“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SECTIONAL BRACKETS
CLASS 4A
1. MUNSTER (7) | BRACKET
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, LAKE CENTRAL, MERRILLVILLE, MUNSTER
2. CROWN POINT (7) | BRACKET
CHESTERTON, CROWN POINT, HOBART, KANKAKEE VALLEY, LOWELL, PORTAGE, VALPARAISO
3. MICHIGAN CITY (6) | BRACKET
LAPORTE, MICHIGAN CITY, MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND RILEY
4. ELKHART (6) | BRACKET
CONCORD, ELKHART, GOSHEN, NORTHRIDGE, PENN, WARSAW COMMUNITY
5. DEKALB (6) | BRACKET
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), DEKALB, EAST NOBLE, FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER
6. HOMESTEAD (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBIA CITY, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HOMESTEAD, HUNTINGTON NORTH, NEW HAVEN
7. LOGANSPORT (6) | BRACKET
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), KOKOMO, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, LOGANSPORT, MARION, MCCUTCHEON
8. ZIONSVILLE (6) | BRACKET
CARMEL, FISHERS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, NOBLESVILLE, WESTFIELD, ZIONSVILLE
9. PENDLETON HEIGHTS (8) | BRACKET
ANDERSON, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), MUNCIE CENTRAL, NEW PALESTINE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, RICHMOND, YORKTOWN
10. LAWRENCE NORTH (7) | BRACKET
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, NORTH CENTRAL, WARREN CENTRAL
11. BEN DAVIS (8) | BRACKET
BEN DAVIS, BREBEUF JESUIT, DECATUR CENTRAL, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, PERRY MERIDIAN, PIKE, RONCALLI, SOUTHPORT
12. TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO (5) | BRACKET
AVON, BROWNSBURG, PLAINFIELD, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO
13. GREENWOOD COMMUNITY (6) | BRACKET
BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, CENTER GROVE, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, MARTINSVILLE, MOORESVILLE
14. FRANKLIN COMMUNITY (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, SHELBYVILLE, WHITELAND COMMUNITY
15. SEYMOUR (6) | BRACKET
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY, NEW ALBANY, SEYMOUR
16. JASPER (6) | BRACKET
CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE NORTH, JASPER
CLASS 3A
17. GRIFFITH (7) | BRACKET
BOONE GROVE, CALUMET, GRIFFITH, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, HANOVER CENTRAL, HIGHLAND, RIVER FOREST
18. BREMEN (5) | BRACKET
BREMEN, CULVER ACADEMY, GLENN, KNOX, TIPPECANOE VALLEY
19. JIMTOWN (6) | BRACKET
JIMTOWN, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, NEW PRAIRIE, SOUTH BEND CLAY, SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
20. WAWASEE (5) | BRACKET
FAIRFIELD, LAKELAND, NORTHWOOD, WAWASEE, WEST NOBLE
21. ANGOLA (7) | BRACKET
ANGOLA, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, GARRETT, HERITAGE, LEO, WOODLAN
22. FRANKFORT (7) | BRACKET
BENTON CENTRAL, FRANKFORT, NORTH MONTGOMERY, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, TWIN LAKES, WEST LAFAYETTE, WESTERN
23. NORWELL (7) | BRACKET
BELLMONT, MACONAQUAH, MISSISSINEWA, NORTHWESTERN, NORWELL, OAK HILL, PERU
24. NEW CASTLE (5) | BRACKET
CENTERVILLE, DELTA, FRANKTON, JAY COUNTY, NEW CASTLE
25. MONROVIA (6) | BRACKET
CRAWFORDSVILLE, DANVILLE, LEBANON, MONROVIA, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS, WESTERN BOONE
26. NORTHVIEW (7) | BRACKET
BROWN COUNTY, EDGEWOOD, INDIAN CREEK, NORTHVIEW, OWEN VALLEY, SOUTH VERMILLION, WEST VIGO
27. INDPLS. BISHOP CHATARD (6) | BRACKET
GUERIN CATHOLIC, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, HERRON, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE
28. SPEEDWAY (6) | BRACKET
BEECH GROVE, CHRISTEL HOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC, SPEEDWAY
29. BATESVILLE (7) | BRACKET
BATESVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, LAWRENCEBURG, RUSHVILLE, SOUTH DEARBORN
30. PROVIDENCE (8) | BRACKET
CHARLESTOWN, CORYDON CENTRAL, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NORTH HARRISON, PROVIDENCE, SALEM, SCOTTSBURG, SILVER CREEK
31. PRINCETON (7) | BRACKET
BARR-REEVE, HERITAGE HILLS, PIKE CENTRAL, PRINCETON COMMUNITY, SOUTHRIDGE, VINCENNES LINCOLN, WASHINGTON
32. GIBSON SOUTHERN (6) | BRACKET
BOONVILLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, GIBSON SOUTHERN, MT. VERNON
CLASS 2A
33. NORTH NEWTON (7) | BRACKET
21ST CENTURY CHARTER, ANDREAN, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LAKE STATION EDISON, LIGHTHOUSE CPC, NORTH NEWTON, WHITING
34. SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (6) | BRACKET
HEBRON, LAVILLE, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, CAREER ACADEMY, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), WHEELER
35. CENTRAL NOBLE (6) | BRACKET
CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, EASTSIDE, FREMONT, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WESTVIEW
36. PIONEER (6) | BRACKET
LEWIS CASS, NORTH MIAMI, PIONEER, ROCHESTER, WINAMAC COMMUNITY, WABASH
37. BLUFFTON (6) | BRACKET
ADAMS CENTRAL, BLUFFTON, FORT WAYNE LUERS, MANCHESTER, SOUTH ADAMS, WHITKO
38. COVINGTON (6) | BRACKET
CARROLL (FLORA), CLINTON PRAIRIE, COVINGTON, DELPHI, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, SEEGER
39. EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (7) | BRACKET
BLACKFORD, EASTBROOK, EASTERN (GREENTOWN), ELWOOD, MADISON-GRANT, TAYLOR, TIPTON
40. WES-DEL (7) | BRACKET
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, LAPEL, MONROE CENTRAL, MUNCIE BURRIS, WAPAHANI, WES-DEL, WINCHESTER
41. HAGERSTOWN (5) | BRACKET
HAGERSTOWN, KNIGHTSTOWN, NORTHEASTERN, SHENANDOAH, UNION COUNTY
42. TRITON CENTRAL (5) | BRACKET
EASTERN HANCOCK, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA, IRVINGTON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, RIVERSIDE, TRITON CENTRAL
43. SHERIDAN (5) | BRACKET
CASCADE, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS.), PARK TUDOR, SHERIDAN, UNIVERSITY
44. SOUTHMONT (7) | BRACKET
CLOVERDALE, GREENCASTLE, NORTH PUTNAM, PARKE HERITAGE, RIVERTON PARKE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTHMONT
45. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) (6) | BRACKET
HAUSER, MILAN, NORTH DECATUR, SOUTH RIPLEY, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY
46. HENRYVILLE (7) | BRACKET
AUSTIN, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, CLARKSVILLE, EASTERN (PEKIN), HENRYVILLE, MITCHELL, PAOLI
47. NORTH DAVIESS (6) | BRACKET
EASTERN GREENE, LINTON-STOCKTON, NORTH DAVIESS, NORTH KNOX, SOUTH KNOX, SULLIVAN
48. FOREST PARK (6) | BRACKET
CRAWFORD COUNTY, FOREST PARK, NORTH POSEY, PERRY CENTRAL, SOUTH SPENCER, TELL CITY
CLASS 1A
49. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (7) | BRACKET
BOWMAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, HAMMOND ACADEMY, KOUTS, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
50. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (6) | BRACKET
ARGOS, CULVER COMMUNITY, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, OREGON DAVIS, TRITON, WESTVILLE
51. LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN (6) | BRACKET
BETHANY CHRISTIAN, ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, HAMILTON, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN
52. NORTH WHITE (5) | BRACKET
FRONTIER, NORTH WHITE, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY, WEST CENTRAL
53. SOUTHWOOD (5) | BRACKET
CASTON, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NORTHFIELD, SOUTHERN WELLS, SOUTHWOOD
54. ROSSVILLE (6) | BRACKET
ATTICA, CLINTON CENTRAL, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, NORTH VERMILLION, ROSSVILLE
55. COWAN (5) | BRACKET
ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, COWAN, DALEVILLE, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, TRI-CENTRAL
56. CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (7) | BRACKET
BLUE RIVER VALLEY, CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, SETON CATHOLIC, TRI, UNION (MODOC), UNION CITY
57. WHITE RIVER VALLEY (7) | BRACKET
BLOOMFIELD, CLAY CITY, DUGGER UNION, LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), SHAKAMAK, WHITE RIVER VALLEY
58. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (6) | BRACKET
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF INDIANA, MTI SCHOOL OF KNOWLEDGE, TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
59. INDPLS. LUTHERAN (7) | BRACKET
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, EMINENCE, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY, TINDLEY, VICTORY COLLEGE PREP
60. WALDRON (7) | BRACKET
EDINBURGH, JAC-CEN-DEL, MORRISTOWN, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, SOUTH DECATUR, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE), WALDRON
61. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA (6) | BRACKET
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, LANESVILLE, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH), WEST WASHINGTON
62. MEDORA (5) | BRACKET
CROTHERSVILLE, MEDORA, NEW WASHINGTON, RISING SUN, TRINITY LUTHERAN
63. LOOGOOTEE (5) | BRACKET
LOOGOOTEE, ORLEANS, SHOALS, SPRINGS VALLEY, VINCENNES RIVET
64. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (5) | BRACKET
CANNELTON, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, TECUMSEH, WOOD MEMORIAL
SATURDAY’S SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=10/7/2023
INDIANA BOYS SOCCER SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=10/7/2023
INDIANA GIRLS SOCCER SCORES : https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=10/7/2023
INDIANA BOYS TENNIS SEMI-STATE-SATURDAY
INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
NO. 12 OKLAHOMA 34, NO. 3 TEXAS 30
NO. 4 OHIO STATE 37, MARYLAND 17
NO. 23 LSU 49, NO. 21 MISSOURI 39
BOSTON COLLEGE 27, ARMY 24
MISSISSIPPI STATE 41, WESTERN MICHIGAN 28
WISCONSIN 24, RUTGERS 13
VIRGINIA 27, WILLIAM & MARY 13
TOLEDO 41, UMASS 24
RHODE ISLAND 34, BROWN 30
MERRIMACK 45, STONEHILL 34
HOLY CROSS 55, BUCKNELL 27
PENN 42, GEORGETOWN 39
LAFAYETTE 12, PRINCETON 9
FORDHAM 38, LEHIGH 35
MOREHEAD STATE 31, DAYTON 7
STETSON 28, PRESBYTERIAN 24
YALE 31, DARTMOUTH 24
SAMFORD 31, WOFFORD 10
NC STATE 48, MARSHALL 41
UTSA 49, TEMPLE 34
BUFFALO 37, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 13
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 56, VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG 6
NORTH DAKOTA 49, WESTERN ILLINOIS 10
DRAKE 20, VALPARAISO 14
LINDENWOOD 23, TENNESSEE TECH 0
FURMAN 28, THE CITADEL 14
UCLA 25, NO. 13 WASHINGTON STATE 17
NORTHWESTERN 23, HOWARD 20
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 38, MISSOURI STATE 10
SOUTH DAKOTA 38, MURRAY STATE 7
UT MARTIN 28, EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 (OT)
TENNESSEE STATE 27, KENNESAW STATE 20
NO. 5 FLORIDA STATE 39, VIRGINIA TECH 17
NO. 11 ALABAMA 26, TEXAS A&M 20
NO. 14 NORTH CAROLINA 40, SYRACUSE 7
IOWA 20, PURDUE 14
CLEMSON 17, WAKE FOREST 12
NAVY 27, NORTH TEXAS 24
EASTERN MICHIGAN 24, BALL STATE 10
MIAMI (OHIO) 27, BOWLING GREEN 0
OHIO 42, KENT STATE 17
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 55, AKRON 14
ALCORN STATE 25, GRAMBLING 24
MERCER 24, EAST TENNESSEE STATE 6
FLORIDA 38, VANDERBILT 14
KANSAS 51, UCF 22
TROY 37, ARKANSAS STATE 3
JACKSON STATE 45, ALABAMA A&M 30 (IN MOBILE, ALA.)
NICHOLLS 38, HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 7
LAMAR 27, NORTHWESTERN STATE 13
WESTERN CAROLINA 52, CHATTANOOGA 50
UCONN 38, RICE 31
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 38, SE MISSOURI STATE 33
UIW 33, SE LOUISIANA 26
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 20, TULSA 17
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 31, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3
GARDNER-WEBB 31, ROBERT MORRIS 16
COLORADO 27, ARIZONA STATE 24
NO. 1 GEORGIA 51, NO. 20 KENTUCKY 13
SOUTH ALABAMA 55, UL MONROE 7
OLD DOMINION 17, SOUTHERN MISS 13
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 40, ILLINOIS STATE 21
FLORIDA A&M 26, SOUTHERN 19
SOUTHERN UTAH 27, TARLETON STATE 26
MONTANA 31, UC DAVIS 23
UNI 27, INDIANA STATE 20
NO. 2 MICHIGAN 52, MINNESOTA 10
NO. 25 LOUISVILLE 33, NO. 10 NOTRE DAME 20
NO. 16 OLE MISS 27, ARKANSAS 20
GEORGIA TECH 23, NO. 17 MIAMI (FLA.) 20
WYOMING 24, NO. 24 FRESNO STATE 19
TEXAS TECH 39, BAYLOR 14
IOWA STATE 27, TCU 14
BOISE STATE 35, SAN JOSE STATE 27
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 41, MCNEESE 10
IDAHO 42, CAL POLY 14
NO. 15 OREGON STATE 52 CAL 40
NO. 9 USC 43 ARIZONA 41 41 OT
UAB 56, SOUTH FLORIDA 35
LOUISIANA 34, TEXAS STATE 30
Week 7
TUESDAY, OCT. 10
LOUISIANA TECH AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
LIBERTY AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPNU
COASTAL CAROLINA AT APPALACHIAN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11
UTEP AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2
SAM HOUSTON AT NEW MEXICO STATE | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
THURSDAY, OCT. 12
WEST VIRGINIA AT HOUSTON | 7 P.M. | FS1
SMU AT EAST CAROLINA | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
TULANE AT MEMPHIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
FRESNO STATE AT UTAH STATE | 8 P.M. | CBSSN
STANFORD AT COLORADO | 10 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, OCT. 14
ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA | 12 P.M. | ESPN
MICHIGAN STATE AT RUTGERS | 12 P.M.
TEMPLE AT NORTH TEXAS | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT JAMES MADISON | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
KENT STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
SACRED HEART AT YALE | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGETOWN AT LEHIGH | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
PRINCETON AT BROWN | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
SAN DIEGO AT MARIST | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
HOWARD AT HARVARD | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
BUCKNELL AT CORNELL | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
DARTMOUTH AT COLGATE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
ST. THOMAS (MINN.) AT DRAKE | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
FURMAN AT SAMFORD | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
VMI AT THE CITADEL | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
TENNESSEE TECH AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
PENN AT COLUMBIA | 1:30 P.M. | ESPN+
NAVY AT CHARLOTTE | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TOLEDO AT BALL STATE | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
GARDNER-WEBB AT AUSTIN PEAY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
MOREHEAD STATE AT VALPARAISO | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
INDIANA STATE AT ILLINOIS STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA A&M AT GRAMBLING | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA STATE AT JACKSON STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
TARLETON STATE AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
SACRAMENTO STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT MURRAY STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
UNI AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
EASTERN ILLINOIS AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
UMASS AT PENN STATE | 3:30 P.M.
OREGON AT WASHINGTON | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
TROY AT ARMY | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
FLORIDA AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 3:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
WAKE FOREST AT VIRGINIA TECH | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
BYU AT TCU | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN2
AKRON AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
BOWLING GREEN AT BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MIAMI (OHIO) AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
WOFFORD AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
NORTH ALABAMA AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
PORTLAND STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
MISSOURI STATE AT WESTERN ILLINOIS | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
LAMAR AT SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
ROBERT MORRIS AT BRYANT | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
NORTHWESTERN STATE AT NICHOLLS | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
LINDENWOOD AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
CHATTANOOGA AT MERCER | 4 P.M. | ESPN+
UNLV AT NEVADA | 5 P.M. | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE AT UIW | 5 P.M. | ESPN+
NORFOLK STATE AT TENNESSEE STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
EASTERN WASHINGTON AT IDAHO STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
LOUISVILLE AT PITT | 6:30 P.M. | CW NETWORK
MARSHALL AT GEORGIA STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN2
UL MONROE AT TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WYOMING AT AIR FORCE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
USC AT NOTRE DAME | 7:30 P.M. | NBC/PEACOCK
NC STATE AT DUKE | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UAB AT UTSA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
CAL POLY AT MONTANA STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UC DAVIS AT WEBER STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
MONTANA AT IDAHO | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN2
SAN DIEGO STATE AT HAWAI’I | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
GEORGIA AT VANDERBILT
INDIANA AT MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE AT PURDUE
SYRACUSE AT FLORIDA STATE
ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON STATE
MIAMI (FLA.) AT NORTH CAROLINA
UCLA AT OREGON STATE
CAL AT UTAH
MISSOURI AT KENTUCKY
TEXAS A&M AT TENNESSEE
AUBURN AT LSU
ILLINOIS AT MARYLAND
IOWA AT WISCONSIN
IOWA STATE AT CINCINNATI
KANSAS AT OKLAHOMA STATE
KANSAS STATE AT TEXAS TECH
BOISE STATE AT COLORADO STATE
WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS VS BUFFALO BILLS (TOTTENHAM) 2:30P (BST) 9:30A NFLN
HOUSTON TEXANS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT DETROIT LIONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TENNESSEE TITANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
NEW YORK GIANTS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS 1:05P (MST) 4:05P FOX
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT LOS ANGELES RAMS 1:05P (PT) 4:05P FOX
NEW YORK JETS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P CBS
DALLAS COWBOYS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 5:20P (PT) 8:20P NBC*
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (MON) 5:15P (PT) 8:15P ESPN
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
FULL SCHEDULE FOR 2023 MLB POSTSEASON
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
TEXAS 3 BALTIMORE 2 (TEXAS LEADS SERIES 1-0)
HOUSTON 6 MINNESOTA 4 (HOUSTON LEADS SERIES 1-0)
PHILADELPHIA 3 ATLANTA 0 (PHILADELPHIA LEADS SERIES 1-0)
ARIZONA 11 LA DODGERS 2 (ARIZONA LEADS SERIES 1-0)
SUNDAY, OCT. 8
TEX @ BAL, GAME 2, 4 P.M. (FS1)
MIN @ HOU, GAME 2, 8 P.M. (FS1)
MONDAY, OCT. 9
PHI @ ATL, GAME 2, 6 P.M. (TBS)
AZ @ LAD, GAME 2, 9 P.M. (TBS)
TUESDAY, OCT. 10
HOU @ MIN, GAME 3, 4 P.M. (FOX)
BAL @ TEX, GAME 3, 8 P.M. (FOX)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11
ATL @ PHI, GAME 3, TBS
HOU @ MIN, GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
BAL @ TEX, GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
LAD @ AZ, GAME 3, TBS
THURSDAY, OCT. 12
ATL @ PHI, GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
LAD @ AZ, GAME 4 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
TEX @ BAL, GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
MIN @ HOU, GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
SATURDAY, OCT. 14
PHI @ ATL, GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
AZ @ LAD, GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
PRESENTED BY LOANDEPOT
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
ALCS GAME 1, FOX/FS1
MONDAY, OCT. 16
NLCS GAME 1, TBS
ALCS GAME 2, FOX/FS1
TUESDAY, OCT. 17
NLCS GAME 2, TBS
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18
ALCS GAME 3, FOX/FS1
THURSDAY, OCT. 19
NLCS GAME 3, TBS
ALCS GAME 4, FOX/FS1
FRIDAY, OCT. 20
NLCS GAME 4, TBS
ALCS GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
SATURDAY, OCT. 21
NLCS GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
SUNDAY, OCT. 22
ALCS GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
MONDAY, OCT. 23
NLCS GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
ALCS GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY), FOX/FS1
TUESDAY, OCT. 24
NLCS GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY), TBS
WORLD SERIES
PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE
FRIDAY, OCT. 27
GAME 1 (AT BETTER 2023 RECORD), FOX
SATURDAY, OCT. 28
GAME 2 (AT BETTER 2023 RECORD), FOX
MONDAY, OCT. 30
GAME 3, FOX
TUESDAY, OCT. 31
GAME 4, FOX
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1
GAME 5 (IF NECESSARY), FOX
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
GAME 6 (IF NECESSARY, AT BETTER 2023 RECORD), FOX
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY, AT BETTER 2023 RECORD), FOX
NHL PRE-SEASON
VEGAS 7 LOS ANGELES 4
ARIZONA 7 ANAHEIM 1
MINNESOTA 4 DALLAS 0
TAMPA BAY 4 FLORIDA 2
COLUMBUS 4 WASHINGTON 2
MONTRÉAL 6 OTTAWA 4
DETROIT 4 TORONTO 3
ST. LOUIS 5 CHICAGO 3
NBA PRE-SEASON
MINNESOTA 104 DALLAS 96
GOLDEN STATE 125 LA LAKERS 108
WNBA SCORES
FINALS GAME 1 SUNDAY
NEW YORK AT LAS VEGAS 3:00
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
ATLANTA 1 COLUMBUS 1
DC 2 NEW YORK CITY 0
CINCINNATI 1 MIAMI 0
MONTRÉAL 4 PORTLAND 1
NEW YORK 3 TORONTO 0
ORLANDO 3 NEW ENGLAND 2
PHILADELPHIA 0 NASHVILLE 0
LAFC 4 AUSTIN 2
CHARLOTTE 2 CHICAGO 0
DALLAS 1 SAN JOSE 1
HOUSTON 5 COLORADO 1
MINNESOTA 5 LA 2
KANSAS CITY 3 SALT LAKE 2
SEATTLE 0 VANCOUVER 0
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TOP 25 ROUNDUP: GEORGIA TECH STUNS NO. 17 MIAMI AT LAST SECOND
Haynes King’s 44-yard touchdown pass to Christian Leary with one second left led Georgia Tech to a stunning 23-20 upset of No. 17 Miami on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) capitalized four plays after Miami, with victory seemingly in hand, faced third-and-10 from the Georgia Tech 30 with 26 seconds to play.
However, Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled after a 4-yard gain, and Georgia Tech’s Kyle Kennard recovered at the 26. After an incompletion, King threw 30 yards to Malik Rutherford, and then spiked a snap to stop the clock with 10 seconds remaining, setting up the game-winning touchdown throw.
Miami fell to 4-1 and lost its ACC opener. The Hurricanes dominated in total yards (454-250), first downs (23-12) and time of possession (35:26-24:34). But they also finished with five turnovers to two for the Yellow Jackets.
No. 1 Georgia 51, No. 20 Kentucky 13
Carson Beck established career highs of 389 yards and four touchdown passes to help the Bulldogs roll past the Wildcats in Southeastern Conference play at Athens, Ga.
Brock Bowers caught seven passes for 132 yards and a touchdown for Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC), which extended its school-record winning streak to 23 games. Bowers moved into second place in school history with 24 career touchdown catches, trailing only Terrence Edwards (30 from 1999-2002).
Devin Leary was 10-of-26 passing for 128 yards and two touchdowns for Kentucky (5-1, 2-1). Ray Davis had a scoring reception and rushed for 59 yards on 15 carries after compiling a career-high 280 rushing yards against Florida one week earlier.
No. 2 Michigan 52, Minnesota 10
J.J. McCarthy passed for 219 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two more scores as the Wolverines rolled over Minnesota in Minneapolis in their Big Ten matchup.
Blake Corum rushed for 69 yards on nine carries and a touchdown for Michigan (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten). Will Johnson and Keon Sabb returned interceptions for the Wolverines, who scored a season high in points.
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis completed just 5 of 16 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown for the Golden Gophers (3-3, 1-2). Minnesota was limited to 169 total yards. Michigan led 24-10 at halftime.
No. 12 Oklahoma 34, No. 3 Texas 30
Dillon Gabriel threw for 285 yards and a touchdown, ran for 113 yards and another score and led a last-minute touchdown drive to lift the Sooners to a win over the Longhorns in Dallas.
Texas took a 30-27 lead with 1:17 remaining on Bert Auburn’s 47-yard field goal. But Gabriel quickly engineered a drive to set up Oklahoma in Longhorns territory and flipped the ball to Nic Anderson in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to give the Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) the upset win.
Jonathon Brooks ran for 129 yards and a touchdown, and Quinn Ewers threw for 346 yards and a TD with two interceptions for Texas (5-1, 2-1).
No. 4 Ohio State 37, Maryland 17
Marvin Harrison Jr. reeled in eight catches for 163 yards and a touchdown, and the defense made several big plays as the Buckeyes rallied to defeat the Terrapins in Columbus, Ohio.
Kyle McCord found Cade Stover for a 44-yard touchdown pass to put the Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) ahead 27-17 early in the fourth quarter. Harrison added a 17-yard TD catch with 7:01 to play to make it 34-17. McCord was 19-for-29 passing for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
It was 10-10 at the half before Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa scrambled for a 9-yard TD run, only to have the Buckeyes respond with a 4-yard scoring run by Chip Trayanum at 8:56 of the third to tie it at 17-17. The Terrapins fell to 5-1, with a 2-1 mark in conference play.
No. 5 Florida State 39, Virginia Tech 17
Trey Benson rushed for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries as the Seminoles beat the Hokies in an ACC matchup in Tallahassee, Fla.
After totaling 189 yards on the ground through his first four games, Benson broke out against Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1 ACC), scoring on runs of 62 and 85 yards. Jordan Travis completed 18 of 24 passes for 170 yards, with a pair of touchdowns to Johnny Wilson, and threw an interception for the Seminoles (5-0, 3-0).
Bhayshul Tuten rushed for a touchdown and returned a kickoff 99 yards for another as the Hokies got outgained 452-313.
No. 25 Louisville 33, No. 10 Notre Dame 20
Jawhar Jordan bolted for two touchdown runs in the second half to propel the Cardinals over the visiting Fighting Irish.
Jordan carried 21 times for 143 yards as Louisville (6-0) won its eighth straight game at home dating back to last season and matched its longest winning streak since 2000.
Under first-year coach Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals also overwhelmed the Fighting Irish, forcing five turnovers. Notre Dame (5-2) had committed just two turnovers in its first six games. Facing a heavy Cardinals rush, which produced five sacks, Sam Hartman completed 22 of 38 passes for 254 yards, throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions.
No. 11 Alabama 26, Texas A&M 20
Jalen Milroe passed for a career-high 321 yards and matched his career best with three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide topped the Aggies in SEC play at College Station, Texas.
Jermaine Burton had a career-best nine receptions, matched his career high of 197 yards and caught two touchdown passes as Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC) moved into sole possession of first place in the SEC West.
Max Johnson was 14-of-25 passing for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Johnson threw a touchdown pass to younger brother Jake Johnson while Le’Veon Moss rushed for a score.
UCLA 25, No. 13 Washington State 17
Keegan Jones scored two rushing touchdowns 1:43 apart in the fourth quarter and the Bruins held on to beat the Cougars at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Carson Steele rushed for 140 yards on 30 carries and Dante Moore completed 22 of 44 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions for UCLA (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12).
Led by quarterback Cameron Ward, Washington State (4-1, 1-1) came into the game ranked second in the nation in passing yards per game (405.8). But Ward was limited to 197 yards on 19-of-39 passing with a touchdown and his first two interceptions of the season.
No. 14 North Carolina 40, Syracuse 7
Drake Maye passed for 442 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score to highlight a dominant performance by the Tar Heels, who rolled over the Orange in Chapel Hill, N.C.
North Carolina (5-0, 2-0 ACC) outgained Syracuse 644-221 and scored on eight of its first nine possessions in remaining perfect on the season. Nate McCollum (seven catches, 135 yards) and Kobe Paysour (three catches, 100 yards, one TD) were among the Tar Heels’ receiving standouts.
Garrett Shrader went 15 of 21 for 124 yards with an interception for Syracuse (4-2, 0-2). LeQuint Allen chipped in 38 rushing yards and a score.
No. 15 Oregon State 52, Cal 40
DJ Uiagalelei completed 19 of 25 passes for 275 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Beavers to a win against the Golden Bears in a Pac-12 game in Berkeley, Calif.
Running back Damien Martinez rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Jack Velling caught three short touchdown passes for Oregon State (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12).
Cal redshirt freshman quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his first start and went 21-of-32 passing for 207 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Isaiah Ifanse had two touchdowns rushing and another receiving for Cal (3-3, 1-2).
No. 16 Ole Miss 27, Arkansas 20
Ulysses Bentley IV rushed for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter as the Rebels rallied late for the second straight week and beat the Razorbacks in Oxford, Miss.
After Arkansas (2-4, 0-3 SEC) took a 20-17 lead with 13 straight points in the second half, Bentley answered when he capped a 75-yard drive by dashing 7 yards for a 24-20 lead with 7:49 left in the game.
A 13-point favorite, Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1) got insurance from Caden Davis’ second field goal, from 22 yards, and a pick by John Saunders Jr. Jaxson Dart went 16-for-25 for 153 yards and a touchdown pass for the Rebels, while KJ Jefferson threw for 252 yards with a pair of touchdowns to Ty Washington (seven catches, 90 yards) and two interceptions for Arkansas.
No. 23 LSU 49, No. 21 Missouri 39
Jayden Daniels passed for 259 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 130 yards and another score as LSU rallied past Missouri in Columbia, Mo.
LSU (4-2, 3-1 SEC), which was down 22-7 in the second quarter, also got big games from Logan Diggs (134 yards, one TD), Malik Nabers (six receptions, 146 yards, one TD) and Brian Thomas Jr. (four catches, 66 yards, one TD).
Brady Cook passed for 395 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Missouri (5-1, 1-1). The team also got big contributions from Cody Schrader (114 yards rushing, three TDs), Luther Burden III (11 receptions, 149 yards) and Theo Wease Jr. (four catches, 80 yards, one TD).
Wyoming 24, No. 24 Fresno State 19
Cole Godbout’s tipped-ball interception with 46 seconds left quashed the Bulldogs’ last-ditch comeback bid against the Cowboys in Laramie, Wyo.
Godbout, a defensive lineman, tipped Logan Fife’s pass at the line of scrimmage and returned it 23 yards to the Fresno State 25. Two kneel-downs later, Wyoming (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) snapped Fresno State’s 14-game winning streak, the second-longest streak in FBS prior to game time, dating back to last year.
Mikey Keene threw for 218 yards and completed 23 of 35 passes for the Bulldogs (5-1, 1-1) before leaving with a leg injury in the fourth quarter. Fife was 7 of 11 for 68 yards, including a scrambling 8-yard touchdown pass to Mac Dalena with 5:17 left in the game that got Fresno State within one score.
BIG 10 RESULTS
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
NEBRASKA def. ILLINOIS, 20-7: Heinrich Haarberg threw for 154 yards and rushed for a team-leading 82 yards and a touchdown as Nebraska beat Illinois 20-7 on Friday night. Illinois honored former Illini football star Dick Butkus, who passed away Thursday at age 80, with a number of tributes including a moment of silence before the game and a video tribute at halftime. Seven receivers caught passes from Haarberg, who was 12-of-24 passing. His 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was Nebraska’s second TD in 10 seconds. [FULL RECAP]
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
OHIO STATE def. MARYLAND, 37-17: Kyle McCord passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns, Marvin Harrison Jr. had eight catches for 163 yards and a score, and No. 4 Ohio State scored 27 straight points in the second half to beat Maryland 37-17 on Saturday. The Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) didn’t lead until Jaden Fielding kicked a field goal to put them up 20-17 late in the third quarter. [FULL RECAP]
WISCONSIN def. RUTGERS, 24-13: Ricardo Hallman scored on a 95-yard interception return, Braelon Allen rushed for 101 yards and Wisconsin defeated Rutgers 24-13 on Saturday to remain the lone Big Ten West Division team without a conference loss. Hallman has three interceptions over his last two games. He picked off two passes Sept. 22 in Wisconsin’s 38-17 triumph at Purdue. [FULL RECAP]
NORTHWESTERN def. Howard, 23-20: Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan had three total touchdowns in his first start of the season to lead Northwestern to a 23-20 win over Howard on Saturday. Cam Johnson and Bryce Kirtz each had a receiving touchdown as the Wildcats were able to stave off a late comeback push by the Bison on homecoming weekend. Sullivan filled in for starter Ben Bryant and was the difference maker for Northwestern (3-3). He finished with two passing touchdowns and one score on the ground. [FULL RECAP]
IOWA def. PURDUE, 20-14: Kaleb Johnson rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown in his return from an ankle injury as Iowa defeated Purdue 20-14 on Saturday. Johnson, who rushed for a career-high 200 yards against Purdue last season, missed the last three games after rushing for 91 yards in Iowa’s first two games. His second carry of the game was a 67-yard touchdown run. [FULL RECAP]
MICHIGAN def. MINNESOTA, 52-10: Will Johnson returned an interception 36 yards for a Michigan score on Minnesota’s second snap, a spark the second-ranked Wolverines maintained from start to finish in a 52-10 victory over the Gophers on Saturday night. J.J. McCarthy completed 14 of 20 passes for 219 yards and had a career-high two rushing touchdowns to help Michigan (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) stretch its conference winning streak to 17 for the second-longest run in program history. [FULL RECAP]
MAC RESULTS
Toledo 41, UMass 24
*Buffalo 37, Central Michigan 13
*Eastern Michigan 24, Ball State 10
*NIU 55, Akron 14
*Ohio 42, Kent State 17
*Miami 27, Bowling Green 0
Mississippi State 41, Western Michigan 28
Toledo 41, UMass 24
Box Score
AMHERST, Mass. – Dequan Finn rushed for a career-high 172 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Toledo to a 41-24 victory over UMass in Amherst, Mass. on Saturday.
Finn’s rushing output was the most ever by a Rocket quarterback in a single game. He also established the career mark for rushing yards by a Toledo QB with 1,690, passing Ryan Huzjak (1,539 from 1993-96).
Finn had one rushing touchdown on the day and two passing TDs, both to Jerjuan Newton. For the day, Finn completed 15-of-23 passes for 139 yards. He now has 5,516 career passing yards, moving him past Tavares Bolden (5,417 from 1999-2001) and Chris Wallace (5,454 from 1995-98) into eighth place on UT’s career list.
“Dequan is a tremendous player and he was aided today by a really good offensive line,” said Head Coach Jason Candle, who moved to No. 2 on Toledo’s career win list with 59, one more than Tom Amstutz. “Any time you can supplement the running game with your quarterback, it will be beneficial for you. We expected a bad weather day all week long, and obviously we didn’t really get that today. I thought we had a good rushing game plan heading into the game.”
“It’s a pretty surreal moment,” said Finn when informed he had set two school records. “I need to thank my offensive line. They did a great job today and put me in a great position to succeed. They brought a lot of energy today and got everybody going.”
Junior running back Peny Boone contributed plenty to the Rockets’ rushing attack as well, accumulating 129 yards on 17 carries and scoring twice. Sophomore wide receiver Junior Vandeross III led Toledo with five catches for 34 yards, and Newton caught four balls for 43 yards and two scores.
Toledo withstood a pair of long UMass touchdown tosses in the second quarter to overcome a 21-17 halftime deficit. The Minutemen connected on TD throws of 71 and 31 yards to take the lead heading into the locker room, but the Rockets’ defense allowed just three points in the second half.
Senior linebacker Dallas Gant led the way defensively with nine tackles, one for a loss, while senior safety Nate Bauer, senior safety Zachary Ford, and junior linebacker Daniel Bolden all tallied seven stops. Sophomore safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren had five tackles and an interception, his second of the season.
Buffalo 37, Central Michigan 13
Box Score
BUFFALO, NY – Devin Grant had an historic day to lead a ferocious defensive effort in a 37-13 win over Central Michigan at UB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore safety had three interceptions, including two pick sixes to help the Bulls improve to 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play.
Buffalo forced four turnovers in the game and was able to convert them into 31 points. The defensive line was stout, allowing only 80 yards in the game, the lowest rushing total allowed by a UB opponent on the season.
Grant set the tone early, tipping a pass attempt to himself and returning it 29 yards for a touchdown on Central Michigan’s third offensive play from scrimmage.
Midway through the first quarter, Clevester Hines III knocked the ball from the Central Michigan’s receiver’s hands and Jaylon Bass recovered it for the defense’s second forced turnover of the game. It led to an Alex McNulty field goal to give the Bulls a 10-0 lead. McNulty finished with three field goals in the game.
With the Bulls leading 13-7 in the second quarter, Grant grabbed his second interception of the game near midfield. The Bulls capitalized with a Ron Cook, Jr. three-yard touchdown run to extend their lead to 20-7.
Grant’s second pick six came on the Chippewas’ opening drive of the second half. He stepped in front of the pass and raced 58 yards down the sideline for the score.
Grant is the first player in Buffalo’s FBS era (since 1999) to have two pick sixes in a game and the first Bulls since Marcus Fuqua (last season against Toledo) to have three interceptions in a game.
Cook scored his second touchdown of the game on a one-yard run to put the Bulls up 37-7.
Cole Snyder was efficient for the Bulls under center. The graduate quarterback completed 20-of-32 passes for 232 yards. Bobbie Curry, Cole Harrity and Marlyn Johnson each had four catches in the game. Curry tallied a career-high 74 receiving yards.
Linebackers Joe Andreessen and Dion Crawford led the defense with six tackles apiece. Andreessen added a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. Red Murdock and C.J. Bazile added tackles for loss for the Bulls.
NIU 55, Akron 14
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio – Junior running back Antario Brown ran for 280 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries to lead the Northern Illinois University Huskies to a 55-14 Mid-American Conference victory over Akron Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.
Brown’s day tied Kentucky’s Ray Davis for the most rushing yards by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) player this season and was the most rushing yards by a Huskie since Jordan Lynch ran for 321 yards versus Western Michigan on November 26, 2013. He scored on runs of 66, 58, 46 and 50 yards to record the best day of his NIU career and become just the sixth player in Huskie history to run for 280 or more yards in a game. His four touchdowns were the most by a Huskie since Joel Bouagnon scored five rushing touchdowns versus Bowling Green on November 1, 2016.
“I thought [Antario] made guys miss,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “He was explosive, he was dynamic. I love the way he attacked the week. He went about his business, and I was proud of him. If he plays like he did today, he’s one of the best in this conference but he’s got to do it consistently. Consistency is going to be the key for him.”
NIU’s 55 points were the most under Hammock, and the most since the Huskies defeated Ball State 63-17 on November 9, 2017. NIU gained 571 yards of total offense on 52 plays, including 380 rushing yards on just 35 carries. The Huskies averaged 10.9 yards per carry as a team while Brown’s average of 21.5 yards per rush broke the NIU record of 17.6 by Stacey Robinson versus Cincinnati on November 18, 1989.
“Our offensive line was outstanding,” Hammock said. “[Akron] was giving up 90 yards a game rushing and we had over 300 yards rushing. That’s a credit to the offensive line. AB [Brown] gets the credit, but he wasn’t touched for 7-8 yards on most of those runs.”
The Huskies (2-4, 1-1 MAC) scored six rushing touchdowns with Gavin Williams adding a three-yard score and a one-yard TD to Brown’s quartet of scores.
“I love my offensive line,” Brown said. “I love running behind Nolan [Potter], John [Champe] and those guys. [Fullback] Brock is a dawg.”
NIU opened the game with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, with Kacper Rutkiewicz scoring on a 64-yard reception from quarterback Rocky Lombardi. The touchdown was NIU’s first on an opening drive this season.
Akron (1-5, 0-2 MAC) came back to tie the score with an 11-play, 65-yard drive, helped by a pass interference penalty that gave the Zips the ball on the NIU four-yard line. Three plays later, Akron quarterback Tahj Bullock scored from one yard out.
The Antario Brown/Huskie offense show hit another gear in the second quarter and by halftime, NIU led 35-7. Brown gained 160 yards on seven carries in the period with two scores, his first – from 66-yards out – giving NIU a 14-7 lead, and his second – of 58 yards – closing out NIU’s 28-point outburst. In between, Williams scored on a three-yard run one play after Lombardi connected with Trayvon Rudolph on a 42-yard completion. After a second consecutive three-and-out by the Huskie defense, Lombardi hit Grayson Barnes for a 34-yard score for Barnes’ first NIU touchdown.
NIU’s defense, meanwhile, forced Akron into four three-and-outs in the second quarter alone. Akron finished with just 253 yards of total offense, 107 rushing, and punted eight times. Huskies Roy Williams, Devonte O’Malley, James Ester and George Gumbs each recorded sacks and Nate Valcarcel collected his second interception of the season.
“They played their [tails] off today,” Hammock said of the NIU defense. “We got punched in the mouth [by Toledo] last week. We had some adversity, and they responded. We had to change our coverage with No. 10 [Bullock] in there and account for the quarterback in the run game.”
The Huskie defense continued to shut down Akron in the third quarter while the offense did not lay off the gas pedal, scoring three times with Brown scoring from 46 and 50 yards on back-to-back drives. Williams’ one-yard touchdown run was once again set up by Rudolph whose 36-yard run put the Huskies at the two-yard line.
“The kids kept playing, they didn’t look at the scoreboard,” Hammock said. “We were up 35-7 at halftime and we scored 21 points in the third quarter, that’s what a mature football team does. The players responded today. They kept their heads down, played one snap at a time after a good week of preparation. We had great balance, different guys stepped up in different moments.”
Lombardi was an efficient 10-of-15 passing for 191 yards and Rudolph caught three passes for 58 yards and had two carries for 35 yards on the ground. Jaden Dolphin led the Huskie defense in tackles with seven.
Ohio 42, Kent State 17
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio— Peden Stadium shook as the final minutes ticked off the clock in Ohio’s game against Kent State. Excitement surged through Ohio as it ran off Frank Solich Field to celebrate the 42-17 homecoming win.
“We played basically a very clean game. Both sides of the ball were like lights out on third down,”head coach Tim Albin said. “Defense is getting after the quarterback. We had several tackles for losses and we took care of the football.”
Ohio’s defense flew around to record four sacks in the first half. Graduate student linebacker Keye Thompson (Barberton, Ohio) sacked Michael Alaimo for a loss of nine yards on third down to end Kent State’s first drive of the game. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Bradley Weaver along with graduate student defensive end Shane Bonner (New Concord, Ohio) and graduate student linebacker Bryce Houston (Lewis Center, Ohio) teamed up for back-to-back sacks on Kent State’s second drive for a loss of four yards total.
The Bobcats needed to stay awake on defense, too. The Golden Flashes became the fastest team to record a touchdown on the Bobcats this season when they scored in the second minute of the second quarter.
Ohio regrouped fast and went on to record its other two sacks. Redshirt senior defensive tackle Rayyan Buell (Hornell, N.Y.), who leads Ohio with 3.5 sacks, knocked Alaimo back three yards in the middle of the quarter. Ohio closed the half with back-to-back sacks. Weaver picked up his second sack of the game after he took Alimo back a yard on first down. Ohio earned its crowning moment on the last play of the half when Bonner and graduate student defensive tackle Rodney Mathews (Memphis, Tenn.) sent Kent State back 10 yards.
The defense’s efficiency allowed the Bobcats to excel on offense. Junior wide receiver Miles Cross (Bowie, Md.) blazed the trail for the Bobcats with 125 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. Cross’s first touchdown was off a 25-yard pass from graduate student quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) to put the Bobcats on the board first. Cross collected his second touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Rourke that he tipped to himself in the endzone. Cross has the second-most receiving yards of the Bobcats with 246 on the season.
“I’m just so happy for him. He’s just what you’re after. He’s got a quiet demeanor, but he plays large.He plays loud,” Albin said. “The one catch, the (defensive backs) kind of ducked it and took off and that was a big play on third down and in five or six. He’s the total package. He can block and we’re gonna need him to continue to make plays like he did the day without Jacoby (Jones).”
Ohio flashed its speed the most in the second half. Redshirt sophomore Sieh Bangura (Bowie, Md.) dashed down the field for two 3-yard touchdowns, the first in the third quarter and the second in the fourth. The two touchdowns were Bangura’s first and second of the season.
Other Bobcats to score were Graduate student wide receiver Sam Wiglusz and Rourke. Wiglusz caught a 30-yard pass from Rourke and tumbled into the end zone in the second quarter for his second touchdown of the season. Later on, Rourke scored his first touchdown of the season on a four-yard scramble up the middle. Freshman kicker Gianni Spetic (Chardon, Ohio) also contributed to the win. He went 6-for-6 in PATs.
Rourke finished the game with 300 passing yards and three touchdowns on 32 attempts before being pulled in the fourth quarter.
Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, Az.) got in on the action as soon as he hit the field. Navarro sprinted 52-yards to move the Bobcats into the red zone on his first drive. The Bobcats did not score on the drive, although they ended it on the Golden Flashes’ three-yard line. Navarro led the Bobcats in rushing yards with 65 on three attempts on Saturday.
Although Kent State tacked on a field goal and a touchdown in the second half, it wasn’t enough to catch up. Ohio had set itself apart from its opponent once again for its second-biggest win of the season.
Furthermore, Saturday marked the first time the Bobcats started the season 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play since 2016.
“Last year, and then where we are now, there’s gonna be something like this every week. We’re going one at a time and there’s gonna be more of that stuff coming with those types of stats or data,” Albin said. “That’s going to keep coming and the bull’s eye is going to get bigger. We’re going to embrace it. We’re going to accept it. We’re going to keep that bull’s eye on our chest, moving around. A moving target is harder to hit, and that’s gonna just push them to keep getting better.”
Ohio has a week to reset before it travels to Dekalb, Illinois, to take on Northern Illinois. The two are set to kick off at 4 p.m. on Oct. 14.
Miami 27, Bowling Green 0
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio– The Miami University football team defeated Bowling Green 27-0 Saturday afternoon to remain unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play. The RedHawks (5-1, 2-0 MAC) posted their first shutout since 2007 and extended their longest winning streak in 20 years to five games. Brett Gabbert completed 83% of his passes (15-18), throwing for 170 yards and two scores, and averaged better than five yards per carry. Miami held Bowling Green (2-4, 0-2 MAC) to 135 yards of total offense (63 rushing, 72 passing).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Miami received the opening kickoff and embarked on a methodical 17-play scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead. The RedHawks converted three third downs and one fourth down in a possession that lasted more than 11 minutes. Gabbert hit on all six of his pass attempts and Rashad Amos recorded eight carries on the drive, including a one-yard scoring plunge with 3:29 left in the quarter.
The RedHawks doubled their advantage to 14-0 on a two-yard Gabbert touchdown strike to Nate Muersch in the back corner of the end zone with 52 seconds remaining in the first half. Miami capitalized on a crucial roughing-the-passer penalty on the third play of the drive, followed by 17-yard and 13-yard Gabbert runs. Javon Tracy caught a deflected pass to get the Red and White into the red zone, and a defensive pass interference flag two plays later set up Muersch’s score.
After Bowling Green missed a 46-yard field goal to begin the third quarter, Miami struck again on its first possession of the period. A big third-down conversion to Joe Wilkins Jr. moved the RedHawks into BGSU territory, and Kenny Tracy did the rest for the home team. After an eight-yard run and six-yard reception by the junior, he caught a short pass from Gabbert on the next play and raced 39 yards untouched into the end zone to break the game open.
A Ty Wise interception gave the RedHawks excellent field position at the Bowling Green 36, leading to a Graham Nicholson field goal with nine seconds left in the third quarter. Nicholson split the uprights from 52 yards out to stretch Miami’s lead to 24-0.
With 3:21 to play, the RedHawks scored on their fourth consecutive drive. Nicholson buried a 30-yard field goal to make the score 27-0.
Eastern Michigan 24, Ball State 10
Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove) was an efficient 18-of-28 passing for 192 yards and two scores, JB Mitchell III (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) posted another career game, and Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge/Iowa) claimed the record for touchdowns in a career as the Eastern Michigan University football team downed visiting Ball State University, 24-10, Saturday, Oct. 7, on Homecoming. The Eagles, who lead wire-to-wire inside Rynearson Stadium to win their fourth home game in a row, improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play while the Cardinals slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the MAC.
Evans etched his name into the record books as the program’s top scorer as his 2-yard touchdown score in the second quarter gave him 32 for his career and broke the tie with Gary Patton (1984-87), who held the mark for 26 years. Evans, who finished with 42 yards on the ground and needs just 32 more to reach 2,000 for his career, is the program’s all-time rushing touchdown leader as well, a mark he broke last year.
Smith, who connected on a pair of touchdown passes, including a 50-yarder to Hamze El-Zayat (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson/Fordham) and another to Mitchell, recorded a season-high 192 yards through the air, finishing five shy of his career-high 197 yards accumulated last year against the Cardinals in a 20-16 road win, Oct. 16, 2022. Smith’s top target on the day was Mitchell, who recorded career-highs in receptions and yards with seven and 71, respectively, while recording his first scoring grab as an Eagle. El-Zayat posted 63 yards, his highest total as Eagle. Mitchell, who entered the game with 11 catches and 103 yards, posted career-highs in receptions and yardage for the fourth game in a row, surpassing the five grabs for 48 yards he tallied at Central Michigan University, Sept. 30.
While the offense played well, the defense once again shined bright as the Eagles limited the Cardinals to just 10 points, including pitching a shutout in the second half. Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla./First Baptist Academy/Boston College) led the way with nine tackles and was one of three players with sacks, a group that included Elijah Williams (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and Peyton Price (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson). The Eagles also won the turnover battle as they forced two turnovers, including David Carter Jr. (Ecorse, Mich./River Rouge) recovering his first career fumble, which was the first forced fumble by Barry Manning (Stone, Mountain, Ga./Tucker), while Tim Grant-Randall (Conroe, Tex./Oak Ridge/Blinn) secured the first interception of his career.
Mississippi State 41, Western Michigan 28
Box Score
STARKVILLE, Ms. – The Western Michigan football team fell short in its first-ever game at Mississippi State, 41-28, on Saturday afternoon at Davis Wade Stadium.
WMU kept the game close for the majority of it, three times getting within 10 points. Transfer quarterback Hayden Wolff had his best game as a Bronco, completing a career-high 27 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Kenneth Womack set a new career high with 12 receptions to lead the Broncos, picking up 113 yards receiving. Leroy Thomas had three catches for 61 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown reception. Tight end Austin Hence had five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, while fellow tight end Blake Bosma caught his first touchdown of the season.
Sophomore safety Tate Hallock had a career-high 13 tackles, while Keni-H lovely had seven to go with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Mississippi State jumped out to 17-0 lead with a touchdown and field goal in the first quarter and then a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Wolff was inserted late into the second quarter and immediately moved the Broncos down the field. The drive started on the 25 after a Bulldog score. Wolff connected with Malique Dieudonne on back-to-back plays to get the Broncos out near midfield. A run by Zahir Abdus-Salaam got the Broncos across midfield and Wolff connected with Womack for nine yards to get down to the 40. On third and one, Wolff went deep to Diuedonne and he was interfered with, pushing WMU to the 25. Five plays later Wolff threw it to Hence along the right sidelines to get the Broncos on the board.
The Broncos forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, with kicker Palmer Domschke recovering it but missed a 41-yard field goal as time expire in the half.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, with MSU going first each time.
Mike Wright pushed MSU’s lead to 24-7 with a 3-yard touchdown run to open the quarter.
Wolff then led the Broncos down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Bosma, bringing WMU back within 10.
Seth Davis capped off a five-play, 51-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 31-14.
WMU responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by an 11-yard run by Abuds-Salaam to get the Broncos back within 10.
Mississippi State hit the big play to open the fourth quarter, with Will Rogers connecting with Freddie Roberson for a 36-yard score.
But the Broncos came back, once again, to cut it back to 10. This time the drive only took five plays, with WMU deciding to go for it on fourth and two from the MSU 25. Wolff went deep for Thomas and he mad a leaping catch to bring it down for the score from 25-yards out.
NFL PREVIEW: WEEK 5 CAPSULES
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-2) VS. BUFFALO BILLS (3-1)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023 GAME TIME: 9:30 AM ET
NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Jamie Erdahl
Westwood One: J.P. Shadrick, James Lofton
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) JAX: 109 or 384 BUF: 104 or 225 National: 133 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: BUF leads series, 9-7 (Home team won past 4)
POSTSEASON: JAX leads series, 2-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/7/21: BUF 6 at JAX 9
POSTSEASON: 1/7/18 AFC-WC: BUF 3 at JAX 10
JAGUARS will be playing 11th game in London all-time, most among NFL teams. Can become 1st team ever to win 2 international games in one season. • QB TREVOR LAWRENCE completed 23 of 30 atts. (season high 76.7 pct.) with 249 yards (207 pass, season-high 42 rush) & TD vs. 0 INTs with season-high 105.8 rating last week. Has 90+ rating & 0 INTs in 2 of 3 career games in London. • RB TRAVIS ETIENNE aims for 3rd in row with 70+ scrimmage yards. Has 234 scrimmage yards (117 per game) in 2 career games in London. • WR CHRISTIAN KIRK led team with 8 catches for 84 yards last week, his 2nd game this season with 8+ catches. Aims for 4th in row with 50+ rec. yards. • WR CALVIN RIDLEY had 30th-career TD catch in Week 4. • TE EVAN ENGRAM had 7 catches for 59 yards last week & is only TE in NFL with 5+ catches in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. Aims for 4th in row with 55+ rec. yards. Had 6 catches for 48 yards in only career game vs. Buf. (9/15/19 w/ NYG). • LB JOSH ALLEN had 3 sacks & 1st FF of season last week, most sacks ever in an NFL international game. Is 5th player since 2000 with 3+ sacks in 2 of team’s 1st 4 games of a season. Had 8 tackles, sack, INT & FR in last meeting. • LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN led team with 9 tackles & had season-high 3 TFL & FR last week. Has FR in 2 of past 3. Is 1 of 3 in NFL with 9+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks of season. • S ANDRE CISCO had TFL & 2nd INT of season last week. Has INT in 2 of past 3. • CB DARIOUS WILLIAMS had 3 PD, incl. 61-yard INT-TD, last week, 1st-career TD. Has PD in each of 1st 4 games of season.
BILLS will be playing franchise’s 2nd London game (2015 vs. Jax.). • QB JOSH ALLEN became 2nd player ever with 300+ pass yards (320), 4 TD passes, rush TD & 158.3 rating in single game last week, his 3rd-career game with 4+ TD passes & rush TD, tied for 2nd-most all-time. Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD. Has 3+ TD passes & 120+ rating in 2 of past 3. Leads NFL with 74.8 comp. pct. this season & ranks tied-2nd with 9 TD passes. • RB JAMES COOK had 77 scrimmage yards (career-high 48 rec., 29 rush) & 1st rush TD of season last week. Aims for 4th in row with 75+ scrimmage yards. Ranks 3rd among RBs with 411 scrimmage yards (296 rush, 115 rec.) this season. • RB LATAVIUS MURRAY has rush TD in 2 of past 3. Has 3 rush TDs in 3 career games vs. Jax. • RB DAMIEN HARRIS had 2 rush TDs in only career game vs. Jax. (1/2/22 w/ NE). • WR STEFON DIGGS led team with 6 catches for 120 yards & 3 TDs last week, his 4th game with 3+ rec. TDs since 2019, most in NFL. Is 1 of 3 in NFL with 100+ rec. yards in 3 games this season. Had 6 catches for 85 yards in last meeting. Ties for NFL lead with 4 rec. TDs. • WR GABE DAVIS had rec. TD in 3 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. Has 60+ rec, yards in 2 of past 3. • DE GREG ROUSSEAU had season-high 2 sacks & PD last week, 3rd-career game with 2 sacks. Has TFL in all 4 games this season & aims for 3rd in row with sack. • DT ED OLIVER aims for 3rd in row with 2+ TFL & sack. • LB MATT MILANO led team with season-high 10 tackles & had 1st FF of season in Week 4. Has 5+ tackles in 12 of his past 13. • S MICAH HYDE aims for 3rd in row with INT. Has 5 tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Had TFL & PD in last meeting.
Josh Allen was searching for any British phrases he might know in preparing for his first trip to England, when the Buffalo Bills quarterback smiled and said: “Mind the gap.”
Not bad for someone from Central California in referencing how London Underground commuters are cautioned to not trip over the space between the platform and car when entering or exiting at each Tube stop.
It serves as a useful reminder to the Bills (3-1) as a whole in being mostly unfamiliar with traveling to England and yet designated the “home” team for their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
The gap for the Bills in making the trip across the Atlantic is a large one in comparison to Jacksonville.
The Jaguars are 5-5 since making London their home for a once-a-season game (excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) since 2013. And on Sunday, they’ll become the NFL’s first team to play consecutive games outside the United States, following a 23-7 win over Atlanta at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“I guess the advantage goes to them,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said in noting how the Jaguars have previously played at Tottenham and enjoy the benefit of being acclimated to the time change with Buffalo not arriving in London until Friday morning.
Allen acknowledged it doesn’t feel like a home game and isn’t sure how the Bills will be received even though his No. 17 jersey is among the top-sellers in the United Kingdom.
“I’m not sure if I’m liked, loved or hated there,” Allen said. “I guess we’ll find out on Sunday.”
Buffalo might be on a roll in having blown out its past three opponents by a combined margin of 123-33. And yet the uniqueness of the setting is reason for pause even for a team accustomed to scheduling quirks. In November, a major snowstorm forced the Bills to relocate to Detroit to play a “home” game in a win over Cleveland last season.
In acknowledging the Jaguars having an edge, quarterback Trevor Lawrence said the key is taking advantage of it.
A year after enjoying a breakthrough by winning just their second AFC South title since the divisions were realigned in 2002, and first since 2017, the Jaguars are off to an inconsistent start.
Jacksonville followed a season-opening win against Indianapolis with a pair of duds in losses to Kansas City and Houston.
The outing on Sunday represents another shot on the big stage against an AFC power, after Lawrence acknowledged the Jaguars “laid an egg offensively” in a 17-9 loss to the Chiefs.
“This is a big game, an AFC matchup, a team that’s been playing really good football right now who’s been one of the top teams in the AFC for the past few years,” Lawrence said.
“It’s a challenge for us,” coach Doug Pederson said of the Bills. “It’s something we can maybe learn from that Chiefs game with preparation and hard work and all of that.”
And a little extra rest.
CHANGING HOTELS
The one home advantage the Bills had was choosing to stay at The Grove, a luxury golf resort hotel and spa located a 45-minute drive from Tottenham. The Jaguars were staying at the hotel and forced to relocate to the Hanbury Manor Hotel and Country Club, 41 minutes from the stadium.
While Pederson gave his team Sunday night and Monday to enjoy London with their families, the coach spent the time preparing for Buffalo.
“My wife is here, and she’s had a chance to experience the city and surrounding area,” he said. “She says it’s great. I’ve been right here.”
FOREIGN VENUE
No Bills players or coaches are left from the Rex Ryan-coached team that dropped a 34-31 decision to Jacksonville at Wembley in 2015, the only time Buffalo has played a regular-season game in London.
The Jaguars are 4-5 at Wembley and 1-0 at Tottenham all as the home team. Their 23-30 win over Miami at Tottenham in 2021 snapped an 0-20 skid.
CAM SHIFT?
The Jags are struggling in short-yardage situations and hope left tackle Cam Robinson can make a difference.
The veteran returned to practice this week after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers.
“There’s physicality there and a mindset that he brings,” Pederson said. “Cam definitely brings that leadership and maybe a little more stability to the offensive line.”
Robinson will be evaluated in practice this week. Walker Little started in his absence.
WHISTLE-STOP TOUR
Lawrence is well aware the Bills enter the week tied for the league lead in sacks with 16. And that’s not counting Von Miller.
“One thing that stands out about them is they play through the whistle every play,” Lawrence said. “Even if their initial pass rush doesn’t get home, when you step up, they’re retracing, they’re folding back in to make the play.”
Miller practiced this week for the first time since being sidelined by a right knee injury in late November. Though he’s eager to play, the 34-year-old said it might be smarter to not have to rush back into action.
HOUSTON TEXANS (2-2) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Brandon Gaudin, Mark Schlereth, Kristina Pink
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) HOU: 113 or 385 ATL: 85 or 226
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: HOU leads series, 3-2 (Home team won past 5)
POSTSEASON: —
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/6/19: ATL 32 at HOU 53
POSTSEASON: –
QB C.J. STROUD (rookie) passed for 306 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 111.3 rating last week. Ranks 4th in NFL with 1,212 passing yards this season, 2nd-most ever by player in 1st 4 career games (Cam Newton – 1,386). Joined Gardner Minshew (2019) as only QBs ever with 0 INTs in 1st 4 career starts (min. 30 atts. in each start). Aims for 4th in row with 2+ TD passes. • RB DAMEON PIERCE had season-high 108 scrimmage yards (season-high 81 rush, 27 rec.) last week, 7th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3 on road. • RB DEVIN SINGLETARY had 1st-career TD pass last week & is 1 of 2 RBs (Derrick Henry) with TD pass this season. Had careerhigh 110 rush yards in only career game vs. Atl. (1/2/22 w/ Buf.). • WR NICO COLLINS had 7 catches for career-high 168 yards & 2 TDs last week, most rec. yards by Hou. player since 2020 (171 by Will Fuller). Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Tyreek Hill) with 125+ rec. yards & rec. TD in multiple games this season. Has 6+ catches in 3 of 4 games in 2023. Ranks 5th in NFL with 428 rec. yards this season. • WR TANK DELL (rookie) has 5+ catches, 70+ rec. yards & rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 267 rec. yards in 2023. • TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 1st TD catch of season last week. • LB CHRISTIAN HARRIS led team with season-best 12 tackles in Week 4. Has 5+ tackles in 4 of his past 5 on road. • LB HENRY TO’OTO’O (rookie) aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles & 3rd in row with PD. Leads rookies with 27 tackles this season. • DE JONATHAN GREENARD had 3 TFLs & 2 sacks last week. • DE JERRY HUGHES had 1st sack of season in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with TFL. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 vs. Atl. • CB STEVEN NELSON had 2nd INT of season last week. Has PD in all 4 games this season.
QB DESMOND RIDDER passed for 191 yards & TD last week. Is 4-0 as starter at home with 5 TDs (4 pass, 1 rush) & 96.6 rating. Has TD pass in 4 of his past 5 starts. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON (rookie) had 5 receptions & 137 scrimmage yards (105 rush, 32 rec.) in Week 4. Is 1 of 4 RBs (De’Von Achane, Christian McCaffrey & D’Andre Swift) with 2+ (2) games of 100+ rush yards in 2023. Leads RBs with 19 receptions & ranks 2nd among RBs with 452 scrimmage yards. • RB TYLER ALLGEIER has 851 scrimmage yards (85.1 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 10 career home games, incl. 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of 10. • WR DRAKE LONDON had 2nd rec. TD of season last week, his 6th-career TD catch. Has 5+ catches in 4 of his past 5 at home. • TE JONNU SMITH led team with 6 receptions & 95 rec. yards last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ receptions. • S JESSIE BATES had 8 tackles, TFL & FF last week & is 3rd player since 2000 with 3+ INTs (3) & 2+ FFs (2) in team’s 1st 4 games of season. • S RICHIE GRANT led team & tied his career high with 11 tackles last week, his 4th-career game with 10+ tackles. Has 5+ tackles in 10 of his past 11 at home. • DL GRADY JARRETT had FF in last meeting. • DL CALAIS CAMPBELL has 9.5 sacks in 9 career games vs. Hou. & aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with sack. • DL DAVID ONYEMATA tied his career high with 7 tackles & had 1.5 sacks in Week 4, his 3rd-career game with 1.5+ sacks. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 & aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • LB NATE LANDMAN had career-high 10 tackles in Week 4. • CB A.J. TERRELL has 3 PD in his past 3 at home.
ATLANTA (AP) A fast start, and a home win, could take some heat off Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Back-to-back losses have dropped the Falcons (2-2) to .500 entering Sunday’s game against rookie C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans (2-2). The Texans will be trying for their first three-game winning streak since 2018.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith said “the easy thing is to jerk the wheel” by benching Ridder after only four games in his first full season as the starter. Smith said he is not making a change this week.
It could be argued that grabbing the wheel is a dangerous tactic only when a car is moving, and too often the Falcons’ transmission has been stuck in park with Ridder driving. The Falcons have scored only one touchdown in their past two games.
Veteran Taylor Heinicke, who was signed to be Ridder’s backup, would move up if Smith changes starters.
The Falcons won two of four games in Ridder’s audition as the starter to close a 7-10 finish in 2022. The last two games of another 2-2 stretch this season have been ugly. Ridder was hurt by three turnovers last week as the Jaguars beat the Falcons 23-7 in London. Jacksonville led 17-0 at halftime.
Smith said a good start could do wonders for Ridder, who has three touchdown passes and three interceptions.
“So you’re talking about eight starts, 4-4, the biggest obstacle we’ve got is starting fast,” Smith said. “The last two results were hard to win, not getting off to a start and putting yourself in a hole like that.”
Atlanta’s offense also struggled two weeks ago in a 20-6 loss at Detroit. Another poor performance by Ridder and the offense at home could force Smith’s hand.
“I don’t let the outside noise affect me,” Ridder said Wednesday. “I just know what I have to do every single day and that’s improve.”
There are no questions about Stroud’s job security. The rookie’s 1,212 passing yards rank fourth in the league and are the second-most in a player’s first four games, behind Cam Newton’s 1,386 in 2011.
Stroud has thrown 151 passes without an interception, an NFL rookie record. He has six touchdown passes.
Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said Stroud’s experience at Ohio State has helped him flourish as a rookie.
“He played a lot of football in college, and you’ve seen some of the same things,” Ryan said. “Whether it’s looking off safeties, moving curl flat defenders, he’s done that in college, and it continues to show. He’s a good quarterback.”
REINFORCEMENTS
Houston’s injury-plagued offensive line should get a boost this week with the expected return of two key players. Star left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) and right tackle Tytus Howard (hand surgery) have practiced this week after both missed significant time.
Howard, who signed a three-year, $56 million contract extension in July, can’t wait to get on the field with Stroud.
“Oh, yeah, C.J. is a baller,” Howard said. “I’m just excited to be part of the team, being able to help do what I can for us to win more games.”
HOME SWEET HOME
The home team has won each of the last five games in the series. The Falcons are 2-0 at home this season. Ridder is 4-0 at home in his two seasons.
CHALLENGE FOR STROUD
The Falcons rank fifth in the league in pass defense and seventh overall, and cornerback Jeff Okudah returned from an ankle injury last week. The secondary also includes cornerback A.J. Terrell and safeties Jessie Bates and Richie Grant. Bates has three interceptions.
“They’re all really good players,” Stroud said. “They fly around, they’re aggressive, they want to guard you man to man and they’re going to be in your face all game. For us, we’ve got to be ready to play a really, really hard game.”
AN INCH AWAY
Ridder says the Falcons’ offense is “just a few simple things” away from success. Maybe just an inch at times.
“One is that it’s an inch or a guy away from a play breaking or busting from us being able to carry that momentum and keep the drive going,” Ridder said. “… Whatever it may be, it’s just one little thing here or there on each of those plays.”
NICO’S BREAKOUT SEASON
Houston receiver Nico Collins, a 2021 third-round pick, is just 54 yards shy of surpassing his career high of 481 yards receiving from last season.
Collins had seven catches for a career-high 168 yards – the most receiving yards by a Texan since 2020 – and two touchdowns last week. He’s become Stroud’s favorite target and his 428 yards receiving ranks fifth in the league.
“We’re not done,” Collins said. “We’ve got to keep growing.”
CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (3-1)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
FOX: Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) CAR: 158 or 385 DET: 83 or 227
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: CAR leads series, 8-3 (won past 2)
POSTSEASON: —
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/24/22: DET 23 at CAR 37
POSTSEASON: —
QB BRYCE YOUNG (rookie) completed 25 of 32 atts. (78.1 pct.) for 204 yards & 93.2 rating in Week 4. Aims for his 4th in row with 20+ completions. • RB MILES SANDERS has 231 scrimmage yards (115.5 per game) & rush TD in 2 career games vs. Det. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with 100+ scrimmage yards. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD had 53 scrimmage yards (41 rush, 12 rec.) in Week 4 & has 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 10. Had career-high 125 rush yards in last meeting. • WR ADAM THIELEN had 7 catches for team high 76 rec. yards in Week 4. Aims for his 4th in row with 7+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with rec. TD. • WR TERRACE MARSHALL had career-high 9 receptions for 56 yards last week. Had 55 rec. yards in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches. • WR DJ CHARK had 30 catches for 502 yards & 3 TDs last season with Det. • LB BRIAN BURNS has 3 sacks, 5 TFL & FF in 2 road games in 2023 & has 9 TFL in his past 6 road games. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with sack. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with 2+ sacks, TFL & PD. • LB FRANKIE LUVU has 9 TFL in his past 6 on road. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Det. with TFL. • LB KAMU GRUGIER-HILL had 3rd-career INT last week. • S SAM FRANKLIN had 99-yard INT-TD last week, his 1st-career INT & TD. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • S VONN BELL led team with 7 tackles last week & aims for his 4th in row with 6+ tackles. • S JEREMY CHINN had 4th-career sack last week.
QB JARED GOFF had TD pass & 86.9 rating in Week 4. Has 38 TDs (37 pass, 1 rush) vs. 6 INTs for 110.8 rating in his past 15 home starts, incl. 2+ TD passes in 13 of 15 starts. Passed for 355 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 110.7 rating in last meeting. • RB DAVID MONTGOMERY had 141 scrimmage yards (121 rush, 20 rec.) & career-high 3 rush TDs in Week 4, his 9th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Aims for his 4th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • RB JAHMYR GIBBS (rookie) aims for his 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. • WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN had 5 catches for 56 yards & 2nd rec. TD of season in Week 4. Has 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards in each of 1st 4 weeks. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ catches. Had 7 receptions for 76 yards in last meeting. • TE SAM LAPORTA has most receptions (22) & 2nd-most rec. yards (242) by TE in 1st 4 career games in NFL history. • DL AIDAN HUTCHINSON had 1.5 sacks last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. Has 0.5+ sacks in 4 of his past 5 at home. • DL ALIM MCNEILL had sack & 2 TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Had career-high 6 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • DL ISAIAH BUGGS & DL JOHN COMINSKY each had 1st sack of season in Week 4. • LB ALEX ANZALONE has 5+ tackles in 21 consec. games, tied 4th-longest active streak in NFL. • CB JERRY JACOBS had 5 tackles and set career highs with 4 PD & 2 INTs last week. Aims for his 6th in row with 5+ tackles. • DB BRIAN BRANCH (rookie) led team with 7 tackles last week. • S TRACY WALKER had 2nd-career FF in Week 4.
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Lions are rolling as they head into a matchup with Carolina – just as they were last season.
Detroit hopes to have a different result.
The Panthers played a part in keeping the surging Lions out of the playoffs, beating them by two touchdowns with a franchise-record 570 yards of offense in Week 16. It was Detroit’s second and final loss in a 10-game stretch.
“Different coach, different players, but a lot of those guys are still there,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “Yeah, we’d like to get our chance back now and I know they’re going to come with it.
“They need a win and so do we.”
The NFC North-leading Lions (3-1) host the winless Panthers (0-4) on Sunday, aiming to hold onto their first outright division lead since Week 2 in 2017.
Carolina, with first-year coach Frank Reich and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, is off to its worst start since losing the first five games of the 2010 season.
“In one respect, we’re close,” Reich said. “In other respects, we’re making too many mistakes to even say that.”
UNDER PRESSURE
Young, the No. 1 pick overall, is off to a rough start in part because he has been sacked 11 times in three games. He’s averaging 167.7 yards passing per game and has two touchdown passes, two interceptions and two lost fumbles.
Young insisted he’s not worried about comparisons with the No. 2 overall pick, Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is off to a strong start.
“I’m always rooting for him and it’s great to see,” Young said. “But I’m just try to run my own race and try to control what I can control.”
SHORTENED SUSPENSION
Lions receiver Jameson Williams is eligible to play – two weeks earlier than expected – after the NFL reduced his six-game suspension for gambling.
Williams, whose training camp was cut short by a hamstring injury, will probably play sparingly against the Panthers as he gets into game shape and shows he knows where to line up and where to go in the offense.
When the No. 12 pick from the 2022 draft does get on the field, he will likely give Goff a deep-play threat as he did for Young at Alabama.
“He brings a different element that us and many other teams don’t have in terms of speed and the way he runs down the field,” Detroit receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said.
THAT’S TIGHT
Detroit appears to have an edge at tight end.
Rookie Sam LaPorta has 22 receptions, the most by an NFL tight end in his first four games, for 242 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina’s four tight ends have combined for 13 catches, 114 yards and one score. They were held to a total of one catch for 7 yards in last week’s loss to Minnesota at home.
Hayden Hurst, who signed a three-year, $21.7 million contract with the Panthers in free agency, started strong with five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in the opener. He has been held to five receptions and 38 yards over the last three games.
PICKED OFF
Goff has thrown one interception in three straight games, starting with a pick-6 in the Week 2 loss to Seattle, after he went 383 pass attempts without one.
“Those are the ones that really sting,” Goff said. “Just got to take care of the ball better. That is something I’m focused on.”
Carolina might be without three starters in the secondary because cornerback Donte Jackson has a shoulder injury, safety Xavier Woods hurt his hamstring and cornerback Jaycee Horn is on injured reserve.
LONG ODDS
The Panthers’ 0-4 start has put them in a predicament. Out of 164 teams that lost their first four games in the Super Bowl era, only the 1992 Chargers made the playoffs.
TENNESSEE TITANS (2-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Amanda Renner
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) TEN: 109 or 384 IND: 104 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 35-21 (TEN won past 5)
POSTSEASON: TEN leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/23/22: IND 10 at TEN 19
POSTSEASON: 1/16/00 AFC-DIV: TEN 16 at IND 16
QB RYAN TANNEHILL completed 18 of 25 atts. (72 pct.) for 240 yards & TD vs. INT with 98.8 rating last week. Has 95+ rating in 2 of past 3. Is 5-0 in his past 5 starts vs. Ind. with 102.1 rating. Has 2+ TD passes in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ind. Has 0 INTs in 4 of his past 5 starts vs. division. • RB DERRICK HENRY rushed for season-high 122 yards & 2nd TD of season & had 3rd-career TD pass last week. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season & 7 of his past 8 overall. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3. Had 135+ scrimmage yards in both games vs. Ind. last season & has 100+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 vs. Ind. Has 100+ rush yards in 13 of his past 14 vs. division, incl. each of past 6. • RB TYJAE SPEARS (rookie) had 58 scrimmage yards (40 rush, 18 rec.) last week. Has 55+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS led team with 63 rec. yards in Week 4. Aims for his 6th in row vs. Ind. with TD catch & 3rd in row with 90+ rec. yards. Has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of 6 career games at Ind. • WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE had season-high 5 catches for 51 yards last week. • TE CHIG OKONKWO had rec. TD in last road meeting. • TE JOSH WHYLE (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 4. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS had sack last week & has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 6 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in last meeting. • LB ARDEN KEY had sack in Week 4. • LB JACK GIBBENS led team with 10 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 2 PD & 9 tackles in Week 4. • S KEVIN BYARD had 6 tackles & 1st FR of season last week. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season.
QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON (rookie) totaled 256 yards (200 pass, career-high 56 rush) & career-high 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) last week. Is 1st QB in SB era with rush TD in each of 1st 3 career games. Can become 1st QB in SB era with rush TD in each of 1st 4 games of a season. Aims for his 3rd in row with 0 INTs. • RB ZACK MOSS has 70+ rush yards in each of his 3 games this season, with 100+ scrimmage yards in 2 of 3. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN has 8+ catches & 55+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 6+ catches in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ten. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. division. • WR JOSH DOWNS ranks 5th among rookies with 17 catches. • TE DREW OGLETREE led team with career-high 48 rec. yards & had 1st-career TD catch in Week 4. • TE MO ALIE-COX had 1st rec. TD of season last week. Had 6 catches for 85 yards in last home meeting. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN led team with 12 tackles last week & is only player in NFL with 12+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks. Can join Zach Thomas in 2005 as only player since 2000 with 12+ tackles in each of team’s 1st 5 games of season. Has TFL in 2 of past 3. Leads NFL with 57 tackles in 2023. Had TFL in last meeting. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with sack. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 at home. • DE KWITY PAYE has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Has FR in 2 of past 3. Had sack in last home meeting. • DE DAYO ODEYINGBO had season-high 7 tackles & 1.5 sacks, PD & 2nd FF of season in Week 4. Has FF in 2 of past 3. • CB KENNY MOORE had season-high 8 tackles, 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. Had sack in last meeting.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) When the Indianapolis Colts watch video of prior matchups against Derrick Henry, they see a whole lot of failure.
They’ve spent seven years trying to slow down the powerful 6-foot-3, 247-pound, two-time NFL rushing champ, and nothing seems to work.
The Tennessee star has run through them, around them, even stiff-armed them for seven 100-yard outings in 14 career games against Indy. And if the Colts want to snap their five-game losing streak to the Titans, the defensive game plan is no secret.
“With Tennessee, you know (coach Mike) Vrabel is going to have them ready to play, that they’re going to rally behind No. 22,” Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said, referring to Henry’s jersey number.
Henry had 1,287 yards against Indy (2-2) – although the Titans’ AFC South rivals Houston and Jacksonville have allowed even more yards to the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner.
In his last seven games against the Colts, Henry has topped 100 yards six times. The lone exception came on Halloween in 2021 when Henry was limping to an uncharacteristic 28-carry, 68-yard performance. The next day, Vrabel announced Henry had a broken bone in his foot.
Now, Henry appears to be rounding into form. Last week at Cincinnati, he had 22 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown while throwing a 2-yard TD pass.
Henry could get even more help this week if two projected starting linemen – rookie left guard Peter Skoronski, who had an appendectomy Sept. 16, and tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, who is eligible to return from his four-game gambling suspension this week – return.
“We’ll start working Peter back in there and kind of see how everybody goes throughout the week,” Vrabel said. “Nic’s been able to probably work a little bit more than Peter has. We’ll see where they both are, but Nic’s been able to kind of work through, even though he hasn’t been here.”
The Titans (2-2) could be facing a more complete Colts team if 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor plays.
He practiced for the first time in 10 months after being activated from the physically unable to perform list early this week. Taylor could work his way into a backfield that has leaned heavily on veteran Zack Moss and new dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson.
“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s willing and he knows where the goal line is,” Vrabel said of Richardson. “He knows where the first down (is), what he needs to get to. So it’ll be a huge challenge.”
The Colts’ mission remains the same – clogging up Henry’s running lanes.
“It’s getting population on the football, getting to his feet early because when he gets rolling, he gets downhill, he’s pretty hard to stop,” Colts two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “Guys have to be on the details, on their assignments, run to the ball and get population on the ball.”
OLDER AND BETTER
Tennessee signed defensive lineman Denico Autry when Indy let him go following the 2020 season. Since then, he’s posted 20 1/2 sacks, including eight last season and 3 1/2 this season – all team highs. How is Autry still doing this at age 33?
“Just experience, you know, a seasoned vet,” the 10-year veteran said. “You know I’ve seen some of the stuff over a thousand times, so I about know what I’m getting when I get it. I know what’s going (to happen) on the field.”
HISTORIC START
Richardson has 23 carries for 123 yards and four TDs through his first three NFL starts – a historic pace. He became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to tally four TD runs in his first three games and the first Colts quarterback to run for scores in three straight games.
One more TD run would tie Andrew Luck’s single-season franchise record by a quarterback and he can tie the franchise mark for most games in a season with a TD pass and a TD run (three). The others are Andrew Luck (2014), Peyton Manning (2001, 2006, 2007), Bert Jones (1975) and the late John Unitas (1958).
CLUTCH HOPKINS
Three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for a game-high 63 yards last week, including a 38-yarder that jump-started the Titans’ offense in the second quarter. And he’s tied for the most third-down conversion receptions in the AFC.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill appreciates what Hopkins has brought to the offense.
“Just that match-up ability for him to win his one-on-one matchup and find some space on crucial downs and sustain drives has been huge for us so far,” Tannehill said.
HOME WOES
The Colts have lost six straight games on their home field. Their last win came nearly a year ago, 34-27 over Jacksonville on Oct. 16, 2022.
“Having not won here in a year is pretty wicked, so we definitely need to break that streak,” three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard said.
TITANIC D
The Titans come in with the NFL’s fourth-best defense against the run, allowing 70 yards per game and a league-best 2.9 yards per carry. They have gone 10 straight games without allowing an opponent to run for 100 yards total, the longest active streak in the NFL.
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-1)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME:1:00 PM ET
FOX: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) NYG: 132 or 388 MIA: 133 or 229
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: NYG leads series, 7-3 (won 4 of past 5)
POSTSEASON-
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/5/21: NYG 9 at MIA 20
POSTSEASON: —
QB DANIEL JONES completed 27 of 34 atts. (season-high 79.4 pct.) & had 269 yards (203 pass, 66 rush) in Week 4. Is 1 of 2 QBs (Lamar Jackson) with 2 games of 50+ rush yards in 2023. Has 300+ pass yards & 90+ rating in 2 of his past 3 road starts. • RB SAQUON BARKLEY aims for his 6th in row on road with rush TD & 10th in row on road with 50+ scrimmage yards. Has 217 scrimmage yards (108.5 per game) & 2 rush TDs in 2 career games vs. Mia. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Mia. with 70+ scrimmage yards. • RB MATT BREIDA had 5 catches & 78 scrimmage yards (48 rec., 30 rush) in Week 4, his 3rd-career game with 5+ receptions. Had 350 scrimmage yards in 12 games with Mia. in 2020. • TE DARREN WALLER aims for his 3rd in row vs. Mia. with 5+ receptions & 50+ rec. yards. • WR WAN’DALE ROBINSON had 5 receptions last week. • LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX had career-high 2 sacks & 1st PD of season in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE led team with 10 tackles & had 2 TFL & PD in Week 4, his 10th-career game with 10+ tackles. Had 8 tackles & PD in his last game at Mia. (10/3/21 w/ Ind.). • LB MICAH MCFADDEN had 1st-career PD last week. Has 7 TFL in his past 5. • DL D.J. DAVIDSON had 1st-career TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • DL LEONARD WILLIAMS has 7 TFL in 10 career games vs. Mia. • CB ADOREE’ JACKSON aims for his 5th in row on road with PD. • S XAVIER MCKINNEY aims for his 3rd in row on road with 7+ tackles. Had 6 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • CB DEONTE BANKS ranks tied-5th among rookies with 3 PD.
DOLPHINS lead NFL with 2,044 total yards of offense this season, most by a team in their 1st 4 games in NFL history. • QB TUA TAGOVAILOA completed 25 of 35 (71.4 pct.) for 282 yards & TD vs. INT with 92.8 rating last week. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Brock Purdy) with 90+ rating in all 4 games this season. Passed for 244 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 104.1 rating in last meeting. Has 13 TDs vs. 3 INTs with 110.9 rating in his past 8 home starts. Leads NFL with 1,306 pass yards & ranks 2nd with 114.4 rating in 2023. • RB DE’VON ACHANE (rookie) had 120 scrimmage yards (101 rush, 19 rec.) & 2 rush TDs last week. Has 353 scrimmage yards (176.5 per game) & 6 TDs (4 rush, 2 rec.) over past 2 weeks. Is 4th player all-time with 6 TDs through 1st 3 career games. • RB RAHEEM MOSTERT is tied for NFL lead with 7 scrimmage TDs & 6 rush TDs this season. Achane (309) & Mostert (249) are only pair of teammates each with 200+ rush yards this season. • WR TYREEK HILL had 58 rec. yards last week. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Mike Evans) with 5+ catches & rec. TD in 3 games this season. Had 12 catches for 94 yards & TD in his last game vs. NYG (11/1/21 w/ KC). Tied for NFL lead with 4 rec. TDs & ranks 3rd with 470 rec. yards. • WR JAYLEN WADDLE has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of his 3 games this season. Had 9 catches for 90 yards in last meeting. • WR BRAXTON BERRIOS had season-high 6 catches last week. • CB XAVIEN HOWARD has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 5 PD in his past 4 at home. Had INT in last meeting. • LB ANDREW VAN GINKEL tied career highs in TFL (3) & sacks (2) in Week 4. Aims for 4th in row with TFL & has sack in 2 of past 3. • LB DAVID LONG led team with season-high 10 tackles & had 2 TFL last week. Aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles. Has TFL in 2 of past 3. Had 8 tackles & TFL in last meeting
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) Mike McDaniel watched quarterback Daniel Jones scramble as the New York Giants’ offensive line gave up 11 sacks in a loss to Seattle on Monday night.
The Miami Dolphins’ coach understands how easily things could turn around for his team’s next opponent.
“From my perspective, I see an offense that’s close,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “Eleven sacks with the completion percentage that (Daniel Jones) had, it felt like to me when I was watching that it was either completion or sack. Which means the way I see it … the difference between sack and completion is that finite. If you take the sacks out, he’d probably have a pretty high quarterback rating because the completion percentage was high.”
That’s why McDaniel doesn’t expect to easily replicate the Seahawks’ success when Miami (3-1) hosts New York (1-3) on Sunday.
The Dolphins could use a dominant performance from their defense, which has been inconsistent at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and allowed the Bills’ Josh Allen to record a perfect 158.3 passer rating last week.
Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker said the Giants, like any team, can be expected to attack Miami’s weaknesses.
“It’s the National Football League,” Baker said. “They’re going to go back, watch the film and they’re going to be working on it all week. They’re going to make sure they understand what we’re going to do. I’m sure they’re going to fix it. We’re going to have to come up with new things. At the end of the day, it’s about a man beating another man, so we’ll have to do that.”
Both teams dealt with protection issues last week and have injuries along their offensive lines.
Against Buffalo, the Dolphins were without starting center Connor Williams (groin) and lost veteran left tackle Terron Armstead to a knee injury in the second quarter. The result was a season-high four sacks allowed.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was hit nine times. McDaniel said part of that was because he abandoned the run game too quickly. He hopes not to repeat that mistake against a Giants defense that ranks 25th against the run.
The Giants are last in scoring with 46 points, and much of that is because of the offensive line, which has been missing star left tackle Andrew Thomas the last three games. The line has started four different combinations and this week may bring a fifth if rookie center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) can’t go. New York has allowed 23 sacks.
Coach Brian Daboll said the Giants’ goal is to play more complementary football.
“Which we haven’t yet,” he added. “That’ll be the focus. It’s always the focus but results haven’t been there.”
NUMBERS DON’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY
The Giants rank 30th in the NFL with 122 points allowed, but not all of that total is the fault of coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense.
Dallas, San Francisco and Seattle combined for 94 points in games the where the Giants’ offense barely did anything, scoring 15 points. The Seahawks got 17 points off three turnovers Monday night, including an interception return for a touchdown by Devon Witherspoon and a 7-yard drive after a strip-sack.
The defense is rounding into form and has a chance to slow down Miami with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux, linebacker Bobby Okereke and safety Xavier McKinney all playing well. The unit has yet to force a turnover.
ON THE RUN
The Dolphins lead the NFL with 707 yards rushing, 6.3 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns – a stark turnaround from a year ago when Miami’s rushing attack was inconsistent. The Dolphins rushed for 142 yards against Buffalo – 101 of those from rookie De’Von Achane, who is ranked seventh in the league in rushing.
The run game has made Miami’s passing attack even tougher to stop.
“It’s been helpful to offset some of the actions that we do in the pass game,” Tagovailoa said, “and then off of those run actions we can marry some of the ways we motion and do our action fakes to some of the pass plays that we have in, so I think it’s been really, really good.”
ALMOST THERE
Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb feels like the defense is almost where it needs to be under new coordinator Vic Fangio.
“A play or two might resort back to old things and not do stuff how we know we can do it,” Chubb said, “and those one or two plays end up hurting us in the long run. That’s when they get their explosive plays. I feel like if we minimize trying to go outside the defense and try to do the next person’s job … I feel like we can take this to a whole other level.”
The Dolphins are allowing 251 yards passing and 29.8 points per game.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-2) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-3)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) NO: 121 or 389 NE: 111 or 230
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: NE leads series, 10-5 (won 2 of past 3)
POSTSEASON: —
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 9/26/21: NO 28 at NE 13
POSTSEASON: —
QB DEREK CARR passed for 3 TDs vs. INT in his last game vs. NE (12/18/22 w/ LV). Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NE with 2+ TD passes & 5th in row vs. NE with 20+ completions. QB TAYSOM HILL had rush TD in last meeting. • RB ALVIN KAMARA had 13 receptions & 84 scrimmage yards (51 rush, 33 rec.) in season debut in Week 4. Has 6 career games with 10+ receptions, tied-3rd most by RB all-time. Aims for his 6th in row with 80+ scrimmage yards. Had 118 scrimmage yards (89 rush, 29 rec.) & TD catch in last meeting. • WR CHRIS OLAVE has 6+ catches & 85+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 60+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 on road. • WR MICHAEL THOMAS led team with 53 rec. yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 10 of his past 11. Aims for his 7th in row on road with 5+ catches. Had 5 receptions for 89 yards in his only career game vs. NE (9/17/17). • DE CAMERON JORDAN had TFL & PD in last meeting & aims for his 4th in row vs. NE with TFL. • DT BRYAN BRESEE (rookie) had 1st-career full sack & 3 TFL in Week 4, 2nd rookie with 3 TFL in single game in 2023. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS had 2 TFL & 2 PD in last meeting & aims for his 3rd in row vs. NE with 2+ TFL. Has 5+ tackles in 11 of 12 career games vs. NE. • LB PETE WERNER tied for team lead with 8 tackles last week & aims for his 5th in row with 7+ tackles. • CB MARSHON LATTIMORE aims for his 4th in row on road with 5+ tackles & PD. Had 10 tackles & INT in last meeting. Ranks tied-3rd in NFL with 6 PD in 2023. • CB ALONTAE TAYLOR & CB ISAAC YIADOM rank tied-1st in NFL with 7 PD each. Yiadom had 2nd-career INT last week.
HC BILL BELICHICK can become 3rd coach in NFL history to win 300+ reg. season games, joining HOFers Don Shula (328) & George Halas (318). • QB MAC JONES passed for 270 yards in last meeting. Has 10 TDs vs. 2 INTs with 93.9 rating in his past 7 home starts. • RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. • RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT has TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. NO. • WR KENDRICK BOURNE has 4+ catches in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 6 catches for 96 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 3 rec. TDs in 3 career games vs. NO. • WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER has 4+ catches in both home games this season. Had 11 catches for 115 yards in only career game vs. NO (12/23/18 w/ Pit.). • TE HUNTER HENRY led team with 4 catches for 51 yards last week. Is 1 of 3 TEs (Evan Engram & Sam LaPorta) with 50+ rec. yards in 3 games this season. Had 5 catches in last meeting & has TD catch in 2 of 3 career games vs. NO. • LB JOSH UCHE had 2nd sack of season last week. Aims for his 5th in row vs. NFC with sack. • LB JAHLANI TAVAI had PD, 2 TFL & 1st sack of season in Week 4. • DE DEATRICH WISE had 1st sack of season last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NO with 0.5 sacks. • CB MYLES BRYANT set career highs in tackles (10) & FFs (2) in Week 4 & is 1 of 2 players (Khalil Mack) with 10+ tackles & 2+ FFs in a game this season. Has PD in 2 of past 3. • S KYLE DUGGER led team with career-best 15 tackles & had TFL last week, tied-most tackles by a DB in a game this season. Aims for 4th in row with TFL & 3rd in row with 7+ tackles.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Points have been hard to come by for the Saints and the Patriots.
Over the first four weeks, each team has scored 20 points only once. They enter Sunday’s matchup ranked in the bottom third of the league in points per game. New Orleans (2-2) is averaging 15.5, tied for 25th in the NFL. New England (1-3) ranks 30th at 13.8 points.
It’s a major fall-off for offenses once led by Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who rank first and second all-time in touchdown passes.
This latest meeting will feature a third-year quarterback in Mac Jones who has displayed only minimal improvement under new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Jones understands he needs to bounce back from his worst performance of the season. He threw two interceptions, including a pick-6, and had a fumble returned for a touchdown in last week’s loss to Dallas. He was ultimately benched for Bailey Zappe.
Jones is confident he can return to form.
“Confidence is something that comes from years of practice, and it grows over time,” he said. “I think that’s what I have to look back on, is I’ve played well at times and I just have got to be more consistent. I know it’s there.”
The Saints are likewise hoping to see a lot more from veteran Derek Carr. New Orleans has managed just four offensive touchdowns, its fewest through four games since 1975.
New Orleans’ most recent loss to Tampa Bay also saw its streak of 11 consecutive games of holding opponents to 20 or fewer points end.
While Carr acknowledged the Saints are not playing to the level they expected, he said he’s leaning on the fact that he’s been through tougher times.
Carr pointed to his Raiders team starting 0-10 during his rookie season in 2014. “This,” he said, “is not that.”
“This is football. It’s tough. It’s hard,” Carr said. “Your back’s against the wall a little bit. What are you going to do about it? You going to fight? Are you going to quit? And so, I think we’re finding out a lot about our guys this week.”
CHASING 300
The Patriots’ 38-3 loss to the Cowboys was the worst of Bill Belichick’s 29-year coaching career.
It also denied him a chance to join Don Shula and George Halas as the only coaches in NFL history with 300 regular-season wins.
He’ll get his second shot against the Saints, against whom he has a 5-2 record.
STUMBLING AND BUMBLING
The Saints average 87.5 yards rushing per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL. Improving that number has become a point of emphasis for New Orleans’ beleaguered offensive line, which also has allowed 15 sacks.
“We haven’t given people a reason to respect the run,” guard James Hurst said. “So, that’s a position we’re in and that’s something that we obviously have to get better if we’re going to be an effective offense.”
The return of Alvin Kamara from suspension in Week 4 offered a small measure of hope. Kamara rushed for 51 yards on 11 carries against Tampa Bay, a 4.6-yard average against a defense that ranks eighth in the NFL against the run.
RED-ZONE WOES
The Saints entered the week ranked 23rd in yards per game (285.3) even after managing less than 200 last week. The bigger problem for the Saints has been stalling out inside their opponents’ 20-yard line.
They have attempted 10 field goals, nine of which have been made by rookie kicker Blake Grupe, who is the team’s leading scorer.
New Orleans’ red-zone conversion rate of 33.3% (4 of 12) ranks last in the NFL.
Even struggling New England has a far superior red-zone success rate of 62.5%.
“Everything happens faster in the red zone, and so the attention to detail has to be much improved,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said. “That’s what it’s all about down there is being able to play fast, make quick decisions and be extremely detailed in terms of where you’re supposed to be at and when you’re supposed to be there.”
BIG HOLES
The Patriots will be missing their most productive player on defense with linebacker Matt Judon sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery on his biceps. Judon suffered the injury late in New England’s loss at Dallas last week.
He led the Patriots with four sacks through four games.
Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez also likely will be sidelined after injuring his shoulder against Dallas. Gonzalez has a sack and interception and was named the league’s rookie defensive player of the month for September.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) BAL: 134 or 387 PIT: 82 or 228
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: PIT leads series, 3-24 (won 5 of past 6)
POSTSEASON: PIT leads series, 3-1
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 1/1/23: PIT 16 at BAL 13
POSTSEASON: 1/3/15 AFC-WC: BAL 30 at PIT 17
QB LAMAR JACKSON set season highs in comp. pct. (78.9), TDs (4 – 2 pass, 2 rush) & rating (142.5) last week, his 4th-career game with 2+ rush TDs & pass TD, tied 4th-most all-time. Can become 1st QB in SB era with 2+ rush TDs in 3 straight games. Aims for his 6th in row with 70+ comp. pct. & 4th in row with 0 INTs. Has 6 TDs (4 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs with 124.1 rating in 2 games vs. division this season. Has 10 TDs (8 pass, 2 rush) vs. 0 INTs in his past 5 on road. • RB GUS EDWARDS aims for 4th in row with 45+ rush yards. Rushed for 66 yards in last road meeting. • TE MARK ANDREWS led team with 5 catches for season-high 80 yards & 2 TDs last week, his 8th-career game with 2+ rec. TDs, 3rdmost among active TEs. Has 5 catches & rec. TD in 2 of 3 games this season. Had 9 catches for 100 yards in last meeting & has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. Pit. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with TD catch. Tied for lead among TEs with 3 rec. TDs this season. • WR ZAY FLOWERS (rookie) has 55+ rec. yards in 3 of 1st 4 career games. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 24 catches & 3rd with 244 rec. yards this season. • WR NELSON AGHOLOR had 6 catches for 110 yards & TD in his last game vs. Pit. (9/18/22 w/ NE). • LB ROQUAN SMITH led team with 10 tackles & had 2 PD & TFL last week, his 3rd game with 10+ tackles this season. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Has sack in 2 of 3 career games vs. Pit. • LB PATRICK QUEEN had season-high 3 TFL & 2nd sack of season last week. Aims for his 14th in row with 5+ tackles. • S KYLE HAMILTON had 5 tackles & 1st-career INT in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Had 6 tackles in last meeting. • S GENO STONE had INT last week & has INT in 2 of past 3. • CB BRANDON STEPHENS had 1st-career INT in Week 4.
QB KENNY PICKETT has 0 INTs in 4 of 5 career starts vs. division. • QB MITCH TRUBISKY completed 3 of 5 atts. in season debut last week. Can make 6th start with Pit. • RB NAJEE HARRIS led team with season-high 103 scrimmage yards (71 rush, 32 rec.) last week, 12th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Aims for 3rd in row with 65+ rush yards. Rushed for 111 yards & had TD catch in last meeting. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Bal. with TD. Has TD in 6 of his past 7 vs. division. • RB JAYLEN WARREN aims for 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had career-high 98 scrimmage yards (76 rush, 22 rec.) in last meeting. Has 85+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3 vs. division. • WR GEORGE PICKENS has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Had 78 rec. yards in last home meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 70+ rec. yards & TD catch. Has rec. TD in 3 of his past 4 at home. • WR ALLEN ROBINSON aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 5+ catches, 50+ rec. yards & rec. TD. • TE PAT FREIERMUTH had TD catch in last home meeting. • LB T.J. WATT has sack in 3 of 4 games this season, with 2+ sacks in 2 games. Aims for his 9th in row vs. Bal with 0.5+ sacks & 7th in row with full sack. Has 13.5 sacks in his past 9 vs. division. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with sack & FR. Tied for NFL lead with 6 sacks. • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 7+ tackles & sack. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 at home. • S MINKAH FITZPATRICK aims for 3rd in row with 11+ tackles. Had 9 tackles & INT in last meeting. Has PD in 5 of his past 6 vs. Bal. • CB PATRICK PETERSON aims for his 6th in row with PD & 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Has PD in both of his 2 career games vs. Bal. • CB LEVI WALLACE aims for 3rd in row with 2+ PD.
PITTSBURGH (AP) Lamar Jackson can dazzle with his legs one play and drop dimes with his right arm the next.
Except, it seems, when he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers.
For all the electricity the Baltimore Ravens quarterback provides on a seemingly weekly basis, things tend to get sideways when he’s on one side of the line of scrimmage and T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are on the other. And Jackson knows it.
“The atmosphere is different,” he said. “It’s more intense, more aggressive.”
More difficult, too.
Jackson is 2-3 as a starter against the Steelers, although he missed both of Baltimore’s games against Pittsburgh last season due to injury. He’s thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (four) when facing Baltimore’s longtime rival. The next time he runs the ball into the end zone against Pittsburgh will be his first.
So while the Ravens (3-1) easily looked like the best team in the AFC North in September, they are taking nothing for granted when they open October by visiting the wildly uneven Steelers (2-2), who are struggling to play with any consistency or cohesion.
“Hopefully, it’s a different outcome this season,” Jackson said.
It can’t be if Pittsburgh wants to be considered a threat in what could be the most balanced division in football. The Steelers were pushed around by Houston a week ago, and coach Mike Tomlin said team simply didn’t play hard enough.
While he promised “changes” in the aftermath, Tomlin’s only real tweak was to do something he was probably going to do anyway: have his players practice in pads for the first time in a few weeks in hopes of helping them hit the reset button.
Pittsburgh doesn’t really have much of a choice. The Steelers have struggled to get a handle on opposing running games without injured defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Now here comes Jackson and the NFL’s fourth-ranked running offense.
In a way, it may be the best thing for the Steelers.
“It kind of forces you do to your job, for younger guys to grow up, for everybody to just play harder,” defensive tackle Montravius Adams said. “It’s a divisional game. You know what they’re doing. They know what you’re doing. It’s really about who is going to whip who.”
FINISHING DRIVES
The Ravens have 12 touchdowns in 15 red-zone opportunities, and their defense has allowed just three TDs in 10 trips. Jackson’s running has been a big threat in that area. He already has four rushing touchdowns, three shy of his career high.
“The defense gives us the look for me to run, or my number’s called, and whatever it’s going to take for us to get in the end zone, I’m going to do it,” Jackson said. “I’m going to try to do it at least 100 miles per hour. If the defense gives us that look, that’s what it’ll be.”
TOO SOFT?
Pittsburgh’s offense was expected to take significant strides forward after a promising preseason. It hasn’t happened. The Steelers are near the bottom of the league in points, yards and first downs through four games, intensifying the scrutiny around offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Running back Najee Harris, however, doesn’t think the game plan is the problem. Harris believes the offense was too “soft” against the Texans. He’d like to see a return to the run-first approach the Steelers used while going 7-2 over the second half of last season, a run that included a 16-13 victory at Baltimore in which they rolled up 198 yards on the ground.
“I think we all know that we’ve got to get better if we want to be where we want to be at,” Harris said. “We want to be at the mentality we were last year against the Ravens and this is a good time to do it.”
BIG CHANCE
Baltimore already has road victories over Cincinnati and Cleveland. A win over the Steelers this week would give the Ravens a road sweep of the AFC North, something they’ve done only twice since the current alignment of divisions began in 2002. The last time Baltimore pulled that off was in 2019 when the team went 14-2.
Pittsburgh has won five of six over Baltimore since.
“I remember (from) last year, you’re not a Raven until you beat the Steelers,” said Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, who was acquired in a trade in the middle of last season. “I carry that over into this year, as well. I feel like this season is a totally new season, so I’m not a Raven this season until I beat the Steelers. That’s my mindset.”
PICKETT’S PLIGHT
Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett spent the week practice wearing a large brace to protect the bone bruise in his left knee he suffered while getting sacked in the second half against Houston. He expects to be ready on Sunday, though he’s well aware it’s time – maybe past time – for the offense to get it together.
“Obviously you’re frustrated, it hasn’t been good, we know it’s nowhere near where it needs to be, but it can’t be a pain,” Pickett said. “Guys have to continue to showing up, putting the work in, and going out there and playing hard on Sundays.”
CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-3)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:05 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) CIN: 158 or 386 ARI: 83 or 227
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: Series tied, 6-6 (ARI won 4 of past 5)
POSTSEASON: —
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/6/19: ARI 26 at CIN 23
POSTSEASON: –
QB JOE BURROW completed 20 of 30 atts. (season-high 66.7 pct.) for 165 yards with 0 INTs last week. Aims for 3rd in row on road with 0 INTs. Has 100+ rating in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC. • RB JOE MIXON rushed for season-best 67 yards last week. Has 70+ scrimmage yards in all 4 games this season. Had 109 scrimmage yards (93 rush, 16 rec.) in last meeting. Has 7 TDs (6 rush, 1 rec.) in his past 4 vs. NFC. Needs 45 scrimmage yards to become 5th player in franchise history with 7,500 career scrimmage yards. • WR JA’MARR CHASE led team with 7 catches for 73 yards last week, his 12th-straight game with 5+ catches, longest active streak in NFL. Aims for 3rd in row with 70+ rec. yards. Has 50+ rec. yards in each of 10 career games vs. NFC. Needs 3 catches to tie as 4th-fastest player ever (34 games) to reach 200 career catches. • WR TEE HIGGINS has 5+ catches in 6 of his past 7 vs. NFC. • WR TYLER BOYD has 5+ catches in 2 of past 3. Had 10 catches for 123 yards & TD in last meeting. • DE TREY HENDRICKSON has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NFC West with sack. • DE SAM HUBBARD aims for 3rd in row with sack. Had sack in last meeting. • DE MYLES MURPHY (rookie) had 1st-career sack in Week 4. • S DAX HILL had 8 tackles & 2nd INT of season last week. Has PD in 3 of 4 games this season. Aims for 4th in row with 8+ tackles. • S NICK SCOTT led team with 10 tackles & had TFL in Week 4. Has 9+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 9 tackles & FF in his last game vs. Ari. (11/13/22 w/ LAR). • CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT had 6 tackles & 2nd-career FF last week. Aims for 4th in row with 5+ tackles.
QB JOSH DOBBS completed 28 of 41 atts. (68.3 pct.) for 265 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 102.2 rating & rushed for 48 yards in Week 4, his 1st-career start with 2 TD passes. Is 1 of 3 NFC QBs (Kirk Cousins & Brock Purdy) with 95+ rating in 3 of 1st 4 weeks. Aims for his 4th in row with TD pass vs. 0 INTs & 95+ rating. • RB JAMES CONNER rushed for 52 yards last week & has 50+ scrimmage yards in 24 consecutive games, tied 2nd-longest active streak in NFL. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 100+ scrimmage yards & 7th in row at home with TD. • TE ZACH ERTZ had 6 catches for 53 yards last week. Is 1 of 3 TEs (Evan Engram & T.J. Hockenson) with 6+ catches in 3 of 1st 4 weeks. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Cin. with 7+ catches & 70+ rec. yards. • WR MARQUISE BROWN had 7 catches for team-high 96 yards last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 5+ catches & 50+ rec. yards. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with TD catch. Has 5 rec. TDs in 5 career games vs. Cin. • WR MICHAEL WILSON (rookie) had 7 catches for 76 yards & had his 1st 2 career rec. TDs in Week 4. • LB DENNIS GARDECK had 4th sack of season in Week 4. Is 1 of 3 in NFC (Danielle Hunter & Micah Parsons) with TFL in each of 1st 4 weeks. • LB ZAVEN COLLINS has TFL in 4 of his past 5 at home. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 0.5+ sacks. • LB KYZIR WHITE has TFL in 3 of 4 games this year. Aims for his 7th in row with 7+ tackles. • CB KEI’TREL CLARK (rookie) had 1st-career TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 2+ PD. • S K’VON WALLACE aims for his 5th in row with 7+ tackles.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals haven’t looked much like an elite team through four weeks.
There’s time for that to change. But it needs to happen soon.
The Bengals (1-3) travel to face the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) on Sunday in a game that Burrow has already declared a nearly must-win matchup.
Cincinnati has enjoyed deep playoff runs the past two seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl during the 2021 season.
“I’m still very confident in what we have,” Burrow said. “We’ve got to get better. We’ve scored three touchdowns. That’s not near good enough. We’ve got a ways to go, but we have the guys in that room to do it, we’ve got the coaches to do it.”
Burrow – who before the season became the highest-paid player in the NFL – has been slowed by a calf injury that’s limited his mobility. The quarterback said he felt good at practice on Wednesday and hasn’t had any setbacks with the calf since aggravating the injury late in a loss to Baltimore on Sept. 17.
“I try not to be frustrated,” Burrow said. “That’s not going to get anybody anywhere. You just adapt to what you’re dealing with, adapt to how you need to play. And you take that week to week, day to day.”
The Cardinals might have the same record as the Bengals, but are in a much better mood about their situation.
Arizona was widely considered to be one of the worst teams in the league coming into the season, but the Cardinals have been surprisingly competitive, and even knocked off the Dallas Cowboys at home a few weeks ago.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been a solid fill-in for the injured Kyler Murray, a two-time Pro Bowl selection still working his way back from a knee injury suffered last season. Dobbs has completed 71% of his passes for 682 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 106.1 passer rating over his past three games.
Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins said he’s aware that the Bengals have been struggling, but noted that their roster is full of the same guys who helped the team advance to the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due, every team is an NFL team and they’ve all got dudes on the roster,” Collins said. “They all do. We’ll treat those guys with the same respect if they’re 0-4 or 4-0.”
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
The Cardinals defense is led by linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who has four sacks this season, which ranks sixth in the NFL. Gardeck has slowly risen the ranks from undrafted free agent to a vital part of Arizona’s defense. Gardeck has 12 sacks in his career, which is tied for the most in franchise history for an undrafted free agent.
HIGGINS HURTING
The Bengals could be without one of their top receivers on Sunday. Tee Higgins left last week’s loss to the Titans with a rib injury and hasn’t practiced. He’s considered day to day. Higgins has caught just 12 of 32 targets in four games for 129 yards, but has two of Cincinnati’s total three touchdowns this season. Ja’Marr Chase doesn’t have any touchdown catches – more the fault of a limited Burrow and the offensive line – but is starting to get some traction, getting 141 and 73 passing yards in the past two games.
WILSON EMERGES
The Cardinals look as if they might have found a steal in the third round of this year’s draft. Receiver Michael Wilson – who played in college at Stanford – has emerged as one of the team’s big playmakers and had the first two TD catches of his career against the 49ers last week. He’s currently second on the team with 237 yards receiving, just behind Marquise Brown’s 239.
“He’s so locked into the game plan,” Dobbs said. “One, he executes at a high level and his effort is tremendous. Just being a rookie receiver, a lot of times just to get on the field sometimes you have to do dirty work. You’ve got to play ‘Z’ where you’re a little more involved in the run game. You’re on the front side of runs and you have to do kind of the dirty stuff that some receivers don’t like to do, and he seems to like to do it.”
BENGALS TE COULD RETURN
Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said tight end Irv Smith Jr. is working his way back. He was listed as having limited participation in practice on Wednesday after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. The former Viking was signed as a free agent in the offseason to replace Hayden Hurst, who had 414 receiving yards and two TDs last season and then signed with Carolina.
“We’ll be smart how we utilize him,” Taylor said.
PARIS VS. CINCINNATI
Cardinals rookie right tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will be facing his hometown team. This year’s sixth overall pick played his high school ball in Cincinnati before going to Ohio State. Johnson has immediately moved into a starting role for the Cardinals, anchoring the right side of the offensive line all season.
“I think that everything that we’ve asked him to do on and off the field, he has done that and probably more,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “I guess if I say it like that, he has exceeded some expectations, but he was taken where he was taken for a reason.
“He plays a premium position and he’s played well.”
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-0) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:05 PM ET
FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) PHI: 134 or 387 LAR:82 or 228
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: PHI leads series, 21-18-1 (won 6 of past 7)
POSTSEASON: LAR leads series, 2-1
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 9/20/20: LAR 37 at PHI 19
POSTSEASON: 1/27/02 NFC-C: PHI 24 at STL 29
PHILADELPHIA improved to 4-0 for 2nd-straight season. • QB JALEN HURTS passed for 319 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 112.3 rating, his 9th-career 300-yard game. Became 2nd QB in SB era (Patrick Mahomes) with 2 win streaks of 10+ games within 1st 4 career seasons. Is 10-0 with 19 TDs (10 pass, 9 rush) vs. 4 INTs in his past 10 road starts. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT had 79 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 23 rec.) & 2nd rush TD of season last week. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 364 rush yards in 2023. Had 8 catches, 144 scrimmage yards (96 rec., 48 rush) & TD catch in his only career game vs. LAR (10/24/21 w/ Det.). • WR A.J. BROWN led team with 9 catches for 175 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 4, his 6th-career game with 2+ TD catches. Ranks 3rd in NFC with 414 rec. yards in 2023 & aims for his 3rd in row with 125+ rec. yards. Has 12 games with 125+ rec. yards since 2019, 4th-most in NFL. • WR DEVONTA SMITH had 7 catches for 78 yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 5 of his past 6 road games. • LB HAASON REDDICK had 1st sack of season last week. Aims for his 4th in row vs. LAR with TFL. • DE JOSH SWEAT had sack last week & has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 games in 2023. Has 5 sacks & 5 TFL in his past 5 on road. • LB ZACH CUNNINGHAM led team with 13 tackles last week, his 26th-career game with 10+ tackles. • LB NICHOLAS MORROW had 11 tackles, career-high 3 sacks & 3rd-career FF in Week 4, his 7th-career game with 10+ tackles. • CB DARIUS SLAY had career-high 11 tackles last week. • S REED BLANKENSHIP had 8 tackles & 2 PD last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 7+ tackles & PD.
QB MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 319 yards in Week 4 & is 1 of 2 (Kirk Cousins) with 3 games of 300+ pass yards in 2023. Has 60 career 300-yard games, 2nd-most among active players. Has TD pass in each of 1st 13 home starts with LAR. Has 11 TDs (10 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 98 rating in 5 career starts vs. Phi. • RB KYREN WILLIAMS had career-high 127 scrimmage yards (career-high 103 rush, 24 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in Week 4. Ranks tied-3rd in NFL with 6 scrimmage TDs (5 rush, 1 rec.) & is only player with 3 games of 2 TDs in 2023. • WR PUKA NACUA (rookie) had 9 catches for 163 yards & 1stcareer rec. TD in Week 4. Leads NFL with 39 receptions & ranks 2nd with 501 rec. yards, both most by player in 1st 4 career games in NFL history. Is 2nd player ever (Harlan Hill) with 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his 1st 4 career games. • WR TUTU ATWELL had 5 catches last week & has 5+ catches in 3 of 4 games in 2023. • TE TYLER HIGBEE had 5 catches for 64 yards last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ receptions. Had career-high 3 rec. TDs in last meeting. • DT AARON DONALD aims for his 3rd in row with sack & 2 TFL. • LB ERNEST JONES led team with 10 tackles & had 2nd-career sack last week, his 6th-career game with 10+ tackles. Is only NFC player & 1 of 3 in NFL (Zaire Franklin & Foyesade Oloukun) with 9+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks. • LB BYRON YOUNG is 1 of 3 rookies with 2+ sacks (2) in 2023. • LB MICHAEL HOECHT had 1st-career PD last week. • CB AHKELLO WITHERSPOON had 1st-career FR in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. • DB JORDAN FULLER had 2nd FF of season last week. LOS ANGELES RAMS LAR (Offense) PHI (Defense)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) The rest of the NFL has swiped plenty of ideas out of Sean McVay’s playbook over the past seven seasons, so the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach didn’t hesitate to take the “tush push” out of Philadelphia’s game plan this year.
Trouble is, nobody can do it quite like Jalen Hurts and the unbeaten Eagles.
“We tried it,” McVay said with a grimace, recalling the Rams’ attempt at the Eagles’ signature short-yardage gainer during their season opener at Seattle. “It didn’t look very good. That’s why we had to go for it on fourth-and-1. We tried it on second down. It looked nothing like Philly’s. We’ve got some other things maybe we’ll try.”
The Eagles’ formidable play is just one thing for the Rams to worry about when Philadelphia visits SoFi Stadium on Sunday, when rebuilding Los Angeles has an opportunity to sneak up behind a Super Bowl contender that looks a bit more vulnerable than its record.
The Eagles are 4-0 for the second straight season, yet there’s some simmering frustration among the defending NFC champions’ fans because of their relatively narrow victories and their struggles on defense, particularly the NFL’s 27th-ranked performance against the pass.
On the other coast, the Rams are only 2-2 in the second season after their Super Bowl triumph, yet most fans are pleasantly surprised by their team’s competence and exciting offensive play in what the franchise has acknowledged to be a reset season for their salary cap concerns and their roster depth.
With Matthew Stafford and rookie receiver Puka Nacua racking up impressive numbers at the forefront of the offense, the Rams feel they’ve got a shot against the NFL’s best despite their overall talent deficit, particularly on defense. But Los Angeles’ relatively undersized defensive line might find it difficult to stop many aspects of the Eagles’ powerhouse offensive game, and the tush push is no exception.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said the play relies on both precision and brute strength, but Los Angeles is ready to take a shot at it.
“It’s a play that is not legal anywhere else in football, to be able to push another player,” Morris said. “Whenever you have something that works that many times in a row, clearly it was ingenious of them to think of it. I’m sure they thought it was going to be outlawed by now, and it’s not. They continue to go with it, and we’ve got to do our best to push them back.”
At least the Rams have Aaron Donald, who has done more damage to offensive lines than any player of his generation.
“You’ve got to be stout in the middle,” Donald said. “Offensive line gets low, so you’ve got to try to get as low as you can. I think it starts with the center. You try to get under his pads and pop them up, and then guys crowd the ball and maybe you can stop it. It’s definitely tough.”
WATCHING 99
Donald is off to a strong start to his comeback season with 2 1/2 sacks and six quarterback hits in four games. The seven-time All-Pro has recorded a sack against 29 of the Rams’ 31 opponents during his career, only missing out against the Eagles and the New York Jets.
“Always have to be alert for the best player on the field,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “You don’t have to have the tape on very long to know where (No.) 99 is and how disruptive he is. … That doesn’t mean you do something crazy and completely do a bunch of different things that you haven’t done before, but knowing where he is on every snap is going to be critical, because we know how much of a force he is.”
PUKA AND COOP?
Nacua has toppled a slew of NFL rookie records while catching 39 passes for 501 yards in the Rams’ first four games. Los Angeles could get another boost if Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp is healthy enough to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since early in training camp.
STOP THE RUN
Los Angeles’ ground game has been moderately effective with Kyren Williams, who’s coming off his first career 100-yard rushing game and has scored five touchdowns already this season. The Rams are likely to find it harder to run against the Eagles’ defense, which has allowed just 252 yards rushing all season – second-fewest in the league.
SOFI SHOWDOWN
Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter and Rams left guard Steve Avila already matched up at SoFi earlier this year when Carter’s Georgia Bulldogs beat Avila’s TCU Horned Frogs for the College Football Playoff championship. They’ll face off again Sunday as two promising NFL rookies on the interior lines.
VERMEIL HONORED
Former Rams and Eagles coach Dick Vermeil will be honored during a halftime ceremony recognizing his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year.
The 86-year-old coach was a Rams assistant coach for four seasons in Los Angeles before becoming UCLA’s head coach and then taking over the Eagles in 1976, eventually leading them to the Super Bowl. He became the St. Louis Rams’ head coach in 1997 and won the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship in his third and final year in charge.
NEW YORK JETS (1-3) AT DENVER BRONCOS (1-3)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
CBS: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan, AJ Ross
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) NYJ: 113 or 385 DEN: 85 or 226
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: DEN leads series, 21-17-1 (won 2 of past 3)
POSTSEASON: DEN leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/23/22: NYJ 16 at DEN 9
POSTSEASON: 1/17/99 AFC-C: NYJ 10 at DEN 23
QB ZACH WILSON set season highs in completions (career high 28), comp. pct. (71.8), pass yards (245), TD passes (2) & rating (career-high 105.2) last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 0 INTs. Has 0 INTs in 3 of his past 4 road starts. • RB BREECE HALL led team with 69 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 13 rec.) last week. Rushed for 72 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 60+ scrimmage yards & TD in 4 of 5 career road games. • RB DALVIN COOK had rush TD in only career game vs. Den. (11/17/19 w/ Min.). • WR GARRETT WILSON tied career high with 9 catches for 60 yards last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ catches. Has 60+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 80+ rec. yards. Had 4 catches in last meeting. • WR ALLEN LAZARD led team with season-high 61 rec. yards & had 1st TD catch of season in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. AFC West with rec. TD. • TE TYLER CONKLIN had season-best 58 rec. yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Had 4 catches in last meeting. • TE C.J. UZOMAH had 1st TD catch of season in Week 4. • DL QUINNEN WILLIAMS had 1st half sack of season last week. Had PD in last meeting & has TFL in 2 of 3 career games vs. Den. • LB QUINCY WILLIAMS led team with season highs in tackles (13), TFL (2) & PD (2) last week. Aims for his 9th in row with 7+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL. Has PD in 4 of his past 5. • LB C.J. MOSLEY had season-best 11 tackles & 1st INT of season in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of past 3. Had 7 tackles in last meeting. • CB SAUCE GARDNER had career-high 10 tackles & 3 PD in last meeting. Has 16 PD in 10 career road games.
BRONCOS overcame 21-point 2nd-half deficit to win last week, tied for biggest comeback in NFL this season (NYG in Week 2). • QB RUSSELL WILSON completed 21 of 28 atts. (75 pct.) for 223 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for season-high 133.5 rating last week, his 30th-career game with 3+ TD passes & 0 INTs, 1 of 7 players alltime with 30+ career games. Is 1 of 2 QBs (Brock Purdy) with 105+ rating in 3 games this season. Is 3-0 with 9 TDs vs. INT & 132.6 rating in 3 career starts vs. NYJ, with 2+ TD passes & 120+ rating in each game. Aims for his 5th in row at home with 2+ TD passes. • RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS has 55+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 62 scrimmage yards (33 rush, 29 rec.) with rush TD in last meeting. • RB JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN (rookie) led team with career-high 104 scrimmage yards (72 rush, 32 rec.) & 1st-career rec. TD last week. Has TD in 2 of his past 3. • WR COURTLAND SUTTON had rec. TD last week & is 1 of 4 in NFL with TD catch in 3 games this season. • WR JERRY JEUDY aims for 3rd in row with 50+ rec. yards. Had 7 catches for 96 yards in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYJ with 60+ rec. yards. Has 70+ rec. yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. • WR MARVIN MIMS (rookie) has 70+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. • S JUSTIN SIMMONS has 10 tackles in 2 of his past 3 at home. Has 27 career INTs, tied-4th most among active safeties. • S KAREEM JACKSON had 8 tackles & game-sealing INT in 4th qtr. last week, 2nd INT of season. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. • LB NIK BONITTO had career-high 2.5 sacks & 2nd-career FF in Week 4. Has sack in 2 of past 3. Aims for 4th in row with 2+ TFL • LB ALEX SINGLETON led team with season-high 12 tackles last week, his 2nd-straight game with 10+ tackles.
DENVER (AP) The spice that Sean Payton injected into the Jets-Broncos matchup by trashing Nathaniel Hackett last summer has mostly dissipated with both teams awash in bigger concerns than the flap that raised hackles in New Jersey and eyebrows everywhere else.
Still recovering from losing Aaron Rodgers minutes into his debut in gotham green, the Jets (1-3) have lost three in a row.
They’re encouraged, however, by Zach Wilson’s performance last weekend when he did a spot-on impression of Patrick Mahomes before the Chiefs escaped the Meadowlands with a 23-20 squeaker.
Payton has been plagued by many of the same problems for which he excoriated Hackett, such as game management and communication issues, and he lost his first three games with Denver, including a 50-point blowout at Miami, before winning his first game last week.
After Denver rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to hand the Bears their 14th consecutive loss, Payton promised not to sugarcoat the ugly win but did say the team could celebrate “then get ready to go next week and we can dive into the whole Jets fiasco stuff.”
Yet, he deflected a day later when asked if he’d reached out to Hackett or Jets coach Robert Saleh to apologize as he said he would. Payton insisted he sufficiently addressed the matter two days after his critical comments were published, calling them a mistake and saying he regretted saying what he did.
Saleh, too, demurred when asked this week if Payton had reached out – “I will leave that between he and I” – and besides, he added, it’s ancient history as far as he’s concerned.
“In football terms, that was 15 years ago, 20. It’s more like 25 now,” Saleh said. “But it’s long gone. We are a different football team than we were in training camp, so are they. We are just going out to play a football game. The reality is that coaches don’t play, it’s the players.”
Hackett, who was fired after going 4-11 in Denver, said he never heard from Payton. Asked if he would be open to chatting with him Sunday, Hackett said, “Let’s put it this way, everyone: This game is about those guys out on that field. This game is not about me.”
And no, Hackett insisted, he doesn’t take any satisfaction in knowing that the problems he dealt with last season persist in Denver under his successor.
“I haven’t really watched their offense,” Hackett said.
Had he paid attention, he’d see that Russell Wilson is having a much better season. He already has nine touchdown throws, seven shy of what he had all of last season.
But the O-line is plagued by pre-snap penalties and Wilson often has to burn timeouts just as he did in 2022.
Safety Justin Simmons embraced ex-Broncos coach Vic Fangio, now coordinating the Dolphins’ defense, in Miami last month and he said he plans to do the same if he sees Hackett after this game.
“I have nothing but amazing things to say about him,” Simmons said. “I loved him as my coach. It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out. It was tough throughout the year he was here but for me it was still a lot of fun and I have nothing but respect for him and how he takes care of his business.”
VINTAGE RUSS
Saleh spent two years in Seattle with Russell Wilson and four years scheming against him in San Francisco. He said he sees a vintage Russell Wilson his season.
“He’s lost weight from last year. He looks good. He’s moving around really well. He’s creating off schedule, like I’m used to seeing,” Saleh said. “His arm is alive. He’s throwing the ball accurately. They’re doing a really nice job. They’re moving the ball.”
ZACH ON TRACK
Zach Wilson silenced his naysayers – including Hall of Famer Joe Namath – for at least one week when he had perhaps the best performance of his career against K.C.
With fans clamoring for newly signed backup Trevor Siemian, Wilson completed a career-best 28 passes, threw for two TDs and ran for a 2-point conversion to go with a career-high 105.2 passer rating.
Next he’ll face a struggling Broncos defense with a chance to show last week was no fluke.
“I’m proud of him,” center Connor McGovern said. “Like everybody says – Coach Saleh, everybody in the locker room – we trust him. … We all have his back.”
BACK TO THE SCENE
Jets running back Breece Hall (left ACL) and right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker (torn triceps) will play their first game in Denver since they both suffered season-ending injuries against the Broncos last season.
“I think last year was just a very unfortunate turn of events,” said Vera-Tucker. “I really don’t think about that at all. I’m just going to go out there and play my game and pray I come out healthy this time.”
Hall leads the Jets with 210 yards rushing and Saleh said this week that Hall no longer has any snap limits.
CUTTING EDGE
OLB Nik Bonitto will get his second start for the Broncos. He had a 2½-sack performance last week highlighted by a fourth-quarter strip-sack of Justin Fields that Jonathon Cooper returned for the tying TD after supplanting veteran Randy Gregory in the starting lineup.
Seventy-two hours later, the Broncos jettisoned Gregory, who had just three sacks and missed 11 of 21 games since signing his $70 million, five-year free agent deal in 2022.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-3)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 4:25 PM ET
CBS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) KC: 109 or 384 MIN: 104 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: KC leads series, 7-5 (Home team won past 6)
POSTSEASON: KC leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 11/3/19: MIN 23 at KC 26
POSTSEASON: 1/11/70 SB IV: MIN 7 at KC 23
QB PATRICK MAHOMES totaled 254 yards (203 pass, season high 51 rush) last week, his 8th-career game with 50+ rush yards. Has 2+ TD passes in 3 of 4 games this season & 95+ rating in 2 of his past 3. Has 200 career TD passes, becoming fastest player ever (84 games) to reach milestone. Is 4-1 as starter vs. NFC North, with 9 TDs (8 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT. • RB ISIAH PACHECO had career-high 158 scrimmage yards (115 rush, 43 rec. – both career highs) & rush TD last week. Aims for 4th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards & 3rd in row with rush TD. • RB JERICK MCKINNON spent 1st 4 seasons of career (2014- 17) with Min., totaling 2,902 scrimmage yards & 12 TDs. • TE TRAVIS KELCE aims for 3rd in row with 6+ catches & 60+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of 3 games this season & 5 of his past 6 overall, incl. playoffs. Has 5+ catches & 60+ rec. yards in both career games vs. Min. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NFC North with rec. TD. • TE NOAH GRAY had 3rd-career TD catch in Week 4. • WR MARQUEZ VALDES-SCANTLING had 123 rec. yards & TD catch in his last game at Min. (11/21/21 w/ GB). • WR JUSTIN WATSON has 50+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3. • DT CHRIS JONES has sack in each of his past 6 reg. season games, longest active streak in NFL. Had sack in last meeting. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS has 0.5+ sacks in 2 of his past 3. Has TFL in 5 of his past 6 on road. • LB NICK BOLTON aims for his 12th in row with 7+ tackles. • LB DRUE TRANQUILL led team with 8 tackles & had 2nd-career FF in Week 4. Aims for 3rd in row with 8+ tackles. • S MIKE EDWARDS had 1st sack of season last week. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3 on road. • CB TRENT MCDUFFIE has 5+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season.
QB KIRK COUSINS is only QB with 2+ TD passes in each of 1st 4 weeks. Leads NFL in pass TDs (11) & ranks 3rd in pass yards (1,214). Aims for his 5th in row at home & 5th in row overall with 2+ TD passes. Had 3 TD passes vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. Has 49 career 300-yard games & can become 5th QB ever with 50 300-yard games in 1st 12 seasons. • RB ALEXANDER MATTISON rushed for 95 yards last week & aims for his 3rd in row with 90+ rush yards. • RB CAM AKERS had 51 scrimmage yards (40 rush, 11 rec.) in team debut last week. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 6 catches for 85 yards & 2 rec. TDs last week, his 5th-career game with 2 TD catches. Leads NFL with 543 rec. yards, 4th-most ever by player in team’s 1st 4 games of season. Has rec. TD in 5 of his past 6 at home. Aims for his 5th in row at home with 120+ rec. yards. • TE T.J. HOCKENSON aims for his 4th in row at home with 8+ receptions. Had TD catch in his only career game vs. KC (9/29/19 w/ Det.). Ranks tied-1st among TEs with 25 receptions in 2023. • S HARRISON SMITH led team with career-high 14 tackles, had career-high 3 sacks & had 2nd FF of season last week, 7th DB since 2000 with 3 sacks in single game. Is 5th DB since 1982 with 3+ sacks in 4+ (4) career seasons. Had sack & FF in last meeting. • LB DANIELLE HUNTER leads NFL with 8 TFL & leads NFC with 5 sacks in 2023. Aims for his 5th in row with TFL. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. KC with 0.5+ sacks. • LB D.J. WONNUM had 1st-career FR-TD in Week 4. • LB JORDAN HICKS had 13 tackles last week. • S CAMRYN BYNUM has 12 tackles last week & is only DB with 3 games of 10+ tackles in 2023.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) There’s only one team in the NFL that Patrick Mahomes has yet to beat.
The Minnesota Vikings, it figures, are the only one he’s never faced.
Matching up with the two-time NFL MVP and his defending champion Kansas City Chiefs is hardly a recipe for maintaining the momentum generated last week by their vulnerable defense, but the Vikings of course don’t get to choose their schedule.
What players with any pride would want it any other way? It’s time for the team that won 13 games and the NFC North last season to show it can still be a factor in 2023 and keep those long-frustrated fans from obsessing over next year’s draft position.
Playing the Chiefs (3-1) ought to be as accurate of a measuring stick as the Vikings (1-3) could find for the first weekend in October.
“You want to play against the best,” Vikings safety Harrison Smith said, “and these guys certainly have been that in recent history.”
With two Super Bowl titles in his first five seasons as the starter, all those statistical accomplishments and his unique blend of fearlessness and improvisation that has gone a long way toward redefining quarterback play for a new generation, Mahomes doesn’t have much left to accomplish on the field.
Defeating the Vikings to complete the checklist of 31 other teams would be an impressive feat, considering half of the league only appears on the schedule every four years in the NFL’s formula for interconference competition.
“I just want to win every week,” said Mahomes, who is 67-17 in the regular season and 11-3 in the playoffs as a starter. “It’s not necessarily beating this team because I haven’t played them. It’s going in with the mentality to do what I need to win the game.”
When the Chiefs beat the Vikings in 2019, Matt Moore was behind center while Mahomes recovered from a dislocated kneecap. Though Mahomes has lost to Indianapolis in his only two regular-season matchups, he and the Chiefs beat the Colts in his first career start in the playoffs.
“Right now, we’re just all focused on trying to get things right,” coach Andy Reid said, “but it is an amazing stat for him for sure.”
The Chiefs are favored by 5½ points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook odds, but even with a defense that ranks just 21st in the league in passing yards allowed the Vikings might well be catching their opponent at the right time in what’s sure to be a raucous U.S. Bank Stadium.
With a wide receiver group still trying to find its way, Mahomes has thrown four interceptions over four games and is only 15th in the NFL in passer rating (92.0).
“I have to put us in better positions and make better decisions so guys can go out there and make plays for me,” Mahomes said.
PICKING HIS SPOTS
Mahomes isn’t feared for his speed, but his ability to use his feet has still been a useful tool in Kansas City’s offense. He showed that in last season’s playoffs, when his scramble set up the winning field goal against Cincinnati in the AFC championship game and again last week when a 25-yard run on third-and-22 kept alive the Chiefs’ final drive to seal a 23-20 victory over the Jets.
“He’s got a good feel for the coverage, who is dropping out of there and the time element that is involved with that,” Reid said, “and he’s smart when he does it in certain situations. He knows he can do it, and other times it’s not going to be available.”
HELP ON DEFENSE
The Chiefs hope to have linebacker Nick Bolton (ankle), who is responsible for setting the defense, and cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder) back from injuries this week. Bolton’s absence from the past two games has been noticeable, and missing Watson has minimized the depth in the secondary. The Chiefs could use their full complement of defensive backs to deal with Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson.
“It’s hard to stop him play after play,” safety Mike Edwards said. “If he gets a 5-yard catch, he can turn 5 yards into 60. We have to stop the explosive gains, and we’ll be good.”
HELPING HAND
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is apparently not too preoccupied with Taylor Swift to mentor his young teammates. Wide receiver Rashee Rice singled out the All-Pro this week for helping him learn how to identify defenses, including ways to escape the line of scrimmage against man-to-man coverage and where the soft spots should be in zones.
“He’s always pulling me aside, during games, during practices,” said Rice, a rookie from SMU who was drafted in the second round. “We get a lot of good looks out here.”
LINE SHUFFLE
Vikings center Garrett Bradbury, one of only seven players remaining who played against the Chiefs in 2019, is on track to return from a back injury that knocked him out of the season opener. With guards Ezra Cleveland and Ed Ingram leaving room for improvement, the Vikings have also begun to work newcomer Dalton Risner into the mix during practice. This would seem to be the right time for Risner to at least rotate in or take over as a starter.
“When you add a player like Dalton in-season, you want to give him an opportunity,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-1) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-0)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023 GAME TIME: 8:20 PM ET
NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark
Westwood One: Ryan Radtke, Ryan Harris
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) DAL: 83 or 227 SF: 85 or 226 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: SF leads series, 15-14-1 (DAL won past 3)
POSTSEASON: DAL leads series, 5-4
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 12/20/20: SF 33 at DAL 41
POSTSEASON: 1/22/23 NFC-DIV: DAL 12 at SF 19
QB DAK PRESCOTT completed 28 of 34 atts. (82.4 pct.) for 261 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 108.5 rating last week. Has 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 123.4 rating in 2 career reg. season starts vs. SF. Aims for his 3rd in row in reg. season at SF with 2+ TD passes & 110+ rating. • RB TONY POLLARD had 132 scrimmage yards (69 rush, 63 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in last reg. season meeting. Aims for his 5th in row with 60+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 3rd in row on SNF with 2+ rush TDs. • WR CEEDEE LAMB had 1st rec. TD of season last week. Had 10 catches for 117 yards in 2022 NFC-D vs. SF. Had 5 catches for 85 yards in last reg. season meeting. Aims for his 4th in row on SNF with 75+ scrimmage yards. • WR MICHAEL GALLUP aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches & 60+ rec. yards. Had rec. TD in last reg. season meeting. • TE JAKE FERGUSON led team & set career highs with 7 catches & 77 rec. yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ catches. • LB MICAH PARSONS has 4 sacks, 9 TFL & 3 PD in 6 career SNF games. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with sack. • LB LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH had 1st-career FR-TD in Week 4. • DT OSA ODIGHIZUWA aims for his 4th in row on road with TFL. Had sack in 2022 NFC-D vs. SF. • DE DEMARCUS LAWRENCE has 3 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 FFs & FR in 4 career games vs. SF, incl. postseason. Aims for his 4th in row overall vs. SF with TFL. • S DARON BLAND had career-high 3 PD & 2 INTs in Week 4, his 2nd-career game with 2 INTs. Had 11 tackles & PD in 2022 NFC-D vs. SF. • S JAYRON KEARSE had 3rd-career game with 2 PD last week
49ERS improved to 4-0 for 1st time since 2019 & have won 14 consecutive reg. season games. Became 1st team since 2012- 13 Broncos with 30+ points in 7 straight reg. season games. • QB BROCK PURDY completed 20 of 21 atts. (95.2 pct. – 4thhighest in single game in NFL history, min. 20 atts.) for 283 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 134.6 rating in Week 4. Can become 3rd QB to begin career since 1970 (Ben Roethlisberger & Mike Tomczak) to win each of 1st 10 career starts. Leads NFL with 115.1 rating in 2023. • RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY became 4th player in SB era with 100+ rush yards (106), 3 rush TDs, 70+ rec. yards (71) & rec. TD in single game last week. Can tie HOFer Emmitt Smith (1995) with most consecutive games, incl. playoffs, (14) with TD since 1990. Has 12 career games with both rush TD & rec. TD, tied-2nd most in NFL history. Is 2nd player in SB era (Smith – 1995) with 600+ scrimmage yards (600) & 7+ scrimmage TDs (7) in team’s 1st 4 games of season. Has 9 TDs (5 rush, 4 rec.) in 10 career primetime games. • WR DEEBO SAMUEL has 100+ scrimmage yards & TD in 4 of his past 5 primetime games at home. Has 166 scrimmage yards (83 per game) & rush TD in 2 career games vs. Dal. (both playoffs). • WR BRANDON AIYUK had 6 catches for career-high 148 rec. yards in Week 4 & has 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 5. • TE GEORGE KITTLE had 5 catches for 95 yards in 2022 NFC-D vs. Dal. Aims for his 4th in row in primetime with 80+ rec. yards. • DL NICK BOSA aims for his 7th in row in primetime with sack & 9th in row in primetime with TFL. • DL JAVON HARGRAVE had 3rd sack of season last week. • LB FRED WARNER had 9 tackles & INT in 2022 NFC-D vs. Dal. • S TALANOA HUFANGA has INT in 3 of his past 5 primetime games.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) The questions about getting past the San Francisco 49ers hurdle were directed at the Dallas Cowboys as soon as their latest victory was complete.
Quarterback Dak Prescott bristled at the premise, but the only way for the Cowboys to change that story will be to start beating the team that knocked them out of the postseason the past two years.
Dallas gets another shot at doing that Sunday night when the Cowboys (3-1) visit the 49ers (4-0) in a game with much less meaning than the losses the past two Januarys, but could impact where a rematch is played this season if the teams meet again in the playoffs.
“This is not all about what happened last year,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “This is not walking down the street and get in a fight with a guy and then every time you turn the corner you’re looking for him. This is about winning the game. This is about winning the next game. But we know who we’re playing.”
That’s because of what happened the past two seasons. The Cowboys lost 19-12 at the Niners in the divisional round last season, following a 23-17 loss at home in the wild-card round the previous season.
Prescott and the offense struggled in both contests and the Cowboys made too many mistakes on both sides of the ball to prevail.
Winning on Sunday won’t lessen the blow from those losses, but will serve as a sign that there has been improvement in Dallas. The Cowboys have won three games by at least 20 points already this season, but did have a slip-up in a loss at Arizona in Week 3.
“You just use it as a game like this is where we were at last year, this is where we’re at now,” star edge rusher Micah Parsons said. “I’m all about now and how can we define ourselves now and how can we say this is who we are and get a statement win and come back here and show how good we really are?”
The playoff meetings the past two seasons have revived a rivalry that was the most important in the NFL in the 1990s when the teams met in three straight NFC title games with the winner capturing the Super Bowl each time.
Neither franchise has won it all since the 1990s with both still seeking a sixth title. This is the first time since 1994 that they meet in the regular season with both teams multiple games over .500.
“It’s a huge test,” Niners linebacker Fred Warner said. “To say that it isn’t would be naïve and downplaying the moment.”
NEAR-PERFECT PURDY
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy was nearly perfect last week, setting a franchise record for completion percentage by completing 20 of 21 passes in a win over Arizona. Purdy improved to 9-0 as a starter in the regular season and has won all 12 games when he has played at least three quarters. The Cowboys provided his biggest challenge as he threw for only 214 yards with no TDs in the game.
Purdy has overcome every challenge he has faced. But he hasn’t had to lead a team from behind in the clutch. Since taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 last season, Purdy has completed only one pass when trailing in the fourth quarter. That was a 1-yard pass to George Kittle in the NFC title game loss at Philadelphia when Purdy had a torn ligament in his elbow.
SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE
The Cowboys are tied for second in the NFL with 11 takeaways, and both teams are among three that have committed a league-low one turnover through four games. Purdy hasn’t thrown an interception, and Prescott has the only Dallas giveaway with a pick a season after tying for the NFL lead with 15 despite missing five games.
“I don’t think he’s played perfect,” Parsons said of Purdy, “but I think he’s played really good and I think there’s opportunities there. People just haven’t capitalized on them.”
RUN CMC
The Cowboys held Christian McCaffrey to 57 yards from scrimmage in the playoff meeting last season, but repeating that will be tough to do. McCaffrey has 600 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in four games, marks previously reached only by Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1958 and ’63) and Emmitt Smith (1995).
He scored a TD in the playoff win against Dallas and has at least one in a franchise-record 13 straight games in the regular season and playoffs.
“He’s just a complete running back,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do. He can run between the tackles, he can run outside, he can run routes, he can pick up blitz protections. He’s just such a complete football player.”
BAD MEMORIES
Dallas running back Tony Pollard is returning to the stadium where he broke his leg in the second quarter of last season’s divisional loss. At that point, Pollard had replaced two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott as the most explosive playmaker in Dallas’ backfield.
Now Pollard is the lead back after Elliott was released in the offseason in a cost-cutting move. Pollard is second to Christian McCaffrey in touches in the NFL through four games with 88 (his San Francisco counterpart has 98). The fifth-year back, playing on the $10.1 million franchise tag, is the only Dallas offensive player with two touchdowns.
“Last game, I was hurt and couldn’t finish the game,” Pollard said. “So yeah, this will be a big one for me.”
GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-3)
DATE: Monday, October 9, 2023 GAME TIME: 8:15 PM ET
ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Mike Golic
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) GB: 81 or 226 LV: 83 or 225 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: GB leads series, 8-5 (won past 8)
POSTSEASON: GB leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/20/19: OAK 24 at GB 42
POSTSEASON: 1/14/68 SB II: GB 33 vs. OAK 14
QB JORDAN LOVE completed 23 of 36 atts. (63.9 pct., career high in start) for 246 yards & had both pass TD & rush TD. Aims for his 3rd in row with both pass TD & rush TD. Aims for his 3rd in row on road in 2023 with 3+ TD passes & 100+ rating. • RB AARON JONES has 50+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 on road. Had 83 scrimmage yards (50 rush, 33 rec.) & TD catch in last meeting. Has 512 scrimmage yards (128 per game) & 8 TDs (5 rec., 3 rush) in his past 4 Monday games. Aims for his 5th in row on Monday with 100+ scrimmage yards & TD. • WR ROMEO DOUBS led team & set career highs with 9 catches & 95 yards in Week 4. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ receptions & 70+ rec. yards. • WR CHRISTIAN WATSON had 1st rec. TD of season last week. Has 10 TDs (8 rec., 2 rush) in 15 career games. • WR JAYDEN REED (rookie) had 55 rec. yards last week. • LB RASHAN GARY leads team with 3.5 sacks. • LB QUAY WALKER led team with career-high 19 tackles & had TFL last week. Has 5+ tackles in 19 of his 21 career games. Aims for his 4th in row on road with PD. Has 2 PD, sack & FF in his only career Monday game (12/19/22 vs. LAR). • DL KENNY CLARK has 0.5+ sacks in 3 of 4 games this season & aims for his 3rd in row on road with 0.5+ sacks. • CB JAIRE ALEXANDER has PD in each of his 2 games this season. Has 10 PD & 4 INTs in his past 7 on road & aims for his 8th in row on road with PD. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS has 5 PD & 2 INTs in his past 3 on road & aims for his 4th in row on road with PD. • S RUDY FORD had 5th-career INT last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD & 4th in row with 7+ tackles.
QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO has 4 TDs & 106.9 rating in 2 career reg. season starts vs. GB. Is 4-1 with 10 TDs vs. INT & 104.2 rating in 5 career starts on MNF, with 0 INTs & 100+ rating in 4 of 5 games. • QB AIDAN O’CONNELL (rookie) completed 24 of 39 atts. (61.5 pct.) for 238 yards & rushed for TD in NFL debut last week. • RB JOSH JACOBS led team with season-high 139 scrimmage yards (career-high 81 rec., 58 rush), had 1st rush TD of season & season-best 8 catches last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 80+ scrimmage yards. Rushed for 124 yards in last meeting. Has 508 scrimmage yards (101.6 per game) & 5 rush TDs in 5 career games on MNF. Needs 94 rush yards to become 4th player in franchise history with 5,000+ career rush yards. • WR DAVANTE ADAMS aims for 5th in row with 6+ catches & 4th in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Aims for his 5th in row on MNF with 115+ rec. yards. Has 31 career rec. TDs in primetime, tied with Antonio Brown for 4th-most all-time. Spent 1st 8 seasons of career (2014-21) with GB & ranks 2nd in franchise history in catches (669) & rec. TDs (73) & 4th in rec. yards (8,121). • WR JAKOBI MEYERS has 7+ catches & 80+ rec. yards in 2 of 3 games this season. Has 60+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 in primetime. • DE MAXX CROSBY had season-high 8 tackles & 2 sacks last week. Has sack in 3 of 4 games this season & 4 of his past 5 overall. Had sack in last meeting. Has sack in 4 of his past 5 in primetime. • DT JOHN JENKINS had 6 tackles & PD last week. • LB DIVINE DEABLO aims for his 5th in row at home with 8+ tackles. • S TRE’VON MOEHRIG had season-high 2 PD & 2nd-career INT in Week 4. Has PD in 2 of past 3. • CB MARCUS PETERS had PD last week. Ranks tied 3rd among active players with 32 career INTs.
LAS VEGAS (AP) Green Bay has had extra time to think about its 34-20 loss to Detroit, a Thursday night game that gave the Packers last weekend off.
The Packers, who are 2-2, certainly don’t want to spend extra time stewing over another defeat should they lose Monday night at Las Vegas. But that’s exactly what will happen if the Raiders properly defend their home field.
This is the Packers’ only game in a 23-day span.
“I take every game personally,” Green Bay cornerback Rasul Douglas said. “I don’t like losing at anything. If there’s a way I can win, I’m going to win. So I just hate losing, and then I hate just not being myself and what I mean to the defense. I hate being that person.”
The feeling isn’t all that different in the opposing locker room.
Las Vegas is off to a 1-3 start, having lost three games in a row after opening with a 17-16 victory at Denver. If the Raiders win, they have a stretch of games that includes New England, Chicago and both New York teams where they have a shot of success.
If the Raiders lose, then memories of last season’s 6-11 record truly begin to hang over this team.
“I don’t want to come here and (expletive) lose, I want to win,” Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “It’s as simple as that. There are no excuses. We’ve got to do it. The players have got to do it, the coaches. Everybody has got to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out how to get better.”
CARLSON VS. CARLSON
Packers rookie kicker Anders Carlson is the younger brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, a 2022 All-Pro selection.
Anders said about 27 family members will be heading to Las Vegas to watch this sibling rivalry. That group includes the Carlsons’ oldest brother, Nils, who will travel from Sweden.
Which team’s colors they’ll be wearing remains uncertain.
“Hopefully, my wife’s in Packers gear,” Anders said. “We’ll see about that. She should be. My parents definitely are going to have to split colors. I don’t know what they’re going to do. They’ll figure that out. But super excited to see them gameday.”
Anders acknowledged he wouldn’t be rooting against his brother even while playing on the other team.
“I hope he makes every kick,” Anders said. “I just hope we win by a lot of touchdowns.”
RUNNING IN PLACE
Both the Packers and Raiders have struggled to run the ball, even though both teams feature an accomplished running back.
Josh Jacobs, the NFL’s rushing leader last season, has run for only 166 yards while gaining just 2.7 yards per carry. The Raiders found other ways to use him Sunday against the Chargers. Jacobs caught eight passes for 81 yards to go with his 58 yards on the ground.
“I tell the quarterbacks all the time, ‘I’m always open,’” Jacobs said. “It helps you get in the rhythm of the game.”
As a team, the Raiders are last in the league in yards rushing per game (65.3) and 31st in yards per carry (3.0).
The Packers haven’t been much better. They’re 30th in yards rushing per game (74.5) and 29th in yards per carry (3.3). Aaron Jones missed two games with a hamstring injury and had just five carries when he returned to action in the Packers loss to Detroit on Sept. 28.
“I’m feeling good,” Jones said. “Just still taking it day by day. The hamstring, it can linger so don’t want any of that. That’s why they’ve been so cautious.”
SLOW-STARTING PACKERS
The Packers have been outscored 44-3 in the first half of their last two games.
They erased a 17-0 halftime deficit by scoring 18 points in the final 11 minutes of an 18-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. They couldn’t come all the way back after falling behind 27-3 in the first 30 minutes of the loss to the Lions.
“I think we’ve just got to get into a rhythm faster … just finding completions early, get the ball moving and kind of just getting ourselves out of maybe the third-and-long situations we put ourselves in, cleaning up penalties, just all the pre-snap things that is hurting ourselves,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “So I think once we get that, get that rhythm going again, we’ll be good.”
BOOKEND RAIDERS
Las Vegas has a slightly different issue.
The Raiders have outscored opponents 53-40 in the first and fourth quarters, but have been outscored 61-9 in the middle two periods.
Those mid-game struggles forced the Raiders to play catch-up the past two games. They had to rally against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers, only to come one drive away from at least tying the game in the final minutes.
“I don’t think we lack urgency, or it’s not like we need a ‘Win one for the Gipper’ speech out there in the middle of the game” Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels said. “I know that the play might not have necessarily reflected the effort that we were trying to play with in terms of our overall production.
“But I think you can see in the second half of both of the last two games. Everybody’s trying to do everything they can to fight, and it’s not like they’re not doing that in the second quarter or the third quarter.”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: D-BACKS BLAST CLAYTON KERSHAW, DODGERS
The visiting Arizona Diamondbacks made a statement Saturday, using a six-run first inning against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw to pave the way for an 11-2 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run home run in the first, while Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Tommy Pham all went deep later in the game as the Diamondbacks got off to a dream start in an effort to advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2007. Pham had four hits.
Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (1-0), who does not have a win in 16 regular-season starts against Los Angeles, went 6 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the postseason victory. He gave up three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Kershaw (0-1) gave up six runs on six hits with one walk while recording just one out before he was replaced by rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan after facing eight batters.
Rangers 3, Orioles 2
Josh Jung homered, Evan Carter reached base three times and Texas edged host Baltimore in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
Carter had an RBI double, two walks and a run. The 21-year-old outfielder has reached base safely in 10 of 12 plate appearances this postseason to help Texas win all three games it has played. He became the first player in major league history to record an extra-base hit, walk and run in each of his first three career postseason games.
Anthony Santander had a homer, single, walk and scored twice for Baltimore, the top seed in the AL playoffs. The Orioles were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Astros 6, Twins 4
Yordan Alvarez homered twice while Justin Verlander threw six shutout innings as host Houston beat Minnesota in Game 1 of this ALDS.
Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs and a walk as the Astros secured a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Royce Lewis hit his third homer of the postseason for the Twins.
Phillies 3, Braves 0
Seven pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as Philadelphia blanked host Atlanta in Game 1 of the NLDS.
Bryce Harper went 2-for-2 with a homer and two walks for the Phillies, who also beat the Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS last year. Jeff Hoffman (1-0) recorded the final out of the fourth to record the win, while Craig Kimbrel earned a save with a perfect ninth.
Atlanta starter Spencer Strider (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out eight. The Braves went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
GRIFFIN STRETCHES HIS LEAD TO 3 IN MISSISSIPPI AS HE GOES FOR FIRST PGA TOUR WIN
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Ben Griffin moved into position for his first PGA Tour victory with another bogey-free round Saturday for a 6-under 66, giving him a three-shot lead in the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Griffin got up-and-down for par on his final three holes, the last one from a bunker to the right of the 18th green. He made the 6-footer to keep his distance over Carl Yuan, who had a 67.
At stake for Griffin is a spot in the Masters, starting the year at Kapalua for The Sentry and perhaps being frontrunner for PGA Tour rookie of the year.
Griffin was at 20-under 296 and has not made a bogey in his last 37 holes, although he tempted fate a few times at the Country Club of Jackson. He hit only seven fairways and missed four greens, the most of any round this week.
“I got myself out of position on a holes, maybe made the wrong decision,” Griffin said with a smile. “But I feel like one of the strengths of my game is scrambling. And I had to do that on a few holes. Otherwise, I pretty much hit my targets all day.”
Griffin already has his PGA Tour card locked up for next year, but a victory would really set him up for 2024 and the $20 million tournaments.
Yuan is No. 151 in the FedEx Cup. Only the top 125 after the FedEx Cup Fall earn full status for 2024, and five tournaments remain after this week.
Those right behind Yuan know the feeling. Scott Stallings (No. 130), Henrik Norlander (No. 142) and Luke List (No. 119) were tied for third, four shots behind.
Stalling matched the low score of the third round, a 65 that was helped by his 50-foot pitch from just short of the reachable 15th that he sank for eagle. He gave credit to Wesley Bryan, having watched his pitch from the rough race through the green. That made Stallings change his shot, realizing how fast it is in the front.
“I was going to play a completely different shot until I saw how fast his ball was once it got past the hole,” Stallings said. “I was literally trying to check-spin it just over the edge, and obviously it got super lucky going in. But I was happy with how I executed it.”
Norlander and List each shot a 68.
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, coming off his Ryder Cup debut in Italy, finally came to life late in his round. He made five birdies over the last eight holes for a 66, closing the gap to six shots.
Aberg is at No. 136, though his card is locked in for 2024 because he finished at No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking as a senior at Texas Tech. Among other things, getting into the top 125 would earn him a spot in The Players Championship.
Griffin could tell the course was yielding good scores when he teed off, and he got going in the right direction quickly. He hit a tricky wedge from the Bermuda rough that rolled out to 4 feet for birdie on the second hole, and then two-putted for birdie from 35 feet on the par-5 third.
After that, he made sure he stayed in front, adding a few 12-foot birdies and his longest putt on the 13th from about 25 feet.
Griffin began his rookie year with a chance to win the Bermuda Championship, only to get surpassed late in the day and tying for third.
WOMEN’S GOLF NEWS
HYO JOO KIM MAINTAINS 2-SHOT LEAD IN ASCENDANT LPGA, WITH RESURGENT LEXI THOMPSON TIED FOR 3RD
THE COLONY, Texas (AP) Hyo Joo Kim shot a 3-under 68 on Friday in The Ascendant LPGA to take a two-stroke lead over Sofia Garcia into the weekend, with resurgent Lexi Thompson tied for third.
Kim had four birdies and a bogey in her morning round at Old American to reach 10-under 132. The 28-year-old South Korean player, ranked No. 7 in the world, also had a two-stroke lead Thursday after an opening 64.
“My shots were better than yesterday, but unfortunately the score wasn’t as good,” Kim said. “But I did hit the green a lot more, so I’m satisfied with that.”
Garcia, a former Texas Tech player from Paraguay, also had four birdies and a bogey in a 68. She a rookie on the tour.
“You have some holes where you can definitely go ahead and be a bit more aggressive,” Garcia said. “And there are a few others that definitely ask you to be patient, where you’re kind of just relieved that you make the par and move on.”
Thompson, set to play next week in the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, had a 65 – the best score of the day – in breezy afternoon conditions to join Race to CME Globe leader Celine Boutier (67) at 6 under. Thompson played alongside Boutier, a member at OId American.
“It definitely got windier,” Thompson said. “As we made the turn, I would say there was a few holes that really gusted up there. You know you’re going to get that on this golf course, so really committing to the lines and playing smart off the tees and playing for that bounce-out.”
Thompson won the last of her 11 LPGA Tour titles in June 2019. After going 3-1 for the United States in the Solheim Cup in Spain, she tied for eighth last week in Arkansas for her first top 10 of the year. She’s 114th in the Race to CME Globe.
“It’s definitely gotten a lot better,” Thompson said. “I’ve been working hard the whole year. It’s just been a matter of time and putting in the productive work that’s needed, and to see it pay off truly means a lot.”
Kim also is trying to end a victory drought. The five-time LPGA Tour winner has two runner-up finishes and six other top 10s this season without winning.
“I was at the top of the leaderboard couple times this season, but weekend plays haven’t been as good,” Kim said.
Boutier is tied with Lilia Vu for the tour victory lead, winning the major Evian Championship at home in France and taking the Women’s Scottish Open the following week. The former Duke player is making her first start since helping Europe retain the Solheim Cup.
“You have to be a very good ball-striker out here,” Boutier said. “I feel like especially when the wind starts to pick up like it is right now, you definitely have to be smart about your strategy.”
Fellow European Solheim Cup player Leona Maguire (67) was 5 under with Marina Alex (70), Maria Torres (68) and Azahara Munoz (71).
Defending champion Charley Hull, another European Solheim Cup player, had a 69 to get to 1 under.
INDIANA RELEASES/TOP HEADLINES
COLTS FOOTBALL
JONATHAN TAYLOR AND THE COLTS HAVE AGREED ON A 3-YEAR, $42 MILLION EXTENSION, SOURCE TELLS AP
(AP) — All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts agreed on a contract extension Saturday, the team announced.
A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press the deal is worth $42 million, with $26.5 million guaranteed, over three years. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms have not been revealed publicly.
San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey ($16 million annually) and New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara ($15 million) are now the only running backs making more money than Taylor per year.
The agreement was announced after the Colts activated Taylor (ankle) from the the physically unable to perform list and removed the questionable designation from his status for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans (2-2).
Taylor started the season on the list following ankle surgery and an ugly offseason contract dispute. He missed all of the team’s offseason workouts and all of training camp while rehabbing from surgery.
Taylor had been frustrated with the amount of money teams are paying running backs. He complained about league owners undervaluing running backs in general, citing the $10.1 million franchise tag number. It’s the lowest of any position other than kickers or punters.
He eventually made a trade request and the Colts gave him permission to find a trade partner.
Taylor returned to practice this week and was eager Thursday to put the dispute behind him and get back on the field.
“If somebody wasn’t committed, they wouldn’t be here. Right now, I’m here and my No. 1 goal is really to attack this first practice,” Taylor said in his first public comments since June. “It’s been over 290 days, I believe. When you’re not doing what you love, you’re going to notice it, so my main goal has been to attack this first day.”
The return of Taylor will bolster the Colts’ offense. Zack Moss has played well in his three starts and offers a solid change-up option to the speedy 2021 NFL rushing champ. Indy also has dual-threat rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is the first Super Bowl era quarterback with four TD runs in his first three games.
Taylor has been a playmaker for the Colts since his rookie season, when he was taken in the second round of the draft with the 41st pick overall.
After replacing the injured Marlon Mack in Week 1 of his rookie season, Taylor rushed for 1,169 yards and caught 36 passes for 299 yards and another score. He was more impressive in Year 2, winning the league’s rushing title with 1,811 yards and 18 TDs, leading the league in scrimmage yards (2,171) and sharing the league lead with 20 total touchdowns.
Last season, he dealt with injuries for the first time in either college or the pros. He missed six games and finished with 861 yards, four TDs and a per carry average of 4.5 yards – all career lows.
CAPSULE: TENNESSEE TITANS (2-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Amanda Renner
SiriusXM (team name linked to SXM App) TEN: 109 or 384 IND: 104 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
REG. SEASON: IND leads series, 35-21 (TEN won past 5)
POSTSEASON: TEN leads series, 1-0
THE LAST TIME …
REG. SEASON: 10/23/22: IND 10 at TEN 19
POSTSEASON: 1/16/00 AFC-DIV: TEN 16 at IND 16
QB RYAN TANNEHILL completed 18 of 25 atts. (72 pct.) for 240 yards & TD vs. INT with 98.8 rating last week. Has 95+ rating in 2 of past 3. Is 5-0 in his past 5 starts vs. Ind. with 102.1 rating. Has 2+ TD passes in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ind. Has 0 INTs in 4 of his past 5 starts vs. division. • RB DERRICK HENRY rushed for season-high 122 yards & 2nd TD of season & had 3rd-career TD pass last week. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 3 of 4 games this season & 7 of his past 8 overall. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3. Had 135+ scrimmage yards in both games vs. Ind. last season & has 100+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 vs. Ind. Has 100+ rush yards in 13 of his past 14 vs. division, incl. each of past 6. • RB TYJAE SPEARS (rookie) had 58 scrimmage yards (40 rush, 18 rec.) last week. Has 55+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. • WR DEANDRE HOPKINS led team with 63 rec. yards in Week 4. Aims for his 6th in row vs. Ind. with TD catch & 3rd in row with 90+ rec. yards. Has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of 6 career games at Ind. • WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE had season-high 5 catches for 51 yards last week. • TE CHIG OKONKWO had rec. TD in last road meeting. • TE JOSH WHYLE (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 4. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS had sack last week & has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Had 6 tackles, 2 TFL & sack in last meeting. • LB ARDEN KEY had sack in Week 4. • LB JACK GIBBENS led team with 10 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles. • LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 2 PD & 9 tackles in Week 4. • S KEVIN BYARD had 6 tackles & 1st FR of season last week. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of 4 games this season.
QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON (rookie) totaled 256 yards (200 pass, career-high 56 rush) & career-high 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) last week. Is 1st QB in SB era with rush TD in each of 1st 3 career games. Can become 1st QB in SB era with rush TD in each of 1st 4 games of a season. Aims for his 3rd in row with 0 INTs. • RB ZACK MOSS has 70+ rush yards in each of his 3 games this season, with 100+ scrimmage yards in 2 of 3. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN has 8+ catches & 55+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 games this season. Has 6+ catches in 3 of his past 4 vs. Ten. Has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. division. • WR JOSH DOWNS ranks 5th among rookies with 17 catches. • TE DREW OGLETREE led team with career-high 48 rec. yards & had 1st-career TD catch in Week 4. • TE MO ALIE-COX had 1st rec. TD of season last week. Had 6 catches for 85 yards in last home meeting. • LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN led team with 12 tackles last week & is only player in NFL with 12+ tackles in each of 1st 4 weeks. Can join Zach Thomas in 2005 as only player since 2000 with 12+ tackles in each of team’s 1st 5 games of season. Has TFL in 2 of past 3. Leads NFL with 57 tackles in 2023. Had TFL in last meeting. • DT DEFOREST BUCKNER aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with sack. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 at home. • DE KWITY PAYE has sack in 3 of 4 games this season. Has FR in 2 of past 3. Had sack in last home meeting. • DE DAYO ODEYINGBO had season-high 7 tackles & 1.5 sacks, PD & 2nd FF of season in Week 4. Has FF in 2 of past 3. • CB KENNY MOORE had season-high 8 tackles, 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. Had sack in last meeting.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
LATE RALLY COMES UP SHORT AT IOWA
IOWA CITY, Iowa – A late fourth quarter rally came up short for the Purdue football team on the road Saturday afternoon at Iowa, falling 20-14.
Running back Devin Mockobee carried the ball in from two yards out to cut the gap down to six points with 2:54 to play. The Purdue defense then forced its sixth and final three-and-out of the game to get the ball back with two minutes left in the fourth. Iowa’s defense held firm and stopped the Boilermakers’ comeback bid four plays later.
The Boilermakers (2-4, 1-2) saw another solid performance out of its defense, holding the Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-1) to 3-of-13 on third downs and just two field goals on a pair of red zone trips. Purdue tallied five tackles-for-loss and notched one sack on the afternoon.
Sanoussi Kane led the team in tackles for the third consecutive week with nine stops. Mo Omonode had Purdue’s lone sack, the first full quarterback stop of his career. Freshman Dillon Thieneman made eight tackles, seven solos, and recorded his third interception of the year to move into a tie for third on Purdue’s freshman records list.
Quarterback Hudson Card threw for 247 yards and one score on 25-of-40 passing. Card found seven different receivers on the afternoon, led by TJ Sheffield’s 93 yards on six receptions with 60 yards after the catch. Tight end Garrett Miller matched his career high with eight receptions for 71 yards. Mockobee accounted for 89 of Purdue’s 110 rushing yards on 20 carries.
In the first half, Purdue’s defense stood tall twice when Iowa reached scoring territory. Following an interception that saw Iowa take over at the Purdue five-yard line, the Boilermakers pushed the Hawkeyes backwards four yards and gave up just three points. Khordae Sydnor later blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt to keep the Boilermakers down 10-0 in the second.
Purdue got on the scoreboard for the first time with 32 seconds to play in the first half. Card hit Sheffield coming across the field for a 43-yard catch-and-run touchdown with Sheffield dodging several would-be tacklers on his 37-yard run to the end zone. Purdue trailed 10-7 at the break.
Out of halftime, the defense kept the Hawkeyes to three points after the hosts worked the ball down to the Purdue five-yard line on their first possession of the third.
Iowa extended the lead out of reach early in the fourth when quarterback Deacon Hill hit tight end Erick All for a 22-yard touchdown. Hill finished the afternoon with 110 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 6-of-21 passing. Five of Hill’s completed passes went to All.
Purdue got the ball back with 4:53 to play and Card went 4-of-4 through the air to march the Boilermakers down 74 yards in six plays, capped by the Mockobee two-yard scoring rush.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series 50-41-3.
• TJ Sheffield’s 48-yard punt return was the longest by a Boilermaker since Frankie Williams went 51 yards against
• Iowa completed just six passes, tied for the sixth fewest allowed by a Purdue defense since 1996.
• Iowa completed 28.6% of its passing attempts, the lowest against the Boilermakers since 2006 against Illinois (27.6%)
• Purdue’s defense gave up just three points on two Iowa takeaways and two fourth down stops.
• Devin Mockobee now has 13 career rushing touchdowns, tied for 23rd in Purdue history.
• The Boilermakers outgained the Hawkeyes 357-291 in total offense and held a 10:54 advantage in time of possession.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will return to Ross-Ade Stadium for a showdown with top-5 ranked Ohio State. Kickoff is set for noon on Peacock.
BUTLER FOOTBALL
ST. THOMAS HANGS ON FOR 17-10 VICTORY OVER BUTLER
ST. PAUL – The Bulldogs had the ball on the St. Thomas one-yard line with less than 10 seconds remaining in the contest, but a Tommie goal line stand would seal the victory for St. Thomas allowing the home team to win their 29th-straight game at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. With the setback, Butler moves to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the PFL. St. Thomas improved to 4-2 on the season and remains perfect in the PFL (3-0).
Butler started their final drive on their own 25-yard line. Bret Bushka ran for a gain of 10 and two plays later found room up the middle for a rush of 17 yards. The Bulldogs went through the air as the game clock went under one minute to play. Bushka passed left to Ryan Lezon for a gain of 18 and Lezon would step out of bounds at the St. Thomas 35 to stop the clock.
Two plays later Bushka hit Luke Wooten for a gain of seven and a roughing the passer penalty would tack on 15 yards and put the Bulldogs at the five-yard line. Joey Suchy rushed for four on first down, but he was stuffed for no gain on second. After a BU timeout, Bushka kept it up the middle on third and goal, but the Tommie defense didn’t give up any ground. Finally with three seconds remaining, Butler tried to go over the top to Lezon, but Luke Herzog broke up the pass and the Tommies would escape with the win.
Butler recorded six more first downs than St. Thomas, but the game was won on the ground for the Tommies. St. Thomas rushed the ball 44 times to gain 229 yards. They only attempted eight passes all day.
The Bulldogs rushed for 151 yards on 35 attempts. Bushka led BU with 63 rushing yards and Jyran Mitchell would be in the box score with 48 yards and a touchdown.
The St. Thomas defense came up with three sacks and limited BU to just 111 passing yards. Ryan Lezon and Luke Wooten were the top two targets on Saturday, catching four balls each. Lezon led BU with 35 receiving yards while Wooten added 31.
Butler’s defense was led by Nick Bafia and his 10-tackle performance. Bafia also forced a fumble that Jack Burch was able to jump on.
St. Thomas got the ball first on Saturday and would score three points on their opening drive after using nine plays to travel 52 yards. Stephen Shagen trotted onto the field to connect from 35-yards out. Butler’s opening drive was slowed down by a flag and a St. Thomas sack.
The Bulldog defense provided the team with a three-and-out on the next Tommie drive, but a fumble would quickly end Butler’s second drive of the day and give the home team a 3-0 edge after the first quarter.
The only touchdown of the first half came on the opening play of the second quarter. Hope Adebayo punched the ball in the end zone from the two-yard line and the Tommies would enjoy a 10-0 advantage in St. Paul.
Momentum would swing midway through the second quarter as the Bulldog defense stopped St. Thomas on a fourth-and-five play from the Butler 35. BU took over on downs and would move the ball all the way down to the St. Thomas three-yard line. The Tommie defense stood strong on the goal line and Butler would settle for a 21-yard field goal from Luka Zurak on a 15-play drive that covered 55 yards in a span of 8:07.
Butler won the toss and would receive the football to start the second half. The used up five minutes of the game clock and would flip field position with a punt that backed St. Thomas up to their own 12-yard line.
St. Thomas used their run game to get away from their end zone and the home team was faced with a fourth-and-one decision on their own 34-yard line. Head Coach Glenn Caruso gambled with the play call and would go for it. The risk was rewarded as Shawn Shipman bounced to the left side for a gain of 11 and more importantly a first down. Just four plays later, St. Thomas would score off a 27-yard TD run from Adebayo.
The Bulldogs took advantage of great field position to score their first touchdown of the game near the midway point of the fourth quarter. Jyran Mitchell ran to the right side for a 10-yard TD, giving him eight total rushing touchdowns this season.
Butler’s defense would do their job shortly after as Tyson Garrett and Carson Gulgin shared a sack on the next Tommie possession to give Butler the ball back with 5:36 in the fourth. BU gained one first down and then would face a fourth-and-three call near midfield. Bushka kept it for a gain of two and the Tommies would take the ball back with 3:40 remaining.
Two runs and an incomplete pass would zap the next St. Thomas possession in just 1:43. Butler’s final drive of the fourth would start at the 25-yard line with just under two minutes to play, but the goal line stand cemented the win for St. Thomas.
Butler’s first home game of October will land next weekend when the team hosts Davidson at 1 PM.
BALL STATE FOOTBALL
DEFENSE HAS A FIELD DAY IN EMU BACKFIELD, BUT CARDINALS FALL 24-10 AT EASTERN MICHIGAN
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan led 17-10 at intermission and held on in the second half to upend Ball State 24-10 in Mid-American Conference action Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.
The first half featured 27 combined points and 324 yards in total offense, but the second half, played mostly in drizzling rain, included only 235 total yards. Fifty of those second-half yards came on Eastern Michigan’s touchdown pass from Austin Smith to Hamze El-Zayat just four-and-a-half minutes into the third quarter. It was the only score of the second half and just enough to keep Ball State playing from behind.
Ball State’s defense did all it could to snap the Cardinals’ two-game skid, recording five sacks on the day and limiting EMU to -5 yards total offense in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Cole Pearce was responsible for 10 tackles, two sacks among three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Pearce led Ball State defenders’ field day in the EMU backfield, totaling season highs with 10 tackles for loss, along with sacks by Pearce, Keionte Newson, Sidney Houston Jr., Mikhari Sibblis (1/2-sack) and Tavion Woodard (1/2-sack).
Offensively, quarterback Layne Hatcher finished 20-of-33 passing for 132 yards and a touchdown. Reserve QB Kiael Kelly completed a pass for 26 yards and led the Cardinals with 94 yards on the ground.
The Eagles and Cardinals traded early field goals in the first quarter before EMU seized control with consecutive touchdowns in the second period, to take its seven-point lead into intermission.
A Ball State fumble on the end of a 15-yard catch by Qian Magwood led to the Eagles’ first TD and a 10-3 lead. After EMU took a 17-3 advantage with its second TD, Hatcher connected with tight end Tanner Koziol for the Cardinals’ first touchdown with 6:32 left before halftime. Koziol finished with six catches for 48 yards.
Running back Marquez Cooper led Ball State receivers with career highs of seven catches for 62 yards, to go with 46 yards on the ground.
After spending the past two weeks on the road, Ball State returns to Scheumann Stadium next Saturday to host Toledo at 2 p.m.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
IRISH FALL 33-20 AT LOUISVILLE
The University of Notre Dame football team lost its second game of the season 33-20 at No. 25/25 Louisville in front of a L&N Stadium record-crowd (59,081) Saturday night.
The Cardinals took control of the game in the third quarter, scoring via two long run plays and eventually piling up 26 points in the second half. Louisville also shut down the Notre Dame run game by holding the Irish to just 44 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
Sam Hartman finished 22-of-38 passing for 254 yards, two touchdowns and his first three interceptions of the season. Spencer Shrader kicked two 50-yard field goals in the contest and became the first Notre Dame kicker to accomplish that feat in the same game.
Mitchell Evans led the Irish in receiving once again with four catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver Jordan Faison saw his first career action and finished the game with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Notre Dame will return home and face its program-high fourth-consecutive night game next weekend against Southern Cal (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hartman came out firing on the first drive, completing his first three passes – two of them to Rico Flores Jr. and one to Mitchell Evans that moved the ball across midfield. His fourth pass, however, intended for Flores was intercepted to give Louisville the ball at their own 30-yard line.
The errant pass was the first interception thrown of the season for Hartman, ending a streak of 149 passes to begin the season. That streak finishes as the fourth-longest in program history.
Louisville’s offense came out red hot after the miscue and drove down the field in 12 plays and just over seven minutes, capping the scoring drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass.
The teams traded two possessions back and forth before the Irish offense could find its footing. A short passing attack was bolstered by two short first-down earning runs. Faison entered the game and caught a key third down conversion just over midfield.
One play later, on a play-action fake, Hartman found Faison behind the defense for a 36-yard scoring strike to tie the game.
Notre Dame coupled together a drive off a couple of miscues from both teams, but would end up turning the ball over. With the ball on their own 43, the Irish were set to go for it on third down but a false start penalty pushed them back to third and six. After Jeremiyah Love’s three yard rush, McFerson punted the ball away.
Louisville was offside on the punt attempt, however, and gave the Irish a new possession. Hartman hit Holden Staes for nine yards on first down. One incompletion later the Irish were left with a third and one. Attempting an end-around hand off, Hartman fumbled the exchange with Tyree and the Cardinals recovered at their own 45-yard line.
Notre Dame’s defense would earn two more stops before the half ended, including holding the Cardinal’s to a 42-yard field goal with one second remaining that ended up wide right.
On the first play of the second half, Louisville completed a short pass to the right side. Irish captain Cam Hart was there to make the tackle, but also stripped the ball and recovered the fumble at the Louisville 39-yard line.
The Irish offense could manage just four yards on the drive, however. Spencer Shrader entered and connected on a 53-yard field goal to put the Irish ahead 10-7 just two minutes into the half.
Louisville quickly answered with its own field goal drive, penetrating to the Notre Dame 27-yard. A key third down stop short of the chains by Ramon Henderson led to the successful 44-yard kick.
A three-and-out for the Notre Dame offense gave the ball right back to Louisville and they did not take long to assume the lead. A two-play drive in 63 yards was capped highlight by a 45-yard run and the home team jumped ahead 17-10 with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter.
The Irish pulled closer with another record-setting kick from Shrader. A clutch 24-yard reception by Mitchell Evans on third-and-10 moved the ball to the Louisville 42. Notre Dame was stuffed on another third-and-short, however, and Shrader was called upon.
He matched his school-record with a 54-yard field goal to cut the Louisville lead to four points. Shrader also became the first Irish kicker to ever boot two 50-yard field goals in the same game.
Louisville would not be denied on their next drive and took a commanding 11-point lead. Aided by a Notre Dame facemask penalty on what looked to be a third-down stop, the Cardinals drove 11 plays in 75 yards and ended with a 21-yard touchdown run.
Notre Dame was unable to answer on their next drive, turning the ball over after a fourth-and-11 attempt at their own 35-yard line.
The Irish defense stopped the Cardinals three-and-out and after Louisville’s 45-yard field goal fell behind 27-13.
Hartman’s first attempt of the next drive was over the head of Evans, intercepted by Louisville and returned to the Notre Dame 10-yard line.
Notre Dame’s defense forced another three-and-out, but Louisville was able to extend the lead to three scores at 30-13. On the next possession, the Irish were unable to move the ball again and gave the Cardinals the ball at the 26-yard line.
The defense held again and the Cardinals tacked on yet another field goal to extend the lead to 33-13.
Notre Dame was able to cut into the lead in the game’s final minutes. The Irish drove 75 yards and scored their second touchdown of the game on a Evans grab. After a successful onside kick recovered by Notre Dame, Louisville ended any rally with the third interception of the game.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL
SYCAMORE FOURTH QUARTER COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT IN MVFC HOME OPENER AGAINST UNI
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State’s fourth quarter comeback ended with an interception in the red zone on Saturday night as the Sycamores fell to the visiting Northern Iowa Panthers at Memorial Stadium, 27-20.
ISU (0-5, 0-2) battled their way back into the game following a 14-play, 51-yard drive that spanned 7:49 in the fourth quarter as redshirt freshman kicker Jake Andjelic knocked in his second field goal of the contest to make it a one-possession game with 2:30 to play. His 41-yard attempt hit the back of the support post to cap a drive that included a 14-yard completion from Cade Chambers to Justin Dinka on 3rd-and-8 near midfield to keep the drive alive.
On the ensuing onside kick attempt, ISU’s Harry Van Dyne came out with the loose ball in the skirmish near the Sycamores 46-yard line. ISU’s final drive was marred by a pair of holding calls, but Chambers kept the offense moving down the field completing five passes targeting four different players. The redshirt sophomore found Ethan Chambers for a key 14-yard pickup on 3rd-and-9 to move the ball to the UNI (3-2, 2-0) 39, while completions to Dakota Caton and Kevin Barnett put the ball inside the UNI 30.
Following Indiana State’s second holding call of the drive, Chambers launched an attempt down the left sideline toward Harry Van Dyne in tight coverage by UNI’s Fletcher Marshall, Jr. The ball was deflected up in the air at the UNI 2-yard line and landed in defensive back Edwin Dearman’s hands to swing possession back to the Panthers to secure the win.
The Sycamores put together one of their most complete offensive games of the 2023 season against the Panthers as ISU held onto the ball for 39:58 in the contest and converted 8-of-14 third-down opportunities. Chambers was 23-of-30 through the air for 245 yards and a touchdown, while Dinka posted 18 carries for 69 yards in his return to the field.
Four different ISU receivers hauled in at least four catches with Van Dyne (five receptions, 94 yards) leading the way. Barnett posted his first five-catch game of the 2023 season and second of his career, while Dinka added five catches for 40 yards out of the backfield. Dakota Caton added a 15-yard touchdown catch, while Evan Olaes had a three-yard touchdown run to highlight the Sycamore offense.
Maddix Blackwell posted a team-high six tackles on the game, while Garret Ollendieck and Blake Surface both had tackles for loss. Johnathan Edwards tied a career-high with three pass breakups on Saturday.
The Sycamores largely kept reigning MVFC Offensive Player of the Week Theo Day in check as the UNI quarterback went 16-of-28 for 176 yards on Saturday night. Harrison Bey-Buie provided most of the damage on the ground for UNI with 20 carries for 137 yards and three scores, while Sam Schnee had five catches for 75 yards.
Tucker Langenberg led all players with 11 tackles and added 2.0 tackles for loss to pace the Panthers. Cordarrius Bailey had a team-high 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks to lead UNI’s pass-rushing efforts.
How They Scored
Indiana State took the early 3-0 lead at the 5:15 mark as Jake Andjelic connected on a 30-yard field goal capping a 13-play, 63-yard drive that spanned 8:29 in the first quarter.
Harrison Bey-Buie put the Panthers on the board with a 2-yard touchdown rush at the 11:06 mark in the second quarter to cap a five-play, 66-yard drive and give UNI the 7-3 lead.
Evan Olaes took the quarterback keeper and followed the pile into the end zone at the 1:22 mark in the second quarter to give Indiana State the 10-7 lead. The drive was highlighted by Cade Chambers’ completions to Justin Dinka, Harry Van Dyne, and Kevin Barnett to set up the short plunge.
Bey-Buie scored his second touchdown of the contest on the final play of the first half as the UNI running back took the handoff and went through the left side of the line for the 1-yard touchdown carry to make it a 14-10 Panther lead at the break.
The Sycamores utilized the playaction pass on the first play of the second half with Chambers finding Harry Van Dyne for a 54-yard pickup to move the ball into UNI territory. Four plays later, Chambers found Dakota Caton in the left corner of the end zone for the 15-yard touchdown connection to give Indiana State the 17-14 lead with 12:08 remaining in the third quarter.
Bey-Buie scored his third rushing touchdown of the contest at the 10:17 mark in the third quarter with a 26-yard touchdown run giving UNI the 21-17 lead.
Matthew Cook connected on a 25-yard field goal capping a 7-play, 40-yard drive with 5:40 remaining in the third quarter to give UNI the 24-17 edge.
Cook added a 50-yard field goal at the 10:19 mark in the fourth quarter to stretch the UNI lead to 27-17.
Andjelic connected on his second field goal of the game with 2:30 remaining as the redshirt freshman kicker hit from 41 yards out to end a 14-play, 51-yard drive to provide the final scoring margin 27-20.
Inside the Numbers
Indiana State dominated the time of possession battle holding the ball a season-high 39:58 in the contest. The Sycamores held the ball at least 10 minutes in three of the four quarters on Saturday night against the Panthers.
ISU ran off 68 total offensive plays to UNI’s 54 with the Sycamores averaging 5.0 yards per play on the afternoon.
Indiana State posted more passing yards (245-176), while UNI held the 148-96 edge in rushing yards.
The Sycamores went 8-for-14 (57.1%) on third down conversions on Saturday night.
UNI held the line of scrimmage posting four sacks on the game.
The Sycamores converted their first two field goals of the 2023 season.
News & Notes
Indiana State’s 39:58 time of possession marked a high in the Curt Mallory coaching era surpassing the previous high of 38:25 set last season at Western Illinois (Nov. 12, 2022).
Cade Chambers’ 245 passing yards marked the second-most in his collegiate career and third game with at least 200 passing yards overall. His career-high 311 yards was achieved last season at Youngstown State (Oct. 15, 2022).
Kevin Barnett tied his career-high with five catches (vs. North Alabama – Sept. 1, 2022), and added a career-high 57 yards on nine targets on Saturday night.
Harry Van Dyne narrowly missed out on his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game as the redshirt senior posted five catches for 94 yards. He currently leads the team with 22 receptions for 336 yards on the season.
Dakota Caton hauled in his second receiving touchdown of 2023 with the 15-yard grab in the third quarter. His first came on the road at Ball State (Sept. 16, 2023).
Justin Dinka made his return to the field on Saturday night with the redshirt junior finishing the game with a season-high 18 carries for 69 yards. It marked his first appearance since Sept. 8 against Indiana and most rushing yards since going for 73 yards in the 2022 season finale against Missouri State (Nov. 19, 2022).
Jake Andjelic became the second Sycamore kicker in as many years to make multiple field goals in his ISU debut as the redshirt freshman converted from both 30 and 41 yards on Saturday. Teammate Ryan O’Grady went 3-for-3 in his inaugural game with the Sycamores last season against North Alabama (Sept. 1, 2022).
Dinka posted career-highs in both catches (5) and receiving yards (40) on Saturday.
Chambers’ 54-yard pass to Harry Van Dyne on the opening play from scrimmage in the second half was ISU’s longest offensive play of the 2023 season to date.
The Sycamores fall to 5-31 all-time against Northern Iowa with the loss.
VALPO FOOTBALL
VALPO’S FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY FALLS SHY AT DRAKE
The Valparaiso University football team rallied late to cut into a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, but host Drake survived the fight from the Beacons to hang on for a 20-14 victory at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. The Valpo defense played well throughout the day and the offense scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to give the team a chance late, but the Beacons fell just short in their fourth consecutive game that has come down to the wire.
How It Happened
The Valpo defense forced Drake to punt on each of its first two possessions, but the Valpo offense was also held scoreless during that stretch, including a turnover on downs after a 4th-and-7 from the Drake 30.
The Bulldogs broke through when Mitchell January scored a 57-yard touchdown from Luke Bailey to make it 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Drake appeared to muff a punt on its own 14 that was recovered by Valpo and ran into the end zone, but the Beacons were flagged for kick catch interference to negate the takeaway and give the hosts the ball leading 7-0 with 10:05 left in the second quarter.
Valpo put together
Valpo put together a promising drive, but punted on fourth-and-4 from the Drake 40 with 1:40 left in the half. This set off a bizarre final minute of the half that saw several big momentum-swinging plays both ways.
Valpo earned its first takeaway of the day when Amar Elmore (Chandler, Ariz. / Chandler) notched a strip sack and Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) recovered the fumble at the Valpo 41 with 35 seconds left in the half. Then, Drake picked up a strip sack of its own to take over on its own 44 with 16 ticks on the clock. Drake then completed a 46-yard pass that was nearly intercepted by Valpo before being taken away by Drake’s Trey Radocha for a reception with two seconds left in the half. This set up a 27-yard field goal by Drake that extended the lead to 10-0.
A muffed punt by Valpo set up a short field for Drake, as the Bulldogs took over at the Valpo 30 with 10:03 left in the third quarter. A five-play, 30-yard drive resulted in a 2-yard TD pass from Bailey to Gage Vander Leest to extend the lead to 17-0.
The next four total drives in the game (two for each team) resulted in punts before Valpo got on the board early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jeffrey Jackson (San Diego, Calif. / Bishop’s [San Diego]), who came on to replace starter Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) when Appel left the game with an injury, found Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton) for a 33-yard touchdown on the left sideline to make it 17-7 with 12:19 left in the fourth.
The two teams exchanged punts again before a 16-yard QB run on 3rd-and-28 helped Drake get back into field-goal range and set up a 42-yard field goal that made it 20-7.
A 48-yard kickoff return by Jashon Butler (Lynwood, Wash. / Meadowdale [Arizona]) helped jumpstart a 10-play, 51-yard drive that finished with Jackson finding Moise Tezzo (Houston, Texas / Fort Bend Austin [Millsaps]) for a 15-yard score. That trimmed the lead to six at 20-14 with 1:49 on the clock.
Valpo’s onside kick attempt was snagged by Drake, but the Valpo defense rose to the occasion again. The Bulldogs picked up six yards on third-and-7 from the Valpo 43, but committed a false start when they lined up to go for it on fourth-and-short and ultimately elected to punt.
Valpo had an opportunity for a desperation heave to the end zone on the game’s final play, but could not get a pass off and instead the Beacons were eventually wrapped up after several pitches and handoffs.
Inside the Game
This was Valpo’s fourth straight game decided by fewer than seven points and the Beacons have dropped three of those four contests. Valpo has played 22 one-score games out of the 46 career contests for head coach Landon Fox.
Valpo held Drake to just 46 rushing yards on 24 attempts. The Bulldogs did not have a single first down gained on a running play. This was Valpo’s best performance in terms of rushing defense since holding Marist to 36 rushing yards on Nov. 12 of last season.
Tezzo had the first receiving TD of his Valpo career. He had a team-high four catches for 40 yards.
Jackson went 5-of-14 through the air for two touchdowns. Appel went 11-of-25 for 78 yards.
It was a balanced day from the receiving corps, as 10 different Beacons caught passes. In addition, seven different players had carries, led by freshman Brian Thomas (Apopka, Fla. / Orlando Christian Prep) with nine for 37 yards.
Davis had his fourth receiving TD of the season and the eighth of his career, all in the last two seasons. He hauled in three catches for 33 yards.
Hafner paced the team with six tackles while also notching a fumble recovery, his second of the season.
Elmore recorded the second forced fumble of his collegiate career.
Punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) booted eight kicks for an average of 39.8 yards per try, pinning four inside the 20 including a long of 65.
Up Next
Valpo (1-4, 0-2 PFL) will return home next week to host Morehead State on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Brown Field.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NFL STANDINGS
| American Football Conference | |||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Buffalo Bills | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 139 | 55 | 2-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 3 W | |
| Miami Dolphins | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 150 | 119 | 1-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 3-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| New England Patriots | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 55 | 97 | 0-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| New York Jets | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 62 | 84 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 3 L | |
| West Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 101 | 60 | 1-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 3 W | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 110 | 104 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 62 | 101 | 0-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-3-0 | 1-1-0 | 3 L | |
| Denver Broncos | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 100 | 150 | 0-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 W | |
| North Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Baltimore Ravens | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 99 | 58 | 1-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 62 | 100 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 L | |
| Cleveland Browns | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 76 | 60 | 2-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 1 L | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 49 | 94 | 1-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-3-0 | 0-2-0 | 1 L | |
| South Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 97 | 99 | 0-2-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| Houston Texans | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 96 | 79 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 2 W | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 80 | 82 | 1-2-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 W | |
| Tennessee Titans | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0.0 | 72 | 70 | 2-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 1 W | |
| National Football Conference | |||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 118 | 90 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 4 W | |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 1.0 | 124 | 41 | 2-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Washington Commanders | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 2.5 | 109 | 160 | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 3 L | |
| New York Giants | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 3.0 | 46 | 122 | 0-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-3-0 | 0-1-0 | 2 L | |
| West Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| San Francisco 49ers | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 125 | 58 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 4 W | |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 1.0 | 111 | 91 | 1-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-1-0 | 0-1-0 | 3 W | |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 2.0 | 98 | 85 | 0-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 W | |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 3.0 | 88 | 102 | 1-1-0 | 0-2-0 | 1-3-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 L | |
| North Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 106 | 83 | 1-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 W | |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 100 | 96 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1 L | |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 2.0 | 90 | 95 | 0-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Chicago Bears | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 2.5 | 115 | 157 | 0-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 0-1-0 | 1 W | |
| South Division | |||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | ||
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 84 | 68 | 1-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 1 W | |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 62 | 77 | 2-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 2 L | |
| New Orleans Saints | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 62 | 76 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 2 L | |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 3.0 | 67 | 102 | 0-2-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-4-0 | 0-2-0 | 4 L | |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1904 Jimmy Barrett becomes the first major leaguer to play 162 games in a season, 57 years before the schedule expands from 154 contests to 162. The Tigers outfielder accomplished the unusual feat because Detroit played in ten tie games during the season.
1908 In a make-up contest necessitated by Fred Merkle’s baserunning blunder on September 23, Three Finger Brown outduels Christy Mathewson, 4-2, as the Cubs win the National League pennant by one game over the Giants in one of the most dramatic pennant races of all time.
1915 The Phillies take Game 1 of the World Series when Grover Cleveland Alexander throws a complete game, beating the Red Sox at the Baker Bowl, 3-1. Unfortunately for the franchise, the triumph will be the team’s last victory in the Fall Classic for 65 years.
1922 Behind Art Nehf’s complete-game five-hitter, the Giants repeat as World Champions, sweeping the Yankees in five games, including one tie. George Kelly’s two-run single fuels the three-run eighth inning, contributing to the team’s 5-3 comeback victory at the Polo Grounds.
1927 In the bottom of the ninth of Game 4, Pirates right-hander Johnny Miljus loads the bases with no outs but strikes out Lou Gehrig (swinging) and Bob Meusel (looking). The 32-year-old Pittsburgh hurler, facing Tony Lazzeri with two outs and a 0-1 count, throws a wild pitch, and Earle Combs races home with the winning run to give the Yankees the Fall Classic sweep of the Bucs and its second world championship. The Wonder Team: The True Story of the
1929 In front of 50,000 fans at Wrigley Field, surprise starter Howard Ehmke establishes a new World Series record, striking out 13 Cubs en route to a 3-1 A’s victory in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. The mark will last for 34 years until Dodger hurler Carl Erskine fans 14 Yankees in 1953.
1939 In the top of the tenth, Yankee outfielder Joe DiMaggio scores from first base when Reds’ catcher Ernie Lombardi lies in a daze at home plate after being run over by ‘King Kong’ Charlie Keller. The Bronx Bombers score three runs thanks to ‘Lombardi’s Swoon,’ winning the game, 7-4, to complete the World Series sweep and become the first club to win four consecutive Fall Classics.
1940 With the Reds’ 2-1 victory over the Tigers in Game 7 of the Fall Classic, Bill McKechnie becomes the first manager to win a World Series with two different teams. The ‘Deacon’ also piloted the Pirates to a World Championship, beating Washington in seven games in the 1925 Fall Classic.
1948 Facing only thirty batters, Indians’ rookie hurler Gene Bearden five-hits the Braves for a 2-0 victory in front of 70,000 fans in Cleveland. The Tribe takes a 2-1 World Series game lead.
1953 Birmingham bans Jackie Robinson’s Negro-White All-Stars from playing in the city. After Robinson gives in and drops the team’s white players, city officials allow the team to play.
1956 Don Larsen pitches the first perfect game in World Series history, defeating the Dodgers, 2-0 in Game 5 of the Fall Classic at Yankee Stadium. The 27-year-old right-hander, who had a poor start in Game 2 because of a lack of control, throws only 97 pitches, striking out pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell looking for the final out.
1957 Club President Walter O’Malley makes it official, announcing the Dodgers will play in Los Angeles next season. The club’s departure from Brooklyn corresponds with the massive social shift in the borough that finds many of its former residents leaving for the suburbs of Long Island.
1959 Chicago’s speed and quickness aren’t enough to overcome Los Angeles’ hitting and pitching when the team drops a 9-3 decision, losing the World Series in six games to the Dodgers, who win their first championship representing the City of Angels. In the Comiskey Park, LA’s Chuck Essegian sets a record with his ninth-inning shot off Ray Moore to become the first player to hit two pinch-hit homers in the Fall Classic.
1961 In Game 4 at Crosley Field, Whitey Ford blanks the Reds for five innings to extend his World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak to 32, breaking Red Sox hurler Babe Ruth’s previous record of 29.2 innings. Hector Lopez and Clete Boyer provide the offense, driving in two runs each in the Yankee 6-0 victory.
1962 In Game 4 of the World Series, Chuck Hiller’s seventh-inning grand slam off Marshall Bridges proves to be the difference in the Giants’ 7-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. The infielder’s bases-loaded homer, the first by a National Leaguer in the history of the Fall Classic, helps to even the series at two games apiece.
1966 The Orioles collect only three hits off Claude Osteen, but Paul Blair’s fifth-inning 430-foot home run proves to be the difference when Baltimore beats the Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series, 1-0. Wally Bunker throws a six-hitter, winning the first Fall Classic game ever played in Baltimore.
1967 Boston’s Ken Brett becomes the youngest player ever to pitch in the World Series when he appears in relief against the Cardinals in Game 4 of the Fall Classic. The 19-year-old Red Sox rookie southpaw, the older brother of future Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett, tosses a scoreless eighth inning, yielding a walk in the team’s 6-0 loss at Busch Stadium.
1972 After being drilled by a pitch in Game 2 of the ALCS, Bert Campaneris, 3-for-3 on the day, hurls his bat at Tiger pitcher Lerrin LaGrow, resulting in the ejection of both players from the game. In addition to levying a $500 fine, MLB suspends A’s shortstop for the rest of this series and five games to start next season, but he will be permitted to play in the World Series.
1973 In Game 3 of the NLCS, the Mets post a 9-2 victory over the Reds at Shea Stadium in a contest best remembered for the brawl ignited when Bud Harrelson took exception to Pete Rose’s slide at second base to break up a double play. After the fight, the Mets, fearing a forfeit due to their fans’ rowdy behavior, send an emissary, consisting of Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Cleon Jones, Tom Seaver, and Rusty Staub, out to left field to quell the crowd’s unrest.
1977 In Game 4 of the NLCS played at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, Dodger hurler Tommy John goes the distance and beats Steve Carlton and the Phillies, 4-1. The LA southpaw considers this pennant-clinching performance the best game he has ever pitched in the major leagues.
1983 In front of 64,494 fans at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies win the NLCS behind the pitching of Steve Carlton and the power of Gary Matthews’ three-run homer, 7-2. Philadelphia will take on the Orioles in the Fall Classic to become known as the I-95 World Series.
1986 Mike Scott tosses a five-hitter and ties a playoff record with 14 strikeouts, beating the frustrated Mets, who accuse the Astros’ right-hander of scuffing the ball in their 1-0 defeat in Game 1 of the NLCS. A Glenn Davis home run in the second inning off Dwight Gooden accounts for the lone run in the Astrodome contest.
1995 Thanks to a two-run Edgar Martinez’s 11th-inning double that scores Ken Griffey, Jr. from first base, the Mariners become the fourth team to overcome a two-game deficit to win a five-game series, dramatically beating the Yankees in a 6-5 walk-off victory. The winning run, hit, and decision (Randy Johnson) in the Kingdome contest are all accomplished by future Hall of Famers.
1995 After dropping the series’ first two games, the Mariners make a dramatic comeback in Game 5 to beat the Yankees with a 6-5 extra-inning victory to capture the ALDS. Ken Griffey Jr. ties a major league record by hitting his fifth home run in the postseason series, an eighth-inning round-tripper off David Cone, equaling Reggie Jackson’s mark established in 1977.
(Ed. Note: Reggie Jackson went deep five times in the World Series, including three on consecutive pitches in Game 6, against the Dodgers. (-LP)
2000 At Shea Stadium, the Mets blank the Giants, 4-0, to win the NLDS in four games. Bobby Jones, who was sent to the minors earlier in the season to work on his mechanics, retires the side in order eight of the nine innings, allowing only a fifth-inning double to Jeff Kent. The one-hitter is only the sixth in postseason history.
2002 The Tigers select their former All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell (1977-1996) to manage the faltering franchise. The California native had been a coach with the Padres for the last three seasons.
2006 In the inaugural season in their new ballpark, the Cardinals beat the Padres, 6-2, at Busch Stadium to take the NLDS playoff three games to one. The Redbirds advance to the championship series for the third consecutive season when Chris Carpenter earns his second victory in the best-of-five series.
2007 With a 6-4 victory at Yankee Stadium, the Indians advance to the ALCS for the first time since 1995. The Tribe’s win ends the Bronx Bombers’ season and begins speculation of the impending firing of New York skipper Joe Torre, who was chastised in the press yesterday by owner George Steinbrenner for the team’s first-round woes.
2007 A 6-4 defeat to the Indians in Game 4 of the ALDS at the Stadium proves to be Joe Torre’s final game with the Yankees. The veteran skipper, who won 1,173 games and made the postseason every year during his 12-year tenure with the team, rejects a $5 million, one-year contract to return as manager, a deal many believe to be structured to oust the popular pilot without upsetting the fans.
2008 The Cubs exercise Rich Harden’s $7 million option for next year, the day after tests reveal the 26-year-old hurler has a sound pitching shoulder. The hard-throwing right-hander, obtained from the A’s in a July deal, compiled a combined record of 10-2, posting a 2.07 ERA in 25 starts for his two teams.
2009 After dropping the series’ first two games, the Mariners make a dramatic comeback in Game 5 to beat the Yankees with a 6-5 extra-inning victory to capture the ALDS. Ken Griffey Jr. ties a major league record by hitting his fifth home run in the postseason series, an eighth-inning round-tripper off David Cone, equaling Reggie Jackson’s mark established in 1977.
2010 Although the Astros finish ten games under .500, the team exercises the 2012 option on manager Brad Mills’ contract and adds a club option for the following season. After a dismal 17-34 start and the loss of veterans Roy Oswalt to the Phillies and Lance Berkman to the Yankees, the first-year skipper pilots Houston to a 59-52 record after June 1.
2011 Redbird right-hander Chris Carpenter outpitches Roy Halladay, throwing a three-hitter to beat the Phillies 1-0 in the deciding Game 5 of NLDS. The wild-card Cardinals plate the game’s only run in the first frame when Skip Schumaker doubles home Rafael Furcal, who led off the Citizens Bank Park contest with a triple.
2018 Brock Holt becomes the first player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game when he hits a ninth-inning home run in the Red Sox’s 16-1 rout of the Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. The Boston infielder collected a single and triple in the team’s seven-run fourth frame and added a double in the eighth inning during the Bronx ballpark contest.
WORLD SERIES HISTORY
1910 WORLD SERIES
The first decade of World Series baseball came to a close as two regulars, the Chicago Cubs (making their fourth appearance) and Philadelphia Athletics (making their second) went head-to-head for the championship title. Both teams were powerhouses with the A’s chalking one-hundred two victories and winning their pennant by fourteen games. The A’s boasted three .300 hitters with Eddie Collins, Rube Oldring and Danny Murphy and a thirty-one game winner in Jack Coombs, a twenty-seven year-old righthander who was 12-12 the previous season. Both teams suffered devastating injures and would not be at full strength for the Series. The Cubs had lost second baseman Johnny Evers to a broken ankle and Philadelphia was missing Oldring with a broken leg and pitcher Eddie Plank who was suffering from an arm ailment.
Although A’s manager Connie Mack was handicapped with the loss of one of his starting pitchers, he remained confident in his other aces Jack Coombs and Chief Bender. Bender, coming off his first twenty victory season in the Major Leagues (he was 23-5), opposed the Cubs’ Orval Overall in Game 1 of the Series. The matchup proved a mismatch, with Bender pitching a one-hitter into the ninth inning and Overall departing after allowing three runs and six hits in the first three innings. The A’s, getting three hits and two RBIs from Frank Baker, scored a 4-1 victory as Bender completed a three-hitter with eight strikeouts.
In Game 2, Coombs maintained his team’s momentum with a solid, but unspectacular Series leading performance. Although he lasted a complete game, he surrendered eight hits and nine walks while managing a 9-3 victory. Philadelphia had consecutively beaten two of Chicago’s top aces and prepared to tee off on a third against Series veteran, Ed Reulbach. The A’s came out swinging in Game 3 and drove Reulbach off of the mound in the second inning after tallying three runs. Harry McIntire took over in the third with a 3-3 tie, but was shelled for four runs in the 1/3 inning. The Cubs continued to collapse and before the inning was over, the A’s had tacked or a fifth run en route to a 12-5 romp. Coombs remained unbeatable while pitching with only one day of rest. Playing well on both sides of the plate, he only gave up six hits and had three hits and three runs batted in.
Suddenly, the mighty Chicago Cubs, considered sports first official dynasty, found themselves on the brink of elimination. Realizing that Philadelphia’s advantage was the direct result of poor pitching, the Cubs put their faith into the right arm of rookie Leonard (King) Cole, who had just completed a 20-4 season. The twenty-four year-old newcomer handled the pressure well, but was pulled in the eighth inning, while trailing 3-2. Hanging on by a thread, Chicago managed to get something started in the ninth when playing Manager Frank Chance tripled home Frank Schulte. Then, in the tenth, Chicago’s Jimmy Sheckard came through with a two-out, game-winning single against Bender, who had gone the distance, but paid for it with a 4-3 loss.
Still alive by their “last stand” victory in Game 4, the Cubs decided to go with their winning reliever, Mordecai Brown against the undefeated Coombs for Game 5. Both pitchers rose to the occasion and went neck and neck for seven innings. Philadelphia pulled ahead by one before adding five more in the eighth on the way to a 7-2, Series winning victory. Not only had the A’s defeated baseball’s biggest dynasty, they did it with only two starting pitchers (Bender and three-time winner Coombs).
FOOTBALL HISTORY
- October 8, 1921 – 1st college football game was aired on AM radio for the game between West Virginia University and Pittsburgh University broadcast on Pittsburgh radio station KDKA-AM. Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field was the vendue for this historic game as local sponsors paid for advertisements to fund the broadcast. According to a report on Wikipedia events that led up to this first broadcast were: “In 1911, more than 1,000 people gathered in downtown Lawrence, Kansas to watch a mechanical reproduction of the 1911 Kansas vs. Missouri football game while it was being played. A Western Union telegraph wire was set up direct from Columbia, Missouri. A group of people then would announce the results of the previous play and used a large model of a football playing field to show the results. Those in attendance cheered as though they were watching the game live, including the school’s legendary Rock Chalk, Jayhawk cheer.”
- October 8, 1950 – the rivalry had its very meeting as the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers met on the gridiron. The Browns got the better of their new rivals on that day with a 30-17 victory to start the series.
- Ocotber 8, 1972 – Philadelphia Eagles great Harold Carmichael starts his torrid streak of 127 consecutive games with a reception. Despite the advent of the streak the Eagles fell to the New Orleans Saints 21-3 at the Superdome.
- October 8, 1994 – Boston College knocked off Notre Dame in the 6th edition of the series between the two schools deemed the “Holy War” 30-11 in Chestnut Hill.
- Ocotber 8, 1995 – The great Dan Marino surpasses legendary signal caller Fran Tarkenton’s NFL record career 3,686 completions record. Miami fell to the Indianapolis Colts in a heartbreaker 24-27 in the game that day. Marino finished his career with 4,967 career completions.
Hall of Fame Birthday for October 8
October 8, 1909 – Bill Hewitt has gone down in history known as the NFL player that wouldn’t wear a helmet per the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website bio on the player. The two-way end almost got away without wearing one too except that in his ninth and final season in the NFL, playing for the 1943 Phil-Pitt Steagles, the League established a rule that wearing the protective head piece was mandatory for players. He was an iron man that averaged approximately 50 minutes on the field in each game of his career. Bill Hewitt was part of one of the most famous plays in NFL history, as he often received the famous jump-pass from Bronko Nagurski when he was with the Bears. Bill was the first player to ever become All-NFL with two different teams. Hewitt achieved the recognition with the Chicago Bears and with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in 1971.
October 8, 1911 – Cotton Warburton the Southern California quarterback. Cotton was a speedster and earned All-American honors while guiding the Trojans as their signal caller for a 27 game winning streak, uncontested by any other USC QB until 1980. Cotton Washburn was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975. His fame didn’t end on the football field though as Cotton became involved in helping to make Hollywood movies for both Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios as well as the Walt Disney Company. One of his most famous productions was the Disney movie Mary Poppins where he did most of the editing of the film according to Wikipedia.com.
October 8, 1956 – Johnnie Johnson the former safety from the University of Texas. According to his bio page on texassports.com, Johnnie was a Consensus All-American in the 1978 and 1979 football seasons. In 1979 he was selected as the top defensive back in the nation by the Downtown Athletic Club. Beside anchoring the defensive backfield with 13 college career interceptions for the Longhorns he also was a great punt returner as he had a career total of 1,004 return yards. The National Football Foundation selected Johnnie Johnson into their College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Johnson was picked in first round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played 11 NFL seasons for the team. The stellar athlete was voted as the 1980 NFL Rookie of the Year and he also earned several NFL All-Pro honors during his pro career.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
18 – 41 – 51 – 16 – 30 -19 – 5 – 6 – 13 – 11 – 9
October 8, 1929
October 8, 1929 – Philadelphia A’s Howard Ehmke set a World Series record when he struck out 13 Chicago Cubs in the opening game of the series. The Athletics won the game 3-1, eventually taking the series in 5 games
October 8, 1956 – Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, Number 18 threw a perfect game as New York defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 2-0 in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium
October 8, 1958 – Braves Eddie Mathews, Number 41 who was eventually placed in the Hall of Fame as he was a 12-time All-Star and mulptiple MVP winner uncharacteristically struck out for a World Series record 11th time
October 8, 1959 – We had a World Series clincher as the LA Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox, 9-3 at Comiskey Park to claim the championship, 4 games to 2. The series MVP was given to Dodgers pitcher Larry Sherry, Number 51
October 8, 1961 – New York Yankee pitcher Number 16, Whitey Ford breaks Babe Ruth‘s record of 29-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the World Series. FOrd did not stop there either as he went on to extend the streak to 33-2/3 innings, which stood until the 2000 season.
October 8, 1972 – Detroit Tiger pitcher Number 30, Lerrin LaGrow and Oakland A’s shortstop Number 19, Bert Campaneris, were each fined and suspended from baseball when Campaneris flung his bat at the mound after getting hit by a pitch LaGrow threw.
October 8, 1978 – American Mario Andretti in the Number 5 Lotus finishes 10th in the season ending Canadian Grand Prix at Île Notre-Dame Circuit, but wins his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship by 13 points from Number 6 Lotus driver, Ronnie Peterson
October 8, 1995 – Miami Dolphin’s Number 13, Dan Marino breaks Tarkenton’s NFL career completions record
October 8, 1995 – Edgar Martinez, wearing the Number 11 jersey he made famous, drove home the tying and winning runs to rally the Seattle Mariners to 6-5 win in bottom of 11th to beat the Yankees to win AL Division Series
October 8, 2018 – New Orleans quarterback Number 9, Drew Brees needed 201 yards to pass Number 18 of the Colts and Broncos, Peyton Manning’s NFL all-time leader in passing yards record. Brees gets 363 along with 3 TD tosses in the Saints 43-19 win over the Washington Redskins at the SuperDome.
TV SUNDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: Sanderson Farms | 4:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Junior League Championship | 5:00pm | ESPN2 |
| DP World: Alfred Dunhill Links | 6:30pm | GOLF |
| LPGA: The Ascendant | 7:00pm | GOLF |
| HORSE RACING | TIME ET | TV |
| America’s Day at the Races | 1:00pm | FS1 |
| MLB PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| ALDS Game 2: Texas at Baltimore | 4:07pm | FS1 |
| ALDS Game 2: Minnesota at Houston | 8:03pm | FS1 |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Formula One: Qatar Grand Prix | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| NASCAR Cup: ROVAL 400 | 2:00pm | NBC |
| NBA PRESEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Phoenix vs Detroit | 3:00pm | NBATV |
| Philadelphia vs Boston | 6:00pm | ESPN |
| Utah vs LA Clippers | 9:00pm | NBATV |
| NFL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Jacksonville at Buffalo | 9:30am | NFLN |
| Houston at Atlanta | 1:00pm | FOX |
| Carolina at Detroit | 1:00pm | FOX |
| Tennessee at Indianapolis | 1:00pm | CBS |
| NY Giants at Miami | 1:00pm | FOX |
| New Orleans at New England | 1:00pm | CBS |
| Baltimore at Pittsburgh | 1:00pm | CBS |
| Cincinnati at Arizona | 4:05pm | FOX |
| Philadelphia at LA Rams | 4:05pm | FOX |
| NY Jets at Denver | 4:25pm | CBS |
| Kansas City at Minnesota | 4:25pm | CBS |
| Dallas at San Francisco | 8:20pm | NBC |
| RUGBY | TIME ET | TV |
| World Cup Group Stage | 12:00pm | NBC |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Monza vs Salernitana | 6:30am | Paramount+ |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Marseille vs Le Havre | 7:00am | beIN Sports |
| Women’s Super League: Manchester City vs Chelsea FC | 7:30am | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Villarreal vs Las Palmas | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Frosinone vs Hellas Verona | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Lazio vs Atalanta | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| EPL: West Ham United vs Newcastle United | 9:00am | USA |
| EPL: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Liverpool | 9:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Aston Villa | 9:00am | Peacock |
| Ligue 1: Brest vs Toulouse | 9:00am | beIN Sports |
| Ligue 1: Montpellier vs Clermont | 9:00am | beIN Sports |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Lyonnais vs Lorient | 9:00am | beIN Sports |
| Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs Köln | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Atlético Madrid vs Real Sociedad | 10:15am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Bayern München vs Freiburg | 11:30am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Lens vs Lille | 11:05am | beIN Sports |
| EPL: Arsenal vs Manchester City | 11:30am | Peacock |
| Serie A: Cagliari vs Roma | 12:00pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Deportivo Alavés vs Real Betis | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Celta de Vigo vs Getafe | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Heidenheim | 1:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Instituto vs Gimnasia La Plata | 1:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Unión Santa Fe vs Sarmiento | 1:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Women’s Super League: Liverpool vs Aston Villa | 1:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Napoli vs Fiorentina | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Granada vs Barcelona | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Brasileirão: Fluminense vs Botafogo | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Palmeiras vs Santos | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Internacional vs Grêmio | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: River Plate vs Talleres Córdoba | 3:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Atlético Mineiro vs Coritiba | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Athletico-PR vs RB Bragantino | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Cuiabá vs Cruzeiro | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Fortaleza vs América Mineiro | 5:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Racing Club vs Platense | 5:45pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL: Houston Dash vs Angel City | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| WNBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| Finals Game 1: New York at Vegas | 3:00pm | ABC |
What to Watch: Sunday, 10/8/23
| MLB PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| ALDS Game 2: Texas at Baltimore | 4:07pm | FS1 |
Texas Rangers leads AL Divisional Series 1-0. The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles regular season series was tied 3-3. The Rangers were 2-1 on the road versus the Orioles in the regular season. The last time the Rangers made the playoffs was in 2016 and they lost in the AL Divisional Series versus the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles last time in the playoffs was also in 2016 and lost in the Wild Card Series versus the Toronto Blue Jays.
| ALDS Game 2: Minnesota at Houston | 8:03pm | FS1 |
Houston Astros leads AL Divisional Series 1-0. The Minnesota Twins lead the regular season series 4-2 versus Houston Atsros. The Twins were 2-1 on the road versus the Astros in the regular season. The Twins last appearance in the MLB playoffs was in 2020 in the Al Wild Card Series which they lost to the Houston Astros. Last season the Houston Astros won the World Series versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
| NFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Baltimore at Pittsburgh | 1:00pm | CBS |
The Pittsburgh Steelers(2-2) lead all time series 33-25 versus the Baltimore Ravens(3-1) . Last season both teams won on the road versus each other. Since 2018 the Steelers are 6-3 overall and 3-2 at home versus the Ravens.
| Philadelphia at LA Rams | 4:05pm | FOX |
The Philadelphia Eagles(4-0) lead all time series 22-20-1 versus the Los Angeles Rams(2-2) . Last time both teams met was in 2020 which the Rams won 37-19 on the road versus the Eagles. Since 2005 the Eagles are 6-1 overall and 4-0 on the road versus the Rams.
| Dallas at San Francisco | 8:20pm | NBC |
The Dallas Cowboys(3-1) and the San Francisco 49ers(4-0) all time series is tied 19-19-1. The past two seasons both teams met in the playoffs and the 49ers won both games. The Cowboys last win versus the 49ers on the road was in 2017. Since 2005 the Cowboys are 6-3 overall and 4-1 on the road versus the 49ers.
| WNBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| Finals Game 1: New York at Vegas | 3:00pm | ABC |
The Las Vegas Aces lead all time series 48-29 versus the New York Liberty. Las Vegas finished first in the Western Conference with an overall record 34-6 during the regular season. New York Liberty finished first in the Eastern Confernce with a 32-8 record. The Aces and Liberty regular season series was tied 3-3.