Author: Eternity Lab

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   How to Watch Patriots @ Seahawks

[–>
• When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET
• Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock

Players to Watch

With TreVeyon Henderson ruled out for the opener, Stevenson steps into one of the clearest volume roles in this matchup. He is expected to handle the bulk of New England’s snaps and touches out of the backfield, with Corey Kiner serving as the top understudy and additional depth likely coming from the practice squad.

That workload is what makes him so important against Seattle. The Patriots can lean on Stevenson on early downs and in the passing game, which gives him a direct path to shaping tempo and keeping the offense on schedule. If New England is going to control this game, Stevenson is the player most likely to set that tone.

For Seattle, the passing game spotlight naturally lands on Smith-Njigba because this opener puts him across from one of New England’s top cover corners. He is projected to remain a central piece of the Seahawks’ receiving group, and his role carries even more weight in a game where individual matchups on the perimeter could decide key possessions.

Last season, Smith-Njigba produced 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and that kind of production is why he is the receiver to track every snap. He gives Seattle a proven target who can stress coverage in multiple areas of the field. A strong night from him would go a long way toward opening the entire Seahawks offense.

Source

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a sprained right thumb.

Chisholm, who had been in the midst of his best stretch this season, will be shut down for seven to 10 days. New York has 18 games left.

“We just got an update that he does have a sprained right thumb that’s going to require an IL stint,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees faced the Rockies. “So no baseball activities for the next seven to 10 days and then see where we’re at.”

Chisholm was injured on a slide at second base trying to stretch a single in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 5-3 win. He was tagged out by Ezequiel Tovar, and his thumb appeared to hit the Colorado shortstop’s cleat.

Chisholm initially stayed in when the Yankees took the field for the ninth but was lifted after he made a poor throw while fielding a grounder.

A free agent after this season, Chisholm is hitting .232 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 134 games. He also has 40 stolen bases in 49 attempts, becoming the first Yankee with 40 steals since Brett Gardner had 49 in 2011.

Chisholm had two hits Tuesday and is hitting .391 (18 for 46) with two homers and six RBIs over his past 15 games.

“I feel like he has been really putting together some of his best at-bats of the season for an extended stretch,” Boone said. “So definitely a blow, but hopefully one that the time down here hopefully gets this thing right and puts us in position to impact us moving forward.”

Chisholm is the fourth Yankee to go on the IL since Aug. 23, joining pitchers Ryan Weathers (strained left forearm), Fernando Cruz (right elbow) and Trent Grisham (right hamstring strain). Chisholm also is the 18th player to land on the IL for the AL wild-card leaders, who activated Aaron Judge on Tuesday after an 84-game absence with a broken rib.

Chisholm has spent time on the IL in each season since being acquired from the Marlins in July 2024. He missed a little over a month last season with a strained right oblique and missed nearly two weeks with a sprained left elbow sustained on a headfirst slide in 2024.

Jose Caballero started at second base on Wednesday.

Anthony Volpe has played 19 games at second base for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and earned International League Player of the Week honors for hitting .524 with three homers and six RBIs in his last six games. He was scratched from the Triple-A lineup Wednesday.

Since being sent down to Triple-A on Aug. 4, Volpe is batting .295 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs in 27 games while playing shortstop and third base.

Volpe batted .240 with one homer and 19 RBIs in 56 games before the Yankees replaced him at shortstop with rookie George Lombard Jr.

“I feel like he’s in a really good spot,” Boone said about Volpe. “He’s been really productive down there and playing really well. He has taken well to the other positions. So we’ll see.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

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The reigning champs open at home in front of the 12th Man. A new-look Seattle team will have to adjust to being without Kenneth Walker III and playcaller Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks still have Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning OPOY, and he’s looking to start where he left off last season with quarterback Sam Darnold.

Meanwhile, the Patriots added two receivers for Drake Maye in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. With a revamped offense and a rejuvenated defense, New England is looking to open its season with a vengeance.

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*Odds are subject to change*

NE Patriots	+3 (+100)	O 44.5 (−108)	+145
SEA Seahawks	−3 (−110)	U 44.5 (−110)	−175

How to Watch Patriots vs. Seahawks

[–>
• When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET
• Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock

Players to Watch

With TreVeyon Henderson ruled out for the opener, Stevenson steps into one of the clearest volume roles in this matchup. He is expected to handle the bulk of New England’s snaps and touches out of the backfield, with Corey Kiner serving as the top understudy and additional depth likely coming from the practice squad.

That workload is what makes him so important against Seattle. The Patriots can lean on Stevenson on early downs and in the passing game, which gives him a direct path to shaping tempo and keeping the offense on schedule. If New England is going to control this game, Stevenson is the player most likely to set that tone.

For Seattle, the passing game spotlight naturally lands on Smith-Njigba because this opener puts him across from one of New England’s top cover corners. He is projected to remain a central piece of the Seahawks’ receiving group, and his role carries even more weight in a game where individual matchups on the perimeter could decide key possessions.

Last season, Smith-Njigba produced 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and that kind of production is why he is the receiver to track every snap. He gives Seattle a proven target who can stress coverage in multiple areas of the field. A strong night from him would go a long way toward opening the entire Seahawks offense.

Source

Look, LSU. Look, Michigan. College football doesn’t like what you’re doing — or what you’ve been allowed to get away with.

You’re paying the malicious compliance tax. That’s the tax where folks are doing just enough to satisfy the rules or the contract, but not enough to make the process a pleasant one.

And being right isn’t going to change their minds.

College football has spent the last few years changing what it will tolerate. Players can make millions. Transfers can move immediately. The playoff can crown an undisputed national champion. The sport has made room for immediate eligibility upon transferring schools — “free agency” — according to some coaches.

But there are still lines that fans, coaches and administrators simply won’t let you cross.

LSU and Michigan are the latest high-profile examples of how the sport operates, and it’s on emotion first.

Michigan fans stormed the field after Bryce Underwood connected with JJ Buchanan for a game-winning Hail Mary. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

–>

Objectively, the Wolverines did nothing illegal in their 13-12 win over in-state foe Western Michigan. They played by the rules enforced by Big Ten officials and scored what — under normal circumstances — would have been a dramatic, game-winning touchdown at home.

Michigan fans stormed the field, and head coach Kyle Whittingham made the appropriate remarks about narrowly escaping with a victory.

Except they didn’t. 

The Wolverines didn’t win the game — not in the eyes of the public and not in the eyes of the Mid-American Conference, which lodged an appeal with the NCAA and College Football Playoff seeking to have its loss overturned. Normally, the scoreboard settles these kinds of debates. But the clock is at issue, and to everyone watching the broadcast, the game was over when it struck zero.

Then, the replay booth intervened.

Its clock showed one second remaining after the play was dead. One second Michigan didn’t appear to have. One second that gave the Wolverines another snap and a chance to turn what looked like a 12-7 loss into a 13-12 victory.

The rules said Michigan had time. The audience saw a game that was already over. And in the end, Michigan went on to win a game that most believe is so unfair that they want to see the final result changed.

Now, No. 11 Oklahoma comes to the Big House on Saturday (noon ET, FOX), and the fallout from that finish has changed the way people see Michigan. The Wolverines aren’t just viewed as a team that got away with one. They’re viewed as a team that isn’t as good as many of us who cover the sport once thought.

In my top 25 rankings this week, I dropped Michigan from No. 16 to No. 25 despite the fact that it won the game on the scoreboard. And the scoreboard deserves our respect. Heck, even the NCAA does.

According to NCAA Rule 1-1-3-5 Winning and Final Score, Article 3, paragraph B: “When the referee declares that the game is ended, the score is final.”

But in a move I found utterly shocking, my peers who vote in the AP Top 25 Poll each week saw fit to cast Michigan out of the top 25 entirely. That’s a drastic fall — 10 spots if we’re counting down through the teams that also received votes — and it tells us something: Most AP voters don’t believe Michigan’s win on the scoreboard is valid.

And that raises the question of just how much it means to win — or lose — as each week draws us closer to the 2026 College Football Playoff selection.

Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, the SEC is suing one of its own members in federal court. In its amended complaint, the conference alleges “a lack of institutional control” and is seeking a court order that could pave the way for LSU’s expulsion from the SEC.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin and his program have continued to not just act against the interests of its conference, but mock it. On Saturday night, Kiffin asked a rhetorical question during a halftime interview while his team was throttling Dabo Swinney’s Tigers. 

“Imagine if we had pro players,” Kiffin quipped.

It’s the kind of joke Kiffin thought was harmless, but the rest of us — notably the SEC — saw as a mockery of one of college football’s core beliefs: Professionals aren’t allowed to play the amateur game.

The fact that some college players make more money annually than some NFL players doesn’t incite the same outrage as Kiffin attempting to put men who have signed professional football contracts on his college roster. The SEC wants to make an example of LSU.

As of Wednesday, the feud between LSU and the SEC has cooled down, at least now. The Tigers added two players to complete its 105-man roster, eliminating the possibility of bringing in former NFL rookies Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.

But emotion, not reason, has long been the guiding hand of college football. This weekend was no different.

I believe three things get you and keep you in a job: 1. Be on time. 2. Be good at your job. 3. Have people like you.

You must have two of the three to keep your job. That means if people like you, and you’re on time, you can get away with not being excellent at your job. But if people don’t like you, and you show up late, being good at your job isn’t going stop you from getting fired. Right now, the SEC doesn’t believe LSU is on time — look at the timing of adding these players — and doesn’t much like LSU.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin and the school are moving on from their efforts to add a pair of NFL players, an issue that has escalated into a significant legal battle. (Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

It really doesn’t matter that LSU stomped a mud-hole in Clemson and walked it dry if you’re not on time and people don’t like you.

And that’s why college football is a people business. Managing emotions and irrational expectations is how this sport moves. When you take those emotions for granted or try to talk people out of how they feel with reason, they turn feral in a hurry.

They’ll remind you just what is and isn’t kosher.

In this chaotic moment for college football, the sport has shown once again it knows what it wants, what it will allow and what it won’t. 

My advice: Say you’re sorry for winning a game the sport believes you shouldn’t have, Michigan. Apologize to the SEC with both knees on the floor, LSU.

I assure you, the juice ain’t worth the squeeze.

CFB Related Stories

Source

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Underdog is launching a new promo for the new NFL season kicking off today. Keep Your Million for Week 1, giving fans a new way to follow the biggest games on the opening slate. New users can enter promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock a 50% first-time deposit match worth up to $1,000 in bonus funds, then jump into Underdog’s free-to-play Keep Your Million survival game for a chance to work through a virtual $1 million bonus-funds pot.

The season kicks off today with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Seattle will look for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to keep up where he left off in his monster 2025 season. 

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5. Jump into Keep Your Million to start with a virtual $1,000,000 pot and play through the season.

How to Watch Patriots vs. Seahawks

[–>
• When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET
• Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock

Rest Of The NFL Week 1 Slate

Thursday, Sept. 10

• San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix) *In Melbourne, Australia

Sunday, Sept. 13

• Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
• New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
• Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
• New York Jets at Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX)
• Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET on CBS)
• Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX)
• Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock)

Monday, Sept. 14

• Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC)

Source

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Welcome to West Coast Read, a weekly spin around what’s happening in the NFL on the Left Coast.

And to kick things off, we start with a conversation I had with new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and his plans for Justin Herbert. McDaniel displayed flashes of excellence as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, but things ultimately fizzled in four seasons on South Beach.

However, McDaniel was highly sought after this offseason by several teams, both as a head coach and offensive coordinator, because of his reputation for innovation as a playcaller. With plenty of options on the table, McDaniel chose the Chargers because of the vast array of skills Justin Herbert has at his disposal, providing a stark contrast to the limited skill set his previous quarterback in Miami had in Tua Tagovailoa, taken one spot above Herbert at No. 5 overall in the 2020 draft. 

McDaniel told me his 20 years of coaching in the NFL prepared him for this crossroads moment of his career in coaching the most talented quarterback he’s ever worked with in the league. 

“It’s as simple as I’m not sure there are many players in my entire career that are more talented to play the quarterback position than Justin,” McDaniel told me in a conversation after practice during training camp. “And so, with those talents, I learned and built offensive systems around players who are not as talented, so it forces you to try and get really high-level play from guys that don’t have those supreme skill sets.

“Your offense and problem-solving are at its best, where maybe you don’t have to solve those problems from a coaching perspective [with Herbert]. There’s a certain coverage or a certain defensive issue that’s presented, and your quarterback can scramble and go get the first down. And you don’t have to solve the problem as a coach. That’s the greatest blessing of bouncing around NFL teams as you evolve as a coach, because you get exposed to so many types of talents. So, you’re not pigeonholed.”

Mike McDaniel helped Tua Tagovailoa become a Pro Bowler during his time as Dolphins head coach. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

–>

McDaniel provided this example: if he had landed in New England early in his coaching career working with someone like Tom Brady back in 2007, he would have benefited from one of the best quarterbacks ever at solving pre-snap issues, changing plays and protections that put his offense in the best situations. 

And maybe that would have stunted his growth as a play designer. 

“And then, when you don’t have him, what type of coach can you be?” McDaniel told me. “I think as a young coach, I would have really screwed it up. I would have asked for Justin as young as possible, but I’m very much glad I’m finally getting the opportunity to coach him now, after solving problems with guys that can’t throw it as far or overcome a poorly designed play where things are gloved and just scramble for the first down.”

McDaniel said he maintained discipline installing the offense, making sure to focus on Herbert’s footwork and improving his ability to get the ball out quick on short completions before getting to the good stuff — how to take advantage of the Oregon product’s otherworldly arm strength. 

Mike McDaniel has raved about Justin Herbert all offseason after becoming the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

–>

That occurred midway through training camp, and the results of that were evident when Herbert connected a long touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. 

McDaniel will fix L.A.’s offense, so Herbert plays at an MVP level by making sure he doesn’t get bored with short completions that help move the chains and providing a more consistent running attack led by a healthy Omarion Hampton. 

But McDaniel needs to accomplish two things to be deemed a successful season for himself and Herbert: No. 1, his quarterback can’t continuously get belted like a piñata, leading the league in sacks and quarterback hits. And second, Herbert’s postseason stat line must improve from a career 54.7 completion percentage, with two touchdowns and five interceptions for a 64.7 passer rating. Herbert is 0-3 in the playoffs and under his direction in the postseason, L.A.’s offenses have averaged 15 points per game. 

Justin Herbert was sacked six times in the Chargers’ loss to the Patriots in the postseason as Mike McDaniel will look to keep his new QB safe. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

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McDaniel believes good things are in store for Herbert and the Bolts, but that must translate into some postseason wins. 

“It’s been an interesting, very cool process — bucketing all the stuff we’re getting him to work on and then taking some of the stuff that he’s done at a very high level and making sure that isn’t lost in this offense,” McDaniel told me. “That’s why I was front-loaded in watching all the film from his career so that I could build an install that both incorporated the stuff I wanted to work on but allowed for the field to distribute so that later in plays he can make off-schedule stuff happen like he always has. 

“There’s different parts of the field that he can access that most throwers can’t. So, there’s been some work on just making sure that skill set is utilized. Which, from an offensive perspective, is even a more powerful way to make the defense defend the entire field. Balancing that stuff out — we didn’t work on anything that was big arm down the field until probably the last week — so, really focused on small ball, getting the ball out on plant throws and quick-timing plays. I knew that was the biggest jump he needed to make. I was very proud of myself because I put off all the fun, down-the-field stuff until just recently.”

  All-L.A. Super Bowl?

Speaking of the Chargers, they have a chance to pair up with their crosstown rival Rams and achieve something unprecedented in the NFL. 

Former Raiders CEO and Los Angeles native Amy Trask served as an intern when the Los Angeles Raiders won the Super Bowl after the team’s 1983 season after relocating from Oakland.

So, Trask understands what an all-Los Angeles Super Bowl would mean for the city.

“I’ve heard a number of discussions about this,” Trask told me. “Some have suggested that would be disappointing for tourism and for the hotels industry because arguably you’d have far less people traveling to the game if neither of the teams were located outside of Los Angeles.

“But I have a different view. While I understand the point that is made, I think it could be a tremendous opportunity for the region to showcase itself. The Los Angeles area and the region itself did a spectacular job during the World Cup. We of course have the Olympics coming in a couple years. But with the Super Bowl coming in February, if it is the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams, think about what the region can do to showcase itself.”

The Rams are a heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl after executing blockbuster trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, along with the return of All-Pro Aaron Donald from a two-year retirement. 

After back-to-back 11-6 seasons under Harbaugh and quick exits from the postseason, the Chargers have the sixth-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +1700. 

This year’s Super Bowl is set to take place at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14. The last time the Super Bowl was played in Los Angeles was in 2022, when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on their home field.

The first Super Bowl in L.A. took place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1967, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10. In all, nine Super Bowls have been played in Los Angeles. Only Miami (11) and New Orleans (11) have hosted more. 

The Chargers won their only championship in 1963, a 55-10 victory over the Boston Patriots for the American Football League title at Balboa Stadium in San Diego. Along with winning it all four years ago, the Rams also lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Coliseum in 1980 in Super Bowl XIV. 

Rams CEO Kevin Demoff recently recognized it’s been 10 years since the Rams moved back to Los Angeles. It’s been nine years since the Chargers relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles. 

During that time, the two teams have combined for 11 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory for the Rams after the 2021 season in the stadium that Rams owner Stan Kroenke built.

Yes, the same Kroenke who just bought the Los Angeles Angels.

A Rams-Chargers Super Bowl could be kismet.

“Having grown up in Los Angeles and living in Los Angeles, you’ve got everything here,” Trask said. “It’s a very reasonable drive from the mountains, which will have snow on them, the desert, which will be very beautiful, and the beaches, which are always beautiful. Exploit the region. Show off the region. That’s what I think can be done if it ended up Chargers-Rams.” 

Jeremiyah Love, whom the Arizona Cardinals took with the third overall pick in this year’s draft, flashed electric playmaking ability in his first and only action during the preseason, totaling 58 yards on 11 carries in a Week 1 contest against the Raiders. But Love suffered a high-ankle sprain and hasn’t practiced since, making his availability in his team’s season opener on the road against the Chargers a question mark.

While most NFL observers consider Love the most talented running back in this year’s draft class, a longtime NFL talent evaluator believes Love’s backup at Norte Dame, Jadarian Price, might be the better player. 

Scott McCloughan served as San Francisco’s top personnel man for four seasons and Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s right-hand man as senior personnel executive from 2010 to 2013. McCloughan also worked in personnel for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders and currently serves as a draft consultant for teams and agents that hire him to evaluate NFL prospects. 

“I think he’s Nick Chubb,” McCloughan told me about Price. McCloughan was in Cleveland when they drafted Chubb. “He’s a big guy who can run downhill. He’s got some speed. He’s got some elusiveness and ball skills. I told Johnny [Schneider] when they drafted him, ‘You just got a hell of a player dude.’”

The Seahawks took Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images)

–>

At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Price ran a 4.49-second, 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine. And while he doesn’t possess the elusiveness or pass-catching ability of Love, he has a clearer path to a workhorse role for the Seahawks, with Kenneth Walker signing with the Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet working his way back from season-ending knee surgery,

Along with Love’s injury concerns, he’s also in a stacked running back room that includes experienced veterans Tyler Allgeier and James Conner. Love is actually listed as the No. 2 running back on Arizona’s depth chart. 

But McCloughan believes Price will be a more productive back than Love in their NFL careers.

“You know what, it was very close,” McCloughan told me. “I mean, it wasn’t a slam dunk. And don’t get me wrong, Love’s really good. And of course, Love was the starter. But Jadarian, I think he’s going to be a really good NFL running back. I know Nick just recently retired, but when he was in his prime, he was kicking ass.

“He’s got a lot of power, but he also has speed.”

More 3TE Sets In 2026? Don’t Bet On It

 

Rams head coach Sean McVay predominantly used three-receiver sets during his time with the Rams, usually leading the league in that personnel grouping. However, due to injuries and effectiveness, McVay’s Rams led the league by using three tight end personnel groupings on 331 snaps in 2025, averaging 6.2 yards per play. It’s by far the most a team has used that formation over the past decade in a single season. The second-most was 183 by the Cleveland Browns in 2021. 

League-wide, teams used three tight ends 5% of the time in 2025, up from 3.5% in 2024. Moreover, 21 tight ends were selected in this year’s draft, the most since 2002 (24).

The Rams drafted another tight end this year in Max Klare and are carrying five on the active roster, so McVay could be planning to lean on three TE sets again. However, new Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who served as the San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach before taking his new job, does not expect the Rams to use three tight end sets as often this season. 

Terrance Ferguson had three receiving touchdowns as a rookie in 2025. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

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“Last year, I think they caught a lot of people off guard by doing that, especially in those first few weeks,” Fleury said. “When you get into bigger groupings, usually it simplifies the defensive menu. But as they continue to put it on the field, the defensive menu continues to grow as people become more prepared. 

“Going into this season, while that might seem like an advantageous trend for an offense to do, the entire league has had the entire offseason to come up with their plan for defending their team personnel. So, I don’t think you’re going to see quite the same advantages. We will have some of it available and deploy it when we feel appropriate. But I don’t know that you are going to get quite the level of production that the Rams had out of it league-wide.”

  Top 5 On The Westside

A weekly look at the top five teams among the NFC and AFC West:

5. Kansas City Chiefs

I’m tempted to put the Chargers here, but even though he’s recovering from a knee injury, I trust Patrick Mahomes more than Herbert.

4. San Francisco 49ers

They’re a M*A*S*H unit on both sides of the ball, but Shanahan will figure out how to cobble together enough healthy bodies to play winning football.  

3. Denver Broncos

They have one of the best defenses in the league and one of the most underrated QBs in Bo Nix. 

2. Los Angeles Rams

In Sean McVay we trust, unless it’s booking travel arrangements. 

1. Seattle Seahawks

To be the best, you must beat the best. Showing the defending champs some respect here, unlike the rest of the country. 

“There’s only three players that I would stand up and watch play: LT (Lawrence Taylor), Reggie White and Aaron Donald. Those are three guys where I would watch every play because I’ve never seen nothing like it. And I think Myles [Garrett] could be that same type of player here, for sure.” 

Eric Dickerson to me on the impact Myles Garrett could have on the Los Angeles Rams. 

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The Seattle Seahawks found a way beat the New England Patriots again, this time without their starting quarterback.

Sam Darnold departed Wednesday’s season-opening matchup after the Seahawks’ first drive. He suffered a hip injury and was eventually ruled out of the game right before halftime.

Darnold reportedly underwent a CT scan on his hip, with the initial test result coming back inconclusive. He is now scheduled to undergo an MRI Thursday, according to ESPN.

After the game, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the medical staff was able to, “rule out a fracture,” according to NFL Network.

Seattle’s quarterback was sacked on the final play of the Seahawks’ opening drive. However, he didn’t show any clear signs of injury when he left the field. 

In fact, Darnold told the Seahawks’ training staff he didn’t need to be looked at when he first returned to the sideline after getting sacked by Patriots defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones. He was later evaluated in the blue medical tent and eventually went into the locker room. 

Drew Lock entered the game for the Seahawks on their second drive. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 51 yards over the first half, but Lock struggled to lead the Seahawks to a score. They trailed the Patriots 7-0 going into halftime, with the Seahawks punting the ball on Lock’s first three drives before running the clock out to end the first half in his fourth drive. 

Darnold led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title last season. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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We all have our own routines and superstitions when it comes to traveling, and that’s apparent when you look at the way the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams planned their upcoming trips to Melbourne, Australia. 

While Rams head coach Sean McVay’s team landed in Melbourne on Thursday morning, the day before the game set to start on Friday at 10:35 a.m. local time (8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10). The Rams are only expected to spend one night in Melbourne, which is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, before flying home after the game.

“They have a loose idea of what we’re doing, but I do still think it is appropriate in terms of the trajectory,” McVay told reporters late in training camp, when asked if he’s told players the schedule. “I want to be able to talk to them about it, but we’re leaving later than most people would probably expect.”

That’s no surprise. McVay took a similar approach last year, when the Rams stayed in Baltimore for a week after his team’s victory over the Ravens in Week 6, flying to London from there for a Sunday game, a 35-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In all, the Rams spent a little over 30 hours in London for what McVay referred to as a business trip. 

The Rams’ approach to flying abroad on the eve of an international game worked last season when they defeated the Jaguars in London behind Davante Adams’ four touchdown catches. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

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The 49ers are on the other end of the spectrum. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and his team traveled to Australia last Thursday and arrived last week on Friday — a week before the game — to get better acclimated to their new surroundings in Melbourne, holding practices there in the lead-up to the game. 

“It’s a big adjustment on the body,” Shanahan told reporters before the trip. “So, the recommendation for everybody has been to tell us when to go, and it’s made a lot of sense. And I know how our players feel also. I was a little bit on the fence. Science wasn’t, and what I was told. And our players weren’t at all. So that helped me get off the fence.”

San Francisco edge rusher Keion White said he would try to sleep the entire 16-hour flight.

“I don’t know if you can OD on melatonin, but I’m going to try,” White joked. 

So, which team will be best prepared to perform?

I asked that question to Dr. Cheri Mah, a sleep expert based at Stanford University who specializes in the connections between sleep, performance, recovery and injury prevention. Mah helped establish a sleep curriculum with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks for the past four years and worked with the Philadelphia Eagles during that team’s Super Bowl season in 2017. 

Most recently, Mah helped prepare new Memphis head coach Charles Huff for his team’s late kickoff in Las Vegas against UNLV, a 27-21 victory for the Tigers over the Rebels. Mah says sleep is one of the most important things for an athlete’s recovery. Athletes should view sleep as an investment, with a good night’s sleep as the start of the day. Mah said she always looks at trips and breaks them down into preflight strategies, in-flight strategies and post-flight strategies.

“That’s what my biggest challenge is for the athletes and teams I work with,” Mah told me. “Making that small but powerful shift in how you invest in your sleep in what you do in the day, how your evening routine is structured and really setting up a sleep system for yourself, starting in the offseason.” 

Mah explained the advantages of both approaches for the two teams, considering factors such as the direction and location of travel, how long they will be there, and what they need to do to get ready for the following game. Mah has not consulted with either the Rams or 49ers for this trip. 

“For the Rams, the advantage of not changing the body clock — if that is what they’re trying to do by jetting in and jetting out — is their body clock when they’re playing in Australia would be at approximately 5 p.m. PT,” Mah said. “4 to 8 p.m. approximately in the afternoon/early evening is when performance is enhanced. Athletes perform physically the best during this period in the 24-hour day. So, that works to their advantage, given that game time will be right in that sweet spot. That works in the Rams’ favor from a body clock perspective.

“And then, when they come back, they’re not trying to adjust to jet lag because if they jet in and jet out, they try to keep their clocks on Pacific Time, and they don’t have to spend many days trying to then try get back on Pacific Time, like the 49ers will, when they are returning and trying to get ready for the following week.”

The 49ers’ travel plans have been in mind as tight end George Kittle tries to make his way back from an Achilles tear for the start of the season. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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And the disadvantages for the Rams?

“It’s a long flight,” Mah said. “Even though they are trying not to change body clocks and sleep, they will still experience travel fatigue. And that is a lot of travel fatigue in a very short amount of time — both going there and coming back. And then trying to be fresh enough and ready enough to play the following day. I just think that’s incredibly challenging physiologically, especially when you’re on that long flight. You’re cramped. There’s dehydration and there’s still going to be some time when the players need to sleep and take naps. 

“Trying to do that without any cushion between landing and playing definitely can be challenging for them.”

The Rams are also traveling westward instead of eastward and across many more time zones (London is eight hours ahead of Los Angeles, while Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles) than London last year, which could impact their approach.

Mah said the rule of thumb is that for every time zone you cross, it takes your body about a day to acclimate. Usually, on domestic flights, travelers deal with a maximum of three time zone changes, and so it will take three days to adjust if you do nothing ahead of the flight to shift your body clock, according to Mah.

So, the 49ers have taken what some sleep experts would consider a more traditional approach to dealing with jet lag by traveling a week early. 

“There’s pros and cons to what the 49ers are doing as well, right?” Mah said. “They are trying to shift their body clock, but even in a week they’re probably not going to be completely shifted physiologically to Australia time. The benefit is they have a couple of days to train closer to game time at 10 a.m. … Aligning their practice time gives them an opportunity to synchronize it with kickoff time.

“They have a couple of days to get rehydrated and better acclimated to the Australian Time Zone, get their eating habits and treatments better resynchronized, so they have a better cushion when it comes to game time.”

Mah acknowledged that, culturally, things can be different for teams. In working with teams traveling to London, some teams chose to arrive just a few days before kickoff while others got there a week in advance. For some teams, being in a different country and dealing with changes like food provides a challenge for players. And players will have a say in how teams decide to proceed. 

“There’s no perfect solution,” Mah said. “There’s clearly advantages and disadvantages to what both teams are trying to do. But I do think being thoughtful about how they’ve chosen to do this and being mindful of sleep and the impact of travel is a huge win.” 

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Lumen Field (Seattle) — The Seattle Seahawks avoided the heartbreak of losing on the night they unfurled their Super Bowl LX banner, scoring 13 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the visiting New England Patriots 13-10 in a Super Bowl rematch.

The Seahawks struggled to contain quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots early on. However, Seattle’s potent defense, engineered by head coach Mike Macdonald, showed up in the second half, helping the Seahawks start the season 1-0 on the year, while Mike Vrabel and the Patriots dropped to 0-1.

Here are my takeaways:

1. WTF, Drake Maye? Seahawks Darkside Defense Coaxes Nightmare Performance From Pats QB

Things started out well for Maye, as Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels provided good answers for the Seahawks’ defensive pressure. Patriots left tackle Will Campbell did a much better job of protecting his quarterback in pass coverage than he did in Super Bowl LX, too, giving New England a chance to win. 

However, that all changed in the fourth quarter, as Maye threw interceptions on back-to-back drives that led to 10 points for the Seahawks, changing the momentum of the game in Seattle’s favor and serving as a catalyst for Seattle’s comeback win. 

The interceptions didn’t end there for Maye, either. After Maye got the Patriots down to the Seahawks’ 16-yard line with under 30 seconds remaining, he threw his third interception of the game on an awful throw. He tried to force a pass to Mack Hollins along the side of the end zone, but Seahawks defensive back Josh Jobe made a tremendous toe-tapping pick to seal the victory for the Seahawks. 

With the interception, Maye now has 11 interceptions in his last five games. He threw that many picks in the 17-game regular season in 2025, as his only multi-interception games since the start of last year came against the Seahawks. 

On top of that, Maye has already thrown more interceptions on deep balls this season than he did last season. He threw just one interception on passes of at least 20-plus air yards last season, but had two interceptions on such passes on Wednesday night, per Next Gen Stats.

Seattle’s defense finished with three sacks, nine tackles for loss and six pass breakups, playing at the elite level it played at last season. 

2. If Darnold’s Hip Injury Is Serious, Lock Provides Glimmer Of Hope For Seahawks

Just like that, Seattle’s push to repeat as Super Bowl champs took a big hit when Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury and did not return. The USC product suffered the injury on the second drive of the game, when he tried to scramble out of the pocket on third-and-five but was sacked by Patriots linebacker Dre’Mont Jones for a 5-yard loss.

Darnold limped to the locker room for further evaluation and did not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced Darnold. While Lock is an experienced backup who knows Seattle’s offensive system, Darnold is the starter for a reason. And if he’s out for a prolonged period, the chances for Seattle to stay within striking distance in the ultra-competitive NFC West will be an uphill climb.

However, Lock did lead the Seahawks to a come-from-behind victory in the second half, completing 16-of-22 passes for 187 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions for a 113.3 passer rating. It was enough to at least show some confidence in Lock in the short term, as the Seahawks await to find out if they’ll be without Darnold for the long run.

3. Need A Big Play? Jaxon Smith-Njigba To The Rescue

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year showed why he’s the highest-paid receiver in the league. Facing a fourth-and-short and trailing 10-3 early in the fourth quarter, Lock found Smith-Njigba on a short pass over the middle of the field, and the Ohio State product turned it into a 45-yard touchdown to tie the game. 

Smith-Njigba finished with seven receptions for 111 yards on eight targets. His teammate Cooper Kupp also made an acrobatic catch in the series before, setting up a Jason Myers 30-yard field goal.

3 ½. What’s Next

The Seahawks will look to continue the momentum when they hit the road against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. However, their concentration over the next few days will be on whether Darnold’s injury is severe enough to force him to miss more time. 

Meanwhile, the Patriots will try to move on from the season-opening loss when they host Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. 

 

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top prospect Josue De Paula straight from Double-A, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. The Athletic was the first to report.

De Paula is expected to get at-bats at designated hitter after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on Wednesday that Shohei Ohtani will be heading to the IL.

De Paula, 21, is the No. 6 ranked prospect in baseball and the highest-rated outfielder. He spent the 2026 season with the Dodgers’ Double-A minor league affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers, and hit 27 home runs in 588 plate appearances, while posting a slash line of .303/.401/.547. He also had stolen 31 games in 123 games.

Prior to being signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, he played out of El Niche Academy. He signed a $397,500 contract with the Dodgers in January 2022.

De Paula was named the 2025 Futures Game MVP.

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