toss against touchback-heavy opponent kickers might elect to take the first possession, hoping to start way up at the 35.
Ultimately, if we were filling out the survey, we would respond with:

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swagger to the NFL’s biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in Northern California.
The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Bad Bunny will lead the halftime festivities from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
The Puerto Rican superstar’s selection comes amid another career-defining run: He’s fresh off a historic Puerto Rico residency this month that drew more than half a million fans and is leading all nominees at the Latin Grammys in November. He has become one of the world’s most streamed artists with albums such as “Un Verano Sin Ti,” an all-Spanish-language LP.
Bad Bunny will host “Saturday Night Live” on Oct. 4.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said in a statement that what Bad Bunny has “done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
The 31-year-old artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has won three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys. He has become a global ambassador for Latin music, starred in films such as “Bullet Train,” “Caught Stealing” and “Happy Gilmore 2,” and collaborated with top fashion houses. He’ll enter the Latin Grammys as the leading nominee with 12, dethroning producer and songwriter Édgar Barrera.
Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.
“We know his dynamic performances, creative vision, and deep connection with fans will deliver the kind of unforgettable experience we’ve come to expect from this iconic cultural moment,” said Jon Barker, SVP of Global Event Production for the NFL.
Last year, Kendrick Lamar shined with guest SZA in New Orleans, setting the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show with 133.5 million viewers. His performance surpassed the audience for Michael Jackson’s 1993 show.
“His music has not only broken records but has elevated Latin music to the center of pop-culture and we are thrilled to once again partner with the NFL and Roc Nation to deliver this historic performance to millions of fans worldwide,” said Oliver Schusser, the vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “We know this show will be unforgettable.”

TAMPA, Fla. — The Philadelphia Eagles used a fake tush push, another special teams touchdown and a late defensive stop to stay undefeated.
Jalen Hurts tossed two touchdown passes, Sydney Brown returned a blocked punt for a score and the Eagles beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-25 on Sunday for their 20th victory in 21 games.
The only loss in that span for the reigning Super Bowl champions was against Washington last December in a game Hurts left with a concussion in the first half.
Chase McLaughlin’s 65-yard field goal for Tampa Bay on the final play of the first half was the longest in NFL history in an outdoor stadium.
Playing with an injured biceps that limited in him in practice this week, Baker Mayfield had TD passes of 77 yards and 72 yards but threw an interception on first down from the Eagles 11 with his team down 31-23 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Bucs had another chance with the ball at Philadelphia’s 40 and just under two minutes left. But Mayfield was sacked by Moro Ojomo and a fourth-and-9 pass went for only 2 yards.
Eagles punter Braden Mann ran out of the bounds for a safety to end the game.
BILLS 31, SAINTS 19
At Orchard Park, N.Y., Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Buffalo shook off a sloppy first three quarters to stay undefeated while beating winless New Orleans.
James Cook had 117 yards rushing and a touchdown in a game that wasn’t decided until midway through the fourth quarter. The Bills never trailed, but were clinging to a 21-19 lead when Allen hit a wide-open Dalton Kincaid for a 28-yard touchdown with 7:07 left.
Allen asserted himself on the previous play by putting his head down, breaking two tackles and dragging three defenders before finally going down for a 27-yard gain to convert a third-and-5.
Allen finished 16 of 22 for 209 yards while throwing his first interception of the season. Khalil Shakir scored on a 43-yard catch to cap Buffalo’s opening drive.
The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills are 4-0 for the 10th time in team history and first since 2020. Buffalo also won its 14th straight regular-season outing at home, one short of matching the franchise record spanning the 1990-91 seasons.
The Saints opened a season 0-4 for the ninth time in team history and first since 2012. They’ve lost eight straight dating to last year, their worst streak since losing 14 straight in 1980.
The Saints showed some resolve, but still couldn’t finish, a week after a mistake-filled 44-13 loss at Seattle.
Steelers, 24, Vikings 21
At Dublin, Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh held on to beat Minnesota in Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game.
DK Metcalf had five catches for 126 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown for the Steelers, who improved to 3-1 going into their bye week.
The Steelers victory gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first international win and capped a Rooney family homecoming in front of a decidedly pro-Steelers crowd of 74,512 at Croke Park. Rodgers was 18 for 22 for 200 yards and the touchdown to Metcalf.
Carson Wentz, making his second consecutive start for the injured J.J. McCarthy, was 30 for 46 for 350 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Vikings (2-2).
T.J. Watt’s interception of Wentz’s pass — tipped by Cam Heyward at the line of scrimmage — set up the Steelers on the Minnesota 35 in the third quarter, and Gainwell scored from 4 yards for a 21-6 lead. It was nearly identical to Gainwell’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
DeShon Elliott had the other interception and the Steelers sacked Wentz six times.
Texans 26, Titans 0
At Houston, rookie Woody Marks had a touchdown reception and ran for another score and Houston beat Tennessee for its first win this season.
It’s the third time the Texans have shut out a team and the first time since blanking the Titans 29-0 on Nov. 28, 2010. The Titans were shut out for the first time since a 16-0 loss at Denver on Oct. 13, 2019.
C.J. Stroud threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday to put the game away and match their TD total in the previous three games combined.
The Texans (1-3) led 6-0 after two first-half field goals, but neither team got into the red zone until a 17-yard grab by Nico Collins put Houston on the 12 on the last play of the third quarter. Stroud connected with Marks for a TD on the next play, but the 2-point try failed to leave the Texans up 12-0.
Derek Stingley picked off rookie first overall pick Cam Ward on the next drive and returned it 20 yards. The Texans cashed in on that mistake when Stroud threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jayden Higgins to push the lead to 19-0 with about 9 ½ minutes to go.
An 18-yard touchdown run by Marks, a fourth-round pick from USC, made it 26-0 with less than five minutes remaining.
Marks had 69 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving.
Falcons 34, Commanders 27
At Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr. bounced back from his worst NFL start, Bijan Robinson had a career-high 181 yards from scrimmage as Atlanta beat short-handed Washington.
The Falcons (2-2) were coming off a 30-0 loss to the Panthers in which Penix and the offense were totally ineffective. Against the Commanders (2-2), Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 313 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Robinson had 75 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a nifty 14-yard touchdown run where he broke multiple tackles. He also had four catches for 106 yards, the highlight being a 69-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that set up Penix’s TD toss to Kyle Pitts.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London had his best game of the season with eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown less than a week after the Falcons fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard.
Marcus Mariota, filling in for injured Commanders starter Jayden Daniels, was 16 for 27 for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. With top receiver Terry McLaurin also sidelined, Deebo Samuel had six receptions for 72 yards and a TD for Washington. Luke McCaffrey also had a scoring catch and Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Commanders in rushing with 59 yards on seven carries.
Tyler Allegeier gave the Falcons a 31-16 lead with a 15-yard run late in the third quarter. Mariota answered with a pretty 24-yard touchdown pass to Samuel on fourth down, plus a 2-point pass to Zach Ertz to cut the lead to 31-24.
The Falcons responded with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that featured two key third-down conversions by Penix and ended with Parker Romo’s 26-yard field goal with 1:57 left. Matt Gay kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining for the Commanders, but the Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Patriots 42, Panthers 13
At Foxborough, Mass., Marcus Jones had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, Drake Maye added two touchdown passes and ran for another, and New England rolled to a win over Carolina.
TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson added touchdown runs and Jones had a 61-yard punt return that set up another TD to help the Patriots (2-2) avoid their fifth straight 1-3 start.
A week after turning the ball over five times in a loss to Pittsburgh, the Patriots were turnover-free while going 4 for 4 in the red zone.
Maye was steady throughout, completing 14 of 17 passes for 203 yards. Receiver Stefon Diggs had six catches for 101 yards.
Carolina struggled from the outset, missing an extra point after scoring on the game’s opening possession and then punting on four of its final five drives. The other possession ended with a missed field goal.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Andy Dalton with just over eight minutes remaining.
Maye put New England in front 14-6 in the opening seconds of the second quarter when he scored on a designed quarterback run.
Later, following a missed 55-yard field-goal attempt by Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald, Maye led the Patriots on an eight-play drive that was punctuated by a 5-yard TD run by Henderson.
A 61-yard punt return by Jones to the Carolina 14 got the Patriots back in business. Four plays later, a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibson pushed the lead to 28-6 just before halftime.
Lions 34, Browns 10
At Detroit, Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond returned a punt 65 yards for another score and Detroit beat Cleveland.
The Lions (3-1) intercepted Joe Flacco twice in the first half and scored 20 straight points for a 13-point lead at halftime. Detroit forced Flacco to fumble in the fourth, setting up another touchdown.
The Browns (1-3) opened with an 88-yard, 13-play touchdown drive, then had 44 yards with three punts and two turnovers the rest of the half. They finished with 249 yards of offense, gaining an average of 3.8 yards per play.
Goff was 16 of 27 for 168 yards with a 2-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown late in the first half and an 8-yard toss to him in the fourth quarter, giving the All-Pro receiver six TD receptions in the last three games.
Flacco started strong before struggling and finishing 16 of 34 for 184 yards with three turnovers. Rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, replaced Flacco late in the lopsided game.
Quinshon Judkins had 21 carries for 82 yards and a 1-yard scoring run that gave the Browns a short-lived lead in the first quarter.
The Lions pulled into a tie on the ensuing possession after Jahmyr Gibbs scored on an 8-yard run. Jake Bates kicked 48- and 58-yard field goals in the first half to give Detroit a 20-7 lead.
Cleveland pulled within 10 points on Andre Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, and its stingy defense kept the score close until Raymond’s punt return early in the fourth and St. Brown’s second scoring catch helped the Lions pull away.
Giants 21, Chargers 18
At East Rutherford, N.J., Jaxson Dart threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in an impressive NFL starting debut, leading New York to its first victory over previously undefeated Los Angeles.
The excitement by the Giants (1-3) over the win was a bit tempered by the uncertain status of wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was carted off the field in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Dart launched a deep pass down the right sideline — a free play after the Chargers jumped offside — toward a streaking Nabers. The wide receiver’s right leg appeared to buckle as he went up to try to catch the pass, which fell incomplete.
Nabers, down at the Chargers 7 with 6:12 left before halftime, immediately grabbed at his right leg. He was checked for several minutes before being helped onto the cart.
Dart, starting in place of Russell Wilson, ran for a 15-yard score to cap his first drive as a starting quarterback. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson. Dart finished 13 of 20 for 111 yards and ran 10 times for 54 yards.
He also brushed off a hamstring injury after halftime and a big hit from the Chargers that sent him to the medical tent for two plays to be evaluated for a head injury.
The Giants’ defense also made big plays when it counted most, including Brian Burns’ sack of Justin Herbert that forced the Chargers (3-1) to punt late in the game. Then, Dart and the offense took over and milked the clock before giving Herbert and Los Angeles one final try — but with just 18 seconds left.
Herbert threw incomplete to Quentin Johnston and then completed a 22-yard pass to Johnston, who was tackled by Cor’Dale Flott and couldn’t get out of bounds — ending the game
Rams 27, Colts 20
At Inglewood, Calif., Tutu Atwell caught an 88-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford with 1:33 to play, and Los Angeles rallied to end Indianapolis’ unbeaten start to the season with a victory.
Daniel Jones passed for 262 yards for the Colts (3-1), but Indy couldn’t overcome receiver Adonai Mitchell’s mind-boggling fumble right before he crossed the goal line with what was about to be a 76-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
The Colts also had a 53-yard rushing TD by Jonathan Taylor taken off the board by a holding call on Mitchell with 2:15 to play.
Stafford passed for 375 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams (3-1), and he hit Puka Nacua for a 9-yard score with 3:20 left. Nacua finished with 13 catches for 170 yards.
After the Rams’ defense quickly got the ball back, Stafford made a brilliant throw on the next snap for the decisive score by Atwell, the speedy receiver who frequently goes underutilized in Sean McVay’s offense. Atwell’s TD catch was only his second reception of the season.
Kam Curl then made his second interception of the day with 53 seconds left, and the Rams ran out the clock on a thrilling win.
CHIEFS 37, RAVENS 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns while outdueling Lamar Jackson, who left in the second half with a right hamstring injury, and Kansas City routed beat-up Baltimore.
Xavier Worthy returned from a shoulder injury to catch five passes for 83 yards, igniting a Chiefs offense that had been struggling to find its footing without the speedster and his suspended teammate, Rashee Rice, early in the season.
The Chiefs (2-2) built a 20-10 halftime lead against Baltimore before cruising to their seventh win in the past eight meetings. The most recent time the Ravens (1-3) beat them was September 2021, and their previous win in Kansas City was on Oct. 7, 2021.
Jackson threw for 147 yards with a touchdown and his first interception of the season before hurting his hamstring midway through the third quarter, though by that point the game was mostly decided. Cooper Rush played the rest of the way for the Ravens, who suddenly find themselves in a dire situation just four weeks into the season.

Odell Beckham Jr. last played in the NFL as part of the Miami Dolphins back in 2024. However, despite potentially being semi-retired, the Super Bowl champion had some strong words for the powers that be across the National Football League.
The New York Giants – Beckham’s first team, which he was drafted to with the 12th overall pick back in 2014 – suffered a major loss when second year Pro Bowl wideout, Malik Nabers, tore his ACL on Sunday in week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
And in the wake of that latest injury – Beckham made a plea to the league to ban the artificial playing turf for the sake of the players.
Odell Beckham JR. Speaks Out After Another Turf-Based Injury
Posting on X, the former three-time Pro Bowler was adamant that it was in the league and the individual players’ best interests to move away from artificial “turf”, and back to the more standard grass pitches of old.
“Dear NFL, I mean this with the upmost love and respect.” Beckham Jr. wrote on Sunday night after the Giants game. “We (The NFL) take all The precautions in the world with EVERYthing else when it comes to players “health” and “safety”. PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE 🤬 TURF. Thank You in advance. LUV”
This will also have a personal feel to the LSU alum, given that he tore his ACL in Super Bowl LVI, where his Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals – also on artificial turf used at SoFi Stadium in LA.
Why Is OBJ Urging The League To Move Off Turf?
Injuries – plain and simple.
Anecdotally, there is a general consensus amongst players that playing on grass is superior to playing on artificial turf.
Turf is harder than grass, and does not absorb force nearly as well. Equally – and perhaps most importantly in this case, it does not release cleats as well.
This causes them to – at times – get stuck on the pitch, which even if only for a second or less, can result in a lower-body contortion, leading to numerous season-ending injuries.
More to follow…

The Los Angeles Rams handed the Indianapolis Colts their first loss of the 2025 season, and they got a vintage performance from quarterback Matthew Stafford to seal it.
Stafford completed 29 of 41 pass attempts for 375 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in the 27-20 contest. Most notably, he was at his best when the game demanded it most, down the stretch.
So much so that Stafford garnered attention from the league’s social media team.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Draws Attention From NFL
Stafford completed nine of his 10 passes for 172 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs in the fourth quarter for the Rams against the Colts on Sunday. That included the go-ahead TD pass, an 88-yarder to TuTu Atwell that made up the entirety of the possession.
“Matthew Stafford. Clutch,” the NFL posted on X on September 28.
“WR Tutu Atwell’s 88-yard touchdown is the longest in his career and the longest passing touchdown of QB Matthew Stafford’s career,” Rams PR posted on X on September 28. “It was the eighth receiving touchdown of at least 88 yards in Rams history.”
Among the other accolades Stafford accomplished in the game that the PR team acknowledged, he logged his most passing yards before halftime (168) since Week 13 in 2023.
He also surpassed at least 203 passing yards for the 49th time in the last five seasons.
“This was QB Matthew Stafford’s 71st career game with 300 passing yards,” the Rams PR team posted. “Stafford became the fifth QB in Rams history to have a game with 375+ passing yards, 3+ passing touchdowns with zero interceptions, joining Marc Bulger (twice), Jared Goff (twice), Austin Davis and Kurt Warner.”
Matthew Stafford Closed Door on Colts
Stafford also drew posts from the league’s social media team for his deep pass to Puka Nacua that set up the Rams’ second field goal.
He also had a TD pass to Davante Adams that capped a 96-yard drive, both before halftime.
“The Colts cracked the door for this with some offensive miscues,” The Athletic’s Nate Atkins posted on X on September 28 in response to a fan casting doubt on Stafford’s impact on the win. “It doesn’t take away from a great performance on the other side.”
“This is the reverse of what I was saying last week in the Eagles’ favor: Just because players aren’t on your favorite team doesn’t mean they aren’t helping decide the outcome,” Atkins said in a follow-up post, replying to himself. “Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are beasts who wrecked the Rams [in Week 3].
“Stafford just did it to the Colts.”
An interception by safety Kam Curl locked the door on the Colts in Week 4, but only after Stafford, Atwell, and the offense closed it.
Puka Nacua Benefits From Matthew Stafford’s Big Day
Like Stafford, Nacua drew plenty of recognition from the Rams’ public relations team during the game. He finished with a career-high 170 yards and 1 TD on 13 receptions and finished Sunday’s slate of games as the NFL’s leading receiver.
He has at least 100 yards in three of four games this season and 91 yards in the other.
They noted his 31-yard grab from Stafford “was his first of the season of 30 yards or more. It was the Rams’ fifth big passing play (30+) of the year, which ranks second in the league.
“Nacua has at least 60 receiving yards in each of the Rams’ first four games this season. The last Ram to do that – outside of Nacua himself (first five of 2023) – was Cooper Kupp, who had at least 60 receiving yards in each of the Rams’ 17 games of 2021.”
He also notched his third career game with 100-plus receiving yards and passed Todd Gurley for 15th in receptions in franchise history.
Nacua is one of three players with eight-plus catches in each of the first four games in a season.
Davante Adams Makes Mark in Quiet Game
Nacua’s running mate, Davante Adams, had a quieter day in the Rams’ win. Adams finished with 56 yards and one scoring grab on four receptions. Adams’ score was his 106th TD reception, and he moved into 30th all-time in receiving yards.
“This was Davante Adams’ 64th career game with 50+ receiving yards and a receiving touchdown,” the team’s public relations department posted on X. “That is fifth most in the last 25 years, behind Larry Fitzgerald (73), Antonio Gates (69), Terrell Owens (68) and Mike Evans (66).”

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a second-round pick for DK Metcalf and signed the wideout to a four-year, $132 million contract this past offseason. Clearly, the Steelers expected Metcalf to be a superstar for their offense.
Through the first three weeks, Metcalf showed flashes but didn’t really have any superstar moments. That changed, though, in Week 4.
Metcalf led the Steelers with 126 receiving yards Sunday, 80 of which came on a touchdown reception in the second quarter. Metcalf caught all five of his targets and nearly matched his yardage output from the first three games in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings.
After the game, the veteran receiver shared with reporters how it felt to finally contribute in a major way for his new organization.
“Today felt like I’m home now,” Metcalf said, via WPXI’s Jenna Harner. “I’m here.”
Metcalf’s 80-yard touchdown set a new NFL record for the longest score in an international game.
Behind Metcalf’s best performance with the black and gold, the Steelers defeated the Vikings 24-21. With the win, the Steelers improved to 1-1 in regular season international games.
DK Metcalf Breaks Out With Memorable Performance in Ireland
Metcalf wasn’t alone. A lot of Steelers offensive players were a bit lackluster in the first three games of the season.
But other than Aaron Rodgers, Metcalf was the biggest acquisition the team made over the offseason. Metcalf was arguably an even more notable addition because of the long-term investment in him. The team also traded receiver George Pickens less than two months after landing Metcalf.
Pickens had a huge performance Sunday night for the Dallas Cowboys.
Metcalf needed to change the narrative around his early Steelers tenure. He delivered, helping the Steelers win in Ireland.
Before Sunday, Metcalf had just 10 catches and 135 receiving yards in the first three games. He was averaging just 13.5 yards per reception and career-lows of 3.3 catches and 58.8 receiving yards per contest.
Metcalf bolstered all of those averages with the 80-yard touchdown versus the Vikings. Of those yards, 67 of them came after the catch.
The Steelers want to be a run-first, tough defensive club this season. That could mean Metcalf doesn’t get as many opportunities as he typically did when he played for the Seattle Seahawks.
Metcalf also might not get a lot of chances down the field. Rodgers is close to the bottom of the league in average depth per target.
However, Metcalf can make a huge difference for the Steelers offense if he can create big plays with his opportunities. Clearly, he can do that even if his targets aren’t deep down the field.
Metcalf Credits Calvin Austin III, Steelers Defense
Metcalf had the biggest highlight of the day and stood at the top of the box score in Week 4. But after Sunday’s win, he gave a lot of the credit to his teammates for his success.
Metcalf gave a shoutout to fellow receiver Calvin Austin III. Austin delivered a key downfield block that helped give Metcalf a path to the end zone on his 80-yard score.
Metcalf also credited the Steelers defense for the win.
“Nothing happens without the O-line blocking, and our defense playing the way that they did,” Metcalf added. “CA [Austin] really popped a couple of those for me running on the backside, taking two, three defenders out. Giving me space to really work.”

In a spectacular offensive explosion that overshadowed the highly anticipated return of former star Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers could not be separated, fighting through a frantic finish and overtime to end Sunday Night Football in a rare 40-40 tie at AT&T Stadium.
Momentum swinging first half
In Micah Parsons’ highly anticipated return to AT&T Stadium, the former Cowboys linebacker lined up against the Dallas offensive line for the first time in an opposing jersey, but the early story for the game was the momentum swings and big plays from both sides.
Green Bay struck first, with Love connecting twice with wide receiver Romeo Doubs for touchdowns. However, the Cowboys answered back with key special teams’ plays and a resurgent offense in the second quarter.
The back-and-forth first half featured a rushing score by Dak Prescott, and a game-altering special teams play from Markquese Bell. As Bell flipped the script midway through the half when he scooped up a blocked extra point and returned it for two points, keeping Green Bay’s early edge to 6 instead of 7.
Missing on defense
The Cowboys’ defense held its own in Parsons’ return to Jerry’s World but took a hit when veteran safety Malik Hooker exited with a toe injury. His status for the remainder of the game is questionable.
Dig deeper:
Finding a rhythm
Dallas came out of halftime aiming to build on its momentum, and for stretches they did. The Cowboys’ defense held tight before giving up a goal-line score as the Packers punched in a touchdown to go ahead 20–16.
Dak Prescott and the offense answered back, driving downfield and hitting Jake Ferguson for the go‑ahead score just before the end of the quarter.
Dallas entered the fourth quarter up 23–20.
In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys’ defense could not stop the Packers’ ground game, led by running back Josh Jacobs. Green Bay drove down the field on an 8-play, 70-yard drive to score a touchdown, despite only completing one pass.
Dallas’ offense remained poised to take control of the game, adding to yet another lead change as Javonte Williams punched in a score to take a 30-27 lead with 5 minutes left in the game.
High-Powered Offenses
The pressure was back on for the Parsons-less Cowboys’ defense.
Jordan Love orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive in the closing minutes, capping it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs to give the Green Bay Packers a 27–23 lead over the Dallas Cowboys with 1:45 remaining.
The drive was aided by a key 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau and highlighted by a pair of Love completions.
The Cowboys burned both remaining timeouts during the possession, but Dak Prescott responded to the pressure with a clutch, 4-play, 54-yard drive, hitting George Pickens for a 28-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left to lift the Dallas Cowboys to a 30–27 lead over the Green Bay Packers.
Packers take it to OT
After Dallas had regained the lead with 43 seconds remaining, Jordan Love guided the Packers from their own 26-yard line into Dallas territory in just five plays.
A critical 25-yard catch-and-run by running back Josh Jacobs and a 9-yard sideline grab by the Packers pushed Green Bay into long-range field goal position before McManus calmly converted the kick as the clock hit zero.
Keeping the Packers alive after Dallas appeared to seal the game moments earlier with George Pickens’ touchdown.
Overtime
Dallas opened overtime with a methodical 14-play, 73-yard drive. Dak Prescott connected with George Pickens for 22 yards and later hit Jalen Tolbert on a 34-yard sideline throw to set up 1st-and-goal at the 5.
But a Micah Parsons sack on Prescott and a missed throw on 4th-and-goal from the 4 stalled the drive, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a short field goal.
Aubrey’s kick, his second of the night, capped a steady possession that chewed nearly six minutes off the clock, but the Cowboys’ defense would need just one stop to seal the win and spoil Parsons’ return to Dallas in Green Bay colors.
Thriller results in tie
Trailing by three after the Cowboys’ field goal to open overtime, Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense mounted a 14-play, 61-yard march that chewed up over four minutes and nearly ended in disaster, but kept the game alive.
Love converted a critical 4th-and-6 with a 14-yard pass to his rookie tight end and leaned on his running back Emmanuel Wilson, who ripped off back-to-back chunk gains to move Green Bay inside the Dallas 30.
The Cowboys’ defense stiffened inside the red zone, forcing a pair of completions for negative yards and one final incompletion on 3rd-and-14 with just seconds remaining.
The Packers kicker calmly nailed the game-tying kick as the final whistle blew, sending both teams into an unsatisfying, hard-fought 40-40 tie.

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The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers battled each other in an absolute slugfest on Sunday night, and it ended in a 40-40 tie.
The stakes were already heightened coming into AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Micah Parsons was making his return to play his former team. While his impact was felt, it was the offenses that really came to play.
The last two minutes of regulation underscored that.
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The Cowboys needed to respond to a Packers touchdown. KaVontae Turpin returned a kickoff to near midfield. It only took four plays for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys to find the end zone. Following a 19-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert, he found George Pickens for a 28-yard touchdown.
Dallas drove 54 yards in 62 seconds to get the go-ahead score.
Green Bay was quick to get back up the field. Packers quarterback Jordan Love led the team down the field in seven plays to set up a game-tying 53-yard field goal for Brandon McManus.
In overtime, the Cowboys got the ball first. Prescott found Tolbert coming back to the ball to make an incredible catch on the sideline. Somehow, Tolbert got both of his feet in bounds to set Dallas up in the red zone. The Cowboys couldn’t get into the end zone. Parsons possibly saved a touchdown with a sack of a scrambling Prescott. It was Brandon Aubrey who hit the chip shot to go up 40-37.
It was Love’s turn to lead the charge. On third down, the Cowboys may have gotten away with a defensive pass interference call. But it didn’t deter Love. The quarterback found Matthew Golden to keep the drive alive.
The Packers nearly ran out of time to make a final throw to the end zone. But he was left with one second on the clock. McManus came onto the field to kick the game-tying field goal.
Love was 31-of-43 with 337 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Each of his touchdown passes went to Romeo Doubs. The wide receiver had six catches for 58 yards.
BAD BUNNY TO PERFORM AT SUPER BOWL LX HALFTIME SHOW
Josh Jacobs was a menace on the ground. He had two rushing touchdowns to go along with 86 yards on the ground. He had four catches for 71 yards as well.
The Cowboys showed that they weren’t going to roll over and let the Packers walk all over them in their house.
First, Dallas picked up a crucial two points when they blocked a Packers extra-point attempt in the second quarter. Markquese Bell returned the ball for the two points.
Then, the Cowboys took advantage as the Green Bay offense appeared to get complacent toward the end of the first half. Cowboys linebacker James Houston caused Love to fumble. He recovered it and gave Dallas a chance to score before halftime. Prescott then found Pickens in the end zone. Dallas had a 16-13 lead at halftime.
Pickens had an incredible game for the Cowboys. He had eight catches on 11 targets for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Prescott was 31-of-40 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He was only sacked once.
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Green Bay moved to 2-1-1 with the tie and Dallas became 1-2-1.

The Buffalo Bills have started the season strong with a 4-0 record, and right now, fans are focusing on their current success rather than the future.
However, since the Bills are one of the top teams in the NFL, they cannot offer long-term contracts to everyone on their roster. This makes the NFL Draft critically crucial for the team’s future.
In an early 2026 Mock Draft from The Draft Network, Jaime Eisner has the Bills taking Ohio State’s linebacker Sonny Styles in the first round.
“With Matt Milano’s contract set to expire, the Buffalo Bills should look to add to the second level of their defense,” Eisner wrote Sunday. “Sonny Styles has been a fast riser this college football campaign. Styles can play at every level of the defense, bringing energy and some pass-rush upside. He’d be a valuable addition to this Buffalo defense.”
Sonny Styles Would Be a Good Fit For The Bills
Styles has played for Ohio State over the past four seasons and was a critical part of its 2024 National Championship team.
Styles has recorded 182 combined tackles and eight sacks in 43 collegiate games. The four-year linebacker is talented on the football field, but also shows a significant amount of leadership.
Ohio State awards a No. 0 jersey, known as the Block O jersey, to the player who demonstrates the best leadership on the team. This season, the team honored Styles with it.
Styles is great against the run and even awesome in coverage. Andrew Harbaugh from Vikings Wire wrote a scouting report on Styles this summer, discussing the elite traits he possesses.
“Sonny Styles is a linebacker for the National Championship Buckeyes who does a tremendous job of covering ground and is underrated in coverage,” Harbaugh wrote in June. “I really appreciated his ability to close on runners outside the numbers and the run defense he gave the Buckeyes in the playoffs. He also does a tremendous job of tracking the ball by watching the quarterback’s eyes, so it allows him to stay with them and potentially even be in play to get his hands on it in the air, or be in play to lay hands on the receiver. Lots of room for improvement, but I like his heat-seaking ability and the playmaking it serves.”
It’s a long way to go, and a lot can happen before the NFL Draft in April, but Styles would fit excellently with the Bills’ defense.
Matt Milano Could be Playing His Last Season in Buffalo
Veteran linebacker Matt Milano is in the final year of his contract with Buffalo, and there’s a good chance the team won’t bring him back.
The Bills’ signing of running back James Cook to a four-year, $48 million contract extension this offseason means Buffalo has less money to spend on other players.
With linebacker being a position that many teams don’t give big contracts to, Milano could be looking for a new home next season, which means the Bills could be in the market for a linebacker early in the NFL Draft.

Ready or not, another week of NFL action is on deck. Week 4 is jam-packed with storylines, ranging from Micah Parsons making his return to Dallas to face the Cowboys to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs duking it out at Arrowhead Stadium. We also have a doubleheader on Monday night to wrap up the week. Of course, those are the angles we’re looking forward to seeing unfold, but there’s also an ugly side of the upcoming slate: injuries.
Several prominent players have been dealing with injuries in the early stages of the season, and Week 4 will be impacted by a handful of them, including CeeDee Lamb and Mike Evans, who have both already been ruled out. New York Giants star Malik Nabers (shoulder) will play on Sunday while Washington Commanders. No. 1 option Terry McLaurin (quad) was ruled out. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (turf toe) doesn’t have a game status and will return in Week 4 after missing the last two weeks.
Below, we’re going to take a closer look at of all the injury situations across the league with almost everyone putting out their final game statuses. We’ll also look at the final injury report for the two Monday night matchups: the AFC East showdown between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, as well as the Cincinnati Bengals at the Denver Broncos.
NFL odds via DraftKings (unless otherwise noted). Bet NFL Week 4 games and NFL odds at DraftKings, where new users get $200 in bonus bets and over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket. Click here to get started.
Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (in Dublin)
Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle), OL Donovan Jackson (wrist), OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), TE Ben Yurosek (knee) OUT
Steelers: LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) OUT; CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), RB Jaylen Warren (knee), TE Jonnu Smith (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), tight end Ben Yurosek (knee) and guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) all did not practice for Minnesota this week. That’s why they were all ruled out. Ten-year veteran quarterback Carson Wentz will make his second start of the season in place of McCarthy.
Pittsburgh ruled out edge rusher Alex Highsmith (ankle) after he didn’t practice all week. The Steelers limited cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) and running back Jaylen Warren (knee) all week, and they are both questionable for Sunday. Tight end Jonnu Smith (hip) didn’t practice Wednesday but did so in a limited fashion the rest of the week, so he is questionable for Week 4.
Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions (-10)
Browns: OT Jack Conklin (elbow) QUESTIONABLE
Lions: LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring), S Daniel Thomas (forearm), RB Sione Vaki (groin) OUT; OT Taylor Decker (shoulder), DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee) QUESTIONABLE
The Browns have an incredibly clean injury report. Only one of Cleveland’s players has a game status: right tackle Jack Conlklin (elbow) after he was limited in practice all week.
Safety Daniel Thomas (forearm) and running back Sione Vaki (groin) did not practice all week for the Lions and were ruled out. Linebacker Zach Cunningham’s practice status devolved each day, going from a clean bill of health, to limited on Thursday to not practicing and out on Friday. Left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) is questionable while edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee) is questionable after being limited on Thursday and Friday.
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots (-5.5)
Panthers: OLB Patrick Jones II (hamstring), WR Xavier Legette (hamstring), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle), OLB D.J. Wonnum (hip), OUT; WR Tetairoa McMillan (calf), DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring), RB Chuba Hubbard (calf) QUESTIONABLE
Patriots: G Jared Wilson (ankle/knee) OUT; LB K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), G Mike Onwenu (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
The Panthers will be without edge rusher Patrick Jones II (hamstring), wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring), tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle) and edge rusher D.J. Wonnum (hip) on Sunday. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is certainly hoping first-round rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan (calf) can play Sunday after being limited in practice Thursday and Friday.
New England guard Jared Wilson (ankle, knee) is the only Patriots player already ruled out for Sunday. All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) is questionable after being limited in practice all week.
New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills (-14.5)
Saints: OL Dillon Radunz (toe), DE Chase Young (calf) OUT; WR Devaughn Vele (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Bills: LB Matt Milano (pectoral), DT Ed Oliver (ankle) OUT; OL Spencer Brown (calf), DE AJ Epenesa (pectoral) QUESTIONABLE
New Orleans held guard Dillon Radunz and defensive end Chase Young out of practice all week, so it’s no surprise the Saints ruled them both out. Meanwhile, wide receiver Devaughn Vele (hip) is questionable after being limited in practice all week.
Buffalo will be without linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) on Sunday after neither of them practiced all week. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa (pectoral) was limited all week and is questionable, while offensive lineman Spencer Brown (calf) is questionable after only practicing in a limited fashion Friday.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (-7)
Titans: OT JC Latham (hip), WR Bryce Oliver (knee) OUT; S Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring) DOUBTFUL; LB Dorian Mausi (back) QUESTIONABLE
Texans: CB Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique) QUESTIONABLE
The Titans ruled out offensive tackle JC Latham (hip) and wide receiver Bryce Oliver (knee) after not practicing all week. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring) is doubtful after being limited in practice all week. Linebacker Dorian Mausi (back) is questionable after not practicing Thursday and Friday.
Texans’ No. 1 corner Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique) is questionable after only practicing, in any capacity, on Friday as a limited participant.
Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels (knee), WR Terry McLaurin (quad), WR Noah Brown (groin/knee), TE John Bates (calf/groin) OUT; S Percy Butler (hip), RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell (hamstring), WR KhaDarel Hodge (groin), RB Nate Carter (hamstring) OUT
Jayden Daniels was a limited participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday, but the Commanders held him out Friday and ruled him out for Sunday as he continues to deal with a knee injury. Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback once again. Tight end John Bates (calf, groin), receiver Noah Brown (groin, knee) and receiver Terry McLaurin (quad) were also ruled out for what is now an incredibly depleted Washington offense. Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) and safety Percy Butler (hip) are both questionable. Croskey-Merritt, who practiced fully Friday, is the only one of the two to practice at all this week.
Corner A.J. Terrell (hamstring), running back Nate Carter (hamstring) and receiver KhaDarel Hodge (groin) all missed the entire week of practice, which is why the Falcons ruled them out for Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Eagles: CB Adoree’ Jackson (groin) DOUBTFUL
Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans (hamstring), S Christian Izien (quad) OUT; WR Chris Godwin (ankle), DL Logan Hall (groin), QB Baker Mayfield (right biceps), OT Tristan Wirfs (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Eagles corner Adoree’ Jackson (groin) was limited Thursday and Friday after not practicing Wednesday, so Philadelphia listed him as doubtful. Everyone else is good to go.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) and defensive back Christian Izien (quad) did not practice all week, so they were ruled out. Quarterback Baker Mayfield (right biceps) is questionable after being limited in practice all week. Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) should be good to go after practicing fully Thursday and Friday. Wideout Chris Godwin, who has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury, was a full participant Wednesday and Friday this week, a good sign for his availability. Defensive lineman Logan Hall practiced for the first time Friday as a limited participant.
Los Angeles Chargers (-6) at New York Giants
Chargers: G Mekhi Becton (concussion), WR Derius Davis (knee), TE Will Dissly (knee) OUT; C Bradley Bozeman (back), DB Elijah Molden (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
Giants: K Graham Gano (groin), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder), DE Chauncey Golston (ankle)OUT; DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot) DOUBTFUL
L.A. listed guard Mekhi Becton (concussion), receiver Derius Davis (knee) and tight end Will Dissly (knee) as out after all three did not practice this week. Defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring) and center Bradley Bozeman are both questionable after being limited Friday.
Kicker Graham Gano (groin), running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (ankle) were all ruled out. Veteran Younghoe Koo will fill in for Gano this week. Defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (foot) is doubtful after only practicing Friday as a limited participant.
Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers (-3.5)
Jaguars: OT Wyatt Milum (knee) OUT; LB Yasir Abdullah (hamstring), WR Dyami Brown (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
49ers: WR Jordan Watkins (calf), DL CJ West (thumb) OUT; OL Connor Colby (groin), CB Renardo Green (neck), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoudler), QB Mac Jones (knee), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) QUESTIONABLE
Wideout Dyami Brown (shoulder) is questionable for the Jaguars after being limited the past two days. Offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (knee) was ruled out.
The 49ers will be without receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) and defensive tackle CJ West (thumb) this week. However, starting quarterback Brock Purdy (left shoulder/toe) will return, as he does not have an injury designation. Receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle), as well as quarterback Mac Jones (knee) and corner Renardo Green (neck), are questionable.
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams (-3.5)
Colts: WR Alec Pierce (concussion), CB Kenny Moore (Achilles), G Matt Goncalves (toe) OUT; DT DeForest Buckner (back), WR Anthony Gould (illness) QUESTIONABLE
Rams: WR Davante Adams (hamstring), OL Rob Havenstein (ankle), TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder), TE Tyler Higbee (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Indy will be without guard Matt Goncalves (toe), cornerback Kenny Moore II (Achilles) and receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) in Week 4. Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (back) is questionable after only practicing Thursday in a limited capacity.
Rams wideout Davante Adams (hamstring) and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle) were limited Friday, but head coach Sean McVay said it should not impact their status for Sunday.
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders (-1.5)
Bears: LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring), DT Grady Jarrett (knee), OL Darnell Wright (elbow) OUT; CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring), TE Colston Loveland (hip), RB D’Andre Swift (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Raiders: TE Michael Mayer (concussion) OUT; CB Decamerion Richarson (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
Chicago ruled out linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring), defensive lineman Grady Jarrett (knee) and offensive lineman Darnell Wright (elbow). The Bears limited running back D’Andre Swift (hip) all week, so he is questionable for Sunday. Defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and tight end Colston Loveland (hip) both practiced in a limited capacity on Friday only.
Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (concussion) did not practice this week and was ruled out. Meanwhile, Las Vegas listed corner Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) as questionable after practicing fully on Friday.
Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Kansas City Chiefs
Ravens: DL Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), FB Patrick Ricard (calf), DL Broderick Washington (ankle) OUT; DL Travis Jones (knee), TE Isaiah Likely (foot), OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle), OLB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
Chiefs: DE Mike Danna (quad) DOUBTFUL; CB Kristian Fulton (ankle), DE Ashton Gillotte (elbow) QUESTIONABLE
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday that defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike will not play this week due to his neck injury. Fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (ankle) joined him in being ruled out. On a more positive note, the Ravens are optimistic tight end Isaiah Likely will make his season debut in Week 4 and listed him as questionable. Defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee), tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) are also questionable
Defensive end Mike Danna (quad) is doubtful, but corner Kristian Fulton (ankle) is questionable after being limited all week. Meanwhile, receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) will return to action for the first time since his Week 1 collision with teammate Travis Kelce.
Green Bay Packers (-7) at Dallas Cowboys
Packers: RT Zach Tom (oblique), OT Anthony Belton (ankle) OUT; LG Aaron Banks (groin) DOUBTFUL; S Javon Bullard (concussion) QUESTIONABLE
Cowboys: WR CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and RG Tyler Booker (ankle) OUT
Neither Green Bay right tackle Zach Tom (oblique) nor rookie offensive tackle Anthony Belton (ankle) will play Sunday night. Left guard Aaron Banks (groin) is unlikely to play while safety Javon Bullard (concussion) is questionable.
All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (back), running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), tight end Tucker Kraft (knee, elbow), tackle Rasheed Walker (quad) and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt (knee) are all good to go.
As expected, tackle Tyler Booker and wideout CeeDee Lamb were ruled out with sprained ankles. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday that the team is still figuring out whether either player will be placed on injured reserve. Corner DaRon Bland (foot) will make his return in Week 4 after being out the past two weeks.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-2.5) (Monday)
The Jets have had two players not practice all week: defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (ankle) and linebacker Jermaine Johnson II (ankle). Quarterback Justin Fields (concussion) practiced fully on both Thursday and Friday after missing Week 3.
The Dolphins have also had two players not practice all week: cornerbacks Storm Duck (ankle) and Jason Marshall Jr. (hamstring). Tight end Darren Waller (hip) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) have been limited all week.
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos (-7.5) (Monday)
The Bengals have had two players not practice all week: tight end Noah Fant (concussion) and first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart (ankle). Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (hamstring) has been limited in practice all week.

The Houston Texans (0-3) host the Tennessee Titans (0-3) in an AFC South showdown at 1 p.m. ET. Houston has lost to the Rams, Buccaneers, and Jaguars, all by one possession. According to the latest Week 4 NFL odds, Houston is a 7-point favorite, and SportsLine’s model is backing the Texans to cover the spread at home. SportsLine’s model is also backing Over 47.5 points to be scored when the Green Bay Packers travel to play the Dallas Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. ET. Those NFL picks are part of a Texas sports betting parlay at DraftKings Sportsbook that pays out over 5-1.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model is on a sizzling 39-19 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. Anybody following its NFL betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
Three Texas betting picks for NFL Week 4 (odds subject to change):
Titans vs. Texans (-7) (-112)
Packers (-7) (-105) vs. Cowboys
Packers vs. Cowboys: Over 47.5 points (-115)
Combining the model’s three picks into a Texas parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +570 (risk $100 to win $570).
Titans vs. Texans (-7) (-112, DraftKings)
The Texans have defeated the Titans in four of their last five outings, with two of them coming at home. The Titans are struggling on both sides of the ball, ranking 31st in the league in total offense (222.3) and 27th in total defense (373.7). For a Texans offense that needs a spark, this is the ideal opponent. In three career games against the Titans, C.J. Stroud has thrown for 510 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a 2-1 record. SportsLine’s model has Houston covering the spread in 55% of simulations.
Packers (-7) vs. Cowboys (-105, DraftKings)
The Cowboys and Packers both took losses in Week 3. The biggest storyline around this game is the return of Micah Parsons to Dallas, but Green Bay has dominated this series dating back to 2009. The Packers have won 10 of the last 11 games, including five straight matchups. With the Cowboys slated to be without CeeDee Lamb and the Packers ranked third in total defense (232.3), look for the Packers to take control of this contest. SportsLine’s model has Green Bay covering the spread in 51% of simulations.
Packers vs. Cowboys, Over 47.5 points (-115, DraftKings)
The Cowboys are fourth in the NFL in total offense (393.7) with 24.7 points per game. Green Bay is coming off a 10-point performance, but scored 27 points in Weeks 1 and 2. Dak Prescott is third in the NFL in passing yards (800) with three passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jordan Love has 663 passing yards with a 5-1 touchdown-interception ratio. The last five games between these teams have also gone over 47.5 total points. SportsLine’s model is expecting that trend to continue on Sunday as the model projects these teams to combine for 52 total points, helping the Over hit in 58% of simulations.

Por Melissa Chan – NBC News
El atacante que sospechaba que padecía encefalopatía traumática crónica (ETC) cuando mató a cuatro personas y se suicidó en un edificio de oficinas de Manhattan en julio sí sufría esa enfermedad cerebral degenerativa, según informó este viernes un forense.
Shane Devon Tamura, de 27 años, que jugaba al fútbol americano en la preparatoria, tenía “pruebas diagnósticas inequívocas” de ETC en fase inicial, según el médico forense de la ciudad de Nueva York.
Esta enfermedad cerebral es causada por lesiones repetidas en la cabeza y, en Estados Unidos, se asocia principalmente a los jugadores de la NFL. Sin embargo, los investigadores afirman que Tamura no es ni mucho menos el primer deportista joven en desarrollar ETC a pesar de no haber practicado deporte después de la preparatoria o la universidad.
“Sabemos que hay muchos casos como este. Sabemos que los jugadores de fútbol americano de preparatoria pueden desarrollar ETC”, afirmó Chris Nowinski, cofundador y director ejecutivo de la organización sin fines de lucro Concussion Legacy Foundation.
[El tirador que mató a 4 personas en un edificio de Nueva York tenía como objetivo la sede de la NFL pero tomó el ascensor equivocado, dice el alcalde]
Nowinski señaló que los hallazgos sobre Tamura deberían ser una llamada de atención para los entrenadores de fútbol americano y otros líderes del mundo del deporte, y originar directrices más estrictas para el deporte más popular de Estados Unidos.
“No necesitamos más investigaciones para convencer a los entrenadores de secundaria de que cambien las reglas del juego”, afirmó. “Es necesario que haya voluntad para hacerlo”.
El médico forense realizó un examen cerebral como parte de la autopsia de Tamura después de que, según las autoridades, el agresor dejara una nota en el lugar del tiroteo del 28 de julio en la que expresaba su enfado por la posibilidad de que sus problemas mentales pudieran estar relacionados con practicar fútbol americano y solicitaba que se estudiara su cerebro para detectar ETC.
Las autoridades dijeron que Tamura intentaba atacar la sede de la NFL, que se encuentra en el edificio de Park Avenue donde sucedió el tiroteo.
Tamura jugó al fútbol americano en la preparatoria en California hace aproximadamente una década y recibía golpes frecuentes de otros jugadores en sus posiciones de corredor y defensa, según dijeron anteriormente sus antiguos compañeros de equipo y un exentrenador a NBC News.
[Cinco muertos incluyendo al atacante tras un tiroteo en el centro de Nueva York. El sospechoso se quitó la vida]
Nowinski dijo que la cobertura mediática de los casos de ETC se ha centrado en gran medida en jugadores de alto perfil de la NFL, lo que, según él, crea la falsa percepción de que el problema solo afecta a los atletas profesionales. Sin embargo, afirmó que los expertos que estudian las lesiones cerebrales saben que los atletas de secundaria también corren riesgo.
Un estudio de 2023, dirigido por Ann McKee, una destacada neuróloga en la investigación del ETC, confirmó que el ETC puede generarse en jóvenes atletas que practican deportes de contacto. De los 152 cerebros de atletas menores de 30 años que examinaron los investigadores, se encontró ETC en aproximadamente el 41 % de ellos, según el estudio. Las edades de los 152 donantes de cerebro oscilaban entre los 13 y los 29 años.
Los cerebros pertenecían a jóvenes atletas fallecidos que practicaban deportes de contacto y que habían presentado síntomas mientras vivían. Sus cerebros fueron donados al Banco de Cerebros para la Comprensión de las Lesiones Neurológicas y la Encefalopatía Traumática (UNITE, por su sigla en inglés).
Se trata de una preocupación apremiante, según Nowinski, que jugó al fútbol americano universitario en la Universidad de Harvard y sufrió una conmoción cerebral que puso fin a su carrera en 2003 como luchador profesional de la WWE.
Nowinski dijo que espera que el caso de Tamura lleve a las asociaciones de fútbol americano de secundaria a educar a los entrenadores y jugadores sobre la ETC y a establecer límites más estrictos sobre el número de veces y la intensidad con la que los atletas pueden recibir golpes en la cabeza.
“Sería una locura no tomar medidas para prevenir la ETC”», afirmó.
[En 2024 han ocurrido 83 tiroteos escolares. Esta es la crónica del último que deja dos muertos]
Se estima que más de 300,000 atletas de secundaria en el país sufren una conmoción cerebral cada año, según ha declarado anteriormente la Federación Nacional de Asociaciones Estatales de Secundaria. En 2019, recomendó limitar el contacto físico durante las sesiones de entrenamiento y limitar el número total de cuartos o periodos jugados por semana en deportes como el fútbol americano y el hockey sobre hielo.
La asociación afirmó que ha puesto en marcha numerosas medidas en los últimos 10 a 15 años para reducir el riesgo de lesiones en los jugadores de fútbol americano de secundaria, incluida la prohibición de los golpes de casco contra casco. Se negó a comentar el diagnóstico de ETC de Tamura.
La NFL reconoció por primera vez la relación entre la ETC y el fútbol americano en 2016. En un comunicado emitido el viernes, la NFL afirmó que seguía “lamentando la pérdida sin sentido de vidas humanas, y nuestros corazones siguen estando con las familias de las víctimas y nuestros dedicados empleados”.
“No hay justificación para los horribles actos que sucedieron”, añadía el comunicado.
El exjugador de la NFL Aaron Hernández tenía uno de los peores casos de ETC para su edad que los investigadores habían visto, según afirmó el centro de Boston en 2017. El joven de 27 años se suicidó ese año tras ser condenado por asesinato.
Otro exjugador de la NFL, Phillip Adams, que mató a tiros a seis personas antes de quitarse la vida en 2021, también padecía ETC.
Más recientemente, cuando el excorredor del Pro Bowl Rudi Johnson murió en lo que parece ser un suicidio este mes, su agente pidió que se investigara y previera más el CTE, aunque no está claro si el tres veces corredor de 1,000 yardas lo padecía.
[El tiroteo mortal en un centro de ICE en Dallas aterró a los inmigrantes que acudían a sus citas]
El CTE solo se puede diagnosticar después de la muerte, ya que no existe ninguna herramienta de diagnóstico por imagen que pueda detectar lesiones cerebrales como el CTE mientras la persona está viva, según Ross Zafonte, especialista en lesiones cerebrales y vicedecano ejecutivo de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Missouri.
Esto ha dificultado el estudio de cómo el CTE afecta al comportamiento, afirmó.
Mientras que el Centro de ETC de la Universidad de Boston afirma que la degeneración cerebral está asociada a síntomas comunes de la ETC, como problemas de control de los impulsos, agresividad, depresión y tendencias suicidas, Zafonte y otros dos expertos que estudian las lesiones cerebrales afirman que la ETC no se ha relacionado de forma definitiva con cambios en el comportamiento.
Las autoridades afirmaron que Tamura tenía antecedentes de problemas de salud mental y enfrentamientos con las fuerzas del orden. En 2022, amenazó con suicidarse mientras sufría depresión, migrañas crónicas e insomnio, según una llamada telefónica que su madre realizó a la policía.
Zafonte afirmó que el último caso de estudio de gran repercusión mediática podría ayudar a los investigadores a comprender mejor el papel de la impulsividad. Sin embargo, advirtió que hay muchos factores que afectan al comportamiento y que los investigadores aún no conocen en profundidad los antecedentes de salud mental de Tamura.
[El autor del tiroteo en un centro de ICE en Dallas iba tras los agentes de inmigración que “trabajan a cambio de un cheque sucio”]
“Debemos recordar que se trata de una ciencia en constante evolución y cambio”, afirmó.
El médico forense de la ciudad de Nueva York se hizo eco de esta declaración y afirmó que “la ciencia en torno a esta enfermedad sigue evolucionando y las manifestaciones físicas y mentales de la ETC siguen siendo objeto de estudio”.

The best thing that can happen to NFL players is getting inducted into the Hall of Famer. It’s every NFL player’s end goal. Super Bowl or not. So, getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a huge deal, a real big-time honor that means you were absolutely one of the best to ever play the game. It’s like reaching the mountaintop in the NFL, separating the truly elite players, coaches, and contributors who made a massive impact on the sport from the rest of the pack. It’s basically the ultimate stamp of approval for a career well done. So basically, former Ohio State Buckeyes got nominated into the Hall of Fame despite failing twice.
Each year, very few people are lucky enough to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This usually includes up to 5 modern-era players, like players who have been retired for at least five years. On top of that, the Hall can also include senior players, coaches, and influential contributors like owners or executives—people who helped shape the game behind the scenes.
On September 26, Ohio State legend and Bowling Green Falcons HC Eddie George was listed among 128 nominees for the Hall’s Modern-Era players for the third time. For context, the process is brutal as it gets. 128 names will get trimmed to 25 semifinalists this fall, then 15 finalists, before the committee makes its final call ahead of the Super Bowl. Only three to five Modern-Era players usually get the nod, so the margin is razor-thin. Eddie has already failed twice to get into the Hall of Fame. In both 2022 and 2024, he reached the semifinals but fell short. Hoping this time would be different.
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But what makes Eddie George standout is his stacked résumé. He rushed over 10,441 career rushing yards, bagged 4 Pro Bowls, and already got that reputation as one of the toughest backs of his era. People are still talking about Eddie’s prime years in Nashville. George rumbled for more than 10,000 yards in Tennessee alone, making him the franchise’s all-time rushing leader. He posted seven 1,000-yard seasons, carried the ball more than 300 times in 8 straight years—a record nobody else has touched—and helped drag the Titans to a Super Bowl in 1999.
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Eddie George was the epitome of a running back. His best season came in 2000, when he rushed for 1,509 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and had 6 games over 100 yards. By the time he retired, he had 12,668 all-purpose yards, putting him in the same conversation as some of the greats already in Canton. But even with a Heisman Trophy, George is still chasing history. Only 10 Heisman winners have made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Charles Woodson being the most recent in 2021.
Eddie George’s time at Ohio State was pretty epic, after a slow start in Columbus, George erupted his junior year before going full beast mode in 1995. That senior campaign saw him rack up a ridiculous 1,927 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. He was averaging over 150 yards a game. He ripped off 100-yard outings in 12 straight contests, including a jaw-dropping 314-yard explosion against Illinois. That performance single-handedly locked up the Heisman, got his No. 27 jersey retired, and secured his place as one of the Buckeyes’ all-time greats.
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How’s Eddie George and Bowling Green holding up in 2025?
Eddie George is in his first year as head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons in Ohio, and things are a bit of a mixed bag. He took over a program that wasn’t exactly tearing it up but had made a few bowl games. Coming in from Tennessee State, he brought some hype, especially with his coaching style which he calls GUTS, meaning he wants his team to play with Gumption, Understanding, Tenacity, and Sacrifice. So far, his squad has a 2-2 record, which isn’t terrible, but it’s not exactly setting the world on fire either. They started off with a solid win against Lafayette, winning 26-7 at home in Bowling Green, Ohio. The offense is putting up an average of 27.1 points per game, which is fifth in their conference, and racking up 377.4 total yards per game, good for fourth in the MAC.
But then they ran into some tougher competition, taking losses against Cincinnati and Louisville. They did manage another good win against Liberty, but the offense has been a bit up and down, still trying to find its rhythm with unfamiliar faces. They’re getting 240.6 passing yards per game, ranking third in the MAC, but the rushing game has been a little lackluster at 136.8 yards per game, eighth in the conference.
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The defense, on the other hand, has had some strong showings and is looking pretty solid so far. They’re only allowing opponents 21.6 points per game on average, which is fourth best in the MAC and 30th nationally. Their total defense is also pretty stout, giving up only 331.3 yards per game, good for third in the MAC and 32nd nationally.

The 2024 calendar year was a roller coaster professionally for former BYU punter Ryan Rehkow, as he went from being an undrafted rookie free agent to being signed and released by the Kansas City Chiefs to being signed by the Cincinnati Bengals and excelling as a first-year player.
Now through three games of the 2025 season, Rehkow has been arguably the best punter in the entire NFL. Most notably, he is not only leading the league in average yards per punt at exactly 54, but he is also tied for second in total number of punts at 15.
The two players just behind Rehkow in yards per punt at 53.5, the Green Bay Packers’ Daniel Whelan and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Braden Mann, have both punted just 12 times on the young season.
Regarding total number of punts, the Minnesota Vikings’ Ryan Wright is just ahead of him with 16, but Wright is all the way down at 21st in the league in average yards per punt at 47.3.
The player Rehkow is tied with at 15 punts on the season, the Arizona Cardinals’ Blake Gillikin, is fifth in the NFL in average yards per punt at 51.4.
Rehkow and Mann are also both tied for second in the NFL for longest punt at 70 yards, just one yard behind the New England Patriots’ Bryce Baringer.
Rehkow is excelling for a Bengals team that lost star quarterback Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury in Week 2 that could sideline him for the rest of the season.

A 2024 Alamo Bowl rematch awaits this weekend. And what’s the fever in Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes? They are now back to form with their 37-20 win over Wyoming. After 28,469 days, or nearly eight decades of waiting, the Buffs and Cougars finally meet again in a league matchup. So one can feel the heat, right? Unfortunately, Deion will not have his star player, dual-threat Travis Hunter, around this time. But he has been lucky enough to find a star transfer to provide the explosive playmaking in the receiving game, as Hunter did.
That’s none other than former Campbell Fighting Camel star Sincere Brown. The young chap has already picked up NFL buzz, and Deion’s coach comes with a list of ‘do’s and don’ts.’ On September 26, DNVR Buffs posted a clip of an interview with Deion’s wide receiver coach, Jason Phillips. Given the current hype, the discussion had to be about Brown.
The wide receiver had hit 22.3 miles per hour last week, the second fastest of any player that week. And it’s now about how he charts his path for his next step to the NFL. To Phillips, Brown needs to develop himself into a complete package in Deion’s squad. “I think he understands what he has to do, and like I mentioned earlier, he’s just got to continue to develop. I mean, I think he had a lot of playing time at Campbell,” said Phillips. “The level of competition is obviously different. So, you know, a guy at that size and can run that fast, he has to develop to be a total package receiver, not just a guy that can run, not just a guy that’s tall.”
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Brown has emerged as a true home-run hitter. The 6’5” and 190-pound star snagged a 68-yard bomb from Kaidon Salter last week, after already hauling in a 71-yarder from Ryan Staub. Colorado has only seen this kind of magic twice before. Rae Carruth in 1995 (Koy Detmer and John Hessler) and Paul Richardson in 2013 (Connor Wood and Sefo Liufau).
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Brown flashes, but asterisks are attached. His highlight reel is undeniable, yet his lone Power 4 outing, two grabs for 15 yards vs. Houston, tells a different story. Deion’s newly found, Hunter-like talent’s explosion came against Delaware and Wyoming. Receiver is still Colorado’s shiniest room on offense, but without Hunter and the NFL-bound trio of LaJohntay Wester, Will Sheppard, and Jimmy Horn Jr., it’s not nearly as loaded.
But Phillips is hopeful about what Brown can bring to the table. “But to be able to run curls, be able to run crossing routes more consistently, you know, down the field, catching the ball down the field, and turning small plays into big plays. He’s aware of that, and he will get opportunities to do that,” said the coach. Now that Brown has turned into an attention magnet, what propelled him to come this far?
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Here’s Sincere Brown’s idol, who inspires his game and ambitions
Brown is quickly building his reputation as one of the Buffs’ most electric weapons. He’s already cleared 200 yards on just seven catches, averaging nearly 30 yards a pop and proving he doesn’t need many touches to change a game. Even with three quarterbacks taking turns under center, Brown has been the constant, stretching the field for both Salter and Staub and turning deep shots into game-shifting plays.
With blazing speed and a knack for big moments, Brown is fast becoming a defensive coordinator’s nightmare and one of the most feared receivers in the Big 12. So, it’s definitely going to make the NFL world already start having FOMO. Looks like Deion’s star might have had the poster of an NFL star, an idol in his room. To Brown, San Francisco 49ers legend Randy Moss has been his idol.
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As he shared, “I idolized Randy Moss ever since I was a little kid That’s still to this day the best football player to ever touch a football in my life. Ever since I saw him as a young player, I always wanted to be like him in some type of way on the field.” As he now takes baby steps, Brown fits into the energy of Deion’s Colorado perfectly.

NUEVA YORK (AP) — El exjugador de fútbol americano de secundaria que mató a cuatro personas dentro de una torre de oficinas en Manhattan, que alberga la sede de la NFL, y que culpó a la liga de ocultar los peligros de las lesiones cerebrales, estaba sufriendo de encefalopatía traumática crónica (ETC), dijo el viernes un médico forense de la ciudad.
Shane Tamura, de 27 años, tenía

Trade speculation surrounding Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson has abounded of late, especially with quarterback Joe Burrow out with a turf toe injury.
If the Bengals do move Hendrickson before the NFL trade deadline in November, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles could come calling. USA Today’s Nate Davis named the Eagles as a “team to watch” among potential suitors for Hendrickson.
“They were linked to Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons earlier this year and could certainly use a veteran pass rusher after losing Super Bowl 59 hero Josh Sweat in free agency,” Davis wrote. “Also, OLB Nolan Smith just landed on IR.”
Philly’s challenge will be affording Hendrickson, as Bengals fans know all too well. Hendrickson has a one-year, $29 million deal with the Bengals, and he has been seeking a bigger contract all year.
A Look at the Trey Hendrickson Saga
Cincinnati acquired Hendrickson in 2021 as a free agent when he signed a four-year, $60 million deal. That has paid off for the Bengals with three seasons of 14 or more sacks, but Hendrickson’ asking price has been steep for the team, amid his strong production.
“He had an eventful summer, briefly holding out from training camp amid protracted negotiations with the team to agree on the raise both Hendrickson and the Bengals acknowledged he deserved after leading the NFL with 35 sacks over the 2023 and ’24 seasons,” Davis wrote. “Still, even though Hendrickson could now make up to $30 million in 2025, he’s nevertheless scheduled to walk in 2026.”
“Clearly, the Bengals didn’t pay him to trade him and have historically not been inclined to make splashy in-season moves. But Cincinnati, which did deal QB Carson Palmer during the 2011 campaign, also didn’t know two weeks ago that it would likely be without injured QB Joe Burrow for most of, if not the remainder of, the 2025 season.”
“And if the Bengals D is going to continue looking as bad as it did last Sunday in Minnesota, why not move on from Hendrickson, 30, at a time when his production could still warrant a nice return given he’ll very likely be on the move in a few months anyway,” Davis added.
How a Trey Hendrickson Trade With Philadelphia Could Look
If the Bengals do trade Hendrickson to the Eagles, here’s how it could look based on a trade proposal from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell before the season.
Barnwell proposed that the Eagles could send defensive lineman Jalyx Hunt, a 2026 third-round pick, and a conditional 2027 pick. Cincinnati would get a young talent in Hunt, who had 1.5 sacks and 10 tackles in four games as a rookie in 2024. He has four tackles in three games this season.
Philadelphia selected Hunt with a third-round pick out of Houston Christian, an FCS program. During his time at Houston Christian and Cornell, Hunt tallied 133 tackles, 13.5 sacks, an interception, and five forced fumbles across five collegiate seasons.
How much Hunt can develop is the unknown for the Bengals if that’s who the Eagles offer. In addition, the Bengals might not find comparable talent with a third-round pick or conditional pick, depending on where it falls, in comparison to what the team will lose with Hendrickson’s departure.

The gunman who killed four people in an NYC office building in July had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to the New York City medical examiner’s office.
The degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries sustained in football and other contact sports can only be diagnosed posthumously. The gunman, identified as Shane Tamura, died by suicide following the shooting, which took place in the building that houses the headquarters of the National Football League. The suspect had no known connection to the NFL.
The medical examiner “found unambiguous diagnostic evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as C.T.E., in the brain tissue of the decedent. The findings correspond with the classification of low-stage C.T.E., according to current consensus criteria,” according to a statement.
A multi-page note was found in Tamura’s pocket, claiming he was suffering from CTE related to his time playing high school football, a law enforcement source previously told Rolling Stone.
“Study my brain please. I’m sorry,” Tamura wrote, according to the source. The note also mentioned a 2013 Frontline documentary on the topic of CTE and referenced former NFL players who suffered from the disease. The note also accused the NFL of hiding football’s potential risk to players’ brains. “He blamed the NFL,” the law enforcement source said.
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CTE, a neurodegenerative brain disease that has been connected to repeated blows to the head, has been seen in athletes, including hockey players and boxers, as well as military veterans. The disease, which was found in a study of donated brains of NFL players, has been associated with “impulsivity, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and explosivity,” according to one study. Symptoms can include loss of memory, changes in mood, confusion, and difficulty thinking clearly.

The 2024 NFL season marked a journey of movement for rookie kicker Spencer Shrader. Initially an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts, Shrader later joined the New York Jets and then played for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2025, however, he finally found stability, securing the role of starting kicker for the Colts. This newfound stability extends beyond the field, as Shrader also revealed a significant personal milestone this year.
On July 5th, Spencer took to Instagram to announce his engagement to women’s national team midfielder Korbin Albert. The post featured a series of photos accompanied by a caption quoting Walt Whitman’s poem: “Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other for as long as we live?” With their engagement public, NFL fans and followers flocked online to learn more about Korbin.
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Who Is Spencer Shrader’s Wife, and What Does She Do?
Korbin Albert, now Korbin Shrader, is a professional soccer player and a prominent midfielder known for her versatility and dynamic playing style. She currently plays for OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and is a vital member of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).
Originally from Grayslake, Illinois, Korbin’s impressive journey includes playing collegiate soccer at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned accolades like ACC Midfielder of the Year and First-Team All-American honors. She finished her college career with over 20 goals and 30 assists, becoming one of the most decorated players in Notre Dame’s history and helping her team consistently rank among the nation’s best.
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After college, she took her talents to Europe, signing with French giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. At PSG, she quickly established herself as a creative force in midfield, contributing crucial goals and assists while helping the team reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals. Her performances in France drew significant attention, both for her technical skills and her ability to perform under pressure.
In 2024, Korbin returned to the U.S. to join OL Reign, where she has become a central figure in the club’s midfield, combining defensive grit with attacking vision. At just 21, she also proudly won an Olympic gold medal with the USWNT at the 2024 Paris Games, showcasing her growing influence on the international stage and cementing her reputation as one of the brightest young stars in women’s soccer.
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Spencer and Korbin Shrader’s love story
Spencer and Korbin Shrader met at the University of Notre Dame, where Spencer played football and Korbin played soccer. They bonded over similar values and faith, which became the foundation of their relationship. In July 2025, Spencer proposed using a Walt Whitman quote, “Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other for as long as we live?” and they married soon after. Their relationship seems about faith, teamwork, and mutual support, naturally admired by friends, teammates, and fans alike.
Support throughout Spencer Shrader’s career & their partnership
From Spencer’s early days as a college kicker to his professional tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, Korbin has been a critical source of encouragement and moral support. She often attends his games when her schedule allows, traveling between France and Indianapolis to be there for him. Her belief in his talent and perseverance has helped him face the pressures and uncertainties of a competitive football career, especially during high-stakes moments like contract negotiations and game-winning kicks. Spencer reciprocates by being deeply involved in her career — watching her matches live whenever possible and using his platform to celebrate her achievements.
As Spencer embraces the role of starting kicker for the Colts, their partnership continues to serve as a foundation for resilience, motivation, and shared success. They openly speak about relying on each other during tough stretches, leaning on their faith and shared values to maintain balance. Spencer Shrader and Korbin Albert’s journey from college sweethearts to a power couple balancing professional sports careers is truly inspiring. Their deep bond, rooted in faith and unwavering support, continues to fuel their growth on and off the field. Together, they look forward to building a future filled with love, success, and shared dreams.
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Korbin Shrader’s social media

The NFL Commissioner weighed in on the hottest league controversy this month, and he echoed what others around the league have said this month.
Roger Goodell put the onus on NFL teams to protect sensitive information while participating in production meetings with Tom Brady in his capacity as lead NFL analyst with FOX Sports.
Brady, of course, is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, owning roughly 5 percent of the team since October 2024.
Goodell opened up to CNBC reporter Alex Sherman for his newsletter. Aside from discussing Brady, Goodell also addressed expansion and the league’s potential media-rights expansion.
Goodell On Brady: ‘Where’s the Conflict?’
Though independent media members have pointed out the perceived conflict of interest of a minority owner — who reportedly participates in Raiders offensive gameplans and discusses concepts with Las Vegas offensive coordinator Chip Kelly — Goodell apparently doesn’t see it that way since Brady is barred from visiting rival teams’ facilities.
“Where’s the conflict?” Goodell continued. “He’s not hanging around in the facilities. We don’t allow that.”
Under the terms of Brady’s ownership approval, he is required to do interviews with coaches and players remotely and is barred from attending practices and getting other access. Brady, himself, opened up about it in a blog post on his website Wednesday.
Goodell’s logic has been backed by current coaches like Brian Schottenheimer and Ben Johnson. The coach of the Chicago Bears said “there’s not going to be any trade secrets that are going to be exchanged,” according to ESPN.
According to Sherman, “Goodell was animated when speaking about the perceived conflict of interest. He fundamentally dismissed the notion that there was a problem.”
“Teams have the right to say whatever they want,” Goodell said. “They don’t have to disclose information if they think it’s a conflict of interest. We have a lot of former players in those meetings who are close to their former teams. Our clubs are smart enough to say, ‘I’m not sharing something with him.’”
NFL ‘Could’ Expand Outside the United States, per Roger Goodell
The NFL has had 32 teams for 23 years and surprisingly, the topic of expansion has not come up in recent years, despite open markets like St. Louis, San Diego, San Antonio and others.
Still, Sherman asked Goodell about expanding internationally, which has apparently piqued the commissioner’s interest.
“I don’t know if I could predict that, but I would say that the markets outside the U.S. are very, very attractive,” said Goodell, “and we’ve got pretty good coverage here.”
Goodell and the NFL are openly flirting with London as a potential expansion market, since the league has played more games there since opening games in the United Kingdom in 2007.
The Minnesota Vikings will play the first of two straight games in Great Britain on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland before playing the Cleveland Browns the London on Oct. 5.
Minnesota’s game against Cleveland will be the first of three games in London this season, and Goodell explained why it is attractive, albeit challenging, as a potential NFL market.
“There are markets that could certainly support a team,” Goodell said. “We’ve always focused on, what are the competitive consequences of that? Can we manage that, and so every year we try to learn something from the international series.”

Last year in June, Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes players came together for a shoot. Before the event, Deion was in his van taking care of his amputated foot. That’s when the Buffs’ head coach engaged in sharing some philosophical thoughts. He said, “This is no joke. Sometimes it hurt where the toes are supposed to be..how does that hurt where the toes are supposed to be? You know that makes me know that we care about things in life that are no longer with us but it’s with us.” That’s when Shilo barged in and put up a mischievous act, imitating Kurdish butcher chef, Nusret Gökçe, aka Salt Bae, sprinkling salt on his dad’s legs. But the tables turned as Deion now sprinkles salt with a reality check for Shilo.
Deion’s son didn’t secure a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster after training camp. But looks like NFL aspirations aren’t over. The setback is just a bump in the road for Shilo. He took his talents to the West Coast, working out with the San Francisco 49ers. Now, who better knows Shilo in and out than his father? Looks like he spent his time in California discussing a little more than football. That’s when Deion shared the current status of his son.
Colorado insider JaKi posted a clip from Coach Prime’s latest interview. In the clip, he thought of lighting up the mood and shared how he pulled Shilo’s leg. Deion said, “Shilo is an entertainer. If I close my eyes and pick a kid that’s going to make it out of my five, Shilo will make it. That’s who he is. He also had a workout with the 49ers this past week. I said, ‘Son, just a random question. When was the last time you run?’ He said, ‘I’ve been working out.’ ‘I know you like a book, son.’”
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Deion, being the typical dad, always pushes their children to be the best version of themselves. He came with the reality check in the hope that it might stir up Shilo, motivating him to leave no stone unturned in his efforts. After going undrafted, Shilo signed with the Buccaneers and jumped into training camp and preseason action. He was waived after the third preseason game, which also saw him ejected for throwing a punch and fined $4,669. Looks like more than Shilo, Deion prays for his son to achieve great heights, being part of the San Francisco squad.
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Kyle Shanahan’s secondary has been battered by injuries, prompting the team to bring in six players for tryouts. And they tried with Shilo. The connection between the former Buffs safety and the NFL program carries a bit of history, too. Deion spent a standout season with the 49ers in 1994, helping them capture a Super Bowl title.
Landing with the 49ers would be a feel-good story, but the odds are running slim for Shilo. After coming up short with the Buccaneers, even on their practice squad, he faces an uphill climb to carve out a place in the NFL. While dad Deion keeps things light, yanking Shilo’s chain, Deion has one more thing keeping him up at night.
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Deion Sanders’ plate is full of too many worries
This weekend is going to be a real test for Deion’s boys. Colorado’s wound from last year’s Alamo Bowl is still fresh. Kalani Sitake’s BYU Cougars crushed the Buffaloes, handing them a 14-36 defeat. Already, Deion and co. might be looking for some motivational juice to oomph up their 2-2 record. Apparently, the head coach looks all cool. In an interview with BYU Sports analyst Ben Criddle, he only had good things to say about Sitake.
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“BYU Coach Sitake, I consider him a friend. I consider him a dear, dear, dear friend and a God-fearing man, which I adore. Man of standard, man of principle, and a darn good coach, and a good dude. He’s gonna have his team ready,” said Deion. But deep inside, the Buffs’ head coach is running impatient to make his failed promise come true.
Before the Alamo Bowl last season, Deion had kept the expectations high. He promised, “I’m pretty sure we’re going to break that [record], because I know what Coach [Sitake] is going to bring to the table, and I know how deep our fans come, so we’re going to sell this game out, expeditiously. So get ready to put a little tickets in the cut.” But the result was truly disappointing. While they had to break the 66,166 record, only 64,261 turned out.
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