The Green Bay Packers have been a different team defensively in October. Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter has been flashing the potential that made him the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Giants WR Malik Nabers has picked up where he left off last September before tearing his ACL. 

Each week, I dive into the All-22 coaches’ film before offering a few insights to watch. Here are three developments that could be long-term storylines involving some of the best teams and players in the NFL.

1.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded significant draft capital to the Cleveland Browns to select Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, doubters wondered whether the Heisman Trophy winner could make his mark as a full-time two-way player.

Most projected him as a standout at wide receiver or cornerback, but few believed he could shine as a regular playmaker on both sides of the ball because of the taxing workload and the daunting challenge of mastering two marquee positions with limited practice reps.

After Hunter suffered a season-ending knee injury during his rookie season, on the eve of taking on a bigger workload at wide receiver, not many expected him to bounce back as a two-way standout. The skepticism only intensified coming into this season as the Jaguars projected him as a starting cornerback despite the fact he logged most of his snaps at wide receiver last year. Even with head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone offering detailed explanations that the increase in defensive snaps reflected a change in roster construction, Duval County was up in arms over the potential loss of Hunter as a two-way contributor.

The gradual “ramp up” period designed to help Hunter return from injury while acclimating to a full-time role as a CB1 and offensive specialist frustrated observers who wanted the first-rounder to serve as the Jaguars’ shutdown corner and primary perimeter playmaker on offense. After watching Hunter shine in Week 6 on both sides of the ball, the Jaguars deserve credit for the developmental plan and how they deployed their budding star over the first few weeks.

The Jaguars used a college tactic to maximize his talents on defense by positioning him as the “field corner” (cornerback who aligns to the widest side of the field). They’ve done so in a scheme that features some “Quarter, Quarter, Half” concepts that instruct the field corner to play “read-man” coverage against the outside receiver on the wide side of the field. By putting Hunter in this role, the Jags are playing to his strengths as an instinctive cover corner with outstanding ball skills, while letting him get comfortable on both sides of the field. As each rep affords Hunter an opportunity to master his technique and footwork from both sides, Jacksonville has quietly prepped the 6-foot, 189-pounder to eventually “travel” with the opponent’s WR1.

The plan paid off this past Sunday against the Texans, as Hunter shadowed Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins. Although he didn’t follow the 6-foot-4, 222-pounder into the slot, Hunter’s ability to line up at outside corner opposite the big-play specialist allowed the Jaguars to play “best on best” on defense in key moments. And based on PFF numbers, the move worked. Collins caught two of his four targets while defended by Hunter for 63 yards. Although one of those receptions went for 42 yards following a double move, the second-year pro was in perfect position to defend the ball but was simply beaten by a pinpoint pass from a red-hot C.J. Stroud.

Hunter made amends for the huge gain with a critical goal-line interception that showcased his instincts and awareness in coverage. Hunter was positioned at left cornerback and followed his assignment on a post-corner route that led him inside before perfectly executing a speed turn to get back into proper coverage position. While Stroud’s errant pass landed squarely in Hunter’s chest, it was the latter’s awareness and instincts that caused the game-changing interception for the Jaguars.

Offensively, the Jaguars increased Hunter’s workload against Houston by utilizing him as WR3 in their spread formations. He motioned around to draw defenders, but Coen also used the pre-snap movement to create leverage for his spectacular playmaker on downfield routes. On Hunter’s 19-yard reception in the second quarter, the slick route-runner crossed the field before weaving outside on a switch release to create leverage on a 15-yard dig route. By motioning him across the field and snapping the ball while he was in the slot, Hunter won the route with his favorable leverage against an outside defender.

Hunter later produced another big play on a slant route from the slot, using his speed and quickness to outmaneuver the slot defender. His crafty wiggle at the top of the release separated him on an easy pitch-and-catch from Lawrence. With Hunter also flashing spectacular running skills in space, the quick-rhythm throw was a low-risk, high-reward item on Coen’s call sheet. 

Finally, the Jaguars’ clever deployment of Hunter at running back in the tight red zone created a winnable matchup against a linebacker in the slot. By aligning him in the backfield before running an angle route that put him behind a short crossing route, the Jaguars created a window for Lawrence to drill a pass into the sure-handed pass-catcher between a pair of linebackers unable to squeeze the route due to the route-running chaos around them. With Coen digging deep into his bag of tricks to help Hunter get more touches in a pivotal divisional game, it appears the Jaguars are finally ready to unleash their two-way standout on the football world when they return to action following a Week 7 bye.

2.

Count me among the skeptics who didn’t buy defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s bold claim that he arrived in Green Bay without a fixed scheme or pre-defined playbook. Despite his success building a championship-caliber defense in Philadelphia and serving as a defensive-minded head coach with the Arizona Cardinals, I did not believe the young defensive architect would build a playbook after assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Packers’ personnel instead of arriving with a call sheet.

Whatever the case, the Packers’ defense dismantled Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and Co. in a 23-13 victory last Thursday. It marked Green Bay’s third consecutive game registering multiple takeaways while also holding its opponent to fewer than 15 points. The stellar performance from a unit missing three defensive linemen, rising star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons ranks among the most dominant performances of the season. It’s a far cry from where this unit was in the opening weeks of this season, much less late last season.

The Cowboys were completely befuddled by the Packers’ varied looks, as Gannon showed the football world how to build a scheme around the individual and collective talents of a defensive lineup loaded with ultra-athletic and aggressive playmakers. With safeties Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams, linebacker Zaire Franklin, edge Lukas Van Ness and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt settling into their respective roles as disruptors, their creative playcaller is utilizing a myriad of overload blitzes and simulated pressures from exotic, pre-snap disguises to keep quarterbacks and coordinators guessing at every turn.

Moreover, Gannon’s constant “bluff and blitz” tactics challenge the quarterback’s mental and physical toughness, with wrong answers leading to blown protections and big hits that can turn into turnovers. Additionally, the veteran DC’s crafty chess game will bait QBs into critical errors that result in pick-sixes from the Packers’ ball-hawking defensive backs.

Green Bay leads the NFL with nine interceptions, thanks to an overwhelming combination of blitz pressure and sticky coverage. The blitz-heavy approach taps into the speed, quickness and explosion of an athletic bunch that ramps up fast and free in an aggressive scheme.

Studying the All-22 coaches’ footage from Week 6, the perfectly choreographed “bail out” strategy from Williams led to a pivotal red zone interception. The aggressive playmaker was aligned at the line of scrimmage, then retreated to a “robber” spot to intercept a pass to wideout CeeDee Lamb at the goal line. By positioning the deep middle safety deep in the box to threaten an edge pressure, Gannon enticed Prescott to dismiss a blindside defender as part of the pass rush, leading to a critical error from a veteran QB who typically takes outstanding care of the ball.

Javon Bullard’s fourth-down breakup late in the fourth quarter was another example of the Packers’ exotic pre-snap disguise leading to an errant throw from Prescott. The Packers’ aligned in a mugged-up look with seven defenders at the line before dropping out into a three-deep zone with the third-year pro floating into the flat. Although Prescott anticipated pressure with a sprint-out pass, the switch from man to zone led to a late throw that Bullard knocked down, resulting in a crucial turnover on downs.

The Packers’ success against the Cowboys is part of a three-game streak in which the unit has forced 11 turnovers. As opponents continue to wilt under Green Bay’s relentless pressure, Gannon is building the fast, violent takeaway machine he promoted when he took the coveted job in the offseason.

3.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers has quietly posted three straight 100-yard games after missing most of 2025 with a torn ACL. The former top-10 pick has shown no ill effects from the injury, showing outstanding route-running skills and playmaking as the Giants’ WR1.

Since busting out against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 with a six-catch, 112-yard effort that included a 25-yard touchdown, Nabers has caught 29 passes for 398 yards and a pair of scores on 42 targets. The third-year wideout has flourished as New York’s No. 1 option by producing 18 first downs and seven explosives during this three-game stretch. Nabers is again routinely snagging balls on the perimeter again and giving the Giants’ passing game more pop as Jameis Winston and now J.J. McCarthy have taken to force-feeding him the ball. 

With Nabers primarily aligned out wide and Isaiah Likely positioned in the slot or as an attached tight end, the Giants are forcing opponents to make tough decisions when trying to neutralize their most explosive weapons. If DCs try to take away Nabers with “cloud” coverage (corner jams the receiver at the line of scrimmage, with a half-field safety over the top), they risk Likely splitting the seams for huge gains. And if defenses focus extensively on Likely, Nabers has proven he can win one-on-one coverage, with his explosive rate ranking near the top of the charts.

With Nabers’ return adding a new dimension to this offense, future opponents will need a creative plan to handle the Giants’ emerging big-play specialist.

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The title used to belong to Lamar Jackson, but Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is clearly the best running quarterback in the league.

And it’s really not even close. 

Allen leads all quarterbacks with 240 rushing yards and tops the NFL with eight touchdowns this season. Extrapolate that over 17 games and that’s 680 rushing yards and 22 (!) rushing touchdowns. The former would be his most in a season since 2022, and the latter would be a career high. 

Last year, Allen and the Bills made a concerted effort to not use him as a rusher as much. However, Allen still finished with 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns before running for 99 yards and two scores in the two playoff games, including a four-turnover effort in a loss to the Denver Broncos.

New Buffalo head coach Joe Brady appears to have reignited Allen by unleashing him more as a runner. The obvious concern is Allen suffering a significant injury on scrambles. But as he’s aged, Allen has gotten better at protecting himself when he runs the football.

Josh Allen leads the league in rushing touchdowns this season. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Allen won a closely contested competition two years ago with Jackson, in which I thought he deserved the award. In that season, Allen did a great job of taking care of the football, with just six interceptions. This season, Allen already has five turnovers through six games.

If Allen wants to take home his second MVP trophy and potentially bring home Buffalo’s first Super Bowl in franchise history, he must balance making the highlight reel play with taking care of the football in critical moments of the game.

With the NFL schedule inching towards the midpoint of the year, here’s a snapshot of where I think things stand for the top candidates at every major award. 

Offensive Player Of The Year

The skinny: Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 17 100-yard games since 2024. His 331 receptions and 4,268 yards are the most in a player’s first four seasons in Seattle Seahawks history. 

Bijan Robinson remains the engine of Atlanta’s offense, leading the league in scrimmage yards with 785. However, he hasn’t been as dominant as Kenneth Walker III. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has been one of the most elusive runners this season. Per Next Gen Stats, Walker has forced a league-high 47 missed tackles, per Next Gen Stats. Since entering the league as a second-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Walker has forced 280 missed tackles, tied for second-most in the NFL behind Derrick Henry (347) as he’s proven to be a valuable pickup for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jahmyr Gibbs just missed the cut in this edition, but the Detroit Lions’ star figures to remain in the race this season. He already has 105 carries through five games, and he’s on pace to carry the ball a career-high 357 times. The most rushes for Gibbs in a season? That would be 250 times in 2024.  

Defensive Player Of The Year

The skinny: The Texans looked better last week but are still 2-4 this year. However, Will Anderson leads the league with 7.5 sacks and, much like Myles Garrett last season, the Alabama product is a dominant player on a bad team (for now). 

Dallas Turner has been the best player on the best-performing defense statistically in the NFL in the Vikings. Turner is tied for third in the league in sacks (5.5) and has two forced fumbles. Minnesota leads the league in points allowed (12.8 points per game), is tied for second in takeaways (10) and tied for fifth in sacks (17). 

Fred Warner has filled up the stat sheet. He’s third in the league in tackles with 58, has three forced fumbles and three pass breakups for the undefeated 49ers. 

Coach Of The Year

The skinny: Kyle Shanahan once again proves he’s one of the best in the business by managing one of the most injury-ravaged rosters in the NFL. Shanahan consistently does more with less talent and will continue to have to work wonders due to injuries at receiver for San Francisco. 

Kevin O’Connell is buoyed by having the best defensive coordinator in the league with Brian Flores, but Kyler Murray is starting to show flashes of better connectivity with Minnesota’s playmakers on offense. 

No one expected Todd Monken to have the Browns at the top of the AFC North at this point of the season, and he’s so far proved doubters around the league wrong. 

Offensive Rookie Of The Year

The skinny: Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels has played the most of any rookie quarterback and the Buccaneers have a 1-2 record with him as the starter, replacing an injured Baker Mayfield. However, Daniels does have five interceptions. At some point, Fernando Mendoza could make some noise once the Las Vegas Raiders make him as the starter. Jeremiyah Love leads all rookies with 245 rushing yards but has had trouble staying on the field due to injury. 

As for the players currently in the race, Carnell Tate leads all rookies with 29 receptions and appears more comfortable in Tennessee’s offense, building better chemistry with Cam Ward. But Denzel Boston has made more impact plays (three touchdowns) for a better team in Cleveland. Germie Bernard finished with 11 receptions for 87 yards and a score in a Pittsburgh win over Tampa Bay, proving to be a steady pass-catcher for Aaron Rodgers.

Defensive Rookie Of The Year

The skinny: Jacob Rodriguez leads all rookies with 57 combined tackles. David Bailey leads rookies in sacks (5) and quarterback pressures (29). Masses still tops all rookies in interceptions (3) and is third in pass breakups (6). Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs also deserve some shine here, and have made impact plays during the season. 

MVP

The skinny: Brock Purdy, the “game manager,” is tied for first with 14 touchdown passes and is second in the league with a 118.1 passer rating this season. Purdy has 27 career games with a passer rating of at least 110, trailing only Russell Wilson (34 games) and Patrick Mahomes (31) for the most by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. 

Mahomes has been much better this year, but Walker has been the most important person on offense for the Chiefs this season, which is why he’s second on this list. However, Allen is coming for one of the top two spots. He’s had some spectacular highs and some frankly embarrassing plays as well this season, so we need to see more consistent play snap to snap, which Allen is certainly capable of producing.

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Week 7 of the college football season was chaotic, with five of the top seven teams falling. The upsets confounded experts everywhere, but they’ll try to rebound in Week 8.

It starts with “Big Noon Kickoff” as No. 6 Indiana tries to bounce back from its loss to No. 3 Ohio State against a Michigan team, resurging after a quarterback change. Arch Manning will try to keep his job as he leads No. 19 Texas into a must-win game against No. 7 Ole Miss. 

Then the night ends with a Big 12 matchup with College Football Playoff stakes when undefeated No. 10 Utah hosts No. 14 Houston. After consecutive weeks where the No. 1 team lost, the field is wide open. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend.   

	RJ Young	Laken Litman	Ben Portnoy
Last Week	4-6	5-5	5-5
Overall	46-22	38-20	36-22

  Michigan vs. No. 6 Indiana

Curt Cignetti and Indiana’s 22-game win streak came to an end when the Hoosiers were defeated by Ohio State in Week 7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Line: Indiana -7

RJ Young: Indiana
After watching Indiana’s defense turn Julian Sayin into a tackling dummy, I shudder to think what it might do against Michigan’s newly named starting quarterback, Tommy Carr.

Laken Litman: Indiana
The Hoosiers have never lost back-to-back games under Curt Cignetti and that won’t start now — not even with Michigan likely starting Tommy Carr at quarterback. 

Ben Portnoy: Indiana
After being in Bloomington last week for Indiana’s loss to Ohio State, I think I’m more confident than ever that the Hoosiers can repeat as Big Ten champions. Michigan should get a nice spark from Tommy Carr, but I’m skeptical of a first-time starter against Bryant Haines’ defense.

  No. 1 Miami vs. Pitt

Quarterback Darian Mensah kept Miami’s undefeated season alive with multiple clutch drives against Florida State. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

When: Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
Line: Miami -20.5

Young: Miami
The No. 1 team in the country needs to act like it against a team that lost its star player and starting quarterback Mason Heintschel earlier this season.

Litman: Miami
The ‘Canes escaped their scariest test of the season vs. Florida State last week and will be locked in against a struggling Pitt team.

Portnoy: Miami
Pitt hasn’t been the same team since Mason Heintschel was lost for the season. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is still my pick for the Heisman Trophy and I think he’ll put up more big numbers on Saturday.

  No. 18 LSU vs. Auburn

Alex Golesh led Auburn to an upset over top-ranked Georgia in Week 7, the first time the Tigers have defeated the No. 1 ranked team since 2017. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When: Saturday, noon ET (ABC)
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama
Line: LSU -7.5

Young: LSU
I sincerely doubt Auburn can pull off that trick of knocking off a top-25 team for the second week in a row.

Litman: Auburn
Jordan-Hare Stadium will be rocking and ready for Auburn to upset its second straight SEC powerhouse.

Portnoy: LSU
The Tigers are in do-or-die mode right now. LSU brass spent millions to flip this roster and bring Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge. I think it keeps its CFP hopes — fleeting as they may be — alive for one more week.

  UCF vs. No. 2 BYU

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for one touchdown and rushed for two more in the Cougars’ upset of Notre Dame in Week 7. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Where: Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, Florida
Line: BYU -6.5

Young: BYU
I don’t believe in “emotional letdowns,” and UCF has been playing without star quarterback Alonza Barnett III most of this season.

Litman: BYU
The Cougars don’t seem like the kind of team that’s going to have a letdown week after their massive win over Notre Dame. How many ways will quarterback Bear Bachmeier score this Saturday?

Portnoy: BYU
No Alonza Barnett III, no way UCF is winning this game. The Golden Knights have improved in Year 2 of the Scott Frost Era (Part 2), but the Cougars look like the best team in the Big 12. I think they get it done, even in a potential letdown spot here.

  South Carolina vs. No. 11 Tennessee

Josh Heupel improved to 2-1 against Kalen DeBoer. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
Line: South Carolina -2.5

Young: Tennessee
With George MacIntyre at quarterback and DeSean Bishop as the engine powering the Power T offense, the Volunteers look a lot like the 2024 version that made the College Football Playoff.

Litman: Tennessee
It’s never easy to win on the road in the SEC, but Tennessee ekes this one out against a rejuvenated South Carolina team coming off a bye.

Portnoy: South Carolina
Tennessee smoked Alabama last week, but I’m still not sure how good the Volunteers are. Williams-Brice has a tendency to bring weird results (See the 2022 meeting between these two teams for proof of as much). I’ll take Shane Beamer to further cool his hot seat.

  Minnesota vs. No. 15 Iowa

Minnesota is 1-8 against Iowa under P.J. Fleck. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Line: Iowa -6.5

Young: Iowa
The Hawkeyes play a better version of smashmouth football offensively than the Golden Gophers do.

Litman: Iowa
The Hawkeyes continue their journey to a CFP berth in what’s become a wide open Big Ten.

Portnoy: Iowa
The Hawkeyes may have a quarterback decision to be made between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, but they might finally have figured out the offense. Give me Kirk Ferentz’s bunch in this one.

  No. 19 Texas vs. No. 7 Ole Miss

Trinidad Chambliss threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more in Ole Miss’ win against Missouri in Week 8. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Where: DKR-Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
Line: Texas -3

Young: Ole Miss
Texas is one loss away from folding this season. The Rebels look like a team that could find their way into the SEC championship game.

Litman: Ole Miss
The Rebels will not miss this opportunity to beat a conference opponent when they’re already down. 

Portnoy: Ole Miss
Texas is in free-fall mode and there’s nothing I’ve seen from Arch Manning this year that makes me think he can win a quarterback duel with Trinidad Chambliss. I’ll take the Rebels in a high-scoring affair.

  Wisconsin vs. No. 16 USC

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava leads the Big Ten with 2,045 passing yards. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Austin, Texas
Line: USC -3

Young: USC
The Trojans are more talented offensively than Wisconsin.

Litman: USC
Head coach Lincoln Riley gets another Big Ten road win and keeps his team from looking ahead to next week’s showdown vs. Ohio State.

Portnoy: USC
Lincoln Riley has quietly built a bit of stability in recent weeks. A win over Wisconsin would go a long way before a Julian Sayin-less, uber-talented Ohio State team comes to L.A. next week.

  New Mexico vs. North Dakota State

Jason Eck is looking to lead New Mexico to a Mountain West championship in his second season as head coach. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET (CW)
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Line: New Mexico -4.5

Young: New Mexico
The Lobos have yet to lose to a Group of Six opponent this year, and the Bison got taken down by UNLV just a couple weeks ago.

Litman: North Dakota State
In a matchup between two one-loss Group of Six teams, the Bisons prevail behind veteran quarterback Nathan Hayes.

Portnoy: New Mexico
I’m all in on the Jason Eck experience. He’s expected to be one of the hottest candidates on the coaching carousel this offseason and for good reason. Lobos get it done against the efficiency machine that is North Dakota State.

  No. 10 Utah vs. No. 14 Houston

Utah head coach Morgan Scalley has the Utes as one of five remaining undefeated Power Four teams. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

When: Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET (ABC)
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
Line: Utah -6.5

Young: Houston
The Cougars did something I did not think they were capable of against Oklahoma State: win a shootout. This, and Utah nearly dropped last week’s game to a two-win Colorado.

Litman: Houston
This is a tough one, but the Cougars get a massive win on the road behind sneaky Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Conner Weigman.

Portnoy: Houston
Utah hasn’t had a chance to prove itself yet, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Houston offense and Texas A&M reclamation project Conner Weigman. Willie Fritz has the Cougars riding high after last week’s huge victory over Oklahoma State. That momentum carries them in this one.

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There is no sugarcoating it: After an offseason in which he was widely predicted to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2027 NFL Draft, Texas quarterback Arch Manning simply has not progressed as expected this season. 

Now, as I wrote in my latest NFL Draft QB Power Rankings, I still believe Manning would be a first-round pick in April if he were to turn pro. 

Whether he should be, however, is a different conversation. 

So, let’s have that conversation. Fair or not, Manning’s struggles (and those of the Texas Longhorns, as a whole) have become the biggest storyline in college football. This week, he surrendered first-team reps in practice and was nearly benched ahead of Texas’ showdown with Ole Miss. 

A deep dive into all of Manning’s college tape, as well as conversations with scouts watching him in person this fall, elucidate how he’s struggling and why his NFL draft stock might be tumbling.  

1.

Pressure Leads To Panic (And Turnovers)

To start, let’s talk about pressure. We’ll discuss the expectations that come with Manning simply due to his last name a bit later. That is the sort of pressure that comes off the field. The single biggest concern scouts have with Manning on the field is the alarming lack of poise he’s shown late in games, especially when the pocket is collapsing. 

Now, to be fair, the Longhorns have surrendered a lot of hits on their prized quarterback this season. Even the coolest of quarterbacks might struggle if sacked 17 times in just six games, as Manning has. A year ago, the Longhorns allowed 23 sacks over 13 games. 

Quarterbacks with Manning’s experience and tools, however, should be able to help his blockers and avoid more of those sacks. He’s not deciphering defenses prior to taking the snap as well as he should be, and too often he’s waiting in the pocket for receivers to break free, rather than scrambling himself. 

Manning is actually on pace to run more times this year than last, but he looks hesitant to leave the pocket in 2026 after being highly aggressive (and productive) a season ago. In 2025, Manning ran 92 times, generating 399 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. He’s scrambled 49 times already this season but for just 108 yards (2.2 ypc) and no scores. 

Rather than taking advantage of his mobility (more on this later) Manning is waiting in the pocket. He doesn’t look patient there, however. He looks anxious and, frankly, a bit frenetic. 

This lack of anticipation and poise is leading to turnovers, whether it be Manning throwing the ball up for grabs or having it knocked out of his hands. This past Saturday was the latter, as Manning coughed up a game-sealing fumble in a home loss to Florida. 

2.

Where Did The Bootlegs Go?

As mentioned, one of the most exciting parts of Manning’s game is his dual-threat ability. He can be quite an effective scrambler, but let’s focus on his ability as a mobile passer for a moment. 

Quite the opposite of his relatively heavy-footed uncles Peyton and Eli, Arch (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) is a gifted athlete who is a real threat to scramble and throw on the run. This skill is especially important in the red zone, where dual-threat quarterbacks put an extra degree of stress on the defense. Manning has the athleticism, balance, quick release and velocity to be very effective in this area, and yet the Longhorns are inexplicably not featuring arguably his greatest strength. 

It’s even more surprising given that Manning’s mobility, whether as a runner or passer, was a key part of the Texas offense a year ago.

In 2025, several of Manning’s 26 touchdown tosses came on designed rollouts, including nearly half (four of nine) thrown inside the 10-yard line. Manning has thrown 11 touchdowns so far this season. None of them have come on designed rollouts to his right. 

Manning can only “run” the plays called, so perhaps this is more of a reflection on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s playcalling than the inadequacies of the quarterback. 

NFL teams will make their own determinations on that front. 

3.

The Unforced Errors Are Increasing

Given that this is Manning’s fourth season of college football, it is easy for fans to forget that last year was Manning’s first as a full-time starter. Scouts won’t forget that fact, however. They weren’t overly concerned with some of the sandlot-style turnovers he produced in 2025. 

Take this one against San Jose State, for example. 

Thankfully, Manning isn’t making throws quite this egregious in his second season as a starter, but there is simply no denying that he continues to make silly mistakes. 

By now, it is likely that everyone reading has seen the two fourth-quarter interceptions he threw against rival Oklahoma. The first was a wild and desperate overthrow that turned into a pick-six.

The second one set up a game-winning field goal for the Sooners, so it deserves the most scorn. But, frankly, it was more of a bad decision than a bad throw. With a timeout remaining, Manning should have thrown the ball elsewhere or even taken the sack. Hit low by a blitzer, Manning couldn’t step into the throw and therefore didn’t deliver with his usual zip. A heads-up play by Oklahoma cornerback Courtland Guillory sealed the Longhorns’ fate. 

Manning was under significant duress on both plays, and we’ve already discussed how he’s melted under pressure at times this season. What is just as concerning is the fact that Manning now seems to have picked up the bad habit of simply lofting deep balls into double coverage. 

Three of Manning’s five interceptions so far this season were essentially arm punts, such as this one against Tennessee. 

NFL teams want quarterbacks willing to trust their receivers to go make plays on the ball, but wild overthrows are the kind of things that sink draft stock and, worse, put even highly-drafted QBs on the bench. 

4.

Four Years In, He’s Still Surprisingly Raw

Given his pedigree, it might surprise some to learn that Manning remains unrefined in terms of his passing technique and ability to read defenses. 

Let’s start at the base. Too often, Manning unnecessarily throws off-balance. Ideally, quarterbacks step into their throws, creating torque from the lower body and following through in one smooth motion that generates velocity and accuracy. 

Manning has a tendency to remain flat-footed and whip his arm. It results in a very quick release that is unusual for a taller, long-limbed passer, but also sporadic accuracy. He consistently hits his targets, but not often enough in stride or with the type of pinpoint accuracy that generates easy yards after the catch. This hinders trust from his pass-catchers, which is why the 33 drops (per Pro Football Focus) from Texas receivers since 2025 are as much of an indictment on Manning as they are his receivers. 

Urban Meyer on Arch Manning & Texas, Georgia, Ohio State vs Indiana | FULL INTERVIEW | The Herd

And it isn’t just Manning’s throwing technique. Lots of quarterbacks have succeeded with unique throwing motions. Philip Rivers is an eight-time Pro Bowler who might be enshrined in Canton one day, but he had as awkward of a throwing delivery as you’ll see. Throwing the ball effectively is an art, and each quarterback has his own style. 

But quality QBs need to be able to read defenses and throw with tempo and anticipation. There should be a consistency to their game. Manning, meanwhile, can be maddening with his decision-making. He’ll switch from Superman to Clark Kent and vice versa, taking highly aggressive deep shots into double-coverage at inopportune times and reverting to checkdowns at others.

The expectation many had for Manning was that he’d be a superstar prospect the moment he stepped onto the field for the Longhorns. That doesn’t give enough credit to opponents and the complexity of the quarterback position. 

While he’s 22 years old and has been in college for four seasons, Manning has only started a total of 21 games to this point. It feels worth noting that Peyton (45 starts) and Eli (37) started nearly twice as many games prior to entering the NFL. 

There is no denying that Arch Manning’s path to the NFL has been bumpier than expected. There are several areas in which he needs to improve. Sarkisian is concerned enough that he considered benching Manning this week while giving freshman KJ Lacey Jr. first-team reps as Texas prepares to play Ole Miss on Saturday. Standing on the opposite sideline will be the quarterback who has seemingly surged past Manning on draft boards across the NFL: Trinidad Chambliss.

But that’s a footnote, for now. Given Manning’s tenuous status just with the Longhorns, this game has become the biggest of his career. 

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It’s not all that uncommon to see a playoff team with a losing record. But could we see two teams with losing records in the postseason field this year? 

Great question. Here’s another one: Yes, the “super team” Rams are struggling, but are they actually fraudulent? 

As usual, NFL fans brought their best takes to our @NFLonFOX Instagram after the latest week of action. Below, I break down some of the best ones and render a verdict on whether they’re fact or fiction. 

Let’s dive in: 

Two Teams Will Make The Playoffs With A Losing Record
– @thelockeroom_404

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

I’m not buying that there will be two playoff teams with losing records, but there could definitely be one: the NFC East winner. We’ve all seen how dreadful that division has been through the season’s first six weeks. An NFC East team hasn’t won a game since Week 4. 

The Giants (3-2-1) currently lead the division, but they have run-game issues and uncertainty at quarterback. After his fourth-quarter showing against the New Orleans Saints last week, former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy gets the nod for John Harbaugh’s squad Sunday against the Houston Texans. But McCarthy has been massively inconsistent throughout the early part of his career, and relief action is much different than when the opponent has a full week to prepare for you. 

The second-place Eagles (2-4) just lost quarterback Jalen Hurts for the season, on top of all the other injury issues they have. The Cowboys (2-4) are in a funk on offense and still have a defense that stinks. The last-place Commanders (1-4-1) have recurring game mismanagement problems and rank in the bottom half of the league on both sides of the ball. 

The NFC East team I have the most faith in is the Cowboys, because they have the most dependable quarterback in the division, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they finished the season under .500. Dak Prescott and his receivers need to get back on track, but even that won’t solve Dallas’ persistent run-game woes or fix a defense that can’t be trusted. 

Despite all that, the Cowboys could win the division with a losing record. 

The Bills Are Overrated
– @diya_rangi

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

The Bills are in great shape as they enter their bye week. At 5-1, they’d be the AFC’s No. 2 seed if the playoffs started today. They’re one of just four teams that have one or no losses. 

But like we’ve seen in years prior, star quarterback Josh Allen’s greatness is masking larger issues for this team. So the Bills are more flawed than “overrated.”

The biggest problem is on defense. They’ve allowed at least 29 points in five of their six games this season; the one time they didn’t was in Week 3 against the 0-6 Chargers, who have a dreadful offense. Buffalo has the league’s second-worst pass defense (allowing 285.8 passing yards per game) and now two of its defensive backs are facing suspensions for spitting at the opponent in the team’s Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, including starter C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Other than edge Gregory Rousseau, who’s enjoying a career year, the Bills don’t have much of a pass-rush threat. They rank 20th in sacks (11) and 30th in pressure rate (30.0%), according to Next Gen Stats. 

And despite being strong overall in run defense, Buffalo is susceptible to back-breaking rushes. The team has given up 18 runs of at least 10-plus yards this season, which is tied for 20th in the league, per NGS.  

Quarterback Josh Allen is playing Superman again for the Bills. Will Buffalo’s defense step up and do its part? (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Bills are averaging 32.8 points per game, tied for the league-high, but ball security is a problem, too. The Raiders game last week was the first time they didn’t turn the ball over in a month. Of Buffalo’s nine giveaways (tied for 10th-most in the NFL), seven have come from its two best offensive players: Allen (five turnovers) and running back James Cook (two). 

The Chiefs (5-0) and Jaguars (4-2) look more trustworthy in the AFC. 

The Rams Are Frauds
– @jace.bailey1>

Fact or Fiction: Fact

The Rams aren’t a bad team. But they’ve regressed in several areas while simultaneously feeling the effects of their age and bad luck, making them a shell of the “super team” they were hyped to be in the offseason.

L.A.’s injury list reads like a grocery shopping receipt:

• All-Pro DE Myles Garrett (knee) is on injured reserve, has missed five games and is not yet ready to practice.
• Star WR Davante Adams (hamstring) is out at least six weeks.
• DT Kobie Turner (groin) is out at least four games on injured reserve.
• Star CB Trent McDuffie (groin) missed Week 6 and his status for this week is unclear.
• NT Poona Ford (triceps) is out for the year.
• K Blake Grupe is out for the year after tearing his ACL in his Rams debut. L.A. will have its third kicker in three weeks after signing free-agent Brandon McManus.

Penalties, turnovers and unforced errors have all been issues for the Rams as well.

They had the third-fewest penalties in the NFL last season (89) but are tied for the 10th-most through six weeks this year (46), according to NFLpenalties.com. The Rams are also tied for 10th-most in giveaways in 2026 (9) after being tied for fourth-fewest a year ago (15). Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is playing nowhere near the level he played at last season, while coach Sean McVay hasn’t been as sharp calling plays or managing games. 

I don’t think you can count the Rams out, just because of their superior talent and the eventual return of several key players down the stretch. But they’re not a Super Bowl threat. With the 49ers (6-0) running away with the NFC West, the Rams will be clawing for a wild-card spot in a competitive NFC.

   The Super Bowl Will Once Again Be Chiefs-49ers
– @gr4v3._.wk4Ik3r>

Fact or Fiction: Fiction 

I’m not ready to make that declaration! We’re only six weeks into the season and the NFL is far too unpredictable. But right now, sure: The Chiefs and 49ers, who’ve met in two of the past seven Super Bowls (LVIII, LIV), would be my picks to represent the AFC and NFC, respectively, at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14. 

The Chiefs and Niners are two of the NFL’s three unbeaten teams, and they’re also the league’s most complete squads. Both rank in the top five in scoring offense and defense. Both have MVP-caliber quarterbacks.  

The Bills and Jaguars are probably Kansas City’s biggest threats in the AFC. But as indicated above, I just don’t trust Buffalo’s defense. You can’t count out the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) or the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2), who are currently the conference’s eighth and ninth seeds, because of what their quarterbacks are capable of when healthy. 

In the NFC, the Bears, with a healthy Caleb Williams, look like the 49ers’ biggest threat. I know the Vikings are undefeated, but their offense is too much of a liability (22nd in scoring, 27th in total offense). And I outlined the Rams’ problems already. The reigning champion Seahawks (3-3) don’t have a run game. The Panthers (3-2) are unproven. Any thought entering the year that any NFC East team could be in the mix is pretty much gone at this point.  

But it’s still too early to send the Chiefs and Niners to SoFi. Anything can happen, and it usually does in the NFL.

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Upsets, a top-25 shuffle and a new No. 1 headlined a chaotic Week 7 of college football. Are we in for more of the same in Week 8?

It starts with No. 7 Ole Miss heading to No. 19 Texas. After suffering its second straight loss to unranked opponents – Oklahoma in Week 6 and Florida in Week 7 – all eyes are on Texas to see if Arch Manning will pull off a bounce-back win.

Another conference showdown to watch is No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah, with both coming off Week 7 wins: Houston’s Conner Weigman threw five total touchdowns, and Utah narrowly escaped Colorado with a 27-24 victory. This top-15 matchup will carry major conference championship implications.

What does FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt think of the Week 8 slate? Here are his Week 8 picks and previews, revealed on the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show”.

  Ole Miss 28, Texas 21

Ole Miss sits 5-1 on the season heading into a road contest at No. 19 Texas. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Spread: Texas -3.5
Moneyline: Texas -162, Ole Miss +136

Klatt’s thoughts: “Ole Miss, after blowing out Missouri, they go to Texas. And now Texas has to play at home off of back-to-back losses. Two straight for Steve Sarkisian and the boys. Based on the film that I watched, this entire offense has got to get better. It is not just Arch Manning, that is a fallacy. You cannot just replace Arch Manning and fix the Texas offense. That is not in the equation. It’s just not. The main culprit is their offensive line. Their offensive line is playing really poorly. So you need to simplify and allow them to come off the ball, allow them to run a few concepts, and do that well. If you’re able to do that, I think that you can start to fix the offensive line. If you start to fix the offensive line, maybe you should start to fix the run game. If you start to fix the run, fix the run game, maybe Arch has more opportunities to throw the football.

“I thought Ole Miss was going to be an average defense at one point. They shut down Missouri cold. [Missouri] couldn’t do anything on the ground. Ole Miss dominated them on the ground. You still have Trinidad Chambliss. I still might take him No. 1 overall from a quarterback perspective. Running back Kewan Lacy is healthy. Their defense is right. Their star players are back, and as good as Texas’ defense is they did struggle in the second half. They, as Sarkisian put it, kind of bled out and couldn’t get a stop as DE Colin Simmons left that game with an injury. It’s unclear whether he’s going to return. Even if he does, he left on a cart. I can’t imagine that he would be 100% even if he is on the football field. And now you’ve got to run around and defend Trinidad Chambliss? I don’t love that at all.

“I think Ole Miss wins this outright, 28-21. I’ll take the -3.5 and take Ole Miss.”

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

  Utah 30, Houston 27

Devon Dampier and Utah pulled out a close 27-24 win over Colorado in Week 7. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Spread: Utah -6.5
Moneyline: Utah -225, Houston +185

Klatt’s thoughts: “Houston at Utah. How about an underrated Houston win last week. Houston with a great performance, particularly out of their quarterback, Conner Weigman. They beat Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys 35-32 in a great game. You know how I feel about Mestemaker. I think he’s one of the better quarterbacks in the country. Houston’s for real. I know that they lost that game earlier this year [against Texas Tech]. But man, they can throw the football, their defense can stop the run. Weigman is having a great season, he’s second in the country in touchdown passes and total touchdowns. He’s playing at a very high level. They’ve got two wide receivers that I like a lot, Amare Thomas and Trent Walker … Now [Houston] has to go on the road and face Utah, who is historically very good at home in Salt Lake. I don’t love how Houston played on the road against Colorado. 

“I didn’t love what I saw from Utah. They faced a lot of lower-level competition, both from Power Four and otherwise to start, and they were hammering lower-end opponents. Then they face a few opponents with a pulse, like mid-Kansas and Colorado. They end up getting the wins, but in both of those games it’s in doubt in the second half. As much as you know, I love Utah, I didn’t even have them in my top 10. They still have Devon Dampier, they still have Wayshawn Parker. They should still be able to run the ball. But, Houston can stop the run. I think Utah could struggle to stop some of the run game against Conner Weigman and these two wide receivers. I see a bit of a higher scoring game. 

“I see Utah ultimately winning because of the home field. But I have to take the 6.5 towards Houston in this one. Utah wins it 31-27.”

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

  LSU 34, Auburn 30

Can LSU and Lane Kiffin avoid a road loss this season in its Week 8 showdown at Auburn? (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

Spread: LSU -7.5
Moneyline: LSU -298, Auburn +240

Klatt’s thoughts: “LSU at Auburn. LSU is favored by 7.5 Auburn coming off of that huge win over Georgia. LSU routed Mississippi State 31-0. Remember, Mississippi State was without Kamario Taylor in that game, he was banged up, didn’t play. At Auburn, I think you’ve got to look at LSU on the road and what they have been not only this year but in the recent past. LSU struggles on the road. They’re 0-2 this year on the road. So, that needs to change for Lane Kiffin. Their defense needs to play well, obviously, because Byrum Brown has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games from the quarterback position, and that is the formula for Alex Golesh and Brown.

“Like, I don’t think Auburn is just going to get stomped out by LSU. They both have two losses, and 7.5 on the road is too much, not for a team that has lost their last six on the road. Now, I think LSU gets the win, but that’s too many, so I’ve got to take the 7.5. I think LSU wins this 34-30. I’m going to take the 7.5 for Auburn. 

“I know it’s an emotional win, and we have seen teams this year after emotional wins really have a letdown. I’m going to bank on the fact that [Auburn is] returning home and getting to play at home, and LSU’s got to go on the road. I’m banking that Golesh is going to get Brown going on the edge a little bit. We’ll see if LSU’s defense can react. LSU is banged up. Lane Kiffin’s lamenting the [nine-game conference schedule]. He’s trying to throw excuses in front of his team.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: LSU
Klatt’s pick against the spread: Auburn +7.5

  USC 24, Wisconsin 20

Jayden Maiava currently leads the Big Ten in passing yards with 2,045. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Spread: USC -2.5
Moneyline: USC -155, Wisconsin +130

Klatt’s thoughts: “USC at Wisconsin. USC favored by 2.5 on the road, coming off of a bye week. Their last matchup was on the road against Penn State in the whiteout. Wisconsin was on the road last week in L.A., getting beat by UCLA in a 17-7 game. I’m really interested to see what that Penn State win did for USC. Their confidence on the road, their overall operation on the road. We have seen them struggle mightily, in particular going east. Even this year when they tried to go out to Rutgers, they got the win but it was sloppy, in particular on the defensive side. Then they go out there and they get the win over Penn State. And Wisconsin was able to beat Penn State also at Penn State. I think this could be a close game.

“[USC has] got Trent Mosley back on the outside. They’re getting a little healthier after the bye week. I just think that even if you’re playing great defense, they’re still going to score 21, 24 points. They should be able to run football a little bit. Wisconsin’s not great against the run; they’re okay, but not great against the run. I like what Luke Fickell has done. I am a big fan of this Wisconsin team, but they can’t throw the football. Colton Joseph is a good, solid running quarterback, but they cannot throw the football. If that’s the floor for USC, the only way Wisconsin gets there is if USC props them up. So Jayden Maiava’s got to play clean. They can’t turn the football over. You can’t have special teams gaffes. And if they can play clean from a penalty perspective, I know that’s a huge if, huge if. I think USC is able to go out there and get the win on the road, even in a close game, and even in a close win. 

“You’ve got to have them covering the 2.5. USC, 24-20 in this ball game.”

Klatt’s straight-up pick: USC
Klatt’s pick against the spread: USC -2.5

  Iowa 24, Minnesota 17

Jeremy Hecklinski led the Hawkeyes to a 41-24 win over Washington in his first start for Iowa. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Spread: Iowa -6.5
Moneyline: Iowa -258, Minnesota +210

Klatt’s thoughts: “Iowa at Minnesota. Iowa is ranked 15th, they’re favored by 6.5. They’re playing really well. They blew out Washington and Seattle the last time we saw them play. I like Minnesota. I love P.J. Fleck. How are they scoring 17 against Iowa in this game? I don’t see it. Meanwhile, they’re not stopping the run. Purdue ran for over 300 yards on the ground against Minnesota last week. Don’t love that aspect of what’s going on. 

“So here we are with Iowa. They’re going to run the football. They’re going to play great defense. They’re Iowa. I actually like Jeremy Hecklinski at quarterback, maybe even over Hank Brown. Their only loss was against Ohio State in a game in which Jeremiah Smith was going off and nobody on the planet could defend him. I think this is a team that’s going to be there in the end in the Big Ten. You look at their schedule: it is manageable. I like Reece Vander Zee, their wide receiver. I like Hecklinski. I like their tight end. Their defense is always good, and again, that rush defense from Minnesota just scares me. After Purdue was able to get after them on the ground, maybe the defense against Michigan was more about Michigan than it was against Minnesota. 

“I’m going to go Iowa in this one. I think that they cover the 6.5, even on the road, something along the lines of, you know 24-17.”

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

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The Week 7 NFL matchup between Chicago Bears and New England Patriots is set for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 8:15 PM EDT at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Chicago enters this game at 4-2, good for the No. 6 seed in the NFC and third place in the NFC North. The Bears have built that start behind a powerful ground game and a defense that has kept them in control of games, ranking first in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 160.7 and sixth in points allowed per game at 19.8. They also come in off a win, and their profile through six games shows a team that can lean on the run, stay efficient on third down, and pressure quarterbacks with 17 sacks.

New England also brings a 4-2 record into Week 7 and has climbed to the No. 5 seed in the AFC while sitting second in the AFC East. The Patriots have won three straight, and their path has looked a little different, with a more productive passing attack leading the way behind Drake Maye’s 1,463 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes through six games. Their defense has matched that progress by allowing 18.8 points per game, fifth best in the league, giving this matchup the feel of two teams arriving with similar records but different offensive identities.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears

• When: Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
• Stream: Amazon Prime Video

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No. 26 is back.

Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley is expected to return to practice Thursday and play in the team’s Monday night matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Media reported on Thursday morning.

Barkley missed Philadelphia’s last two games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Eagles’ Banged Up RB Room

The Eagles have also been without running backs Tank Bigbsy (placed on injured reserve on Oct. 6 due to core muscle surgery) and Will Shipley (placed on injured reserve on Oct. 16 due to a foot injury).

With Barkley sidelined, Dameon Pierce rushed for 49 yards and one score on 2.1 yards per carry over the Eagles’ last two games. Philadelphia also has running back Elijah Mitchell on its practice squad.

Prior to the injury, Barkley, the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award winner, rushed for 182 yards and zero touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry.

Saquon Barkley hasn’t played since Week 4 due to a hamstring injury. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

In all, the Eagles’ offense is just 29th in the NFL in rushing yards (82.2 per game), 24th in total yards (311.2 per game), 23rd in passing yards (194.3 per game) and 19th in points (22.3 per game).

Barkley is coming off an underwhelming season by his standards, as the three-time Pro Bowler rushed for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns on 4.1 yards per carry in 2025. This was after Barkley became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season in 2024, tallying 2,005 yards and 13 rushing scores on 5.8 yards carry en route to Philadelphia winning Super Bowl LIX.

Jalen Hurts’ Health

Barkley’s return comes in the wake of the Eagles placing quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve and his season over due to blood clots in both the quarterback’s calf and lungs.

Tanner McKee, who started in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, is expected to be under center for the Eagles moving forward.

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The now-or-never nature of postseason baseball lends itself to the game’s most iconic moments. Those often include walk-offs, which can force the next game in a high-stakes series or even secure a World Series title. 

Whether it was a grand slam, a bloop single delivered by a future Hall of Famer or a sac fly from the unlikeliest role player, each team can point to at least one pivotal postseason (or in some cases simply a decisive game) walk-off in its history. 

 

                   
         

              

• Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez, 2001 WS, Game 7, Single to Shallow LCF
• Athletics: Bing Miller, 1929 WS, Game 5, Double to RCF
• Atlanta Braves: Francisco Cabrera, 1992 NLCS, Game 7, Single to LF
• Baltimore Orioles: John Lowenstein, 1979 ALCS, Game 1, Home run to LF
• Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz, 2004 ALCS, Game 4, Home run to RF
• Chicago Cubs: Stan Hack, 1945 WS, Game 6, Double to LF
• Chicago White Sox: Scott Podsednik, 2005 WS, Game 2, Home run to RCF
• Cincinnati Reds: Joe Morgan, 1975 WS, Game 3, Single to CF
• Cleveland Guardians: Oscar González, 2022 AL Wild Card, Game 2, Home run to LCF
• Colorado Rockies: Jamey Carroll, 2007 NL tiebreaker (Game 163), Sac fly to RF
• Detroit Tigers: Magglio Ordóñez, 2006 ALCS, Game 4, Home run to LF
• Houston Astros: Jose Altuve, 2019 ALCS, Game 6, Home run to LCF
• Kansas City Royals: Salvador Perez, 2014 AL Wild Card Game, Single to Down the LF line
• Los Angeles Angels: Jeff Mathis, 2009 ALCS, Game 3, Double to LCF
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Freddie Freeman, 2024 WS, Game 1, Home run to RF
• Miami Marlins: Édgar Rentería, 1997 WS, Game 7, Single to CF
• Milwaukee Brewers: Nyjer Morgan, 2011 NLDS, Game 5, Single to CF
• Minnesota Twins: Gene Larkin, 1991 WS, Game 7, Single to LCF
• New York Mets: Mookie Wilson, 1986 WS, Game 6, Error to Grounder to 1B
• New York Yankees: Aaron Boone, 2003 ALCS, Game 7, Home run to LF
• Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins, 2009 NLCS, Game 4, Double to RCF
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Bill Mazeroski, 1960 WS, Game 7, Home run to LF
• San Diego Padres: Steve Garvey, 1984 NLCS, Game 4, Home run to RF
• San Francisco Giants: Bobby Thomson, 1951 NL tiebreaker, Game 3, Home run to LF
• Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martínez, 1995 ALDS, Game 5, Double to LF
• St. Louis Cardinals: David Freese, 2011 WS, Game 6, Home run to CF
• Tampa Bay Rays: Brett Phillips, 2020 WS, Game 4, Single + 2 errors to RCF
• Texas Rangers: Adolis García, 2023 WS, Game 1, Home run to RF
• Toronto Blue Jays: Joe Carter, 1993 WS, Game 6, Home run to LF
• Washington Nationals: Jayson Werth, 2012 NLDS, Game 4, Home run to LCF

                                                                                                                                                                                    

 ’01Gonzalez

 ’29Miller

 ’92Cabrera

 ’79Lowenstein

 ’04Ortiz

 ’45Hack

 ’05Podsednik

 ’75Morgan

 ’22González

 ’07Carroll

 ’06Ordóñez

 ’19Altuve

 ’14Perez

 ’09Mathis

 ’24Freeman

 ’97Rentería

 ’11Morgan

 ’91Larkin

 ’86Wilson

 ’03Boone

 ’09Rollins

 ’60Mazeroski

 ’84Garvey

 ’51Thomson

 ’95Martínez

 ’11Freese

 ’20Phillips

 ’23García

 ’93Carter

 ’12Werth

 ’01Gonzalez

 ’29Miller

 ’92Cabrera

 ’79Lowenstein

 ’04Ortiz

 ’45Hack

 ’05Podsednik

 ’75Morgan

 ’22González

 ’07Carroll

 ’06Ordóñez

 ’19Altuve

 ’14Perez

 ’09Mathis

 ’24Freeman

 ’97Rentería

 ’11Morgan

 ’91Larkin

 ’86Wilson

 ’03Boone

 ’09Rollins

 ’60Mazeroski

 ’84Garvey

 ’51Thomson

 ’95Martínez

 ’11Freese

 ’20Phillips

 ’23García

 ’93Carter

 ’12Werth

           

Here’s each team’s best:

Click on a team below to navigate this post.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Baltimore Orioles

John Lowenstein, Game 1 of 1979 ALCS

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John Lowenstein (right) pours champagne over manager Earl Weaver’s head after the Orioles defeated the California Angels in Game 4 of the 1979 American League Championship Series. (B Bennett/Getty Images)

In 26 pinch-hit attempts with the Orioles in 1979, John Lowenstein had six hits and three RBIs. In Game 1 of the 1979 ALCS, Lowenstein subbed in for shortstop Mark Belanger in the bottom of the 10th inning with the score tied 3-3, with two outs and runners on first and second. He matched his season pinch-hit RBI total with one swing by sending a three-run homer that barely made it over the wall in left. 

The game-winner was hit off John Montague on a bender on the outside part of the plate, and Lowenstein poked it to left field just to the right of the 309-foot marker by the foul pole. Baltimore would go on to win the ALCS in four games.

Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz, Game 4 of 2004 ALCS

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The Red Sox comeback in the 2004 ALCS started in Game 4 with David Ortiz’s walk-off home run. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

David Ortiz had 23 walk-off hits in his career, a total so high that it forced analytical minds to ponder whether clutch could actually be measured. The 2004 season was a highlight for Big Papi, who hit a two-run, two-out homer against the Angels to end the ALDS and send the Red Sox to the ALCS against the Yankees, when Ortiz, on back-to-back days, won games for Boston with walk-off hits. 

With the Red Sox staring down an 0-3 deficit in Game 4, Ortiz hit a 12th-inning, two-run walk-off against Paul Quantrill to give Boston a 6-4 win, then in Game 5 managed a 14th-inning single for another win, leading to the unprecedented series comeback and eventual first Red Sox World Series championship since 1918.

New York Yankees

Aaron Boone, Game 7 of 2003 ALCS

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Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run was an epic chapter in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Who else but Aaron Boone, and who else but the Red Sox? Boston managed to force a Game 7 in the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees with a 9-6 win in Game 6, and Game 7 was within their grasp, too, until Grady Little infamously left Pedro Martinez in to suffer at well over 100 pitches in his fourth time through the order and New York tied the game. In extras, the two sides remained scoreless with closer Mariano Rivera retiring six of the seven batters he faced, and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield coming on in relief with a successful 10th – but less successful 11th. 

Aaron Boone led off that inning and took Wakefield deep to punch a ticket to the World Series, once again leaving the Red Sox on the cusp but no further.

Tampa Bay Rays

Brett Phillips, Game 4 of 2020 World Series

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Brett Phillips delivered a memorable walk-off during the 2020 World Series, which took place in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Where to begin with this one. 

The Dodgers were ahead, 7-6, in the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series against the Rays. Closer Kenley Jansen was on the mound, and while there were two runners on, there were also two outs. Kevin Kiermaier had singled and Randy Arozarena had walked, bringing up Brett Phillips. 

Phillips hit a single to center with two strikes, scoring Kiermaier with ease, but this is where things got weird. Center fielder Chris Taylor failed to corral the ball and knocked it to shallow right-center, caught up to it and immediately threw home with Arozarena trying to make it from first on the miscue. He knew he was cooked and started to head back to third, but it turned out catcher Will Smith did not have the ball, causing Arozarena to turn again and race home to score the winning run.

Toronto Blue Jays

Joe Carter, Game 6 of 1993 World Series

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Joe Carter’s walk-off home run sealed the Blue Jays’ second straight World Series victory. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

“Touch em all, Joe!” is one of the most famous calls in history for a reason. Joe Carter did not hit a bigger home run in his life, true to the promise made by broadcaster Tom Cheek, but then again, few players ever have. Carter ended World Series Game 6 with a three-run shot off Phillies closer Mitch Williams, who had already allowed a walk to Rickey Henderson and a single to Paul Molitor in the inning. It marked just the second walk-off home run to end a World Series, and the first to be hit by a team trailing, as well. 

Carter hit 396 homers and another six in the postseason, but none is more special than one that ended a World Series.

Chicago White Sox

Scott Podsednik, Game 2 of 2005 World Series

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Scott Podsednik (center) ended Game 2 of the 2005 World Series with a home run en route to a White Sox championship. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Astros closer Brad Lidge stood at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, and his fastball could reach up to 98 mph – back when that was not the norm. In Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, in a game tied 6-6 in the ninth, he came up against the visibly smaller Scott Podsednik, the White Sox outfielder and leadoff hitter who did not hit a single home run during the regular season. 

In Game 2 of the World Series, though, Scotty Pods launched a walk-off dinger against Lidge – his second of the playoffs, and the second walk-off blast allowed by the reliable Lidge that postseason – to win it for the White Sox.

Cleveland Guardians

Oscar Gonzalez, Game 2 of 2022 AL Wild Card Series

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A 15th-inning home run makes for a memorable walk-off. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

A scoreless game in the bottom of the 15th inning, with the Guardians up 1-0 in the series over the Rays – one more Cleveland win, and it heads to the ALDS. Standing in the way was ex-Guardians ace Corey Kluber, who was serving as a reliever for Tampa Bay, with the Rays already having gone through seven other pitchers to that point. 

Kluber started with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, but then Oscar Gonzalez strode to the plate to lead off the 15th. The rookie outfielder took the second pitch he saw, an 85-mph cutter that did not cut enough, and deposited it a few rows deep in left-center for the 1-0 win.

Gonzalez later delivered another memorable walk-off hit against the Yankees in the ALDS (a Game 3 bases-loaded single in the ninth inning), but it is hard to argue that could top his homer against the Rays.

Detroit Tigers

Magglio Ordonez, Game 4 of 2006 ALCS

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Magglio Ordonez sent the Tigers to the World Series with a memorable walk-off home run at Comerica Park. (Chuck Solomon/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

What a game for Magglio Ordonez. The Tigers were up 3-0 in the ALCS against the Athletics, but the A’s were winning 3-2 in the sixth inning in Game 4. Ordonez led off the bottom of the frame and tied it with a line-drive homer off starter Dan Haren. 

With the game still 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Ordonez came up again, this time against closer Huston Street, and crushed a three-run homer to left field to send Detroit to the World Series for the first time since 1984.

Kansas City Royals

Salvador Perez, 2014 AL Wild Card Game

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The Royals’ run to the 2014 World Series began with Salvador Perez’s walk-off hit in the Wild Card Game against the Athletics. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The Wild Card Game – also known as the Baseball Thunderdome, for the ball-knowers – no longer exists, but it served us heartbreaking baseball for a few years before it was replaced by the Wild Card Series. Such as in 2014, in one of the wildest postseason games ever played, one that showed the full potential of a game designed to take a fan base from excited to heartbroken in a matter of hours. 

The Royals took on the Athletics in Kansas City, and Oakland went up 2-0 in the first before K.C. took the lead in the third, 3-2, only for the Athletics to go up 7-3 in the sixth with a homer and a couple of singles. The Royals fought back to tie it in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, then both teams scored once in extras. 

Salvador Perez came to bat in the 12th with two outs and the score still 8-8, and walked it off against the third pitcher of the inning to send K.C. to the ALDS.

Minnesota Twins

Gene Larkin, Game 7 of 1991 World Series

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Gene Larkin won the World Series for the Twins in 1991 with his walk-off single. (Focus on Sport via Getty Images)

This is a two-parter. Before Gene Larkin could walk it off in Game 7 against the Braves to secure the Twins second World Series championship in five years, Kirby Puckett had to ensure there was a Game 7 to win. And the future Hall of Famer did just that in Game 6, leading off the bottom of the 11th with a walk-off homer to left-center that ended a three-game winning streak for Atlanta and forced a Game 7. There, John Smoltz and Jack Morris dueled, with Smoltz throwing 7 1/3 dominant, scoreless innings, while Morris countered and then some by throwing a complete-game shutout of 10 innings. 

Morris got the win when Larkin came up after a pair of intentional walks to load the bases with one out and lifted a ball over the head of Brian Hunter head in left field – that was the ballgame, and the series.

Athletics

Bing Miller, Game 5 of 1929 World Series

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Bing Miller, the walk-off hero for the 1929 World Series champions. (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images)

Part of the reason the Chicago Cubs went 108 years between championships is Bing Miller. The outfielder for the then-Philadelphia Athletics had his best season in 1929 by batting .331/.380/.489, serving as another important piece of a lineup that included future Hall of Famers Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Mickey Cochrane. 

It was Miller, not any of the Cooperstown-bound trio, that closed out the 1929 Fall Classic: with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Miller laced a two-run double – his seventh hit of the series – to put the Athletics up 3-2 and clinch the title.

Houston Astros

Jose Altuve, Game 6 of 2019 ALCS

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Jose Altuve’s walk-off home run off Aroldis Chapman won the Astros their second pennant in three years. (Elsa/Getty Images)

The Astros won their first-ever World Series title in 2017, and got another shot at a championship in 2019. Jose Altuve was a significant reason for that, between batting .298/.353/.550 in the regular season and then posting OPS of 1.281 and 1.097 in the first two rounds of the postseason against the Rays and Yankees. 

The latter was felled by Altuve himself in the ALCS: the second baseman strode to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs in Game 6, with the Yankees having tied the game up 4-4 with a two-run blast from DJ LeMahieu in the top of the frame. Altuve had already doubled, walked and driven in two runs, and he drove in another two with a walk-off dinger off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman.

Los Angeles Angels

Jeff Mathis, Game 3 of 2009 ALCS

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Howie Kendrick slides home on Jeff Mathis’ walk-off double in 2009. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Jeff Mathis was not known for his bat. He was an (excellent) defense-first catcher playing for a manager who was a backstop in his playing days, and so it was fine for everyone involved that he never had even an average offensive season in his 17-year career.

In the 2009 ALCS, however, it was the bat that stood out for Mathis. With the Angels and Yankees tied at four apiece in the ninth, Alfredo Aceves came on in relief in the 11th and allowed a single to Howie Kendrick before facing Mathis, who had entered as a defensive replacement earlier. Mathis inexplicably doubled by hitting a ball to the warning track just out of reach of Jerry Hairston Jr., who then collided with the fence. Kendrick scored from first amid the chaos, and Mathis was the offensive hero for one night.

Seattle Mariners

Edgar Martinez, Game 5 of 1995 ALDS

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Ken Griffey Jr. is greeted by Alex Rodriguez at home plate after scoring on Edgar Martinez’s walk-off hit. (Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The first Division Series round of the Wild Card era delivered on its promise, with the Mariners and Yankees pushing things to a Game 5 after New York won the first two games of the series and then Seattle answered with two in a row itself. 

As if that was not enough, Game 5 went to extras: the Mariners tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when Doug Strange walked to score rookie shortstop Alex Rodriguez, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner for this very purpose. In the 11th, starter Jack McDowell was still on the mound after entering in relief of Mariano Rivera in the ninth, and he took his second “L” of the series courtesy of a Joey Cora single, another by Ken Griffey Jr. and then what came to be known as “The Double” from Edgar Martinez. 

Both Cora and Griffey scored, and the Mariners had their first-ever postseason series victory.

Texas Rangers

Adolis Garcia, Game 1 of 2023 World Series

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Adolis Garcia’s walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series sent Texas on its way to a championship against Arizona. (Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Rangers already knew the pain of a World Series walk-off win, and inflicted it on the Diamondbacks in 2023. With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 11th and Miguel Castro on the mound, Garcia got hold of a 97-mph pitch that caught way too much plate, even if it was not served to a guy who hit 39 regular-season homers and used his significant power to send it into the stands. 

It turned out to be an omen for the World Series itself. The Rangers were not to be denied here as they had been in previous Fall Classics, and dispatched Arizona in just five games.

Atlanta Braves

Francisco Cabrera, Game 7 of 1992 NLCS

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Sid Bream memorably slides home on Francisco Cabrera’s walk-off single in the 1992 NLCS. (Ronald C. Modra/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Francisco Cabrera appeared in just 12 games for the 1992 Atlanta Braves, and logged all of 11 plate appearances. His playing time did not increase in October, either, with Cabrera appearing in two games in the NLCS and coming to the plate twice. The second time was the one that mattered: with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 and Atlanta down 2-1 to the Pirates, Cabrera pinch-hit for reliever Jeff Reardon to face Stan Belinda, and he singled to left to drive in David Justice and Sid Bream, who just beat the throw home for the W.

Miami Marlins

Edgar Renteria, Game 7 of 1997 World Series

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Edgar Renteria is carried off the field by Livan Hernandez and Gary Sheffield after his walk-off hit to win the World Series for the Marlins. (Brian Bahr / Allsport)

Cleveland was ahead of the then-Florida Marlins in Game 7 of the 1997 Series, in line to win its first championship since 1948. And then Craig Counsell happened – twice. First, he hit a sac fly to tie the game in the ninth, and then in the 11th inning, he reached on an error with one out against starter Charles Nagy, who had entered in relief to close out the 10th. 

Counsell moved to second on an intentional walk, to third on a force out at home to retire Bobby Bonilla, and then scored when Edgar Renteria singled to center with a looper up the middle that deflected off the top of the raised glove of Nagy – Cleveland was that close to winning it all. 

Instead, Renteria plated Counsell in extras, and the Marlins had their first-ever championship after a mere four-year wait.

New York Mets

Mookie Wilson, Game 6 of 1986 World Series

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Mookie Wilson’s hit that went through the legs of Bill Buckner. (Anthony Neste /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The result of Game 6 was not entirely on Bill Buckner, given reliever Calvin Schiraldi allowed three-straight singles before the ball went through the legs of Buckner, and a wild pitch from Bob Stanley tied the game 5-5 before Mookie Wilson ever put bat to ball. 

Bill Buckner’s error lives in both Red Sox and Mets lore. (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Still, though, it was Buckner letting the grounder off the bat of Wilson roll through his legs and into the outfield to score Ray Knight, which officially won Game 6 for the Mets and forced a Game 7, which New York also won – the Red Sox recovered eventually, but it took nearly another two decades, while the Mets got to fly a flag that flies forever right there in 1986.

Philadelphia Phillies

Jimmy Rollins, Game 4 of 2009 NLCS

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Jimmy Rollins celebrates with teammates after his game-winning, two-run double to beat the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Phillies were ahead of the Dodgers 2-1 in the 2009 NLCS, but Los Angeles had a chance to even up the series after taking a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth against starter Joe Blanton. Second baseman Chase Utley drove in a run in the next frame to cut the lead in half, but neither team got on the board again until the bottom of the ninth. 

Closer Jonathan Broxton racked up two outs, but he also walked pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and hit catcher Carlos Ruiz with a pitch, bringing shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the plate. Rollins took the 1-1 pitch and drove it to the gap in right-center for a two-run double, giving Philadelphia the walk-off W and setting the stage for a Game 5 clinch.

Washington Nationals

Jayson Werth, Game 4 of 2012 NLDS

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Jayson Werth’s walk-off home run gave the Nationals new life in 2012 against the Cardinals, though St. Louis ultimately won the series. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

Thirteen is an unlucky number for some, but not Jayson Werth. In the 2012 NLDS, the Nationals were down two games to one to the Cardinals, and St. Louis had tied Game 4 1-1 in the third. 

Both teams remained scoreless until the ninth, when Werth led off the inning against Lance Lynn, who had just entered in relief. A 13-pitch at-bat ensued. The first two pitches from Lynn were strikes, with Werth taking both, then two waste pitches followed to try to get Werth to chase. Werth fouled off the fifth pitch, 97 mph in on the hands, then fouled off two more 97-mph offerings and one at 96 that was just out of reach of first baseman Allen Craig in the dugout. Werth just got a piece of an off-speed pitch from Lynn that followed, caught up to 96 once more with a foul and watched pitch No. 11 end up about as close to a low-and-outside strike as a pitch can get for ball three. 

The 12th was also fouled, and then Lynn caught middle-middle with No. 13; Werth lined it into the bullpen as if he had been waiting for it the entire time, forcing Game 5.

Cincinnati Reds

Joe Morgan, Game 3 of 1975 World Series

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Sparky Anderson (right) and Tony Perez (left) celebrate Joe Morgan’s walk-off hit in Game 3 of the 1975 World Series. (Getty Images)

Joe Morgan is one of the greatest second basemen in MLB history, and 1975 was his greatest season. That would be true taking just his regular season into account, but Morgan also posted a .974 OPS in an NLCS sweep of the Pirates, and then put the Reds up, two games to one, over the Red Sox in the World Series. 

In the 10th inning of a 5-5 Game 3, Boston reliever Roger Moret gave up a walk-off single to Morgan, a hard-hit ball over the head of Fred Lynn in center field. There is no dramatic Game 7 victory for the Reds without this Game 3 win, the first of back-to-back World Series championships for Cincinnati.

Chicago Cubs

Stan Hack, Game 6 of 1945 World Series

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Cubs manager Charlie Grimm (right) gives Stan Hack a hug in the clubhouse after Hack’s 12th-inning double evened the World Series at 3-3. (Getty Images)

The last World Series win for the Cubs before 2016 was in 1908, but the last World Series appearance before then came in 1945. Chicago nearly ended its unfortunate streak there, with more than a little help from 35-year-old Stan Hack. The veteran pushed the end of his last great season one game further, in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. 

Hack snuck a ball right past the shortstop into left field, breaking the tie with an RBI double and forcing a Game 7 against Detroit – the fourth hit of the day for Hack in five trips to the plate, and his third RBI.

Milwaukee Brewers

Nyjer Morgan, Game 5 of 2011 NLDS

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Nyjer Morgan’s walk-off single in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS eliminated the Diamondbacks (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The 2008 season was the first time that the Brewers had even been to the postseason since 1982, and that ended abruptly in the (then) first-round NLDS. Milwaukee returned to the playoffs in 2011, and that run went significantly better, albeit still shy of a World Series. In a decisive Game 5 against the Diamondbacks, the Brewers allowed the tying run in the top of the ninth and then went down in order in the bottom of the inning, forcing a conclusion in extras. 

The Brewers did not have to wait long for one: outfielder Nyjer Morgan came to bat with one out and Carlos Goméz on first – then second after a steal – and skipped a single up the middle past the foot of closer J.J. Putz to eliminate the D-backs and reach the first-ever NLCS for Milwaukee.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Bill Mazeroski, Game 7 of 1960 World Series

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Bill Mazeroski is doused with champagne in the locker room after hitting the home run that won the 1960 World Series for Pittsburgh against the New York Yankees. (Getty Images)

This was the first-ever World Series to end with a walk-off homer that ended the entire series in Game 7. Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski was not a bad hitter by any means, but he was not making any lists of players you would want up in the situation he found himself in, either, given he hit eighth more than anywhere else in the lineup in his career in the era before the DH. 

Tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth against the Yankees, Mazeroski came to the plate to face Game 4 starter Ralph Terry, who had come on in relief in the previous inning. He picked up his second loss of the World Series here, as Mazeroski swatted a pitch that caught far too much plate and sent it into the bleachers to net the Pirates a championship.

St. Louis Cardinals

David Freese, Game 6 of 2011 World Series

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David Freese’s postseason accomplishments are legendary, and it started in the 2011 World Series. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Rangers fans, look away. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, down by two and facing down closer Neftalí Feliz and the end of St. Louis’ season, Cardinals third baseman David Freese continued what had already been a torrid World Series and hit a two-run triple to send the game to extras and prolong the Cards’ existence. 

Freese did not just give St. Louis a chance to win later, though: he also won the game for the Cardinals. 

In the 11th, Freese led off against Mark Lowe and, on a 3-2 count, crushed the next pitch to dead center and over the fence with room to spare. Freese won Game 6 for St. Louis, and then the Cardinals won Game 7 to complete the comeback as well.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Luis Gonzalez, Game 7 of 2001 World Series

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Luis Gonzalez bested Mariano Rivera to win the Diamondbacks the first World Series in franchise history. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Luis Gonzalez had a career year in 2001, bashing 57 homers and driving in 142 runs while slugging .688. Even against the high-offense numbers of the era, Gonzalez managed an adjusted 174 OPS+ that would have ranked second among all hitters in 2026. 

It is not surprising, then, that it was Gonzalez who delivered the clinching hit in the World Series for the D-backs against the Yankees to keep New York from four-straight championships, but it is a little ironic that the slugger did it with a bloop that barely cleared the infield grass. You take what you can get against Mariano Rivera.

Colorado Rockies

Jamey Carroll, 2007 Game 163

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Jamey Carroll drove in Matt Holliday, who delivered a memorable slide past Padres catcher Michael Barrett to win Game 163. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

It was not technically a postseason walk-off, since tiebreaking Game 163s – which no longer exist in the current playoff-eligibility setup – are counted as part of the regular season, both statistically and in the standings. A win-or-go-home extra game, though, has all the tension of a Game 7, and this 2007 showdown between the Rockies and Padres was no exception and more than worthy of standing as the finest walk-off moment for the Rockies. 

It was a back-and-forth affair that saw San Diego take an 8-6 lead after the top of the 13th, but Trevor Hoffman failed to close things out in the bottom of the frame: shortstop Troy Tulowitzki doubled in a run, then outfielder Matt Holliday tripled him in to tie the game. Then, infielder Jamey Carroll hit a sac fly that scored Holliday on a safe call at the plate that surprised the announcers.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Freddie Freeman, Game 1 of 2024 World Series

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Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam against Nestor Cortes gave the Dodgers an early series lead in 2024 against the Yankees. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

In 1988, Kirk Gibson hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run to win Game 1 of the World Series for the Dodgers despite suffering from multiple leg injuries. That was, without question, the greatest walk-off postseason hit for the Dodgers for decades – until Freddie Freeman managed to hit the one and only walk-off grand slam in World Series history in Game 1 of the 2024 Fall Classic against the Yankees. 

After this one, Gibson himself said it was time to change the guard. Freeman, like Gibson, was injured: he suffered a sprained ankle that limited him in the NLDS and NLCS, and then broke the costal cartilage in his sixth rib taking batting practice – an injury that usually knocks players out for months. Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam with those injuries, drove in a record-tying 12 RBIs in the series and became the first player to homer in the first four games of a World Series.

San Diego Padres

Steve Garvey, Game 4 of 1984 NLCS

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Steve Garvey celebrates with fans after his walk-off home run against the Cubs in 1984. (Mickey Pfleger/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The Padres reached their first-ever World Series in 1984, and did so with the help of a walk-off by first baseman Steve Garvey. With the game tied 5-5 in the ninth, the Chicago Cubs had future Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith on the mound to keep San Diego from scoring, but he only managed to record a single out. 

Another future Cooperstown inductee, outfielder Tony Gwynn, singled to center to put the go-ahead run on, and then Garvey made sure there would not be a defensive play by going with an outside pitch the other way and sending it over the wall in right. The Padres forced a Game 5 en route to a series win.

San Francisco Giants

Bobby Thomson, Game 3 of 1951 NL Tiebreaker Series

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Bobby Thomson (left), Larry Jansen (center) and Sal Maglie celebrate Thomson’s “shot heard ’round the world.” (Getty Images)

This technically was not a postseason game, but it would surely have felt like it back in 1951.

The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, as both teams were known then, finished the 1951 regular season in a tie at 96-58. The National League tiebreaker of the day was a three-game playoff series, and the winner of that was onto the World Series.

The Giants won on the road in the first game, but were trounced in the second, 10-0, leaving a win-or-go-home third game at the Polo Grounds. The Dodgers began the bottom of the ninth up 4-1, three outs from the World Series, but Don Newcombe allowed a pair of singles to open the inning, then gave up an RBI double to Whitey Lockman, bringing up Bobby Thomson. 

If you know your baseball history, you know what happened next: the “Shot Heard ‘Round The World,” and repeated cries of the Giants winning the pennant.

Source

DALLAS — It’s a little after dinnertime in the Primrose Room of the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and we’re talking about bacon.

It’s not just any bacon, you see. It’s special bacon. Bacon that any member of the College Football Playoff selection committee will assuredly tell you tastes better than any other bacon you’ve tasted.

No, really.

“It’s realllyyyyy good bacon,” CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said, grinning.

But enough about bacon and its aura among CFP selection committee members. That wasn’t the point of this exercise. Well, not all of it.

I was in Dallas last week as the CFP hosted its annual mock selection exercise in the same suite where the actual committee will determine the first CFP rankings of the 2026 season in two weeks’ time.

The idea was to provide insight and transparency into the process. So shelve your conspiracy theories, angsty rankings takes and any other animosity you might have toward past selection committees.

The CFP hosted its annual media mock selection exercise at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Jairaj)

Let’s take a joint ride into the world of CFP selections.

How My CFP Selection Process Started

The deep brown hotel desk provided by J. Willard Marriott, a stone’s throw from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, teamed with papers, pens and a binder that came into my possession in the span of two hours.

There was homework to be done.

As part of Friday morning’s exercise, I was tasked with ranking my top-30 teams from the end of the 2025 college football season. That’s a chore in itself.

I was provided a branded binder at dinner by the CFP staff, which included “team sheets” for each and every program in college football. Each one-sheeter provided a slew of stats, data and schedule information about the season a respective program had. The idea is to arm selection committee members with a convenient way to differentiate and rank everyone.

Ben Portnoy played the role of Nebraska Athletics Director Troy Dannen in a CFP media mock selection exercise. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Jairaj)

Choosing No. 1 was easy. Thanks to undefeated Big Ten champion Indiana for that. The rest, not so much.

The prep work isn’t exactly the same as it is for committee members. Those involved are provided an iPad at the beginning of each season that includes varying information from SportSource Analytics and game cutups designed to be easily digestible in around 45 minutes.

The committee — which is composed of one representative from each Power Four conference, two Group of Six leagues and another six former players, media members and coaches — and its general responsibilities mimic those of the NCAA basketball tournaments.

Each person is assigned a different conference — one that they don’t inherently represent — and serves as a point of contact for storylines and other information that might not be conveyed in the provided data. That work includes regular calls with the conference offices, including commissioners, about their programs and those that might be in the mix for a CFP berth.

But this is all just the beginning.

How Does The CFP Selection Committee Pick Teams?

The rankings’ system for the top 25 and, ultimately, placement in the CFP field is a far more tedious process than you’d imagine.

Utilizing the same computers and system the actual committee utilizes, we began Friday’s proceedings by placing each of the top 30 teams we respectively picked into the computer program. Those that were chosen — 41 different programs in this case — are then placed into essentially a holding pool for potential selection.

Then comes the actual rankings.

As we did to begin the exercise, we each picked six teams we believed should be considered for the top four spots. Those teams that received the six most votes from committee members are then projected onto the screen at the front of the room and discussion begins.

Media members gathered at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center for a CFP mock selection exercise. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Jairaj)

It’s from here where team sheets that include varying stats such as strength of schedule, strength of record, relative scoring offense, relative scoring differential, and more, are projected in front of committee members and debate ensues. 

The CFP utilizes a total of 12 different statistical metrics, along with a pair of strength metrics – none of which are predictive. There is no directive in which order those stats are designed to be applied when comparing teams, creating some level of variance on the committee from year to year. This differs from, for example, the NCAA men’s basketball committee, which has a slew of stats that it mandates are considered in a specific order of importance.

In this case, the six teams we picked included Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon and Ole Miss. After a spirited discussion, each committee member was then asked to pick four teams ranked from best to worst out of those six programs.

The four teams with the most votes from committee members are then placed into the field and we began the entire process again, repeating it until 25 teams are selected.

What Happens If The Rankings Don’t Look Right At The End Of Selections?

I’m glad you asked!

After weaving our way through four hours of discussion, our group decided to perform a “scrub,” or a reevaluation of a pod of teams that might not have previously been compared during the initial rankings process.

In our case, we ranked the back end of the CFP field as:

• No. 10 Alabama
• No. 11 Notre Dame
• No. 12 Texas
• No. 13 BYU

That didn’t jibe with everyone. Meeting the four-committee member threshold to call for a scrub, we pulled each of the four teams onto our screens and discussed.

Media members learned about the CFP’s process for ranking and selecting teams for the postseason. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Jairaj)

After about 10-15 minutes of spirited discussion, our committee re-voted on those teams we’d initially ranked Nos. 10-13. The scrub resulted in flipping around the rankings a touch:

• No. 10 Notre Dame
• No. 11 Alabama
• No. 12 Texas
• No. 13 BYU

Because the CFP requires the inclusion of the top four-ranked conference champions and one Group of Six squad, that meant that Notre Dame actually received the last spot in the field. Alabama and Texas were the first two teams out.

Confused? Let’s recap.

Teams ranked Nos. 1-10 received bids, Notre Dame last among those. ACC champion Duke (8-5) was also included in our field as a Power Four conference winner. Tulane (11-2), which came in at No. 16 in our rankings, landed the No. 11-seed as the Group of Six champion (We had the Green Wave ranked higher than Duke).

Perhaps Alabama fans should thank us. Wouldn’t being left home have been better than getting steamrolled at the Rose Bowl by No. 1 Indiana like we saw in real life? 

Food for thought.

What storylines should fans follow during this year’s CFP selections?

The entire experience took about five hours in total as we winded our way through selections, bracketing and the process by which this all came together.

But as we turn toward the actual selections that will begin after Week 8, there are a few other nuggets fans should keep an eye on:

New bracketing approach creates a strategy: This year marks the first in which the top seed can choose its own path throughout the CFP. After selections are finalized, the No. 1 seed will be able to select its preferred quarterfinal and semifinal site, adding a whole other level of strategy for coaches and administrators to consider.

Think, for example, if Georgia lands the No. 1 seed this year. It would almost certainly choose the Peach Bowl for its CFP quarterfinal. What if its semifinal matchup could potentially include Miami? It would almost certainly choose to face the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl rather than the Orange Bowl.

Expanding the CFP will impact selections: Life is all about timing, right? Naturally, I was in the thick of the CFP selection process when news trickled out that the field is likely to expand to 24 teams as soon as next year.

To be clear, this isn’t final yet. That said, the biggest thing I learned — and what CFP staffers explained to us given past precedent — is that determining teams ranked essentially 15 through 30ish is a coin flip. So how exactly are we going to parse through teams’ No. 22, 23, 24 and 25? No clue. Godspeed everyone.

Media members were chosen to play the role of an active CFP committee member during the mock selection exercise. (Photo courtesy of Ben Portnoy)

Other changes coming to the CFP: The 24-team field is the most obvious discussion point here, but it was mentioned by CFP staff that the group might need to release a ranking of more than just the 25 teams it currently does each week should that happen.

That much makes sense. If the field were 24 teams, revealing only the top 25 doesn’t feel particularly instructive if there are others close to the line. So, top 30? Top 35? Top 40? We’ll see. That figures to be a discussion point.

Clark noted there has also been some discussion about shelving the weekly rankings show that the CFP is contractually obligated to produce with ESPN. The show has been a lightning rod for criticism, and most national media members would tell you it puts the committee and committee chair in a brutal spot when having to evaluate and publicly discuss teams with incomplete data sets.

Is it going away? Probably not immediately, or ever. The show draws ratings. It creates controversy and conversation. Those tend to be important barometers for television networks.

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