Author: Eternity Lab

The World Series is the ultimate culmination of every Major League Baseball season. It’s played between the playoff finalist from the American League and the National League, and has taken place every year since 1903.

Over the years, several teams have become MLB champions by winning multiple World Series titles. The New York Yankees hold the record with 27 championships, while the St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 and the Boston Red Sox have won nine. Other teams like the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Athletics have also made their mark with many championships.

Throughout World Series history, there have been many unforgettable moments, like Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in 1960 that led the Pittsburgh Pirates to victory. And who could forget when the Boston Red Sox broke the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004, finally winning their first championship in 86 years!

In 2026, the Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series title in franchise history, beating the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one. Milwaukee clinched with a 4-1 win in Game 5 on Oct. 28 at Tropicana Field, and catcher William Contreras was named World Series MVP. The year before, the Los Angeles Dodgers repeated as champions by beating the Toronto Blue Jays in a seven-game thriller.

Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Burkhardt broke down the Milwaukee Brewers’ historic postseason run after winning the franchise’s first-ever World Series title with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5. The crew was also joined by William Contreras, Christian Yelich, Pat Murphy and more.

World Series Winners

Here’s a breakdown of each season’s MLB World Series matchup and winner:

• 2026: Milwaukee Brewers def. Tampa Bay Rays
• 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Toronto Blue Jays
• 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers def. New York Yankees
• 2023: Texas Rangers def. Arizona Diamondbacks
• 2022: Houston Astros def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 2021: Atlanta Braves def. Houston Astros
• 2020: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Tampa Bay Rays
• 2019: Washington Nationals def. Houston Astros
• 2018: Boston Red Sox def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2017: Houston Astros def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2016: Chicago Cubs def. Cleveland Indians
• 2015: Kansas City Royals def. New York Mets
• 2014: San Francisco Giants def. Kansas City Royals
• 2013: Boston Red Sox def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 2012: San Francisco Giants def. Detroit Tigers
• 2011: St. Louis Cardinals def. Texas Rangers
• 2010: San Francisco Giants def. Texas Rangers
• 2009: New York Yankees def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 2008: Philadelphia Phillies def. Tampa Bay Rays
• 2007: Boston Red Sox def. Colorado Rockies
• 2006: St. Louis Cardinals def. Detroit Tigers
• 2005: Chicago White Sox def. Houston Astros
• 2004: Boston Red Sox def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 2003: Florida Marlins def. New York Yankees
• 2002: Anaheim Angels def. San Francisco Giants
• 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks def. New York Yankees
• 2000: New York Yankees def. New York Mets
• 1999: New York Yankees def. Atlanta Braves
• 1998: New York Yankees def. San Diego Padres
• 1997: Florida Marlins def. Cleveland Indians
• 1996: New York Yankees def. Atlanta Braves
• 1995: Atlanta Braves def. Cleveland Indians
• 1994: No World Series was played due to a players’ strike
• 1993: Toronto Blue Jays def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 1992: Toronto Blue Jays def. Atlanta Braves
• 1991: Minnesota Twins def. Atlanta Braves
• 1990: Cincinnati Reds def. Oakland Athletics
• 1989: Oakland Athletics def. San Francisco Giants
• 1988: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Oakland Athletics
• 1987: Minnesota Twins def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1986: New York Mets def. Boston Red Sox
• 1985: Kansas City Royals def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1984: Detroit Tigers def. San Diego Padres
• 1983: Baltimore Orioles def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 1982: St. Louis Cardinals def. Milwaukee Brewers
• 1981: Los Angeles Dodgers def. New York Yankees
• 1980: Philadelphia Phillies def. Kansas City Royals
• 1979: Pittsburgh Pirates def. Baltimore Orioles
• 1978: New York Yankees def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1977: New York Yankees def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1976: Cincinnati Reds def. New York Yankees
• 1975: Cincinnati Reds def. Boston Red Sox
• 1974: Oakland Athletics def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1973: Oakland Athletics def. New York Mets
• 1972: Oakland Athletics def. Cincinnati Reds
• 1971: Pittsburgh Pirates def. Baltimore Orioles
• 1970: Baltimore Orioles def. Cincinnati Reds
• 1969: New York Mets def. Baltimore Orioles
• 1968: Detroit Tigers def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1967: St. Louis Cardinals def. Boston Red Sox
• 1966: Baltimore Orioles def. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 1965: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Minnesota Twins
• 1964: St. Louis Cardinals def. New York Yankees
• 1963: Los Angeles Dodgers def. New York Yankees
• 1962: New York Yankees def. San Francisco Giants
• 1961: New York Yankees def. Cincinnati Reds
• 1960: Pittsburgh Pirates def. New York Yankees
• 1959: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Chicago White Sox
• 1958: New York Yankees def. Milwaukee Braves
• 1957: Milwaukee Braves def. New York Yankees
• 1956: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1955: Brooklyn Dodgers def. New York Yankees
• 1954: New York Giants def. Cleveland Indians
• 1953: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1952: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1951: New York Yankees def. New York Giants
• 1950: New York Yankees def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 1949: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1948: Cleveland Indians def. Boston Braves
• 1947: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1946: St. Louis Cardinals def. Boston Red Sox
• 1945: Detroit Tigers def. Chicago Cubs
• 1944: St. Louis Cardinals def. St. Louis Browns
• 1943: New York Yankees def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1942: St. Louis Cardinals def. New York Yankees
• 1941: New York Yankees def. Brooklyn Dodgers
• 1940: Cincinnati Reds def. Detroit Tigers
• 1939: New York Yankees def. Cincinnati Reds
• 1938: New York Yankees def. Chicago Cubs
• 1937: New York Yankees def. New York Giants
• 1936: New York Yankees def. New York Giants
• 1935: Detroit Tigers def. Chicago Cubs
• 1934: St. Louis Cardinals def. Detroit Tigers
• 1933: New York Giants def. Washington Senators
• 1932: New York Yankees def. Chicago Cubs
• 1931: St. Louis Cardinals def. Philadelphia Athletics
• 1930: Philadelphia Athletics def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1929: Philadelphia Athletics def. Chicago Cubs
• 1928: New York Yankees def. St. Louis Cardinals
• 1927: New York Yankees def. Pittsburgh Pirates
• 1926: St. Louis Cardinals def. New York Yankees
• 1925: Pittsburgh Pirates def. Washington Senators
• 1924: Washington Senators def. New York Giants
• 1923: New York Yankees def. New York Giants
• 1922: New York Giants def. New York Yankees
• 1921: New York Giants def. New York Yankees
• 1920: Cleveland Indians def. Brooklyn Robins (now Dodgers)
• 1919: Cincinnati Reds def. Chicago White Sox
• 1918: Boston Red Sox def. Chicago Cubs
• 1917: Chicago White Sox def. New York Giants
• 1916: Boston Red Sox def. Brooklyn Robins (now Dodgers)
• 1915: Boston Red Sox def. Philadelphia Phillies
• 1914: Boston Braves def. Philadelphia Athletics
• 1913: Philadelphia Athletics def. New York Giants
• 1912: Boston Red Sox def. New York Giants
• 1911: Philadelphia Athletics def. New York Giants
• 1910: Philadelphia Athletics def. Chicago Cubs
• 1909: Pittsburgh Pirates def. Detroit Tigers
• 1908: Chicago Cubs def. Detroit Tigers
• 1907: Chicago Cubs def. Detroit Tigers
• 1906: Chicago White Sox def. Chicago Cubs
• 1905: New York Giants def. Philadelphia Athletics
• 1904: No World Series was played
• 1903: Boston Americans (now Red Sox) def. Pittsburgh Pirates

Which team has won the most World Series titles?

Only 14 teams have won three or more championships. Here’s a breakdown of that list:

• Yankees – 27 titles
• Cardinals – 11
• Dodgers – 9
• Red Sox – 9
• Athletics – 9
• Giants – 8
• Reds – 5
• Pirates – 5
• Tigers – 4
• Braves – 4
• Cubs – 3
• White Sox – 3
• Twins – 3
• Orioles – 3

How many World Series have been played?

After the 2026 season, a total of 122 World Series have been played, with the New York Yankees having won the most titles (27).

What MLB teams have never won a World Series?

These four teams have failed to capture a title:

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More upsets went down in Week 8, but the chaos is just beginning in college football, as we inch closer to the Playoff.

There’s only two top 25 matchups this weekend, which only means more games flying under the radar. 

Here are five sleeper games worth watching — and wagering on — in Week 9.

Also, see how much you could win with this week’s parlay slip at the end.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Spread: Iowa -3.5

Why This Game Matters: One team has won 49 times and the other 48, and this year’s game will be the 100th meeting. Iowa has won the last four, averaging 29.5 points while allowing just 6.5. 

The Outlook: Wisconsin made its top-25 debut this week after upsetting No. 16 USC, and the Badgers are now 3-1 in Big Ten play, with the lone loss coming against No. 7 UCLA. If they can win out, they will be right in the Playoff conversation. Meanwhile, last week, Iowa suffered its second conference loss, scoring a season-low 10 points and turning the ball over four times against Minnesota. 

Spread: Oklahoma -5.5

Why This Game Matters: These two teams are 2-1 over the last three weeks, pulling off some of the biggest upsets of the season and turning their years around. Oklahoma knocked off then-No. 1 Texas, and South Carolina has back-to-back wins over ranked opponents.

LaNorris scored the game-tying touchdown with 1:17 left, his second rushing touchdown of the game. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

The Outlook: South Carolina last won consecutive games against ranked opponents in 2022, when it beat No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson. Junior quarterback LaNorris Sellers has lifted the Gamecocks in recent weeks, totaling more than 600 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception over the last two games. Oklahoma has two conference losses, but so do almost all of its SEC counterparts. 

Spread: Wake Forest -14

Why This Game Matters: Wake Forest owns its highest ranking since the 2022 season and is right in the middle of the ACC title race. In what seems to be a two-team race to meet Miami in the championship game, the Demon Deacons can’t afford a slip-up against a Virginia team which has allowed over 25 points in only one conference game.

The Outlook: That 2022 season, where the Demon Deacons had the No. 10 ranking, was also the last time they started 6-1 in a season. So far this season, Wake Forest is averaging the third-most points (37.4) in the conference, scoring 30 or more points in every game except one. As for the Cavaliers, they have already lost more games than they did last season and have dropped three of their last four.

Spread: Utah -6.5

Why This Game Matters: Cincinnati joined the list of unranked teams to upset a top-10 team this season, knocking off No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 last week. This week, the Bearcats get a chance to take down another unbeaten.

The Outlook: Utah earned a top-15 win over Houston last week to stay one of three undefeated teams in the FBS. The Utes rack up the ninth-most yards in the nation (478.4), second-most in the Big 12. Texas Tech’s 3-point lead lasted 8:10, stretching from the end of the first quarter to the middle of the second. Then Cincy quarterback JC French IV threw the first of his four touchdowns to retake the lead, and Cincinnati never gave it back. 

Spread: Oregon State -5.5

Why This Game Matters: New coach JaMarcus Shepard has turned this Oregon State program around and has the Beavers in position to possibly win the Pac-12 in his first season. However, the Bulldogs are one of three teams in the conference ranked in the top five in both total offense and total defense.

The Outlook: Who thought Oregon State would have the nation’s leading passer and receiver this season? That’s exactly what it has in Braden Atkinson and Jesse Lagree. Atkinson has connected with Legree 46 times, and Legree has made them count. The freshman phenom has topped 100 yards and found the end zone in every game this season.

Week 8 Parlay Slip

Bet $10 to win $346.44 if:

• No. 25 Wisconsin vs. Iowa UNDER (-108)
• Virginia (+12.5) vs. No. 14 Wake Forest (-110)
• South Carolina Moneyline vs. Oklahoma (+164)
• No. 6 Utah (-6.5) vs. Cincinnati (-115)
• Oregon State vs. Fresno State OVER 57.5 (-110)

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The Carolina Panthers visit the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. ET from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Green Bay is 4-3, and its three-game winning streak ended with a 20-17 loss at Detroit in Week 7. The Packers allowed 34 points combined while beating Tampa Bay, Chicago and Dallas in Weeks 4 through 6, a run that included a 31-7 win over the Bears. They have allowed 20.7 points per game, and their plus-5 turnover margin is No. 5 in the NFL. The Packers convert 35.2 percent of their third downs, a bottom 10 mark.

Carolina is 3-3 after a 43-13 home loss to Tampa Bay in Week 7, one week after a 25-14 win at Philadelphia that came out of a Week 5 bye. The Panthers score 26.5 points per game and throw for 276.0 yards per game, No. 2 in the league. Their defense allows 153.2 rushing yards per game, and Chicago scored 59 points against it in Week 1. Carolina is 2-1 on the road, and its lone road loss came 21-18 at Cleveland in Week 3.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Panthers vs. Packers

• When: Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
• Stream: Amazon Prime Video
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

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The Milwaukee Brewers dominated.

After winning an MLB-best 103 games in the regular season, the Brewers defeated the San Diego Padres in four games in the National League Division Series, swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games in the 2026 World Series to capture their first championship.

And the Brewers did it without acquiring defending, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers at the MLB trade deadline. Instead, Skubal landed in L.A. with the Dodgers and got handled by the Brewers in the NLCS.

On that note, what was the Brewers’ offer for Skubal?

What Did Brewers Offer For Skubal?

Milwaukee offered Detroit infield prospects Luis Peña (the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and Jett Williams (Milwaukee’s No. 10 prospect) and outfielder Josh Adamczewski (Milwaukee’s 15th round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft) for Skubal, according to a report from The Athletic.

However, Detroit sought more, preferably a top position player prospect and a starting pitcher under team control for the foreseeable future, most notably, Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson, which Milwaukee refused to do.

Ultimately, the Tigers traded Skubal to the Dodgers for outfielder Zyhir Hope — who is now Detroit’s top prospect, per MLB Pipeline — and right-handed pitchers River Ryan (the Dodgers’ No. 7 prospect at the time of the trade) and Brady Smith (the Dodgers’ No. 17 prospect when the deal was made).

The Brewers pivoted, acquiring starting pitcher Dustin May and left-handed reliever JoJo Romero — who gave up just one run over eight innings this postseason — from the St. Louis Cardinals and right-handed reliever Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies.

How Skubal Fared With Dodgers

Skubal — whose 2026 campaign was sidetracked for six weeks due to an elbow injury and subsequent surgery — was terrific for the Dodgers, recording a 2.61 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, a 162 ERA+ and 70 strikeouts across 62 innings pitched for the team in the regular season.

Skubal then posted a 2.45 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 14 strikeouts over 11 innings across his two postseason starts for Los Angeles. Of course, Skubal’s second postseason outing came against the Brewers, which was a 2-1 loss to open the NLCS for the Dodgers.

Brewers Didn’t Need Skubal

Skubal, who will be 30 at the start of the 2027 MLB season, is set to hit free agency this offseason.

Should the Brewers pursue Skubal on the open market, the superstar southpaw would add to a starting rotation that already includes likely 2026 NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, the aforementioned Henderson and Robert Gasser, among others.

In all, Milwaukee’s starting rotation was second in MLB in opponent batting average (.220), third in strikeouts (907), tied for third in WHIP (1.14) and fifth outright in ERA (3.61) in the regular season.

MLB Related Stories

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Sound the alarm: We’ve got a blockbuster!

The Chicago Bears have acquired Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported on Thursday morning. Tennessee later revealed that it received Chicago’s 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and its 2027 fourth-rounder for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

“There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement regarding the trade. “His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ‘Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes.

“Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team.

Jeffery Simmons Is In His Prime

Simmons, a four-time Pro Bowler, totaled four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four passes defended and 38 combined tackles across Tennessee’s first seven games this season; the Titans are 1-6, while the Bears are 5-2.

Last year (2025), Simmons logged career-highs in sacks (11.0), forced fumbles (three) and combined tackles (67.0), helping the defensive lineman earn his first career All-Pro honor.

How Bears’ Defense Has Fared

Simmons joins a Chicago defense that’s third in the NFL in opponent rushing yards (87.6 per game), tied for seventh in sacks (19.0), is eighth outright in opponent total yards (313.4 per game), tied for ninth in opponent points (20.4 per game) and 18th outright in opponent passing yards (225.9 per game).

Meanwhile, the Bears are getting veteran defensive lineman and 2023 Pro Bowler Montez Sweat back from a suspension for their Week 8 primetime showdown on the road against the defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks; Sweat missed the Bears’ last two games due to violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. (Nov. 2).

Jeffery Simmons Contract Context

The 29-year-old Simmons signed a three-year, $105.8 million extension in June, with the $35.28 million average annual value third among NFL defensive tackles.

This trade comes two months after the Bears sent defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick; Dexter then signed a four-year, $78 million extension with the Falcons.

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Oregon’s on the brink of a fourth loss, and Ohio State heads west to face the USC Trojans. What’s in store for Week 9 of college football?

The Trojans’ Week 8 loss to Wisconsin raised concern for head coach Lincoln Riley and his future in Los Angeles. Hosting the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes only adds to the pressure. Georgia’s Week 7 loss to Auburn – followed by a bye – set the stage for the annual rivalry with Florida. While Florida has beaten teams like No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 11 Texas, do the Gators have room for another upset? What does FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt see happening in a wild Week 9?

Here are Klatt’s Week 9 picks and predictions, from the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show”.

  Ohio State 20, USC 10

Even without Julian Sayin at QB for Ohio State, Lincoln Riley’s USC is the underdog against the Buckeyes. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: Ohio State -6.5
Moneyline: Ohio State -245, USC +200

Klatt’s thoughts: “Ohio State at USC. Ohio State is favored by 6.5 on the road. The biggest question in college football, everybody, is Julian Sayins’ replacement. Who’s it going to be, first and foremost, and will that player be effective? Nobody knows, and the reason it’s so important is not just because it’s the quarterback for Ohio State, but because they have the best player that we’ve seen in a long time as a wide receiver. So who’s throwing it to Jeremiah Smith? That’s the biggest question, and yet it’s not the most important element of this Ohio State team … Their defense is outstanding, outstanding. Their defensive line is outstanding. They are getting better every single week. I watch almost every play, even when I’m not covering Ohio State. I watch a lot of film. Ohio State’s one of those teams. I watch every snap that they play, and the defensive line that I saw play against Texas, which was okay … The defensive line that I saw play against Indiana was vastly different, vastly different.

“The biggest advantage in the overall game is Ohio State’s defensive line against USC’s offensive line. USC’s offensive line is not playing very well at all. We saw that last week against Wisconsin. They couldn’t protect Jayden Maiava, and they couldn’t run the football – -17 yards, rushing the football. The offensive game plan for Ohio State, for me, has got to be flexible. When you go into this game with whatever questions you have at the quarterback position, you have to understand that you have to play the game offensively, the way that your defense allows you to play the game offensively. You can’t go in with some aggressive game plan, and all of a sudden create short fields for your defense.

“Breadcrumbs for USC suggest that they are not even close to what I thought that they could be, or anticipated that they could be, or even what I thought they were last week. Their run game is 103rd in the country in yards per carry. Why is it different than Oklahoma for Lincoln Riley? The run game. It’s not the passing game. It’s not the defense. It’s the run game. Sloppy wins are the breadcrumbs that I would look at. Sloppy against Rutgers. Sloppy against Washington. Sloppy against Penn State. And now here comes Ohio State into this game.”

“What do I think is going to happen? Ohio State 20, USC 10. I am saying Ohio State covers the 6.5.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: Ohio State
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Ohio State -6.5

  Georgia 31, Florida 20

Will Gunner Stockton and Georgia bounce back after a loss to Auburn? (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: Georgia -11.5
Moneyline: Georgia -440, Florida +340

Klatt’s thoughts: “Florida against Georgia. Georgia is favored by 11.5. That’s just too many, isn’t it? There’s no doubt they will play better than they did against Auburn. All those mistakes that we saw against Auburn, the turnovers, the penalties, that’s going to be blown out of there because Kirby Smart’s been able to lean on these guys. My issue is that I don’t know what Florida team is going to show up. Is it the team that you know has wins against Ole Miss and Texas, or the team that has losses against Missouri and South Carolina? You know, I don’t. I think Florida has to run the football. They’re not going to sit there and throw it. I don’t think they can be an independent throwing team. They’ve got to be able to run first. And if you’re telling me that this is a trenches game, they’re not going to win a trenches game with Georgia.

“You look at that Texas game; they had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss in that game. So they might make things a little bit more difficult for Georgia, which means in a game in which I don’t know which team is going to show up, I’ve got to take the points. I can’t sit there and say, “Yeah, Georgia is going to be up, you know, 34 to 17 in this game comfortably,” and then give up a late touchdown and lose.”

“I got to take the points. Georgia wins the game 31-20, and I’ll take the 11.5 towards Florida.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: Georgia
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Florida +11.5

  Arizona 24, Texas Tech 20

Texas Tech has a challenge in front of them this week as it comes up against Noah Fafita. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: Texas Tech -3.5
Moneyline: Texas Tech -166, Arizona +140

Klatt’s thoughts: “How about Arizona at Texas Tech? Arizona ranked 22nd. Texas Tech ranked 13th. I don’t know why Texas Tech is ranked 13th. They’ve really done nothing this year. They’re actually favored in this game by 3.5. Arizona has been quietly taking care of business. Arizona is pretty good, pretty good. Since that loss to BYU, by the way, they led at halftime against BYU in Provo, and that was a BYU team that still had LJ Martin, the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year from a year ago. You know, like BYU without LJ Martin beat Notre Dame. So Tech, they’re looking at this Arizona team, thinking to themselves like, ‘This is going to be a real test.’ And Noah Fafita comes in as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in all of college football. Brent Brennan is a heck of a football coach. They’ve got some momentum on their side. You know they housed Cincinnati, who just beat Texas Tech. I think Arizona’s got a great chance in this game. 

“The Tech defense has covered up what has been an anemic offense for large stretches of the season, including last week. Texas Tech has five defensive touchdowns over the last four games. Five, and you look up; they didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the final minute against Cincy. Will Hammond has not played well. It’s a unique style of defense from a structural standpoint, and it’s hard to prepare for. They were excellent last year. They’ve been very good this year. Now this year they’re getting after the quarterback. They’re actually sixth in the country in sacks against an offense that is really struggling. Now, my biggest problem with this game is that it’s in Lubbock because I love the Lubbock crowd. That crowd’s going to be insane, but it could have a little panic to it.

“I’m going to take the 3.5 here and say Arizona 24-20.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: Arizona
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Arizona +3.5

  Utah 35, Cincinnati 24

 Morgan Scalley’s offense in Utah is going to be a problem for Cincinnati. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)

Spread: Utah -6.5
Moneyline: Utah -258, Cincinnati +210

Klatt’s thoughts: “Utah at Cincinnati. Utah is favored by 6.5. Cincinnati coming off of that emotional, crowd-storming win over Texas Tech. That was awesome for them. There’s no doubt. Utah’s been playing with fire a little bit. They were kind of close to Kansas. They were close to Colorado. They had to pull away from Houston last week after being down 10-0 at halftime, and yet this does come down to matchup. If you’re just looking at the matchup, I’m looking at this team in Cincinnati, and they played a couple of weeks ago West Virginia, who, by the way, has an offense that is centered around a quarterback running the football. That’s Michael Hawkins. Michael Hawkins had over 500 yards in that game, 500 yards. So is Cincy going to step up and stop Devin Dampier and this high-powered Utah offense? I don’t think that they are going to. 

“So now you have to tell me, well, now you’ve got to get into a scoring matchup. You got to get into a high-flying affair. Well, they couldn’t do that against Arizona, and now they’re going to see a Utah defense, which is one of the better defenses in all of college football. Cincy has to run it well with their quarterback, JC French, and their running back, Colt Tab. They ran it for over 250 last week, but this is a different animal because Utah is a top-10 run defense in America. So watch out for Utah’s defense controlling this game. I think after the emotional win, you might have a little bit of a letdown, even at home for Cincinnati. 

“Give me Utah 35-24, and they cover the 6.5.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: Utah
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Utah -6.5

  Northwestern 24, Oregon 20

Dan Lanning’s Ducks have to face Northwestern without QB Dante Moore. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: Oregon -3.5
Moneyline: Oregon -175, Northwestern +145

Klatt’s thoughts: “Northwestern at Oregon. Oregon is favored by 3.5 in Eugene. Things are not going great. I was surprised to see this line. To be honest with you, Oregon just fired their offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer. Jay Johnson, who was an analyst, is going to take over. He’s been an OC before. He was the OC at Michigan State, and also at Colorado in his past. Is it going to get fixed just by a coordinator? It might. It might. They’re banged up at wide receiver. They had discipline issues at wide receiver. We’ll see. They like Evan Stewart. That whole saga off the field. Is he going to be out there? Jeremiah McClellan is still out with a foot injury. I think the game is actually more about Northwestern than it is Oregon, and the reason I say that is because Northwestern is buttoned up. David Braun is a hell of a football coach.

“Chip Kelly has done a marvelous job as the offensive coordinator for Northwestern. His creativity, he’s running kind of almost a wing-t, almost an academy-esque style of offense that is very difficult to prepare for because of its unique nature and everything that you have to stop, all the different directions that the ball can go, the reads that are taking place, almost an option-style attack. Aidan Chiles is playing phenomenal football, he’s been great for them at QB. He’s been excellent. He’s going to be motivated to play well in this game. 

“And then I look at Oregon, and I’m like, how much do they have here? It’s not about their talent anymore. It’s about their buy-in. What buy-in am I getting from the Oregon Ducks? Because it’s going to need to be significant on the defensive side to stop that rushing attack and the unique nature of that rushing attack for Northwestern. It takes an incredible amount of discipline and commitment to go in there and stop a rushing attack like Northwestern has. I think that they’re going to need to play one of their better games, if not their best game, to beat a Northwestern team that will not beat themselves. Curt Cignetti tells me this in our meetings all the time. In order to win the game, you first have to lose the game. Northwestern doesn’t lose games. You might beat them, but they don’t lose games. I think that’s an important distinction.

“So I’m going Northwestern 24-20.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: Northwestern
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Northwestern +3.5

More CFB

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The Vikings are 6-0, but is a collapse inevitable? Are the Chiefs off the mountain as a top Super Bowl contender?

And those NFC-East leading Giants (4-2-1) … are they actually for real? 

I break down those topics and more in this edition of “Fact or Fiction,” where I render a verdict on fan takes sent to our @NFLonFOX Instagram after every week of league action. 

Let’s dive in: 

The Vikings Will Have A Major Drop-Off
– @errico_52

Fact or Fiction: Fact

As long as the Vikings’ offense continues to struggle, this is 100 percent true. 

Elite defense and great special teams play is awesome and can win you games — a lot of games, in some cases — but it has a ceiling. Despite being the NFL’s only unbeaten team, Minnesota can’t be a true Super Bowl contender without offensive competence. 

On a team that features star receiver Justin Jefferson, QB Kyler Murray has only three touchdown passes. The thought was that the tide would start to shift for Minnesota’s offense last week, when it got starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw, tight end T.J. Hockenson, wide receiver Jordan Addison and running back Jordan Mason all back in the lineup from injuries. But it was more of the same against the Colts. Minnesota scored just 16 points, including one touchdown, against a struggling Indianapolis defense. 

Minnesota Vikings

2026 Points Per Game

Week 1

 

39 points

Week 2

 

9 points

Week 3

 

23 points

Week 4

 

15 points

Week 5

 

23 points

Week 7

 

16 points

The Vikings have scored 23 or fewer points in five of their six games this season. They haven’t put up a touchdown in a third of their games this year, and only the Dolphins, Titans and Chargers have scored fewer points. Minnesota’s 125 points are tied for the second-fewest by any team through a 6-0 start since 1950, according to NFL Research.

And the Vikings are entering a gauntlet: at the Detroit Lions (4-2), vs. the Buffalo Bills (5-1), at the Green Bay Packers (4-3) and at the San Francisco 49ers (6-1). Those four teams are a combined 19-7. The Vikings need to figure it out on offense, fast. Otherwise, the cracks will start to reveal themselves over the next several weeks. 

Jared Goff Is A System QB
– @daxduffin

Fact or Fiction: Fact

This is true … and also not a problem! Most NFL quarterbacks are system dependent. 

There are, what, roughly five or so truly transcendent QBs in the league right now? Of course, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are in that category. Bears QB Caleb Williams is a rising superstar, but we didn’t see his career start to take off until he got into Ben Johnson’s system. Niners QB Brock Purdy, a leading MVP candidate, is thriving in large part because he plays in Kyle Shanahan’s system. 

So, we can’t hold a “system QB” label against Goff. If teams can’t get the rare generational QB, they actually want someone like Goff. He should be in the MVP conversation because of his production this season. 

He’s thrown 14 touchdowns to zero interceptions. He leads the league in passing yards per game (298.0) and passer rating (112.5). He’s the only NFL player to have multiple games with 300-plus passing yards, multiple passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in 2026. He’s tied for the most passing touchdowns without an interception through the first six games of a season, according to NFL on FOX research. 

Goff benefits a ton from the talent around him. He has one of the league’s best wide receiver tandems in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, a superstar running back in Jahmyr Gibbs and a great offensive line protecting him. But something should be said about how Goff consistently puts Detroit’s playmakers in positions to succeed, keeps the offense on schedule and delivers timely chunk plays. 

He’s the perfect quarterback for the Lions. 

“He’s playing at such a high level,” coach Dan Campbell said Sunday. “We have a tremendous amount of trust. He’s just going to take care of the football, do the right thing, make explosive passes when they’re there, get it to the right person, manage the game when we need him to manage it, push the ball when we need him to push it.” 

The Chiefs Aren’t A Top-5 Team Anymore
– @zack8tk

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

The Chiefs are one of the NFL’s best teams and they have a glaring issue. I think both things can be true. 

It’s understandable, though, to be especially low on the Chiefs coming out of Week 7. Everyone knows that the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense is elite and that playing in Seattle is really tough, but for Kansas City to look that bad offensively was concerning. The Chiefs were held to their fewest points (3), total yards (213), first downs (11) and red-zone drives (0) in any game started by Patrick Mahomes, according to NFL on FOX research. 

In two games since its Week 5 bye, Kansas City is averaging just 12.5 points per game and 317.5 total yards per game. That’s down from 29.5 ppg and 412.0 yards per game over the first four weeks. 

The Chiefs’ recent struggles are impacted largely by being shorthanded at receiver. The team hasn’t had starters Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton since Week 4, with the latter being on injured reserve. That has enabled opponents to focus on stopping Kenneth Walker III in the backfield without fearing the Chiefs’ passing attack.

The Seahawks held former teammate Kenneth Walker III to a season-low 36 rushing yards in Week 7. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)

Rice should return in the near future from his hamstring injury, given that he wasn’t placed on IR, but don’t be surprised to see Kansas City scour the trade market for a wideout who can stretch the field. The Titans’ Calvin Ridley and the Browns’ Jerry Jeudy are names to watch. The Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. would be perfect, but I don’t see Jacksonville trading him to a fellow contender at the top of the AFC. 

The Giants Are Dangerous!
– @piegari34

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

First of all, I’m actually on board the J.J. McCarthy train. 

Now, I’m not necessarily buying that he can sustain his level of play from last week’s overtime win over the Houston Texans and his fourth-quarter performance against the New Orleans Saints the week prior. But being in a new environment is good for the former Vikings QB, and I do think he can at least manage Giants OC Matt Nagy’s offense. 

McCarthy just needs to get the ball to the playmakers and let them work. Receiver Malik Nabers has been on fire with four straight 100-yard games. Lead back Cam Skattebo is coming off a career-high 124 rushing yards last week. 

My main concern with the Giants is their defense. They don’t do a good job stopping the run (128.1 rushing yards allowed per game, 25th) or rushing the passer (29th in sacks, 20th in pressure rate). The 2-4 Saints scored a season-high 34 points on them. The Giants allowed the 1-4-1 Washington Commanders to put up 27 points, the second-most they’ve had in a game this season. 

There are individual standouts on New York’s defense, including former first-round cornerback Deonte Banks, but the overall unit hasn’t played up to par. And a McCarthy-led offense is still too much of a wild card to believe it can lead John Harbaugh’s squad to compete with the upper echelon in the NFC.

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“The mail never stops. It just keeps coming and coming and coming. There’s never a let-up. It’s relentless. Every day it piles up more and more and more, and you got to get it out. And the more you get it out, the more it keeps coming in.”

That’s what the NFL rumor mill can make one feel like and likely what Garrett Wilson is dealing with given the New York Jets’ 2-5 start, but the star wide receiver isn’t letting that deter him from where he wants to be.

“Nah,” Wilson said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon when asked if he’d request a trade from the Jets before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. “I see the stuff on social media, as well. I’m big on, not just when it comes to social media and stuff, controlling what I can control.”

Wilson recorded just two receptions for 26 yards on three targets in the Jets’ Week 7 loss at home to the previously win-less Miami Dolphins. On the season, Wilson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner, has totaled 37 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, quarterback Geno Smith has tallied 1,623 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, two interceptions and a 105.2 passer rating, while completing 70.0% of his passes.

With all that said, the Jets’ offense is 27th in the NFL in points (19.6 per game), 23rd in total yards (303.0 per game), 22nd in rushing yards (96.4 per game) and 21st in passing yards (206.6 per game). To boot, starting running back Breece Hall hasn’t played since Sept. 27 due to a quad injury.

Wilson is coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him limited to seven games due to a knee injury. From 2022-24, Wilson averaged 93.0 receptions for 1,083 yards and 4.7 touchdowns per year, while never missing a game.

“Yeah, of course, I want to be here. I want to win games, and that’s the one thing we’ve been missing,” Wilson said. “I love it here. Do I love it more than I love winning? Nah, to be completely honest, but I’m hopeful, and that’s why these losses each weekend hurt a little more.”

Wilson, whom the Jets selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, begins a four-year, $130 million contract next year.

The Jets host the Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) in Week 8 (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX). New York then travels to play the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) and hosts the Buffalo Bills (5-1).

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We’ve got four teams on this week’s list that didn’t make an appearance last week. 

And, we’ve got a new squad in the top three after BYU’s shocking loss to UCF.

Here are my latest college football rankings, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

10.

Utah

Last Week: Not Ranked
To Make CFP: -135
Title Odds: +4000

It will not surprise me if the Utes lose this weekend in Cincinnati as Texas Tech just did. About the best thing you can say about the last two weeks is that Utah was tested and came out with wins. But I don’t feel great about the Utes surviving the next three games — at Cincy, against Utah and at Arizona — without a loss. And the Big 12 tie-breaker looks like it’s going to be messy … surprise!

9.

LSU

Last Week: NR
To Make CFP: -165
Title Odds: +1000

I think LSU has the most upside of any two-loss team. Having Bama and Texas up next ain’t easy, but if you’re looking for a long shot to make some Playoff noise, LSU might be the team for you. High ceiling, high risk.

8.

Kentucky

Last Week: NR
To Make CFP: +180
Title Odds: +6500

The Wildcats fell behind Vandy but came roaring back for a solid win in what could have been a very tricky spot. Now they have an idle week before three straight ranked opponents, which will determine if the Cats are CFP bound.

7.

Texas

Last Week: NR
To Make CFP: -125
Title Odds: +1500

There isn’t a team out there that has three wins the quality of what Texas has, with the Longhorns getting past Ohio State, Tennessee and most recently, Ole Miss. 

6.

Last Week: 4
To Make CFP: -800
Title Odds: +460

The Irish have a warm-up for Miami with Navy in Foxboro this week. Big picture, the Miami game means everything for the Irish. A win forgives the loss in Provo and helps realize the expectations people had for them. A loss puts them in a potential 10-2 logjam where their résumé might not even stack up with some 9-3 teams. But that’s still at least a week away (if at all) from coming into conversation. 

5.

BYU

Last Week: 2
To Make CFP: +145
Title Odds: +6500

BYU was ripe for an upset last week and that’s exactly what happened. I think the Cougars are the best team in the Big 12, but that Holy War against Utah will shape the CFP picture even further. Let’s just say hypothetically it comes to this, but a 10-2 BYU better get a nod over a 10-2 Notre Dame. 

4.

Last Week: 7
To Make CFP: -1250
Title Odds: +850

It doesn’t feel like Indiana is the fourth-best team in the country, but right now I’m OK with slotting the Hoosiers here. The health of QB Josh Hoover is a question after a really poor game Saturday and, honestly, the last three weeks. The IU defense — especially the front — remains the strength of the team. Against the remaining schedule, that unit can carry the Hoosiers to 11-1 and another CFP berth. 

3.

Last Week: 5
To Make CFP: -650
Title Odds: +550

We’ll have a much better idea of where the Buckeyes stand and what their future might hold after the game at USC. Everyone is looking forward to seeing what Luke Fahey has to offer in his first career start against a USC defense that is pretty mediocre. The Ohio State defense, however, is not mediocre. 

2.

Last Week: 3
To Make CFP: -1250
Title Odds: +420

The Dawgs were off last week ahead of the Cocktail Party in Atlanta. Gunner Stockton should be good to go after a shaky performance against Auburn. There’s still no doubt who the best team in the SEC is. 

1.

Last Week: 1
To Make CFP: -4000
Title Odds: +650

There really shouldn’t be any debate that Miami is No. 1 right now. Yeah, the SOS is worse than teams with a loss, but that will change as the season progresses. The Canes were utterly dominant against Pitt, even with the same injury concerns they have been dealing with in the secondary and OL. Bottom line is that they have Malachi Toney and you don’t. Toney has been the best all-around offensive weapon in the sport this season and is squarely in the Heisman mix. Next up is a trip to North Carolina ahead of the game in South Bend. Could be a little uneasy trip this week, as the Irish discovered a few weeks back.

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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’re looking at how Mike Evans’s injury derailed the 49ers offense in Atlanta, what’s driving Houston’s defensive woes, and how the Seahawks defense shut down Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker. 

The 49ers Suffer From Mike Evans’ Absence In Atlanta

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has worked minor miracles, keeping the offense afloat while the injury bug tears through his receiver room. At a certain point, though, you just run out of bodies. That’s how it looked Sunday in San Francisco’s first game without Mike Evans, a 29-20 loss in Atlanta that knocked the Niners back to the pack in the NFC.

The absence was felt most on third down, where Evans has dominated San Francisco’s target share. Over the first six games, he moved the chains 11 times on third down; the rest of the team combined for 10. Against the Falcons, the 49ers had only two third-down receptions for first downs, both to George Kittle in the first quarter. On third down, Purdy finished 3-of-7 for 23 yards, a pick, and a passer rating of just 11.9.  

Even with Shanahan limiting his snap count, Evans has been a North Star for the passing game this season, and Purdy looked lost without him. A couple of plays really stood out. Take this third-and-17 play from the second quarter. That’s not a situation where you’d expect the offense to convert, but the 49ers just needed a solid gain to get back into field goal range. San Francisco comes out in a trips set, with Brandin Cooks, Evans’s stand-in, isolated on the back side.

With the Falcons pushing their coverage to the three-receiver side, there’s a crease in the coverage that Cooks’ deep in-breaker can exploit, but Purdy never looks his way and takes a checkdown that gains only two yards.

Targeting Cooks would have been risky, but we’ve seen Purdy rip those deep in-breakers to Evans with blind faith throughout the first month and a half. If big No. 5 is running that route instead of Cooks, that ball is getting thrown.

This next play came on fourth-and-10 late in the game. It’s another trips set with Cooks isolated on the backside. This time, Atlanta crowds the line of scrimmage and shows blitz.

The Falcons sent a six-man pressure, but two defenders backed off into coverage, creating a 4-over-3 on the trips side. That left cornerback A.J. Terrell on an island with Cooks. If it’s Evans vs. Terrell, Purdy is taking that matchup every time. With Cooks out there, Purdy never even glances toward the single-receiver side and ends up taking a sack that snuffs out a potential Niners rally.

There’s still an opportunity to complete the crosser, but the pressure gets to Purdy; he drops his eyes and runs himself down a cul-de-sac of pass rushers.

This was the highest level of difficulty Purdy has faced all season. He came into the game with a league-low 71 dropbacks on plays with a pass probability greater than 75%, per Next Gen Stats. In Atlanta, he took 25 such dropbacks – and he did it without his star wideout.

The takeaway: Shanahan tried his best to feature the other 49ers stars who are healthy enough to play. Christian McCaffrey got touches on seven of his first eight snaps and ended up in the blue medical tent with a leg injury. Kittle was targeted a season-high 10 times, but he’s not the explosive play machine he once was, so those targets produced just 88 yards. Like Evans, McCaffrey and Kittle are older and have extensive injury histories, so Shanahan can’t just spam touches for them without increasing their injury risk.

Until the 49ers are fully healthy – or at least get Evans back on the field – Shanahan will have to maintain this delicate balance, and the offense will remain limited.

The Texans Get Run Over By The Giants’ Running Game

All right, I’ve seen enough of this Houston team to give up any hope of it making a deep postseason run. That hope rested mostly on the defense turning things around, reclaiming its title as one of the league’s best units, and pairing it with an offense that was just good enough to do its part in January.

After watching J.J. McCarthy and Cam Skattebo put up career days on Demeco Ryans’ defense, I’m selling all of my stock.

I think general manager Nick Caserio summed up the defensive issues best on Monday morning.

If you watched the final two overtime plays – Skattebo’s 42-yard stroll through the Texans’ front and Devin Singletary’s 30-yard game-winner – you wouldn’t need Caserio to tell you Houston has a tackling problem, especially in the secondary. On both plays, safety Calen Bullock was one-on-one with the ball carrier.

On Skattebo’s run, he took a bad angle, allowing the plodding back to get past him.

Against Singletary, a quick stutter step left him grasping for air.

The Texans secondary combined for 10 missed tackles against the Giants, bringing their season total up to 43. Only Denver’s secondary has whiffed on more tackles this season, per Pro Football Focus. The safeties, Bullock and Reed Blankenship, have been the main culprits, with seven and eight missed tackles, respectively, but the whole unit has played a role. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter has missed six tackles, nickelback Jalen Pitre has missed five, and Derek Stingley and M.J. Stewart have missed four apiece.

Football is a beautifully complex sport, but sometimes the results are easy to explain. Houston’s defense has regressed because the secondary isn’t winning its one-on-one battles.

The takeaway: It’s not just the tackling, either. Texans defensive backs have been getting dunked on at the catch point all season. Only the Jaguars have given up more yards on tight-window throws and only three teams have surrendered more expected points added, per Next Gen Stats. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 8.1 yards per attempt on those contested throws. Last season, that number was a league-leading 2.0 yards per attempt. That’s a remarkable difference. Issues at the catch point and poor tackling in the secondary have spiked opponents’ explosive play rate, which is driving the defensive regression.  

Ryans said Monday that he believes in Houston’s scheme, and I’m inclined to agree. The players are in position to make stops; they just haven’t. Until this highly paid secondary starts playing up to its price tag, I’m fading the Texans. 

How The Seahawks Defense Stuffed The Chiefs In A Locker

If you forgot – or were distracted by the turbulent offense – Sunday’s comprehensive beatdown of the Chiefs was a reminder that Seattle is still home to the NFL’s best defense. The statistical nuggets coming out of the game are astonishing.

Kansas City couldn’t create any explosive plays.

It couldn’t produce in general.

Just gaining a first down felt like a chore.

The Seahawks didn’t just make Patrick Mahomes look mortal. They did it while also neutralizing Kenneth Walker, who came into the game leading the world in just about every meaningful run metric. The star running back managed just 36 yards on 14 carries. It was the first time he was held without an explosive run and the first time he was held to a success rate lower than 40%, per Next Gen Stats.

And Seattle did it without loading the box with run defenders. Seahawks coach/defensive play-caller Mike MacDonald could keep calling his two-high safety looks and enjoy a numbers advantage in the passing game. Pick pretty much any of Mahomes’ 33 passes and pause when he hits the back of his drop. And almost every time, you’ll see Seattle with a plus-one advantage in coverage on both sides of the field.

Mahomes’ interception came on a play where the Seahawks are caught in a run blitz against play-action. That’s typically an advantage for the offense, but Seattle gets four defenders over three receivers to the playside while Mahomes is chased by Nick Emmanwori and his 4.3 speed.

Seattle can play like that against the pass because they can do this against the run. Here, Kansas City comes out with three tight ends, and only one receiver split wide. The Seahawks match it with their nickel defense and keep both safeties deep, leaving a run gap open. 

But Seattle closes them with a strong scheme and even better talent. Derrick Hall and Leonard Williams cave in the strong side, creating a wall that boxes Walker in. Jarran Reed occupies a double team, and DeMarcus Lawrence wins inside and closes off the cutback lane. Both Seahawks linebackers remain unblocked, allowing them to fill any open gaps.

Seattle’s defensive alignment made it hard for Kansas City’s blockers to build double teams, and the defensive talent on the line made it hard to win those matchups, leaving Walker nowhere to go. That’s how you overcome a disadvantage in the box. This snapshot of the Next Gen Stats tracking dots clearly illustrates how the Seahawks’ run defense functions. You can see the vertical penetration to the play side, with the backside defenders working horizontally to prevent cutback lanes from forming.

The takeaway: It’s like MacDonald is playing a rigged game of rock-paper-scissors, where scissors don’t beat paper, so they can throw it with impunity. In this case, paper is their two-high coverages. Seattle can stay in their shell coverages without worrying about getting gashed on the ground. And it’s not like the Seahawks are just surviving against the run. They own the league’s dominant run defenses, which makes the suffocating coverage possible. 

Three And Out

1. Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has tormented opposing offenses with his exotic blitzes on third down, so credit to the Lions coaching staff for having an answer on Sunday. Sometimes, the solution to a complex schematic problem is as simple as putting the ball in your best player’s hands. For Detroit, that’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who moved the chains on two key third-down runs, with both coming on the same run play against the same pressure look from Green Bay.

The first one came on third-and-5 on the opening drive. With the Packers showing blitz, Detroit ran a crack toss with Amon-Ra St. Brown motioning across the formation and the play-side offensive tackle pulling outside, leading the way for Gibbs on third-and-5.

That extended the Lions’ first of two touchdown drives on Sunday. The second play essentially iced the game for Detroit. Facing third-and-7 and a similar pressure look from Green Bay, the Lions tossed it to Gibbs with St. Brown and Penei Sewell clearing out a path to a first down.

Gibbs wisely went down, letting Detroit bleed the clock before a chip-shot field goal to win.

2. The Rams will likely be in the market for another receiver with Davante Adams out for a couple of months, but Sean McVay has to be happy with the blocking effort he got out of his receiving corps on Sunday in the 35-21 win over Las Vegas. Konata Mumpfield’s effort on Kyren Williams’ 17-yard touchdown run really stood out.

Mumpfield wards off a cornerback just long enough before landing the key block on the safety, creating a downfield seal all on his own.

Los Angeles went back to basics on Sunday, running multi-tight-end sets and mashing the Raiders on the ground. That ground-and-pound strategy only works if you’re getting explosive runs, and those are much easier to come by when receivers are willing to block.

3. It’s been a month since I begged the NFL teams to run more lateral plays, and it appears they’re listening. 

Per Pro Football Focus, offenses have run seven since Week 3, including three in Week 7, and the success rate remains encouraging. Four of those seven plays – all on third- or fourth-and-10-plus – have gone for first downs.

As these designed laterals continue to dig offenses out of deep situational holes, I expect to see even more. The NFL never fails to live up to its reputation as a copycat league.

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