NFL trade deadline day didn’t spark a ton of fireworks, but plenty of fireworks were shot off in the days and weeks leading up to Tuesday.

Of the deals that were made on deadline day, though, none were bigger than the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to reunite with Kirk Cousins. The Vikings gave up a third-round pick to land Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders as their quarterback struggles were clearly holding them back. 

Other moves, like the massive trades the Jacksonville Jaguars made on Monday or the deal the Chicago Bears swung two weeks ago, could define this season’s homestretch and postseason. And on the flip side, the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles waved the white flag on the season, securing major draft capital. 

So, what should we make of the biggest trade deadline deals? Who won and lost the trade deadline? We asked those questions to general managers, executives and scouts around the league. Here’s what we learned. 

Eric D. Williams: While giving Minnesota props for securing a quality quarterback at the trade deadline, an NFL contract negotiator also questioned the team’s personnel department in evaluating previous quarterback decisions and their fit in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system.

“It’s crazy how expectations can spiral so quickly,” the league source told me. “And I mean this more so in regard to Kyler Murray. Going into the season, the expectation was that Kyler was the high-ceiling QB who could return O’Connell’s offense to prominence. But from a pro scouting standpoint, the Minnesota front office clearly missed. And now they’re without a third-round pick.

“Good for them for cutting their losses and acquiring Cousins, but it’s clear that the Murray signing [while not costing them hardly any money] was a swing and a miss.”

The contract negotiator sees Cousins as a clear upgrade, but questioned whether the 38-year-old can stay healthy enough to help lead the Vikings on a deep postseason run, considering his past injury history.

“I’m not going to discredit what Cousins can do for Minnesota,” the league source told me. “With how that defense is playing, Cousins’ acquisition could also fall in the ‘shooting our shot’ bucket.

“They just need him to be competent in KOC’s offense. They don’t need him to play hero ball. If he can just run the offense, then they’ll have a chance. But yes, health is a concern.”

Another league source told me Daniel Jones would have been a better fit if available, but overall liked the trade.

“I wish they could have picked up Daniel, but I understand their thinking,” the league source said. “And if the MNF game had gone well, they would not have done anything.”

Ralph Vacchiano: For the most part, this is being viewed as a classic win-win trade, to varying degrees.

For the Vikings, the win is obvious: They found what might be the perfect starting QB for them, and it “only” cost them a third-round pick. 

“I mean, they were desperate,” one NFL general manager told me. “They were calling everybody. And they had to do it. [Kyler] Murray and [Carson] Wentz had been terrible. They were going to cost them a real chance at a Super Bowl. I would’ve held out for a second, at least, and I think they would’ve had to pay it. They weren’t coming out of this without a quarterback.”

They also got what another NFL executive told me was the “perfect guy for them” — a former Viking who knows Kevin O’Connell’s offense and No. 1 wide receiver Justin Jefferson and won’t need long to get up to speed. 

“If you think about it, it’s kind of a miracle,” the executive told me. “The right guy at the right price, and he’s available halfway through the season. What are the odds it works out like that?”

As for the Raiders, the general manager summed up their win like this: “They got a 3 for a guy they were going to bench soon anyway. Maybe they have to turn to Fernando Mendoza (their rookie No. 1 overall pick) a little earlier than they wanted. But it was coming soon anyway. Their future is the kid, not the old man. And now they got a Day 2 pick to help the rebuild, too.”

Williams: Both league sources I spoke with about Taylor being on the trade market were not surprised the elite running back stayed in Indianapolis.

“I don’t know why the Colts would have traded Taylor at all unless they received a crazy offer,” an NFL agent told me. “A new GM and coach would want him. He is 27 and under contract for two years. He just did an extension, so trading him borders on asinine. The Colts could get going the rest of the way. The schedule is reasonable to do so.”

Another league source I talked with believes the Colts are holding Taylor hostage by keeping him on a losing roster that’s tanking the rest of the season.

“People lose sight that the players in the locker room are humans,” the league source told me. “With everything over the last two weeks pointing to Taylor moving on and him effectively saying his goodbyes after their last game, it was the absolute wrong thing for them to do by not moving him.

“I’m hoping he comes up with a mysterious injury that puts him on IR for the rest of the season, and then they move him in the offseason. That would be the right thing to do.” 

Jonathan Taylor was arguably the top name on the trade market ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

Vacchiano: I thought the Colts made the right decision, but I didn’t find many people who agreed with me. Most of my sources saw the decision as a “surprise,” and they believed the Colts were going to take the best offer they had, which was believed to be a second-round pick plus a fourth- or fifth-round pick too.

 “That’s a good deal for a running back,” one NFL source told me. “They are in a total rebuild. They sold a bunch of their best players. They have huge questions about their offensive line and quarterback. They’re going to have a new GM soon, and maybe a coach. And they’re holding on to a 27-year-old running back as the centerpiece of their rebuilding? Who does that?”

“Taylor is a great player if he’s on a good team,” an AFC scout told me. “The Colts won’t be good again for a while, which makes him dead weight. They should’ve taken the 2-plus, fixed their line, and just replaced him with someone younger.” 

“I was shocked,” the general manager told me. “Really thought he was gone. I love [Taylor], but I don’t know what they’re thinking. And I wouldn’t be shocked if the new GM tries to trade him in the offseason before free agency starts.”

  Bears, Eagles Among Biggest Winners

Williams: The Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars are the biggest winners from the moves they made at this year’s trade deadline, according to league sources I spoke with.

“I think Chicago and Jacksonville benefited the most,” a league source told me. “They are clearly shooting their shot for a Super Bowl appearance this year.”

The Bears, of course, supercharged their defense with the addition of Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jeffery Simmons. Meanwhile, the Jaguars also addressed their deficiencies on defense by adding safety Jesse Bates, along with defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux.

Chicago and Jacksonville have two of the best offenses in the league, led by Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence, respectively. We’ll see if the defensive upgrades push them over the edge to becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders at the end of the year.

One national scout said the Jaguars could be the biggest winners or biggest losers with their “F’ them picks” approach to trading premium picks for premium players, like the Los Angeles Rams. And that makes sense, with general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen both having spent time in Los Angeles.

“The Jaguars might be the biggest winner and loser,” the scout told me. “They went all in and if they win it all, then it’s a win. Or they could lose! But I like the aggressive approach because I think the race is wide open.”

Jeffery Simmons has made an impact in his first two games with the Bears, logging a sack in each. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

Vacchiano: Three teams kept coming up in my discussions with league sources: The Vikings, Jaguars and the Eagles, though a few did praise the Colts and Bears, too.

The Vikings praise was all about the Kirk Cousins deal. 

“Finding a QB who can be the difference between making the Super Bowl or not is a huge win no matter how you look at it,” one NFL executive told me. “And at that price? Wow. I guarantee they would’ve given up more.”

The Jaguars earned praise for “going for it all,” in the words of one GM. 

“I don’t love all their deals or what they paid,” he told me, “but good for them not sitting still. There’s a reason they say ‘Fortune favors the bold’. And they were bold.” 

The Jaguars were already loaded on offense, but added Bates, Davis and Godchaux at the deadline. 

“They were already a good defense,” an AFC scout told me. “They made it stronger.” 

The only question was about the price they paid for Davis, which included sending a first-round pick to the Eagles. Two sources told me that was “Way too steep.”

And that’s a big reason why Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was one of the winners. They had already dealt center Cam Jurgens to Baltimore for a second-round pick, and for Davis they got a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, giving them 10 picks in the first two rounds over the next three drafts. 

“I’m a little surprised they didn’t do more,” one general manager told me. “But they did great. They always do.”

The Bears, meanwhile, earned praise for acquiring Jeffrey Simmons, whom one scout told me was “the only true difference-making defensive player available.” The price was high — two first-round picks. 

“But again,” the general manager told me, “Good teams go for it. They don’t sit still.”

As for the Colts, despite all the questions about not trading Taylor, they did ship off guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, trading four players on expiring contracts for a third, two fourths, two fifths and a sixth. 

“Those may not seem like huge deals,” one league executive told me. “But they add up. Better than letting them walk away for nothing.”

  Chargers, Bengals Among Biggest Losers

Williams: League sources pointed to the Indianapolis Colts as the clear losers here, giving up Quenton Nelson, Josh Downs, DeForest Buckner and Keenan Allen in a fire sale before the trade deadline.

The Colts had moved on from general manager Chris Ballard, so interim general manager Ed Dodds orchestrated the moves, with the blessing of owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. We’ll see if head coach Shane Steichen remains around at season’s end to clean up the mess.

One source told me the Colts should have emptied the tank and moved on from running back Jonathan Taylor.

“Indianapolis is the biggest loser by not moving Taylor and taking the reported second and fifth offered for him,” the league source told me.

Vacchiano: No team has taken more of a deserved beating from NFL sources around the trade deadline than the Los Angeles Chargers, who had even let teams know they were standing pat despite being 0-8 and generally a mess. They did make one deal — sending linebacker Daiyan Henley to the Broncos for a fourth- and fifth-round pick. But that was it.

And then, late Wednesday night, that trade fell apart anyway.

“Don’t get me started,” an NFL executive told me. “Complete malpractice. They weren’t even willing to listen.”

The winless Chargers only agreed to one trade before the trade deadline, but their trade of Daiyan Henley to the Broncos was later rescinded. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images)

“Dumbest thing I’ve seen in years,” another executive told me. “I don’t know what they’re thinking. They like their players? Great. They’re doing a bang-up job for them.”

They almost certainly could have gotten something for players like edge rusher Khalil Mack, wide receiver Quentin Johnston and cornerback Donte Jackson, and maybe more. 

“But they’re sleeping,” one of the NFL executives told me. “I really think nobody is home.”

Another loser: The Washington Commanders. But it wasn’t their fault. They had a lot of interest in defensive tackle Daron Payne, according to sources, including from the New York Giants. But Payne got hurt, ending that. 

“I wonder if they would’ve dealt WR Terry McLaurin before he got hurt, too,” the source said. “A lot of people were looking for receivers.”

One other loser: The Cincinnati Bengals, “mostly for incompetence,” the general manager told me. They had a deal in place with Philadelphia for depth edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. Then a reporter on social media revealed the move would’ve meant they’d also lose a compensatory third-round pick in the next draft, and the Bengals quickly backed out of the deal.

“Embarrassing,” the GM told me. “How did they not know that? There are people in every organization whose job, literally, is to figure that stuff out.”

“I guess it’s good they found out before they lost the comp pick,” an NFL executive told me. “But that’s a terrible look.”

It also didn’t help the Bengals’ cause that the Ebiketie deal was the only one they were apparently considering, despite a struggling defense that is holding them back.

“Nobody ever accused the Bengals of being smart,” one source told me.

 

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III missed practice Friday with a sore groin, leaving his status in question for this weekend’s trip to Atlanta, while wide receiver Josh Downs intends to play days after he was acquired in a trade with Indianapolis.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Walker had “tweaked” his groin and that the team would monitor him leading into Sunday.

“We’ll see. He’s not one to say something like that (without meaning it),” Reid said.

Walker has run for 872 yards in his first season with Kansas City, leaving him just eight yards behind Bijan Robinson for the NFL lead, though he has played one game fewer than the Atlanta Falcons running back. Walker’s average of 109 yards per game tops the league.

Walker also has been instrumental in the passing game, catching 22 balls for 172 yards and four touchdowns.

If he’s unable to play this weekend, rookie Emmett Johnson would be in line to carry a bigger load. The fifth-round pick out of Nebraska has provided a breather for Walker most of the season, and he’s shined when given the opportunity. Johnson has 111 yards rushing and a touchdown on just 26 carries, and he has caught 14 passes for 237 yards and another score.

“He’s going to play anyway, whether Ken’s there or not,” Reid said. “Everybody has confidence in him.”

Meanwhile, the Chiefs expect to have wide receiver Xavier Worthy available after he left in the second half of last week’s win over the New York Jets with a hamstring injury. That should take a little pressure off Downs, whom the Chiefs acquired from the Indianapolis Colts just before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday in an attempt to build out their depth at the position.

The Chiefs already are without wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who is on injured reserve with a dislocated ankle.

“I thought he did a nice job for what we asked him to do, to digest everything in a couple days,” Reid said of Downs. “He’s a smart kid and knows how to play. He’s been playing, which is great, and playing at a high level. He worked into the things we asked him to do and did well. I think he’s ready to play in a game for us.”

Downs had 33 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown in nine games with Indianapolis.

The Chiefs expect to have first-round pick Mansoor Delane back after the cornerback missed a couple of games with a shoulder injury, though they likely will be without right tackle Jaylon Moore because of an ankle injury and Peter Woods due to a neck injury.

Joshua Ezeudu played well in Moore’s place in last week’s win over the Jets.

“Yeah man, again, it’s a next-man-up mentality. It’s the NFL. Any sporting team, that’s what happens,” offensive guard Trey Smith said. “Football has a 100 percent injury rate.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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That didn’t take long!

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed in a press conference on Friday afternoon that recently acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins will start in the team’s Week 10 road matchup against the Green Bay Packers (1 p.m. ET on FOX); the Vikings defeated the Packers at home in Week 1, scoring 29 consecutive points to get a 39-22 victory.

“I cannot give him enough credit for coming in here with how he’s gone about the week, both him and the coaching staff getting him ready to go, working extremely hard, using all the time we possibly can,” O’Connell said of Cousins. “It’s been really impressive what he’s been able to do with the command and just getting right back in the huddle with a lot of guys he’s played with, but certainly some guys he hasn’t.

“And it’s been something that everybody’s been very, very impressed with, so exciting to start Kirk.” 

Of course, Cousins’ arrival in Minneapolis marks his second stint with the Vikings, as the four-time Pro Bowler played for the franchise from 2018-23 and for O’Connell from 2022-23. Minnesota acquired the 38-year-old Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday afternoon for a 2027 third-round pick.

Across the nine starts he made for the Raiders this season, Cousins totaled 2,340 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 97.1 passer rating, while completing 64.1% of his passes.

After starting the season 0-6, the Vikings have lost back-to-back games. In the second of those two losses, a 23-6 defeat at home on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills, Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz tossed two interceptions, threw for only 81 yards and completed just eight passes.

Wentz was starting in place of Kyler Murray, who’s dealing with a hamstring strain and will be inactive Sunday, per O’Connell. The Vikings also have quarterback Max Brosmer, who took over for Wentz late in the fourth quarter on Monday night.

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Monday Night Football gives NFL fans one more marquee matchup to close out Week 9 as the Minnesota Vikings host the Buffalo Bills. Underdog is offering new users a chance to play $10 and get $50 when they sign up with promo code FOXSPORTS.

The Bills arrive in Minnesota riding a three-game winning streak, while the Vikings are looking to respond after suffering their first loss of the season. In a matchup between one of the most high-powered offenses and one of the top defenses, which unit will make their stand?

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How to Watch Bills vs. Vikings

• When: Monday, November 9, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
• TV: ABC
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle

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Monday Night Football wraps up NFL Week 9 with an exciting showdown between two 6-1 teams looking for the seventh win. New bet365 users can unlock up to $200 in Bonus Bets with bonus code FOX365, giving fans an added incentive to tune in for tonight’s matchup.

Josh Allen and Buffalo head to Minnesota looking to extend its three-game winning streak, while Minnesota turns to Carson Wentz to lead them to a bounce win after taking its first loss of the season. 

One of the top scoring offenses faces one of the stingiest defenses. This should be an exciting night to close out Week 9 in the NFL.

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*Probabilities are subject to change* 

MIN Vikings	+3.5 (-117)	O 45.5 (-112)	+159
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How to Watch Bills vs. Vikings

• When: Monday, November 9, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
• TV: ABC
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited – Get the FOX One / ESPN Bundle

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson is out for the season because of a fracture in his neck that he suffered in the team’s loss against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

First-year coach Mike LaFleur made the surprise announcement Monday, saying the injury happened on the fourth play of the game and that Wilson played through it. Wilson finished with six catches for 60 yards in the team’s 17-3 loss.

“He said (during the game) he kind of had a kink in his neck, but he’s such a warrior you didn’t think much of it,” LaFleur said. “Then obviously when the adrenaline wore down and he got his test today, that’s when we knew.”

LaFleur also said quarterback Gardner Minshew is having tests on his ailing throwing arm and the team should know more on his status later this week. If Minshew can’t play this weekend, it would open the door for rookie Carson Beck to get his first regular-season NFL action.

Beck was a third-round pick out of Miami.

Wilson is second on the team with 546 yards receiving and two touchdowns, despite playing through two broken ribs. The 26-year-old — a third-round pick out of Stanford in 2023 — had his first 1,000-yard season last year.

The Cardinals have now lost their top three receivers — two to injuries and one to a trade. Kendrick Bourne is out for the year with an ankle injury while former first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. was dealt to the Houston Texans last month.

Arizona (3-6) will try to snap a 10-game home losing streak when it hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The NFL season has hit the halfway mark, and Week 9 shook up the playoff race in both conferences.

The Buffalo Bills maintained their stranglehold on the top spot in the AFC. The big movement came over in the NFC, where the Minnesota Vikings’ loss to Buffalo moved them out of first place in the North. That means the Chicago Bears are now the No. 2 seed, chasing only the San Francisco 49ers.

Here is the up-to-date NFL Playoff Picture if the playoffs started after Week 9.

AFC

1.

Buffalo Bills (7-1)

2.

Denver Broncos (7-2)

3.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)

4.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

5.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

6.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

7.

New England Patriots (5-4)

The top six in the AFC are reasonably set. All of those teams ended Week 9 with two or fewer losses.

What’s especially impressive is that the Chiefs and Bengals, as the two reasonably certain playoff teams in wild-card spots right now, have the second- and third-best point differentials. The Bengals are an offensive juggernaut, averaging 30 points per game after their first eight games. This conference has six legitimate contenders with these two wild-card teams.

The final wild-card spot is going to be contested tightly. The Patriots currently have the spot, but the Browns are tied with them at 5-4, while the Raiders and Ravens are just one game back.

Don’t sleep on the 3-5 Texans, though. They’ve now won three of their last four games.

NFC

1.

San Francisco 49ers (7-1)

2.

Chicago Bears (7-2)

3.

New York Giants (5-2-1)

4.

Carolina Panthers (3-5)

5.

Detroit Lions (6-2)

6.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

7.

Green Bay Packers (6-3)

All four teams in the NFC North look like contenders, and the Bears will enter Week 10 in the lead. The Vikings’ loss to the Bills moved them out of first place and down to the No. 6 seed, with Detroit moving up to No. 5 because of its head-to-head win over Minnesota.

Chasing the Packers for the final wild-card spot are a pair of 5-4 teams out west: the reigning-champion Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. 

While Seattle has lost four of its last six games, the Rams have won three straight. Los Angeles, though, lost wide receiver Puka Nacua due to a knee injury just as linebacker Myles Garrett returned with three sacks in Sunday’s win over the Commanders.

Overall, the NFC standings are very, very impressive – aside from the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers. The Buccaneers had a chance to leap into first place after Carolina lost at home to the Broncos, but they couldn’t take advantage of five Bears turnovers and lost in Chicago.

NFL Wild-Card Round Matchups

AFC

1. Buffalo Bills

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers

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By lighting it up in Foxborough, Packers quarterback Jordan Love has done more than affirm his status in the MVP race. He might be near the top of the list after what he did to the Patriots. 

Bears QB Caleb Williams, meanwhile, has tumbled in the opposite direction after his first career four-interception game.

For this week’s “Best and Worst” superlatives, I look at overall team performance, MVP candidacy and standout plays.

Let’s dive in: 

Best Overall Team This Week: Green Bay Packers

The Packers’ beatdown of the Patriots on Sunday was one of the most complete performances we’ve seen by any team this season. Green Bay scored 45 points, the most New England has ever allowed at Gillette Stadium. 

The big story was Jordan Love making an MVP statement (23-of-29, 372 passing yards, 4 total TDs), and the latest dominance by the Packers’ wide receiver tandem of Christian Watson (seven catches, 171 yards, TD) and Matthew Golden (10 catches, 164 yards, TD). But Green Bay also had a season-high 129 rushing yards, the first time the team has reached 100 net rushing yards in a game this season. And that was with lead running back Josh Jacobs missing most of the contest with a broken finger. 

The Packers’ defense also registered four takeaways (three interceptions of Drake Maye), the second-most it has had in a game this season, and four sacks. Green Bay has forced multiple turnovers in six straight games and is the only team in the NFL to have four-plus sacks and four-plus takeaways in multiple games this season, according to NFL Research. 

In an incredibly strong NFC North, the Packers are one of the NFL’s most lethal teams. Love has been playing at a high level all season, and Green Bay’s already superb defense is slated to get back All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who started practicing last week after tearing his ACL in Week 15 last season. 

A pursuit of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor could make sense for the Packers ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, depending on Jacobs’ health status. Jacobs hasn’t played well when he’s been on the field anyway (26.7 rushing yards per game in three appearances). Adding Taylor would give Green Bay a truly complete offense and one of the league’s best overall teams. 

Worst Overall Team This Week: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens were unwatchable in last week’s Thursday night loss to the Jaguars. 

It’s not just that Baltimore’s game plan with undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano was ultra conservative — half-field reads, underneath throws, leaning on Derrick Henry, etc. It’s that the Ravens couldn’t even do that right. 

If you take away Justice Hill’s garbage-time, 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Baltimore didn’t have a play longer than 14 yards and had just 162 yards of offense overall. Fagnano threw two interceptions deep in the Ravens’ own territory and finished with a 22.7 passer rating. He threw for just 60 passing yards despite playing all of Baltimore’s offensive snaps. 

Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano tries to release a pass during the third quarter against the Jaguars. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Then, defensively, the Ravens were completely outmatched by the Jaguars. They gave up 33 points (third-most they’ve given up in a single game this season) and allowed two receptions of 50-plus yards. 

Baltimore also had a turnover on special teams, as returner LaJohntay Wester lost a fumble on a kickoff in the fourth quarter. The Ravens tied a season-high with three giveaways. 

Losers of four straight, Baltimore just traded for veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and the hope is that he can keep the team’s fading playoff hopes alive until Lamar Jackson returns from his thumb injury. But the Ravens’ issues extend far beyond their offense. 

Best Performance From An MVP Candidate: Packers QB Jordan Love

Love was at least a fringe MVP candidate entering Sunday, and his stellar performance against the Patriots elevated him all the way up into the shortlist of contenders.

There might not be another quarterback in the NFL who’s more confident than Love right now, and that shows in how he aggressively pushes the ball downfield. According to Next Gen Stats, he completed six of eight deep throws (20-plus air yards) for 235 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. He’s the only quarterback this season with multiple games with six deep completions. 

And here’s more: Love’s 153.2 passer rating on Sunday was a career-high and the best by a Packers QB since 2019, when Aaron Rodgers posted a perfect 158.3 rating. Love has also had multiple passing touchdowns eight times through nine games in 2026, making him the first player to accomplish that feat since Joe Burrow in 2021, per NFL research. Through Monday’s games, Love leads the NFL with 2,618 passing yards. 

Numbers-wise, Love is right in the MVP mix. But the award typically goes to top-performing quarterbacks who lead teams that rank at the top of their conference. The Packers are 6-3, but they’re currently in last place in their division and the No. 7 seed in the NFC. 

Worst Performance From An MVP Candidate: Bears QB Caleb Williams

Despite missing three-plus games with a hamstring injury, Williams had clawed back into the MVP conversation with consistent play and efficient passing ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Buccaneers. 

Now, the Bears quarterback might be out of the conversation. 

The former No. 1 overall pick threw a career-high four interceptions in Chicago’s wild, 27-24 victory over Tampa. Williams was fantastic in the first quarter (6-of-8, 105 yards, 2 TDs, 156.2 passer rating) but threw three picks in a disastrous second quarter before adding a fourth in the third period. 

Caleb Williams threw four interceptions against the Buccaneers, including two while he was on the run and trying to throw the ball out of bounds. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

Williams threw into double coverage on the first interception, and attempted throwaways on the second and third ones. The fourth pick was a result of a tipped pass. Williams led a game-winning field goal drive at the end to put a bow on his uneven performance: a 59.5% completion rate for 279 yards and two touchdowns with four picks and a 61.5 passer rating.  

Even by staying healthy and playing terrific football in each of the Bears’ final nine games, Williams faces an uphill battle to get back into the MVP race, especially if those at the top of the list — Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Brock Purdy and now Jordan Love — maintain a high level of play. Williams had already been working with little margin for error because of the time he missed earlier in the season due to a hamstring strain. 

Best Play This Week: Texans WR Nico Collins’ Ridiculous TD Catch

There were great options here this week! The Eagles’ Braden Mann had an 86-yard punt against the Eagles, the sixth-longest since 1975 and the longest since Rodney Williams in 2001, according to NFL on FOX research. The Broncos’ Devon Key had a wild interception in the end zone that was almost missed. 

But I’m going with Nico Collins, who hauled in arguably the most impressive touchdown so far this season. With his feet off the ground and smothered by Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still, the Texans star wide receiver caught C.J. Stroud’s pass at the front corner of the end zone with one hand. Collins’ body was sideways in midair when he made the reception, which he helped secure with Still’s body.

Collins and the Texans remain a team to watch down the stretch, when the playoff race heats up. They started their year 0-4, but they’ve won three of their past four games. Stroud is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL right now — he threw for 384 passing yards and 5 TDs against the Chargers — and Houston’s defense is still lethal, even though it hasn’t played to the level we grew accustomed to last year. 

Worst Play This Week: Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb’s Red-Zone Fumble

Maybe “worst” isn’t the best word for this play. “Bizarre” is probably more fitting. 

Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb made a diving catch early in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ win over Indianapolis. But he was never downed by contact, so he got up and kept running. Then about 20 yards later, in the red zone, Lamb fumbled and the ball was recovered by Colts cornerback Kenneth Harris — the same defender who had erred by not downing Lamb by contact. 

It was a strange sequence for Lamb, who otherwise had one of the best games of his career, catching 10 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. He’s been averaging 13.0 targets per game for the Cowboys over the past three weeks, a span in which Dallas is putting up 31.6 PPG. 

At 4-5, the Cowboys are in a two-team race in the NFC East with the 5-2-1 Giants.

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Welcome to The Plays that Stood Out, where we take a deep dive into the moments that shaped the past week of NFL games and try to figure out what they could mean for the teams and players going forward. 

This week, we start in Chicago, where Ben Johnson put on a masterclass on calling plays in the clutch to beat the Buccaneers. 

How Ben Johnson Got Colston Loveland Wide Open In Crunch Time

Truth be told, Sunday night wasn’t Ben Johnson’s best as a play-caller.

Sure, Caleb Williams’ interceptions deserve most of the blame for derailing the Bears’ early success, but even that initial scoring barrage was largely driven by the quarterback’s out-of-structure playmaking on third down, not Johnson’s play-calling. Chicago’s 42% offensive success rate, well below the team’s season-long average, reflected that.

In this league, though, it’s about how you finish, and Johnson made his best call of the night when the Bears needed it most, getting tight end Colston Loveland wide open on the 38-yard reception that set up the game-winning field goal.

That play had everyone asking the same question: How in the hell do you let Loveland get that open? Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was asked in his postgame presser.

“We busted,” said Bowles. “Shouldn’t happen.”

Keen insight, coach, but it doesn’t really explain how it happened.

Without knowing the exact call, it’s difficult to say which Buccaneers defender was responsible for the busted coverage, but I’m not inclined to dole out blame anyway. Instead, I’ll credit Johnson with a shrewd play call that crossed Tampa Bay’s wires and caused the bust.

Johnson called a run play on the previous snap, which served two purposes: The Bucs had blitzed on every play of the drive and were getting off the ball in a hurry. Throwing a run at them helped slow down the rush. It also gave the players with dual responsibilities, against the run and pass, something to think about before they dropped into coverage.

I believe Johnson viewed that run as a little jab that set up the haymaker that followed. Chicago came out in a bunch formation with three receivers to the right and Loveland immediately motioned to the left, followed by tight end Sam Roush, flipping the strength of the formation and forcing the Bucs to adjust coverage on the fly.

You can see how much communication the pre-snap shift required from the defense. As they worked that out, the ball was snapped. Williams faked a handoff, causing further confusion—especially for linebacker Josiah Trotter, who looks completely lost and ends up covering no one.

I don’t blame him. Johnson’s play-call threw a lot at the rookie in a two-second span. He was already left scrambling at the snap, then he had to mind his run responsibility before finally dropping into coverage. Even if he had covered Loveland, it would have been difficult to keep up with the Bears tight end.

Either way you look at it, the big gain was the result of a fantastic play-call by Johnson, who made things as difficult as possible for the Buccaneers defense in the biggest moment of the game. We typically attribute crunch-time performance to the quarterback, who gets credit in the form of “fourth-quarter comeback” and “game-winning drive” stats, but a play-caller who can still consider all of the details, as Johnson did on Sunday night, in those moments can play a vital role as well.

“We really haven’t been in that situation [this season], where in the fourth quarter, with little time left, needing to get a field goal [or] touchdown,” Johnson said after the game. “Yet I feel like we are prepped for that and we’re ready for it.

“I know as a play caller, I certainly felt great. It was as calm as I felt on calling plays that last drive as I was all game long. I think we thrive in those situations.”

Now, I’m imagining Johnson doing the “Ice in my veins” emote on the sideline after calling the play to Loveland.

All jokes aside, Johnson really seems built for those moments as a play-caller. We saw that throughout the 2025 season, when the Bears offense always seemed to come through in the clutch. I’m not sure how many play-callers would have thought to mix in a run in a two-minute situation, or take the time to set up the Loveland play with multiple shifts as the clock was ticking. Johnson earned the right to pat himself on the back. 
CeeDee Lamb

Whenever a receiver has a day like CeeDee Lamb did on Sunday—10 catches for 195 yards and a score—our first instinct is to blame the defensive coordinator for not doubling him, but Colts DC Lou Anarumo did try. It just didn’t work out. The two biggest non-Lamb receptions of the day came on players where the star wideout was doubled.

On an early third down, the Colts put cornerback Charvarius Ward and linebacker CJ Allen on him, which left the middle wide open for Jonathan Mingo.

Indy threw another double team at him on the biggest play of the game, Ryan Flournoy beating Sauce Gardner deep for a 46-yard reception that set up Dallas’ go-ahead touchdown.

Even when Lamb wasn’t catching passes, he was still tormenting the Colts. Two lessons here: you can’t always blame the defensive coordinator for a great player having a big day, and don’t trade two first-round picks for a cornerback who can’t hang with a star receiver—let alone Ryan Flournoy—in man coverage.

Joe Burrow And Ja’Marr Chase Teach Atlanta A Lesson

While I’m willing to give Anarumo and the Colts some grace for their defensive game plan, I will not be extending that same grace to Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who decided it would be a good idea to play a bunch of single-high safety coverage against Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.

Five plays in, we saw why that was the wrong approach. On the first third down of the game, Ulbrich asked cornerback A.J. Terrell to play press-man against Chase with no direct safety help, and it went exactly as you’d expect, with Burrow hitting his star receiver in stride for a 47-yard touchdown.

Somehow, that warning shot didn’t convince Ulbrich to alter his plan. Atlanta played only five snaps of two-high coverage in the game. It was tied for the fewest dropbacks Burrow has logged against two-high safeties in a single game, with the other coming in Week 12 of the 2021 season, his second year in the league.

Burrow finished 19-of-24 for 223 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta’s single-high coverage. Ulbrich left his corners on an island against the best receiving duo in the NFL in what was arguably the most naive defensive game plan of the season. 

Patrick Mahomes Avoids Major Injury Scare

It looks like Patrick Mahomes escaped this scary play without suffering major damage to his elbow.

That left Chiefs fans very concerned about their quarterback, but he didn’t miss a single snap and Andy Reid called 17 pass plays in the second half, suggesting he had little worry about the status of Mahomes’ elbow. The numbers on those passes are a bit concerning, though. His average depth of target plummeted to just 2.3 yards per attempt, and his average completion traveled just 1.3 yards in the air, per Next Gen Stats. Mahomes also missed a few short throws he’d ordinarily make with ease.

It doesn’t look like Mahomes will miss any time—Reid says he’s “day to day” with elbow soreness—but for a team already struggling to create big plays in the passing game, this could be an issue if it affects his deep ball.

Also, it seems a bit silly that Reid had no problem dialing up 17 passes for Mahomes with a bad elbow that needed additional testing after the game, but seems deathly afraid to call a quarterback sneak for him based on one freak play that happened seven years ago. 

Myles Garrett Looks All The Way Back

We finally got to see Myles Garrett play alongside Aaron Donald on Sunday with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year returning for his first game since Week 1. The superstar pass rusher did not disappoint, racking up three sacks and nine total pressures.

Garrett’s average “get off” time, which measures how long it takes a pass rusher to cross the line of scrimmage after the snap, was 0.68 seconds, the second fastest of any player in Week 9, per Next Gen Stats. So he seems to be fully over the knee injury that kept him out for the last two months.

Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula did a commendable job using Garrett and Donald in tandem. Shula used them together on a couple of twists, but my favorite tactic he used was lining Garrett up over the center in a five-man front, creating one-on-one matchups for the entire defensive line.

Lining Garrett up over the center makes it hard to throw double teams at either Garrett or Donald without wasting a running back in protection, which makes things easier for the defenders in coverage.

The Rams have some pass-game issues they need to figure out, but this defense could take off in the second half of the season and be everything we envisioned after the Garrett trade and Donald’s return. With Puka Nacua headed to IR with a knee sprain and turf toe, the defense will have to play at an elite level if this team is going to make the playoffs.

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The best division in NFL history was the NFC North in 2024. It had three teams with at least 11 wins, two with at least 14, and a league-record winning percentage of .662 (45-23).

Two years later, this version of the NFC North might be even better.

Nearly halfway through the season, all four teams have at least six wins, and together they have a winning percentage of .735 — a record of 25-9 combined. At this point, all four teams could be considered Super Bowl contenders. That includes the Minnesota Vikings, if they can ever find their way out of quarterback hell.

There’s still a long way to go, of course. They have seven more intra-division games to beat up on each other, too. And it might be tough for all four to maintain this kind of success (especially the Vikings if they can’t find a new quarterback).

But for now, no division compares to this one, which is why all four teams now have a well-deserved place in the top 10 of my power rankings:

*Super Bowl odds courtesy of DraftKings

Record: 0-8

Previous ranking: 32

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

Tests showed that QB Justin Herbert didn’t break his middle finger on Sunday, but it would’ve felt fitting if he did. The Chargers have been giving that finger to their fans all season long. There are Shakespearean plays and Klingon operas that aren’t as tragic as this team. And yet, when teams have called GM Joe Horitz about selling off the pieces of his 0-8 team for draft picks, his answer has been, “No thanks. We’re good.” They are the living embodiment of the gif of the dog who sits at a table sipping coffee as the room burns around him and says “This is fine.”

Next game: @ Ravens (Monday, 5:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Despite being the NFL’s only remaining winless team, the Chargers scored their first touchdown since the third quarter of Week 5, snapping a streak of 37 consecutive drives without a touchdown.

Record: 2-7

Previous ranking: 31

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

After watching way too many Jets games over the last 16 years, I felt like I was out of words to describe their awfulness. So I checked a thesaurus, and I came up with one — only one — that I don’t think I’ve used yet. It’s not easy describing a team that continues to lower the bar in every way. They’re now 2-7 after taking a pounding from the Chiefs. Aaron Glenn is 5-21 in his season and a half and probably should post his resume online soon. The bright spots are few and far between, and fading. And none of this is really surprising for a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010. I don’t know what to say anymore, except that it’s … shambolic.

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Jets rookie David Bailey is the only NFL player with at least five sacks (7.5) and five forced fumbles (5) this season and the only rookie since 2000 to reach both marks through his first eight career games.

Record: 1-7

Previous ranking: 30

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

A loss is a loss, and it hardly matters in a 1-7 season, but I don’t have the words to explain how impressed I was with the job Jeff Hafley’s defense did against the Lions on Sunday. Holding that team to 270 yards, keeping Jahmyr Gibbs under 100, and not allowing a touchdown pass is basically a pre-Christmas miracle in Miami. They should hang a banner if they can fit all the details on it. Unfortunately, their own offense didn’t show up (just 228 yards), so they completely wasted the effort. But at least the film review won’t be all bad. And hey, they’ve got the Colts and Jets over the next three weeks. If their offense can elevate to a mediocre level, maybe they can grab another win.

Next game: @ Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Miami was held to single digits (9 points) for the third time this season. They rank 31st in the NFL in scoring at 15.8 PPG and 30th in point differential (-74).

Record: 1-7

Previous ranking: 29

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

In the three weeks heading into their bye, the Tennessee Titans beat the Colts, almost beat the Browns and lost to the Bengals in overtime in a game where somehow they gained 440 yards and scored 36 points. And their reward for that is two games against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the next three weeks? Seems unfair. But maybe it’s a good chance for Robert Saleh to learn who on his team can step up and play well against one of the NFL’s best teams. It would really help their franchise if QB Cam Ward turned out to be one of those players.

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Titans rank 31st in both total offense (272.5 yards per game) and total defense (382.4 yards allowed per game), while ranking 28th in scoring offense (18.0 PPG) and 21st in scoring defense (24.9 PPG allowed).

Record: 2-7

Previous ranking: 27 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

So much for the Eagles’ attempt at a spark by starting the over-hyped Joe Milton at QB. They managed 220 yards in a game against the Giants that probably should have been winnable. The Eagles defense, much-maligned and battered, did a yeoman’s job of giving Philly a chance. Alas, they’re just not good enough to do anything with a chance anymore. And they traded DT Jordan Davis to the Jaguars on Monday, with GM Howie Roseman adding to his war chest of draft picks. They are on a super slide towards their worst season since 2020 (4-11-1), possibly since 2012 (4-12), and maybe even since 1998 (3-13). Incidentally, the Eagles got rid of their head coach after each of those disastrous seasons. So it’s very possible Nick Sirianni is in his final days.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Eagles lost their seventh straight game, tying the sixth-longest single-season losing streak in franchise history.

Record: 2-7

Previous ranking: 28 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

The Colts’ rousing, near-win over the Cowboys felt a little like the last stand at The Alamo — one last glorious fight to the end for a seemingly lost cause. By Tuesday evening, the Colts could look a lot different, especially if they sell off as many pieces as the NFL seems to be expecting. They would be smart to do that, too, because after five straight losses, they know their season is over. And after all this damage, they know the Alamo … I mean, their roster needs to be completely rebuilt.

Next game: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Since the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the Colts are 3-14 (.176), the second-worst record in the league in that span. 

Record: 2-5-1

Previous ranking: 25 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +15000 (tied for 21st)

Jayden Daniels is playing better, which is good, and he tried to pull off a miracle comeback against the Rams. But he just doesn’t have enough horses around him to ride to his team’s rescue anymore. The Commanders have been decimated by injuries, and with shortages at RB and WR, it’s like Daniels is their only weapon. And that’s just not enough against teams like the Rams. Maybe they’ll have better luck at the Giants on Thursday night, but good luck keeping up with the Bengals after that. It’s really already another lost season in Washington. The only question is how long Dan Quinn can survive.

Next game: @ Giants (Thursday, 5:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Commanders are an NFL-worst 0-6 following a win since 2025 and have not won consecutive games since winning their final five regular-season games and first two playoff games in 2024.

Record: 3-6

Previous ranking: 21 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for last)

The Cardinals knew things were about to go downhill this season, which is why they were just fine with trading QB Jacoby Brissett to Baltimore. They could see their record and their upcoming schedule, and they could sense the impending doom. Of course, they had no idea how bad it was going to get after their loss to the Sam Darnold-less Seahawks. Top WR Michael Wilson is now gone for the year with a neck injury and QB Gardner Minshew might be right behind him with a torn ligament in his elbow. So they’ll begin the slow march towards the end of their season with rookie QB Carson Beck leading them against the Rams and Chiefs. Ouch. They have won two of their last four, but those are the good old days now. Their future is all about evaluating Beck and/or sizing up the QBs in the 2027 draft.

Next game: vs. Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Cardinals have lost 19 straight games in stadiums other than SoFi Stadium and AT&T Stadium following their loss to the Seahawks. Arizona’s last four wins have all come at those two venues.

Record: 3-6

Previous ranking: 22 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +10000 (tied for 19th)

It’s hard to blame the Falcons for being unable to contain Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, because really, who can? They just ran into the buzzsaw that is the Cincinnati Bengals offense right now. Their bigger problem is their bigger picture. After scrambling back to .500, they’ve now lost four of their last five games and their schedule is about to turn ugly. They’ll play the Chiefs before their bye week, and then Minnesota, Detroit and Cleveland will be waiting when they return. I’d say their season is all but over, but in the pathetic NFC South, nothing is ever over.

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Bijan Robinson has recorded 1,000-plus scrimmage yards in each of his first four NFL seasons (2023-2026), becoming the second player in Falcons history to do so. He joins William Andrews, who reached the mark in each of his first five seasons (1979-1983).

Record: 3-5

Previous ranking: 26 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +20000 (tied for 24th)

The Saints really needed that win over Cleveland coming out of their bye week, no matter how squeaky it was. They’ve now beaten the Browns and Giants — think of them as two mid-majors — over their last three games. And while the Saints haven’t looked great, they’ve got a golden opportunity to take a measure of control in the NFC South when they play the Panthers in New Orleans on Sunday. In a division where eight wins will likely be enough, every division game matters.

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Tyler Shough led his fifth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime since 2025, tied for the sixth-most in the NFL over that span. 

Can Tyler Shough and the Saints turn their season around following their OT win over the Browns? (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Record: 4-5

Previous ranking: 20 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +15000 (tied for 21st)

It’s gotten ugly in Baltimore. The Ravens obviously had no chance to beat the Jaguars on Thursday night with undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano at quarterback. Maybe Jacoby Brissett can give them a spark once he arrives from Arizona. But Brissett can’t solve their surprising defensive issues. The Ravens have given up 33 or more points in three straight games on their way to four straight losses. Maybe getting the Chargers next week will get them right. But at 4–5, they are quickly running out of time. Lamar Jackson is promising a late-season return to lead the charge to the playoffs. But it’s starting to look like there’s no way he can get back in time.

Next game: vs. Chargers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Ravens are 3-2 in Lamar Jackson’s starts this season, averaging 25.2 points and 344.8 yards per game, compared with a 1-3 record, 15.8 points and 303.0 yards per game when another quarterback starts.

Record: 4-5

Previous ranking: 17 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +15000 (tied for 21st)

The Raiders probably would’ve signed up for 4-5 back before the season began, but that was before their 3-0 start unreasonably raised expectations. Now they are in an unsurprising free fall after being hammered by the Niners on Sunday. Losers of five of their last six, only one thing matters now: When are they going to turn things over to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza? Seattle, Denver and Cleveland are up next before their bye week. But when they return, on Dec. 13, at home against the awful Chargers? Let Fernando-mania begin.

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Raiders have given up 30-plus points in six straight games, becoming the fifth team in NFL history to do so within a season. 

Record: 4-5

Previous ranking: 23 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +6000 (tied for 16th)

When the Colts took the lead on them late on Sunday, it sure looked like they were going to plummet deeper than one of Jerry Jones’ oil wells. But one big Dak Prescott pass bailed them out and the Cowboys live for another day, however barely. Brian Schottenheimer’s seat is getting pretty hot, though, and it’s still a mystery why they let DC Christian Parker back in the building the way his defense is playing. The good news for them is they’re about to start a three-game homestand. The bad news? It starts with the 49ers. Also, they’re just 1-3 this season at home. 

Next game: vs. 49ers (Sunday, 4:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Dak Prescott has now thrown a touchdown pass in his ninth straight game to open the season, the longest such streak by a Cowboys quarterback since Tony Romo’s 10-game streak in 2014.

Record: 3-5

Previous ranking: 18 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +10000 (tied for 19th)

I am admittedly a big flip-flopper when it comes to the Panthers. They started ranked low. I moved them all the way into my top 10. Then dropped them like hot lava. Now, I’m coming around again — a little. They are 3-5 and have lost three in a row, but I’m not convinced they are as bad as they’ve looked. Some of it has to do with their last two opponents — Green Bay and Denver (though I still can’t explain that humiliating 43-13 loss to the Bucs the week before). They are in desperate need of a feel-good moment so they can take control of their awful division. They’ve got two chances coming up, at New Orleans and vs. Baltimore, before they get their rematch with Tampa Bay.

Next game: @ Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Panthers have lost three straight games after a 3-2 start, scoring 21 points against the Broncos after being held below 20 in each of their previous two games. Carolina scored 25-plus points in four of its first five games.

Record: 3-6

Previous ranking: 24 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +6000 (tied for 16th)

A six-spot jump in the rankings after a loss? Yeah, it doesn’t feel right to me at all either, but I guess that’s how impressed I am with the job the Buccaneers did by almost taking the Chicago Bears to overtime on Sunday night. And they even let QB Baker Mayfield throw passes — though clearly that’s not their best strategy. I still don’t love their offense and I don’t trust Todd Bowles, but they might be playing better defense than anyone outside of Minnesota (just ask Bears QB Caleb Williams, who was picked off four times by them). And a 3-2 run, after their 0-4 start, is enough to get them back in the hunt in the awful NFC South, where all you have to be is the best of the worst. Right now, they probably are.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Buccaneers forced five takeaways (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) in their loss to the Bears, giving them 13 over their last three games, their most turnovers in a three-game span since 1995.

Record: 5-4

Previous ranking: 16 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +20000 (tied for 2th)

The Browns lost in overtime to the Saints, but Shedeur Sanders returned the big play to the Browns’ offense and gave it the spark it hasn’t had for more than a month with Deshaun Watson running the show. Considering they have fallen to the fringe of contention in the AFC North, Todd Monken should ride with Sanders and see if his young QB can keep doing that. It’s not clear if he’ll do that, though. He’s more comfortable with a veteran quarterback leading his young offense. And maybe Watson can keep them at least on the fringe of the playoff race. But there’s going to come a point, sooner than later, that he’ll have to give Sanders a shot to either salvage the season or so they can get a long look at him before the offseason begins.

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Browns are the only team above .500 with a negative point differential (-35). 

Record: 3-5

Previous ranking: 19 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +4500 (15th)

If the Texans hadn’t stumbled in overtime against the Giants before their bye, they’d be riding a four-game winning streak, sitting at .500, and the entire NFL would be talking about how dangerous they are. Truthfully, though, even at 3-5, they’re dangerous and a playoff berth isn’t far out of reach. What makes this run weird, though, is that they’re doing it with their revived offense and on the shoulders of QB C.J. Stroud, who is making a hell of a contract push. If their defense was even close to what it was the last few seasons, we might be talking about the Texans as a Super Bowl-bound team.

Next game: @ Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Kayshon Boutte and Tank Dell each had 100-plus receiving yards, giving the Texans multiple 100-yard receivers for the first time since Nov. 5, 2023.

Record: 5-4

Previous ranking: 10 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +2200 (tied for 11th)

We always knew this season was going to be more of a struggle for the defending AFC champions than last season was. The tougher schedule guaranteed that. And while the Patriots secured a big signature win in Buffalo a few weeks ago, they’ve really fallen flat other than that. They have now played six teams that have winning records and seem likely headed towards the playoffs and they’ve gone just 2-4 against them. And they looked terrible on Sunday at home against the Packers. That was especially true of QB Drake Maye, who was picked off three times.

Next game: vs. Lions (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The 45 points allowed by the Patriots in Sunday’s loss to the Packers are the most points New England has ever allowed in a game at Gillette Stadium (opened in 2002). 

Record: 5-2-1

Previous ranking: 14

Super Bowl odds: +6000 (tied for 16th)

It’s great that the Giants finally ended their 13-game losing streak in Philadelphia. Exorcising demons is important. So is the fact that they survived a pretty ugly outing. And they needed to, since the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a win to stay on their heels in the NFC East. But they also showed their flaws, again. Their running game was terrible. The offensive line was leaky. And even QB J.J. McCarthy struggled for the first time since he arrived in New York. That shouldn’t have happened against a struggling Eagles defense. And they’re just not going to get away looking that bad in a few weeks when they start a four-week stretch that includes games against the Jaguars, 49ers, and Seahawks.

Next game: vs. Commanders (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Giants snapped their 12-game road losing streak against the Eagles, earning their first win in Philadelphia since 2013 and have already surpassed their 2025 win total. 

Record: 5-4

Previous ranking: 12 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +1200 (tied for 6th)

The Rams won their third straight game, but they haven’t looked particularly impressive in any of them, which is really becoming the story of their season. And now they’ll be without WR Puka Nacua due to his knee injury. He was literally the only thing about their offense that seemed to work in Washington, but they are going to fall far and fast as he goes onto injured reserve. They still have enough talent to win some games and hang around the playoff chase. But it’s clear by now they’re nothing like the super team they were supposed to be, even with Myles Garrett returning and recording three quick sacks.

Next game: @ Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Matthew Stafford earned his 125th career win against the Commanders, passing Matt Ryan and Fran Tarkenton for sole possession of 10th place in NFL history.

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 13 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +4000 (14th)

The Steelers probably deserved to move up more on their bye week, considering how unimpressive the two teams in front of them looked on Sunday. But they’ll stay outside of the top 10, knowing they have a huge opportunity to jump next Sunday night when they take on the high-flying Bengals in Cincinnati. That’ll be a huge test for their ancient QB, Aaron Rodgers, to see if he can keep up with Joe Burrow, even a little bit. The Steelers defense could cause the Bengals some problems, but the odds are pretty good that if Pittsburgh is going to win, they’ll have to find a way to win a high-scoring game.

Next game: @ Bengals (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Steelers are 4-0 at home, averaging 27.8 points per game, compared to 2-2 on the road, where they average 17.2 points per game.

Record: 5-4

Previous ranking: 11

Super Bowl odds: +1600 (9th)

The Seahawks won without Sam Darnold, and that’s good. But their offense only looked OK with QB Drew Lock battling through an oblique injury to play. It sounds like he’s going to be the QB again in Las Vegas next Sunday, but they’ll really need Darnold back when they go to San Francisco after their bye week to start what they can only hope is a playoff push. For now, they can thank their dominant defense for the fact that they didn’t lose any ground and pulled off a relatively easy win against an inferior opponent. But it’s beginning to look like they may not belong this close to the top 10 much longer. Their defense might be the league’s best, but their offense is holding them back.

Next game: @ Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Seahawks have now won 11 straight games against the Cardinals, extending the NFL’s longest active win streak by any team vs. a single opponent.

Drew Lock got the win, but didn’t look overly impressive on Sunday. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 9 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +1900 (10th)

Talk about playing down to the level of your opponent! The Miami Dolphins aren’t a terrible defensive team, and Jeff Hafley probably remembers a thing or two about how to slow the Lions down from his days as the DC in Green Bay. But Jared Goff being held to 170 yards and zero TD passes? And Jahmyr Gibbs rushing for just 74 yards? Maybe Dan Campbell’s team was just asleep. I mean, they won 19-9, so good for them. But this didn’t make me feel very good about keeping them in the top 10. The call was a close one. Someone get them some smelling salts before they begin a stretch against the Patriots, Bucs and Bears.

Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Stat To Know: With their win over the Dolphins, the Lions have won four straight games in four consecutive seasons for the first time since 1951-1954.

Record: 6-3

Previous ranking: 15 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +2200 (tied for 11th)

It’s a big jump, but the Packers earned it by pounding the Patriots in New England. More than that, they are playing outstanding on defense, and they are showing off a passing game that might just be the best in the league (or at least outside of Cincinnati). It’s hard to find a quarterback playing better than Jordan Love, and it’s impossible to find a receiving tandem better than Christian Watson and Matthew Golden at the moment. If this team had a running game — I mean, any semblance of a running game at all — they might be the best team in the NFC. As it is, they’re getting closer.

Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Sunday’s blowout win over the Patriots was the Packers’ first road game with 45-plus points and 450-plus yards since 1962 against the Eagles.

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 8

Super Bowl odds: +1200 (tied for 6th)

Ja’Marr Chase is the best receiver in football. It’s important I get that out of the way at the start. He is the key to everything for this Bengals team. I mean, yes, QB Joe Burrow is great, but Chase could make anyone look fantastic. He was unstoppable against the Falcons — a one-man show at times. He finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown. And just his presence cleared room for Tee Higgins to catch two touchdown passes. I’ll get back to ranting about Zac Taylor’s coaching and this disappointing defense later. But for now, when Chase is on, who can stop him?

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 5:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Bengals have scored 30-plus points in four straight games for just the second time in franchise history and the first since 1997.

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 6 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +2400 (13th)

This is now officially insane. If the Vikings don’t trade for a quarterback by the deadline, they are out of their minds. They have a generational defense, and they are wasting it with what might be the worst quarterback situation in the league. Don’t worry about the cost. Just get someone. Anyone. Daniel Jones. Kirk Cousins. Mason Rudolph. Anyone that’s not Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz. Heck, see if Philip Rivers wants to unretire again, while also stepping away from his new job. A trip to the Super Bowl is at stake. The defense really is that good. In fact, Brian Flores’ defense is the only reason they’re not ranked 10 spots lower. They can win a lot of games with that defense. But if they want to win a championship, they’ll need a competent QB, too.

Next game: @ Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Bills held the ball for 42:32 compared to the Vikings’ 17:28 on Monday, a 25:04 gap that marked the largest time of possession disparity in Vikings franchise history (since at least 1991). That further shows their offensive struggles with Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Carson Wentz completed 8 of 25 passes in the Vikings’ loss to the Bills, showing their QB problems. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 7 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +750 (3rd)

There’s no denying that the Jaguars have come rolling out of the bye week, beating two opponents by a combined score of 75-17. Sure, it would be more impressive if those opponents weren’t the Colts and Lamar Jackson-less Ravens, but they did what they had to do. Four of their six wins have been by 23 points or more this season and there aren’t many QBs playing as well as Trevor Lawrence. Something to watch: Their remaining schedule is pillowy soft. Six of their last nine games are against teams with a losing record, including the Titans twice in the next three weeks. They’ve got a real shot at the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

Next game: @ Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Through Week 9, the Jaguars lead the NFL in point differential (+108), turnover differential (+9) and wins by 20 or more points (4).

Record: 7-2

Previous ranking: 4 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +800 (4th)

The Tampa Bay defense has been playing really well, but that doesn’t completely excuse how alarmingly poorly the Bears played in their last-second win at home. Four interceptions from QB Caleb Williams and five turnovers were a shocker. So was a total of 60 rushing yards from a team averaging 151. On the bright side, at least the Bears won’t be feeling too good about themselves heading into the bye week, riding a four-game winning streak and with a record of 7-2. They’ve suddenly got a surprising amount to work on, which is why they took a small slide here.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Bears won on Sunday despite committing five turnovers. It was their first win with at least five turnovers since a 23-13 win over the Vikings on Dec. 3, 2006.

Record: 6-2

Previous ranking: 5 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +1000 (5th)

Patrick Mahomes’ elbow injury gave everybody quite a scare, but the guy is just superhuman, I guess. He got right back in the game and led the Chiefs on a few more touchdown drives in their rout of the Jets, and Andy Reid made it sound like he’s going to be OK in his Monday morning press conference. Obviously, they’re not the same team without him, so his injury needs to be monitored. When healthy, the duo of Mahomes and RB Kenneth Walker is as dangerous as any combo the Chiefs have had during their dynasty. And don’t forget, they’ve got a great chance coming up to prove it in the game they circled on their calendar all along: Thanksgiving night in Buffalo against the Bills.

Next game: @ Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Patrick Mahomes improved to 18-0 against teams entering at least four games below .500, extending the best record by a quarterback since 1970 (minimum 15 such starts). 

Record: 7-1

Previous ranking: 3

Super Bowl odds: +540 (best)

The 49ers clearly fixed whatever it was that happened to them before the bye week when they lost to the Falcons — a game that now looks like a weird blip on their otherwise stellar season. They came out strong and fast, putting the Las Vegas Raiders in their place quickly. And the fact that they did it without WR Mike Evans made it even more impressive. Of course, that’s what they do best: Overcome injuries. They’re that good and they’re that deep. They still look like they deserve to be the NFC favorites. And they’re clearly the NFC’s best team.

Next game: @ Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: With Brock Purdy reaching 100 career touchdown passes, San Francisco has now tied the Rams’ NFL record for the most players with 100-plus passing touchdowns for a single franchise.

Record: 7-2

Previous ranking: 2

Super Bowl odds: +1500 (8th)

I get on Bo Nix a lot, and I do think he’s regressed from last season. But I’ll give him this much: He finds a way to do enough to win. He did it again against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, making just enough good plays to give Denver a cushion. For all their flaws, the Broncos have now won five straight games and seven of eight as they head into the bye week. For two seasons now, it’s been the same story in Denver: It doesn’t look pretty. Sometimes it doesn’t look good. But more often than not, the Broncos just win. Don’t ask how they do it, I guess. Just enjoy the ride.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Broncos have won five straight games, the longest active win streak in the NFL. 

Record: 7-1

Previous ranking: 1

Super Bowl odds: +620 (2nd)

The Bills’ slugfest win over the Minnesota Vikings was Exhibit A for why I think they’re the best team in football. We already knew that they’re explosive enough to win 41-38 shootouts. Now, we know that they’re tough enough to win old-fashioned, grind-it-out games like they had to do Monday night. Josh Allen is so tough and good under pressure, and they’ve got such a strong ground game with RB James Cook at that offensive line. They truly won a heavyweight fight Monday night, even if the Vikings’ offense doesn’t pack much of a punch. Now the Bills just have to avoid the letdown with two obvious trap games coming up with the Jets and Dolphins in the next two weeks.

Next game: @ Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: With his 15 rushing yards on Monday night, Josh Allen is now just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to reach 5,000 career rushing yards, joining Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson

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