Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Plans To Start Vs. Panthers On Sunday

Baker Mayfield expects to return from a thumb injury and play when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback dislocated his right thumb when his throwing hand hit Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on a desperation pass on fourth down that was intercepted late in the fourth quarter of a 23-16 loss in Week 3. "It’s been feeling slowly better and better. That’s the frustrating part with an injury like that," Mayfield said Thursday. Mayfield has worn a special glove in practice and plans to use it in the game. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels started the past three games, going 1-2. The Buccaneers (1-5) are last in the NFC South entering the game at Carolina (3-2). Mayfield said he was aiming to return to face Pittsburgh last week but wasn't ready. The Bucs wasted a 16-3 lead in the fourth quarter and lost 26-19 in overtime. Daniels threw two picks in the fourth quarter that led to a pair of field goals. "Anytime you dislocate something there’s gonna be ligament damage. It just didn’t happen to be ligaments and tendons that I needed surgery on," Mayfield said. "So just give them time to heal, do as much as possible, come back stronger and work on that. And yeah, it’s football. If something like that happens, that’s the nature of the game, unfortunately. But we’ve got into a place where it’s strong enough to (play)." Mayfield, who signed a $165 million, three-year contract extension before the season, hadn’t missed a start since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. He played through various injuries throughout his career, which began in Cleveland after the Browns selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2018. The Buccaneers got off to their worst start since 2014, going 0-3 with Mayfield. He struggled behind an offensive line that was woeful at the time. He has two touchdown passes and two interceptions, has lost three fumbles and has been sacked 13 times. Daniels didn't fare much better but led an impressive win at Dallas on Oct. 8. Daniel has three touchdowns, five picks and a 63.4 rating. "We weren’t doing the little things right," Mayfield said. "Whether it’s guys overthinking. ... I don’t think we have dumb guys on this football team. It’s guys overthinking, just not doing the Day 1 stuff the right way. And so when you have that, guys flying around, you hesitate at quarterback or your eyes are in the right spot quarterback and you’re trusting a guy to be there, you need to understand that you build this system based on timing, the rhythm of your feet, so it’s really important to do that. Our O-line is playing a lot better, and we need to take advantage of it. We need to be on the same page." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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NFL Week 7 Betting Report: Books Seeing Surprising Action On Key Showdowns

One-third of the NFL season is behind us, with some interesting situations afoot. For example: The Rams, preseason favorites in Super Bowl odds, are 2-4 through six games. Not exactly what oddsmakers or bettors expected. Nor was this: "The Browns to lead the AFC North was not on anybody’s Bingo card this year," Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. Will the Rams get right against an improved Raiders outfit? And will Packers-Lions Over bettors be rewarded in America’s Game of the Week on FOX? More on those matchups and other notable games, with sportsbook insights and a sharper play, as we dive into NFL Week 7 betting nuggets. 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. The Packers started the season 1-2 straight up (SU) and 0-3 against the spread (ATS). That included a blowout upset home loss to the Falcons (35-14) in Week 3. But it appears Green Bay has righted the ship, winning and cashing the past three weeks to move to 4-2 SU/3-3 ATS. In addition, standout running back Josh Jacobs is off the Commissioner's Exempt List and is eligible to play. Detroit (3-2 SU/2-3 ATS) has alternated wins and losses over its first five games, but the Lions put up their best scoring effort of the season in Week 5, in a 45-21 road rout of Arizona. Detroit then had a bye in Week 6. Caesars Sports opened the Lions as 3-point home favorites vs. the Packers and quickly went to Detroit -3.5, then returned to -3. As of Wednesday evening, it was Lions -3 (-115) for a 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff on FOX. "There was sharp money towards the Packers at +3.5, but we’ve seen mostly Lions money come in, especially since they’re coming off the bye," Feazel said. That said, the total is what’s getting more attention. Caesars opened at 52.5 and is up to 53.5, three points higher than any other total in NFL Week 7 odds. "That high total has garnered some Over money. Both teams are playing well, and bettors know the Lions don’t have a good defense but know how to score," Feazel said. "I don’t anticipate the Over money stopping." Ahead of Packers-Lions, FOX has 49ers-Falcons at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. San Francisco (6-0 SU/4-2 ATS) is one of just three unbeaten teams, while Atlanta’s 2-4 SU and ATS record belies its talented backfield of Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. At DraftKings Sports, San Fran opened as a 4.5-point road favorite, dropped to -3.5 on Monday and -3 on Wednesday. And there’s a notable difference in opinion. The 49ers were drawing 67% of spread bets as of Wednesday evening, but 86% of early spread money is on the short home underdog Falcons. Caleb Williams didn’t take long to get his mojo back for the Bears (4-2 SU and ATS). Williams completed 30 of 36 passes, including his first dozen, in a 31-23 road win over the Falcons in Week 6. And the Patriots (4-2 SU and ATS) have won three in a row, though they fell just short of covering in Week 6. New England was a 7.5-point favorite and beat the Jets 26-19. For Thursday night’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Chicago is a steady 3-point favorite in Caesars’ Week 7 NFL odds. "We’re seeing more Bears money on the spread, but I don’t see this going past 3. It might close 2.5," Feazel said. "People are gonna take the Bears on the spread or the Patriots on the moneyline. "It’ll be a big decision, and we’ll likely need the Bears to win by one or two points." The total inched from 50 to 50.5, the second-highest of the week. "This is another one that will attract a lot of Over money," Feazel said. At 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, the Chiefs visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Kansas City (5-0 SU/3-2 ATS) is looking more like the team that won three Super Bowls over the past few seasons. On the flip side, Seattle (3-3/1-4-1 ATS) already has as many losses on the field as all of last season, and the Seahawks have one of the NFL’s worst spread-covering marks so far. That said, Caesars opened Seattle -1.5 (-115) and it was up to -2.5 (-117) as of Wednesday night. "It’s a little bit surprising here. We’re gravitating toward more Seahawks action," Feazel said. "We haven’t seen as much Chiefs action as we expected, even though they’re undefeated. "We’re also seeing more money on the Under, and it’s sharper action." Caesars saw sharp money on Under 44.5 and 43.5, with the total at 42.5 midweek. As noted above, the Rams are 2-4, both SU and ATS. In Week 6, Los Angeles suffered the biggest upset of the season, losing to the Cardinals 18-16 as a 12.5-point home favorite. Further, the Rams lost wideout Davante Adams to a ruptured hamstring. The timeline to return is 6-10 weeks, so that could end his season. L.A. is also dealing with injury issues elsewhere, including at kicker. Next up for the Rams is a 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kick on FOX vs. the Raiders. Las Vegas won its first three games, then lost its next three to sit at 3-3 SU. But the Raiders are the best spread-covering team in the NFL at 5-1 ATS, with close home losses to the Chiefs and the Bills. Oddsmakers still showed the Rams some respect, with Caesars opening Los Angeles as a 6-point road favorite. But that line dipped to Rams -5.5 in short order on Sunday, then went to -4.5 on Monday — after the Adams news — and -4 on Tuesday. "This game has seen more two-way action," Feazel said. "The Raiders have been competitive and efficient on offense. And the Raiders have shown they can score a lot of points against good teams." Indeed, Las Vegas fell to K.C. 30-27 as a 3.5-point home underdog in Week 4, then came up similarly short vs. Buffalo in Week 6, losing 33-30 as a 5.5-point home ‘dog. The public masses are certainly attracted to that scoring. "We’re seeing Over action. We’ll have a big need for the Under in this one," Feazel said. The total opened at 48.5 and fell as low as 47 early in the week. But it was at 48.5 (Under -115) on Wednesday night. Professional bettor Randy McKay is among those intrigued by the Rams-Raiders matchup. He grabbed Las Vegas +4.5, which on Wednesday night, was still available at some books, including DraftKings Sports and FanDuel Sports. "This is similar to the Bills-Raiders line last week," McKay said. "I like the improvement of Las Vegas with new coach Klint Kubiak. And this Rams team is losing games in all kinds of ways — on offense, defense and special teams. There’s also injuries on the Rams’ defensive line and to Adams."

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The Raiders Are Getting Better, So Why Is RB Ashton Jeanty Getting Worse?

Two yards behind the line of scrimmage and three yards from the end zone, Bills linebacker Terrell Bernard found Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. You could argue that Jeanty found Bernard – running right into the linebacker. Regardless, at the point of contact, the 5-foot-8, 208-pound Jeanty used his considerable strength to twist and churn toward the goal line. Even with Bernard bear-hugging him, Jeanty made his way into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown of the season. It was Week 6. That's how long it took Jeanty to get into the end zone. And that play was a microcosm of the debate surrounding the sixth-overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. He just barely eked out a one-yard gain, and that was because he saw contact in the backfield. The question is whether Jeanty could've done more to avoid that contact. Because on all six of his previous carries inside the 5-yard line (eighth-most in the NFL), he had not scored. It's one of the many points of inefficiency that have plagued him during his two NFL seasons. What's wrong with Jeanty? Why can't he find room to run? Why is he averaging 3.2 yards per carry – and why did he get just two carries (for minus-5 yards) in the second half of the team's loss to the Bills on Sunday? There's the ankle injury, which he suffered in training camp. It has popped up on the injury report this year, but the running back has said he's healthy. There's more going on here. Even Klint Kubiak, normally the NFL's most reserved coach, indicated that Jeanty might be headed for a reduced workload. "I think we're gonna have to get production from all three of our backs," Kubiak said on Monday. "Mike Washington did some good stuff yesterday. I thought overall our backs ran harder yesterday. I thought they broke tackles. I thought they moved the line of scrimmage once things weren't there. I thought [running backs coach Omar Young] did a really good job of challenging our guys. I thought they had one of their better games, and I expect that to continue." From my vantage point, Kubiak would be right to feature Jeanty less. Because in just about every way, the Raiders are a better team this season – except for in the run game, where Jeanty was supposed to lead the charge. When Jeanty entered the draft, the Boise State All-American looked like the second coming of Maurice Jones-Drew or Josh Jacobs. But nowadays? He's drawing different comparisons. Jeanty is starting to look like Trent Richardson, perhaps the biggest running back bust in NFL history. If you need a refresher on who Richardson was, then let's go back to the 2012 draft when the Alabama superstar went third overall. Upon arriving in Cleveland, it took the Browns roughly one season to sour on him. So two games into the 2013 season, the Browns traded him to the Colts, who thought they could resuscitate his career. They couldn't. Richardson never averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry in any one of his four NFL seasons. He was the caveat to avoid running backs in the top 10 of the draft. Which is why it's so troubling that there are several points of comparison between Jeanty and Richardson at the same point in their careers. It was ESPN's Bill Barnwell who first pointed out these comparisons after Jeanty's underwhelming rookie year. Around that time, NFL Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson made one more comparison. Tomlinson saw himself in Jeanty. "I am huge on Ashton Jeanty. I think he showed some qualities on a bad team that you see from top running backs," Tomlinson said on the "Fantasy Points" podcast. "I'm just going to tell you, his first year reminded me of mine. It was tough sledding. I think I averaged 3.7 or 3.8 yards per carry my rookie year. I'm absolutely targeting Ashton Jeanty [in fantasy football]. I'm planning on coming out of my draft with Ashton. Let me just say that." Maybe Tomlinson spent the 2001 season struggling, but he ascended quickly in his second year – with 1,683 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 498 receiving yards and another receiving touchdown. And his yards per carry (4.5) went way up in 2002. We have yet to see that leap for Jeanty. In some ways, he is getting worse, including yards per carry, where he has fallen from 3.7 in 2025 to 3.2 in 2026. There were real reasons for optimism, namely that Kubiak was arriving with a scheme that seemed ideal to feature Jeanty. And Kubiak brought in one of the league's top free agents, center Tyler Linderbaum, to improve the offensive line. There were numbers to give Tomlinson hope for more from Jeanty. In his rookie season. Jeanty had 83% of his yards after contact, the highest in the NFL. And he had .4 yards before contact per carry. In other words, the blocking was poor – and he was still finding ways to get the most out of the bad situation. This season, Jeanty is actually generating more yards after contact: 90.3% (fifth in the NFL among RBs with 50-plus carries). And he's also seeing quicker contact, at .3 yards before contact per carry. So the question is whether Jeanty's blocking has gotten worse? Or whether he's getting worse at using his blocking? On film, I'm seeing a mix of both. There do seem to be opportunities for Jeanty to get upfield and work through the creases in the line. And that's why I'll get to our last comparison. It's to Jeanty's teammate: fourth-round rookie Mike Washington. He has, in bursts, looked better than Jeanty in the same offense. This year, Washington has 34 carries for 168 yards with one touchdown. And to be fair to Jeanty, that one touchdown is doing a lot of work for Washington. That 36-yard score helped his numbers. It's not like we can discount it. It happened to Washington (and not Jeanty). That big-play ability is exactly what the Raiders are seeking from Jeanty, but he has yet to deliver. Jeanty's success rate is higher, at 35.7%, than Washington's at 32.4%, per Next Gen Stats. (Successful carries gain 50-plus percent of the needed yards on first down, 60-plus percent on second down, and 100 percent on third or fourth down.) But other than that, Jeanty's rush yards over expected per carry is -0.3 compared to Washington's 0.7 – and Washington has five explosive runs (10-plus yards), the same number as Jeanty with roughly a third of the carries. At the end of Week 6 against the Bills, it felt like the Raiders were turning the ball over to Washington more than Jeanty. It wasn't an outright benching, but it did feel like a message. Jeanty wasn't doing enough. The Raiders have every reason to explore Washington in an increased role – except, perhaps, for Jeanty's salary and draft status. They want Jeanty to work out. Maybe he will, as the ankle improves and the offensive line continues to adapt to Kubiak's offensive scheme. Maybe, maybe, maybe. But right now, Washington seems to have concrete evidence on his side. Jeanty doesn't. Perhaps that's why we saw Jeanty's workload decrease on Sunday. Perhaps that's why we'll see more of Washington in the coming weeks. This was the year Jeanty was expected to take a leap forward. So far, he's done the opposite.

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Tom Brady's NFL Power Rankings: Are The Patriots The Best Non-Undefeated Team?

Three undefeated teams remain in the NFL entering Week 7, making it easy for Tom Brady to form the top three in his power rankings. Who should be ranked after those teams, though? Well, even Brady admits that's tough. In the most recent edition of the GOAT's power rankings, Brady said that determining how to order the 4-2 teams is "harder than it looks." It certainly doesn't help that there are 10 two-loss teams after Week 6, but Brady actually has a 4-2 team ranked ahead of a 5-1 squad in this week's power rankings. Who is that team? Find out Brady's full top-10. Week 6 result: 23-13 win vs. Dallas Cowboys Brady's thoughts: After a slow start, Green Bay has joined the party. They've got a huge NFC North matchup with the Lions on Sunday. Guess who will be there? Yours truly. Jordan Love is making a lot of plays right now, but the defense has been the storyline to me during this three-game winning streak. They're getting the job done, rushing the quarterback, and they're going to get a fresh Michael Parsons later this year. But I'm excited to see Jordan and Matthew Golden stay hot and push the ball down the field a little more on Sunday in person. The matchup I'm most looking forward to in that game on Sunday is going to be the Green Bay downfield passing game. They've done a great job of that in some of their wins. They are a deep-play team with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. They've got a lot of speed on the perimeter. Do the Detroit safeties have enough to prevent those plays? The Lions might be getting Brian Branch back. That would be a huge boost to that secondary. Up next: at Detroit Lions (Sunday) Week 6 result: 17-14 loss (OT) at Denver Broncos Brady's thoughts: It's not often you outgain a team by 200 yards and lose the game, but that's where we're at Seattle. They've been turning the ball over like crazy. Those catastrophic mistakes — you just can't win in the NFL until you keep from losing, no matter how good your defense is playing. So they got three losses, all by three points or less. But don't give up on the Seahawks, trust me. Just remember, Sam Darnold is a championship quarterback. Last year in the playoffs, he played great, no turnovers. And if they don't turn it over, they have a chance to win every single week. So just make sure you're eyeing those throws, make sure you're accurate, and you're missing in the right places. Turnovers lose games more than any other stat in the NFL. You've got to protect the football. And I say it a lot: When you got a guy like JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba), just get it out there to him. Look for him at the end of the day. Up next: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday) Week 6 result: 34-31 loss vs. Houston Texans Brady's thoughts: Trevor Lawrence was spinning it on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to hold off a crazy-energized Texans team. They couldn't get any pressure Sunday. That was strange, and those D-backs were hung out on an island against C.J. Stroud. Again, we're not panicking. Houston's better than their record shows, and I like what I'm seeing under center in Jacksonville. Up next: Bye Week 6 result: 31-23 win at Atlanta Falcons Brady's thoughts: They played great. I was there to see it. They had 30 completions. They had 40 minutes of time of possession and no picks. That's the kind of football that brings a tear to my eye. Caleb Williams really didn't miss a beat. He looked great, just like he did in the opener. They picked up this huge win in Atlanta and the defense deserves a lot of credit. They're swarming to the ball. They're causing chaos all over the field, and we'll just forget about that fourth quarter for now, OK? Crazy comebacks happen when Atlanta's involved. I think the Bears feel that confidence every time they step in the huddle with Williams. They've got a coach that can dial up some great plays and they've got a quarterback that, when the initial play's not open, he's always a threat with his legs or getting out of the pocket to make explosive throws down the field. That is tough for any defense to cover. Up next: vs. New England Patriots (Thursday) Week 6 result: 17-14 win (OT) vs. Seattle Seahawks Brady's thoughts: The most confusing team in the NFL remains the most confusing team in the NFL this week, winning that bizarre game against Seattle. I'll tell you one thing: If there's one guy who doesn't care what the power rankings say about this team, it's Sean Payton. All he's worried about is winning and winning. That's the only thing that matters. But we've got to see Bo Nix find a way to kick the passing game into gear if this team wants to make a run against the other QBs he'll see in the AFC playoffs. Up next: at Arizona Cardinals Week 6 result: 33-30 win at Las Vegas Raiders Brady's thoughts: The Bills are next after holding off the Raiders in a great game in Las Vegas with no turnovers this week. Isn't it funny how much easier life is with no turnovers? Just do that every week, Josh Allen. Buffalo leads the league in points, though, through six weeks and the AFC East is shaping up to be a great race with this next team. Up next: Bye Week 6 result: 26-19 win vs. New York Jets Brady's thoughts: That's right. New England jumps Buffalo this week. Listen, there's a very easy explanation for this. In the Tom Brady Power Rankings, there's a clear scenario for when the head-to-head tiebreaker applies. It's situations where I, Tom Brady, feel like applying it. Drake Maye's been on fire the last three games. He's calm in the pocket, making throws in big moments and taking care of the ball. Does this team remind you of last year's Pats all of a sudden? I think so. I think it shows a lot of mental toughness that Drake's responded this way after the first few games. He got off to a slow start. He's still a young quarterback. He's only in Year 3. He's got a great playcaller in Josh McDaniels. They're figuring out what they're good at. That's what the Patriots always do early in the season. Up next: at Chicago Bears (Thursday) Week 6 result: Idle Brady's thoughts: It's Minnesota's turn to stay undefeated by simply not playing a game. The NFC North is shaping up to have a gauntlet this year, but the Vikings got the inside track if they're able to keep stacking these wins here early on. They'll host the Colts on Sunday, which I would say is a classic trap game, but with KOC (head coach Kevin O'Connell) and B-Flo (defensive coordinator Brian Flores) calling the shots, I have a feeling that Minnesota will be ready to go off the bye. Up next: vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 6 result: 22-6 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers Brady's thoughts: K9 (Kenneth Walker) and the Chiefs ran away with this one to stay undefeated with three wins in the division and four sacks coming from the defense. That's a huge improvement from a unit that struggled to get pressure. And if K.C. puts all of the pieces together at once, watch out. And Patrick Mahomes tied some old retired guy's record for the fewest starts to reach 100 wins. We'll reach out and see if we can get a comment on that. Up next: at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday) Week 6 result: 23-17 win vs. Washington Commanders Brady's thoughts: No surprise here. The 49ers stayed undefeated on Monday Night Football, which means they stay No. 1 in my power rankings. They head to Atlanta next week, looking to cruise into a bye at the perfect 7-0, something we didn't see coming as these injuries piled up. This team exemplifies the next man up mentality, though, which bodes well as the gauntlet of an NFL season rolls on. Up next: at Atlanta Falcons

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Sammy’s Sportsbook Whispers: Why UCLA Is The Best Betting Story Of The Season

Around the time the UCLA Bruins were set to host their Spring Game in early May, most Las Vegas sportsbooks thought they were a fringe bowl team. The Bruins’ regular-season win total opened at O/U 5.5, early money drove the market to O/U 6 and some shops were out to O/U 6.5 by August. Wise guys believed in Bob Chesney. Here we are 10 days before Halloween and the Bruins (6-0 SU, 6-0 ATS) are arguably the best betting story of the entire season. Not only have they cashed almost every Over ticket, they’ve covered every single game to date. 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. "It’s remarkable for a first-year head coach," former Vegas bookmaker Ed Salmons told me. "They run the ball well and don’t make mistakes. "You look at UCLA’s schedule, though, the only good win is at Oregon. And I don’t even know what Oregon is at this point. I watched them the other day against Nebraska and they were horrendous." At the same, you only play who’s in front of you. "I’ve moved UCLA up a touchdown from the summer," professional bettor Slice said. "I didn’t do anything with the Nico [Iamaleava] injury yet. I’m still not sure what it means. There’s probably not that big of a drop-off there. "They are an extremely well-coached football team." One of the weekend’s biggest losers in terms of power rankings is Ohio State. Despite covering a very hostile game at Indiana over the weekend, Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with an arm injury. What’s the drop-off from a Heisman finalist to freshman Luke Fahey? "I dropped Ohio State eight points, but I’ll revisit it when they play their next game," Salmons admitted. "Usually with these top-tier quarterbacks, you take seven right off the top. The backup is a true freshman, and he wasn’t ready for Indiana. It was evident they weren’t going to let him lose the game. "Ohio State goes from my No. 1 team to No. 8 or so without Sayin." The Buckeyes also went from +600 to +450 to miss the College Football Playoff at a couple sportsbooks around the country. Still, their schedule isn’t exactly tough, and their roster is loaded. Even without Sayin, OSU can beat Oregon, Northwestern and Michigan at home. Then, if you split with USC and Nebraska on the road, you’re a Playoff team. "Here’s the difference between the Big Ten and the SEC," Salmons said. "You can make a case that the Big Ten is better up top, but once you go down the ladder, the Big Ten is trash from the middle to the bottom. Outside of Arkansas and Vanderbilt, anybody can beat anybody any week in the SEC. It’s so deep." It might be deep, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t flawed teams. Two weeks ago, Texas lost against unranked Oklahoma, then lost to unranked Florida. It’s the first time since 1961 that an AP No. 1 team lost two games in a row against unranked opponents. That’s the definition of underachieving. So what’s wrong with the Longhorns? "I think they just stink," Slice cracked. "They can’t move the ball. Their average third-down distance is like third-and-9. They can’t put drives together. And now Colin Simmons is out on the defensive side. He’s their best pass rusher. "Don’t get me started on Arch Manning, either." Salmons has spoon-fed us a winning wager in college football five of the last six weeks. The BYU-ND Under is the only blemish over that span. What’s the move, Ed? "I like South Carolina this week," Salmons opined. "The public will think there’s no way South Carolina should be favored. A team that’s unranked is favored over a top-12 team. The line and the money tell you the story." And don’t look now, but if the regular season ended today, every single NFC North team would make the postseason. That has never happened since the league expanded to a 14-team playoff back in 2020. "The Packers look like the most complete team in that division," Feazel said. "Especially with Josh Jacobs returning to the lineup and Micah Parsons potentially not far behind. Both the Bears and Lions continue to show defensive vulnerabilities and the Vikings’ biggest concern is the offense. "As the season progresses, the NFC North is making a strong case as the deepest and most dominant division in the NFL."

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Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker Downplays Seattle Return As Chiefs Visit Seahawks

Kenneth Walker is quiet by nature, so you would never know by talking to the Kansas City Chiefs running back that he is about to return to Seattle, where he helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl just last season. Better leave it to his current coach, Andy Reid, and Walker's teammates to talk about Sunday night's highly anticipated showdown. "I know it's going to be a special moment for him to get back to the place where you kind of built your career, and won a Super Bowl," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday. "Those fans were the people around him for all that. A lot of those people were teammates he grew up with as well in the NFL. It will be a special moment for him. "But at the end of the day," Mahomes added, "we have to win a football game." Walker knows that as well as anyone. That might be another reason why he sidestepped a question, just like he's been avoiding those big defensive tackles, when he was asked about his return to Seattle after the Chiefs' 22-6 win over the Chargers last weekend. "I'm just focused on critiquing the mistakes we made," Walker said. "Once we get to that point, we'll see." That point is nearly here. Few free agents have made the kind of splash Walker has with Kansas City this season. He leads the NFL with 665 yards rushing, even though he's appeared in one game fewer than a lot of guys by virtue of the Chiefs' early bye. He's averaging 6.3 yards per attempt, half a yard better than the Falcons' Bijan Robinson, who is No. 2 among running backs. And his six touchdown runs are two back of the NFL's leader, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, and one behind the league's leading running backs. The most important number: Walker has helped the Chiefs start 5-0, making them one of the NFL's final three unbeatens. Walker was picked by Seattle in the second round of the 2022 draft, but for most his career, Walker shared duties in the backfield with Zach Charbonnet, whom the Seahawks picked in the second round the following year. It wasn't until Charbonnet hurt his knee late last season, and Walker became their singular feature back, that folks really got a glimpse of what he could do. Walker ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns in a rout of the 49ers to start the playoffs. He ran for another score in the next round against the Rams. And in the Super Bowl, Walker rumbled for 135 yards against New England on his way to MVP honors. "He's wired to do it," Reid said of Walker's return to Seattle. "When you're on a team, everybody knows your strengths and weaknesses and quirks and everything. I think the boys there will try to get after him a little bit. But he's a pretty level-headed guy. The way he plays, you're going to get a good rep when he gets the ball in his hands. He kind of has one speed: He's coming at you. It doesn't matter who he's playing or where he's playing." That might be true. But there is still something special about facing your former team, said Kansas City linebacker Drue Tranquill, who gets to do it twice a season; he spent his first four seasons with the Chargers, the Chiefs' rival in the AFC West. "You're emotions are higher," Tranquill said. There's something a little more edgy to facing your former team. At least, it was that way for me, and I'm sure he has a little chip on his shoulder, too. It will be a little hostile. I'm sure he'll love it." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Can Seahawks Be Kenneth Walker's Kryptonite? Why Sunday Could Flip Narrative On Chiefs RB

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is balling out for his new team, and that’s no surprise to Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Jones observed Walker’s unique skill set up close, as the Memphis native put the Seattle offense on his back to lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory just eight months ago, earning MVP honors. However, Seattle decided not to use the franchise tag and lost Walker to the Chiefs in free agency. Walker now leads the league in rushing and has rejuvenated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense, pushing them to a 5-0 record, while the Seahawks are scuffling at 3-3. The two teams face off in a nationally televised game at Lumen Field on Sunday, and Jones is tasked with trying to shut down his former teammate. "We’ve got our hands full," Jones told me. "He’s playing at a really high level — an Offensive Player of the Year type level. We just want to go out there and stop him. Keeping him to a minimum of yards would be a best-case scenario with a guy like him." Walker leads the league in rushing with 665 yards in just five games, and that's with the Chiefs already having their bye week. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have 643 rushing yards as a team in six games, causing many to second-guess their decision to let Walker leave as he signed a three-year, $43.05 million contract to join the Chiefs in March. Walker has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his five games this season, but Seattle has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 8 of the 2024 season, when James Cook of the Buffalo Bills ran for 111 yards. That’s a streak of 35 straight games. Jones has been Seattle’s green-dot, defensive play caller for all that stretch and says he takes pride in that mark. "It only probably means something to me," Jones told me. "Just being in the middle of that defense, I’m pretty sure I think about it more than any of the other guys." In his third year in head coach Mike Macdonald’s system, Jones told me he’s the most comfortable playing inside linebacker as a pro. And it shows. Jones is second in the league in combined tackles with 59, including three tackles for loss. He also has three sacks, an interception and three pass deflections. The Seahawks lead the NFL in total yards allowed per game (237) and they’re tied for the top spot in takeaways (11). Jones said his defense will have to use those playmaking attributes to contain one of the most elusive runners in the league in Walker. "It’s rallying to the football, staying disciplined and just tackling," Jones told me. "You’ve got to tackle well. You can’t give him an opportunity to continue to make people miss, because he’s dynamic at doing that. He’s a really, really good back." Seahawks general manager John Schneider decided to let Walker hit free agency in part because of his injury history. Walker, who the Seahawks took in the second round of the 2022 draft, struggled at times to stay on the field, playing all 17 games in just one season in four years with the team. Schneider views the running back position as fungible and replaceable. The Seahawks have only signed three running backs to second contracts during Schneider’s era: Marshawn Lynch, Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. Lynch was the only one of the three who proved a good return on the investment. Schneider used the salary cap space he saved by not signing Walker to re-sign receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51.7 million extension. And while Shaheed has not produced at a similar level to Walker, the Seahawks also gave up fourth- and fifth-round picks to secure his services in a trade, so it made sense to try and keep the San Diego native considering the draft compensation used and Shaheed’s versatility. However, Schneider’s plan to replace Walker’s production with a running-back-by-committee approach has not worked. The Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price in the first round to serve as the team’s workhorse back while Zach Charbonnet worked his way back from an ACL tear he suffered last postseason. Price is on the injured reserve with a chest injury and struggled to hold onto the football when healthy, fumbling the ball twice over three games. Seattle could be getting some reinforcements back with Charbonnet a full participant at practice this week for the first time since he was injured during the playoffs. Jones said whether it’s Charbonnet or the current running back group (which features Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Velus Jones Jr.), it’s about execution. "The running game as a whole is more than having a guy back there," Jones told me. "Guys have to work together in making that thing go forward. And I think that’s what we’re striving to continue to do. We’ve seen our offense do it at a high level before, so I think that’s what they’re searching for, just hitting the right targets. And I believe they are going to do that." Sam Darnold struggled this season without Walker and a dynamic running game to lean on, throwing seven interceptions in four games since returning from a glute injury. However, the USC product went through a similar stretch last season, including a four-interception performance in a close loss to the Los Angeles Rams, where Jones vehemently defended his quarterback in comments to reporters afterwards. This season, Jones believes Darnold will rebound again, needing more time on task with new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury to get more connected within the offense. "It’s the reps," Jones told me. "He did miss a game or two. That’s a hard position back there. I cannot sit up here and say I would do anything different. I know the type of guy Sam is and the work he puts in. I know he cares, so if anybody can turn this thing around and fix the problems that they’re having, it’s him." The margins of the Seahawks' losses have been thin. They've only been outscored by a total of eight points in their three losses. But Jones thinks two specific areas have led to Seattle's so-so start this year: its struggles defensively in the red zone (30th in the NFL) and taking care of the football (12 giveaways, tied for the third-most). "We’ve just got to work on the things that are hurting us right now, which is red zone defense and ball security," Jones said. "We’re not taking care of it and we’re not stopping people from scoring. I think if you do those things at least one more time in each of those losses, then you’re sitting here with a completely different story. So, I just think capitalizing on those moments and not hurting ourselves is the biggest thing right now." The NFL’s Dream Team has shown some cracks in the foundation under head coach Sean McVay after starting the season 2-4. Running back Kyren Williams complained about not being on the field enough after his team’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Williams is sharing carries with Blake Corum, but the Pro Bowler is outpacing the Michigan product in rushing yards (393-223) and carries (80-47) through six games. However, the tone-setting running back said he just wants to help make a significant impact for an underperforming offense. "No matter what, we’ve got to continue to have that energy," Williams said after the game. "When plays are made, be excited and be happy so that we can uplift not only the offense, but the defense and special teams. Being able to have that camaraderie and being able to play off one another – that’s going to allow us to be where we want to be." The team’s best player on offense, Puka Nacua, also didn’t mince words when asked how the team can get out of its current funk — they need to play more physical. "I think the physicality is something we’re not going to shy away from and is a big part of who we are," Nacua said. "I think that physicality, with an awareness of what’s going on and what the defense is presenting us so we can use our physicality as a strength." Bottom line: The Rams need to get back to running the football. Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford leads the league in passing yards (1,794) and completions (164), but he also has the most passing attempts (249) in the NFL. That’s not a recipe for success for a 38-year-old quarterback playing on a team dealing with a rash of significant injuries. Rams head coach Sean McVay announced this week that defensive tackle Poona Ford (torn triceps) is out for the year, Davante Adams (hamstring tear) will be out six to 10 weeks, defensive tackle Kobie Turner (groin) will go on the injured reserve and recent addition kicker Blake Grupe is out for the year with a torn ACL in his right knee. Cornerback Trent McDuffie likely remains out this week with a groin issue, and edge rusher Myles Garrett will miss his sixth game as he recovers from a knee issue. And tight end Terance Ferguson has missed three games with an ankle injury. McVay’s offense operates best when he effectively runs the football because it activates the play-action game. But McVay also sometimes loses sight of running the football during the game, especially when his team is chasing points. The Rams have run the ball just 36% of the time this season, compared to 43% in 2025. Los Angeles is averaging 113 rushing yards a game this season, compared to 127 rushing yards a contest last year. In 2025, Stafford led the league with 1,779 passing yards on play-action passes, with 19 touchdowns and just one interception. This year, Stafford is 11th in play-action passing yards (421), with two touchdowns and two interceptions. "I would like to be more balanced, no question about it," McVay said this week. "Ultimately, what I care about and what we care about is what’s the best way to move the ball and score points. Because of some of the situations that we’ve been in, those two-minute situations have gotten us a little bit out of balance. "No matter how I cut it, it’s an excuse. I’d like to be able to have a little bit more balance and that’s reflected by being efficient on early downs and sustaining drives." Los Angeles Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak wants to run the football. Just look at the Seattle Seahawks when he was there last season, who leaned on the electric play of Walker in the postseason to win the Super Bowl. Kubiak has a first-round running back in Ashton Jeanty, selected No. 6 overall in last year’s draft. But the Raiders have been unable to get consistent production from Jeanty in Kubiak’s zone running scheme. Jeanty’s got 313 yards on 98 carries, averaging a pedestrian 3.2 yards per carry. He’s showing toughness by playing through ankle and foot injuries, though. Meanwhile, Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round rookie out of Arkansas, has 168 yards on 34 carries for a robust 4.9 yards per carry. Washington is a big back at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, compared to the 5-8, 208-pound Jeanty. And Jeanty’s carries have steadily declined from a season-high 23 carries to start the year to back-to-back season lows of 10 carries each of the last two games. Jeanty had just 22 yards against the Bills. Jeanty is the only running back with at least 50 carries to be stuffed for a loss or no gain on more than a quarter of his carries this season (26.5%), according to Next Gen Stats. Washington rushed for a game-high 43 yards on nine carries in the Raiders’ loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. Washington appears to be a better fit for Kubiak’s one-cut, zone running scheme because of his downhill running style and could be in store for a heavier workload moving forward. 5. Arizona Cardinals The Battle of L.A. has been won by …. the Cardinals? Arizona is 2-0 against both LA teams at SoFi Stadium, and the LaFleur brothers (Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur) are now 6-0 over McVay. 4. Seattle Seahawks Seattle hosts Kansas City for the first of three straight home games at Lumen Field. The Seahawks need to do a better job of keeping Darnold clean. He’s been hit a league-high 22% of the time when pressured. Darnold has been pressured on 42.3% of his dropbacks this season, per Next Gen Stats. 3. Denver Broncos Broncos head coach Sean Payton says he’s sticking with Bo Nix as the team’s starter moving forward. And the Oregon product faces the Cardinals on the road. Nix is 11-2 vs. NFC teams with 3,007 passing yards and 28 total touchdowns (22 passing, 6 rushing). 2. Kansas City Chiefs With 760 scrimmage yards and eight scrimmage touchdowns, Walker is the sixth player in league history with at least 750 scrimmage yards and eight scrimmage touchdowns in his first five games of a season, joining Jim Brown (1958 and 1963), Eric Dickerson (1983), Marshall Faulk (2000), Emmitt Smith (1995) and Priest Holmes (2002). 1. San Francisco 49ers San Francisco is rolling, but the latest injury at receiver to Mike Evans could limit Brock Purdy’s ability to push the ball down the field. Six receivers projected to help the 49ers at the start of the year are now potentially unavailable this week due to injuries in Ricky Pearsall (knee), Christian Kirk (calf), De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Demarcus Robinson (ankle), Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Evans (Achilles). "0-6 does not give the privilege to rule out anything at this point. And we’re looking into everything." — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh when asked if he would make a change during the bye week at offensive coordinator with Mike McDaniel. Harbaugh said the Bolts will work this week to simplify the offense for Justin Herbert.

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