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High-altitude marathon? Not for Wesley Lavender.

Lavender, 36, lives in Colorado Springs, average elevation some 6,000 feet above sea level. Sunday morning in Albuquerque, average elevation about 5,300 feet, he won the 43rd annual Duke City Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 54 minutes, 11 seconds.

“I appreciated the lower altitude, yeah,” he said.

The DCM was Lavender’s second marathon, some 10 years after his first. Did he expect to win?

“Never in my wildest dreams.”

Lavender said he’s not sure if there’s a third marathon in his future, though he’d love to run the hallowed Boston Marathon.

Elizabeth Cinquegrani has already checked Boston off her list, as well as at least a half-dozen other marathons and a few ultra-marathons. She was the first woman across the finish line on Sunday in a time of 3:14.55.

A Wisconsin native, Cinquegrani is a surgery resident at UNM Hospital.

Sunday’s 7 a.m. start, she said, was a breeze.

“I’m used to getting up at, like 3:30 or 4 to go to work,” Cinquegrani said. “So I slept in ’til like 5 today.”

Generations

Rio Rancho’s Patrick Miranda, 19, was Sunday’s youngest champion — winning the 5K run in 16:17.

Albuquerque’s Laura Draelos, 65, was the oldest — winning the 10K walk in 1:09:22.

To be clear, Draelos was the overall 10K walk champion, not just the women’s champion. Her friend Mandy Owens of Alamogordo, meanwhile, was the overall winner of the 5K walk in 35:38.

It was Owens’ 15th victory at the DCM.

“I love the course, I love the race,” she said. “… I felt really good. I felt strong.”

Owens and Draelos are national-class racewalkers who compete regularly in the National Senior Games. Owens, 60, won two power-walking gold medals at the 2025 Games in Des Moines, Iowa. Draelos won silver in the 3,000-meter race walk each of the past two years.

To be continued …

In 1984, Albuquerque residents Tico and Marge Navarro waded through miles of red tape to stage the inaugural Duke City Marathon.

The Navarros have since moved to Durango, Colorado, but they were present and accounted for at Civic Plaza on Sunday for the 43rd annual DCM.

Tico Navarro, 85, said he can hardly wait for the 44th.

“I can’t do any physical stuff anymore,” he said. “… I think I’m doing well for my age.

“Fortunately, a lot can be done on the computer — emails, etc.”

Last year, the City of Albuquerque became an official DCM sponsor. Though the city has always provided assistance, Navarro said, the city’s involvement has been especially helpful the past two years.

Though the DCM still makes use of the Paseo del Bosque Trail, the city has allowed more use of city streets.

“The trail is not big enough, wide enough (for two-way traffic) anymore,” Navarro said. “… It’s made a big difference.”

Help when needed

Navarro spoke about a vision-impaired 10K walker who needed guidance on the course.

“We asked for a volunteer to guide him,” Navarro said.

Two women answered the call.

“They walked with him the entire route,” DCM spokesman Burt Trembly said. “That was pretty neat.”

It started as a necessity.

Babies need diapers, after all.

It grew into a passion now rolling well into its fifth decade.

In 1984, when then 27-year-old David Briseño and his wife, Margaret, were expecting their second child and the $1,000 a month he was bringing home as a teacher wasn’t cutting it, he needed a way to bring in a few extra bucks.

He found a temporary side gig. He became a basketball referee.

“I’d take any (game) that came my way,” Briseño said. “With the growing family, I found a way to buy milk and Pampers and it was by officiating ball games ... junior high, sub-varsity games, whatever game I could get assigned, I’d take.”

Then a funny thing happened on the way to pick up some diapers.

Briseño’s side gig was quickly becoming his first love, well, after that growing family, of course.

Junior high basketball games a couple times a week turned into some football games, too. And then spring brought in more sports.

“Folks around me would say every time my wife got pregnant, I found a new sport to officiate,” Briseño said.

The math checks out. He has four children — Abran, David Jr., Augi and Maria are the kids and basketball, football, baseball and softball are the sports.

Now into his fifth decade wearing the stripes in New Mexico and with thousands of games under his belt, the 70-year-old Briseño lives in Clovis — retired as an educator but working fulltime at La Casa Health Center, one of the state’s federally qualified health centers servicing three Eastern New Mexico counties.

And the officiating is down to one, sometimes two games a week. Friday night, he was the “white hat” (lead official) for the Mayfield at Goddard game in Roswell, a day after working the rare (anymore) non-varsity game in Portales.

It’s something he never imagined would have lasted this long.

“It became something where, well there was sort of an addiction that comes with getting out on a field or getting on the basketball court or for many others who are on the volleyball court,” Briseño said. “There’s just something there. I still get the butterflies. I still get the excitement of working a ball game. ...

“The game itself, of course, but the bigger reason I’ve done this so long isn’t about the games, but the people — the development of relationships with my co-officials and about how much pride it gives me knowing that in some small way, the kids are getting to play these games, at least in part, because we’re there to make it happen, and hopefully call a good, fair game while we’re at it. That’s the goal, of course.”

Just one of many

The New Mexico Activities Association, the state’s governing board of sports and other extra curricular activities in the state, sanctions or oversees sporting events and other activities that affect roughly 30,000 participants a year in the state.

As much as most fans love to give them a hard time or blame every non-perfect moment of any game on the men and women in those striped shirts, the reality is none of this happens without them.

And in an honest moment not talking about their emotionally invested opinions on their kids’ teams, most sane parents and fans would tell you they’re mostly pretty darn good at what they do.

Briseño says, he’s merely one of hundreds who are making the high school sports machine work in New Mexico — “just one who is older than some of the other ones so I’ve been doing it longer.”

He’s not entirely wrong. This column was aimed at profiling the work of high school referees. Briseño is just the guy representing that larger story.

But don’t let him sell his accomplishments short, either. He’s pretty darn good at what he does, as the years of national and state honors, including induction this past summer into the New Mexico Officials Association Hall of Fame.

“David brings tremendous experience, integrity, and a commitment to excellence to officiating in New Mexico,” said NMAA Executive Director Dusty Young. “What makes David a Hall of Famer is not just what he has accomplished on the field, but the lasting impact he has made on fellow officials, student-athletes, and the entire New Mexico sports community.”

In 2017, Briseño was honored nationally by the National Federation of State High School Associations for distinguished service. He’s also served as president of the NMOA Board of Directors and represents the NMOA on the NMAA Commission.

Some we’ve heard of

Briseño says he’s been blessed to do this as long as he has.

He’s called state championship games in multiple sports, officiating games with kids named Brian Urlacher, Bobby Newcombe, Kamal Cass, Hank Baskett and more. He recalls that time a dozen or so Major League Baseball scouts were in the stands to watch a young baseball player names Shane Andrews in a game between his Carlsbad Cavemen and the Clovis Wildcats with Briseño as umpire.

“I rang him up on a third strike and man, I think it was a great call,” Briseño recalls, telling the story like it just happened yesterday. “He (Andrews) didn’t appreciate it, though. But he didn’t say a word. He took it like a man, went to the bench. He gave me a look though, but didn’t say anything.

“Next time he comes up to bat: first pitch, right down the pipe. Boom! He hits it out of the park, over the street onto the roof of a auto shop across the street from the field. He didn’t want me to have anything to do with that at bat.”

He chuckles as he recalls the stories of the big name athletes he’s seen, but takes as much pride in the work he did knowing he got to be a part of thousands of other kids getting their big night under the lights and on the field, too.

Is the end near?

Briseño can’t keep up with the players quite like he used to.

“I don’t even try anymore,” he admits. “You just do the best you can. Some Friday nights, I feel better than others ... but lately, I’ve been feeling pretty good.”

He seems to have a routine to this kind of talk. He tells his wife this might be the last year he does it, and yet also seems to tell everyone else he’ll do it as long as he can.

On the one hand, without her, he wouldn’t have been able to do any of this as long as he has. On the other hand ...

“When I first started doing it, I’d go out every chance I got to do a game for extra money,” he said. “And she would say, ‘You’re going out again?’

“Then after a while, I started taking a few nights off because I earned a little bit more money at the real job and didn’t need to do many games. Then she’d just look at me and say, ‘Don’t you have somewhere you have to be?’”

Truth is, it’s close. He’s 70 and the Saturday mornings aren’t as kind to the body after a Friday night football game anymore. But when Briseño does call it a career, he knows there’s a good crop of referees coming up in this state that makes him feel more comfortable about leaving the game.

“I want the kids playing to always have a shot at a fair game,” he said. “I really did take that as a big responsibility we had (as officials). And there are some real good, young ones coming up now. I really believe that.”

And for now, there’s still at least one pretty darn good one down in Clovis who can call a pretty good game himself.

Geoff Grammer is the Sports Editor of the Journal, a podcaster, columnist and covers UNM Lobos basketball, among other things. Every Monday, he tries to profile a New Mexican doing their part to make this state what it is. Reach him at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.

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The Seattle Mariners will have just a month to make necessary news for the 2027 season, barring any unexpected changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) between the MLB and MLB Players Association.

The Mariners will have openings at left field and third base with Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford hitting free agency, respectively. There's also an overarching need on the team for a right-handed hitter.

In addition to the position players needs, Seattle will also be in the market for a high-leverage bullpen arm.

The bullpen has been a consistent area in need for the team over the last two years. In 2025, the team acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who was demoted to a low-leverage role by the end of that season before leaving via free agency.

This season, the team acquired right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Chicago White Sox. Dominguez has a slow start to his Mariners tenure before firmly entrenching himself into a high-leverage role.

Dominguez is set to return to the team on a $10.5 million salary in 2027.

Seattle's bullpen had a 5.80 ERA from July 1 to the end of the season. It finished the year with a 4.46 ERA, which ranked 27th in the majors.

The Mariners' bullpen will likely be in better shape entering 2027 with Matt Brash (assumably) healthy after missing the majority of the year with shoulder inflammation and Dominiguez set to return for a full year.

Seranthony Domínguez, 98mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/iyabnNN0t8

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 14, 2025

Even still, the noticeable decline of previously reliable arms, such as right-hander Eduard Bazardo and left-hander Gabe Speier, will put Seattle firmly in the market for a reliever. However, it might be put in a situation where it's priced out of a lot of the top arms.

The M's reportedly have $30-35 million in available payroll.

Raisel Iglesisas, a 36-year-old right-hander, will be a free agent after coming off a 2.55 ERA-season where he recorded 34 saves in 37 opportunities.

Despite his amazing season, Iglesias has a market value of two-years, $22.7 million, per Spotrac.

Iglesias and former New York Yankees reliever David Bednar will likely set the market on relievers this offseason. Bednar, 32-years-old, is coming off a year where he had a 2.47 ERA and had 34 saves in 39 opportunities. Bednar has a market value of three years, $47.1 million per Spotrac.

Kenley Jansen, Pete Fairbanks, Kaimi Taira (posted from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan) are other relievers set to highlight the free agent class.

Theoretically, both projected deals and their annual value fall in line with what the Mariners would be able to spend, barring a bidding war.

The issue, one that Seattle has constantly found itself in the last several offseasons, is that agreeing to a contract with one of the top bullpen arms likely means it'll be unable to sign one of the top free agent hitters on the market. However, that might be a risk the Mariners need to make.

If Seattle views the bullpen as a higher priority than a right-handed bat or an everyday third baseman or left fielder, it can still acquire a Jansen, Fairbanks, Bednar, Taira or Iglesias, but it would likely come at the expense of finding an everyday player at the aforementioned positions.

The third base market is light this offseason. Teruaki Sato will be posted from Japan, and other established major leaguers set to hit the open market are coming off down or injured seasons, including Alec Bohm, Yoan Moncada (who the M's have had reported interest in the last two years) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, among others.

Theoretically, the Mariners could splurge on a reliever (or two) this offseason while still having enough money to bring in a Moncada or Kiner-Falefa. The position group, despite having a series of players coming off down seasons, is still considered one of the most talented in the major leagues.

After getting shut out in the first half, the Dallas Cowboys finally put up points on their first drive of the second half on a one-yard touchdown run from running back Javonte Williams, cutting the Green Bay Packers’ lead to 17-7.

Here is a look at Williams’ touchdown, courtesy of the NFL’s official social media:

Javonte Williams gets the @DallasCowboys on the board!

DALvsGB on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/LCSq1izwak

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2026

On Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half, they were forced to punt. However, Dallas’ defense struggled to stop the Packers on their second drive, including allowing a conversion on fourth and three and they would ultimately kick a field goal to make it 20-7 late in the third quarter. If the Cowboys cannot figure out a way to consistently stop this Green Bay offense, they are not going to be able to come back in this game.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: WATCH: Cowboys finally score on Javonte Williams TD run vs Packers

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh stands on the field with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.at SoFi Stadium. (William Liang-Imagn Images)

Mike McDaniel’s offense scored two field goals on Sunday, and now his job with the Los Angeles Chargers is in doubt. After a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs dropped the Chargers to 0-6, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported growing buzz that the team will soon fire its offensive coordinator. Adam Gase is expected to take over if McDaniel goes.

The Chargers have scored 90 points in six games, an average of 15.0 per game, and Sunday’s six points were a season low. Among the fans who reacted, the louder argument was over who should replace McDaniel.

Jim Harbaugh Leaves Mike McDaniel’s Future Open After Another Loss

Florio’s report made the rounds among Chargers fans on X on Sunday night, and a post relaying it filled with replies.

Florio stopped short of calling it final. “It’s not done yet, but it’s the move that many are expecting to see,” he wrote.

He identified Gase as the team’s pass game specialist and a former head coach of the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. He also noted that McDaniel spent four years as Miami’s head coach after five years as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked whether McDaniel will keep calling plays. He didn’t say yes.

“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said. He said the job he’s doing starts with him and that the plan is to watch the game and meet with his offensive coaches.

He said the review also covers the coaches and how the offense is executing. He added that the effort he sees in meetings and on the practice field has to translate to games. “I feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. It needs to be addressed.”

Fans Question Adam Gase and Push for Shane Day Instead

Gase potentially taking over drew more pushback than the firing itself.

“Adam Gase is a worse OC than Mike McDaniel that’s how bad the offensive ecosystem is for the Chargers,” one fan wrote in answer to the post. Another left room for one version of Gase: “2013 Adam Gase? Sure…. Otherwise feels more like a lateral move.”

The name fans kept offering instead was Shane Day. One fan made the case in the thread’s top reply: “My vote is to give Shane Day a try in an already lost cause of a season. Give Herbert someone he already trusts!”

One fan wanted Day as part of a wider shake-up that would still give Harbaugh another year: “I would rather have Shane Day be the interim OC.”

Another fan wrote, “No way they wouldn’t promote Day over Gase, that’s insane.” That drew a quick rebuttal: “Gase has called plays before. Day has only been a quarterback coach.”

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A smaller group didn’t much care who took over, as long as something changed. “Well, it can’t possibly get any worse,” one fan wrote.

Another fan went a step further: “Please! It can’t be any worse. Let Justin Herbert play quarterback the way he knows how to – pre McDaniel.”

One fan looked past the coordinator entirely: “Jim Harbaugh’s the one that needs to go.”

Another fan turned on the whole organization: “This franchise is not serious! Just fold up and be no more!”

McDaniel had few defenders. One fan in his corner argued, “Make them all finish the season. This not MM’s fault.”

How the Chargers Fared in Week 6

Quarterback Justin Herbert didn’t have a diagnosis either. Asked why the offense hasn’t clicked, he said he didn’t know and that if he had the answers, they would be having a different conversation.

Herbert finished 22 of 37 for 204 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and he was sacked four times. The Chargers managed 259 total yards and went 0 for 3 on fourth down. Trailing 19-3 at halftime, they had their best chance to climb back early in the third quarter.

After a 57-yard catch by Quentin Johnston, they reached the Kansas City 1-yard line. A holding penalty on rookie Jake Slaughter pushed them back to the 11, and they settled for a 30-yard Cameron Dicker field goal. They never scored again.

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The defense and special teams kept giving the offense chances. Cam Hart intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the end zone, and the defense stopped the Chiefs on fourth down at the goal line.

Special teams forced and recovered a fumble on a Chiefs punt return, and Harrison Butker missed a 52-yard field goal. The offense turned those four breaks into 17 plays, 38 yards and no points.

The Chargers don’t play again until Nov. 1, when they face the Los Angeles Rams as the road team at SoFi Stadium. Whether McDaniel is still calling plays that day is the question the bye week has to answer.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Joaquin Buckley remains undeterred after his third consecutive defeat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Buckley faced Mike Malott in the Canadian’s home country at UFC Edmonton on Saturday. Malott landed a knee in the second round and followed with a punch before the referee stopped the bout. Despite the setback, “New Mansa” remains optimistic about his future.

Joaquin Buckley plans to document his rebuild after Mike Malott's UFC Edmonton knockout
Buckley won six straight fights before his current skid. He now plans to livestream his efforts to rebuild, inviting fans to follow the process.

“Right now, we rebuilding and I want y’all to see the process, not just the results,” Buckley wrote in the caption of his postfight Instagram post. “The highs, the lows, and everything it takes to become who God called me to be.”

In the accompanying video, Buckley said he wants to share his training and introduce fans to his team.

“I realize that I want to document everything,” Buckley said. “I want to document the process, I want to document the work, I want to document the team. This is really just starting back over from scratch; creating a new foundation and making something happen… I’m not going to stop; I’m going to keep working. And I’ll make sure that everybody remembers that name.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joaquin Buckley (@newmansa94)

Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee caught all four of his targets for 22 yards and lost a fumble in an 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6.

SOURCE: USAToday.com

Why it Matters: After three straight games with more than 60 receiving yards, Higbee had a quieter outing against the Cardinals. Still, he appears to have carved out a larger role in the offense in recent weeks, and Higbee should at least be a serviceable TE2.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyler Higbee limited to four grabs in Week 6

DENTON, TX - OCTOBER 10: Charlotte 49ers quarterback Conner Harrell (15) looks for an open receiver during the game between the North Texas Mean Green and the Charlotte 49ers on October 10, 2026 at DATCU Stadium in Denton ,Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

15-straight games. 398 days without a win. 685 days without a win over an FBS program.

The Charlotte 49ers marinated in futility for over a year, owning the nation’s longest losing streak with little hope in sight. Last season, all 11 losses came by at least 11 points. This season, they were coming off back-to-back 40-point losses and dropped an opener to The Citadel — an FCS program that is 1-4 against its FCS peers this season.

It didn’t seem like a matter of when Charlotte was going to win in 2026, rather, it was if that elusive triumph would even occur this season. But before a road trip to Philadelphia, Charlotte head coach Tim Albin took inspiration from the Rocky franchise, texting each of his individual players the following quote from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa:

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Charlotte had been hit, but it got up, and now, it’s over. The streak is indeed over. The Charlotte 49ers won a college football game. On the road. In an NFL venue.

“Obviously, a big win for our program,” Albin said in his postgame press conference. “I thought our team showed grit. That’s the word that comes to mind, in so many different areas. This coaching staff got these guys ready to go. You could not tell with how we warmed up what our record was.”

One day before the Carolina Panthers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the building, Charlotte brought a preview of NFL Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The 49ers scored 31 points in the second half to upset Temple, 38-31. Charlotte essentially sealed the victory on Aiden Bui’s 47-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining which handed the 49ers a commanding 10-point advantage. But when the 49ers recovered a Temple onside kick attempt — which wasn’t going to travel the minimum required 10 yards — smiles were seen on the sideline for the first time since the Earth’s last rotation around the Sun.

“The guys, they deserve it,” Albin said. “It’s one game. We’re 1-0 right now for 24 hours, and we’re back at it. It’s one game. That’s how we’re gonna approach it. We’re still gonna coach them on the mistakes. It’s gonna sting when we do it. We got a road win in our league, and we’re gonna build off it.”

Conner Harrell, the same quarterback who delivered Charlotte’s last win, was the one who reaped the benefits of staying patient. One week after leading the 49ers’ only victory of 2025, Harrell tore his ACL, both meniscii, and spraining the MCL in his left knee, which sidelined him until the Week 2 contest at Ole Miss.

Making his second start of the season, the recovered quarterback guided the upset over Temple, posting 281 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Additionally, he showcased his newfound mobility, rushing for two touchdowns — from 8 and 10 yards out — to snap the 49ers’ run of misery.

“I’m so happy for our team,” Harrell said. “It’s exciting to win. Everybody loves winning. I think the biggest part to it is we have confidence we can do it now. We can put a good game together. We can drive the ball down the field. We can get stops.”

Albin improved to 2-17 as the 49ers’ head coach and captured his first win over an FBS program since leading Ohio to a 2024 MAC Championship Game victory. Charlotte is now 1-6 heading into its bye week, hoping to continue the momentum for a home game Friday, Oct. 30 against reigning American champion Tulane.

“It breaks my heart,” Albin said on it being his first conference win as Charlotte’s head coach. “That’s what it is. But we’re 1-0, we’ve got 24 hours to correct the mistakes, 24 hours to celebrate this one, and we’ll get up and get ready for the next one. The open week is coming at a great time. We’re gonna freshen some things up.”

One of the Worst Playing Surfaces in the League,' 'Doesn't Feel Very Safe' — Aaron Rodgers Raises Major 'Concern' Over Bucs' Raymond James Stadium

In one of the day’s most exciting games, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a great comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many didn’t expect Tampa Bay to stay in this matchup, but the Steelers didn’t play well until the end.

After the game, Aaron Rodgers spoke about the win and raised concerns about the playing surface in Tampa Bay.

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Speaks on Injury Risk in Tampa Bay

When discussions turn to some of the NFL’s most criticized playing surfaces, MetLife Stadium and Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, often come up. Rodgers, though, believes Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay deserves to be part of that conversation.

In the Steelers’ post-game press conference, after their clutch win, Rodgers spoke to the media and made sure to say something about the playing surface:

“‘It’s got to be one of the worst playing surfaces in the league. When we’re talking about player safety, that’s a real concern,’ Rodgers said. ‘I’m thankful I didn’t get hurt today, but I’ve been injured twice on this field before, and in my opinion, the turf was a factor both times. I know USF plays here, but that surface just doesn’t feel very safe. From my perspective, it’s a field that needs to be looked at because player safety should always come first.'”

Clearly, Rodgers doesn’t like playing in Tampa Bay, and as he mentioned, he’s suffered two injuries while playing there. Some players always get injured at the same stadium, and it can feel like a curse on their careers, but if other players are complaining about a field, the league may need to look into a serious issue.

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Nonetheless, Rodgers was able to escape without an injury; he was a massive part in getting this win for Pittsburgh. He finished with 253 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and 1 interception, adding a great performance to his long career.

This season, Rodgers has been fine, currently ranking 24th in PFN’s QB Impact Metric, but if he can have more performances like today, he could rise. Next week, the Steelers may have to worry about injuries again as they travel to Paris for the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in France.

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Their opponent, the New Orleans Saints, are also coming off a win, but both teams will face long travel, a time difference, and a change in practice habits. Hopefully, both can avoid injuries, but good news for Rodgers: he won’t have to play in Tampa Bay ever again.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Bubba Wallace spent much of Sunday looking like a driver who was finally going to get his moment.

By the time the checkered flag fell at Phoenix Raceway, he was sitting on the door of his No. 23 Toyota with his head in his hands.

That was how Wallace’s afternoon ended. Not in Victory Lane, where he had looked capable of finishing, but in 17th place after a pit-road mistake wiped out his chance at his first NASCAR Cup Series win of 2026.

And the hardest part? He knew he had nobody to blame but himself.

Wallace led 52 laps in Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500, more than he had led in any other race this season. His 23XI Racing Toyota had the speed, his team had kept him in contention, and with 27 laps remaining, he was leading the race.

Then he came down pit road for what should have been his final stop.

Wallace was caught speeding.

In a matter of moments, an afternoon that had been building toward a possible victory became another painful missed opportunity.

Bubba Wallace’s Reaction After Phoenix Said It All

“I’m deeply sorry,” Wallace told his team after the penalty.

It was a brief apology, but there was no mistaking how much the mistake bothered him.

After the race, Wallace lingered beside his car, sitting on the door with his head in his hands. He eventually walked over to the wall and crouched down, still visibly struggling with what had happened.

When he faced reporters, he didn’t offer excuses.

“Yeah, unfortunate,” Wallace said. “Our team is so good at finding all the gray areas to operate in and find our limits.”

He explained how difficult it can be to judge speed while navigating the corners of Phoenix’s pit road.

“Corner pitting is really, really tough to see, you know, just with the lack of visibility that you have.”

But Wallace also understood the mistake was his.

“I hate it for our team,” he said. “This 23 group has worked so hard all year long and no results to show for it. Or we come up just short. So it’s frustrating.”

For Wallace, the disappointment wasn’t simply about losing a race. It was about knowing how much work his team had put into giving him a car capable of winning one.

Tyler Reddick’s Victory Makes Wallace’s Missed Opportunity Even Tougher

As Wallace tried to process his afternoon, another 23XI Racing driver was celebrating.

Tyler Reddick won Sunday’s race, delivering another victory for the organization and helping Toyota clinch the 2026 NASCAR Manufacturers’ Championship.

Wallace was genuinely pleased for his teammate. But after coming so close himself, he wasn’t going to pretend the result didn’t sting.

“It’s super hard to be happy right now, but happy for the team, 45, getting another win,” Wallace said.

That contrast summed up the afternoon for 23XI Racing. One driver was celebrating a victory. The other was wondering how a race he had led with fewer than 30 laps remaining had gotten away.

Wallace had scored points in both stages and led more laps than he had in any previous race this season. His speed was never the problem.

The finish was.

“So it’s been really fun driving Toyotas this year, but I just can’t seem to close the deal out,” Wallace said. “Got three more to go.”

Wallace hasn’t won since Indianapolis in 2025. With three races remaining this season, he’ll have more opportunities.

But he’ll be hard-pressed to forget the one that slipped away Sunday.

New York Liberty v Golden State Valkyries SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 28: Gabby Williams 1 of the Golden State Valkyries warms up before a game between New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center on June 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 9435 ©IMAGO/ISI Photos

Gabby Williams’s rise in the WNBA has been slow, methodical, and largely away from the media attention. Her 26-point charge in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals has now thrown her into the limelight, as the Valkyries take a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series. For Kelsey Plum, however, seeing Williams as a leader of this championship-contending team came as no surprise, as Williams barely had such an opportunity before, and anyone who has followed Williams’ career would make the same claim.

“WNBA fans are now getting a taste of who Gabby Williams is, but if you’ve played overseas or you’ve watched Gabby for years, Gabby’s been one of the best players in the world for the last four or five years. Watching Gabby, her evolution in the W in Seattle, she never got the opportunity to Iso at the top of the key. It just wasn’t that she couldn’t do it; it was just that that wasn’t her role,” said Plum on the Road Trippin’ Show.

Plum’s comments centered on Williams’ time with the Seattle Storm, where her offensive role did not allow her the same opportunities she now enjoys with the Valkyries. Gabby Williams played for the Seattle Storm in multiple stints before signing for the Valkyries at the start of this season. By the 2025 season, Williams had established herself as an elite two-way player, finishing third in the DPOY rankings and averaging 11.6 points per game.

When it came time to test the market, Williams refused to play it safe. At 29, riding the momentum of the 2024 Olympics—where she had the powerhouse Americans on the ropes—she finally trusted her own inner drive: the conviction that her place was firmly among the game’s best.

Kelsey Plum's frustration reveals deeper questions about opportunity and recognition in the WNBA. Stay informed on the league's biggest stories by subscribing to our newsletter.

And that conviction is reflected in her output. Williams saw a marked increase when she joined the Golden State this season, averaging 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Looking at her growth trajectory, Plum is happy that Williams is finally getting the leadership role she deserves.

“It’s awesome to see somebody that has basically just like waited her turn. It’s always played the right way. But Gabby’s always been extremely smart, competitive, play both sides of the ball, winning basketball player. And I think Natalie Nakase has just been like, ” Hey, listen, we’re going to throw you the keys; take off,” Plum added.

Williams has surely earned the trust of her coach and her team. And she has backed that trust with solid production all season. Williams is the Valkyries leading playmaker this postseason, averaging 23.1 points per game. She is also enabling others around her to score freely, dishing out 3.7 assists per game. And she is anchoring the Valkyries’ defense as well, registering a team-high 1.6 steals per game in the playoffs,

More than the stats, Williams has been trusted by her teammates to take that final shot, the shot that carries the most pressure, time and again in this postseason. And Williams has never disappointed as well. When asked after Game 1 how she manages to do that, she had a very unique response regarding her mindset.

“Yeah, same thing, doing math,” Williams said. “One of our trainers, she was like, ‘In the fourth quarter, you always do this thing, and I know you’re going to start taking over; you look at the clock.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m counting. I’m counting possessions, I’m counting points, what do we need now, what’s the most timely time to go.”

“I think it’s just like the best way to kind of take the pressure off things, too, is just to break them down possession by possession.”

The Valkyries will hope that Williams can continue her fine form in Game 2 as well. It would be a huge morale boost if they had a 2-0 lead going into Game 3 at the State Farm Arena. Game 2 of the Finals is on Monday at the Chase Center, with the full force of “Balhalla” behind the Valkyries.

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The post “Never Got The Opportunity”: Kelsey Plum Takes Aim at $450M Franchise Over Gabby Williams Treatment After Valkyries Star’s Game 1 Heroics appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A visibly frustrated Sean McVay didn't hold back after the Los Angeles Ramslost 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, their second straight defeat decided by a field goal.

"Collectively, even if we had come away with the result, it's just not good enough," he told reporters postgame. "There's just so many things that aren't in alignment with what we need to be able to do. We gotta be able to figure it out, and it starts with me. I gotta be able to have some better answers so that I'm not up here saying the same things to you guys."

This one had to sting. A week after Harrison Mevis' potential game-winning field goal was tipped in overtime against the Buffalo Bills on "Monday Night Football", the Rams parted ways with him and signed Blake Grupe. He injured himself in the first quarter after tackling Devin Duvernay at the 47-yard line and did not return. Ethan Evans, the starting punter, stepped in as the emergency kicker, immediately shifting McVay's strategy to avoid as many kicking situations as possible, even if it meant eschewing three points.

The problem on Sunday was that the offense wasn't there for most of the day. The Cardinals, led by former McVay protege Mike LaFleur, shut down the Rams' run game with varied looks and blitz packages and held Kyren Williams and Blake Corum to just 92 combined rushing yards. Los Angeles' offense was forced to be one-dimensional, but even Matthew Stafford struggled with the pressure in his face as he was sacked three times and took seven QB hits outside of those.

Stafford finished 25-of-33 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

"We just didn't execute," McVay said. "Simple as that."

"We won't win a game unless we figure out how to not beat ourselves."

Rams HC Sean McVay after losing to the Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/jZ4KOGLnd2

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2026

Even when they finally broke through for an eight-play, 86-yard drive capped off by Colby Parkinson reaching over the goal line for a game-tying touchdown, followed by Evans converting the PAT for his first career field goal to take a one-point lead with 47 seconds left, the Rams found another way to shoot themselves in the foot.

Jacoby Brissett found Jalen Brooks 21 yards downfield on the first play of the Cardinals' two-minute drill. Brooks went up to haul in the catch, but took Josh Wallace's shoulder pad to his helmet on the way back down. Wallace was called for unnecessary roughness, tacking on 15 more yards to set Arizona up at the Rams' 29-yard line.

Three plays later, Chad Ryland kicked the game-winner through the uprights as time expired, putting the Rams at 2-4 through the first six weeks of the season.

It's back to the drawing board once again for McVay.

"We have to be able to not beat ourselves before we figure out how to come away with some of the results," he said. "It's not even good enough, and I have to do a much better job. There's nothing positive that I can say about today."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean McVay exasperated after Cardinals' upset win over Rams

Catherine Breed became the first person to swim California's 900-mile coast on Sunday. (Swim California & Allez Sports)

Catherine Breed completed a never-before-attempted 900-mile open-water swim along the entire California coast on Sunday. 

The 33-year-old, record-setting marathon swimmer from Mill Valley battled chilly, unpredictable Pacific waters for four months. She began the unprecedented expedition at the Oregon border on July 1, and expected to reach Mexican waters in November. Breed finished ahead of schedule.

"For months, I measured my world in the next few miles," Breed said. "Every message from someone following along, every person who came out to cheer, helped me get back in the water."

Along the way, Breed swam past the Golden Gate Bridge, the kelp forests of the Monterey Bay and around Point Conception near Santa Barbara, averaging more than 10 miles a day through notoriously rugged waters. Fans following along on social media and gathering at meeting points celebrated each stroke.

The marathon swim project, dubbed "Swim California," was a complex team operation. In the water, a pacer tossed Breed protein shakes in a thermos for sustenance. Breed and the crew accompanying her in a 52-foot sailboat made land each night before returning to the spot she left off. At times, they were forced to wait for suitable weather to advance through the coast's most remote stretches. 

Breed swam competitively at the University of California, Berkeley before tackling long distances including a 60-mile stretch across Lake Tahoe and a record-breaking swim from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands. 

She was motivated by her love of the Pacific coast to leave a career in medical technology sales and found Sea Dreamers, a nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to experience the ocean and protect it. 

"I saw whales beneath me, plastic beside me, and communities giving their time to look after these places," Breed said. "I hope people who followed this journey choose one place they love and find a way to take care of it."

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This article originally published at Mill Valley swimmer completes unprecedented 900-mile swim down California coast.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 18: Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a pass against Quentin Lake #37 of the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on October 18, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. Lions won 45-21. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) Getty

The Arizona Cardinals offense has been heavily featuring All-Pro tight end Trey McBride this season. With another seven-catch game against the Los Angeles Rams, he becomes the first player in NFL history to record at least seven receptions in the first six games of the season, per NFL Research’s Henry Gold.

Trey McBride is the first player in NFL history to have 7+ receptions in each of their first 6 games of a season

— Henry Gold (@henryisgold) October 18, 2026

Against the Rams, the fifth-year tight end caught seven of nine targets for 53 yards. Thanks to his contributions, the Cardinals pulled off a stunning 18-16 upset of the Los Angeles Rams.

The Cardinals have a lot of questions about their passing attack, especially since the unit has been lackluster most of the season. But they count on McBride being their most reliable target right now.

Trey McBride Remains Cardinals’ Top Pass-Catching Option

GettyCardinals TE Trey McBride became the first player to record seven receptions in his team’s first six games of the season. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

McBride now has 42 receptions on 65 targets for 308 yards and three touchdowns. While his 7.3 yards per catch is rather pedestrian compared to past seasons, it may be a function of the offense’s struggles to push the ball downfield in the passing game.

With 65 targets, McBride is clearly the top option in the Cardinals’ passing attack. Michael Wilson is the number two option in the offense. But beyond those two, there isn’t much that defenses have to account for. Especially following the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade this week.

For the season, McBride is on pace for 119 catches, 872 yards, and nine touchdowns. As teams load up to stop the All-Pro from breaking games for Arizona, it places an emphasis on their other receivers to move the ball.

On their game-winning drive against the Rams, it was preseason standout Jalen Brooks who made the big play to put the Cardinals in field goal range.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Cardinals All-Pro TE Trey McBride Makes NFL History in Rams Upset appeared first on HEAVY.

Playoff spots clinched, Messi magic & more from Matchday 31

By Charles Boehm

We’ve entered a thrilling, devastating period of the MLS season: The time of lowercase Xs and Es.

If you’re unfamiliar, tap the header at the top of the page titled ‘Standings’ and open it in a new window. Clubs that have clinched an Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs spot earn an X next to their name, and those eliminated get branded with an E.

In some cases it’s a formality, like how runaway league leaders Nashville SC have already clinched first place in the Eastern Conference. Or at the other end, like how Wooden Spoon ‘winners’ in waiting Sporting Kansas City are the first team ruled ineligible for the postseason party. Others in between will have to sweat for their place right down to Decision Day, next month’s regular-season finale.

However you splice it, we’re now up to nine teams in and one team out. That’s a decent enough place for us to start our Matchday 31 rundown.

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose: IN

After Dallas, New England, Miami and St. Louis booked their playoff spots midweek, three more teams officially clinched this weekend.

The San Jose Earthquakes did so by rallying from a goal down to hold imperious Nashville to a 1-1 draw at PayPal Park, with Quakes marksman Preston Judd contorting himself to nod home a seeing-eye header after Hany Mukhtar’s viciously-struck opener.

We can be sure head coach Bruce Arena wants more, much more, out of his second campaign in San Jose. But qualification is a noteworthy milestone after the Quakes fell agonizingly short on the wins tiebreaker in 2025, his first season in charge. They’ve only done so three times in the previous 13 years, after all.

There's also the fact that San Jose denied Nashville's hopes of lifting the Supporters' Shield during Matchday 31. The Music City club will do that in short order, surely, but the Earthquakes didn't make it easy Saturday night and reminded everyone they remain a tough out.

HIGHLIGHTS: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Nashville SC | October 17, 2026

Houston Dynamo FC

Houston: IN

Houston Dynamo FC, too, are playoffs-bound after a 2-2 home draw with Texas Derby rivals FC Dallas. La Naranja surely aren’t too pleased with how the night ended at Shell Energy Stadium, however.

After Mexican crack Héctor Herrera headed home a corner-kick equalizer, Mateusz Bogusz's 94th-minute penalty kick seemed to have claimed all three points for H-town. But this derby had one more twist in store…

That’s Dallas midfielder Ran Binyamin making the most of a very untimely challenge by Duncan McGuire to win a last-gasp penalty for his side, a highway robbery of a point – and the Houston crowd’s angry reactions surely only made it that much sweeter for the North Texans.

Chicago Fire FC

Chicago: IN… with questions

Chicago Fire FC are playoffs-bound as well. They backed in via results elsewhere, though, as they lost 1-0 at New England despite producing an expected-goals figure FIVE TIMES that of the Revolution’s and were the superior side in most statistical categories.

But Matt Polster’s goal stood as the difference-maker and Matt Turner made six saves, with this worldie the pick of the litter, and the Fire returned to the Windy City empty-handed.

Much like Arena’s San Jose, Chicago have every right to celebrate postseason qualification, their second straight under head coach Gregg Berhalter, considering how rarely they’ve checked that box in the modern era.

But Berhalter’s team have been discouragingly streaky despite the impact of summer superstar reinforcement Robert Lewandowski, inconsistency that raises questions about what their best version of themselves really looks like, and whether they’ll be able to conjure it up when it’s required: in must-win situations next month.

Inter Miami CF

More Messi magic, with a smidge of malice

As if Lionel Messi wasn’t already richly blessed with talent and drive by the higher powers that be, the Argentine icon also happens to have a photographic memory when it comes to even the most minor of slights in his direction.

It’s a trait reminiscent of NBA legend Michael Jordan, another GOAT in his field, and Atlanta United well and truly got the horns when Messi and Inter Miami visited Mercedes-Benz Stadium – defender Júnior Alonso first and foremost.

Alonso, you see, made a game-saving block of a late Messi shot in the reverse fixture at Nu Stadium last month, where ATLUTD worked their tails off to snatch a 2-2 road draw despite the ongoing difficulties of a rebuilding year under former Miami boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino. At the time, Messi took exception to the manner in which the Paraguayan international celebrated said block.

We’re pretty certain it was no accident that IMCF’s maestro so thoroughly sliced and diced Alonso one-on-one in the open field to score his team’s third goal of the night, and his second, in the Herons’ comfortable 3-1 win over the Five Stripes. Just to drive home the point, Messi appeared to tease his adversary with a ‘you’re still spinning’ jibe afterwards.

After a five-game winless slide, Miami have now won three straight, and with an ongoing streak of goal contributions in 13 straight matches, Messi is pulling away in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race with 25g/15a.

The lesson, as always: Don’t make this man angry. But given his propensity for finding fuel in every nook and cranny, maybe that’s impossible.

HIGHLIGHTS: Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami CF | October 17, 2026

Orlando City

Showtime in Orlando

Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann keeps sparkling.

The Frenchman and Orlando City were irresistible in a 4-1 trouncing of D.C. United, the FIFA World Cup winner hitting a brace, his 11th and 12th goals in just 14 MLS games, the first via an effervescent passing combination keyed by Argentine playmaker Martín Ojeda. 

Griezmann returned the favor minutes later, setting the stage for Ojeda to produce a golazo that you’ll want to watch on repeat:

Even Marco Pašalić, who scored Orlando’s fourth, freely admitted that the tally by ‘Tincho’ is the one fans will most remember.

“It was a crazy goal,” the Croatian told reporters with a laugh. “I have to say to Tincho congratulations. These goals you don’t see every weekend or every game, so I think this is something you have to watch like 100 times, maybe not like 10 times like my goal.”

He’s right. Here’s another angle or two to enjoy:

Minnesota United FC

Loons end the streak

After 167 days, 19 regular-season matches, two US Open Cup fixtures, 51 goals scored and a hatful of new club and league records, St. Louis CITY's remarkable unbeaten run ended on Saturday afternoon.

Truthfully, few of us would have guessed the team that snapped the streak, or the dramatic fashion in which they did so.

It's been a season of frustration for Minnesota United, and that’s putting it mildly. The Loons had not won a match of any sort since August, and had not tasted victory in a league game at their Allianz Field home since April 18 (!) as they welcomed STL this weekend.

Then they fell behind 2-0 to MLS’s hottest team in the opening 10 minutes. Not auspicious! Yet that only made their second-half resurrection that much more impressive. 

Former CITY SC midfielder Aziel Jackson sparked the fightback just after halftime, scoring the first of three unanswered MNUFC goals that lifted them and their long-suffering supporters from desperate to delighted, with rising Canadian talent Marcus Caldeira applying the coup de grace four minutes from full time for the 3-2 win.

And finally, at long last, the Loons faithful got their traditional ‘Wonderwall’ singalong after an epic victory no one in the building will forget any time soon. St. Louis, meanwhile, must lick their wounds and recover quickly, as Wednesday’s Open Cup final at Columbus looms.

WATCH: Minnesota snap St. Louis CITY’s record streak in stunning rally

Philadelphia Union

A banger in Chester

Speaking of streaks… another one met its demise on Saturday.

Saturday’s MLS marathon kicked off with an eminently watchable 2-2 draw between the Philadelphia Union and Charlotte FC that crackled with playoff-type intensity.

Milan Iloski scored his seventh goal in Philly’s last five games, but The Crown responded with well-constructed tallies by Rodolfo Aloko and Idan Toklomati, forcing Bruno Damiani to dig out a second-half equalizer at Subaru Park.

That means the Union’s eight-match winning run is no more, although their 15-game unbeaten run rolls on (12W-0L-3D). They’re still just one point behind Charlotte in the table, and both teams will believe they can pass Chicago to climb into the East’s top four. The race for that fourth-place spot, which grants home-field advantage in a Round One Best-of-3 Series, is tight as piano wire.

HIGHLIGHTS: Philadelphia Union vs. Charlotte FC | October 17, 2026

Around the grounds

→ Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps FC reminded everyone what stern stuff they’re made of, despite a second half of the season that’s fallen short of their own lofty expectations.

Ryan Gauld got the 2-1 comeback win at Austin FC started with a pinpoint header to level the score, then newcomer Yadaly Diaby thumped an insane curling winner off the far post that left even Brad Stuver, one of MLS’s elite goalkeepers, absolutely helpless:

Yes, they’ve looked a great deal more mortal since the World Cup break. Yet Vancouver remain tops in the West, four points clear of their nearest pursuer.

→ Ohio is black and gold in 2026, thanks to the Columbus Crew’s 2-0 win at FC Cincinnati on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Audi, which completes a Hell is Real season sweep for the team from the state capital.

If only slumping Cincy had produced the level of heat their supporters produced in this epic tifo, inspired by the spooky tales of “Satan’s Hollow,” said to be a portal to Hell in a series of drainage tunnels in the city’s suburbs:

The Crew are now just one point below the red line with four games left. They’ve also dealt their rivals a heavy blow: FCC are clinging to the East's ninth and final playoff spot, but only on the wins tiebreaker, as surging Toronto FC are now level with them on points, with New York City FC and D.C. United also still in the mix.

Cincy really need four or even six points from their back-to-back meetings with D.C. this coming week, a scheduling quirk created by a match postponed by severe rainfall in Ohio last month.

WATCH: Columbus Crew cruise past FC Cincinnati in Hell is Real

→ Will the Seattle Sounders come to regret dropping two points at home vs. basement dwellers CF Montréal? The Rave Green harbored ambitions of climbing into the West’s top four, yet that looks like a long shot after this 1-1 draw, which leaves them seventh with only four games to go.

“A wake-up call,” said Cristian Roldan postgame. “We haven’t done anything yet, and if we want to do something in the playoffs, then we have to have complete performances.”

Conversely, it’s an ideal prelude to Montréal's midweek Canadian Championship final clash vs. Forge FC at Stade Saputo. Amazingly, they could finish last in MLS and still hoist a trophy this year – all while qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup – with a win over their Canadian Premier League opponents.

HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle Sounders FC vs. CF Montréal | October 17, 2026

→ On paper, LAFC’s 1-1 draw at NYCFC is a decent result given the long-haul travel involved and the unique challenges of playing at Citi Field.

On grass, however, it still feels like the Angelenos are scrambling to find themselves under interim coach Xavi Tamarit, and time is slipping away in their race to find form before the business end of the season.

And amid all that meta discourse, newly-arrived creator Leo Walta looks quite intriguing. The Finn practically hit Saturday’s opener from the next borough over:

William Purnell-Imagn Images

Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh states the obvious about Mike McDaniel-led offense appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jim Harbaugh didn’t mince words about the offense’s struggles under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel following the Los Angeles Chargers’ 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.

Harbaugh has been the Chargers’ head coach since 2024, going through his third season with the franchise. Following back-to-back years of playoff appearances, the veteran coach seems to have approached his biggest obstacle yet.

Los Angeles is winless six games into the season. They are at the bottom of the standings with the worst record in the league, immensely struggling on the offensive side of the ball.

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Harbaugh reflected on the loss after the game, per reporter Anthony Gharib. He noted the offense’s woes while talking about potential discussions with Mike McDaniel.

“We have to address everything guys and especially offensively. We’re not scoring enough points,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to look at everything. The job I’m doing, it starts with me. The plan is we’ll watch this and get with our offensive coaches. … [Offense] Needs to be addressed.”

How Jim Harbaugh, Chargers performed against Chiefs

Jim Harbaugh knows that his job security would take a hit if he doesn’t fix things as soon as possible. If the Chargers continue struggling with Mike McDaniel’s offensive playcalling, then Harbaugh will have to make a decision.

Kansas City controlled the game from start to finish. They excelled in the first half, overwhelming Los Angeles 19-3 while forcing them into making crucial mistakes to their benefit.

Justin Herbert tried what he could as injuries hinder the team’s ceiling on offense. He completed 22 out of 37 passes for 204 yards and an interception while rushing five times for 26 yards. Quentin Johnston caught a 57-yard pass, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith made five receptions for 32 yards.

The Chargers continue the search for their first win of the season. They are on a bye next week before resuming action by going on the road to face the Rams in Week 8 as kickoff commences on Nov. 1 at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Related: Chargers’ Justin Herbert loses another weapon to injury after Ladd McConkey concussion

Related: Chargers badly needs a vibe shit, and Joe Alt injury update will deliver it soon

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When J.J. McCarthy was thrust onto the field Sunday, he had never thrown a live pass to New York Giants teammate Malik Nabers.

He had never thrown more than a sideline or warmup ball to tight end Isaiah Likely.

Three weeks ago, McCarthy had never even heard a Giants play-call.

So when he took his first snap under center with 11:25 to play in the fourth quarter, the Giants trailing by 24 thanks in large part to three turnovers, McCarthy seemed more likely to continue the hole-digging than reverse trend.

An interception on his fourth pass furthered that theory.

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Then he rebounded to the tune of 269 yards from scrimmage and three scoring drives — all in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he came in there and did a heck of a job given the circumstances, you know, and kind of desperation time,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the Giants’ 34-27 loss dropped them to 3-2-1. “It’s different than normal football, but [he] made some plays and got us back, gives us a chance to win the game and we’re throwing the ball in the end zone at the end so that was good. 

“You’ve got to compliment him on that.”

John Harbaugh says Giants QB J.J. McCarthy did a “heck of a job” in end of game. Notes situation was “different” than managing a whole game. Also has “no problem with Jameis.”

Harbaugh declined to name starter for next game, emphatic he won’t decide 10 minutes after a game. pic.twitter.com/o1kAyEOJeS

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) October 18, 2026

McCarthy’s play, in his first meaningful quarterback action since the Giants dealt a fifth-round draft pick for him on Sept. 28 (he has spotted for a trick play here and there), firmly thrust him into the conversation of Giants starting quarterback ahead of the Giants' visit next week to a gaining-momentum Houston Texans team.

Harbaugh declined to name a starter on Sunday after the game.

“I can’t answer it now,” Harbaugh said early in his postgame media conference. “It’s not even up for discussion or conversation right now. We’ve got to go back and go to work. I have no problem with Jameis whatsoever. I love the way he competes, I love the way he fights, all those kind of things. He was up and down today for sure, but those things will all be decided not 10 minutes after a game.”

Nine questions later, Harbaugh’s tone had shifted slightly. When would he start the process of deciding whether to change quarterbacks?

“Starts right now,” Harbaugh said.

J.J. McCarthy took over for Jameis Winson on Sunday against the Saints. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)Caleb Bowlin via Getty ImagesAfter 34-10 deficit, McCarthy helped Giants rally back 

As the first half neared end, McCarthy’s day seemed likely to follow his last two Sundays: a keeper or trick play here and there, but otherwise no action.

Winston had beaten the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals right before and after the Giants acquired McCarthy as depth following Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee surgery. They’d tied the Washington Commanders last week thanks in part to botched clock management by Jayden Daniels and co.

As long as Winston wasn’t losing games for the Giants, at least some inside the building expected him to keep his job. Then the Saints hit a field goal with 1:23 to play in the half, Giants kick returner Charlie Jones fumbled the next play, and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough hit receiver Bryce Lance for a touchdown with five seconds to play. A 10-point lead was suddenly a tie at half. Within three minutes of the second half, Saints running back Alvin Kamara scored another touchdown. 

The Saints had scored 27 unanswered points by third quarter’s end, aided by a Winston-to-Nabers pass intercepted with 4:23 to play in the third.

Once Winston’s next two outings featured a three-and-out and a second interception, his day was done. Harbaugh had already sent a message to the fumbling running back Cam Skattebo, who received no carries vs. the Saints (Harbaugh insisted Skattebo getting zero carries after 12 to 20 in each previous game was “not by design” even as Skattebo acknowledged he was being punished.)

Why not send a message to the interception-throwing Winston, too?

“Just left a lot of plays out there that I could have executed better on,” said Winston, who completed 14-of-26 attempts for 152 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

After McCarthy’s first series ended in an interception, he rebounded to lead consecutive touchdown drives with completions of 27, 49 and 24 yards to Nabers, Jones and Likely.

Color analyst Drew Brees praised how McCarthy layered throws and gave his targets a chance, including an airborne Likely for the touchdown. Another field-goal drive and two defensive stops, and the Giants were driving again in the final minute, with the game on the line.

Likely ultimately didn’t catch McCarthy’s fourth-and-1 shot to the end zone. But the energy in the locker room seemed to shift with how McCarthy rallied them back.

“It just felt at home in terms of just playing quarterback, just being able to run the whole show and make protection calls and be able to throw the ball a little bit …” McCarthy said from the postgame locker room. “I hope I just showed them that I can do my job at a high enough level that they can trust me out there.”

With NFC East wide open, will Giants promote McCarthy over Winston?

Even without Harbaugh endorsing McCarthy as the starter going forward, a locker room fond of Winston personally had gained respect for McCarthy professionally.

“I think he just showed a spark,” fullback Patrick Ricard said from his locker. “And that’s no knock on Jameis. I feel like Jameis has been playing his heart out and doing everything he can to help us win. But I feel like when J.J. came in, he just had a let-it-rip mentality of ‘I’m just going to throw this thing, throw it up and try to make the guys make plays,’ and they all did. 

“I think that was the biggest thing is just giving guys chances and opportunities to make the plays and he made some plays with his feet, which is really encouraging and was happy for him.”

Harbaugh, too, was willing to praise McCarthy’s mobility even as he eschewed several other questions after the loss. 

McCarthy used his mobility to elude the sack and climb up the pocket on his 46-yard completion to Nabers. He tucked and ran 28 yards upfield in the final minute to keep the game alive. And he used it to roll out of the pocket on his final dart, though he said afterward he wished he extended that play still longer.

“It’s a big asset for him, absolutely,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a very mobile quarterback. Absolutely that’s a plus for him. Sure. Big part of his skill set.”

Will Harbaugh choose to prioritize that skill set over Winston’s experience in the coming weeks? The Giants’ interest in McCarthy stemmed, in part, from his similarities in skill set (if not same track record yet) to Dart, whom the Giants designed their offense around.

Ricard, who played nine seasons for Harbaugh in Baltimore before joining him for a 10th in New York, said merit would lead the decision.

“Ever since I’ve known Harbs, he's always been [for fielding] the best guy to play,” Ricard said. “Year 10 with him now, it's still true. If you play well, you'll keep playing. If you don't play well, then he's going to find somebody that will play well and give them those opportunities. 

“I think that's just whenever you play, you just have to seize opportunities and just do the best you can with it.”

The Giants could opt to give Winston next week’s start against the Texans, knowing their bye week and a longer run-up to prepare McCarthy follows afterward.

The Giants remain atop a struggling NFC East, the injury-riddled Philadelphia Eagles falling to 2-4 Sunday while the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders each can’t catch the Giants this week alone.

Winston has completed 90-of-158 attempts (57%) for 957 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions while leading the Giants to 2-1-1. McCarthy completed 11-of-21 (52.4%) for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, his 90.0 passer rating more efficient than Winston’s 76.4.

What would McCarthy look like after a week of game-planning around his skill set and giving him practice reps with the starters?

He declined to publicly advocate for himself.

“The only thing I'm focused on is getting better each and every day,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, Coach Harbaugh has to make a lot of decisions and those are his decisions. And I trust him wholeheartedly with anything he makes, any decision he makes. 

“And at the end of the day, I'm just focused on getting better from this.”

Baltimore'sthree-game winning streak ended with a 13-10 loss that tied Cleveland with the Ravens at 4-2, and now all eyes turn to Lamar Jackson returning after missing two games to lead the charge.

Final score

Browns 13, Ravens 10.

Keys to the game

The Ravens scored on their first two possessions and never scored again. Derrick Henry's lost fumble produced Cleveland's tying touchdown, and Tyler Loop missed a 49-yard field goal.

It was over when

Andre Szmyt's late field goal completed Cleveland's comeback after Baltimore failed to capitalize on an earlier missed Browns kick.

Stars of the game

Keyon Martin recorded a sack and a pass breakup. Josh Cuevas caught four passes for 44 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Ja'Kobi Lane added four receptions for 40 yards in his return.

Injuries

Rashod Bateman was listed as questionable to return with a shoulder injury. Ronnie Stanley left late, with Carson Vinson replacing him at left tackle.

What's next

Baltimore hosts Cincinnati next Sunday. Lamar Jackson's availability remains a key question after he missed a second straight game.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens-Browns recap: Everything we know about Week 6 loss

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (concussion) left the Week 6 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a concussion suffered in the first quarter. He had a 17-yard reception on his lone target and touch before being ruled out.

SOURCE: NFL.com

Why it Matters: With McConkey sidelined early, it was actually KeAndre Lambert-Smith who led the way with five receptions and nine targets. The Chargers are a mess with injuries, and it's probably to stay away from the entire team right now.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ladd McConkey in concussion protocol after Week 6

Credit: Ross Harried-Imagn Images

Cowboys’ Dee Winters intercepts Jordan Love and but gets pick-6 overturned appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s Dallas Cowboys hit the road to face Green Bay in Week 6 action that started with a pregame tiff. Matthew Golden beat the Cowboys defense for an early score but Dee Winters got his revenge with what looked like a pick-six.

It was later revealed by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic that Golden touched Winters down at the 42-yard-line. It was Dallas’ first interception of the season and it included a phenomenal run-after-the-catch that ultimately did not count.

He was ruled down, but Dee Winters gets the @DallasCowboys' first INT of the season

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The Packers led 7-0 after one quarter and continued to apply pressure as their Jordan Love-led offense picked up where it left off before the interception. Golden’s touchdown exposed a potential weakness on Schottenheimer’s defense as the Packers spread out the Cowboys’ defenders and found the matchup they liked for a well-executed touchdown pass play.

The game also included tough injury news for Dallas as receiver and return man KaVontae Turpin suffered a concerning injury. Joey Porter Jr. got an injury update leading up to the game and delighted Cowboys fans as he was able to take the field and compete against the Packers’ powerful passing game.

Schottenheimer’s team continued to show plenty of fight against the Packers, and they would need every ounce of it as Green Bay looked to put away Dallas early. With a road game against divisional foe Detroit looming, Green Bay was in no mood to mess around, and it showed on the scoreboard as Winters and the Cowboys did everything they could to stave off an early surge.

Related: Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin exits SNF vs. Packers early with concerning injury

Related: Packers, Cowboys get into it on the field before SNF could even start