Through two games, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is playing like a guy ready to add another MVP trophy to his mantle.

After leading the Bills to a 2-0 start, Allen is off to one of the strongest statistical openings of his career. He’s thrown for 582 yards and five touchdowns while adding another 92 yards and four scores on the ground.

These impressive numbers also come without Allen throwing an interception.

Speaking with Colin Cowherd on “The Herd,” seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady broke down Allen’s development. He immediately focused on Allen’s development under Brian Daboll before he left to take the New York Giants head coaching job. 

“I thought there was a lot of development that took place when he had Brian Daboll as his [offensive] coordinator,” Brady said. “I think he learned the system. He’s got an awesome ability to improvise and we’ve seen that for a long time.”

Beyond Allen’s physical traits, Brady pointed out that his ability to avoid negative plays has been his biggest area of growth. Early in his career, turnovers were a frequent criticism, but Allen has turned his play on the field into a far more disciplined decision-maker.

“He’s got the big arm, the legs and can kind of run the big plays,” Brady said. “It’s always been ‘how can he eliminate the negative plays?’ The bonehead fumbles, the bonehead sacks and those plays are the ones that put your team behind the eight ball.”

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As a Hall of Fame passer renowned for protecting the football, Brady recognized the same growth in Allen. In fact, Brady pointed to eliminating negative plays as the single biggest sign of Allen’s development and maturity.

“Sometimes the best play is throwing the ball away,” Brady said. “Playing for a second down and staying in those situations. Eliminating the negative plays. I think for him, that’s where I’ve seen his game mature the most.”

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Deion Sanders dismissed several players from the team on the heels of Colorado’s first loss.

The Buffaloes coach didn’t specify Tuesday which players were no longer with the program but indicated it was for a pattern of behavior and not just what transpired in a 41-7 loss at Northwestern.

“It’s never one thing,” Sanders said. “Those guys will tell you: I’m the most loving, giving and forgiving man you can ever meet. But when you start being conduct detrimental to the team that will set us back in things that you’re doing — you don’t care about the team. You care about you. I have a problem with that.”

Sanders referenced last season when things went sideways and the team finished 3-9.

“A year ago, I didn’t put my foot down in it enough,” he said. “It lingered a little bit. Then, it imploded. I’m not doing that. I’m not doing that anymore.”

Defensive back Ben Finneseth spoke to reporters before Sanders did and apologized after he was caught in a video speaking harshly of Northwestern’s temporary stadium before the game. A player in a video posted on social media can be heard saying, “(expletive) sounds like a (expletive) library. It’s football.”

Finneseth said Tuesday: “It was childish. It was a stupid thing that I said. It won’t happen again, and the way I handled it was horrible. I promise you guys that it will not happen again, and it will be much more mature moving forward. So I apologize.”

Before Finneseth left, Sanders shook his hand and added, “that’s why I love you.”

The coach took accountability, too.

“I don’t push the buck and push the blame on anyone else. It’s on me,” Sanders said. “We want to win the right way, and we want to do what’s right. But the whole thing is about winning. We don’t want to ever employ a losing type of sentiment. We don’t want to do things that are associated with losers and bad-mouth opponents and do that kind of stuff. That’s not who we are.”

Ben Finneseth was caught on camera criticizing Northwestern’s temporary stadium, but on Tuesday apologized for his remarks. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

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The Buffaloes are trying to rebound after a game in which they had four turnovers and committed nine penalties for 80 yards.

“A loss by 10, a loss by three, a loss by 30 — it hurts me. There’s no degrees of loss,” Sanders said. “Like, there’s no degrees of sin. A sin is a sin. A loss is a loss to me.”

Sanders is putting everything under a microscope as the Buffaloes prepare for Saturday’s game at Baylor. At the top of the list: penalties.

Colorado has 28 penalties for 247 yards so far this season. It’s frustrating to Sanders, who pointed out the team is disciplined in everything it does on the practice field.

“Then when you get out from the field and you’re undisciplined, I don’t understand,” Sanders said. “It’s hard to fathom.

“We’re challenging them to be who they say they want to be.”

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The message hit home for players such as linebacker Tyler Martinez, who recently received a “D” patch — it stands for “Dawg” — from the coaching staff for being a playmaker.

“It’s hard to see somebody go,” Martinez said of the dismissals. “Like Coach Prime said, it’s about the team. If you’re about yourself, got to do what’s best for us.”

Sanders had several leaders approach him about how to get ahead of this so more dismissals don’t occur. They want to help stay on top of the situation.

“I applaud them for that,” Sanders said, “coming to me ready to get ahead of it.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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While coach Lionel Scaloni continues to mull over his future at the helm of Argentina’s national team, his players have left no doubt about where they stand.

“For me, he is one of the most important coaches,” midfielder Nicolas Paz said upon arriving in Buenos Aires on Tuesday for training camp. “He gave me my debut, and I hope he stays.”

Scaloni, whose contract is set to expire in December, had hinted at stepping down following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final in July. He remains in negotiations with the Argentine Football Association over a potential extension.

Veteran defender Cristian Romero added: “We hope he stays. He is the key figure in building this national team, so obviously we want him to continue.”

(Photo by Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Other squad members echoed the sentiment. Defender Leonardo Balerdi called it “a privilege” if Scaloni remains, while Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni highlighted the manager’s impact, stating, “He gave everything to the national team in recent times and made all Argentines very happy.”

Goalkeeper Juan Musso emphasized the deep connection within the squad: “Given the success he’s had and what he built with this team, we hold him in high regard and have great affection for him.”

A Historic Legacy

(Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)

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Since taking charge eight years ago, the 48-year-old Scaloni has overseen one of the most dominant runs in international football.

As the architect behind the 2022 World Cup title and back-to-back Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024, Scaloni boasts a remarkable record over 104 matches: 76 wins, 18 draws, and just 10 losses.

Argentina lost to Spain 1-0 in the World Cup final in July. Scaloni orchestrated the longest undefeated streak in Argentine history, spanning 36 games.

Scaloni has not spoken publicly since returning to Argentina, but he is scheduled to address the media in a press conference next Tuesday ahead of the opening friendly against Bolivia in Córdoba.

Messi’s Farewell

Adding to the emotional weight of the upcoming international window, Argentina will host friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6. The final match at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires will serve as an official farewell to captain Lionel Messi, following his announcement of international retirement.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere (yes, we’re making that joke).

The New York Mets announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve named interim manager Andy Green their full-time skipper. Green inked a three-year extension with the Mets that runs through the 2029 MLB season.

“Andy has connected with and pushed our players to perform, despite the disappointment of the season,” Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement, according to MLB.com. “Over the last several months, he has brought discipline, accountability and positivity to the clubhouse, attributes we were seeking in our next manager.”

Green was named New York’s interim manager on June 26 in the wake of manager Carlos Mendoza being fired given the team’s 34-47 start. Since Green took over as manager, the Mets are 37-38.

The Mets mark Green’s second full-time managerial stint as he was previously the manager of the San Diego Padres from 2016-19, accumulating a combined 274-366 record.

“When I accepted the interim role, I didn’t anticipate it becoming permanent, but the more time I spent with our players and staff, the clearer it became that this is where my passion and experience could make the greatest impact,” Green said in a statement.

Green’s MLB coaching career began in 2015, as he was the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being fired by the Padres in Sept. 2019, Green became the bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, a position he’d hold from 2020-23 before joining the Mets as the Senior Vice President for Player Development for the 2024 season. Green actually finished his MLB career as a player with the Mets in 2009.

The Mets are 71-85, good for last place in the National League East. They’ve missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

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France star Kylian Mbappé did not train with his teammates Tuesday because of a bout of the flu, the team said.

The French players have gathered at Clairefontaine, on the outskirts of Paris, for a training camp ahead of Nations League matches.

France plays away against Turkey on Friday and at Belgium next Monday before hosting Italy on Oct. 2 and Belgium on Oct. 5.

Mbappé, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, remains the team captain under new coach Zinédine Zidane.

This summer, the Real Madrid forward overtook Lionel Messi for the most all-time World Cup goals (22).

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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College sports are in a state of chaos — at least that’s what certain corners of Capitol Hill will tell you.

The industry has been thrust into a shift toward professionalism following decades of resistance to changing economics. That rub has created an environment lacking central governance and authority in a world where rules have merely become suggestions in a way that’s never been more apparent.

Those fears from administrators, commissioners and other stakeholders led, at least in part, to the introduction of the Protect College Sports Act in June.

The PCSA is currently weaving its way through Congress and presents the best chance the industry has had for federal legislation — albeit the journey remains arduous and complicated.

Here’s a brief explainer on what it entails and what comes next:

What Is The Protect College Sports Act?

The PCSA is a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that aims to bring governance to college sports.

It’s essentially a spiritual sequel to the House settlement — a sweeping antitrust suit resolved last summer that combined the House, Hubbard and Carter cases and opened the door for schools to pay athletes directly.

The primary objectives of the PCSA include:

• Implementing a “hard” revenue-share cap and closing loopholes to avoid schools utilizing multimedia rights partners (MMRs) and other partners to circumvent the cap
• Establishing a $22.5 million retention fund, with up to $5 million in additional retention spending earmarked for women’s and Olympic sports ($27.5 million total)
• Adding certification requirements for MMRs, sponsors, apparel companies and vendors to ensure legitimate NIL deals

The bill also stipulates varying regulations around transfer rules, conference realignment, coaching movement and other topics du jour percolating around college sports in the current climate.

The NCAA — which has long supported federal legislation through millions of dollars spent in lobbying efforts — sent its membership a memo on Friday that outlined key points of the bill, such as requiring the NCAA to oversee school compliance, preserving existing broadcast contracts and defining the reach of national eligibility rules.

The conference realignment clause has been a crucial piece of the puzzle in recent weeks as earlier drafts of the bill capped maximum conference membership at 19 schools, while those institutions attempting to depart would be required to spend five years as an independent. Recent reporting, however, indicates that language has been adjusted to force just three years of independence, while that specific provision would sunset after six years.

Not coincidentally, that six-year window that would open the door for schools to again jump ship more freely coincides with the expiration of a number of television contracts across the college sports ecosystem that are slated to come due over the next five-plus years.

Who Are The Major Names That Are Backing The Act?

Cruz and Cantwell have been the key names in the Senate pushing legislation, but there are plenty of other key voices with vested interests in its passage.

The Big Ten and SEC were among the last conferences to offer their support of the bill as they worked through varying language changes with lawmakers over the summer (Again, keep an eye on expansion language). The ACC, Big 12 and others across the FBS have also lent their support to the bill.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti were among the last conference commissioners to offer their support of the Protect College Sports Act. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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The other key name that has been instrumental in the bill’s progression to this point is Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell. The former Red Raiders football player-turned-oil baron and his 501(c)4 Saving College Sports has been a staunch advocate for the bill, running commercials pushing for its approval for months.

Those opposed to the bill include a handful of Senators on both sides of the aisle and a number of organizations designed to represent athletes’ interests in ongoing conversations about labor and college sports.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), who himself played football at Stanford, have been among the notable vocal critics of the bill.

When Could The Protect College Sports Act Pass?

The PCSA is still very much in flux.

The bill took an important step last week, receiving 74 of 100 possible votes in its favor to halt debate and invoke cloture in the Senate — technical terminology that effectively means move it to be voted on. 

The shift does not guarantee passage in the Senate, but it marked a crucial move amid a handful of procedural votes required to proceed the bill, eventually, into the House. Now comes two more votes in the Senate before it might be passed — efforts that could happen as soon as Tuesday.

That said, the timeline remains tight and a fight in Congress’ other wing looms.

The Senate is slated to go on its pre-election recess on Oct. 3, giving lawmakers just two weeks to guide the bill onto the House, where it’s expected to receive significant pushback.

The Protect College Sports Act could pass the Senate this week. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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There is also the matter of the coming midterm elections, which figure to reshape the composition of the House and Senate. Given the widespread bipartisan support the PCSA has enjoyed thus far, that may not be a killer. 

However, those involved in the proceedings have cautioned that the House presents a stiffer challenge for passage than the Senate and there figures to be a notable shake-up in who is actually in office by the time this might come to a vote.

College sports might just get its bill through the Senate this week. What happens beyond that? 

That’s anyone’s guess.

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It isn’t hard to figure out the storylines going into the 2027 INDYCAR season — even with the opening race still more than five months away.

Alex Palou will have a new teammate in 2027. And two of his former teammates are teammates once again.

Looking at the 2026 offseason and into 2027, here are my top storylines:

1.Alex Palou’s New Teammate

The new teammate for Palou at Chip Ganassi Racing hasn’t been announced, but hopefully Christian Lundgaard’s name can finally officially be a part of the CGR story.

Lundgaard, who finished third in the standings, will replace six-time INDYCAR champ Scott Dixon, who had raced at CGR for the last 25 years.

That’s almost bizarre to write. A driver third in the standings was released from his team and a driver who has spent a quarter century with one team felt it was time to leave.

It’s still TBD on when exactly they get into the cars with their new teams to test.

2.The Rest Of Silly Season

Beyond the CGR No. 9 car, there are five openings left for next year.

A.J. Foyt Racing hasn’t announced who will drive its No. 4 car and Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing have not announced their lineups.

Rinus VeeKay is expected to return to JHR, which possibly could go through an ownership change with Brad Hollinger potentially assuming full control of the organization. Caio Collet (A.J. Foyt Racing last season) and Nolan Siegel (Arrow McLaren) are possibilities for the other seat, driven in 2026 by Sting Ray Robb.

Dennis Hauger has already announced a move from DCR to Foyt and whether Romain Grosjean returns at DCR is debatable.

Among the candidates, in addition to Collet and Seigel to be in new places next year on the INDYCAR grid are: Callum Ilott, who was on the sidelines this year while under contract with Prema; Santino Ferrucci (although he possibly could return to Foyt at least in an Indy 500 capacity); Indy NXT champion Nikita Johnson; and Indy NXT competitors Enzo Fittipaldi and Josh Pierson.

3.New-Look McLaren

As mentioned earlier, Scott Dixon is headed to Arrow McLaren. He will be joined by Felix Rosenqvist, the Indianapolis 500 winner who will move from Meyer Shank Racing to McLaren. 

Rosenqvist, a former driver at McLaren as well as a former driver at Chip Ganassi Racing, is very familiar with former (and now current) teammates Dixon and Pato O’Ward.

The moves are designed to give the organization a better shot at winning the Indianapolis 500. 

4.   Ganassi vs. McLaren

I know, I know, they race against all teams.

But the comparisons will be inevitable next year, especially if Lundgaard builds on his 2026 breakout season. 

These two organizations do not like each other (or at least the ownership doesn’t). And whoever gets the best of the Dixon-Lundgaard trade will likely be considered part of the organization’s legacy.

5.2027 Schedule

INDYCAR has announced the first eight races of its 2027 season, but what about the second half of the year? And what about more international events?

It seems as if there is a back and forth about whether the series will go to additional international locations. 

INDYCAR will be back at Markham in Ontario next season but will there be other races abroad in 2027 or 2028? Brazil? Colombia? Spain? Mexico? 

Teams won’t be thrilled with extra costs, considering they are preparing for a new car. But in an effort to grow the sport’s international fanbase, another race outside the United States could likely help.

6.IR-28 Testing

Speaking of the 2028 car, more testing is occurring over the next month. 

A Sebring test is scheduled for October and a test at one of the short ovals is also expected. Once that testing is complete, production of parts and pieces and engine development will accelerate.

7.Will Team Penske Return To Prominence?

Team Penske drivers finished fifth (David Malukas), sixth (Scott McLaughlin) and eighth (Josef Newgarden) in the 2026 standings. Those finishes — combined with three victories (two for Newgarden and one for McLaughlin) — indicate a solid season. 

But they still ranked behind drivers from Ganassi (Alex Palou), Andretti Global (Kyle Kirkwood) and Arrow McLaren (Christian Lundgaard, Pato O’Ward). 

Penske isn’t used to being fourth in line. 

The first step is to get healthy, as both Newgarden and Malukas were saddled by injuries during the season.

8.Dreyer & Reinbold Is Back Full Time

After purchasing a charter from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold are back full time for 2027. They have Conor Daly as their driver and will have a relationship with RLL as a Honda team. 

It will be interesting to see how this team builds to returning to full-time competition instead of solely an Indianapolis 500 team.

9.Officiating Changes

After one year of an Independent Officiating Board, what changes will they incorporate for 2027? 

Will there be any new processes and procedures or any new key officials? They made some changes during 2026, including the issuing of post-weekend reports, and it would be natural to think more changes could be on the way.

10.What’s Next For Colton Herta?

What will Colton Herta do after his miserable Formula 2 season that didn’t produce as many FIA super license points as hoped? A return to INDYCAR isn’t likely for 2027 but many in INDYCAR will be watching to see if he can navigate his way into a Cadillac Formula 1 seat.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Some of the biggest names in INDYCAR — including a past champion — will be making moves after the 2026 season. Here’s the latest.

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Since EA Sports College Football made its comeback in 2024, fans have been asking for real-life coaches in the game. That feature was finally added in last year’s game, but Deion Sanders was missing for Colorado.

Well, on Tuesday, that changed when EA Sports College Football 27 officially added Sanders to the game. His inclusion completes the full Buffaloes coaching staff in the game, joining offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and defensive coordinator Chris Marve.

Sanders was one of several high-profile coaches missing from the game when it was released in July. Other notable missing coaches include Bill Belichick (North Carolina), Mario Cristobal (Miami), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) and Neal Brown (North Texas).

The addition of Sanders comes as quite a surprise, considering he was asked about his absence at last year’s Big 12 Football Media Day. His response focused on EA Sports potentially not paying enough, while also revealing he was barely aware of the situation.

“I don’t know about the video game,” Sanders said. “I have a wonderful team that handles a lot of business for me. If I’m not in the game, that means they weren’t paying enough. It didn’t fit where we’re going right now. That’s probably it. It was probably that simplistic.”  

Whether Sanders and EA Sports officially settled on a licensing deal remains unknown at this time. However, his long-awaited debut finally gives fans their first chance to see Coach Prime on the virtual sidelines since the recent college football game releases.

With Sanders now officially included, players get an authentic look at building the Colorado program around him. The Buffaloes were given a B+ prestige grade, reflecting a strong, above-average standing that positively influences recruiting and team reputation.

Sanders’ win-loss record at Colorado has been mixed, but fans can now step into his shoes coaching the program.

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The MLB regular season is heading into its final week, with playoff seeding and postseason berths still up for grabs across both leagues.

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The Brewers can clinch the NL No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win over the Phillies or a Braves’ loss to the Reds. The Cubs can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Marlins or a Diamondbacks’ loss to the Rockies, while the Padres can clinch with a win over the Dodgers and a Diamondbacks loss. 

In the AL, the Rays can clinch the AL East and No. 1 seed with a win over the Yankees in either game of their doubleheader, while the Yankees can clinch the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage in the wild-card series with a win in either game or a Red Sox loss to the Guardians.

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MLB Games Today

*Probabilities are subject to change* 

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
MIL Brewers	40%	40¢	61¢
PHI Phillies	61%	61¢	40¢

Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
CLE Guardians	49%	49¢	52¢
BOS Red Sox	54%	52¢	449¢

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
TB Rays	47%	47¢	54¢
NY Yankees	53%	54¢	47¢

San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
SD Padres	47%	46¢	55¢
LA Dodgers	54%	55¢	46¢

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The Los Angeles Rams are back, and quarterback injuries were just a couple of the storylines from an interesting Week 2 of the NFL.

Colin Cowherd revealed his Herd Hierarchy rankings, which featured a new team at No. 1 and five new teams in the rankings after their dominant wins last weekend.

Here are Cowherd’s Week 2 Herd Hierarchy rankings: 

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: Unranked

Cowherd’s thoughts: I’m going to put the Lions at 10 because of their firepower. They’ve scored 30-plus in both games and allowed 30-plus in both games. Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, not sure who else I trust on the defensive side. But Jared Goff is the only quarterback this season with six touchdowns and no picks. They rank second offensively in big plays, but last in big plays allowed. I like the GM, I like the coach, I like the offensive firepower. 

Once again, it feels like an annual thing; they’re banged up defensively. I don’t trust them holding leads. But it’s an offensive league; they’ve got a ton of firepower.

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: Unranked

Cowherd’s thoughts: Is anybody paying attention to the Saints? They outscored the Ravens in Baltimore 15-0 in the fourth. Tyler Shough, they found their guy. He’s sneaky athletic. He’s got size. He’s throwing the ball to the right guy, Chris Olave. In the fourth quarter in overtime this year, two road games, 78% completion. 

They have a real roster. We picked them to win their division. They looked very good in the second half of both Detroit and Baltimore. They dominated the Ravens like people don’t do in Baltimore.

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: Unranked

Cowherd’s thoughts: Drake Maye’s been uneven. A.J. Brown is unavailable. But I’ll put the Patriots, who are 14-2 in their last 16 games. They win, and when Christian Gonzalez is healthy, it is an excellent defense. They’re one of seven teams to allow 300 or fewer yards in the first two weeks. They held the Steelers to three and a half yards per play. 

I still think their O-line is mid. We’ll keep our fingers crossed on how A.J. Brown works, but coaching, culture, defensive front, elite secondary — I got the Patriots at eight.

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: Unranked

Cowherd’s thoughts: We all know the Rams are better than seven, but they don’t have Myles Garrett; they don’t have Puka Nacua. They’re not, I don’t think, dialed in yet. [Matthew] Stafford got lucky a few times last night. Davante Adams made some insane catches, but it’s a little Noah’s Ark.

Three tight ends I like, two defensive interior linemen, a couple of rush edges, two good running backs. Stafford is not going to give you a lot of wiggle. They’re, right now, not entirely polished, not playing clean football. There’s fumbles. There’s interceptions. There’s penalties. They’re better than seven, but that’s where I’ll put them now.

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 10 ↑

Cowherd’s thoughts: I’ll say the same about the Eagles; they’re in a three-and-out factory. In September the last five years, they’re 14-2. Nobody wins ugly like Philadelphia. I will say, [Dontayvion] Wicks and DeVonta Smith are a real tandem. Makai Lemon hasn’t done anything as a rookie wide receiver; they haven’t needed him. 

The offense isn’t clicking. They’re 14th in scoring, 14th in yards per play. I can like Jalen Hurts simultaneously and think sometimes he holds them back.”

Record: 1-1

Previous ranking: 9 ↑

Cowherd’s thoughts: Keep your eye on Cincinnati. The Bengals spent money on defense. It was the worst run defense in the league. All I’m going to say is, it’s not anymore. They look different. They are forcing turnovers. They have a very physical defensive front. They didn’t even play well against the Texans, and dominated them. They held the running backs to 18 rush yards on 14 carries. 

They have solved a big dilemma. I think they were going to be viewed as one of the most improved teams in the NFL, and so far, they are.

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 7 ↑

Cowherd’s thoughts: They don’t have Josh Simmons; that does worry me. But have you noticed that Travis Kelce looks 26 years old? It’s amazing when you have a legitimate running game, you can’t cheat against Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. Suddenly, Rice looks like a great deep threat. And Travis Kelce is wide open. And that’s what happens when you have a run game and safeties can’t cheat and linebackers can’t cheat. 

[Patrick] Mahomes looks spry. If you look at yards per play allowed, it’s Andy’s best defense. Is it? I don’t know. But they’re only allowing four and a half yards per play.

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 6 ↑

Cowherd’s thoughts: It’s hard to judge the Niners. All the old guys are healthy, and Miami’s going to help everyone’s data look great. But Brock Purdy, playing with leads, and he’s barely been hit, and he hasn’t been sacked. So it’s kind of hard to say. It’s like a dominant college team; Brock Purdy hasn’t even been rushed. 

But I will say this: they’ve had 11 incomplete passes and 10 scoring drives. So they’re accomplishing what they should. And we know when healthy: [Christian] McCaffrey, [George] Kittle, Trent [Williams], Fred Warner, these are all Hall of Famers, and [Nick] Bosa. We know their top end’s great. But the question is, will they be available on Thanksgiving?

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 1 ↓

Cowherd’s thoughts: Offensive coach with Josh Allen has really been pivotal. Dalton Kincaid leads all tight ends in receiving yards. The defense looks good enough; they’ve spent a lot of draft capital on this defense. But I think Josh Allen, I think most quarterbacks are all better with an offensive head coach. 

Doesn’t mean you can’t win Super Bowls, like Seattle with a defensive head coach. They’re facing the Los Angeles Chargers this week; good luck to Los Angeles there.

Record: 2-0

Previous ranking: 2 ↑

Cowherd’s thoughts: Only Seattle can go to a backup [quarterback] — a backup most of us don’t love — and throttle teams. I don’t know what their weakness is. They’re even good on special teams. They lose a running back, but they still have a great run game. They lose a top corner, two of them, and still have good corners. 

[Jaxon Smith-Njigba] is 40% of their offense; you worry a little about that. They’re very JSN-dependent. He has four of their five total touchdowns this year. But [Sam] Darnold gives them an athletic lingo they don’t currently have with Drew Lock. They’re allowing 3.8 yards per play. They are the fastest defense, to me, sideline to sideline in the NFL.

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