Roll The Tape: Meet The Bears' Super Bowl X Factor; The NFL's Most Underrated WR

The Detroit Lions offered a blueprint on how to beat the best defense in football. The Chicago Bears added one of the best defenders in football. The Cincinnati Bengals boast the best No. 2 receiver in football. Each week, I dive into the All-22 coaches' film before offering a few insights to watch. Here are three developments that could be long-term storylines involving some of the best teams and players in the NFL. The Lions outsmarted Brian Flores’ impenetrable defense with a throwback formation and running game that left the Vikings defensive wizard desperately searching for answers in a pivotal division matchup this past Sunday. Using a variation of the Power-I formation that was popularized in the 1960s, the Lions ran for 230 yards, with 164 of those yards coming in the second half. The run-heavy formation put a pair of tight ends in front of star running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield, changing the math for a Vikings defense that typically overwhelms opponents with overload pressures in the form of six-plus defenders aggressively attacking gaps at the line of scrimmage. By aligning in an offset formation with the tight ends offset to the right or left of Gibbs, the Lions added two additional gaps to the Vikings’ run fits while creating a moving target for the defenders assigned to those gaps due to the pre-snap motions and shifts of tight ends Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin. Additionally, the unique positioning of Gibbs and Co. behind the offensive guard and tackle created an unbalanced formation with tight ends putting five or six men on one side of the center. While most unbalanced lines are set at the line of scrimmage, forcing the defense to bump over to even up the numbers, the Lions’ backfield formation and pre-snap movement (shifts or motions) kept the Vikings from aligning properly. With the Lions running a "Duo" blocking scheme (man blocking with select double teams at the line of scrimmage) and tight ends inserting into the line at various spots, the Vikings were outnumbered at the point of attack, creating huge running lanes for Gibbs and backup RB Sione Vaki on downhill plays. Although we have watched Rams HC Sean McVay and 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan utilize H-backs, tight ends and wideouts as lead blockers from exotic formations, the Lions’ clever deployment of their tight ends disrupted the Vikings’ blitz scheme by adding extra gaps to defend at the point of attack and varying where those gaps occurred on each play. For a team that had sparingly utilized "13" personnel prior to Week 7, the heavy usage (12 times for 81 rush yards; 83.3% success rate) proved to be the perfect solution to the Vikings’ ultra-aggressive tactics. With the Lions seemingly cracking the code on the Vikings’ aggressive scheme, the rest of the league is scouring the tape to see if they can add a few throwback formations to the call sheet to keep Flores guessing and out of sorts. When the Bears acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Titans last week for a pair of first-round picks and a fourth-rounder, the three-time All-Pro figured to bolster his new team with his disruptive potential on the interior. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Simmons is an unstoppable force at the point of attack, playing through double teams and combo blocks with poise and persistence. The loquacious defender is also arguably the league’s best trash-talker, with jabbering jaws and a non-stop motor that isn't affected by the scoreboard. Simmons plays each down like the Super Bowl is on the line, and his consistent disruption stems partly from his superior talent and work ethic. He refuses to let double teams slow him down, and his relentlessness shows in his desire to finish at the ball on every play. While most observers focus on his disruptive plays (sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits/hurries), it is Simmons’ consistency down in and down out that really transforms a defense. Studying the All-22 coaches’ footage from his Bears debut against the Seahawks in Week 8, Simmons’ energy and effort immediately jumped off the screen. The veteran ran around like a kid in a candy store, sprinting from sideline to sideline to hunt runners down. He also showed the strength and power to hold his position at the point of attack against double teams. When facing one-on-one attention at the line, he repeatedly tossed around his assigned blocker with various power maneuvers, including the bull rush and "club" to quickly disengage and pursue the ball. With Simmons also flashing a unique blend of speed and quickness to complement his superior strength, the Seahawks’ blockers couldn't neutralize him without multiple bodies coming around to shrink his run to the running back or quarterback. The four-time Pro-Bowler refused to stay blocked, and his fanatical effort energized a unit that was looking for a spark at the line of scrimmage. Looking through the tape and reviewing my notes on Chicago DC Dennis Allen’s scheme, it is easy to envision how Simmons’ role will continue to grow with the Bears. The veteran will continue to hold the point with traditional rushes that allow him to plug holes against the run, while taking a straightforward approach to the quarterback. Additionally, Allen will put him on the move in games that let Simmons use his athleticism to blow through cracks created by the choreographed movement at the line of scrimmage. With the Bears likely to add more rushers in five- and six-man pressures, Simmons should walk into sacks against overwhelmed blockers unable to handle his physicality and Allen’s creativity. Chicago's marquee addition cost a pretty penny, but his talent and tools will transform the defense into a top-notch unit that creates the kind of chaos and havoc opposing quarterbacks and playcallers fear. With the move pushing the Super Bowl-starved franchise into title contention, Simmons’ disruption and dominance could add some more hardware to the trophy case in Halas Hall at season’s end. We are only two seasons removed from Ja’Marr Chase claiming the NFL’s WR1 title after becoming the sixth player in the Super Bowl era to win the "Triple Crown" as the single-season leader in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). While the three-time All-Pro is still worthy of wearing the crown after another phenomenal season in 2025 that showcased his dominance as a playmaker, the Bengals can now lay claim to boasting the league’s best WR2. Tee Higgins, if you haven't noticed, has fully emerged as an unstoppable force on the perimeter for the 5-2 Bengals. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has opened the 2026 season on a heater with 43 catches, 726 receiving yards (second in the NFL) and four touchdowns through seven games. Higgins is averaging 103.7 receiving yards per game and 16.9 yards per catch, reflecting his big-play potential as a vertical threat. Moreover, the 2025 Pro Bowler has dominated his one-on-one matchups, using his size, length and athleticism to overwhelm defenders on jump balls down the boundary or in the red zone. It's worth noting Higgins was a high school basketball standout who had several D1 offers (Louisville, Tennessee, Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, and others) before deciding to play football at Clemson. The seventh-year pro’s hardwood skills repeatedly show up on the grass when he "boxes out" defenders to win contested catches. According to Next Gen Stats, Higgins has been one of the league’s most productive targets on tight-window throws (where the ball arrives with less than a yard of separation), which speaks to Joe Burrow's trust in the extra-long, rangy receiver. Studying the All-22 coaches’ tape, you see why the star quarterback is not afraid to target the veteran with defenders around. Higgins’ length and strength make it hard for defenders to wrestle the ball out of his hands when he hauls in a fade ball down the boundary. Additionally, Higgins excels at "high-pointing" alley-oops, like a back-door lob against a 2-3 zone defense. With Higgins flashing impressive route-running skills as a long strider with surprising agility and stop-and-start quickness, the Bengals have been able to feature their WR2 on more than just classic vertical routes (go routes and skinny posts) downfield. He can run the entire route tree out wide, with comebacks, digs and back-shoulder fades ranking as his best routes in the Bengals’ scheme. Given Higgins’ production opposite Chase, it is fair to wonder how he would fare on his own as a No. 1 option in the passing game. He has shown "take-over-the-game" potential when occupying the WR1 role, with 36 receptions, 542 receiving yards and three touchdowns in six games without Chase. Those numbers are solid and not significantly greater than Higgins’ weekly stat line, which suggests his output is sustainable as a WR1 or WR2 for the Bengals. At a time when coaches and scouts want consistency and dependability from a second wide receiver, it is hard to knock Higgins off the pedestal as the best No. 2 in football.

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NFL Week 9 Betting Report: Books Hoping For Low-Scoring Marquee Matchups

How important is a legit starting quarterback to a team’s Super Bowl odds? The Baltimore Ravens provided an example this week, with Lamar Jackson out at least the next four games and backup Tyler Huntley hurt, as well. "Going into Sunday, we had the Ravens 14/1 to win the Super Bowl. Then Lamar goes down. We ended Sunday at 50/1. And now we’re at 100/1," Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said Wednesday afternoon. Baltimore then made a semi-Hail Mary trade in hopes of salvaging its season, which resumes Thursday night vs. the Jaguars. The Ravens are double-digit home underdogs in NFL Week 9 odds. More on the trade and that matchup, along with the far more attractive Packers-Patriots showdown on FOX, as well as the Bills-Vikings Monday night meeting, as we dive into this week’s NFL 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. America’s Game of the Week is arguably the most appealing on the NFL Week 9 oddsboard. Green Bay is 4-1 straight up (SU) and 5-0 against the spread in its last five outings, improving to 5-3 SU and ATS overall. New England (5-3 SU/4-4 ATS) has won four in a row on the field, but failed to cover the spread in its last three games. Caesars Sports opened the Patriots as 2.5-point home favorites and went to -3 multiple times already this week. As of Wednesday evening, it was Patriots -3 (-113). "Action is two-way, but there’s a little more on the Patriots right now," Feazel said. "Week in and week out, the Patriots are more of a publicly-backed team." The bigger concern in this game could be the total. Early sharp action on Under 47.5 took it down to 46.5, but the public money is sure to overwhelm all that by the Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX. "I anticipate we’ll need the Under," Feazel said. The Bills visit the Vikings on Monday night, with both teams 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS. Buffalo got a big break last week against Baltimore, with Jackson’s injury. The Bills went on to a 36-10 victory as 3-point home favorites. Minnesota, meanwhile, became the last of the unbeatens to fall, losing at Detroit 19-15 as 3.5-point underdogs. The Bills opened -3 at Caesars and were up to -3.5 (even) on Wednesday evening. "We’re seeing more Bills action, but it’s not overwhelming yet," Feazel said. "We anticipate definitely needing the Under. For any Bills game, we get flooded on the Over. We’ll need Minnesota and Under on Monday night." The total is at 45.5, actually down from the 46.5 opener due to early sharp play on Under 46.5. But as Feazel noted, by 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, the public will be all over the Over. Professional bettor Randy McKay is already involved with Bills-Vikings, siding with what he deems the better defense in taking Minnesota +3.5. "It’s offense vs. defense on Monday Night Football," McKay said. "The Bills got a gift last week with Baltimore down to its third-string QB, and they still struggled, only leading 16-10 in the third quarter. Minnesota took its first loss, giving up a fourth-quarter lead. "Buffalo’s defense is still weak and on the road. I see Minnesota having some offensive success and the Vikings’ defense holding up against Josh Allen." On last week’s lookahead line for Jaguars vs. Ravens — with Jackson fully expected to play — Caesars Sports installed Baltimore as a 3-point home favorite. Then Jackson, fresh off an ankle injury, suffered a thumb injury on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage vs. the Bills. As noted above, Jackson is out at least the next four weeks while on IR, and his season could be done. So on Sunday evening, when NFL Week 9 odds reopened, there was a major shift, from Ravens-3 to Jaguars -7.5. Yet bettors didn’t think that was enough. Jacksonville quickly advanced to -8/-8.5, then got to -9.5 on Monday and even reached -10.5 briefly on Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday night, it was Jags -10 for this 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday kickoff. "It’s all Jags action, mostly at -9.5 and above. People aren’t racing to bet third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano," Feazel said. "We’ll need the Ravens to hang in there, and it’s a significant need." Interestingly, Feazel said there’s sharp action on both sides: Jaguars -8.5 and Ravens +10.5. Also, on Wednesday, Baltimore was working on a trade with Arizona to acquire QB Jacoby Brissett. But even if that deal comes to fruition, Brissett won’t be available until Week 10. Chicago is 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five games, and the public betting masses are all in on the Bears, especially after an impressive 34-17 road win vs. the Seahawks, lifting Chicago to 6-2 SU and ATS overall. At 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Bears host the Buccaneers (3-5 SU and ATS). Caesars opened Chicago as a 6-point favorite and initially backtracked to -5.5/-4.5. But that was before the Bears’ win over Seattle. Afterward, the line shot straight back to Bears -6. "Maybe this even gets to 6.5," Feazel said. "The public loves to see points. We’re taking more Bears action, even on the moneyline. Not many people are taking the Bucs. "I think we’re gonna see significant action on the Bears [this week] and going forward." Feazel also noted early action on the Over, which he expects will continue through Sunday night. The total opened at 46.5 and was at 47.5 on Wednesday night.

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Tom Brady's NFL Power Rankings: Are The Bears Really The Best Team In The League?

When Tom Brady unveiled his power rankings last week, he teased that the Chicago Bears could jump from No. 6 to No. 1 if they defeated the Seattle Seahawks — and that was before they added All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Well, the Bears made it tough for Brady not to be a man of his word this week. They picked up a decisive victory in the defending champs' home stadium, winning 34-17 as Caleb Williams, D'Andre Swift and Simmons all showed out. But other top teams, like the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, also picked up impressive victories in Week 8, making the debate for the No. 1 spot in Brady's power rankings even stronger following the Minnesota Vikings' first loss of the year. So, was Brady a man of his word with his power rankings this week? Here's his full top 10. Week 8 result: 27-6 win vs. Cleveland Browns Brady's thoughts: I kind of chose a temporary winner from the Cloud of Dust that's the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers, welcome to the top ten. The defense lived in Cleveland's backfield all afternoon, and the offense ran it all over them. Aaron Rodgers and Co. secured their payback for the loss in Cleveland earlier this year. They've won four in a row, hold sole possession of first in the division, and they've got a defense that's been suffocating during the streak. Enjoy the bye, fellas. I think Rodgers has done such a great job playing from the pocket this year. He's always done a great job protecting the football, but I always thought a lot of that was because he could get out of the pocket and turn somewhat would-be sacks or negative plays into big gains because he was outside the pocket. But his transition in is his game — playing from the pocket, still throwing the ball as great as ever, man. He's an ageless wonder. Up next: Bye Week 8 result: 28-24 loss at Denver Broncos Brady's thoughts: Two weeks ago, I had the Chiefs at No. 2 when they were unbeaten, and now they've dropped two straight. And this one in Denver kind of stings. K.C. had a lead going into the fourth and didn't score again. Over 100 yards in penalties will do that to you, and I hate pouring salt in the wound, but the knee flinched. The refs made the right call. The good news? Pat Mahomes looked like Pat Mahomes again — three touchdowns, no picks. Clean up the flags, and this offense will be right back in it as the Jets visit Arrowhead. Up next: vs. New York Jets (Sunday) Week 8 result: 24-19 win at Miami Dolphins Brady's thoughts: New England went into the half down double digits in Miami — been there before. But they flipped a switch, scoring three straight touchdowns for the win. And Drake Maye was super efficient, throwing for two tuddies, and rushing in another. Mike Vrabel helped steady the ship through some crazy, crazy South Florida weather. I love the humidity these days, but I'm not sure the Pats would agree. Up next, we've got Packers at Patriots on Sunday. I am going to need a new parking pass, though. Hey Vrabes, can you help me out there? I'm always excited to go back to that stadium, to see so many friends that, over the years, have made such a positive difference in my life. There's a big reunion going on for the 2016 team. So many fun things this weekend. I got to make sure I pace myself. We've got Gronk's induction ceremony on Saturday, the game on Sunday and a lot of family and friends. It's gonna be an awesome weekend. Up next: vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday) Week 8 result: 19-15 loss at Detroit Lions Brady's thoughts: The victory lap is over, as Minnesota's unbeaten run ends in Detroit. I was there, and the Vikings couldn't slow down the Lions' ground game in the second half and couldn't put a drive together late when they needed a touchdown. But still, they're 6-1 and nobody has allowed fewer points. Now Josh Allen and the Bills are in Minneapolis on Monday night, so not a bad spot to bounce back if they can pull it off. I don't think the Vikings need to bench Kyler Murray. I think Kyler's done a very good job this year. He doesn't turn the ball over much. There was one errant throw on Sunday, but he's done a good job protecting the ball. He can still make plays outside the pocket with his legs when he needs it. And he's a threat to throw the ball downfield. They've got to hit some of those ones to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. That would take a lot of pressure off that play-to-play execution. Up next: vs. Buffalo Bills (Monday) Week 8 result: 19-15 win vs. Minnesota Vikings Brady's thoughts: I thought about this one for a while, and I had the one-loss Vikings ahead of the Lions at first, but remembered the rule: head-to-head tiebreaker applies in situations where I decide I want to apply it. The Lions ran for over 200 yards, and Jared Goff found Jameson Williams for the go-ahead touchdown late. That connection keeps finding the end zone, and it's turned into one of the most dangerous combos in the league to start the year. Just like that, there are no unbeaten teams left in the NFL, and Detroit's won three in a row. The NFC North is shaping up for some great divisional battles later this year. What's new? Up next: at Miami Dolphins (Sunday) Week 8 result: 42-7 win vs. Indianapolis Colts Brady's thoughts: The runaway watch is officially on in the AFC South, because they blew out the Colts, and this one was over by halftime. Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown a couple of weeks after getting benched in London. And the defense took an interception back almost the length of the field. So, a three-game lead in the division, with a chance to extend it Thursday against a reeling team in Baltimore. Up next: at Baltimore Ravens (Thursday) Week 8 result: 28-24 win vs. Kansas City Chiefs Brady's thoughts: There's been a lot of discussion about Bo Nix and his struggles getting the ball down the field this year. And while we were all discussing that, the Broncos just won another game. Down two scores going into the fourth, the defense stepped up with some huge stops. Then, Bo Nix did what he needed to do, helping punch it into the end zone twice. The clutch numbers just keep getting better for this guy. And that's four straight wins. They're unbeaten at home, and they keep finding a way to win late in games. These guys believe in themselves. They believe in each other. And first place in the AFC West belongs to Denver. Up next: at Carolina Panthers (Sunday) Week 8 result: Idle Brady's thoughts: San Francisco took the week off, and honestly, after that game in Atlanta, they needed it. But getting DeForest Buckner back to the Bay is a solid way to hold a high ranking in a bye week. They're still 6-1, tied with Minnesota for the best record in the NFC, and in control of the NFC West. Up next: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday) Week 8 result: 36-10 win vs. Baltimore Ravens Brady's thoughts: Buffalo hosted the Ravens, and with Lamar Jackson leaving after one play, we didn't really get to see the game everyone wanted to see. But it created a nice chance for this Buffalo defense to gain a lot of confidence, going against the backup Ravens quarterbacks. Josh Allen is already at 20 total touchdowns on the year. That's insane! And the Bills still have the most points in the NFL. I had them at No. 1 when I first started thinking about this list. They're definitely deserving, but I had another idea. Up next: at Minnesota Vikings (Monday) Week 8 result: 34-17 win at Seattle Seahawks Brady's thoughts: Last week, I asked if Chicago could go from No. 5 to No. 1 with a win in Seattle, and I'm a man of my word. The Bears went into Seattle on Monday night and handled their business. D'Andre Swift scored three times, and when Seattle made it a one-score game late, Chicago answered. And, oh yeah, Jeffery Simmons is anchoring the defense from now on. No big deal, right? Look, these are power rankings, not standings, and there's something about the vibe in Chicago that sold me on giving them the top spot. But with great power comes great responsibility, right? Let's see what Caleb Williams can do next. Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday)

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West Coast Read: Jim Harbaugh Must Protect Justin Herbert — By Benching Him

SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) — Los Angeles Chargers president of business operations A.G. Spanos walked to the sprinter vans in the concourse at SoFi Stadium with a dour look on his face. A few minutes later, his younger brother, Chargers president of football operations John Spanos, headed to the vehicles with the same disgusted look. Inside the locker room, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh had a hushed conversation with his quarterback Justin Herbert — who earlier in the season he deemed would be the greatest quarterback ever in the NFL — before taking the podium and talking with reporters. The trendy pick by some NFL observers to win the Super Bowl before the season started, the Bolts suffered another loss over the weekend, this one a 24-9 beatdown to the crosstown Los Angeles Rams in the "Battle of LA" that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The Chargers were expected to play better after the bye week. But at 0-7, they are on track for the worst season in franchise history after back-to-back 11-6 seasons brought optimism to the franchise that they were on track to compete for a Super Bowl. So much so that Harbaugh fired good friend Greg Roman and hired highly sought-after offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, tasked with taking his prized quarterback to the next level. Instead, Herbert’s play has cratered into one of the worst-performing quarterbacks in the NFL, leading the league with 10 interceptions in seven games and a career-low 69.3 passer rating. Only Deshaun Watson (33 sacks) has been sacked more than Herbert (23). Head-scratching and perplexed looks are standard fare in a losing locker room. But it’s different for a franchise that had grown accustomed to winning under Harbaugh. "Nobody has it better than us. Nobody," had been a familiar refrain from the 62-year-old head coach. Unfortunately for the Chargers, everybody in the NFL has it better than them, as they are the only team in the league that has not earned a win so far this season. And there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight to the losing. Harbaugh once again reiterated he has no intention of firing McDaniel. I asked him if he considered benching the struggling Herbert, giving him a mental break so he can watch things for a bit from the sidelines. A terse "No" was the response. I asked Herbert the same question. "I don’t make that decision," Herbert replied. "I do my best to play quarterback and be the best quarterback and leader that I can be for this team. And that’s all I’m focused on." Harbaugh is in the third year of a five-year, $80 million deal to coach the Chargers, so he’s not going anywhere. Same with the 28-year-old Herbert, who has three years remaining on a five-year, $262.5 million deal. The most logical action is to move on from McDaniel and elevate either passing game specialist and former NFL offensive coordinator Adam Gase, or quarterbacks coach Shane Day. For now, the loyal Harbaugh has chosen to stay the course, keeping the staff the same and continuing to let McDaniel call the plays. But making no changes is a decision that could have long-term negative impacts for Herbert, making it harder for him to work his way out of the funk he’s in at quarterback. With the trade deadline in less than a week, teams will reach out to see if they can pry Herbert loose, hoping for a Matthew Stafford-like transformation wearing a new uniform. But the Chargers front office wisely will not let Herbert go. Instead, it’s up to Harbaugh to solve Herbert’s issues. He should start by handing Herbert a clipboard. With Trey Lance still on the injured list with a groin injury, the Chargers have D.J. Uiagalelei and practice squad journeyman Jake Browning as potential options to run the offense on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Harbaugh’s been there as a player. The worst season in franchise history for the Chargers? 1-15 in 2000. And who started at quarterback for five games that year? Jim Harbaugh. So, while Harbaugh says no one in the locker room has been through a situation like this, he can clearly go back down memory lane during his time replacing an ineffective Ryan Leaf. Players like rookie Akheem Mesidor say they are leaning on their past experiences to remain upbeat in a season where everything has gone wrong. Mesidor said he had a similar experience playing youth football in Canada as a linebacker, where his team didn’t win a game. "All you can control is your mindset," Mesidor told me. "If you want to come into work mad and be upset, then that’s what you’re going to be and it’s not going to help anyone around you. Everybody has to do their part, come to work with a positive mindset and prepare for the next opponent." Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack said his rookie season with the Oakland Raiders was a 3-13 season to forget. "You’ve got to keep grinding," Mack said. "Ultimately, man, we’ve just got to play team ball on offense, defense and special teams. We’ve got to play a complete game. Together." Harbaugh hasn’t forgotten how to coach. He’s yet to have a losing season in seven years of coaching in the NFL and another 16 in college. But dealing with a lost season, Harbaugh must keep the main thing the main thing. And that’s getting his franchise quarterback back to playing winning football. And for now, the best thing for Herbert could be a Sunday on the sideline with a ball cap on, eating sunflower seeds. Even before it was announced that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold would miss Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals with a quad injury, we thought it might be time for the veteran to also get some time on the bench. Darnold's season-long struggles continued in Monday's 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, completing just 17 of 34 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Yes, Darnold is dealing with a new offensive playcaller in offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. The Seahawks made wholesale changes up front with the Quenton Nelson trade, placing him at left guard, moving Grey Zabel to right guard and Anthony Bradford to the bench. The Seahawks were also without Charles Cross due to an ankle injury, with Josh Jones replacing him at left tackle. The Seahawks also just got running backs Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet from injury, and No. 2 receiver Rashid Shaheed missed Monday’s game with a knee issue. That said, Darnold has been abysmal after a sparkling postseason run that helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. Darnold ranks 26th in completion percentage (60.2), 28th in touchdown-to-interception ratio (10-9), and 26th in passer rating (79.5). And Darnold tops the league with 29 turnovers since the start of the 2025 season. Drew Lock has been nursing an elbow injury and serving as the emergency third quarterback on game day recently, with second-year pro Jalen Milroe the backup. But Lock will start against the Cardinals on Sunday, and he played well in place of an injured Darnold at the start of the year. He completed 70.2% of his passes for 422 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 127.3 passer rating, essentially playing the entirety of the Seahawks' first two games. Yes, that’s a small sample size for Lock. But Lock can prove that his play to start the season wasn't a fluke over the next two weeks, as Darnold is considered week-to-week. If Lock does that before Seattle's Week 11 bye, then the Seahawks should strongly consider starting him over Darnold for the home stretch of the regular season Mansoor Delane, who was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in April's draft, has been one of the most impressive rookie defensive players this season. With Trent McDuffie moving to the Los Angeles Rams via trade and teammate Jaylen Watson following him in free agency, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo needed an athletic body on the perimeter who would be a good fit for his press-man scheme. And so far, Delane has proved up to the task. Delane’s five pass breakups are tied for fifth among rookies. He struggled against Jaxson Smith-Njigba two weeks ago, but what cornerback in the NFL hasn't? Delane has 27 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss, in five games. He has missed two games this season with a lingering shoulder injury. FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang told me he liked the 6-foot, 190-pound Delane’s ranginess as a press corner and ball-hawking skills. "It’s his instincts most of all," Rang told me. "He’s very aware of routes developing around him. He’s a smooth athlete. He accelerates well, changes directions well and then the ball skills. He’s been a productive interceptor as well." Delane finished his college career with eight career interceptions and 27 pass breakups. The Chiefs traded up with the Cleveland Browns to get Delane, giving up the ninth overall pick, along with third-round and fifth-round selections. Along with Delane, defensive linemen Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas, defensive back Jadon Canady, running back Emmett Johnson and receiver Cyrus Allen have all made impacts from this year’s rookie class for the Chiefs. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is the only player from this year’s class who has not played. "He was one of the cleaner cornerback prospects that we’ve seen in the last several years," Rang told me. "Kansas City had one of the best drafts overall, but the crown jewel was Delane. I frankly loved the courage of [Chiefs general manager] Brett Veach to go up and get him. "You trade Trent McDuffie and you lose Jaylen Watson, so to just have the confidence in your own scheme and evaluation of a rookie that you can replace those two established NFL stars immediately, and I think that has justified their gamble." The University of Washington product finished with 104 scrimmage yards and a touchdown as the main option out of the backfield for Denver in his team’s comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The effort was Coleman’s best performance as a pro, coming off his first game back after a high-ankle sprain forced him to miss four games. Broncos head coach Sean Payton wants to run the football. And Denver has been rumored to be one of the teams interested in trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. But if Coleman can stay healthy, he gives the Broncos a runner who can create big plays in the run and passing game. And along with Coleman, the Broncos have J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey filling out the running back room. Coleman played a season-high 63% of Denver’s offensive snaps in a Week 8 win over Kansas City. 5. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) Per Next Gen Stats, 48.8% of Darnold’s passing yards this year have come from throws to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, up from 44.3% last year. On throws to receivers other than Smith-Njigba, Darnold has completed 60% of his passes for 5.7 yards per attempt, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 35.6% success rate. Last season on those same throws, Darnold completed 70.6% of his passes for 7.8 yards per attempt, with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, recording a 53.6% success rate. 4. Los Angeles Rams (4-4) Puka Nacua finished with 11 catches for 80 yards and a score in a win over the Bolts. It’s his second game with at least 10 receptions this season, tied for the most in the NFL. Nacua has 12 games with at least 10 receptions since entering the league in 2023, the second-most in the NFL over that span (Ja’Marr Chase, 14). Nacua (369) passed Robert Woods (367) for ninth on the franchise’s all-time receptions list. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) After a 5-0 start, the Chiefs have dropped two straight games on the road against two of the best defenses in the league: the Seahawks and the Broncos. Kenneth Walker III has cooled considerably after leading the league in rushing through the first five weeks. Walker has averaged 53 yards a contest over the last two games. 2. Denver Broncos (6-2) Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton leads the NFL with 101 tackles, the second player since 2000 with at least 100 tackles in their team’s first eight games of a season, joining Zaire Franklin (102 tackles in 2023 with Indianapolis). 1. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) Christian McCaffrey has 49 career games with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a scrimmage touchdown since entering the NFL in 2017. He has a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games, tied with Buffalo’s James Cook for the longest active streak in the NFL. "We’re still in identity-finding mode. We want to get this thing moving and grooving in a way that you guys have seen it before. We know how it’s supposed to look. Right now it does not feel how it’s supposed to look. We’re just going to go to work. Attack the process." — Seahawks safety Julian Love on his team rebounding from a Week 8 loss to Chicago.

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Favorite 'Dogs: Back Panthers Over Broncos; Minnesota To Cover vs. UCLA

The Big Ten's hottest team has to come down at some point, and the comeback kids have to take a week off — right? Here are the underdogs I'm backing this weekend. 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. UCLA is perhaps the best story in all college football this season. Coach Bob Chesney has his team undefeated, igniting a program that has long been dormant. Still, while the Bruins are unbeaten and have a clear path to the College Football Playoff, they could be in for a battle this Saturday against an improved Minnesota team that has been feisty in recent weeks. Minnesota nearly pulled off the upset as three-touchdown underdogs last week against defending national champion Indiana, and now hosts UCLA. As great of a story as the Bruins are, they haven’t played the stiffest competition, with their biggest signature win coming against a disappointing Oregon team that turned the ball over seven times in a 17-15 game. The other wins have come against Nevada, Michigan State, San Diego State, California, Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin. The weather should not be a major factor Saturday, but with temperatures expected to be in the high 40s, it’s also not ideal for a team from warm and sunny Los Angeles. With the point total set at 39.5, it projects to be a low-scoring game, and I give Minnesota a chance to keep it close and pull off the upset. "He can’t keep getting away with this" is a famous line from Jesse Pinkman’s character in "Breaking Bad." While Pinkman was referring to his partner in crime, Walter White, he could have just as easily been describing Bo Nix and the Broncos, who continue to overcome long stretches of uninspiring play to pull off improbable comeback victories. Three times this season, the Broncos have won games in which they trailed by double-digits in the fourth quarter, displaying incredible resilience, but also, some good fortune in securing all of these close wins. While the Panthers are banged-up in the secondary, the Broncos don’t have the prolific passing attack to exploit that weakness. The Panthers are also at home coming off of two straight losses, and have extra rest after playing on Thursday night in Week 8. I’ll take the underdog Panthers to pull off the mini-upset.

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NFL Best And Worst: From Christian Watson’s Heroics To The Colts’ Continued Collapse

We’re nearing the halfway point of the season, and the Colts — judging by their on-field play, not just their trades — are already looking toward next season. In Green Bay, Packers vs. Panthers turned into a WWE script — with Christian Watson as the featured star. And in a game in which Cam Ward reminded the NFL world why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, the Titans gave us another small example of why they’re so bad. Here’s my breakdown of the best and worst from Week 8, focusing on specific plays, developments across the league and team performances: On the last play of the game, hoping to preserve a 28-24 comeback win over the Chiefs, the Broncos rose to the occasion. Defensive end Malcolm Roach sacked Patrick Mahomes on fourth-and-goal. It capped a great stand by Denver’s defense that put the Broncos (6-2) half a game ahead of the Chiefs (5-2) for first place in the AFC West through eight weeks. For as frustrating as the Broncos can be at times, they know how to close games. That makes them a Super Bowl contender even as they continue to work through their kinks, particularly on offense. Including Sunday, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has 16 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter/OT. That is the most for any QB through three seasons since at least 1950, according to NFL on FOX research. Late in the third quarter and tied at 21 with the Cincinnati Bengals, facing a second-and-11 from their own 3-yard line, the Tennessee Titans dialed up a draw. Quarterback Cam Ward handed the ball to running back Tony Pollard in the end zone, where he was quickly tackled by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. for a safety. It was a poorly executed play, to be clear. A blitzing Knight went unaccounted for up the middle. Titans center Austin Schlottmann was quickly beaten by Lawrence. So the players bear some responsibility. But it was a baffling play call by Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll given the situation. A slow-developing handoff in the shadow of your end zone late in a tight game is risky and irresponsible. To the Titans’ credit, though, Sunday was a good day for them overall, despite the loss. This is a team that just traded its best player, All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, sending it deeper into a years-long rebuild. And it responded by nearly upsetting a top contender in the Bengals at home. Tennessee scored a season-high 36 points, its most in a game since 2021. Safety Amani Hooker had three interceptions off Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who was also sacked three times by edge rusher Jacob Martin. But quarterback Cam Ward was the big story for Tennessee. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick had one of his best games as a pro, throwing for a career-high 304 yards and two touchdowns. He took a killer sack on the Titans’ last drive of regulation, but otherwise looked very comfortable and in complete control of the offense. Ward’s standing as Tennessee’s long-term quarterback has been questioned a number of times this season, but the version of him we saw Sunday was a true franchise quarterback. Now, the challenge for him is sustaining it. In Green Bay's Thursday night victory over the Carolina Panthers, Packers wide receiver Christian Watson took a hard fall on a deep catch in the second quarter, suffering a chest injury. It forced him out of the game and into an ambulance, which took him to a local hospital. But within an hour, Watson returned in an ambulance, jumped out with his full set of pads and ran down the tunnel to rejoin his team on the sideline. It looked like a WWE scene — even to Watson. "It was super dramatic. I used to watch WWE as a kid, and it felt like I was watching WWE ‘Smackdown’ vs. ‘Raw’ or something," he said. Watson, who’d caught six passes for 100 receiving yards before exiting the game, returned to make two more catches to help the Packers to a 27-19 victory. I'm not sure that there are larger takeaways to be drawn from this, other than 1) the NFL is peak entertainment (we knew this) and 2) NFL players are incredibly tough (we knew this too). Watson had been coughing up blood and an X-ray revealed a broken rib. He had no additional issues and was cleared to return, but returning to a football game after a hospital visit is astonishing. Just as hope came back to a Ravens season that began with Super Bowl expectations, Baltimore is now teetering. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who returned Sunday against the Buffalo Bills after missing the past three games with a high ankle sprain, injured his right thumb on his first snap of the game. He was quickly ruled out, and coach Jesse Minter said afterward that Jackson will be placed on injured reserve — with him "potentially" being out for the rest of the year. This is about much more than what’s becoming a disastrous season for the Ravens, who were down to their No. 3 quarterback, undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, before halftime. This is about Jackson and his future with the franchise. If he doesn’t play again this year, he’ll have missed 16 games over the past two seasons — nearly half the possible games. He’s dealt with minor injuries throughout his career, but health has become a pressing concern in his late 20s, when he should be in his prime as a quarterback. And that doesn’t even include the fact that Jackson’s athleticism, a key part of his game, could significantly diminish as he gets older (he turns 30 in January). If you’re the Ravens, those are all legitimate reasons to be wary of giving him another record-setting contract. So that could make extension talks murky with Jackson, who already had a tense negotiation with Baltimore ahead of his current deal, which expires after the 2027 season. He even requested a trade before eventually reaching terms on an agreement that made him, at the time, the highest-paid player in league history. It’s possible that Jackson has suited up for the Ravens for the last time. Baltimore hasn’t been very good without Jackson — most teams aren’t without their franchise QB — but another tense negotiation could lead to him being traded, giving the team a fresh start with multiple first-round picks. Given the strength of the opponent (by wins and losses), margin of victory and collective performance across all three phases, I don’t think there was a team that had a better week than the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Cleveland Browns 27-6. The Broncos were in the conversation here — they limited Kenneth Walker (21 carries, 69 yards) and had a goal-line stand to beat the Chiefs, taking first place in the AFC West — but Patrick Mahomes had a ton of success throwing the ball (321 passing yards, 3 TDs) and Denver won by just four points. The Steelers, meanwhile, beat a 5-3 Browns team by three scores to supplant Cleveland for first place in the AFC North. Aaron Rodgers didn’t have a banner day (15-of-25, 172 passing yards, INT), but Pittsburgh ran for a season-high 200 yards, sacked Deshaun Watson eight times and kept Cleveland out of the end zone. The Steelers are tied for the league’s longest winning streak at four games. They haven’t been talked about as a major AFC contender, but maybe they should be. Choosing a team here wasn’t hard. The Colts are amid a fire sale — they traded two of their best players, All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and standout defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, last week — and played like a team that has packed it in for the season. Indianapolis was blown out 42-7 in Jacksonville. The offense continues to be a disaster — the Colts have scored fewer points than they did the week prior for four consecutive games. A broken defense gave up a season-high 42 points, the second time it's allowed 40-plus points this year. The performance added rocket fuel to the trade speculation surrounding star running back Jonathan Taylor, who should absolutely be dealt at this point. If you’re the Colts, you need to continue to stack up draft capital to make up for the abysmal deal for cornerback Sauce Gardner, who cost Indy two first-round picks last year. Could a contender that needs a star running back be desperate enough to give up a first-rounder for Taylor? I don’t know. But at the very least, Indianapolis should be able to get a second-round pick and more, similar to what the San Francisco 49ers gave up to get Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers (a second-, third-, fourth- and a fifth-round pick). Elsewhere on the roster, wide receiver Josh Downs — who has requested a trade — could net a mid-round pick. The Colts announced that quarterback Daniel Jones will remain the starter for Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, but you have to explore giving former first-rounder Anthony Richardson a shot at this point.

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Colin Cowherd Compares Cowboys To 'Robbers In Home Alone' After Cardinals Loss

Christmas came early for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Unfortunately for them, the Arizona Cardinals played the part of Kevin McAllister. Dallas blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at home and lost 33-30 in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals, who turned to backup quarterback Gardner Minshew after Jacoby Brissett struggled. Minshew threw three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his Cardinals debut, running back Tyler Allgeier rushed for 147 yards, and the Cowboys fell to 3-5. On Monday's edition of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," Cowherd said he thought Dallas had already bottomed out. "They grabbed a shovel and they continue to dig, which is great when you’re searching for oil, Jerry (Jones), but not for football teams," Cowherd said. Cowherd said the problem is that Dallas keeps finding new ways to lose, much like the "Wet Bandits" in the 1990 Christmas classic "Home Alone." "The Cowboys have become those two robbers in ‘Home Alone,’" Cowherd said. "They’re falling down the stairs. They’re tripping over paint cans. They’re stepping on toys. It’s a different way to be ridiculous throughout." Cowherd ran through the Cowboys lowlights through the first half of the season. "Week one against the Giants. Remember, they couldn't get the ball back. Only two possessions. Remember that they couldn't stop the Giants with Jackson Dart." Cowherd said. "Remember the Ravens game? It was that overseas botched clock management special teams decision. And then they face, in Week Five, Tampa with an undrafted rookie quarterback,couldn't get him off the field. "And then in Week Six they had extra time. They go to Green Bay with Dak Prescott, Pickens, Lamb, Javonte Williams, good old line, get five first downs in the first half, playing from behind." Cowherd said Dallas has played the fourth-easiest schedule and sits 3-5 while the Giants, on their third quarterback, lead the division. "This isn’t nitpicking. This is way out in front of you," he said. Cowherd went on to say Jerry Jones "went cheap on coaching" and didn't hold back on his opinion of the staff. "This is the worst-coached team in the NFL, and it is by a wide margin," Cowherd said. Cowherd pointed out that talent isn’t the issue. "Some teams have personnel deficiencies. That is not Dallas’ problem here," Cowherd said. "They got dudes. They're they're not that far off Denver. They got players everywhere, two-star receivers." Cowherd added that Dak Prescott deserves better. "He’s not the kind of guy that would ever demand a trade or call out teammates, but he’s coming off the field yesterday, and I’m looking at him. This is bad," Cowherd said. Prescott called the loss one of the toughest of his career but defended head coach Brian Schottenheimer afterward. "It’s all of us. Don’t put the blame on one person," he said. "I think that’s weak. I think that’s cowardly." Jones has said he doesn’t plan to make a coaching change during the season. Cowherd concluded with a suggestion: Dallas should consider selling before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10. "If they’re bad next week, do you move off George Pickens and get a pick? I mean, seriously," Cowherd said. "Let’s just start moving guys because this isn’t working."

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