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Where are the New Orleans Saints picking in the 2027 NFL Draft after beating the New York Giants? They improved to 2-4 on the year so far after surviving a fourth-quarter rally at MetLife Stadium, which dropped the Saints out of the top ten altogether. Last week they were projected to pick sixth overall. Now, the experts at Tankathon have New Orleans slotted at No. 12. Heere's a look at the top of the board:

1. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6)
2. Miami Dolphins (0-5)
3. Tennessee Titans (1-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5)
5. Washington Commandeers (1-3-1, pending Monday Night Football vs. San Francisco 49ers)
6. Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
7. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
8. Houston Texans (2-4)
9. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
10. New York Jets (via 2-4 Indianapolis Colts)
11. Cleveland Browns (via 2-4 Los Angeles Rams)
12. New Orleans Saints (2-4)

As to where the Saints should be looking to improve in next year's draft? If this position holds, they'll be hoping a top-10 prospect like South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart falls to them, or else target one of best available defensive backs. Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia) and Ashton Hampton (Clemson) are two cornerbacks off to a hot start this season. After investing so many resources into their offense, the Saints should make their defense a priority in 2027.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2027 NFL Draft: Saints' pick takes a steep fall after beating Giants

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule 2026: Dates, times, TV channels, live streams, winners for every race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One of the most noticeable changes for the 2026 racing season is right in the name of NASCAR's second-tier series. 

After 11 seasons as the Xfinity Series, the circuit is now known as the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Fear not, though — while the branding is different, race fans will still be able to get their fix of (mostly) Saturday afternoon and evening races all season.

This year's schedule features 33 weekends of action, from Daytona through Homestead-Miami, with fireworks guaranteed. 

The 2025 season saw Jesse Love win the first and last races of the year and take the drivers' championship, but rookie Connor Zilisch was the story of the year, dominating the second half of the schedule and picking up 10 wins, including seven in eight races during one stretch. 

Who will emerge as the stars of the 2026 season? See the full schedule below to find out when to tune into every race throughout the 2026 season. 

Where to watch NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026

• TV channel: The CW Network
• Live stream:DIRECTV

Every O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race in 2026 will be televised by The CW Network and can be streamed live via DIRECTV. 

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live Soccer, MLB, and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

MORE:Printable 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

DateRaceTrackTimeWinnerFeb. 14United Rentals 300Daytona International Speedway5 p.m.Austin HillFeb. 21Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250EchoPark Speedway5 p.m.Sheldon CreedFeb. 28Focused Health 250Circuit of the Americas3 p.m.Shane van GisbergenMarch 7GOVX 200Phoenix Raceway7:30 p.m.Justin AllgaierMarch 14The LiUNA!Las Vegas Motor Speedway5:30 p.m.Kyle LarsonMarch 21Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200Darlington Raceway5:30 p.m.Justin AllgaierMarch 28NFPA 250Martinsville Speedway3:30 p.m.Justin AllgaierApril 4N.C. Education Lottery 250Rockingham Speedway2:30 p.m.William SawalichApril 11Suburban Propane 300Bristol Motor Speedway7:30 p.m.Connor ZilischApril 18Kansas Lottery 300Kansas Speedway7 p.m.Taylor GrayApril 25Ag-Pro 300Talladega Superspeedway4 p.m.Corey DayMay 2Andy's Frozen Custard 340Texas Motor Speedway3:30 p.m.Kyle LarsonMay 9Mission 200 at The GlenWatkins Glen International4 p.m.Connor ZilischMay 16BetRivers 200Dover Motor Speedway4 p.m.Corey DayMay 23Charbroil 300Charlotte Motor Speedway5 p.m.Ross ChastainMay 30Sports Illustrated Resorts 250Nashville Superspeedway 7:30 p.m.Justin AllgaierJune 13MillerTech Battery 250Pocono Raceway4 p.m.Justin AllgaierJune 20United Rentals Driven to Serve 250Naval Base Coronado5 p.m.Austin HillJune 27Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250Sonoma Raceway5:30 p.m.Shane van GisbergenJuly 4Cuervo 300Chicagoland Speedway5:30 p.m.Brandon JonesJuly 11Focused Health 250EchoPark Speedway7 p.m.Justin AllgaierJuly 25Pennzoil 250Indianapolis Motor Speedway4 p.m.Carson KvapilAug. 8O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Race at IowaIowa Speedway5 p.m.Carson KvapilAug. 28Winn-Dixie 250Daytona International Speedway7:30 p.m.Ryan SiegNASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series playoff schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

DateRaceTrackTimeWatch/WinnerSept. 5Fleetio 200Darlington Raceway7:30 p.m.Sheldon CreedSept. 12Nu Way 225World Wide Technology Raceway7:30 p.m.Jesse LoveSept. 18Food City 300Bristol Motor Speedway7:30 p.m.Sheldon CreedOct. 3Focused Health 302Las Vegas Motor Speedway7:30 p.m.Corey DayOct. 11Blue Cross NC 300Charlotte Motor Speedway8 p.m.Corey DayOct. 17Timberland PRO 200Phoenix Raceway7:30 p.m.Jesse LoveOct. 24The Progress Group 250Talladega Superspeedway3:30 p.m.The CW, DIRECTVOct. 31National Debt Relief 250Martinsville Speedway4 p.m.The CW, DIRECTVNov. 7O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship RaceHomestead-Miami Speedway5 p.m.The CW, DIRECTVRelated Links

• Latest NASCAR news
• 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule and winners

In fantasy football, you have to look back to move forward. Fantasy points are the goal, but how a player gets there is the key. Analyst Joel Smyth breaks down 8 numbers to know from Week 6 in order to win your matchup in Week 7 and beyond.

29

Targets in Germie Bernard’s three games playing with the starting unit. Eight targets in Week 2 without Michael Pittman Jr., up to nine last week with three wide receiver injuries and 12 on Sunday as the team’s WR2 (only 27% of routes run in the other three games). With so many injuries in Pittsburgh, the rookie stepped up, running 78% of routes and bringing in 11 receptions. Aaron Rodgers, who’s known for a lack of trust with young receivers, has been loving Bernard so far, praising him off the field and targeting him on the field. As the short-area slot receiver, Bernard’s average depth of target was an extremely low 1.83 yards. He meshes with Rodgers' veteran play style and has an increased floor in PPR leagues. I would expect this role to stick once the other Steelers receivers return. ​

3

Red-zone targets for Colston Loveland upon Caleb Williams' return. A great fantasy day that could have gone way better (to be pessimistic) if he was able to get into the end zone on his opportunities deep in the red area. Entering the day, Loveland had an oddly high 2.7 “expected touchdowns” based on his volume, where and how much. As you probably know, he scored zero until this Sunday.

Yet, once again he was out at the one yard line on one catch, and failed to settle down on another route to convert an easy end-zone target. The volume is there, the skillset is there and the touchdowns should keep coming in this offense. The Bears’ offense leads the NFL with 101 plays in the red zone and I believe Loveland will have more than one touchdown over the next 101.

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

18

Routes run for Luther Burden III in Week 6. Rome Odunze finished at 40, Loveland at 33, Kalif Raymond right above at 25 and even Cole Kmet at 23. Burden and Raymond have been fluctuating throughout the year as the third receiver on a team that plays a lot of two-tight end sets. Burden managed to finish with eight receptions on eight targets, but the long-term consistency is not as secure. Williams isn’t always going to go 30 for 36 and Burden’s lack of red-zone snaps and routes in general may keep him as a more volatile fantasy player. Although Chicago played 18 red-zone snaps as mentioned above, Burden was only out on the field for three of those plays, running one route. It’s a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty situation: he’s managed to produce (for the most part) in a limited role so far; it may limit him going forward, and at the same time an increase can turn him into a fantasy star.

31.8%

Target share in DeVonta Smith’s first full game with Tanner McKee. Off the injury report, Smith was targeted 14 times by the Eagles’ backup quarterback. McKee previously only had 11 pass plays in his career with Smith on the field, targeting him on six of those plays for 86 receiving yards and a TD. They continued building on that small sample size against a Panthers defense that was without two of its top corners in the lineup.

The difference in efficiency from Jalen Hurts to McKee is slightly made up for in the passing volume. It was McKee’s third career start, and his third career game with over 40 passing attempts as this offense transforms without Hurts under center, and for this season, without a run game to lean on. McKee is looking like one of the more positive backup QB situations based on his target share, although he may be more matchup-dependent without Hurts under center.

0.89

Fantasy points per route for Puka Nacua when Davante Adams is off the field since 2025. For comparison, Nacua’s 0.78 pts/route led the NFL last season, in a year where his routes were limited due to Adams being the wide receiver in on three-TE sets. Basically, he’s going to go nuclear if Adams were to miss any time. Nacua’s connection with Matthew Stafford has been flawed at times this season, with his catchable target rate dropping from 85.9% to 76.9%, and yet, he’s still averaged 23.0 PPR PPG with only one receiving touchdown! He could very well join the tier of Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson if Adams were to miss time.

11-14

The red-zone snaps for the Rams running backs the last two weeks, slightly favoring Kyren Williams over Blake Corum. Williams’ bellcow role we saw from the first month seemed to have decreased, but after going through the numbers, it was hard to see much of a difference. Corum’s snap share stayed the exact same and his rush share was up by just 1%. The red-zone work, however, flipped back to how the second half of 2025 played out. After Williams had 30 of 32 red-zone snaps, Corum has had nearly 50% the last two weeks, equaling two touchdowns. It doesn’t ruin Williams’ fantasy value, but he is sadly trending towards a lower-end RB1 profile rather than top-five after starting the first month as the fantasy RB5.

23%

Targets per route this season for Ja'Kobi Lane… Okay, if you count his nullified TD via penalty target. After being the Ravens’ training camp star, Lane looked like he was on his way to a big day in Week 1 before going down with an injury. Week 6 was his first day back from a wrist injury and he was immediately relied on after WR Rashod Bateman aggravated a shoulder injury Sunday.

Three of those targets (really four) were red-zone targets, making Lane’s usage that much more interesting. In games with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ offense ranks inside the top-10 with nearly four red-zone drives per game, and unlike past seasons, doesn’t have a large share of the production going to the tight end position. Zay Flowers will get a lot of the designed and underneath work, but Lane can be the top contested-catch option in the red zone going forward. ​

82%

Route share in Omar Cooper Jr.’s return. Safe to say he’s passed Isaiah Williams (6% routes). The rookie first-rounder entered the day with one route on the season and then barely came off the field in Week 6. He had multiple screens, led the team in targets and played 68% of passing plays as the Jets’ slot receiver. He didn’t let it go to waste either, bringing in a 48-yard TD as well as a near second score that was called back by penalty. Cooper is an easy add on waivers this week, but also is another threat to Garrett Wilson’s volume along with an injured Adonai Mitchell as well as Kenyon Sadiq, who was limited on Sunday. With New York still being a shaky offense as a whole, Wilson’s high-end fantasy value is more reliant on his volume.

Is it already time to call bust on Rams’ superteam attempt after 2-4 start? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Rams have earned the criticism. They have not earned a season-ending verdict.

Sunday’s 18-16 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals dropped Los Angeles to 2-4, a record nobody envisioned for a team that entered the season as a Super Bowl favorite. Losing to a division opponent that arrived at 1-4 makes the questions unavoidable: Where is the dominance, and why does this collection of talent keep finding ways to lose?

Still, calling the Rams a bust after six games confuses a disappointing start with a finished product. Their problems are real. So are the reasons to believe this season remains salvageable.

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The Rams are losing games their talent should winGary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

There is no spinning Sunday into an encouraging performance.

Matthew Stafford finished with 222 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, but those respectable totals concealed an offense that spent most of the afternoon struggling. Before the late touchdown drive, he had completed 18 of 26 passes for just 137 yards. Arizona repeatedly prevented Los Angeles from generating meaningful gains.

Protection was another concern. With left tackle Alaric Jackson suspended following his postgame punch of Buffalo’s Bradley Chubb, Stafford faced frequent pressure, and the passing attack lacked rhythm. That does not excuse the performance, but it helps explain why an offense loaded with expectations looked so restricted.

Special teams compounded the frustration. Newly signed kicker Blake Grupe suffered a knee injury making a tackle after a 40-yard kickoff return and did not return. The Rams had already replaced struggling kicker Harrison Mevis, yet the instability continued.

These are not cosmetic flaws. Protection, field position and situational execution decide close games, and Los Angeles keeps mishandling them.

The offense still offers a credible path back

The strongest argument against writing off the Rams is not their reputation. It is the evidence that their offense remains capable of much more.

Los Angeles entered Sunday leading the NFL in yards per game. That does not erase its inconsistency, but it contradicts the idea that this roster simply cannot function. The Rams are failing to translate production into dependable results, a different problem from lacking offensive firepower.

Their final touchdown drive against Arizona showed the distinction. Stafford and Puka Nacua helped engineer an eight-play, 86-yard march, capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson. The possession took just 2:01 and briefly put Los Angeles ahead.

Six days earlier, the Rams scored 34 points in an overtime loss to Buffalo. An offense capable of that output has not suddenly become hopeless because its next performance was ugly.

The task for Sean McVay is making those productive stretches repeatable rather than waiting for desperation to unlock them.

Close losses demand corrections, not surrender

The Rams have lost games by two, three and four points, with special teams problems featuring prominently in all three. Narrow margins are not a defense of their record. They are evidence that specific improvements could materially change their results.

That distinction matters. Los Angeles does not need to discover an entirely new identity overnight. It needs cleaner protection, more consistent early offense and fewer mistakes that hand opponents favorable situations.

None of that guarantees a turnaround. Eleven remaining games offer opportunity, not immunity from consequences.

The superteam label has become an easy punchline because the Rams have performed nothing like one. But October embarrassment does not have to become January absence. Calling this experiment finished now would be premature; demanding immediate improvement is entirely justified.

Related: 1 player Vikings must trade before 2026 NFL trade deadline

Related: Broncos rumors: Jay Glazer reveals Denver’s weak spin-zone attempt to explain Bo Nix’s dreadful play

Giants star running back Cam Skattebo expected a decreased workload Sunday, after his costly overtime fumble last week in Washington.

But he didn’t quite expect this.

During a 34-27 loss to the Saints — as the Giants’ rushing offense and run blocking continued to struggle — Skattebo didn’t have a touch. He played six snaps, all in the first half, and two of those were quarterback sneaks.

Still, Skattebo — who had four fumbles (one lost) in the Giants’ first five games — understood why he mostly stood on the sideline as they fell to 3-2-1.

For Sunday’s Giants versus Texans matchup, the over/under is currently listed at 42.5 total points on Kalshi. Also, visit our guide to the best NJ sportsbook promos to shop for competitive odds.

“I got punished for what I did, and I understand,” he said of his fumble. “I’ve got to be ready when coach calls my name. And that wasn’t today. I didn’t expect to have zero [touches], but I was expecting to not play as much, just like I did.”

There’s also this: Skattebo this season has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, compared to 4.1 last year.

Tyrone Tracy had six carries for 18 yards, with a 5-yard touchdown. Devin Singletary had four carries for 14 yard, and Najee Harris, who started for Skattebo, had four carries for two yards.

Skattebo is trying to remain confident, though he isn’t sure what next week in Houston will bring.

“They understand the type of player I am,” he said of the Giants’ coaches. “I just knew that Najee was going to be the starter [Sunday], and I wasn’t going to play as much as I have been.

“Did I know it was going from 50 snaps to five snaps? No. But if that’s what it is, that’s what it is. I’ve got to just get back to practice and work my butt off.”

As for the Texans game, he said, “I’m expecting the same thing until I’m told different.”

Skattebo still views himself as a No. 1 back, so Sunday frustrated him.

“It’s hard, but I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve got to own up to them,” he said. “And if that is what they want to do – keep me on the sideline because of that – I totally understand. I can’t make mistakes at this level of this game. When you make mistakes like that, consequences are to be made.”

When Harbaugh told Skattebo this week that his workload would be reduced, Skattebo said he replied: “I understand where you’re coming from.”

Skattebo — who burst into the NFL last year as a rookie sensation — said Harbaugh told him nothing about the Giants’ plans for him beyond this week.

“It sucks,” Skattebo said. “But I can’t put the blame on anybody else but myself. I did it to myself. So their consequence is leaving me on the sideline and keeping me there, and I understand why. I’m going to continue to work hard.”

MORE GIANTS COVERAGE

• ESPN host has message for Giants’ John Harbaugh: ‘That was BS’
• Eagles’ Jalen Hurts out for season: What it means for Giants’ pursuit of NFC East title
• Giants’ John Harbaugh sending ‘huge message’ to key player: ‘Not acceptable’
• Ex-NFL coach praises Giants’ J.J. McCarthy: ‘Best we’ve seen’ from him

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dispatch.com readers can vote for their favorite boys high school athletes of the week on their desktop, the Dispatch.com mobile web or Dispatch app once per hour by scrolling down to ballots listed below.

Deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week during high school sports competition and recognizes athletes across all sports.

Last week's winner: Circleville's Kamale Magagi-Ali voted Boys Athlete of the Week presented by Wexner Medical Center

If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote.

Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.

Athletes were nominated over the past week for the vote starting Oct. 19. 

Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.

Athletes are on this week's ballot based on information made available to The Dispatch and nominations.

Once athletes win during the regular season, they're not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. If athletes haven't won in the regular season, they can be nominated more than once.

The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove ballots or athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred.

Columbus High School Sports newsletter: Sign up for our weekly newsletter on high school sports

Have any questions? Email sports editor Brian White at bwhite1@dispatch.com. 

Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.

Here are this week's Boys Athlete of the Week candidates:

Cooper Ailes, Olentangy Berlin football: Returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 90 yards for a score in a 28-6 win over Marysville.

Austin Benedict, New Albany cross-country: Won the OCC-Ohio meet in 15:38.5, leading the Eagles to second place behind Gahanna Lincoln.

Bradley Binion, West football: Returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown, sparking the undefeated Cowboys to a 14-0 victory over previously unbeaten South.

Nolan Buirley, Big Walnut football: Rushed for 215 yards and five touchdowns on eight carries and caught an 83-yard touchdown pass in a 54-0 win over Dublin Scioto.

Preston Carey, Johnstown football: Returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 75 yards for a score in a 54-11 victory against Lakewood that clinched a share of the LCL-Cardinal championship.

Dillan Cornell, Berne Union football: Had interception returns for touchdowns on consecutive plays, scoring from 56 and 80 yards in a 32-0 win over Fairfield Christian.

Gio Cotton, Grove City Christian football: Rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries in a 35-14 win over Fairfield Christian.

Tommy Hartings, Olentangy football: Threw touchdown passes of 2, 8, 25 and 47 yards in a 27-21 win over Dublin Jerome.

Justin Heckman, Reynoldsburg football: Completed 12 of 20 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 103 yards and a score on 14 carries in a 33-6 win over Newark.

Graham Smith, Watkins Memorial football: Rushed for 158 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns in a 38-27 victory against Zanesville.

Jackson Szabo, Worthington Kilbourne football: Rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries and passed for 187 yards in a 22-12 win over Westerville North.

Darnell Young, Independence football: Rushed for 248 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries and returned an interception for a score in a 50-26 win over Eastmoor Academy.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vote for Dispatch Boys Athlete of the Week presented by Wexner Medical Center

INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 18: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looses the ball during the NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams on October 18, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 1-4 Arizona Cardinals stunned the Los Angeles Rams this week with a 18-16 victory. Both teams are now at 2-4 and in last place in the NFC West division.

A better-than-expected Raiders team is on deck. Vegas currently has a 3-3 record. This is a game the Rams should win, although we also said that about Arizona.

Before we turn the corner to the Raiders, let’s take a look at the individual performances from Week 6. These are the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades on each side of the ball.

Top five grades on offense1 – David Quessenberry, LT: 83.0

Quessenberry replaced Alaric Jackson at left tackle, who was suspended because of a post-game altercation with the Buffalo Bills. The veteran fill-in allowed two pressures in pass protection and earned a grade in this facet of 84.8. He also fared well in run blocking with a mark of 78.7.

2 – Blake Corum, RB: 77.9

Kyren Williams led the Rams with 10 carries at 5.0 yards per pop. Corum added nine of his own at a 4.7 clip. TE Davis Allen also earned a rush on a failed fourth down attempt.

Corum did not have a single rush that netted negative yards. He was met with contact on an average depth of 1.48 yards versus Williams at 2.5 yards. Corum created 3.22 yards after contact on average while Williams was at 2.5. Corum forced three missed tackles. He was the better runner on Sunday.

Blake Corum takes the screen pass into the end zone ‼️

AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/8polUTpXGE

— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 20263 – Puka Nacua, WR: 74.7

Nacua did his best work against slot corner Kalen King. He caught all three of his targets for 57 yards, although only one of those went for a first down. In total Nacua finished with six catches on seven targets for 80 yards. 53 yards came after the catch point.

In the game’s final moments, Nacua did everything he could to put the Rams in a position to win. They couldn’t get the job done.

4 – Konata Mumpfield, WR: 68.6

Second-year receiver Konata Mumpfield caught both of his targets for 15 yards. He took over the third receiver role from Tutu Atwell this week.

5 – Davante Adams, WR: 68.2

Adams suffered a leg injury in the game’s final moments and his status moving forward is uncertain. When healthy he caught three of four targets for 39 yards with a long of 16. Only nine yards came after the catch point.

Other notes on offense

Matthew Stafford was the third-worst graded player on offense in front of Davis Allen and Tyler Higbee. He finished with a mark of 50.6 with one big-time throw and three turnover-worthy plays. Stafford had an average depth of target (ADOT) of just 5.3 yards.

With three receivers, a backup tackle, and a running back comprising the top five grades, Stafford is running out of excuses for his individual poor play.

After applying a 50% snap threshold, Stafford is currently PFF’s 17th-ranked signal caller by passing grade and 18th in overall offensive grade. In front of him are Aaron Rodgers, Cam Ward, and Geno Smith. There has been talk of benching Ward. It’s time to acknowledge that the Rams should consider sitting Stafford down as well.

Top five grades on defense1 – Josh Wallace, CB: 84.7

Jacoby Brissett targeted Josh Wallace in coverage eight times and was punished for doing so. Wallace allowed four receptions for just 20 yards and 100% of the yardage came after the catch point. The Cardinals often leveraged screen plays. The backup corner was also active in run defense with four stops.

2 – Quentin Lake, DB: 81.1

Lake also had an active role in coverage. He was targeted six times, allowing five receptions for 44 yards (28 after the catch) with an interception. Lake tied Nate Landman for the team lead in tackles with seven solo. It was a nice bounce back performance after he struggled last week.

Quentin Lake INT!

AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/SI43YVW2NQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 20263 – Wesley Bailey, EDGE: 80.1

Bailey had virtually no pass rush production on seven rushes. He did his best work as a run defender on nine such plays. His PFF run defense grade was 81.9 and the highest on the defense against Arizona.

4 – Aaron Donald, DT: 78.9

Inversely, Donald finished with LA’s best pass rushing grade at 73.9. He pressured Brissett twice. Byron Young led the defense in pressures with three. Brissett was not sacked.

5 – Omar Speights, MLB: 70.6

Speights earned low marks in tackling (one miss) at 39.2 and coverage with 49.1 (allowed two catches for 22 yards). He made three run stops and earned a mark of 76.6. This was the second-highest run defense grade behind Bailey.

Other notes on defense

Second-year defensive tackle Ty Hamilton played 18 snaps and earned a lowly grade of 35.0. His season grade is at 32.9. The Rams should reconsider whether it’s wise to carve out a role for him.

NASCAR schedule 2026: Dates, times, TV channels, live streams, winners for every Cup Series race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

From the Clash at Bowman Gray through a relocated Championship Weekend, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season promises start-to-finish excitement.

The schedule features several new wrinkles, including a street race in San Diego, the All-Star Race moving to Dover, and former All-Star host North Wilkesboro staging its first points race since 1996. 

BUY NOW:Get tickets for every 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race on StubHub

One of the biggest changes comes at the very end, as Championship Weekend returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2019 after the series capped its last six seasons in Phoenix. 

The Cup Series will have four television broadcast partners again in 2026, with races split among Fox Sports, Prime Video, TNT and NBC Sports. Where will fans watch all the action? 

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, including how to watch every race.

NASCAR Cup Series schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

DateRaceTrackTimeWinnerFeb. 4Cook Out Clash at Bowman GrayBowman Gray Stadium6 p.m.Ryan PreeceFeb. 12Duel 1 at DaytonaDaytona International Speedway7 p.m.Joey LoganoFeb. 12Duel 2 at DaytonaDaytona International Speedway8:45 p.m.Chase ElliottFeb. 15Daytona 500Daytona International Speedway1:30 p.m.Tyler ReddickFeb. 22Autotrader 400EchoPark Speedway3 p.m.Tyler ReddickMarch 1DuraMax Grand PrixCircuit of the Americas3:30 p.m.Tyler ReddickMarch 8Straight Talk Wireless 500Phoenix Raceway3:30 p.m.Ryan BlaneyMarch 15Pennzoil 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway4 p.m.Denny HamlinMarch 22Goodyear 400Darlington Raceway3 p.m.Tyler ReddickMarch 29Cook Out 400Martinsville Speedway3:30 p.m.Chase ElliottApril 12Food City 500Bristol Motor Speedway3 p.m.Ty GibbsApril 19AdventHealth 400Kansas Speedway2 p.m.Tyler ReddickApril 26Jack Link's 500Talladega Superspeedway3 p.m.Carson HocevarMay 3Wurth 400Texas Motor Speedway3:30 p.m.Chase ElliottMay 10Go Bowling at the GlenWatkins Glen International3 p.m.Shane van GisbergenMay 17All-Star RaceDover Motor Speedway3 p.m.Denny HamlinMay 24Coca-Cola 600Charlotte Motor Speedway6 p.m.Daniel SuarezMay 31Cracker Barrel 400Nashville Superspeedway 7 p.m.Denny HamlinJune 7FireKeepers Casino 400Michigan International Speedway3 p.m.Denny HamlinJune 14Great American Getaway 400Pocono Raceway3 p.m.Denny HamlinJune 21Anduril 250Naval Base Coronado4 p.m.Corey HeimJune 28Toyota/Save Mart 350Sonoma Raceway3:30 p.m.Shane van GisbergenJuly 5eero 400Chicagoland Speedway6 p.m.Chase BriscoeJuly 12Quaker State 400EchoPark Speedway7 p.m.Ryan BlaneyJuly 19Window World 400North Wilkesboro Speedway7 p.m.Joey LoganoJuly 26Brickyard 400Indianapolis Motor Speedway2 p.m.Corey HeimAug. 9Iowa Corn 350Iowa Speedway3:30 p.m.Ty GibbsAug. 15Cook Out 400Richmond Raceway7 p.m.Joey LoganoAug. 23Dollar Tree 301New Hampshire Motor Speedway3 p.m.Ryan BlaneyAug. 29Coke Zero Sugar 400Daytona International Speedway7:30 p.m.Ryan Preece

MORE:Printable 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2026

(All times Eastern)

DateRaceTrackTimeWatch/WinnerSept. 6Southern 500Darlington Raceway5 p.m.Christopher BellSept. 13Enjoy Illinois 300World Wide Technology Raceway3 p.m.Kyle LarsonSept. 19Bass Pro Shops Night RaceBristol Motor Speedway7:30 p.m.Joey LoganoSept. 27Hollywood Casino 400Kansas Speedway3 p.m.Kyle LarsonOct. 4South Point 400Las Vegas Motor Speedway5:30 p.m.Chase BriscoeOct. 11Bank of America 400Charlotte Motor Speedway3 p.m.Chase BriscoeOct. 18Freeway Insurance 500Phoenix Raceway3 p.m.Tyler ReddickOct. 25Yellawood 500Talladega Superspeedway2 p.m.NBC, fuboNov. 1Xfinity 500Martinsville Speedway2 p.m.NBC, fuboNov. 8Cup Series Championship RaceHomestead-Miami Speedway3 p.m.NBC, fuboWhere to watch NASCAR in 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channels: Fox, FS1, TNT, NBC, USA Network
• Live streams:Prime Video, fubo, DIRECTV

NASCAR Cup Series races will air across multiple networks in 2026, including Fox, NBC and TNT. You can also stream races on services like Prime Video, fubo and DIRECTV.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

NASCAR tickets 2026

• Tickets:StubHub

Tickets for every 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race are available via StubHub. 

Available seats and prices vary from week to week, so be sure to check out all the options at StubHub.

Related Links

• Latest NASCAR news and updates
• Printable 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule
• 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule
• 2026 Craftsman Truck Series schedule

Drake Maye's Recent PFF Grades Illustrate Patriots QB's Massive Midseason Jump originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's no surprise to see a direct connection between the Patriots' recent success and Drake Maye's major turnaround.

Through the first three weeks of the 2026 season, Maye looked completely lost under center. He had just one touchdown and six interceptions, and he was benched in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Jaguars on Sept. 27. With a 1-2 record, New England was facing questions about a Super Bowl hangover and whether Maye had lost his confidence.

A switch flipped in October, though, with Maye rediscovering the form that made him an MVP candidate last season. In the last three weeks, he has 11 total touchdowns (10 passing, one rushing) and just one interception. The Patriots have won three games in a row, defeating the Bills, Raiders and Jets.

While advanced stats can be flawed in some cases, Maye's PFF grades match the story of his season. After a rough outing against the Jags in Week 3, Maye has been outstanding, earning PFF grades of 84.8, 93.2 and 92.1.

WeekOpponentResultPFF grade1at SeahawksL, 13-1055.12vs. SteelersW, 20-354.43at JaguarsL, 35-629.54at BillsW, 29-2684.85vs. RaidersW, 45-1793.26vs. JetsW, 26-1992.1

In Sunday's win over the Jets, Maye threw for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers. He managed to lead the Pats to an AFC East win despite losing wide receiver Romeo Doubs and multiple offensive linemen to injuries. 

Star wideout A.J. Brown did return to the field in Week 6, but he struggled to shake off the rust, dropping multiple passes. If Maye and Brown can get on the same page in the near future, Maye should continue to produce stellar grades — and, more importantly, New England should stay on a winning path.

More Patriots

• Latest Patriots news
• Tom Brady's Patriots legacy: How legendary QB set new standard
• Complete history of Patriots championships

Oct 17, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Recording artist Goapele performs the national anthem before game one of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries both left the court before the national anthem ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday. And two days later, neither the teams nor the league has explained why.

The WNBA’s rulebook calls for players and coaches to stand and line up during the anthem, and one outlet is now pressing the league on whether it plans to do anything about it. But with Game 2 set for Monday night, the WNBA still hasn’t answered questions about the absences.

Teams Leave the Floor

Both teams were warming up at Chase Center on Saturday before they left the court shortly before the anthem. They jogged back onto the floor just seconds after it ended.

“Both the Dream and the Valkyries left the court prior to the playing of the National Anthem before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals,” wrote Dan Zaksheske of OutKick.

It’s still not clear whether the moment was intentional. Leaving the floor at a set time before tipoff isn’t uncommon in basketball, and LSU head coach Kim Mulkey gave a similar explanation in 2024 when her team, which included current Dream star Angel Reese, was off the court for the anthem before an Elite Eight game against Iowa.

‘The League Has Not Answered’

OutKick is now pointing to the WNBA’s 2026 rulebook, which includes a provision calling for players, coaches, and trainers to form a standing line along a sideline or foul line during the anthem.

“Both of its Finals teams left the court for Saturday’s performance, and the league has not answered OutKick’s questions about their absences,” Zaksheske wrote in a follow-up article.

Zaksheske said he contacted the WNBA, the Dream, and the Valkyries on Saturday and again on Sunday, asking why the players were off the court, whether they’d be there for Game 2, and whether the league had given any instructions. None of them had responded.

“If Saturday’s absences were simply part of the teams’ pregame routines, both have had an opportunity to explain that,” Zaksheske added.

It’s also worth noting that while the league’s policy does state that members of the team must line up “in a dignified posture” if they are on the court while the National Anthem is played, that only applies if the players are actually on the court. The rules seemingly don’t actually require the players to be on the court during the National Anthem.

Mixed Reactions

The moment drew plenty of outrage from conservative corners of the internet, with some treating it as a protest even though neither team has said that it was.

“Walking out during the national anthem is disgraceful. If you hate this country so much, you’re free to leave,” wrote sports media personality Emily Austin.

“This is anti-American, disgraceful behavior… No wonder so many sports fans can’t stand this left-wing political activist league. Honor our country & those that sacrificed their lives by standing for the national anthem on the court for 1 min. Shame on these women,” wrote Jon Root of OutKick.

But not everyone saw it as a big deal. Former NBA guard Ron Harper had a blunt response for Austin.

“Shut [up] and it’s the team choice not yours…,” Harper replied.

Game 2 tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Monday at Chase Center. Clearly, plenty of people will be watching to see where both teams are when the anthem starts.

The post WNBA remains silent on national anthem controversy appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

After the Philadelphia Eagles officially placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve over the weekend, the team and his agent released a joint statement on his condition Monday, saying the quarterback is dealing with deep vein thrombosis as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.

While the team knew about and announced the blood clot in Hurts’ leg, the bilateral pulmonary emboli is a new development for the quarterback. A bilateral pulmonary emboli involves multiple blood clots in the lungs.

As a result of that diagnosis, Hurts will be placed on blood thinners, and is unable to play football until he is fully recovered. Hurts’ prognosis is “very good” and he is expected to make a “full recovery,” per the joint statement.

“Over the past few days, Jalen Hurts has received comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts. In the interest of transparency, we are providing additional information on the diagnosis and treatment plan related to his condition.

“Jalen was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. After further testing and monitoring, the current diagnosis is deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli. He is clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations. His treatment should only involve anticoagulation [i.e. “blood thinners”]. During this time, he will not be allowed to participate in any contact activities, including football.

“Jalen’s progress is very good, and we expect a full recovery. We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners. In the meantime, he will remain active around the team and continue to condition. More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects.

“We are thinking of Jalen and looking forward to a strong recovery.”

While the statement did not offer a timetable for Hurts’ recovery, multiple reports suggests he’ll miss at least three months, essentially the entire 2026 NFL season.

This breaking news story will be updated.

Jalen Hurts is facing an extended absence after additional testing revealed deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs, the Eagles and his agent, Nicole Lynn, announced in a joint statement Monday. Philadelphia said its quarterback is clinically stable, has no significant functional limitations and is expected to make a full recovery.

Hurts is expected to be sidelined for multiple months and is unlikely to play again this season, according to the reporting accompanying the announcement. The team and Lynn did not announce a specific return date or formally rule him out for the remainder of the season.

The statement provided a fuller account of a condition initially diagnosed while the Eagles were in London. Specialists first diagnosed Hurts with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. Further testing and monitoring established the current diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning blood clots in both lungs.

The Eagles and Lynn said Hurts has undergone comprehensive evaluations by physician experts over the last few days. His treatment is expected to involve anticoagulation, commonly known as blood thinners, and he will not be permitted to participate in contact activities, including football, during that treatment.

The restriction makes his medical treatment the determining factor in any eventual return. Philadelphia said it anticipates Hurts will have an opportunity to resume contact football activities once he is off blood thinners, but it provided no timetable for when that might occur.

The outlook for his recovery was the most encouraging part of the announcement. The Eagles and Lynn described his prognosis as very good, said they expect a full recovery and anticipate no long-term effects. Hurts is expected to remain involved with the team and continue conditioning during his absence, according to the statement.

The update comes as Philadelphia attempts to recover from a fourth consecutive loss. Tanner McKee started Sunday's 25-14 defeat against Carolina, completing 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Eagles finished with 222 total yards, including 35 rushing yards, and fell to 2-4.

Philadelphia also has recently added Joe Milton as it adjusts its quarterback depth. McKee played every offensive snap against the Panthers, but the offense struggled to generate explosive gains despite productive returns from DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert.

Those football decisions now unfold alongside a more consequential priority: allowing Hurts to complete his treatment and recovery. The Eagles offered an encouraging long-term outlook Monday, even as the updated diagnosis leaves the team preparing for a potentially lengthy stretch without its starting quarterback.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts expected to miss remainder of 2026 season due to blood clot

ESPN's Bold Celtics Prediction Has Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta Producing Like an All-Star originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics will be thrilled if this comes true.

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, ESPN released new Power Rankings for all 30 teams. Included in the publication's rankings is a bold prediction for each team.

For the Celtics, ESPN has high expectations for Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta.

"Bold prediction: Robinson and Queta combine to produce the value of a top-five center," ESPN's Zach Kram wrote.

"Advanced stats adore both Robinson and Queta, who score efficiently, play stalwart defense and do all the little things — such as grab offensive rebounds and set sturdy screens — that make them stand out in player value metrics.

"Neither player is an All-Star on his own, but their partnership could produce All-Star-caliber value in Mazzulla's system."

MORE: Paul George Hints at How Long He Wants to Stay With Celtics

Robinson joins the Celtics after spending the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the New York Knicks. He averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game last season, establishing himself as one of the NBA's premier offensive rebounders.

Robinson also played a key role off the bench in New York's championship run last season.

Queta is coming off a breakout season with the Celtics. He averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while starting 75 of his 76 regular-season appearances.

Based on what Celtics legend Isaiah Thomas recently said, we should expect Queta to make another leap this season.

Neither Robinson nor Queta is expected to become an All-Star individually, but ESPN believes their partnership could deliver All-Star-caliber value.

More Celtics

• Latest Celtics news
• TD Garden fan guide: What to know before you go
• Complete history of Celtics championships

Former Indianapolis Colts punter and ubiquitous ESPN personality Pat McAfee, "a very, very, very, very high-paying season-ticket holder," responded to the firing of general manager Chris Ballard with a video on social media Monday, Oct. 19.

"Chris Ballard is a good man ... but he never won with the Colts," McAfee said, with a few NSFW words thrown in. "And I don't think he was a doing it in a manner in which you could win.

"I think he liked hits guys," McAfee said, invoking a Ballard accent. "But I think his guys really didn't have it.

"The culture seemed to be so soft with no accountability for a long time," with players reportedly missing meetings and treatment with no repercussions.

McAfee noted that Ballard got a bad break when Andrew Luck retired just before the 2019 season, but the Colts have been chasing a solution since: Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones have tried.

Insider: Colts fire GM Chris Ballard after 10 years due to failures at QB, pass rush and more

The Colts hired Ballard for the 2017 season, and they went 72-82-1 with him making the personnel calls, reaching the playoffs twice, but not since 2020.

Before this season, Ballard said he had not considered signing a contract extension, noting that the team had not been good enough in recent seasons and that he needed to build a winner to stay on.

(Note: The video below contains language not suitable for work [NSFW].)

BREAKING: CHRIS BALLARD, IN HIS 10th SEASON IN INDY, HAS BEEN FIRED AS @Colts GM pic.twitter.com/nURjGcXSFZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 19, 2026Reaction to Colts firing Chris Ballard as general manager

We have relieved Chris Ballard of his duties as General Manager. pic.twitter.com/BleD6bfTsG

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 19, 2026

Chris Ballard was in the final season of his contract. He openly had discussed not being worried about not getting an extension. And now he is out in October. https://t.co/9X8ZeqVldzpic.twitter.com/N2u6B2ZGMr

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 19, 2026

From @GMFB: The #Colts have finally moved on from GM Chris Ballard, a rare midseason GM firing. pic.twitter.com/a3iz0j7hb5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2026

The Colts kept Ballard despite an epic crash in 2022 and after 2024 washed out and Richardson busted.

He was given more rope than he deserved, yet still couldn’t meet even the bare minimum expectation (simply making the playoffs) and leaves the team worse than when he arrived.

— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) October 19, 2026

Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s gameday notes: pic.twitter.com/OAAkU2sN2N

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) October 18, 2026

The Colts are primed to be the most Tobias Funke anyone has ever been. https://t.co/Ldf5r7bBn6pic.twitter.com/OulB5LFXJw

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) October 19, 2026

Chris Ballard is one of the genuinely good people in football. But as strange as it may sound, I think his loyalty, belief in people and kindness sometimes worked against him.

The #Colts went all-in last year after starting 8-2 by trading two 1st-round picks for Sauce Gardner,… https://t.co/chDYTFAKOepic.twitter.com/15mSVyyikj

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 19, 2026

Five straight seasons without a playoff appearance for the #Colts (and some work to do at 2-4 to avoid a sixth) results in ownership moving on from Chris Ballard as GM. https://t.co/0ILHLO90qt

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 19, 2026

Carlie Irsay-Gordon did not wait long after a very disappointing start, especially yesterday's ugly loss to the previously-winless Titans, to make moves for her team. https://t.co/TbKWbMDgc9

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) October 19, 2026

Losing to the #Titans was the final straw for #Colts ownership. GM Chris Ballard fired.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 19, 2026

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pat McAfee comments on Indianapolis Colts firing general manager Chris Ballard

Former Indianapolis Colts punter and ubiquitous ESPN personality Pat McAfee, "a very, very, very, very high-paying season-ticket holder," responded to the firing of general manager Chris Ballard with a video on social media Monday, Oct. 19.

"Chris Ballard is a good man ... but he never won with the Colts," McAfee said, with a few NSFW words thrown in. "And I don't think he was a doing it in a manner in which you could win.

"I think he liked hits guys," McAfee said, invoking a Ballard accent. "But I think his guys really didn't have it.

"The culture seemed to be so soft with no accountability for a long time," with players reportedly missing meetings and treatment with no repercussions.

McAfee noted that Ballard got a bad break when Andrew Luck retired just before the 2019 season, but the Colts have been chasing a solution since: Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones have tried.

Insider: Colts fire GM Chris Ballard after 10 years due to failures at QB, pass rush and more

The Colts hired Ballard for the 2017 season, and they went 72-82-1 with him making the personnel calls, reaching the playoffs twice, but not since 2020.

Before this season, Ballard said he had not considered signing a contract extension, noting that the team had not been good enough in recent seasons and that he needed to build a winner to stay on.

(Note: The video below contains language not suitable for work [NSFW].)

BREAKING: CHRIS BALLARD, IN HIS 10th SEASON IN INDY, HAS BEEN FIRED AS @Colts GM pic.twitter.com/nURjGcXSFZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 19, 2026Reaction to Colts firing Chris Ballard as general manager

We have relieved Chris Ballard of his duties as General Manager. pic.twitter.com/BleD6bfTsG

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 19, 2026

Chris Ballard was in the final season of his contract. He openly had discussed not being worried about not getting an extension. And now he is out in October. https://t.co/9X8ZeqVldzpic.twitter.com/N2u6B2ZGMr

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 19, 2026

From @GMFB: The #Colts have finally moved on from GM Chris Ballard, a rare midseason GM firing. pic.twitter.com/a3iz0j7hb5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2026

The Colts kept Ballard despite an epic crash in 2022 and after 2024 washed out and Richardson busted.

He was given more rope than he deserved, yet still couldn’t meet even the bare minimum expectation (simply making the playoffs) and leaves the team worse than when he arrived.

— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) October 19, 2026

Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s gameday notes: pic.twitter.com/OAAkU2sN2N

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) October 18, 2026

The Colts are primed to be the most Tobias Funke anyone has ever been. https://t.co/Ldf5r7bBn6pic.twitter.com/OulB5LFXJw

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) October 19, 2026

Chris Ballard is one of the genuinely good people in football. But as strange as it may sound, I think his loyalty, belief in people and kindness sometimes worked against him.

The #Colts went all-in last year after starting 8-2 by trading two 1st-round picks for Sauce Gardner,… https://t.co/chDYTFAKOepic.twitter.com/15mSVyyikj

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 19, 2026

Five straight seasons without a playoff appearance for the #Colts (and some work to do at 2-4 to avoid a sixth) results in ownership moving on from Chris Ballard as GM. https://t.co/0ILHLO90qt

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 19, 2026

Carlie Irsay-Gordon did not wait long after a very disappointing start, especially yesterday's ugly loss to the previously-winless Titans, to make moves for her team. https://t.co/TbKWbMDgc9

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) October 19, 2026

Losing to the #Titans was the final straw for #Colts ownership. GM Chris Ballard fired.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 19, 2026

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pat McAfee comments on Indianapolis Colts firing general manager Chris Ballard

Atlanta City have hired Gotham scouting director Richard Gunney as chief soccer officer ahead of their inaugural 2028 season.

Less than a month after revealing its name, crest and branding, the National Women’s Soccer League’s 17th team, owned by Arthur Blank, can now count a two-time NWSL championship-winning staff member among its ranks. Gunney, a native of Cardiff, will start work in Atlanta on Nov. 1.

“With a decade of experience in the NWSL across coaching, scouting, player recruitment, and development, Richard is uniquely qualified to take on this role and develop a championship-caliber club for Atlanta,” the club’s president of soccer, Mauricio Culebro, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have Richard join Atlanta City FC.”

In his new role, Gunney will lead Atlanta’s establishment and implementation of a soccer philosophy that will shape the team’s short- and long-term ambitions. He brings a wealth of experience to one of the NWSL’s newest teams that spans three different clubs.

Gunney joined Gotham in 2022 as the director of scouting and roster development, where he worked alongside then-general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West (now president of soccer operations) to carefully piece together a roster that could consistently win trophies.

At Gotham, Gunney developed a system to identify and evaluate players and oversaw the club’s scouting networks. He helped recruit world-class domestic and international talent, including a quartet of USWNT stars in Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, and Crystal Dunn; World Cup champion and Spanish international Ester Gonzalez; eventual Rookie of the Year fullback Lilly Reale; Florida State forward Jordynn Dudley; and most recently Norwegian wingback Guro Reiten and Australian striker Sam Kerr from Chelsea.

Gunney collected four titles during his tenure: two NWSL championships in 2023 and 2025, a Concacaf W Champions Cup in 2025 and the NWSL Challenge Cup this year.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Atlanta City FC as chief soccer officer,” Gunney said in the club’s release. “As an expansion club, we have a unique chance to establish a lasting identity, high-performance culture, and clear soccer philosophy from day one. Our goal will be to create a team that reflects Atlanta’s pride, passion, and ambition on and off the field.”

Before Gotham, Gunney was the assistant head coach for the San Diego Wave during their inaugural season in 2022, which concluded in a playoff berth that went as far as the NWSL semifinals. Gunney was the Portland Thorns assistant head coach before that from 2017 to 2021. In each of the ten seasons he’s worked in the league, Gunney has reached the postseason.

Atlanta City will enter the league alongside another team in Columbus. The NWSL granted Atlanta a franchise, backed by Blank, last November for a $165 million fee. That figure set a new record for expansion fees until it was broken in April when the league awarded Columbus a franchise for a $205 million fee.

Gotham and Portland have both provided fertile ground for recruiting leaders on the sporting front. Last week, Columbus named Lucy Rushton as its general manager. Rushton had recently worked with both clubs in consultant and advisory roles, focusing on long-term planning and recruitment.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Gotham FC, NWSL, Women's Soccer

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Here is a look at the best from Greater Lansing from Week 8 of the MHSAA high school football regular season.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

WILLIE BROWN, SEXTON: The senior totaled four touchdowns while contributing to the J-Dubbs recording a CAAC White victory over Eaton Rapids to improve to 5-3. Brown had six catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns and returned a fumble 41 yards for a score in Sexton's win. That fumble recovery was one of two on the night for Brown, who added 12 tackles on defense.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

GRAND LEDGE: The Comets improved to 8-0 by wrapping up the outright CAAC Blue championship with a 28-14 victory over DeWitt in a matchup of teams that were unbeaten in league play. Grand Ledge handed DeWitt its first league loss since 2023 while claiming its first league title since 2022 when it shared the Blue crown with Holt. The Comets captured their first outright CAAC Blue title since 2017 and are a win away from completing their first unbeaten regular season since 2015.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing Week 8 football rewind: See the performance, team of week

DJ Epps went off for West Virginia against Cincinnati with 163 receiving yards and a touchdown. Houston also saw elite action from its receivers, with two players posting over 100 receiving yards and at least one touchdown. Some under-the-radar receivers also had a good week, including Oklahoma State's Caleb Hawkins, who caught 125 yards and scored a touchdown.

However, many of the Big 12's top receivers were held in check this week, including Joseph Williams (Colorado), who had only 54 receiving yards. Gavin Freeman (Baylor) had 76 yards, and Reed Harris (Arizona State) had only 63.

Here is a look at the top 10 receivers in the Big 12 in receiving yards after a relatively down Week 7: 

Big 12 Receiving Yardage Leaders

1. Reed Harris, Arizona State (653 receiving yards)
2. Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State (561)
3. DJ Epps, West Virginia (556)
4. Gavin Freeman, Baylor (555)
5. Joseph Williams, Colorado (508)
6. Ed Small, TCU (494)
7. Amare Thomas, Houston (487)
8. Justin Bowick, Oklahoma State (469)
9. Legend Glasker, BYU (444)
10. Patrick Overmyer, Houston (432)

Big 12 Receiving Touchdown Leaders

1. Reed Harris, Arizona State (8 receiving touchdowns)
2. Patrick Overmyer, Houston (7)
3. Amare Thomas, Houston (6)
4. Braden Pegan, Utah (6)
5. Justin Bowick, Oklahoma State (6)
6. DJ Epps, West Virginia (5)
7. Joseph Williams, Colorado (5)
8. Koby Young, Houston (5)
9. Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State (5)
10. Isaiah Mizell, Arizona (4)
11. Javonnie Gibson, Cincinnati (4)
12. Jayden McGowan, Baylor (4)
13. Nacari Ashley, TCU (4)
14. Nik McMillan, Kansas (4)
15. Tre Spivey, Arizona (4)
16. Wayshawn Parker, Utah (4)

Contact/Follow us@BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football receiving leaders after Week 7 of 2026 season

IMAGO / Newspix LONDON 16.04.2025 KONFERENCJA PRASOWA CHELSEA LONDYN PRZED MECZEM LIGA KONFERENCJI --- CHELSEA LONDON press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz BEFORE UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE MATCH STADION STAMFORD BRIDGE FOT. PIOTR KUCZA/FOTOP… | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Alex Richards, LWOF Editor

Despite it being October, the transfer mill never truly stops spinning with clubs seemingly already lining up their business for January and beyond. Liverpool have started their season under Andoni Iraola fairly well, new reports indicate they won’t look to strengthen certain areas in the winter window, which could open the door for Chelsea to swoop in and make a move happen. Let’s dive into the different reports that could change the campaign for either side if they’re proven right.

Liverpool Could Miss Out on Chelsea Target As They Wait for SummerIMAGO / Propaganda PhotoLiverpool’s Status

Based on a joint report from the Athletic’s Stuart James & Thom Harris, with some additional details from David Ornstein, the Reds are not prioritising the addition of a midfielder in January. Their current outlook is to wait to see the development of Trey Nyoni and James McConnell. It is noted that this could change in January, presumably based on departures or a lack of development from their younger players.

This was all in regards to Alex Scott, with the report making it clear Liverpool are interested in the midfielder, but not for a January move. They would be more interested if things dragged on to the summer when they could make a clearer decision.

Chelsea in Pole Position

It is noted in the aforementioned report that Bournemouth could want up to £100 million to allow Scott to move in January, with Chelsea named as the current front runners to make a move in the winter. Having sold Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, the Blues didn’t have time to line up a replacement and went into the campaign light in the middle of the park. While Jordan Henderson has hit the ground running, he is a short-term option at 36. Add in the surgery to Reece James sidelining him and they are looking at a few months with just four senior midfielders.

Simon Phillips, a Chelsea reporter of many years, today spoke about the Cherries midfielder. He indicated that Xabi Alonso and some players have already contacted Scott about a move. Phillips believes that the Bournemouth man will be “dead set on joining Chelsea”, with no word as to whether that will be in January or the summer.

The Last Word

Reports from both the Liverpool side and Chelsea side currently have the Blues leading the charge to sign the highly-touted midfielder. If a transfer is on the table in January, it looks most likely that Scott will be headed to London. This would help complete the side, offering a great partner to Moises Caicedo and someone who can long-term fill the role that Henderson has occupied. The big question now will be the fee and whether it goes above £100 million or not.

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Sarina Wiegman extends England contract until Euro 2029

Sarina Wiegman has signed a two-year contract extension as manager of England Women, committing to the role until the end of Euro 2029.

Her previous agreement was set to expire after the 2027 World Cup.

Wiegman has led the Lionesses to two European Championship titles, including a victory over Spain in the Euro 2025 final.

Under her tenure, England also reached the 2023 World Cup final and won the first Women's Finalissima. Prior to joining England in September 2021, Wiegman won the Euro 2017 title with the Netherlands.

The team is currently working to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. England will face Ukraine in a two-legged playoff in December after defeating Greece 8-1 on aggregate.

Assistants Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, and goalkeeper coach Darren Ward, have also extended their contracts until 2029. The new deal allows Wiegman to potentially lead Team GB at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.