Author: Eternity Lab

SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) — Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams compared his team’s latest surprising setback — this one an 18-16 heartbreaker to the Arizona Cardinals — to being stuck in a torrential downpour in sunny Southern California.

“You’re either in the storm, coming out of the storm or going into the storm,” Williams said after the Cardinals stormed SoFi Stadium following Chad Ryland’s game-winning field goal at the buzzer. “Right now, we’re in the middle of a storm. It’s raining. It’s not shining at all. That’s why we’ve got to continue to keep working.”

Yes, it does occasionally rain in Southern California, and the Rams haven’t been able to dodge puddle-sized raindrops since the team’s disastrous, misguided trip to Australia to start the year. 

The heavy favorite to start the year, earning the “Dream Team” moniker because of blockbuster offseason trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie (who both did not play on Sunday due to injury), the Rams have embarrassingly stumbled out of the gate to a 2-4 record. 

And the Rams have now joined a list no team with title aspirations wants to be on. Los Angeles is the fifth outright preseason Super Bowl favorite with a losing record through six games in the past 50 seasons, joining the 2015 Seahawks, 2002 Rams, 1999 Vikings and 1987 Giants, per FOX Sports Research.

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay will try not to do what the 2002 Rams did, which is miss the playoffs after entering the year as the Super Bowl favorite.(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

None of those four previous teams reached a conference championship game, and, of course, the Rams will try not to join them. But for that to happen, the team will have to go through some extensive soul-searching as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road next week.

Rams head coach Sean McVay understood this would be one of the toughest coaching jobs of his career. He’s been adept at leading teams with big personalities in years past, including a Super Bowl winning team that included Von Miller, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Eric Weddle.

Like those teams, McVay has had to manage big personalities like Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald this season. But this year, McVay has struggled to put it all together and get those boisterous personalities to play with passion and to their full potential. 

And McVay knows it, too. 

“I have to do a better job and figure out how exactly we settle guys down,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said following Sunday’s loss. “But we’ve had some really critical errors at some really unfortunate times. That’s what our narrative has been this year. And we can’t keep saying that we haven’t done that before, because this year we are doing it. 

“We have to be able to fix it. And it’s my job to do that.” 

This part of the schedule was supposed to be the easy stretch for Los Angeles. After a tough five weeks to open the year, Weeks 6-10 consisted of facing the Cardinals twice to go along with the games against the Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.

But as it stands, with the Rams stubbing their toe on offense with pre-snap penalties, uncharacteristic, unforced errors and turnovers, they’ll be lucky to beat any of those teams. 

“It’s definitely a reality check,” running back Blake Corum said. “But we know that we’re good. We know we have the guys. We know we have the culture. We know we have the team. But, like Coach [McVay] said, it’s time to get back to work. We have to watch this film and see where things aren’t aligning and then fix those things.” 

The problem is, this team, considered the best in the NFL, is struggling to compete against the bad teams. The Cardinals are playing for draft position and the right to land a franchise quarterback next April. Their only other win this season is against the other team from L.A.: the Chargers, who are one of only two remaining winless teams after Sunday’s games.

New Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur now has more wins at SoFi Stadium (2-0) this season than both teams in Los Angeles (the Rams and Chargers have a combined one win at SoFi Stadium this season). But he and the Cardinals have struggled outside of Southern California. They entered Sunday’s contest with the worst-ranked scoring defense in the league, but held the Rams to 286 total yards and 16 points as Los Angeles also failed to convert on both of its fourth-down tries.

“We have to go out there and grind and we’ve got to stop hurting ourselves,” center Coleman Shelton told me. “You can’t go out there and play against two teams every time we play a game. We can’t play against them and against ourselves. We’ve got to be a team, go to work and do our best to put ourselves in the right position.”

“I think it’s a whole host of things,” tight end Colby Parkinson told me when I asked about the unforced errors. “Lack of focus is definitely at the top. But we have to be more clued in, play in and play out, just focusing on the one play. I think as a whole we can all do better at that.” 

Special teams were once again an issue for Los Angeles. New kicker Blake Grupe made a 44-yard field goal to start the game, but on the ensuing kickoff, the Rams gave up another big return and Grupe had to make the tackle, injuring his knee.

Grupe’s leg was in a brace in the locker room afterward, and Los Angeles had to use punter Ethan Evans for field goals and kicks. Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett served as the holder. Because of the injury, McVay went for a two-point conversion after Corum’s 15-yard touchdown catch in the first half, which led to Matthew Stafford absorbing a vicious, blindsided hit by Arizona edge rusher Josh Sweat that caused a fumble.

Speaking of Stafford, he finished 25 of 32 for 222 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Lead running back Kyren Williams, meanwhile, only had 10 carries for 50 yards. Williams did play 71.4% of the offensive snaps, though, but he still suggested he would’ve liked to have been more involved in the offense. 

Asked why his team’s offensive energy was inconsistent, Williams bluntly said: “I can’t tell you. Probably because I’m not out there.” 

Williams’ comment and apparent swipe at his coach quickly gained traction on social media following Sunday’s game, but he’s still bought into turning things around. McVay and the Rams can take solace in the fact that they’ve been here before as well. They started 1-4 in 2024 and finished 10-7, making the playoffs. The year before that, they started 3-6 and finished 10-7, reaching the postseason after going 5-12 in 2022. 

“You use this adversity for moments in the future that’s going to allow us to be who we want to be,” Williams said. “You go through things in life so that it helps you grow. When you’re uncomfortable, that’s where real growth occurs. So, right now, obviously we’re uncomfortable with where we’re at in the standings and losing these games.

“But that’s where we really have to dig down deep, have the faith that we know that we have and continue to work. The work works. And believing in the work.” 

Source

The top three have become difficult to dethrone in the NFL, but that happens when you’re undefeated. It’s the rest of my top 10 that has seen a lot of movement in recent weeks.

Nos. 4 and 5 have been a back-and-forth between the Jaguars and Bills, who swapped places this week. Just behind those teams are a couple of teams that are finding their rhythm behind stellar quarterback play with the Bo Nix-led Broncos in between.

Here’s where things stand entering Commanders vs. 49ers on Monday night to close NFL Week 6.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Caleb Williams celebrates after the Bears’ comprehensive win in Atlanta on Sunday. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Quarterback Caleb Williams’ return helped the offense find its spark in Week 6. The former No. 1 overall pick completed his first 12 passes and looked like the superstar QB that head coach Ben Johnson needs to make his X’s and O’s come to life in the Windy City. 

As a squad that can light up scoreboards via the run or passes, the Bears have the potential to vault into top-five consideration by the end of the season.

Who Stood Out: According to Next Gen Stats, Williams completed all 24 passes from a clean pocket for 248 yards in the Bears’ Week 6 win. His 24 attempts were the most without an incompletion from a clean pocket in a game since at least 2018.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Kicker Andre Szmyt was the Browns’ hero once again with a game-winning kick against the Ravens that put Cleveland atop the AFC North. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +20000

Winning ugly has become the standard in Cleveland under Todd Monken. The scrappy Browns can overcome long stretches of offensive ineptitude to string together drives in the clutch. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is becoming one of the league’s best closers with four game-winning drives this season and a reel of late-game heroics that have skeptics and supporters alike singing his praises. 

With a pair of division wins and a share of the division lead coming out of Week 6, the Browns’ rebuild is ahead of schedule under Monken.

What Stood Out: Despite the 4-2 record, Watson has been sacked an NFL-leading 24 times this season.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 9 ↑

Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense were impressive in the first half against the Cowboys on Sunday night. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +3000

After notching their third straight win, and with running back Josh Jacobs’ return on the horizon, the Packers are rounding into form as a playoff contender. Quarterback Jordan Love has found his rhythm with wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, giving the offense a big-play dimension that could make the unit unstoppable when the former NFL rushing champion returns to action.

If the defense continues to suffocate opponents as defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon tailors the scheme to his stars’ talents, the Packers will continue to climb the charts as a legitimate contender in the NFC.

Who Stood Out: Watson (538 yards) and Golden (501 yards) lead all teammate duos with 1,039 combined receiving yards.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Following an uninspiring performance by the QB, Bo Nix was thanking Broncos kicker Will Lutz after last Thursday night’s 17-14 win over the Seahawks. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +2000

Although head coach Sean Payton hasn’t sparked the offensive revival expected when he took over playcalling duties, the Broncos are scratching out wins while he figures out how to get quarterback Bo Nix & Co. back on track. 

With an ultra-aggressive defense keeping opponents in check, the Broncos could be scary good when the offense catches fire.

Who Stood Out: Nix is averaging just 5.55 yards per pass attempt, ranking last among the 28 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts this season.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 8 ↑

Drake Maye delivered a third straight impressive performance in the Patriots’ win over the Jets. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Don’t look now, but the Patriots are back in business as a dark-horse contender. 

Drake Maye has worked his way out of an early-season slump with his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes. Although Maye must continue to work on his chemistry with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who returned from an ankle sprain after missing four weeks, the Patriots are starting to look like a championship-caliber squad with their QB rediscovering his mojo as a playmaker.

Who Stood Out: Maye became the first Patriots quarterback with at least three touchdown passes in three straight games since Tom Brady in 2017.

FOX SPORTS NEWSLETTER

Your teams. Your sports. Your inbox.

Follow your favorite leagues, teams and players for a personalized daily newsletter.

Sign up for the newsletter

Create or log in to your FOX Sports account.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 4 ↓

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars went 1-1 in London over the past two weeks and now head into their bye. (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1400

A tough loss to a bitter division rival overshadowed Travis Hunter’s breakout game as a two-way star. The spectacular playmaker snatched a pivotal red-zone interception, while also flashing big-play potential as a pass-catcher from various alignments in the Jaguars’ spread formations. The WR-CB might be the X-factor for a team that needs to clean up its self-inflicted miscues on offense and defense during the bye week.

Who Stood Out: Hunter became the third player since 1970 with a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game, joining Brian Dawkins (Week 4, 2002) and Roy Green (Week 3, 1981).

Record: 5-1

Previous ranking: 5 ↑

Josh Allen celebrates with fans in Las Vegas after the Bills’ Week 6 win. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +720

Josh Allen is the MVP frontrunner after another dazzling performance that featured several jaw-dropping plays. The 6-foot-5, 237-pound improvisational wizard continues to tease and torment defenders with his impromptu runs and scramble tosses on the perimeter.

Although the Bills’ leaky defense is a major concern, No. 17’s heroics can mask the deficiencies during a Super Bowl run.

Who Stood Out: Allen has rushed for eight touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback through the first six games of a season in NFL history.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 3

Kyler Murray and the Vikings will come out of the bye undefeated and atop the NFC North. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Given a bye week to spend more time concocting exotic pressures and mind-boggling pre-snap disguises, defensive coordinator Brian Flores could make the league’s most disruptive unit even scarier down the stretch. If head coach Kevin O’Connell gets the offense going with QB Kyler Murray at the helm, the Vikings could emerge as the team to beat in the NFC.

Who Stands Out: Linebacker Dallas Turner’s 5.5 sacks through five games are tied with Doug Martin (1982) for the most by a second-year player through the Vikings’ first five games of a season.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 2

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ great start to the season continued with a blowout win over the Chargers. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +850

Kenneth Walker III has added a dimension to the Chiefs’ offense as a dynamic runner with big-play potential. The NFL’s rushing leader topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in five games, exhibiting the explosiveness out of the backfield that’s been missing since the Jamaal Charles era. 

With a more balanced offense, head coach Andy Reid has the Chiefs leaning into a complementary football approach that makes them a more formidable playoff foe.

Who Stood Out: Patrick Mahomes earned his 100th career win in his 131st start, tying Tom Brady as the fastest quarterback to reach 100 wins in NFL history.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 1

Brock Purdy enters Monday night’s game against the Commanders as a legitimate MVP candidate. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +580

The 49ers enter their Monday-night matchup against the Commanders sitting pretty at the top of my rankings. Staying healthy will be key for San Francisco, with Deebo Samuel out multiple weeks and fellow receiver Mike Evans already dealing with nagging injuries.

Who Stands Out: Purdy enters the game against Washington leading all NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts in passer rating (119.3), adjusted net yards per attempt (9.32), adjusted yards per attempt (9.62) and touchdown percentage (9.2%), while posting the lowest sack rate (2.1%).

Source

Sean McVay seems to be at a loss. Of course, he and the Los Angeles Rams literally lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 18-16, on Sunday. But McVay — the man who seemed to know everything about football — doesn’t have any answers right now.

Not for the team’s offensive issues. Not for the postgame questions. Not for the Cardinals’ offense.

It’s a rare state of alarm for McVay and L.A. Their loss was the biggest storyline and biggest surprise from Sunday’s slate of games. So let’s hit that. Let’s also look at one statistic from Caleb Williams that Bears coach Ben Johnson is going to love. Let’s highlight an incredible play design, a QB who’s making himself a lot of money and a head coach who’s made himself impossible to fire.

Welcome to Sound Smart, where I take you beyond what’s obvious. Let’s go below the surface. Let’s spin it forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent in the NFL’s Week 6 action.

1.

What Stood Out To Me Most On Sunday: Myles Garrett’s Return Won’t Fix The Rams’ Widespread Dysfunction.

There’s one thing that must be most discouraging for the Rams after their upset loss to the Cardinals: Myles Garrett’s return won’t fix this team. 

The star edge rusher is due back from knee surgery within the next couple of weeks. But that alone won’t turn this team around. Cornerback Trent McDuffie’s return won’t fix this. Rams legend Aaron Donald’s return didn’t fix this. And the return of star receiver Puka Nacua didn’t fix this.

That has been the team’s refrain this season: Just wait until X, Y, Z gets back on the field.

But sitting at the bottom of the NFC West with a 2-4 record, the Rams have bigger issues — namely their offense, along with their special teams. Garrett isn’t going to make those units better. Neither will McDuffie. That’s all on coach Sean McVay and his quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

Whatever Sean McVay is telling QB Matthew Stafford these days, it’s not working for the Rams. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Stafford finished Sunday’s game with a season-low 4.8 air yards per attempt. That’s his third-worst number as a Ram. And it’s especially meaningful because … it was against the Cardinals, who were giving up 236.8 passing yards per game going into this week — eighth-worst in the NFL. 

This game should’ve been an easy win for the Rams. They didn’t just make it look hard. They did that — and lost. 

It was a bad enough game that running back Kyren Williams called out the coaches for not playing him more. He was asked why the Rams’ offense lacked energy from drive to drive.

“Can’t tell you, bro,” Williams said, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “Probably because I’m not out there.”

You don’t hear Rams players calling out the coaching staff like that over playing time.

It speaks to bigger issues. The extent of the Rams’ dysfunction is widespread. It’s on offense. It’s on special teams. It’s in the locker room.

“There’s nothing I can say about today,” McVay told reporters after the game. “We have to be able to not beat ourselves, let alone figure out how to come away with some results.”

This is a common refrain for an uncommon set of problems for the Rams. They look complacent. They sometimes look checked out. And strangest of all, when Stafford finally gets the offense moving, they flash their potential. And that flash of production leaves everyone wondering: Why can’t they play like that all the time?

The Rams are obviously not a Super Team. They’re not even meeting the standards they set for themselves in years past. They’re mired in dysfunction — and perhaps the frustration of failing to meet expectations. And they’re spiraling, seeing their playoff odds slip to 43%, per Next Gen Stats.

I think that’s actually generous. It’s hard to spot the eight teams the Rams can beat to fight their way into the playoffs. McVay needs to figure out how to ignite this team and turn around his season. Because he’s running out of time.

2.

I Can’t Shake This One Thought: There’s One Caleb Williams Stat From Sunday That Ben Johnson No Doubt Loves The Most.

Caleb Williams completed 83.3% of his passes against the Falcons’ defense on Sunday.

And this wasn’t a small-volume approach. Johnson let the Bears QB throw early and often in his return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three weeks.

Williams was 30-of-36 for 305 passing yards and a touchdown. His +12.4 completion percentage over expected was the second-highest of his career. No, Atlanta’s defense isn’t good, so it’s not like it was hard to imagine Williams having success. 

But at this level of efficiency?

Well, it should stop you in your tracks, given he completed only 58.1% of his passes last season — and Johnson has spent the past two years talking about how badly he wants his QB above 65%. Though it’s still a small sample size, Williams now leads the NFL with a 72.5% completion percentage.

He has always had a careful approach with the football. He doesn’t throw interceptions and, last year, he avoided sacks at a clip that was outstanding.

But he wasn’t a game manager. 

He spent most of last season coming from behind — and often securing victory. It was unfamiliar territory for Williams and the Bears on Sunday as they took the lead early and had to protect that lead against an Atlanta offense that came roaring back, particularly when Chicago’s defense opened the door.

It feels like Williams is learning to settle into that title: “game manager.” He doesn’t have to be “Iceman” or “Cardiac Caleb” all the time. 

The Bears didn’t ask Williams to do much in the fourth quarter, throwing the ball just two times for two completions and 24 yards — and then carrying the ball for a few short runs. But his overall efficiency throughout the game ultimately made the Bears’ lead insurmountable.

3.

Smartest Play Of The Day: Ravens OC Declan Doyle Drew Up Something Special To Help QB Tyler Huntley.

Every week, Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle brings something to life that is unlike anything I’ve seen before. And this week, there were two plays that really seemed to give opposing defenses a swirlie. (Here’s the other one.)

The smartest play of the week came on first-and-10 in the Ravens’ loss to the Browns when QB Tyler Huntley — filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson — connected with Jake Cuevas for a 29-yard pickup. If Huntley had hit the tight end in stride, he would’ve gone for a massive play. But Huntley threw it too far in front of Cuevas, who stumbled and fell.

Regardless, the beauty of the play came before the snap, with Cuevas lining up in the area where a left guard would normally be. He set up off the line, and therefore was an eligible receiver. 

The only time I’ve seen anything remotely similar was when the Patriots first started tinkering with eligibility in a comeback win over the Ravens in the 2014 playoffs. New England lined up an ineligible player, Shane Vereen, in the slot and put tight end Michael Hoomanawanui at tackle, where he was eligible — and quite productive running uncovered through the Baltimore defense. That was when the NFL changed the rules. 

And the Ravens will have to be careful about flirting with rule-breaking here.

“You have to line up either clearly on or off the line of scrimmage. To me, he’s not clearly in the backfield and the formation is illegal,” FOX Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino told me.

The more Doyle does quirky things like this, the more teams will have to prepare for them. And that’ll slow down opposing defenses, which is useful for the Ravens’ offense, especially while they try to eke out wins with backup QB Huntley.

4.

Quarterback Corner: C.J. Stroud Has Left The Texans No Choice But To Extend Him.

C.J. Stroud is going to get paid. 

It remains to be seen if the Texans are going to make the playoffs. But Stroud has already made it impossible for Houston to do anything other than extend his contract. The exact figures — average annual value and guaranteed dollars — are TBD. That’s what will be determined over the next 10 games (or more). But if you were like me in thinking maybe the Texans might consider moving on from Stroud in 2027, then you can completely put that out of your mind. I certainly have.

Because with a quarterback like Stroud, it’s usually fair to get apprehensive about how he handles pressure. (On a macro level: playoff pressure and/or contract pressure. And on a micro level: a pass-rusher bearing down on him.) On Sunday against the Jaguars, Stroud was about as good as he’s ever been.

He was 24-of-34 for 312 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Against pressure (and the blitz), he had answers, knowing where to put the ball — and quick enough that he neutered the blitzes. He completed 10 of 11 passes under pressure (90.9%) for 118 yards and two touchdowns, per Next Gen Stats. His 90.9% completion rate was the highest he’s ever had under pressure in a game. And the Jaguars blitzed him on 37.1% of dropbacks, the highest rate he’s faced in a game this season.

Despite the Texans’ slow start, C.J. Stroud is playing like a quarterback who’s due for a big extension. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Even as the Texans slipped to 0-4, there was so much to like about how Stroud was playing. He was efficient and doing what he could to carry his ailing defense. In two of Houston’s three one-possession losses, he got the Texans ahead with 2:20 and 1:40 left on the clock. The defense responded by allowing touchdowns. 

That doesn’t excuse Stroud for the things he did to lead the Texans into a hole, which included two brutal sacks and a fumble to lose the game against the Bills. But hopefully, it contextualized why I feel there was plenty to like from the Texans’ 0-4 start.

But now they’re 2-4. And with this win over the Jaguars (who I think can still be the AFC’s No. 1 seed), the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts. That would have the Texans going into their Week 12 matchup against the Ravens with a 6-4 record. 

And at that point, Stroud could be a dark-horse MVP candidate. Because he could do what only one NFL team has ever done: make the playoffs after starting 0-4.

5.

What Everyone’s Afraid To Say: Todd Monken Has Already Made It Impossible For The Browns To Fire Him.

There is an unusual and downright unsettling competence in Cleveland. And I think that’s linked to the fact that there is something unusual and downright enjoyable about watching Browns coach Todd Monken.

It’s honestly a stunner that Monken has worked out for Cleveland. He’s the guy who missed the coach’s photo at the owners’ meetings — in order to get a haircut for the coach’s photo. He’s the guy who got ousted in Baltimore along with John Harbaugh, and was reportedly the sticking point that got Harbaugh fired. (Lamar Jackson apparently wanted Monken out as OC while Harbaugh wanted him to stay). 

Monken was hired as the Browns’ head coach in part because no one else wanted the gig. Candidates Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, Grant Udinski and Chris Shula declined to interview with Cleveland. (It was a little embarrassing for the Browns.)

I’ll admit that I thought Monken, a first-time head coach at age 60, was essentially a sacrificial hire — a guy set up to fail and last just one year. The Browns looked like a team that would tank in 2026, replace Monken and take a quarterback at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft. And finally, they’d be rid of Deshaun Watson, who was the centerpiece of the worst trade in NFL history. And who remains the most difficult player to watch on this team, because of his underwhelming on-field play and because of the off-field allegations. 

That plan feels downright impossible now, with the Browns sitting at 4-2 and the No. 1 spot in the AFC North. They have a 38% shot at the playoffs, per Next Gen Stats. It’s lower than those of the Ravens (57%) and Steelers (54%), but it’s a heck of a lot better than anyone could’ve guessed.

Cleveland’s defense looks elite, including edge Jared Verse, who arrived from the Rams when the team traded Myles Garrett. The young group of offensive playmakers — from tight Harold Fannin to receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion to running back Quinshon Judkins — is impressive. When the Browns do move on from Watson this offseason, they’ll be a dangerous team.

And that’ll be because of the way Monken is building a culture. He’s winning ugly now. But with a better quarterback? The Browns might someday be fun to watch. Someday soon.

NFL Related Stories

Source

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh vowed to look at every aspect of his operation — including new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel — after a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday that sent Los Angeles winless into its bye.

The only other team without a victory this season is Miami, which was on its own bye this week.

“We’re in a position of needing to look forward and evaluate every part of what we’re doing,” Harbaugh said. “The job I’m doing, the job the coaches are doing, the way we’re playing, the way we’re executing on offense. I mean, all those things we need to evaluate.”

None of them have been very good.

The Chargers couldn’t stop the Chiefs, but Kansas City had no such struggle against Los Angeles. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Chargers (0-6) are off to their worst start since 2000, when they matched the 1975 team by dropping their first 11 games. Three of their losses have been by more than one possession, and only once have they eclipsed 17 points: a 30-23 loss to Seattle in which the Chargers trailed 30-13 in the fourth quarter.

Much of the criticism has landed at the feet of McDaniel, the former Dolphins coach, who many considered an upgrade over former offensive coordinator Greg Roman. But the Chargers continued to struggle in Kansas City on Sunday, with Justin Herbert throwing his league-leading eighth interception and the offense managing 259 yards of total offense.

“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, the job I’m doing — it starts with me. The plan is to watch this again with our offensive coaches. I see the effort. I see the work being put into the meetings, on the practice field, and you know, to get that to translate to the field is what’s necessary.”

Harbaugh refused to use injuries as an excuse, though nobody would think any less of him if he did.

FOX SPORTS NEWSLETTER

Your teams. Your sports. Your inbox.

Follow your favorite leagues, teams and players for a personalized daily newsletter.

Sign up for the newsletter

Create or log in to your FOX Sports account.

The Chargers already have offensive linemen Rashawn Slater, Tyler Biadasz and Trey Pipkins on injured reserve, along with tight end David Njoku and linebacker Denzel Perryman. Right tackle Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), wide receiver Tre’ Harris (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and safety Derwin James (hamstring) also were inactive Sunday.

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who had just returned from a foot injury, was lost in the first half to a concussion. Backup defensive back Deane Leonard joined him in the concussion protocol during the second half.

“That’s a tough thing they’re going through,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “That injury list is about as long of a list as I’ve seen.”

“There’s no justification. There’s nothing I would say that wouldn’t sound like an excuse. I’m opposed to that to the core, and pointing fingers,” Harbaugh said. “But I believe this is a team game. … We need to look at it all. Everything we’re doing, how we’re doing it.”

Herbert was just 22 of 37 for 204 yards with an inexplicable interception thrown directly into the hands of Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane, who nearly returned it for a touchdown. But in a stat that just might underscore the wide-ranging nature of the Chargers’ offensive woes, their quarterback also was their leading rusher, scrambling five times for 26 yards.

NFL Related Stories

Kimani Vidal ran seven times for 21 yards. Omarion Hampton carried seven times for 18.

Asked whether he could have foreseen such a dismal start, Herbert replied: “I’m not much for hypotheticals.”

“The situation is what it is now, and we have to move forward and understand where we are, what we have to do, and do our best to get out of it,” he said. “We’ve got a bye week next week, and do everything we can, like I said earlier, and then whoever we play next after that, we’ll focus on them and do our best to to win that game. That’s all you can ask for.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

The NFL undoubtedly drives the American sports betting bus, but after an outlandish weekend on campus, people are still buzzing about college football Week 7 odds.

No. 1 Georgia lost at home as a huge favorite. No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 7 Texas were also laying double digits and tumbled. And No. 6 Alabama was an upset victim, as well.

“A lot of parlays died with Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and BYU all winning outright,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said.

Oddsmakers from Las Vegas and across the country chimed in to recap the weekend that was in NFL and college football betting.

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.

  On-Campus Calamity

Saturday’s carnage started in Austin, where Texas was a 13.5-point favorite vs. Florida, which was coming off two blowout losses. And the Longhorns put the Gators into a 17-3 hole just a few minutes into the second quarter.

But Florida scored the next 24 points and held off Texas 27-24.

That was followed by No. 14 Tennessee — a 7.5-point home underdog — never trailing while pushing Alabama around in a 26-10 upset.

Georgia was a 19.5-point home favorite vs. Auburn and darted to a 14-0 lead barely seven minutes into the game. But the Tigers ran off the next 24 points and won 27-24 on a final-second field goal.

Later that evening, across the country, 10.5-point home underdog BYU — ranked No. 8 — held off Notre Dame 28-24, albeit not without controversy. It appeared pass interference could’ve been called on the Irish’s final play, a first-and-goal pass. And even if not, it looked as if there should’ve been one second left, time for another play.

The last two upsets proved the biggest for BetMGM.

“It was a good day for the book, and, interestingly, a great day for our live betting,” Magee said. “Auburn and BYU specifically were huge on the in-play side. It was one-way traffic on the Irish and Georgia, especially when both got behind.”

Tom Gable, sportsbook director at Borgata Sports in Atlantic City, echoed Magee’s sentiments.

“It was a great day if you were an underdog backer,” Gable said. “The best result of the day for us was BYU. Georgia going down was good, but not quite as good as the Irish.”

BYU’s upset win over Notre Dame was gold for sportsbooks (Getty Images).

Magee and Joey Feazel, head of football trading for Caesars Sports, both noted that the public betting masses did well with Ohio State beating Indiana 19-15 to cover as a 2.5-point road favorite, in the FOX Big Noon Kickoff.

But the public took a bath from there.

“Tennessee, Auburn and BYU were big decisions, with BYU surprisingly the biggest decision of the day for the book,” Feazel said.

Also worth noting: No. 4 Miami was a hefty 20.5-point home favorite vs. Florida State and barely escaped with a 43-35 double-overtime victory.

More Public Punishment

Unfortunately, Sunday wasn’t much better for the public masses. Big upsets tend to put a dent in the public’s bankroll, and NFL Week 7 odds featured the biggest underdog winner of the season.

The Cardinals were 12.5-point road ‘dogs vs. the Rams and somehow made six field goals stand up to pull the upset. Chad Ryland made the last of his six kicks as time expired, giving Arizona an improbable 18-16 victory.

“Unfortunately, it was a tough day for bettors,” BetMGM trading manager Adair Horne said. “There were some big upsets, led by the Cardinals, and the Titans beating the Colts.”

Tennessee was a 6.5-point underdog at Indianapolis and got its first victory of the season, 26-20.

But Horne said the bigger result came Sunday night, with the public backing the 1-point road favorite Cowboys vs. the Packers. Green Bay notched a 23-13 victory.

Another key result: The Browns (+3) beating the shorthanded Ravens 13-10 on a final-second field goal.

“The Browns’ upset was the book’s bright spot,” Caesars’ Feazel said. “The book is the Browns’ No. 1 supporter every week, and they barked at exactly the right time. Without that result, bettors would have enjoyed a big [early slate] on moneyline parlays and Overs.”

Indeed, between the Texans-Jags early game in London and the 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, the Over went 6-2.

Pittsburgh Pays Off

Along with modest success betting the Over in the early games, the masses also found their way to the pay window on a big comeback.

The Steelers erased a 16-3 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the Bucs at 19 and force overtime. Pittsburgh then won 26-19 as a 2.5-point road favorite.

“The Steelers’ comeback in OT, covering the spread, was the biggest win for the bettors in the [early] slate of games, turning what looked like a stone-cold Under for the book into another Over in favor of the bettors,” Feazel said, alluding to a total that closed at a tidy 37.5.

Added Horne: “The best result for bettors was the Steelers, who were lucky to cover. And that was pretty much it.”

Source

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without quarterback Jalen Hurts for the rest of the 2026 season, per ESPN. Hurts, who was already on Injured Reserve due to a blood clot in his leg, has multiple blood clots in his lungs that required immediate intervention.

The Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, released a joint statement on Monday updating the QB’s status. “Jalen was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis,” the statement reads. “After further testing and monitoring, the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.”

The statement explained that Hurts’ prognosis is “very good” and that he is “clinically stable,” with the treatment involving a prescription of blood thinners as well as being restricted from any contact activities, including but not limited to football. Hurts will remain with the team throughout the rest of the campaign, and the Eagles “anticipate that he will have no long-term effects,” but his 2026 season has come to an end as he recovers from the blood clots.

The Eagles said Hurts was injured when he took a cleat to his calf area on Oct. 4 in a game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Hurts informed the medical staff of the injury after practice on Oct. 8. The Super Bowl 59 MVP was back at practice the next day before the team left for London to play Jacksonville. Hurts was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis.

Hurts hadn’t missed more than two games in a season since becoming the full-time starter in 2021. He has led the Eagles to five straight playoff appearances, three NFC East titles and two Super Bowl appearances, beating the Chiefs 40-22 two years ago.

According to NFL Network, Hurts did not sleep prior to the Eagles’ game in London against the Jaguars on Oct. 11, as “sleep was a risk” in his condition. The Eagles reportedly attempted to reunite with former quarterback Andy Dalton with Hurts on the IR, but the veteran declined and instead has signed with the Falcons, per ESPN.

NFL Related Stories

The Eagles have lost four-straight games since opening up the season 2-0, including a 25-14 defeat against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Tanner McKee, 26, started on Sunday in Hurts’ absence, going 26-for-45 with a touchdown and no interceptions while throwing for 215 yards against the Panthers.

Hurts was one of many Eagles listed on the injury report in Week 6, with running backs Saquon Barkley and Will Shipley both out with hamstring and foot injuries, respectively, three other players out and missing practice all week and five players listed as questionable with two of those – lineman Landon Dickerson center Drew Kendall – limited in practice. Hurts is the seventh Eagles’ player to be listed on the IR this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Source

The Indianapolis Colts missed the playoffs five straight years and selected the wrong guy to be their next franchise quarterback.

On Monday, Chris Ballard paid the price for it.

Team co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced she had fired the general manager who had run the team since 2017. The move comes one day after the hometown fans booed resoundingly during the second half of Sunday’s game, chanted “Fire Ballard” and left early as the Colts lost 26-20 to previously winless Tennessee.

She said the decision could not wait until the offseason.

“Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard,” she said. “Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision. Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now.”

She said a “thorough search” for Ballard’s successor will begin immediately.

Irsay-Gordon made her position clear in January when she thwarted fan requests to fire Ballard and coach Shane Steichen. Instead, she said she agreed with the fans’ desire to field a championship-caliber team and that she was bringing both back with the understanding the urgency to make the playoffs could not be higher.

Ballard’s revamped defense yielded 1,029 yards, the second-highest two-game total in league history, as Indy lost its opening two games. Victories over the then-winless Houston Texans and a Washington Commanders squad playing with a backup quarterback briefly quieted the calls for changes.

But another poor defensive performance in a loss at Pittsburgh was followed by Sunday’s debacle — blowing a 13-0 halftime lead with the Titans defense holding Indy to only one second-half score. A 58-yard punt return in the fourth quarter set up Tennessee’s tying score and a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown less than three minutes later gave Tennessee the lead.

“We’ve got to give them something to cheer about,” a feistier than usual Steichen said. “I don’t blame them for booing one freaking bit.”

Steichen was asked Sunday about whether turnover-prone quarterback Daniel Jones would keep his job and whether he would make any changes on his staff. While Steichen said the Colts need to find a solution to the giveaways, he did not promise any personnel changes.

Ballard’s decade-long tenure included some unusual twists and turns — the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck in August 2019, seven straight years with a different opening day starting quarterback, the firing of coach Frank Reich and subsequent hiring of Jeff Saturday, and last year’s decision to bring Philip Rivers out of retirement while he was on the Hall of Fame ballot.

And while the Colts routinely hovered near the .500 mark, they never could quite get over the hump. They’ve won only one playoff game since reaching the 2014 AFC championship, a wild-card round victory at Houston in 2018. Indy lost the next week at Kansas City, where Ballard previously worked.

They returned to the playoffs in 2020 with Rivers but lost 27-24 and haven’t been back since.

Indy also has the longest title drought in its division. They haven’t won the AFC South since 2014 — every other team has won it at least twice since then.

But it was the decision to draft quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 that ultimately undid Ballard’s tenure. Richardson’s inconsistent play and recurring injuries through his first two seasons prompted Ballard to sign Jones last season.

Jones then beat out Richardson for the starting job and led the Colts offense to a historic start as they went 8-2. But a broken bone in Jones’ left leg derailed the season, and his season ended in December with a torn right Achilles tendon.

Indy finished the season by losing its final seven games and missing the playoffs. This season’s poor start, apparently, was the final straw for Irsay-Gordon.

“I also want to be clear: this decision does not change our goals for the season,” Irsay-Gordon said. “We have a lot of football in front of us, and I expect us to compete, improve, and win football games.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Source

This NBA rookie class is being hyped as one of the best in years — and the oddsboard backs it up.

No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa has just the fourth-best odds to win Rookie of the Year. That should tell you all you need to know about this class’s depth and upside.

So, which rookie will deliver a breakout debut season?

Let’s check out the odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 19.

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.

NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

Cameron Boozer: +270
Caleb Wilson: +340
Darryn Peterson: +360
AJ Dybantsa: +475
Darius Acuff Jr.: +1000
Yaxel Lendeborg: +1400
Mikel Brown Jr.: +4000
Keaton Wagler: +4000
Aday Mara: +8000
Nate Ament: +10000
Kingston Flemings: +10000
Brayden Burries: +10000
Morez Johnson Jr.: +10000
Cameron Carr: +10000

Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer are the two favorites on the NBA Rookie of the Year oddsboard (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images).

Here’s what to know about this oddsboard: 

The Favorite: No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer is the preseason favorite to win Rookie of the Year at +270. He could immediately be the best player on what is projected to be a below-average Grizzlies team. He will have his opportunities, that’s for sure. At Duke last season, Boozer started all 38 games and averaged a double-double, posting 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 55.6% from the field. He led the ACC in double-doubles (22) and rebounds per game while finishing second in scoring.

Biggest Riser: When the opening odds came out after the NBA Draft back in June, Caleb Wilson was at +1000. Now, after a great summer league and preseason, the Bulls rookie has surged to the second-choice at +340. According to BetMGM betting insights, 43% of money (most) is on Wilson to win the award. In 24 games last year at North Carolina as a freshman, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game. He shot 57.8% from the field, including 61% on 2-pointers, and 71.3% from the free-throw line, posting a 63.7% true shooting percentage and a 59.0% effective field-goal percentage. He ranked second in the ACC in rebounds per game, third in double-doubles (11) and fourth in scoring. Wilson also finished sixth in blocks and 10th in steals, showing his impact on both ends of the floor. The Bulls may have gotten the best player in the draft at pick No. 4. 

Source

Florida will start the men’s college basketball season where it ended it two seasons ago: No. 1.

The Gators were the overwhelming pick to top the preseason AP Top 25 on Monday, receiving 47 of the 59 first-place votes from a panel of national media. It is the first time that coach Todd Golden’s bunch has resided on top since the final poll in 2025, after they had beaten Houston to deliver the school its third national championship.

“It’s cool,” Golden said of the ranking, “but like, we’ve been No. 1 before. We won a national championship before. That’s what I want our program to expect. That’s what we want to kind of go into every season at.”

Duke received 10 first-place votes and was second in the preseason poll. Illinois received the other two and was third.

Florida had a tough start on a difficult schedule to begin the 2025-2026 season as defending champions, but is primed for success again this year. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The Gators started last season at No. 3 but crashed out of the poll entirely by early January. They rallied to win the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship, only to get stunned by Iowa as a No. 1 seed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I think we’re more prepared this year for early-season expectations than we were last year,” Golden said. “We were kind of gathering ourselves, figuring (things) out for the first time, where this year we can use last year’s experience to learn from.”

In an era of roster upheaval — some teams still don’t know who will be eligible as court cases play out — the Gators have the benefit of experience on their side. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Denzel Aberdeen all played on their national title team.

Aberdeen, back after a year at Kentucky, is among the players who’ve been granted another season of eligibility by the courts.

“We didn’t finish the way that we wanted to last year, so everyone’s kind of got that in the back of their head as motivation,” Condon said. “Times where we’re struggling in conditioning at 6 a.m., we just went back to that, and I feel like we’ve talked about it a few times with the core group, how motivating it is the fact that we fell short.”

The Head Of The Class

The Blue Devils matched their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 in 2017, though coach Jon Scheyer is well aware that where they end up is what matters. Duke has won 70 games over the past two seasons, a school record for such a stretch, but losses to UConn in the Elite Eight and Houston in the Final Four have left a sting on Tobacco Road.

“I feel like any time I step on the court, I believe me and my teammates are going to win,” said Dame Sarr, who along with Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II and Cayden Boozer give Duke a talented returning nucleus to go with its top-tier recruiting class.

“I feel like we have a chance to win a national championship,” Sarr said. “It’s just doing a better job this year.”

Illinois matched its best preseason ranking since 2001, and returns five of its top eight scorers — headlined by Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic — from a team that made its first Final Four appearance in two decades last season.

UConn and Arizona, each coming off a Final Four trip of their own, rounded out the top five of the preseason poll.

The Rest Of The Rankings

Michigan State, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Houston finished out the first 10, while Louisville, Arkansas, St. John’s, Miami and Gonzaga were next. Michigan, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Alabama rounded out the top 20, while the final five in the Top 25 were USC, UCLA, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and BYU.

The Jayhawks feature the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Tyran Stokes, a year after Darryn Peterson brought the same billing to Lawrence for a frustrating season that ended with another first-weekend NCAA tourney exit. The late addition of all-Big Ten forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, a transfer from Purdue, coupled with the return of Tre White and Melvin Council III thanks to court decisions, could change those fortunes come March.

Kentucky is making its 998th appearance in the poll. Two more weeks and it will be the first to reach 1,000.

Vanderbilt, which finished 19th last year, is ranked in the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 2015, while BYU is back in the poll despite losing one-and-done phenom A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Here are the full rankings:

Record: 23-12 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 27-9 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 22-14 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 24-12 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 18-14 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 25-10 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 23-11 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 29-8 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 24-11 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 37-3 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 31-4 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 26-9 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 30-7 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 28-9 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 24-11 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 30-7 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 30-7 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 25-12 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 21-15 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 27-8 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 36-3 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 34-6 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 28-9 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 35-3 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

Record: 27-8 (2025-2026)

Previous ranking: N/A

The Best Of The Rest

Missouri is the top team outside the Top 25, though the Tigers could break in soon. All-SEC forward Mark Mitchell was granted an injunction last week to play another season, and he joins a roster loaded with veterans (Trent Pierce), elite transfers (Jamier Jones, Bryson Tiller, Jaylen Carey and Kennard Davis Jr.) and five-star freshmen (Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant).

Nebraska was next-best of the rest, while Purdue was among those receiving plenty of votes, though not enough to avoid ending the Boilermakers’ streak of 79 consecutive weeks in the poll. That was second-longest to Houston, which is at 127 and counting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Source

Mum’s the word in Ann Arbor.

Kyle Whittingham said he has decided whether Bryce Underwood or Tommy Carr is the Michigan Wolverines’ starting quarterback against the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers, but the veteran coach doesn’t want to let the Hoosiers know before their matchup at the Big House this weekend.

“We’re not going to tip our hand,” Whittingham said Monday.

Underwood was benched and Carr was given a chance on Saturday — with Michigan trailing the Penn State Nittany Lions 3-0 at halftime — and the grandson of two College Football Hall of Famers and the brother of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s quarterback made the most of his opportunity.

Underwood threw two interceptions in the second quarter against the Nittany Lions. The sophomore, who was the nation’s No. 1 recruit last year, has thrown six interceptions and five touchdowns this season.

Carr led two touchdown drives in the third quarter, and his 12-yard touchdown run on third-and-9 late in the game gave Michigan a two-score lead it needed for a win to avoid starting 0-3 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967.

College Football Related Stories

His grandfathers are Lloyd Carr, who led the Wolverines to the 1997 national title, and Tom Curtis, who was an All-America defensive back and holds the school’s career interceptions record. His brother, CJ Carr, is starting at quarterback for the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Get more from the Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Source