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Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ ex-teammate LeSean McCoy reiterated his lifelong Philadelphia 76ers fandom after watching the team pick up a 106-100 win over the New York Knicks.

The 76ers have got their 2026-27 season campaign off to a winning start by defeating the defending champions and establishing their credentials as contenders after a major offseason reshuffle.

While many have the 76ers pegged as favourites after the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, McCoy has gone a step further with a bold prediction after watching the first win of the season.

76ers win has LeSean McCoy dreaming of the NBA Finals

McCoy was tuned into the 76ers vs. Knicks clash on opening night, watching his 76ers have success over the Knicks and then predicting them to make it to the 2026 NBA Finals.

“Ain’t no way you can stop us… SIXERS BOUND (FOR) FINALS.”

This was an impressive performance by the 76ers, led by Tyrese Maxey’s 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting, with new addition Jaylen Brown contributing 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. LeBron James scored 14 points with nine rebounds and seven assists in his debut with the franchise.

The Knicks’ offence came to a sputtering halt in front of a spirited 76ers defensive performance, with Jalen Brunson’s 21 points on 6-for-19 the best scoring performance. Karl-Anthony Towns had a solid night with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but seemed underutilised with a 6-for-9 shooting performance.

McCoy is a Philadelphia-area legend and is the all-time rushing yards leader for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. He’s a Philadelphia native who was drafted by his hometown NFL team, and roots for the 76ers with just as fierce a passion.

McCoy and Mahomes were teammates for the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV win in 2019, and then played opposite Mahomes in Super Bowl LV, winning it with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mahomes’ expense.

Read more:

• ‘JUCO ball written all over him’ – Knicks superfan Tracy Morgan shares harsh verdict on Bronny James
• ‘Still the second option’ – NBA fans call out Jayson Tatum after Paul George’s electric Celtics debut
• How New York Knicks fans can get their hands on $20,000 replica NBA Championship ring

What a difference a summer — and getting healthy — makes. Oklahoma City believes that if it had been healthy in the Western Conference Finals — specifically Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — it would have had a chance to return to the NBA Finals and defend its title. Instead, they fell in 7 to the Spurs.

Game 1 of the 2026-27 season made the Thunder's point.

Behind an elite defense and 32 points from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder comfortably beat the Spurs 116-104 in San Antonio.

SGA starred in OKC's season opener!

⛈️ 32 PTS (game-high)
⛈️ 6 REB
⛈️ 4 AST
⛈️ 3 STL (game-high)
⛈️ 3 BLK
⛈️ 3 3PM

The Thunder pick up the road win pic.twitter.com/g3UbxnJPm2

— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026

While SGA looked like an MVP, Victor Wembanyama struggled offensively, missing 12 straight shots, shooting 1-of-13 from the floor, and finishing with 12 points. He grabbed 13 rebounds and had 6 blocks — he was brilliant defensively — but the Spurs needed more offense from him.

It's easy to forget that the Thunder had the best defense in the NBA last season — by a wide margin — and that showed for long stretches of this game. For the night, San Antonio shot just 38.7% from the floor, and were 10-of-37 (27%) from beyond the arc.

OKC took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 31-16, in part because the Thunder hit 5-of-8 from 3.

Jared McCain knocked down six 3-pointers and finished with 20.

Jared McCain tied his career high with his SIXTH triple in crunch time!
NBA Tip-Off on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/Fr0NsfMNqV

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 21, 2026

Chet Holmgren was more aggressive on offense — to the point that De'Aaron Fox picked up a technical for throwing him to the ground — and finished with 14 points, while Jalen Williams had 12 points in his return but struggled with 5-of-16 shooting.

Stephon Castle had 24 points and Dylan Harper 18 for the Spurs.

This might not be the James Madison team of last year, but it’s the only Group of Six team that’s still unbeaten, the offense continues to dominate, and another trip to the College Football Playoff is there for the taking – maybe.

The Dukes have to be unbeaten, and it would help if Boise State tripped up along the way, but that’s for later. For now, they have to keep on rolling with a dangerous Thursday night trip to Boone to keep the momentum going.

The Mountaineers were able to get back on track after a two-game skid, with a win over Coastal Carolina to stay alive in the Sun Belt race. And now they need to slay the JMU dragon to be a true player.

James Madison vs App State: Quick Hits

• App State goes on the road for two of the next three games with a trip to Georgia Southern next.
• James Madison starts a run of three road games in four weeks with a home game against Troy next before going to Southern Miss and UConn.
• The two teams are 2-2 in the series over the last four years, but the Dukes took down the Mountaineers 58-10 last year.

How To Watch James Madison vs App State

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, NC
– Week 8 Schedule & Predictions
– What Will the CFP 12-Seed Bracket Be?
– CFN Top 25 | Bowl Projections
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 8

Why James Madison Will Win

App State doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush to bother the James Madison passing game. Camden Coleman might not be consistently accurate, but he was terrific in the key win over Georgia State last week. Give him time to work, and he’ll produce. It also helps that the ground game is carrying the load.

The Dukes have rushed for over 200 yards in each of the last three games, and App State is 0-2 when allowing 200 rushing yards or more.

Why App State Will Win

The two Mountaineer losses can be explained away. One was in a decent 41-31 fight against NC State, and the other was a 10-3 loss to Old Dominion after turning the ball over three times. But App State doesn’t have a turnover issue.

Part of James Madison’s run is coming from takeaways, with two in each of the last six games. App State’s defense is also a turnover-forcing machine. It needs to at least stay even in the turnover margin battle.

James Madison vs App State Prediction, Betting Lines

The 2023 James Madison team was 10-0 under some Curt Cignetti guy. App State came into town and left with a 26-23 win over the Dukes.

The 2024 James Madison team was 8-1 under current UCLA head coach Bob Chesney. It went to App State and left with a 34-20 loss.

The Mountaineers have a way of hitting the Dukes with a big blow in moments like this, but JMU will run too well and won’t turn the ball over enough for the fun to stop here. It’ll be a fight, though.

James Madison 31, App State 24
Latest Consensus Line: James Madison -10.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Victor Eklund #38 of the New York Islanders skates against Leo Carlsson #91 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at UBS Arena on October 20, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Getty

The Anaheim Ducks lost their fourth straight game on Tuesday night. It continued a troubling pattern that intensified last week.

Following their 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, the Ducks are now 0-5-0 when scoring two goals in a game. The trend started on Oct. 7 when Anaheim lost 5-2 vs. the Edmonton Oilers. It continued last Tuesday when the Ducks lost 4-2 vs. the Calgary Flames.

Anaheim also lost 4-2 to the Boston Bruins last Friday and 5-2 to the New York Rangers on Monday. Considering these trends, the Ducks look like a team that won’t win many games unless they are putting at least three goals on the board.

Conversely, Anaheim is 4-0-0 this season when scoring three or more goals. They topped Vegas 4-3 in their season opener before defeating the Florida Panthers 3-2 in an overtime thriller. Anaheim cruised past Winnipeg 5-1 before beating Calgary 4-2 during their first matchup of the season.

Throughout this four-game losing streak, opponents have outscored the Ducks 16-8. So the question is: What can they do to get their scoring back on track?

Anaheim Ducks’ Young Core Must Start Stepping Up

It starts with Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke. Last season, Carlsson drilled 29 goals home, Gauthier scored 41 times, and Sennecke scored 23 times. This season, Sennecke looks like the only one who will take a step forward.

Before Tuesday’s loss, Sennecke scored five goals in eight games. That put him on pace for between 52 and 53 goals in 84 games. Carlsson and Gauthier each had two goals before Tuesday’s matchup. That put them on pace for 21 and 24 goals, respectively.

Neither Carlsson, Gauthier, nor Sennecke scored on Tuesday, putting them on track for even fewer goals at the moment. Through nine games, Sennecke would be on track to score between 46 and 47 times. Carlsson, meanwhile, is now on track for between 18 and 19 goals, while Gauthier clocks in a 21-goal pace. That’s not what fans need to see from their brightest young forwards.

If the Ducks are going to turn a corner and get back on track, it starts with Carlsson, Gauthier, and Sennecke. Others, like veteran Mikael Granlund, also need to step up and find the net more.

Injuries May Be Catching Up To The Ducks

Gauthier and Granlund recently missed time with injuries, but they were quick to return. Others, like Troy Terry and Ryan Poehling, could be affecting Anaheim. Four players posted 50-plus points for the Ducks in 2025-26, and Terry was one of them, finishing with 57 points and 19 goals.

Poehling was a solid secondary point-producer, with 36 points and 11 goals through 75 games. He was also one of Anaheim’s go-to players at the faceoff dot, and 60 percent of his starts at even strength came in the defensive zone. Poehling wasn’t exceptional at taking faceoffs, but he still finished with an average 48.4 faceoff win percentage.

Until the Anaheim Ducks get healthy, someone needs to step up and ensure this team can consistently score at least three, but ideally between four and five times a game.

The Ducks won’t always win by scoring three-plus goals per game, nor will they always lose when they score only two goals. But current trends show they are more likely to win if they score three or more times, and are more likely to lose when scoring two times or fewer.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Anaheim Ducks’ Losing Streak Exposes A Troubling Offensive Pattern appeared first on HEAVY.

BEITAR JERUSALEM striker Johnbosco Kalu can’t get the ball behind Maccabi Tel Aviv ’keeper Ofek Melika during the clubs’ 0-0 draw at Teddy Stadium. (photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)

Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv battled to a thrilling 0-0 draw at Teddy Stadium, while Hapoel Tel Aviv overcame a third-minute red card to claim a dramatic 1-0 victory.

Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv played to an entertaining 0-0 draw at Teddy Stadium, while Hapoel Tel Aviv overcame an early red card to defeat Ironi Tiberias 1-0 in a dramatic round of Israeli Premier League action.

Elsewhere, Maccabi Haifa came from behind to beat Maccabi Petah Tikva 2-1, Hapoel Beersheba scored twice late to defeat Hapoel Jerusalem by the same score, Maccabi Netanya edged Kiryat Shmona 1-0, Hapoel Ramat Gan beat Hapoel Haifa 2-0, and Bnei Sakhnin defeated Hapoel Petah Tikva 2-0.

More than 30,000 fans packed Teddy Stadium as Beitar and Maccabi renewed their rivalry in a crucial early-season clash between two title contenders. The match also marked Beitar’s long-awaited return to its home ground after spending the summer playing at Bloomfield Stadium while a new hybrid pitch was installed.

Maccabi started aggressively, with Helio Varela involved in dangerous attacks that saw Dor Peretz and Sagiv Yehezkel come close. Varela later unleashed a powerful strike that narrowly missed the target, while Beitar gradually found its rhythm and began creating chances of its own.

Yarden Shua supplied a superb through ball to Johnbosco Kalu, whose off-balance effort struck the woodwork. Boris Enow also missed a promising opportunity as the teams went into halftime scoreless.

The Israeli Premier League soccer match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Ironi Tiberias at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, October 17, 2026. (credit: Danny Maron/Flash90)

The chances continued after the break, with Shua, Tomer Yosefi and Omer Atzily all threatening for Beitar. Atzily missed a clear chance in the 73rd minute, sending a point-blank effort over the crossbar.

Maccabi also had chances, but the defining moment came when Peretz appeared to have an open goal. With Beitar goalkeeper Miguel Silva caught well off his line, Brayan Carabali recovered in time to clear Peretz’s effort off the goal line with a remarkable kick save.

Neither side could find a breakthrough, so the teams settled for a point in a match that delivered plenty of excitement but no goals.

Ten-man Hapoel Tel Aviv battles to dramatic victory over Ironi Tiberias

Hapoel Tel Aviv, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ironi Tiberias despite playing almost the entire match with 10 men.

Wearing pink shirts to mark Breast Cancer Month, the Reds suffered an early setback when Andrian Kraev was sent off in the third minute for stomping on David Keltjens’ leg.

Hapoel continued to push forward despite the numerical disadvantage, although the teams went into halftime scoreless after a potential penalty appeal involving Chico was rejected following a VAR review.

The match took another turn in the 57th minute when Emmanuel Boateng and Ziv Morgan collided heads, leaving Boateng requiring a stretcher to leave the pitch with an injury above his left eye.

Hapoel finally found the breakthrough with 10 minutes remaining. Marcus Coco surged into the penalty area and was brought down by goalkeeper Ido Sharon, earning a spot kick that Omri Altman converted to secure the victory.

“We knew after the red card that the game would be very difficult and that we would have to give extra, and everyone did that,” Hapoel coach Elyaniv Barda said. “We gained a lot from this, especially in terms of the players’ mentality. Even with 10 men, we believed we could win.”

Altman dedicated the victory to Kraev, saying the team wanted to help lift his spirits after the early dismissal. Tiberias coach Alon Ziv expressed frustration that his team failed to exploit its numerical advantage, while Sharon questioned the penalty decision.

Maccabi Haifa stages comeback victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva

Maccabi Haifa also rallied from behind, scoring twice from corner kicks to defeat Maccabi Petah Tikva 2-1.

Petah Tikva took an early lead through Eyal Einbrom’s finish from inside the box, but Eitan Azoulay and Noam Sztejfman headed home in the second half to turn the match around.

Haifa coach Barak Bachar praised his team’s resilience after coming back to win for the third straight game.

“It wasn’t a great performance; there was a little luck involved, and we came under pressure in the final minutes,” Bachar said. “It was a difficult game against a team that sat deep, on a challenging pitch, and I’m happy we secured an important win in a tough match.”

Petah Tikva coach Ziv Arie was disappointed that his team’s work was undone by set pieces, while Sztejfman described scoring the winner as a dream come true.

Hapoel Beersheba produced another late turnaround, defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 through Igor Zlatanovic’s brace.
Jerusalem took the lead when Vitalie Damascan went coast to coast before beating goalkeeper Ofir Marciano. Be’er Sheva responded in the 74th minute when Zlatanovic pounced on a rebound from Javon East.

Ten minutes later, East was brought down in the penalty area, earning a spot kick and a red card for Jerusalem’s Ofek Nadir. Zlatanovic converted the penalty to complete the comeback and secure all three points.

Beersheba coach Ran Kozuk emphasized the importance of his team’s determination, particularly late in the match, while Jerusalem coach Lior Zada acknowledged the challenge of defending against the combination of East and Zlatanovic.
Maccabi Netanya claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Ironi Kiryat Shmona after Matheus Davo converted a second-half penalty. The spot kick was awarded following a Niv Gabbay handball in the box.

Netanya coach Roni Levy said his team had created several clear-cut chances early but needed determination to secure the result. Kiryat Shmona coach Shai Barda lamented his side’s missed opportunities and said the team needed to find a way to reverse its difficult run.

Hapoel Ramat Gan capitalizes on red card to defeat Hapoel Haifa 2-0

Hapoel Ramat Gan defeated Hapoel Haifa 2-0 after a second-half red card changed the contest. Haifa was reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Cheikh Keita was dismissed for a reckless foul. Ramat Gan capitalized almost immediately, with David Asanka scoring his first league goal two minutes later. Luan added the second in the 69th minute.

Ramat Gan coach Messay Dego praised his players for responding well after a previous defeat, while Haifa coach Haim Silvas said his team had been unable to find solutions after going a man down.

Bnei Sakhnin rounded out the round with a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva. Ahmed Salman scored in the first half before Mathew Cudjoe added another after the break.

Sakhnin coach Yossi Abukasis credited the team’s improvement to reinforcements, a more settled lineup and growing confidence. Petah Tikva coach Omer Peretz said his team had controlled much of the contest statistically but failed to make its opportunities count.

See more Israeli sports coverage at www.sportsrabbi.com/en

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1. Horoscope for Wednesday, October 21, 2026  Chicago Sun-Times
2. Daily Horoscope for October 21, 2026  Chicago Tribune
3. Your Daily Horoscope: October 21, 2026  Baltimore Sun
4. Horoscopes Today, October 21, 2026  USA Today
5. Your Daily FinanceScope for October 21, 2026  Yahoo

1. United Nations report highlights significant increase in U.S. climate pollution  NPR
2. As climate summit approaches, UN reports existing 1.5C warming limit is no longer achievable  CNN
3. UN projections say world is losing ground in fight to curb climate change, faulting US a bit  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
4. Climate: The 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement is no longer viable  Unric
5. U.S. Is an Outlier Among Rich Nations in Slowing Climate Progress, U.N. Data Says  The New York Times

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Kirill Marchenko enjoyed a goal in his return to Columbus, while Easton Cowan continued to show major progress on a memorable night for the Maple Leafs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a 116-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the team that ended their dreams of a title defence last season.

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As the Edmonton Oilers held off the Minnesota Wild for a 4-3 overtime win on home ice, McDavid dished out a trio of assists, including his 20th helper of the year on Evan Bouchard's game-winning goal.

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Yankees predicted to sign $85M former Silver Slugger finalist to revitalize World Series hopes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are heading into the offseason with several things to address. Both the regular season and postseason were major letdowns compared to the standards the organization has set.

The American League Division Series went about as poorly as it could have for New York. The Yankees were swept by their AL East rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, who would go on to play in the World Series.

“Tampa Bay is moving on to the American League Championship Series, to play the winner of the Cleveland Guardians-Chicago White Sox series, winning 4-3 to complete a sweep of the Yankees in the division series that affirmed the Rays' summerlong dominance of their division rival,” ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote.

It was an up-and-down season for the Yankees, as they were without Aaron Judge for much of it. Judge was also left off the ALDS roster because of his injury.

“Judge has made his position clear -- he wants to be part of everything that transpires this month. However, Judge’s strained right calf has not healed enough for him to claim a spot on the 26-man roster for the Yankees' showdown against the Rays in the American League Division Series,” MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch wrote.

With Judge coming off an injury, SI’s Joe Najarian believes the Yankees should sign Seiya Suzuki and allow Judge to take on a designated hitter role.

“The Yankees would need to make quite a few moves to make this work, though. Because Suzuki is a full-time right fielder, Aaron Judge would become the everyday DH while Spencer Jones and Cody Bellinger play center and left field, respectively. It would also mean getting rid of both trade deadline additions (Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos) and Giancarlo Stanton. But after his injury-plagued season, Judge will inevitably be limited to DH duties in the future. And given how good Suzuki was in 2026, the Yankees' post-Judge outfield would be in very good shape if they sign the Japanese slugger,” Najarian wrote.

Suzuki could be a strong addition to New York's lineup, particularly given his raw power and the short porches at Yankee Stadium. With his power at the plate, he could help bolster the Yankees' offense while allowing Judge to spend more time at designated hitter.

Suzuki recently completed his $85 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. He has been a Silver Slugger finalist twice during his MLB career, making him an intriguing potential addition to New York's lineup. If the Yankees pursue him, he could provide another offensive weapon as the organization looks to get back into World Series contention.

More MLB news:

• Phillies predicted to replace Alec Bohm with 39-HR slugger, Triple Crown winner to bolster lineup
• Yankees predicted to replace Jazz Chisholm with $12M two-time Silver Slugger winner, 4x All-Star
• Braves predicted to trade for $8.5M All-Star, Silver Slugger winner to replace Ha-Seong Kim
• Braves' disappointing $45M Silver Slugger went off the grid following second PED suspension

Photo by: Rick Osentoski

The Boston Celtics opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a disappointing 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, blowing a 22 point lead despite a spectacular debut from Paul George.

Boston looked to be in control for much of the afternoon at Little Caesars Arena. However, Detroit mounted a furious second-half comeback, dominating the fourth quarter to spoil George’s first game in a Celtics uniform.

Paul George Shines in Celtics Debut

George was the clear standout for Boston, finishing with a game-high 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting. He knocked down seven three-pointers, added five rebounds and three assists, and recorded five steals in an impressive all-around performance.

His 38 points set a Celtics franchise record for the most points scored by a player in his debut with the organization.

Payton Pritchard and Derrick White each contributed 17 points, while Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points and 11 assists. Tatum struggled to find his shooting rhythm, making just six of his 23 attempts from the field.

Despite George’s historic performance, Boston lacked consistent offensive production from the rest of the lineup when the game tightened in the second half.

Detroit Completes the Comeback

The Celtics carried a 58-45 advantage into halftime and extended their lead to 22 points early in the third quarter. George appeared to have Boston firmly in control, but the Pistons refused to go away.

Detroit gradually chipped away at the deficit before taking control in the fourth quarter. A decisive scoring run helped the Pistons seize the lead, and Boston struggled to respond as the home team built separation.

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren led Detroit with 22 points apiece. Duncan Robinson added 21 points, including several crucial shots down the stretch, while Javonte Green provided a major spark off the bench with 19 points.

Detroit outscored Boston 76-55 in the second half, turning what looked like a comfortable Celtics victory into an eight point defeat.

Boston Looks to Bounce Back

The loss highlights Boston’s need to maintain its intensity for all four quarters. George’s debut offered plenty of encouragement, but the Celtics will need more consistent shooting and defensive execution moving forward.

Boston will look to respond when it hosts the New York Knicks on Friday, October 23.

This 4-3 overtime loss for the Montreal Canadiens was the result of a series of bad decisions, and the last one will haunt the player who needed a win most.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after the NFL match between Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders as part of the London NFL Series 2026 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 04, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Getty(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) GettyJonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after his team's 38-14 victory against the Tennessee Titans. Getty

The Minnesota Vikings‘ run game has managed just fine with Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason through five games, four of which Mason missed with a thumb injury, but neither is under contract beyond this season and neither profiles as a full-time starting running back moving forward.

That said, Minnesota might still be better served to explore deals for a defensive tackle or a safety rather than a RB ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline on November 10, given their immediate needs as viewed through the lens of this campaign.

But when opportunity knocks and a game-changing player is waiting on the other side, it’s typically a door that soon-to-be-great teams open.

Enter Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts.

Vikings Offense Trending Up, as Team Prepares for Colts After Bye Week

GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray.

The Vikings host the Colts on Sunday, October 25 in a game that could render Minnesota an undefeated 6-0 and put Indianapolis’s season on the brink with five losses through seven games. Colts QB Daniel Jones is struggling after returning from an Achilles tendon tear last year, while the defense ranks 24th in yards allowed per game through Week 6.

Indy just fired long-time general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, and head coach Shane Steichen could be next — really at any point during the year, or after it. Players like defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and quarterback Anthony Richardson could be on the trade block in Indianapolis, though neither has the potential to shake up the league the way a Taylor trade might.

That is particularly possible if the three-time Pro Bowler lands with a team like the Vikings, who are atop the NFL in defense and special teams with an offense that is getting healthy and trending upward coming off a bye that followed quarterback Kyler Murray’s best game of the season in Week 5.

Colts Star Jonathan Taylor Among Top Running Backs in NFL

GettyRunning back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts.

Taylor does not turn 28 years old until January and is under contract through the 2028 campaign. He inked a two-year contract extension worth $44 million total in early August.

The running back is a workhorse who led the NFL in rush attempts last year with 323 carries. He added a league-leading 18 rushing TDs and 1,585 yards on the ground. Taylor also caught 46 passes for 378 yards and two scores.

He has a strong argument as a top-three running back behind Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions after tallying 492 rushing yards and seven scores alongside 15 receptions for 163 yards across six games played thus far.

Taylor might lose that argument given the play of Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III, but Taylor is inarguably near the top of league at his position, which should continue over the next few seasons assuming relative health.

If Minnesota inquires about Taylor, the Vikings will probably have to fork over a second-round pick, and potentially another mid-to-late-round asset, to acquire him. But that is a price worth paying if the payoff is a Super Bowl.

Just ask the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles, who paid Saquon Barkley big money in free agency ahead of that season. They went on to win the championship, while Barkley led the league in rushing and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, as well as a ring, in the process.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

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