Welcome to Week 8 of the fantasy football season! Below I have some players I think you should start and some I think you should sit. As usual, your mileage may vary depending on your available choices, so don't just blindly bench someone if you don't have a better option!
Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers
Prescott has been up and down this season, but he's coming off a strong Monday night game against the Eagles and now faces a bad Cardinals pass defense. Arizona has given up the most adjusted yards per attempt, the most receiving touchdowns, the second worst QB rating, and the second most yards per completion. Prescott is poised to pick up where he left off on Monday night.
If the Cardinals had better backup quarterbacks, I would be worried that Brissett might be benched during a game, but they don't. This week, as long as Brissett plays the whole game, it will be difficult for him not to accumulate fantasy points. I expect the Cowboys will be able to score on the Cardinals, while Brissett inefficiently tries to keep up through the air. Dallas, so far, has allowed the third worst completion percentage, the seventh worst average yards per attempt, and the third-worst yards per completion to opposing quarterbacks.
Murray continued to play poorly last week, but the Vikings also continued to win. Not trailing in games hurts Murray, as he doesn't need to run and throw as much to try to make up points. This week they'll face a Lions offense that should have more success against Brian Flores' top defense than any team this year. The Lions defense also remains the absolute worst at giving up fantasy points to quarterbacks. That has a lot to do with the Lions keeping teams throwing the ball from a deficit, but the results are hard to ignore.

#brissett

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning sees a different version of J.J. McCarthy than the one who struggled in Minnesota.
Speaking on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Manning pointed to McCarthy's recent play with the Giants as evidence that a fresh start is already paying off.
McCarthy, acquired from the Vikings in late September for a 2027 fifth-round pick, has appeared in three games for New York. He first drew notice in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints, when he entered with little to lose and threw for 243 yards in a near-comeback. He followed that with a strong outing in his first start against the Houston Texans, helping the Giants secure an overtime win.
Through those appearances, McCarthy has posted a 95.2 passer rating while throwing for 495 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Manning credited the early reps, particularly in two-minute situations against the Saints, for helping McCarthy settle into a rhythm.

#Giants #helping

DOVER — Senior Jules Stowell said the St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball team has talked all season about its mentality and ability to respond after digging themselves a hole.
They had to put that mentality to use Thursday night.
Fourth-seeded St. Thomas fell behind 7-2 in the opening set and later found itself tied at 20 before closing strong. The Saints carried that momentum through the next two sets to earn a 3-0 sweep of No. 13 Prospect Mountain in a Division III preliminary-round match.
St. Thomas (14-3) will host No. 5 Trinity (14-3) in a Division III quarterfinal Saturday at 6 p.m. Trinity advanced with a 3-0 win over No. 12 Sunapee.
"We came out struggling a little bit, but we definitely fought back," St. Thomas freshman Hadley DeStefano said. "I mean, in the playoffs, teams come to fight and teams come to win. So, no matter who the team is, we know they're going to come fight as hard as they can and I think just as a team, it's really symbolic that we fought back."

#teams

J.J. McCarthy has given New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh plenty to consider after an encouraging display off the bench in their 34-27 defeat to the New Orleans Saints.
The quarterback replaced Jameis Winston in the second half and helped the Giants fight back from a 24-point deficit. Although New York fell short, McCarthy's performance could put him in contention to start their next game.
The former first-round pick completed 11 of his 21 pass attempts for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, offering a bright spot in a difficult afternoon for the Giants.
McCarthy also made sure to acknowledge the support he received from New York's fanbase, despite the disappointing result.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the quarterback said: "I'm just extremely honored to be a part of the New York Football Giants, because this fanbase is unbelievable.

#Giants #fanbase #john #harbaugh

The New York Giants lost to the New Orleans Saints, 34-27, on Sunday at MetLife Stadium and dropped to 3-2-1 after a late comeback fell short.
Jameis Winston started and went 14 of 26 for 152 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before giving way to J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy went 11 of 21 for 243 yards and a touchdown as New York scored 17 points in the fourth quarter but could not erase a 34-10 deficit. Malik Nabers caught 12 passes for 165 yards.
Greg Newsome II (concussion) and Andrew Thomas (concussion evaluation) both exited in the second half.
Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), Colton Hood (concussion), Tyler Nubin (neck), and Theo Johnson (neck) were among the inactives.
Here's a look at the snap counts from New York's Week 6 loss to the Saints.

#saints

The Washington Commanders (1-3-1) wrap up Week 6 on Monday night against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (5-0). If the Commanders lose to the 49ers—and they are 7.5-point underdogs—it would be the second straight weekend that all four NFC East teams went winless.
On Sunday, here's what happened around the NFC East:
New York Giants: lost 34-27 to the New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles: lost 25-14 to the Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys: lost 23-13 to the Green Bay Packers

#east #francisco

Nate Tice & Hayden Winks dive into their instant takeaways from Week 6 of NFL action. The show kicks off with reactions from the Green Bay Packers getting a win against a Dallas Cowboys offense that could not get rolling on Sunday Night.
This week's Pick 6 begins with a Philadelphia Eagles team that seems to be in deep trouble, losing their fourth straight, this time against a surging Carolina Panthers offense. The guys jump to the preseason Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams losing another division game to the Arizona Cardinals. Is it time to panic in Los Angeles? Next, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers pull off a comeback victory against undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nate & Hayden then discuss their reactions to the Houston Texans beating the Jacksonville Jaguars across the pond in London. Then, they take a look at the New Orleans Saints scoring 34 unanswered points against the New York Giants. Is there a QB competition brewing between Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy, who saw his first action in a Giants uniform on Sunday? To close out Pick 6, the guys break down Caleb Williams' return for the Chicago Bears in their triumph over the Atlanta Falcons.
Lastly, Nate & Hayden hit on some Extra Credit, including reactions to the Tennessee ******* ans getting their first win of the season against the struggling Indianapolis Colts, an exciting shootout between the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders, and the Cleveland Browns climbing the mountain to lead the AFC North with their win against the Baltimore Ravens.
(1:55) - Packers shut down Cowboys

#reactions #sunday

Cam Skattebo faced a tough outing during the Giants' loss against the Saints for one particular reason, but his reaction has been humble and one that is focused on growth.
Cam Skattebo is a New York Giants fan-favourite, to say the least. During their Week 5 tie with the Washington Commanders, though, the running back committed a cardinal sin at a crucial moment. Skattebo fumbled the football with the team already in field-goal range, costing them a crucial opportunity to win.
There are very few things that coaches dislike at the highest level of football more than poor ball security. Any NFL running back faces massive scrutiny if they do end up losing the football. Skattebo is no different, although his punishment seemingly went well beyond the criticism.
It seems John Harbaugh wasn't interested in messing about when it came to this situation. Skattebo is certainly going to have to earn his coach's trust back. In their Week 6 loss against New Orleans, the running back was only on the field for six snaps and was not called upon for a single carry.
Najee Harris took up the role instead, and it will have been fairly embarrassing for Skattebo. Some NFL stars might get upset if this happens, but the 24-year-old's response to it revealed a surprising amount of maturity.

#Giants #loss #field

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth caught two of three targets for 11 yards in a Week 6 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Bucs.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why It Matters: This was Freiermuth's fewest targets all season, as fellow TE Darnell Washington had six targets, four receptions and a score. One has to wonder if his late addition to the injury report with a calf issue had something to do with his meager production. That said, Freiermuth has four touchdowns this year and is still a TE2 option, especially with the receiving corps as beat up as it is. ****** uming he is injury-free next week, Freiermuth warrants low-end TE1 consideration against the Saints.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Slow day at the office for Pat Freiermuth in Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay

#freiermuth

John Harbaugh might have made a statement about ball security in the New York Giants' 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. Running back Cam Skattebo, who lost an overtime fumble against the Washington Commanders the previous week, his fourth of the season, barely saw the field and did not play an offensive snap in the second half.
Skattebo played just six offensive snaps, and for the first time in his NFL career, he finished a game without touching the ball. His limited role raised questions about where he stands with Harbaugh and whether his fumbles have cost him the coach's trust.
Former NFL running back Damien Harris believes the decision came down to Harbaugh's expectations, especially when it comes to protecting the football.
Speaking on "CBS Sports HQ," Harris suggested that Skattebo's recent struggles with ball security were the reason the Giants limited his role against the Saints.
"We talked about how ball security is job security in the National Football League. Not only did Cam Skattebo get benched today… he didn't touch the football. Not one reception, not one rush. They don't trust him with the football," Harris began.

#skattebo #saints #week

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 11-17:
Oct. 11: Country singer Gene Watson is 83. Singer Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates is 80. Actor Catlin Adams ("The Jerk," "The Jazz Singer") is 76. Country singer Paulette Carlson (Highway 101) is 75. MTV VJ Mark Goodman is 74. Actor David Morse ("St. Elsewhere") is 73. Actor Stephen Spinella ("24") is 70. Actor Joan Cusack is 64. Guitarist Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms is 64. Actor-writer Michael J. Nelson ("Mystery Science Theater 3000") is 62. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 61. Actor Lennie James ("The Walking Dead") is 61. Musician Todd Snider is 60. Actor Artie Lange ("MADtv") is 59. Actor Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock," "Ally McBeal") is 58. Actor Andrea Navedo ("Jane the Virgin") is 57. Rapper MC Lyte is 56. Actor Constance Zimmer ("UnREAL," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") is 56. Actor Darien Sills-Evans ("Superior Donuts," "Treme") is 52. Singer NeeNa Lee is 51. Actor Emily Deschanel ("Bones") is 50. Actor Trevor Donovan ("90210") is 48. Rapper Cardi B is 34.
Oct. 13: Gospel singer Shirley Caesar is 89. Musician Paul Simon is 85. Keyboardist Robert Lamm of Chicago is 82. Country singer Lacy J. Dalton is 80. Singer Sammy Hagar is 79. Singer John Ford Coley of England Dan and John Ford Coley is 78. Model Beverly Johnson is 74. Actor John Lone ("The Last Emperor," "Rush Hour 2") is 74. "The X-Files" creator Chris Carter is 70. Singer Cherrelle is 67. Singer-actor-talk show host Marie Osmond is 67. Singer Joey Belladonna of Anthrax is 66. Actor T'Keyah Crystal Keymah ("That's So Raven," "In Living Color") is 64. Country singer John Wiggins is 64. Actor Christopher Judge (TV's "Stargate SG-1") is 62. Actor Matt Walsh ("Veep") is 62. Actor Reginald Ballard ("Martin," "The Bernie Mac Show") is 61. Actor Kate Walsh ("Private Practice," "Grey's Anatomy") is 59. Musician Jeff Allen of Mint Condition is 58. Actor Tisha Campbell-Martin ("My Wife and Kids," "Martin") is 58. Country singer Rhett Akins is 57. TV personality Billy Bush is 55. Actor Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat," "Da Ali G Show") is 55. Guitarist Jan Van Sichem Jr. of K's Choice is 54. Singers Brandon and Brian Casey of Jagged Edge are 51. Actor Kiele Sanchez ("Lost") is 50. Singer Ashanti is 46. Singer-rapper Lumidee is 46. Contemporary Christian singer Jon Micah Sumrall of Kutless is 46. Actor Caleb McLaughlin ("Stranger Things") is 25.
Oct. 14: Director Carroll Ballard ("The Black Stallion") is 89. Singer Cliff Richard is 86. Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is 80. Actor Greg Evigan ("My Two Dads," "B.J. and the Bear") is 73. Singer Thomas Dolby is 68. Actor Lori Petty ("A League of Their Own") is 63. Actor Steve Coogan ("Night at the Museum" movies) is 61. Singer Karyn White is 61. Actor Edward Kerr ("Pretty Little Liars," "Snoops") is 60. Actor Jon Seda ("Chicago P.D.," "Homicide: Life on the Street") is 56. Bassist Doug Virden (Sons of the Desert) is 56. Country singer Natalie Maines of The Chicks is 52. Singer Shaznay Lewis of All Saints is 5

Broncos news: Drew Brees nearly unretired to play playoff game for Denver appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hall of Famer Drew Brees came remarkably close to returning to the NFL last season after the Denver Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to a fractured ankle in their divisional-round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday.
With the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots approaching, then-Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael contacted Brees about potentially playing for Denver. Both coaches had previously worked with Brees during their time with the New Orleans Saints, giving the situation an immediate connection to the quarterback.
Brees, who was 47 at the time, did not reportedly immediately reject the proposal. Instead, he wanted to determine whether his body could handle an NFL comeback. He worked out with the possibility of playing in the AFC ***** le game, but discomfort in his wrist ultimately ended the idea.
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#brees #Broncos #denver #worked

ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell just before the Denver Broncos' matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football", reporting that some members of the Broncos staff explored the idea of bringing in former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the AFC Championship Game in January.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't know Denver's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael were talking about Brees joining the team after Bo Nix suffered an injury in the Broncos' overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.
The Broncos were set to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the offense against a stiff New England Patriots defense in snowy conditions at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver wasn't sure if Brees would make the start over Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round pick by the Patriots who had only made four career starts before the AFC championship.
A Broncos source told Schefter that Brees was confident he knew how to win that type of contest.

#Broncos #denver #round

If you thought Philip Rivers' return to become the Colts' starting quarterback last season was a shocking development, Purdue football great Drew Brees reportedly discussed an even more improbable return.
ESPN reported Brees and Denver Broncos coaches discussed Brees returning to play for the franchise in last year's AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to an ankle injory in their AFC Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Brees, 47, had not played a game since his retirement from the New Orleans Saints after the 2020 season. According to ESPN, he wanted to work out prior to making any commitments. After doing so, he said he encountered wrist pain and decided against pursuing a return.
ESPN's report said even Broncos coach Sean Payton -- Brees' coach with the Saints -- did not know of the discussions until the summer.
The Broncos instead went with their actual backup, Jarret Stidham, in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

#espn #saints #quarterback #discussed

It looks like the Denver Broncos were this close to seeing their 2025 season take an eye-popping turn. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees had considered coming out of retirement to join the Broncos in the postseason last year.
Per Schefter, Brees had conversations with the team's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ****** istant Pete Carmichael about the quarterback potentially playing in the AFC championship. The Broncos had lost starting QB Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the final plays of the divisional win over the Buffalo Bills, leaving an opening at QB1 that was being filled by backup Jarrett Stidham.
The 47-year-old Brees said that he wanted to work out first to see how his body was doing, but "discomfort" in Brees' wrist led him to turn down the offer, per Schefter.
Lombardi and Carmichael, along with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, all worked with Brees during his time with the New Orleans Saints. However, Payton only heard about the plot to entice Brees back to the NFL this offseason, with the plan leaving him "both fascinated and flabbergasted," per Schefter
However, Denver maybe could have used Brees in the ****** le game, as the team lost 10-7 to the New England Patiotrs; Stidham made crucial mistakes in the loss.

#brees

Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, but he considered coming out of retirement with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback explored joining the Denver Broncos ahead of January's AFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The conversations followed Bo Nix's fractured ankle in Denver's Jan. 17 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive **** istant Pete Carmichael, two of Brees' longtime coaches in New Orleans, contacted him about a potential return.
Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix was injured. He wanted to test his body before committing to a comeback, but wrist discomfort during his workout ended the possibility, Schefter reported.
The initial talks happened without Sean Payton's involvement. Lombardi and Carmichael first wanted to see whether Brees was interested, and Payton didn't learn about their conversations until the offseason, according to Schefter.
Had Brees felt ready to return, Denver would've signed him and evaluated whether he or Jarrett Stidham would start, Schefter noted. One Broncos source explained to ESPN how the team viewed the possibility: "At a minimum, you sign (Brees), he's 1A or 1B. And Drew's point was: 'I know how to win a game like that.'"

#brees #orleans #Broncos

Drew Brees reportedly came close to Philip Rivers-like comeback with Broncos originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Philip Rivers' unretirement shocked the NFL in 2025, but it was a last-ditch effort by the Colts just to salvage their season and get to the playoffs.
According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Drew Brees — who retired the same offseason as Rivers did — nearly rocked the league with his own stunning decision in the middle of the playoffs.
Brees even put himself through a workout to see if he could physically give it a shot, but he ultimately decided to stay retired. The Saints legend was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame just weeks later.
Here's what you need to know about Brees' near-comeback.

#brees #comeback

The Denver Broncos were in a desperate situation entering the 2026 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. With starting quarterback Bo Nix injured and missing the game, the team reportedly reached out to Hall of Famer Drew Brees to see if he was interested in what could have been one of the most surreal moments in the sport's history.
The Broncos had homefield advantage, but were dealt a cruel blow with Nix breaking his ankle late in their Divisional Round overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the game and in blizzard-like conditions, could only muster seven points as the Patriots won 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
But what if it was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center for the Broncos that day?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos did indeed reach out to Drew Brees to gauge his interest in an improbable comeback. Considering that Sean Payton coaches the Broncos and the pairing is one of the most successful in NFL history while winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, it's easy to see why Denver made the call. Brees and Payton are the second-winningest QB/Coach combo in NFL history, only behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Of course, there would have been one major obstacle to overcome. Drew Brees had just turned 47 and hadn't played a competitive NFL game since January 17, 2021 in a playoff loss to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Brees wouldn't have been alone in making an incredible return as Philip Rivers had come out of five years of retirement to play three games for the injury-plagued Indianapolis Colts. While Rivers went 0-3 as a starter, he completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 TDs to 3 INTS.

#super #payton

Matt LaFleur spent his entire offseason promising Green Bay Packers would finally learn how to finish games. Sunday in Minneapolis put that promise to the test immediately. The Packers built a healthy second-half lead, the same type of cushion that slipped away repeatedly last season, and it vanished again. What happened next, both on the field and in the press conference that followed, left fans furious.
Green Bay looked in control for most of Sunday's opener at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Packers led 22-10 in the third quarter behind Jordan Love, who threw for 387 yards and two touchdowns. Then everything unraveled. Minnesota Vikings scored 29 unanswered points in the second half, turning a comfortable lead into a 39-22 defeat.
The turning point came in the fourth quarter. With Green Bay up 25-17 after a penalty wiped a Vikings field goal off the board, LaFleur chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 instead of taking the points. Love was stopped on a quarterback sneak, and Minnesota took over on downs. The Vikings never let go from there.
Sep 12, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Love was sacked four times after halftime, lost a fumble and threw a tipped interception during the fourth-quarter collapse. Twelve Packers penalties for 98 yards, several on Minnesota's go-ahead drive, compounded the damage.

#lafleur #half

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints are moving on to Week 2 sounding more emboldened than disappointed by their season-opening loss to Detroit.
"We're in a good place," Saints veteran safety Justin Reid said Monday, a day after the 31-30 overtime loss to the Lions. "When we click on all cylinders, it's evident what we can do."
After erasing a three-touchdown deficit in the second half, the Saints matched the Lions' touchdown in overtime and tried to win the game with a 2-point conversion that failed when second-year quarterback Tyler Shough's pass fell incomplete.
"A lot of teams would have folded," Reid said. "That's not the way that we're built."
Second-year coach Kellen Moore said the Saints "get to learn a lot from that game."

#orleans #loss #overtime #game

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions know they are asking a lot of star running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
His next major test will come Thursday against the Buffalo Bills.
For the first three years of his career, Gibbs was paired with David Montgomery in Detroit's "Sonic and Knuckles" partnership. Montgomery wasn't a little-used backup, either. He averaged 853.3 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Montgomery picked up where he left off Sunday, scoring three touchdowns, but that was for the Houston Texans in a 36-31 loss to the Bills.
At the same time, Gibbs was dealing with his new workload as Detroit's only experienced rusher. He averaged a career-high 18.8 touches per game last season, but got 34 in Sunday's 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints — three more than his previous high.

#bills #Career #averaged #lions

Now that football season has returned, so has the season of tracking the sizes of the TV audiences for football games.
The first of 283 games that count in the 2026 season — a Super Bowl LX rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks — averaged 25.1 million viewers.
The good news is that the season-opening game has exceeded 25 million viewers for four straight years, matching the same run from 2013 through 2016. The bad news is that, via Manny Soloway of Awful Announcing, the number fell 12 percent from last year's 28.3 million who watched the Eagles host the Cowboys, and it was the lowest since 2022.
It's fair to wonder whether the dip had anything to do with the season starting on a Wednesday. The last Wednesday night Week 1 kickoff game happened in 2012, with the Cowboys-Giants game generating 23.9 million viewers. In contrast, the Thursday night opener the prior year, between the Saints and Packers, drew 27.2 million.
That's odd, to say the least. The Cowboys were (and still are) the Cowboys. And the Giants — in the nation's top media market — had just won the Super Bowl. It's lower number than would have been expected, and it could have had something to do with Wednesday vs. Thursday.

#wednesday #viewers #super #thursday

What did Pro Football Focus make of the New Orleans Saints' season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions? PFF's unique grading system leaves a lot to be desired as far as valuable ****** ysis, but it's a good starting point for highlighting which players pulled their weight and which performances deserve more scrutiny. With the Saints having fought their into overtime after stumbling out of the gates, let's check in on the best and worst player grades on offense and defense after Week 1.
WR Chris Olave: 82.6. Olave wasn't as effective blocking on run plays as he'd like to be, but that's nearly the only negative about his game (he did also drop a pass deep downfield early on). He caught 10 of 13 targets for a career-high 182 receiving yards, went 2-of-4 on contested catches, and converted seven first downs. His 30 yards gained after the catch were also impressive.
TE Noah Fant: 79.6. Fant had some miscues -- Shough overthrew and underthrew him a few times as the pair worked to get in sync -- but you can see why the ball continued to go his way. Fant picked up almost half of his yardage after the catch and looked comfortable while drawing targets in traffic.
QB Tyler Shough: 75.0. How impressive is it that Shough clawed his way back up the list after starting so poorly? PFF had him with six "big time throws" this week, as many as the next two quarterbacks combined, which they define as "a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." He just needs to cut down on the turnover-worthy plays, sacks, and penalties. That's easier said than done but should come with experience.
TE Juwan Johnson: 73.4. Johnson was the team's highest-rated run blocker (75.1), and while he didn't see many targets until late in the game, he made them count by going 3-of-6 for 54 yards and a critical touchdown. He also forced the Lions defense into committing a costly coverage penalty early on.

#shough

Ken Jennings opens up about his Mormon faith during his appearance on Who's With Me? with W. Kamau Bell
The Jeopardy! host said his background served as an "anchor" when he "suddenly" became rich and famous following his 74-game winning streak on the hit game show
"It informs what I try to do with the money and with the platform," Jennings said of his Mormon faith
Ken Jennings is getting candid about his Mormon faith.
During his appearance on Who's With Me? with W. Kamau Bell, Jennings, 52, opened up about being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how his Mormon faith helped him stay grounded after finding fame and wealth as one of the highest-earning American game show contestants.

#jennings #game #bell #appearance

Luke Kuechly spent his playing career making sure he never had to guess where the ball was going. But these days, the harder question is guessing which network has him next.
CBS announced Monday that the newly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer will make his debut as a CBS game ****** yst in Week 3, calling Raiders-Saints from New Orleans alongside play-by-play voice Chris Lewis and sideline reporter Amanda Balionis.
A radio ****** yst for the Carolina Panthers, Kuechly's stock skyrocketed in recent months as he became Netflix's top NFL game ****** yst after auditioning with Noah Eagle at NBC's Stamford, Connecticut studios in early July. Eagle said Kuechly's football knowledge was never in question — that much was obvious from his playing days — but what stood out during their audition, a mock call of a game from the previous season, was how quickly he got comfortable in the chair given he'd never done the job before. Eagle told Sports Media Watch that it felt like Kuechly "could see things happening before they happen."
He justified that faith in his Week 1 debut, as Awful Announcing's Megan Armstrong wrote that he dazzled alongside Eagle in Melbourne, with the reaction across sports media running overwhelmingly positive.
The streamer is expanding its NFL package from two games to five this year, including the opening-week matchup in Australia, a Thanksgiving Eve game, and a Saturday night game in Week 18, and Kuechly is expected to anchor most of that slate. Between Netflix and his new CBS ****** ignments, he's on pace to call somewhere in the range of eight to 10 games as a game ****** yst this season, on top of his usual Sunday work as a Panthers radio ****** yst. Kuechly is also replacing Bill Belichick opposite Peyton Manning on The Breakdown.

#Football

The NFL is back and Week 1 saw a little bit of everything, from the New Orleans Saints (+7) nearly coming back from a 21-0 deficit to beat the Detroit Lions to the Arizona Cardinals — with a preseason win total of 3.5 — defeat the Los Angeles Chargers outright 26-14 and eliminate many, many Survivor entries.
But the odds are already out for every Week 2 NFL game at BetMGM, so let's take a look at what's in store as the season rolls on:
Thursday
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (-4.5, 53.5)
Sunday

#lions #arizona

The Kansas City Chiefs decided to part with veteran running back Isiah Pacheco earlier this year as they looked to rebuild their offense after a failed 2025 campaign.
Pacheco quickly found work with the Detroit Lions, who signed him to a one-year contract in free agency.
While Detroit's ground game was already spearheaded by speedy rusher Jahmyr Gibbs, Pacheco was expected to make an immediate impact for the Lions as a second or third option in the team's offensive backfield.
Instead, Pacheco has found on Detroit's injured reserve list to start the 2026 season, and he failed to make his debut in the Lions' Week 1 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints on September 13.
With Pacheco on the sideline, Detroit leaned on Gibbs in the running game, giving the former Alabama Crimson Tide star 29 carries in its 31-30 victory over New Orleans.

#pacheco #gibbs #running #failed

The Detroit Lions now have a substantial cushion in terms of financial stability heading into their first game of the 2026 campaign. This will allow Brad Holmes and the rest of the front office more flexibility in whatever direction they see fit whether that is in-season moves or in preparation for the contracts they will need to negotiate next offseason.
But it is also an indicator of how much faith the team has put into their top two players. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell have each restructured their contracts without changing how vital they are to the squad.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) practices during mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The Lions have restructured the contracts of wideout Brown and offensive tackle Sewell, creating about $35.6 million in salary cap ***** e, per Spotrac. The news was announced on September 12, just one day ahead of the Lions' season opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Lions restructure contracts of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell; create $35.6M in salary cap ***** e, per spotrac.

#brown #detroit #season #restructured

New Orleans Saints RB Audric Estime (thigh) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list Saturday, Sept. 12. The team also signed practice squad TE Treyton Welch to the 53-man roster. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
SOURCE: NewOrleansSaints.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Audric Estime to miss multiple weeks

#orleans #saints #reserve #saturday

This could be interesting. Rookie running back CJ Donaldson is expected to come up from the New Orleans Saints practice squad for Week 1's road game with the Detroit Lions, reports Nick Underhill for NewOrleans.Football. While the Saints will have Travis Etienne Jr. and Kendre Miller in the lineup, veteran rusher Alvin Kamara is questionable to play and Audric Estime has been preemptively ruled out with a thigh injury. This would be one of three times the Saints can elevate Donaldson from the practice squad before they're required to promote him to the 53-man roster.
Donaldson is a bigger back, listed at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, and the Saints took time to figure out what he could do during the preseason and training camp by moving him around the formation as a fullback and halfback. That's a role he's familiar with dating back to his time in college with Ohio State and West Virginia. We know that rookie tight end Oscar Delp isn't playing in Week 1 due to a hamstring injury so maybe Donaldson does more than take some handoffs in short-yardage situations. He could get some opportunities to pave the way as a lead blocker and stand up blitzing defenders in the backfield.
But that doesn't mean he won't get some carries. Even if Etienne is going to take the lion's share of rushing attempts, Kamara isn't likely to see many touches if he does get the green light, being so soon removed from a preseason knee injury. Miller has missed 30 of his 51 possible games with New Orleans because of injuries. It makes sense to have Donaldson available in case of an emergency, if for no other reason than to keep Kamara from being rushed into some unfavorable situations.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Report: Rookie RB to be called up from Saints practice squad vs. Lions

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