Tom Brady Remembers The Saddest Moment Of Career: 'Worst Thing I Could've Ever Imagined'

The controversy surrounding a pair of NFL referees getting suspended due to their conduct toward players this past week led Tom Brady to take a bad trip down memory lane, but not in the way you might think. In the most recent edition of #AskTom, Brady was asked what the worst thing he ever heard a ref say during his playing days. His answer wasn't a message that a referee personally gave him. Rather, it was a call that led to arguably the worst loss of Brady's career. "This one’s a little easier than I thought: ‘The catch on the field has been confirmed’ on the David Tyree catch," Brady said, referring to Tyree's remarkable reception in the New York Giants' upset win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. "That was the worst thing I could’ve ever imagined." The Tyree catch is arguably the greatest catch in NFL history. With the Giants trailing 14-10 in the final minutes, Eli Manning somehow ran his way out of a sack before completing a 32-yard pass to Tyree, who pinned the ball to his helmet to complete the catch. Four plays later, the Giants scored the game-winning touchdown, ruining the Patriots' chances to become the first team to go 19-0 in NFL history. Nearly 20 years later, Brady remained upset over the play. "We had one of the greatest defenders in Patriots history, Rodney Harrison, covering him," Brady said. "I thought, ‘There’s no way the ball’s getting caught.’ And if it was deflected, there were probably three or four Patriots that were there to catch the ball. "Instead, he pins it against his helmet. And, as he’s falling to the ground, it never comes loose and it ends up being one of the saddest moments in my career." And the catch wasn't the only thing Brady was upset about from that play, either. "Richard Seymour got held; I don’t want to bring that up right now," Brady said, believing that the Giants got away with a holding penalty at the line of scrimmage. Reliving his pain from Super Bowl XLII wasn't the only thing Brady touched on in the latest edition of #AskTom. Brady shared what caused his mishap in the broadcast booth during Sunday's Los Angeles Rams-Philadelphia Eagles game, which player was the best trash talker he's played against and which NBA player he'd like to see play in the NFL. Here's everything Brady said in this week's #AskTom. What’s going on in that giant book that you put on the mute button in the booth? Do you watch film to put that whole thing together? Brady: It is endless amounts of information — six days of preparation: statistics, profiles, how I think the game’s going to be won, the strengths and weaknesses of each team, statistical anomalies and everything under the season. And guess what? I probably get to about 2% during the game. I always look back and go, "God, I had such a good point to make." You’d be surprised, for a three-hour broadcast, how little of the prep I actually use. It’s actually a little bit frustrating. But it’s heavy enough that it can mute you for a good five seconds, huh? Brady: I actually had the very heavy book, set it down and hit the mute TalkBack button. Then, I immediately went into a panic because I couldn’t hear myself. I was scrambling. I threw my headset off. Then, Kevin [Burkhardt] gave me another headset. Put that on. Couldn’t hear that, either. Then, our sound engineer, Ben, came over and said, "Tom, you hit the TalkBack button." And there’s a big red button on my key panel. I was a bit embarrassed. I said, "You know what? It’s like a quarterback fumbling a snap. Let’s just get to the next play." One column I’ve added just recently: I’ve got my list of enemies of which I want to exact revenge from. That’s where that Buffalo comment came from. Who was the best trash talker you’ve ever played against? Brady: There were a few back in the day. Ray Lewis was the most intimidating trash talker because the scary part about Ray was that he could back it all up. So, he was physical, tough, demanding and smart. When he came after you and told you he was going to do something to you, he usually did. It was kind of scary. One who was a little annoying at first, but became a teammate, was Richard Sherman. The first time I played against him, it was in Seattle, and we went through the whole game. He makes some comment to me at the end of the third quarter, I think he and Earl Thomas. And then, I really didn’t know what they said. It was so loud in the stadium. They were talking. I think they were hyped up. I may have said a few things back. After the game, they came up and I thought they came up to shake hands and be good sportsmen. It turns out, they actually didn’t. So, Sherm, I’m glad I got to be your buddy and teammate. We’ve hashed it out. So, we’re great. One other annoying trash talker? Rex Ryan. Guess who couldn’t back it up? Rex Ryan and the Jets all those years. Rex, just shut up. You had terrible teams. You were a terrible trash talker. He’s on that revenge column in the book, right? Brady: I got my revenge when I played against him. I didn’t need to get it post-career. What was the worst thing that you ever heard come out of a ref’s mouth? Brady: This one’s a little easier than I thought: "The catch on the field has been confirmed" on the David Tyree catch. That was the worst thing I could’ve ever imagined. Do you remember seeing that? Was the jumbotron in that stadium big enough that you knew what was coming? Brady: I actually got a good view of it, and the ball was sort of floating down. It was kind of a wobbler. Eli [Manning] escaped the traffic — Richard Seymour got held; I don’t want to bring that up right now. It’s still a little bit of a sore subject. Eli floats it down the middle to David Tyree and I think it was kind of a Hail Mary. We had one of the greatest defenders in Patriots history, Rodney Harrison, covering him. I thought, "There’s no way the ball’s getting caught." And if it was deflected, there were probably three or four Patriots that were there to catch the ball. Instead, he pins it against his helmet. And, as he’s falling to the ground, it never comes loose and it ends up being one of the saddest moments in my career. What do you say to all the fans that Brady started the crying-to-the-refs debacle we’ve got going on now? Brady: Listen, I never cried to the refs, b---es. Don’t talk s--- to me. I’ve got the microphone, and I can talk back. Are there drills to improve pocket presence? How would you coach a young QB who has some of these escaping problems that you talk about? Brady: A lot of it, I think, can be drilled. I think part of it is being aware where the soft spot in the pocket is. For a quarterback that’s not really going to run outside the pocket right or left or escape around the tackle, there’s always a nice firm spot in the pocket between the two guard spots. At that point, you’re just working to find space. To me, it was always about being on the balls of your feet, but also setting up a lot of cone drills where you shuffle right, shuffle left and shuffle left, shuffle right. As a quarterback, you should never go back in the pocket. To me, it was always, right, left and up and continue to stay on the ball of your feet looking for the soft spot. Coaches would throw bean bags at our feet. They would swipe at us as we ducked underneath bags. They would throw weighted towels at us. Anything to distract us while feeling the pocket through our peripheral vision, but maintaining our eyes downfield. A lot of guys, it feels like, are running too early these days. Who is somebody who does a good job in the pocket right now? Brady: I think Patrick Mahomes does a great job, knowing when to run, stay in the pocket and deliver the football. I know it doesn’t look pretty, but throwing a ball 20 yards down the field and completing a pass sometimes can look effortless when you can have a dynamic 12-yard run. But, at the end of the day, the game is points and it’s about production and yards. Obviously, the more yards you gain per play, the more successful you’re going to be. So, a 20-yard throw can look relatively simple, it can be way more effective than a short run. Look, I’m all for escapability. I think it’s a great tool to have. I just think you’ve got to use it at the right time and at an appropriate time for your team. Are there tells that defensive backs watch for like "patting" the football? Did you ever have to think about this or change anything in your delivery? Brady: I always thought patting the football was a rhythm thing. I never really saw it as a detriment. I think the thought is from the time the quarterback decides to throw to the time the ball hits the receiver's hands; that’s the timeframe that needs to be as quick as possible. If it’s an elaborated patt and it’s a little slow, then you have a problem. It’s just as if you’re making your decision for the rhythm of the throw that it doesn’t slow you down as much as you think. I don’t think the DB can get a beat on it before it gets to the receiver’s hands. So, I think the patt’s a little bit overrated. Good fundamentals and an accurate throw with the appropriate amount of pace are what matters most. I think the DBs are always looking at the shoulders of the quarterback and which direction he’s pointing the shoulder in for them to break on the ball. You can put one current NBA player onto an NFL team right now. Who is it, what team and what position? Brady: I’m putting LeBron James on the Las Vegas Raiders. At the end of the day, he’s the right age. He’s got the experience. He’s got the height. He’s a prolific scorer. Get him down in the red zone, run a little flag route, send him out wide, give him a slant or a fade and let him go high-point the ball. I’ve seen his head go above the rim. This is the easiest touchdown we could ever throw. It’s just throwing it up to LeBron.

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Taking The L: What We've Been The Most Wrong About Through 1st Quarter Of NFL Season

The first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season were far from predictable. A sliver of teams with playoff (and even championship) hopes are winless. The Minnesota Vikings are one of the final three undefeated teams left. Kenneth Walker III looks like the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year, and the Los Angeles Rams haven't been as invincible as we thought they might be. We technically aren't at the exact quarter mark of the 2026 NFL season, but we're just about there. So, as we prepare for Week 5, we're taking a look back on some of our preseason predictions and eating a slice of humble pie as we share what we were wrong about the most. Ralph Vacchiano: I have been high on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert since 2019, when the New York Giants desperately hoped he’d come out for the draft, one year before he actually did. I thought he had everything I’d want in an NFL quarterback, and I blamed his teammates, coaches and his dysfunctional franchise for why he hasn’t already won multiple Super Bowl trophies and MVPs. This year, though, I thought everything was set up for him. I believed Jim Harbaugh made a brilliant move to bring in Mike McDaniel to work his wizardry at offensive coordinator. I thought they fixed their line, too. By the end of this season, I was sure Herbert and the Chargers would emerge as a sleeper Super Bowl threat. Um, about that … They’re obviously 0-4, possibly headed towards 0-9 if you look at their schedule, and McDaniel and Herbert look like they’re reading the same book in different languages. There is no cohesion on offense, no answers from the coaches, and all seems lost. Just a month ago, 10 wins and the playoffs seemed like the floor for this team. I believed that Herbert, who has been floundering the last three seasons, would finally be back on his Hall of Fame track. Now, all I can do is accept that Herbert might be the most overrated quarterback of this generation. I still think the talent is there. But his potential may forever go unfulfilled. Ben Arthur: The Texans were an easy Super Bowl pick for me ahead of the season. Their all-world defense from a year ago lost no significant contributors over the offseason; they arguably got even better (added free-agent safety Reed Blakenship, second-round rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald). And I couldn’t imagine quarterback C.J. Stroud playing worse than he did in the playoffs last season, when he had seven turnovers in two games. If Stroud could keep Houston’s offense on schedule and the defense kept doing its thing, the Texans had a championship formula. So it’s been bizarre to see Stroud and the Texans’ defense essentially switch places in their stunning 0-4 start: the quarterback play has been fine — great at times — but the defense has regressed dramatically. Houston ranks 20th in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed through four games. The team has been particularly bad defending the pass, ranking 28th with 260.0 passing yards allowed per game. Stroud has shown very real signs of growth, and I think the defense will be fine after head coach DeMeco Ryans took back defensive play-calling responsibilities this week. But I think the hole they’ve dug for themselves is too big to overcome. The Jaguars are positioned to run away with the AFC South, and there will be some very good teams fighting for the three wild-card spots in the AFC. Eric D. Williams: I thought the unusual pairing between the old-school approach of veteran head coach Jim Harbaugh and the new-school approach of quirky offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel would work, despite their differing personalities. Instead, through the first four weeks, it’s been an ineffective combo, with Harbaugh having to answer questions about firing his offensive coordinator. The uber-talented Justin Herbert is playing his worst football in his seven-year NFL career. L.A.’s offense looks disjointed, riddled with miscues and sloppy penalties. The Chargers are hampered by injuries again, with four of the team’s projected starting five along the offensive line already suffering injuries that forced them to miss time. The Chargers have one of the worst scoring offenses in the league, and there’s no sign that things will turn around soon, with one of the best defenses in the league traveling to SoFi Stadium to face the Bolts in the Denver Broncos. Once again, the Chargers appear to be facing another lost season led by one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, and at the center of that struggle is the strained relationship between Harbaugh, McDaniel and Herbert. Greg Auman: I took the Chargers to win the Super Bowl and thought highly of the Texans, so it would be easy to echo the shock of those two teams opening to 0-4 records. I’ll pivot to the other side of surprise, and three current playoff teams I didn’t see coming: the Giants, Raiders and Browns, all off to promising 3-1 starts. You never know how quickly a new coach can imprint on a team that has struggled, and Klint Kubiak has certainly impressed in his first month in Las Vegas. Kubiak had bounced to five teams in five years before winning a Super Bowl last year, from the Vikings to Broncos to 49ers to Chiefs to Seahawks. He looks like someone who has learned from every stop and knows how to build a winning culture. General manager John Spytek spent big in free agency, but Tyler Linderbaum looks like a game-changer, and Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker are a great young linebacker duo. It may not translate to the playoffs this year, but the trajectory is undeniably upward. There’s so much less standing between the Giants and a division title in John Harbaugh’s first season there. The Eagles are now down three solid offensive linemen, and the Cowboys show little sign that their defense isn’t the limiting factor it was last year. Can Jameis Winston play a full season without falling back to old turnover habits? That may be the biggest question, but New York’s defensive front and rookie linebacker Arvell Reese should only improve as the year progresses. And Cleveland, off to a 3-1 start with their only loss at Jacksonville? Todd Monken is the old man in this first-year head coach class, and he’s managed to win with Deshaun Watson, a wrinkle nobody saw coming. Rookie receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion are playmakers, and second-year defensive tackle Mason Graham had four sacks in his first three games before falling to injury. Their schedule is loaded with winnable games, and while they’re unlikely to catch Baltimore, they could stick around in an AFC North where all four teams are at .500 or better right now. Steven Ruiz: I’ll go with the idea that the Cowboys' defense can be "average." I really bought into it and picked Dallas to win the NFC East. My optimism was based on new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, but I’m already selling my stock. It’s early, so Parker could develop into a great play-caller someday, but Dallas's defense isn't playing like a well-coached unit right now. There have been coverage busts, missed tackles, and blown assignments all over the field. So, it feels an awful lot like the 2025 version of the defense. I’m sure some of that will get resolved over the next few months, but it’s going to be difficult to fix all of it. Beyond the coaching issues, there’s still a concerning lack of talent. I’d hoped the safeties would improve with the addition of first-round pick Caleb Downs, but the rookie has mostly been used as a nickel back, leaving Markquese Bell and Malik Hooker to cover the deep parts of the field. They’ve been a disaster, and it’s tanked the entire pass unit. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.'s arrival could push Downs back to safety, patching one of the biggest holes on that unit. But as the defense is currently constructed, this is far from a playoff-level unit. With Philadelphia’s season in peril and New York rolling with Jameis Winston for the foreseeable future, the bar for this defense to win the division is much lower than I expected in the offseason. So my take on the defense may have been irredeemably wrong, but I’m still feeling good about my NFC East pick. Henry McKenna: I thought the Chiefs would miss the playoffs, and that was because I thought Patrick Mahomes would need some time before getting on the field — let alone looking like a top-three quarterback. I also thought Kenneth Walker III wouldn’t magically transform the Chiefs’ offensive identity. I was skeptical of whether bringing back OC Eric Bieniemy was the right move — when the team needed fresh ideas. I was beginning to think that maybe there wasn’t enough talent on defense, even with Steve Spagnuolo pulling the strings. So, yeah, I got all that wrong. Every single element. After just four games, the Chiefs have an 89% chance at making the playoffs, tied for the highest in the NFL. They have the highest odds to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That’s because Mahomes is playing the best football he’s played in the last five years. Walker looks like he’s on the same play-making plane as the likes of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Bieniemy and Andy Reid have used Walker to bring new life to a dud of an offense. And Spags looks just fine working with the guys he’s got, including high-impact rookies Mansoor Delane, the team’s new CB1, and R Mason Thomas, the team’s rotational edge rusher. The Chiefs took a number of calculated risks. Every single one has paid off. The dynasty is alive and well.

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Sean Payton Says He’ll Call Broncos’ Offensive Plays Against Chargers

Even with a talented quarterback in Bo Nix and a new wide receiver in Jaylen Waddle, the Denver Broncos’ offense still hasn't delivered. Payton told reporters that he will be calling the plays starting this Sunday against the Chargers. ESPN had originally reported that offensive coordinator Davis Webb will still be the main communication with Nix, but Payton would have the final say. Denver fell to the Chiefs in its Week 1 road opener, 31-10, in Patrick Mahomes' return from injury; it then secured home wins over the Jaguars in Week 2 and the Rams in Week 3, but suffered its second loss to the 49ers on the road. That puts the Broncos at 2-2, with both losses resulting from 14 points or fewer on offense, calling for a new solution in play-calling. Webb got the keys to play-calling this offseason, with Payton still close by. But Payton made it clear that offensive play-calling needed a change moving forward. "I think our focus needs to be more on the specifics and the detail of each play regardless [of who's calling the plays]. I think Davis is very fast, very quick, and understands what we're doing. I think that the most important job I have is really evaluating the whys," according to ESPN. Payton's involvement will help Denver’s offense improve across the board, given its numbers after Week 4. The Broncos’ run game ranks 29th in yards per game with 81, and the offense ranks 27th in yards per game with 280. Noticing glaring issues early on, Payton noted that correcting them quickly will be vital down the road. "I think, collectively, we all after a game, and after a four-game sample size, certainly this isn't championship football, what we see. How quickly can we correct those things?" With a Week 6 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, who sit atop the league in yards allowed per game with 246, implementing Payton in a larger play-calling role in Week 5 will be the prime setup heading into a home game vs. Seattle’s defense.

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Will Hill's Parlay Of The Week: Back Seahawks, Steelers To Win In Week 5

It’s that time of the week, where we approach the weekend and try to turn some beer money into … more beer money. Last week, the five-leg parlay came painfully close to cashing at nearly 14-1 odds. With four of the five legs winning, our only loss came on a late, meaningless Titans touchdown after third-and-16 and fourth-and-11 conversions. It's the way the cookie crumbles. On to this week. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Iowa State heads to Provo, Utah to take on BYU on Friday night. BYU is coming off a win and a cover, as it defeated TCU 17-10 last week. However, diving into the box score revealed a less impressive performance for the Cougars, as they somehow managed to win despite just 62 passing yards. I like ISU and its prolific ground game — led by Aiden Flora — to keep this game close. Kentucky looks like more than just a basketball school. It is 4-1 and faces an LSU team that lost its only road game so far this season. Kentucky has a rising star at head coach in former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, and its only loss was to an Alabama team that appears to once again be on the short list of national title contenders. I like the home ‘dog. The Cowboys are an offensive machine. I have a hard time seeing the beleaguered Buccaneers slow them down in Dallas on Thursday night. The Steelers have been off since last Thursday, getting some extra time to rest and prepare for the Colts. Meanwhile, Indy has a road game immediately after a trip to London. Major travel and rest advantage for the home Steelers. The Seahawks welcome in the 49ers in a huge NFC West clash. These teams have met twice since the calendar flipped to 2026, with the Seahawks winning both games by a combined score of 54-9 — in Week 18 of last year, then again two weeks later in the divisional round. The defending champs are hard to beat in Seattle. I’ll use them as the last leg of the parlay.

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Ravens Make Blockbuster Trade For Eagles Star Offensive Lineman

After losing Tyler Lindenbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency this past offseason, the Baltimore Ravens have finally filled the void. The Ravens have acquired center Cam Jurgens from the Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon. Baltimore is sending a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to Philadelphia for Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick, per ESPN. At just 27 years old, Jurgens was groomed and once viewed as the heir apparent to long-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce. With a clear need at center after losing multiple centers to injury, Jurgens should project seamlessly within Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s scheme. After Landon Dickerson landed on injured reserve early in the season, Jurgens briefly kicked out to left guard while rookie Drew Kendall stepped in at center. With the trade to the Ravens now official, the expectation is that Jurgens will shift back to his natural center position. The Ravens' depth at the position took a major hit after losing starting center Danny Pinter to season-ending knee surgery in training camp. Matters worsened when both Ethan Pocic and Jovaughn Gwyn suffered injuries in Week 3, paving the way for Wednesday’s trade for Jurgens. Jurgens signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension in the 2025 offseason and remains under contract through the 2029 season. Following the trade, the Eagles now have multiple first- and second-round picks in the 2028 NFL Draft and are up to nine picks total; they acquired an extra first-round pick in June in the A.J. Brown trade with the New England Patriots. Jurgens has struggled this season, recording a 38.7 overall grade along with a 31.7 pass-blocking and 50.3 run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus. He'll be switching schemes, with the Ravens potentially viewing Jurgens as a better fit for their wide-zone run scheme. With the center position solidified, all eyes turn toward quarterback Lamar Jackson’s health as the Ravens pursue Super Bowl aspirations under first-year head coach Jesse Minter. Jackson is expected to miss Baltimore's Week 5 road tilt against the Atlanta Falcons due to an ankle sprain.

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Roll The Tape: Will Mike Macdonald Again Get The Best Of Kyle Shanahan?

The Dallas Cowboys just saved their season. The Chicago Bears are surviving without Caleb Williams. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the biggest surprise in the AFC. And the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks have picked up right they left off last year. Each week, I dive into the All-22 coaches' film before offering a few insights to watch. Here are four developments that could be long-term storylines involving some of the best teams and players in the NFL. If you enjoy watching a chess match on artificial turf, you might want to tune in when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX) for the battle of wits between Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald. As brilliant schemers with voluminous playbooks loaded with creative play designs from various personnel groupings, the whiteboard matchup will showcase the imagination and innovative tactics of two of the league’s best coaches. The 46-year-old Shanahan has revolutionized football with variations of a zone-based scheme popularized by his legendary (and Super Bowl-winning) father, Mike. The 49ers' run-heavy formations are built on off-tackle plays perfectly complemented by exotic pre-snap shifts, motions and condensed alignments. With the constant movement and misdirection leaving defenders dazed and confused, San Francisco routinely generates explosive plays on blown assignments and misalignments. The 39-year-old Macdonald, though, has often neutralized the Niners by featuring two-high safeties, light boxes and various sub-package personnel with five or six defensive backs on the field. Additionally, Seattle varies its adjustments to motions to give the quarterbacks false keys on whether the coverage is man or zone based on defensive backs running across the formation. The Seahawks will occasionally run their defenders across the field, shadowing the motion man before dropping into zone coverage. They will also "rock-and-roll" defenders and meet the motion man on the other side in man coverage. The ever-changing tactics and intricate pre-snap disguises prevent the 49ers from exploiting the "tells" opponents give away with their alignments. With the Seahawks stockpiling interchangeable, versatile defensive backs, light boxes let the "Dark Side" use the speed and quickness of their hybrid defenders to contain the run while staying over the top of play-action passes. To accomplish this, the Seahawks rely heavily on their imposing defensive line to control the point of attack, with Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed whipping blockers with their individual and collective athleticism and physicality. The trio's explosiveness clogs interior gaps and forces the 49ers to the edges against a group of fast defensive backs who excel at one-on-one tackles in space. As Macdonald preaches a "12 as one" mentality throughout his team, the Seahawks’ defense takes the mantra a step further by playing like an extra defender is on the field through their effort and physicality between the lines. Against the 49ers, the Seahawks rely on that energy and flawless execution to match up with an offensive juggernaut that features blue-chip players at every marquee position, including quarterback (Brock Purdy), running back (Christian McCaffrey), wide receiver (Mike Evans), tight end (George Kittle) and left tackle (Trent Williams). The 49ers’ offense has been rolling with its stars and veteran role players (see: Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk), making key plays in pivotal moments in a scheme that puts defenders in a mental and physical grinder. The complex shifts, motions, and condensed alignments force quick adjustments, while the downhill running game and "catch-and-run" aerial attack test every defender's open-field tackling skills and overall physicality. While Macdonald has typically gotten the upper hand against Shanahan — his defenses have held the Niners to less than 20 points in five of six meetings, including without a touchdown in their past two encounters — the first edition of their 2026 heavyweight battle will feature a few new tricks and tactics that keep the defensive guru running to the tablet to see how the offensive wizard is creating extra gaps in the running game and free access for his playmakers on passing plays. Given Shanahan’s attention to detail in crafting a game plan that meshes an ultra-physical rushing attack with a razzle-dazzle passing game, Macdonald will need to come up with another masterpiece to cool off the league’s hottest team. While there is no disputing George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb as the most dynamic pass-catching duo in football, No. 88 is making a run at the NFL’s top spot overall. He's strung together three 100-yard games, putting him atop the league's leaderboard in receptions (37) and receiving yards (498) through four games. He is also tied for second in big plays (receptions of 20-plus yards) with seven. Such numbers are even more impressive when considering Lamb is in a playmaker-by-committee situation with Pickens roaming the opposite side of the field. Lamb is coming off his best game yet, collecting 17 catches for 189 yards and a jaw-dropping go-ahead touchdown against the Texans that showcased his spectacular route-running skills. Although the three-time All-Pro is an unstoppable force on the perimeter, the Cowboys’ coaching staff has set him up for success by putting him in motion to give him free access to his routes. Per Next Gen Stats, Lamb has been targeted on 46.2% of his routes this season when put in motion, the fourth-highest rate among wide receivers with at least 10 such routes. Additionally, Lamb has generated the third-most yards after the catch (164), while tying for the fourth-most missed tackles among wide receivers. As a former punt returner with exceptional balance and body control, Lamb can elude and evade defenders in space, making him nearly impossible to contain in a scheme that keeps him moving from various alignments. With an emerging superstar on the opposite side commanding double coverage, the Cowboys have found creative ways to get Lamb his touches without disrupting the offensive flow. Moreover, they've put one of the league’s premier playmakers in a prime position to dominate the game and re-emerge as WR1 in a league loaded with blue-chip pass catchers. With Lamb on pace to notch his sixth straight 1,000-yard season and remaining a model of consistency on the perimeter, he might be primed to claim the crown as the league’s top playmaker. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has been celebrated as an offensive wizard since building Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions into a juggernaut during his tenure as OC, but the innovative playcaller deserves Bill Walsh-like treatment for transforming the Bears into a ground-and-pound machine that can light up scoreboards with or without Caleb Williams on the field. While Johnson is properly recognized for his work as a quarterback-friendly schemer who can help former No. 1 overall picks maximize their talent and potential, he has quietly crafted some of the league’s most explosive rushing attacks with creative playcalls and exotic formations. After terrorizing opponents with an uptempo, three-receiver offensive package in Detroit that featured multiple running backs and wide receivers shuttling in and out of the game, he has crafted an electric offense in the Windy City that use deception, misdirection and creative personnel deployment to befuddle defensive coordinators around the league. The Bears are among the league leaders in "12" (one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers) and "13" (one running back, three tight ends and one wide receiver) usage, with tight ends Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, and Sam Roush taking turns threatening the defense with their dual-threat capabilities as dynamic pass catchers and rugged in-line blockers. Although the Bears like to use the illusion of run-heavy formations to create explosive opportunities in the passing game, their heavy use of multi-tight end sets is part of a shell game that keeps defensive coordinators guessing when running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are on the field. The duo has helped the Bears lead the NFL in rushing (196.3 rush yards per game), while doing most of their damage from spread formations against light boxes. Despite featuring run-heavy formations prominently in their game plans, the explosive plays and spectacular runs are coming on wide-zone plays with one tight end or fewer on the field. Additionally, the Bears have used more under-center formations, particularly with Williams on the sidelines, to enhance their potent running game with a complementary bootleg and play-action package. With backside defenders unable to aggressively chase off-tackle runs to the opposite side of the field, Swift and Monangai have found plenty of creases and seams on impromptu cutback runs. As carefully scripted game plans mix under-center formations, multiple tight-end groupings and perimeter runs, the Bears’ superior talent and tactics are producing explosive runs and time-consuming drives. For a team that loves to dominate opponents with physicality and pizzazz, the Bears’ high-powered offense has old-school football fans singing Johnson’s praises as an offensive guru with a throwback call sheet. If you are scratching your head and wondering how the Jaguars have quickly emerged as title contenders under Liam Coen, you should take a long, hard look at a turnover-obsessed defense that specializes in stopping the run and taking the ball away. Since the start of the 2025 season, Jacksonville has forced 39 turnovers (tied with the Bears for the most during that time) while registering 13 multiple-takeaway games. Given the impact of turnovers on game outcomes, the Jags’ success in knocking the ball loose or picking off passes is directly tied to their ability to win. They led the league in points off takeaways in 2025 — 110 points off 31 turnovers — and they have continued to take advantage of the extra possessions and prime field position this season. Part of the Jaguars' success comes from their ability to stop the run and force opponents into long-yardage situations. Defensive linemen DaVon Hamilton, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, along with linebackers Foye Oluokun and Ventrell Miller, clog the holes at the point of attack, creating more opportunities to attack the quarterback in obvious passing situations. Jacksonville is stout against the run because of its discipline and physicality in the trenches. The front line avoids "hero" plays that leave open gaps when defenders chase the ball instead of squatting in the hole and waiting for the runner to come back to them. As a result of its disciplined approach, Jacksonville has not allowed even a 75-yard rusher in 21 straight games — the fourth-longest streak in the Super Bowl era. Studying the All-22 coaches’ footage, the Jaguars’ eye discipline and violent hands show up in every clip, with 11 defenders attacking blockers on the way to the ball. The organized approach and "hustle-hard" mentality that demands defenders finish at the ball carrier create a swarming unit that rarely concedes big plays on the ground. In pass coverage, Jacksonville's reliance on zone-based concepts lets second- and third-level defenders keep their eyes on the quarterback, leading to more aggressive breaks on the ball. Additionally, the "vision-and-break" philosophy provides defenders with more chances to snag interceptions off tipped passes or overthrown balls in their areas. With ball-hawking defenders such as Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis, Antonio Johnson and Jarrian Jones able to convert errant passes into turnovers, the Jaguars have snagged six interceptions, including three in the red zone. Although the Jaguars’ vision-and-break tactics and "bend but don’t break" philosophy have frustrated some fans who prefer man coverage and a more aggressive approach, their disciplined defenders continue to come up with timely takeaways when the field shrinks and pressure from a persistent pass rush ramps up in pivotal moments. With the umbrella coverage also limiting the "explosives" (passes over 20 yards) that directly lead to points or scoring chances, the Jaguars have kept points off the board — they rank second in scoring defense (13.25 points per game) — and produced the turnovers needed to beat title contenders. As the defense continues to follow second-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s teachings, the Jaguars are quietly becoming a championship-caliber unit that can spark a title run.

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Herd Hierarchy: Who's The NFL's New No. 1? Bills Slide As Falcons, Colts Rise

A week ago, Colin Cowherd said the Buffalo Bills were the best team in football. Now, they're not even in his top five after a sloppy performance in a loss to the New England Patriots. His latest Herd Hierarchy features a new team at No. 1, a five-spot drop for Buffalo and three fresh additions to the top 10: the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts, a team Cowherd admits he likes even if nobody else does. The Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders all fell out of the rankings, and the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings were left out entirely. Here are Cowherd's Week 4 Herd Hierarchy rankings: Cowherd's thoughts: Listen, I don't like their coaching staff, but I'll put the Dallas Cowboys in there. They gave up 7.6 yards per play to Houston, but I'll say this: Dak Prescott's pass protection, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb. When Dak is targeting CeeDee Lamb this year, he completes 80% of his throws with a 141 passer rating. So it's a very lopsided football team. They don't make enough stops. They get gashed. But just based on this offense — and it is an offensive league — I'm going to put Dallas at No. 10. Cowherd's thoughts: Nobody likes Indianapolis. I like Indianapolis. They got gashed in their opener against the Ravens, and then they faced the new offense of the Chiefs, so the stats make you think they're a bad team. But their defense is getting better. I get Tyler Warren, I get Jonathan Taylor. Now, Daniel Jones has seven giveaways. That's always going to be a problem. It's why they're not a high-end playoff team. But I like the roster with Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones starting. They're averaging 28 points a game. I like the composition of their roster. That Ravens game is still screwing up all their stats. They look like the worst defense ever. I don't think they are. I think they're getting better. I have the Colts at nine. Cowherd's thoughts: I don't think the Falcons are a mirage. Bijan Robinson is arguably the best running back in the game. Drake London's a top-five or six receiver. Kevin Stefanski is a brilliant offensive guy. The Falcons have had an above-average offensive line for years. They finally have a conductor in Stefanski, and Michael Penix. Now, are they too reliant on Bijan Robinson? Yeah, he's 66% of the offense, but it's an offensive league. The pass protection is good. You've got a star running back and a star wideout. Are they average defensively? Yeah, but unlike Dallas, I like the head coach. The Falcons are not a mirage. I'm happy for Penix in Atlanta. I have them at No. 8. Cowherd's thoughts: The stats make you think they're undefeated. They're No. 2 in total offense, but only 18th in scoring. Some of that is, I think, Matthew Stafford can be a little streaky. He doesn't give you a lot of juice, energy or mobility. If you get into a third-and-long, every defensive back and every edge rusher knows where he's going to be seven steps later. They're still the favorites to win the Super Bowl, although I have them seventh-best. The offense leads the NFL with four games of over 400 yards. Again, the stats are amazing. The defense has allowed an NFL-low five plays of over 20 yards. So what's wrong? I think their offense can stall out because you get no mobility at quarterback… They're one of the only teams with a pure pocket quarterback, and sometimes their offense goes through real quarter-to-quarter-and-a-half-long lulls. I have the Rams at seven. Cowherd's thoughts: The Bills have gotten really, really sloppy, and two of their three wins have come against the 0-4 Chargers and the 0-4 Texans. So I think the cynicism is warranted. They're averaging 32 points a game, so you think, "Oh, this is beautiful." But do they need guardrails? Do they miss Sean McDermott's conservative play-calling? They've allowed 29-plus points in three of their four games. Anybody who's a critic of them, you're winning right now. They're sloppy with an offensive head coach, and the defense doesn't do much on the back end. I have them at No. 6. Cowherd's thoughts: I trust Ben Johnson and the Bears. I also think the Bears are playing better than their personnel defensively. And here's the thing about the Bears: Their time of possession is absolutely insane. They've had the ball 53 more minutes than their opponents this season. They're just dominating time of possession. That's why the Bears' defense, to me, is overachieving. It's incredibly well-rested. It's mostly healthy. They've drafted a couple of guys who are making small impacts. I think Chicago is an example of great coaching and complementary football hiding what could be an average defense if it were on the field a lot. Cowherd's thoughts: Do I trust them in the playoffs? Well, they lead the NFL in turnover differential and are second in point differential. This is all about a young, talented quarterback finally getting his conductor, Liam Coen. I'll say this about their defense: They've held opponents to 20 points or fewer in all four games, and for a warm-weather team, they're a physical football team. Trevor Lawrence is 9-1 in his last 10 starts. He used to put the ball on the carpet more. He was a little loose. He was a little bit of what Josh Allen's been the last couple of weeks: no guardrails. Liam Coen has provided those. Travis Hunter, by the way, is on the right side of the ball. We always said you can't show up twice a week to a wide receiver meeting and be effective. Put him on defense. Let him return kicks. The kid's one of the top 10 athletes in the NFL. The Jags have figured out how to use Travis Hunter. I have them at four. Cowherd's thoughts: Like I said about Atlanta, it's not a mirage. Kansas City is very, very good. They're 2-0 on the road, and both sides of the ball are extremely well-coached. Now they've got some wide receiver injuries with Rashee Rice and (Tyquan) Thornton. So do you do something at the trade deadline? Do you bring back Tyreek Hill? You worry a little bit about that, but they've had wide receiver injury issues for years. They've gone three straight games without a sack. Do they address that? Can they at the trade deadline? Their hole is that they don't put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That's why it feels like a guy like Daniel Jones can light them up. But I have them at three. Cowherd's thoughts: They're like last year. Turnovers, 14 penalties and 150 penalty yards against the Chargers, but they find a way to win. That's kind of what Seattle is. They're very young, and they can be a little mistake-prone at quarterback or with penalties. But man, turn the sound down. Depth, speed, twitchiness. They've scored 30-plus points in three straight games, and they allow four yards per play. It just looks different. Unlike the Texans, whose defense has vanished, Seattle's defense looks as good as it did last year. Cowherd's thoughts: I don't know how long it lasts, but right now, the 49ers have 16 offensive touchdowns, with three-plus in every game. Advanced metrics say Brock Purdy's the best quarterback ever. That may change after a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Now again, Kyle Juszczyk is banged up. You cross your fingers. It's an older roster, but when healthy, George Kittle and Fred Warner are not only great players, they're great leaders. Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Shanahan, Purdy. This may be one of the best locker rooms in the league in terms of player leadership.

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